News: page 3
Viewpoints: page 9
Entertainment: page 13
Health & Fitness: page 20
Students can bond with profs over drinks
Israel study abroad yields no class credit
The Current presents Spring Ball fashion
A look at the history of Pitchers with Professors and the unique interactive opportunity it provides.
Students studying abroad in Israel won’t receive academic credit for their semester in the Middle East.
Staff writer reviews the gamut of Five ab exercises you don’t need to fashions at Spring Ball in relation leave your room to do so you can to past fashion decades. be ready for beach-body season.
Get great abs in the comfort of your dorm
The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College
Vol. 3, Issue XI—April 20, 2012
Eckerd Democrats aim to educate, cooperate By Sean Lawlor Columnist
photo by Alex Zielinski A photograph of Nate Mosby (1992-2012) is displayed on the altar at his memorial service on Kappa Field, April 14. Nate enjoyed riding his longboard (front) around campus. His favorite books, Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” and Cervantes’s “Don Quixote” (behind the board) are displayed next to flowers and vegetables (right) from the Edible Peace Patch garden where he volunteered.
Celebrating the life of Nate Mosby Friends and family join the Eckerd community in a memorial on Kappa Field By Johnny Jones Web Editor “A parent witnessing a child’s death is the ultimate sign of a world turned upside down,” President Donald Eastman said in his speech at Nathan “Nate” Mosby’s memorial service April 14. When a community loses one of its members, the innate reflex to focus on the positive aspects of a person’s life while censoring the negative kicks in. We forgive their flaws as a sign of respect during a difficult grieving process. But some people’s lives are so beautiful that they need no such censorship. Nate Mosby was one of those people. The vast breadth of the English language still fails to accurately describe Nate’s positively radiant aura. He was such a phenomenal person that the story of his death seems like a cliché story that you see on the evening news: the actively involved model student of gentle goodwill who served on the Aca-
demic Honor Council, performed many hours of community service and was an excellent friend to all, tragically killed in a car accident. Except this was no Bay News 9 report. This was my friend. It seems the crowd of at least 300 people gathered on Kappa field that day shared this sentiment. So did the more than 60 who participated in the memorial “Skate for Nate” longboard and bike lap around campus at sunset. Before and after the service, the line to sign the guestbook stretched far across the grass. From his professors to his father to his former roommate Sophomore Brad Samuels, everyone who gave a speech during the service paid a wonderfully unique tribute to Nate’s life. Dean James Annarelli posthumously awarded Nate the Mark W. Smith Award, which, according to Eckerd.edu, “honors a student who has given outstanding service to the campus community and who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and initiative in the effort to
enhance campus life.” Yet Nate’s ceremony was Samuels gave an incredibly mov- wrapped in a thin veil of sweetness ing speech that also made us laugh because it allowed us to accept his when he shared Nate’s greatest ca- death and begin to move on. The service could not have been reer ambition – “to own a BMW.” Professor and Director of Ser- a more fitting way honor our fallen vice Learning Brian MacHarg spoke friend. A makeshift altar displayed some of how, of Nate’s w h e n possessions, reading includliterature, ing two of the grief his favorwe feel ite books, when a Franz Kafcharacka’s “The ter dies is —Mark Mosby, Nate’s father. Trial” and directly Cervantes’s p r o p o r“Don Quixtional to ote.” how much The stage was adorned with an the author brought that character intricate display of flowers and to life. Judging by the lack of dry vegetables from the Edible Peace eyes in the audience that afternoon, whoever wrote the book of Nate Patch garden where Nate spent so many hours (after learning of Nate’s was a damn good writer. Nate’s memorial service was bit- death, the children who work in tersweet. The loss of a close friend the garden wanted to name it after is mostly bitter; it leaves a horrid, him). There comes a definitive point in vile taste in your mouth that lingers the mourning process when a tidal for an eternity.
“If friendship is an art,
then Nate was a master artist.”
See Memorial, page 3
Please Recycle
INDEX: News 2 - 8
Viewpoints 9 - 12 Entertainment 13 - 16 The Quickie 17 - 18 Health & Fitness 19 - 20 Sports 21- 24
Eckerd College is certainly a liberally minded campus, but it remains to be seen whether Eckerd students are sincerely active within the local political community. With this being an election year, the heads of Eckerd’s Young Democrats, Brianna Dickinson and Veronika Slep, see this semester and the next as an opportunity to encourage political activism and organization on campus. “Eckerd is very much a liberal school,” says Dickinson, “but when it comes to politics we aren’t as involved, which is something we would love to change.” Since the club was recently rechartered as late as last fall semester, their presence on campus has been small but effective. As of now, Young Democrats has 15 solid members, but that doesn’t mean other students haven’t shown interest in getting involved at club meetings. While this group of student partisans seeks to encourage support for local and national Democratic candidates, their ultimate goal is to inform and encourage dialogue on campus. Club events have been far from partisan and have sought student input on future activities. See EC Democrats, page 4
RAs rate housing complexes By Alexandra Roberts Staff Writer With room draw in our wake, students can look forward to living in a new dorm community next year. Eleven complexes are available to the community, all offering a unique atmosphere. Student resident advisors, with behind-thescenes access, can offer insight into specific dorm personalities. Nu and Omega will continue to be specific to upperclassmen. Each of the seven traditional complexes includes four houses, some of which will be grouped by new themes. Themes include: all female, pet, health and wellness, community service, global living, environmental, or a combination of themes. Other houses are simply co-ed. In Alpha, Prasch will be global, Gershwin will be health and wellness, Gandhi will be female and Mill will be co-ed. “I have lived in Alpha Mill for See Dorms , page 7
The Current is a free, biweekly student newspaper produced at Eckerd College. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers.
2 News
the current
April 20, 2012
Briefing National
Global North Korean leader orates future of military superiority
Gingrich campaign in the red
On Sunday, April 15, Kim Jong-un gave his first public speech since becoming the leader of North Korea. Jong-un states that he is making military strength a priority and that military technology is “no longer monopolized by imperialists.” In the wake of the failed missile launch, this message emphasizes North Korea’s determination for improvement. South Korea does not yet have a comment until reports from the investigation on the missile are completed, but the United States and its allies have voiced concern and a need for censuring North Korea at the United Nations Security Council. China has cautioned the international community to “remain calm and exercise restraint.”
The Gingrich campaign is renting out their list of donors to counter about $4.5 million in debt. His position in the final three candidates for the Republican nominee is on shaky ground as his monetary support weakens. After being bitten by a penguin at a zoo, he shifted his campaign message by stating he is the conservative “underdog.” Gingrich as been quoted saying that he has a duty to stay in the race for the Americans who have advocated for him.
The New York Times
NBC news
Secret Service prostitution scandal NBC news and MSNBC.com
Egypt high elections commission strikes down presidential candidates The New York Times
Ten candidates have been removed from the list of eligible candidates for presidential election in Egypt. Three of those candidates are considered the country’s frontrunners. Omar Suleiman (Hosni Mubarak’s former vice president), Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, ultraconservative Islamist, and Khairat el-Shater, leading strategist of the Muslim Brotherhood, have all been disqualified by the High Election Commission. Ismail’s disqualification is due to the passport and voter registration proving his mother had been an American citizen. Shater is ineligible because of past criminal conviction under the Mubarak government. Suleiman did not meet the ballot signature requirement. These disqualifications prove problematic, as the eleccourtesy of Wikimedia Commons tion is one month away.
Eleven Secret Service agents have been placed on leave due to a scandal relating to “presumed prostitutes” in Colombia. Before President Obama arrived in Colombia for the Summit of the Americas special agents and uniformed division officers were removed from their posts for alleged personal misconduct. The officers were immediately replaced and an investigation into the allegations is being conducted. Ron Kessler, author of “In the President’s Secret Service,” told NBC News that the agency has had a history of these issues.
Campus Winter Term destinations announced
Local St. Pete to reassess parking rules at Tropicana field Tampa Bay Times
Fourteen cars were towed from Lot 79 on the Ray’s opening weekend. The property manager, Mike Shinshoni, had the vehicles removed without being aware that his lot was listed as an official Rays parking lot. The previous, evicted tenant requested the special events permit in 2009. The city officials will meet to discuss if temporary parking lots for games at Tropicana Field are more harmful than they are helpful. This decision will seriously affect the amount of parking space for future baseball games this season. The city codes, police, transportation and parking departments will not be making final decisions about the issue this week.
courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
All day rugby bonanza The Beachside Sevens Invitational comes to Eckerd at 1 p.m. on April 28. Kappa Field will be invaded by rugby teams from across the state of Florida. Games will start every 20 minutes. Seven games will be played in the main tournament. If successful, the Tritons will play in three of those games. There will be an opportunity to support the Eckerd Men’s Rugby Team off the field through the sales of t-shirts, food and drink during the tournament.
Waterfront to host annual Splash Bash
Republican national convention security costs for Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Times
The Tampa City Council is addressing the issue of temporary fencing for the Republican National Convention. Thursday, April 19 they will be asked to approve $290,000 from the $50 million federal grant for convention security. Taxpayers would not come into play for this investment until the quote of the amount of fencing to be supplied is established. The Nashville-based Premier Global Production Co. estimates the fence will cost $29 a foot, meaning $290,000 would cover around 10,000 feet, or about 2 miles of fence.
The Waterfront is hosting the Splash Bash, formerly known as the annual Cinco de Mayo party. This event will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 28. There will be free grill out food, a blow up slide and live entertainment. Students are invited to float in the creek, play games and receive free swag.
Feminist to speak at CPS events on campus Ariel Levy, contributing writer at The New Yorker magazine and author of “Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture” is speaking on feminism in today’s society. This CPS event will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24 in Fox Hall. The Women’s Resources Committee, the Presidents Office, Student Affairs, ECOS and the Center for Spiritual Life have all collaborated on bringing Levy to campus.
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the current
April 20, 2012
News 3
Cnews INSIDE NEWS
Rest in peace, Nate
Medical marijuana
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EC Democrats
4
Pitchers with Professors
6
Peta porn website
6
RA housing
7
1 By Stephen Barber ECOS President
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Nate’s father, Mark Mosby, reflects on the life of his son at Saturday’s memorial service. Photo by Alex Zielinski.
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Friends of Nathan “Nate” Mosby gathered at sunset after his memorial service to complete an honorary skate and bike around campus. Nate’s parents handed out t-shirts bearing their son’s face that read, “A stranger to none, a best friend to all!” Photo by Johnny Jones.
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Shannon Vize lights a candel in honor of her best friend. Photo by Alex Zielinski.
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Students embark on a campus wide “Skate for Nate.” Photo by Josh Annarelli.
Mosby memorial pays tribute to sophomore’s life Memorial from front page
wave of grief slams into you and the loss becomes real. Something about seeing his longboard leaning up against that altar and knowing that he was never going to ride it again was my tidal wave. So as the salty tears dribbled down my cheeks and splashed on
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the pages of my Moleskine notepad, reality began to set in. Our normally picturesque campus became a bizarre, twisted background for a funeral that came too soon. And yet despite this inevitable tsunami of sadness, a ray of light shines through the darkness. Nate’s mentor, Literature Pro-
Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com
fessor Julie Emprick, said that in a meeting on the Thursday before he died, Nate displayed a vitality that some people never achieve. “He was more alive and happy in one day than some people are in their entire lives,” she said. Samuels concluded his speech with a phrase that he saw on a bumper sticker
shortly after Nate’s death: count your blessings, not your problems. “Nate was just that: a blessing,” he said. In his speech, Nate’s father so perfectly summed up the essence of his son’s short life: “If friendship is an art, then Nate was a master artist.”
It’s that time of year again, graduation and summer break are nearly upon us, and as the next issue welcomes ECOS President Rhemy Brezin and the 2012-2013 ECOS Executive Council into office, I would like to reflect on the past 12 months. It has been a privilege to serve the Eckerd community as the president of ECOS this past year and an honor to represent an involved, passionate and energetic student body. At the beginning of the year, I outlined three key themes and objectives for ECOS for the upcoming year. These areas were continuing tradition, engineering new initiatives and evolving as a student government with the ideas of honoring the past, evaluating the present and designing a vision for the future. This year we have continued tradition and maintained our support of athletics, intramurals and re-occurring legacy events of ECOS such as Pitchers with Professors and Pizza with the President forums. We have provided buses for First Fridays and Gasparilla, continued the SafeRide program with Bat’s Taxi, supported Service Learning Service Trips, Autumn Term events and the Environmental Film Festival, offered the biannual EC Wellness Challenge, streamlined and revamped the ECOS Constitution, helped fund and send more than 200 students to the Keystone XL oil pipeline protest in Washington, DC, and offered Student Academic Conference Grants and Faculty and Student Interaction Grants. In the fall, we introduced our Small Changes, Significant Impact (SCSI) initiative, which has developed into our flagship program this year, bringing new volleyball nets, hammocks and an ice machine in Omega, along with a plethora of other student driven changes. All of these accomplishments would not have been possible without your help. I would like to thank the entire Eckerd College faculty and staff who I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 12 months and most importantly, thank the entire student body, friends and peers who have generously dedicated an innumerable amount of time, support and talent, helping to make this year a success. From Palmetto Productions to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, ECOS Student Senate and The Current staff, Student Affairs and Campus Activities, SCSB, Pet Council, ResLife, and members of the 95 clubs and organizations on campus this year, academic departments, and employees of the college, I sincerely extend the deepest gratitude and thank you for your all time and commitment. As I move on, I wish the best of luck to the students, faculty and staff of Eckerd College in everything that they pursue. Congratulations on a fantastic year.
4 News
the current
April 20, 2012
Images courtesy of Illadelph.com and Wikimedia commons
Following the bong: The demise of confiscated paraphernelia By Hayden Johnson Quickie Editor courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Young democrats organize on campus EC Democrats from front page
“Our events so far have consisted of meetings to get a feel for what EC wants from this group, voter registrations and GOP debate viewings,” says Dickinson. “[Students have] to be educated on what policies/ideas the Republican candidates have.” The biggest draw to the organization is the 2012 Obama Campaign. Plans are already under way to organize phone banking and canvassing for the President in Florida, the most critical swing state in the national election. “Next fall the Young Democrats of Eckerd will take a group role in working for the Obama campaign 2012” says Slep. “We are going to be working with the local “O-Team” members running the Obama headquarters in downtown St. Pete.” The group also plans on holding open forums on policies and accomplishments/setbacks under the Obama Administration on issues such as taxes, education, and healthcare reform. “Even if you don’t fully agree,” said Dickinson, “you need to be aware, educated then able to raise your voice for or against a decision which we are more than happy to help with.” But it’s not only national politics that Eckerd’s Young Democrats are concerned about. There are plenty of local elections to get involved in including the reelection bid of Florida’s Democratic Senator Bill Nelson. According to Slep, “Brianna Dickinson and I are looking to burst the “Eckerd bubble” and introduce more students to the outside world of local, progressive legislation.” Eckerd’s organization will be teaming up with Pinellas County’s Young Democrats in order to advance an activist role for Eckerd progressives throughout the bay area. When asked about Young Democrats’ relationship with Eckerd’s Young Republicans, the club heads indicated that such a relationship is absent. This is due to the fact that both organizations are relatively new and not because of partisan animosity. On the contrary, Dickinson claimed that the organization wants to encourage bipartisan cooperation rather than political divisiveness. According to Dickinson, “I want to promote that just because you’re a Democrat doesn’t mean there isn’t one generally known Republican idea you can’t agree with and vice a versa.” Young Democrats want to take part in civil dialogue on issues of importance to the Eckerd community. According to Slep, Eckerd’s leftward tilt is caused by certain issues of interest. “Students demonstrate a liberal persona through their large interests toward the “green” movement and ending global warming, improving illegal workers rights and pay, and by supporting and exploring the advancements in women’s justice worldwide.” Campus organizations such as Coalition for Community Justice (CCJ), the Environmental Sustainability Council, EC Pride, Service Learning and the Office of Women’s Resources have helped reinforce liberal values throughout the student community. EC Young Democrats have a lot of resources and campus support at their disposal, which will certainly aid the organization in achieving its objectives come November 2012.
Being with Campus Safety on matters dealing with the possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Many people who own water pipes, commonly referred to in street terms as “bongs,” take pride in and special care of their smoking apparatus. Higher quality bongs can run their owner hundreds of dollars, with most resembling a piece of art. Misdemeanor amounts of marijuana are the only drug confiscated on campus. All other drugs would constitute a felony warranting that the situation be turned over to the St. Petersburg Police. After the misdemeanor amounts of marijuana are confiscated, they are destroyed according to standard operating procedures, which includes flushing the evidence once it has been photographed and tested. When it’s apparent that the amount of marijuana confiscated is for distribution, then the investigation is handed over to the police. Any offense will receive disciplinary action through the Student Community Standards Board after the offender appears before them for a hearing.
So what does happen to your beloved pipes once they are taken from their homes? First it is documented, photographed and then logged in the evidence room. Then, it is tested for drug use. If it tests positive for THC or other chemicals that signify it was used for drugs, it will be smashed. The way it’s destroyed is with something called “The Bong Hammer.” Adam Colby, the head of Campus Safety said, “It’s this old hammer we have and it just has “Bong Hammer” written on it.” While this is happening, the drugs that were confiscated along with the bong are flushed down the toilet. Just hearing about the way Campus Safety disposed of the pieces really brought out opinions in students. Student alias S. had his piece named “Poncho” confiscated during the second day of classes earlier this semester. He sat down in the Zeta lounge after hearing about what happened to his piece. S. had his shoulders on the table, reflecting upon the destruction that was brought to his steam roller, a type of pipe used for smoking tobacco and marijuana. “I just feel devastated.
