The Current Issue 4

Viewpoints

Entertainment

The Quickie

Health & Fitness

Sports

O’Reilly, Stewart debate

Walking Dead new season

Club Spotlight: Men’s rugby

Safety on campus

Tritons hit the court

Our staff writers express opinions on upcoming election.

Take a look inside Season 2 of AMC’s revolutionary smash hit “The Walking Dead” before you tune in. page 16

Men’s rugby looks forward to a winning season.

Tips to remember from campus resources and input from students and staff.

Check out the back cover for your 2012-2013 Eckerd College basketball preview

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page 20

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The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College

Vol. 4, Issue 4—Oct. 26, 2012

Eckerd Steering Committee deliberates future general education curriculum

By Ely Grinfeld Asst. Viewpoints Editor Faculty on the Eckerd College Steering Committee are working toward choosing a new general education (Gen Ed) curriculum based on four possible models.

The Steering Committee includes one faculty member from each collegium.

While the curriculum is tweaked every year, discussions to revise the Gen Ed curriculum for future students--current students will not be affected--has been in the making for several years when the Steering Committee envisioned an overhaul to the Gen Ed requirements.

President Donald Eastman, in a recent meeting with The Current, said he feels that parts of the current model are integral parts of the Eckerd experience.The unique experience of the current Eckerd Gen Ed model introduces students to a new way of thinking. According to Eastman, “If you catch that wave in Western [Heritage in a Global Context] as a freshman, you’ll get a different experience.”

So let’s break down the four models under consideration.

The first model is called “Status Quo Plus.” As the title suggests, this model stays true to the majority of the current general education curriculum, but encourages students to take majorrelated courses in the first year and to declare a major by sophomore year.

Freshman and Senior capstone courses, resembling our current Western Heritage and Quest for Meaning classes will have less texts.

The service learning requirement will be spread throughout a student’s four years at Eckerd.

Moreover, faculty would have to devote a block-schedule to teaching certain Gen Ed courses, meaning professors may have more of a workload.

The second model is called the “Task Force” model and is based on a proposal made in 2008 by the Gen Ed Task Force. Ten

photo by Alex Zielinski

President Donald Eastman officially names Center for Molecular and Life Sciences.

See page 2 , Local Briefs

Eckerd gears up for Celebration of the Arts Saturday Nov. 10 See page 5 for schedule of events

See Gen. Ed. on page 7 Please Recycle

INDEX: News 2 - 8

Viewpoints 9 - 12 Entertainment 13 - 16 The Quickie 17 - 18 Health & Fitness 19 - 20 Sports 21- 24

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

Oct. 26, 2012

LET’S BE BRIEF

Global

Syrian violence spilling into Lebanon The violence of a Syrian civil war spilled over into Lebanon with deadly consequences on Oct. 19. A car bomb exploded in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, killing Brigadier General Wissam Hassan and 80 other people.

General Hassan was one of the major leaders of the Lebanese opposition. His political career has been spent defying Hezbollah, a terrorist organization and political party, which is currently part of Lebanon’s ruling government.

Hezbollah and the March 8 alliance of which it is part have a history of ties with the Syrian government. Yet the current administration has tried to put some distance between itself and Syria as peaceful anti-government protests turned into a civil war.

Hassan’s first entrance into politics was investigating the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. The Special Tribunal of Lebanon continued that investigation which resulted in the indictment of several Hezbollah leaders.

At the time of his death, General Hassan was investigating the organizations behind two car bombings that happened in August.

While no one has claimed credit for General Hassan’s assassination, Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, noted that Hassan’s investigation was controversial and could have motivated the assassination.

Prime Minister Mikati also submitted a letter of resignation to the Lebanese president as a result of the lack of effective personal security that the bombing exposed. The resignation was refused because the Lebanese president is afraid that a sudden resignation could lead to broader strife and instability within the fragile country.

Palestine holds municipal elections

Twitter censors racist comments in Europe

Now that the Arab Spring is effectively over, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas allowed for new municipal elections inside the West Bank. The last time elections happened in Palestine was the legislative elections of 2006. Gaza, the other traditionally Palestinian territory, did not participate in the election.

That election yielded Hamas control of Palestine’s parliament and the organization entered a national unity government with Fatah. That unity lasted six months until Hamas fighters in Gaza would not disband to make way for military units from the Palestinian Authority (PA). The result was a civil war and coup performed by Hamas which gave them complete control of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas, which has ruled Gaza ever since the coup, boycotted the Palestinian municipal elections of this month. The results of those elections are expected to favor Fatah. Fatah is currently the ruling party in the West Bank with both President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad as members. But there have been a number of other opposition parties participating in the elections as well and it is unclear how much support they will garner as Fatah fights to defend its longtime status as leader of the Palestinian Revolution.

Twitter banned and removed all posts referencing “#unbonjuif ” on Oct. 19. The phrase is French for “a good Jew.” The slur had been started by a far-right political tweeter in France and even involved a few German accounts being shut down. At its peak, the hashtag phrase was third most popular on the whole website.

Now Twitter has removed the phrase from its trending topics list and is banning any instances of the hashtag that it can find.

The issue became critical when a number of Jewish groups in France petitioned the company. There were also other anti-Muslim tweets proliferating as well.

Yet the changes did not go over well with everyone. While Jewish groups and others concerned with racism were glad to find the posts gone, others cried foul. According to the New York Times, several Twitter users criticized the decision, calling it censorship. Others contested the company’s definition of what is anti-Semitic and abusive.

The New York Times reports that Twitter’s official stance on the removal of posts is that the company is trying to balance freedom of expression with respect for local laws and institucourtesy of Wikicommons tions. This includes con- Twitter Logo cerns about hate speech.

National

New ways to stay safe in sex with male contraceptive pill

American economists Alvin Roth, Lloyd Shapley win 2012 Nobel Prize in economics

Apple drops Java among personal security concerns

Researchers looking for a cure to cancer may have stumbled upon a new form of birth control for men. A male birth control pill would be a new option for guys maybe a more attractive one than methods involving a condom or vasectomy.

The pill wouldn’t change hormone levels, according to a recent article by MSNBC. Previous attempts to create a male contraceptive pill have failed when altering men’s testosterone levels yielded unfortunate side effects (including the growth of breasts).

Instead, the pill would temporarily stop the production of sperm by making a man’s body “forget” how to produce sperm. After the pill wears off, sperm production would return to normal with no unwanted side effects. These statements are just theoretical, no human testing has been completed.

Yet, according to MSNBC, early tests on mice have been promising. If the pill continues to be successfully tested, then men who don’t prefer condoms will have the choice of another form of birth control other than vasectomies. The pill, unlike condoms, wouldn’t provide protection against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

The Nobel Society awarded the and other unique jobs. The New 2012 Nobel Prize for economics to York Times reported, “Their work two American economists, Alvin primarily applies to markets that Roth and Lloyd Shapely. do not have prices, or at least have Their research was in the strict constraints on prices.” area of matchmakMatchmaking may be new to ecoing. nomics, but it is not entirely outside These econthe frame. Tore Ellingsen, a Nobel omists are committee member, noted to Reinvestigating uters, real situations “This is in the econvery much omy where multiple parcourtesy of Wikicommons w h a t ties have to Alvin Roth e c o agree to an nomics economic decision. “So there are a is about, lot of things that you get in life that how to you can’t just choose. You also have allocate to be chosen,” Roth said to Reuters.

“And that’s what we study. We study scarce resources matching.”

The list of matchable items goes as well as far and wide including such diverse p o s s i b l e , courtesy of Wikicommons products as organ transplants, to econoLloyd Shapley mize.” school choices, medical residencies,

Apple Inc. is removing old versions of Java software from the Internet browsers it offers. The removal is facilitated in the purchase of a new device or the upgrade of an old operating system. Apple noted that the transfer of responsibility to Oracle Corp. for providing Java was set to come into effect.

Mac owners can still get Java on their computers, they just have to get it independently from Oracle Corp., the manufacturer of all Java software. Yet the timing is suspect because of a Java security scare that prompted experts to use Java software on a cautionary basis.

The security experts commented to Reuters that a number of bugs had been detected in Java software that left computers vulnerable to hackers. Oracle Corp. has since released an update to correct the known flaws.

Since then, Adam Gowdiak, a Polish researcher, has found new security bugs in Java. According to Reuters, he says that removing Java from Mac Internet browsers reduces the risks of an attack.

Local

Daughter of Eckerd alumna dies in Afghanistan suicide bombing Spc. Brittany Gordon, 24 year-old daughter of Eckerd Alumna Brenda Gordon (‘84) and Cedric Gordon, assistant chief of police for St. Petersburg Police Department, died as a result of injuries sustained from a suicide bombing Oct. 13. Gordon is the first woman from St. Petersburg to die during military service in Afghanistan.

Two services are being planned. The first, a non-military memorial service, will be held 6 p.m., Thursday, at Wireman Chapel.

The second, a military service with full honors is schedule for 6 p.m. Saturday night at St. Marks Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Rays seek new stadium St. Petersburg is threatening to sue Hillsborough County if it so much as solicits for negotiations with the Rays about building a new stadium in Tampa.

This issue has come up when the Rays came to the city government of St. Petersburg saying that the location is ineffective for Major League baseball.

First and foremost among the troubles in searching for a new Rays stadium is if the Rays can look outside of St. Petersburg. The Tampa Bay Rays currently have a contract to play in Tropicana Field until the year 2027. But that contract limits the team to negotiating only with the city of St. Petersburg when contemplating a new stadium.

Writers in Paradise submission deadline approaches The submission deadline for Eckerd College’s annual Writers in Paradise conference, held from Jan 19-27, is the rapidly approaching date of Nov 28. The conference will contain a number of workshops including one non fiction workshop, three novel workshops, two short story workshops and a young adult writer workshop.

Les Standiford is running the non fiction workshop. Tom Franklin, Ann Hood, and Laura Lippman are leading the novel workshops. Andrew Dubus and Stewart O’Nan are in charge of the short story workshops and David Yoo will have the young adults workshop.

All writers must have their submissions in a word document and have a separate word file with a brief paragraph explaining your background as a writer. Further details about submission standards are available online at the Writers in Paradise website, http://writersinparadise.eckerd.edu/ index.php.

Molecular science center name announced Eckerd’s newest building was recently named for Tom and Mary James for their generous donations to the Center for Molecular and Life Sciences, which will be called The James Center.

President Donald Eastman announced the name on Oct. 19 during the Celebration of Scholarship reception in Cobb Gallery.

Eastman also announced the inside hall of The James Center will be named Wrenn Hall after long-time trustee and EC alum Grover and Suzie Wrenn.

The center is set to open in January.

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the current

Oct. 26, 2012

News 3

news Tampa Bay Rays recognize peace patch potential Program receives $2,500 grant, looks to build partnership with team

By Mary Kate McKenna Staff Writer The Ray’s Baseball Foundation donated a $2,500 grant to Eckerd College’s The Edible Peace Patch Project September.

Environmental Studies Professor Kip Curtis, creator of the Peace Patch, accompanied his son Noah to attend a public receiving of the grant on Tropicana field before a Rays game last month. The two were among representatives of national organizations such as the Salvation Army and the Boys and Girls Club.

The funds will be directed toward expanding the project to Campbell Park Elementary School; Rays players have discussed aiding in raising beds next spring. The Peace Patch, originally a 2009 Winter Term project by 22 Eckerd volunteers interested in urban farming, was built on the concept that students learn the most when they can actively participate in something they can witness for themselves.

“It is this ability to learn and provide for oneself that gives these kids a sense of empowerment that they may not otherwise be exposed

to,” Curtis said.

Establishing the Peace patch was not easy. It took time for the elementary school principals to acknowledge the value of growing food and take time out of the children’s school day to dedicate to farming education.

Curtis maintains that because some of these “at-risk” children rarely come into contact with someone with a college degree other than teachers, the concept of education to them is not directly attainable.

The Peace Patch, thus, was built on the philosophy that outdoor learning and interacting with volunteers is not only conducive to the child’s development of self, but can help them look at education as something that is empowering rather than difficult.

“This teaches them to build social capital and ultimately a better understanding of themselves,” Curtis said.

The Peace Patch is just at the beginning of its transformation into an organization promoting social justice and solidarity. This concept of empowerment beginning from the ground up was especially noticed by Rays Baseball

Foundation Executive Director Suzanne Lueke.

“The Rays are excited about the program and hope to continue to build a partnership through out the year,” Lueke told Professor Curtis.

The Rays foundation is often involved in organizations focusing on empowering at risk youth, however recognition of the Peace Patch, which is significantly smaller than other orphoto by Mary Kate McKenna g a n i z a t i o n s , Junior Amy Mautz helps children water the garden. to recognize,” it is evident to those reflects an understanding of the significance of involved in the project that its efthe soft teaching method which fects have just begun taking root in empowers children through expe- the community.

Today the Peace Patch headriential learning.

Although Curtis claims that the quarters sit at 622 1 Avenue South, Peace Patch “is just a small potato and has locations in two different that a Major League team decided schools.

New professor finds room to breathe in liberal arts atmosphere Eckerd College welcomes Professor of Communications Michael “Mike” Albrecht

By Caroline Campbell Asst. Health and Fitness Editor

in group discussions.” is focus and follow through.”

Albrecht feels that the faculty play a large “I always look forward to his class because role in campus morale. “Maybe that’s why I he’s a really interesting guy with an awesome New Communications Professor Michael walk around and students seem much happier Mario Albrecht taught at several universities than the last place. Every faculty member has sense of humor. He has a great way of presenting before finding Eckerd College. He’s glad to be a deep interest in students. We’re at a teaching the course materials that always gets the class engaged.,” Junior Katie Dawson says. settled after teaching at Bowling Green in Ohio school.” during his Master’s program, University of As a scholar of communications, Albrecht Even Albrecht admits he plays the devil’s Iowa, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and envisions a world that could be.

University of New Hampshire.

“Those things that we do every “I’ve been on the job market since 2008,” day, that we don’t necessarily Albrecht said. “I’ve been on 10 different on- think about,” said Albrecht, “are campus interviews. I’m finally where I want to the most ripe for critique.” be.”

It is his job to spark Albrecht began his studies at Macalester conversations about controversial College as a math major. issues or bring up areas of “I thought it was horrible, but I do have a exploration that might not have math minor,” he said. crossed student’s minds before. photo by Caroline Campbell He received a bachelor’s degree in both history and music at Macalester, the small In the Sexuality, Gender and the Michael “Mike” Albrecht teaching during class. presbyterian liberal arts college in St. Paul, Media course, Albrecht brought to the class’ attention that dressing Minnesota. The school was advocate at times. up as “Indians” for the Cowboys very politically active and “Oh, this is the kind of class where you may and Indians party is the only race engaged, much like Eckerd, he not agree with me, I may not agree with me,” he compares. of people that it is still considered He later received his Master’s socially acceptable to dress up as. said. “If I don’t think this way, though, then why degree in american studies Students discussed the subject, but might someone else think this way?” from Bowling Green and his Most students embrace the relaxed, were a bit confused by this idea.

Ph.D. in communications from conversational atmosphere Albrecht encourages “Regardless if they agree with me the University of Iowa. or not, at least they will have a certain in his classroom. Senior Woody Taylor takes Albrecht is happy to be a part kind of awareness of an object of two courses with Albrecht, Media Ethics and of the liberal arts environment.

“I feel like students are more courtesy of Eckerd College inquiry and study,” Albrecht said. “I Gender and Sexuality and the Media. happy and feel less beaten Professor Albrecht “Initially, I was a little bit taken off by how think Eckerd students are willing to down by the system.” easy-going he was,” Taylor said. “He relates to cross that bridge.”

Compared to faculty and students at a public us well as students with his ability to create a Many students said they enjoy Albrecht’s university like UNH, Albrecht enjoys the feeling of ease in the classroom. I am fascinated teaching style. different relationship shared between Eckerd “I think Mike is awesome,” Senior Maddy by his views and how open and willing he is to faculty and students.

“What I can gather [from faculty] about Wineland said. “He talks to his students in a share them. His high energy and open nature Eckerd students is that their strengths are in relatable manner and conversational tone that allows for him to be an eccentric, unique and, the breadth of their ideas and the cool things makes everyone feel comfortable participating in my opinion, well-respected teacher. I truly they do,” he said. “What they need to work on enjoy taking his classes.”

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Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

INSIDE NEWS Invisible Children rally, D.C.

4

Presidential debate recap

5

Eckerd Review deadline

7

Eckerd voting infographic

8

Eckerd community needs foundation of respect

By Rhemy Brezin ECOS President At every Ceremony of Lights, incoming students are welcomed to the “community of scholars” here at Eckerd. But, what is a community?

The Merriam-Webster definition of community is “an interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location.”

At Eckerd, we have the community of scholars, which is an academic community composed of professors, students, staff and faculty. We also have a social community composed of the students on and off campus, but also within each individual housing complex.

We have all experienced the different personalities and communities that each complex contributes to our overall social community.

Students can improve our social community through increased respect and through working together to accomplish goals. Respect is not just in reference to the way you interact with your fellow Eckerd students but also to the property of Eckerd, from windows to fire extinguishers to yellow bikes. When damage is done within a complex or house, and no one comes forward, the entire house or complex is charged. Not all students can easily afford this additional charge, thus it is more respectful to avoid damaging property in the first place.

Working together is a really fun and inclusive way to build community. It begins with clubs and organizations on campus coming together to host fundraisers, protests, events and training sessions for all students. Then it trickles down to senators working within their complex to improve campus life, and finally, to individual student groups working together to expand their knowledge and skills in the classroom.

As the semester continues, I hope that everyone will work to build community through respect and working together.

If you have an idea for an event or project that will continue the growth of community on our campus, come to the ECOS office and we can discuss a way to make it happen.

4 News

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Students try for Move D.C. rally

By Hailey Escobar Staff Writer

Eckerd students will be among the many supporters of the nonprofit organization Invisible Children outside the White House Nov. 17.

They hope this rally will remind world leaders of the promise they made earlier this year to take action in capturing war criminal Joseph Kony.

At the helm is Sophomore Amanda Smith, service-learning intern. She has been passionate about Invisible Children since she was in high school when some of members of the organization came to her school to show the film. However, it wasn’t until she getting to Eckerd that she really started getting involved.

“I was contacted by the [Invisible Children road team] over the summer about doing a showing [of the film] here,” Smith said. “Then when the roadies came to the school they told us about

Move D.C.” Soon after, students were asking if there was a trip being planned and Smith started working to make it all possible.

Invisible Children began in 2006 after the release of a documentary by the same name.

The film follows three college guys who decide to look for adventure in Africa. What they would stumble upon would change their lives.

Hundreds of children in Uganda flooded the streets in hopes of finding a spot to sleep where they wouldn’t be abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led

by Joseph Kony, and forced to be child soldiers.

Invisible Children gained even more recognition earlier this year when it uploaded their new video “Kony 2012.” Since its premiere in March, it has received more than 93 million views on YouTube, making it the most viral video in history.

The Move D.C. rally will be the

grand finale of the campaign.

“It’s a giant rally where they’re hoping for thousands of Invisible Children [supporters] to come and surround the White House and try to make it so that the world governments are held accountable for what they promised earlier this year,” Smith said.

But why get involved in an issue taking place across the world?

