Issue 6

VIEWPOINTS

ENTERTAINMENT

THE QUICKIE

HEALTH & FITNESS

SPORTS

We’re always watching.

Feminista returns this issue to throw some wrath at “Glee” for recent trend of sexism.

“Allegiant” YA novel “Allegiant” ‘diverges’ from trilogy.

Tale of a Triton: Geoffrey Fella

Stressed out?

Learn how to handle final exam anxiety.

Kat Milojevic

page 6

An interesting Fella around Eckerd’s campus. page 12

page 10

Junior’s strong defense drives team onward to NCAA tournament. page 15

page 13

Vol. 5, Issue 6 Dec. 6, 2013

Wheelchair user frustrated with accommodations

By Teresa Young & Greg Reilly Staff Writer & Associate Editor Exchange student Simon Scheidegger has been frustrated with the lack of handicap accessibility in his native Switzerland for most of his life. Scheidegger, assistant health and fitness editor for The Current and the only student wheelchair user on campus, is not impressed with his experience at Eckerd, either.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was created to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities and to allow these individuals full participation in all aspects of society.

In the college setting, this law ensures that all people with disabilities have equal opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. While all students are responsible for their own academic status, the ADA requires schools to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities.

“Although our campus and some of our older buildings can be difficult to navigate for some of our students who are physically other-abled, the college makes every reasonable effort to provide these students access to the college’s programs and facilities,” Dean of Students James Annarelli said in an email.

Director of Planning, Development and Construction Bill McKenna said his office works with the college to accommodate student needs.

“We work with the registrar’s office to find out what buildings and what classrooms they’ll be using to see if we have to retrofit anything and it’s almost always the case we do.”

While many of the dorms on campus were built in the late 1950s when Eckerd was founded, all of the dorms have a ramp or an elevator to

photo by Alex Zielinski Simon Scheidegger’s shower prior to recent seat adjustments.

provide access to at least the first floor. Showers seats and automatic door openers can be installed in the traditional dorms if requested.

Eckerd even installed a bed rattler for a student who was hearing-impaired once, in case of a fire alarm.

When new students with disabilities consider attending Eckerd, they are able to work with the college to accommodate their needs.

Dean of Admissions John Sullivan said Eckerd has switched classrooms in the past to make them more accessible for disabled

students. He encourages those who can to visit campus to get a better feel for the layout of the school.

Scheidegger was placed in Sigma upon recommendation from Director of Counseling and Disability Support Services Scott Strader because the rooms are bigger and they have easily accessible showers. However, upon arriving at Eckerd, Scheidegger found the ledge in front of his shower to be higher than he thought. He previously had to lift himself about 14 inches from his wheelchair to the shower

seat, which he feels is dangerous.

“There’s a ledge like this high [4.5 inches according to Simon], which means I can’t really pull the wheelchair close enough to move securely from the seat to the wheelchair,” Scheidegger said, referring to how he gets out of the shower.

McKenna was surprised to learn that Scheidegger’s did not have a roll-in shower.

“My involvement in the project goes back three or four years, was when facilities was going to do the modifications in there I was re-

sponsible for suggesting that they make it roll-in shower,” he said. “I haven’t checked them myself so I can only assume that they did it. But if they didn’t I could imagine it would be a real problem.”

According to section 4.21.8 of the ADA regarding shower enclosures, “If provided, enclosures for shower stalls shall not obstruct controls or obstruct transfer from wheelchairs onto shower seats.”

“If he needs it to be a roll-in shower, then Eckerd needs to take See SHOWERS, page 3

Preparation in practice: Behind the scenes with Adam Colby

By Aaron Levy News Editor Sitting and waiting for my first of three meetings with Director of Emergency Management and Campus Safety Adam Colby, my eyes dart around the main Campus Safety office. Lined with shift schedules, posters identifying drug paraphernalia, a list of the active RAs who are on rounds and three large TV security monitors, I sit and wait. I have never met with Colby one-on-one before, but am already starting to piece together the man responsible for all of this.

President Donald Eastman describes Colby as “easily the most professional person we’ve had at that position.” Assistant Director of Campus Safety Tonya Womack explains his management style as Please Recycle

INDEX:

NEWS 2-4

“very different from my past supervisors,” and feels that he has taught her to “see the bigger picture of what is occurring” when dealing with difficult situations and the resulting impact on the community.

As I step into his office, my eyes are immediately drawn to the accomplishments on the walls.

Several are from the St. Petersburg Police Department. One is a framed Army uniform with medals and a patch that reads “Airborne.” Colby is a veteran.

Despite being offered Division I scholarships to play soccer, Colby says he joined the army after graduating high school in Atlanta because he was “bored” and didn’t know what else to do. He enlisted in July 2001.

“Before Sept. 11, I thought it’d be a fun way to see the world,” he says with a few laughs.

VIEWPOINTS 5-8

“I saw plenty of the world.”

Isolated at infantry training, Colby says he didn’t find out about the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks until two months later, a fact that floors me.

“A significant number of people in my generation know where they were on Sept. 11, 2001,” he says. “I have no clue. One of our people in our platoon ended up getting a piece of mail that had a newspaper clipping about [Sept. 11].

It was like middle of November.”

Colby spent four years as a paratrooper in the airborne infantry serving in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant and received the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Purple Heart which he says his comrades refer to as the

ENTERTAINMENT 9-10

“Enemy Marksmanship Badge” or the “Forgot to Duck Medal.”

“They are nothing special, a lot of us have them,” he says. “Its part of the conflicts.”

After dabbling briefly in VIP protection for a private security firm, Colby found his way to Eckerd through a client who was also an alumnus.“Soon after, I was a student here, 22-years-old coming into Autumn Term, living on campus and using the GI Bill to pay for most of college here,” he says That was in 2005. Four years later, after graduating with a degree in International Relations, Colby was appointed Director of Campus Safety. The rest is history.

*

*

*

It’s 2 p.m. on a warm November Wednesday and I’m in the

passenger seat of a golf cart driven by Colby. He is on one of his monthly “hot spot” checkup rides and has already scanned Dorm Drive for any visibility issues arising from overgrown vegetation.

“There are big studies having to do with people’s perception of safety, and a lot of it has to do with visibility and how well you can see,” he says, as we continue down the road, past the waterfront.

“The thing about campus is that it’s continually evolving,” he says as we approach the back gate.

“When you think you’ve fixed one problem, the unintended consequences of another problem pop up because of the one thing you were trying to fix.” He notes the progress of projects and work

THE QUICKIE 11-12 HEALTH & FITNESS 13-14 SPORTS 15-16

See COLBY, page 4

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

Dec. 6, 2013

Longtime associate dean of students to retire

By Rosie Kraemer Asst. News Editor

Associate Dean of Students Lena Wilfalk will retire Jan. 1 after 43 years of working at Eckerd College. During her time here, Eckerd has been through three presidents, 10 new buildings and countless hurricanes.

Dean of Students James Annarelli will be selecting a search committee next spring to find her successor.

Wilfalk came to Eckerd in 1970 and worked in the Career and Personal Counseling Center of the Presbytery Tampa Bay located in Edmundson Hall for nearly three years. After working in the Presbytery, she moved on to the Registrar’s Office in Upham for about five years.

She left Eckerd briefly and went back to school downtown at the University of South Florida Tampa.

She returned around 1981 under the leadership of President Peter H. Armacost where he assigned her two projects: developing the Multicultural Affairs Department as well as the International Affairs Department. Upon completing these developments and hiring people for the newly created positions, Armacost asked Wilfalk if she would take on the next big, new venture: creating Career Services.

“At the time Career Services was either one person or maybe just a thought,” Wilfalk said.

“There was no structure in place.

We had to start from scratch.”

Along with Career Services, Wilfalk created the Festival of Cultures, the annual event in the spring where students from different countries showcase their culture through music, food, clothing, dancing and art.

In October of 2001, President Donald Eastman appointed Annarelli as the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students on an interim basis. According to Annarelli, one of the conditions they agreed on was for Wilfalk to be transitioned from associate dean and director of career services to the Office of the Dean of Students as his senior associate dean of students, where she could exercise greater administrative responsibilities. Her first project as the associate dean was to assist in restaffing the entire department — and many of the staff who were hired are still here today.

Annarelli had worked with

Wilfalk since 1990, and knew she had the broad-based administrative talents to fulfill the role.

“She was a lamp under a bushel,” Annarelli said. “She had so much more to give for the students.”

More than 23 years later, Annarelli has resigned himself to the fact that Wilfalk is truly irreplaceable.

“There are few people that have ever assumed the staff or faculty position at Eckerd who have been more dedicated to Eckerd College students than Lena Wilfalk,” he said. “Her varied talents are illustrated by the numerous roles she has played and she has fulfilled those roles in each case with distinction. She has been a wise colleague to all of us through the years, a wise counselor to students and a person on whom students, faculty, and staff can always depend.”

Eastman echoed similar sentiments, recalling the first week he came to Eckerd as one lightened by Wilfalk.

“This is my 13th year and I can remember talking to her the first week and getting advice and knowing it was good advice,” he said. “Some of it wasn’t easy to give. At the time we had some very complicated issues, including personnel issues, in student life my first month. She was great.

It’ll be tough to live without her.”

Wilfalk said her retirement is bittersweet, but she is not at all concerned for Eckerd’s future without her.

“I believe the future of Eckerd will be just fine,” she said.

“Eckerd has always and will always adapt and change according to the needs of students.”

Wilfalk also said to expect her back on campus from time to time, especially when guest speakers make their way to Fox Hall.

Some of Wilfalk’s most memorable experiences include attending many events where prestigious speakers are invited on to campus to discuss their work with the Eckerd community.

“Good lord I can’t even begin to name the speakers,” she said.

“There was Maya Angelou, Jack Eckerd and all the presidential candidates like Shirley Chisholm, the first black lady who ran for office.”

Currently, Wilfalk is the advisor for the African American Society on campus, which allows her some discretion as to which speakers are invited onto campus.

Under Wilfalk’s guidance, the President of the African American Society Jon Jackson has been working with her since his freshman year.

“I admire how personable she is with people, and her resourcefulness,” Jackson said. “I will always remember this past semester at club fair when there was a snake at a nearby table. I looked at Ms. Wilfalk and knew immediately we would be setting up at a far away table. I just thought that was hilarious.”

In her retirement, Wilfalk looks forward to moving beyond the academic sphere and into life without any constraints.

“Honestly, I just want to watch a complete segment of the Today Show,” she said, laughing. “Also to live and do what I do. Whatever it is that I choose, I’ll do it.”

She looks forward to visiting her favorite spots around St. Petersburg more often, specifically those near a beach.

“Fort DeSoto and Pass-a-grille, I love all the beaches,” she said. “I used to go out with friends and just sit on the beach and watch the sunset.”

Wilfalk also looks forward to working with the American Red Cross, as she is a member of their Mental Health Disaster Unit.

She was asked to be deployed a year ago to assist with Hurricane Sandy, but was unable to take the time needed off of work that it would have required of her.

No matter where she is, though, Wilfalk is helping somebody. She recently took an opportunity provided from the local YMCA that will help aid families in need.

She has invited Eckerd housekeeping staff and facilities workers to fill out an application for holiday donations and, based on need, families will receive toys and a Christmas tree at no cost.

She is also working with the Athletics Department to raise money for a bicycle program at the Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center. She expects they will be able to present 50 new bicycles to those who cannot afford them by mid-December.

Wilfalk’s altruistic personality and good nature have made their way into her social life at work.

For example, on Wilfalk’s birthday, Associate Director of Campus Activities Lova Patterson organized a breakfast in the student affairs office, knowing it would be exactly what Wilfalk would want.

“For us to get together, stop

courtesy of Eckerd Archives Dean Lena Wilfalk has been with Eckerd for 43 years.

and slow down and just have breakfast — that’s wonderful,” Wilfalk said. “We become so busy that we don’t have time to really sit down and chat with each other and have a meal together.”

“Breakfast is her thing,” Patterson said, grinning. Wilfalk was one of the first people Patterson met when she came to Eckerd in 1997, 15 years ago.

“She made me feel so welcome and so at home,” she said. “She has been a mentor and a friend — I can’t fathom life at Eckerd without Lena.”

When Patterson was a student, she and her peers used to go to Wilfalk and Lillie Collins’s office. At the time, Collins was the director of multicultural affairs, appointed by Wilfalk.

“We would push the desks and chairs back and she and Lillie would teach us the electric slide,” Patterson said. “They would just dance with us.”

Forty-three years later and the daily affairs of Wilfalk’s job still keeps her busy with the various changes and new projects. The energy and support of the students, staff and faculty, she said, have always remained a constant.

Wilfalk said she will miss what she loves so much about Eckerd, whether it’s participating in the MLK parade downtown with students in the EC-SAR boat, tossing out candy to the kids or to the connecting of ASPEC members with students to help them learn.

“And that’s what’s kept me here — students,” she said, laughing. “It’s really been fun, and I hope I have made a difference in the lives of students. In addition, I’ve made some lifetime friends.”

Annarelli and Eastman assure students, faculty and staff that everyone will feel a change once Wilfalk has left.

“We’ll miss her alot,” Eastman said. “She’s a really smart, wise and thoughtful person.

We’ll miss the heck out of that.”

Annarelli said her retirement will leave a void in the student affairs administrative structure, because, in Annarelli’s words, she is “an Eckerd institution, really.”

“More importantly, her retirement will leave a tremendous void in our hearts because we will not have the opportunity to share each day with Lena,” he said. “I’m going to miss her.”

UN to consider international asteroid warning network

By Sarah Raney Staff Writer A ball of light brighter than the sun streaks across the sky and is gone again in a flash. While this might sound like something straight out of science fiction, in February this year, a meteor about 19 meters wide sailed across Chelyabinsk, Russia. Even though the largest fragment crashed into frozen Lake Chebarkul, leaving a 6-meter-wide hole, 1000 people were injured from fragments of broken glass as a result of the blast.

The United Nations is trying to pass legislation to create an International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), which they hope will go into effect in December.

IAWN could aid organizations like NASA and U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

Both groups are working to detect and monitor Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). The more eyes on the sky there are, the more likely it will be that they will find more of them. Support from IAWN could also be crucial for NASA. Eck-

erd Professor of Marine Geology and Eckerd representative for the Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC) Joel Thompson, who also offers an Autumn Term Astrobiology course, said NASA has suffered from budget cuts recently that has put projects like identifying NEOs on the back burner.

Support from IAWN could help bring them back to the forefront.

“The Kennedy Space Center trip was too cool. Thompson has connections with some of the people who work for NASA, so we got special non-public passes into the NASA labs.The scientists there showed us all the projects they’ve been working on like water purification on the ISS and vibrating anti-dust/static space suits,” Freshman Cypress Hansen, a student in Thompson’s Autumn Term class, said. “I think it was a good class to have because Thompson was more than qualified to teach about it, and it’s a part of science that is truly under appreciated yet still growing quickly.”

Freshman Kylie Noonan, another student in Thompson’s Autumn Term class, said, “At Kennedy, we saw plants being grown in

simulated space conditions, a study on attempting to turn urine into drinking water, and many other things. Then, we went into a part of NASA that many people will never be able to see. We were very lucky that our Professor has such good connections. We went to SWAMP works, which is a new part of NASA that is developing technologies to be used on the Moon and Mars and applying these technologies into practical everyday life.”

NASA and other programs’ concern with potentially hazardous NEOs is not just due to the Chelyabinsk meteor.

“We witnessed the impact of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet on Jupiter,” Thompson said. “The Hubble Telescope took pictures of the scars when it impacted Jupiter, and some of the scars are the size of Earth. This impact, although it occurred in July 1994, is what really pushed NASA and other programs to start tracking asteroids.”

