Volume 6, Issue 8

Vol. 6, Issue 8 Feb. 20, 2015

Women’s team sets new record

VIEWPOINTS

By Christina Rosetti Asst. Sports Editor

Women’s Basketball shattered their single season win record on the road after beating No. 14 Rollins College for the second time this season.

The Tritons are in the midst of one of the most successful seasons in their history with a record of 186. The victory marks the third win against a nationally ranked opponent this season and extends their conference win streak to three.

Rollins took an early lead against Eckerd Saturday night in Winter Park, but the Tritons battled to keep the game within reach.

After falling to an eight point deficit, Senior Rana Thomas and Sophomore Victoria Vine drained back-to-back shots. Vine, scoring from three-point range, narrowed the lead to three.

Senior Ivana Grbic made it a onepoint game midway through the first half but the Tars pulled away with two minutes left in the first half. Rollins maintained their lead going into halftime winning 32-24.

The second half proved to be history in the making for the Tritons.

Rollins extended their lead to 11 early in the second half but Freshman Trine Kasemagi led the Triton rally.

After drawing a foul on a lay-up, Kasemagi hit the free throw, capitalizing on the three-point play. On the following possession, she put two more points on the board.

Grbic continued the run by cutting the lead to three.

With 7:21 left in the game, Senior Kayla Bowlin drained a crucial three-pointer, giving the Tritons their first lead since the beginning minutes of the game.

“We have confidence in each other,” Bowlin said. “We pass to open people and I was open and able to knock down the shot. Everyone made huge plays throughout the game.”

In a short eight minute span, the

Is the push against net neutrality in your best interest, or is it just a web of lies? Find out — page 15.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

If you love Taco Bus, check out our review of the local favorite — page 11.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

photo by Dominick Cuppetelli Senior Ivana Grbic puts up a smooth layup against Lynn University on Feb. 7.

Tritons managed a 20-4 run against the Tars. With only a minute left in the game, Rollins took a one point lead but Kasemagi quickly answered with a go-ahead two point play.

The talented rookie also came

up big on the following play with a block on defense and drawing a foul. Kasemagi hit both free throws, securing the 61-58 win and a spot in the record books.

“I am very proud of this team and what we have accomplished in the

season to this point,” Head Coach Paul Honsinger said in an email.

“We have a very driven team this year with a balance of productive newcomers and outstanding senior leaders.”

See Basketball, page 15

ECOS officers explain government, committees

By Timothy Lee Asst. News Editor

courtesy of the ECOS website ECOS officials gather around the table to discuss various issues.

Please Recycle

INDEX:

NEWS

1-4

VIEWPOINTS

5-8

This year, every Eckerd student was charged a student activity fee of $326, according to Executive Vice President of ECOS Jack Layden.

That money funds our extensive student government, including an array of officers and committees.

These people fund our clubs, represent the student body’s interests and organize and pay for many of Eckerd’s most important and memorable events.

Last year ECOS’ total budget was over $500,000, according to the ECOS website. More than half of this money went to fund clubs or Palmetto Productions, the student group responsible for many popular events and concerts. Most of the remaining funds went into the budgets of ECOS staff and representatives or into an emergency fund.

ECOS is organized much like the

SCIENCE & TECH. 9-10

A& E

11-12

U.S. Government, with an executive branch, the Executive Council, a legislative branch, the Senate, and a judicial branch, called the Student Community Standards Board (SCSB).

The Executive Council At the top of the Executive Council is President and Senior Brady O’Donnell. As president, O’Donnell meets regularly with college administration, including President Eastman. He is the most direct avenue students have to ensure that their interests are understood by the people who run Eckerd.

“Traditionally the ECOS president’s role is to interact with the staff, faculty and administration of Eckerd College, alongside helping manage the actual organization of ECOS itself, including the other elected positions and appointed positions,” O’Donnell said.

The annual Environmental Film Festival returns to Eckerd on Feb. 20 — page 9.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Stop resisting training and try resistance training instead — page 13.

See Committees, page 4

HEALTH & FITNESS 13-14

SPORTS 15-16

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

Feb. 20, 2015

Editor-in-Chief

Sydney Cavero thecurrent@eckerd.edu

LET’S BE BRIEF

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

News Editors Chelsea Duca Bryan Arnott

Assistant Editor Timothy Lee currentnews@eckerd.edu

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

Science & Technology Editor Sarah Raney

Assistant Editor Ania Szczesniewski currentscience@eckerd.edu

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Jennifer Lincoln currententertainment@eckerd.edu

Health & Fitness Editor Blaide Woodburn currenthealth@eckerd.edu

Sports Editor

Dominick Cuppetilli

Assistant Editors Christina Rosetti Simon Sheidegger currentsports@eckerd.edu

Photo Editors

Nate Gozlan Lia Nydes currentphoto@eckerd.edu

Online Editor Hailey Escobar

Assistant Editor Cassie Madden currentonline@eckerd.edu

Layout Editors

Hannah Hamontree Andrew Friedman currentlayout@eckerd.edu

Graphic Design Editor Hannah Hamontree

Multimedia Manager Gary Furrow Jr. currentvideo@eckerd.edu

Social Media Coordinator Marissa Meleedy

Business Managers Gary Furrow Jr. Teresa Young currentads@eckerd.edu

By Bryan Arnott & Chelsea Duca News Editors

Pet registration approaches The Flush

Students who have recently brought pets to campus must register them. The Pet Council is holding regThe Flush istration on Feb. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Brown Hall.

Bring your pet and any veterinarian documents. A vetWitness the power of the nationally acclaimed, erinarian will be on-site to look at the animals. mind-reading duo, “The Evasons.” They visit campus on Feb. 21 at 9 p.m. in Fox Hall for Family Weekend.

Experience the Evasons

Turn in your Writing Portfolios The Flush

Annual marine yard sale returns Email from Tom Scherberger

Juniors and seniors who have not turned in the Writing Portfolio yet must do so by Feb. 27 by 4 p.m. in The 29th annual Eckerd College marine yard sale will Brown Hall at the Foundations Office. Requirements be held on March 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Water- for the Writing Portfolio can be found in Brown Hall front. All proceeds will support EC-SAR. or in the Writing Center located in Seibert. The Writing Center is open Sunday through Thursday, 6-10 p.m., for students who need help.

Dance a marathon The Flush

Celebrate the Chinese New Year

Online registration for the Eckerd College Dance The Flush Maraton has begun. Her Campus is planning the event that begins on March 28 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Make your way to Hough Quad on Feb. 20 at 9 p.m. the next day. Registration can be done online on the to celebrate the Chinese New Year. There will be Kung Fu demonstrations, Chinese food, art, music, fireworks, dance marathon Facebook page. air brush tattoos, lion dance, origami, magic and lots of free stuff. The first 300 people that show up will receive Spring into cleaning a lucky bamboo plant.

