Volume 6. Issue 6

Vol. 6, Issue 6 Dec. 5, 2014 NEWS

FSU tragedy sparks campus safety discussion The Current examines EC’s prevention and protocol for an active shooter

By Gary Furrow Jr. Managing Editor

In the wake of the Florida State University (FSU) shooting on Nov. 20, the safety on college campuses has been brought into the media spotlight. However, the chances of a shooting are still low.

“I feel safe on Eckerd’s campus, because there is a miniscule chance of something happening, say, compared to driving to work,” Assistant Professor of History Lee Irby said. “Driving is still the most dangerous daily activity for Americans.”

The U.S. Census Bureau states that over 10.8 million Americans died from a car crash in 2009.

According to Slate, five people died due to a shooter on campus in 2009. Since 1980, 101 students have died due to a shooter on a college campus.

However, tragic shootings like FSU, Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois have posed a difficult question to all colleges and universities: what steps are being taking to ensure that our campus is safe?

Eastman, in his email to students on Nov. 20, expressed grief and empathy for all those affected by the shooting at FSU’s Strozier Library.

Eastman also highlighted in his email how the Eckerd works with the St. Petersburg Police Department as part of Eckerd’s plan in the event of a shooter on campus. The

plan is highlighted on the college’s website on the Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness page.

If an intruder is on campus, Campus Safety will set off an emergency siren that can be heard throughout campus, and will immediately call the police. They will then text and email all students to seek shelter and close and lock all doors and windows. No one will be allowed on or off campus for any reason until the threat is neutralized. The Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness page also urges students not to open their door for anybody they do not know and keep cell phone use to a minimum to keep communication lines open.

Despite these plans, some students and faculty are concerned about their plan of action in case of an emergency.

“I have never really thought of [a shooter on campus],” Senior Heather Gosnell said. “I’ve never worried about a shooting here.”

Irby has also not considered this scenario.

“I have no earthly idea. I’d hope I’d stay calm and try to make sure my students are safe,” he said.

The school does offer some training for freshmen students about what to do when the unexpected happens. During Autumn Term, freshmen see multiple videos on the subject of what to do in the case of a shooter.

See SAFETY, page 6

Food for thought Improvements in the caf may lead to a new contract with Bon Appétit. page 4 HEALTH & FITNESS

Sex on the beach Read about how your healthy — and not so healthy — habits affect your sex life. page 17 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Look it up Students conduct research with Professor Denise Flaherty. page 11 photo by Alex Zielinski

Please Recycle

INDEX:

NEWS

1-6

VIEWPOINTS

7-10 SCIENCE & TECH. 11-14 A & E

15-16

HEALTH & FITNESS 17-18

SPORTS 19-20

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. 5, 2014

Editor-in-Chief

Sydney Cavero thecurrent@eckerd.edu

Managing Editors Teresa Young Gary Furrow Jr. currentme@eckerd.edu

News Editors

Chelsea Duca Bryan Arnott currentnews@eckerd.edu

Viewpoints Editors Dorothy-Mae Eldemire Araesia King currentviews@eckerd.edu

Science & Technology Editor Emma Cotton

Assistant Editor

Sarah Raney currentscience@eckerd.edu

Arts & Entertainment Editor Leah Bilski

Assistant Editor

Nate Gozlan currententertainment@eckerd.edu

Health & Fitness Editor Blaide Woodburn currenthealth@eckerd.edu

Sports Editors

Dominick Cuppetilli Sabrina Lolo currentsports@eckerd.edu

Photo and Graphic Design Editor Alex Zielinski currentphoto@eckerd.edu

Online Editor Hailey Escobar

Assistant Editor

LET’S BE BRIEF

By Bryan Arnott & Chelsea Duca News Editors

The Flush

Choir presents winter concert The Flush

Make your way to the Wireman Chapel on Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. to hear the sounds of holiday music. “Winter Around the World” is presented by the Eckerd College Concert Choir with Choral Director Brent Douglas.

Epsilon Senate position up for grabs ECOS Senate meeting

Get your Christmas shopping done while supporting local artists on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hough Quad.

Campus Activities sponsors holiday party The Flush

Don’t miss the Frosty in Florida holiday party presented by Palmetto Productions and Campus Activities on Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. Make your way to Triton’s Pub for Christmas Karaoke, an ugly sweater contest, crafts and 300 Krispy Kreme donuts.

ECOS Senate will be hosting elections for a new senator for Epsilon imme- Administration aware of parking issues diately after the start of spring semester.

Email from Director of Planning, Development and New Construction Bill McKenna

Enjoy free food at Late Night Breakfast Email from Dean of Students James Annarelli

The renovation of the dirt lot outside the Galbraith Marine Science Laboratory led to a decrease in parkTake a study break and have breakfast for dinner ing spots for students. Director of Planning, Developat the Late Night Breakfast and Holiday Celebra- ment and New Construction Bill McKenna assured tion on Dec. 6 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the main students that the situation would not stay that way. cafeteria. The event is sponsored by Bon Appétit, After the work on the new Visual Arts Center is acand the food will be cooked by staff and professors. complished, they will finish work on the grass lot.

Administration opposes water tank construction

Cassie Madden currentonline@eckerd.edu

Layout Editor Hannah Hamontree

Assistant Editors

Andrew Friedman Clifford Lezark currentlayout@eckerd.edu

Multimedia Manager Gary Furrow Jr. currentvideo@eckerd.edu

Social Media Coordinator Marissa Meleedy

Business Manager Gabe Rosenthal currentads@eckerd.edu

Faculty Adviser K.C. Wolfe

The Current is a free biweekly student newspaper at Eckerd College.

Offices are located upstairs in Cobb at 4200 54th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33711. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of EC students, staff, faculty and administration.

The Current welcomes letters to the editor. Submissions should be typed and not exceed 400 words.

Writers must include their full name, graduation year and contact number. Faculty and staff should include their title, department and contact number. All submissions are subject to editing for the purposes of clarity, style or length. The Current holds the right to reject any letters deemed inappropriate. Letters can be sent via email to thecurrent@eckerd.edu with subject “Letter to the editor.” _______________________________ The Current will run full-length articles covering any arrests that present a clear danger to the community.

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

Shop at Weston’s arts fest

photo by Alex Zielinski The St. Pete city council wants to build a third tank at the water treatment plant.

By Derek Bedami Contributing Writer The St. Petersburg city council and Eckerd College have been at a standstill as both debate the size and scope of the proposed construction of a 15 million gallon water storage tank next to the college.

City Public Works Administrator Michael Connors supports the construction of the new tank at the city’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility on the Pinellas Bayway, arguing that the tank is necessary to meet Florida state law. The project was first delayed in October after Eckerd officials objected to its approval.

The proposed tank would stand 51 feet tall and 225 feet wide, and would store reject water, the term used for treated reclaimed water that fails to meet quality standards.

As with most tanks storing reject water, the tank would be open, a proposal that concerns Eckerd President Donald Eastman.

The Tampa Tribune noted that college officials have previously raised concerns about odor and mosquitos, but are now concerned

that the tank could possibly deter prospective students.

The tank would stand just 20 feet from Eckerd’s property line, but city officials have proposed disguising the tank with landscaping.

“The tank will only be visible from the college’s baseball fields and that the landscaping will largely cover it from that part of campus,” Connors told the Tampa Bay Times.

Although the city originally planned to ask for the approval of the $3,058,000 contract at the city council meeting on Nov. 6, Connors told the council that the city would only like to present its report on the proposal. After much disagreement, the decision was postponed for 30 days, at the request of Eckerd officials.

According to Eastman, Eckerd officials have organized a group of engineering consultants who will use the 30 days to better understand what size tank the city needs.

“We want this done precisely and done right. We have got a lot of answers that we don’t think are quite right,” Eastman told city council members, according to the Tampa Tribune.

The council is willing to grant Eckerd’s request in order to retain a good relationship with the school.

“Eckerd is one of our institutions. It would be very short-sighted to go ahead and do this,” Council Vice Chair Steve Kornell said in the Tampa Tribune article.

As opposed to the 15 million gallon tank, college officials have said the school could agree upon a 10 million gallon, closed tank. Connors objects to the reduction of tank’s size, claiming that the construction is necessary to comply with a Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit to run the facility.

“The agency requires water treatment plants to have sufficient storage to handle one day’s average water flow, roughly 20 million gallons,” City Engineering Director Tom Gibson said, according to the Tampa Tribune.

City officials claim that the existing five million gallon tank, and the 10 million gallon tank, are insufficient to meet this requirement.

According to the Tampa Tribune, Eckerd’s environmental consultants believe that a 10 million gallon covered tank would feasibly meet that requirement, and Eckerd officials argue that the covered tank could also be used to treat reclaimed water and would give the city more flexibility.

Connors is concerned that the failure to build the tank will be detrimental to reclaimed water customers.

“This has really come down to an issue of aesthetics at the expense of our reclaimed water customers,” Connors said in a Tampa Bay Times article.

The Water Reclamation Facility is also expected to increase its treatment demand over the next few years, as the city is gradually decommissioning the sewage plant next to the University of South Florida’s St. Pete campus. Connors is concerned that the contract with

the contracting company will have to be renegotiated if the council does not move forward on this issue soon.

Eastman has also raised concern over the increased traffic that will occur if the current plan is approved. The president and his staff outlined that the contract consists of more than just the building of a tank, but a change in the “nature of the plant.”

“The tank is our main focus, but there are other issues that we think are important, and we would like to bring that up in conversation with the city staff, and see if we can help them resolve some of the issues,” Eastman said.

Eckerd’s Director of Planning, Development and New Construction Bill McKenna explained that the plant has plans to produce methane gas from biosolids (semisolid, organic sludge, produced during wastewater treatment, that is rich in nutrients) brought in from other plants. Eastman and McKenna are concerned that this new practice will greatly increase the traffic of large trucks in and out of the plant, which has already caused reason for safety concern.

Eastman and McKenna both voiced their fear that the increased traffic will pose danger to bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as contributing to the traffic coming off of I-275.

“I often bike from the Publix, and I would be very concerned with the traffic coming in and out,” Sophomore Sarah Bryan said.

McKenna characterized the situation as a “serious issue,” one he hopes both the college and the city can mitigate through an open conversation and collaborative effort between both parties.

The council is scheduled to address the topic again the week of Dec. 1. For updates about the progress of the proposal, visit www.theonlinecurrent.com.

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Dec. 5, 2014

News 3

News

By Bryan Arnott News Editor The ECOS Senate meeting on Nov. 23 was called to order at 7:01 p.m. Goals for each complex were discussed.

Alpha senator Will Hardenbergh is looking to get a ping pong table and work more towards developing community.

Delta senator Paul Vogt is also

photo courtesy of Amira Chanel Senior Amira Chanel skydives for her 21st birthday.

Eckerd produces hero

By Gary Furrow Jr. Managing Editor

Senior Amira Chanel is more than the girl who zips past on her longboard; she is the friendly face behind the register at Eckerd’s bookstore and she is an advocate for children’s rights. Known for her love of Batman, she has turned her dark past into an everyday battle worthy of the Dark Knight.

Chanel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and faced many hardships at a very young age.

“My mom and my dad as far as I can remember had a rough relationship,” Chanel said.

Her father was unemployed and addicted to drugs for most of her life. He abused his wife verbally, mentally and physically on multiple occasions -- many times witnessed

by Chanel as a child.

“At a very young age, I learned that I had to step up and be a mom,” Chanel said. “My job was to make sure my brother and I had food, make sure he was changed and whatever homework I had gotten done and if the house needed to be cleaned, I did it.”

Her father would also steal money from her mother to feed his addictions, leaving the family in financial turmoil. Chanel’s mother later divorced her father and took her two kids away from him. In the end, the family had very little contact with him.

But, even in a safer environment, Chanel’s troubles were far from over. At the age of 10, her cousin sexually molested her. After telling her school’s guidance counselor about the traumatic event, the counselor told her family and mandated that Chanel attend therapy for one year. Chanel believed that the conversation would only stay between the two of them and her family would not find out.

The revelation about the molestation fractured her family, who suddenly began to take sides on who was right. Chanel felt betrayed by her counselor as well as her family, and it became hard for her to open up about her problems and her past.

As Chanel grew up, she decided to avenge her dark past just like the Dark Knight. While she is not wearing a cape or shooting batarangs, she is helping people who are going through traumas similar

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to hers. Chanel is now a psychology major with minors in French and Italian. Her ultimate goal is to become a case manager for kids with tough home lives. Chanel hopes to work for as a type of social worker that takes children out of abusive homes and into foster care. Chanel would be a relay between the courts, kids and their parents.

“The judge is going to ask you if it is all right … it’s literally your call whether they go home or stay in foster care,” Chanel said. “You have to go to court and be that kid’s voice.”

Chanel currently volunteers for Guardians ad Litem and serves as a summer camp counselor at camps for less fortunate kids who come from all different walks of life.

“What sparked my dedication was seeing how much it meant to the kids,” Chanel said. “Once you get to the end of the session and these kids cry because they have to leave and they call us mom or dad or sister. You see what happens when you put in that effort. That’s why I focus on that.”

Chanel’s coworker at the bookstore, Kendall Mack, spoke about the Dark Knight herself.

“Amira would be awesome working with children,” she said. “She has a unique way of reaching children and I know she’d make a great advocate.”

Chanel is working toward reaching her goals of brightening up lives but if she could be anything, she would want to be a philanthropist and donate to the people who need it.

“My dream job is to be something where I could help people, but not have it tied to me. I don’t need the accolades. I just want to help,” Chanel said.

Besides volunteering, working at the bookstore and being a full-time student, Chanel spreads her message of hope through social media.

Chanel is known for her positive quotes on Facebook. A typical quotation is similar to the one from her Nov. 5 Facebook post: “There isn’t enough darkness in all the world to snuff out the light of one little candle.”

In her limited spare time, Chanel is a part of Eckerd’s Power Lifting Club. She also skydives and competes in Reebok Spartan Races and Tough Mudders.

See AMIRA, page 6

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

trying to get a ping pong table and is working on creating a taco stand.

Iota senator Aidan Murphy would like to host more events.

Nu senator Andrew Rose is looking forward to getting a water fountain, with a possible location in the Nu courtyard, and would like to have more cookouts.

Omega senator Cole Spencer wants to have more community-

building events. Sigma senator Talin Mundkar is working towards getting a grill and fire pit.

West Lodge senator Ally Gallager is working on getting a kitchen and a mural done.

There will be a re-election for a new Epsilon senator immediately after Winter Term, as the current Epsilon senator Sammy Tol is moving to Kappa and therefore is ineligible.

Student fines get paid forward

By Chelsea Duca News Editor

In addition to tuition, most Eckerd students are familiar with paying fines and fees. Complex damages and dorm room damages are tacked onto our bills at the end of the year and, in these situations, we know how the money is spent. But few students seem to know where the money from other fines goes, like payment for quiet hours violations or parking tickets.

Aside from fines and vehicle registration, all students pay a $40 application fee when they apply to Eckerd and a $175 graduation fee when they are seniors.

According to Vice President for Business and Finance Christopher Brennan, the application and graduation fees annually generate $57,000 and $93,000 respectively.

The cost of the graduation event itself is around $150,000 each year.

There have been complaints from graduating seniors about having to pay to graduate after paying four years of tuition.

“I do not think that it is wrong for the school to charge students for the graduation ceremony,” Senior Kimberly Fitzpatrick said. “However, I think the most efficient way to do this would be to include it as part of the semester charges that a student would pay over four years.

Then the students would not have to worry about paying a large fee at the end of their senior year.”

Some common fines on campus include violations of quiet hours or the Alcohol and Other Drug

(AOD) policy. These are both considered to be judicial fines.

According to Dean of Students James Annarelli, judicial fines, which consist of the fines that students pay as a result of the outcome of the Community Standards Board or the disciplinary process, go to Student Affairs.

Last fiscal year (July 1 to June 30, 2013), $43,000 came in through judicial fines, according to Brennan.