Poncho lived a great life, his time came and the legend will live on.” Disturbed looks came to other students’ faces when they found out the fate of other confiscated pieces. Nonetheless, if students were caught outside of campus with the same paraphernalia they would be charged with a misdemeanor.
promotional photo
Medical marijuana legislation goes up in smoke By Max Martinez Managing Editor Florida, long nicknamed “God’s waiting room,” will have to wait on medical marijuana, too. Bills filed in the Florida House and Senate that would have put a medical marijuana question on the 2012 ballot failed to make it out of committee this legislative session. Had the bills been passed by the Legislature, 60 percent of voters would have needed to approve the measure to make marijuana legally available as medicine. In it’s original text, the bill allowed for the medicinal use of marijuana by patients with “debilitating medical conditions.” The bill gave no specific examples, but Multiple Sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and ALS are conditions typically covered by medical marijuana bills. Some states, like California, allow the use of marijuana for virtually any condition, so long as a doctor believes the patient can benefit from doing so. Florida’s proposed amendment restricted use to patients with debilitating conditions only. The 2012 legistlative session was the first in which medical marijuana bills were introduced in both the House and Senate. Rep. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) and
Sen. Larcenia Bullard (D-Miami) sponsored the House and Senate resolutions respectively. A 2011 poll conducted by Fabrizio, McLaughlin and Associates (a firm run by Gov. Rick Scott advisor Tony Fabrizio) found that 57 percent of Floridians support a medical marijuana ballot initiative. 37 percent opposed the measure. Since 60 percent of voters would need to approve any ballot initiative, “the ‘no’ side is closer to winning than the ‘yes’ side,” Fabrizio told the Broward Palm Beach New Times. A key demographic in the fight to change existing drug laws is the senior crowd, who were partially blamed for the failure of Prop 19 in California, which would have fully legalized small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. Florida, a state notorious for its elderly population, would have to win the support of seniors if a ballot initiative is to pass. Hoping to change seniors’ minds is Robert Platshorn, the longest-serving marijuana offender in U.S. history. Platshorn spent 29 years in a federal prison for smuggling tons of Colombian grass into the United States in the 1970s, helping to popularize high quality strains like Santa Marta Gold, a forefather of contemporary cannabis varieties. He is also the man who originally persuaded Rep. Clemens to
sponsor the House resolution. Platshorn is currently leading “The Silver Tour,” a PR campaign of sorts for medical marijuana in Florida that directly targets the 55 and older crowd, of which the 69-year-old Platshorn is a member. The Silver Tour, which has drawn upward of 200 attendees at its events so far, hopes to educate seniors on the medicinal value of marijuana and dispel some of the myths surrounding the plant. The Silver Tour, with money donated by disabled truck driver Charles Stroud, has also paid for two billboards in Pompano Beach, a city just north of Fort Lauderdale. Census figures from 2010 show Pompano Beach with a population of just below 100,000, with 23 percent of residents 65 years of age or older. With the 2012 Legislative session in the books, activists like Platshorn are already preparing for next year, when they will once again lobby for a medical marijuana ballot initiative. They’ll lose ally Sen. Bullard, who can not run for re-election in 2012 due to Florida term limits, but she serves as a microcosm for the state’s shifting attitudes toward medical marijuana. A schoolteacher who never dreamed of supporting the use of marijuana, Bullard originally filed the senate resolution as a nod to her constituents. After researching
the issue, she became a strong supporter, in part because of her mother’s fight with Alzheimer’s. “For patients like my mother, whose only options are medicines with intolerable side effects or diseases which take away their ability to live, cannabis can really help,” Bullard told the Miami New Times. “At least I can open the door to a discussion.”
courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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the current
April 20, 2012
For liberal arts, money makes a difference By Sarah Malhotra Staff Writer Liberal arts programs attract students for all sorts of reasons. A lot of you probably picked Eckerd College in part because of its self-advertised participatory educational process. Well, that and the palm trees. The traditional reasons for attending a liberal arts school are because a liberal arts education teaches you how to think, how to learn, how to see things as a whole, and makes you a better teacher. You’ll come out of a liberal arts program as a “well-rounded” individual. According to Political Science Professor Anthony Brunello, “It’s the last line of defense against an online faceless technocratic world that substitutes information for wisdom. Professor Martha Nussbaum is correct about what is required to become an educated human being in the 21st century.” But Eckerd is not just a liberal arts college; it’s a private liberal arts college. As a private institution, Eckerd College is primarily funded by tuition. And as a result, the declining economy harms public state universities more than private liberal arts programs, because government cutbacks do not impact private institutions as severely. Earlier this year, the Florida State Senate announced plans to cut back the University of Florida’s budget by at least $79 million. According to the Tampa Tribune, “that’s one fifth of a proposed $400 million cut to the entire university system, even though USF is one of 11 state universities.” In addition, another $49 million is to be cut due to the creation of a new university in place of USF’s Lakeland branch campus (USF Polytechnic). The combined $128 million reduction “represents nearly 40 percent of this year›s education budget for the USF Tampa campus,” according to the Tampa Tribune.
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USF spokesman Michael Hoad told the Tampa Tribune, “If we have to take a full $128 million cut by July 1st of this year, everything is on the chopping block.” This includes academic programs. Going to a private college means that budget cuts from the government aren’t nearly as devastating as they would be for a public state university. However they could have some impact. “Governmental cutbacks have a potential for affecting the College, particularly if these cutbacks are for financial aid or for grants funded by the Federal Government,” said Luz Arcila, associate vice president for Business and Finance. Even though Eckerd is not funded by the government, there is always the possibility of being just as disadvantaged as a public university. “Since Eckerd’s budget is primarily tuition based, our potential for reduction centers around a significant decrease in enrollment,” said Arcila. “As part of our Business Continuity Planning, the College has developed some planning scenarios to ensure the continuation of programs and services and the integrity of the academic program.” Overall, private colleges are not nearly as dependent on the government as public ones. So going to a private college can be a better investment. And according to CBS News, “If you need financial aid, private liberal arts colleges are often more generous than state institutions, which have been spending the majority of their discretionary cash on affluent students. Rich students, however, also routinely receive a price break from most liberal arts colleges.” Liberal arts colleges provide lifelong lessons instead of focusing on a particular career path. As long as students find this kind of education appealing, government cutbacks won’t be detrimental enough to stop the liberal arts from prevailing.
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News 5
Feeling the heat:
Buckling under international pressure, Iran enters nuclear talks
By Sean Lawlor Columnist For Iran and the regime of Ayatollah Khomeini, 2012 has been a turbulent year. Iran’s threat to cut off the Straits of Hormuz to international trade earlier this year prompted the American Navy to flex its hard power in the region by deploying the USS Lincoln in the Arabian Sea and the USS Enterprise in the Gulf Aden. If President Obama gives the word, aircrafts on these vessels can initiate bombing attacks over Iranian airspace at anytime. Israel has been even more vigilant. Israeli President Bibi Netanyahu has hinted that Israel may destroy Iranian nuclear facilities in a preemptive strike as it did to Iraq in 1981. Not only is Iran being geopolitically boxed in militarily by the US and Israel, but economically by the international community. The UN Security Council has agreed to four rounds of economic sanctions on Iran thus far. This year, the international community has taken steps to deliver a blow to Iran’s most profitable industry, crude oil. The U.S. hasn’t purchased Iranian oil for years, but members of the European Union have continued to do so, at least until recently. Last month, the European Union agreed to freeze all Iranian assets in the European Central Bank and embargo all purchases of Iranian oil from its members starting this July, thereby cutting off Iran from its biggest customer. According to the International Energy Agency, last year the EU imported 600,000 barrels of oil from Iran per day, accounting for almost a quarter of Iran’s total energy exports. Despite these bleak figures, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad confidently affirms that Iran’s economy can withstand these sanctions. “We have as much hard currency as we need and the country will manage well,” Mr. Ahmadinejad said in a report in the New York Times, “even if we don’t sell a single barrel of oil for two or three years.” As part of a global effort to punish Iranian defiance, Washington has arm twisted other nations into sanctioning their energy trade with Iran. Earlier this year the U.S. imposed sanctions on Asian companies that continue to trade with Iran such as China’s state run Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, Singapore’s Kuo Oil Petroleum Ltd, and FAL Oil Company a firm based in the United Arab Emirates. Russia and China have cautioned the U.S. to avoid such coercive tactics. China in particular has called for more flexibility in the negotiation process. “We hope all parties will cherish and seize this opportunity, show flexibility and sincerity in the dialogue, to open a constructive and sustained dialogue process,” said a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry in a report from NPR. As a result of harsh responses
from the international community, the Iranian regime has started to rethink its animosity towards cooperation with the West. Last weekend, Iran agreed to attend an international negotiation session concerning its nuclear enrichment program. During nuclear talks held in Istanbul Turkey, the Iranian leadership met with representatives from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, The United States, France, Great Britain, Russia and China, as well as Germany. Under consideration was the transferring of all uranium material enriched up to 20 percent, material that the Iranian regime claims is for medical isotopes. The Iranian leadership has insisted that uranium enrichment is meant for peaceful civilian purposes and not for a nuclear weapon. When asked about the validity of Iran’s pacifist claims, Eckerd College Middle Eastern Politics Prof. Fiat Muedini argues these questions are more complex than the US perceives. “It’s difficult to gauge someone’s intent,” says Muedini. “We should consider what Iran we are talking about. The Ayatollah has his own interests and President Ahmadinejad has his own interests. How different are they?” According to Prof. Muedini, more could be done in pursuit of a peaceful solution based on mutual trust. “There needs to be fair and realistic diplomatic efforts from all sides in this dispute,” says Muedini. “I don’t think nuclear weapons are good for anything and there needs to be an honest discussion about reducing nuclear arsenals across the board.” Participants in the nuclear talks concluded with positive comments from all parties on the progress of negotiations with Iran. According to the BBC, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton judged the nuclear talks to be “constructive and useful.” She continued by explaining that future discussions would require a level of trust built on the “principle of a step-by-step approach and reciprocity”. Chief Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili hailed the nuclear talks as “very successful” in building mutual trust. However, Mr. Jalili reminded the West that Iran “should enjoy our rights [under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to enrich uranium up to 20 percent] in parallel with our obligations”. The White House returned the favor by praising Iran’s “positive attitude” during the talks as the first step towards a mutual agreement. President Obama has cautioned Iran over the last few weeks that the window of opportunity is closing for negotiation and that this is Iran’s “last chance.” World leaders and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) are hoping that these positive trends continue at the next talks scheduled for May, 23 in Bagdad.
6 News
the current
April 20, 2012
Editor-in-Chief Ashley Daniels thecurrent@eckerd.edu Managing Editor Max Martinez
News Editor Elizabeth Tomaselli currentnews@eckerd.edu Asst. News Editors Malena Carollo Josh Keeler Viewpoints Editor Jeralyn Darling currentviews@eckerd.edu Asst. Viewpoints Editor Carver Elliot Lee
Entertainment Editor Shelby Howell currententertainment@eckerd.edu Asst. Entertainment Editor Cait Duffy Ian Lindsay The Quickie Editors Hayden Johnson Ely Grinfeld Health & Fitness Editor Jaclyn New Asst. Health & Fitness Editor Kelly Coston Mike Geibel Sports Editor Lincoln Andres-Beck currentsports@eckerd.edu Asst. Sports Editors Will Creager Greg Reiley Photo Editor Alex Zielinski Web Editor Johnny Jones Asst. Web Editors Mike Geibel Seth Ravid Web Master Shawn Craine Graphic Designers Carver Elliot Lee Max Martinez Alex Zielinski
Faculty Adviser Tracy Crow Director of Finances Beth Robinson Director of PR/Advertising Devon Williams currentads@eckerd.edu Asst. Director of PR/Advertising Arielle Burger Columnists Sean Lawlor Ethan Packey Evan Bollier
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 welomes 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 goverment 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.
PETA to launch new site By Malena Carollo Asst. News Editor For most, “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” (PETA) brings to mind mixed images. Some are as tame as the “I am not a nugget!” stickers, others as drastic as throwing fake blood at celebrities wearing fur. Soon, however, PETA may bring different images to mind when the group premiers its triple-X porn website. “We’re hoping to reach a whole new audience of people,” Lindsay Rajt, associate director of campaigns told the Associated Press, “some of whom will be shocked by graphic images that maybe they didn’t anticipate seeing when they went to the PETA triple-X site.” According to the Huffington Post, the site will be a fully-functioning adult entertainment website, featuring both videos and images. Keeping true to their animal rights roots, PETA’s twist on the porn lies in the intermixed “clips of animals suffering and…vegetarian starter kits and recipes,” which it will use to promote its message of animal rights and vegetarianism. “PETA’s absolutely insane,” Gabriel Lenhoff, a freshman, said in reaction. “They go against all normal boundaries to get their point across. I agree with the ethical treatment of animals, but it’s [the porn site] not going to attract new members.” Other students felt similarly. “If I were [an organization] I wouldn’t want that kind of negativity,” Natasha Tirado, a freshman, said. “The company doesn’t represent porn, they’re going to be a company that strives for something great and ends up making a fool of themselves. That’s not part of who they are. There are certain ways to go about things like this, and there are certain things that should be avoided.”
One issue the PETA site might face is retention of users. Some viewers might not continue to watch porn with intermittent slaughtered animal videos on PETA’s site when they are able to streamline their porn experiences on other adult film sites. “People who are stumbling around on porn sites are going to skip over it,” Lenhoff said, “and that’s not the kind of people who they’re going to want. Plus people aren’t going to be like, ‘How’d you find out about PETA?’ ‘Oh, I found it when I was looking at porn.’” Similarly, measuring the actual impact of the site on PETA’s goals will also be something to monitor. “I think that they take a very shock and awe kind of approach and put far too much emphasis on the negative,” Michelle Breault, sophomore, said. “They play off of shaming people who aren’t vegetarians rather than highlighting the benefits of the lifestyle. I don’t think they’ve successfully converted too many people, and if so only through disgust. I feel as if it’s effective in the way that they get a large reaction but I don’t think it makes a strong, lasting impact for the good which is supposedly what they’re all about. Personally I just don’t think it’s the way to go.” PETA has already delved into the realm of controversial ad campaigns with its “I’d rather go naked than wear fur” promotion. Launched in 1991, celebrities, such as Pamela Anderson and Khloe Kardashian, posed nude for the campaign to help raise awareness about the mistreatment of animals in the fur industry. Though actual porn will be a new frontier
North Korea fails to launch
for an animal rights angle, PETA is no stranger to the adult film industry, and has worked with adult film stars such as Jenna Jameson and Sasha Grey in past campaigns. In one ad, Jameson is seen in heels and lingerie, inviting the viewer to “Pleather Yourself ” as an anti-fur campaign. Another shows her mostly covered by sheets with the tagline “Sometimes too much sex can be a bad thing,” urging viewers to spay and neuter their pets. The site was set to launch some time in Dec. 2011, but has yet to premiere. Currently, the Peta.XXX web address directs to a page that reads, “We’re not quite ready to reveal peta.xxx yet, but we promise that when we do, there will definitely be a happy ending.”
Pitchers with professors remains campus tradition By Devon Williams Director of PR and Advertising
By Ethan Packey Columnist
North Korea celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the birth of its founder last Friday by launching a three stage rocket. The rocket’s stated purpose was to place a weather satellite in orbit and the launch failed dismally. The rocket’s first stage disintegrated after one and a half minutes and the other two stages failed to ignite. So while South Korea, Japan and other concerned nations can celebrate because North Korea’s ballistic missile program is horrible, there is a lot about the country’s recent actions that remain problematic. First on the list of problematic actions is the disintegration of the deal struck by President Obama with North Korea on February 29. The basic concept behind the deal was a partial ending of the program and allowance of international inspections in exchange for food, lots of food. Major news organizations have indicated that China was crucial to helping the president secure the now defunct deal. The Chinese government is also angry at North Korea for going ahead with last Friday’s launch because China saw the move as provocative. While China is North Korea’s primary ally, the country has an interest in peacefully resolving the military standoff between North Korea and South Korea. The United Nations Security Council also condemned the launch, but is not seeking further sanctions and is exploring
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courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
other possibilities about how to resolve North Korea’s expanding belligerence. President Obama condemned the launch and called for further enforcement of existing sanctions, a task that he will need China’s help on. And while everyone seems to be annoyed with North Korea, the only regional actor taking decisive action is South Korea. They are concerned that satellite photos of the site where North Korea held its two previous nuclear tests showed signs of renewed activity. North Korea’s previous nuclear weapons tests happened in 2006 and 2009 respectively. Since that time North Korea’s uranium enrichment program has improved significantly and South Korea is concerned about the possible creation of a more sophisticated weapon and/or more sophisticated delivery systems. Because of those concerns, South Korea is trying to edge out of a deal made with the United States in 2001 that limits South Korea’s ballistic missile development. So while all actors involved maintain that their moves are defensive in nature, the Korean Peninsula is now the sight of renewed diplomatic and military tension.
