Issue 1, Volume 7

The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College

Volume 7, Issue I Sept. 25, 2015

courtesy of Tom Scherberger The new art building will cover roughly 34,000 square feet. Construction for the project will begin in December.

New visual arts building in the works

By Beau Maysey Staff Writer Students attempting to reach the Ransom Arts Center this semester have run into a hurdle — a large wire fence now surrounds most of the perimeter where construction continues on the Chapel Pond. Students must find their way to the building by passing around Kappa Dorm Complex.

Starting in December, the Visual Arts Center will be torn down and replaced with a brand new building to hold the art department. The entire project’s price tag, including connected Chapel Pond rennovations and updated air conditioning systems amounts to nearly 20 million dollars.

Eckerd Director of Construction Bill McKenna said that in the next two years, the familiar landmark will be completely remade, which was also confirmed by President East-

man at his “Pizza with the President” event.

“It’s a dramatically new building, radically different,” McKenna said.

Historically, the center for Eckerd College’s visual arts department has moved around until 1978, when it was moved to its current location, according to the Eckerd website. Since then, Ransom has housed most of Eckerd’s visual art courses, equipment and smaller exhibitions (with larger ones held at Cobb Gallery).

The plan for the new, unnamed art building is a huge complex of two crossing arms, resembling a cross from above. The entire space around Ransom will be razed in preparation for this new center, which will also be linked to a chiller loop water system in Wireman Chapel.

Although the Ransom Arts Center’s issues are not pressing, the visual arts building will be going through a huge upgrade in size. According to McKenna, while Ransom occupies

18,000 square feet, the expanded building will take up close to 34,000 square feet.

McKenna, as well as Visual Arts Professor Arthur Skinner, have stated some of the numerous advantages this larger art building will offer, a larger critique room, more space for the dark room that is currently upstairs and a studio dedicated towards video and photography, complete with a green screen.

See Visual Arts, page 3

Charles Blow inspires campus

By Emma Cotton Editor-in-chief

photo by Emma Cotton Charles Blow spoke with conviction in Fox Hall on Sept. 8.

On the evening of Sept. 8, Charles Blow spoke in Fox Hall in front of a standing-room-only crowd. His voice was slow and steady as he described the injustices imposed upon black men and women in presentday America.

The New York Times columnist has travelled around the country to talk about his memoir, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, and found one of his largest followings at Eckerd.

“This might be one of the bigger crowds I’ve ever spoken to about this book,” he said shortly after taking the stage. According to Professor of Political Science William Felice, who helped coordinate Blow’s visit, there were over 500 people in the room.

After a short introduction and a

few jokes, Blow launched.

“This year is the 60th year anniversary of the savage murder of Emmett Till,” he said. He described Till, a 14-year-old black boy from Chicago who was kidnapped, beaten, shot, tied by the neck to the metal fan of a cotton gin and pushed into the Tallahatchie River. The murderers were two white men. They were angry because Till had supposedly whistled at a white woman.

Blow described Till’s body. It was unidentifiable. At the funeral, he said, Till’s mother insisted that the coffin remain open so that visitors could see what was done to her child.

Till’s murderers were acquitted.

Blow spoke with a low voice, his eyes on the crowd. Each word had its own individual power.

“That first 30 minutes in the evening, you could hear a pin drop,” Felice said. “I mean, people were mesmerized.”

News 1-4 Opinion 5-6 Culture 7-8 Science 9-10 Sports 11-12

The Emmett Till case, Blow said, was the first real Black Lives Matter story. Black Lives Matter, an activist movement, didn’t officially begin until after the shooting of 17-yearold Treyvon Martin, but represents situations similar to Till’s murder.

The movement was not only the main thread of Blow’s speech but is also the subject for many of his columns in The New York Times.

Story after story, Blow described the horrifying circumstances under which black men and women have been brutally killed.

“Since the shootings of Treyvon Martin and Jordan Davis and Michael Brown and Tamir Rice and John Crawford and Sam DuBose and Rekia Boyd and Yvette Smith and the killing of Eric Garner and many others, the nation has been engaged in a new discussion about race and justice and civil rights.”

See Blow , page 4 The Current is a free, biweekly student newspaper produced at Eckerd College. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers.

Let’s be brief

Page 2

Sept. 25, 2015

By Chelsea Duca News Editor

T-Pain to perform at Eckerd On Sept. 26, Eckerd will welcome national recording artist T-Pain for a concert hosted by Palmetto Productions. The concert begins at 9 p.m. at the GO Pavilion and will feature ArtOfficial.

There will also be a $1 beverage service for students who are 21 or over.

Director of Residence Life Jamey Handorf asked in an email that students register off-campus guests ahead of time for the night of the concert to keep traffic running smoothly at the front gate.

Join Pet Life for Pools, Popsicles and Paws On Sept. 27 from noon to 3 p.m., Pet Life is throwing a party for students and their furry friends in the pet park. There will be music, pools for the animals to splash around in and petfriendly popsicles, (as well as people-friendly popsicles).

If you are planning on going abroad for Winter Term, applications are due to the Office of International Education on Oct. 1. All paperwork, a copy of your passport and the $500 deposit must be turned in by 5 p.m.

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7 p.m., Miller Auditorium [CPS] International Cinema Series: A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

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7 p.m., Miller Auditorium [CPS] International Cinema Series: Güeros 7 p.m., McArthur Volleyball v. Florida Southern College

SATURDAY

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12:55 p.m., Miller Auditorium The Met: Live in HD 4 p.m., McArthur Volleyball v. FIT 7 p.m., Soccer Field Men’s Soccer v. Rollins

Grab a drink with your professor The first Pitchers with Professors of the year will be on Sept. 25 at 4:30 p.m. at Triton’s Pub. Bon Appetit will provide a taco bar, as well as gluten free drink options and fresh root beer for students under 21.

If you are 21, remember to bring your student I.D. and a second government-issued form of I.D.

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., students will be selling cups of coffee in front of the pub for $1 each. All of the net proceeds will be donated to provide Biosand Water Filters to South Asian communities to improve water quality.

SUNDAY

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2 p.m., Soccer Field Women’s Soccer v. Embry Riddle University

Miller auditorium is showing ten live broadcasts of The Met: Live in HD this year, so students and community members can enjoy the entire 2015-2016 season of the Metropolitan Opera. The first broadcast will be on Oct. 3, and the final broadcast will be on April 30. Tickets are $25 per performance, or $225 for a season pass.

Visit www.eckerd.edu/metopera to purchase tickets and view the performance schedule.

Coffee sales benefit clean water initiative

Apply for Winter Term abroad

FRIDAY

Experience the Met in Miller Auditorium

Online Exclusives News

Opinion

Eckerd professors partici- Peer mentoring acclimates pate in Turn-it-in trial first-year students during Autumn Term Banner brings campus together after car vandalism *Check our website for Eckerd mourns loss of for- regular breaking news upmer student Lois Mount dates

MONDAY

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Volunteer for National Estuaries Day Sept. 26 is National Estuaries Day, and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program is celebrating by removing invasive plants, picking up trash and working in the gardens at Moccasin Lake Nature Park in Clearwater. They are looking for volunteers from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. A long sleeved shirt and a hat are recommended. The Tampa Bay Estuary Program also asks that you bring a re-fillable water bottle to minimize the amount of plastic waste created during the event.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact Misty Cladas at 727-893-2765 or email her at misty@tbep.org.

Office of Sustainabilty hosts SustainabiliTEA Join the Office of Sustainability on Sept. 27 in Gamma Lounge at 8 p.m. for tea and cookies.

Students can present their own ideas and help brainstorm campus sustainability initiatives.

The Office of Sustainability will also be in front of the mailboxes on Sept. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. encouraging students to sign the 2015-2016 Sustainability Pledge. If you are one of the first 20 people to sign the pledge, you will receive a re-usable Gatorade bottle. Students who sign online before Oct. 2 will be entered to win one of three solar charging packs.

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7:30 p.m., Miller Auditorium [CPS] Gideon’s Army

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

7 p.m., Miller Auditorium [CPS] Our Water, Our Future: A presentation by photographer John Moran

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7:30 p.m., Miller Auditorium [CPS] Gideon’s Army

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7 p.m., Soccer Field Men’s Soccer v. Barry University

Editor-in-chief

Opinions Editor

Online Editor

Photo Editor

Emma Cotton

Ben Goldberg

Michael Serrati

Connor Kenworthy

thecurrent@eckerd.ed

currentviews@eckerd.edu

currentonline@eckerd.edu

Managing Editors Gary Furrow

Asst. Opinions Editor Brianna Spieldenner

Sports Editor

Sally Gardiner-Smith

Christina Rosetti currentsports@eckerd.edu

Sarah Raney

Culture Editor

currentme@eckerd.edu

Jennifer Lincoln

Cortney Lesovoy

currentae@eckerd.edu

Nicholas Jackson

Design Manager Hannah Hamontree currentlayout@eckerd.edu

News Editor

Asst. Culture Editor James Carter

Science Editors Fiona McGuire

Chelsea Duca

Christa Perry

currentnews@eckerd.edu

currentscience@eckerd.edu

Asst. News Editors Victoria Carodine

PR Manager

Geoff St. John

Christina Rosetti

Asst. Sports Editors

Multimedia Managers Peter Bouveron Viki Seligman currentvideo@eckerd.edu

Social Media Managers Duncan Leblond Becky Flood

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7 p.m., Miller Auditorium [CPS] Spoken Word: Check Your Male: In Praise of Our X Chromosomes

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7:30 p.m., Fox Hall [CPS] Talk: Dawn Porter, Director of Gideon’s Army

The Current is a free biweekly student newspaper at Eckerd Colcurrentphoto@eckerd.edu lege. Offices are located upstairs in Cobb at 4200 54th Ave S, St. PeAsst. Photo Editor tersburg, FL, 33711. Opinions exNate Gozlan pressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily Design Editors reflect those of EC students, staff, Corelle Rokicki Dorothy Eldemire faculty and administration.