These funds paid for the St. Pete police officer posted at the entrance to campus on weekends, as well as training and legal consulting for Student Affairs and other staff.

If there is an excess of funds after expenses are covered, Annarelli said that he spends the money on enhancing student life — though he noted that all or most of the funds are usually used each year.

“The majority of proceeds from Community Standards violations or judicial fines pay for safety and security enhancements,” Annarelli said. “Most notably, the off-duty police officer hired on weekends and non-sworn private security that we hire for large-scale events, like Kappa Karnival or concerts.”

All judicial fines are placed in a restricted account.

Annarelli explained that a restricted account rolls over each fiscal year, so after several years, there might be unspent money in the account. At that time, special requests can be made by departments to fund projects or items to improve student and campus life.

In the past, excess funds have paid for outdoor furniture for cam-

Campus Safety officers distribute parking tickets, but do not collect the fines.

pus and recreation equipment, such as the climbing rock wall.

Parking fines, however, are handled differently.

According to Brennan, the majority of parking-related revenue comes from parking fees, not fines.

Eckerd’s website states that vehicle registration is $40 for commuters and $110 for residential students.

Brennan said that $86,000 in parking fees was collected last fiscal year.

Last fiscal year, $36,000 in parking fines were collected. Parking violations are enforced by Campus Safety, but they do not collect or retain the fines.

Eckerd charges so much for parking violations because of the lack of a towing or boot program. Fines are lower at many other schools because there is often a policy in place that will either boot or tow a student’s vehicle after a certain number of offenses, at the student’s expense.

According to Director of Campus Safety Adam Colby, the last thing Eckerd wants to do is take away vehicles from students. The fines are what they are in order to encourage some students to park in their designated lots. All parking fines and fees are directed into the school’s general fund.

Brennan said that the majority of the funding for projects, including parking lot projects, road maintenance and lighting, comes from general revenue, not fines.

“We typically spend more on a project than we get from fines in a single year,” Brennan said.

photo by Bryan Arnott

4 News

the current

Dec. 5, 2014

Eckerd hosts diverse range of faiths

photo courtesy of Kira Pryzant Sophomore Kira Pryzant participated in a birthright trip to Jerusalem.

By Christine Schafer Staff Writer Much has changed since Florida Presbyterian College became Eckerd College in 1971. While Eckerd is still affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, the student body represents diverse spiritual beliefs.

The four years students spend as undergraduates are notorious for being a time of exploration. College life is known to be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience filled with classes, homework, new friends and other adventures that often leave little time for engaging in religious doctrines.

Nonetheless, there are many religious clubs on campus that understand how spirituality can play a vital role in students’ lives. According to the website for the Center for Spiritual Life, the chapel’s mission is to “challenge the mind, nurture the spirit and develop the talents of all those who utilize the services of the center.”

“The important thing we are trying to do is not attract a few students to an event at the chapel, but reach out to the whole campus instead,” Director of the Center for Spiritual Life and Chaplain Doug McMahon said. “We want the campus to be a safe place where students can ask questions about spiritual life, religion, express doubts and have an exchange of ideas.”

Students may recognize many of the events the Center for Spiritual Life hosts, such as Passions with Professors, Dorm Conversations, Pet Blessings, the Peace Pilgrimage, Burchenal Lecture Series and most recently a dinner called “Wine and Cheese” for seniors to reflect on their four years at Eckerd College.

According to McMahon, one of the stronger clubs on campus is Hillel, led by Rabbi Ed Rosenthal.

The club is for Jewish students, but all students are welcome. An average of 40 to 50 students attend the Shabbat dinner following the biweekly service.

“It’s continually growing and getting stronger,” Rosenthal said. “My hope is to educate students so they will be better citizens of the world, especially with the things going on in Israel and all the misinformation that’s out there.”

According to Rosenthal, there are currently 160 Jewish students at Eckerd. Every year, Jewish students have the opportunity to go with Rabbi Rosenthal to spend 10 days in Israel. The trip is a way to help them connect with their culture and history. This year, seven Eckerd students and 40 students across the region will embark on the 10 day journey.

“On the global scale, Hillel sponsors an annual bone marrow registration drive in conjunction with the Gift of Life foundation. Last year, the Hillel president was a match and she ended up donating bone marrow which saved a man’s life,” Rosenthal said. “Twelve to 15 students also volunteer with the Coral Restoration foundation four to five times a year.”

Students may remember attending the recent “Silent Disco” that the club hosted on South Beach to raise money for the Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Service’s food pantry. Scubi Jew, the campus’ scuba diving club, is also a way Rosenthal educates the student body about Judaism, though students do not have to be Jewish to participate in the club.

An Orthodox Christian club, composed of four to five students, meets every Wednesday afternoon for a brief service at chapel led by Father Michael. After service, Father Michael is available to talk to students either in Triton’s Pub or in his office.

Every Saturday night, Father John offers mass for Catholics and other students who would like to attend. Currently, the group averages between 20 and 40 students depending on the time of year.

Students who attend the Saturday night mass often stay for dinner and take part in a discussion. In addition to the Orthodox and Catholic services, Daughters of the King Book Club, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Fire by Night worship and Fellowship of Christian Athletes are all Christian clubs students participate in on campus.

Aside from campus gatherings, the chapel occasionally arranges rides for students who would like to enrich their spirituality through local churches.

Spirituality is not just found among Eckerd students, however.

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Davina Lopez, Associate Professor of Literature and Comparative Literature Jared Stark, Associate Professor of Classics Heather Vincent, and Asst. Professor of Mathematics Nazarré Merchant are the four faculty fellows who collaborate with the Center for Spiritual Life.

“Intervarsity has gone through a lot of waves,” Junior and President of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Esther Ou said “from there were a lot of members to very few people, to now a fuller group of people again. Sometimes it’s been tough and I didn’t feel motivated to come, but then I remembered He [God]

has a purpose for me and seeing the amount of people now, I feel so inspired and happy that I did not give up.”

Ou reflected on an earlier event in which members went to the library and gave students notes with words of encouragement during a tough time in the school year and stressed the importance of reaching out in a positive way, rather than pressuring others.

Options for students of other faiths, such as Buddhism, are also available for gatherings and spiritual growth on campus. For example, a new Buddhist meditation club meets every week with Chaplain Bhikkhuni Sudarshana.

“I think that people think they have Buddhist ideals represented here. But Buddhist teachings are not taught here,” Freshman Cat Kearns, who practices the religion, said. “They are taught to meditate and be loving, and yes, that is a large part of Buddhism, but some of the more central and historical aspects of Buddhism are not represented. I do, however, appreciate that there is a time for meditation at the chapel.”

When asked how Buddhism affects her role on campus, Kearns stated that it changes the way she approaches other people, but is not something she shares with everyone because religion can be a touchy and controversial subject, an aspect she feels is treated differently in the south compared to in her hometown in New York City.

“I think that there is a very large Christian presence and that’s very widely known and I would hate to step on any toes, so sharing my religion is not a common thing for me unless I trust someone or know that they won’t be offended by my personal beliefs,” Kearns said.

In previous years, a few students have shown interest in forming a Muslim club on campus and have been in conversation with Visiting Assistant Professor of Arabic Abdullah Lux about creating a regular gathering. Currently though, there is no formal Muslim club on campus.

In addition, another 30-minute meditation class takes place every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The class is open to anyone who would like to take a break from the hectic nature of college life to refresh their minds.

Many students who participated in Autumn Term this year may remember the restorative yoga practice that was held in the chapel after enjoying a vegetarian meal. This practice is set to continue during next year’s Autumn Term as well as in spring semester, due to the large turnout and request for its return.

The Center for Spiritual Life would like students to know that they encourage student-driven programs and invite students who want to start something and grow in their faith to visit the chapel. The chaplains on campus are dedicated to meeting the spiritual needs of students and will try to bring in the resources and people to help start more programs.

In addition, students may get involved as student coordinators at the chapel. Opportunities for coordinators include working with student ministries, service and justice, campus-wide events and paraprofessional duties. An announcement on how to apply for these positions will be going out during spring semester. If anyone has any questions or would like to speak with the chaplains, they may contact them at chaplains@eckerd.edu.

photo by Alex Zielinski Sophomore Abigail Strenga with Associate Director for the Center for Spiritual Life and Associate Chaplain Libby Shannon at the Pet Blessing on Oct. 8.

Bon Appétit contract under review

By Marlene Heyning Contributing Writer

Although Eckerd has previously signed year-to-year contracts with Café Bon Appétit regarding food service, the college hopes to improve the quality of the food through a new, multi-year contract.

Many students and faculty alike have expressed displeasure at the way the food has been handled and how it has tasted in the past.

President Donald Eastman hopes that a change to the focus and staffing will yield higher qual-

ity food that everyone can enjoy.

“We are considering signing a longer contract with Bon Appétit if they continue to produce food that the students think is really terrific, and not just okay,” Eastman said.

“The board meeting is in February, so that’s when we’ll sit down and talk about what changes we can make.”

Eastman has been working with upper level managers at Bon Appétit, Dean of Students James Annarelli and the Board of Trustees to discuss writing a longer contract with the company.

If the contract is signed, more renovations will take place in the main

caf and possibly in the cafeteria in the Continuing Education Center (CEC) near West Lodge and Sigma.

President Eastman said that in the future, Bon Appétit might put a café in the James Center as well as a coffee shop near the Armacost library to provide more dining options for the students.

At the beginning of the school year, Bon Appétit brought in new General Manager Eric Foster.

While Foster will not directly be involved in the signing and negotiating of the school’s contract with Bon Appétit, he will be put in charge of managing it.

“I’ve been a restaurant guy my whole life,” Foster said. “I’ve never really worked for a corporation like Bon Appétit before.”

Foster was a chef at five star restaurants until he started working with Bon Appétit three years ago.

Foster has worked all over the the U.S., including Georgia and Indiana.

When he first took the job with Bon Appétit, Foster did not immediately receive his title of general manager.

“I first joined as a sous chef, and within six months I was bumped to executive chef and now I am a general manager,” Foster said.

Since coming to work at Eckerd, Foster has made many changes to the caf and Triton’s Pub, such as adding a selection of tea in the caf and nicer displays for the snacks and pastries in the pub.

“Ever since I got here a few months ago, I think the changes we’ve made so far are going in the right direction,” he said.

When he arrived here, Foster thought that the quality and the handling of the food, maintenance and the number of options were “sub-par” in comparison with Bon Appétit’s standards.

See BON APPETIT, page 6

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the current

Dec. 5, 2014

News 5

Change your location to change your life

By Hannah Sisk Contributing Writer Eckerd College promotes ‘Thinking Outside,’ and many students choose to do so — in a different country.

“Studying abroad is the best way to conquer the fear of the unknown . . . and I think that that’s one of the best qualities that you can have — not being afraid to follow your dreams,” Junior Jaclyn Doody said in an email from Australia.

Doody, who is majoring in psychology and minoring in biology, is spending fall semester at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. She is studying through GlobaLinks Study Abroad and is taking advantage of all that Australia has to offer outside of class, from skydiving to scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef.

“It’s a perfect blend between fun and study, and culture and coming out of your comfort zone,” Doody said. “I’ve always dreamed about doing this, but I never thought that I could actually go through with it.”

Coordinator of Overseas Programs at Eckerd’s International Education Office Nicole Kirchberg explained how study abroad can impact students.

“I just think it’s amazing to experience a different culture and to learn about different people and the way that they live their lives,” she said.

Kirchberg has a “why not” attitude — when given the opportunity, she thinks students should take advantage of it.

Director of International Education Diane Ferris said that studying abroad allows students a new, global viewpoint in a world where people tend to focus too much on themselves and their surroundings.

“I think one of the best things that happens when students study abroad is that it helps them to get a bit out of themselves,” she said.

“To find that there are different

photo by Lia Nydes Local children play at their house on Isla Solarte in Bocas Del Toro Panama.

ways of living, different ways of existing, and that all of those affect the way that we learn and behave. I do know that many of our students come back very different, and that’s really gratifying.”

Director of Emergency Management and Campus Safety and Eckerd alum Adam Colby also sees benefits to studying abroad. Colby studied abroad in both Estonia and Russia and believes that the experience can help students in the long run.

“As the world becomes more interconnected, leaders must be able to bridge cultures and build diverse, efficient teams. Studying abroad provides future leaders a chance to understand and experience different societies and customs. This will only help them as they develop their leadership and communication skills,” Colby said.

Professor of Chinese Language and Literature Jing Shen also stressed the importance of study abroad in order to take information learned in class and apply it to a living, changing world. She said that in-class study of Chinese culture and history, for example, can’t have the same impact on a student that a semester or longer program in the culture can.

In addition, Shen mentioned that being able to practice the

photo by Lia Nydes A worker harvests bananas in Panama.

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language in a setting where the student is immersed is highly beneficial for linguistic progress.

Ferris said the number of Eckerd students studying abroad is on the rise. With class numbers provided by the Registrar’s office, the graduating class of 1996 included 376 students, 49 percent, or close to 184 students, of which studied abroad at least once. Close to 65 percent of this year’s graduating class is projected to have studied abroad at least once. If these numbers stay consistent, that would mean that close to 234 students out of this year’s projected graduating class of 360 students will have studied abroad.

In order for students to participate in study abroad experiences, it is crucial to plan ahead, according to Ferris and Kirchberg. Becoming familiar with resources available in the Office of International Education can ensure that students will be able to study abroad, regardless of their major.

Both Ferris and Kirchberg included that students majoring in science can still study abroad.

“Science is notoriously known as a very hard major to study abroad, but I had students that came in freshmen year and they got to go to the London house,” Kirchberg said.

Kirchberg also urges students to use the Office of International Education as a liaison for students to connect with others who have studied abroad.

“The people who have been abroad love to talk about their experience,” she said.

Ferris, having worked at International Education for 18 years, said that the London Study Centre has been consistently popular. She describes the London Study Centre as a stepping stone for other opportunities abroad, and especially for students who might want to study abroad twice. Ferris recommends that interested students study abroad in London during the fall semester of their sophomore year.

“You probably have been exposed to some other things that have interested you — other places, other countries. You can come back, and there is still time for you to take that next step,” she said.

Once students return from London, according to Ferris, they would still have time to apply for a second semester abroad, if interested.

Aside from the London Centre, Kirchberg remarked that popular countries are those in Western Europe, such as France, Italy and Spain.

“I personally love when a student comes in and wants to do something totally different — China, Thailand,” Kirchberg said.

To learn more about study abroad, contact Diane Ferris or Nicole Kirchberg at the International Education Office, located in Seibert 100.

graphic by Alex Zielinski Flu vaccinations need to be updated each season as the body builds up immunity.

Dorm life facilitates spread of flu

By Christa Perry Staff Writer In the midst of another flu season, Eckerd is an ideal place for the illness to spread. On campus, close living quarters can contribute to the spread of the flu.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory illness that is highly contagious and caused by influenza viruses. Serious complications can occur in older people, young children and people with other health concerns. The flu can be passed to others up to six feet away from an infected person. Flu viruses are mainly spread by droplets made by infected people when they cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the noses or mouths of uninfected people and spread the virus.

Flu symptoms can include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches and fatigue.

Between 1976 and 2007, the CDC estimates that the number of flu-related deaths in the U.S. ranged from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. During this time there were 31 flu seasons, which can start as early as October and end as late as May. To avoid the flu, the CDC suggests that everyone six months of age and older be vaccinated. Flu vaccines trigger the creation of antibodies that form in the body about two weeks after the vaccination. The vaccines contain inactivated flu viruses that provide protection against infection.

A flu vaccination is recommended seasonally because a body’s immune response to the flu vaccination will decline over time, according to the CDC. “I get the flu shot every year,” Sophomore Dana McLean said.

“I’m really sensitive to any sort of virus. When I get them, I get them a lot worse than other people, so I have to be really careful. It’s generally safer for me to get the flu shot than not.”