Pitchers with Professors is an event that is uniquely Eckerd. A tradition that no one can quite remember when it started dates back to the early years of Eckerd. When there was still a pub in Brown Hall and before the 10-year alcohol ban that took place from the late 80s to the early 2000s. Shortly after Eckerd was christened a wet campus again, at the grand opening of the Triton’s Pub in 2001, the ECOS vice president of academic affairs decided it was time to bring the tradition of Pitchers back to life. The event has continued to be run by the ECOS vice president of academic affairs since then. The way it works is that students, who are over 21, staff and professors are wrist banded by the Academic Affairs Committee members and then the professors can get pitchers of beer and sangria from behind the pub and serve it to students that they have conversations with through out the night. This event is not exclusive to students who are of age. Root beer from the tap is also provided so everyone can take part in the event. Junior, Jenna Caderas is not yet 21 but still attends. “Even though I’m not 21, it’s still great to go and socialize with professors. The root beer is a nice option for students who aren’t able to drink alcohol.” One of the aspects that make this tradition
so unique is the way that students, staff and faculty get to know each other in a relaxed setting. This event is one way that the Eckerd community supports safe and responsible drinking on campus. Fred Sabota, the ECOS staff adviser and assistant dean, states, “I think it’s a great event because it gives students an opportunity to sit with their faculty and staff outside of formal settings such as the classroom.” A frequent attendee, Sabota is proud of the progress that Pitchers has made this year. The most recent Pitchers with Professors took place during Alumni Weekend. This brought in more than 300 students, staff, faculty and alumni to the Triton’s Pub. Professors enjoy this event just as much as the students. Conversations range from pop culture to a continuation of lecture. Brian MacHarg appreciated this event as a student and now as a professor. “I think it’s [Pitchers with Professors] a good thing here. I think faculty look for opportunities to talk with students. From the faculty side, just to hang out and talk about anything whether it be great ideas or whether it just be about baseball or movies with students in an informal setting.” The next Pitchers with Professors is 4:00 p.m., April 20 in the Triton’s Pub. Invite your professors and continue this Eckerd tradition.
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the current
April 20, 2012
News 7
Delta updates underway By Malena Carollo Asst. News Editor
courtesy of Eckerd College Zeta dorm and Omega dorm.
RAs comment on dorm personalities Dorms from front page
two out of my three years here at Eckerd and for a good reason. Alpha is an awesome place to live,” Alpha Mill RA Jenna Sciarrino says. “Alpha is right in the middle of everything going on around campus, and it definitely appeals to students who are sociable, friendly and enthusiastic about meeting others.” Others may disagree. “Alpha tends to be quieter and more sheltered than other dorms,” Zeta Kirby RA Danny Kovarik says. “Because of its location, in a way it is more isolated than other traditional dorms.” Unlike Alpha, Beta will offer a pet-friendly house in Darwin next year. Its other buildings include health and wellness Dante and co-ed Benedict and Kennedy. “Beta has a very open and easy-going vibe,” Beta Darwin RA Shannon Forshee explains. “It’s a very family atmosphere; we decorate for holidays and make Sunday dinners together. We’re also right next to the waterfront so we have a really active dorm in sports and activities.” Other RAs agree. “I think Beta is unique because it gets stereotyped as the quiet dorm in a negative way, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to live there,” Zeta Hiaasen RA, and former Beta resident, Mara Shingleton says. “It’s really nice to come back to a dorm that isn’t littered or blaring music. The people at Beta seem to keep to themselves, but some of them are really so close. They are a responsible little family,” she laughs. Gamma, just west of Beta, is the only complex that will offer a themed house oriented around community service in Knox. Freeman will be environmental, Newton will be female and Wilson will be co-ed. “The houses each have their own unique vibe but they’ve come together in a great way,” Gamma Wilson RA Michelle Breault says. “This year’s been particularly expressive; the picnic tables have God knows how many coats of paint on them and there’s a whole mess of dream catchers in the trees.” Alpha Gandhi’s Claire Fleishell says Gamma is “good for those who want to go green! It is also a nice quiet place.” Next year will have Berkeley, Copley and James as co-ed, and Ibsen will be both pet-friendly and female. “I’ve never seen a community amongst dorms so strong as in Delta,” Delta James RA Nick Napoli says. “Nothing compares to how amazing my residents of Delta James are.”
Another RA continues, “Delta seems to do its own thing. On most nights they have a group of kids just hanging out, listening to music. A pretty close knit group, I would say,” adds Gamma Newton RA Tiffany Flor. “It’s like if there isn’t anything going on around campus, they can make their own party any time they like at the picnic tables.” Epsilon, between Delta and Iota, will also offer an all-female house in Dalton while Blakely and Douglas will be co-ed and Beecher will allow pets. “It holds a very friendly atmosphere,” Epsilon Beecher RA Mike Harris says. “At any given time you will find students either outside on the bench or inside on the couches, and you could always walk in and just start talking with them. The boys in Epsilon seem to have the reputation of being ‘bros.’” “When you get to Epsilon, you can feel the high energy and fun in the air,” Epsilon Dalton RA Katie Pemberton says. “While that is a trait of Epsilon in general, each house does it differently!” Iota, the newest dormitory on campus, is the only traditional complex with its own laundry facility at no additional cost. Byars will be health and wellness, Lukens will be all female, and Wrenn and Wittner will be co-ed. The complex will still require the student’s identification card for entry, which allows for “less vandalism in the dorm,” Iota Wrenn RA Sarah Levine says. “I think the Iota vibe is clean, peaceful, and friendly.” Iota outsiders offer their best guesses. “While I don’t know too much about Iota, I have always gotten a really safe, calm and simple feeling there and it almost seems like a quiet, comfy place to come home to,” Pemberton says. Kappa will offer environmental Morris, pet-friendly Scott, and co-ed Leighton and Oberg. “I really enjoy being an RA in Kappa,” Kappa Morris RA Erik Brydges says. “Kappa is a really chilled out place to live, and the residents are awesome. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Geographically speaking, Kappa is close to the South Beach volleyball courts and the hammocks, so it’s just a short walk to, arguably, the most beautiful spots on campus!” “Kappa is probably the most social dorm,” Sigma RA Bob Avila says. “It is also an RA’s nightmare on weekend rounds.” Nu residents, along with their stunning views of Kappa field and South Beach, have the luxury of eight-person suites, each with four private bathrooms. “Nu is owning the
parties this year,” Nu RA Alex Simpson says. “Although that means more work for me, I am proud of my residents for leading the Eckerd community in such festivities.” Levine currently lives in Iota, but adds, “Nu has a great different kind of community because you get to live with seven of your best friends.” Omega, however, is three stories tall, with thirty-three apartment suites overlooking Boca Ciega Bay. “I think the overall vibe of Omega would be an eclectic mix of well-seasoned Eckerd students who know exactly how they want to enjoy the remainder of their time here,” Omega RA Nichole Holm says. “Although Omega does have a lot of parties it is a good place to bridge from traditional housing to ‘real world housing,’” says Fleishell. All the way on the other side of campus, Sigma boasts hotel style living with private bathrooms and practically their own cafeteria. “Sigma is the best dorm on campus,” Avila says. “We have individual bathrooms and showers. We also have an awesome community since most of the students don’t enjoy making the trek to and from other dorms. We are forced to love each other.” Pemberton adds, “Because the structure is so different, each room has its own character. So each resident can really make their room as they wish, more independently. You could have two completely different atmospheres next door to each other.” Back in traditional housing, next year Zeta Henderson and Kirby will be co-ed, Hiaasen will be female and Hubbard will be pet-friendly. “Zeta’s vibe is very chill, everyone is friendly and laid-back,” Kovarik says. Another RA has a different perspective. “Zeta is actually one of the dorms on campus I’ve never really hung out in, or would consider living in,” Sciarrino says. “Whenever I’ve gone on rounds through Zeta it’s always unnecessarily loud and messy, and messy is usually an understatement. On the other hand, Zeta has a great view of the bay and an awesome new lounge! I feel as though because of the new upgrades, the atmosphere and stereotypes about Zeta are definitely changing.” 78 percent of students currently live on campus, and the reason behind choosing a particular complex is different to everyone. The arrangement for next year is well underway, promising an exciting time for new and returning students.
Next year’s Delta residents could be in for a surprise when they return from summer break: a refurbished lounge. Just as the Zeta lounge was remodeled last summer, Delta is the next complex scheduled for new digs. “We’ve only done one so far, so we’ve only had one experience with that process,” Jamey Handorf, associate director of residence life, said. “But we’re probably going to replicate it as best we can given the success that we’ve had in the Zeta lounge thus far.” Handorf and Justin Long, director of campus housing, are co-leading the renovation project. They meet with architects from ARC3 Architecture to work out designs, materials and color schemes before asking for student input, a process that usually takes months. Like Zeta, students from the complex will be able to give their input on the materials used. An email invitation to the complex will be sent out where students can look at proposed materials and express which they like the most. But why Delta? “The location is more central to campus,” Handorf said. “One of the things we’ve seen with Zeta is that students from other complexes use it, so the idea being to put one in a more central location so it’s more accessible to others.” Delta is one of the seven original dorms on campus, including Alpha, Beta, Epsilon, Gamma, Kappa and Zeta. According to Jim Annarelli, dean of students, if funding allows, the plan is to renovate one of these “legacy” lounges per summer, then renovating the houses. “We wanted to begin with the complex lounges,” Annarelli said, “because they could provide a renovated space that could be enjoyed by all students. But our plan is to move from the complex lounges to the houses themselves.” While renovating this next lounge, Eckerd will work with the architects to improve on the designs from the Zeta lounge. According to Annarelli, some improvements include “improving the style and comfort of the stools that line the counter,” two sinks, as opposed to a single divided sink and a more “user-friendly” dishwasher. “We’re also looking at purchasing additional upholstered furniture that would enhance seating,” Annarelli said. “We also want to ensure that the furniture is not as stiff as the furniture we have at Zeta, [furniture] with a higher ‘floppability’ factor.” Currently, the project is in the initial phases of the permitting process and is scheduled for Summer 2012. “The success that the students have shown in being responsible with everything in Zeta has given us reassurance that it was a good idea, and this is something the students like and can care for,” Handorf said. “I think it’s important to note that none of the furniture in the Zeta lounge has disappeared or been damaged in a way that has rendered it unusable.”
Earth Alumni Grove restoration update By Evan Bollier Columnist
Office hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. bollieea@eckerd.edu 727-864-8980. The 1967 Senior Class President, Rufus Sessions, gave students several options for their Senior Gift including a natural forested area, a new pulpit for the chapel, or a card catalogue for the library. His class chose a natural forested area, so Ru-
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fus organized and implemented the Alumni Grove site that we know today. They had enough money to purchase 150 four-foot tall slash pines and several ornamental flowering trees. The bottom right hand corner of a 1971 photograph shows the newly planted Alumni Grove. Up until 2004, there was neither specific signage nor designated caretakers. The area was left natural since 1967 and subsequently suffered from illegal dumping and neglect. Rufus Sessions was 50 when he was diagnosed with cancer. When he died at 55, he left a gift to Eckerd for a Psychology Scholarship and money to refurbish his old Alumni Grove.
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On his deathbed, Rufus requested his childhood friend and fellow Eckerd Alumni, Robbie Hattaway (‘67), to see that the Grove was restored, rejuvenated, and maintained. The gift is still used on an annual basis by the Environmental Studies senior comps class to do small restoration projects. In 2008, the official sign was installed and the monument in the grove was refurbished. Each year, Environmental Studies students and alumni help to maintain the grove and add new plantings Aerial view of campus, 1971 as well as seating. This year, the seniors will be creating a butterfly Studies senior comps class on Mongarden at the grove. day, April 30, 2012, from 1:40 to Please join the Environmental 3:10 p.m. to complete their Annual
courtesy of Eckerd College Archives
Alumni Grove Restoration Work Day.
8 News
the current
April 20, 2012
B l a s t f r o m t h e pa s t Welcome back to the “blast from the past,� a feature showcasing articles from our archives. This piece, from April 21, 1995 showcases the front page of The Triton Tribune, published nearly 17 years ago from today.
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the current
April 20, 2012
Viewpoints
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CViewpoints Reflecting on the life of Nate Mosby “He would’ve laughed at the Tampa Bay Times article and that they had it wrong when they called him a man. According to Nate, we were all still boys and girls, especially him.” By Shannon Vize Staff Writer
Sophomore Nathan Mosby, 1992-2012.
photo by Victoria Crespi
As I sat in the memorial service, I thought about what Nate would think of all of this. How he would’ve laughed at the Tampa Bay Times article and said that they had gotten it wrong when they called him a man. According to Nate, we were all still boys and girls, especially him. He would’ve made fun of me for not being able to light the candle right away and he would’ve loved the goofy smile he had in the picture they chose to display. He would’ve been happy. It’s that genuine joy that drew people to him. On Saturday afternoon, I saw the extent of the impact his life had. He touched the lives of everyone who was lucky enough to cross paths with him. Nate was loved by so many and cherished as a son, brother, best friend and roommate by those who knew him best. His life was tragically cut short
for reasons I will never understand, but he lives on in the hearts of those who knew him. I will remember fondly the talks we shared, how open we could be with one another and how much closer we had gotten. Calling him my best friend would never measure up to how much Nate meant to me or to any of us. He was unique; the most goofy, ridiculous person. But once he came into my life, I didn’t know how I had ever lived without him. Nate’s death is the hardest thing many of us have ever been faced with, but I feel blessed to have been given the short amount of time I had with him. I will never forget the last few minutes I had to spend with him, cooking out at Kappa with our friends. As I caught him laughing and crying, I glanced over only to see Brad Samuels, Nate’s roommate and the final part of our trio, hysterically laughing, as well. Yet again,
Students feel restricted in study abroad options
promotional photo
fered through an Eckerd-affiliated program may not be so lucky. Students who travel to a country like Israel, which is not offered by Eckerd or its affiliates, are not guaranteed credit transfer and must submit their transcripts upon completion for review. To receive credit for studying through an unaffiliated program, a student must submit an official transcript to the registrar, as well as all syllabi, bibliographies, assignments and written work from the courses they took abroad. Furthermore, transfer credit is only
awarded for courses that are comparable to an existing Eckerd College course, and the student must receive at least the equivalent of a C-. Director of International Education Diane Ferris says the insurance from the programs Eckerd uses does not cover Israel because it is on the State Department Warning List for Travel. Other universities, including the University of Miami, the State University of New York system and Rutgers University, offer the opportunity to study in Israel for credit.
Katherine Raker, a junior who studied in Israel last semester, says she carried out a normal life abroad, and while there are certainly places in Israel that are safer than others, she was informed where to not go. Campus Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, who has been to Israel with Eckerd students on the annual birthright trip, said that Israel is generally a safe place. “Israel proper is one of the safest countries in the world,” Rosenthal said. “You have a better chance of being a victim of a violent crime in St. Pete.” See israel, page 11
Homicide Rates (per 100,000 people) of other countries that ISEP sends students to:
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Sean Lawlor and Ethan Packey take on Drug laws page 12
Senior farewells: All senior staff members will write a final goodbye. Max Martinez starts off with Part 1 page 11
Op-ed:
Columnist Ethan Packey writes about ObamaCare page 12
My big fat gay column: Our LGBT columnist ventures to a local high school page 10
Miss Teen Masschusetts program leads to scholarship By Devon Williams Director of PR/Advertising
By Greg Reilly Asst. Sports Editor
A map showing Israel highlighted in red.
Friendly Fire:
See Mosby, page 10
Let our students go... to Israel
The opportunity to study abroad at Eckerd College is something that the college takes great pride in and advertises often. Eckerd students can travel to a number of countries on every continent through International Student Exchange Programs and affiliated programs with other universities such as Arcadia and Butler. Eckerd’s college-owned locations in London, Latin America and China are also an option, and the semester trips to the London Study Center are extremely popular year after year. Students who travel with these programs earn credits toward their Eckerd degree, but those who choose to travel through a non-affiliated program to a country not of-
INSIDE VIEWPOINTS
Photo courtesy of Wikicommons
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Portugal United Kingdom Israel Korea Argentina Lithuania Costa Rica Mexico
1.2 1.5 2.1 2.9 5.5 5.6 11.3 17.7
When I was Miss Massachusetts National Teenager in 2009, Eckerd College just happened to be a sponsor. With the first Explore Eckerd Weekend of this Spring Semester behind us, I couldn’t help but think about how I found myself at this institution we all fondly call a second home. Winning the crown also landed me a $10,000 renewable scholarship to the school of my dreams Pageantry has a bad reputation. People think the girls are slutty and the focus is materialistic. As you may have heard before, Miss America is a scholarship organization, not a beauty pageant. But in reality, it’s so much more. Competing in the Miss America Organization at any level, local, state or national, requires an academic transcript, community service platform, resume and official paperwork. This doesn’t even include the infamous swimsuit competition or interview that each contestant must go through in competition. And don’t forget the eveningwear portion or the category with the most clout, talent. Contrary to popular belief, competing in Miss America is not just See PAGEANT, page 11
10 Viewpoints
the current
April 20, 2012
My big fat gay column
Why we don’t go back to high school By Max Martinez Managing Editor
High school is one of those places we seldom return to voluntarily. Once you have a diploma, there’s no good reason to go back. But on two recent weekday afternoons, I made the trek to Osceola High School, in Seminole. What could have possibly lured me back into the winding cement halls of a public education institution? The elusive high school gay, a creature we know so little about, even David Attenborough couldn’t talk about it (although, were he to try, I have no doubt it would be incredibly pleasing to the ears). At Osceola, in the second floor classroom of Mr. Martens, an English teacher, I sat as 20 or so students gathered for the weekly meeting of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance. I expected the day to be the first of many glimpses into life for LGBT high school students in Florida, a state far more conservative than my Delaware. Instead, I left with a drastically disoriented sense of what sexuality means to today’s youth. There’s only one boy in the room, a junior named Jesse. Jesse tells me he came out in his sophomore year. That’s about as normal as anything I’d hear that day. A girl named Lexi is the force commanding the room, the club, even my questions. She sits next to Jesse, wearing a “Tapout” T-shirt, but does not come across as particularly butch or feminine. Her demeanor transcends labels. Kristen and Sam are the other two girls who stay past the normal ten-minute meeting time to talk with me. As a group, they rate Osceola a four out of ten for its acceptance of LGBT students, but nobody in the room has experienced anything too bad. Mr. Martens says the school has made a complete turnaround since he arrived there seven years ago. The conversation is fairly routine for the first hour. It’s easier to come out if you’re a girl, they tell me; they only know of one gay male couple, while numerous lesbian couples exist, some even attended prom last year together. There are a few out athletes, although none present at GSA.