Luckily, the meteorite did not crash in the city, but it raised concerns about future meteorites crash-landing in major cities and causing greater casualties than seen

in Chelyabinsk. One of the goals of IAWN is to provide warnings to major cities and other areas if it is known that an asteroid could potentially be heading their way.

In Chelyabinsk, this could have made a huge difference in the number of injuries, since most of them were caused from broken glass.

This raises concerns about how prepared we should be for such impacts. One of the most important ways to be prepared is to know of these potentially hazardous NEOs and where their paths may take them. While most NEOs that could do global damage have been discovered, NASA is still searching for smaller ones, like the Chelyabinsk meteor, that could do major damage to cities.

The NPR article “Space Agencies Of The World, Unite: The U.N.’s Asteroid Defense Plan” published Nov. 3, quoted Tom Jones, a veteran NASA astronaut, who said, “If the people in Chelyabinsk had been warned a day beforehand, they could have been away from the windows or in shelters where almost nobody would have been hurt.”

The NPR piece also speculated that technologies from many different countries and programs could be harnessed to aid in deflection of asteroids. For example, during the Reagan administration, the Star Wars Program was formed.

Its goal was to neutralize nuclear missiles during the Cold War. Perhaps in the future, “kamikaze robots” could be fired at NEOs that could impact Earth in order to deflect, or even destroy, them.

“Something like that would either explode and blow it into pieces or, essentially, have enough impact that it would redirect its course,” Thompson said. “The problem is that you have no control and might re-direct it on a worse path than it’s already on.”

Even though we may not have the capabilities now to deflect potentially hazardous NEOs, the development of IAWN could make this a reality. For now, though, the identification and monitoring of NEOs is one of the main goals. While that does not sound like some amazing sci-fi adventure, knowledge may be the best weapon that we possess.

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the current

Dec. 6, 2013

News 3

News Pathobiology lab finds rise in Florida manatee fatalities

By Margaret Evans & Emma Cotton Staff Writer & Contributing Writer

When kayaking or sitting on the sea wall, students may be fortunate enough to see the silver bump of a manatee breach the surface of the water. Most students have seen the signs “Slow Please, Manatee Area,” and most know to keep a respectful distance. However, many students may not realize that these “sea cows,” which occupy our own waterfront, have recently had a large loss in population.

Manatees live in shallow water, subsisting on a diet of sea grasses.

They are also relatively slow moving, so they are more susceptible to boat injuries than other marine animals.

This accounts for an unfortunate, yet expected number of fatalities each year. However, this does not explain why the number of deaths in 2013 has increased so drastically.

The Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory, which is part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is located on campus just beyond the athletic fields and Facilities Management building. Although it is outside the gates, it is still on land that belongs to the college. In the early 1990s, former Marine Mammalogy Professor and head of the Marine Mammal Commission John Reynolds decided that placing the building on Eckerd’s campus was a good idea because of the available space, and also because of Eckerd’s large volume of marine biology students.

Alumnus Andy Garrett (‘99)

is a research administrator and one of seven full-time staff members in the lab. He explained that most of the research at the lab is dedicated to manatees, although they occasionally work with other marine mammals as well.

“We’re the field station that covers manatees for the entire state,” Garrett said. “Any dead or injured manatees will be taken to the nearest field station, and then they will fly the carcass to us for necropsy or to assess the distressed animal and get it treated.”

Necropsies — which are conducted on site in a specialized room — help the staff understand the cause of death, which enables them to implement more precautions, such as new no wake zones.

Unfortunately, the cause of death cannot always be linked to a known or fixable problem. For the past calendar year, the lab has found that manatees in large number are dying off due to natural causes, some of which are unknown.

This year was a record year for manatee fatalities. Normally, manatee deaths are caused by watercraft injuries, cold stress, or becoming trapped by a floodgate or canal lock. However, this year two unusual factors have contributed to the startlingly high total of 772 manatee fatalities.

Last year, the total was only 392.

The first reason for this drastic increase is red tide, also known as a harmful algal bloom. When factors such as sunlight and temperature are just right, single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates bloom at high volume. As these cells bloom,

they die and split, and their deadly toxins release into the water. This event usually occurs miles offshore, but winds and tides blow the cells closer to shallow water. Manatees ingest the harmful toxins when they accumulate on vegetation. Because the toxin released is a paralytic, the manatees cannot move, which means they cannot come up to the surface to breathe. According to Garrett, manatees can be rescued if they are found struggling in shallow water, but in most circumstances, there is not enough time for a rescue to be made.

“We’ve had hundreds die from red tide,” he said.

The second most prevalent, and more unusual, cause of death has taken place in the Indian River, about 150 miles east of St. Petersburg.

Garrett and rest of the laboratory staff are baffled by these fatalities.

“The animals are coming in in decent health, decent body condition,” Garrett said. “They look healthy, and they’re just dead… we’re trying to figure out what’s going on.” The Indian River mystery accounted for almost 30 percent of fatalities this year.

Although the main task at the lab is to perform necropsies, an increasing number of manatees are surviving because of treatment.

Out of 17 animals found struggling due to afflictions from red tide, only one was lost. When a manatee is injured, Garrett and his coworkers are called to retrieve the manatee. Then, it goes to one of the three manatee hospitals in the state. Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa is one of these hospitals. Accord-

photo by Meg Evans 772 manatees have died this year

ing to Garrett, manatees, unlike other marine mammals such as dolphins, are actually highly releasable.

“Not only are we getting better with our techniques, but places like Lowry are getting better with their techniques, so our success rate is getting better and better,” Garrett said. “I’d say this program, overall, is very successful.”

The Marine Mammal Patho-

biology Lab depends almost entirely on the public for reports of injured or dead manatees.

If you see a manatee that is entangled in anything, has open wounds or deep cuts, or seems to be too buoyant to dive down into the water, you are encouraged to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC.

Disabled student frustrated by lack of campus shower accesibility From Disabilities, page 1

whatever action is required to make that a roll-in shower,” McKenna said.

After President Donald Eastman was made aware of the situation, facilities moved the seat in Scheidegger’s room so it would be closer to his wheelchair.

He still finds it unsafe because the seat has also been raised. Assistant Director of Facilities Management Rick Briscoe told Scheidegger he would check in with him about the adjustment.

Director of Counseling and Disability Support Services Scott Strader, who works with new and prospective students to provide accommodations, recommended Scheidegger choose Sigma because of the larger room size and close proximity to a shower.

“My role really is to respond to student concerns or student needs, so if we’re aware of student needs, and students that are coming to campus that need access, then it’s really my job to liaison with the college to ensure that the students have what they need.”

Strader said he works with the students to figure out the best option for them, given the different locations and accommodations of the dorms on campus.

“When prospective students or even exchange students come to me and talk to me, I talk to them about the options that are available,” Strader said.

While all of the dorms are accessible for all students, Director of Campus Housing Justin Long also recommends Sigma for students that need additional wheelchair access.

“They are typically more com-

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fortable at Sigma because Sigma has more showers that are accommodating. There or Iota,” Long said.

“Iota has private bathrooms with the shower seats already in there and roll-up access, meaning there is no ledge to stop them from being able to roll as close as possible for shifting over.”

Frustrated with his situation, Scheidegger began to shower in Kappa Oberg after he happened upon a roll-in shower with a seat there.

“I went to go shower in Kappa and the seat was broken so I went back to Sigma to shower,” Scheidegger said. “I told Justin [Long] and he said that is going to be their priority. He emailed me the next day saying he’d let me know when it would be fixed.”

The seat was fixed, but was eventually broken a second time, this time with damage to the wall tile as well. The holes in the wall were filled with concrete to prevent water from entering the wall but the broken seat was completely removed.

It escaped notice because no official work order was submitted to fix it.

“Once I found out it hadn’t been fixed I told them they need to put it back because we have a student who doesn’t mind going over there to use it,” Long said.

The seat was replaced Nov. 19 after the interview with Long took place. According to Briscoe, his team is looking into putting in a sturdier seat in Oberg.

He also said that they will now look into putting roll-in showers in a few Sigma rooms.

While the Oberg shower was being fixed, Long suggested in an email to Scheidegger that

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he shower in Iota or the James Center. Long said the James Center, though, would only be available during business hours.

When asked if it was appropriate to suggest a student showering in an academic area like the James Center, Long did not see any objections.

“That’s up to him,” Long said. “I asked Facilities and they said it was fine.”

Scheidegger didn’t find the suggestions helpful.

“That they suggest me to shower in some other place shows that they have not been aware of what it takes for a campus to be wheelchair-friendly, and that they are reluctant to change anything,” Scheidegger said.

There was also miscommunication in the suggestions. Scheidegger did not receive access to Iota because Long said he never confirmed he wanted to shower there. Scheidegger felt he should have been granted access anyway.

After the interviews took place, Scheidegger received access.

Strader would not comment on the specific case, but said he would try to find a more permanent solution.

“If a student were to come to me with a complaint about some kind of facility issue that we had arranged or had been arranged for them, I would be looking for a more accessible kind of arrangement that would be a bit more permanent and a bit more convenient for the student,” Strader said.

While Strader said more can be done to let students know who to contact about issues they are having, he wants students

of all disabilities to know that Eckerd will address their needs.

“We have a track record and a history of addressing needs in the past,” he said. “One of the biggest frustrations to me is knowing that students suffer in silence. Be it when they need extra time on an exam and don’t ask for it when they are clearly entitled to it. Or when there is something in their room that isn’t appropriate for them and we don’t know about it.”

New buildings on campus are constructed in compliance with the ADA to allow full access to all students. Any modifications to existing buildings must also comply with the ADA. “We work with the architects very closely to make sure we are doing what’s required under ADA,” McKenna said.

McKenna also said that about a mile of sidewalk has been added to campus in the last two or three years, which is ADA compliant.

He also noted that the modification to the caf door that goes out to the patio, and installation of lever handles on new doors, was to comply with the ADA. “Any time you have renovations or a new building,” Strader said, “architectural renovations occur and then inspections occur to follow up to ensure that there’s compliance in terms of width of the doors and access.”

Strader said that while the city of St. Petersburg primarily handles these initial inspections, check-ups are only made at later dates if there is a complaint about one of the facilities.

Students uncomfortable with

their accommodations are always allowed to switch dorms, Long said.

“If they want to move, they can still excel wherever they go and certainly we’re not going to stop them,” he said.

Scheidegger is concerned that moving will not solve this issue, however.

“Putting me into another dorm does not solve anything, it only relocates the issue and allows the people responsible not to have to tackle the problem eventually,” he said. “I’ve dealt with this strategy several times in my life.”

Annarelli said he will look into how this situation was handled.

“Every aspect of our staff ’s response to the student’s situation will be evaluated with an eye toward determining whether that response conformed to our commitment to student service,” he said in an email.

Scheidegger said he had to switch high schools because the school would not install an elevator to accommodate him. According to McKenna, Eckerd is building a $40,000 ADA lift in the Cobb building to give Scheidegger access to The Current Media Center in the mezzanine. The lift will be installed in six to eight weeks.

“This is not so much about me personally as I’m only here for a limited time, but about prospective students with special needs,” Scheidegger said in a text message.

“I want them to live on a truly wheelchair-friendly campus, where all their needs are taken care of and where they don’t have to fight to make their lives as easy as possible.”

Malena Carollo and Rose Kraemer contributed to reporting.

4 News

the current

Dec. 6, 2013

Campus through the eyes of Adam Colby From CAMPUS, page 1 Editor-in-Chief Malena Carollo thecurrent@eckerd.edu Associate Editor Greg Reilly News Editor Aaron Levy currentnews@eckerd.edu Asst. News Editors Rose Kraemer Taylor Glaws Viewpoints Editors Ely Grinfeld Shannon Vize currentviews@eckerd.edu Entertainment Editor Ian Lindsay currententertainment@eckerd.edu Asst. Entertainment Editors Hayden Johnson Hailey Escobar Quickie Editors Sydney Cavero Gary Furrow, Jr. currentquickie@eckerd.edu Health & Fitness Editor Sabrina Lolo currenthealth@eckerd.edu Asst. Health & Fitness Editor Simon Scheidegger Sports Editor Mike Geibel currentsports@eckerd.edu Asst. Sports Editors Colin Casey Will Creager Copy and Design Editor Mike Geibel Photo and Graphic Design Editor Alex Zielinski currentphoto@eckerd.edu Webmaster Vincent Lynch Faculty Adviser K.C. Wolfe Director of Finances Hannah Zaremsky Social Media Marketer Marissa Meleedy Director of PR/Advertising Sarah Richardson

The Current is a free biweekly student newspaper at Eckerd College. Offices are located upstairs in Cobb at 4200 54th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33711. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of EC students, staff, faculty and administration.

The Current welcomes letters to the editor. Submissions should be typed and not exceed 400 words. Writers must include their full name, graduation year and contact number. Faculty and staff should include their title, department and contact number. All submissions are subject to editing for the purposes of clarity, style or length. The Current holds the right to reject any letters deemed inappropriate. Letters can be sent via email to thecurrent@eckerd.edu with subject “Letter to the editor.” _______________________________ The Current will run full-length articles covering any arrests that present a clear danger to the community.

Charges that would be investigated under this policy include robberies, assaults, weapons charges or illicit drug manufacturing, such as methamphetamine. The Current will continue publishing a small police blotter for felony arrests, and misdemeanor charges against student government leaders, Residential Advisors and staff members of The Current. We learn of arrests through searching the police arrest database by entering Eckerd’s address, as well as from tips. Questions and comments can be emailed to thecurrent@eckerd.edu.

orders in a leather bound notepad he carries at all times.

I comment on the trash that accumulates heavily on the construction road around the rear gate due to homeless squatters, something Colby calls an “unfortunate issue.”

To combat the problem, he wants to bring the rear fence that runs parallel to I-275 closer in so that it cuts through the Alumni Grove pond and acts as an increased deterrent.

“It’s good policy to have it,” he says, but notes that “most of the harm caused on our campus is due to people that students bring in, or just themselves.”

For Colby, leading disaster management and Campus Safety is about constantly analyzing and reanalyzing so that his department is never caught unprepared.

Now, on the way to Delta to check each house’s emergency equipment, he abruptly stops and looks up at a tree behind the complex.

“I do not remember that tree leaning like that,” he says, and steps out of the cart to take a closer look.

The tree is one of many nearby and though I walk past it every day on the way to class, I don’t initially notice anything different about it. Two days later, however, he informs me that he was correct: Excessive rainfall caused the tree’s base to bend dramatically.

“I wasn’t just making up things at Delta,” he says. “They (facilities) said that they are probably going to end up removing it.”

Colby then checks fire extinguishers to make sure they haven’t expired, even though his team already does this “more than once a month,” and sprinkler heads to make sure they are securely mounted in the ceilings and meet fire code.

dents Colby views as a “force multiplier” for Campus Safety.

“He makes me feel respected, like his time could not be spent doing anything better than talking to me,” she said. “His response to crises is intelligent, careful, diligent and effective...

I would trust him with my life.”

EC-ERT Coordinator Jeremy Bernfield, who started the program with money from a University of Miami grant, called Colby “one of Eckerd’s greatest assets.”

Colby’s sense of duty to his community extends outside into the natural environment as well. Before Eckerd, he performed Search and Rescue emergency services in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Preserving Eckerd’s beauty is a concern he takes seriously.

“I love calling Eckerd College a little sanctuary,” he says.

“The plants, the birds, everything that’s out here, the more we use the outdoor space that we have, the better off that we are.”

Later, walking in the palm hammock Colby makes his way to the “sky hammock” to see if students have reinstalled the device. He says Campus Safety has removed the webbed array of ropes before. He is also careful to note where students have made fires — his primary concern — and left trash, though he says it is less than previously has been left there.