The Flush The Office of Sustainability and the Office of ServiceLearning are hosting three spring cleaning events on campus this semester. The first one will be on Feb. 25 from 3 to 4 p.m. and will be followed by a brief dinner and discussion. The events are geared towards picking up trash on different parts of campus and keeping the campus clean and healthy. The first event will focus on picking up trash along the sea wall in the mangroves from the Waterfront to South Beach. Students interested should meet in the Office of Service-Learning at 2 p.m.

Piper Kerman to visit campus CPS Event listing

Author of Orange is the New Black, Piper Kerman, will speak at McArthur Gym on March 5 at 7 p.m.

View the “Bay Life” art exhibit The Flush

On Feb. 21 at 1:15 p.m. buses will be leaving from the mailboxes to bring students to see the Tampa Bay Watch “Bay Life” art exhibit. The exhibit will feature local artists and a discussion with Florida wildlife author Jeff Kinkenberg. The event is free and the estimated return time is 3:30 p.m.

Send off our basketball seniors

The Flush

Show your support for the Men and Women’s Basketball team seniors at Senior Night. Come out to the McArthur Gym on Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. for women and 4 p.m. for men.

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.

FRI

20

SAT

21

SUN

22

Men and Women’s Tennis, Lynn University, home, 3 p.m.

Basketball, Barry University, away.

Women 4 p.m.

Men 6 p.m.

Baseball, Rollins College, away, 6 p.m.

Co-ed Sailing, Old South Regatta, Gainsville, Fla., all day

Co-ed Sailing, Charleston Spring, Charleston, S.C., all day

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1

SENIOR NIGHT: Basketball, Palm Beach Atlantic, home.

Women 2 p.m.

Men 4 p.m.

Co-ed Sailing, Mendelblatt team race, Tampa, Fla., all day

27

Baseball, Florida Institute of Technology, home, 6 p.m.

Softball, FIT, home, 7 p.m.

Tennis, Warner University, home, 11 a.m.

Softball, University of Montevallo, home, 11 a.m., 1 p.m.

MON

TUES

23 The Current meeting, 7 p.m.

CPS: The Crossroads, Fox Hall, 7 p.m.

24

Softball, Webber International University, home, 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

WED

25

THURS

26

Basketball, St. Leo, Men’s Tennis, home. Women 5:30 Florida Southern, p.m., Men 7:30 p.m. home, 3 p.m.

Taco Tuesday

CPS: Higgs Boson, Galbraith Auditorium, 6:30 CPS: Race, Rap and p.m.

Reality, Fox Hall, 7 p.m.

2

3

4

The Current meeting, 7 p.m.

Taco Tuesday

Women’s Tennis, Florida Southern, home, 3 p.m.

Baseball, St. Leo, away, 6 p.m.

Baseball, Walsh University, home, 6 p.m.

Men’s Tennis, home, 2 p.m.

5 Men and Women’s Tennis, John Carrol University, home, 2 p.m.

CPS: Moral Leadership, Fox Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

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the current

Feb. 20, 2015

News 3

News Substance policies revisited

By Marlene Heyning Staff Writer

photo by Timothy Lee From right to left: Freshman Ashling Jackson, Freshman Shannon Tivona, Freshman Mya Jason, Junior Tobias Krussig and Freshman Rose Kirchner.

Caf leftovers used to feed the hungry

By Timothy Lee Asst. News Editor Every Saturday, while many students are busy planning their night out, Freshman Shannon Tivona is busy helping to feed hungry families in south St. Petersburg.

Tivona founded Eckerd’s chapter of the Food Recovery Network, a national organization of college students devoted to recovering unserved food from their cafeterias.

As the founder of Eckerd’s chapter, Tivona volunteers time each week to collect food from Eckerd’s main cafeteria and deliver it to a volunteer from a local food pantry.

Tivona and her small group of four volunteers, Freshman Ashling Jackson, Junior Tobias Krussig, Freshman Mya Jason and Freshman Rose Kirchner, said they manage to recover about 200 pounds of food per week from Eckerd’s main cafeteria. This food is donated to FEED St. Pete, a local organization dedicated to feeding the hungry of south St. Petersburg.

On one of these recovery trips, they met briefly with Bon Appétit staff who brought out several large metal trays of unserved food from the refrigerator. They transferred the food to their own containers and weighed it carefully, finding that it weighed a total of 76 pounds.

Then they carried the food outside and delivered it to a FEED St. Pete volunteer’s waiting car.

“They have distributions on a nightly basis from food that’s donated to them by Publix and local restaurants and things,” Tivona said, “and then our food is used to supplement [that food]. Whatever they don’t get to provide a whole meal, if they need meat, if they need dairy, if they need a side-dish, they’ll take whatever they can get from us and supplement that meal.”

The Food Recovery Network is a national organization of college students working together to collect surplus food from school cafeterias and give it to people in need. Since their founding in 2011, they have saved over 600,000 pounds of food

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from being thrown away. In those four years since a group of students at the University of Maryland started The Food Recovery Network, the program has spread quickly to over 100 campuses in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

Tivona started Eckerd’s chapter in November 2014.

“I saw a video on Upworthy about how some college students had started this program, and I thought it was really awesome, and I was astounded that Eckerd didn’t have this program, so I decided to start it,” she said.

Not letting themselves be overwhelmed by their success, Tivona and her team are already organizing the further expansion of food recovery at Eckerd.

“We hope to get about 50 pounds of food per week from the CEC [cafeteria],” Tivona said. “It is our hope that this program could ex-

pand beyond the main caf, beyond the CEC and even into the local area. It is our dream that we could one day collect from local restaurants and businesses as well.”

“Really [the food collection] is a very simple thing that we do each week, and it was pretty incredible to see that it was really only one person, Shannon, that it took to make the connection between our cafeteria that had so much extra food and a local organization that needed food,” Freshman Ashling Jackson said. “It wasn’t very difficult, and all it took was someone realizing the need and making it happen.”

The team said that Bon Appétit’s staff, particularly General Manager Eric Foster and Chef Wren Forsythe, helped facilitate the project.

Students interested in volunteering with Tivona and her team should email her at sjtivona@eckerd.edu.

photo by Timothy Lee Freshman Ashling Jackson prepares food to be donated.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

Eckerd’s administration reviews the EC-Book every year, making slight changes to the rules and regulations as the college continues to adapt to student needs and desires, according to Dean of Students James Annarelli.