After a while, a boy named Matt walks in, exuberantly hugs one of the girls and sits in the back row. He introduces himself as a straight Christian ally, but my notes from the day will read “effeminate-ish, wearing Star of David.” To say Matt confuses me is an understatement. The self-described Christian guy wearing a Star of David necklace throws me off, but that’s just the beginning. He has a passion for singing and enjoys Lady Gaga. I ask how he reconciles his Christian faith and his steadfast acceptance of his gay friends, to which he easily replies, “Jesus didn’t say anything about the gays.” He’s entirely correct, even though the holy one did have 12 adoring men following him everywhere. With Matt having sufficiently disabled my gaydar, I steer the conversation away from the school climate to what I thought was a simple question. “Do you think sexuality is something you’re born with?” I ask. Jesse is the first to answer. He doubts it’s genetic, although he agrees he has never been attracted to a woman. Lexi chimes in next. She agrees with Jesse, further blowing my mind, and argues that her attraction to women is because she was raised by a single father, who is straight. It’s from him that she learned what to like. I’m not thinking clearly at this point, and my notes reflect that with random unattributed quotes scribbled across the page. One of the students isn’t sure what is at the root of sexuality, while another compares it to taste buds. Matt wants to know why somebody can’t choose their sexuality but they can choose their religion. Somebody says there is a psychological basis for sexuality, something I can finally support 100 percent. After nearly two hours of discussion, I depart Osceola High School with my mind in more knots than it was after the first time I saw Inception. I didn’t know what to make of it all: the accepting school that was rated a four out of ten; the kids with more accepting families in Florida than I’ve seen in Delaware; the nearly unanimous opinion that sexual orientation is more learned or developed than genetically determined; Matt, just in general. I thought I had things figured out until then. This is why we avoid going back to high school.
perspECtives “I liked meeting people. It was very interactive to see who I would be classmates with.”
- Madeleine Dearth, Florida
Remembering Nate Mosby MOSBY from page 9
they were making ridiculous faces at one another and laughing as if it were the first time they had ever thought to do this. I felt an immense sense of joy and gratitude in that moment and a sense of peacefulness. I realized how far our friendship had come since freshman year and how blessed I was to have found two people who valued and understood me, and themselves, so perfectly. It’s that feeling that I will hold onto during the moments when I miss Nate the most. It is with joy, love and fondness that we will remember Nathan Mosby. It is up to us to honor these memories by cherishing every minute we have to live, laughing a little longer with our friends and studying a little more often like Nate always did.
courtesy Noah Mosby A disposable camera capturs this moment of best friends, (from left) Nate Mosby, Shannon Vize and Brad Samuels.
Senior editors say goodbye A two-part ending to four surreal years By Max Martinez Managing Editor When we were told our final senior columns would be limited to 500 words, I did what any resourceful senior does in a moment of panic: I asked for an extension. Lucky for me, there was extra space in Viewpoints, and I got this, my Goodbye Column, Part 1. And in classic fashion, even with two shots at this, I’m still a blank. Here I am, 11 p.m. on layout night, typing a column while editors complete the last section behind me. Some things never change. Lesson one, so to speak. Including lessons in a goodbye column is about as cliché as a goodbye column itself, and if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that you should avoid clichés whenever possible. But a deadline is a deadline, and my editors get ravenous when my article is holding them up. Just the fact that there are multiple editors here could be seen as surprising, considering just three years ago our staff was reduced to a four-person table at Chili’s. That was a surreal moment, sitting there talking quite seriously about destroying a college newspaper with more than 20 years of history. It wasn’t exactly an enviable history, but it was tradition. Hell, it was older than me.
It was even more surreal seeing it work. Here we are, close to finishing our 35th issue of The Current, with a staff big enough to rent out a whole section of Chili’s. Walking around campus the days after a new issue comes out, seeing people walking with a folded copy or a page spread out on a table, that’s pretty surreal. But what should I expect? Eckerd is a surreal place. I learned that in November of my sophomore year. I learn it again almost every day, although in a less potent manner. This little 188-acre oasis never ceases to amaze me, from the brilliant, never-the-same-twice hues of colors radiating across the sky at sunset to the incredibly strange interactions produced by such a small school. Two weeks ago, early in a Sunday morning (or late on Saturday night, depending on how you look at it), I stood in a makeshift outfield on Kappa Field, shagging fly balls from a whiffle ball home run derby. Kappa was still going strong, playing something I only remember as enjoyable, loud enough for the entire field to hear. A full moon hung overhead, shining down at the same angle and with nearly equal brightnes as lights at a stadium. And I ran, back and forth, chasing a ball whose movements I could barely follow.
Half of me felt that I was no better than a dog playing fetch. The other half was in a moment of sheer bliss. To be fair, it’s probably the kind of bliss a dog playing fetch experiences while its tongue bounces with each step. But I pushed it aside, trying to squeeze the moment so hard in my head that when I let go, a perfect impression would be left on my memory. It’s too surreal to let it escape. I know there’s more past college, it’s not like I wish I could stay another year. In fact, I’m excited to move on and give something new a try. This “real world” thing sounds like a fun challenge. But I’ve developed a taste for the surreal, a strain of which only Eckerd can deliver. This is quite the unique college experience, one I’m more than proud to be so far in debt for. You can’t put a price on everything that’s come out of these years. So for the next five or so weeks, all I can do is soak up as much of the surreal as I can and carry it like a camel for the next few years. And I’ll promise not to be one of those alumni found passed out on Kappa Field in the morning on Alumni Weekend, if you will promise to stop charging me (and alumni in general) for equipment rentals at the waterfront.
Q: Accepted students, what do you think was the best part about the Explore Eckerd weekend?
“I liked the campus. It’s awesome!”
- Beau Scott, Colorado
“I really like the students. [They] didn’t treat us like high schoolers.”
- Keats Bixby, New Mexico
“I enjoyed meeting everyone. Everyone seems really chill.”
- Eric Claver, Texas
photos by Alex Zielinski
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the current
April 20, 2012
Viewpoints 11
Big cars on campus: the rides of Eckerd students #Amusing by Cait Duffy, Asst. Entertainment Editor
Over the weekend of April 7, a few Eckerd students discovered a notice under their windshield wipers. Unlike the parking tickets usually found in such a place, these notices cited them for having “one of Eckerd’s sexiest cars.” The following four students all submitted their payment of a quick interview and photo shoot with their beloved automobiles. Cars were judged based on the amount of personality shown by each vehicle, whether through matching their owner or being plastered in bumper stickers.
Musings Sitting in class and your professor says something funny? Tweet it to @TheECCurrent and include the hashtag #AmusingMusings Environmental Professor Hi! I’m cute, you’re cute, let’s do it! #Mating Sociology Professor Some day my prince will come… insert your own joke here. #GenderRoles Literature Professor I command you: Think!
Name: Wayne
Name: Nap Car
#ClassParticipation
Owner: Catheryn Wheaton - Junior transfer
Owner: Sarah Jackson - Sophomore
Environmental Professor The sex pots of the Everglades.
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida., Bahamas
Houston, Texas
Got her 1986 Mercedes 190E from her father in 2009. He purchased it used from a Ft. Lauderdale collector who kept the car in a garage for about 10 years.
Junior year of high school she bought her 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood from a man who was a collector reselling cars he bought. This specific car had been originally bought in St. Petersburg.
There’s a dent in the hood because a tree once fell on her car, but not during a storm.
The name comes from when she worked as a cashier at a plant store when she was in high school and would take hour-long naps in the backseat.
#TreeSnails
Sociology Professor Where ya been for ten months? In jail. OK, you’re hired. That’s not how it goes. #RealLife Literature Professor This person, Kurtz, could have graduated from Eckerd. He would have done very well in Quest for Meaning. #IntellectualsinLit
Students want to study in Israel ISRAEL from page 9
Name: Little Jon
Name: Storm
Owner: Montana DeKuyper - Sophomore
Owner: Dominick Cuppetilli - Freshman
Got her 1997 Subaru Outback Legend for $1700 at an auction. It was the last car left in the auction.
Got his 2011 Jeep Wrangler Sport as a high school graduation gift over the summer of 2011
Name comes from X-men, due to the celestial themed interior (see inset picture)
“I haven’t gone too crazy in it.” He took it on a road trip from Texas to St. Pete to get to Eckerd and plans to drive to northern Colorado from Texas over the summer to visit a friend.
Delaware
New Braunfels, Texas
Being a pageant queen led to scholarship pageant from page 9
about being a beauty queen, it is the opportunity to pursue higher education through the scholarships awarded in competition, and becoming a well-rounded citizen of the world along the way. $45 million. That is the amount of scholarship money that the Miss America Organization awarded women across the nation in 2011. I am one of the 12,000 women who participated in the organization. More than $40,000 is the amount that I have personally received toward my education here at Eckerd. To some people, nothing would be more intimidating than a 10-minute press conference style interview in front of a panel of five separate judges who are individually firing questions about politics, your stance on controversial issues and what you have contributed to your
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community. Going through this process for the past seven years has enabled me to think quickly on my feet and articulate my thoughts concisely, giving me the luxury of never being stressed for a job or internship interview again. The pageant’s mantra of empowering women is often critiqued when the swimsuit competition comes into the conversation. When Miss America began in Atlantic City in 1921 the entire pageant was a swimsuit competition. The lifestyle and fitness portion has since been reduced to 10 percent of a contestant’s overall score. It is kept in the competition as a reminder of the tradition and roots of the organization. This section signifies where the organization started and where it is going as the description focuses on if the woman lives an active and
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healthy lifestyle. It’s not about the body. It’s about the whole package. Are you smart, passionate, healthy and dedicated to service? The Miss America Organization has evolved into an opportunity for women to use the crown as a tool to promote and educate others on the causes they are passionate about. Laura Kaeppeler was crowned the new Miss America on Jan. 14, making her the first Miss Wisconsin since 1973 to win the competition. Her personal community service platform is called “Circles of Support – Mentoring Children with Incarcerated Parents.” The four points of the Miss America crown stand for service, success, scholarship and style, making it a great resource for women to excel academically and make a difference while looking fabulous in the process.
courtesy of Devon Williams Devon Williams as Miss Massachusetts National Teen in 2009.
The numbers back Rosenthal’s claim. The homicide rate in Israel for 2010 was 2.1 per 100,000 inhabitants. In the United States, that rate is more than double, at 4.8 per 100,000 inhabitants, and 5 per 100,000 in St. Petersburg. Israel is safe, as safe as Colombia and Mexico, two countries that are also on the State Department Warning List but are also listed as options on the front of the ISEP pamphlet. Israel is also a nation full of job opportunities, thanks to its $100 billion economy, and has the largest number of NASDAQ-listed companies outside the U.S. and Canada. Why wouldn’t a student be interested in going there? Many of Eckerd’s students came here to study abroad, but Sophomore Sarah Levine believes the college isn’t living up to it’s billing. “Eckerd was founded to be one of the most innovative schools and [is] advertised to have endless study abroad opportunities so I believe not allowing students to study abroad in Israel and other programs that are not directly affiliated with Eckerd is an unfair limitation,” Levine said. Ferris says that Eckerd is not actively looking into new study abroad affiliates at this time for financial reasons. Levine, who will be traveling to Israel this summer, says that isn’t an excuse. “I think that when they advertise endless study abroad opportunities, they need to make room in the budget to follow through with that.”
12 Viewpoints
the current
April 20, 2012
Friendly Fire:
Drug Policy
Sean Lawlor Senior
Last June marked the 40th Anniversary of the War on Drugs initiated by President Nixon, a war that has cost more than $1 trillion, bolstered the power of drug gangs in Latin America, and put thousands of innocent individuals in our already crowded prisons. In fact, of the 2.3 million individuals in our prisons today, 25 percent have been locked behind bars for drug related charges. While Americans have traditionally been skeptical of drug legalization, that trend appears to be changing toward one narcotic. According to a 2011 Gallop poll, over half of Americans are in favor of legalizing Marijuana and 70 percent believe that physicians should be free to prescribe marijuana to patients for pain relief. As of now 14 states have decriminalized marijuana while 16 states and Washington DC have legalized it for medical purposes. California was the first state to decriminalize marijuana in 1996 and since then, dispensaries have blossomed into a robust local industry in Northern California known as the emerald triangle. But that hasn’t stopped the federal government from pursuing their eternal struggle with a harmless plant. Last October, the Obama Administration sent a notice out to California dispensaries that they must cease the sale of medical marijuana within 45 days or face federal charges for narcotics sale under the Interstate Commerce Clause. This to me is a destructive violation of states’ rights. When will this feckless battle finally end?
Sean, the most truthful answer that I can give you to when the battle will end is I don’t know. For medical marijuana, I have no problems with its legalization so long as it is effectively regulated. I get images of the TV show “Weeds” in my head whenever I think of unregulated medical marijuana legalization, lolz. Now when it comes to effective regulation of medical products there is this great institution known as the FDA, which can ensure national standards of safety and effectiveness in medical marijuana usage, so I would prefer legalization for medical use be a national policy. As for the drug war, I am not really that concerned. We are a nation, a group of individuals that have come together because we share certain cultural opinions among other things, and if the American nation still wants the personal use of marijuana to be banned than I’m OK with that because you know what, we live in a democracy and the people are the ultimate source of political sovereignty. On the other hand, if there is a growing consensus behind legalization of marijuana for personal use then I’m going to move forward with skepticism. The main reason for my skepticism is that there isn’t a whole lot of research out there about the short-term and long-term effects of regular marijuana usage and I don’t want to see more people and families destroyed because we’re selling another addicting drug at the checkout counters of supermarkets.
Ethan Packey Junior
The problem with the political sovereignty of public opinion is that the marijuana dialogue has been skewed by disinformation. Marijuana was originally banned in the Marijuana Tax of 1937 largely due to a smear campaign funded by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst that connected marijuana use to violent crime. After World War II, propaganda films such as Reefer Madness illustrated marijuana users as aggressive and insane. The truth is marijuana is not physically addicting and it elicits pacifist behavior rather than anger and abuse as alcohol does. Sure marijuana may lead to short term memory loss, but it is far healthier and less addicting than vices already on the market such as cigarettes, alcohol, and even fast food. Furthermore, Americans learned from the 1920s that prohibition doesn’t work. Prohibiting marijuana sales only shifts the business to an illegal black market thereby building a network of organized crime, drug lords, and societal violence. If Washington wants to cut wasteful spending, where better to start then ending the War on Drugs, a big government initiative that consistently yields negative results. I agree with you that legalization should be tackled at the national level and by doing so the government can save money on enforcement and incarceration. The government will also have another substance that is taxable, thereby accumulating revenue. I’m not saying it will solve the national deficit, but every little bit helps. You were the one who brought up the polls in the first place. And if the American people elect a legislature that reflects their views on marijuana then it is well within their right to pass legislation legalizing it. As I said, I have no problem with legalizing marijuana for medical usage as medical usage would be tightly regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). This is not a new policy, but a policy concerning all available pharmaceuticals. It would also help with ensuring national standards of safety. Now as for the effects of marijuana, it can do a lot more than be pacifistic. It can act as a stimulant, even as a psychedelic or a hallucinogen. And while it may be less addicting, that doesn’t mean it isn’t addicting, so addiction should still be a concern in legalization reforms. So once again, I will reiterate my caution against legalizing marijuana for personal use before there has been more extensive study into the mental & physical health effects of long-term personal usage of marijuana.
promotional photo Dohn Community High School pays students for their attendence as an incentive to come to school.