Chelsea Duca The Current welcomes letters to Andrew Friedman the editor. Submissions should be Garland Ward typed and cannot exceed 400 words. currentlayout@eckerd.edu Writers must include their full name, graduation year and contact number.

Recruitment and Faculty and staff should include their title, department and contact Retention number. All submissions are subject Sydney Cavero to editing for the purposes of clarity, Ben Goldberg style or length. The Current holds the right to reject any letters deemed Faculty Adviser inappropriate. Letters can be sent via email to thecurrent@eckerd.edu.

Professor K.C. Wolfe

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News

Sept. 25, 2015

Page 3

Office of International Education reduces Winter Term prices for freshmen

By Victoria Carodine Asst. News Editor From Cuba to Hong Kong, New York to Southeast Asia, Ecuador to Greece, the Winter Term trips for January 2016 will have adventurous Eckerd students spread far and wide, exploring new cultures, foods and languages.

This year has the most applicants for a Winter Term trip in the school’s history, according to Director of International Education Diane Ferris.

With new trips being offered each year, the number of students going on trips abroad will continue to increase.

“The school has stated a goal to have a 100% participation in study abroad by the year 2020. So that means that every person has at least one study abroad experience,” Ferris said.

This goal might be attainable with the increase of students applying for Winter Term trips abroad. Starting this year, the Office of International Education is making Winter Term abroad trips more available to freshmen.

“There are a couple of reasons for that,” Ferris said. “The first of which is that parents have asked us to include them. Part of the reason why freshmen haven’t [participated] in the past is because when the tuition is set up, you pay every year for one short term and the rest of your semester courses,” said Ferris.

In the past, if a freshman chose to participate in Winter Term, their tuition would include not only Autumn Term and the semester, but also the course charge for Winter Term. In order to make the trips abroad more accessible, there will be a decrease in cost for the freshmen.

“We reduced the tuition for the freshmen only in that one year to $500 and whatever the travel expenses are,” said Ferris.

Although the cost is shrinking for freshmen, the price for Winter Term remains the same for upperclassmen, who are still required to complete

three short terms in addition to Autumn Term.

Ferris said she doesn’t think this will affect the upperclassmen trying to apply for Winter Term abroad.

Some upperclassmen feel otherwise.

“I think it’s good because it’s encouraging freshmen to get out and explore but at the same time, I think it’s unfair to everyone in upper grades who didn’t get the chance to do that,” Senior Alexandra Mezentsev said. “I honestly think they should make it cheaper for seniors.”

Though the trips may become more selective for upperclassmen, the trips will be inclusive to many different types of students.

“There will be two trips to the Galapagos this year, so students don’t get left out,” Ferris said.

Ferris is also trying to make it easier for students to complete requirements while abroad. “[There are] lots of ‘E’ perspective trips this year because we know students are trying to get those done,” she said.

One notable trip being added to the list of programs this year is Longevity in Greece led by Assistant Professor of Communication Kristina Wenzel and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Crystal Young-Erdos.

Though Greece is currently experiencing economic crisis, Ferris said she didn’t think the trip would be affected. She hasn’t heard from any concerned parents. Although there is a tax increase in Greece, the coordinator of the trip has waived any increase of fees for Eckerd.

In addition to trips abroad, there will be two sections of The Leadership and Self Discovery Practicum (LSDP) this January because it has become so popular. Freshmen are still encouraged to participate in LSDP, especially if they decide not to go abroad.

All of these developments are geared towards increasing involvement in Winter Term.

“What I hope is that the size of participation in this Winter Term is just the beginning,” Ferris said.

photo by Chelsea Duca Assistant Director of Pet Life and Senior Hunter Leggett takes his dog, Snickers, for a walk nea Zeta pond.

Freshmen bring pets to campus

By Rachel Borch Contributing Writer This semester, freshmen are allowed to bring their dogs and cats directly onto campus with them. This new policy represents a welcome change for students who had previously had to spend at least one semester on campus pet-free before they could register a pet. While some upperclassmen are sour that the change did not come sooner, many agree that it was a necessary one.

“From freshmen, at least, and some upperclassmen as well, we’ve had a pretty positive response,” Assistant Director of Pet Life and Senior Hunter Leggett said.

Senior and pet owner Julia Weinberg worries that the adjustments that freshmen undergo make the first year of college a bad time to have a pet.

“There are too many things going on in your life to properly care for another living creature. Emotional support animals should be a completely different thing.”

Some freshmen had voiced complaints about having to wait a semester to bring their dog or cat to college with them, which might have been a deterrent to someone who would otherwise consider enrolling at Eckerd.

“We just wanted to keep competitive, but we also thought it was maybe time to make that adjustment,” Leggett says.

From Visual Arts, page 1

photo by Connor Kenworthy Construction to the Chapel Pond is an initial step in renovating the new art center.

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“We’ve been working with the architects for a year now,” Skinner said. “They decided it would be best if [the new building] hit the sun, and so it was decided to sacrifice [the current building]. As it is now, we will be somewhat inconvenienced by being scattered across campus. In the long run, however, we will get a better building with better exposure to light.”

New studio areas will enhance the experience for students involved with ceramics and sculpture art. In addition, technology will be improved in the new, unnamed center, like the possibility of having 3-D printers.

For now, though, the upcoming demolition of Ransom Arts Center and areas around it means that class space will soon become unavailable.

According to Skinner, instructors are already packing up their office spaces and moving classes elsewhere in preparation for the construction.

The Continuing Education Building, Roberts Music Hall and a soon-to-be built facility will all house visual arts

Eckerd has established itself as a leader in the trend of allowing pets on college campuses, ranking highly on many national pet-friendly campus lists, including number one on FastWeb’s list of Colleges for Animal Lovers.

“The pet policy was a huge factor for me,” says Leggett, a dog owner himself. “This is one of the many things that makes Eckerd unique.”

In addition to the recently completed Pet Park between Omega and Gamma, the campus features eight individual dorm houses designated for owners of cats and dogs. On top of that, small animals such as rabbits and snakes are permitted in any of the dorms, as long as they are registered with Pet Life.

While reinforcing Eckerd’s image as a progressive campus when it comes to pet ownership, this change in policy has been part of a greater discussion about responsibility and accountability among pet owners-especially at the end of each semester, when Eckerd’s “Free & For Sale” Facebook page often becomes littered with ads for cats, dogs, and exotic animals that are given away because their owner is going home over break.

There have even been stories of snakes and reptiles being set free when the student couldn’t find a home for them. For a community of supposed “animal lovers” that prides itself on being environmentally con-

scious, this is troubling.

“When [people] set their snakes free, it’s a huge issue, especially with invasive species… When you sign our registration form, that tells us you accept responsibility, [and] there’s no neglect or abandonment of any kind,” Leggett emphasizes. “It is stated in our pet policy that it is the owner’s responsibility to take care of their pets over all breaks.”

It may seem like cause for concern that there is not more accountability involved with pet ownership, especially for incoming freshmen and first-time pet owners.

But Eckerd’s progressive policy concerning animals on campus represents a larger sense of personal responsibility. The policy itself states: “The future of this pet privilege rests upon the successful administration of the policy and the willingness of students to abide by, and enforce, the policy.”

Further advancements in Eckerd’s pet policy are currently in the works.

Leggett says the Pet Life staff are working to start a pet fostering program in cooperation with local animal shelters. He anticipates that if all goes according to plan, the program might be in place as early as next semester.

Leggett still urges students to think carefully whether they have time and resources to take care of a pet before they consider adopting one or bringing one on campus.

courses and imported works.

Future digital arts courses have moved to the computer science lab at Sheen Center. The Ransom Art Center’s studios are up in the air for relocation, since putting them on the East side of campus would be, according to McKenna, “a real budget-buster.”

It is not yet known where artwork currently stored at Ransom will be held while the reconstruction is taking place. For many in the art department, like Skinner, the move is a temporary sacrifice for a large benefit.

Some students, such as Senior and Visual Arts Major Molly Hurd, are distressed by these losses.

“I definitely am frustrated that it’s happening at the time that it is,” Hurd said.

For many senior visual arts majors, the lack of studio space is a major issue. The existing huts offer a convenient and private place for students working on presentations for the Senior Showcase. According to Skinner, the location of the Senior Showcase will be moved to Cobb Gallery since Elliot Gallery will be

unavailable.

This means that those who plan such activities will need to rethink their strategies when it comes to showcasing works meant for the smaller gallery. For Hurd, rethinking the lighting and visuals for the much larger Cobb Gallery is intimidating.