“If we’re respecting nature, which we say we do, we just don’t show it with our actions,” he says. “If I was out camping and I left a campsite like this, I’d be ashamed of myself, you know?”

The sky hammock is intact, and, at more than 10 feet high in a tree, deemed dangerous and noted for future attention. As we

“If somebody’s not writing your name on a bathroom stall, hating on you, then you’re probably not doing your job right.”

— Director of Emergency Management and Campus Safety Adam Colby According to Colby, the fire department is still working on implementing some of the 2010 code updates even though the 2013 code is out.

“I’m probably a little bit more demanding than other people when I put in work orders,” he says and laughs.

Preemptive attention to even the seemingly mundane details is the only way Colby has ever operated, even before he came to Eckerd.

“Here’s the thing about the military,” he explains. “You have a hurry up and wait mentality. It was a joke within our unit that if any of us wrote a book, it would be called ‘My Life Behind a .50 Cal’, The Story of Boredom. If you allow the complacency creep to occur, you’re going to be caught so off guard when something really does occur.”

Moving in and out of Delta, Colby takes time to stop and speak with Delta Senator Sophomore Haven Allard and Senior Vincent Lynch.

He has become friends with many members of the community and views it as a beneficial part of the job.

“I always say, the more people you know and the more people the Campus Safety officers know, the more people they can talk to and the more stuff we’re going to be able to help with, whether it’s something small or big,” he tells me as we make our way across campus.

Students and staff who work with Colby all appear to have glowing opinions of him. Senior Hayley Musial is a member of the Eckerd College Emergency Response Team, a group of stu-

walk back to the cart, Colby voices his strong affection for Florida.

I sense his sincere love for the state and his energy is contagious.

“I love being outdoors. If it was up to me, I would work outside,” he says. “I think Florida gets overlooked for its natural beauty. How many people do you know who’ve been to the national parks here in Florida? Out here, you wouldn’t even know you were still in a college campus.”

As we wrap up the afternoon drive, he shows me photos of devil rays taken from a kayak during a recent trip to Ft. DeSoto with his girlfriend.

“I love my mountains and everything, but I’m not too picky, I’ll take what I can get,” he says.

*

*

*

It is Friday night.

With his presence on campus, Colby explains to me tonight has been deemed a “CHAOS” night, which stands for Chief Has Arrived On Scene. Most Friday nights, he says he spends doing homework.

Colby is currently working towards his Master of Professional Studies in Security and Safety Leadership degree through an online program offered by George Washington University. He doesn’t spend these weekend nights at work often, but since he is, he is going to enjoy the cool weather.

“At night, I will never take a golf cart,” he says. “Even on Kappa Karnival nights and stuff like that, I’m always just walking around.”

Moving from one dorm to another, the only hiccups are a few underage drinkers without their ID cards. I see that to counter this constantly recurring situation, Colby can look up students information, complete with photo, on his large Galaxy S4 smartphone.

“Honestly it’s like when I come out here, everyone thinks I’m actively seeking out someone,” he says.

Shortly thereafter, a girl leaving Kappa approaches Colby on the sidewalk next to Iota as he examines a road light.

“Is everything okay?” she asks, cracking a smile. “I feel like you are up to something.”

Moments later, I ask him if the stigma that he is out to catch students bothers him. I am surprised at his mild, even-keeled response to a clearly loaded question.

“If somebody’s not writing your name on a bathroom stall, hating on you, then you’re probably not doing your job right,” he says. “Unfortunately it’s just part of coming out here.”

Still, when we talked in his office, Colby took the time to correct what he sees as a misconception amongst many students.

“The way things are enforced is something that goes through Student Affairs as a whole,” he said. “We want to think broadly about our enforcement policies, the unintended consequence of the way things are done. If we had a prohibition type atmosphere on this campus, what would occur? We try to bring it as a holistic approach instead of just having it be Campus Safety operating on its own like you’ll see at large university police departments.”

Respect between not only students and Campus Safety officers, but students and other students, is something that Colby believes has improved in the last couple of years, especially at the ever stigmatized Kappa, due to “conversation and understanding.”

As we pass through Kappa, Colby seeks out Kappa Senator Senior Kyler Thomann to talk to him about the Kappa Kitchen event planned for the following night. Finding a student who will take responsibility for his peers and work with him to negotiate can greatly help Colby manage noise and other complaints.

“You can grab them and kind of get them on your side before [the event],” he told me.

After asking Thomann to not let the event get out of hand and wishing the residents good luck in raising money, we move on.

*

*

*

One of the first questions I asked Colby upon meeting him was about the recreational drug culture at Eckerd and how he thinks it has changed since he was a student and even since he took over as director.

“That’s a tough question, and it’s all about perspective,” he said.

“I think if you ask any student who then becomes a staff member at the college, they will see things completely differently, just like I saw things completely differently when I started working here.”

In regards to the specific kinds and quantity of recreational drugs being used, he said it is too hard to track over time.

“For instance,” he said, “if someone gets transported for intoxication or deemed possibly a drug overdose, we never find out what that drug was.”

Now we’re on South Beach, and Colby has just written up another underage drinker at the fire pit.

However, he also promises to have someone deliver a fire extinguisher to them since they have none. As we turn to depart toward Omega, Colby motions out at the dark bay.

photo by Aaron Levy Director of Campus Safety Adam Colby.

“You can’t tell me that’s not amazing,” he says with a big smile. “Just being out here every day, that’s the world we live in. It is picture perfect.”

However, the community, including Colby, was reminded this past Autumn Term that the water can also be a source of tragedy.

We discuss it back in his office.

“It’s one of those tragic things that you never want to have to do,” he said. “I don’t wish it on anybody else... I can say it’s not my first rodeo. I’ve unfortunately been a part of a significant number of deaths throughout my career outside of Eckerd College.”

Colby believes that such times call for reevaluation of policies and practices, but not becoming reactionary.

“I don’t think it’s always going to change your perspective on things,” he says. “It’s not going to change mine. My goal is always to prevent things like that from occurring.”

*

*

*

It is nearly midnight and our walk is almost over by the time Colby is invited into a friendly debate on foreign policy with three girls at Beta.

Calm, collected and with a sense of humor, Colby obliges and explains how a withdrawal of armed forces from Afghanistan could prompt more native violence in the eastern region that borders Pakistan.

After a 15 minute back-and-forth discussing the pros and cons of government spending on the military, Colby politely excuses himself.

“Friday evening class with Adam Colby, everybody,” one of the girls says, and everyone present laughs.

I am surprised by Colby’s reactions to the girls’ largely unsubstantiated arguments.

He seems to enjoy the opportunity to talk with students about something other than rules.

Minutes later, as we begin the final leg of our campus walk toward Sigma, Colby turns and says, “That’s what I love about Eckerd. Everyone can sit there and have a debate and even if it’s not entirely informed, at least they have an opinion and they’ll listen to someone else’s, even if they disagree with it.”

For a man who’s intimidating from afar, Colby has a disarming presence. He carries himself with a quiet appreciation for where he works and the natural beauty that surrounds him. You feel safe knowing he’s the one with arguably the most responsibility on this campus.

A walk to the suburbs that are Sigma and West Lodge confirms it is a quiet night across the 188-acre campus and the air is still cool. My time behind the scenes with the face of Campus Safety is over. As he returns to his office, I walk back home to Omega, back through the unusual quiet and back into the domain so closely guarded by Adam Colby.

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the current

Viewpoints 5

Dec. 6, 2013

Viewpoints Literature’s value goes beyond class Using books to reflect on life, selflessness

By Jacob Allgeier Staff Writer Literature is the most powerful art in human history. It teaches, inspires, ties together people throughout time and initiates change. Contemporary art, in particular, has the ability to influence the chaotic world we live in.

The literature program at Eckerd aims to instill the skills of critical analysis in their students to hopefully make an impact on the world.

The literature faculty is comprised of Associate Professor of Literature and Comparative Literature Jared Stark, Professor of Literature Julienne Empric and Assistant Professor of Literature Daniel Spoth. Each professor brings their own unique teaching methods and extensive knowledge of specialized fields to train students how to critically analyze literature and, most importantly, further their passion for the subject.

Empric strives for her students to connect with literature through the texts in her courses. “If they haven’t come in loving it, I’d like them going out loving it or at least some of it,” Empric said. “The works they don’t love I’d like them to appreciate more because there’s nothing that we’ll be looking at that’s not worthwhile literature.”

It’s this passion for literature that makes the discussions in class both rich and thought provoking.

These discussions don’t just stay in the classrooms. Students take the themes and messages from the texts and apply them to their own lives. Creative writing majors also draw from these texts for inspiration for their own writing.

With the countless number of great works of literature in the canon, determining which ones to use for a course can be difficult.

“Every course I teach has a kind

Dear Freshman Self, What can be said about your first couple weeks at Eckerd? Or your first year for that matter? I remember it like it was yesterday, and yet certain experiences are only a distant, hazy memory.

I could say “live with no regrets” or “party every day like it’s your last.” But then what would I really be telling you that you couldn’t just read by flipping through that old yearbook? That’s not why you’re reading this, and it is not why I am writing to you.

Get off your computer. Get out of your room. You think you’re going to meet girls sitting inside your room at Sigma everyday?

Go explore the palm hammock or go swim in Frenchman’s Creek while you still can. Rent out kayaks at the waterfront. I never did that enough. Go immerse yourself within main campus and

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Feminista

page 6

Professor op-ed on arts

page 7

Friendly Fire

page 8

President of ECOS talks changes, student input

By Brady O’Donnell ECOS President

photo by Jacob Allgeier Prof. Spoth, above, shared his views on the importance of literature and challenging students through text selections.

of story,” Stark said. “The texts that I choose aren’t only chosen on the basis of their individual particular qualities, contexts and themes, but also in relation to other texts that are on the syllabus.”

Professor Spoth said, “I tend to move toward more difficult texts. I try and challenge students to comprehend those texts because that’s the way you become a better reader and work out your brain in interesting ways.”

A common criticism literature majors receive is its “questionable importance” in the real world. Literature isn’t just a form of entertainment. Its greatest power is its ability to reflect the world around us. We live in a world where social, political and environmental issues are incessantly looming and threatening to destroy us.

Therefore, literature has the ability to illuminate these issues and perhaps even initiate change. Its accessibility as a medium makes this possible. Of course, these changes can only occur if people actually make the effort to encounter literature.

“There’s more being written now than you could ever possibly take account of,” Spoth said. “Paradoxically, there are less people reading.”

The novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger caused controversy after its publication in 1951.

Parents, teachers and even government officials felt that its adult situations and profanity were blasphemous, especially since the main character is a teenager. This controversy started conversations between people about troubled youth as well as censorship. Contempo-

rary literature written in the past few decades has the same power to make a difference in the present.

A misconception of contemporary literature is that it holds less value than classic texts. Contemporary works aren’t only the heavily consumed novels being adapted into films. Present-day writers are making the choice to create work that addresses current issues.

“What is cutting edge and has just come out tends to be ahead of the curve a little bit in terms of the way we see ourselves,” Empric said. “It might forewarn us and inspire us in ways that we need to move forward.”

Works such as the satirical novel “Haunted” by Chuck Palahniuk and the environmental novel “A Friend of the Earth” See LITERATURE, page 7

Letter to my freshman self: Aaron Levy

By Aaron Levy News Editor

INSIDE VIEWPOINTS

get out of your comfort zone.

If you want this place to be a four year-long episode of “Blue Mountain State,” it will be. If you want it to be one long, extended case study on sleep deprivation, it can be that too. If you want to shed some tears, learn a lot of tough lessons about yourself and — spoiler alert — have to get your head stapled twice, good, because it’s going to happen whether you welcome it or not.

Honestly, never, ever wear a shirt that says “YOLO,” even if it is free. Oh and, as foreign as they seem, people who like dubstep music are indeed people too.

Go to class, but also go surfing every single time you get the chance — every possible opportunity. I cannot stress this enough.

Most of your close friends will move on, but you will stay at Sigma for another year or so, for better or worse. Hold on to these friends, for they will remain some of your closest, but don’t stop making new ones through

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every outlet that you can manage.

The only other spoiler I will give you is that you will fall in love, which somehow will make you discover a lot of things you don’t like about yourself. Just stay focused on the activities, people and things that make you happy.

And for that matter, think harder about where you focus your studies. I don’t mean pull-yourhair-out think, but take a lot of introductory courses and see what feels right. Don’t prematurely put all your eggs in one basket. I’ve come this far as a communication major and still don’t know what my plans will be after driving out that front gate for the last time.

Skip those Nike dunks and save the money for Flyknits. 2012 was a great year for New Balance, too.

I think you’ll be surprised how your taste in sneakers evolves. You can bet, though, that you haven’t grown out of that obsession. I so badly want to tell you to save your money and not spend it, to be fru-

gal and keep it for a rainy day but even as I write this to you now, I don’t think I am much more future-oriented than you are. Money comes and money goes. Besides, that would be selfish on my part.

Listen up, guy. After all the dust settles and after all the tequila has been consumed, there is not much that you actually need to know right now, and even if you did, I would not be the person to ask. You will figure it out. The one thing people say about college that is actually true is that it goes by in the blink of an eye. Don’t worry about jobs or making more money or internships. The journey is more important than the destination, especially at Eckerd my friend. Oh, and go study abroad for a semester. Don’t blow it like I did.

Peace.

If you’re interested in writing a letter to your freshman self for The Current please email: currentviews@eckerd.edu

There are child soldiers across the globe and devastating national disasters almost monthly, yet locally St. Petersburg deals with its own challenges like homelessness and crime. To the students who spend more time in meetings about college policies than class, these bigger issues may make them question the effectiveness of their actions and the motivation behind it. What is considered great and important? Could their time and energy be better spent elsewhere?

The goals of ECOS this year have been lofty, however I am in awe of how much the students around me have accomplished. We set out to undertake three goals: to represent the voice of the students, to increase student involvement and to make this Eckerd community as best as it can be for every student. These goals will be ongoing but when trying to make a difference it is best to begin with the end in mind.

At a college like ours, we in ECOS have attempted to be as liberal as we can. In this case I am using the literal definition of the word liberal meaning, “open to new behavior or opinions.” This hopefully has been visible through our stretch for student input. Surveys have been sent out, Buzzocracy has remained available, CPS speaker suggestions were accepted, open discussions with Dean of Students James Annarelli occurred, and the Small Changes Significant Impact Campaign has resurfaced. Through all of these methods we strive to ensure the confidence that every student has a valuable opinion and we are always open to suggestions.

Not only is it crucial that students share their opinion, but we have put a lot of effort into providing opportunities for students to act upon their opinions. In order to fully be a part of the Eckerd community, we believe you have to get involved and we strongly encourage it. We have had more student involvement in different committees this year and even students who aren’t officially working with an ECOS organization are partnering with us to enact real changes on this campus. The new freshman ECOS program, Eckerd’s Emerging Leaders, is off to a great start and the 40-plus freshmen already have big plans for next semester.

If you want to get involved but don’t know what you want to do, please see me because I promise we can find something for you.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we in ECOS have strived to make this campus a better place for students. We’ve made a more accessible website, put up mirSee ECOS, page 6

6 Viewpoints

the current

Dec. 6, 2013

Gender ratio on campus not to blame for dating pool

By Julia Collins Staff Writer

It’s not the ratio, it’s you.

In recent years, more and more students, especially young women, have been questioning if Eckerd’s girl to guy ratio affects the dating scene here on campus. A survey

by The Current was sent out to determine Eckerd students’ feelings about the ratio and how it affects dating between students.

While the results of the survey weren’t particularly surprising, my opinion about the reality of what it means for the Eckerd dating scene may, for a few people at least, be a little bit of a wake up call.