“It’s one of those things that it may not be happening in the U.S., but it’s still an issue for millions of people right now,” Smith said.

“Children are [hiding away] because they’re terrified of being captured.

People are continuously in fear and people have been displaced from their homes. The U.S. is very lucky where we don’t have to worry about these issues, but it doesn’t mean that we should just ignore it.”

Director of Service Learning Brian MacHarg said that there is still much to when describing the

EC students research candidates before voting in upcoming election Students explain what they find important when considering their votes in the presidential elections

issues that need finishing before students hit the road.

“There are a lot of logistical items to consider,” MacHarg said.

“Just based on the participation last year, there’s transportation, there’s obviously safety issues and housing issues.”

Smith and other students who have volunteered their time to

photo courtesy of Flickr Rock the Vote campaign is a voting campaign targeted at getting youth to vote.

The YDA states that 62 percent of young people who attended college voted in the 2008 election.

Only 36 percent of young people who do not attend college voted in the same election.

Social issues can also be key factors when deciding which candidate to vote for.

“When it comes down to it I think social issues are more important than money,” Junior Lucy Shinsheimer said.

She actively educates herself by reading about current issues online, watching the presidential debates and participating in discussions.

Junior Rachel Ellingson is concerned with the state of social issues like gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana, ending the drug war and promoting stem cell research.

The candidate who supports her social views is whom she will vote for.

“If I don’t know enough about a

topic I’ll do my own research,” she said.

Senior Zachary Cassidy is adamant about preserving the environment.

He’s looking for a president that is going to help the green movement and do their best to get environmental issues under control.

“Given it’s the most important issue and its effects can be irreversible, the degradation of the planet is getting to the point where it will be completely irreversible,” Cassidy explains. “With the growing global population, resources like water, food and land are going to become more scarce, therefore environmental issues will be even more crucial.”

Though these students may be young, they know what is going on and know how to find information if they aren’t informed enough.

“I want a candidate that cares about my rights,” Shinsheimer said.

lead this trip will have a little more than a month to plan the trip and hold fundraisers across campus.

Currently, they are asking for a $25 deposit from students to save a spot, and for those with families in or near the D.C. area to open their homes to the group.

To learn more about the trip, stop by the Service Learning office.

ECOS Senate discusses complex improvements

By Cait Duffy News Editor

By Giuliana Grossi Contributing Writer Young Voters Don’t Equal Uneducated Voters For many students, this November will be their first time voting for a presidential candidate. According to the Young Democrats of America, our generation will make up one-third of the electorate by 2015.

However, these students won’t be voting with beginner’s luck.

Most Eckerd students seemed confident with their decisions and had done their own research to make sure to educate themselves.

Many student voters have a specific issue or area that is important to them.

“Who I vote for is dependent on what is said during the foreign policy debates,” Junior Lindsey Collett said. “In a world of increasing globalization we have to focus on what goes on beyond our borders.”

In Collett’s opinion, foreign policy is the deal breaker.

Jarrett Bowie, also a junior, shares Collett’s enthusiasm for foreign policy.

“It’s definitely their view on foreign policy and social security [that impacts my vote],” said Bowie.

For Junior Molly Michel, it’s health care, deficit, taxes and taking care of the school systems.

“I want to be sure to read up on the propositions,” Michel said, “so I don’t see them for the first time in the voting booth.”

Just because this may be the first or second time many college students are voting doesn’t mean that they are uninformed or questioning their decisions.

In an educational environment, awareness of politics is promoted regularly.

photo courtesy of Flickr A Kony 2012 poster.

In their fourth meeting of the fall semester, the Eckerd College student senate met to discuss policies for allocation of funds to clubs, proposals for a Oct. 24 student forum and student respect issues on campus, among other things. Present were the senators for all of the dorms, while commuter senators Henry Palmer and Josh Annarelli were absent.

The meeting began with a 10 minute closed session, after which new tentative rules for ECOS allocation of funds were announced.

The temporary rules will be enforced when any organization approaches senate with budget requests.

As Zeta senator Mary Jean Harford explained, there are some new requirements for such requests.

“Organizations should come to us with at least one additional senate meeting between the date of request and the proposed event the funds are needed for and they must bring a printed proposal, similar to those required for budget allocation, to present.”

The senate now also retains the right to create terms and conditions for use of any funds they allot.

The next topics discussed were led by Harford and Beta senator Alek Matthiessen. Harford announced the possible cost of $325 for 250 water and heat proof labels that would note dorm items that were purchased through ECOS senator budgets. These would include pots, pans and other common room goods which senators used portions of their budgets for.

Matthiessen proceeded to discuss the $500 cost of a new expression board behind the Beta complex.

The board, which has already been approved for construction, will be covered by the ICV fund and a portion of ECOS Vice President Eliza Van Dissel’s budget.

According to Matthiessen, hav-

ing the board approved was an easy process. “This [project] is the definition of what the student initiative fund is for.” He hopes the board, which will be open for all students to paint on, will be built before winter break.

Van Dissel moved the discussion along to selected designs for new bike racks to be installed on campus as part of the administrative decisions to discourage bike and longboard traffic in the academic area of campus.

Racks will be installed at both dorms and in the academic area, prompting Matthiessen to ask whether racks could be installed under a covered area to help protect the condition of bikes. The idea was the first of many from the meeting regarding new proposed bike and longboard regulations to be discussed at an Oct. 24 forum.

The forum, scheduled for 11 a.m. in Fox Hall, was criticized by senate for its inconvenient time and date.

Matthiessen wondered why the scheduling of the meeting seemed rushed, while others voiced concern over the number of students unable to attend because of classes.

Of the 12 senators present, only Alpha senator Henry Ashworth and Iota senator Katherine Pace were not in class and able to attend.

To promote student attendance at the event, senate agreed to create flyer handouts and send an email to the student alias, as well as encouraging word of mouth advertising.

For those who aren’t able to attend, Epsilon senator Isaac Anderson proposed the creation of a drop box for students to submit suggestions.

Moving the meeting along, Ashworth changed the topic of discussion from possible policies to current problems.

As he described, “Alpha got rowdy Saturday.” Allegedly, two windows were broken at the complex, including one that shattered after a sailboat mast was thrust through the glass.

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C

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

News 5

As election day nears, candidates vie for undecided voters’ support

By Taylor Glaws Staff Writer President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney faced off on Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in New York for the second of three presidential debates. The debate represented an important opportunity for the two candidates.

For Romney, the second debate was a chance to maintain his momentum coming out of the first debate, while Obama needed to reassure his base after a poor showing in Denver.

The town hall style debate, in which all the audience members were undecided about who they would vote for in November, reinforced the importance of undecided voters to both campaigns.

T h e f i r s t questioner, 2 0 - y e a ro l d college student Je r e m y

Epstein, expressed his concern that he would be unable to find employment after college. In his answer, Romney emphasized the importance of tuition costs and student debt to future financial security.

He also cited his record as governor of Massachusetts, where the top 25 percent of high school graduates receive full scholarships for four years of college. Romney was also sure to point to the president’s mismanagement of the struggling economy as a reason for the struggles of college students over the past 4 years.

“And what’s happened over the last four years has been very, very hard for America’s young people,” Romney said during the debate.

Obama also cited his record in response to Epstein’s question, focusing on the recovery of GM, as well drawing attention to Romney’s opposition to the bailout. The president also discussed the importance of energy independence to job creation and to the overall health of the economy.

“We’ve got

to control our own energy, you know, not only oil and natural gas, which we’ve been investing in,” Obama said during the debate, “but also we’ve got to make sure we’re building the energy sources of the future.” Obama also mentioned his efforts to increase in availability of student loans.

Notably, the second debate was much more contentious than the first, with the candidates frequently interrupting each other, and

Obama said “You can invest in a company, bankrupt it, lay off the workers, strip away their pensions and you still make money.”

Obama also rejected Romney’s “five point economic plan,” calling it “a one point plan” in which “folks at the top play by a different set of rules.”

Romney on the other hand, attacked the president’s stance on oil and coal development on federal lands, citing a case in which the Obama administration took an oil company in South Dakota to court for Migratory Bird Act violations. Romney repeatedly attempted to point out what he sees as a conflict between regulations and economic progress.

This attack on regulations is just one example of what has been a common criticism of the president over the past four years.

The debate was also notable for its coverage of contentious social issues such as immigration reform, women’s health issues and gun-control laws, which were conspicuously absent from the first debate.

These issues also highlighted an interesting tendency toward more moderate stances on the part of Romney.

The discussion of contraceptive care and Planned Parenthood funding, as well as immigration reform posed a challenge for Romney, who has consistently trailed the president in polls of female and Hispanic voters.

The difficulty for Romney lies partially in remarks he made during the Republican primaries, such as his support for the Blunt

Amendment, which would have allowed employers to not provide birth control coverage to female employees, and his promise to veto the DREAM act. These

“I felt like they were about to start boxing.”

-- Sophomore John Walters

photo by Danny Kovarik

directly challenging the accuracy of the other’s statements.

The ability of the two men to leave their seats and walk around, as opposed to standing at podiums as they did in the first debate, emphasized–and helped to create– the combative atmosphere that persisted throughout the night.

Sophomore Jon Walters, who attended a debate viewing party, noted the almost pugnacious tone of the night. “I felt like they were about to start boxing,” Walters said.

As the discussion moved more toward the economy in general, both candidates began attacking each other more aggressively.

Obama, who in the previous debate seemed reluctant to bring up issues like Romney’s “47 percent” remarks, showed no such qualms in the second debate. Referencing Romney’s work at Bain Capital,

Eckerd College Creative Arts Collegium • Celebration

of the

photo by Elizabeth Tomaselli

types of statements, made when Romney was more concerned with winning the support of a solidly conservative voter base, not only damaged his credibility among female and Hispanic voters, but also risked his chances with the more moderate undecided voters he must now appeal to.

The second debate was considered by many to be much closer than the first one, which gave Romney’s campaign new energy and momentum.

A recent Gallup Poll found Americans felt that Obama had won the second debate, effectively tying the debate score at one to one.

Both candidates are likely to place huge importance on the final debate, which will take place Oct. 22..

Arts • Nov. 10 • Free Admission

10 a.m. - Noon

1:15 - 2:30 p.m.

2:45 - 4 p.m.

4:30 - 6 p.m.

8 p.m.

Gallery Talk: The Invisible Elephant

Organ Recital

Poetry and Fiction Reading

Eckerd Faculty Present Chamber Music

“Legally Blonde: The Musical”

Paintings and sculptures by Theo Wukcik and Kirk Ke Wang Cobb and Elliott Galleries This exhibition coming to us from the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Fla. features the work of Kirk Ke Wang, professor of visual arts at Eckerd College, and Theo Wujcik, professor emeritus at the University of South Florida.

The show’s concept is based on an ancient parable that colorfully illustrates how we each can see the same thing differently.

The show runs Nov. 5 to Dec. 7. Elliott Gallery hours on Nov. 10 are 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

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Thomas Hall ‘80, Organ Wireman Chapel Thomas Hall is college organist and instructor of organ at Eckerd College, and organist and director of music at Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown St. Petersburg. He also is organist for the Estonian Lutheran Congregation of Central Florida. He is an alumnus of Eckerd College, where he studied organ with the late William Waters. He holds a Master of Music degree from Florida State University, where he studied organ with Michael Corzine and harpsichord with Karol Louwenaar. His program includes music spanning four centuries, including works by Bach, Messiaen and Mendelssohn, as well as music from the Spanish Mystical School and the Italian baroque.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

Jon Chopan Jay Baron Nicorvo ‘99 Roberts Music Center 104 Jon Chopan, assistant professor of creative writing at Eckerd College, is a fiction and nonfiction writer. He will read from his first collection, “Pulled from the River,” which explores the distance between Rochester, N.Y.’s greatness and failures, between place and identity, between who we are and who we hope to be.

Jay Baron Nicorvo’s debut collection, “Deadbeat,” revolves around a central character of the same name — an absent father and husband, and the family that goes on without him. An effigy for America and our culture of recession, “Deadbeat” is brought to life with honesty, sympathy and love in all of its complications.

Barbara Prescott David Irwin Brent Douglas Roberts Music Center 104 Hear music by Fauré, Ibert, Saint-Saëns, Emanuelle and Shostakovich played by an Eckerd trio: flutist and Eckerd adjunct professor Barbara Prescott; clarinetest, director of instrumental music and adjunct professor David Irwin, who also conducts Eckerd’s Community Band and Chamber Orchestra; and pianist and Eckerd staff accompanist Brent Douglas, who is the organist and pianist for Palm Lake Christian Church.

by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin Directed by Gavin Hawk An Eckerd Student Production Bininger Theatre Sorority star Elle Woods doesn’t take “no” for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

Additional show dates are Nov. 8 to 11 and 15 to 18.

Thursday through Saturday, show time is 8 p.m., and Sunday performances begin at 2 p.m.

Free tickets (limit three per person) to “Legally Blonde” may be picked up at various arts events throughout the day on Nov. 10.

Donations accepted.

6 News

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Brought Brought to to you you by

by Career Career Resources Resources

Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Tomaselli thecurrent@eckerd.edu Managing Editor Jeralyn Darling

News Editor Cait Duffy currentnews@eckerd.edu Asst. News Editors Malena Carollo Ethan Packey Viewpoints Editor Carver Elliot Lee currentviews@eckerd.edu Asst. Viewpoints Editor Ely Grinfield Shannon Vize

Entertainment Editor Ian Lindsay currententertainment@eckerd.edu Asst. Entertainment Editor Hayden Johnson Aaron Levy Lizzy Brophy The Quickie Editors Aaron Levy Ryan Wheeler Dominick Cuppetilli Lizzy Brophy Health & Fitness Editor Alex Roberts Asst. Health & Fitness Editor Caroline Campbell Sports Editor Mike Geibel currentsports@eckerd.edu Asst. Sports Editors Colin Casey Will Creager Ryan Wheeler Dominick Cuppetilli

Graphic Design Editor Carver Elliot Lee InDesign Instructor Josh Keeler Photo Editor Alex Zielinski Web Editor Greg Reilly Asst. Web Editors Hailey Escobar Sabrina Lolo

Faculty Adviser Tracy Crow Director of Finances Kevin Boyd Director of PR/Advertising Devon Williams currentads@eckerd.edu Asst. Director of PR/Advertising Arielle Burger

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.

photo by Alex Zielinski Complex raft races at the Waterfront during Autumn Term.

Waterfront offers diverse activities

By Arielle Burger Assistant Director of PR/Advertising What made you want to come to Eckerd? Was it the small class sizes?

Eckerd’s very own beach? Maybe it was simply the balmy Florida air. According to Sophomore Anna Grace Owens, she chose Eckerd because of the Waterfront.

Eckerd College’s Wallace Boathouse Waterfront Program is waterfront heaven to students who want to learn how to paddleboard and kayak, among other water activities.

“No other school has this,” Owens said.

She’s now a member of the recreation staff at the Waterfront. “Autumn Term showed me the Waterfront at its climax.

There were so many people eager to take advantage of what we had to offer.”

Besides offerings in paddleboard and kayak lessons, students can also windsurf, sail, wake board, and even collect fish for the critter collection.

Want to plan a weekend of snorkeling and camping?

Students can borrow snorkel gear and camping equipment from the Waterfront.

Recently, the Waterfront developed two new classes – paddleboard yoga and paddleboard fitness.

“I hadn’t done paddleboarding be-

fore Eckerd,” Owens said. “We have things you wouldn’t expect,” Owens said.

“Coach” Jim Terkelsen, the Waterfront’s Assistant Director, agreed, explaining that one of the Waterfront’s goals this year was to do things differently.

Classes usually run one hour and students can sign up at the front desk of the Waterfront.

Wind surfing classes are $15 for three sessions. Sailing classes are $25. In addition to the good news?

You do not have to have any experience to use the Waterfront’s amenities. The staff is trained to teach basic skills and to lend a hand to any student willing to learn.

“We changed our classes so that they run like academic classes,” Terkelsen said. “They run two nights a week for about two and a half hours.”

Not only is the Waterfront home to recreation, it’s also home to a shop that repairs boats and equipment.

Shop supervisor Scott Ferrara has been on the job for 10 years. He says his shop fixes everything at the Waterfront.

“I love my job. The best part about working here is watching the kids grow up.”

Ferrara leads a staff of 12 students who he says work tirelessly repairing boats, sails, kayaks and many other items.

Ferrara and Terkelsen also noted this year’s changes at the Water-

front Changes like adding a vending machine so students can quench their thirst while sunbathing on a hot day, and new lounge chairs on the dock.The snack bar is even being renovated..

Besides renovations, Terkelsen talked about the programming changes. For example, the fall semester is about getting students together in large groups to meet new faces.

In the spring, activities such as camping trips will be organized so students can have fun with their new friends.

“We really try to find out what’s trending with the students,” Terkelsen added.

Senior Kira Moyer, a recreation staff member, called the Waterfront her “home away from home.” She has worked as a staff member for four years.

“I’ve learned “learned so much while working at the Waterfront.”

Owens and Moyer both commented on how their confidence and leadership skills have furthered since being on staff.

For one thing, Owens said said she feels “less afraid of the ocean.”

For Terkelsen, every day is an adventure. “This is one of the gems at the college.”

The Waterfront will host a Hoedown in early November that will include food, games, prizes, and even a performance or two with some country line dancing.

BAC provides service opportunity for EC students

By Alex Zielinski Photo Editor The Business Assistance Center, located on 2nd Avenue North, offers help to small local businesses around St. Petersburg.

The Midtown Project is a collaborative project that the Business Assistance Center has had with Eckerd College for years.

Previously, the Midtown Project has been handled through Career Resources.

Last year, Brian MacHarg, Director of Service Learning, took charge of the Eckerd aspect of the Midtown Project.

MacHarg described the Midtown Project to us.

“A project designed to connect students with the needs of the local community, most specifically businesses and non-profits that have acute need in historically African-American parts of town and the city’s south side.”

After the switch to Service Learning, the Midtown Project has tried to focus more on service learning oriented projects.

This is not to say that there are no business oriented projects, as there still are. It is just to allow more focus on projects that help the city of St. Petersburg.

By focusing more on the service learning based projects through the

Dear Lindsey, I applied for a summer internship, and have an interview later this month. I get very nervous and usually feel awkward around people I don’t know. How should I prepare for this interview?

-- Distressed in Delta Dear Distressed in Delta, First, take a deep breath and find comfort in knowing that this is something many students deal with.

As you know, opportunities have become more competitive in recent times, so making that first great impression is seriously important. The good news: you’re channeling your question to the right place.

There are two things that you must do when preparing for an interview and they’re pretty simple— research and practice. Google the company, visit their website and you may even want to check out what other people have to say about the organization from yelp.com or glassdoor.com.

Having this insight is important for answering questions that the interviewer may have, especially “why would you like to work here?” and “what do you already know about our company?”

I’d also like to recommend partnering with a career counselor from Career Services, who can set up a “mock interview” for you. This is where you come in as if you are interviewing for the real position and they will conduct the session as if they are the hiring manager you’re interviewing with.

They’ll ask you the tough questions, and give you feedback after the interview on how you can improve your Q & A skills. Running short on time or live off campus?

They can do this over the phone as well. Either way, being knowledgeable about the company and wellprepared for the interview should help ease any awkwardness.