High school students paid for attending classes By Shannon Vize Staff Writer
Back in high school, everyone skipped class at least a few times. But would any of us have skipped if we were being paid to attend class? Dohn Community High School officials in Cincinnati, OH don’t seem to think so. The high school, which is a dropout recovery program, has recently begun to pay its students to go to class. The program will pay $25 to seniors and $10 to underclassmen weekly in Visa gift cards. Those expecting to be paid for attendance must also behave in class and be on time. Each week $5 will be taken from the gift card and deposited into an additional savings account that has been set up for the students. This money will be given to the students pending their graduation. Attending class may seem like a fundamental expectation, but, for this free-tuition charter school, attendance is a huge problem. Last year, DCHS had a graduation rate of just 14 percent and was declared an “academic emergency” by the Ohio Department of Education. More than 90 percent of DCHS students live in poverty and only 20 percent of them are in two-parent households. Principal Ramone Davenport responded to critics by telling KMSP-TV, “We’ve tried everything else.” The school has done numerous events from out of uniform days to free pizzas to boost attendance. But students were asking for money and the attendance rate never changed. Davenport started looking for resources to fund the cash incentive program. Through anonymous donors and the Easter Seals Work Resource Center, Davenport received the
$40,000 needed to fund the program for the first year. Single mom and DCHS student, Bethanie Nicholson, told reporter Alison Montoya, “Every kid wakes up in the morning and says, ‘This is job, why am I not getting paid?’ and I’m getting paid now.” At a school where not having enough money for bus fare is a common cause for many students to miss school, maybe a cash incentive really is the perfect solution. The first week of the program the school had 100 percent attendance. In high school, I received good grades, was always on the Honors lists, and hardly ever skipped classes. But I benefitted from a private boarding school education that my parents were capable of providing. I never had to worry about having enough quarters to ride the bus, what I was going to make for my siblings to eat, or how I was going to balance work and homework for the night. Many people claim paying students for such basic things like attendance is ridiculous because it’s a requirement most people have completed easily. However, many of these students are on their own. Spending a majority of the day in school is no longer an option for them. They haven’t been given the opportunities that people like myself were provided with, so why should that dictate the rest of their lives? The majority of students at DCHS were born into poverty and spend more of their time on the streets than in school. If paying these students is going to keep them in school, continue their education, and even allow for them to graduate, I can only see this as a welcomed step in a new direction for our struggling educational system.
Understanding Obamacare By ethan Packey Staff Writer Everyone knows that the signature achievement of Barack Obama’s presidency was the passage of a major health care reform law. Now I don’t know how much reform was truly there, but the law has garnered a lot of strong feelings, outrage from the right and praise from the left. This public outcry revolves around two factors; the first, whether Obamacare is constitutional or not and the second, whether or not it is a good policy. The first factor has sent the law through the judicial process at record speeds; the U.S. Supreme Court held hearings on the law late last month and an official decision on the law’s constitutionality is expected sometime this June. Both sides are trying to spin the hearing transcripts that have been released, but at this point the case is truly too close to call. We could see the complete nullification of Obamacare, the cancellation of the individual mandate or we could see nothing happen at all. That’s how uncertain the situation is constitutionally. And while the constitutional law case is a great intellectual exercise for con law nerds like me, the far more important issues at stake with Obamacare are issues of federal health care policy. Prior to Obamacare’s passage, the health insurance industry was a complete and total wreck with over 30 million uninsured Americans.
The source of this calamity lies with the health insurance market or I should say with the lack of a true health insurance market where individuals are free to choose the insurance plan that’s right for them. A complex web of federal regulations, tax incentives and other health policies created a health insurance market that favors placing either an employer or the government between you and your health insurance plan. Unfortunately, Obamacare has propagated that choice of policies by pairing the individual mandate with mandating employers to give out health insurance or face fines. The law also creates state-run health insurance exchanges for those people who fall through the cracks of the largely government led health insurance system. I personally think that Obamacare will do nothing to help streamline the health insurance industry and hold down the cost of health care. To that end, I would be happy to see the Supreme Court strike down the law for reasons of both constitutionality and federal health policy. But I am not an expert at political predictions, so unfortunately all I can say to Eckerd students is, hold your breath and wait. Something in this health care market has to change or the whole house of cards will come falling down in a very painful manner for the United States of America. The Supreme Court’s decision will not be an endgame, but just the opening of another chapter in this long and momentous debate.
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the current
April 20, 2012
ENTERTAINMENT
INSIDE ENTERTAINMENT
Eckerd steps out in full fashion for Spring Ball; takes it off for Kappa Ball By Sadie Williams Staff Writer Jannus Live blew up the night of April 14 as Eckerd students packed in for the annual Spring Ball. Although the theme of “Fire and Ice” was quite standard, the semi-formal attire ranged from basic interpretations to alternative ensembles. Some favorites definitely stood out from the crowd. First, the number of entirely sequined dresses was jaw dropping and completely wonderful. Even more impressive were a pair of black sequined mini shorts. I must have spent a good five minutes ogling those, and they
Courtesy of Mike Geibel From Left: Kevin Mack, Mike Geibel, Sean Lawlor, Nicola Zenzola, Melbert “Beardo” Schwarz, DJ Jackson and Padraic Fitzgerald
On Odd Future, the group’s new album, and fulfilling studio-debut expectations By Aaron Levy Staff Writer Before now, I’ve never been an Odd Future fan. To me, they’ve always seemed overhyped. When Tyler, The Creator dropped his video for “Yonkers” in 2011 and the group became an overnight sensation, I was inspired to listen to some of the rap collective’s other material. Nothing grabbed me. As a fan of traditional hip-hop production, such as Big L and old Jay Z, these weird kids from suburban Los Angeles just weren’t doing it for me with their dirty, dragging beats and shock-value inspired lyrics. Things changed when I came across the video for their new album’s ten minute long posse-cut track, “Oldie”. Everyone in the group gets their turn spitting in this song, and the video is of the whole crew rapping their verses together at a photo-turned-impromptu-video shoot. You can literally hear the photographers trying to get them to just sit still, to which Tyler tells the videographer, “F--- what they’re
saying, you keep filming!” For ten minutes Tyler, Left Brain, Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis, Frank Ocean, Mike G and Earl Sweatshirt rhyme over one of the simpler, more catchy beats I’ve heard released under the Odd Future name. More than that, it just looks like they’re having the time of their lives while they’re rapping. As they are laughing and hyping up each other’s verses, we see what we all want Odd Future to be: a group of kids who are doing their own thing. I might even go so far as to say this single song saved them for me. I probably played the video for “Oldie” five or ten times the first day I watched it. Inspired to give their new material a chance, I picked up The OF Tape, Vol. 2, the group’s studio album debut, and gave it a spin through. Let me just say this: This is the manifestation of hard work. This is why the internet turned these kids into stars. However, Vol. 2 is not an album you can sit down and run from top to bottom, like Nas’s classic Illmatic or, even a more contemporary album, like Schoolboy Q’s Habits &
Tyler, The Creator, of Odd Future, performs for adoring fans.
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Spring Fashion
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Modern Styles
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Events calendar
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Obscure liquer
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Sex on the beach
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have reaffirmed my belief that sequins improve society immensely simply through their sheer, shimmering existence. There were a number of unusual, fresh takes on formal wear. For one, an impeccable blonde, Junior Amy Baxter, sported a white Peter Pan style collar on her black dress. A slew of young women, including Sophomore Teckla Persons, flaunted chunky, low heeled boots, which are much more practical for dancing. The men of Eckerd also jumped on the train of high fashion. Notable male garments included a pair of white patent loafers belonging See State of fashion, page 14
Associate director by day, rock star by night By Alexandra Roberts Contributing Writer
Eckerd students sees Lova Patterson, Palmetto advisor and associate director of Campus Activities, at work 6-7 days a week, but perhaps few are aware that she retires her day 45 minutes south in Sarasota to rehearse with the band, Elysian Sex Drive. These commitments resemble two full time jobs. “I love my job here; I love Eckerd College,” Patterson said. “But music is my first love.” Before Elysian Sex Drive, Patterson played in four different bands and released six different CDs. Patterson is a singer and songwriter for ESD’s selfrecorded and self-produced tracks. She also plays guitar and keyboard, though ESD is the first band where she has played keyboard. How does she do it? “It’s just the love,” Patterson said. “It’s my release, it’s everything to me.” Her love for music connects most strongly to her guitar that she has been playing for 20 years. She describes music as a language without cultural barriers or See Odd Future, page 16 linguistic misunderstanding. “Everyone feels music,” Patterson said. “Music has the power to make a huge impact.” The band is currently working on their second album and hopes to expand. For now, ESD travels extensively throughout Florida, and they perform all up and down the East Coast, “It’s all about getting our name out there,” Patterson said. Five women, including Patterson, and one man complete the band that has been in force for the past six years. Auditions are currently being held to replace Evan Katz, bass, as he is leaving at the end of May to go back to school. Patterson says the band will miss him very much, but looks forward to the unavoidable, “new style and new energy to be added in,” Patterson said. Their stage name itself, Elysian courtesy of flickr Science_JErk’s photostream Sex Drive, is a name where its members are still trying to figure Contradictions. More a patchwork of new songs than a cohesive, fluid album, it definitely still plays like a mixtape. Because it is an album with a $15 price tag, and not, in fact, a full mixtape, there are some expectations left unmet. We live in the era of free promotional material, and if Big K.R.I.T. is willing to put out his masterpieces for free, why should I pay for a glorified mixtape? Buy hey, that’s just me. The album’s first track, “Bitches,” caught me off guard. Right out of the gate, their sound is more swag and less sadistic. OF’s resident swag experts sound much more confident in their beat creation than previously. I don’t think it’s an accident that the beat, produced by OF producer Left Brain, is clean and easy to listen to compared to their previous releases. It’s still an abrasive sound, no doubt about it, but it’s an improvement. Whereas, in the past, I had trouble nodding my head to Odd Future songs, I now can easily. “Ya Know” is a pop-electro dance track put together by producers Syd
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out what it means. The band is bonded by much more than their title – more than best friends – they are a family. “I’ve been a member of this band for six years now, as you can imagine there’s a lot of history,” Patterson said. “Every family has it’s struggles, but at the end of the day and once we’re on stage, there’s something that clicks musically.” For three years she tried not playing in a band, but she remembers that time as the three most miserable years in her life. “I wouldn’t stop for any reason,” Patterson said. “I would still love to travel the world and play music…to be able to give that back and feel the energy I think only music can convey.” Until then, Patterson feels a lot of support from this community; Eckerd College makes it easy for her to live the best of both worlds. Students come to performances, and campus activities always can covers for her when offers for the band arise. ESD has been invited to play on campus for various occasions, including the possibility of playing at this year’s Kappa Carnival on May 5. The following week, ESD will be playing a show on Thursday, May 10 as a kickoff to the Harvey Milk Film Festival that weekend. Though the festival is in Sarasota, their performance will be at The Local 662, across from the St. Petersburg State Theater. ESD will release everything nationally two weeks after Spring Ball at the end of April to entities such as iTunes, Spotify, and others. An EP, an extended play sneak peak of what the album will be, is out and can be accessed in person through Patterson herself. Recorded tracks from Elysian Sex Drive’s in-house studio can be found on their personal website: www.elysiansexdrive. com. Other tracks that have not yet been released can be found on their website by a link to their on-air performance with WMNF’s (88.7) radio channel on Mar. 27. Stay tuned on their website and Facebook page for upcoming performances and their CD release.
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the current
April 20, 2012
“A-Dressing” the state of fashion: Spring 2012 Modern styles lean too heavily on past trends for inspiration
Spring Ball 2012
By Kaitlyn Granger Staff Writer
basically, equated to an intelligent and creative person with a fresh outlook on life, I am typically in an overjoyed being an indie kid in the truest frenzy when I venture to the form. Yeah that’s great, but it’s bookstore to read the latest 2012 and today’s hipster is a issues of my favorite magazines, snobby poser with a contrived but this was sadly not the case wardrobe. Pretty much any glorified association of what during my latest visit. It was only shortly after I “hipsterism” once was has glued myself to the floor, tea in surely dissipated into mothballhand with piles of magazines scented flannels and grandfather spread around me, when I began sweaters by now. Exceptions when creativity to feel a bit hopeless towards that airs on being retrogressive today’s fashion. Many of the articles I read are when we modify past looks discussed styles from past to suit this era. I, for one, am a decades, leaving me uneasy total sucker for vintage. Peering and unexcited about our into my closet is admittedly like generation’s taste in apparel. sipping down a strong swig of blast-from-the-past, garnished Much of what we wear today is with more recent pieces. If just a nod to the past. After all, vintage floats your boat too, trend “comebacks” seem to be be inventive about it: mix and a welcomed idiosyncrasy of the match decade’s or revamp old fashion industry. It appears that clothes with modern flare. rather than forging its own style, Above all, this whole hipster this era encapsulates fashion apocalypse is a huge red flag bearing uncanny resemblance to telling us that modern fashion in decades past. consumer society has failed. It’s Does this era have a signature time for us to take our hands off style that future generations will our ancestors wardrobes and don commemorate for individuality? some of today’s best styles. Not Most importantly, has fashion saying anyone must dress overtly flatlined and lost its inventive modern all-of-the sudden, start spunk? by simply dipping your toes in I hope that is not the case, modern attire. Fashion is like a but there seems to be a lack compass for individuality: use of innovation in the fashion the unique hems and fabrics of industry, or perhaps rather lack today in your attire as a stepping of innovation in our role as stone to explore your own consumers. Sure, Lady Gaga may originality. be the first to prance around in Just a handful of decades ago, a meat-dress, but you wouldn’t radical change was taking place see such a look going over as in more than people’s hearts – well on the streets. Is that revolutions were happening in really who we have as a fashion the fashion industry as well. Past icon? Hardly, but if the voices decades truly presented an array of our generation continue to of iconic styles, from the hippies be carbon copied pop stars to the mods to the punks. and cheesy celebs, individual The imprint that past decades creativity will surely go extinct. have left on us is inspirational, Maybe we just can’t decipher and I hope we will inspire our what is cool anymore. Take generation’s children alongside hipsters for example. They pride them. themselves on being “cool,” at It is no secret the current the same time lose touch with generation has spawned some whats “in.” The term ‘hipster’ amazing designers of its own has been juiced for all its worth like Stella McCartney and Zac over the past decadePosen, among others, whose or-so. Earlier cutting-edge designs are hitting definitions magazines everywhere, but of a what we seem to lack the sense it meant, of cohesiveness evident in those before us. Pop culture, technology and decades of consumerism may be responsible for taking a certain charm out of fashion, leaving us feeling like we’ve seen all there is to see. We should do this era’s amazing designers a favor and use the technology at the tips of our fingers to stay connected to their insight on modern style. By this, we can and will revive hope for this generation of fashion. I refuse to believe that we’re experiencing a decline of innovation. Rather, this is just promotional photo from Urban Outfiters a new time. Originality is not Many of today’s new fashions have a lost, maybe there is hope for “been there, done that” feel change after all.
Courtesy of Grace Whitmore From left, above: Grace Whitmore, Ali Avery and Alexandra Roberts
Courtesy of Andy Putnam Colbie Hause and Andy Putnam
Courtesy of Andy Putnam From left: Melvin Emilio Cedeno, Michelle Breault, Miranda Watrous, Hannah Shapiro, Rachel Rose and Olivia Sadler
From State of fashion, page 13
to Johnny Jones, and a wildly funky madras jacket on musical genius and Eckerd Junior Corbin Hayes. A number of suspenders floated around the dance floor as well. The men of Eckerd College truly did step out in style, fresh to death and beyond. Needless to say, there were a slew of trends represented that have been pushed liberally by fashion magazines for the past few months, including neon accents, animal prints, and lace. However, Eckerd students managed to execute these trends in funky, personal ways. Just as people exposed their unique sense of style at Jannus, so they exposed their flesh at Kappa Ball. By the time the Fire and Ice party-goers returned from the buses, the extravaganza at Kappa was in full throw. Men donned their ladies dresses, girls cut down to the bare essentials, and I’m pretty sure I personally smeared bright green eyeshadow across the eyes of at least three men. Some ladies forewent lingerie altogether, covering their more explicit regions with paint. Others wore corsets, super fun but not necessarily the most comfortable choice. The majority of the ladies, to my great pride romped around in just a bra and panties. This simple and classic combination will never go out of style, never get uncomfortable and never look bad. It was a night of expression and jubilation, of crazy colors, patterns and letting some of those old, musty inhibitions go. I applaud every partier and participant, every daring soul and every done up dandy who danced the night away. Because really, that’s what dressing yourself should be. A dance, a party, and a whole bunch of fun.
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April 20, 2012
Friday
Saturday
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Events
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
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22 11:30 a.m.
7 p.m. Havre Miller Aud.
5 p.m. Milk and Cookies Miller Aud.
9 p.m. South Beach Black Light Party South Beach
9 p.m. Another Man’s Trash Miller Aud.
4 p.m. Heal the Soul Hough Quad
Breasts and Bagels Fox Hall
7 p.m. - CPS Female Chauvinist Pigs Fox Hall
April 20 - May 3
Wednesday
Thursday
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6 p.m. - CPS Captain Abu Raid Miller Aud.
3 p.m. - CPS Peter Malinverni, Jazz Pianist Roberts Music Center 104
8 p.m. WRC Sex Toy Party Student Lounge
7:30 p.m.
Miller Aud.
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4 p.m. - CPS Festival of Cultures Hough Quad
6:30 p.m. Vagina Monologues Triton’s Pub
7 p.m. This is Not a Film Miller Aud.