According to the Eckerd website, the student population is 59 percent female and 41 percent male.

“If I really think about it, I guess there are more girls here.

But then again on a regular basis, it doesn’t really ever cross my mind,” Sophomore Loren Gluckman said.

Ideally an even ratio would be achieved, but this is the norm across the country. According to a study done by Forbes Magazine, an increased number of women are attending college since the early 1980s. While this data shows that our college reflects the average national college attendance by men and women, 30 percent of Eckerd students said in The Current’s survey that the girl to guy ratio on our campus affects their dating opportunities negatively.

If you’re one of these students complaining about the lack of male presence on campus, I have a little bit of tough love to give you. Eckerd has about 1800 students. 150 guys, more or less, are not going to drastically change your dating prospects.

What I’m saying is: it’s not the ratio, it’s you. No matter what the girl to guy ratio is, according to The Current’s survey, 66 percent of Eckerd students are single and ready to mingle. If you have decided that the thing you really, really want is to date someone, then perhaps you need to go out on a limb and work a little bit harder to find someone to date.

Freshman Emily Carpenter told me about her experience with the dating scene here at Eckerd.

“I have a boyfriend and I met him here so I guess you could say that the 60-40 thing really doesn’t bother me at all. Finding someone to date isn’t that hard here,” she said.

Now it is time, ladies, to truly ask ourselves if we are doing our part in the dating scene. Are we actively looking for a guy to date or are we just using the girl to guy ratio as a scapegoat? I’m sorry Cinderella, but in today’s world, waiting for Prince Charming to come and save you from the captivity of your dorm room simply isn’t realistic. Perhaps it is time that we as ladies pull ourselves together and take some steps on our own to take control of the dating scene. I think that we might be pleasantly surprised by the results and we will realize that the girl to guy ratio here on campus affects our dating prospects a whole lot less than most of us are willing to admit.

By Hailey Escobar Asst. Entertainment Editor I have watched Glee since it first premiered in 2009. Growing up in school theater and chorus, I felt a kinship with the fun musical numbers and lack of recognition from public schools. Their support for the arts and social acceptance was something I admired and loved.

However, I have also discovered that looks could be deceiving.

I could always see the subtle gender inequality throughout the series. Over the course of the show, the guys have outnumbered the girls in “New Directions,” the show choir, with eight male characters compared to four female.

Glee creator Ryan Murphy also tried to show acceptance of homosexual couples not usually seen in mass media, but with mixed results. Santana and Brittany, two characters on the show, had dated, and their relationship ended up having little coverage.

This is especially true when you compare it with the attention given to Kurt and Blaine, a much more beloved couple on the show.

The inequality becomes more evident during a recent episode called “A Katy or a Gaga,” an episode in Glee’s fifth season, where the characters celebrate the music of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga while pitting the fans of the divas against each other.

In this episode, one of the newer characters of the show, Marley, played by Melissa Benoist, begins to be pressured by her boyfriend to have sex. She tells him that she doesn’t feel comfortable with that and, by the end of the episode, he goes off to have sex with the cheerleader that’s been seducing him.

Fast forward to her group’s performance of Lady Gaga’s “Applause.”

Fan no longer Glee-ful All of the characters in the number are dressed in Gaga-esque costumes with the exception of Marley, who is dressed in her Katy Perry costume. Apparently, this was not okay to the teacher, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison). He points out that Marley was supposed to wear the costume that Gaga wore during her recent VMA performance, which was a shell bra and thong.

She didn’t feel comfortable with showing that much skin and made a stand, saying that she refused to change herself for anyone. What did Schuster do? He suspends her from club activities for the week.

The episode that aired the following week might have even been worse, with a focus on twerking. Now, if you like to twerk and you’re good at it, have fun. However, when it’s a teacher who suggests that everyone start twerking down the hallways, then it becomes not okay. Especially when that teacher is singing “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke, a song that blatantly sexualizes women and is the subject of much controversy with it’s rape connotations.

Then, just when we might see Schuster punished for his creepiness

by Sue Sylvester, Jane Lynch, he is then forgiven by the school board.

What kind of example does this set up for girls today? Apparently, if we don’t look or dress the way we’re told to, we won’t succeed. Then when a teacher is singing about sex and possible rape, we should follow along with him.

The female characters have the opportunity to be strong and empowered. We see the possibility in Rachel played by Lea Michele, the leading lady of the show who is following her dreams on Broadway.

Sure, she had stumbles along the way with feeling pressured to be something else to please the man she

courtesy of gleenonfox’s Twitter The levels of discomfort heighten in this episode of Glee where the characters twerk.

loved, but, in the end, she was being herself and was accepted for that.

Now that she has left McKinley High School, the fictional school where the show takes place, who is supposed to take up those reins?

Marley tries to be strong, but is pushed aside as the nice girl stereotype. Kitty (Becca Tobin) is also a good choice, but is still portrayed as a possible mean girl due to her past involvement with Sue. Finally, Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), the only original female member of the group left at McKinley, is constantly having her spotlight stolen to the point that she often seems like nothing but a brat.

The only female member left is Unique (Alex Newell), also known as Wade, a cross dressing student with the voice of a goddess. Unique

was the only one with a number in the twerking episode that made me remember the empowering days of season one, singing “If I Were a Boy.” Now, the series is almost at an end. After all, Murphy announced back in October that the series will not be going beyond it’s next season. Almost all of the girls I considered strong, positive female role models on the show are gone: Mercedes, Quinn and Zizzes.

Glee began as a safe place where anyone could look at its characters, see themselves reflected back and feel empowered by it. At first, that’s what I saw too. It hurts me to say this, but that’s just no longer the case. I no longer feel empowered by Glee.

ECOS changes policies with student input From ECOS, page 5 rors on campus for blind corners, added new ash buckets and facilitated the arrival of the famous Pizza Truck.

New sustainable initiatives are just around the corner and a new condiment bar at the pub is underway. Additionally, when you arrive next semester, look for the new outdoor kitchen at Nu including a 42” grill, four stovetop burners, and a drop-in cooler. Some of the harder things

to change is the continual vandalism and campaign to promote responsible alcohol usage. We want to ensure the students, that this is a continual conversation that requires community members to expect responsibility. These changes to improve the campus are both alleviations to problems as well as systematic changes to trends and habits. We are doing our best and participation is welcomed.

It is our hope in ECOS that what

PerspECtives

“No I do not—not yet.”— Carly Werner, sophomore.

we do somehow positively affects your life. We are here because we want to make a difference even if it is small. If through our actions we inspire one new leader, make one new student feel welcome, or fix a problem a senior has experienced all four years, then we in ECOS have done our job. But we don’t want to stop with making one change. It is a bunch of small modifications that add up to make a large difference.

We may not be helping solve crime

in St. Pete or solving global warming. But hopefully we are ensuring your experience with the Eckerd College community is the best it can be so that you are prepared and motivated to make those changes.

With this motivation, I know that this position is worth it and all the meetings are important. I am impressed with everyone around me and I am honored to have worked with such a great group. I cannot wait for next semester. Have a great winter break.

Do you have someone you want to kiss under the mistletoe? Do they know?

“Somebody at home.”

—Nemanja Rmus, junior.

“No, probably just my dog.”

—Kacie Wright, senior

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the current

MBFGC:

Catechism of the LGBT

By Colin Casey Asst. Sports Editor

I was first introduced to the concept of a gay person in an eighth grade religion class.

The discussion was wide ranging but something my teacher said seemed to come out of left field. “I am insulted that they [gay people] would use the rainbow as their symbol,” she said.

“It’s a symbol of God’s covenant with man not for them to exploit.”

This was said by the leader of the class, an obstinate over zealous Catholic who pushed her faith onto others with ease. I smiled and went back to reading my book, a common staple when I bothered to show up to her class. It wasn’t like that statement was going to stick with me for a while.

But it did. Even now, a little more than eight years since I heard it, the phrase still echos back in my head. The reprise seems to be called up whenever Christianity is in the news. Leaders of churches come on TV explaining that gays cause hurricanes, that God is angry with them and that they will suffer for eternity in the fires of hell.

Now I will try to do my penance for the LGBT community and explain why Christianity is still a valid way of looking at the world despite the views of some members.

As I grew, the Catholic religion has always had a strong hold in my life. Not the zany, over the top, crazies you see often on TV or quoted by CNN, but more moderate priests, brothers and deacons who have helped shape my life for the better. I will use my 15 years of experience in Catholic education and 19 forced religion classes to make sense of it all. So come along with me for a Christmas column that will hopefully open a few eyes and hearts.

Christianity, at its core, is a religion of acceptance. And I have lost part of my audience already to talking about the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition or the Reformation and how “accepting” Christians were then. Hold on, I’m getting there.

Religion, and Christians in general, started some of the bloodiest conflicts in world history over the

Viewpoints 7

Dec. 6, 2013

Bible and their interpretation of it.

Interpretation is the key word in the whole argument. The New Testament is originally in Aramaic, transcribed in Greek and then translated to Latin where it is then re-translated into over 2000 languages for modern use.

Already the alleged “Word of God” has been partially lost in translation. Factor in humans and their biases and desire to maintain control and you can twist the word of God into anything you need.

And that is really where most “God-fearing men” lose me. In the New Testament, the focal point of Jesus of Nazareth would actually shock most conservative Christians. He associates with the undesirables of society, shuns the wealthy and deals with the possible corruption of Jewish doctrine. All of these actions could be considered quite liberal by ecumenical standards. He did not feel constrained by the reactions of others to what was being done, nor was he restricted by the then norms of society.

Perhaps that is where the church has lost its way. By alienating itself from the LGBT and casting them off as sinners, the clergy themselves turn their backs on the very foundation of their beliefs.To this end it really is a shame that some LGBT individuals raised Christian turn their backs on the Church. Because, in reality, their problem lies with the organization itself and not with the lessons.

True Christianity is not about being divisive, fear mongering or alienation. It is about kindness, forgiveness, loving thy neighbor however they may be, and living life with a positive moral code.

There really is not any reason to oppose these values. And while there may be some who wish the LGBT harm within the church they clearly have not read their own holy book. “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you,” says Matthew 7:1-5 (English Standard Version) is hardly the most eloquent passage.

It is not even the most accurate Bible passage about the subject. Yet in this context, it flows perfectly.

Now I will leave you with a simple prayer for the time of struggle that the LGBT faces. It is a prayer for all faiths and has helped me through some trying times. “Lord help me to remember, that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I together cannot overcome.” Merry Christmas, happy holidays and God bless.

Op-ed:

Where is the arts in “liberal arts” going?

By Jon Chopan Asst. Professor of Creative Writing

I want to talk about something that is troubling me, and I hope you will forgive me for speaking out of turn. We have done a masterful job here at Eckerd College of defending and articulating the need for liberal arts colleges and liberal arts education. But, what of art? Why are we, members of this community, not participating in a much needed conversation about the importance of art? Doesn’t it seem clear, both nationally and locally, that we have grown anemic, that we have accepted the demise of art as inevitable and have, at our own peril, ignored the substantive value it brings to our understanding of ourselves and others?

These are troubling times.

While the national conversation is dominated by divided parties, hyperbolic arguments about guns, abortion and violence in the streets, one of the great mechanisms for change, for honest and thoughtful discourse, is dying. This can be seen every time a state or federal budget is cut, every time a common curriculum is put forth stressing the need for more investment in math and science. But never art.

This all came up again recently because there was talk of new

buildings and new opportunities for the arts at Eckerd. There was, as has become a habit in the arts, a great deal of pessimism about the possibilities.

“No one gets excited about the arts. No one wants to invest in the arts.”

This is especially troubling because these statements were coming from artists, my friends and peers, people I fear who have too easily, because of years of disappointment, accepted our erasure.

Of course, new buildings are not the issue. A revolution of the mind is what we really need. A commitment to the truth, a vigilant stand against those who ignore that truth, a compassionate articulation of the truth that art matters.

History is on our side. Civil rights movements, women’s rights movements, anti-war movements have always been populated by artists, people who could reach an otherwise disconnected audience.

The campaigns run by President Barack Obama showed us, once again, the power of language, the power of image and music, a kind of loosely scripted theater. New research and data about treatment for veterans suggests that art therapy is one of the few ways to bridge the gap between soldier and civilian. And, one night of cable

news viewing proves the need for our continued commitment and investment in both journalism and the study of communication.

Too often of late I am hearing word that art no longer matters.

Or, what is equally problematic, I am hearing word that it matters but that it is not a priority, that there are more important things to tend to. This confuses me. What, for the health of a community, could be more important than the arts, the counterweight to the objectivism of the sciences? What, for the soul of the people, could offer something equally or more nourishing than medicine, health food, bigger and better cars and buildings and devices, if not art?

One might argue that this is a first world problem. I beg to differ.

In places with poor healthcare, a shortage of food, good shelter and clean water, the people have always created art. They do this because they know something that we have forgotten — that there is no point in being alive if one is not awake. Our gadgets, our high speed computers, our cures for disease, our understanding of nature — these have made our lives longer and easier. Now, as a community, I am asking that we think very deeply about how art can, once again, make our lives substantial.

#Amusing Musings Here is where we immortalize the funniest quotes from EC students and faculty. No names, no shame.

Follow us on twitter: @TheECCurrent Political Science Professor: “Got an email from a student at 4 a.m. this morning, or last night, whenever that is.” #FinalPresentationProblems

political issues

Creative Writing Professor: “Some people dance with the stars and some people dance with pink urinal cake.” #AbstractArt

Include full name, graduation year and contact information Faculty and staff should include their title, department and contact information

currentviews@eckerd.edu

Political Science Professor: “What do you have that hood on for? Trouble-making?

Gangsta?” #ClassroomStyle

photo by Shannon Vize Classic literature still valuable in modern day literature classes and life.

Literature’s value goes beyond classroom continued From LITERATURE, page 5

by T.C. Boyle are newer contemporary works. They remain in the same vein of the classics with their attempt at addressing pressing issues through top-notch literary techniques.

By their senior year, literature majors have become experienced with critical analysis of texts. The literature composition exam aims to assess the students’ skills. In the past few years, the literature faculty

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has added a critical exercise portion to the exam. Students are given a work published within the past few years in fiction, poetry or drama and are asked to critically analyze it and tie it to the literary canon.

This is also important because it helps students recognize these new works as having literary merit.

“We give our students intellectual agility in addition to a sense of art that they can take with them when we give them

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brand new works,” Empric said.

Stark feels similarly.

“Work that has something strong and original about it can be demanding,” he said. “It can require something from the reader that can be demanding, challenging and tiring.”

This skill of approaching texts with a perceptive eye allows students to determine the literary qualities and merit in any work they read. This skill also leads to the possibility of using texts for

a greater good in the real world.

In Shakespeare’s play “King Lear,” there is a scene where King Lear is on a heath facing a terrible storm. For the first time he recognizes everything around him, now being destroyed by the storm. He laments, “I never gave you kingdom, call’d you children.” He has neglected his people and his world. “[Lear] has to grow, and confronting that allows him to grow for the rest of the play,” Empric

said. “I think the exposure to art, and from my perspective literary art, is what allows us to enter that terrain of not being closed in yourself and your selfishness.”

In a sense, citizens of the present are on our own heath of sorts. We live in a world that we have neglected. Perhaps if we can draw from the messages of contemporary works, we will have the desire to face and calm that storm that we have created.

8 Viewpoints

the current

Dec. 6, 2013

Friendly Fire:

Students debate issues of privacy v. progress

By Alek Matthiessen ECOS Vice President Great ideas lead to great power shifts. The different levels of that power shift define the rift between ideas that are great and ideas that are, simply, good.

Empirically, what follows a great power shift is fear.

Fear of the future, fear of tyranny and fear of change.