Best of Luck, Lindsey Dear Lindsey: Is there anything I should know about the differences between a phone interview and a one-on-one interview?

--Stumped Senior

photo by Alex Zielinski The Business Assistance Center on 2nd Avenue North.

BAC, the Service Learning Office and lead interns can advertise more options for interested individuals.

Each year a couple of students from Eckerd are chosen to be lead interns for the year.

Christian Willis, one of the lead interns this year, states, “The role of the lead intern is to make sure students are aware of volunteer opportunities in the community and facilitate their need.”

The lead interns are a key component in the Midtown Project.

They act as a bridge between the Business Advice Center and Eckerd College and help recruit students for various projects.

These projects can range from

marketing small family businesses, helping at musical festivals downtown or painting a mural on a business’ front to attract interest.

Because of the variety of projects that the BAC gives the lead interns, there is something that can interest anyone who wants to volunteer.

By getting out into the different areas of St. Petersburg, the lead intern’s projects allow students to see areas they normally would not explore.

The program helps students gain experience for after college and betters their understanding of challenges that are faced in St. Petersburg by groups and individuals.

Dear Stumped Senior, There are queues in both situations that you should be mindful of.

If presentation and body language are important queues during the one-on-one interview, then what do you think are the queues for a phone interview?

Think about all of the frustrating calls you’ve made in the past where you’ve been trying to hear the other person over music, barking dogs, loud roommates, babies crying, or any combination of the above—did they go well? Could you tell by the sound of their voice whether they were nervous, upset, or just waking up? These are things you need to stay away from.

If you are expecting a phone interview, make sure you are somewhere quiet, alone, and above all—that you were expecting their call and are ready to speak to them.

Also, remember to check if your voicemail message is professional if they somehow miss you (which they shouldn’t) and that your battery is charged.

Best of Luck, Lindsey Have a career-related question for Lindsey? Send them to dearlindsey@eckerd.edu or send her a mes-

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

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the current

Oct. 26, 2012

News 7

Future general education plans in the works Gen. Ed. from front page

colleagues contributed a year to creating a model that tackled the values of environmental awareness, values identification, meaningful breadth and quantitative literacy.

In this model, the curriculum is divided into three core classes: dialogues, debates and ends with reflections.

These cores are based on a curriculum similar to the current model, but focus more on presenting statistics, research and public speaking.

Core II has an environmental course requirement and introduces a Service Learning portfolio, along with an ethical engagement project, where the student has to tackle a social issue.

The third model, “Spanning Boundaries: A Global & Environmental Core Curriculum,” is based around global and environmental aspects of Gen Ed at Eckerd.

The decision for the thematic focus was based upon maintaining the college’s core values, and was influenced by results of the freshman survey that told the faculty what students found most valuable at Eckerd.

This third model is similar to the current one, but introduces a Winter Term writing assignment for the first year, along with first-year environmental seminars.

The third model is also unique in that it will attempt to cross-breed class requirements into interdisciplinary courses.

This model fuses certain requirements together that allow for a more interesting and meaningful teaching process.

“The goal was to not increase the

total number of classes that people would take, but to change the nature of those classes,” Mark Davis, professor of psychology, said. “It’s a way of re-conceptualizing what we do.”

Classes would still function within major requirements, but would allow for easier fulfillment of the different requirements.

The fourth model, also rooted in global and environmental aspects, is called “Thinking Outside 2X.” What separates the fourth model from the third is that it significantly increases the amount of Gen Ed courses from the rest of the models and from the current one.

The biggest change is the creation of a two-year, four semester core course that uses classical and modern texts to teach on the global and environmental perspectives.

Basically, it would be a two-year Western Heritage. In students’ sophomore year, these perspectives would be taught through team-oriented courses.

The model also focuses heavily on interdisciplinary courses, as with the third model.

The sophomore and junior students would attend interdisciplin-

ary lectures after completing the global and environmental core courses in their two-year core course.

Concerning the content of each model, President Donald Eastman, in a recent meeting with The Current, said, “In my view, a general education model without Homer, Shakespeare and the King James Bible is not one.”

But while the content of the canon may alter, he feels it is the experience that truly matters.

“It’s not simply about experts teaching Plato, it’s about an educated person encountering Plato while young people also encounter Plato.

It’s not fundamentally about Plato, it’s about learning.”

Despite the vast differences between the models, some of the components are consistent with the current model. Autumn Term, along with the 16 CPS event and writing portfolio requirements will remain.

And Eastman agreed that writing is essential to education, telling The Current, “Learning how to think is impossible without learning how to write.”

While faculty have been deliberating on Gen Ed ideas for months, student input has been minimal.

However, Associate Dean of Faculty Marjorie Sanfilippo said students were involved in the early stages of the reform process, which is why, in part, the

service requirement is likely to be separated from QFM. Sanfilippo doesn’t feel that current students deliberating Gen Ed requirements for future students is the best model.

“Your education requirements were deliberated for you before you got here,” Sanfilippo said. “You’re going to have to trust that we’re going to make some very good decisions on behalf of all students, current and future.”

Eastman said he foresees a decision on the Gen Ed models by the end of May, and is hopeful that stages of implementation will begin with the class of 2017.

Eckerd Review provides publishing opportunity for members of EC community; deadline approaching

By Will Creager Asst. Sports Editor Eckerd College’s award-winning literary magazine, the Eckerd Review, has opened its 2012-13 reading period, and invites submissions of poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction and visual arts from students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as members of the Osher Life Long Learning Institute (OLLI) and the Acadamy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College (ASPEC) members.

The deadline for submissions is Nov. 23.

“Being published in the Eckerd Review is a first or second step for many aspiring writers,” Editor Josh Keeler said.

Keeler, a junior and creative writing major, added that Eckerd may be a small community, but it has a strong base of writing and a lot of competition. “The pieces are chosen for their potential in giving writers a ‘boost,’ or something to put on a resume.”

Faculty Adviser and Professor of Creative Writing Helen Wallace agreed.

“Being published in our magazine helps contributors think of themselves as writers.

It’s often an early boost, and encourages writers to continue to hone their craft.”

Junior Wyatt McMurray can attest to receiving a boost in notoriety of his writing. After being published in the 20112012 Review, his poem “Nail Polish” is now being considered for publication in the

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national literary anthology plain china: Best Undergraduate Writing 2012. “Never would have happened if it weren’t for the EC Review,” McMurray added.

According to Wallace, working for the Review is also a great way to become part of the creative writing community at Eckerd, and the work looks good on a resume.

“It’s fun,” she said. “Our editors and staff are cool, dedicated people, and we couldn’t publish a journal of this caliber without their hard work.”

And hard work it is. The Review typically receives as many as 300 submissions per reading period from writers who submit their work under a blind submissions policy through the Review’s website, which means writers are required to remove their names from all pages.

For poetry, writers may submit up to five poems, but no more than two longer pieces.

Short fiction and creative nonfiction writers may submit up to 15 typed, doublespaced pages.

Visual artists should plan to submit work through a flash drive or disk. Multiple submissions are allowed as well.

“The selection process is lengthy,” Wallace added. “Unfortunately, we have to turn away

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

lots of good work because of limited space.”

Keeler explained the editing process.

After Nov. 23, the staff conducts three rounds of cuts.

“The first round is done by both the editorial board and the editorial staff. The second and third rounds are done by the editorial board.”

While the deadline is Nov. 23, Keeler said work may also be recommended by creative arts faculty or solicited directly by the Review’s faculty adviser. “In which case, these pieces,” Keeler said, “will be considered in the second or third round of cuts.”

Even if a writer’s work doesn’t make the final cut, submitting still has benefits, according to Assistant Faculty Advisor Angela Jones. “Just completing the task of preparing a manuscript [of literary work] or a disk [of visual art], along with describing your work through the submission process and writing a contributor’s blurb about yourself, sets a burgeoning artist on the road to becoming a professional.”

The Review plans to host its annual reading/art party in mid-May, which will be open to all members of the Eckerd community.

“Being published in the Eckerd Review is a first or second step for many aspiring writers.”

-Professor Helen Wallace

photo by Kacie Wright Eckerd Review Editor Josh Keeler shows off his Celebration of the Arts shirt.

Anyone interested in receiving a copy of past Eckerd Reviews can email either Keeler at jrkeeler@eckerd.edu or Wallace at wallacehp@eckerd.edu.

Past issues can be viewed online at the Review’s website, www.eckerd.edu/ eckerdreview.

8 News

Oct. 26, 2012

the current

Infographic by Carver Elliot Lee 167 students responded to the survey.

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the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Viewpoints

9

Viewpoints INSIDE VIEWPOINTS First Times

10

Letter to the Editor

10

Bill O’Reilly and Jon Stewart

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My Big Fat Gay Column Sophomore Beth White continues the LGBT column, focusing on marriage rights See page 11

Two Lefts don’t make a Right photo courtesy of Flickr/WeNews Demonstrators in New York City rally after the GOP budget reduced funds to Planned Parenthood.

Contraception controversial issue for election

By Katy Carr Staff Writer The sudden interest in women’s health care has stood out in this election season among dialogue about tax cuts, job creation and foreign policy.

I’m not surprised to see conversations about abortion; near an election, it’s an issue that tends to inspire more passion among voters than tax cuts. However, seeing contraception debated is a little surprising. Contraception is nothing new–there is evidence it was invented thousands of years ago. The pill has now been FDA approved and commonly used for more than 50 years.

Despite all of this, I was surprised to learn that the Catholic Church still openly opposes the use of birth control. With birth rates down from the last generation, I find it hard to believe that some Americans aren’t doing some sort of family planning. In fact, a survey conducted by the Guttmacher Institute, a nonfor-profit organization focused on sexual and reproductive research and education, found that 83 percent of Catholic women not trying to become pregnant relied on methods such as the pill, IUDs, sterilization and condoms.

What the church has a problem with, it seems, is paying for contraception. Under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, companies will have to provide insurance that

“The Guttmacher Institute estimates that American taxpayers pay $11 billion each year as a result of unplanned pregnancies.” includes coverage of birth control. The act contains an exception–religious institutions, as long as most of their employees are of the same faith as the institution, can be exempt from these policies. Some religious leaders, most notably Catholics, feel as if this is insufficient and believe all religious institutions– including hospitals and universities–should be exempt. This would leave many non-religious employees without coverage of contraception.

Women take birth control to prevent unplanned pregnancies that could derail education and career plans. The Contraceptive Choice Project, an experiment conducted by Washington University’s School of Medicine, provides evidence of this.

The study gave more than 9,000 women access to free contraception. The results were fewer unwanted pregnancies, fewer teen pregnancies and fewer abortions; all outcomes that save taxpayer money.

Certainly the pill is cheaper than abortion, and abortion cheaper than the cost of an unplanned, unprepared-for child.

The Guttmacher Institute estimates that American taxpayers pay $11 billion each year as a result of unplanned pregnancies.

In a publicly released statement on the im-

plementation of the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act, Christen Varley, executive director of Conscience Cause said, “This policy marks the beginning of the end of religious freedom in our nation.”

Several times throughout his campaign, Republican Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan has guaranteed that the Affordable Care Act’s mandate requiring contraception coverage will be gone if Romney is elected.

Meanwhile, Romney threatens to decrease funding for Planned Parenthood. Even without the excuse of protecting religious freedom, the idea that comprehensive women’s health care, including access to contraception, saves money seems to be hard for Romney to grasp.

Young women and couples need contraception when they aren’t ready for children. Freedom to pursue an education and career before having a family promotes economic growth. Contraception allows people to have children when they are ready, and can afford it. Next to the huge price the government is paying to help take care of the children of unplanned pregnancies because their parents weren’t ready, the cost of contraception seems pretty small.

Smartphones create a new generation tied to technology

By Shannon Vize Asst. Viewpoints Editor Droid Incredible, iPhone 3, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, Droid X? If it seems hard to keep up with the latest smartphone, that’s because it is. This is one of the many reasons I prefer to stick with what some may call my stupidphone.

My phone does not have any “apps,” 3G or 4G Internet, GPS system or any fancy camera. Instead, my stupidphone texts, calls and takes decent pictures, which is more than enough for me. I could upgrade it to a smartphone and get one of those confusing data plans I’ve seen all the commercials for, but I stand by the phone I have for several reasons.

First off, smartphones confuse me. I’ve only ever had two cell phones in my life.

Both of them took some getting used to, but eventually I figured out how to text with only the numbers on my old Motorola Razr; then, with my latest phone, I finally upgraded to a full keyboard, which took even longer for me to master. These are relatively minor adjust-

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ments when you look at an iPhone or a Droid.

Both these smartphones entail learning much more about which data plan to select, how to use an app and what apps I even need, which phone to get, how often I should upgrade it, and how to work my GPS or camera. All of which I don’t have the time or desire to do.

Secondly, smartphones, especially iPhones, tend to break, crack or malfunction. Often, from what I’ve seen. My stupidphone has survived nearly four years with my clumsy actions. I’ve watched it bounce across the pavement too many times to count, but it doesn’t have a scratch to show for it. It’s debate-ably unbreakable and has never malfunctioned. The majority of my friends have iPhones or some other smartphone and more than half have cracked screens or have experienced strange malfunctions, such as being unable to make outgoing calls or only being able to use it on speakerphone.

Third, smartphones are expensive and they get updated often. The original iPhone gave See STUPIDPHONE on page 11

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photo by Ely Grinfeld One reason not to get an iPhone. Glass screens constantly crack.

By Ely Grinfeld Asst. Viewpoints Editor The upcoming presidential election year has awakened a buried political insecurity within me. Like four years ago, Americans, including me, are once again called to turn on their political minds and decide from one of two major candidates.

Many respond to the call with great enthusiasm, discrediting the other candidate with great zeal and hailing their candidate as the one to save us from political strife. Yet, there are some people left in the background who are unable to make a clear-cut decision.

This estranged group of Americans is a collection of people who don’t feel that picking the “lesser of two evils” or “voting against” the “worse” candidate are sufficient ways of involving themselves in the sociopolitical sphere.

The idea should not sound strange; every election year there are millions of potential voters left unrepresented. Often they are scorned as unintelligent citizens, unable to involve themselves in politics or make informed decisions. Could it be that these citizens are truly unintelligent, or are they the products of a political system that isolates its people?

I would posit that our current political system, that enforces only two major parties, breeds a politically apathetic citizenship.

Sounds pretty counter-intuitive, right? I’ve heard numerous arguments that having two political parties is better for creating an environment in which people can make a vote; it’s either this candidate or the other. Others think that a two-party political system allows people to understand the concept of compromise-- no person is completely happy with one candidate so they have to weigh the benefits of aligning oneself with that political party.

This could be the only child in me speaking, but since childhood, I’ve never enjoyed compromise and I don’t enjoy it in my politics, either. I especially don’t enjoy compromise when it means my political agency is reduced to picking between red and blue.

Jason Brennan, assistant professor at McDonough School of Business at Georgetown, best described the logical dilemma I see in the craze created by our subscription to the strict, two-party political system in his article, “The Ethics of Voting,” on artoftheory.com.

“Electoral decisions are imposed upon all through force, that is, through violence and threats of violence. When it comes to politics, we are not free to walk away from bad decisions... We would never say to everyone, ‘Who cares if you know anything about surgery or medicine? The important thing is that you make your cut.’ Yet for some reason, we do say, ‘It doesn’t matter if you know much about politics. The important thing is to vote.’”

“The Ethics of Voting” challenges our belief that voting in the federal election is one See TWO WRONGS on page 11

10 Viewpoints

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

“No one forgets their first time”

By Jeralyn Darling Managing Editor

I’ve been thinking about politics lately, as I’m sure many Eckerd students have–especially political science majors and members of the few political clubs we have on campus. But I don’t fall into that realm. I’ve always been pretty laissez-faire about the whole politics thing, mostly because, until this presidential election, I haven’t been able to vote.

My family is politically split– one parent is Republican, the other Democrat, meaning we rarely, if ever, talk politics at home. I’ve watched the debates.

I’ve watched the news, comedy programs, read the papers, done some Internet research, talked to friends and family from all different parties, the whole nine yards.

Even my roommates don’t all have the same political beliefs, and while I still think that talking politics and religion is rude in most social and professional situations, I think I’m beginning to make an exception.

Our campus, though much more open in many situations than other schools, has been on edge lately, tiptoeing around an important conversation–our political future.

Some students with a minority belief are trying to hide their political affiliation. My roommates and I have non-partisan or silent screenings of the debates in our room.

If there is a discussion, it’s kept pretty tame (thank you, ladies!).

My dad has called and emailed me several times about his beliefs, doing his best to inform me on the issues I am least qualified to discuss (the national debt, our economy, most of the issues that involve money) and in turn he has

#Amusing Musings

Letter to the editor :

First Times graciously listened to my views on marriage equality, education spending and immigration. I have no idea if either of us swayed the other, but I do appreciate the ability to talk about these things without fear of retaliation or argument. It helps further my understanding of important issues and I’m starting to realize that not only are the issues I’m passionate about important, they all are. I know that’s pretty obvious to most people, but it came as a sort of epiphany for me.

At the Pretty Patriots event I was handed a “you never forget your first time” button. After a few laughs with my friends about the sexual innuendo and the connection to my column, I started to think, hey, I really won’t forget my first time voting.

I was struck with this urge to make my vote count. Of course, everyone’s vote counts, but I want to make my vote as educated as it can be. I received my absentee ballot in the mail and I’m not filling it out until I know how each candidate, whether presidential or otherwise, fits with my views and the issues that I feel are the most important.

I’ve been weighing out whether to vote for my personal beliefs or what would be best for the country as a whole. It’s an important choice and one that I haven’t made just yet.

Election day is right around the corner and for the first time I can vote and I want my vote to be something I’m proud of, something that I can think back to every time I vote. I’m not just going to vote for the president. I’m going to vote for other political positions as well as the extremely confusing amendments. I’m going to make my vote count as much as it possibly can by educating myself on each issue. If that entails looking up the English translation of every one of these crazy amendments, so be it. I’m not ready to make my very first vote just yet, but when I am, you better believe it’s going to be the best it can be.

perspECtives

photos by Ely Grinfeld

“The vice presidents know when to butt out on issues.

Ryan makes Romney’s image more successful by being a friendly guy. I appreciate Biden being in the background as well.”

- Kyler Thomann, junior

Response to “Making Friends out of enemies” On behalf of Professor Albrecht’s Media Ethics class, In her Oct. 12 article in The Current, “Making Friends out of Enemies,” Jeralyn Darling describes the Eckerd tradition of a “Cowboys and Indians” party as “an epic night of camaraderie.” Occurring annually, “Cowboys and Indians” is one of many themed parties that attempt to evoke school spirit. As detailed in Darling’s article, the traditional core of the party puts two of the oldest dorms (Omega and Nu) in a historically-based battle simulation. The two dorms reenact the racial strife between the pioneering Americans and the indigenous native groups who occupied the land before the pioneers’ arrival.

As a class, we approached the party from the perspective of ethics, and challenged the assumption that the event was a “war that brought us all together.”

A central concept in our course is the notion of communitarian ethics, an ethical model that emphasizes relationships to a community over individual interests. In “Ethics for Public Communication,” a book by Clifford Christians, John Ferre and Mark Fackler says that “communitarianism stands in a long line of worldviews that offer as a first principle: treasure the other, develop the relationship, bear the other with kindness, intend good not harm.”