McKenna noted that the new building will be one of the most difficult undertakings to date for construction crews on campus, due to the nearby changes to Chapel and Fox Ponds.

“The timing of the project is tied to the planned construction of the Visual Arts Center, but it is also part of Eckerd’s commitment to being good environmental stewards,” Director of Media and Public Relations Tom Sherberger said in an email.

While information is still under wraps about where components of the Ransom Arts Center such as the art huts and sculpture gallery will go, the support of Eckerd in its visual arts department is reassuring.

Page 4

News

Sept. 25, 2015

Eckerd College Search and Rescue purchases new boat

By Thomas Lang Contributing Writer On Sept. 4, a new addition to the Eckerd College Search and Rescue Team (EC-SAR) fleet arrived at the waterfront — Rescue 5. While the 24 ft. 2016 Robalo 242 has not yet been fully commissioned, Coordinator of EC-SAR Ryan Dilkey hopes that the new Rescue 5 will be ready to go in service at the beginning of October.

A few years ago, engine trouble led to the decommission of the team’s dual inboard 33 ft. Donzi. According to Dilkey, repairs would have been too costly, so the boat was sold.

Through fundraising efforts, ECSAR was able to raise $80,000 to facilitate the purchase of Rescue 5, the fleet’s first new boat since 2008.

EC-SAR’s current active fleet consists of three boats, but the team’s growth and increased case response, as well as the recent loss of the former Rescue 3, justified the purchase of a new boat.

Since 1971, members of EC-SAR have been providing free marine rescue services to the Tampa Bay area.

Over the past 44 years, the program has grown. According to Dilkey, the team currently consists of 33 upperclassmen and over 40 freshmen trainees.

In addition to the growth in mem-

bership, EC-SAR has also seen an increase in the number of calls it responds to.

“In my student days in the late ‘90s, we would have been in the [range of] 300 calls per year,” Dilkey said.

In the past decade, that number has soared. Last year, EC-SAR responded to over 600 calls.

With Rescue 5’s twin Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboard motors, the boat’s capabilities will be comparable — if not better — to those of the fleet’s other dual outboard boat, Rescue 6, a 26 ft. Century.

Rescue 5 still needs to have some work done on it before it can enter service. The boat needs to be outfitted with a tow screen, infrared camera and electronics systems.

“This will essentially double our flagship capability,” Dilkey said.

Rescue 2, a 19 ft. Norsafe Merlin and Rescue 4, a 23 ft. Century, are both single outboard boats. Though they are important parts of the fleet, they are not suited for every task, like pulling vessels from aground.

“It’s really exciting because our primary response boat is ten years old,” Junior and Rescue 5 Coordinator Kate Seader said. “So this gives us an opportunity to respond and help the community in a more timely fash-

courtesy of Ryan Dilkey Waterfront Recreation Intern Rachel Cruz helps celebrate the new rescue boat’s arrival.

ion.”

The team is heavily involved in the greater community. EC-SAR will provide support and child-size personal flotation devices to the Old Salt

Fishing Tournament in October.

“At least once or twice a month we’re somewhere out in the community, educating people not only about boating safety, but educating them as

to what EC-SAR is and what Eckerd College does,” Dilkey said. “We are representatives of Eckerd College through and through.”

Sailing cove construction nears completion

By Sally Gardiner-Smith Asst. Opinion Editor

photo by Lakelyn Harnage The sailing team is already using the new docks at the sailing cove.

Eckerd College students have been sailing for years. The sailing team has grown over time and has been competing on a varsity level for four years. The new sailing cove, located

by Galbraith, was designed to give the sailing team a new dock, more storage space, faster access to the bay and facilities like bathrooms, offices and a new pavilion.

The cove was projected to be completed by the beginning of the 2015 sailing season, but difficulty obtaining permits slowed the process. The project isn’t yet finished, but its delay isn’t hindering the sailing team.

One of the most impressive features of the new sailing cove is the floating dock. The dock is large enough to store all the boats and gives the sailors ample room to ready their boat.

“We have, I think, the best dock in college sailing now,” Sailing Coach Kevin Reali said.

The location of the dock is also very important. The sailors can now reach the bay much faster, making their practices more efficient.

In addition to the dock, a pavilion will provide shade for spectators during any sailing events that Eckerd hosts. Storage space will be increased, and an area for team workouts has been created.

“I’m really excited for the dock because we won’t have to share the space with the Waterfront,” Sophomore Jane Ann Donovan, a member of the sailing team, said.

Before the cove, the team had to share the space with the Waterfront.

Now, both parties have areas dedicated entirely to their respective purposes.

Due to the delay in obtaining permits, there are a few features left to be finished. The restrooms and offices are not completed and cannot be used yet. The pavilion, as well, is awaiting completion.The grass on the field that the team will use for exercise hasn’t grown in yet.

In the meantime, the team members do their workouts on Kappa Field instead.

Junior Aliki Fornier does not believe that the delay is affecting the functionality of the team.

Reali said that the most important things for a sailing team are the dock and the water, which they have.

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photo by Chelsea Duca

From Blow , page 1

On campus, Blow has sparked a conversation.

“I thought his actual speech was really powerful,” Senior Ryan Lee said. “When he answered the questions, he brought a new perspective to a lot of people in the room. I never would have thought to look at these situations in the way he talked about them.”

What sets Blow apart is his compassion for the subjects about whom he writes. In his speech Blow empathized with Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old who was shot while playing with a toy gun in a park. For four minutes, Rice lay on the ground, still alive and writhing in pain, while police stood by.

“How excruciating must the pain have been?” he said. “How slowly must that time have passed? How confused must he have been?”

Blow’s memoir, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, explores the source of his empathy and his coming of age.

In it, he navigates his own sexual assault along with racial prejudices, and eventually solidifies his own identity.

His columns, which focus on social justice, appear connected to the issues that became important to him as he grew up.

In his speech, Blow pushed for activism, but said that only experienced activists understand how to direct their passion in order to achieve the best, most peaceful outcomes. The Black Lives movement depends on peaceful activism to thrive. He ended his speech with a quote from Florida writer Zora Neal Hurston: “If you are silent about your pain, they will kill you and say that you enjoyed it.” Several audience members gasped before applause filled the room.

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Opinion

Sept. 25, 2015

Page 5

ECOS gender disparity shifts in recent years

By Javier Rosario Contributing Writer

photo by Cypress Hansen

Acceptance is not enough

A student’s car was vandalized in West Lot on Sept. 6.

By Emma Cotton Editor-in-chief

In a recent column in the New York Times, Charles Blow writes: “People must be allowed to be themselves, however they define themselves, and they owe the world no explanation of it or excuse for it. They have to be reminded that the only choices they need to make are to choose honesty and safety.”

Eckerd College has always been a place where students can define themselves however they like. On the way to class, it’s easy to spot a rainbow of hair colors, a multitude of barefoot walkers and many different styles of dress that, arguably, wouldn’t cut it at more stuffy college campuses. Eckerd students don’t

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only accept this — we encourage it. The more someone expresses their individuality, the better they fit into the Eckerd vibe.

This makes Eckerd a smart choice for prospective students who desire an accepting campus. In principle, most Eckerd students will tell you that you have the right to be whoever you truly are. We all assume that Eckerd is safe — from judgment, harassment and definitely from violence.

On Sept. 6, I was shaken awake from this safety when I received word that a student’s car on campus had been scratched, dented and battered. What was worse, the car’s paint was carved with phallic symbols and homophobic slurs.

The implications of this are grave. The details of the crime

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don’t suggest a last-minute thought or practical joke gone wrong. Though there are no suspects yet, it is most likely that an Eckerd community member planned the attack, and it was carried out with force. The owner of the car has withdrawn from Eckerd.

President Eastman reacted as many have, saying that this behavior was unlike Eckerd.

“This is very unusual,” he said. “This is as anti-Eckerd as anything I can remember. It just doesn’t reflect either the students, the proclaimed — but actual — values of the place, or my experience here. This is my fifteenth year. Something doesn’t add up.”

ECOS President Jack Layden and Dean of Students James Annarelli reacted similarly. In an email to the Eckerd Community, they encourage students to reject bigotry.

“The celebration of diversity and the loving embrace of difference are in the very DNA of the Eckerd College community,” the email reads.

An investigation, which involves both the college and the St. Petersburg Police Department, began the same day the crime was reported. If discovered, the perpetrator will be found guilty of a third-degree felony and may face time

in prison.

The message is clear: the college does not tolerate hateful acts, and they’re not messing around.

What can we do as students, though, to protect each other in the future? How can we live, as Blow suggests, honestly and safely?

First, we need to realize that this event has been scratched into Eckerd’s history. It happened, even though so many of us feel that it shouldn’t have. It is a permanent scar left on the trail of acceptance that Eckerd has blazed.

Second, we should understand that Eckerd is not always a haven for the LGBTQ community.

To an outsider, we may seem to have an accepting environment, but this incident has shown us that we may know little about what goes on behind the scenes.

There is always more we can do to promote a safe and healthy community, whether it be starting a discussion, getting involved with the Queer Straight Alliance or furthering our bystander awareness program.