Innovations like Google Glass, surveillance drones and enhanced satellites have all stirred panic in many Americans. They worry that these advances will come at the cost of personal privacy and personal freedom. I share the hesitance with concerned Americans about the preservation of personal privacy, a liberty fundamental to the construction and maintenance of the United States.

Today, we have those great ideas, and we also have those fears. Deciding which is more powerful will determine the direction of mankind’s destiny.

Great ideas have taken the form of technological change, such as the internet, social media and smart phones. Technological innovation is an exponential curve.

The more we have, the more we create.

As a result, it is difficult to know exactly what will be discovered and utilized in 10, 20 or 30 years. This unknown frightens many people; a fear familiar with mankind.

We have seen this fear countless times throughout history, and more often than not, it leads to the destruction of nation.

These citizens argue the costs of certain

technological improvements will outweigh their benefits. For example, people fear the loss of human contact and the value of nature, among others. In reality, this fear is ungrounded. When the record player was invented, people thought people would no longer read. When the phone was invented, people predicted an alienated society.

Today, we have even more groundbreaking technologies challenging our faith in change, challenging our faith in progress. We have walked this path before—it is but a different landscape. The winds of change, however, remain steadfast.

Past evidence shows that the way to handle fear of the unknown is to remain adaptive. Charles Darwin believed similarly. It is not the strongest species that survives, but the one most adaptable to change. Change is inevitable, but our ability to adapt is not. Countries become obsolete when they refuse to modernize. For example, Russia was one of the last countries to leave the monarchical system. This decision cost them a bloody civil war and millions of lives. Russia’s mistake is not one which will soon be repeated by the United States.

We need to be intentional, clear and effective to preserve individual privacy when these great ideas solidify. Privacy laws should and will be present in our unimaginable future. We should not discourage change because so often it leads to progress.

Rather, we should foster creativity, technological advancement and innovation.

This does not mean we have to move forward blindly; the ability to adapt will be ancillary to our preservation of liberty and simultaneously, preservation of progress.

By Henry Ashworth ECOS Executive Watching the sinking sun with a lover, a crying friend on your shoulder and a loving moment with a sibling could no longer be a secretive sweet savored memory, but a pixilated public image forever bound in the cloud.

With the rise of smaller, higher definition, cheaper cameras and release of technology such as Google Glass, a pair of “smartglasses” that perform the same tasks as smart phone, we are ever so slowly losing our privacy to technology. Technological advances have been moving us closer and closer to an Orwellian based society that is no longer a far cry from the grotesque totalitarian image painted in George Orwell’s “1984,” in the name of progress and efficiency.

In the Nov. 16 issue of The Economist, the positives and negatives of having cameras documenting our every move are evident, including the paparazzi’s using drones to capture photos of celebrities, and use of a helmet camera to convict a British soldier of murder.

The proposed solution to have governments regulate this new technology, though logical in theory, could be disastrous. Title II of the Patriot Act allows the government to surveill an individual by any means necessary no matter where they are, and allows the government to order files from communication services, like Google or Facebook, on the individual’s use of their services. The power

already held by the government to monitor an individual is frightening, and advances in technology will only make this ability easier.

Ironically however, these technological advances have been making our lives even more stressed and less efficient.

How long can you go without your cell phone? With it constantly at your side people are expected to continually stay in touch with their work, family and friends.

Even years ago people were already beginning to see the signs that increased technology had on stress levels. In December of 2005, “Journal of Marriage and Family” released a study showing how mobile communication devices are “linked to heightened psychological distress and reduced family satisfaction.” Now almost nine years later we have seen the monster of mobile technology grow and reach even more into our personal lives. NBC recently covered a story about privacy and technology and sited how psychologists tell us that social boundaries and privacy are important for mental health.

The loss of our privacy to technology could lead to more of our social and mental issues instead of curing them.

Technology seeks to streamline and make our lives more efficient, but at what cost? Even if we can get more work done in a shorter amount of time, the technology we use to become more efficient will leak into our lives further stressing us, and stripping us of our privacy.

Because we also do not fully understand the repercussions that technological advances will have on our lives, we could be trapped behind a camera lenses, and in a blink of an eye, or the click of a shutter, our privacy, happiness and freedom could be gone.

Google researches immortality: what are they up to?

By Shannon Vize Viewpoints Editor We have come to accept aging and death as inevitable parts of life. However, Google has recently begun research to prevent aging and maybe even death.

But why Google? The answer is simple. Who else has the money and power to do so? Immortality has long been something sought after by humans and Google is not the first company to begin research on immortality.

In 2500 B.C., King Gilgamesh believed he had found a plant that would give him immortality. Throughout the 13th, 18th and 19th century, philosophers and physicians claimed a wide array of options to keep from aging like eating vipers, breathing in the breath of virgins and ingesting the sex glands of dogs and guinea pigs.

Immortality began to take on a new shape closer akin to science fiction in 1963, when Robert C.W. Ettinger, a science fiction writer and physics instructor, wrote the book “The Prospect of Immortality.” He believed that immortality could be achieved by freezing the dead now and having future scientists figure out how to cure them, bringing them back to life and making them young again.

He is believed to be the reason behind the cryonics movement.

Two major players today are Ray Kurzweil, an inventor, author and director of engineering at Google, and Aubrey de Grey, an author, theoretician on gerontology, and Chief Science Officer of the SENS Research Foundation.

Kurzweil believes immortality will be achieved as early as 2045, when humans will upload their minds and personalities onto computers. There is now a Russianbased 2045 Initiative, which is a nonprofit organization that “aims to create technologies enabling the transfer of a individual’s personality to a more advanced non-biological carrier, and extending life, including to the point of immortality,” according to the organization’s website.

De Grey argues aging is only a disease, which can be cured. He claims humans age in seven basic ways, which can be averted by repairing age-related damage to tissues. He claims to have created a roadmap to defeat biological aging.

He believes that by creating this roadmap, we are establishing a solid foundation for a time in the future when we have the technology, advancement and funding to pursue immortality and ant-aging research.

According to Time, Google is launching Calico, which is a company focused on health, and aging specifically.

Larry Page, the ambitious CEO and co-founder of Google, said in a rare interview with Time that, “For me, it was always unsatisfying if you look at companies that get very big and they’re just doing one thing. Ideally, if you have more people and more resources, you can get more things solved.”

When asked by Time why start a venture of this magnitude now, Page said, “In some industries it takes 10 or 20 years to go from an idea to something being real.

Health care is certainly one of those areas. We should shoot for

the things that are really, really important, so 10 or 20 years from now we have those things done.”

However, actually achieving results in the anti-aging field has proven difficult. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals was working on a promising drug, SRT501, which was a proprietary form of resveratol, a material found in red wine, which was believed to have anti-aging properties. GlaxoSmithKline bought out Sirtris for $720 million to get its hands on the drug, but after challenges in research and advancements, the company shut down trials in 2010. No other known companies exist with plans for commercial products any time soon.

Yet, the regenerative medicine industry is currently estimated at $1.6 billion and is thought by some to reach $20 billion by 2025, so it isn’t surprising that a company like Google is looking to become a major player in the industry.

So, unfortunately, for any of you hoping to evade aging and death, the immediate future isn’t looking very bright. But with the backing of Google and it’s $50 billion in profits, Calico is looking like the most promising solution on the horizon to aging and maybe even death.

Although it may seem unrealistic today, it is important to begin conversations on topics like immortality so that we can weigh the ethical and moral conflicts beforehand, like who will have access to anti-aging medicine and immortality, how much will it cost and how it will affect population control and the environment, to better assist us in the future.

courtesy of koopmanrob’s Flickr The concept of immortality goes far back. Osiris, above, was seen as a god of rebirth.

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the current

Entertainment 9

Dec. 6, 2013

Entertainment Matt Flynn strums his way across campus

By Ian Lindsay Entertainment Editor Within five minutes of sitting down to talk to Senior Matt Flynn, it was obvious that this student has a passion for sound design. Drawing inspiration from musicians from every spectrum of genre like Phish, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Beats Antique, Lettuce and Haywyre, it’s no wonder Flynn has become a humble guru of music on campus. His quirky interests and eclectic personality earned him the stage name Bigger Badger.

Flynn looks like your stereotypical Eckerd student. He wears cargo shorts, a worn out t-shirt, no shoes and a smile that says “Yeah, I go to a school that has a beach.”

In a field of interest where most musicians are starving, sulky or egocentric, Flynn is a fresh chord progression in D major: a yin of happy-go-lucky attitude with a yang of creative ambition. Ever since age 9 when Flynn first started playing piano, music has been a pervading force driving him to create.

“One thing that David Irwin told me, that has stuck with me for a long time, is that the activity that stimulates the second most part of your brain is listening to music, and the first is playing music,” Flynn said.

Growing up, he was able to start playing and experimenting with instruments like the guitar, mandolin, cello, bass guitar and piano and within the last two years has begun electronic composition. He has worked in various musical projects, and now is trying to make as many of them come to fruition as possible in his final year at Eckerd.

“I’m really big on bridging

don’t stop at Kappa, or on campus. Flynn is also involved with an off-campus group called Ojala.

The band recently had a gig in Ybor city, where the they opened for LOcash Cowboys at the Jim Beam Bourbon and Brew Festival.

Flynn performed bass guitar and the midi keyboard where he plays his own pre-created bass synths.

Even as a Marine Science major who has no concrete plans of pursuing music in the future, Flynn is developing a stage presence.

“You have to think about timing, pitch, scales, mood, dynamics, volume and if you’re playing with other people you have to think about that from their perspective,” Flynn said.

Flynn’s stage presence was seen photo by Lauren Nickerson at Professor of Marine Science and Matt Flynn and Claudia Villar lounging and playing guitar on a sailboat.

Chemistry David Hastings’s plethe gap between electronic and whole new genre called Jamtronic. nary on climate change, even with instrumental,” Flynn said. Re“After the first guitar riff he played a few technical difficulties that cently, Flynn has been collaborat- we had the basic rhythm section for Flynn was able to work through. ing with a number of students a groovy new tune within 15 minutes “I wanted to communicate the on different musical projects. the best song I had ever produced science of climate change differThe most prominent of these emerged,” Ribbans, who oversaw ently than just showing graphs and is the track, “New Voodoo” where many of the electronic compositwo other students, Sophomores tions of the song, said. Freeberg’s figures with lots of numbers,” HastWill Ribbans and Caleb Freeberg addition were the nostalgic vio- ings said. “The temperature of the brought their own talents to the lin accents while Flynn strummed planet is changing dramatically, each Ableton drawing board. Flynn his guitar to create rhythm. decade the average temperature is contributed both instrumentally “As soon as I hit the first note higher than the last. But Flynn was and electronically to the track. I was in the zone,” Flynn said. able to convey this information dif“I am a big advocate of bringKeeping track of the amount ferently. He’s an excellent musician, ing other musicians into my proj- of musical projects Flynn has is and was able to compose an original ects and not telling them what to like keeping track of new Apple piece that accompanied the temdo,” Flynn said. “Just seeing what products, every time you look up perature graph very effectively.” inspiration they get from the there’s going to be a new one. He From making jamtronic tracks music I’ve made, and if I like it, is working an acoustic guitar alwith the Kappa kids, to acousI’ll include it in the final track.” bum, a pure electronic album and “New Voodoo” is a song which more collaborative projections tic melodies that mirror Ben harmonizes both worlds of music, with Seniors Rachel Feinberg Harper’s style and even playing electronic and instrumental. Fes- and Chantal Van Ginkel sing- QFM plenaries, Flynn is maktival acts like Zoogma, Papdosio ing vocals for a song in progress. ing a name for himself in the and even Pretty Lights becoming a Flynn’s musical aspirations arts side of this community.

Love troubles take center stage in “Some Girl(s)”

By Hailey Escobar Asst. Entertainment Editor

for him. She was Guy’s first love back in high school who he left, afraid of being tethered down.

The second, an artist in Boston named Tyler, Senior played by Marielle Michel, was a drastic difference from Sam. She’s rebellious, sexy and fun loving. She represents Guy’s more experimental past. She is then followed by Lindsay, played by Freshman Katie Fox, a very serious and high maintenance professor.

The whole experience leads up to the final woman Bobbi, played

by Senior Erin Stringer, who Guy is still in love with despite being engaged to someone else.

Take one guy and four very different ex-girlfriends and you have the funny, sometimes somber escapades of Eckerd Theater’s adaption of “Some Girl(s),” directed by Associate Professor of Theater Gavin Hawk which performed at Bininger Theater.

While the play was relatively short, being made up of four scenes in one act, I was surprised to see the commentary playwright Neil LaBute was able to capture the emotion the cast portrayed about love and relationships.

I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into as I walked into Bininger Theatre Nov. 15.

The lights came up on the stage to reveal a hotel room with the character known only as Guy, played by junior Conor Woods, pacing around the room.

Throughout the play, we are introduced to different women of Guy’s past as he goes on a strange pre-wedding trip to visit the women he wronged.

The first of these women was Sam, Junior Sophia Faiella, a Seattle, suburban housewife who still has feelings “Some Girl(s)” ran for 2 weeks in Bininger Theater.

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nature of his trip. He was subtle, but at the same time big enough to get his motivation across. I was impressed by his ability to handle such a dynamic character who goes through a wide range of emotion throughout the story.

However, the most notable performance was Stringer. It was definitely worth saving her for last. Her performance was funny when it needed to be and powerful when things got emotional.

Her refusal of Guy’s affections shook me to the core much like it did to Guy. Besides the performances, Hawk did a great job in leading a team of creative talent.

The costumes, designed

by Antonia Krueger, reflected the characters well. This was especially true in Guy’s character whose costume reflected each situation he was in. Set designer, Jeff, Weber was a genius, creating a multifunctional set that left me in awe.

The show did a great job telling a story that left me reflecting on the role of relationships in my life and how they mold me into the person I am to today. I defiphoto courtesy of Eckerd.edu nitely left the theater satisfied by the short show.

Overall, the cast of the show gave a wonderful performance.

Michel played Tyler perfectly, embodying her fun confidence in a way that left the whole audience laughing, while still balancing the seriousness of facing the past.

Faiella and Fox were also very good. Faiella was able to portray the unsure high school girl that is still deep within the character.

Fox was over the top and fearless in her character, even going as far as stripping down to sexy lingerie as she tries to seduce Guy. Woods succeeded in making the audience guess about the true

By Gary Furrow jr.

Quickie Editor Eckerd students share the common interest of giving and bringing joy to others and the holiday season is just the right time of year to do it.

One joy that gives many people glowing smiles and warm, fuzzy feelings is decorating for the the winter holidays or looking at other people’s decorations. However, as a broke college student with a long list of rules and regulations about what we are not supposed to do for decorating a dorm room— nothing on the dorm eyebrows, do not damage the walls or windows and the list goes on from there. It seems like the Grinch stole Christmas and all the other holidays with it because decorating a dorm room in a clever and inexpensive way is nearly impossible.

I started to think about my house during the holidays and my personal favorite decoration. I thought about my garage door at home. Every year my mother and I make it into a giant package, and then I realize this idea could be done for all winter holidays, not just Christmas. It doesn’t have to be doors either, the window panes of the dorms are a multitude of different configurations and sizes of rectangles and squares that can make the perfect, festive package for the holidays.

What’s needed: Wrapping paper of your desired holiday colors (Christmas is red, green, silver and gold, Hanukkah blue, white, gold and silver, and Kwanzaa is red, green and black).

Construction paper Ribbon/ bakers twine Pencil Ruler Markers Scissors Double sided tape Window markers (optional) Directions: Measure the desired window pane and cut the wrapping paper and/or construction paper to size.

Then pick out some ribbon and make little cut outs of holiday icons (stars of David, Santas or cornucopias). Make bows and attach to the paper.