It is a common misconception that a person can get the flu by receiving a flu shot, but since the viruses in the vaccine are inactivated, this is not possible. However, minor side effects can occur from the shot, like a low fever and aches.

“I have never had adverse symptoms from the flu shot,” said McLean. “Not in the recent years at least. Sometimes my arm is a little sore but I don’t get flu-like symptoms. Some people at my high school used to get symptoms after getting the flu shot.”

According to Walgreens’ website, an annual flu vaccination is recommended not only because of the body’s decreased immune response to the vaccine, but because flu viruses are constantly changing.

The vaccine must be updated. The Walgreens pharmacy offers five different vaccinations for its customers, each containing different virus strains and preservatives.

According to an email from Assistant Director of Outreach Services and Health Promotion Lori Makin-Byrd on Oct. 22, the Eckerd College Office of Outreach Services and Health Promotion hosted a Flu Shot Clinic. Walgreens came on to campus to administer flu shots containing three strains of the virus.

The cost of the flu shot is $25.99, but is often free depending on insurance plans.

Students, faculty and staff were all welcome. Makin-Byrd said that the event had a good turn-out.

McLean, a former boarding school student, received her flu shot at the Flu Shot Clinic and believes the risk of getting the flu is higher living on a college campus.

“It’s kind of like a petri dish, everyone is living together,” said McLean. “It’s like going to boarding school. If one person gets it, it’s most likely going to spread, theres nothing you can do about it. You have to be really careful. Thats one of the reasons I got my flu shot.

We’re such a small community, it would spread so much faster than it would anywhere else. It’s safer to get it than not.”

Makin-Byrd agrees that viruses like the flu could spread quickly on a college campus.

“Everyone is interacting with each other constantly,” said Makin-Byrd. “You use the same bathrooms, doorknobs, glasses, all of these things that make communicable diseases really contagious. So I think getting a flu shot is very important, especially given that there are so many students living in close proximity to each other.”

According to the Eckerd College website, around 1,500 students live on campus in very close quarters.

The threat of the flu is high on this primarily residential campus.

Some students, however, are not concerned about the threat of the flu.

“I’m already sick right now. If it happens it happens,” said Sophomore Meredith Alden. “I’m really not that worried. It’s not winter and cold and dry here. I just don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”

Well, it may not be “that big of a deal” in a college student’s age demographic. The CDC reports that during the regular flu season, about 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 years and older. Regardless, the flu is a contagious virus that can be prevented by good hygiene and vaccinations.

According to an email from Makin-Byrd, St. Anthony’s Health Center on campus will provide flu shots during regular business hours by appointment.

6 News

the current

Dec. 5, 2014 From SAFETY, page 1

photo courtesy of Amira Chanel

Chanel climbs a wall during the Spartan Sprint.

From AMIRA, page 3

“Amira has a drive, a fire inside her, that’s different from many other students. It propels her to do strange things like triathlons … for fun,” Mack said.

Chanel’s mentor and Professor of Psychology Jeff Howard admires her hard work and determination.

“Amira already has a lot of experience working with kids, especially kids who come from difficult backgrounds,” Howard said. “She has really applied herself to learning psychology and understands that you have to treat each person as an individual because you never know what they have been through or what’s going on in their world.”

From BON APPÉTIT, page 4

During fall break, new changes were made seemingly overnight to the caf and pub, including nicer serving containers and utensils, better serving spoons and more variety -- especially at the salad bar, which included fresh cheddar cheese, grilled chicken and more choices for dressings.

Foster also said that his team is trying hard to make their food as gluten-free as possible.

“That was a huge complaint coming in here, so I’m trying to make everything we can gluten-free,” he said. “If I can make meatloaf without breadcrumbs, then we’re doing it. We’re really being mindful of what people are trying to tell us as far as what they’re capable of eating.”

Foster also said that he and his team regularly read students’ comment cards.

“They are very important to us,” he said. “We have meetings with the manager and the staff, and if a suggestion comes up and it’s possible to do, we’ll make it possible.”

To Foster, the caf ’s progress and improvement are a daily job.

“Every morning, I wake up and come into work to be better,” Foster said. “We have to be better than yesterday.”

Chanel’s love for kids and her life story are not the only thing that prepares her for a life of service.

“Amira has a unique combination of laid-back, casual personal style but also a refined sense of professionalism and appropriate behavior, especially when she is in a leadership role,” Howard said. “She motivates others to want to cooperate with her.”

Chanel embodies the concept of the mythical phoenix rising from the ashes of her past to come back stronger than ever. She is making her darkest demons in to angels for children in abusive homes both in Gotham City and St. Petersburg.

As for an official review, Foster does not know the specific date.

But, he believes the students are responding well to the changes.

“The comments are really positive, so I think everyone is enjoying it more. Are we going to make every soul happy? No. But we will try to,” he said.

Foster also said that next semester, it will be harder to get off the meal plan. Since all of these new changes are taking place, he feels that students should eat at the cafeterias and that they will like the new setup for the cafeteria and pub much better.

Sophomore Justin Quick, however, is still unsatisfied with the new changes made to the cafeteria and pub.

“We need more options in the caf, more protein and more complex carbs,” Quick said. “I don’t want to be on the meal plan if they limit my options. But it’s nearly impossible to get off, and all I want to do is get more food that fills me up.”

Quick added that, among these options, he would like there to be fresher fruits and salad.

“They take away the Hemisphere [station] on the weekends and the food is awful on the weekends. The pub isn’t open either until noon.

The bowls are also smaller and they

Campus Safety features a video

by Homeland Security called “Run. Hide. Fight” on their website. The video, however, is not specific to Eckerd’s campus. It says that in the case of an emergency, students should decide whether to run, hide or fight. It also gives helpful tips like staying away from glass or anywhere you can easily be seen. That tip may lead to a dilemma here at Eckerd.

Most buildings, on both the academic and residential sides of campus, have windows that span across the wall of a room, leaving a full view of the classroom or dorm room from the outside. Many classrooms have transparent curtains on the windows but not on the glass doors, or they have doors that have large windows, leaving very little room to hide. Most professors do not have the necessary keys to lock their classroom doors.

Director of Emergency Management and Campus Safety Adam Colby explained that professors do not have keys because it is archaic and unnecessary. Professors at Eckerd teach in multiple classrooms throughout the week, making getting a key for every professor’s classrooms almost impossible.

Colby explained that times have changed since the tragic Virginia Tech Massacre in 2007 and that locking students in a classroom is doing a lot of harm: it limits what students can do to defend themselves.

“What we always are encouraging is the ‘run, hide, fight,’ which is kind of the new model for what to do during an active shooter,” Colby said. “Because basically what you’re trying to do is you’re trying to stay alive for five minutes.”

He went on to explain that the reason why Virginia Tech was so bad was the police’s slow response time. They took a long time to arrive on campus, leaving the students to become targets in a locked room.

The delay was due to the need to confirm the shooting; now, law enforcement is called at the first sign or hunch of a shooting. Colby said on average the police can be on campus within five minutes, and more than likely, the first car will be here in a minute in the case of a shooting. Quick law enforcement response is why Colby believes the FSU shooting had fewer casualties than other school shootings.

The procedure to deal with this

potential situation on Eckerd’s campus is for students to quickly move into a windowless room. Buildings like Triton’s Pub do not have safe rooms or rooms big enough to hold many people. Students would have to go to a nearby building that does have a large enough safe room.

“My thing is this: we’re a huge campus,” Colby said. “There’s plenty of places to hide on this campus and our students probably know better than a lot of other people.”

Many students have already thought about where they would hide in case of a shooter on campus.

“I think that if there were a school shooting, I would feel less safe knowing how few places there are to hide on the non-residential side of campus,” Senior Claire Pfeifer said. “I would feel a lot safer in a residential hall.”

On the residential side of campus, the traditional style dorms also contain a lot of windows. Codes are required for access to dorm complexes, while Iota requires residents to swipe their ID cards. However, the codes are widely known throughout campus and are easy to find out even for strangers -- just ask someone.

Dorm rooms have safety measures that would make breaking in difficult for intruders. Students’ individual doors lock from both the outside and inside and are made out of heavy wood.

“I feel like we have enough places to avoid the glass but we haven’t really prepared our students for this situation,” Senior Heather Gosnell said. “I’m sure I would take the time to find a safe hiding spot, but I can’t say the same about the rest of the students on campus. Knowing this does not make me feel less safe on campus, but I do think that we don’t think enough about emergency situations such as this.”

Besides Eckerd’s plan in case of a shooting, the campus is also fenced in and gated with only one public entrance in and out. Colby said that the school is working on strengthening the fences around campus and students should see improvements within the next month to month-and-half.

“I don’t know that any design of a building would make me feel safe in a shooting,” Irby said. “I certainly would never advocate replacing windows with walls because some poor, disturbed person might melt down. No psycho is ever going to diminish my love of nature, so

leave the windows alone and work on passing sensible gun regulations instead.”

Eckerd is an open campus during business hours, but cars are stopped for ID checks all day Saturday and Sunday. Monday through Friday, students are stopped between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. If someone at the gate does not have a student ID or is a registered guest, they are not allowed on campus.

Campus Safety is sometimes more lenient about this rule, depending on the officer on duty.

There is also a back gate for maintenance workers, and it is only open during business hours. There is no guard at that gate, but cameras allow Campus Safety to monitor it.

Colby pointed out that the guards at the front gate perform multiple tasks at one time by answering all the phone calls that come into Eckerd after business hours, checking IDs, monitoring cameras and filling out guest passes. Campus Safety has hired two full-time night dispatchers to relieve some of the workload away from the guards at the gate.

Colby has another solution for the problem of people bypassing the busy front gate.

“Be more proactive students,” Colby said. “Stop trying to fool the Campus Safety officers and hide your friends in trunks, or tell them how to sneak in the back gate or how to get around Campus Security. Those type of things don’t help us one bit.”

Students should educate themselves on the safety protocol. If a student is unclear about the proper protocol in case of an emergency, they should seek out the guidance of Campus Safety before an event happens. However, if lightning strikes and there was a shooter on campus and all other methods do not work, resort to your final option: fight back.

“Don’t allow somebody, or yourself, to be an easy target,” Colby said. “Do something.”

Students should report any suspicious activity or behavior on campus to Campus Safety.

In his email, Eastman agreed that students and Campus Safety should work together to create a safe environment.

“The safety of everyone on this campus is our number one priority,” he said.

are replaced at the same rate, which is slow.”

Quick also wants the prices to go down.

“I pay way too much for pizza and salad. Fiscally, that’s not okay.

I’m already in debt,” he said.

Lauren Chacho, however, thinks differently about the new changes made to the cafeteria.

“I really love the variety of main dishes they have now, like the sandwich station. They also have fruit out all the time,” she said. “Last year it was always the stir fry at the Hemisphere station, which got old real fast.”

She noticed the hard work of Foster and his team.

“The cafe has had a nice evolu-

tion and I hope that continues,” Chacho said.

Foster also believes that the changes he’s made are for the better and that he is moving in the right direction.

“The feedback has been positive and that’s really good to hear. I’m trying really hard to make everything better,” he said.

photo by Cypress Hansen

The caf now offers a larger variety of tea, hot chocolate and coffee.

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the current

Dec 5, 2014

Viewpoints 7

Viewpoints Dramatory: Change the dynamic, dethrone drama kings, queens

By Dorothy-Mae Eldemire Viewpoints Editor It’s almost the end of the semester and everyone’s either ready to go home or simply tired of seeing the people in their dorm constantly, so it’s not strange that dorm drama is happening all over.

There’s always that one drama in a dorm that flares up and has everyone tiptoeing on mines to go where they want to in the dorm. Need to go to the bathroom? Hold on a second while I peek out my door and see if a person involved is around.

Need to go to the water fountain? Sure, just let me pull out the secret agent moves as I run through the bathroom and roll through the halls to get water upstairs. Urban Dictionary defines this dorm drama as “dramatory”: A place where drama is afoot.

Let’s get real. You put 16 girls on a floor and not expect to see some kind of drama. That’s ludicrous.

You put 16 guys on a floor and expect to not see at least one scrap, ridiculous. You’ve probably lived with your family your whole life and I’m sure there’s at least a week where you want to push them off a cliff.

So why is it that when dorm drama is afoot, everyone seems to hate everyone permanently? I sat down and pondered this one night as I found myself wanting to go get food but not knowing whether I should knock on the usual doors I usually knock on to ask who wanted to accompany me in fear of being screamed at or having the door slammed in my face.

Now, we’ve all been through high school. We’ve all had our fair share of drama. Do we really want to live out the rest of the year tiptoeing through a dorm where everyone seems to hate everyone?

I don’t know about you, but

Photo by Hannah Hamontree As it nears the end of a long semester, drama becomes rampant in dorms. How you handle it determines how it turns out.

I don’t. According to a study done by St. Olaf College, most students do not seek mediation from RA’s or Res Life until it is way past the point of no return.

Why? Well, say your name is Jane. Jane has two friends she always hangs out with and they both get into a fight and expect Jane to pick sides. Jane doesn’t care about the drama and personally feels this could all have been avoided with communication. Now Jane is left to wonder how to fix the relationship between her friends.

Jane has become attached to these two girls over the past year and considers them her best friends.

Now, she doesn’t know if she should choose sides or just

Communication. Communication. Communication. This is key.

Everything can be avoided with a little bit of communication. Someone did something that annoyed you?

Go to them and tell them. Don’t be rude about it, but let them know that it bothers you and see if there’s a way it can be fixed or a way you both can come to an agreement about it.

You heard someone said something about you? Don’t believe everything you hear. Go to them and ask them. Don’t be rude about it.

Don’t burst into a room screaming at them. Pull them aside and let them know you heard something and you want to know if it’s true. I know it’s hard to do, but it’s easier than causing unnecessary

leave it alone and let it fix itself.

I know what you’re thinking, “Well maybe Jane should get a life.”

But honestly, is it ever that easy?

We all know how long it takes to get over a breakup, much less losing a best friend. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known them or how badly they’ve hurt you.

It still takes a while to realize you don’t have anyone to talk to when the guy you had a crush on forever finally speaks to you, or when you boyfriend of three years dumps you.

It’s hard not having anyone to talk to.

I’m not saying we should all be best friends. So, what am I asking? What’s the point of all this? There are a few easy ways to avoid this and keep the peace.

INSIDE VIEWPOINTS Eckerd’s evolution

page 8

The Rainbow Connection

page 9

Friendly Fire

page 10

drama. We can’t read minds.We don’t know what you are thinking.

Avoid the gossip. We’re all guilty of the “he said, she said.”

Gossip is the root of all evil.

Stop it, or at least try. Save it for the hair salon and barber shop where you don’t know anyone and they’re all willing to hear about it.

Learn. If you don’t like someone, that’s fine. We’re human. It’s impossible to like every person you meet.

However, it’s extremely rude to go around talking about them behind their back if you don’t know them.

Everyone comes to college from different backgrounds and different regions. What may be commonplace to them may be strange to you. Learn about their culture and learn about their place of origin. Maybe you might hate them a little less and learn to tolerate them.

Let it go. Yes, listen to Elsa and “Let it Go.” Dwelling on things makes them worse and stresses you out more than it needs to. It makes no sense trying to convince someone that you’re wrong or right or vice versa when a point has already been made. Talk it out, come to a mutual agreement and move on.

College is all about learning experiences, especially when you’re forking over $50,000 a year.

No one wants to live through dorm drama. Many of us are already going through situations outside of our dorms.

Some of us are trying to make it through college without failing to keep scholarships.

All this dorm drama can be avoided.

Communicate.

Sit down and talk it out. I’m pretty sure the atmosphere in your dorm will improve greatly.

In the words of Bob Marley, “Let’s get together and feel all right” -- or, you know, live together peacefully. Whichever works best.