9 p.m. Take Off Your Clothes for the Homeless Underglow Party Slater’s Wood
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3 p.m. - CPS Mary Kathleen Ernest, Pianist Roberts Music Center 104
7:30 p.m. - CPS Eckerd Community Band Fox Hall
6 p.m. - CPS Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout Galbraith Aud. 7:30 p.m. Take Back the Night Rally Hough Quad
Milk
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Entertainment 15
2
1 May Day
8 p.m. Hat’s Off Cabaret Musical Miller Aud.
7:30 p.m. Take Back the Night Dine and Discuss WRC
3 7:30 p.m. Eckerd Chamber Orchestra Fox Hall 7:30 p.m. Ale Tasting
Main Cafe Patio
To advertise your event with The Current, contact Current Entertainment at currententertainment@eckerd.edu
Bartending on a budget By Emily Cohen Staff Writer It’s Saturday night. You have tried every combination of beverages from Triton’s Pub with various liquors, and you can’t or don’t feel like driving. Here are a few fresh ideas for you to try.
Boston Tea Hardy
1 1/4 oz Dark rum 3 oz Iced Tea 3 oz Orange Juice Serve with ice and garnish with an orange slice.
As always, every ingredient in the following recipes except the alcohol can be found at Triton’s Pub.
Arnie Palmer
2 oz Vodka Splashes to taste of Iced Tea and Lemonade Mix together in a glass and serve with ice.
EZ Creamsicle
4 oz Mountain Dew 2 oz. Coconut Rum Serve with over ice.
courtesy of wikimedia
Obscure Liqueur: Bacardi Dragon Berry By Christine Twete Staff Writer Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum has attempted to carve out a new niche in the rum market. Bringing a taste of strawberries infused with the relatively unknown dragon fruit, this rum provides its drinker with a combination of well-known flavor and wisps of exotic highlights. The dragon fruit infusion makes the taste a unique yet comfortable flavor for those with a sweettooth. This rum can be showcased as a star when accompanied by only one mixer or in a shot, but also can provide a sweet juicy element to more complicated cocktails. The run provides a sweetness to drinks without the tangy or citrusbased flavor often found in tropical-flavored drinks. Bacardi Dragon Berry can easily be used with single mixers such as ginger ale, Sprite, or lemonade. Just add one part Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum to three parts mixer and instantly you will have a simple and delicious cocktail.
Bacardi Dragon Berry is 70 proof, and the 750 mL bottle is available for approximately $15 at most local liquor stores. The non-alcoholic ingredients in the recipes below can all be found at Triton’s Pub.
Flying Dragon
1 part Bacardi Dragon Berry 2 parts Lemonade 2 parts Sprite Mix, pour over ice, and serve.
Dragon Berry Palmer
1 part Bacardi Dragon Berry 1 1/2 parts Lemonade 1 1/2 parts Iced Tea Mix, pour over ice, and serve. promotional photo
Note: The beverages and reecipes on this page are intended for consumption only by individuals who are 21 or older. The Current does not promote underage drinking. When combining alcoholic beverages with caffeinated beverages, it is important to be aware of the potential side-effects and limit your consumption accordingly. Drink responsibly, our friends.
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The St. Pete Sampler: Downtown St.PEte ItalianCusine In this issue’s St. Pete Sampler, we’re going downtown for some of St.Pete’s best pizza and Italian spots, where they’re always generous with the slice sizes. Whether it’s a late night pizza craving or extravagant Italian dining, The Current has found the best spots for you! Price $-$$$$ ($ = <$5.00 per meal $$$$ = $20.00+ per meal) Food Quality (1-5 stars)
A. Wood Fired Pizza 344 1st Ave. South 3 ½ stars 12 mins from campus $$$$ Fri-Sun 11a.m.-3p.m. Mon-Thurs11a.m.varying hours Wine Bar B. Joey Brooklyn’s Famous Pizza Kitchen 344 1st Ave. South 4 stars 14 mins from campus $$ Mon-Sun 11a.m. - 3a.m. Beer and Wine Only C. Fortunato’s Italian Market 259 Central Ave 3 ½ stars 13 mins from campus $ Mon-Thurs11a.m.9p.m. Fri-Sun 11am-3:30p.m. No Alcohol D. Gratzzi Italian Grille 211 Second Street S 4 ½ stars 13 mins from campus $$$ Lunch:Mon-Sat-11:00 am - 4:00 pm Dinner:Mon-Thurs 4:00pm -10:00 p.m. Fri - Sat 4:00 p.m. 11:00 pm Sun 4:00pm-10:00 p.m. Full Liqour
16 Entertainment
the current
April 20, 2012
Odd Future inspires a change of heart From Odd Future, page 13
The Dude and Matt Martians. It’s a catchy, welcomed interlude from Tyler’s aggressive bars. These lesser known Odd Future members make some of the group’s best music. No hate to Tyler though. It was he, after all, who started this whole Odd Future thing. He really shines alongside Domo Genesis and Hodgy Beats on “Rella,” both of whose rhymes have become much better and much tighter. Needless to say, Tyler’s bars are far too explicit to quote, but take it from a hip-hop fan who never really liked him. This dude has skills when it comes to writing raps. The loner in the group, the member whose inclusion no one really understood at first, is Frank Ocean. Ocean is an R&B singer known for collaborating on Jay-Z and Kanye’s Watch The Throne, as well as ghostwriting for popular artists, such as Beyonce, Brandy, Justin Bieber and John Legend (Cuevas). Being a
dream.” If you haven’t already, go download Frank’s solo tape, Nostalgia, Ultra. It made an R&B fan out of someone who had never enjoyed the genre before. The OF Tape, Vol. 2, continues on from “White” with even more serious standout tracks. The hazy, whining melody and deep bass accents of “Hcapd” go perfectly over Domo Genesis’s smoke inspired bars. Hodgy Beats swags and Tyler talks about having to attend awkward industry parties when he’d rather be hanging with his crew. The heavily drug-inspired song “Lean” also makes a bold statement with its high-hat and heavy bass lines. Simple beats are definitely where these guys shine. Take it from a converted promotional photo non-believer; these guys are talented rappers. They’re also in classic Ocean-style. “I woke, you pretty good at producing when they were there, tracing planets on my don’t try to do too much. More forehead,” he bellows, “But I for- than any of that, these guys are creget 23 like I forget 17, and I forget ating a new sound in their genre, my first love, like you forget a day- and you have to love that. member of Wolf Gang is almost a side-gig for him. In my opinion, everything this dude touches turns to gold. His solo contribution to the album, “White,” is a dreamy acapella musing on life and fame,
Four-school art exhibition headed to Cobb Gallery at Eckerd College Press Release “Four in One,” a visual art exhibition featuring the work of students from four area colleges, will open April 22 at Cobb Gallery. The four schools featured in the exhibit are Eckerd College, New College of Florida, Ringling College of Art and Design and the University of South Florida in Tampa. The exhibition is part of a course called “Museum Laboratory,” taught this semester by Marshall Rousseau, adjunct professor at Eckerd College and director emiritus of the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. Students are challenged to plan an exhibition from conception to the opening reception and beyond. Students select the artwork, arrange for loans, design and install the exhibition, and create and implement a marketing campaign, among other tasks. The opening reception will take place from 5 - 7 p.m., and will run through May 11. Additionally, a Gallery Talk will be held May 7 by the four chairs of each schools respective Fine Arts program. Eckerd College students participating in the class are: Layla Alter, Daniela Baeza, Morgan de Gonzague, Jessica Eckbold, Anna Gobeil, Ana Kramer, Nat Marx, Rachel Reid, Shelby Smotherman, Shelby Stoneburner, Aaron Styza, Sadie Williams, Kathryn Young and Samantha Zillman.
Viral Video Update By Randi Sokitooya Contributing Writer
“A Dramatic Surprise On A Quiet Square” Uploaded by turnerbenelux on April 11, 2012 Views as of April 15: 19,670,981
“The Flower” Uploaded by blackmustachecom on July 27th 2010 Views as April 15: 1,764,691
courtesy of youtube.com
courtesy of youtube.com
So you’re friends with this person. You have been for a while now, maybe a few weeks, maybe a few years. The two of you get along like peas in a pod, like peanut butter and jelly, but have only operated on a friendship basis. At least, up until now. Recently you’ve started noticing how their shirt accentuates the line of their shoulders, how those pants fall so neatly on the curve of their rear, or perhaps it’s the sparkle in their eye when they’re laughing at one of your jokes. And now it hits you; you find them attractive. Not just attractive, but flat out hot. Or maybe it’s they who finds you attractive. It’s completely understandable; through the close interactions of friendship, the two of you are comfortable around each other. Around this other person, you can let loose and be yourself, maybe share some secrets and find advice for personal obstacles. And let’s face it, there’s something about being reassured about yourself by another person that can trigger amorous feelings. It’s a conundrum that many people have faced on one occasion or another, typically when neither party is interested in a serious relationship. Or maybe you just know that a relationship with this person would never work out. Your friendship is a strong one, but those thoughts have been thought and there’s no going back now. What do you do? It’s time to contemplate the possibility of becoming “friends with benefits.” To those of you unfamiliar with this type of a relationship, it’s something along the lines of one or multiple “nostrings-attached” sexual encounters with a friend. (For examples of this type of relationship, try watching the 2011 films, “No Strings Attached” and “Friends with Benefits”) These encounters can be as innocent as cuddling,
hand holding and kissing, or as explicit as the two of you are both comfortable with being. It’s the comfort of having a significant other without the strains and pressure of an “official” relationship. Some may find this to be an ideal situation, a way of relieving sexual tensions without ruining a friendship. But this concept can only work when handled properly by both parties. It’s important to remember that while you may have developed these feelings, the other person may not. It is important to be sensitive to their understanding of the dynamics of your friendship. Be sure to talk with the other person and get a feeling for where they feel this relationship stands. Should it be clear that you both have these desires for each other yet neither of you want a relationship, ground rules must be established. Such rules can include when and where certain behaviors are acceptable, boundaries on which activities you two will engage in, and a clear plan of action in case real feelings begin to develop. The last of these steps is the most important. More than one friendship has fallen victim to unreciprocated feelings of love, and the possibility for these feelings to develop increases vastly when you become intimate with each other. In a “friends with benefits” scenario, it can become easy for the differences between a romantic relationship and a sexual relationship to disappear. If you are sure that you’re on the same page as the person you are involved with, then it will be much easier to handle these feelings should they arise. Above all, don’t forget to continue your friendship. If the two of you enjoyed kayaking together before becoming intimate, continue kayaking after. If you bonded over fart jokes and impressions, keep those alive. And always remember to practice your intimacy safely.
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April 20, 2012
CThe quickie
crossword by Will Skinner
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The Quickie 17
There’s always enough time for a quickie
ACROSS DOWN 40 Storage space 1 Source of government income that 1 Gift tag word 41 ___ Misérables isn’t “taxes” 2 Pen for allergies 42 Landscaping purchase 5 Daybreak 3 Brain wave scan 43 Putter target 10 Band of “Kids” with an “Electric 4Ə 44 Setting for one half Feel” 5 Stretch across of MLB spring training 14 Group whose 1973 embargo caused a 6 Vase games nationwide 55mph speed limit 7 Festive drink, for short45 Lot 15 Marketing tool 8 minus Ə 46 Small submachine gun 16 Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane ____” 9 Verse 47 Long time 17 Fox News’ slant, ironically? 10 Dole (out) 48 Three dots, three 19 Silly rabbit’s desire 11 Whirled dashes, three dots 20 Pale 12 X-ray alternative 51 Twin brother of 21 Sailing 13 Bugs Bunny creator Artemis 23 Unwind Avery 52 Anonymous: “We are 26 Gush 18 Income, for one ______” 28 Schedule placeholder 22 Downtown St. Pete 56 Soup associated with 31 Boston Bruin Bobby park fog 32 Joan of Arc, for example 23 Decay 57 Extemporaneous 33 Side effect of nuclear explosions 24 Before 59 “Trainspotting” lead 34 Gathering of the mad, the patriotic, 25 Joseph Kony’s grp. McGregor or the madly patriotic? 26 Satisfy 60 Guitar feature 37 Take without earning credit 27 Be nosey 61 Pigpen 39 Buttocks 29 Weight-to-height 62 “Kill Bill” villain actor 40 Epithet ratio Lucy 42 Barely sufficient 30 Strikingly appropri- 64 Clear and set tables 45 States which can either make ate 65 Compass dir., Nu to Republicans dejected, or cause them to 32 Married woman Zeta see red? 35 Greek god of nature 66 Elastic bandage 49 We possessive 36 Excalibur claimant 67 Wade plaintiff 50 Artistic indications of holiness 38 Web address 68 Explosives standard 53 Menagerie 54 Image resolution density 55 Turn upside down 56 Hurts 58 Astronautical experience 60 US central banking system, informally 61 Hold up 63 Shepard Fairey’s Obama “Hope” poster, for instance? 69 Fey or Turner 70 Lice singular 71 Clickable image 72 Chinese currency 73 Beginning 74 Root vegetable
18 The Quickie
the current
April 20, 2012
Club Spotlight Singing a capella group takes Eckerd by storm By Ely Grinfeld Quickie Editor With Pub performances and frequent rehearsals, the Tritones will make you dance and shout with joy. “We sing all the time,” says Miranda Watrous, sophomore and co-founder of the Tritones. Watrous, along with Mari Vainstein and Chantal van Ginkel, sophomores, found the Tritones in hopes for a community that sings together. Currently, the Tritones are 18 strong. The group, being in its first full year, is calling out for fresh-faced starlets, and auditions are held throughout the year. Being a new group gives the Tritones certain challenges. To make it, the Tritones leaders continue to work on building a solid foundation for their dedicated members. “It needs structure,” added Watrous. “It’s very new so it’s not really on a person’s ‘to-do list.” Despite these obstacles, the Tritones are faring well, and keep their heads up. Performances at the Pub have been met positive reactions. It seems Eckerd wants to see more of the Tritones. As the group continues to hone their talents, hopefully that will happen in time. The Tritones meet 6:30 p.m. on Sundays, and rehearse wherever their group mentors are. Girls and boys all meet together on Sundays but then separate to rehearse throughout the week. Boys make up the sopranos. Hayley Musial is the soprano mentor. Being in the Tritones is definitely a memorable
experience for all members alike. “It’s the kind of group where everyone brings something to the table,” explained Vainstein. No events are scheduled at the time for the Tritones, though they put all their efforts into every rehearsal. Hopefully an opportunity shows up and the Tritones can sing their tunes all over. Or as Vainstein puts it, “Just look out for us on campus.” As the Tritones continue to grow, they are sure to make nothing but melodic magic.
photo by Ely Grinfeld Sophomores Mari Vainstein, Miranda Watrous and Chantal Van Ginkel, co-founders of the Tritones.
Semester by the Sea at Stony Brook Southampton Two unique undergraduate residential programs for Fall 2012
THE ARTS
THE OCEAN Immerse yourself in marine studies as you explore Long Island’s bays, estuaries, salt marshes, beaches and open ocean in this full-semester program at one of the nation’s premier oceanographic institutes. Offered by Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, it ranks sixth among U.S. graduate programs in marine and atmospheric sciences by the National Research Council.
Free your muse this fall in our “study abroad” college arts program right in the heart of the Hamptons. Got a great idea for a play? Itching to make a movie? In 10 weeks you will write, stage and perform a play or write, shoot and edit a film — all while earning 15 college credits. You will work closely with top-notch creative writing, theater and film faculty of Southampton Arts.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
GREAT GEAR, GREAT CAMPUS
You will work side by side with Stony Brook University’s worldrenowned faculty on our research vessels and in our waterfront lab facilities, and you can earn up to 15 credits.
Filmmakers, you will be trained with state-of-the-art equipment. Playwrights, you will stage your work in the 400-seat Avram Theater. Throughout your 10 weeks you will work in small groups, with plenty of personal attention.
WALK TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN Take advantage of the unique campus location on the shores of Shinnecock Bay for direct access to the Atlantic Ocean and nearby marine and coastal habitats.
GREAT LOCATION
Program runs August 27 to December 14
Program runs September 11 to November 18
The cultural legacy of the Hamptons is rich with noted playwrights and filmmakers, from Tennessee Williams to Steven Spielberg.