Place, fix and attach to the inside of the window with the double sided tape. *Do not tape outside the window. This is against rules and maintenance will take it down. This also goes for all lights and other decorations must be inside the dorm and not outside or on the eyebrows of the windows. Also objects must be attached with adhesives that will not damage the walls or windows After that is done you have an eye-catching Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa window decor. If you use recycled or materials bought from inexpensive places like the Dollar Tree you could also do this craft for under $10 like I did.

10 Entertainment

the current

Dec. 6, 2013

Style under the sun: faculty offer scholarly

advice on dressing for the professional occassion

By Shannon Vize Viewpoints Editor & Fashion Columnist At Eckerd College, students have an interesting fashion style.

However, depending on your choice of profession, our current fashion choices will most likely not be a valid option in the professional workplace. But we can begin to prepare ourselves, and our wardrobes, by taking a look at some stylish faculty members and following their professional fashion do’s and dont’s.

Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Jonathan Chopan, who can usually be seen in a variety of three-piece suits, describes his professional style as, “overdressed for Eckerd College, significantly overdressed.” Although Chopan wears suits because he likes them, his professional way of dressing is reflected in his fashion tip for students.

photo by Shannon Vize

Asst. Prof. of Political Science Fait Muedini displays his timeless style.

“I think for job interviews always shirt look fifty different ways.”

Professor of Marine Science take yourself too seriously, not that your persona should be that way,” Gregg Brooks, who describes his he said. “You’re not going to lose professional style as, “casual, compoints for dressing up. So I would fortable, and practical,” appreciates always dress as if it’s the most that his field has a more laid back important thing you’re doing.” approach to fashion, but encourages When asked what to avoid in students to dress up for interviews.

“To show respect for the posithe professional workplace, Chopan said, “I think for men and tion, especially when you go on women showing too much leg can a job interview, you want to be be a bad thing in the workplace, dressed up because that shows probably especially for men.” that you respect the position and Another notable and stylish male you respect the people you’re trywould be Assistant Professor of Po- ing to get a job from,” Brooks said.

Associate Dean of Faculty Marlitical Science Fait Muedini. For students entering the workplace jorie Sanfilippo always looks put he has two key pieces of advice. together and stylish in her profes“One, is that it’s only fashion, sional attire. She describes her style it’s only clothing,” he said. “First as “up to date, but professional.”

“I always consider that a stuand foremost you need to be confident in yourself. So clothing is dent, faculty member or a parent just clothing, just to keep that in could walk through that door and I mind. Second of all, to wear what want to look the part of someone you are comfortable in, what is who looks professional,” she said.

In terms of advice for students, your style. I’m a firm believer in the saying style is the art of per- Sanfilippo said, “I would say to get sonal expression.” Muedini makes a sense of what the people in that an important point, clothing is office wear and to dress a little bit just clothing, so make sure in in- better. So the person you’re goterviews that it doesn’t take away ing to be interviewing with for from your talents and experience. example, you want to make sure Although Muedini values per- you don’t look dressed down.” sonal expression through clothes, Sanfilippo also cautions students he also recognizes the societal ex- against “a blouse that is too low cut pectations of interviews and the and a skirt that is too high cut and professional workplace setting. overly huge accessories that draw “Ideally, I’d like us to get a point a lot of attention. Heels that go in society where it doesn’t mat- too high should also be avoided.”

Sanfilippo also advises students ter what we wear,” he said “Until that day comes, they should be to “think about those things that focused on really putting together are permanent changes to your an outfit that they feel comfort- body,” like tattoos or piercings able in, that speaks to who they that would be visible and possibly are and that they believe repre- inappropriate in the workplace.

Visiting Assistant Professor of sents them for their employers.”

When asked how students Composition Kathleen Robinson, should be putting together a profes- who always manages to look prosional wardrobe, Muedini said, “I’m fessional and stylish, describes her a firm believer you don’t need a lot own professional style as, “evolvof money relative to set up a good ing with a sense of perspective.”

She has three rules to follow wardrobe.” He advises students to, “pick a few, key core pieces like a few when trying to dress professionally pants or skirts, a few dress shirts, and make a good impression. “Hyand then really work with that. This giene is important, that is just a is where I think you can explore good fashion rule,” she said. “Secdifferent ties or different scarves ond, to be yourself but also be aware or accessories can make a white of who you are interviewing with.”

pear to already fit in to the culture.”

Robinson’s final piece of advice to students is to dress for success.

“Wear things that will help you to do your job or be successful,” she said. “And with that same vein, if you have a super outfit that you go to when you want to feel confident, try and mimic that in your other outfits.

If you know a certain cut works for you, then wear it.”

So don’t be afraid to take inspiration from the everyday outfits you love and integrate those looks or styles into your professional workplace attire.

Faculty here at Eckerd offer inspiration and insight into what the professional workplace expects in terms of how to dress. So for seniors anticipating graduation or other students just entering the workplace for internships or summer jobs, look to your professors for tips and tricks of how to look professional, but never lose your sense of style.

photo by Shannon Vize

Assoc. Dean of Faculty Marjorie Sanfilippo shows how her shoes and jewelry complements the color scheme of her outfit.

“The last one would be less as far as accessories, bags, jewelry or visible tattoos go. Of course it depends on who you are interviewing with, but it really does come down to letting your talent show and not all your baubles and your bracelets and your tattoos, because people do judge on that. It’s unfortunate, but that first impression is all judgment,” Robinson said.

To be sure you have dressed appropriately for an interview, Robinphoto by Shannon Vize son advised to “go by the place of business and see how the other em- Visiting Prof. of Composition Kathleen ployees or interns are dressed and Robinson customizes simple dress with figure out how you can be just one cardigan and tights. step above, just so that you do ap-

YA novel “Allegiant” ‘diverges’ from trilogy’s original premise

By Margaret Evans Staff Writer

It takes a significant amount of traction for a teen series to hit widespread commercial success.

Sometimes a series comes out at just the right time, with just the right plot, and it hits the big time.

Publication, sequels, and then the big leagues: full-length feature films.

“The Divergent” series (“Divergent,” “Insurgent” and “Allegiant”), by Veronica Roth, is one of the lucky few to hit it big. The first book in her debut series, Divergent, is set to premier in film form March 20. Starring Shailene Woodley as the protagonist, Tris, Theo James as Four, and Kate Winslet as the wonderfully evil Jeanine Matthews, the film will likely be a success, at least financially.

“Divergent” opens with Tris, 16, facing the biggest decision of her life. No, she isn’t trying to choose between her vampire boyfriend and her werewolf best friend. She’s trying to choose the faction that she will belong to for the rest of her life.

Tris lives in a future Chicago, where everyone lives in one of five factions. Each faction has a set of rules and beliefs that all members must live by. Every

faction is “dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue.

Each year, all the 16 year-olds of Chicago make a choice, to stay with their family in the faction they were born into, or to leave and start a life in another faction that they believe in or admire.

Tris chooses to leave her family in Abnegation and join the Dauntless, the brave. Tris is the best thing about the books. She faces real issues, and she’s rational and strong about it. I really can relate to Tris.

She tries to do the right thing while struggling with what she wants.

Dauntless initiation is brutal.

But Tris stays strong throughout the whole initiation. Dauntless initiation is the most fun part of — and also the majority of — the book. You meet Tris’s fellow initiates, and her instructor, Four. Four is fantastic. He’s an amazingly complex character, and all through the book you are dying to know what’s inside his head. You also have to admire his personality; the guy has a serious moral compass. While there is something between him and Tris (although they’re only two years apart, so it gets rid of the creepy student-teacher relationship problems so common in Pretty Little Liars and Vampire Academy), it’s

not the usual teen novel romance.

The story could easily exist without it, and it doesn’t interfere with the other parts of the story.

The action is fairly thick, and the fight scenes are entertaining and mostly believable. While Tris is the best thing about the books, Roth’s world building is a very close second. She pulls you into this dystopian Chicago, and every inch of it feels believable.

You can picture the layout of the Dauntless compound in your head, and she has you wondering which faction you would choose.

This book gets an A plus from me.

I’d recommend listening to “Disturbia” by Rihanna, “You Know my Name” by Chris Cornell and “My Blood” by Ellie Goulding while reading Divergent.

Allegiant — the final book in the series — released in October, has fallen seriously short of my expectations. I read the first book in the series right after it came out, and I jumped up and down when the second book, Insurgent, showed up at my local library. I’ve come to expect a lot from Ms. Roth, who can seriously write. However, Roth’s writing skill is the only thing that salvaged this book. We are ripped out of the Chicago setting that Roth has spent

so much effort getting us comfortable with, and thrown into an underdeveloped, poorly laid out, literal and figurative wasteland.

Then they introduce the idea that being Divergent isn’t really as cool as we thought, and that Chicago is part of a bigger, twisted experiment. We meet Matthew, who has the potential to become a good character, but Roth doesn’t spend enough time on him to make us care. The one shining point of the story is that we finally get some real depth out of Caleb.

Tris’s brother finally gets some major character development, and it’s some very interesting development, too. We also spend promotional photo half the book inside Tobias’s head, which is fun, and a decent attempt Cover artwork of the third installment to give the story more depth. in the “Divergent” series.

Well, I’m not going to tell to an already strong series. The plot you what happens, but I will say ideas in “Allegiant” could’ve been that — as a big fan of this series their own series; and they probably — I was mad about the ending of should’ve been. It could’ve been “Allegiant.” It didn’t end the way great, but it was just too bogged I wanted it to, but I could have down by new story elements and dealt with that. My issue is with an underdeveloped new world. the middle. The ending would’ve Overall, I give this book a C minus. worked had it happened within the I’d recommend listening to “I confines of the original story, say, in Know You Care” by Ellie Goulda battle with the factionless or the ing, “The Bad in Each Other” by people from the outside. Roth just Feist, and “Angel Eyes” by Frank introduced too many new elements Sinatra while reading “Allegiant.”

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The Quickie 11

Dec. 6, 2013

The quickie

There’s always enough time for a quickie

It’s showtime, boys and girls

For answers, visit theonlinecurrent.com.

Across 1 Leave now 5 Monday abbreviated 8 The sides of a piece of paper 13 Opposite of black 14 “We ___ the Champions” 15 Young women 16 A part of a heart 17 ___ at seven 18 Grain that is ground to make flour 19 Factor of 10 20 Francis ____ Key 22 East Northeast 23 Infamous Nazi concentration camp 25 Jackson 5 song 27 Cures 29 Happen to 33 Traffic ___ 36 Written things 38 NBC’s “The _____ Show” 39 First letter of the Arabic alphabet 41 A cat ___ 42 A type memorization 43 Beetles _____ 45 A type of heron 48 Light-emitting diode 49 Over water 51 Roof overhang 53 Snake-like fish 54 “Dolphin Tale” star 57 Night bird 59 Bell stroke 62 _____ blonde 64 Taken advantage of 66 French for yes 67 Undo shoes 68 Stops 69 Sea eagle 70 Perfume 71 A polyester 72 Lincoln ___ crossword by Sydney Cavero and Gary Furrow 73 Being dried and withered

Down 1 Swatted 2 Around 3 Join 4 Hooker ___ Company 5 Virile 6 America’s favorite cookie 7 2007 Nicolas Cage film 8 Can hold food or life 9 Leader 10 Happiness manifestation 11 Otherwise 12 Supersonic transport 13 ____ of gum 20 France and Germany river 21 Old soda brand 24 Verb used in Thanksgiving cooking 26 Gambling lingo 28 Ballerina platform 30 American ____ 31 Raisin’s large relative 32 Eyed 33 Door___ 34 Winged 35 Every dorm needs a _____ fridge 37 Spread out 40 Loyalty 44 Is but a number 46 Live backwards 47 After nine 50 Deer relative 52 Position 55 Organic compound 56 European river 57 Elliptic 58 “____ like an Egyptian” 60 Christmas carol 61 European currency 63 Still 64 Expression of surprise 65 Woodstock staple 67 Ship initials

Improv troupe creates community through comedy

By Sydney Cavero Quickie Editor If laughter is truly the best medicine, most Tritons would agree that Another Man’s Trash is the comedic cocktail necessary to conquer any college ailment. Since 2008, the small but mighty team has never failed to entertain their growing audience as students spill into the aisles of Miller Auditorium for each of AMT’s three shows per semester.

With practices three times per week for about an hour and a half each, the dedication of Eckerd’s only long-form improv group is evident through their collection of past awards, such as Best New Social Club and Best Social Club.

“Improv is a lot of being serious about not being serious,” Senior and Director of AMT Geoffrey Fella said.

Fella is one of the five seniors who will graduate next year, leaving the group with only three of this year’s eight existing members: Junior Jamie Auer, Sophomore Andrea Petrucelli and Junior Thomas Ogg, the last of whom will be returning from studying abroad.

To compensate for this substantial loss, the competitive, annual

auditions to scope out Auer believes that new talent took place their group’s cohesiveearlier than usual to alness as well as support low more time to train from their consistent the potential members.

Eckerd audience has Seven “apprentices” been a large contributor made the preliminary to their achievements. cut and participated in The desire to be even practices to see how more heavily involved in well the comedic talEckerd’s campus as well ent of each would inteas the surrounding comgrate with the group’s munity is a driving force current dynamic. The behind many of the plans three or four with the on this year’s agenda. most progress and best Though they are not courtesy of Another Man’s Trash Facebook page performance were then all yet definite, some AMT’s poster advertising their Nov. 9 show in Miller Auditorium. chosen by Fella and the of these possibilitight-knit team to remain as per- ally proud of them,” Fella said. ties include performing at Eckerd’s manent additions, making their of- “We are really striving towards parents weekend, performing at ficial debut in the spring semester. bigger goals now and the group colleges and other venues in the Fella believes that the great talent is more established on campus.” community, offering more secret Though Fella will be leaving the shows, holding more open pracdisplayed by the apprentices paired with the expertise of the three cur- group, Auer will continue to use tices and hiring professional work rent members will facilitate next his wise words of advice as a guide shoppers to coach AMT members. year’s smooth transition. As Junior for the group’s future operations. Fella also hopes to implement a “Probably the best piece of ad- new system by their next perforand Assistant Director Jamie Auer prepares to take over Fella’s role as vice I’ve gotten from Geoff and it mance, Dec. 7, in which students Director of AMT, Fella voiced great was that no scene is sacred,” Auer could purchase a t-shirt from the confidence about the role that Auer’s said. “Improv is something that’s on club for $5 to $10 that would guarleadership abilities will play in per- the fly, so that just gets rid of any in- antee future admission for free. petuating the club’s current success. tergroup strife you could have from Fella added that other excit“I think right now the group is someone cutting a scene too early ing developments currently in the in such a direction where I’m re- or someone jumping in on a scene.” works would extend their scope

even beyond Florida’s state boundaries. The group is considering traveling to Chicago to perform in the Chicago Improv Festival as well as starting a podcast.

Back at Eckerd, many of AMT’s members believe that creating community through comedy has allowed their group to be the unique football team that Eckerd never had.

“There’s so much spirit about Eckerd, it’s just not a traditional spirit,” Senior and AMT Manager Colleen Rast said. “I think AMT is a celebration of that. It gives Eckerd kids an arena to celebrate their wacky, awesome selves and also be with each other. There are few times when 500 kids get together and do one thing. I think it’s awesome that AMT can be like ‘you didn’t come here to tailgate, we didn’t either, but let’s all get together and celebrate how awesomely eccentric we are.’”

For those still interested in getting involved with improv, Sophomore Evan MacMillan is creating a short-form improv group called “May Contain Nuts.” Students may attend the club’s open practices Monday and Friday at 8 p.m. at the black box or email edmacmil@ eckerd.edu for more information.