This year the Eckerd College Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force (ECAT), which was formed in the fall of 2014, is doing a more extensive review of the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) policies in the EC-Book.

ECOS President and Senior Brady O’Donnell is a part of ECAT and said that the group is reviewing three different policy options.

“The first one is that we are considering a ban on all hard alcohol, which would be anything over 30 percent [alcohol content]. The second is a limit on how much a 21-year-old could possess or claim as their own, and the third one is about the complex and courtyard gatherings and how we can provide some sort of structure for that for the greater safety of students.”

This extensive review of the policy rises from concern about more high-risk drinking among all students. According to Coordinator for Community Standards Mara Shingleton, Eckerd had 12 AOD-related hospital transports from Autumn Term 2014 to the end of fall semester 2014. Shingleton added that the number is similar in the spring.

Annarelli said that none of the students who were transported were at the hospital for more than a few hours, and that the cautious nature of staff could cause them to call EMS more often. He also believes that the efficacy of the Medical Amnesty policy outlined in the EC-Book encourages students to call EMS more than other small, liberal arts schools that are comparable to Eckerd.

“We want to make Eckerd a safer environment, and from the data we’ve seen, that was what motivated us to do a more thorough review,” Annarelli said.

ECAT looks at data from surveys that Eckerd administers every year, data from Eckerd College Emergency Response Team (EC-ERT) as well as data from other schools and their policies when reviewing.

“After looking at data, the committee came up with ideas and put them out to the faculty,” Director of Outreach Services and Health Promotion Makenzie Schiemann said.

Although ECAT is spearheading the review, they are also consulting with other Eckerd faculty members and students. Among the members of the group are O’Donnell and Schiemann.

“ECAT does not make decisions regarding the current policy,” Annarelli said. “Rather, ECAT spearheads the review, consults broadly with campus constituencies and makes recommendations to President Eastman and to me.”

This process started in October and will end before room draw on April 8, so students can have information about the houses before they make their decisions. “[It’s time to] take a fresh look at the policy [AOD policy] as a whole, which can result in the policy changing or remaining as it is,” Annarelli said. “It’s not a predeter-

mined process in that regard.”

To answer these questions, ECAT, Annarelli and Schiemann have looked to other schools to see how they address alcohol and drug use, according to Associate Dean of Students Lorisa Lorenzo.

Annarelli said that Eckerd will not necessarily follow practices used at other schools.

“We have to take into account the unique, family-like culture of this place and understand that what might work at a large-state university might not be appropriate for Eckerd College,” Annarelli said.

One of these example universities is Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, with their new ban of all hard liquor.

“We have discussed this [ban on hard liquor] but have even broadened the conversation to maybe just putting a limitation on the amount of liquor an of-age student can posses. That way, it’s not an all across the board ban, but we want to reduce the amount to eventually reduce binge-drinking,” Schiemann said.

Schiemann added that there is a common theme among the reasons for hospital transports.

“When students go to the hospital for alcohol, it is almost always shots that they have been taking,” Lorenzo said. “One reason behind the examination of our policy is that we have to ask if we just had beer and wine, would that make it safer because it is consumed a little slower, would that be a benefit to the community?”

O’Donnell believes that students would react poorly to a complete ban on hard liquor.

“I think that most students would say that will not work for Eckerd College,” he said. “Eckerd is not a culture that says ‘no’ to anything. We don’t like black and white here at Eckerd. I think that we on ECAT understand that the students won’t like that policy, but it is still worth talking about.”

Other students have already expressed concerns with a possible liquor ban.

“If they’re concerned about liquor, banning it is the absolute wrong thing for them to do because it creates an underground market,” Senior KT Klens said. “...there’s already an underground market with illegal drugs on campus.”

Klens is an officer of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a club that advocates for what it sees as reasonable and progressive approaches to dealing with alcohol and drugs at Eckerd.

“Prohibition, as they can clearly look at the data, does not really solve issues, education does,” Klens said. “And I think they need to put more of their time and effort into educating people on safer uses of liquor.”

As for complex parties, Health Services and Outreach want to partner more with the students to make the events safer.

“Like we did in the fall, we want to work with them to move the party out of the complex or help provide water or sober students available at the party,” Schiemann said.

Students play an important role in decisions regarding the policy.

“The biggest thing is that we want to hear the student voices and get their opinions on changes or the possibility of changes that we will make,” Schiemann said.

Students can be heard from online platforms and surveys as well as in-person surveys.

4 News

the current

Feb. 20, 2015

From Committees, page 1

O’Donnell had a budget of $69,000 last year to fund projects such as the ongoing Five Grand for Change and Eckerd’s Emerging Leaders (EEL), a program created

by O’Donnell to get freshmen more involved as leaders on campus.

Then comes Executive Vice President and Sophomore Jack Layden, who is formally president of the Senate.

“The Vice President’s main duties are to organize and collaborate with senators and to ensure clubs are working efficiently, and putting on events and gathering members,” O’Donnell said.

Layden also has a sizeable personal budget with which to fund projects that benefit students such as the installation of hot water dispensers in dorm lounges, a project he originally intended to fund but that Housing eventually funded.

Sophomore Spencer Gradley is Vice President of Financial Affairs.

He oversees the ECOS budget and chairs the Financial Affairs Committee, the committee that makes the final decision of how much funding each club should receive.

“During the allocations process, clubs come in with a certain amount of money that they want and the Financial [Affairs Committee] led by the Vice President of Financial Affairs all go over it… They make sure it’s reasonable spending,” Layden said.

O’Donnell also described this committee’s role in allocating the Independent and Collaborative Ventures Fund, a fund which received $30,000 last year. “[It is] a fund that can go to any student, not necessarily just clubs and other organizations, who want to benefit the campus in some way.

[The Financial Affairs Committee has] a pool of money to pull from to give students in that regard and they all vote on that as a committee,” O’Donnell said.

As Vice President of Academic Affairs, Senior Greg Johnson represents the student body to faculty and to the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College. The Academic Affairs Committee that he chairs is tasked with generating serious thought and discussion between faculty and students.

“The Academic Affairs Committee votes on student-faculty interaction grants, conference grants and they put on CPS events,” Layden said, referring to the money ECOS makes available to help send students to academic conferences and to help professors put on small events for their students.

O’Donnell also said that the Academic Affairs Committee is responsible for the popular recurring event Pitchers With Professors.

Junior Colleen Owen is the

graphic by Hannah Hamontree ECOS is divided into three branches and supports several independent committees.