Rise in female superheroes empowers women

By Hailey Escobar Online Editor It’s official. I want to be MingNa Wen when I grow up. The 51-year-old actress has been in many films and television shows throughout her career, but it is her role as female heroes that has made her notable.

It began in 1998 when Wen first voiced the title character of “Mulan,” the young Chinese warrior who goes against tradition and joins the army dressed as a man.

Years later, as the cast of ABC’s “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” Wen returned as a new character for Disney as experienced field Agent Melinda May. Despite her age, Wen has shown the world how strong a woman can really be doing her own stunts, including a sequence that had Wen fighting herself in the recent episode “Face My Enemy.”

Wen stands in a long line of super

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heroines taking to screens in the 21st century. In Marvel’s cinematic universe, Wen is joined by fellow members Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge and Adrianne Palicki who play Skye, Dr. Jemma Simmons and Agent Bobbi Morse respectively, some of the strongest characters in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. On the big screen, there’s also Scarlett Johansson’s character Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow, who has been a main figure in four of the “Avengers” franchise films.

According to IMDB, Black Widow is rumored to have her own solo film along with the new “Captain Marvel” film which will also star a new heroine.

This trend is occurring in all corners of the entertainment industry. Even DC Comics has finally recieved the message that they are in need of a Wonder Woman film,

This will be the character’s first official return since the 1975 television series starring Lynda Carter and first appearance on the big screen. The films continue on with the “Lara Croft” series, Pixar’s “Brave,” Elizabeth Swann in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games” and Tris in “Divergent” just to name a few. Even on TV with characters like Abby Mills on Fox’s “Sleepy Hollow” where Mills plays an equal part to her fellow witness of the apocalypse Ichabod Crane.

An increase of female heroes has become a demand.

Mar vel Graphic by Hannah Hamontree fans will

which is now being planned for a 2017 release.

The movie will star actress Gal Gadot after the famed h e r o ine’s a p p e a rance in “Batman v.

Superman: Dawn o f J u s tice.”

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com Graphic by Hannah Hamontree

even be treated to the mini-series “Agent Carter” in January, starring Hayley Atwell’s Agent Peggy Carter.

The character first appeared as a love interest in “Captain America: The First Avenger” back in 2011, but demand from fans to learn more about the character’s backstory led to Atwell reprising her role four times before her show.

These fantastic women are inspiring a new breed of woman, one that will believe she can do anything just as well as the men.

In time, these heroines could possibly lead to young girls searching out heroines in real life such as Dr. Sylvia Earle who recently visited St. Petersburg. Earl is one of the world’s most renowned divers, explorers and marine biologists.

Women are now seeing themselves as conduits for change in the world and, with hard work and a karate kick or two, they can also help save it.

8 Viewpoints

the current

Dec 5, 2014

Graphic by Alex Zielinski The uppdated sign at the front gate is one of many updates the campus has seen in recent years.

Senior looks back as Eckerd moves forward

By Brian Story Contributing Writer The rapid growth of Eckerd’s campus might be likened to the vibrant and progressive outlook of Floridian development and young colleges and universities. While that may be true, there is a more important meaning to be extracted from our campus’ physical state and the liberal arts experience.

Whether I’m looking at Zeta Pond from an Omega balcony or across the newly cleared bank of Chapel Pond, the newness of this campus is strikingly evident to me. Until coming to Eckerd, in my mind, 150-year-old land grant colleges have represented the fountain

of upper academic knowledge from their perches atop granite hills.

As a senior, I feel I understand how Eckerd and its liberal arts approach to learning have literally arisen from the swamp. The focus within this bubble isn’t based so much upon tradition and the regurgitation of knowledge, but the implementation of it.

As my fellow classmate and suitemate Greg Johnson has so succinctly put it: “You don’t just learn from the lectures here, you get to know professors personally, collaborate with them and take your education into a new tier of social and intellectual interaction.”

He’s right. If you skip a class here, you’re not just missing out of

the facts of the lecture; you’re missing out on the discussion of education.

In 1958, the land that Eckerd stands on began its transformation from Florida marsh and wilderness to the campus we know today, much as our freshmen begin their journey here each year -- full of energy, potential and possibility. Over the course of time, as we have developed into adults preparing to engage with the “real world,” the aesthetic of our campus has evolved.

Many of the dorms have remained in their more or less original condition as their newer neighbors Nu, Omega, Sigma, West Lodge and Iota have joined the ranks.

On the academic side of campus,

a second generation of buildings is already emerging: the James Center for Molecular and Life Sciences, better purposed for the study of chemistry and the molecular sciences and soon, in the place of the Ransom Arts building, a new arts complex.

Even in these last four years, I have found myself looking around campus at the recent changes.

When I drove past the front gate for the first time in Autumn Term, the James Center was a fenced-off pile of dirt, our beach volleyball club hadn’t been considered for NCAA ranking, a cappella hadn’t blown up on campus, and we hadn’t begun motion to form a new arts building. It’s cool to see what can

happen in four years.

Looking into the future, I’m not sure what’s in store for Eckerd: expansion, relocation due to environmental concerns and rising tides and further development in new areas of academic study are possible.

Whatever the next 20 years and beyond hold for this campus, I expect that it will adapt and rise to the challenges that present themselves, just as we will as graduates outside of the bubble.

We’ve transitioned out of our adolescent swamp hopefully, and by the time we leave here, we will have formed the foundations of critical thinking required to pursue our various and frequently changing careers.

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Dec 5, 2014

Viewpoints 9

Holidays bring LGBT body image to light

By Timothy Lee Columnist In just a few weeks, Eckerd students will be going home for winter break. For many, that will mean celebrating Christmas with family, bedazzled trees, expensive gifts, lights, magic and stuffing ourselves with copious amounts of food, all while listening to “Jingle Bell Rock” on repeat.

But according to a 2007 study

by Columbia University researchers, gay and bisexual men are three times as likely as heterosexual men to have suffered from an eating disorder, while lesbian and bisexual women are not any less likely than heterosexual women to have suffered from an eating disorder.

For many of us, winter break with all those intimate family feasts is made especially difficult by low self-esteem and its devastating, sometimes fatal consequences on our eating habits.

According to a publication by the National Institute of Mental Health, Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by “a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight,” while Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by “recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food” often followed by compensating behaviors such as “purging, fasting and/or excessive exercise.”

I don’t want to belabor those descriptions; I think we all get the

Dear Abby, I am a freshman who recently was given a car by my parents. Now that I can drive, I was wondering about where to go eat off-campus.

What are some really good (nonfastfood) restaurants that are close to campus?

picture. My point is that if you are an LGBT person whose relationship with your food is broken and abusive, you are not alone.

Disordered eating is an elephant in the room for the LGBT community. We don’t really talk about it, but I think we all know how frighteningly common it is.

I am familiar with the temptation to disordered eating, as I think most of us are. I want to start a conversation about why that is by offering a few suggestions based on my own experience.

I want to drive away the myth that disordered eating is more common among LGBT men because we are more “feminine” than heterosexual men and because eating disorders are “feminine disorders.”

Like so many other myths about masculinity and femininity, is a lie perpetuated in order to silence and isolate us. If that logic were valid, LGBT women would have fewer eating disorders than heterosexual women, and according to the study, this is not the case.

I want to go beyond discussing the extent to which everything LGBT, from travel magazines to porn, celebrates v-shaped torsos and washboard abs as integral parts of an ideal man’s body. I think that is a symptom of a deeper insecurity.

In my experience, the desire to do whatever it takes to have the “perfect body” is largely a result of internalized shame and homophobia.

We strive for perfection in an

and Burrito Border.

Seafood: the Shrimp Store, Hiro’s Tokyo Sushi and Bone Fish Grill.

Italian: Carrabba’s, GiGi’s, Good Fella’s Pizzeria, Westshore Pizza and Primi Urban Cafe.

Thanks, Very Hungry

Campus Activities gives out discount cards for restaurants every year to its students. Be on the lookout for them. Most of the restaurants listed above are on them.

Dear Very Hungry,

I hope this helps.

St. Petersburg is home to many delicious restaurants. Here are some of my personal favorites: Tex Mex: Tijuana Flats, Chipotle, Red Mesa

Best, Abby

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

Follow us on twitter: @TheECCurrent Human Experience Professor: “I finished reading “The Circle” and I liked it so much that I started the sequel... “The Square.” #teacherjokes

Communications Professor “I hope you New Englanders enjoy the luxury of eating decadent decapods at Thanksgiving dinner.” #wherestheturkey

Environmental Studies Professor “I don’t want to look like an idiot and disappoint my kid. I’m going to start recycling.” #wellthatsonereason

Science Professor “Didn’t you guys notice? I put a beach ball on my slides so you would be all happy and smiley during my lectures.” #educationentertainment

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attempt to overcome the idea that we are somehow dirty or less valuable because we are LGBT. It is about a sense of control through which we can define our own selfworth. So what can we as a community do about this problem?

First, we must be open about our struggles, and we must support each other in them.

In an article in The Current from October, Health & Fitness Reporter Samantha Schepps discussed disordered eating as an addiction, and just like any other addicts, we need the support of a community to recover.

Secondly, we must make the LGBT community a place where no one is stigmatized for their insecurities or judged on how they look. We must practice body positiv- Negative stigmas of body image affect LGBT community. ity -- the idea that all matters most. Unrealistically-phoour bodies are inherently valuable, toshopped magazine cover-models beautiful and deserving of respect. may be visually pleasing, but health Thirdly, we must try to recen- is what is really beautiful. ter our ideas of beauty around This is not meant to diminish health. Having a body and mind the importance of seeking the help that is well-nourished and con- of a professional therapist if you fident, whatever its size, is what have a serious problem.

Graphic by Alex Zielinski

Eating disorders are life-threatening. But together, our community can begin to address this problem and create systemic change.

Together, we can break the chains of fear, shame and insecurity that bind us. None of us has to face this darkness alone.

10 Viewpoints

the current

Dec. 5, 2014

Friendly Fire:

Elections elicit electric response

By Dan Whitely Staff Writer

The 2014 election was a decisive and incisive victory for the Republican party. Their electoral victory serves as a stamp of approval from the American public, and validates the political decisions made by the GOP over the past two years.

The poisonous precedent set by the Republican party in the second session of the 114th Congress is sure to carry over into the next, and gives little hope to the future of American politics.

Congress’ approval rating in its past session was the worst in recorded history, with 69 percent of Americans disapproving of Congress’ actions.

Peaks in discontent such as this one coincide with the most significant moments in the past two years of congressional activity, the worst of which being the government shutdown of 2013.

In the aftermath of new elections, many are led to speculate about the upcoming terms of those recently elected or reelected. While this may be a useful way to gauge where the country might be heading, it is often an unfruitful practice.

Despite knowing which party is in the majority or the key players in Congress or in governorships outside events, public opinions and the inherent unpredictability of politics ultimately influence the political climate more than any other person in public office.

This current cycle has seen a resurgence in Republicans gaining footing in both Congress and in governorships across the U.S. While this may seem alarming to those that label themselves as Democrats with many Democratic policies and ideologies in jeopardy, it is not necessarily a sign of bad things to come.

When discussing the Affordable Care Act or topics of immi-

In response to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the Republican party refused to approve a budget, ultimately leading to a unilateral government shutdown, the first in 17 years.

This resulted in a myriad of problems for the average citizen, explaining the approval rating that resulted.

But, the American public’s disapproval was not directed at the party responsible, but at the entirety of Congress, and now the upshot of that is clear.

This was the first time the Republican party brought Congress to a complete halt, but not the first time that the GOP slowed progress to a crawl. These included Ted Cruz’s 21 hour speech to delay the initial vote on the Affordable Care Act, to the numerous fights over raising the debt ceiling.

PerspECtives:

“I normally go home, and my extended family comes over. There’s about 40 of us. We buy about 30 pounds of meat and then we gorge ourselves on food while watching football.”

- Nathan Goldstein, senior

gration, it is important to realize that those who are in office are ultimately subject to the will of their constituents and are completely reliant on approval from their districts. The shift towards the ideology of the right, represents the political orientation of the majority of Americans and should be respected.

With new members starting their first terms in Congress, there is hope that the 114th Congress will be able to rise above the gridlock that plagued its previous members. Gridlock, or the slow passing of any laws, due to intense polarization between Democrats and Republicans was a hallmark of the last session of Congress.

Many may point to the gridlock originating from the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, and view the Senate also becoming a Republican majority as a sign of greater inaction to come. But gridlock is not inevitable.

These fights almost resulted in another government shutdown on several occasions.

This was barely avoided by passing a budget for one week in order to prevent defaulting on the U.S. debt, a potentially catastrophic event. Again, all these delays were orchestrated by GOP leaders.

The strategy in American politics now is clear: if you cannot get what you want, delay delay delay.

If enough of a fuss is made and enough damage is done, the public will respond negatively, and blame is easily assigned to the party in power. After all, they’re in charge; it must be their fault.

Now with the Republicans in power, who can expect otherwise from the Democratic party in the years to come? The strategy has proven to be effective, and with hot-button issues on the horizon,

Already there is conflict between President Obama and Republicans in the Congress, but not to the same extent as there has previously been in Congress.

Immigration is a major issue that has been developing over the past year, especially in the past weeks. On Nov. 13 Obama announced in an official memorandum that he would take steps to protect 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation, a plan the New York Times reports Republicans have been quick to castigate. Despite this announcement, the rhetoric that has emerged from Congress has not been as extreme as in previous sessions.

While some Republicans speak of government shutdown, or obstructing other legislation in order to retaliate against Obama, nothing has of yet come to fruition.

On the subject of obstructionism in Congress, the 114th Con-

gress appears to not desire to engage in gridlock or petty disputes.

On the campaign trail, many candidates harped on the subject of bipartisanship and compromise, which should be looked to as a hopeful sign. Pew Research Center currently polls Congressional approval at 28 percent -- a rating so low that all members are careful of their actions.

With many Americans frustrated with Congress’ inability to pass legislation and their penchant for pettiness, the returning members as well as new members will likely look to their campaign promises and polling numbers as a sign to cooperate.

It is sometimes difficult to remember that speculation regarding the new wave of Republicans in Congress and in governorships is still too early to take as fact.

Many take office next January and until that moment no one can say with any certainty what the future has in store.

it does not bode well towards congressional activity proceeding uninterrupted.

Several columnists are already projecting potential shutdowns over issues like the promised attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the continued immigration debate.

Obama will also be looking to deploy the veto power with impunity against the Republican Congress, further stomping on hopes of productivity.

The current state of American politics and discourse has established its core principle: the worst of all things is compromise. If you are going to lose, do it as loudly and unhelpfully as possible.

You can look forward to more public paroxysms, loud screams of protestation and little to no progress in the years to come.

By Matthew Cramer Staff Writer

What are your holiday traditions?

“We play “find the pickle.” It’s a glass pickle that’s green. We hide it in our large Christmas tree and then we try to find it. It takes a while to find, and it gets pretty competitive.”

- McKenna McRoy, freshman

“Well, every Christmas Eve we eat a seven course seafood dinner at my house because we’re Italian.

The next day we go to my grandmother’s, and we begin eating with an Italian dish called Cappelletti.”

- Sydney Dinelli, senior

“During Christmas, I go home for a week, because I play basketball. During that time I visit my family and friends. We give each other presents and deck the tree.”

- Sarah Ammons, sophomore

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the current

Dec. 5, 2014

Science & Technology 11

Science & TEchnology Worms, proteins, pinecones help to fight Alzheimer’s

By Ania Szczesniewski Staff Writer Assistant Professor of Biology Denise Flaherty and her team of Eckerd students are discovering new ways to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The work is divided into two projects, one for each disease.

Flaherty is passionate about mentoring her students and involving them in her work.

“That’s the big part for me, I love the a-ha moments,” she said. “I love when they struggle a little bit and then find great answers and realize that they’ve really come up with something.”