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Dec. 6, 2013

The Quickie 12

Fella makes Another Man’s Trash more fashionable

By Gary Furrow Jr. Quickie Editor The man you see walking around campus with a briefcase and dressed to the nines with a trench coat and bow tie may not be a professor — yet.

A Florida native, Senior Geoffrey Fella’s dream job is to be a professor of philosophy.

“I am very passionate about it (philosophy),” Fella said.

Besides being known for being a philosophy major, Fella is known for his professional fashion tastes as well as a performer and the director of Another Man’s Trash, Eckerd’s Improv group. Fella could be described as a trendsetter who doesn’t follow the crowd.

“I don’t really think of Geoff as a natural-born leader, but he’s definitely not a follower either,” Senior Sarah Larsen said. “He kind of just makes his own path. But in terms of AMT (Another Mans Trash), Geoff makes a great leader because he is so funny. I know that’s kind of a cop-out, but when someone is good at something, they kind of have this authority on the subject.”

Fella is a philosophy major with a minor in Chinese.

Aside from basic classes and Another Man’s Trash, he is also a Ford scholar and used to be a member in both the choir and the acapella group at Eckerd.

He left the clubs so he could devote all of his spare time into be-

ing the director of Another Man’s Trash — a position that comes with great rewards and responsibilities.

“It is an interesting opportunity (directing),” Fella said. “It is very different...Yes, I have to make executive decisions, but it is a possession that if you do it for the power you will never get anything out of it and if you do it for some type of reward other than itself it will never complete you. It is a complete labor of love and I am happy to lead my team but it can be very difficult at times… I am very busy.”

Even though Fella admits that at times his position as director can be stressful, he still cannot stop talking about how proud he is of his troupe.

“I am just proud of my team,” Fella said. “AMT is a great group. I am proud to improvise with them.

They are people I feel comfortable on stage with, comfortable practicing with and comfortable leading. I really enjoy their company.”

Although AMT has yet to win any awards outside of Eckerd, Fella plans to change that

in the near future by taking his troupe to competitions.

“Fingers crossed we win some awards,” Fella said.

Besides being able to see himself leading his hilarious improv troupe to victory, Fella enjoys improv so much because it is child-like fun.

“One of the main things that I really like about improv is the ability to play make pretend with other individuals, which is such a childish thing that we forget,” Fella said. “You know as we grow up we try to do less childish

courtesy of Sarah Larsen Geoffrey Fella sits down in high fashion clothes no matter when or where the location may be.

courtesy of Sarah Larsen Senior Geoffrey Fella (right) relaxes.

things. But I find as I get older I just keep doing the same things as I did as a little kid, just finding them more enjoyable as an adult.”

Fella is known for his leadership capabilities, but he is also known for the flare of European style he picked up when he went to high school in Spain and from his father who is a cruise ship worker.

Fella’s style has a little bit of a 1920s kick to it.

His sense of style doesn’t go to sleep when he does.

Fella will gladly point out he even goes to bed dressed in a matching Pajama suit — night cap and all. He will occasionally have a casual Friday. “ I am 22 now and college is my work, I put in five days a week, why shouldn’t I look professional,” Fella said. “It does make a difference.”

He wants to be remembered for more than his fashion, though.

He also would like to be known as a good student who cared about his philosophy studies.

And his goal is to leave a lasting legacy to Another Man’s Trash.

Overall, Fella justs want it to be known that he truly loves Eckerd.

“I think people forget that Geoff is a real person under his personality and can be really caring. He always knows how to make me feel better whether through words of wisdom or through making me laugh,” Larsen said.

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Dec. 6, 2013

Health & Fitness 13

Health & fitness How to manage final exam stress

By Nicole Zavala Staff Writer

With the holidays and finals approaching, it’s easy to see how stress can creep into students’ lives.

As work starts to pile up, it can be hard to handle the pressure of getting good grades. Feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed takes its toll on the academic success and mental health of students everywhere, so it’s important to keep in mind ways to handle the waves of stress that can knock us to our knees.

Many studies have discovered that a stressful life can lead to a short one, as well as one ridden with ailments and diseases like chronic headaches, high blood pressure, diabetes and more. With the amount of stimulation present in our lives today, it’s often difficult to take some downtime from checking our emails, responding to a phone call or even checking the time for the next appointment on the list.

Coordinator of Outreach Services Makenzie Schiemann believes it’s important to take some downtime everyday to focus on you.

“Intentionally setting time aside to take care of yourself every day…I think when people start to feel stressed is when they

do that the least,” Shiemann said.

“The key to managing stress is doing something for yourself, something to relax every day.”

Activities such as hanging out with friends, working out, listening to music or even sleeping can make a big impact on how one perceives his or her daily stress.

However, figuring out what works best for one’s body is key to keeping stress levels under control.

“Being aware of your body and knowing how your body responds to stress and different

activities [is important],” Schiemann said. “You need to know what triggers you to feel stressed and what helps you calm down.”

Figuring out if one is more relaxed with friends or being alone is important for understanding what to do when one feels like life is getting too complicated to handle and whether being around a lot of people is stressful.

One popular way for handling stress when one is alone is mindfulness, which is the act of being aware of his or her sur-

photo by Spencer Yaffe Exam stress can get the best of anyone.

roundings and focusing on things one normally isn’t aware of.

Since this idea is so simple, it’s difficult for people in a technology-filled age to be completely mindful of their environment. We have thoughts continuously running in our heads, which is why it’s tricky to be mindful in our lives.

Next time when walking into class, don’t think about what is due tomorrow or what a friend said at lunch. Instead, feel the warmth of the sun, sense the breeze flowing on your skin or take note of each breath one takes.

Think of the mind as an ocean, the waves as thoughts and the stress that one is living with as the wind. The wind will always blow and cause waves, but one can control how influential those winds of stress are in one’s life. Don’t let those negative thoughts that create the stress more demanding than they seem.

Helping control the waters of the mind by being aware of what one can ultimately do is the absolute best way of managing one’s stress. Focus and complete each task one at a time because that’s all really one can do.

We have at least one to five more there who are just as qualified to assist with injuries.

From the iPod of Gary Furrow Jr.

Learn warning signs of being stalked

By Alana Brillo Contributing Writer Stalking has been an ongoing problem that I’ve seen in my friends’ relationships and have even experienced myself. It happens more often than most people realize.

My most recent encounter with a stalker was when I went abroad over the summer. I went to a club one night where I met another American from Texas who was cute and seemingly normal. We talked and befriended each other on Facebook. We danced for a while, then I excused myself to go to the bathroom to fix myself up.

I came out and walked to the table where my friends were sitting and found one of my favorite drinks on the table: Red Bull mixed with vodka. Before I can even ask, one of my friends told me that the guy I danced with bought the drink, sat down waiting for me,

left and then scoured the bar looking for me. I didn’t even tell him what my favorite drink was. One of my friends even made a joke, saying, “I think he likes you.” Needless to say, I was a little creeped out and we left shortly after.

The next day, he messaged me saying I was the first girl he liked in about two years, that he loved me and that we should hang out with him and his friends the next day.

It was like that for the last two days before I left and even though I politely told him I was leaving, he kept blowing up my phone with messages and I ignored him until he eventually got the idea.

Although my case was a mild one, signs like what this guy pulled could turn into a major problem. One of my friends even had to get a restraining order because a guy kept following her around and showing up at places she was at multiple times.

This isn’t just something guys do either. Girls are just as capable

of stalking as guys and can make their target just as uncomfortable.

Here are some signs that you might have a stalker and some advice on how to handle them.

1. This person could call you repeatedly, including calling and hanging up when you answer.

2. Your stalker seems to always know where you are and could show up at these locations, such as your dorm, classes, practices, where you eat lunch or the workplace.

3. A stalker could send lots of unwanted gifts, text messages, emails or anything else to get your attention.

4. If the stalking is extreme, they will threaten to hurt you, others associated with you or even themselves if you don’t pay them enough attention.

5. They could constantly try to find out about you by asking friends and family, lurking through your social media, searching through your garbage or even hire a private investigator.

6. Any other kind of actions that control you, track you or scare you might be signs.

In order to deal with a stalker, confront them and tell them that things aren’t working out. If they still don’t get the message, ignore them and cut them loose. Block their number and Facebook if you have to. If they are still stalking you, you should tell somebody.

Tell your RA if you feel like this is happening to you. They can tell Campus Safety and help you file a no contact report, which means your stalker can’t be near you on campus. They helped out my friend about a year ago when a student here kept following her around.

There’s also the St. Petersburg Police Department if things get out of hand and you need to file a restraining order. If there is so much as an inkling that someone is bad news, cut them loose. It’s better to be single than in a relationship with someone who makes you feel afraid.

Remain active over Winter break with stretching

By Sabrina Lolo Health & Fitness Editor The holidays, the most wonderful time of the year, are right around the corner.

But first there’s finals, the most miserable time of the year. Students’ stress levels are at an all time high and they’re locking themselves in the library or dorm rooms hitting up the books and Red Bull.

With the holidays to worry about, exercise has been put on the backburner of one’s mind.

There will be lots of excuses, the most common being that he or she doesn’t have time. But it’s important to make time. It’s unhealthy to just sit in a room and do nothing for long periods of time and exercising is a great way to take a break from all the craziness.

According to a study done at the Yale Stress Center, raising the heart rate can actually reverse the damage done to the

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brain due to stressful events, such as studying for exams. People tend to forget things when they’re overwhelmed so exercising can help improve memory.

Exercise also improves blood circulation, which helps deliver more oxygen to the brain and leads to sharper thinking. Sharper thinking means clarity of the mind and the ability to focus on one task at a time, rather than trying to do a million things at once.

The physical activity doesn’t have to be intense; just enough to get the blood flowing and the body moving. This workout is designed so that it can be done in a dorm room if one can’t make it to the gym.

Each exercise only needs to be done once.

1. 20 arm circles: Extend the arms out to the sides. Then move the arms in a circular motion forward. Do this 20 times. After completing 20, do that same circular motion but backwards.

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2. Shoulder stretches: These are just a few basic stretches to loosen your arms, chest shoulders and rotator cuff when the arms are tight from stress.

How to loosen the upper arm and chest muscles: Interlock the fingers with the palms extended out. Then extend arms above the head while still keeping the fingers interlocked. Stretch the arms up and hold it for 10 seconds.

How to loosen back muscles: Cross arms in front of chest and place the hands on the back of your shoulders as if you’re hugging yourself.

Slowly stretch the hands as close to the middle of the back as possible. Hold for 10 seconds.

How to loosen chest and shoulder muscles: Clasp the hands behind the back with the thumbs facing down. Extend arms slowly behind the back, gently pulling them upward.

How to loosen and stretch the triceps:

Raise the right hand over your head and bend the elbow that right hand is over the left shoulder. With the other hand, press a little on the right shoulder so that you feel a stretch. Hold this for 20 seconds, relax, then repeat with the left arm.

How to stretch the back of the shoulder and rotator cuff: Bring the right arm across the chest, holding it with the left arm either above or below the elbow. Hold this stretch for 20 seconds then repeat with the other arm.

3. Maximum push-ups: Do the highest amount of push-ups you can. Remember to keep the back straight and your hands directly below the shoulders.

I know this time of year is hectic for everyone, especially college students. Just remember it’s darkest before dawn. Maintain your health and happiness so you can get through these exams and enjoy the holidays.

14 Health & Fitness

the current

Dec. 6, 2013

Exercising according to body type

By Nicole Zavala Staff Writer

Sometimes when someone finally finds the effort to take a trip to the gym, it’s difficult for them to reach their goals, whether it be gaining muscle or losing flab. The reason why it may be hard for some to stick to a regiment that works for them might be because they are completing a workout that doesn’t complement their body type.

For both males and females, there are similarities as well as differences in body types and for making a workout as efficient as it can be. It’s important to know which body type one is in order to get the most from a workout and achieve the desired results.

For example, the apple shape most women know may be the doppelganger for what is considered an endomorph for a male: it’s easy to pack on the pounds and the midsection is probably the danger zone.

For a workout to be proficient enough to sculpt some abs and lose body fat all around, cardio is crucial.

In addition to consistent aerobic exercises, such as running, biking or using the elliptical, it’s important to add a variety of strength exercises using moderate weights. Making sure one’s exercise has less

recovery time in between toning moves will help shed off any unwanted weight as will having their protein intake high and carbohydrate intake moderate.

A man with an ectomorphic body style is similar to a woman with a straight body shape with slight or no curves or definition.

Both of them should follow these guidelines: keep the cardio minimal courtesy of andrewmcdevittfitness Flickr and add heavier weights with a low Different body types require different workouts. number of reps.

It’s difficult to add muscle groups when doing strength places. Cardio should also be a mass, so it’s key to work the training, such as lunging staple in this person’s workout. muscle groups that will pop with free weights, and carNutrition is cenout with dedication, such as dio involving high intensity tral for anyone trying to the triceps, biceps and thighs. intervals will work wonders. stay healthy and strong.

Women have a tenSince the metabolisms Making sure to eat plento gain more of both these people are dency ty of fruits, vegetables and fast, it’s important to eat weight in the midsection. lean protein, anyone can For the pear shape, the a nutrient dense meal evlose the weight that won’t hips are usually wide and the ery three hours or so.

A woman with an hour- shoulder and breast area could go away or build up the musglass body shape is similar use some toning. It’s impor- cular body of their dreams. to the mesomorph of a man. tant to keep this body shape Now knowing the differIt seems the curves and balanced, so if a woman with ences between different body muscles are in all the right a pear shape likes to lunge to shapes and appropriate workplaces, but for women, a layer define her butt, she shouldn’t out styles, one can add or omit of adipose tissue may soften forget about strengthenthe curves because weight ing her arms and chest. the right things from his or her Exercises like pushups and workout and see how much is gained all over. Workouts squats can help tone the right of a difference it will make. focusing on multiple muscle

Brain food: A necessity for finals week

By Savannah Sprague-Jackson Staff Writer Finals are just around the corner and now is the time to start cramming. When getting ready for finals students need to do three things: study, sleep and eat right.

Studying is important, but to retain this knowledge well, a college student needs to get an adequate amount of sleep in addition to eating healthy.

Eating right isn’t just about meat and vegetables. So much more can be done, such as eating foods that will specifically help for studying and remembering what was studied on the day of the exam.

There are a great deal of foods that help brains function properly and exceptionally. Here are the most important ones for every college student’s benefit.

Blackcurrants Blackcurrants have an excellent source of vitamin C. BBC GoodFood claims that vitamin C is thought to have the strength to increase mental power.

Blueberries Blueberries enhance learning and memory skill, according to ShareCare.

They not only have fiber and vitamin C, but flavonoids that make your brain younger. WebMD states that more than a cup of blueberries a day is recommended.

Seeds Vitamin E has been linked to preventing cognitive decline according to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Seeds as well as nuts are a good source of vitamin E. Zinc is found in pumpkin seeds, which boosts memory and thinking skills. Sunflower seeds are also an excellent source of vitamin E. Nuts Nuts are also packed with vitamin E. Huffpost Healthy Living stated that walnuts are the only good source of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which helps get oxygen to the brain. Health Magazine states that peanuts, and peanut butter “keep the heart and brain healthy and functioning properly.” An

photo by Sabrina Lolo Water is important when it comes to cognitive function.

ounce of nuts a day is recommended.

Avocados Avocados contain monounsaturated fat, which helps one get a healthy blood flow. A healthy blood flood flow is a healthy brain. Huffpost Healthy Living posted that avocados also help vascular health.They are high in calories, so only half to a quarter of an avocado a day is recommended.