ECOS Parliamentarian and she heads the Constitution, Regulations and Bylaws Committee. They approve and regularly reapprove club charters, ensuring that clubs are well organized and that no two clubs exist for the same reason.

They also deal with constitutional challenges to actions taken by other representatives of ECOS. Owen also serves a role in ECOS comparable to the U.S. Attorney General, advising the Executive Council in following the ECOS constitution.

As Chief of Staff, Sophomore Claire Russell manages the appointed positions and assists O’Donnell and other members of the Executive Council in various projects.

She has been responsible for organizing a discount card for Eckerd students.

“She has taken that initiative on her own, so she has been calling different restaurants and local places in St. Pete and [she] put together a discount card all her own that saved us a couple thousand dollars,” O’Donnell said.

Independent Committees Among the committees not chaired by an ECOS Executive Council member are the Pet Council, the Elections Committee, the Public Relations Committee and Palmetto Productions.

The Pet Council has a membership split evenly between students who own pets and students who don’t. According to the ECOS Constitution, they are supposed to “help provide a structured and friendly environment on campus that is conductive to the orderly

ownership of pets.”

Specifically, they are to approve changes to Eckerd’s pet policy, make sure all pets are registered, report infringements of pet policy to the Student Community Standards Board and organize pet-friendly events and activities.

The Elections Committee ensures the integrity of ECOS elections. In order to prevent conflicts of interest, two-thirds of the people on this committee are required to be ordinary students, not ECOS officers or senators.

“Say you put up a slandering poster, [the Elections Committee] will come in and vote on whether you are allowed to continue to run or whether you should have votes reduced,” Layden said.

The Public Relations Committee is the marketing and communications branch of ECOS. They are responsible for communicating with the student body about ECOS events and for assisting clubs in their own advertising.

Last is perhaps the best known of Eckerd’s student committees, Palmetto Productions. They received $108,000 this year in order to cooperate with Campus Activities in planning events and concerts including Halloween Ball, Kappa Karnival, Ektoberfest and Spring Ball, according to Layden.

“Palmetto Productions is involved in ECOS and we fund them, but they are super independent,” Layden said.

Then there are a few committees which exist at the discretion of an officer appointed by the president.

The most notable of these is the

Culinary Relations Committee led

by Director of Culinary Relations Loren Gluckman.

“Everyone who ate the [cafeteria] food last year knows how important [the Culinary Relations Committee] was and how successful they were with working with the new staff,” Layden said, referring to improvements made this year to the staff and food quality at the cafeteria. “They meet with [Bon Appétit leadership] every week and explain what they want to see and express their concerns with the food.”

The Senate and the Student Community Standards Board The Senate consists of one elected representative from each complex and two to represent students who live off campus.

“The Senate is our task-force and our eyes and ears around campus to create change and put on events,” Layden said.

The Student Community Standards Board hears cases involving student violations of Eckerd’s rules.

The board is made up of ordinary students to ensure that everyone gets a fair hearing, and they pick their own new members to ensure all members of the board are fair and unbiased, according to the constitution.

Getting Involved Layden also offered some advice to students looking to get involved.

“The best thing for freshmen to do would be to join Eckerd’s Emerging Leaders,” he said, referring to O’Donnell’s leadership program for freshmen.

“[EEL] is a program pretty much created by Brady O’Donnell with the purpose to get freshmen involved in student government and in leadership positions early on so that they can understand what it’s like to take on extra responsibility… and to learn the skills that leaders need later on down the road,” Freshman John Burdette said. Burdette is a current member of EEL and is now also a member of the Constitution, Regulation and Bylaws Committee.

“If you didn’t [join EEL] and you still want to get involved, come talk to any of us in the [ECOS] office because we will go into depth about trying to find you a place,” Layden said.

Layden claims that Eckerd is one of the most student-driven campuses in the country.

“I’ve been to a couple other colleges and met with some other student governments and [they are] a joke compared to ECOS,” he said.

“Another student government was like ‘well we have $14,000,’ and we were like ‘well cool. We allocate over $500,000.’ Students really have a voice here and I think our job is to communicate that to the people who can make change,” he said.

He also described how ECOS, unlike many other college’s student governments, actually has the power to help solve student’s problems.

“We are really here just to help you guys; we find value in doing this and we want people to utilize [our help]. That is the good thing about the way our college is structured.

Every student has a voice,” Layden

Pet Life celebrates pet park grand opening

By Riley Huff Staff Writer

Eckerd College Pet Life will host a grand opening for the school’s new pet park on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. While the park has been open since its construction during fall semester of the 20142015 academic year, this ceremony will mark its launch officially with a traditional ribbon-cutting.

Students will be able to participate in a range of activities such as tie-dying T-shirts, participating in a raffle or simply playing around with their pets in a space designed specifically for their animals’ freedom, according to Pet Life Staff Advisor and Assistant Director of Campus Safety and Security Tonya Womack.

“All animals are welcome,” Womack said.

Pet Life’s primary objective is to flaunt the new park. Since the opening ceremony falls on Family Weekend, the committee hopes students and their family members will stop by any time, according to Womack.

Senior Caley Marchesseault has been working as a member of the Pet Council to establish the park since arriving at Eckerd. Now that her dream has become a reality, she could not be any more pleased with the end result.

“It’s been my baby since freshman year,” she said.

She plans to bring her own pet rabbit to the park. Members like Womack and Marchesseault hope news of the park will reach beyond the current Eckerd community.

Eckerd has gained a reputation as a pet-friendly school. With this grand

opening, Eckerd will become only the second school in the country to have a park on campus specifically designated for pets, according to Womack.

Dogs and cats must be on leashes at all times in Pinellas County, according to the Pinellas County Code of Ordinances. However, many Eckerd students wanted their pets to be able to run around untethered.

With this in mind, Pet Life began creating the park approximately five years ago. The help of Facilities, groundskeeping, a generous donor and many others has led to its creation. This ceremony will mark the celebration of their hard work.

“We want to show off what we did as a school and how welcoming we are to pets,” Marchesseault said.

photo by Peter Bouveron The pet park’s official opening is Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

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the current

Feb. 20, 2015

Viewpoints 5

Viewpoints Save the Internet: Net neutrality is the key

By Dorothy-Mae Eldemire Viewpoints Editor

In May 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler introduced a plan that would allow companies to pay for faster Internet access speeds.

In short, they would create “toll lanes” on the Internet which would mean that for many of us, popular sites like YouTube and Facebook would only be able to transmit data to us if they paid these toll lane fees.

Due to public outcry, the plan was shelved until further notice.

This month, he reintroduced the plan and on Feb. 26, the fate of the Internet will be decided.