In other words, as a community, we need to go beyond simply asking what is fun or blissful, and question the ways in which our actions fit into larger social, cultural, historical and political contexts.

The party may indeed be an Eckerd tradition, but “Cowboys and Indians” is also a product of political ignorance and glorifies historical tragedies.This conflicts with Eckerd’s reputation as a school that embraces and accepts the people and practices of all cultures.

As a student body, we need to question whether Eckerd College can maintain its reputation as a liberal arts institution devoted to diversity while continuing to serve as the setting for a party called “Cowboys and Indians.”

The very essence of the party is centered on conflict and the goal of domination, and inherently reinforces historical power hierarchies.This is antithetical to Eckerd’s goals of diversity and justice.

The United States was formed through two violent racial movements, the forced enslavement and displacement of Africans, and the massacre and displacement of Native Americans. The Eckerd community would never throw a party pitting “blacks against whites.”

Such a party would rightly be considered to be horrifically racist.

However, by continuing to support the “Cowboys and Indians” party, the Eckerd community fails to consider the historical discrimination and racism directed toward the Native American community.

Why would people consider “Cowboys and Indians” to be more ethical than a party that would pit white people against African Americans?

We suggest that perhaps many students do not perceive the racial implications of the party because they are unaware of these implications. Thus, the racial insensitivity stems from ignorance rather than malice.

Consequently, we do not set out to attack or blame either Darling or those who participated in the party. Instead, we appeal to the incredible kindness, openness and commitment to justice that characterizes the Eckerd community and suggest alternative ways to party and have a good time that do not offend or belittle the cultures and people of Native American descent.

- Taylor Bullock, Raeanne Gratta, Ely Grinfeld, Kaleigh Humphrey

Sitting in class and your professor says something funny? Tweet it to @TheECCurrent and include the hashtag #AmusingMusings Creative Writing Professor: I feel like I need to be slingshotting Ritalin to you all. #StayingFocused

Literature Professor This painting is pretty disturbing, so let’s stare at it some more. #ArtDisturbs

Political Science Professor: That’s because he used to snort the equivalent of a first baseline back in the day. #Politicians

Literature Professor If you don’t like these poets, then suck it. #PoetryLove

Sociology Professor To get drunk is to get religious. #Spirituality

Literature Professor Nuts to you, hemp tote bag.

I’m going to lie under a tree. #Wordsworth

Political Science Professor I should send her flowers...or money. #RegistrarTimePerks

Environmental Studies Professor Where does our sewage go?

No, it doesn’t go directly to Kappa Field. #QFMLecture

Q: How do you feel about the vice presidential candidates and how do they help their respective running mates?

“I don’t know a lot about Biden but Ryan is much more far-right than Romney and I’ve heard things that he believes in and they are wrong. What’s a good way of putting it...He’s got women’s issues, he scares me.”

- Julia Calder, junior

“They both have good ideas. The debate was interesting because Biden is an orator and Ryan is a newcomer. They both attract other groups of voters.”

- Alec Matthiessen, freshman

“It’s a dirty campaign on both sides. I was fact-checking the vice presidential debate and it was all wrong. It blows my mind. Biden helps Obama more than Ryan does Romney.”

- Max Della Maggiora, freshman

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the current

MBFGC:

U.S. needs marriage equality now

By Beth White Columnist How would the majority of Americans react if they were told by the federal government, and by 45 out of the 50 states, that they could not marry the person they love?

This horror was made real for the millions of LGBT Americans when President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1993. Back then, it seemed that Hawaii was on the verge of legalizing gay marriage, and in turn, some politicians and their constituents wanted a national law to ensure that states against gay marriage did not have to respect same-sex marriages.

That in itself is discriminatory; imagine if a different-sex couple was married in one state and that marriage was not upheld when they moved to a different state?

DOMA does much more than this though—in defining marriage as between one man and one woman, it excludes same-sex married couples from the 1,138 federal laws that grant rights, protections and benefits to married persons. Federal exemption from inheritance tax, immigration rights and the ability to file joint tax returns are a few examples of those federal rights exclusively associated with marriage.

Since DOMA was passed, 23 states amended their constitutions to make samesex marriage illegal. Currently, six other states maintain statutes that forbid gay marriage (as opposed to constitutional amendments).

These constitutional amendments and statutes completely deny the legitimacy of same-sex couples.

Domestic partnerships are granted to same-sex couples in three states. These give couples some, but not all of the state rights granted to heterosexual couples. The civil unions provided to same-sex couples in eight states are another step in the right direction, as they guarantee equal state-level rights for homosexual and heterosexual couples.

However, separate but equal is never truly equal. By giving gay marriage a different name, legislators make it seem as if the love between two individuals of the same sex is different than that between two members of the opposite sex. Gay marriage is only legal in Washington D.C. and five states.

Keep in mind that whether engaged in a domestic partnership, civil union or lucky enough to have a marriage, same-sex couples are still barred from an obscene number of federal rights that are awarded to oppositesex couples. Also, it is incredibly belittling for two individuals who dedicate their entire lives to each other to be considered legal strangers by the federal government.

Sophomore Anna Daniel expressed how essential government reform is. “Love is an emotion all humans experience and you can’t control who you fall in love with… and when you have the basis of your entire country, the government, telling you that it’s weird or it’s not okay or controversial to have a marriage, it’s dehumanizing. Equal rights are essential to cooperation in society and lacking those rights negatively affects LGBT people on a daily basis.”

Considering the fact that all love is equal, the only difference I can see between samesex couples and different-sex couples is how they practice intercourse. This begs the question, why has the highly discriminatory DOMA not been repealed yet?

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Oct. 26, 2012

Viewpoints 11

Political bias has no place in the classroom

By Elizabeth Tomaselli Editor-in-Chief Few things inhibit my education more than a carelessly biased professor. There is nothing more damaging to an accepting and thought-provoking learning environment than to hear a professor profess his or her stance on a political subject, only to mock the opposition. Especially when you’re the opposition.

This kind of political bias can become particularly dangerous in a classroom when there is no qualifier that precedes the biased statement. Without a disclaimer, many students take the professor’s words as fact. This is problematic for many reasons, one being professors are viewed as a reliable source of accurate information on a college campus. This situation is also problematic because it assumes that all students in the class are politically knowledgeable or engaged, when many are not.

A student should be able to use his or her time as an undergraduate to become familiar with different areas of political thought and ideology. A student’s first experiences with the subject should not be tainted by a professor’s biased remarks. Our campus has students from diverse backgrounds and ages, ranging from 17 years old to early 20’s. It’s not fair for educators to make assumptions about the level of political awareness in their classrooms.

That being said, I have no reason to believe that a professor’s political ideology will become ingrained in his or her students. I do, however, believe that bias has

the ability to alienate students who feel differently and create a unidirectional flow of information, where the discussion—if that word can even be used to describe it—starts and ends with the educator’s comment.

I do, actually, believe there can be an avenue for personal political ideology to be expressed in the classroom, but to do so would require an open forum environment where students were given the tools to process the information and discuss it as a class. Here, the professor would be an active participant in a class discussion and it would be clear that his or her political opinions are personal and communication on the issue would not stop at the professor’s remark.

The responsibility of an educator should be to offer the foundation and the tools for students to synthesize information, develop a critical understanding and cultivate their own ideas and opinions. A classroom of higher education should foster conversation, not confusion, which is inevitably created when a professor weaves personal bias into a lecture, forcing students to decipher opinion from fact.

It is irresponsible for an educator to offer biased political commentary as a sidebar to undergraduate coursework. The issue here is not students feeling uncomfortable when their beliefs are challenged. Beliefs should be questioned, challenged and explored; but no student should ever feel inferior or intimidated by her convictions solely because they don’t align with those of her professors.

photo by Carver Lee Political bias in the classroom works against liberal arts education.

With frequent politically biased remarks in lectures, professors also run the risk of isolating a whole group of students who may not necessarily agree with them.

Our teacher and course evaluation forms here at Eckerd have a category that asks students to rate how well their professor relates to them in a manner that contributes to their learning. It’s difficult to relate to your professor when every class is a blaring reminder of how much you disagree, and sometimes, how little that professor respects the views you hold.

Senior Jenna Caderas says she’s experienced one-sided political commentary by professors before and found it uncomfortable.“It’s better in a learning environment for a professor to keep his views out of it,” says Caderas. Especially if professors are only willing to share their opinions without a conversation. “I would like it

a lot more if they engaged the class in both sides of the debate to enhance everyone’s learning in the classroom as a whole.”

Sociologist T. Allen Lambert says that politico-cultural consciousness normally develops in a person between the ages of 18 and 26, meaning experiences occurring during this time will ultimately stand out as being more important than others, and will most likely shape their political views for the future. Shouldn’t these critical experiences be thoughtful, well-informed discussions with faculty and classmates and not off-handed comments from an educator?

With so much polarity and misinformation tainting the political climate that surrounds a presidential election season, it would be a shame for our classrooms to become one more place where the distinctions between bias and fact are blurred.

Stupidphones allow escape from technology STUPIDPHONE from page 9

way to the iPhone 3, then iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and the latest iPhone 5. Why waste hundreds of dollars on getting the latest gadget when there will be an even better, faster, smarter smartphone waiting for you in less than a year? It’s an endless cycle of consumerism that people willingly enjoy taking part in by waiting in lines for hours for the latest device. I’d rather stay out of the competition altogether.

Lastly, smartphones make it impossible for you to disconnect from technology. When I leave my room, I leave behind my laptop and my connection to the Internet, Facebook and my email. Chris Petito, a junior and a fellow stupidphone owner says, “I enjoy being disconnected from technology every once in a while. I want to be able to come back from class and have five emails waiting for me, rather than have my phone go off five times in class.” I agree with him, the break is nice, especially since we live in a world overrun by technology. I like that I can enjoy the beauty of nature or how delicious my meal is without having to snap a picture and upload it to my Instagram account or have my phone going off with notifications from Facebook.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy technology and I think it has a lot to offer. But I feel smartphones have led us to disconnect from our daily lives and interactions by constantly tempting us with a direct connection to the Internet, our emails or Facebook no matter where we are. Smartphones can definitely be helpful if you get lost and don’t have a GPS or if you don’t have a good camera, but besides that they really just seem to be little devices for us to waste away the precious time we have here playing different games or checking Facebook. So if you don’t have a stupidphone like myself, and the few other stupidphone users that are out there, try putting down the phone every once in a while and enjoying the moment rather than posting it to Instagram or checking your email.

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12 Viewpoints

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Friendly Fire:

Jon Stewart and Bill O’Reilly take to the podium

photo courtesy by Wikicommons

By Ethan Packey Asst. News Editor

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s a journalist and a political sciencephilosophy double major, I pride myself on believing that I live in a world where political reporting is more dominated by facts instead of humor and hyperbole. But I know that a large swath of America, including many Eckerd College students, get their news from sources like Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and other political comedians.

So I’ll dive down into that reality for a moment and see if I can paint realistic pictures from the facts as they’re portrayed by these comedians. In this particular case, I’ll be examining the charity debate put on by Jon Stewart and Bill O’Reilly known as The Rumble 2012.

Jon Stewart (Obama) was all about stature (to the point of a raised platform) and the true context of his presidency. Bill O’Reilly (generic Tea Partier) was the un-Obama, blaming everything and anything possible on the President (Stewart) while deflecting requests for policy prescriptions and trying to ignore Bush 43 and his failures. This has also largely been the characterization of Mitt Romney in President Obama’s attack ads.

I’ll start with the Tea Partier mold that Bill O’Reilly filled. In my opinion, the Tea Party lost its credibility in the congressional elections of 2010 when it challenged, undermined and moderate, establishment Republicans.

The worst of these challengers were Sharron Angle (R-NV) and Christine O’Donnell (R-DE) because their extreme views were not conducive to winning swing-state elections.

Both lost their elections by significant margins.

The Tea Party-Republican divide was once again broadcast during the GOP presidential primaries as Mitt Romney battled several Tea-Party champions starting with Michelle Bachmann and ending with Rick Santorum.

Yet there was too little Tea Party support and too many Tea Party flag-bearers for them to be a viable threat to Romney.

Now on to President Obama’s political situation and whether or not he fits the mold that Stewart created. Given a Tea-Party opponent, the President would be running on stature as Jon Stewart did in the debate. Instead he has Mitt Romney as his opponent so the GOP nominee is more than a generic

courtesy of Wikicommons

un-Obama. As a result of that, the President made several calculated political moves in 2011 and 2012 to increase his chance of reelection this year.

In 2011, he negotiated 70-40 compromises to extend the Bush tax cuts, freeze domestic discretionary spending and raise the debt ceiling using a coalition of non-Tea Party Republicans and Clintonian Democrats. This method meant high-stakes diplomacy between the White House and Congress that eventually yielded the least politically-damaging compromise. The method until one of the involved parties pulls out for fear of outside reprisal.

President Obama was that party; he pulled out during the super committee negotiations in Fall 2011 for fear of reprisal from his liberal base if he cut a grand bargain with moderate Republicans. After all, I don’t believe Obama was ever the governing moderate, so why the Democratic base wouldn’t accept such a sudden reversion to that status? Instead President Obama started campaigning against Mitt Romney, even before he was the Republican nominee.

It’s a basic rule of political attack ads that you either love them or you hate them. To be more explicit, you love them if they’re from your candidate and you hate them if they’re not. President Obama’s attacks on Mitt Romney the primary candidate served to create a straw man caricature in the media and fire up the Democratic base. Obama succeeded in doing both and can therefore expect 45 percent of the vote at absolute worst.

Yet it is exactly that straw man caricature which Mitt Romney burned down in the first and third presidential debates. The Stewart O’Reilly debate would be appropriate for a referendum election with Obama fighting your choice of Tea Party candidate.

The real election is a choice election between the trust that President Obama will really deliver in a second term or the hope that Mitt Romney will turn around the American economy.

This is Eckerd College and we’re all students. Study the candidates well and make your choice.

Whatever you may think of politics, it is how our country makes big decisions not a big joke made for your entertainment, and you have a duty as an American citizen to be involved in the voting process.

By Ashley Walsh Staff Writer

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he Jon Stewart vs. Bill O’Reilly debate, while it was certainly farcical, still managed to come up with critiques of today’s political society. In the presidential and vice presidential debates so far, there has been a lot of discussion about individual issues in society; the economy, difference in foreign policy tactics and how our governments should respond to attacks on our embassies and women’s health.

However, something important has been left out of not only the debates but the public voice as a whole. There is an underlying debate going on among activists, as well as in many educated areas of our country, and that is the question of the fundamental difference of perception among politicians, media outlets and the voter base.

Throughout the debate, Stewart commented on what he called “Bull S*** Mountain” and although it is not put too eloquently, “Bull S*** Mountain” is essentially the commentary for the way popular media, as well as politicians sell concepts to voters.

The idea is that they have skewed the public perception to make various issues look one sided. Instead of focusing on problematic underlying themes that cause all the issues pertaining to the smaller issues, the politicians and the media cause panic and fear, tactics also used to drive voter turnout on both sides of the aisle. On this I agree with Stewart.

Jon Stewart made a point that a lot of people have been making lately with regard to criticism about the way our government is currently being run, and the way politics are being played. The “wedge” issue has taken over actual discourse in this country.

For example, when the debate turned to the economy, a truly “hot button” button issue, Stewart kept trying to make a point about the glass ceiling, suggesting we can’t go back to 2007 because we hit a bust-a-bust that was caused by careless spending not only within our own government and Wall Street tycoons but in the households of your average Americans.

Our economy isn’t going to return to the way it was because the way it was simply wasn’t sustainable. The issue isn’t just economic sustainability, but population growth itself. The population is starting to even out. A lot of environmentalists argue that the American population is still at a level of positive growth, but much closer to the level

of replacement, which means replenishing a population rather than increasing it, than it has been in our past.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; however it is not the best way to feed a consumer economy. These are things that a lot of citizens are acknowledging; however politicians seem to be avoiding it point blank. Then again, how could you blame them?

No one really has an answer to a free market economy backed by the power of consumer culture, which, as it happens, comes with dramatic and dangerous booms and busts.

In fact, I’m not even that upset by the fact that this isn’t an issue in Washington, so much as I am upset by how many people, including most everyone in this election think that even going back to a 2007-esque economy is a good idea. The only true way to maintain a 2007 would be some sort of totalitarian, socialist state with an entirely controlled economy.

Another example of a problem in today’s political atmosphere portrayed by “The Rumble in the Air Conditioned Auditorium” is the fact that women’s health and welfare has decidedly become a campaigning topic, as so excellently demonstrated by the pictures on Bill O’Reilly’s giant flash cards. There’s a lot I could go with here; the attack on Roe v Wade, international funding based on available “medical treatment” in the area. I could go on.

However, the big one that keeps catching my attention over and over again is the birth control issue; whether or not insurance companies should have to pay for it, and whether or not the government should have to pay for it. The thing about birth control is that in so many cases it is used for preventive care for endometriosis, ovarian cysts and even ovarian cancer.

Aside from the more dangerous stuff, it also helps with the regulation and symptoms of menstruation. Birth control is beneficial for women’s health for more than just sexual reasons. It has helped increased the livelihoods and success of women in society on many accounts and the fact that women who take it, for sexual reasons or not, are being literally branded “cheap whores.”

There were a number of other topics discussed in the debate, but perhaps the main point of the debate was itself and the way the it was performed: O’Reilly waving around two foot long flashcards and Stewart on an electric platform manipulated by a joystick

Presidential candidates don’t show much hope in upcoming election TWO WRONGS from page 9

of the ultimate duties of an American. Not only does it emphasize the national election over the local elections, but it also encourages mindless voting. Voting irrationally, or voting just to exercise political agency can affect our community in harmful ways.

Think for a moment. How much of the political discourse you’ve encountered within the past month consisted of information that may or may not have distracted you from the real political issues? Everyone had a Facebook status or Twitter update concerning the presidential and vice presidential debates and everyone had their input as to who “won.”

Romney was the better orator, screamed

the right. Obama gave the specifics, refuted the left. These discourses don’t represent political awareness in the least; they represent a country divided between two abstract concepts made real through political agency.

Discourses like these isolate voters like myself who don’t subscribe to any party and don’t like to believe in labels such as “conservative” and “liberal.”

Is there a reason we stick to the two-party system? Perhaps but the reasons might be outdated. Countries like Australia have popularized the notion called “alternative vote,” the voting process by which people rank their preference of candidates. The winning candidate is the one who gains the

majority of the first and second preference votes. Countries like New Zealand and Germany have used the “mixed-member proportional” system. These systems create a more accurate representation of the government because they place people in the congresses or parliaments in proportionate amounts to those who voted for the respective parties.

Although countries like Germany have a five percent threshold to gaining representation in parliament to prevent incredibly small groups, it can’t be denied that the system allows for a much more realistic representative government that is, by design, more flexible to sociopolitical adaptations. The basic principle is that the system incentiv-

izes the citizens to vote at both a national and local level, as the elections directly influence the makeup of the political bodies.

If this idea were to be transplanted to America, maybe the importance placed on the executive branch would be better mediated. Maybe people would become less politically apathetic in that they would participate more on the local levels.

Our political system may not be going away anytime soon. Although many Americans are content with the current political environment, an increasing group of people find themselves disenfranchised by an outdated system. In cases like these, two wrongs don’t make a right.