Finally, we need to harbor the outrage that we feel about this issue. Though anger is often a destructive emotion, it also guides our decisions when we are presented with ugly situations. The most effective motive for significant change is for students who truly care to use their voice. It is no longer enough to accept Eckerd’s wonderful and diverse identities. It is time to advocate for them.

Not too long ago, ECOS was run almost entirely by men. From the Executive Council to the Cabinet, it was an all guys’ club. This isn’t to say that ECOS was doing all of this on purpose.

Sure, it was being run by men, but the qualifications of these men couldn’t be denied.

The problem seemed to be a lack of interest or a lack of encouragement from the female population in Eckerd.

The fact was that not many women seemed keen to run for office. After years of this, current VP of Financial Affairs Emily Law had had enough of it.

“I feel as though women are not encouraged to be part of those leadership roles, and I think it’s important for people to see, and for people to think about women being involved with roles that are traditionally a man’s role,” Law said.

It was with this thought that she ran for office at a time where no other women held office, and the results of it can be clearly seen in her position in the Executive Council.

This year, there are actually more women filling up positions in ECOS than men. According to President of ECOS Jack Layden, the ratio of women to men in the Executive Council is four to three, while in the Cabinet it’s 15 to 11.

Regardless, ECOS ultimately places more importance into running efficiently than on trying to find a politically correct gender balance.

“It shouldn’t be even. If you’re taking a conscious effort to be even, you’re probably not picking the best people,” Layden said.

Even Emily Law wasn’t running for the sole purpose of becoming some sort of example.

“The primary reason I ran was because I wanted to get involved with ECOS, because I always saw the great work that they did,” Law said.

She ran because she felt she was the right person for the job, not only because ECOS needed to become more equal in terms of gender.

And really, a government’s most important duty is to serve its people to the best of its ability.

Gender has nothing to do with it.

Both women and men can rest assured that ECOS won’t care about a person’s sex or gender as long as they have what it takes to do a good job.

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Opinion

Sept. 25, 2015

Athletics held to a higher standard

By Christina Rosetti Sports Editor

As a student-athlete, I am not sure what is more exhausting - setting your alarm for 5 a.m. the night before a preseason practice and visualizing the impending torture, or enduring countless sprints under the stadium lights before the sun is even up.

Both create a considerable amount of stress.

Autumn Term and preseason for men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball annually coincide, throwing freshmen student-athletes into a whirlwind of commitments.

Fortunately, Autumn Term is not the first time in a student-athlete’s life that he or she is forced to juggle aca-

demics, athletics and a social life. Is Autumn Term easy? No. Is preseason easy? No. If you ask any studentathlete on this campus, they will tell you it has not been an easy road to get where they are.

This past Autumn Term, certain faculty members expressed a concern regarding demanding preseason schedules taking away from academics and the Autumn Term experience.

In response to this, the Athletic Director and respective coaches addressed the issue by excusing certain athletes that were not performing up to acceptable academic standards from practices.

“The hiccups we had this year, it’s important to note, were on the heels of five to six years of no incidences, no hiccups, no problems,” Athletic

Freshman Francesca Larrain and Sophomore Ashely Ingolia take an ice bath after soccer practice.

ics might be impeding the academic success of our students, our first action is always to remove the athletic obligation from the equation and ask students to set athletics aside and focus solely on academics,” Fortosis said.

While athletic programs exist at a majority of schools across the country, Autumn Term is fairly unique to Eckerd. It is a brief three-week orientation period before upperclassmen arrive on campus that “establishes the academic expectations and social responsibilities of being a member of the Eckerd College community,” according to the Eckerd College website.

Preseason begins during the second week of Autumn Term. Although the following two weeks are rigorous mentally and physically for student-athletes, preseason plays a crucial role in a team’s success in regular season.

“Having two to three practices a day along with class was hard,” women’s soccer Senior and Captain Rae Antenucci said. “It was a really stressful experience for all of us but I think that the coaches have become more flexible with the freshmen getting to practice late or having to leave early.”

Antenucci added that it takes time for new coaches to recognize the importance of Autumn Term and learn the Eckerd way of life.

So a couple of athletes dozed off in class. What student hasn’t let heavy eyes take over during a movie in class at 9:00am? Why are student-athletes ordered to miss out on a morning practice in order to get back in the good graces of his or her professor?

Student-athletes on this campus are held to a higher standard. It is common for non-athletic stuphoto by Aristeo Canales dents to fall asleep in class, but

Director Bob Fortosis said. “It does not represent a trend.”

In fact, Autumn Term Professor and Faculty Athletic Representative Anthony Brunello describes the faculty’s concerns as exaggerated and sees this more as an isolated incident.

“It really comes down to, I think, the student-athlete being responsible for their academics,” Brunello said.

“The incidents I know about were exaggerated--and with the best of intentions--some faculty may have blamed athletic practices for tired students, when this was not an unusual Autumn Term.”

Though the response to these concerns may be seen as punishment, Fortosis explains why it benefits all parties involved.

“If ever there is any hint that athlet-

professors rarely call their parents or report them to the student’s mentor.

“I always say, if we just say ‘student’ and drop the ‘athlete’ part we will see all the common behaviors,” Brunello said. “You begin to make a claim that it’s a student-athlete problem as soon as a student-athlete is involved.”

Simply because a student gets to tag ‘athlete’ on the end of that title does not necessarily give faculty members the right to bypass a conversation with the student and go directly to a coach or a dean.

“I absolutely think that athletes are held to a higher standard,” Antenucci said. “A lot of pressure is put on us to set an example for the rest of the school. Being a student-athlete forces us to have good organization skills and develop ways of coping with high levels of stress, things that will benefit us down the road.”

Following each Autumn Term, the athletic department compiles the average GPAs of all students participating in the three week course and compares the GPAs of non-athletes to fall student-athletes.

This year, the freshmen studentathletes participating in Autumn Term averaged over a 3.4 GPA, only .09 lower than the regular students on campus.

“Essentially, all of our studentathletes who have all of their athletic obligations alongside their academic obligations during Autumn Term are achieving virtually the same results,” Fortosis said. “I think that’s reflective of our commitment to Autumn Term academics.”

If you ask me, I think student-athletes on this campus not only exceed the academic and character standards set, but also deserve some breathing room from faculty in order to independently excel in the classroom.

Sports Editor Christina Rosetti is a member of the women’s soccer team.

The New Hotspot on Dorm Drive: Epsilon Complex

By Mereysa Taylor Contributing Writer The Epsilon Complex is the exciting new buzz on campus. Almost everyone has seen it, and if not, they’ve heard about it. From the laminate wood floors to the powder blue doors, this dorm has been converted into somewhat of a dreamscape over the summer of 2015.

Each room has been refurbished with a fresh paint job, new flooring and updated furniture. This restructured design allows for more floor space, a much needed improvement.

The paneled ceilings of last year have been removed and plastered over for a smooth surface. The floors have also been converted into co-ed living.

The most dramatic change has been in the bathrooms. The traditional layout of communal sinks, showers and stalls was entirely eradicated, and Epsilon now includes four individualized restrooms, each complete with its own shower, toilet and a door to close it off from the outside. In the common area there are four sinks and expansive mirrors on each side, finalizing the urban ‘hotel’ feel students have been raving about.

Epsilon’s makeover has charged a

campus-wide thrill, especially for students rooming there this year.

Epsilon students were given temporary housing across campus during Autumn Term, in order to finish the complex before the start of the academic year. Upon their return, the overall response has been positive.

Epsilon Resident, Senior E.J. Moody, had only good things to say regarding the change.

“Whatever reason, I’m glad it happened, I think that we should account for more dorms being changed as well,” Moody said.

Epsilon RA, Sophomore Karim Bergsma, lived in Epsilon last year and shared a similar enthusiasm.

“Living here last year was nice because it’s so central, but now that it’s been upgraded, along with its location, makes it an even better place to live,” Bergsma said.

Both of these students have shown little distress in the fact that the lounge has not been finished, but instead eagerly await its completion.

Even students who don’t live there shared some excitement in the renovation. Sophomore Amy Varenkamp, who lives in Beta expressed her admiration and even a little bit of jealousy.

“But in the same vein, I know im-

provement takes time and that the school is trying its hardest to make improvements with the students’ best interests at heart,” Varenkamp said.

Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students James Annarelli said that there was a build-up that drove Eckerd’s administration to focus their attention on the state of the residential complexes. One of the decisions they made was to make the floors co-ed.

“Going co-ed throughout each house allows the college to be responsive to changing student requests, concerning how facilities are accessible to individuals, irrespective of gender,” Annarelli said.

He also addressed plans for the future renovation of the other dorm complexes.

“Of course the decision is always ultimately that of the Board of Trustees, but our recommendation to the Board is that we move forward with the next stage of renovations. Right now, tentatively, that second stage would project two complexes being renovated next summer,” Annarelli said.

With a hopeful future ahead and a beautiful dorm complex to enjoy, students begin this academic year with a stunning new living space. Room draw for next year will definitely be a sight to see.

Renovations inside Epsilon include bathrooms with a modern look.

photo by Cypress Hansen

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Sept. 25, 2015

Culture

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Keep St. Petersburg Local: The lead in renaissance

By James Carter Contributing Writer St. Petersburg’s grassroots community is developing at a rapid rate.