Net neutrality is the goal. Net neutrality is the right to communicate freely over the Internet.

A court ruling in January has now taken this away from us as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can block and disable websites and applications.

Netflix and YouTube will have to pay extra fees for customers to receive a constant feed.

This could result in us, the consumers, paying hidden fees in our already extravagant cable bills.

When I first heard about this new ruling, I was slightly confused as to what it would entail. But after hearing people compare it to the mob, Interstate 5 versus Florida Turnpike and North Korea versus the USA, I figured out what we could be losing if this new law were to pass.

“Think of it as the mafia coverage protection plan,” Freshman

Clifford Lezark said. “This is a capitalist market which means competition drives the economy. There are many companies, but if you live in mob-controlled territory and you don’t buy from the mob company, Cousin Vinnie is coming to town.

It’s the same concept but with fewer broken legs. If you don’t pay up for this higher speed Internet you have to walk along the plebeian pathway filled with congested, unsecure, unprioritized websites.”

The problem with this new ruling is that it takes away freedom of speech on the Internet. According to SavetheInternet.com, companies can block other companies and slow down competitors.

Political sites can block opinions that don’t agree with theirs.

We would see Internet blackouts all over.

That “on the spot” tweet you thought of at a party could take minutes to send. Pictures of a night out with friends could take hours to upload. YouTube videos could take forever to load if they load at all.

But wait, there’s more.

Without any legal restraints on these ISPs, they can monitor what you do online and sell your information to the highest bidders because unlike Facebook, they have direct control over internet connections.

If this continues, ISPs could require you to connect using a list of devices they have approved.

Many seem to think that this new bill won’t affect them when it will affect many of the sites the majority of consumers use.

For schools like Eckerd where the Internet is overloaded with

photo by Nate Gozlan Net neutrality is the principle that advocates all Internet traffic to be treated equally.

students who watch Netflix at all hours of the day, many of us will have to deal with the possibility that it could take hours to load one single episode.

Right now it doesn’t seem to be a big deal. We’re all still enjoying speed Internet and Netflix with no worries, but as of Feb. 26 that could all change if Internet users, don’t speak up.

SaveTheInternet.com has a countdown to the day we could possibly lose the Internet as we know it.

Senator John Thune and Representative John Upton are pushing a fake bill called “Title X.” It’s disguised as a net neutrality bill when in truth it legalizes a lot of practices and prevents the FCC from being able to legislate what’s

right or wrong.

If you visit the website you can find a list of representatives near you that you can call to help stop this bill.

It only takes five minutes. Call Congress, make your statement known and save our Internet.

Together, we have the opportunity to keep something that is rightfully ours.

Bans protect youth from ‘conversion therapy’

By Timothy Lee Asst. News Editor I am from a conservative religious family that thinks being LGBT means being broken. When I came out as gay to my parents in my sophomore year of high school, they suggested we seek therapy to “fix” me. I refused, and they didn’t push the issue or try to coerce me.

But I have friends who were not so fortunate -- friends whose parents forced them to attend counselling to “turn them straight.”

So-called “conversion therapy” or “reparative therapy” intend to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and are still seen as an option by many homophobic and transphobic parents when they discover their child is LGBT. These practices range from simple conversational counseling, to intense prayer and attempted exorcisms to electroshock treatments.

These therapies were brought to unprecedented national attention by the tragic suicide last December of Leelah Alcorn. seventeen yearold Alcorn walked into oncoming

traffic on an interstate after dealing for years with her parents disapproval of her identity as transgender.

In the suicide note she posted to Tumblr, she described her parents forcing her to attend therapy with Christian counselors who told her that she was wrong, selfish and should look to God for help.

The American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association, the United State’s primary professional organizations for psychologists and psychiatrists respectively, both oppose attempts by mental health professionals to change a patient’s sexual orientation.

“No credible evidence exists that any mental health intervention can reliably and safely change sexual orientation; nor, from a mental health perspective does sexual orientation need to be changed,” according to a 2013 policy document from the American Psychiatric Association.

The American Psychological Association has made similar statements, most recently in 2009,

while affirming that sexual minority children and youth “lack adequate legal protection from involuntary or coercive treatment” and advising “parents, guardians, young people, and their families to avoid sexual orientation change efforts that portray homosexuality as a mental illness or developmental disorder.”

“Attempts to force gender diverse and transgender youth to change their behavior to fit into social norms may traumatize the youth and stifle their development into healthy adults,” an American Psychological Association report said.

Chillingly, a 2014 study out of UCLA’s Williams Institute concluded that gay, lesbian, and bisexual people who had sought religious or spiritual counselling were more likely to attempt suicide than those who had not. Attempts to invalidate a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity can clearly cause them serious, potentially-fatal harm.

California, New Jersey and the district of Columbia have banned any attempt by a licensed men-

tal health professional to change the sexual orientation of a minor.

D.C.’s ban explicitly prohibits attempts to change a minor’s gender identity.

Some young people have spoken out against such bans, claiming in the media and in federal courts that these bans violate a basic right, that seeking professional therapy to alleviate distress caused by samesex attraction is protected as free speech under our constitution’s first amendment.

I understand the pain those people feel. I have felt it myself.

I spent years trying to change who I am, because I knew my parents wouldn’t approve. I empathize deeply with these young people in their desperate attempt to escape from the terrifying situation of an LGBT teenager in an unaccepting family or church.

But parents can currently force their children into these “therapies.” Outright bans are the only way to prevent that from happening. The power a parent has over their child is such that a teenager can never truly consent to “conver-

sion therapy.”

These bans have been upheld against multiple constitutional challenges in federal circuit courts of appeal, and last summer the U.S. Supreme Court let one of those bans stand.

“Surely, the fundamental rights of parents do not include the right to choose a specific medical or mental health treatment that the state has reasonably deemed harmful or ineffective,” Judge Freda Wolfson wrote in one such ruling.

While regulating the behavior of mental health professionals is clearly the legislative territory of the states, we now have an opportunity to take such state bans nationwide.

We must strike while the iron is hot to protect our country’s vulnerable lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, and we must take care not to leave transgender youth behind in this action. These bans must prohibit counseling intended to invalidate the gender identities of transgender youth.

graphic by Hannah Hamontree Conversion therapy attempts to make homosexual individuals heterosexual.

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6 Viewpoints

the current

Feb. 20, 2015

PerspECtives: What are your plans for Family Weekend?

“My family will not be coming this weekend, “I’m going home to Virginia to hang with my but I will be having an awesome time doing parents.”

-Kristie Parcelli, sophomore rounds.”