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the current

Oct. 26, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT Homemade costume ideas for under $10

By Jennifer Lincoln Staff Writer Risky Business

1) Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, everyone knows Tom Cruise’s “Risky Business” scene where he slides across the living room floor as Bob Segar belts “Old Time Rock n’ Roll.” It’s easy to throw on a dress shirt, boxers, white ankle socks and carry something to mimic a microphone. If you want to be authentic you could carry a candlestick, but anything that could be perceived as a microphone would do the trick.

Incredible Hulk

2) Since Marvel’s “Avengers” was such a huge hit, many costume companies will be planning on cash-

ing in on hero-themed costumes. However, you have the ability to create your own. Buying cheap clothing you don’t mind ripping, along with green paint, makes for an easy Incredible Hulk costume. Make sure to tousle your hair and rip your clothing before going out to create the look. (Side note, make sure you use washable paint.)

DoctorWho 3) One

of the most recognized BBC shows is “Doctor Who,” and the current actor who plays the doctor, Matt Smith, has a very distinctive style on the show and is quoted saying “Bowties are cool” as a defense against insults to his style. It’s an easy

task to borrow a sports coat and a bowtie (or find those two items at a thrift shop), and craft a makeshift sonic screwdriver to create your own Doctor Who costume. One could even to paint a cardboard box like a Tardis and wear it around his or her middle to look even more like the T.V. show.

tumes go. Also, it’s probably the cheapest option you have. All you have to do is wrap yourself (as thoroughly as you want) with toilet paper and you’re a mummy. To be safe, you should probably wear clothes or at least underwear under the toilet paper to spare yourself from a potentially embarrassing experience on Ha l l o w e e n night.

Mummy

4) The classic mummy is a Halloween staple as far as cos-

photos by Jennifer Lincoln

“Walking Dead” shuffles into third season

By Hayden Johnson Asst. Entertainment Editor For the past two years, “The Walking Dead” has established itself as a gripping horror T.V. series. During last season’s finale viewers saw the deaths of Dale and Shane as well as a first glimpse of the character Michonne. Season three just picked up with the survivors finding a state prison to inhabit which shows a whole new range of possibilities such as during the end of this season’s first episode, living prisoners were discovered. As a fan of the comics I was disappointed at the first season and was persuaded to watch the second season. However, there are signs of great promise in this new season.

One way in which season three holds promise is that there are no more red shirts.

The term red shirt comes from Star Trek in which Captain Kirk, Spock, and some crew member in a red shirt would beam down with them. Usually one of them would not make it back. If you guessed the nameless guy in the red shirt with barely any dialogue you guessed right. In season two the survivors found refuge in a farm. Besides Hershel, Maggie, and maybe Beth, there wasn’t any use for the other new characters other than food for the zombies. Being raised on a farm, the zombies probably found them more refreshing from their intensive organic diets. Having these red shirts wasn’t really all

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that bad because after all, what’s a zombie show without a few people being ripped to shreds here and there. With only developed characters making it into season three, seeing one of them getting eaten by zombies would evoke something along the lines of emotion.

Besides nameless character not making it, Shane’s death was also a great relief.

In the comics, Shane never really makes it after the campsite from season one.

The writers of the show kept Shane alive as a constant antagonist. If you’ve read Lord of the Flies, Shane was to Rick as Jack was to Ralph. Even Dale can be looked as Piggy with a beard and a hunting rifle.

The conflict between Shane and Rick was starting to get old in season two so killing him off was a good choice. For those who don’t know why Shane hated Rick, it’s just the classic case of sleeping with your best friend’s wife because you think he’s dead but it turns out he’s not and then things get…awkward.

For nearly two seasons Shane complained about how much he cared for Rick’s wife Laurie until Rick stabbed him and Carl blew his zombiefied brains out the back of his skull.

Now that the unneeded characters and ongoing conflicts have been dismembered there are some new characters to be excited about.

In the last season when Andrea was separated from the rest of the group she was saved by

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promtotional photo

a survivor that we have not met. Her name is Michonne and she is a favorite amongst fans of the comic.

What’s there not to like about a cloaked swordswoman that works alone and has two faithful jawless zombies as pets? Michonne has become a favorite to the comic fans because of not only being a post-apocalyptic samurai but a question mark as well.

The mysteriousness of Michonne was a big part of the comics as she would talk to someone that wasn’t there. Without giving too much away who this is, and why will be left out. There is also the character called the Governor, who from previews has been revealed to be in this season. If you thought Shane would be considered as a villain, then wait until you see the Governor. Season three holds much hope for the series and catch new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC.

Entertainment 13

INSIDE Entertainment “Perks of Being a Wall Flower”

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Fall Shows

Bob Dylan’s new album Sex on the Beach

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courtesy of Daiquiri Shak’s Facebook page

Daiquiri Shak hosts college night 2.0

By Caroline Campbell Asst.Health and Fitness Editor The Daiquiri Shak has recently been invaded by Eckerd students. Since the close of Sloppy Pelican, we’ve moved to the neighbor’s for College Thursday nights. On Oct. 11, panic stricken and thirsty students flocked to the Daiquiri Shak to satiate their appetite for the weekend. Senior D.J. Cain exclaims his love for the cleverly nicknamed Daiquiri Shak: “I love Sloppy seconds.”

What better way to relax than with a halfpriced drink in hand and a bay breeze sweeping across satisfied college-aged students all fraternizing on the outside patio? How about half-off every drink every night of the week at The Daiquiri Shak from 10 p.m. to close? I tell no lies.

My personal favorite, Crown Royal and ginger ale only cost me $2. On other nights it was priced at $3. You can see why I stayed with the same bartender the whole night.

Two D.J. booths are always set up; one bumps Top 40 hits on the outside deck while another D.J. plays similar tunes indoors.

For some air-conditioned beer pong, purchase a pitcher of beer and mark your next turn by putting it on the beer pong table. Or take your competitive spirit outside to the game of cornhole.

Senior Lisa Hufnell enjoys the spacious outside deck and playing games while she is out. “The daq shack has room for all of us,” says Hufnell. “Who doesn’t like cornhole?”

When compared to Sloppy Pelican, Senior Lauren Hoadley felt nostalgic. “The Daiquiri Shak has better space, but the bartenders suck,” says Hoadley. “Sloppy Pelican will always be a legend in my heart, though. Also, I heard Sloppy Pelican is reopening in November.”

Others found it the perfect change of scenery, with many of the wonderful familiarities of Sloppy Pelican. Senior Andrew Weaver embraces the change. “Imagine yourself in a fantasy world-- where you had all the sexy girls at Sloppy Pelican, something delicious to drink and all the bartenders you need to serve it to you,” says Weaver.

There were some first-timers to the Thursday night madness because the age requirements are 18 and up at the Daiquiri Shak, compared to the 21 and up policy at Sloppy Pelican.

However, I did find similar problems with the service that I found at Sloppy Pelican.

With the unexpected shift in business, the Daiquiri Shak needs to compensate by hiring more bartenders. I couldn’t tell if I was just thirsty or if it was the delayed service that glued me to the bar, but it took me about the time to drink my Crown and ginger ale to get another drink.

14 Entertainment

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

From pages to screen: “Perks of Being a Wallflower”

By Jennifer Lincoln Staff Writer Since the novel’s debut in 1999, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” has been regarded as one of the most influential coming-of-age stories of this generation. Personally, this book greatly impacted my high school self, partially shaping who I am today.

When I heard Stephen Chbosky had plans to adapt his masterpiece into a movie, I jumped and cried tears of joy.

Chbosky’s novel chronicles the freshman year of Charlie, an awkward suburban teenager navigating the throes of his first year of high school. Charlie is still reeling from his best friend’s suicide, his innate habit of introversion and his unique family dynamic.

The film is told through a series of letters that Charlie writes to someone who “listens and understands and doesn’t try to sleep with people even if they could have,” and follows his journey from starting out high school with no friends and unresolved memories of a traumatic experience with his aunt to a participant in life, not just a wallflower.

While Charlie is perfectly content knowing he will be an observer, not a participant, for the rest of his high school career, he does not count on finding friends in Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), two seniors with personalities so vibrant I almost didn’t except the actors to do them justice.

However, they played their roles

extremely well and left me in a state of awe as I watched them dance across the screen, delivering some of the best performances I’ve seen in a long time.

Also essential to Charlie’s growth in the story is his English teacher, Mr. Anderson, who assigns him essays on numerous books throughout the year and serves as his mentor throughout the movie.

Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times reflected, “Chbosky trusts his audience to understand the subtext of moments without throwing in a lot of unnecessary explanations. That requires a more nuanced level of acting and the core cast is very adept at pulling it off.”

For me, the best part about “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is that it deals with all of the big issues faced throughout high school.

Everything from coming to terms with sexuality, physically abusive relationships, mental disorders, drugs and sexual abuse come into play at one point or another in the movie.

The story makes you feel things, some that you don’t necessarily want to feel, but need to in order to move forward in your life or to be a better person.

I firmly believe this movie will move anyone who sees it, even if they have not read the book. For those who have read the book, fear not about inconsistencies between the novel and film, because Stephen Chbosky wrote the screenplay as well as directed the movie.

Of course much is left out, especially the specific relationships Charlie had with his siblings and

Braiding shells into hair provides new form of hair expression

By Sadie Williams Staff Writer Since we live on the beach, and since I love pirates and mermaids, I’m going to advise the Eckerd community at large to try out a trend in hair wear that I find particularly delightful. Be like a pirate, and add tiny braids into your hair and then pretend you’re a mermaid and add shells to those braids. The end result will be slightly noisier than your average hair-do, but infinitely more fun. Here’s what you’ll need: 1. Small clear elastics, available at CVS 2. Small shells with holes, available at the beach.

3. Wooden, plastic, bone, ceramic or glass beads with a large enough hole to fit a small clump of hair through.

4. Styling product such as Bumble and Bumble texture gel, molding paste or simply a lump of beeswax. promotional photo

parents, but overall the book was beautifully adapted to screenplay, and the actors brought the characters to life in a way I never could have imagined from reading the book.

Scoring an 86 percent approval rating from RottenTomatoes.com, “Perks” has already earned well over $6 million in the box office.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is, in my opinion, one of the most quotable books, and my eyes welled with tears when the most memorable lines were perfectly worked into the screenplay and uttered from the characters’ lips.

At the beginning of the film, in Charlie’s first letter to his anonymous confidante, he pens, “I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could

be.” Twice during the movie the famous line “We accept the love we think we deserve” was uttered, which sent chills running down my spine.

Perhaps the most heavily quoted and remembered line of the whole book, “And I swear, in that moment, we were infinite,” was spoken by Charlie at the end of the movie as he rode through a tunnel in Patrick’s truck with Sam standing up in the back, finally a participant in his own life.

I was apprehensive about seeing this film, as I am about all movies that are adapted from books I adore. I worry that the actors or the director will taint the perfect image I already hold in my brain, but I assure everyone that this is a perfect adaptation.

The goal is to add to the braid’s endurance and keep the ends together as you attempt to thread them through the shells and beads.

Pick a small section of hair behind your ear, somewhere toward the back of your head. Otherwise you’ll have shells bouncing around in your face and that’s not really fun. Get all of your supplies out and ready, and, if possible, do this with a friend. It’s a lot easier on the arms.

Begin by making a small braid.

Tie the rest of your hair back to keep it out of your way. It makes it easier if you treat each strand with a small amount of styling product as it helps the braid stay intact throughout the process.

About halfway down pinch the braid to keep it from loosening and with the other hand thread a shell onto one of the strands. Continue braiding down, making sure to braid tightly around the shell or bead.

Alternate between beads and shells until you reach a point where you have one to two inches of hair left.

Tie off the braid with a small clear elastic, and you’re done. I’ve used crystals in my hair, charms, shells, bits of ribbon, anything really. The goal is to create a look that makes you happy.

Channel surfing: What’s new on TV this fall?

By Hailey Escobar Staff Writer Fall means one thing for the television community: brand new shows vying for a permanent spot in the schedules of viewers.

This season is seeing many shows popping up on every network, but a few have been making more noise than others. Here is just a glimpse at some of the new shows to be keeping an eye on.

“Elementary”-CBS-Thursday 10 p.m.

With the success of BBC’s “Sherlock” over in the UK, it’s no surprise that the US would be producing their own series following the famous detective. What was surprising was the early announcements that Holmes’s companion John Watson was going to become Joan Watson and that their cases would be based in modern New York City. While this brought some caution, especially to those loyal to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories, have no fear. The show still holds the eccentric sleuth close to the heart and the pilot promises to keep viewers guessing.

“666 Park Avenue”-ABC-Sunday 10 p.m.

Sexy and sinister are just two ways to describe the new ABC drama. Within the first five minutes of the pilot episode, the stage was set for a place where success has

a deadly cost at the Drake, an old building with a dark secret. As the show continues, a couple of new tenants and a series of disturbing events lead to a finale with more questions and a promise for more mystery to come. If you dare to enter 666 Park Avenue, you’re in for plenty of lies, sex and a dash of murder.

“The New Normal”-NBC-Tuesday 9:30 p.m.

If you like Kurt and Blaine on “Glee,” then you will love Ryan Murphy’s latest creation: “The New Normal.” This show follows a gay couple, Bryan and David, as they hire broke single mom Goldie to be their surrogate. This wonderful depiction of life as a gay couple hoping for kids is full of hilarious quotes coming from all sides of the cast and makes you fall in love with all of the characters. Be sure to check out this cute new comedy.

“Revolution”-NBC-Monday 10 p.m.

If all of the power in the world turned off for good, what would you do? In the new show “Revolution” we see that world 15 years later and follow a group of heroes looking to find the key that could possibly turn the power back on. However, they have to watch their backs as a powerful overlord and his militia

tracks them down looking for the same prize.

While sci-fi shows haven’t been too successful off the sci-fi channel, this plot promises an action-packed story and conflict that we can all relate to in our electricity dependent society.

“Go On”-NBCTuesday 9 p.m.

Matthew Perry is back on the small screen as a sportscaster whose wife has recently passed away. Due to his erratic behavior at work, his boss forces him to go to a therapy group. The group is filled with colorful characters with sad stories from a cat’s death to personal injuries to death in the family.

However, if you look past the funny outbursts and the competition over who has the worst past, there is a layer of inspiration and joy that will warm your heart.

“The Mindy Project”-Fox-Tuesday 9:30 p.m.

Former cast member of “The Office,” Mindy Kaling is finding herself in a whole different office on her new show “The Mindy Project.” She plays the hard working OB/ GYN and sometimes party girl Mindy Lahiri who struggles with balancing her work and personal life. Her story is framed by a cast of crazy co-workers and friends who help her

along the way to becoming more responsible in her nighttime actions and on her quest for love.

“Last Resort”-ABCThursday 8 p.m.

The plot for ABC’s new show “Last Resort” looks almost like it came from the mind of a conspiracy theorist and brings a scary idea of war to light.

When the nuclear missile submarine USS Colorado is given orders to send a bomb toward the Middle East and ignore it, they find themselves betrayed by the very country they were sworn to protect.

The government then blames the accident on the country they tried to destroy and start a war on the cover up.

This forces the crew of the USS Colorado to take drastic measures in order to bring justice. This show looks like it will be packed with suspense and action.

These are only a few of the shows that are starting up this year. So, keep some of these in mind next time you pick up the remote to watch TV. You might be surprised by them.

Also, if you miss the first episode, don’t worry.

Some of them are already free to download on iTunes. promotional photos

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the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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27

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Events Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

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30

31

1

6 p.m.

10 a.m. Boyd Hill:Meet Fall Break Student Affairs movie a Bat!

6 p.m.

Zombie Workshop at the pier

9 p.m.

Horror movie night at GO pavilion

2 7 p.m. CPS Int’l Cinema: “The Interrupters”

4

9 p.m.

Another Man’s Trash

Fall Break

7 p.m. CPS “Confessions of a Race Baiter”

Halloween

7:30 p.m.

Swing dancing

3 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Sunken Garden: Jeet Kune Do

Oct. 26 - Nov. 8

Monday

8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Romeo & Juliet 6099 Central Ave.

First Friday

7

6

5

11:30 a.m.

ECOS All American Party

Entertainment 15

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Art Exhibit “The Invisible Elephant”

Election Day GO VOTE

12:30 p.m. CPS Graduate school fair 7 p.m.

Purity Myth

8 8 p.m. CPS “Legally Blonde:The Musical” 10 p.m.

Rockband in the Pub

To advertise your event with The Current, contact Current Entertainment at currententertainment@eckerd.edu

The St. Pete Sampler: Fiestas and Food This week’s sampler takes a look at some of the ‘burg’s best latin inspired restaurants and taquerias. From festive cantinas to hole-inthe-wall tequila dives, these eateries provide a fun, spicy option.

A. Red Mesa Cantina 128 3rd St. S 4 stars $$ Monday - Wednesday, Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Full Bar Available B. El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant 1800 16th St. N 2.5 stars $ Monday - Thursday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Alcohol N/A

EC Cocktails The Kooky Kara

The Dark & Stormy

Ingredients: 3 oz gin 8 oz tonic water lemons & limes

Ingredients: 2 parts ginger beer 1 part dark rum fresh lime juice

Preparation: Infuse blueberries into gin. Let sit for a few hours, then mix with tonic water. Squeeze lemon and lime into cocktail before serving.

Preparation In a highball glass, combine ginger beer and rum. Stir well and add lime juice to taste.

Note: The beverages and recipes 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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C. Casita Taqueria 2706 4th St. N 4 stars $ Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Beer & wine only D. Zapata’s Restaurant and Tequila Bar 111 2nd Ave NE Ste 209 1.5 stars $$ Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Full bar available

Price $-$$$$ ($ = <$5.00 per meal $$$$ = $20.00+ per meal) Food Quality (1-5 stars)

courtesy of Google Maps

16 Entertainment

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

By Elizabeth Tomaselli Editor-in-Chief Women often assume much of the responsibility for contraception in a sexual relationship. Granted, this may be because women have more contraceptive options. Female options—birth control pills, patches, shots and IUD’s—outnumber the male option of only condoms, but maybe not for long.

Researchers have been working on a pill form of a male contraceptive for years, with most using hormone manipulation, just like the female birth control pill. And just like the female pill, the male pill would have possible side effects including nausea, blood clots, weight gain and possibly a lower sex drive. Sound familiar ladies?

That’s because the side effects are the same for women.

Interesting, then, that drug manufacturers have tabled discussion of the male contraceptive pill for years, claiming the side effects would make it unmarketable.

Now, I’m not saying these side effects shouldn’t be taken seriously,

but why don’t these drug companies have a problem with females experiencing these same side effects for more than 50 years? And if the issue is marketability, why do men have an issue with risking the same side effects they’re perfectly fine letting women experience?

A new study, however, has found an alternative chemical, JQ1, that achieves the same results for men without altering hormone levels.

The chemical came out of cancer research and has been successful in trials for male contraception.

Essentially, the chemical, in pill form, makes testicles “forget” how to produce sperm—look it up in the journal “Cell” for the science-y breakdown. It’s also reversible, so once the man stops taking the pill, everything goes back to normal.