In the last decade, the city has turned from a sleepy retirement home in South Florida to a self-made boomtown and a cultural destination, thanks to the efforts of local businesses and artists.

Keep St. Pete Local (KSPL) is the forerunning organization in this recent development.

The program’s goal is to celebrate and secure the local community by sponsoring events, connecting businesses and spreading local news and job opportunities.

“We want to celebrate this cool place we have — its artists, its breweries, things that we didn’t have too long ago,” program leader Olga Bof said.

This shift not only attracts new business owners, artists, and residents to the city but also strengthens the city’s economy from the inside.

“We’ve never had a real economic base here,” local artist and lifetime resident Nin Mcquillen said.

Because of this, there is no product or business alone that could activate the city; it can only come from the community itself.

KSPL is responsible for some of the biggest local events in St. Petersburg.

Most notably, their February festival Localtopia attracts more than 20,000 guests to William’s Park.

Before Localtopia, however, residents can look forward to Localicious Week.

This city-wide festival starting on Oct. 16 highlights the best of St. Pete’s local food and drink with a food truck rally, food tasting at the MFA, movies in the park and more.

In The Dip, the event on Oct. 22 that closes the week of festivities, invites residents to the lesser-known Deuces district on 22nd Street South.

This extends to local revenue beyond just downtown or Central Avenue into an area of town that could

photo by Connor Kenworthy

Downtown St.Pete is home to the Keep St. Pete Local project to bring in local events and vendors.

use it.

Additionally, their website acts as a hub for all of these events, and also houses a list of the associated businesses and St. Petersburg’s only job board.

While these events are open to students, piercing the Eckerd bubble is no easy task.

Most of us can only count on First Friday buses for a night on the town.

“A lot of people don’t have cars on campus, so [First Friday] is the only

time they get to go downtown and see what’s off campus,” Junior Vivienne Tien said.

First Friday is a great opportunity for Eckerd students, but it is not the only one.

“If you’re in college, First Friday is great,” said Beard, “but if you’re only going to First Friday, you’re missing out on a lot.”

Second Saturday, its lesser-known artistic counterpart, showcases St. Petersburg’s thriving art scene on

Central Avenue and the Warehouse District.

While there are currently no shuttles provided to the event, it is the best time to experience what the local community has to offer and support its growth.

“The city’s starting to build itself as an arts destination,” ARTicles featured artist Nathan Beard said.

“We’ve got world-class museums, and we’re starting to have a really cohesive art community.”

As students we’re lucky that our sity isn’t overshadowed by Tampa, but rather exists as its own entity.

For our short four years here, we should take advantage of the stellar city we have at our fingertips.

“You have big city amenities with small town feel, with one degree of separation,” Bof said. “It’s a community that loves to meet itself. It’s not a competitive environment, but a collaborative one, because everyone wants to see our city rise together.”

Eckerd fashion reflects campus culture

By Andrea Depina Gomez Contributing Writer

photo by Emma Cotton Senior Ciera Akins and Junior Gabbi Simari sport their Eckerd fasion in Nu courtyard.

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Compared to the typical college campus, Eckerd has a unique perspective on fashion. That is, you can be who you want and wear what you want.

Among the many Eckerd staples that celebrate this sense of individuality and style are vibrant prints and bright colors.

Whether it be hats, apparel or sneakers, students are making statements with vivid colors and prints.

This lively trend seems fitting right out of summer, a season associated with fun and colorful style.

Junior Rob Weigel, seen sporting a floral print hat and bright salmon shorts, expresses his appreciation for fashion on campus.

“It’s pretty groovy and unique,” he said. “Everyone adds their own flare to the tropical, Floridian vibe.”

Some popular patterns on campus include tribal print, lots of floral and an Eckerd favorite, tie-dye. These prints not only make for a colorful campus but a positive one.

“It makes me happy and upbeat,” Freshman Kaylee Hendrix said.

Some find it uplifting, and others even feel liberated.

Yes, bright colors and prints may be seen on other college campuses, but students at Eckerd welcome an unconventional way of styling them.

This includes wearing prints that don’t necessarily compliment one another and sporting clashing colors. \ This liberal outlook on fashion allows for complete freedom.

“I’ve always dressed like this, but Eckerd is more open and welcoming, so it’s easier to dress how you want,” Weigel said.

Junior Ellen Emrich believes that the inspiration originates with the students.

“I think Eckerd just attracts the people who are more free spirited with their style,” she said.

Not only do students recognize this freedom, but professors do as well.

Assistant Professor of Communication Kristina Wenzel sees a distinct difference between Eckerd and other universities where she has taught.

She explains that fashion can be a way to distinguish oneself with a social class, but Eckerd students refreshingly don’t care to do so.

But is it freedom, or just laziness?

Do students truly feel safe to express themselves through fashion, or are they making strategic attempts to achieve the Eckerd style?

“I think half of campus is lazy, but then the other half of campus has the money to buy nice clothes and doesn’t want to look like they are trying,” Sophomore Meredith Lee said.

Lee brings up a point that coincides with Wenzel’s observations.

Maybe students with money are trying to fit into the non-matching, boho style that Lee feels describes Eckerd fashion.

Fellow Sophomore Sophie Salomon agrees.

“A large portion of students on campus are conscious of what they are wearing, but they don’t want to look like they are.”

Either way, the consensus is that style on campus is generally eccentric and eclectic, no matter the reasoning for it.

Style is always a matter of personal preference. If you want to play it safe with neutrals or bring out the colors and prints, it is up to you.

“People mix and match and go crazy, and others don’t. It’s ok to here,” Emrich said.

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Culture

Sept. 25, 2015

MC Escher feature at The Dali attracts a diverse audience

By Michael Wesner Contributing Writer

M.C Escher at the Dali is open until Jan. 3 for public viewing.

photo by Gabriel Corzo

Now through Jan. 3, the work of Dutch artist M.C. Escher will be featured at St. Petersburg’s own Dali Museum. Visitors may view a wide variety of Escher’s work, comprising of prints, drawings, woodwork, sculptures and lithographs.

A significant highlight of the exhibit is the exploration of Escher’s work with tessellation, an artform so essential to his work that his name is often considered synonymous with it.

The process of tessellation is developed through patterns in which geometrical shapes fit together seamlessly. The nearly 14-feet-wide woodcut, entitled Metamorphosis, is a perfect example of this. The piece spans the length of an entire wall at the exhibit, and features a brilliant array of color, pattern, nature and symmetry.

One of the best things about the Dali’s new exhibit is its inclusiveness and variety regarding Escher’s work over his lifetime. According to Emeritus Director and Eckerd College Adjunct Professor Marshall Rousseau, 135 individual pieces have been loaned from the Herakleidon Museum of Athens, Greece. The variety of work spans the entirety of his artistic career.

Upon entering the exhibition,

visitors become immersed in a world of not just art but history. His work begins in the 1920s, featuring wood cuts and prints from his early years.

Each section of the gallery has several vertical screens displaying in depth details on Escher’s life, from the beginning of his career to the end.

Personal details on who he was at the time of each piece’s inception adds an enthralling behind-the-scenes context to his work.

Intimate portraits of family members, panorama landscapes and sketches of architecture from all over Europe transition quickly into complicated prints and sculptures.

Mounted video screens show magnifications of his more complex pieces: the tessellations he’s best known for.

The gallery is focused in a chronological order, and visitors can watch as his work develops from excellent sketches of insects and faces to less recognizable geometrical abstractions. He begins to incorporate color into his pieces in the 1950s, and more detailed sculptures and woodworkings emerge with watercolors in the ‘60s.

“The work this man did is so complex,” Freshman Gabriel Corzo said.

It takes a special kind of mind to do what he did.”

Recognizable pieces such as Waterfall and Drawing Hands are featured, but an assortment of rare exclu-

sives also grace the walls of the Dali.

Informal pencil sketches adorn the gallery, as well as his own charcoal sketches of a printmaking station, labelled in order to carefully explain his technique. The exhibit finishes off with the last work of his life and then recaps with his most popular work from the ‘40s and ‘50s.

“As an arts and science double major,” Freshman Sierra Toomey said, “Escher’s creations of tessellations are a unique and creative way of combining two different worlds to create intriguing masterpieces.”

Art major or not, anyone who enters will get a great taste of world culture from a fantastic local museum.

Visitors of all passions and interests will be able to appreciate the work of M.C. Escher.

Access to the exhibit is free with admission to the museum, which is discounted to $5 for Eckerd students after 5 p.m. on Thursdays. The Dali also offers complimentary viewings of Metamorphose, the biographical documentary on Escher’s life. The film is shown every hour between 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

A schedule for lectures and other educational programs regarding Escher can be found on the Dali’s website. Private tours are available upon reservation.

DOWN

ACROSS 1. “Lorna Doone” character 5. Sinbad’s bird 8. Demolish: Brit.

12. Idea (Fr.) 13. Alas 14. Cheese 15. Leg Ends

16. Burmese knife 17. Taro 18. Small S.A rabbit 20. Pilgrim 22. Skin Vesicle 23. veneration 24. Beginning 28. Blaubok 32. Public vehicle

33. 54(Roman numeral) 35. Isrealite Tribe 36. Ringed boa 39. Reading desk 42. Abdominal (abbr.)