-Michael Esfahani, senior

“I don’t have any real plans for family weekend, because my family is in India.

I have cousins and an aunt who live about 45 minutes away, and they’re going to be here visiting me.”

-Sarab Singh, junior

“I plan to spend my Family Weekend entirely with my parents. I plan on going to eat with them every night and every morning. Go walking and paddle boarding. Do the events around campus and spend as much time with them as I can.”

-Michael Serati, freshman

Valentine’s Day rituals give love a bad name

By Araesia King Viewpoints Editor Valentine’s Day. The holiday we all love to hate. Sure, it’s a great excuse to eat an unforgivable amount of chocolate, but I can’t help but to think that our modern day celebrations of the holiday don’t really align with its original purposes.

We all have some vague notion as to how the holiday started. The story behind the holiday’s patron saint is unclear. An article on the History Channel’s website includes a variety of stories on the topic.

One story states that in third century Rome, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men, stating that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families. I guess stability didn’t really fit into the “dying for your country is the best way to live” thing they were going for. Valentine realized that this ban was ridiculous and decided to marry young couples in secret. Sadly, Valentine was caught and sentenced to death.

It is also said that Valentine was killed for helping Christians escape from Roman prisons. That story even states that Valentine sent the first valentine card to a young girl who he fell in love with during his confinement, signing the card, “From your Valentine.”

But this Valentine guy doesn’t deserve all of the credit for this love-crazed holiday. Festivals celebrating love were happening in

February way before Valentine was murdered.

It is believed that Valentine’s festivities were started as an effort to Christianize the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, which was celebrated annually on Feb. 15. This was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture and Rome’s founders, Romulus and Remus.

To begin the Lupercalia festivities, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would all gather at the sacred cave where Romulus and Remus were said to have been raised by the she-wolf, or Lupa. At the cave, the priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. The goat was skinned, its hide was cut into strips then these strips were dipped in the sacrificial blood. The priests would then go out into the town with these strips of blood, slapping both women and crop fields with the sanguinated hide to increase their fertility in the coming year. Towards the end of the day, all of the names of the single women were put into an urn. The single men in the village would then chose a name out of the urn. The lucky lady that he chose had the privilege to be paired with him for the next year.

So maybe we’re celebrating a fearless rebel who was put to death for encouraging young people to break the law and follow their hearts or maybe we’re joining in with the ancient Romans and hop-

ing for ladies as fertile as our fields in the coming year.

To tell you the truth, I don’t even know why we are still celebrating Valentine’s Day. I understand the fact that it is supposed to be a day to celebrate love. What I don’t understand is why Feb. 14 is the only day of the year that love is supposed to be celebrated.

Love is not like your birthday or Christmas that comes around once a year and commemorates a special event. Love is immortal. Long-lasting. And, quite frankly, this holiday makes a mockery of it.

“The best kind of love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more,” Freshman Lindsy Desmarais said.

According to CNN, $18.6 billion dollars is spent annually on Valentine’s day. I can’t even fathom how much money that is. Nearly 19 billion dollars spent on cheesy Hallmark cards, “gourmet” boxes of chocolate, exceptionally expensive engagement rings and cheap hookup hotel rooms.

Nothing about these empty gifts celebrates the soul-awakening love that Desmarias spoke about. It’s a shame.

Therein lies my issue with the holiday.

It’s not about love. It’s not even about celebrating fertility or the death of a man who stood up against the government to fight for love.

photo by Lia Nydes Approximately 151 million cards are exchanged on Valentine’s Day.

It’s about buying a better present for your significant other than your friend did. It’s about winning.

Love should be celebrated every day. So let’s stop making such a big

deal about it one day of the year.

Let Valentine’s Day be every day and save yourself a few bucks. Your wallet and your relationship will thank you for it.

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the current

Viewpoints 7

Feb. 20, 2015

Abuse is black and white

By Hailey Escobar Online Editor Rewind about six years into my life and you will see me fighting the pull of sleep to read chapters of fan fiction inspired by the “Twilight” franchise. Amongst the twisted versions of Edward and Bella, I stumbled across one story in particular called “Master of the Universe.”

The tale revolved around a human, businessman version of the sparkly vampire and a reporter, Bella, who he seduces. Edward is a dominant in this story, a title given to a person who controls the sexual relationship between two people in the context of Bondage, Domination, Sadism and Masochism, or BDSM; the submissive is their obedient counterpart. He must convince her to become a part of his BDSM lifestyle.

I’m sure the this summary is beginning to sound familiar, especially since the trailer for the new film adaption has been plastered across our television screens. That’s right.

The popular “50 Shades of Grey” series is a “Twilight” fanfiction.

Not only that, but it also depicts an extremely inaccurate image of a dominant/submissive relationship.

For those who aren’t aware, BDSM describes a number of sexual behaviors. According to submissionguide.com, a website dedicated to helping those who are interested in submissive exploration, explains that BDSM stands for three things: bondage and discipline, domination and submission and sadism and masochism. While this type of sexual relationship can involve pain, the point of it is to be a safe environment. The dominant in the relationship might be the one in con-

trol of the “scene” the couple are in.

But, it is only due to the consent of the submissive. The community drives an emphasis on consensual, safe and sane practices.

The reason this type of relationship is so popular with some is the idea of the submissive handing the responsibility of their health, happiness and well-being to their dominant. They get lost in the scene.

Some feminists frown upon the BDSM community due to the belief that it reinforces misogyny and promotes violence against women.

Other feminists, who consider themselves pro-sex, believe that the practice is a positive way of a woman exploring her sexual desires as long as it’s in a safe environment.

I will be one of the first to say that there is nothing wrong with this type of relationship. If that is what you’re interested in, then go right ahead. It’s your desire and you should be free to express it. The important thing is that it’s safe and done with consent from both parties.

That is where “50 Shades” and I have a problem. The relationship between Christian and Anastasia is, in simple terms, an abusive, manipulative one that borders more on domestic abuse than a steamy romance.

“I think the book and film are romanticized violence and they promote rape culture in a discreet but extremely dangerous way,” Secretary of the Women’s Empowerment Society Frances Graff said in an email. “BDSM is all about consent and the book and film do not portray an accurate image of this sexual practice.”

Safe Harbors Florida, an agency dedicated to helping those in abu-

sive relationships, characterizes an abuser as having controlling behavior, quick involvement, isolation, blaming others for problems, hypersensitivity, and “playful” use of force in sex and streaks of jealousy.

Most, if not all, of these traits of abuse are exhibited by Christian Grey throughout the book. When Anastasia decides that she might not want to continue the relationship and breaks contact with Grey, he ends up coming to her apartment, tying her to the bed and forcing sex on her in order to “remind” her that she liked the submissive lifestyle.