The best part? No hormone manipulation. Just good ‘ole sperm mind tricks. So now that men might have the chance to take a pill and not experience any side effects, why is there still so much uncertainty as to whether a male contraceptive pill would actually catch on?

Maybe the hesitation comes

from men themselves. Many men seem to be uncomfortable with the idea of taking a pill that manipulates their body and changes the way their body produces sperm. One might wonder if these men have any idea what their girlfriends’ birth control does.

Maybe the idea of taking a birth control pill has become so feminized in our society that men would be uncomfortable doing it themselves, embarrassed even.

Or maybe the issues actually arise from women. Women might feel uncomfortable not maintaining a certain amount of direct control over contraception, especially since they would be the ones getting pregnant if things didn’t go as planned. Would women feel comfortable trusting men with the responsibility of protection?

For many women that use female contraceptives, contraception isn’t a split decision right before sex; it’s meticulously planned, scheduled and integrated into their everyday lives. It requires phone calls with insurance companies, paperwork, scheduling doctor appointments (sometimes for invasive procedures), cross-checking preexisting conditions with different brands, coordinating prescriptions with pharmacies and even sometimes setting a daily alarm to be sure the pill is ingested at the same time each and every day. You wonder why women roll their eyes if a guy can’t even remember to bring a condom.

Men aren’t used to that level of planning—in general, but especially when it comes to sex. There is little planning involved in bringing a condom and using it when you need it.

Contraception should always be the responsibility of both parties in any sexual experience, but would men be willing to take a pill to go the extra mile? And if they would be willing, would women let them?

Bob Dylan’s “Tempest” disappointing album

By Davis Nunneley Contributing Writer Thought Bob Dylan’s voice couldn’t get any worse? Think again. Dylan, one of the few remaining poets of the sixties, recently released a new album, “Tempest.”

The album met the Eckerd College community with disappointment. Sophomore Taylor Harned, an avid Bob Dylan fan, says he could listen to it, but would rather stick with Dylan’s older albums. This is partially because of the slow, sleep-inducing pace that makes the listener’s eyelids flutter as he or she struggles to stay awake through the ten-track album.

“Most of the songs sound pretty much the same,” says Harned, and all have the classic Dylan “rhythmic and repetitive” style.

The most disliked song on the album, ironically, is the title track called “Tempest.” Only five seconds short of 14 minutes, the song narrates the sinking of the Titanic.

Although Dylan is able to hide deeper meaning in older songs like “I Shall be Free,” and “Talkin’ World War III Blues,” which are also long rants about seemingly random events, it is impossible to find any relevance to modern society in “Tempest.”

Dylan even makes allusions to “The Titanic,” by The Carter Family, and Leonardo Dicaprio playing the role of Jack Dawson in the 1997 film “Titanic.”

The verse, “Leo took his sketch-

promotional photo

book / He was often so inclined / He closed his eyes and painted / The scenery in his mind,” makes the listener wonder if the song portrays an accurate account of the tragedy, or if it simply portrays Dylan’s love of the movie.

Even Dylan’s voice has changed to a slower and raspier tone that reminds one of Louis Armstrong, or of a singer whose voice is shot from decades of smoking.

Senior Jonathan Gilbreath says that Dylan’s voice changes every album, and synchs with his music, but he still doesn’t like it. “My personal belief is his old voice (earlier voice) sounded better.”Dylan’s voice has been fading since he caught a severe case of laryngitis in 2003, and his lyrics are becoming almost completely meaningless. The album title “Tempest,” the same title of Shakespeare’s last play, also raises an important question. Is this Dylan’s last album? It seems more possible than not.

Viral Video Update: Jumping and Singing

“Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic freefall from 128k’ - Mission Highlights” uploaded on Oct. 14 by redbull

courtesy of YouTube.com

“Town Hall Debate Songified” uploaded on Oct. 17 by schmoyoho courtesy of YouTube.com

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Oct. 26, 2012

The quickie

The Quick Fix

Five tips to keep the flu away

By Dominick Cuppetilli Quickie Editor

1 2 3 4 5

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Don’t stress. When your mind is stressed, your body is stressed, and that means your body’s defenses are down. So take a break and enjoy some sunshine so you don’t end up locked up in your bed for a week.

Eat healthy. The better the food you put in your body, the better resources it is going to have to fight off that flu. Grab some fruits and veggies to add to that plate to get some vitamins.

Get some sleep. Your body heals itself when it is asleep. Make sure you get as close to those seven hours of sleep that you need. Your body gets the best sleep between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Get some fresh air. With this nice cool air coming in, go for a walk around campus or take a little longboard ride. Do homework with the window open to circulate some fresh air into the dorm.

Wash your hands. This is the obvious one that has been said over and over to us since kindergarten, but it’s true. When everyone in your dorm is coughing and sneezing up a storm, it might be a good idea to sanatize a couple more times a day.

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The Quickie 17

There’s always enough time for a quickie

ACROSS 1 Fairy tale prince, perhaps 5 Brass instruments 10 Choose 13 “All ____ base are belong to us” 14 Noble gases, usually 15 High or low, culturally 16 LEED-certified dorm 17 Disease associated with iron lungs 18 Pokémon candy?

19 Communist Chairman 21 Gene Kelly number, perhaps 23 Exclamation of disgust 26 Half of the NFL 28 Number of bits in a byte 29 New exercise club 32 Model, perhaps 33 Type of bean 34 Hungers (for) 36 Zenith 37 Alchohol measurement 38 Lies 42 Livid 43 IV therapy 44 Daytime award 46 ECOS-sponsored program 49 Misunderstanding 51 Grammatically inept cat?

52 Compass dir., Franklin Templeton to Seibert 53 Envoy 57 Gulf of Mexico fixture 59 Sculptor Chihuly 60 Baton _____ 62 Brothers at the O.K. Corral 66 A long time 67 Jazz musician Davis 68 Captain of the Pequod crossword by Will Skinner 69 Type of light 70 Type of precipitation 71 Frees

DOWN 1 New political club 2 Friend of Pooh 3 One-sixth of an inning 4 Weight of a US bill 5 Annual McArthur event 6 Card game 7 Orion feature 8 Opera solo 9 Telegram punctuation 10 Agent in Vietnam?

11 Verandah 12 Communicate in 140 characters or less 15 Weave 20 Club which received $4000 more in Fall Allocation than all others combined 22 ____ ex machina 23 Pac-12 school 24 Hold 25 Team, “if they don’t win it’s a shame” 27 Hairlike organelles 30 Coltrane’s instrument 31 Private Massachusetts research university 32 Indefinitely large degree 35 Basketball turnover 37 Animated character Philip J. 38 32nd President of the US 39 Eye part 40 Offers 41 Hermione Granger’s org.

42 Little devils 44 Banished 45 Goddesses of inspiration 47 Fall Break service learning location: Hostel in the ______ 48 “Hostel” director Roth 49 Purple Heart, for example 50 Picture 54 2nd amendment concern 55 Rile 56 Christmas log 58 Transmission component 61 “___ willikers!”

63 Hawaiian tuna 64 Angular meas. unit 65 Educational org. in budget debates, for some reason

Club Spotlight:

Eckerd College men’s rugby

By Ryan Wheeler Quickie Editor Fall is finally here and that means one thing for many Eckerd sports fans: Rugby season is back. Because rugby is one of the most popular club sports on campus during the late fall and spring semesters, I decided to sit down with Sophomore captain Rob Mabry to learn a little bit more about the sport.

What is your personal role on the rugby team?

I’m the captain of the team, which means that I handle all of the on field duties. These include running practices with my other captains, Chris Higgins and Mac Jennings, as well as creating the lineups for games.

How did last season go for the team?

Last year was a great year to be a part of the team.

We went to the USA South Regional championships and took second place. We lost to our rivals University of North Florida.

What are some of the team goals for the 2012-13 rugby season?

After coming so close to being able to go to the national championships that is our overall goal, but we know that first we have to beat UNF to become the number one team in the south to get there so that’s our first goal this season.

What are some of the big games for the team this season?

Well every game is important to us, but we really need everyone to come out to the game against UNF. They kept us out of the national tournament last year and we will do our best to smite them this time around.

When and where are the home games played for those who don’t know?

The games are usually played on Saturdays, but that isn’t always the case. We do put up flyers around campus to let students know when we do play, though.

But our games are always played on the best field in Florida… Kappa Field of course.

Why should Eckerd students come watch the rugby games this year?

Eckerd students should come out to our games

to see a sport most people in the USA know nothing about. Rugby games are also pretty big social events.

There’s always a ton of people at our games so come out and support us.

Can interested students still join the rugby team?

It’s never too late to join the club. We always welcome new players, but if you are looking for any information, contact our recruiting officer Joel Lee at jdlee@eckerd.edu. Isaac Anderson will also be able to help out.

photo courtesy by Mike Geibel Rob Mabry looks to off-load the ball .

18 The Quickie

Oct. 26, 2012

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courtesy of dailyinfographic.com

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Oct. 26, 2012

Health & Fitness 19

HEALTH & FITNESS

Have a happy, healthy Halloween

By Kate Astor Contributing Writer

Halloween is the time of year when sweets dominate the food pyramid. However, this does not necessarily have to be the case.

Resident advisors, along with the support of Palmetto and Campus activities, will be handing out goodies at each complex lounge from 7 to 10 on Oct. 31.

Hopefully, givers will hand out healthier options to trick-or-treaters.

Junior Kendal Hansen said, “One time, I got pretzels instead of candy. But, I liked that because I personally don’t really like candy...pretzels were the only treat I got that was not candy.”

I’m sure that more kids think like Kendal, and would happily eat any treat that they were given. So this year, when thinking about Halloween treats, try some of the healthier options that are out there.

“When I hand out treats, I generally buy those Nabisco 100 Calorie Snack Packs,” said Eckerd parent, Stacey Prager. “They come in all sorts of sweet flavors like Oreos, Chips Ahoy, caramel popcorn, chocolate covered pretzels, and such. The kids don’t even realize that they’re only eating 100 calories,

they just think of it as a bag of cookies.”

Sometimes people are hesitant to resist candy. If a sweet indulgence is necessary, try to pick sugar free or low-fat candies.

Raisinets and Peppermint Patties are both low in fat compared to other chocolate candies. For a fruity taste, Twizzlers, Mike and Ike, Gummy Worms, Lemonheads and Mentos are all fat-free candies.

Generally, people put out cakes, cookies and calorie filled dips with chips for Halloween parties.

courtesy of College Lifestyles online magazine Body-friendly Halloween treats.

A healthier substitute would be to replace chips and dip with vegetables and hummus.

These can be arranged into the shape of a mummy, zombie, etc., to make it themed.

Instead of sugar-filled cake with icing, students can make angel food cake with strawberries and strawberry jam drizzled over them to look like blood. Angel food cake is calorically healthier than regular white cake.

The strawberries add the nutritional benefits of fruit and a touch of natural sweetness.

Why not try bran muffins, or even apple slices with peanut butter instead of cookies?

Both options can satisfy a sweet tooth without the guilt of all the added sugar.

Another treat idea is to grill shrimp, so they curl upon cooking, and then skewer them. Serve them with cocktail sauce and label them as “edible ears.”

Bobbing for apples is a festive game that leaves successful bobbers with a healthy treat.

Lastly, toasting pumpkin seeds with a touch of salt serves as a great alternative to more unhealthy salty snacks like potato chips and buttered popcorn.

Healthy foods do not sacrifice the Halloween spirit; get creative with serving delicious, guilt-free treats.

What kind of protein powder should you use?

By Tiffany Flor Contributing Writer Are you looking to start a healthy diet, build muscle or just have a quick, yet nutritious, snack? Adding protein powder to your grocery list may be the perfect solution.

There are various types of protein powder available at local health food stores like GNC—general nutrition center—and general grocery stores.

The key to picking the perfect protein powder for your body is to examine the types of proteins offered in terms of their compounds, advantages and, of course, taste.

Below is a quick guide to what the six basic kinds of protein powders are: Whey Protein There are two types of whey protein: concentrates and isolates. Isolates contain less carbohydrates and fat (from milk); however, isolates tend to be more expensive than concentrates. Both: • derive from cow’s milk • repairs muscles quickly and reduces muscle damage • contains branched chained amino acids (BCAA) which boosts energy levels • enhances immune system • promotes fat loss • fastest digesting “complete” protein—begins break down immediately • can be consumed before or immediately after a workout Casein protein • derived from cow’s milk • reduces breakdown of muscle tissues • slow release of amino acids • slow digesting keeps you fuller longer, which supports weight loss and promotes less caloric intake • has a lower biological value—your body absorbs less than you

eat • often used as a meal replacement shake or consumed before bed • eating at night promotes lean muscles and muscle tissue repair Soy Protein (Vegan) • derived from soybeans • great for active lifestyle, not so much for heavy lifting • contains essential amino acids and phytochemicals • contains isoflavones that have antioxidant benefits and supports healthy heart • easily digested but does not easily dissolve in liquids Egg White Protein • derived from egg whites • contains complete essential amino acids and branched chained amino acids • naturally low in fat and carbs • cholesterol-free and dairy-free • difficult to digest—may cause bloating Brown Rice Protein (Gluten free) Because this is a plant-based protein, consider choosing organic products to reduce pesticide exposure • derived from rice seed • great for sensitive stomach • contains B vitamins that boost energy levels • contains all but one essential amino acid (lysine: which helps manage body fat and is necessary for bone growth and hormone production)—solve that problem by mixing with milk or soy Hemp protein (Vegan) Because this is a plant-based protein, consider choosing organic products to reduce pesticide exposure.

• derived from hemp seed • contains essential fatty acids that naturally fight inflammation • lowers cholesterol levels with fiber component • omega-3s aid in muscle recov-

Ethan’s Workout

Livin’ the Dream Super Mash Bros

Kryptonite

3 Doors Down

Sail

AWOLNATION

Headstrong Trapt

Crossing Over

Five Finger Death Punch

All of the Lights Kanye West

Just a Dream Nelly

Frisky

Tinie Tempah ft. Labrinth

C’mon

Tiesto vs. Diplo

Coffee Break Zeds Dead

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From the iPod of Ethan Cooper

nior Trey Fisher, a current employee at the ery, focus, memory and GNC on 34th, has a different favorite. concentration boosts • not “Pro complex is the best,” Fisher said. “I a complete protein—lacks use it right after I work out to refuel some amino acids • easily worn muscles. This protein is best digestible protein in my opinion because it’s a thinInterested in getting ner protein that gives the same a tub of your own? I amount of nutrients with less suggest you start by powder.” sampling a few of your He also advises the avoidance of Muscle friend’s proteins or by buying Milk because it is high in fat calories while a few single serving packets providing little muscle nutrients. from the store.

Once you have your protein powEverybody reacts differder, you can mix your protein into your ently to protein powders, so morning oatmeal, cook up some protein before you spend your money pancakes, thicken your pasta sauce with on a huge tub of protein, make unflavored protein powder, mash it into sure it is the right one for you. your potatoes, mix it into milk for your Since moving to Eckerd, I coffee—or, my personal favorite—make a haven’t been able to find the delicious peanut butter and banana proexact brand or ingredients tein smoothie. in protein powders sold If you don’t feel like spicing up around here that I prea meal with protein powder, you fer, so I either order it can always mix the recommended online or bring massive serving size with a glass of liquid, amounts back from the most popular being water or the local health food milk. store in my homeJunior Alex Hogan favors this town. photo by Alexandra Roberts approach. “I mix it with almond My personal familk and I love it,” Hogan said of vorite for after Alex Hogan with her protein mix. her whey chocolate protein. my workouts is Hogan’s method is to consume this quick NitroFusion, a plant based protein that is and delicious drink after weightlifting to eninfused with BCAAs and L-Glutamine.

Before bed I like to make a casein pro- sure muscle build and strength gain.

Remember that your body can only metabtein smoothie of ice, half a banana and almond milk. To me, the casein smoothie is a olize 30 grams of protein at a time, so do not healthy yet delicious dessert after dinner; the waste that precious protein powder thinking smoothie also prevents un- healthy snacking consuming more than a serving at a time will gain instant and massive muscles. Instead, rabefore bed because it is extremely filling.

Everyone’s preferences are different. Se- tion based on what your body needs.

All Hallow’s Eve spirit pays a visit; haters beware

By Alexandra Roberts & Caroline Campbell H&F Editor and Asst. H&F Editor A creative piece concerning body image.

Two crunchy chocolate cookies connected by double-stuffed gooey orange frosting filling. They’re on sale along with the little triangles of white, yellow and orange corn.

Your daily motivational workout plan to rock your costume in one week escapes your memory, as your mouth gapes and drips at the various Halloween goodies before you, only one credit card swipe away.

The sparkling caramel jar falls into your shopping basket without its healthy balance, the boring apple. You’ll resume your eat-right schedule tomorrow, you remind yourself.

When the cashier asks you, “Is that all?”

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you are tempted to revisit the candy aisles, whose wrappers’ whispers still linger in your ears.

You hear the lid of the pumpkin pie container pop out of place just as your plastic bag finally tears with the weight of your purchase.

You roll your items to your car and scoop them into your back seat.

The drive back to campus is littered with daydreams about your voluptuous--both fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark--orange beauty with a green turtleneck finish that is hanging in your closet. It’s showcased in front of everything else just waiting a few more nights for its moment to glow.

You already planned to tell everyone you are the sweetest “punkin” from the patch, and you hope the newspapers you stuffed the lining with don’t chafe your bare legs inside the costume.

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This is your favorite holiday—everything you’ve been waiting for.

The night arrives and your smile is wider than your pumpkin costume. You waddle the sidewalk along the seawall as a loin-clothed covered fellow hollers, like Tarzan, in your direction. You miss what he asked because you are too focused on how you think his yell fits his act perfectly, and you are hoping you’re pulling off your costume just as well as he is.

You bend your knees and stretch back up a few times to show your bouncing excitement as you ask him to repeat his question.

He replies, his loincloth flapping in the seawall breeze, “What are you,” he asks. “A sunburned hippo?”

Your knees bend one more time, but you don’t recover. The blow was too deep. You fall to the ground, your newspaper crinkling.

The sound of the crinkling reverberates the

moans of your shattering hopes and dreams.

Tarzan’s laugh bellows behind him as he skips off to join Jane.

Leaves spiral in front of you as if the seawall breeze were trying to surround you and shield you from others in costumes walking on either side of you toward the music of the costume party on Kappa Field.

Hollow cackles fill the eerie dark sky. Hammocks flip over, and you feel the Spirit of All Hallow’s Eve quickening the wind around your face to dry your tears.

Scattered clouds rumble as the voice echoes throughout the ears of everyone present, “Halloween has been granted the one time of year where everyone can be anything they desire,” it announces like a clap of thunder. “Be your own kind of boo-tiful, don’t let anyone get you down. Indulge as you wish for one night without guilt.”

20 Health & Fitness

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Know how to keep yourself, others safe

By Rachel Beck Staff Writer

According to Campus Safety’s 2012 Crime and Fire Report, statistics for 2011 reveal 78 on-campus larcenies, 13 burglaries, five forcible sex offenses and one aggravated assault.

Though larcenies—incidents of stolen possessions without forced entry—show to be most common and the number of personal offenses is greatly lower, they can still be decreased.

Keep yourself and others safe with these tips from various resources on campus.

You can also check out local resources like a community center or other college campuses that offer specialized self-defense courses to get more information.