For Seniors Shannon Weeks and Alec Schlosser, these projects are their thesis research. Weeks leads the team focusing on Alzheimer’s, which includes Junior Ashlin Niedzwiecki, Senior Barbara Del Castello, Sophomore Jennifer Chavez, Sophomore Julia Tanquary and Senior KT Klens. Schlosser leads the team focusing on Parkinson’s, which includes Junior Martin Davis, Junior Ciera Akins and Sophomore Garrett Schultheis. “[Doing research with Flaherty] is really awesome, she’s super positive and very excited about all the work that she does. It makes it a lot of fun,” Weeks said.

The Alzheimer’s research has been underway for only two years here at Eckerd, but for Flaherty, it is a reminder of her days working on her dissertation about Alzheimer’s (although a different aspect of it than is currently being studied at Eckerd) when she was

a student at Emory University.

Flaherty hopes that within the next year she and her team can publish a paper about their biggest success: the discovery that the antioxidant lutein helps delay paralysis caused by the disease. Lutein is commonly found in green leafy vegetables but can also be bought in capsule form at any drugstore.

A key player in both projects’ research is the tiny, one-millimeter worm called caenorhabditis elegans, or C. elegans for short. C. elegans serves as what’s called a model organism — a species that’s easy to maintain and breed in a laboratory, has already been widely studied and provides an advantage by being studied. This worm has been utilized by many scientists, including four Nobel laureates over the past 11 years. The biggest advantage of using this worm is that its genetics are fully known. They are also hermaphrodites and each produces about 300 to 500 baby worms. When properly taken care of, these worms live about three to four weeks.

Flaherty tells her students the story of how, as a graduate student, she never envisioned herself studying things as plain-Jane as fruit flies or worms. In those days, Flaherty studied Alzheimer’s through the use of cadaver or cow brains — both of which were a hassle to get. After getting tired of regular trips to slaughterhouses for her Ph.D. work, Flaherty chose to take advice from some of those around her about doing research with a model organism instead.

Photo by Cypress Hansen

Professor Flaherty studies C. elegans under a microscope.

“I saw the real beauty and benefit in the model [organism] to tell us a lot of things, so that’s how I got involved,” Flaherty said.

She chose to do her post-doctorate studies at a C. elegans lab and reaped the benefits of much more data in less time.

Beta amyloid molecules are the main part of what’s called senile plaque which builds up on the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. For the Alzheimer’s project, Flaherty gets worms that

are genetically modified to overexpress the human version of beta amyloid.

By using the worms to express human beta amyloid, Flaherty and her team can test whether using different dietary supplements lessens the inflammation that occurs around these plaques. If the worm stayed healthier, they know the supplement helped.

Eckerd is collaborating on part of the Alzheimer’s research with Tampa Bay Research Institute. There, Eckerd alumna Liz Marinaro (‘12) works with

C. elegans where pine-cone extract has been found successful in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Marinaro was a student of Flaherty’s and did her thesis research with her.

Over the nine years that she has been here, Flaherty has worked with many students.

“I believe it’s been well over 45 students that I’ve trained up personally in my lab, working with them one on one—that’s the most gratifying part for sure,” she said.

US, China agree to lower carbon emissions long-term

By Bryan Arnott News Editor On Nov. 12, the U.S. and China agreed to a record deal that aims to curb carbon emissions in both countries.

The announcement comes after almost nine months of negotiations, which were mostly kept out of the public’s eye. In the deal the U.S. proposed, there would be a 26 to 28 percent reduction in carbon emissions from their 2005 levels by 2025 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050. China will try to peak their carbon emissions and receive 20 percent of their energy from zero carbon emission sources by 2030.

“It will double the pace at which we’re reducing carbon pollution in the United States,” President Barack Obama said in a news conference in China on Nov. 12. It puts us on a path to achieving the deep emissions reductions by advanced economies that the scientific community says is necessary to prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change.”

Climate change is a topic that has gained international coverage over the past 20 years. The U.S. is one of a few developed countries in the world to still have nationwide indecision about its legitimacy.

Eckerd doesn’t shy away from being environmentally friendly. It has a well-respected science program

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that lets students get hands-on experiences due to its location on the Gulf of Mexico. The 2011 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges selected Eckerd’s Environmental Studies program as one of the 10 best in the U.S. Currently, Eckerd has two different solar collectors -- a research collector behind Galbraith Marine Science Lab and one on top of the environmental study buildings. The collector on the environmental science buildings is currently collecting energy for the school, while the research collector is doing something different.

“The objective is really not to make energy, the objective is to develop patents and do research on it,” Professor of Marine Science and Chemistry David Hastings said.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) graduate Matthew Orosz and his non-profit, STG International, worked with Sopogy, which is a solar thermal technology supplier, to create the solar collector behind Galbraith as his Ph.D. thesis project. He has won several prizes for his research in solar energy.

“It’s not making power now, but it’s really not designed to do that,” Hastings said. “It’s not designed to produce energy in the U.S., it’s designed to produce technology. Innovative technology for developing countries, and that really matters because it’s going to replace using

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diesel fuel which is exceptionally inefficient.”

The objective here, like it is all over the world, is to find new sources of energy. Coal is extremely hazardous to our environment, and natural gas still gives off less carbon than coal. This is one of the reasons why Obama used his executive powers to force the deal through.

“We have the president using executive powers, that he has, to move forward with an agenda to cut back on fossil fuel consumption in the U.S.,” Professor of Political Science Bill Felice said. “What I really liked about the discussions that came out of China was the focus on coal. I think the burning of coal is the number one problem globally that we have, and if we can control that or scale it back, it can make a huge difference in the effort to control climate change.”

Assistant Professor of Economics Jill Collins agrees, and points to the recent uptick in nationwide natural gas usage. Recent efforts made by corporations to go green are already starting to pay off.

“Natural gas only has about half the emissions of carbon. We’re well on our way to reducing our emissions, even by 2020, from 2005 levels,” Collins said.

While the agreement seems beneficial to many, it never made it to the pen and paper stage. The deal comes off more as a handshake, as there is nothing keeping the two

countries from bailing out of their obligations.

“It’s a good sign, and it’s a good intent, certainly, but my concern is that there’s no binding commitment,” Hastings said.

Hastings notes that, while the next elected president could throw the deal to the wind, this shows that the countries are moving in the right direction.

While both countries are constantly under fire in the international community for their reluctance to move towards a greener planet, this deal seems to play to each other’s strengths. The U.S. redeems itself for not signing the Kyoto Protocol, and China can still develop their economy while reducing their emissions. Many countries adopted the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, but neither the U.S. nor China agreed.

“They’re [China] still allowed to grow their emissions, but of course they’re still a developing economy, and their carbon emissions per person are still about only a third, I think, of ours,” Collins said. “The argument is, of course they need to keep raising their standards of living, and the U.S. [was] able to grow our economies for so long because of the use of fossil fuels. There’s always been that fairness argument there.”

Students on campus last year may have noticed blue tape running

across Triton’s Pub and some other academic buildings. This was meant to show what would happen to Eckerd should the sea levels keep rising at the current rate.

In the past 100 years, the global sea level average has risen 178 mm, or seven inches, according to NASA. “In 100 years, I’ll be very interested to see what the Eckerd College campus looks like -- to see how we have decided to adapt to it,” Hastings said. “It’s all going to be contingent on what the entire planet does, not just what Eckerd does, not just what the United States and China does, it’s what everybody does. That seawall is not going to be here 100 years from now, we’re going to have to do something differently.”

Though Eckerd may be underwater in a number of years, Hastings does point towards the U.S. plan to reduce emissions by 80 percent in 2050 as a sign of progress.

“I think that’s one of the aspects of this that’s so promising, it demonstrates the kind of reductions in emissions that we’ve been asking for are feasible,” Hastings said. “If we start exploiting new technology, putting more solar up, putting more wind turbines up, increasing efficiency, things that we’ve been talking about for a decade now -- it demonstrates that it is feasible, that we can do it.”

12 Science and Technology

the current

Dec. 5, 2014

Quotable ocean advocates gather in St. Pete

By Sarah Raney & Emma Cotton Asst. Science & Tech. Editor & Science & Tech. Editor From Nov. 3 to Nov. 9, St. Petersburg hosted legendary ocean advocates from around the world at the BLUE ocean Film Festival.

Filmmakers, scientists, speakers, politicians and more came together to discuss the importance of the oceans, sharing messages of hope to inspire a future generation of

ocean conservationists.

BLUE is an international film festival, conservation summit, industry conference and educational outreach effort. The films were the center of the event with over 100 finalist films screened and over 20 awards given to recognize achievement in global ocean awareness.

“Shark Girl,” created by Kaufmann Productions, Australia won Best of Festival.

The conservation summit was comprised of panels, lectures, and conversations led by explor-

ers, scientists, conservationists, celebrities and decision makers to brainstorm solutions. Topics ranged from the future of dolphins and whales in conservation to the plastic in ocean gyres to the politics of the ocean.

The festival is a small sample of the action taken globally to protect the ocean. Many of the same ocean advocates who came to BLUE are constantly touring the world, inspiring others to care about the ocean.

BLUE presents Sylvia Earle

“Don’t do what is required of you. do what’s right.”

By Ciera Akins Staff Writer

Twenty-one-year-old Madison Stewart won Best in Festival at BLUE for her film “Shark Girl.”

She is fighting to save sharks from unnecessary killings.

photo by Emma Cotton

“What we do to the oceans, we do to ourselves.”

Fabien Cousteau, the grandson of Jacques Cousteau, is an explorer and aquanaut. He spent 31 days in Aquarius, the only underwater marine lab in the world, located in the Florida Keys. Mission 31, a documentary about his experience there, was previewed at BLUE.

photo courtesy of eckerd.edu

“The conversation on climate change is no longer

just about the science or

the impacts. As a community, we have moved away from the horror stories and moved towards how we are going to fix it. And we are going to fix it; I just hope we do it in time.”

photo by Emma Cotton

“There is no plan B

-Eckerd Professor of Marine Science and Chemistry David Hastings spoke on a panel about climate change at BLUE.

because there is no planet B.”

-Former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed

photo by Emma Cotton

By Fiona Maguire Contributing Writer Eckerd Composting has completed construction of new composting bins located by the garden behind the soccer field. Composting is an environmentally beneficial process because it allows the school to recycle organic waste, turning it into nutrient-rich soil that can be used for gardening.

Composting club collects about 300 gallons of compost each week with 200 gallons coming from the caf alone. The rest is from buckets placed in student lounges and offices. Earlier in the semester ECOS approved the ICV form requesting to fund the project.

The new, larger bins will have pressure-treated wood, a cinder block base and aisles between the three sections.

The pressure-treated wood will be more tolerant of the moisture emitted by the pile to ensure stability. As matter decays, it releases carbon dioxide

photo by Kris Krug CC BY Sylvia Earle was among the first women to explore the depths of the ocean.

“If you think the ocean isn’t important, imagine Earth without it. Mars comes to mind. No ocean, no life support system.”

-Sylvia Earle

which traps water vapor, increasing the humidity in the enclosed area.

Sustainability Fellow Evan Bollier wants to see how the project will grow.

“I’m really excited to see with these new bins how we can grow the program, so we can expand it to different areas of campus and take on more compost,” he said.

The team is working on making soil more readily available for gardens at Gamma and Kappa.

The bins didn’t move very far, and there are plans to create a garden with shade-tolerant plants in the vacant space, which is shaded by rapidly growing banana trees. The new sunlit spot for the bins should quicken the composting time. Sunlight helps keep the piles heated. A temperature range of 135 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for the thermophilic organisms that aid in the decomposition processes.

Treasurer for Eckerd Composting and Senior Selena Bachelder worked along-

Eckerd attracts people who love the ocean. Whether you are a marine science major, like to dive or just like to sit on the beach and watch the waves, the ocean connects the Eckerd community. Our commitment to the ocean helps us understand scientists such as renowned marine biologist Sylvia Earle, who famously said, “Our fate and the ocean’s are one.”

At the BLUE Ocean Film Festival and Conservation Summit, Earle stressed the importance of being aware of what we are doing to the ocean.

Earle expressed remarkable hope for our oceans despite all of the damage that she has seen firsthand. For this reason she encourages our generation.

“I hope for your help to explore and protect the wild ocean in ways that will restore the health and, in so doing, secure hope for humankind. Health to the ocean means health for us,” she said during a TED talk in 2009.

She said we first have to know that we have a problem, then we have to care. Problems, she said, are inevitable, but solutions are possible.

Sylvia Earle is a name that everyone should know. She is among the most legendary scientists, oceanographers, writers and explorers; comparable to Rachel Carson, Marie Curie and Jane Goodall. She was the first female chief scientist at NOAA in 1980, National Geographic explorer-in-residence, the

side President and Sophomore Kendra Heiser this summer to plan the budget for the project.

“It’s great to turn the piles and see steam coming out because it shows it’s working,” Bachelder said.

Volunteers are needed to regularly turn the piles to circulate oxygen which is used by microorganisms during their aerobic respiration, when oxygen is taken in and used to break down the organic matter. In order to fit the bins in this new area, club members also needed to trim back invasive Brazilian pepper plants and remove trash.

In addition to the bins, Composting is updating the buckets in student lounges and one in the gym. The orange Home Depot buckets are now painted black and have a list posted above of what can and cannot be placed inside them. Compostable waste includes fruits, vegetables, bread, rice, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, egg shells, paper napkins and towels, tissues, pizza boxes, newspaper, paper bags, uncoated paper plates and cups, hair, dryer lint and cut flowers.

If you are interested in helping with composting, the club works 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

first “Hero for the Planet” by Time magazine in 1998 and has logged over 7,000 hours underwater. “Mission Blue,” which was shown at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival and is also available on Netflix, is a documentary that focuses on Earle’s life and mission to improve the quality of the ocean.

Earle created Mission Blue to establish marine protected areas, or “Hope Spots,” all over the world to restore and protect thriving life in those areas. There are 51 Hope Spots currently, and they are revitalizing the living ocean in these areas. For example, a Hope Spot established in the Bering Sea Canyon in 2013 is protecting a large variety of marine life and coral from industrial fishing and trawling.

Globally, nearly 12 percent of land is under protection, but less than 3 percent of the ocean is protected. These Hope Spots are increasing that percentage for “Earth’s blue heart,” as Earle calls the ocean. When she started Mission Blue just five years ago, only 0.8 percent of the oceans were protected.

The dreams, passions and goals of many Eckerd students mirror those of Earle. She has been a pioneer in her field, especially as a woman in the 1960s, and she broke new ground with the modern use of SCUBA and development of deepsea submersibles. She explored parts of the ocean no one else had.

As we study and dream about our futures, Sylvia Earle is somewhere, squeezing a wetsuit and SCUBA gear over her grey hair and plunging into the deep blue.

Spring Final

photo by Fiona Maguire Eckerd Composting member and Sophomore Julia Streett works on putting in PVC pipes in for the new composting bins.

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the current

Dec. 5, 2014

Science & Technology 13

Professors clarify students’ relationships with science and faith

By Emma cotton Science & Tech. Editor Matter is neither created nor destroyed. This concept, called the Law of Conservation of Matter, is the basis for much of our scientific logic. Scientists also believe that every proof has a starting point.

Therefore, matter has an origin- a point at which it was created.

In this system, our logic is flawed. How can matter never be created, yet have an origin? The Law of Conservation of Matter is the foundation for much of the natural world, and functions well in our system of science. But the hole that has been poked through this law implies that science may have its limitations.

For some, defining science’s boundaries is just as fascinating as the science itself.

Physics Professor Harry Ellis has been interested in science and its imperfections since he was a child.

“The idea has become pervasive that science is the only way to understand things,” he said. “It may be that that’s true, but there is absolutely no way to test that idea, which makes that idea itself not part of science.”

Ellis believes that science will never give us all of the answers that we crave. It explains the ‘how’- how we create new medicines, how we grow plants, how evolution works, but it does not explain ‘why.’