44. Have (Scot.)

45. Female falcon 48. Butterfly 52. State (Fr.)

53. Television channel 55. Endearment 56. Mine (Fr. 2 words) 57. Rom first day of the month 58. Per. poet 59. Maid 60. Compass direction 61. Foreign (pref.)

1. Breach 2. Design 3. Profound 4. Hate 5. Fanatical 6. Wood Sorrel 7. Rudderfish 8. Flat molding 9. “Cantique de Noel” composer 10. Kemo __________ 11. Turk. title 19. Jap. fish 21. Intimidate 24. Amazon tributary 25. Grab 26. Kwa language 27. “_________ Abner” 29. “Fables in Slang” author 30. Rhine tributary 31. Television channel 34. Car 37. Insect 38. Presedentioal nickname 40. Helper 41. Caddy (2 words) 43. Male duck 45. Loyal 46. Hindu Soul 49. Crippled 50. Dayak people 51. Aeronautical (abbr.)

54. Low (Fr.) The answers to this crossword will be revealed in the Oct. 8 issue of The Current.

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Sept. 25, 2015

Chapel Pond renovations to improve ecosystem Duncan LeBlond Social Media Manager Since the beginning of the summer, construction has taken over parts of campus. With a variety of projects ranging from renovations at the Epsilon complex to the new sailing cove, campus is abuzz with activity. One hard-to-miss project is the reconstruction of Chapel Pond and its surroundings.

According to Director of Media and Public Relations Tom Scherberger, the construction is based on two main goals. The first is Eckerd’s obligation to meet government regulations, and the second is to continue to forward the college’s goal of being a leader in sustainability and greenthinking.

Right now, the project may not outwardly seem sustainable to passers-by. Many students have noticed the dark spouts of water, which contain dredged material that empty into the pond. This, combined with the many machines that seem to be tearing the pond apart, may cause students to wonder about the ecological

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impact of the renovation.

Senior Alexis Berger is a marine science major and works at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission in St. Petersburg.

“I know they had to dredge,” Berger said. “To dredge they had to take out the mangroves and other plant species in certain areas. Taking away the plants is taking away a lot of other organisms’ food source.”

When skirting the pond and overhearing conversation, this is the subject that seems to be on many people’s minds. As it turns out, however, the benefits of the project far courtesy of Tom Scherberger outweigh the costs.

The ponds on campus are man- The new plans for Chapel Pond include paths around the perimeter and a bridge replacing the current land bridge. made stormwater retention ponds to the bottom. needs to be deeper, so we’re dredging and pond in a geyser-like fashion. It whose purpose is to take up the exwill eventually be used as material to Changing the ponds will make to do so.” cess water when rainfall hits impervihelp renovate the land surrounding Because the pond is not adequatethese functions more effective. Acous surfaces, such as concrete and ascording to Sustainability Fellow ly filtering the water to government’s the new visual arts center. phalt. In doing this, the ponds prevent The project’s goal is to be susEvan Bollier, change was necessary standards, more pollutants than necthe water runoff and contingent polessary are making their way into the tainable. The mangroves that were lutants from flowing directly into the for both the local environment, as bay. uprooted from the edges of the pond nearest natural water source; in the well as keeping up with government According to Bollier, the machin- were therefore considered a necescase of Eckerd College this source is standards. ery is used to dredge the pond and sary sacrifice to help improve the lo“The stormwater ponds are not relocate the nutrient-rich mud at the cal ecosystem of the Boca Ciega Bay. Boca Ciega Bay. The water that ends “The point of the project was to up in the ponds, mainly Chapel Pond, in state compliance, and the pond is bottom.

This mud is what has been gushing improve the bay, and that’s the higher then flows out to the bay through un- no longer deep enough to adequately derground pipes as the pollutants sink do its job,” Bollier said. “The pond out of the ground between the library goal,” Scherberger said.

Eco-machines offer green alternatives for wastewater treatment Fiona Maguire Science Editor

On Aug. 5, 2015, the Eckerd community received a campus safety alert which warned against swimming in Frenchman’s Creek. Several days prior, the neighboring water treatment facility, South West Wastewater Treatment Plant, had experienced an overflow of incoming sewage. The excess, untreated sewage was then pumped into Clam Bayou, an estuary connecting to Boca Ciega Bay where the Eckerd campus is located.

This caused an increased abundance of bacteria, including E. coli, in the surrounding waters.

Partially treated wastewater also leaked into Frenchman’s Creek, which caused it to be closed for eight days. Due to the delay in notice, some students went swimming at the waterfront between the time of the spill and the time the email was sent out.

One of these students, Junior Jordan Schutt, did not notice any differences in the water.

“Everything seemed to be fine,” he said. “We couldn’t tell there was something going on when we jumped in, which is kind of concerning.”

No students have reported any illness caused by the potentially dangerous exposure. However, Eckerd administrators are upset that they were not properly alerted to the situation.

First to respond to the incident was the Pinellas County Health Department who conducted the necessary water quality tests. The effect of such

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St. Petersburg has been dealing with flooding and overfilling of wastewater plants recently.

sewage spills can cause long term harmful algal blooms, disrupting the entire ecosystem of the waterways.

Overly abundant algae can block sunlight and take up nutrients needed by other organisms. It can also be a toxic situation for humans, as cyanobacteria blooms have been shown to produce carcinogenic toxins as researched by Wayne Carmichael, Biology Professor Emeritus at Wright State University.

Senior Haley Burger was an intern for Pinellas County Watershed this summer.

“If you have an open cut as a stu-

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dent and go into the water you also are at a greater risk of high bacterial counts,” Burger said.

As a watershed surrounded by several wastewater treatment plants, Frenchman’s Creek already has higher nutrient loads than normal.

The cause of the overflow was a combination of unprecedented rainfall during the month of July and into August as well as the burden of serving a larger area. The downtown treatment plant has been gradually moving offline, leaving additional sewage for the South West plant.

“This was the first time they had

photo by Connor Kenworthy

experienced that kind of rain while taking on that load, and it turned out they couldn’t really handle it,” Burger said. “They’re trying to scramble around to quickly figure out how to handle all that extra water.”

Due to weather patterns this season caused by El Niño, more extreme rainfall is expected.

Another more sustainable way to treat sewage water without the chemicals is to create a biological filter using the landscape and plants, known as a living machine or eco-machine.

Solids are filtered out through the primary stage before the water en-

ters an equalization tank which controls incoming water flow. It then fills and drains throughout a series of cells containing wetland plants where waste-consuming microorganisms live. Eco-machines are just as effective at cleaning water than chemical plants while also providing a park area for the community.

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Jesse Sherry teaches the Green Design class at Eckerd and fully supports this sustainable method of wastewater treatment.

“As you go through four or five stages by the end you have clean water that has gone through all of these biological processes,” Sherry said. “You not only get the benefit of cleaning wastewater but you’re essentially creating a small ecosystem, taking carbon out of the atmosphere and creating habitat. It’s a nice way to combine recreation, habitat and this ecosystem function all in one.”

If the plant next door adopted this system, its small size would restrict the amount wastewater it could filter, which would be significantly less than the current capacity. Also, the transformation would require large upfront cost because the current facility would need to be almost completely torn down and rebuilt.

“Trying to make one fit into an urban area, like Pinellas county, would be difficult,” Burger said.

Although it may not be a feasible option for our wastewater, it is a highly effective method which conserves both energy and water.

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science

Sept. 25, 2015

Students participate in summer research opportunities help find indicators of other oil spills in other data,” she said.

Composition and texture analysis of the sediment collected will help Heckman find any indicators.

Professor Brooks also continued working on a project he began in 2002 in the Virgin Islands looking at the record of sediment input into the coastal system.

“The coastal system is pretty fragile down there,” Professor Brooks said. “The whole idea of the project is looking at the sediment input from human activities in the area and the impacts.”

A total of five students worked on research with Professor Brooks this summer.

Another research opportunity at Eckerd is the Eckerd College Dolphin Research Project run by Assistant Professor of Marine Science and photo by Nate Gozlan Biology Shannon Gowans. The Eckerd College Dolphin ReProfessor Jeannine Lessmann is one of the many faculty members who conducted research with students this summer. search Project has been around state of the art laboratory facilities al- out of Mexico to collect data from the Christa Perry since 1993 and works to track the lows students to participate in hands 1979 IXTOC oil spill. This data was Science Editor bottlenose dolphin population in and on research early in their academic compared to a second research cruise, around Tampa Bay. which left from Florida and collected Summer, for a college student, can careers.

In the field, students take pictures Associate Professor of Marine data from the 2010 BP oil spill. be the perfect time to start gaining the of bottlenose dolphin dorsal fins.

“We wanted to see the impacts of experience needed to hit the ground Science Gregg Brooks works hard to In the lab, students use a program running come graduation. For a hand- provide research opportunities for his a spill 40 years after so we can com- called Darwin to match each dorsal pare it with the BP oil spill that we ful of students at Eckerd, that meant students. fin to one of the 884 dolphins in the are studying now,” Brooks said. He “Doing research one on one with participating in summer research catalogue. Junior Emily Sullivan has students is the best education,” has been been involved in BP oil spill alongside professional scientists participated in the Eckerd College “I definitely want to go to graduate Brooks said. “It also opens up a lot research since the 2010 spill.