Campus Safety Campus Safety has many systems in place to keep students safe--ranging from officers on call 24/7 available to respond to students in need of assistance, the gatehouse at the main entrance to campus and red emergency phones around campus.

Once a student calls for assistance, Campus Safety responds as fast as possible, though response time can vary. “We try to keep it under 5 minutes, if we can, depending on where they are at on campus,” said Assistant Director of Campus Safety Tonya Womack.

Adam Colby, director of Emergency Management and Campus Safety, highlights the fact that response time depends on where the officer is with relation to the emergency.

He adds, “Unfortunately though, with the staffing that we have, we have to prioritize our calls.”

The Gatehouse The gatehouse that guards Eckerd’s entrance oversees the flow of traffic entering and exiting campus. Everyday, Campus Safety checks student IDs from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

On weekends, Campus Safety monitors the flow of visitors. “It’s hard to completely control it during the daytime, due to whatever events are occurring on campus,” said Colby. “So it’s not as strict during the daytime, on the weekends,” Regardless, “[The officers] will always check and look in the car, and see who’s in there,” said Womack.

Red Phones There are 23 red emergency phones around campus that connect directly to Campus Safety. These phones are serviced twice a month, according to Womack.

Even though the phones are scattered throughout campus, Colby said the phones are rarely used for actual emergencies. “Instead, students use them to call for officers to unlock classrooms, or to get an escort to their dorm,” Colby said.

Colby suggests self-defense classes for further protection. “The course I would recommend is Rape Aggression Defense (RAD),” said Colby. “These courses are not martial arts courses, but instead are supposed to teach individuals how to react if they are assaulted. The goal of the course is to build confidence that if you are placed in that type of situation that you could react and have been trained to react in a certain manner.

One of the main points of the course is to learn how to avoid these situations as well.”

Muay Thai If you want to pursue a martial art, there are classes offered through the Fitness Center, such as muay Thai and mixed martial arts.

Senior John Barilla is going on his third semester of teaching muay Thai. He has practiced muay Thai boxing for 8 years, trained in Thailand for 13 weeks in 2007 and has four years of experience in the Korean martial art, Hapkido.

Barilla’s class is offered in the multipurpose room every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Barilla starts his class with a warm-up, leading the class in push-ups, stretches and

other conditioning techniques. He then divides the class into experience levels.

More experienced students spar and practice with the punching bag, while those who are new to the class are taught beginning punches and kicks with punching mats provided by Barilla.

Junior Russell Swinton has taken the class since its start last year. “John is a good teacher,” said Swinton. “The class is not only a good workout, but also rewarding and fun.

I feel like I am better able to defend myself because of it. It helped me become a more well-rounded fighter.”

Sophomore Emma Sheffield recently started attending muay Thai classes. “I’m not planning on pursuing the sport competitively, but it’s fun just to go once a week to practice punches and kicks,” said Sheffield. “It’s also nice to feel like I’m learning how to hold my own in a fight, in case I ever find myself in a sticky situation.”

Mixed Martial Arts Junior Eli Peake offers a mixed martial arts (MMA) course designed to introduce students to martial arts. “When it comes to actually protecting yourself, I would definitely recommend taking at least a basic course. If not my class, the other classes here are great.”

Last year Peake taught tae kwon do, a martial art form that he has practiced since he was 7 years old. Peake has an extensive background in martial arts, covering karate, judo, taekwondo, Krav Maga, and MMA. Peake’s MMA class takes place in the multipurpose room in the gym every Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Peake starts class with a warm-up, moves on to stretching and then divides the class into groups based on experience.

He teaches basic moves to those with little to no experience, while more experienced fighters practice their moves. All are welcome to the class.

Senior Andrea Grzeslo is a regular student of Peake’s class. “One of my favorite parts of the class is that I am treated equally to the guys and it’s fun to learn something that is generally viewed as a male sport. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has been curious about mixed martial arts or would be interested in learning some self defense moves. The class is also a great workout.”

“My favorite aspect of it is that it is a lot like wrestling but simulates situations that I feel are closer to how a real fight might end up,” said Freshman Joseph McDaniel, another student of Peake’s class. “I do feel like if I were to get into a fight I would be more likely to defend myself.”

Peake is also a resident advisor in Sigma.

Last year he helped his RA put on a selfdefense event, and he has since considered putting on a similar event for his residents. “I haven’t done a self-defense class for my residents yet,” said Peake. “I probably will hold an event... it’s a very viable option.”

If you want to learn more about MMA or if you just want to get an awesome workout, get started with Peake’s Friday class.

Simple Tricks There are plenty of techniques and resources here for students to use to keep themselves safe on and off campus. Always keep these tips in mind to ensure your safety.

“I feel really safe at Eckerd,” said Peake.

However, he still offers a word of advice. “Be aware of your surroundings.”

This advice was echoed by Campus Safety.

“It’s always good practice to be aware of your surroundings, especially when you are walking at night,” said Colby. “I recommend not wearing headphones when you are walking at night because then you can’t hear things around you.”

“If you can’t walk with friends, you can always call Campus Safety,” said Womack.

“We’ll come over and provide escort. Also, try to stay in the well lit areas on campus. Always make sure you have your cell phone, if you need to use it.”

Freshman Jake Watson already adheres to these words of advice, “I make friends with my neighbors,” said Watson. “They look out

for me.”

Colby emphasized the importance of keeping safe in the dorms. “Don’t let people that you do not know into your dorms,” said Colby. “Don’t give somebody access like that.”

When Danger Arises All these tips are helpful as preventative measures, but what if they aren’t enough?

Remember, you can—and should—use ordinary objects to protect yourself in a dangerous situation should the need arise. “Keys, I say, are great because there is nothing illegal about carrying keys,” said Barilla. “If you put them between your fingers... they make really good deterrents.”

Though it is best to run away from danger, this approach does not always work. “If you are running, and they’re getting close, don’t keep running; turn around and fight,” Barilla suggested. “If it is obvious that they’re going to catch you, you want to be facing them so you can defend yourself.”

Get into the habit of good self-defense techniques by remembering these tips. Even though Eckerd is very safe, it never hurts to practice by walking with friends or staying in lit areas. Remember to always report suspicious persons and watch out for your community.

Transportation to Campus Safety is a concern for Senior Morgan Swim on the way to school. She takes the Pinellas Suncoast Transportation Authority (PSTA) bus route 19 to Eckerd everyday. The bus runs 7 days a week, and the last bus leaves at 9:30 at night.

Swim noticed that Campus Safety does not check the IDs of anybody on the bus. The bus is waived through the gate-house, stops at the bus stop and then goes out the roundabout.

“As much as I really do feel that it’s not an issue, if anybody wanted to, you could just take the bus in,” said Swim. “Literally anyone can take the bus to get on campus to get past the gate without an ID or registration.”

Campus Safety does monitor taxis and buses that drive through campus. As far as checking student IDs, Colby said, “We do, especially at night for taxis. But it’s just we can’t for the PSTA. We have to get on the bus, check them, [so] it throws off their route time.”

Campus Safety has taken measures to ensure that they can see who is getting on and off the bus. Officers put up a convex mirror in the gatehouse so that they would be able to see people at the bus stop. “That’s why we put [the convex mirror] there,” said Colby. “[Campus Safety officers] check to see when the bus comes through, they’ll often look over there.”

Colby said that the bus hasn’t been a threat to campus security. “What really brings crime onto campus is students bringing back people they don’t really know.”

Colby recommends that students make sure they know who they are bringing onto campus. “A lot of what occurs or can occur on campus is brought in by other students, not so much the outside community,” he said.

When she is on campus, Swim applauds Campus Safety’s efforts at keeping campus safe. “Generally, I do feel safe,” she said. “I feel like [in] the situations that are really emergencies, we are covered.”

Remember Officers work tirelessly to ensure campus safety. Students should also take measures to protect themselves, whether it be by taking self-defense courses, keeping the above tips in mind, or by participating in the martial arts courses offered at the Fitness Center.

“I think the overall mentality of Eckerd is non-violence and being respectful, so I trust people around here,” said Junior Katy Seyffer.

“I truly feel really safe walking around at Eckerd. Whenever a family member tells me to be safe walking around campus at night, I always respond by saying you really don’t have to worry. Eckerd is so safe, I would feel safe walking around by myself at 3 in the morning,” she said.

Cait’s Cookin’: Cinnamon raisin almond bread

By Cait Duffy News Editor After three months on the specific carbohydrate diet, there was no question about its benefits.

Friends and family began commenting on the new shine in my hair, color in my face and bounce in my step.

My stomach started getting better, slowly but surely, and the inability to drink caffeine was compensated with newfound natural energy.

However, I was still desperately missing carbs.

Foot long subs and bagels began haunting my dreams, ghosts of toast taunted me from the toaster oven and pizza called out my name.

I needed a new bread substitute, and fast.

I’d never made bread for myself before, and the task seemed daunting.

My fears were dismissed when I came across a few recipes that promised delicious bread in less than an hour.

The ingredients are easy to get a hold of, the preparation time is an absolute breeze and the taste of this moist cinnamon raisin bread is phenomenal—if I do say so myself.

Ingredients 3 1/2 cups almond flour 3 eggs 1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup plain Greek or homemade yogurt 1/4 tsp salt 3/4 cup honey* 2 tbs cinnamon 2 tsp nutmeg 3/4 cup raisins 5” x 9” bread pan *Using local honey will help fight seasonal allergies

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 2. Combine and mix all ingredients 3. Grease bread pan with butter 4. Coat greased pan with almond flour (this prevents sticking and burning of the edges) 5. Pour mixture into the pan 6. Bake 55 minutes 7. Let cool Let cool and enjoy with chunky almond butter.

photo by Cait Duffy Cinnamon raisin almond bread.

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the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Sports 21

Sports Strong coaching propels women’s soccer

By Dominick Cuppetlli Quickie Editor Can your coach say she has broken an all time NCAA record previously held by Mia Hamm? Eckerd College women’s soccer head coach Danielle Fotopoulos can.

This former Division 1 all-star has come to call Eckerd’s Turley Field her home. Fotopoulos began coaching here 3 years ago, with the program growing each year.

According to the Sunshine State Conference website, this current season marks the first conference win since the 2006 season, and the first time in the history of the Triton’s women soccer program making it to the Sunshine State Conference finals. A winning team such as this requires both talented players and a solid coach and Eckerd has certainly found that coach.

Fotopoulos began her collegiate playing career at Southern Methodist for two years before transferring to the University of Florida. It was in her second season at the University of Florida that she scored goal number 118, which blew past the previous record tied by Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett of 103, according to soccertimes.com.

Her final goal came in the game winning shot of the 1998 NCAA Division 1 Championship game against North Carolina. Fotopoulos also played on the U.S. National Team, giving her the opportunity to play on the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship team.

No doubt Coach Fotopoulos has plenty to bring to the women’s soccer program here at Eckerd, and the players also believe in her.

Senior forward Emily Johnson explained that before Fotopoulos’s arrival, the program was kind of lackluster. “It was Joe McCully’s tenth season, so there was nothing new. He just went through the motions.” Being one of only a handful of seniors who have been here longer than the coach, Johnson has been able to see what the program was and how it has evolved.

“At first the organization was a little off,” said Johnson. “Through the years, though, [Fotopoulos] has formed the program to her players.

She organizes the team to the players’ talents.” Johnson also explained that Coach Fotopoulos brings in recruits that are well-rounded players who provide chemistry both on and off the field.

According to Johnson, Fotopoulos includes factors in season and in the post season that are relevant to the team. This allows for both the coach and the players to be familiar with the team and individuals, which factors into the team’s success.

“Its kind of bittersweet because it’s my last season, but I’m excited that I get to be a part of it and that the hard work paid off,” said Johnson. “I wish I was a freshman this year so I could be here longer with coach.”

Fotopoulos has picked up on many of these same strengths in the team. She said she has seen three things that have developed in the past three years to help the program. “We have great leadership, a different mentality, and the team chemistry is awesome.”

Fotopoulos also said that this year has brought some signifi-

cant elements to the team. This year’s freshmen and transfers built on previous years’ assets allowed for the team’s success. “We were ready from the get go,” Fotopoulos said. “The team becomes a family and has fun. It’s cohesive.”

Two of these vital additions to the team were Freshman defender Shannon Larkin and Junior transfer defender Kelsey Pomerleau. Larkin has played under college coaches while playing club soccer, so the transition was smooth into Eckerd for her. She explained that with Coach Fotopoulos, “Things are taken more seriously, but they should

strict, and the players always had to present themselves professionally.

She said Fotopoulos is encouraging players to find a balance.

“Always work hard, but always have fun,” Pomerleau said, repeating the coach’s philosophy.

Not too many coaches teach that.With this in mind, Pomerleau admits “All those pre-season double sessions we worth it.” The defender said she finds it beneficial that the coach shares many personal experiences about the game, from winning to losing and the injuries in between.

Pomerleau wraps it up by saying, “She talks to us like we are people.”

Fotopoulos agrees in that sharing stories from her own experience helps a great deal in her coaching. “I can feel the momentums in the game,” Fotopoulos said, “both on and off the field.”

Another teammate who shares this appreciation of experience is Sophomore keeper, Morgan Crescent. “By having been on the national team, she knows lot of styles of play.” Crescent claims that the main focus of Coach Fotopoulos is defense.

“Coach is always saying, ‘Offense wins games. Defense wins championships.” A unique coaching strategy coming from the collegiate player with most goals in history.

“Coming into a program that has never been successful is a huge undertaking,” Crescent said, “and to come in in three years and turn it around is a huge success for her. “[Coach Fotopoulos] brought in a lot of solid girls last year,” Crescent said, “and this year she knew more about what spots needed filling.” The coach has directly influenced this very suc-

“We have great leadership, a different mentality and the team chemistry is awesome.”

-Fotopoulos

be.” She also says that her current coach is more understanding than previous coaches she has had.

Larkin has never played for a female coach, so she thinks that this helps the coach better understand what they are going through, which makes her more personable.

Kelsey Pomerleau is also a defender and a junior transfer from the Community College of Rhode Island. While playing at this D-1 junior college, Pomerleau was able to lead her team as a captain to compete in the NJCAA National Tournament. She claims that through this position, she learned the leadership and relational abilities to make a smooth transition to this already strong Eckerd team. Pomerleau explained that in her last program, the coach ran things very

INSIDE SPORTS Scoreboard

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Triton of All Trades

23

Basketball preview

Back Cover

cessful goalie by advising her to play in a women’s league semi pro team over the summer, the Tampa Bay Hellenic Soccer Club, who is coached by Fotopoulos’s husband.

With the experience she gained in this extensive practice over the summer, Crescent was able to top the SSC charts in total saves (81) and shutouts per game (5 of 12) according to sunshinestateconference.com as of Oct. 20. “[Fotopoulos’s] positive personality brings people to the program, and makes us think it is possible.”

Crescent said. “The team feels like we are getting more respect.”

The respect that Crescent feels the team has received was echoed

by Fotopoulos, “We have a lot of support from the college, and Eckerd really seems to have the girls’ best interest in mind.” This fact along with the continuation of solid competition is how the head coach plans to strengthen the program.

“The Sunshine State Conference is one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Constant competition is really good for the girls.”

It is clear that the players of the Eckerd College admire and appreciate their coach, but the feeling is mutual going back to the players.

“I am really thankful to be part of an awesome college,” Fotopoulos said. With this close knit unit of girls that plays like a family, only bright futures are on the horizon for this soccer program. Fotopoulos and her players can now start focusing on the college’s first appearance in the SSC Tournament, and their path toward hopefully bringing home a conference championship.

Melbert Schwarz: The man behind the beard

By Mike Geibel Sports Editor It’s safe to say few here know anyone by the name of Melbert Schwarz. But for those who do know him, they also know he’s the name behind the unofficial Eckerd mascot. Even more know him as a member of the men’s rugby team. His face even graces the team’s t-shirts this year.

But nearly everyone on campus knows him by the simple, yet fitting name, “Beardo.”

The origin of Beardo’s name is quite evident to anyone who has met him over the past three years. The Eckerd senior has been growing facial hair since his earliest days of beard-dom and it even has a name.

While on a trip to Germany, he said he was asked how he’d feel if someone cut off the beard. “Nobody touches Charlene,” he’d said, and Charlene it’s been ever since.

And he doesn’t plan on shaving her anytime soon.

So how did all this get started? In his junior year of high school, Beardo, a marine science major, beat out three teachers and

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countless students for his school’s “Best Beard Award” for the year. In 2011, Beardo took second place in BeardNation.com’s annual National Beard Month competition.

On the rugby pitch, his beard is often kept braided to minimize the chance of opponents pulling on it. The beard has also been a staple of Eckerd rugby for several years. Last year, in the team’s route to the south championship match, Beardo played all 80 minutes of all six conference games during the five weeks of spring season.

Those five weeks included one two-game weekend with games on consecutive days.

It is hard for someone outside of the sport to understand fully how exhausting one game of rugby can be on the front row players. Games take a hard toll on these warriors, especially six games in five weeks. Playing an entire season without a break is possibly one of the most grueling feats that a player can accomplish.

Forward Captain Chris Higgins says of Beardo, “Since I’ve been at Eckerd, he has been the toughest man I’ve seen play rugby.

He’s our fuzzy-faced Viking man of steel.”

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After the regular season, during the Tritons’ playoff run, the semifinals and finals of the South Championships were held again on back-to-back days. Despite playing one of the most physically demanding positions in one of the most physically demanding sports, Beardo again played the entirety of both games without complaint.

His work ethic earned him accolades and praise from coaches and players alike.

Named vice president of the rugby club this year, Beardo said he hopes to continue the success of the team and cap his senior year with another playoff run. His dedication and solid play on the field have inspired many other members of the team to give their best effort. Higgins adds, “We always know we can count on him until the final whistle.”

Aside from rugby, Beardo enjoys listening to metal and smoking his pipe.

Despite his time dedicated to the rugby club in both player and officer capacities, Beardo said he takes his studies photo by Mike Geibel seriously and stays on top of his work. Melbert “Beardo” Schwarz rocks his impressive beard.

22 Sports

the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Eckerd Scoreboard Men’s Soccer

Women’s Soccer

Women’s Volleyball

10/10 @ Nova Southeastern University W 3-1

10/11 v. Clearwater Christian College W 4-0

10/13 @ Florida Southern College W 5-0

10/13 @ Florida Southern College L 3-1

10/10 v. #5 University of Tampa L 3-2 (25-20, 16-25, 25-23, 25-27, 1517) (EC) Biggs 19 kills, 14 digs (EC) McAlvany 22 kills, 14 digs

10/17 v. #19 Rollins College L 2-1 (2 OT)

10/17 v. #24 Rollins College L 2-1

10/20 @ Palm Beach Atlantic Uni. W 5-2

10/19 v. Ave Maria University W 5-0

10/13 v. Barry University W 3-1 (26-28, 25-18, 25-10, 25-16) (EC) Burr 30 assists, 8 digs (EC) Biggs 19 kills, 6 digs

10/19 v. Christian Brothers Uni. W 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-20) (EC) McAlvany 18 kills, 11 digs (EC) Laton 7 kills, 4 blocks 10/20 v. Valdosta State University W 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-15) (EC) Biggs 22 kills, 7 digs (EC) Burr 30 assists, 7 digs

18-16) (EC) Burr 33 assists, 12 digs (EC) Biggs 16 kills, 21 digs Sunshine State Conference opponents in bold South Region Crossover Tournament in Tampa in italics

10/20 v. #22 Uni. of West Florida W 3-2 (28-26, 25-17, 25-27, 22-25,

Sports Calendar 26

Friday

27

Saturday

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Women’s soccer @ Barry University 4:30 p.m.