To confront these questions, Ellis turns to faith. He does not believe in “God” as a man sitting in the sky, directing our every movement. Rather, he believes in what he terms a source of being, or SOB. This thing, neither a “he” nor a “she” nor an “it,” is beyond the realms of human understanding or scientific explanation, but is the cause of the creation of everything in the universe.

Professor of Physics Stephen Weppner is Catholic. Along with Professor of Religious Studies Da-

vid Bryant, he teaches a class called the Culture of Science and Faith, which will be offered in the spring.

Its objective is to create a conversation about the intricacies of practicing science and practicing faith.

Both professors agree that the class is relevant for even those who had never seriously considered either idea.

“I think it can help anybody, regardless of their own personal perspective on things,” Bryant said.

“To have a better understanding of their s o c i e t y, and not just this society, b u t t h e world i n more general terms, both historically and now, will help them see that there’s a lot more out there, and maybe understand a way of negotiating the relationship that moves beyond conflict in ways they hadn’t before.”

Bryant believes that the richness and complexity of the word “God” has frequently been lost in the discourse of religious communities. He hopes that, in this class, students will reexamine the depth of God, and use this as a tool to reconsider conflicting beliefs about science and faith.

Weppner hopes to debunk the myth that scientists can’t be religious.

“There is no conflict at all be-

tween having somebody be the best scientist they can be and also choose to be a believer in a religious faith,” he said.

Director for the Center of Spiritual Life and Chaplain Doug McMahon also recognizes that science has existed within the teachings of many organized

Image courtesy of eckerd.edu

Florida Presbyterian College’s emblem until it became Eckerd College in 1972.

religions.

“There has been a lot of thoughtful Catholic teaching, and other Christian teaching, and other religious teaching that the intersection of science and faith is a creative place and that the journey of faith and the work of scientists can coex-

ist in a very fruitful way,” said McMahon.

Even so, it is difficult to ignore the views of famous and established scientists, such as Stephen Hawking, who tell the public that there is no room for God in science.

“If you hear that from your scientific role models, over and over, that has an impression on everybody from me, a practicing scientist, to 18 to 22 year olds who are majoring in science,” Weppner said.

Though the goal of the course is to think deeply about these issues, both We p p n e r and Bryant recognize t h a t everyone has their o w n views. “ I can’t sit here and tell you that Stephan H a w k ing is wrong,” Weppner said.

“That’s his belief system, and that’s okay.”

Hollings Scholar and Marine Science Major Jeff Good finds the idea of a greater being improbable. To him, the scientific system, which is based on proof, does not match up with faith.

“I can’t help but think of Occam’s razor,” he said.

Occam’s razor is a problemsolving principle that William of Ockham devised in the thirteenth century. It states that among different hypotheses, the solution with the fewest assumptions should be used. The solution, in this case, is that there is no god.

“Is it that that being has all this control over not just this planet, but

the universe, and everything that we cannot see, and everything that we do not know yet, or is it simply because we just don’t know?” said Good. “We’re relatively young as a species. We’re advanced, but not advanced enough to understand a lot of the complexities of science.”

Other students, such as Marine Science Major and Sophomore Lianna Burrows, feel that science and religion compliment each other.

“I’m so interested in studying all the different parts of cells, and what’s actually in the ocean and everything, but I believe that something greater has to have put all this together,” she said.

Burrows is involved with religious organizations on campus such as InterVarsity and Daughters of the King, which are Bible Study groups. Burrows also co-leads of Fire By Night, a monthly Christian worship group that listens to other members play Christian music around a bonfire.

Burrows grew up with Christianity. In her home in the Bahamas, she prayed in school and was surrounded by people who shared her beliefs. At Eckerd, Burrows has met many people with different backgrounds.

“I just like to listen to everyone’s different opinions,” she said.

Associate Director for the Center of Spiritual Life and Associate Chaplain Libby Shannon recognizes that finding a connection between science and faith has been a long-standing goal at Eckerd, from its birth in 1958 as the Florida Presbyterian College.

“The College was founded with the idea that these weren’t opposing ideas, but rather self-supporting ideas,” she said. “The cultural expectation is that these are not only divided but polarized, and that’s just not the reality. Lots of scientists are faithful people and lots of faithful people are scientists.”

For Shannon, the ‘why’ prompts her Christian beliefs.

“I need ‘why’s,’” she said. “We live in a world that has joy and has tragedy and has injustice and has liberation and has all of these things, and ‘why’ is a part of that.”

Student research spotlight: Chris Flight studies bonnethead sharks

By Julia myers Staff Writer Chris Flight, a senior at Eckerd, is following up on alumna Laura Van Woudenberg’s (‘12) population study on bonnethead sharks in Tampa Bay and the Florida panhandle. The study is addressing the need for further knowledge regarding the breeding of bonnethead sharks.

Although bonnethead sharks are currently fairly common and not commercially fished, Flight is still concerned about their well-being.

“Sharks everywhere are running into problems, so it’s good to know all you can about them,” he said.

The populations in Tampa Bay and the Florida panhandle may or may not be one big population or two groups with little interaction.

The end goal of the research would have management implications for the fishing regulations enforced by Fish and Wildlife in Tampa Bay and the Florida panhandle.

If there is one large population, then Florida as a whole can have fishing regulations set up for the entire species of bonnethead sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.

If they are two separate populations, the rules may need to change, which would be more difficult to manage.

Flight does his lab work at the Florida Wildlife Research Institute in downtown St. Petersburg where Associate Professor of Marine Science and Biology William Szelistowski started the project with a few colleagues in the institute.

The research starts by collecting fin clips from sharks, which is done by catching them in a gill net and cutting a very small piece of unneeded tissue off their dorsal fins.

After the sample collection, the shark is then released, and Flight takes the tissue to the lab for analysis.

Population clarification is found through DNA analysis and can determine whether there are any genetic differences that may affect the environmental adaption of the populations.

Van Woudenberg found that there was no difference, but Flight is following up with a much larger sample size and has a renewed focus on the evolutionary implications of two separate populations.

Within the two locations in Tam-

pa Bay and the Florida panhandle, there are differences in life histories seen in bonnethead sharks.

This can affect how many offspring they make along with a number of other physical aspects.

The real question is whether their genetics have changed due to evolutionary adaption to their different environments.

The two shark populations physically adapt due to environmental factors. If the shark populations are not mixing, there has most likely been evolution through natural selection in the two locations the sharks are found. This could be due to exposure to different environmental factors.

“The two shark populations would support the idea that they have independently evolved due to their environments,” Szelistowski said.

Bonnethead sharks may remain in the same area year-round or migrate seasonally and breed with different populations.

If there is a mixing of groups, that would prevent evolutionary change, keep the fishing regulations simple and support the hypothesis that they are one large population.

photo by Chris Flight Chris Flight measures the length of a bonnethead shark.

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14 Science & Technology

Dec. 5, 2014

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Cats: bred to be your new best friend

By Conor Sean McKenna Columnist About 10,000 years ago, humans began farming in the Middle East. The crops attracted rodents, which then attracted cats.

Taking advantage of table scraps and protection, cats became our allies. A little ways down the road, Ancient Egyptians began worshipping cats, which is not far from the treatment I’ve seen in pet dorms here at Eckerd. If you have a cat living with you on campus, remember that your pet, down to its very genes, was meant to be your friend.

My eyes itch and I begin to sneeze uncontrollably when I play with cats, and I can never help it. The cat genome that makes them incredibly cute and triggers my allergies is one that scientists now have identified.

Genomes are genetic material encoded within DNA, the specific recipe to all things living. So by understanding the genomes, we can understand how they influence a living thing.

Researchers led by Michael Montague at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have been examining cat genomes, recently published this year. They have discovered the genetic changes that has turned feral wildcats into the cuddle buddies we know today by identifying tame cat genomes.

Cats are the world’s most popular pet and have experienced nearly 10,000 years of domestication; now we are understanding the science behind it.

The research was published in the science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealing 281 cat genes that have gone through genetic changes. With a range of traits, including anything from hearing to metabolism, each gene can explain a cat’s behavior.

Montague’s study is proof that domestic cats are genetically designed to be our friends.

By comparing them to wildcats, Montague and his researchers identified 13 genes in tame cats that specifically relate to domestication. These genes play a role in cognition, behavior, fear and responsiveness to humans. Five of the genes found in domestic cats influence stem cells in a developing embryo that affect traits like skull shape and coat color.

These cells may play a large part in domestication.

The research is a study of domestication. Scientists are comparing the new genome to a variety of animals, including dogs, tigers and cows. Montague’s research gives us a deeper knowledge about all animals and the process through which they become tame. The genes identified in this research can even help us understand what makes our own social brains develop. We, too, have been domesticated (some of us more than others) and have the genes that changed us throughout time.

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By Christa Perry Staff Writer

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Cleaning buckets sticky with fish residue and counting how many times a dolphin breaks the surface to breathe may not be how most of us spend our Wednesday nights.

But for Sophomore Megan Horber, watching marine mammals and cleaning their habitats is now part of a normal routine.

Horber volunteers one night a week for four hours at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in the Marine Mammal department doing everything from cleaning to observation.

“I work the later shift, so I’m only there for two hours when the Aquarium is open and two hours after,” Horber said. “During those first two hours, I do something called ‘obs’ or observations. You go to your assigned animal for an hour and watch them, answer any questions that anyone has and take respiratory rates.”

Volunteers and staff who take respiratory rates carefully watch the animal and count how many times they breathe as well as record their behavior.

Once the Aquarium is closed, Horber cleans the bins and coolers that hold the animals’ food, cleans the kitchen, tests water quality,

does laundry, cleans toys for the animals and washes the foot baths that trainers step on when they enter a habitat. These foot baths catch any bacteria that the trainer may take with them to the animals.

According to Clearwater’s Volunteer Coordinator Eveanna Ventimiglia, volunteers participate in cleaning, laundry, fish preparation, greens preparation, presentations, stocking merchandise and more.

There are around 500 to 700 volunteers at the Aquarium depending on the season.

As a part of the Marine Mammal department, Horber volunteers with the three resident dolphins, Nicholas, Hope and Winter as well as the otters. Horber sees the trainers with the animals firsthand and realizes how hard they must work.

“It takes a lot of work and effort to work with the animals, a lot more than you would think,” Horber said. “They get eye drops everyday, certain vitamins every day, and they all like different types of food.”

Clearwater Marine Aquarium works to give care and rehabilitation to animals with the goal of release into the wild. They have rescued countless marine animals over the years.

Lucy, the younger sister of an Eckerd student, visited the Clear-

water Marine Aquarium in August of 2013.

“The Clearwater Aquarium stands out to me because I’ve never been to another aquarium that has had more rescued animals,” Lucy said. “They had Winter the dolphin whose tail had been damaged and turtles who’d been run over by speedboats.”

Some animals are too injured to return to the wild, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has become their permanent home.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium accepted Horber as a volunteer this year. Horber’s major at Eckerd is Marine Science. She loves the subject, and volunteering at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a fun activity for her.

“I like policy, so I’m probably going to go into environmental policy,” Horber said. “But I love Marine Science. That’s why I’m majoring in it. So I’m just doing this because it’s fun.”

Volunteering is not only enjoyable for Horber, but rewarding as she helps an organization that relies on others.

“I feel that the volunteers make the lives of the trainers who work with the animals much easier,” Horber said. “The Aquarium is a nonprofit organization that uses all

of their money to rescue the animals. Without the volunteers, they would have to put in more hours, and it would be more difficult to get everything accomplished.”

Volunteers play an important role at the Aquarium. “There are more volunteers than staff members,” Ventimiglia said.

Lucy also saw the importance of volunteering when she visited the Aquarium. “[The volunteers’] work is very important because more and more wild animals have been hurt or killed by human neglectfulness,” Lucy said, “whether it was a dolphin caught in a fisherman’s net or a manatee run over by a boat.”

According to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s website, volunteer opportunities are available in several departments of the Clearwater Aquarium, including marine mammals, sea turtles, aquatics/ water quality, gift shop, education and hospitality. There are three different programs: the adult volunteer program, the junior volunteer program and the diver volunteer program. Horber is involved in the adult volunteer program. Volunteers must commit to at least one four-hour shift per week for four months, which Horber fulfills on Wednesdays of every week.

Online course evaluations save paper

By Beau Maysey Staff Writer

Take a look around Eckerd, and you’ll see a lot of paper used. From schedules to printed assignments to posters, students use a fair amount of paper resources everyday. Eckerd seeks to balance interests of getting students the materials they need while lowering its environmental impact.

For Associate Dean of Faculty for Institutional Research and Assessment David Eubanks, electronic course evaluations could be an answer to this problem. By switching from paper to a permanent online version of the faculty evaluations, Eckerd could save approximately 10,000 sheets of paper per semester, according to Eubanks. This could lead the way for more paper functions on campus to transition to an electronic format, which would cut back tremendously on what Eckerd uses in paper supplies.

According to Eubanks, the evaluations have often been done in the past on Scantron, with a scale ranging from ‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree.’ Then, the Institutional Research Office analyzes the data by scanning the paper submissions for each class. This system may sound fairly efficient, but Eubanks explains that problems exist with this method.

“Forms can get lost, bubbles can be filled in wrongly, or sloppily, and it takes a while,” he said.

The detection and fixing of the problems by the office takes time.

Electronically accessed end-of-thesemester evaluations would eliminate these problems by virtue of being automatically recorded upon completion. There would be no issue of incorrectly-filled responses, smaller chance of errors and less of a time commitment for staff members.

For the last several years, the Institutional Research Office has been assisting in testing the efficiency of the electronic forms by distributing them to small groups.

Last spring semester was the first time that the online course evaluations were instituted for a large

Freshman Hannah Hamontree takes an online course evaluation.

amount of classes, as students may have noticed by the emails sent with the form attached.

With such a large amount of students responding at once, one could be concerned about server overload, but Eubanks has been assured

by Eckerd’s ITS office that the system can handle the influx. At the same time, his team has switched to a new vendor, SmartEvals, which has better features and should allow for even easier access.

But a more pressing issue is at stake with the switch to electronic evaluations than the server. For last year’s spring semester, the Institutional Research Office found that the student body actually submitted fewer forms than they had with paper copies. With a lower response rate of electronic forms compared to written ones, the team worried that they would have to stay with paper. In response to the analysis, a survey was sent out asking students

about the evaluations.

“Students said doing them outside of class meant extra time they had to spend,” Eubanks said.

With evaluations taking up students’ free time, many end up not submitting them at all.

Eubanks hopes that this semester, with a few amendments, the electronic evaluations will go over better in terms of response rate.

The biggest change being implemented is that the electronic evaluations will now be done in class, with the assumption that students can bring to class some form of Internet access. According to Eubanks, the evaluations can still be accessed and completed outside of class periods, but the hope is that students will now be more motivated to turn in their forms before they forget.

It’s not too hard to envision why staff and faculty would embrace a full change to electronic evaluation

photo by Emma Cotton

forms. The computer handles most of the work, and Eubanks says it can also analyze the data to measure what teaching styles are preferred by classes. For students, the transition may not seem significant, but without this change, the environmental impact remains.

“You can imagine 10,000 pieces of paper being placed in envelopes,” Eubanks said.

The more people are aware of this upcoming course evaluation and its importance, the better the results will be. If better response rates stem from this semester, the team hopes to completely switch to electronic evaluations in the near future.

“As well as being more environmentally proficient, personally I agree with the change because online evaluations are easier to handle and less intimidating and pressuring,” Sophomore Macey Sidlaski said.

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Arts & Entertainment 15

Arts & Entertainment Cobb Gallery hosts religious works exhibit

photo by Hannah Hamontree/ art by Robert Hodgell

Robert Hodgell’s “The Writing on the Wall” painting is adapted from the Book of Daniel.