When I first found out the true nature of E.L. James’ book, I was already cautious of its influence.

When Fifty Shades beat the sales records of novels such as JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, I became even more upset. And then the film was announced. To say that I am disappointed in the film industry is a vast understatement.

All of the promotion and frenzy that is surrounding this story is only twisting people’s perspective on the way a dominant/submissive relationship is and romanticizes abusive relationships. It’s inaccurate.

This is especially dangerous for those who have no real experience in BDSM and try to mimic Christian and Ana’s scenes. They don’t know that, if done incorrectly as some of the film sequences may portray, these practices could lead to dangerous injuries.

According to a report from the Washington Post, the number of sex toy injuries has risen greatly since the release of the book, with 83 percent requiring “foreign object removal.” Fifty-eight percent of these patients were male.

Photo by Peter Bouveron Fifty Shades of Grey sparks a conversation about the BDSM lifestyle.

I do appreciate the conversation that the book started. It started to open people minds to different forms of sex and the idea of women enjoying sex which has been a struggle in the public mindset for years. It hasn’t been since the early years of the 1960s feminist movement that we’ve seen such a surge in conversation about a woman’s sexuality.

That being said, “Fifty Shades of

Grey” has the potential to do more harm than good. It encourages possibly dangerous sexual practices with barely any of the research as well as promoting domestic abuse style relationships. The story is unrealistic and harmful to both men and women in how a sexual relationship could be. As bad as it was as a book, I can only worry about what will happen as it sits in theaters.

#Amusing Musings Here is where we immortalize the funniest quotes from EC students and faculty.

No names, no shame.

Follow us on twitter: @TheECCurrent Communication Professor: “If I go to the pub, will I find a plum? No, but I’ll find plenty of g****** bananas!” #bananasforbananas

Art Professor: “I had to be sent home in a full body cast from falling down a pyramid in Egypt, but you would not find that interesting.” #kidsthesedays

Communication Professor: “Remember quizzes are not a group activity, I know when you send them in 30 seconds apart.” #caught

Biology Professor: “Who wouldn’t want to be in lab on their birthday? I would.” #happybirthdaytome

Marine Science Professor: “Never go to a wedding after eating a prickly pear. Especially your own. You get purple all over. Dont want that in pictures.” #wardrobemalfunction

Marine Science Professor: “Watch what you eat before you ride The Zipper. I speak from experience.” #doyoulikeseefood?

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cartoon by Hunter Howie

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8 Viewpoints

the current

Feb. 20, 2015

Friendly Fire:

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that is the question

By Dan Whitely Columnist

Modern medicine has entirely revolutionized the way humans live. Vaccines, in particular, are one of modern medicine’s greatest achievements.

Despite the success of vaccinations, diseases once thought to be eradicated, or close to being so within this country, are again on the rise. This outbreak of vaccinepreventable diseases is due in large part to an increase in public fear of vaccines.

This fear was sparked from scientific studies describing potential harmful side effects. It is these studies that individuals latch onto, doing so without fully investigating the research conducted. This increase in people refusing vaccines has triggered the current anti-vaccine movement.

Living in a country that promotes personal freedom so strongly would suggest vaccines should be a personal choice, but when it comes down to the nation’s overall health, some sacrifices need to be made.

The combination of fear of un-

With health scares this year such as the spread of Ebola in West Africa, the world has turned its attention to preventing diseases before they become rampant. This has only intensified as measles has made a resurgence in the past months. This may seem a trivial illness to make a comeback, due to the fact that most of the populous in the United States is vaccinated against it, not to mention that Eckerd requires that students be immunized against the disease. Despite these facts, hundreds of people in the U.S. are infected with this preventable disease, and are only afflicted due to their lack of vaccination.

Whether for religious or for health concerns, many parents decide against vaccinating their children which dramatically increases the chance that the child will at some point in their life come into contact with a disease that is preventable. Vaccinations are often avoided by parents for religious

reasons or by those that believe that vaccines are capable of causing adverse reactions. Vaccines are one of the safest forms of receiving medicine, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the measles vaccine only has very mild side effects that are rare to experience.

Despite the excellent safety record and ease of access in the U.S., many choose not to vaccinate and thus must be given proper respect.

Many religions worldwide do not participate in immunization vaccines due to core beliefs within their religion. While public safety would be dramatically increased by every single person receiving vaccines, we must forcibly achieve public safety. Requiring vaccines and making immunization mandatory for children goes wholly goes against many of the tenets of U.S.’ tradition. Many of the original settlers of this country came for religious freedom and from countries that tightly restrained religious

practices. For this reason, we must accept that not every person will participate in vaccination, and this should be seen as not something that extinguishes the cause of preventing diseases but as a call to further immunization.

With new focus on the hundreds of cases within the United States that are primarily attributed to religious groups that do not vaccinate, there is an opportunity to expand the conversation.

Most of the conversation is about the balance between public safety and religious freedoms, but this is only a small kernel of the topic.

Attention should not be primarily focused on the politicized and polarized debate on individual that opt out of vaccination. Instead of focusing on this small population of individuals, the focus should be on the majority of the unvaccinated populous that does not have the vaccine due to undeveloped medical care or poverty in the region. In 2013, the World Health

known vaccine ingredients and personal side-effect stories with skepticism of the government and pharmaceutical companies has driven people to avoid vaccines altogether. Even more than that, since vaccines began preventing diseases many people today have never seen the devastation of disease outbreaks within this country. This has created a false sense of security and a belief that these diseases no longer exist.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even though the U.S. doesn’t have a high number of vaccine preventable-disease cases, that’s not the case throughout the rest of the world. Polio still paralyses children in African countries and measles cases were reported in much higher numbers in Asia, Africa and Europe, according to the CDC. With an increase in globalization, the transmission of diseases from foreign countries will swiftly escalate if people continue to refuse vaccination.

Many believe vaccinations should be a personal choice because it’s something being done directly to themselves; the government shouldn’t control your body.

People fail to recognize that vaccinations are not just personal, but for the health of the entire nation.

There will always be people who physically cannot be vaccinated, like newborns, cancer patients and individuals who have allergic reactions to vaccines, so they depend on herd immunity to protect them from diseases.

Herd immunity fails when there are large amounts of people refusing vaccines, creating unprotected pockets for diseases to spread.

Procon.org recently wrote an article on the pros and cons of mandatory vaccines, touching upon the importance of herd immunity.