Sunday

Sailing @ Fall District Championships all day

Men’s soccer @ Barry University 7 p.m.

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Monday

Men’s Golf @ McDonough Cup Golf Tournament all day

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Men’s golf @ McDonough Cup Golf Tournament all day

3

Volleyball v. Florida Southern College 7 p.m.

Volleyball @ Saint Leo University 4 p.m.

Sailing @ SAISA/ MAISA Intersectional all day

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Wednesday

1

Thursday

Men’s basketball v.

Chilean National Team 7:30 p.m.

Women’s basketball @ University of Louisville 7 p.m.

Volleyball v. Rollins College 4 p.m.

2

Tuesday

4

5

6

Sailing @ SAISA/ MAISA Intersectional all day

Men’s basketball @ University of South Florida 7 p.m.

7

8 Men’s basketball @ Canisius College 7 p.m.

Men’s and women’s golf @ McDermott Scholarship Tournament all day

Sports Briefly Eckerd Sailing qualifies for nationals

National College football hits meat of season

College football was brought back down to earth this weekend with mixed results. Number three Kansas State crushed West Virginia to rise in the polls. Heisman Trophy front runner Geno Smith of West Virginia was beaten down while Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein had an outstanding game. Meanwhile, number five Notre Damewas tested by BYU. The Irish defense looked vulnerable as they allowed two touchdowns within three minutes of each other. However, Irish running back Theo Riddick had an impressive game to give his Soccer’s Dolan and Duffy win awards team the win.

The sailing team has made giant strides this year recently qualifying for the 2012 Match Race Championships to be held in Chicago in November. This marks the first time since 2005 that Eckerd will compete at the Match Race Nationals. To qualify, Eckerd defeated two top Atlantic Coast Conference schools in Clemson and Georgia Tech in Charleston, South Carolina at the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Championships.

Eckerd’s men’s soccer team has held its own in conference play, and recently had two players net a unique milestone. For mid-Oct. Sophomore striker Matt dolan and Senior Matt Duffy were voted as the best offensive and defensive players respectively in the Sunshine State Conference. Dolan netted a hat trick against Florida Southern increasing his team leading point total to 14. Duffy helped bolster a shutdown defense while also netting two goals of his own from the penalty spot. At press time, Dolan has accumulated 15 points and Duffy has 12; the two lead the team in points scored.

Biggs to surpass 1,000 career kills Junior outside hitter Lindsay Biggs is currently sitting at 999 career kills. The Tritons leader in kills this year will likely reach the millenial mark Oct. 26 at Florida Tech. Biggs will join a very elite group as only seven players in EC history have ever achieved the milestone. At her current pace, Biggs could end up at number two in the career records.

Rowdies face tough test ahead The Tampa Bay Rowdies find themselves in a hole in NASL’s championship series. Facing the defending champion Minnesota Stars FC, the Rowdies were beaten 2-0 in the first leg of competition. Tampa looks to rebound in final leg at home in Saint Petersburg’s Al Lang Stadium on Oct. 27. The Rowdies can clinch the title if they can overcome the 2-0 aggregate score in the series.

photo by Elise Barnes

Nick Ioffredo jumps to make a catch for Eckerd Ultimate in a 13-9 victory over FAU.

Winning Shots

Submit your fan photos to currentsports@eckerd.edu for a chance to see them featured in future issues of The Current.

World Series matchup set The Detroit Tigers will face the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 World Series. The Tigers swept the New York Yankees in the ALCS to claim their spot in the World Series. The Yankees bats got cold and could not handle Justin Verlander and the rest of the Tigers staff. The NLCS was much closer. After the St. Louis Cardinals jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the bestof-seven series, the Giants came back to win three straight games to earn their spot in the World Series.

photo by Tyler Cribbs

Tiffany Flor and Meagan Camp celebrate a score during the Sirens’ 22-17 victory over UF.

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the current

Oct. 26, 2012

Sports 23

Good vibes: your action sports source

By Dominick Cuppetilli Quickie Editor

In the scrum with the rugby forwards

By Mike Geibel Sports Editor Forwards like myself will tell anyone that rugby matches are won and lost in the scrum. To the average fan on the sideline, rugby scrums tend to look like two teams pushing against each other, but the reality is much more complicated and strategic.

I have played in the front row of the scrum for all six years of my rugby career and can shed some light on the subject for those not involved in the game.

The front row is where the scrum begins. The two props stand on either side of the hooker and bind together by grabbing each other by the jersey to keep the front row tight together as one unit.

Props are responsible for getting a good initial contact and securing the scrum to the opponents by binding on. Any pushing in the scrum is transferred forward to the front row, where the opponents are also pushing back.

The front row in general takes some of the most consistent punishment in the rugby scrum. They are the contact point for all of the battles for the ball and are stuck between two teams of eight players each pushing against each other.

Directly behind the front row come the two locks. These are generally tall and strong players who do most of the pushing behind the front row’s motion.

The front row is generally viewed as the battering ram, and the locks are the men who swing it.

On either side of the locks are the flankers. These two men are responsible for holding the scrum together while also watching for quick plays off of the scrum and are expected to be solid tacklers with quick feet.

Between the back of the two locks, the eightman is the driver of the scrum. This position directs where the scrum goes and is the last place the ball stops before it is played by the scrumhalf. The eightman

is often regarded as the leader of the scrum, helping to call plays and decide when the rest of the pack should push or hold their positions.

When the ball is put into the scrum, the hooker’s job is to use a foot to “hook” the ball back to the rear of the scrum so the scrumhalf or eightman can play the ball.

The hooker and scrumhalf must have a very close relationship so the timing of the ball entering the scrum and the subsequent attempt to hook the ball are well-practiced.

The scrumhalf, while technically not a forward, is often included in discussions of scrums because of their job of rolling the ball into the middle of the two front rows to start play. Occasionally, we’ll even let the scrumhalf hang out with us.

Forwards and backs have an interesting relationship between the two groups. Backs quip that forwards are slow and generally of lower intelligence, while forwards joke that backs are vain and extremely fragile. Forwards generally do not score, and are often left out of the glory of scoring tries.

Forwards, however, secure posession of the ball for backs, thus making those moments of fame possible for what forwards consider the prima donnas of the team.

Although there is a bit of friendly competition between the groups of players on the pitch, both areas on the field are of vital importance to a successful game. There will always be banter and jokes between the forwards and the backs, each poking fun at the other, but the important part is how the two phases come together during a match.

I’ve been in this game for a fairly long time, and I can honestly say the last two years of Eckerd rugby have been some of the closest-knit teams I have been on.

I have the fortune of being built as a forward and I don’t plan on ever leaving the scrum. I wouldn’t mind getting out of the front row once in a while, but I will always be a member of the “pack eight.”

photo by Abby Geibel An Eckerd rugby scrum against FGCU.

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More than four decades ago man landed on the moon. Now, in 2012, man has jumped from space. Felix Baumgartner of Austria, who was ironically born the same year man landed on the moon, recently set the record for highest free-fall, literally jumping from the stratosphere with the help of the Red Bull Stratos.

Felix Baumgartner began sky diving at 16, and has been jumping for Red Bull since 1988. This most recent feat is not his only recordbreaking accomplishment. In 1999, he recorded the highest BASE jump to date off of the 1,479 foot Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, which he beat again in 2007 by jumping from the world’s tallest building, Taipei 101 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan (1,669 feet).

He also broke the record for lowest BASE jump in 1999 by jumping from the mere 95 foot tall Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2003, Baumgartner was the first winged free-faller to cross the 22mile wide English Channel. And now, this high-flying adrenaline junkie has set three new astonishing records.

Joseph Kittinger, who held the previous free-fall record, was a mentor to Baumgartner, serving four years in preparation to the jump.

Felix Baumgartner raised the bar just over 25,000 feet to total the 128,000 foot jump. Of that height, Baumgartner fell 119,846 feet before pulling the parachute cord; a trip that would take 4 minutes and 19 seconds to complete. Concerns if the diver was conscious or even alive for the first couple thousand feet kept the control room in a nervous hush, and even Baumgartner questioned if he would remain awake.

Not only did Felix Baumgartner

break the highest free-fall record he also became the first free-faller to break the sound barrier, traveling at 834 mph, or Mach 1.24. This feat was done exactly 65 years after the sound barrier was first broke in a plane by Chuck Yeager. Baumgartner also piloted the highest manned balloon flight at 128,097 feet, which was previously 113,740 feet.

Not only did Felix Baumgartner break three substantial records, he did so handily. With the help of Red Bull, Baumgartner actually paved the road for new technology regarding fully pressurized space suits and the abilities they will offer. Baumgartner’s simple statement just before leaving the balloon capsule sums up this phenomenal achievement: “Sometimes you have to go really high to understand how small you are.”

The Dew Tour, made possible by Mountain Dew, was held the Toyota City Championships were held in front of the Capital building in San Francisco, Calif. over the weekend of Oct. 19. The tour’s stop held three components: BMX Street, BMX Dirt and Skate Street. According to allisports.com, the top three BMX street finalists were only separated by a point each, with Garrett Reynolds in first, Chad Kerley in second, and Bruno Hoffmann wrapping up in third. The BMX dirt finals were even closer in their results, with good old Ryan Nyquist winning gold, TJ Ellis with silver, and Colton Satterfield ending up with bronze.

The skate finals were dominated by Nyjah Huston all the way through.

He probably fell as many times all weekend as one competitor did in one heat. His precision was totally on key all weekend. Huston landed the top of the podium, with Torey Pudwill almost matching Huston’s precision in second, and Paul Ro-

driguez wrapping it up in third.

In other news, according to skateboarding.transworld.net, Element skateboarding brand is set to announce a new pro to the team on Nov. 3. Element has expressed a lot of excitement over this up and comer. He has certainly paid his dues on the street scene, and Element has recognized him as having done things “the old-fashioned way.”

The new pro already has the coined phrase that is one of my favorites. “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” Think you know who it might be? You’ll have to keep guessing till Nov. 3.

Everyone in the world of skateboarding knows the name Stacy Peralta. He is co-founder of the Powell-Peralta skateboard company, who first signed major skaters such as Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen in the Bones Brigade skate team. He is, of course, one of the best-known skaters on his own, and seriously paved the way for modern skateboarding.

In his recent years, Peralta has made a name for himself in the film industry writing and directing movies such as “Dogtown and Z-Boys,” “The Lords of Dogtown” and “Riding Giants.” His most recent documentary is called “Bones Brigade: An Autobiography.” The film is a recollection of the Bones Brigade, the skate team comprised of Rodney Mullen, Mike McGill, Tommy Guerrero, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain and the Birdman himself, Tony Hawk. According to bonesbrigade.com, the film began pre-ordering on Oct. 8, and the film is set to release on Nov. 6. It is set to be a very moving and eye-opening piece, and should be in the collection of any true skater concerned with how his sport came about in the first place.

Ultimate club earns upset wins

By Colin Casey Asst. Sports Editor

W

hen Eckerd College’s frisbee team goes to a tournament, the results are usually far from fantastic. The previous three trips to the University of Central Florida’s annual Kennel Kick Off Tournament yielded no wins for the team.

This year appeared to be more of the same at the outset of the tournament as Eckerd was the lowest seed in the sixteen-team tournament. Other competing teams were the two-time national champions from Florida, the three-time defending Southeast division champions from UCF, and the perennial contenders from Florida State.

The team’s luck changed as they marked their first victory in three years at the Kennel Kick Off in a 13-9 victory over Florida Atlantic University. The “Catalyst,” as the FAU team is called, entered the tournament as the nine seed. Freshman Matt Cramer proved a valuable addition to the team contributing two points and an assist in Eckerd’s first victory.

Eckerd Captain Will Demarest was elated with the victory embracing his teammates as the final point was won. “[I am] honored to be a captain to lead Eckerd Ultimate to a victory at the [Kennel Kickoff] tournament,” Demarest said.

Day one had one last shock for the Eckerd team as they battled the University of South Florida for the right to play for the top eight in the tournament. After breezing to a quick 6-2 lead on the effort of Demarest’s quick opening points as well as Anna Klingenberg’s handling and effective passing combined with Junior Nick Ioffredo’s speed down the line, South Florida stormed

back to take the lead at the half.

For the next half-hour, the teams traded point after point until South Florida connected two long passes putting them within one point of victory. Sophomore Anna Klingenberg would not let her team go down without a fight as she toed the line for a point off a goal line pass before being hit by a South Florida defender. Klingenberg left the game with an injury to her abdomen. Even down a player, Eckerd struck again as substitute Will Sladky came down with the disc on an isolation throw to force the next point to determine the winner.

After an extended play, Eckerd fell in heartbreaking fashion to USF on a short pass into the end zone.

Day two began with much doubt for the Eckerd club with Captains Will Demarest down with a knee problem and Anna Klingenberg still bothered by her collision from the USF game and Freshman Matt Cramer nursing his ankle from being cleated in the game against FAU. Despite these issues, the club dispatched Florida Tech 12-10 behind Nick Ioffredo’s quick thinking on offense and the combination of Sophomores Will Sladkey and James Carter running a shut-down defense. The victory placed Eckerd into the lower bracket semifinals against the University of Florida’s second team.

In what turned into the longest game of the tournament, Eckerd was tested both mentally and physically by a Florida team desperate for a win. Eckerd would not quit and ground out point after point securing a 5-3 lead two points from half. Ultimate frisbee is self-officiated which can lead to moments like the one that soon followed.

On the subsequent Eckerd posses-

sion, Florida began to call fouls and argued against when similar calls were levied against them. The next Eckerd point contained 10 separate “fouls” called by Florida as well as two disputed screen calls which brought the game’s pace to a crawl.

The situation climaxed when a Florida player smacked the frisbee out of an Eckerd handler’s hands during a stoppage in play calling her a derogatory term. This resulted in a shouting match and confrontation between the Eckerd bench and the Florida player. The adversity galvanized the team to keep playing as they had all tournament.

Eckerd received new life from the midfield handling of Matt Cramer as well as timed cuts through the defense by Whitney Bastion and Will Sladky. Despite herculean efforts, Florida prevailed 10-8.

Eckerd finished in tenth place out of 16 teams and third in the lower bracket. For a team that, despite high talent levels, has failed to emerge victorious in a game in recent years, this tournament stands as an enormous step forward. Eckerd received assistance on the sidelines from former collegiate and club level ultimate frisbee players. These players helped mentor the young team as they look to place Eckerd in the conversation at tournaments in the Southeast.

For the past few years, the team has entered hibernation during the spring semester, but Will Demarest hinted at a shorter offseason.

“When everyone’s back in February, we’ll hopefully get another invitation for a tournament,” Demarest said. The team looks to focus on further opportunities for anyone who wants to play competitive ultimate through local league play and pick-up games.

The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College

Sports

Oct. 26, 2012

photos by Tyler Cribbs, design by Alex Zielinski The 2012-2013 Eckerd basketball seniors. From left: Katja Kotnik, Krystal Charles, Sammy O'Garro, Woody Taylor, Darrien Mack and Walade Wade.

Triton Tip-Off launches promising basketball season

By Sabrina Lolo Asst. Web Editor Basketball season was kicked off this past weekend with the annual Triton Tip-Off. This year’s Tip-Off was held Oct. 20 in the MacArthur Center and was promoted as a blackout event, where fans were encouraged to wear all black for the event, which had a very large turnout.

Before the evening’s festivities, ECOS sponsored a tailgate outside the gym with free food and full beverage service.

The men’s team tipped off the night with a slam-dunk showcase while the women’s team interacted with the fans to do a shooting contest.

There were also special performances by the Eckerd cheerleading squad and Eckerd College Dance Company along with relay contests.

There are high hopes for the men’s team this season. Led by Head Coach Tom Ryan and assistants Kendrick Wilson, Floyd Watkins and Marcus Bryant, the men’s team finished at the top of the SSC standings last season with a 21-4 overall record and an 11-5 conference record. They also made their 10th appearance in the 2012 Southern Regional NCAA Tournament in Huntsville, Ala. as the No. 6 seed. They took down the University of West Georgia in the opening round before falling to Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University.

The team is now looking forward to playing their first series of exhibition games, beginning on Halloween night against the Chilean National Team in the McArthur Center. The Tritons will then play the USF Bulls Nov. 5 at 7 p.m at the Sun Dome and finish their preseason against Canisius University, another Division I school, in Buffalo on Nov. 8.

The Tritons will begin the regular season with the annual Thanksgiving Classic on

Nov. 23-24, where the Tritons will then face Puerto Rico-Bayamon and Clark Atlanta (Ga.) University. Eckerd will open the month of December with their first conference game at Rollins College and close out the calendar year competing in the Tampa Classic.

Fans will expect big things from Triton’s Basketball this season. With 10 returners and some solid new recruits, there is no doubt that the Tritons have the potential for another successful season.

Women's basketball also has set a rigorous schedule that includes some very high profile games. The ladies will open their season on Halloween night against the University of Louisville (Ky.). Other notable matchups include Rollins College, another member of the Sunshine State Conference and Final Four contender last year.

With the departure of standouts Kati Rausberg and Taylor Young, the Triton women will have to make up some ground. Rausberg recently signed a professional contract to play for Minsk-2006 in the Belarusian Premier league and the Baltic Women's Basketball League.

A good group of returning players and a solid recruiting class will attempt to continue the women's team's success.

The women went 15-11 last year which included an impressive 10-4 record at home.

The team will host their first home contest on Nov. 23 against Puerto Rico-Bayamon.

Conference play will begin on Dec. 1 in Winter Park against Rollins College, who reached the Final Four of the tournament last year.

The women have a difficult schedule ahead of them, but with hard work and determination, they can perform very well in the SSC. The Sunshine State Conference tournament will be played at a neutral site in Kissimmee.

2012-2013 Home Basketball Games Men

Oct. 31 Nov. 23 Nov. 24 Dec. 15 Dec. 17 Dec. 19 Jan. 5 Jan. 9 Jan. 19 Jan. 23 Feb. 2 Feb. 9 Feb. 20 Feb. 23 Mar. 2

Chilean National Team Puerto Rico-Bayamon Clark Atlanta (Ga.) Univ.

Shaw (N.C.) University J.C. Smith (N.C.) Univ.

Tuskegee (Ala.) Univ.

Nova Southeastern University of Tampa Barry University Saint Leo University Rollins College Florida Tech Florida Southern Palm Beach State University Lynn University

Nov. 23 Nov. 24 Nov. 28 Dec. 30 Jan. 5 Jan. 9 Jan. 19 Jan. 23 Feb. 2 Feb. 9 Feb. 20 Feb. 23 Mar. 2

Puerto Rico-Bayamon N. Georgia Coll. & State Univ.

Ave Maria University Adelphi (N.Y.) University Nova Southeastern University of Tampa Barry University Saint Leo Univ.

Rollins College Florida Tech Florida Southern Palm Beach Atlantic Univ.

Lynn University

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Sunshine State Conference games in bold Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

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