By Leah Bilski A&E Editor This fall, Eckerd’s Cobb Gallery has been featuring religious works of art by Eckerd’s founding faculty member of Visual Arts, Robert Hodgell (1922-2000). “Robert Hodgell: Religious Works” includes a portion of the pieces produced throughout Hodgell’s life with a religious theme, with mediums ranging from paintings to prints, with a few sketches intermixed, as well as sculpture. This exhibit gives a broad view of Hodgell’s dedication to creating art as well as his dedication to the Christian faith, resulted in a beautiful, modern take on biblical stories.

“Robert O. Hodgell saw his career in art as his calling,” Professor of Art Arthur Skinner said in his description of the exhibit. “For Hodgell, making art was a vital necessity.”

Equal in his desire to create art was his desire to explore almost every theme in the realm of the arts and society. Hodgell produced pieces of all sorts, including self-portraits, landscapes, still lifes, social commentary, political commentary and religious works. It appeared that more often than not, his interests would overlap, resulting in a collection of works spanning almost every art medium and theme.

Eckerd possesses a large collection of Hodgell’s works, having received a portion of the works as gifts from Hodgell himself. Hodgell became the founding faculty member for the Visual Arts at Eckerd after he was invited down in 1961, shortly after Eckerd, at the time Florida Presbyterian College, was founded in 1958.

“John Bevan [the Vice President and Dean of Florida Presbyterian College] was trying to build a faculty at a brand new college in the middle of nowhere Florida by attracting as much talent to the college as they could,” Associate Professor of Art History David Gliem said. “Hodgell was scouted by the college after they saw his work in a religious magazine called motive

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magazine, which was a publication produced by the Methodist Church and largely geared to a college-aged audience.”

Thanks to motive magazine, the founding Faculty of the Arts was created by Bevan, who hired the leading contributors to the publication: Robert Hodgell, Jim Crane and the magazine’s art editor Margaret Rigg. This opportunity as a writer and artist for the magazine allowed Hodgell to expand upon his own understanding of religion and to create some of his most beloved pieces. An issue of motive can be found in the back portion of the gallery with some of Hodgell’s prints and Jim Crane’s cartoons.

The pieces chosen for display are arranged in a way that leads you through a visual journey of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

Starting the collection is an elaborate relief print titled “Eden Revised,” depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Instead of being surrounded by lush foliage and fruit, they are instead in the midst of the world of the dinosaurs complete with Tyrannosaurus Rex and erupting volcanoes.

The beginning of the exhibit depicts stories from the Old Testament, with a print of Moses and the burning bush, and the story from the Book of Daniel of “The Writing on The Wall,” a painting on masonite.

One of the more striking prints found in this section of the gallery is the print “O Susanna,” a woman who was wrongly accused.

This piece was created during the time of the Civil Rights Movement and is Hodgell’s take on the classic biblical story in the context of the ‘60s. Susanna is depicted as an African American instead of the fair-skinned woman she is typically depicted as, and surrounded by old white men dressed in suits and hats while she stands alone and in front entirely nude. This is social commentary by Hodgell that still can be understood today.

Moving to the back of the gallery, viewers are greeted with two depictions of Christ, both as a

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wimpy-looking man juxtaposed with a more rugged-looking Christ with a strong jaw and stern expression. This was intended to contrast how Christ is seen by many people, with gentle features and a fair gait, and how Hodgell himself viewed Christ, as a strong, yet humble man.

The viewer is then guided through Christ’s life in the New Testament with paintings, sketches and prints that line the walls in chronological

order from The Nativity to The Resurrection. Each piece is laced with Hodgell’s signature non-traditional take on religion, mixing and matching his depictions of Christ with underlying tones of consumerism and social and political issues.

“This exhibit is a great way of understanding who we are as an [Eckerd] community,” Director of Spiritual Life Doug McMahon said.

“I think that some people would think that religious works typically

Robert Hodgell’s relief print, titled “Words, Words, Words.”

only represent piety or comforting images and Robert Hodgell I think often picks up the more prophetic side of religious life, which makes us ask questions about religion that we normally wouldn’t think of.”

“Robert Hodgell: Religious Works” will be display in the Cobb Gallery until Dec. 12, so don’t miss this opportunity to see not only profound pieces of art, but also a piece of Eckerd’s founding history.

photo by Hannah Hamontree/ art by Robert Hodgell

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Dec. 5, 2014

Non-denominational holiday crossword

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crossword by Nate Gozlan and Leah Bilski

People magazine publishes 97-year-old actor Kirk Douglas’ obituary prematurely.

Across

Down

1 Meet violently 6 Volcano 10 Thick soup 14 Artery 15 Grasp 16 Pocket bread 17 Beer mug 18 Artist: Van ___ 19 Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (abbrev.)

20 ____giving 22 Siamese 24 Positive vote 25 Hits the ball 27 Grow 29 Male massager 32 Note of debt 33 Dined 34 Organized crime 37 Baseball’s Nolan 41 New ___ (city) 43 Alien’s spaceship 44 Next to Kauai 45 Sign 46 Statistics 48 Headed 49 Frozen water 51 College 54 Sugar-free brand 56 Utilization 57 Day of the week (abbrev.)

58 Nation in Asia 60 Scamp 64 Greek god of war 66 Wading bird 68 Shovel 69 De___ (anew) 70 Meshes 71 Couches 72 Planted 73 Rejoicing 74 Objects

1 Hurl 2 Unwilling 3 Location 4 Reeks 5 Handerkerchief 6 Scrambled food 7 Walks 8 At hand 9 Brain injury side affect 10 Hotel 11 Large wave 12 Type of alcohol 13 Walk through water 21 Water film 23 The other half of Jima 26 Sauerkraut, informally 28 European monetary unit 29 Bread spread 30 Molecule 31 Withered 35 Future Farmers of America (abbrev.)

36 Tiny amounts 38 Harvard’s rival 39 Excuse me!

40 Unclothed 42 Loop 46 Looking 47 Pock 50 Executive 52 Tennis player Andre ___ 53 Dictator 54 Mistake 55 Winnow 56 Ally 57 Snakes inject their venom through a _____ 59 Cain’s brother 61 Deli 62 Eve’s husband 63 Fewer 65 Swine 67 South southeast

Araesia King Viewpoints Editor

The first clip was released for Breaking Bad spinoff “Better Call Saul.”

The Alberta pipeline spills 60,000 liters of crude oil into Muskeg, Canada.

Missing painting found in the background of the 1999 movie “Stuart Little.”

United Nations runs out of money to feed Syrian refugees.

British oil company cuts new CEO’s pay by more than half.

Sony’s new movies leak online after hacker attack.

Frank Ocean to release new music before the end of 2014.

photo by Eileen McGraw Academic Service Learning Coordinator Andrea Castaneda has been working in her current position at Eckerd since July. If she had a superpower, it would be to be able to speak and understand any language.

“Imparting some wisdom: there is an author, and now I can’t remember his name, who says to always follow your bliss, and that’s really been resonating with me recently. For me, this means living in the moment and trying not to worry about what is to come and has already happened.”

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Health & Fitness 17

Health & fitness INSIDE H&F

How to stay in shape over the holidays

graphic by Alex Zielinski Fresh fruit and vegetables are a great addition to any holiday meal.

By MJ Harford Staff Writer The holidays are right around the corner. No matter what you celebrate, the months of December and January bring their own unique set of wellness challenges. It is important to remain flexible and persistent during these times. It can be so easy to become overwhelmed by all of the events and activities of the season that the meaning of the season gets lost in the shuffle. Here are few suggestions to keep the holiday season on track and foster the right frame of mind.

The first suggestion is to allow some participation in a little healthy food-indulgence. Learning how to indulge responsibly will be a lifelong journey for many and the holidays provide a wonderful

opportunity to practice. So, at the annual cookie swap, instead of having one of each cookie and bringing all of the dozens home, sample just a bite or two of your favorites and share the bounty with your neighbors by making festive cookie baskets. Another common situation where indulgence can get the best of us is at holiday parties. If there’s a party in the evening, make positive food choices during the day and go for a brisk nature walk the next morning to invigorate the detox process.

The next is to continue with a workout routine. Although it may look a little different than a usual schedule, a home practice will still give your body and mind what they need. This could mean waking up a bit earlier to take a long family

walk, moving around some living room furniture for a home yoga session or catching up with a friend over a jog rather than a cup of coffee (or even better — a jog to the coffee shop).

Also, take the opportunity to slow down. Sleep is just as important on vacations as it is during the school year. With the high speed activities of evening parties full of sugary treats and alcohol along with daytime gatherings, there is little time to catch up on much needed sleep. Making sure you get at least seven hours, eight would be best, will give your body the rest and repair it needs to stay healthy during the cold and flu season.

But the best way to stay well at any time, especially during the holidays, is to focus on gratitude. It is

a true gift to have so much activity during such a meaningful season, it shows caring and involvement with those who mean the most.

Integrate small everyday reminders into the holidays, like keeping a gratitude journal and writing down three things you are grateful for each day. Also take the time to tell those you love that they matter; writing letters or making phone calls can have a lasting impact on both yourself and those you contact. Another way to keep gratitude at the heart of the holidays is to involve the local community in your holiday plans. Is there a local food bank or wellness kitchen? How can you be a part of others’ holiday experience?

Practicing just a few of these tips will encourage the true meaning of the season and your wellness journey.

Circuit workout

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Meals with Midge

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Healthy habits can have effects on your sex life

By Emily Newcomb Contributing Writer

When it comes to sex, people usually hold the importance of health in physical appearance.

However, physical health and lifestyle choices have a strong impact on sexual health, performance and libido. Let us look at the aspects of lifestyle that can affect men’s sexual health in particular.

Everyone knows that exercise is important, however, going to the gym can benefit your sex life in more ways than simply looking better. Nitric oxide is a free radical in the body that acts as a powerful vasodilator, making it essential in

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sexual arousal. Regular aerobic exercise keeps blood flowing through the body and arteries producing the indispensable nitric oxide.

The research article “The roles of nitric oxide in sexual function of male rats,” published in Neuropharmacology, looked at the effect of this molecule on rats. The findings of this research was that an increase of nitric oxide in the body promoted erections in intact male rats, as well as indicating that this increase “inhibits seminal emission, probably by decreasing sympathetic nervous system activity; [which] may help prevent premature ejaculation.”

An article printed in the Eu-

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ropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, titled “The effect of exercise on the production and clearance of testosterone in well trained young men,” found that exercise increased the body’s production of testosterone, a hormone that is linked to sexual drive.

Exercise also causes the body to release endorphins which simply makes us feel good. Not only will exercise increase production and release of nitric oxide, endorphins and testosterone, but it also raises positive self image. Nothing is sexier than feeling comfortable in your own skin.

Diet plays a role in sexual

health as well. A poor diet can contribute to problems such as heart disease, high cholesterol, arterial plaque build up and high blood pressure, among other conditions.

All of these inhibit blood flow to the penis and negatively impact erectile quality and desire. As sex and relationship expert Ian Kerner says, “Eat for the heart, and you’re eating for desire.”

Another lifestyle choice that can negatively impact sexual health is smoking cigarettes. A result of long term smoking is that it narrows the arteries. Any restriction of circulation in the body will negatively impact erectile function.

A study done at Boston University examined 200 volunteers and found that those who smoked were more likely to have a shorter erect penis. If blood flow is constricted to the penis, it will result in inhibiting the maximum growth of the organ during arousal.

However, if you are a smoker, do not panic too greatly: on average the impact on size was no greater than one to two centimeters. This brings the opportunity of negatively impacting sexual performance and health.

It is interesting to think what you can imply of someone’s sexual health from their health habits and lifestyle choices.

18 Health & Fitness

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Dec. 5, 2014

Complete circuit workout

By Dani Cleary Contributing Writer

Lack of time and not knowing what to do are the main excuses people tell me for skipping the gym. This article is going to explain a circuit workout that can last as long as you want. Any person at any fitness level can do it and it will work muscles all over your body.

The purpose of this workout is to work different muscles throughout the whole circuit so one can finish without a specific muscle group feeling overworked and fatigued.

Traditionally, one would do the whole circuit with no break and at the end rest for a few minutes before starting the next set.

If throughout the workout you need to stop for a few seconds, do not feel discouraged. Catch your breath and then keep going. I suggest that the whole circuit is done three to five times, depending how you feel and how much time you have.

Dani’s Signature Circuit Workout: 1,000 meter row 15 pushups 20 jumping lunges (10 on each leg) 10 thrusters 20 leg raises 15 burpees Rest, repeat Here is an explanation of each of the movements: Row: Get onto the rowing machine and make sure the settings on the screen shows distance in meters. I suggest putting the resistance around six or seven. Start with your feet strapped in, your knees bent and holding the handles right by your knees, push back with your legs while pulling the handles towards your chest, keeping your

Meals with Midge:

Roasted Squash and Shallots

By MJ Harford Staff Writer Do not be intimidated by the name, this recipe is truly a breeze to make. It makes for a fabulous holiday side dish the perfect dish-to-share for Thanksgiving or holiday potlucks. It is delicious as a main dish for vegans or vegetarians, a beautiful side dish for turkey-eaters or the base for a creative puree to place under tender fish or French lentils.

If you have not cooked with shallots before this is the perfect opportunity to try them out. They are a milder, sweeter cousin to garlic so when cooked they have a wonderful flavor that can stand alone. They are also a bit like onions in texture and cooking properties, so when roasted or sauteed they lose a good bit of mass and become somewhat crisp. All of these ingredients are in season now, so stop by the Saturday Morning Market this weekend to pick them up and support your local growers.

photo by Alex Zielinski Thrusters work all major leg musles, abdominals, shoulders, triceps, and back muscles.

core tight. Once you are fully extended back, bend your knees again and start over. This movement works your legs, core, chest, upper and lower back.

Push-up: Start with your hands directly under your shoulders and arms straight. Keep your core tight and whole body flat, parallel to the ground. Bend your elbows until your nose touches the ground

and straighten your arms back into the starting position. If traditional push-ups are hard, and you can’t get your nose to the ground, bend your knees and do assisted push-ups.

This movement works your triceps, pecs, abdominals and biceps.

Jumping lunges: Hold a medicine ball by your chest with both hands.

Put one leg in front of the other and bend both legs with your back knee just above the ground. Jump and while in the air switch which leg is in front and back. When you land go directly into the lunge position.

This movement works your glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, core and back.

Thrusters: Start with a bar resting across your chest and on your shoulders. Do a front squat and when you are coming up use that momentum and your arms to thrust the bar over your head. Place the bar back across your chest, resting on your shoulders and start over again. This movement works all major leg muscles, abdominals, shoulders, triceps, upper and lower back.

Ingredients: 2 large acorn squash

6 to 8 large shallots

ey 1/4 cup chopped parsl

me for drizzling 1/4 cup olive oil + so

er vinegar 2 teaspoons apple cid

+ some for finishing 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

er Dash of ground pepp

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

2. Halve the squash and use a big spoon to scoop out the seed pockets. Follow the ridges of the squash to create eight total slices per squash.

3. Trim off the ends of the shallots and peel off the thin outermost layer. You can peel them more or leave them whole. Arrange the squash and shallots on the tray and paint with a bit of olive oil and sea salt.

4. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes or until the edges of the squash are golden brown. Flip the squash and shallots and continue roasting for another 15 to 20 minutes. The shallots should be dark brown (not black) at parts and the squash should be universally golden and soft to the touch.

5. While roasting, prepare the parsley oil. In a small bowl mix the parsley, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and pepper.

6. Rub the finished vegetables with the parsley oil on coated 7. Serve warm.

Leg raises: Use the Leg Raise Machine and hold yourself up, resting on your elbows and forearms. Lift your legs up to a table top position or higher and slowly lower your legs. This movement works your core, lower back, hip flexors, quadriceps and hamstrings.

photo by Alex Zielinski

Burpee: Start in a standing position, squat and place your hands on the ground, throw your legs back into a push-up position, lower your whole body and raise it up again like a push-up, jump back into a squatting position, stand up and jump at the end. This movement works all the same muscles as a push-up as well as all major leg groups, lower and upper back and core.

photo by MJ Harford This recipe can be prepared with local, fresh produce.