Registration begins April 9, 2012 To register or for more information visit www.stonybrook.edu/sea
Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 12031253
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April 20, 2012
CHEALTH & FITNESS Stop slackin’, bro:
By Ely Grinfeld Quickie Editor Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve been in yoga rooms stretching after tough workouts; running until nausea seemed like a risk worth taking; limping after pushing a muscle to a limit was just an unfortunate side-dish to my buffing up buffet. I’ve spent nights crying out in frustration over seeing no results to my efforts. I know how it feels. But you don’t have to do it alone. Sometimes working out just doesn’t work out. It was a Saturday afternoon, although you couldn’t really tell from the inside. The fitness center on our quaint campus is blocked off with numerous barriers, blinds and boys. As I did one of my leg’s muscle workouts, a brawny upperclassman shuffled his way over to me in such a way that flexed every nerve of his chiseled body seen through a much-too-loose workout tank top. He asked me to spot him. “Just hold my wrists and try to give me that extra push I need.” He then continued to do ten repetitions, with little-to-
no effort and kindly thanked me for my time. I bid him farewell and left somewhat agitated, albeit I was blushing. Was I really needed for that? Not that I don’t mind getting my hands on buff guys, but I felt almost angry at the fact that some guys are blessed with genetics that allow them to eat whatever junk they want and still have a six-pack. People like myself can work out five times a week and still plateau in their progress. Despite the genetic disparity, there are ways to exercise in the gym in a healthy manner and see great results. Firstly, you have to know your body. It is incredibly painful, literally for the person and figuratively for me, to see a person who is as thin as a stick trying to bench at least a hundred-pound barbell. When working out, you ought to begin with smaller weights. Once you figure that out, build up. From there, you can make judgments of what your fitness level is and what you need to do. Secondly, there is no such thing as ‘spot training.’ It is a sad thing to see a young man lost in a gym. The weight room is more of a
body killer but they are the staple in almost every Pub meal. Your body is a temple. Treat it like one. Lastly, stop wasting time in the gym. I know you’ve been getting pretty hot from all your working out but you need to stop flexing in the mirror after every sit up. I even find myself wasting precious minutes browsing through my iPod for the perfect track. You really shouldn’t be working out for more than an hour and a half. Any longer and you simply are not being efficient. It’s unfortunate that young men now realize how important looks are. Vanity was once a department that only women and gays explored. A generation of young, flustered boys finds conflict between the desire to be themselves and a desire to be slightly better than average. With the ‘average’ being blurred by chiseled sixpacks that end up looking more like W.H. Auden’s face in his elderly years, it’s easy to see how disillusioned some young men can be. In the end, you have to make working out work out for you.
Change up your workout routine with Zumba By Rachel Beck Staff Writer Looking for a new workout routine that will get your heart racing? Zumba, an intensive dance class offered at the Fitness Center by Senior Tara Roeder, may be just the thing. According to zumba.com, Zumba is a Latin-inspired fitness program that borrows moves from many different dance styles such as salsa and reggaeton. Zumba is both a cardio and an ab workout, engaging core muscles. Roeder has been salsa dancing since her freshman year at Eckerd. Her mother, who encouraged her to teach the class, introduced her to Zumba. “I really like making people have fun when they work out,” Roeder said. She obtained her instructor certification
and began teaching in the fall of 2012. Roeder begins her class with jumping jacks and then dives into a high-energy workout. She incorporates water breaks and a cool down period. Roeder recently added an intense ab workout at the end of her class to further work out the core muscles. One of the main challenges Roeder has had as an instructor is getting student involvement. “Sometimes you don’t get good turnouts for the classes,” Roeder said. Generally, she expects 10-15 people to attend. “I think more guys should come”, she added. “It is a good workout,” says Roeder. “I like when I see people having fun.” Check out this class at the Fitness Center. Roeder teaches Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. and Sunday from 5-6 p.m. in the Dance Room.
Tabletop legs
Workout Playlist
How to make your workout work for you
jungle, filled with brooding testosterone-filled predators competing for a spot. Young guys see huge biceps and are brainwashed by the image. You won’t get those arms by doing a thousand bicep curls. Take a deep breath and relax. Begin doing whole-body workouts like squats, deadlifts, bench pressing and weighted lifts. This is better because you will be more efficient earlier on. Do spot training when you see certain muscles are lagging behind. Thirdly, you have to eat right. Eating well is so fundamental. Many athletes in our school as it is can be seen in the cafeteria with a plate full of pizza and fries. Overweight and formerly overweight people like me look at this with disgust and contempt. The harmful effects are still there, though and it will affect your performance and health once your youth escapes. For bodybuilding, focus on lean meats like chicken, veal and lamb. Replace most of your carbs with vegetables. Cut out starchy vegetables like potatos. Most importantly, people should ween themselves off of fried food. French fries are a
Health & Fitness 19
From the iPod of Sean Lawlor 1.“Do It Again” by The Kinks 2.“Get Back” by Ludacris 3.“Holiday” by Green Day 4.“Run Through the Jungles” by Creedence Clearwater Revival 5.“Down Under” by Men At Work 6.“Rainbow in the Dark” by Dio 7.“Mope” by Bloodhound Gang 8.“Hard as a Rock” by ACDC 9.“Human” by The Killers 10.“Alive” by Meatloaf
Tara’s Awesome Ab Workout
Bicycle
For each move, perform two sets of eight crunches. Feel free to vary movements in time to the music. End your workout with a plank, holding it for at least 30 seconds.
The reach
Plank Side to side
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photos by Alex Zielinski
20 Health & Fitness
the current
April 20, 2012
April: STD Awareness Month Press Release As part of the fourth annual GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign for STDs, on Tuesday, April 24, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will offer free chlamydia/gonorrhea testing and reduced-rate rapid HIV tests for just $20 (the Department of Health HIV test is free). Go to www.MyPlannedParent-
hood.org or call (727) 898-8199 to make an appointment. While appointments are recommended, walk-ins are welcome. Coordinator of Health Promotion, Megan Coy, reminds students that while they will be offering the reduced rate on rapid HIV testing, students should remember that we offer the free rapid HIV test on campus at least once a month.
Studies show 8x8 rule is a myth By Jaclyn New H&F Editor
photo by Jaclyn New Junior Devon Williams hydrating after a workout
Staying hydrated is an integral part of a well-balanced diet, but it can be difficult to drink enough water throughout our busy college days. Nutrition and dehydration studies in the British Medical Journal show that the 8 by 8 rule, drinking an 8 ounce glass of water 8 times per day, might not make the cut. The amount of water a person needs depends on many things, including body weight, physi-
cal activity, caffeine and alcohol consumption, location, climate and illness. Websites like wateraid.org or nutrition. about.com provide hydration calculators to help determine about how much water you should drink each day. For instance, a healthy, 135 pound female who exercises for 40 minutes a day, lives in a moderate climate and low altitude should drink approximately 71.5 ounces of water a day. A 165 pound male under the same conditions should drink 86.5 ounces of water a day.
Seafood lovers beware of mercury By Shannon Vize Staff Writer As an avid seafood and sushi lover, I was terrified to hear from my mother that eating fish, especially raw fish, can lead to mercury poisoning. I figured it was just her overreacting about my raw fish habits. It turns out she was right. Although fish are an important part of a healthy and balanced diet, too much fish can cause mercury poisoning. Methylmercury can be found in almost all fish and shellfish. It is the most common source for mercury poisoning in the U.S and it becomes a risk if you eat fish too frequently or there are high levels of methylmercury present in the fish. If high levels are present, then the government will alert the public that the fish are unsafe to eat. According to “Health” magazine medical editor Dr. Roshini Raj, “If you’re eating sushi more than six times a week, you could be getting too much mercury.” Actor Jeremy Piven was hospitalized for mercury poisoning because he had been eating sushi twice a day for several years. He had six times the healthy level of mercury in his system. He was quoted in People Magazine saying, “I kind of thought I was doing the right thing ... As soon as I heard this, I stopped all fish whatsoever.” But if you just can’t put down the chopsticks, then try to stay away from tuna, specifically bluefin, mackerel, yellowtail, swordfish, and sea bass because these have the highest levels of methylmercury. Methylmercury cannot be removed from a fish by cooking it. Although most mercury poisoning is most commonly related to raw fish, cooked fish can be just as dangerous. Infants and children are at the most risk and should not ingest any raw fish. There are a variety of symptoms related to methylmercury poisoning. The most common symptoms are impairment of vision, hearing, speech, or walking, “pins and needles” feelings in the hands, feet, or mouth, vertigo, muscle weakness, and memory loss. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and are worried about your exposure, then simply ask your doctor for a blood-mercury check. Several serious diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, various kidney diseases, and Multiple Sclerosis are associated with mercury poisoning as well. However, mercury poisoning is treatable. The most common method of treatment is abstaining from all fish for at least six months, and in serious cases, chelation therapy. The therapy consists of chelating agents that travel throughout the body and bind to metals like mercury and convert them into an inert substance that can then be excreted. Chelating agents can be given
7 Health Myths Crispy and spicy foods According to Dr .Alan Weiss, a medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, fried and spicy foods can make you sick. “If you have acid reflux disease, eating spicy foods can make you feel worse, and in that way can make you sick.”
Hot toddies For anyone who doesn’t know, hot toddies are a concoction of whiskey, boiling water, honey, lemon, and cloves, an Irish invention for soothing and killling a cold or flu. While alcohol kills bacteria in the stomach, the steam from the drink can open up nasal passages. “It won’t cure the flu, or decrease the length, but it could help with some symptomatic relief,” Weiss said.
Chicken noodle soup Research suggests chicken noodle soup may decrease the symptoms of colds and the flu. A 2000 study in the journal Chest showed that chicken noodle soup with vegetables decreased the action of white blood cells that spur inflammation, which contributes to the symptoms of the common cold.
Cold and wet hair Hanna Garth, a cultural anthropologist from the University of California, Los Angeles, said “not only is it true that going out with wet hair is considered risky for one’s health, but also washing one’s hair with cold water is considered risky and thought to provoke illness.” However, there is no scientific proof that going out into the cold will make you sick.
Flaxseeds “Flaxseeds contain fiber and a lot of omega-3 fatty acids. Fiber relieves constipation and lowers cholesterol,” Dr. Weiss said. A fiber-rich diet can reduce a person’s risk of overall death over a nine-year period because it can help ward off heart disease and respiratory disease.
Bloodletting
courtesy of the Bureau of Health Environmental Toxicology Program
in the form of a pill, injection or suppository. It can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to completely remove the presence of mercury from your body. Mercury poisoning is a serious illness that can have disastrous affects on your health if left untreated. As much as I love sushi and tuna, I will definitely be more aware of the types of fish I will be ingesting from now on and I advise you to do the same. Eating fish up to five times a week will still
benefit your body and health. If you are eating fish more than that, you are at serious risk for developing mercury poisoning. By keeping an eye on the methylmercury levels in the fish in your area and only eating cooked and raw fish occasionally you can drastically lower your risk for mercury poisoning. So you don’t need to swear off sushi or tuna melts entirely, but try finding a few new sources of protein for the majority of your meals.
“Relying on bloodletting to cure disease is a bad idea, Weiss said. People need blood to fight disease, so removing blood won’t help win the battle,” Weiss said. However, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that drawing blood every six months reduced heart disease, heart attacks and stroke for people who have peripheral arterial disease.
Shiatsu This type of acupressure , is believed to relieve disease and pain when a practitioner presses certain pressure points on the body. “It could have some therapeutic benefits by helping relax and relieve tender muscles,” Weiss said.
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the current
April 20, 2012
Sports 21
CSports Beachside Sevens Invitational invades Kappa Field April 28 By Lincoln Andres-Beck Sports Editor Rugby sevens is one of the most wide-open, fastest paced, exciting sports the world has ever seen. With only seven minute halves, the games have a very quick turnaround and usually come down ot only a couple of scores. It will be tested in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Rugby was dropped from the Summer Olympics after the 1924 Paris games. But more importantly, rugby sevens is making an appearance this spring on the campus of Eckerd College, as the Tritons play host to Beachside Sevens Invitational on April 28 on Kappa Field. The Tritons will be fielding two
teams for the tournament, the Senior Sevens that consists of Leslie Claridge II, Julian Buck Nigel Hammond, Michael “Shiva” Best, David Hebden, Shawn Craine, Frank Arcuri Jr., Michael Loop, Padraic Fitzgerald and Jon McChesney. I would look for very fast passing and looking for fastbreak and two on one attacks outside with the terrific speed of Nigel Hammond and Michael “Shiva” Best, who says that, “7s is an extremely fast-paced game. With faster players and only 14-minute games, there is a lot more sprinting and constant running, so fitness is a key to success.” Meanwhile Leslie Claridge II and Julian Buck look to break through the middle of the field with power-
ful runs. McChesney relishes the chance to join the high speed attacks as he described Sevens, “Sevenss is much faster paced. You have the chance to utilize your speed, agility, and endurance more so in 7’s than in 15’s because there’s less congestion on the field.” “Shiva” Best agrees with these sentiments, “The “forward’s game” of crashing and slow ball-movement is replaced by rapid passing and playing from one side of the field to the other.” The Tritons will also be fielding a second team for the tournament, as there are around eight teams in the tournament. The games will start every 20 minutes starting around 1 p.m., and there will be three rounds in the double elimination format
photo by Lincoln Andres-Beck Freshman Rob Mabry is caught by a shoestring tackle during Sevens practice.
competing for both the championship cup and the consolation plate trophies. The Beachside Sevens Invitational is being sponsored by Kukri Sports, who are also the makers of the Tritons Rugby 15s team jerseys. They will also be providing a store credit prize toward Kukri gear for the winners of the cup. The event should be a great time for the
INSIDE SPORTS EC Lacrosse
page 22
James Beaty Profile
page 23
Sports calendar
page 23
Stephanie Jenks profile back cover Eckerd Baseball
back cover
whole family with a concession stand, tournament t-shirts for sale, and fast paced rugby action all afternoon. It may be the end of an era for the Senior Sevens, but expect to see more great Rugby 15s action next fall when the Tritons retake the pitch under the direction of head coach David Hedges.
photo by Lincoln Andres-Beck Senior Michael “Shiva” Best runs past Mac Jennings during Sevens practice.
A cool hit: NHL playoffs take center ice By Colin Casey Staff Writer In North American sports, no tournament spectacle compares to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the NFL’s Super Bowl might be the largest event of the year, and the NBA Finals may draw more viewers, no emotional experience can quite compare to the insanity of the two and a half month pursuit for the Stanley Cup. For these few magical weeks, 16 cities’ collective hearts beat as one a game at a time. For the players, they have dreamed about these games since they began playing
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pond hockey growing up and for the fans of some teams it could culminate a lifetime of waiting for their team’s glory. Round one has only just begun but shock and awe seems to be the order of the games this season. Playoff spots were determined on the final day of the season with the Vancouver Canucks earning one final victory to seal the President’s Trophy and the number one overall seed. Leading the charge with the perennial contenders were several resurgent franchises. After being either the final team in the playoffs or the first team out in the last three years, the New York Rangers climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference thanks to healthy play form their captain Ryan Callahan and leading scorer Marian Gaborik, as well as a key addition for the postseason in 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Brad Richards. Also reaching the postseason and winning their division were the St. Louis Blues. The Blues were picked among the favorites to contend for the number one overall pick at the 2012 NHL Draft. But solid defen-
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sive play from Norris Trophy dark horse Alex Pietrangelo, stellar goaltending duet from Brian Elliot and Jaroslav Halak, and the intensive mentoring of Coach Ken Hitchcock the Blues won the Central division for the first time since their President’s Trophy winning season in 2000. Added to the mix also was a new contender from the Southeast Division. After a summer of free agent spending, the Florida Panthers emerged as a new contender after many questions surrounding the team were answered. Among the additions were 2011 playoff hero Sean Bergenheim, 2010 Stanley Cup champions Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell, and Tomas Kopeckey, and 2002 Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore. The new additions to this postseason have made for the dizzying potential for first round matchups. Perhaps the most shocking matchup has been the Battle of the Keystone State, the four seed in the East Pittsburgh Penguins against the five seed Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins contended for the top of the standings for most of the
season behind the NHL scoring champion Evgeni Malkin, resurgent forty goal scorer James Neal, and solid healthy defense. Then it was announced that Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, who had been sidelined since early December with concussion like symptoms, would return for his team in game one of the series. The Flyers also contended deep into the season; however, their team had been shaky down the stretch. The Flyers had been active in the offseason and added 2007 Stanley Cup winning goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to the roster. During the season, the Flyers lost their captain Chris Pronger to a concussion that could possibly end his career although he has stayed in the locker room to assist in defensive strategy. However, the team is fortunate to have an elder skatesman in Daniel Briere, who has stepped into the team’s primary leadership role in Pronger’s absence as well as their own warrior lineup led by Hart Trophy candidate Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. Also factoring into the series are two former Penguins who changed sides this past off-
season. Maxime Talbot is remembered by Penguins fans as the man who scored both Pittsburgh goals in game seven of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals to help win the Cup; now he plays for the hated rival Flyers along with another talisman of Penguin history. Jaromir Jagr returned to the NHL this year and signed a one year $7 million contract with Philadelphia; coming 10 years after he demanded a trade and sent the franchise into a downward tailspin culminating in a near move to Kansas City. The series got ugly quickly despite the surprisingly strong play of Crosby. The Flyers began to pressure the Penguins culminating in Pittsburgh losing both opening games at home; the second game featured two hat tricks on the Philly side from Daniel Briere and Sean Couturier. Tensions boiled over in game three as a combined 148 penalty minutes were given out including seven game misconduct calls. The television audience was treated to three separate brawls and multiple See NHL, page 22
22 Sports
the current
April 20, 2012
Eckerd
Sports Briefly Global
Hill closes regular season career
Brian Hill appeared in his final home contest during Senior Day as the Eckerd College men’s tennis program played a Sunshine State Conference match against Saint Leo University on Tuesday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Tritons’ against the 18thranked Lions, Eckerd closed the regular season winless with a 9-0 loss against Saint Leo, finishing 0-16. The men will compete at the SSC Tournament, set to be hosted by Florida Southern College on April 19-21.