Fresh brewed tea Freshly brewed means freshly brewed either with a tea bag or with loose leaves. Freshly brewed tea has just the right amount of caffeine to stimulate brain power to enhance the cognitive functions needed for finals. Remember tea has less caffeine than coffee. If one drinks coffee daily, don’t abruptly stop

before a test; one cup is fine. According to Kulze from WebMD, freshly brewed tea has antioxidants that help with blood flow, therefore helping the brain.

Dark chocolate Dark chocolate is a superfood that one takes in moderation. It has antioxidant properties, natural stimulants, and helps produce endorphins, which improves the mindset. Huffpost Healthy Living reports that dark chocolate helps mental acuity and blood flow to the brain.

Fish Many fish, such as tuna, mackerel, salmon and others are beneficial to the brain. And if one is eating fish, that means less red meat, which contains saturated fats that clog one’s arteries.

Deep water fish contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which are “essential” for brain function. Salmon, for example, are deep water fish. Sardines and herring are also fish that contain Omega-3 fatty acids.

Whole grains and wheat germs Whole grains are another way to a healthy blood flow, which in turn helps the brain function. Whole-grain breads, oatmeal and brown rice are good sources of whole grains. Wheat germ has fiber, vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids. Wheat germ also has Choline, which is a memory booster. Either two tablespoons of wheat germ, which can be put in yogurt or smoothies, one half cup of whole grain cereal or oatmeal or two to three slices of whole grain bread a day is the way to go.

Water Dehydration is linked to less cognitive function and can actually shrink your brain tissue. According to Psychology Today, dehydration can also negatively affect short term memory, focus and decision making.

It’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of final exams and give into stress eating. Eating healthy is key to not only remaining physically healthy but mentally as well. Smart eating leads to better concentration and productive study sessions that are needed to ace exams.

photo by Tiffany

Flor

Tiffany’s Treats:

Chocolate Peppermint Protein Shake

By Tiffany Flor Staff Writer Sugary foods can be a frequent temptation as the holidays approach. Every corner you turn there is bound to be a candy cane, a cup of hot cocoa, a gingerbread house or even a plate full of cookies staring you in the eye.

Don’t let these tasty desserts ruin that fine body of yours. There are multiple healthy alternatives to these sugary foods. Eat something that not only your taste buds will enjoy, but your body will thank you for later.

I suggest trying out this chocolate peppermint protein shake to get you in the mood for the holidays and cut that craving for a bowl full of ice cream or a crunchy candy cane.

Start by throwing the following into a blender.

Ingredients: • 1 scoop chocolate whey protein • 1 cup cold water or almond milk • 1/8 teaspoon peppermint or mint extract.

Be careful and try a few drops first as sometimes this stuff can be really strong. Then add more if needed.

• 1 cup of spinach • Ice cubes

Directions: Once everything is blended, the toppings can be added. Be careful though, too many will negate your goal of being healthy and avoiding sugars.

Toppings: • 1/2 tablespoon walnuts • 1/2 tablespoon 70 percent grated chocolate chips

Enjoy and happy holidays.

courtesy of LeanItUP Flickr Chocolate peppermint protein shake.

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the current

Sports 15

Dec. 6, 2013

Sports Volleyball earns 3-seed in NCAA tournament Stifling defense, hard work helps team end season by winning 11 of 12

By Mike Geibel Sports Editor Six weeks ago, the Eckerd volleyball team’s tournament hopes were fading. Sitting at 9-8 overall with only a 2-4 SSC record, the Tritons had to make some serious moves in the rankings just to compete in the conference. The women knew it would take an incredible turnaround to reach their season goal of an NCAA tournament bid. They would need a nearly perfect stretch of conference matches to move high enough in the SSC standings to earn a tournament bid, and that’s what they did.

The Tritons won 11 of their last 12 matches, including 10 out of 11 in their final conference schedule to jump three places in the standings, finishing in second behind the University of Tampa. The mid-season adjustments made by Head Coach Michelle Piantadosi and the rest of the team had a significant impact on the outcome of their season.

“We really focused on taking a step back and looking at the season as a journey, and a part of that journey was going through the growth process, digging deep and be willing to use the trying times as lessons that can bring

us

together,” Piantadosi said.

According the Senior Outside Hitter Ana de Olano, the team came together to fight their way back into tournament contention and will continue to put forth maximum effort to reach their goals.

“I expect big things [in the tournament], this team has gone through a lot together and has been able to transform our season to 20-9, having started with a losing record,” de Olano said.

The women pulled off an incredible feat, earning the No. 3 seed in the NCAA South Region, but they know the journey is not over yet.

“I feel good about being the three seed. I have a sense of pride because I know how hard we worked to earn that spot,” Piantadosi said, “Now we have to fight to own it.”

A big part of the Tritons’ hot streak has been the defensive play of Junior Middle Blocker Katarina Milojevic. Milojevic is currently ranked 11th in all Div. II for blocks per set. Her incredible ranking combined with the other middle blockers has garnered the program a 10th place ranking in blocks per set as a team. “[Milojevic’s] blocking has been a key aspect to our defense and our points scored per set,” Pianta-

dosi said. “She has been clutch for us time and time again in key moments and in limiting offense threats from our opponents.”

Milojevic’s clutch blocks not only add points to the scoreboard and stop her opponents’ offensive attacks, but also give the rest of the team a mental edge.

“A block is monumental to raise the morale of the team,” de Olano said. “There is nothing more exciting in the game than when [Milojevic] stuff blocks a hitter.”

Milojevic has found success at middle blocker through consistency and hard work.

“Kat is one of the most technically perfect blockers I’ve coached, pair that with the consistency that she executes her blocking technique and you have a top notch blocker,” Piantadosi said.

She also enjoys playing middle blocker and gives credit to her teammates for being there to support her.

“Blocking is definitely my favorite part of the game,” Milojevich said. “I have to say that a lot of my success is because I have such amazing pin blockers. Lindsay [Biggs] and Tjasa [Kotnik] are phenomenal blockers and I think that we all work extremely well together. When we are in rhythm together there

is no one that can hit around us.”

Milojevich’s blocking prowess earned her the SSC Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 18.

“When we heard that she was named defensive player of the week, I couldn’t be prouder,” de Olano said. “She has worked so hard this season and it’s great to see her succeed. When one of us succeeds we all succeed.”

Milojevic believes her team works hard, which makes her a better player as well. “Grace [Jones] is also a great middle and we challenge each other in practice every day to get better,” she said.

The Tritons will look to Milojevic to continue shutting down opponents in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Eckerd faces the University of West Florida in Tampa Dec. 5 at noon. In their only previous meeting this year, Eckerd was swept by UWF the day before their 11 of 12 streak began.

“UWF has a few players that we will have to key on in order to slow them down offensively, [outside hitter] Autumn Dyun, [middle hitter] Lindsay Homme, and [middle hitter] Jenny Belairs,” Piantadosi said.

Part of that responsiblity could fall on Milojevic to get strong blocking to stop the Argonauts’ attacks.

Despite a slow start to the season, Eckerd has kicked it into high gear, going into the tournament with high expectations again this year and are poised to continue their winning ways deep into regional play.

Piantadosi said the team is confident in how they’ve been playing and how they have prepared for UWF and the NCAA tournament.

“In college athletics it’s all about peaking at the right time and I feel that we have been getting better and better mentally and physically at the right time.”

NCAA Tournament South Region Round 1 Eckerd Tritons vs.

UWF Argonauts Bob Martinez Athletic Center 401 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Tampa, Fla. Dec. 5, 2013 Noon

866-8891

Maximo/St. Pete Beach 4925 34th St. S

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DOMINOS.COM

STUDENT VALUE MENU photo by Stefan Kapczynski Freshman Karl Teague dives in for his first rugby try against the St. Pete Pelicans

Winning Shots

Large Cheese OR 1-Topping Pizza

$7

3

Medium 2-Topping AND 8-Piece Bread

S3

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Send your fan photos to currentsports@eckerd.edu for a chance to be featured in upcoming issues of The Current.

Large 3-Topping Pizza

$8 S2

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IMPORTANT

photo by Cypress Hansen Members of the Eckerd women’s soccer team train with Special Olympics athletes Nov. 24. The Special Olympics Training Day event was put on by Eckerd athletics and the Office of Service Learning.

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Thanksgiving Fall Finals Spring Semester Begins Spring Break Spring Finals

DATES

Thanksgiving Fall Final s November 28-29 Spring Semester Begins December 9-12 Spring Break January 28 Spring Final s March 22-30

May 12-15

16

the current

Dec. 6, 2013

Sports

Honsinger earns 100th career win at ECTC

By Will Creager Asst. Sports Editor

NFL bullying scandal:

photo by Spencer Yaffe

Professional sports need Men’s basketball wins to set a better example two in 2013 Classic for the next generation

By Mike Geibel Sports Editor From our first interactions with sports, we are taught that sportsmanship is a key part of the games we play.

After every YMCA or youth league basketball game, we lined up and shook hands with the opposing team. After each soccer game, win or lose, we sat down as a team to have snacks and juice boxes. We learned that a respectful attitude about the game is just as important as the game itself. We were a team, and the team was bigger than the individual. We embraced our teammates as family and never put down another player. To this day, I still remember my youth league football coach telling us on the first day of each year, “do the right thing.”

All the qualities of sportsmanship and respect were rolled into that one statement, and it was a guiding force for the way we navigated our sports careers. Throughout all levels of sport, hazing is considered unsportsmanlike, and in some cases, illegal. Not only could hazing another player get you kicked off my high school team, but it could very likely get you suspended from school.

Many different outlets have run anti-bullying campaigns in school including the federal government and even Cartoon Network. Hazing and bullying go hand-in-hand, and it pains me to see that those role models which we looked up to growing up have somehow strayed from the basic principles upon which our foundations of sportsmanship are built.

The most recent incident to hit the news is the allegations surrounding former Miami Dolphins’ player Richie Incognito. Incognito is accused of bullying, harassment and hazing another player on the Dolphins so much so that the player reportedly left the team and sought counseling. While this act is certainly not “the right thing,” what makes it worse to me is that many of Incognito’s teammates and col-

leagues have come forward to defend the actions. NFL players are saying things like it’s a part of the locker room dynamic and everyone has to pay their dues. This type of thinking is disgusting and deplorable. To think that a man who worked for the majority of his life to reach the NFL was subjected to this type of torture at the hands of those who he is asked to call teammates tarnishes my view of the NFL and the athletes. Instead of using their elevated status to educate and stop bullying and hazing in those who look up to them, these players are instead creating an environment where this is permitted to continue and even accepted as the norm.

The Dolphins organization did the right thing by dismissing Incognito from the team, but it is the support for Incognito and dismissive attitude toward his accuser that worries me.

This behavior should not ever be a part of the locker room atmosphere, whether at a professional level or not. Racial slurs and threats of violence, among other bullying and hazing, have no place at any level of sport. Just because it is a professional level is no excuse for the players engaging in these types of activity. We are taught for decades that this is wrong, so why is it no longer condemned for those athletes who are the role models of the next generation?

Harassment of this kind would not be tolerated in any other workplace, and professional sports should be no different.

Eckerd College has a specific rule against hazing within athletics. For club sports, any instance of hazing or bullying can get the club shut down indefinitely and the perpetrators are subject to further disciplinary action. Greek life societies at schools across the country are implementing antibullying and anti-hazing policies.

Not every NFL athlete engages in this type of activity or allows it to continue in the locker room. It is time for those real role models to step up and “do the right thing.”

Sophomore Jerrick Stevenson driving to the basket.

By Will Creager Asst. Sports Editor

The men’s basketball team won both their games in the 2013 Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic, improving their record to 4-2.

After a slow start, Eckerd pulled away in the second half to beat the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon 71-49 in their first game of the tournament.

The two teams seemed evenlymatched in the first half, as neither team was able to build a lead bigger than four points. However, down 27-24 with 1:48 left in the half, the Tritons took control of the game. They scored eight consecutive points to end the half, including a 3-pointer by Sophomore Guard E.J. Moody as time expired, and took a 32-27 lead into halftime.

Eckerd continued their strong play after the break, extending their lead to 21 points midway through the half. From that point on, they cruised their way to the 22-point victory.

Eleven different players scored for the Tritons, and all 13 players grabbed at least one rebound, as they outrebounded the Vaqueros 44-24.

Junior Forward Malcolm “Theo” Brunner, Jr. led the way with 19 points and 8 rebounds. Moody finished with 11 points and 4 rebounds, Sophomore Guard Jerrick Stevenson added 10 points and 5 rebounds, and Sophomore For-

ward Ray Darnell picked up his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

In their second game of the Classic, Eckerd took on Armstrong Atlantic State University, who were coming off a 60-47 loss to the University of Tampa in their first game.

The Pirates took control early, and held a small lead for a majority of the first half. However, Stevenson got a steal and finished with a fastbreak dunk with 49 seconds left in the half, sending the teams into halftime tied at 29-29.

Stevenson converted four freethrows early in the second half, giving Eckerd their first lead of the game, which they would hold for the rest of the game. A short jumper by Senior Josh Snodgrass gave the Tritons a 57-43 lead with 7:24 left in the game, and they went on to a 69-59 victory.

Stevenson scored a game-high 19 points, going 10-12 from the freethrow line, and grabbed 6 rebounds.

Snodgrass had a productive game off the bench, scoring 17 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists, and Darnell had another solid game, picking up 14 points and 5 rebounds.

Three different Pirates reached double-digit points, including Senior Guard Kelcey Walker, who finished with 13 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.

The Tritons will begin SSC play Jan. 4, hosting Nova Southeastern University.

photo by Spencer Yaffe Junior Malcolm “Theo” Brunner, Jr. preparing to take a free throw.

The women’s basketball team split their two games in the 2013 Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic this past weekend.

In their first game, the Tritons (5-2) beat the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon, 65-59.

The victory was Head Coach Paul Honsinger’s 100th career win.

Eckerd took control right out of the gate, as Senior Forward Liga Vente and Senior Guard Amy Buccilla combined to score the first 13 points of the game. Freshman Guard Victoria Vine hit a jumper with 9:35 left in the half, giving the Tritons a 28-11 lead. However, the Vaqueros would close the gap and went into halftime down 34-24.

Puerto Rico continued their strong play in the second half, keeping the game close down the stretch.

They were lead by Freshman Guard Roxairaly Armesto, who scored 21 of her game-high 28 points in the second half. However, every time the Vaqueros went on a run, Eckerd responded with baskets of their own.

A layup by Armesto would cut the Triton’s lead to 61-57 with 43 seconds left in the game, but Junior Guard Kayla Bowlin would hit four consecutive free throws as Eckerd held on for the win.

Junior Guard Ivana Grbic led the way for the Tritons with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Buccilla finished with 11 points and 5 rebounds while Vente had 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Bowlin dished out a game-high 6 assists to go along with 9 points.

In their second game of the tournament, Eckerd lost to Ohio Dominican University, 58-51. The Panthers had lost their first game the previous day, falling to Florida Southern University 53-48.

Ohio Dominican jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but the Tritons eventually took an 18-16 lead with 7:11 left in the half on a 3-pointer by Buccilla. The teams played evenly for the rest of the half, and Ohio Dominican went into halftime leading 27-25.

Ohio Dominican started the second half strong as well, but once again Eckerd was able to find themselves and get right back into the game. Vente hit a big 3-pointer with six minutes left in the game, giving Eckerd a 49-48 lead. However, the Panthers outscored the Tritons 10-2 from that point on, making eight of nine free-throws to seal the win.

Vente led the way for Eckerd with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Junior Guard Rana Thomas added 12 points and 5 rebounds, while Bowlin had a game-high 5 assists.

Junior Guard Kacee Hockenberry and Freshman Forward Madi Rittinger scored 15 points apiece for Ohio Dominican.

The Tritons will begin SSC play Jan. 4, hosting Nova Southeastern University.

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