Each issue I will be sharing an allergen-friendly recipe that is easy, nutritious and delicious. If you make one, tag me in your Instagram photos (@midgesmoments) with the hashtag #mealswithmidge. If you have any requests, like converting a classic recipe to its healthier version, or a particular kind of meal for a particular allergy, email me at mjharfor@eckerd.edu.

This workout circuit should be repeated three to five times.

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the current

Dec. 5, 2014

Sports 19

Sports Men’s basketball split games in Thanksgiving tournament

By Meaghan Kirby Staff Writer

The men’s basketball team ended the 2014 Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic with one win and one loss, improving their record to 3-2.

On Nov. 28, the first day of the Thanksgiving Classic, the men’s basketball team faced common opponent University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon, defeating the Cowboys with a score of 76-58.

MacArthur Center was booming with faculty, parents and students as the Tritons did not disappoint their fans by grabbing an early lead in the first half of the game.

The teams seemed evenly matched in the first half. Junior Jerrick Stevenson started the game off the Tritons by hitting a jumper from the field. The Tritons rallied behind Stevenson by going on a 7-2 run. With 13 minutes remaining on the clock, Puerto Rico- Bayamon was able to get a one-point lead against the Tritons off a three pointer from Jesus Marquez. Sophomore transfer Kevin Walsh responded by hitting a three pointer to gain back the lead for the Tritons.

Junior Brian Cobb and Freshman Trevon Young made their presence felt down low in the first half. Cobb and Young were able to pull down seven rebounds and ten points at the end of the first half.

The Tritons were able to maintain a seven-point lead on the Cowboys in the first half, 34-27.

Eckerd was able to continue with strong play as they kept the lead whole time in the second half.

Sophomore Matt Beneduci helped start the biggest lead of the night as he netted a three point shot, giving the Tritons the lead 41-31 with 17 minutes remaining in the game.

Walsh helped keep the lead with an 11-point edge as he put down his sec-

photo by Lia Nydes Senior Malcolm “Theo” Brunner attempts to score against the Mavericks.

ond three pointer of the second half.

Puerto Rico- Bayamon put heavy pressure on the Tritons as they battled it out to the end. From there on, there was no stopping the Tritons as they took the lead by 21 with 2:36 left on the clock from a lay-up in the paint by Young.

Young set a new career high, ending the night with 19 points as well as four rebounds for the Tritons.

“Overall we didn’t do as good as we should have done. We need to get back into the gym and get ready for the rest of our games,” Young said.

Coming off the bench, Sophomore Max Gouveia was able to make an impact for the Tritons in the end. Gouveia came up with a block to shut down the Cowboys with 1:22 left on the clock as he later on hit the final point for the Tritons at line. The Tritons took the win for their first matchup of the Classic, defeating the University of Puerto Rico- Bayamon 76-58.

Junior Guard Jerrick Stevenson led the way for the Tritons with Young, adding 14 points and three rebounds. Walsh finished with 11 points and right rebounds, and Junior Forward Ray Darnell adding seven points and seven rebounds.

“I’m really proud on how our new guys stepped up and helped us when we needed it,” Head Coach Tom Ryan said. “It was a tough night executing offensively and defensively on the floor against Bayamon.”

In their second game of the Thanksgiving Classic, Eckerd faced nationally ranked #14 University of Minnesota-Mankato, who were coming off a 73-72 win to conference rival University of Tampa in their first game of the classic.

The Eckerd College men’s basketball team fell to the Mavericks closing out the final game of the Classic with a score of 86-70.

Eckerd tried to keep the game in

their court from the beginning. Junior Guard E.J. Moody opened the game with a three pointer, hoping that would give the Tritons the momentum to stay in the game. The Mavericks were able to answer right back by keeping themselves in the game. Walsh came off the bench to help give the Tritons the lead with 14:47 left on the clock by scoring a three pointer from the top of the key.

With the score even at 9-9, the Mavericks did not look back and went on a free for all, throwing up 24 points giving them the lead, 339. Senior Malcolm “Theo” Brunner Jr. broke Mankato’s streak by driving through the paint for a lay-up with 3:36 left on the clock. The University of Minnesota- Mankato was leading Eckerd 39-17 by the end of the first half.

The Tritons came out fighting in the second half as they

tried to make a comeback. Stevenson threw up a three pointer to keep the Tritons within 22 points against the Mavericks.

The Tritons and the Mavericks went from basket to basket as the pace of the game picked up. Eckerd was resilient as they fought to keep the score at a narrow gap while the Mavericks held onto the lead. Freshman Ke’Shawn Ingram came off the bench and helped keep the Tritons in the game by hitting three three-pointers in the second half, narrowing Mankato’s lead by 17 with 3:56 left on the clock.

“Coach told us to come out and fight harder in the second half and not give up that it was pride thing, and make sure we keep fighting even though we’re down and could always come back,” Ingram said.

The game had 1:06 minutes left on the clock when Ingram threw up his third three- pointer.

Unfortunately, the University of Minnesota- Mankato took home the win and went undefeated in the Classic, 86-70.

Ingram scored a game high of 14 points as Stevenson was not far with 13 points on the night with six rebounds. Brunner had a productive game off the bench, scoring 12 points with six rebounds and one steal. Moody ended the night reaching 10 points with two rebounds and seven assists.

“Overall, this weekend was not our best,” Ryan said. “We didn’t quit in the second half and I am really proud of our guys because they could’ve folded it in and left at halftime.”

The Tritons will begin SSC play Jan. 3 by hosting Nova Southeastern University, with tip- off beginning promptly at 4 p.m.

Women’s basketball dominates Thanksgiving Classic

By Christina Rosetti Staff Writer As hosts of the 2014 Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic, the women’s basketball team won both games, improving their record to 5-1.

In the Triton’s first match of the tournament on Friday, Nov. 28, Eckerd took an early 8-2 lead against the University of Puerto Rico – Bayamon. Standout Freshman Trine Kasemagi led the way for the Tritons, scoring 10 points in the first half while Sophomore Victoria Vine found herself in early foul trouble. Eckerd went into halftime with a 12-point lead, up 33-21.

With 8:42 left in the second half, the University of Puerto Rico – Bayamon narrowed the Triton’s lead to one. For the remaining eight minutes, Seniors Rana Thomas and Ivana Grbic dug deep and extended the Triton’s lead to 13. Eckerd finished the game with a 68-60 victory.

Kasemagi tallied a career high of 26 points, eight rebounds and was perfect from the free throw line. Thomas finished the day with 19 points and eight rebounds.

“It was a really good win,” Thomas said. “I’m really excited about this team and I want to get this season going.”

The Tritons faced Southern New Hampshire University the following

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afternoon. Both teams came out flying to start the game. The Southern New Hampshire Penmen scored first but the Tritons hushed the large Penmen fan base with backto-back three-pointers from Thomas and fellow Senior Kayla Bowlin.

Eckerd led the Penmen 33-21 going into halftime but pulled away in the second half, extending their lead to 27. After a flurry of three-pointers, Bowlin and Thomas led the Tritons to a convincing 67-49 victory over Southern New Hampshire University.

Defense was key in this fastpaced matchup. Eckerd totaled 24 defensive rebounds and four steals.

“It’s good to see us play with a lot of spunk defensively,” Head Coach Paul Honsinger said. “It created offense from our defense and gave us confidence. We want to be as confident as we can be going into conference play.”

Thomas posted a career high of 25 points and shot 10 for 11 from the field. Bowlin also had an impressive performance scoring 18 points with six assists. Vine also finished the day scoring in double digits with 11 points. She also had six rebounds.

The seniors dominated the court for the Tritons extending their winning streak to four.

“They’ve played a huge role,” Honsinger said. “They were really, really efficient tonight. We lean on

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them, especially early on in the season.

They are carrying us in these early games.”

Almost a quarter of the way into their season, the Tritons have shown promising potential in their first six games but conference play is looming.

The Sunshine State Conference is often considered the most talented conference in Division II for any sport, especially women’s photo by Cypress Hansen b a s k e t b a l l . Senior Rana Thomas attempts to make a basket against the University of Puerto-Rico Baymon.

“Right now we are just trying to take it one versity tops the list ranking No. 1 road Saturday, Dec. 6 to take on Florida Tech in their first congame at a time,” Bowlin said. in the country while rival Univerference matchup of the year. sity of Tampa sits at No. 6 on the “We want to attack each game “I’m really excited about list.

Rollins College ranks No. 14. and each possession individually.” this group and the things that Despite the challenging road In a recent NCAA Division II they can do,” Honsinger said.

USA Today Women’s Basketball ahead, the Tritons remain confi- “I think we are up for the task Coaches’ Poll, three teams in the dent in their outlook of the sea- in these early conference games SSC rank among the top 25 in the son and are eager to begin con- and can build on the confidence nation. Nova Southeastern Uni- ference play. Eckerd will hit the that we started in the Classic.”

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the current

Dec. 5, 2014

Sports Volleyball standout Grace Jones leaves mark on her team

By Sabrina Lolo Sports Editor Senior Grace Jones has been a cornerstone of the volleyball team for the last four years. Jones and the other seniors have helped the Tritons win over 80 matches since 2011. She was also named

Athlete of the Week for the week of Sept. 1 after having a fantastic season her junior campaign, starting 28 out of 30 matches with a career high of 180 kills.

Jones became a regular starter on the squad her junior year and is fourth on the team with 169 kills this season. She has appeared in over

photo by Merle Czarnetzki Senior Grace Jones attacks the ball at the net against Florida Tech.

Eckerd competes in first wake tournament

By Dominick Cuppetilli Sports Editor The Eckerd College Wakeboarding Club team competed for the first time at a collegiate level at the Empire Wake Collegiate Wake Series held at Billy’s Tarpon Turtle in Tarpon Springs, Florida on Nov. 15.

The young club took six members to compete, with three of them scoring podium finishes.

Club co-founder, Junior Ian Dunn, placed second in the men’s advanced division while Sophomore Joe Campo placed second in the women’s beginner division. The team was led by Senior Morgan Crescent, who won first place in the women’s advanced division.

The team’s other riders included Senior and club co-founder Trent Adamson, who competed in men’s intermediate division, and Freshmen Dylan Miller and David Reiter, who both competed in the men’s beginner division.

Members of the Eckerd club team competed against riders from the University of Florida, Rollins

College and Arizona State University. Riders were given two passes per ride with a maximum of three falls before elimination. Scores were evaluated on the single ride.

There were varying degrees of experience among the riders that podiumed.

Campo had never ridden competitively before, and in fact wasn’t even intending to ride at the contest. Two hours before her division began, Campo decided to borrow Crescent’s board and register to compete.

Campo began wakeboarding when she got to Eckerd in the fall last year, and began to improve her skills by joining the wakeboarding club.

“Everyone has the same interest and all want to improve,” Campo said.

Campo’s background is in competing in track, which she said was very different than wakeboarding.

“In track, everyone is a fierce competitor, but this was a laid back atmosphere,” Campo said.

It is this atmosphere that brought back Crescent to competitive riding. The last time she rode

200 sets in her four-year campaign.

But college volleyball wasn’t her goal at first. In fact, Jones didn’t even start playing volleyball until her freshman year at North Myrtle Beach High School.

“I actually did gymnastics my whole childhood,” Jones said.

“Obviously I’m too tall for that now, so I figured volleyball would be a good sport to try out.”

Luckily, Jones’ natural athleticism allowed for her to quickly pick up the sport and become a highly recruitable player. She was a firstteam All-State selection in 2010, was a three-time first-team All-Region selection and the 2010 Toast of the Coast Player of the Year.

“I just had really good coaches whenever I started,” Jones said.

“They dedicated a lot of time to teaching me the basics and working with me one on one.”

Jones ended up falling in love with the sport and eventually decided she wanted to play in college.

Jones was talking to the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

UNC Head Coach Bambenek was good friends with Courtney Draper, Eckerd’s head coach at the time.

“I knew nothing about Eckerd,” Jones said. “Coach Bambenek was really interested in me but she didn’t have the right scholarships for my needs. So she told Coach Draper about me and sent my skills video to her.”

After watching her video, Draper contacted Jones, expressing her interest and that she’d like for Jones to come to Eckerd for a visit. Jones decided to visit after she saw pictures of Eckerd’s campus on the school’s website.

However, she still had some second thoughts before joining the team.

“We actually had a losing season the year before I came here,” Jones said. “It was kind of risky coming but after talking to Draper several times on the phone, I could tell she was the type of coach I would work really well with.”

Jones decided that Eckerd was the place for her after a successful overnight visit staying on campus with several girls on the team.

“I had a blast, they showed me what Eckerd was about and the balance between athletics and academics while having a little bit of fun responsibly,” Jones said. “They were all just genuine and really sweet.”

Jones could tell the team had great chemistry and that Draper was a coach that she could work well with.

Even though Draper left Eckerd to coach at the University of South Florida, Jones and the rest of the team did a good job of adjusting to Head Coach Michelle Piantadosi after she came on board two years ago.

“She came my sophomore year,” Jones said. “We transitioned well as a team and we were willing to do whatever it takes to adjust to her coaching style.”

Piantadosi became Eckerd’s head volleyball coach in 2012 after being an assistant coach at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City.

“I’ve gotten to coach her for three years and have been very impressed with her,” Piantadosi said.

“She voluntarily stayed on campus this summer and worked really hard and we saw a major transformation in her game. She was excited going into the season this year.”

When asked about what she

competitively was in the fall of her Dunn also had some success in sophomore year when she rode as an the contest, getting the silver in his independent rider in the same event. division. He has competed in vari“It was cool to be back, es- ous contests, but was happy to be pecially with students from representing Eckerd in this one.

“We got Eckerd’s name out Eckerd,” Crescent said.

Crescent said that she was ner- there,” Dunn said. “We showed them vous getting back to wakeboarding who we are and what we can do.”

As co-founders of the club, because it is more individual than what she is used to with soccer. Dunn and Adamson were very “I told myself to not expect pleased with how their riders permuch and to treat it as just an- formed. “It was cool to see riders other fun ride,” Crescent said. that I ride with here [at Eckerd] Fortunately for her, the ride and teach tricks to, to get out turned out to be more than just fun, there and compete,” Adamson said.

Both Dunn and Adamson felt as she came out leading her divithey could have done better persion, the top tier for women riders.

She found it particularly fulfill- sonally, still felt the competition ing to beat the rider from Rollins in her division, as they are competitors in the Sunshine State Conference as well.

Crescent had a flawless run, managing to land every trick she attempted.

Her most impressive set of tricks came from a toe-side scarecrow back into a heel-side tantrum, riding away with a sketchy landing. Senior Morgan Crescent gets first in Empire Wake Collegiate Series.

photo courtesy of eckerdtritons.com

would change about these last four years, Jones said she wouldn’t change a thing, good or bad.

“Basically, you make your four years count depending on your attitude,” Jones said.

Jones is majoring in business management and plans on applying for marketing internships after college. She explains that she wants to go into marketing or something similar because she is creative and good with people.

“My original plan was to go to grad school and pursue a degree in counseling and psychotherapy,” Jones said. “But in recent months, I’ve discovered that I’m interested in marketing and more of a business side of things.”

Besides playing volleyball, Jones also sang the national anthem at almost every home volleyball match, as well as numerous home basketball and soccer games. She enjoys painting in her spare time.

“She has a really fun vibrant personality and the girls have fun playing with her,” Piantadosi said.

“I’m going to miss that a lot.”

was a success for the club. The founders hope to grow the wakeboard culture here at Eckerd and want to help the club get out to more competitions in the area.

Crescent said that having the club do well in its first competition was great, because it lets the campus know that they are the real deal and are actually producing results.

With three out of the six riders getting podium finishes, the club ranked No. 9 out of 25 teams nationwide. The collegiate series will be wrapping up this semester, but the club hopes to compete in several local events next semester, including a cable competition to be mixed in with boat.

photo courtesy of Trent Adamson

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