Lady Tritons close season with loss against #12 Tars
In a bid to make the postseason and the encompassing Sunshine State Conference Tournament, the Eckerd College women’s tennis program closed the spring season on April 13 with a loss against 12thranked Rollins College, 9-0. The Tritons (3-15, 0-8 SSC) were put into a mustwin situation in yesterday’s make-up game against the nationally-ranked Tars (11-9, 4-4 SSC). Bullock led the Tritons with six wins individually and the doubles duo of Carson Trapp and Katie Benn equaled her number in the win column in doubles competition.
Cuda keeps cruising on the mound
Following another dominant outing on the mound, Eckerd College baseball senior standout Joey Cuda was tabbed by the Sunshine State Conference as Pitcher of the Week announced by the league on Monday. Cuda limited the Tars to just six hits and no walks as the Tritons won, 4-1. He also rung up a career-high 14 strikeouts, including back-to-back K’s to begin the top half of the ninth inning. Cuda improved his record to 5-2 on the year in his ninth start. He is holding opposing hitters to a .209 batting average and has logged 63.2 innings with a 2.40 ERA to date in the spring. This marks the third weekly SSC honor collected by the Tritons’ ace.
Ogwumike takes top spot in WNBA Draft Nnemkadi Ogwumike was picked number one overall in the WNBA draft on April 16. The 6’2” forward, who averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, became the first Stanford University player ever to be the number one draft pick in the WNBA draft when the Los Angeles Sparks selected her. Ogwumike lead the Stanford Cardinal into the Final Four in all four of her seasons at the school.
Ozzie foot in mouth draws suspension over Castro comments The Marlins, who just this past off-season changed their name from the Florida Marlins to the Miami Marlins and got a brand new stadium, hired the controversial Ozzie Guillen, who took the Chicago White Sox to the World Series in 2005, to lead a young but talented team and also to be a Latin face of a franchise that has a large Cuban fan base. However, Guillen alienated himself from those fans when he made recent comments about how he respects and loves the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Guillen has since apologized to the Miami fans and has been suspended for five games.
Tragedy strikes Serie B’s Livorno as player drops dead Former Italy Under-21 midfielder, 25-year old Piermario Morosini,, died April 14 after suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing on the pitch during his team Livorno’s Serie B match at Pescara. Morosini fell to the ground in the 31st minute of the match and tried unsuccessfully to get up several times before receiving urgent medical attention on the pitch. A defibrillator was used on the player, who also had his heart massaged, before an ambulance arrived on the pitch to take him to hospital where doctors tried to revive him for around an hour and a half.
Retraction: A picture in the last issue, published April 6, 2012, on the back cover identified #23 in the softball picture as Alex Sasso who had a profile devoted to her; #23
is actually Taylor Styke. Alex Sasso wears #24 as can be seen in the picture (left) and accompanying the online article at theonlinecurrent.com.
courtesy of eckerdtritons.com
courtesy of Jimmy Lawler Eckerd club lacrosse team after their win in Feb.
EC Lax ends tumultuous year, looks to the future Greg Reilly Asst. Sports Editor After just one semester on the practice field, the Eckerd men’s lacrosse club is gearing up to join the Men’s Club Lacrosse Association in the fall. Throughout the semester, the team, which consists of 25 players, has been traveling around Florida playing games against college club teams as well as men’s club teams. Despite mixed results, the season was highlighted by a 9-8 victory over Florida International University’s club team. “To beat a Division 1 club team in one of our first games was huge,” said Ben Donovan, a senior from Boulder, Colo. Two weeks ago, the team fell to a nationally ranked Florida Gulf Coast squad but gained valuable experience from playing such a competitive team. “The other team had four coaches,” Donovan said. Eckerd, on the other hand, does not have a head coach at the moment. “The real difference wasn’t our ability, but our organization,” Donovan said. “They had set plays and serious coaching.” Like Eckerd
now, Florida Gulf Coast didn’t have a head coach a year ago. Eckerd also found itself competing against former pros and Division I players when they played the Dade County Men’s league team. Only five current players, among them Donovan, are graduating in May, giving the team a strong core on which to build a program. They hope to have a head coach and more funding next year as well. Currently, the majority of the funding is coming from player and parent donations. The club, which practices four nights a week on the soccer field, wraps up their spring schedule on April 22 at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Although Donovan only spent one semester on the team, he says it’s a great group to be a part of for anyone interested. “This semester has been the best collegiate experiences of my life,” he said. “Most of us didn’t know each other at the start of the semester and now we are inseparable. It is such a fun group of guys who show to practice four days week, for both lacrosse and more importantly just to be around each other.”
When you thought hockey couldn’t get any cooler NHL from page 21
courtesy of Alexey Chernyadyev The ultimate prize of the NHL.
dirty hits given out by both sides. NBC Analyst Mike Milbury was disgusted with the game and especially the play of Pittsburgh, after the game he summed up his opinion “this is a team [Pittsburgh} that is very vocal about headshots. You can’t say that and then stand behind what happened today.” Milbury was referring to a play when Penguins defenseman Aaron Asham charged Flyers forward Matt Schenn and connected with multiple direct hits to Schenn’s head leaving him in a heap. This series has only caused the reputation of the Penguins to implode. Adding to the emotionally charged playoff rounds is the Western Conference matchup of the Nashville Predators and the Detroit Red Wings. Nashville came into the
series with arguably the league’s best goalie in Pekka Rinne and defensive tandem in Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. The Red Wings of course enter with veteran names like Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, and Pavel Datsyuk who each have their names on the Stanley Cup. But the most talked about moment of the series occurred at the end of game one when Shea Webber channeled his inner Triple H and slammed Henrik Zetterberg’s head into the glass. For his offense, Weber was fined $2500 and, to the surprise of Detroit, was not suspended. Adding to Nashville’s strengths is their power play percentage and their newly acquired Russian weapon Alexander Radulov. While this series has not been as brutal as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, it has contained
far superior technical hockey and goaltending. These next few weeks will see teams from all parts of the United States and Canada competing for their one goal. Whether injured or healthy, players will strive to outplay their opponents, because in the end, it is for the Cup. All games can be seen on national television on the NBC family of networks. Look for new teams to compete for hockey’s ultimate prize like the Los Angeles Kings, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and the Nashville Predators. Watch the perennial contenders fight through adversity like the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and the Chicago Blackhawks. And if you are new to hockey, welcome aboard, pick a team and enjoy the absolutely magic chaos that is the next six weeks.
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the current
April 20, 2012
Sports 23
The name of a king, through the links he doth swing
Vote for The Current end of the year sports awards
By Hayden Johnson Asst. Quickie Editor
Vote for the top student athletes in both male and female sports
Which coach and players left the biggest mark during the 2011/2012 seasons? See the results in the final issue of the Current for the 2011/2012 school year
Vote online at theonlinecurrent.com or by survey that is sent via email.
His full name is James Wilson Beaty III. “A king’s name, one might say,” he comments, but his friends call him Wil. Beaty is a senior from Decatur, Ga., with a lifelong passion for golf. He is most often seen rocking his signature blazer jacket and bright yellow SpongeBob pants. With black painted fingernails, bleached hair with streaks of faded pink dye along with a beard, he is the embodied spirit of the Kappa community. Beaty has a long history with golf. “He kidnapped me and took me to the golf course,” Beaty jokes about how his father got him into golf. Throughout his childhood, his father encouraged him to step onto the green. When he was three, his parents gave him a plastic golf set and a metal one the following year. One of his early role models in golf was Tiger Woods, something he acknowledges is extremely cliché. Beaty fondly recalls when, at age 7, Woods won the Masters Tournament. His golf career continued on through high school, when he spent countless hours at the Charlie Yates Golf Course in east Atlanta. One of the best memories he has of golf took place his senior year, when he hit a hole-in-one. “My a-hole friend who’s younger than me has four when I only have one,” he laughs. Throughout the times he has been at the Charlie Yates Golf Course, Beaty has seen many no-
table visitors. He remembers seeing he graduates, he plans on playing NFL stars Warrick Dunn and Ed golf and qualifying for tournaments Reed, who goes to the golf course while balancing a regular job. Golf frequently, in addition to comedian does not provide a steady paycheck. To motivate himself, he goes D.L. Hughley. However, the most memorable encounter he had was back to what his swing coach in when rap artist T.I. came to the high school told him. She played course to make a speech to kids. professional golf for two years but Beaty, standing nearby while T.I. regretted not trying hard enough to gave his speech, was surprised how push further in her career. Beaty does not want to share this short the rapper was. He remains puzzled as to why so regret. It is this regret that keeps many famous people come to the him swinging. course. “It’s kind of s--tty,” he says. “When I was in ninth grade some guy got robbed at the 17th green.” In August 2008, Beaty came to Eckerd to play golf. His Triton career ran through his freshman and sophomore years. Throughout this time he would play off and on. As the seasons passed, the pressures of schoolwork and being an athlete started to build up. When he was thinking about withdrawing from a class, the NCAA threatened to suspend him. After a period of contemplation and decision-making, Beaty chose to leave golf and live as a regular college student. “When I’m at Eckerd, I play with my friends here and there,” says Beaty. Nonetheless, he is starting to make a comeback on a different field. When he is home in Georgia, Beatey tries to qualify for golf tournaments. Last year he tried to qualify for the Georgia Open and the Georgia Amateur. “I missed the amateur by 2 strokes,” he says. courtesy of Wil Beaty Golfing has and always will Wil Beaty taking his swings on the course. be a passion of Beaty’s. When
Eckerd Scoreboard Baseball
(EC G2) Del Monte 1-2, 2B, SB (EC G2) LaRose 1-1, 2B
April 5 v. Rollins College W 4-1 (EC) Cuda 8.2 IP, 0 ER, 14 K’s, W (EC) McLemore 3-4, HR, 2 RBI’s April 6 v. Rollins College (DH) L 4-1, L 13-0 (EC G1) Huchro 7.1 IP, 4 ER, 2 K’s, L (EC G1) Spinelle 1-4, 1 RBI
(EC) Del Monte 2-4, 2B, Run
April 9 v. Clearwater Christian Coll. L 12-7 (EC) McLemore 3-4, HR, 2 RBI’s (EC) Capra 3-5, 2B, RBI, Run
April 14 v. Lynn University (DH) L 6-4, L 2-1 (11 innings) (EC G1) Del Monte 4-5, 2 RBI’s, Run (EC G1) Capra 3-5, 2B, RBI, Run, SB (EC G2) Wilder 6 IP, 0 ER, 0 K’s, ND (EC G2) Bishop 1-3, 2B, Run
April 13 v. Lynn University L 5-2 (EC) Regidor 3-5
Softball
April 5 v. Lynn University L 5-4 (8 innings) (EC) Sasso 2-4, 2 2B’s, RBI (EC) Mitchell 2-3, 2 RBI’s, SH
March 13 v. University of Tampa L 6-0 (EC) Sasso 1-3 (EC) Wilson 1-3
April 6 v. Lynn University (DH) W 7-3, W 6-4 (10 innings) (EC G1) Jeffares 2-2, RBI, 2 Runs (EC G1) Bierchen 1-3, 2 Runs, 3 SB’s (EC G2) Mitchell 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI’s (EC G2) Schurr 2-4. 2B, 2 RBI’s, Run
April 14 v. University of Tampa (DH) L 7-0, L 8-0 (5 innings) (EC G1) Sasso 1-3, 2B (EC G1) Bernier 5 IP, 3 ER, 1 K, L (EC G2) Wiemken 1-2, 2B (EC G2) Agnew 1-2, SB
Sports Calendar 20
Friday
Baseball @ Saint Leo University 6 p.m.
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Saturday
Baseball @ Saint Leo University (DH) 1 p.m.
Softball v. Saint Leo University 7 p.m.
Softball v. Saint Leo University (DH) 1 p.m.
Rays v. Minnesota Twins 7:10
Rays v. Minnesota Twins 7:10
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Baseball v. University of Tampa 7 p.m.
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Baseball @ University of Tampa (DH) 1 p.m.
Softball v. Barry University 7 p.m.
Softball v. Barry University (DH) 1 p.m.
Rays @ Texas Rangers 8:05
Rays @ Texas Rangers 8:05
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Sunday
Rays v. Minnesota Twins 1:40
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Monday
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Tuesday
Rays v. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 7:10
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Wednesday
Baseball @ Webber International University 6 p.m.
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Thursday
Rays v. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1:10
Rays v. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 7:10
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Rays @ Texas Rangers 8:05
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Rays v. Seattle Mariners 7:10
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Baseball v. Saint Leo University 7 p.m. Rays v. Seattle Mariners 7:10
2
Rays v. Seattle Mariners 7:10
3
Rays v. Seattle Mariners 1:10
The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College
CSports
April 20, 2012
Jenks serving up English after Eckerd athletic career By Malena Carollo Asst. News Editor Senior Stephanie Jenks, captain of the women’s tennis team, seems to have post-graduation life dialed in. While many seniors wring their hands about getting their first “real” job and potentially moving back in with Mom and Dad, Jenks is already blazing her own trail. Apartment: check. “real” job: check. Basic pension plan: Check. The catch: It’s in China. The racket-swinging blonde was recently accepted into the Peace Corps’ program to teach English in a foreign country, and is counting down the days until her June 29 departure to Chengdu, China. “It’s a little bit scary,” said Jenks, who doesn’t speak a word of Mandarin. “I think it’s going to take me out of my comfort zone, but that’s also one of the draws to the Peace Corps.” While her five years of Spanish won’t help her Asia, Jenks is psyching herself up for her 26-month stay by studying the culture and customs. She’s had to give herself somewhat of a crash-course on China, as she was initially being screened for Eastern Europe. A placement recruiter delivered the news of her acceptance courtesy of and location eckerdtritons.com over what Jen-
courtesy of eckerdtritons.com Senior Stephanie Jenks volunteers as a tennis coach with Academy Prep during the summer of 2011.
ks thought was just a phone call to touch base. “I was just really taken aback, I didn’t know they were going to tell me then,” she said. “I thought they were still in the interview process.” Though her exact location is still to be decided, Jenks will be teaching oral communication and written skills at a university. For most of her students, she will be the first
person they will meet who isn’t from China. Jenks is no stranger to teaching. Along with several members of her team, Jenks heads private tennis lessons for Academy Prep students. After volunteering at the private school, Jenks offered to start a liaison program to teach the students how to play tennis after school. “Some of the kids who are gradu-
ating now say they want to do tennis in high school and that makes me feel really good,” Jenks said. When she graduates, Jenks will pass the torch to a fellow teammate to continue the program. Her persistence isn’t limited to off-court projects. “[Her greatest strength] is her willingness to stay out on the court as long as it takes to get the job
done,” said Interim-Coach Ben Maxwell. Her commitment will be a strong asset in her travels abroad. “I love learning about different cultures, I love traveling and I think I’ve been given a lot of opportunities in my life,” said Jenks. “I thought this would be a great way to give back and have a unique experience.”
Baseball struggles as season nears close By Will Creager Asst. Sports Editor
courtesy of eckerdtritons.com Alex Del Monte steps up to bat.
Eckerd baseball continues to struggle in conference play after getting swept at home by Lynn University in a three-game series April 13-14. The Tritons currently sit in last place in Sunshine State Conference play with a Conference record of 3-15. For the first game of the series, Eckerd sent senior ace Joey Cuda to the mound. Cuda was coming off of one of the best starts of his Eckerd career, when he shut down Rollins in 8.2 innings, holding them to one unearned run on six hits while striking out a career high 14 batters. That performance earned him the NCBWA South Region Pitcher of the Week and the Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Week awards for the third time this season. The game started out well for Cuda, as he allowed just one run through the first six innings despite allowing nine hits. The Tritons got on top early, as senior shortstop Alex Del Monte scored from third on a wild pitch in the first inning
and then senior right fielder Dan Capra picked up an RBI single in the second inning. The Tritons carried that lead into the seventh, but then things got away from Cuda. He didn’t make it out of the inning, getting just two more outs while allowing four runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter, giving Lynn a 5-2 lead. That would end up being the final score, as Eckerd tried to mount a 2-out rally in the ninth inning but fell short. In the first game of the doubleheader on April 14, Eckerd pounded out 15 hits, but stranded 14 men on base en route to a 6-4 loss. Four of those 15 hits were from Del Monte, who leads the team with a .366 batting average. Senior center fielder Bryant Gibson, freshman catcher Mike Abraham, and Caora each added three hits apiece, while junior infielder Lee Spinelle had a pair of singles. The second game of the doubleheader was supposed to be just a seven-inning game, but the Tritons and Fighting Knights were in the midst of great pitchers duel. Senior pitcher Jake Wilder shut down the
high-powered Lynn offense for six innings, giving up just two hits and two walks while not giving up a run. Eckerd took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Capra singled home sophomore outfielder Shane Bishop. That lead held up until the seventh inning, when senior Johnny Lancaster came in to get the save, but Lynn was able to manufacture a run on a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a hit to send the game to extra innings. The game stayed tied 1-1 until the 11th inning, when a walk and a double gave Lynn the lead and a 2-1 victory. The Tritons continue conference play with a three-game series at Saint Leo University on April 20 and 21, and then finish up conference play with a home series against the University of Tampa on April 27 and 28. They finish up the regular season with a non-conference three-game home series against Palm Beach Atlantic University on May 4 and 5. To make the Sunshine State Conference playoffs, the Tritons will have to finish the season strong and move up at least one spot in the standings.
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