Dolphin Research Project for the past Heckman was a student on the school and do some kind of research of doors for these students. They’re two years. after I graduate,” Sophomore Jes- working with other professionals in second research cruise out of Florida.

“It’s very hands on,” Sullivan said. sica Heckman said. “Doing summer the field, and the students meet these During the eight-day cruise, research“You learn by doing it.” research helps me get an early start.” people and make connections. It ers collected sediment cores from the Working on the Eckerd College Laboratory work as an under- gives them experience and it shows BP oil spill site. Everyone on the Dolphin Research Project has given graduate student is rare. Many col- them what it is actually like to re- cruise performed their own research Sullivan invaluable research experilege students do not experience a real search in the field.” that fits into the larger BP oil spill ence that will give her a leg up in the laboratory setting until they enter This summer, Professor Brooks project. Heckman is no exception. work field. graduate school. At Eckerd, the com- continued research on the BP oil spill “I’m trying to find an indicator “A lot of the techniques, like using bination of a small community and from 2010. One research cruise went of the oil spill in the data, so it can Darwin, tracing fins and getting out

in the field is something you’re not going to get to do unless you’re at a small school,” Sullivan said.

Eckerd’s size lends it the opportunity to offer students once in a lifetime academic opportunities. Senior Andrea Martin was able to travel to Indonesia with Assistant Professor of Marine Science and Biology Jeannine Lessmann this summer to work on mangrove research.

“The biggest draw for me is that I got to travel,” Martin said. “It was a really amazing opportunity.”

While in Indonesia, Lessmann, Martin and other students worked on two mangrove restoration projects.

The first project took place in Java working on planting mangroves and testing which types of mangroves would grow best at each elevation on a tambak (a fishpond).

For the next two summers, students will return to measure the mangrove seedlings that were planted.

The second project was on the island of Nusa Lembongan where students did an inventory of a mature mangrove forest.

There are over 18 different species of mangroves in Indonesia and only three here on Eckerd’s campus.

“The mangroves in Nusa Lembongan were huge,” Martin said. “The mangroves that we have here really aren’t anything in comparison.”

Though travelling is an unforgettable experience, students do not even have to step off campus to find opportunities. For Heckman, participating in summer research was more rewarding than researching during the school year.

“During the school year, I wasn’t there every day, so it was hard to see an analytical process go from beginning to end,” Heckman said. “But during the summer, I got to see that because I was there every day researching.”

Moment of Science Christa Perry Science Editor

Green flash after sunset When it comes to sunsets, Eckerd College has some of the best. Walk down to south beach after dinner, and you are bound to see some spectacular oranges and pinks lighting up the sky and surrounding bay. Ever wondered about that green flash you may have seen just after the sun drops below the horizon line?

“I thought the green flash was from that Pirates of the Caribbean movie,” Sophomore Robert Trimble said.

In fact, this green flash is a real phenomenon where the sun actually changes color briefly just before it sets. According to livescience.com, refraction bends the light of the sun as it dips closer to the horizon and into the curvature of the earth. Our atmosphere works like a weak prism, separating light into various colors.

When the sun is above the horizon, all these colors overlap and the naked eye cannot see each distinct color.

“I’ve only heard about it,” Junior Kayla Paige said. “I’ve never seen it myself, but one of my favorite things to do at Eckerd is walk down to south beach and watch the sunset with my friends.”

When the sun sets, however, the

colors of the spectrum start to disappear one at a time from longest to shortest wavelength. In the case of colors, the first color to disappear is red because red has the longest wavelength. Green falls in the middle of the wavelength spectrum.

The green flash occurs when other colors of longer wavelengths disappear over the horizon and more green light gets through. Sometimes when the air is very clear, enough of the blue or violet light rays with the shortest wavelengths make it through the atmosphere, causing a blue flash to be visible. This is very rare, however, and a green flash at the end of a sunset is more commonly seen.

To see this amazing phenomenon, pick a clear night and find a nice, flat place to watch the sunset. The best place would be on the ocean or a field where the horizon is limitless. Good visibility with few clouds will give you a higher chance of seeing the green flash because clouds and pollution bend light.

But remember, the flash is not something people see every day.

Eckerd students have a good chance to see it on Pass-a-grille and St. Pete beaches.

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Sports

Sept. 25, 2015

Tritons defeated by Lions in four sets

By Meaghan Kirby Staff Writer

After a tough loss the night before against University of Tampa, the volleyball team fell 3-1 to Saint Leo University on Saturday afternoon in the McArthur Center.

In the first two sets, the Sunshine State Conference rivals split, as Saint Leo took the first set and Eckerd the second until the Lions signed out the match winning both the third and fourth set.

During set one, the Tritons and Lions battled it out until the very end.

The Lions went on an eight-point rally giving them a 21-15 lead against the Tritons. Eckerd could not seem to find the momentum to rally back. Senior Tjasa Kotnik led the Tritons with six kills and a .462 attacking percentage in the first set. Sophomore Lauryn Nelson also ended the set with four kills and a .500 attacking percentage but Saint Leo led the set with a .405 attacking percentage over Eck-

erd’s .216 attacking percentage.

In set two, the Tritons were at their best throughout the match with 16 kills and a .355 attacking percentage.

Sophomore MacKenzie Redner came off the bench with her best game of the season, helping the Tritons win the set. Redner tagged five kills on nine attempts in set two. The Tritons were also able to provide three aces in the set to put them on top against the Lions. Eckerd took the set 25-22 before going to the locker rooms.

“The team and I are very proud of Mackenzie,” Head Coach Michelle Piantadosi said. “She has been practicing well so we were not surprised by her level of play. It was great to see her come off the bench and really help the team reclaim the momentum. She’s playing with great confidence and resilience right now.”

Though the team hoped the 25-22 set win could be a momentum shifter, the Tritons dropped the third set 2517. Saint Leo outscored Eckerd 8-2 in the middle of the set, giving the Lions a 19-12 lead. Eckerd was able to

rally with three straight points to make it 19-15, but Saint Leo picked up two more points on a kill and attacking error by the Tritons. The Lions were able to put away the set on three straight kills. Eckerd could not capitalize in the third set against Saint Leo as they ended the set with a .143 attacking percentage.

Senior Tjasa Kotnik leads the team in kills with 147.

In the final set of the match-up both teams and Mackenzie Redner also dipped battled it out until the very last point. into double digits with 11 and 10 Both teams could not get more than a kills respectively. Sophomore Gabrithree point lead without being pulled ella Reis Guimaraes ended the night back in. For the thirteenth time on with a double-double with 41 assists Saturday night, the Lions and Tritons and 14 digs. Sophomore Kaitlyn Sibwere all tied up at 23-23. Saint Leo son and Freshman Arielle Erillo were was able to end the night on a kill to strong in the back row for Eckerd give them the overall win against the with 18 and 10 digs to end the night.

Tritons.

“Tjasa has taken on a huge role Tjasa Kotnik lead Eckerd with 21 kills, three aces and nine digs in the for our team and I think she has been Saturday’s match-up. Lauryn Nelson playing very steady on offense,” Pi-

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Page 11

courtesy of Eckerd College Athletics

antadosi said. “She’s been someone we can depend on on and off the court.”

Eckerd will return back home to McArthur Center Friday, Oct. 2 against Florida Southern College at 7pm.

“Moving forward our number one goal is to keep improving,” Piantadosi said. “We have to focus on one match at a time and come to compete for every point.”

Men’s soccer ties No. 8

By Cortney Lesovoy Asst. Sports Editor The Tritons remain undefeated at 3-0-1 and climb to fourth place in the Sunshine State Conference. The men’s soccer team tied in a 1-1 draw against Florida Tech, ranked eighth in the nation, at the Turley Athletic Complex on Saturday night.

The Tritons started the game off with some unsettled nerves, but by the second half, they were complacent on and off the ball, finding more of a rhythm and creating more chances.

“We played a very good team tonight,” Head Coach Cristian Neagu said. “We have a lot of new guys, five or six new guys in the starting lineup from last year who are still not used to things. The longer the game went on, we grew into the game and got more confident. We were a little bit unfortunate not to sneak one in late on.”

Their defense faced 16 shots, and only conceded one goal, their second of the season, off a volley by Florida Tech’s Midfielder Jack Willison in the 34th minute. Sophomore Goalkeeper Alex Gott came up with six big saves to keep the Tritons from falling to the Panthers. Redshirt Freshman Defender Liam Guest and Junior Defender Mauricio Salvatierra held strong in the center to keep Florida Tech from scoring another goal.

“Liam Guest had a dominant performance in the air, Mauricio was reading the game very well and Alex Gott was very safe in the back,” Neagu said. “In the midfield, the experience of Nick Jackson, Richard Ainscough and Westleigh Rush was very important for us, but overall it was a very good team performance in front of a very nice crowd.”

The team had 15 shots, five of which were on goal and one that found the back of the net courtesy of Sophomore Matheus Assumpcao. In the 74th minute, the ball was served

into the box by Senior Richard Ainscough. The ball soared to the right of the goal post, finding the head of Guest, who then headed it back to the center where it found the forehead of Assumpcao and crossed the goal line.

The game ended up in overtime with a number of chances from both teams. During the first half, Freshman Juan David Tejada had a header that was saved and deflected out by an opposing player for a corner kick.

Ainscough’s free kick just outside the box was saved by Florida Tech’s Goalkeeper Mitch Thorn. Florida Tech’s Josh Thomas had a shot that sailed just inches over the crossbar above Gott.

The Panthers came out swinging during the second half of overtime, bombarding Gott and his defense.

Eckerd bounced back with two more free kicks taken by Ainscough, both deflected out of bounds for corner kicks. Freshman Westleigh Rush not only had a shot, but almost had an assist as he gave the ball to Freshman John Badu-Koomson who passed it along to Assumpcao, but his shot went just wide of the net.

Although Eckerd didn’t get the result they felt they deserved, there are still many positives that came from the game, as well as things the team needs to work on.

“We were the better side in my opinion,” Ainscough said. “They’re eighth in the nation, and we went toe to toe with them. We played brilliantly and dominated the game. We have to be a bit more clinical in the final third and kill these teams off if we want to be the best.”

With 13 new players this year, a majority of them being freshman, the Tritons are still trying to find their footing.

“They are all still getting used to each other on the field and the competition,” Neagu said. “We play in a very big conference, and for them to see that tonight is going to help them grow as players and help them grow as a team.”

Sports

Page 12

Sept. 25, 2015

Double trouble for Tritons

By Nicholas Jackson Asst. Sports Editor

Imbued by an impressive 3-0-1 record to start to the season, the Tritons went into their opening conference match against St. Leo University on Sept. 16 with the bit between their teeth. Eckerd, boosted by the experience of five starting seniors with extensive sunshine state pedigree, were looking to get off to a winning start but were foiled in a battle of attrition.

Infrequent showers made for a pitch conducive to a highly charged 90 minutes of intriguing soccer. The Tritons began the game brightly and

tried to established a fluency of sharp passing that has become integral to the fabric of Eckerd Soccer. Senior Shannon Estes-Larkin, the heartbeat of an impressive midfield, looked to pull the strings from the get-go. Her intricate technique, and eye for a pass complimented the strong and uncompromising Senior Taylor Tippett.

After a cagey opening 20 minutes, which saw both teams fail to establish any sort of rhythm. Senior Katie Shafer won a foul after chasing a lost cause down the left flank. Shafer, industrious and selfless in her workrate, was stripped of the opportunity to shoot after the cynical foul, which warranted more punishment than

Senior Michelle Spesshardt clears the ball out of pressure.

it was given. Tippett stood over the dead ball, however her delivery into the box was over hit and the chance went begging.

The game continued to ebb and flow without any team establishing their authority on the other. A fragmented first half ensued. Misplaced passes and tackles were frequent throughout the opening 45 minutes, with neither team allowed to settle.

However, the first time St. Leo got the ball down and played they almost fashioned a goal. With 13 minutes left to play on the clock, the Lions produced an intricate passing sequence that opened up the Triton back four.

A reactive fingertip save from Junior

courtesty of Andy Meng Stageshot Photography

Freshman makes early impact

By Christina Rosetti Sports Editor

If the name Westleigh Rush does not ring a bell, three goals in three games might attract some attention. The men’s soccer team is off to a strong start, and Rush is firmly in the driver’s seat. The 5’6” freshman joined Eckerd College from Birmingham, England last spring to get a jump start training with the team.

Rush began playing soccer at an early age and finds Spanish influence in his game originating from his father’s side. His use of Spanish and English styles of play prove to be a lethal combination early in the season.

Rush has no trouble asserting his dominance on the field and has made an early impact on the team’s success thus far.

“He’s not the biggest lad that we

courtesty of Andy Meng Stageshot Photography

Rush dribbles upfield against Warrner University on Sept. 5.

could have up top,” Junior Jordan Lee said. “But that also adds to his game, thus a positive because he’s hard for defenders to keep track of.”

Sitting in the attacking center mid position, Rush utilizes his size to find pockets of space behind defenders.

His explosive speed and technical skill on the ball make defending him a nightmare.

“I think something about Wes is his technical ability,” Assistant Coach Josh Pantazelos said. “He has great vision which is something you want from your 10. He’s someone creative that can make a special play out of nothing.”

Following his release from Walsall Football Club in England, Rush connected with the same recruiting agency that brought fellow Tritons, Alex Gott and Rick Ainscough to Eckerd. Within a month of his release, Rush obtained his visa and was headed to Eckerd College for Winter Term.

As a result, Rush got a jump start on bonding with the team before a large recruiting class of twelve joined in the fall.

“He’s already been around the team for a semester so he knows the upperclassmen and now the freshmen pretty well,” Lee said. “He’s not necessarily a new boy even though he is classed as a freshman.”

Rush finds himself leading the team in shots and goals, ranking third in minutes played. He also sits sixth in the Sunshine State Conference for points and is tied for third in the SSC for goals and goals per game, averaging one per match.

“I’m playing quite high,

which is good, where I want to play,” Rush said. “To be put there, I am able to score goals - hopefully I’ll do that more. It’s what I like doing.”

That is the precise reason the coaching staff brought in the young leader.

“We want him to put the ball in the back of the net,” Pantazelos said.

“He is off to a great start statistically and I think that will help his confidence. For us, the more confident he his, the better off our group is.”

Last season, the men’s team scored 20 goals in 16 games throughout the season. Only three games into the 2015 campaign, the Tritons already have nine goals on the board.

“We didn’t score many goals last year,” Lee said. “Wes is a good attacking presence. He’s dynamic and he makes things happen which makes it a lot easier on us to score goals and win more games.”

Rush developed much of his skill and hunger to score training with professional players at his club in England. Playing with Walsall FC, a feeder club into the pros, Rush often trained with high pace professionals, improving his own game. He uses that experience to raise the level here at Eckerd.

Despite being a relatively newcomer to the team, Rush’s dominance on the field places him in a leadership role.

“He’s a guy that tries to lead by example,” Pantazelos said. “I think he goes about his business and lets his play do the talk. Actions speak louder than words and that’s the kind of person he is.”

stopper, Angelique Ulmer, pushed the ball onto the bar to keep the score line at 0-0.

St. Leo’s miss seemed to evoke an injection of fire into the Tritons’ play as they began to press higher up the pitch. Their labor resulted in the ball breaking loose just inside the Lions’ half. Corrie Bexley, looking to impose herself off the bench, picked up the ball and slid Shafer through on goal. A two versus one loomed in Eckerd’s favor as Shafer charged forward with the ball. A pass would have been the right decision, however the striker opted to shoot which proved to be less than fruitful.

With the first half entering its dying embers, Estes-Larkin, found herself in a pocket of space 35 yards away from goal. With no real outlet ball in site Estes-Larkin, who possesses the penchant for the spectacular, engineered a chip that left St. Leo’s goalkeeper floundering.

Expertly executed, the ball looked destined to nestle into the back of the net, only to be rebuked by the crossbar. An inventive effort that deserved more should have seen Eckerd go into halftime with their tails raised.

The second half began in sluggish fashion for the home side, far removed from the bite and intensity that defined the Tritons’ play in the final 20 minutes of the previous half.

St. Leo began to assert their dominance with Arielle Kabangu weaving her way into the contest. Tall and powerful, the Canadian would be a focal point to all of St. Leo’s second half success, and a constant thorn in Eckerd’s spine.

With 55 minutes on the clock, the Lions struck. An innocuous foul by Estes-Larkin gave St. Leo the chance to launch the ball into Eckerd’s box.

A hopeful punt looked to pose no real threat until a ricochet allowed the ball to fall to Kabangu. Calm and clear of thought she rolled the ball along the six yard box to gift St. Leo’s Genevieve Gignac her first conference goal of the 2015 campaign.

The Tritons continued to pluck away despite the setback however lacked any cutting edge or periods of sustained pressure.

With 19 minutes left in regular time Eckerd hearts were broken. Kabangu, a constant menace throughout the second half, found herself with time and space on the edge of the Triton box following a clever pull back from the Lions right winger. After a lazy first touch, she won a 50/50 tackle with center back and Senior Elena Madrazo, before expertly slotting the ball passed the hapless Ulmer.

Deflated yet undeterred, the Tritons created one more chance that on another day might have gone in. With 10 minutes to go, Tippett’s vision freed Alice Wader who raced passed the Lions’ backline. The Swedish freshman hit her shot hard and low, only to be denied by a half save from St. Leo’s goalkeeper. As the ball trickled agonizingly slowly towards the goal line, Lions’ defenders rushed back to clear the ball to safety.

Omnipresent midfielder, and captain, Tippett described the night’s events as a tough loss but found many positives.

“I feel this team has the capability and resilience to come back strong,” Tippett said. “We have a long season ahead of us and we need to take each game as a learning experience and focus on what’s to come.”

Despite having the longevity and continuity of five starting Seniors in Wednesday’s game, Tippett addressed the newcomers’ inaugural conference encounter.

“This game was definitely a wakeup call to the standard and competitiveness of our conference,” Tippett said. “Despite this loss, I am still really excited for this season and truly believe in the quality of this team.”

A disappointing opening conference day loss for the Tritons, however a performance that showed the necessary grit and determination which will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season.

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