“In 2011, 49 U.S. states did not meet the 92-94 percent herd immunity threshold for pertussis (whooping cough), resulting in a 2012 outbreak that sickened 42,000 people and was the biggest

outbreak since 1955,” the article said.

Measles and pertussis are both extremely contagious diseases. Although the average adult immune system could potentially handle the symptoms, unvaccinated infants and treatment patients could be looking at death from catching these diseases.

With an increase in social media, connecting with people and hearing their stories has never been so easy; stories that are the most unique and unheard of go viral. When the public reads these stories, suddenly everyone thinks these rare side-effects will happen to them.

People don’t take into account that there are 7 billion people on this planet. There’s bound to be one outlier -- one person whose biological system isn’t like the average person. Fear is as contagious as any disease. It’s important to stay informed and understand that getting vaccinated isn’t entirely personal. Some vaccinations don’t just protect you, but the entire nation.

Organization (WHO) estimated that measles killed 145,700 people worldwide, most of those were children. This death rate is still high, but it is declining every year through rigorous work by international organizations.

Instead of the bitter debate on the small number of individuals in the U.S. that can contract preventable diseases but choose to avoid vaccines altogether, there should be a renewed focus on those that would be vaccinated if they had the means.

The number of deaths that are attributed to preventable diseases becomes over politicized, and immediately detracts from the real issue that persists among impoverished countries.

Many of these numbers can be lowered without the religious/ safety debate and are attainable if more support is vested in organizations such as the CDC, the WHO and Doctors Without Borders.

Corelle Rokicki Columnist

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the current

Feb. 20, 2015

Science & Technology 9

Science & TEchnology Environmental Film Festival returns for its 17th year

By Christa Perry Staff Writer

graphic by Hannah Hamontree

By Ania Szczesniewski Asst. Science & Tech. Editor Of all spices and additives, few have been as vilified by the Western kitchen as monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG. Claims of its adverse effects on the brain have left customers searching for bold print on menus assuring them the ingredient won’t be included.

There are still people who vehemently insist that MSG is dangerous, but today’s culinary scene has seen a growing number of MSG advocates. One of its most vocal supporters is David Chang. He is the Korean-American chef and creator of the Momofuku restaurant group which has locations in New York City, Toronto and Sydney.

Chang has been trying to eradicate the stigma held towards MSG so that people can begin to view it more like salt than as an unnatural synthetic. In fact, when chemically engineered, MSG looks like white powder, which could be mistaken for table salt. To get this product, a scientist combines one atom of the element sodium to the amino acid glutamate. Glutamates are neurotransmitters necessary for neurons to fire and deliver messages.

Various foods naturally possess monosodium glutamate. Test kitchens, like Nordic Food Lab, are trying to harness the flavor without adding it separately. Tomatoes, cheese and seaweed are all rich in MSG. The extraction of MSG began in 1908 when a Japanese professor pinpointed that the glutamate component of seaweed broth was what made it so savory. This savory taste is now classified as umami and serves as the fifth flavor alongside sweet, salty, sour and bitter. Nowadays the fermentation of molasses from cane sugar or sugar beets is another way of extracting glutamates.

Furthermore, Chang said at a lecture during the 2012 MAD symposium conference that monosodium glutamate is digested by our bodies the way any vitamin or supplement would be. The body doesn’t distinguish between added MSG and MSG that was naturally present. The New York Times says MSG began to get a bad rap in 1968 with the advent of Chinese restaurant syndrome, which is when after eating Chinese food an individual suffers from a variety of symptoms such as headaches, shortness of breath or hives, to name a few.

MSG was blamed, but no research has been able to prove that MSG has any link to Chinese restaurant syndrome. Rather, some people may have a sensitivity to the ingredient and react as if to an allergen.

The publicity of poor and inconclusive studies has demonized an ingredient that has actually, according to a 2000 study funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, been proven to aid digestion.

No neurological changes have been found in individuals with a high intake of MSG. The FDA labels it as “Generally Recognized as Safe,” which is the same classification for citric acid, cornstarch and Vitamin A. The only warning, at least from New York University nutritionist Dr. Lisa Young, is to be wary of its sodium content. So go ahead, order some miso, dip your dumplings in soy sauce and embrace nature’s gift of umami.

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This year’s Environmental Film Festival will run from Feb. 20 to 28 and will, as always, be one to remember. The festival, entitled “Visions of Nature/Voices of Nature,” is a selection of environmental perspectives contained in films of different genres. The films featured are documentaries, animated, experiential and feature films.

The first film of the festival is on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The film is called “Social Impacts of Capitalism and Climate Change: Snowpiercer.”

Over the following week, there will be one film shown per day. All of the films start at 7 p.m. in Miller Auditorium except for “Urban Environments: New Orleans: Changing the Channel and Getting Back to Abnormal,” which will be shown on Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.

The Festival is co-directed by Associate Professor of American Studies Catherine Griggs and Professor of Philosophy Nathan Andersen.

“We have a lot of great things coming up,” Andersen said. “We have a mix of films where we have the directors coming to speak and films where we have scholars coming to speak.”

This year, there are three fiction feature films that have environmental implications as opposed to the one fiction feature film that was

The logo encourages contemplation of the natural world and the threats to it.

played last year. There are several films that the co-directors are excited for.

“I think the food chains film [“The True Costs of Agriculture: Food Chains,” Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.] is going to be a really exciting program because the director will be here,” Andersen said. “We have the director of the last film [“Where the Waste Goes: Plastic Paradise,” Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.] here also.”

Andersen is also excited because these issues have particular relevance for those of us in Florida as well as everyone. Along with the director attending the food chains film, members of the Coalition for Immokalee Workers will be attending.

Griggs began the Environmental Film Festival 17 years ago when she received a $25,000 grant to put together a festival. Her inspiration came from her past.

“I came here from Washington

D.C., which has a very large environmental film festival,” she said. “I had the idea in my head that with the environmental consciousness at Eckerd College, it would be a good thing here. There would be interest in it in the community, and there has been.”

Griggs has run the festival from the beginning, and Andersen came on board eight years ago.

“We think that the festival is a good opportunity to make the public aware of certain issues,” Griggs said.

According to Andersen, film and media are an important way to communicate ideas to others.

“In the course of a couple hours, you can come to be aware of something, a certain issue, a certain group of people that you’d never heard of before, and come to care about them,” Andersen said.

“That’s something you can’t really

promotional photo

get in many other ways.”

The co-directors are not the only ones who are looking forward to the film festival.

“Last year, I went to every showing of the Environmental Film Festival for my Environmental Film Colloquium course,” Sophomore Zoe Shribman said. “I thought it was a really great way to learn about different cross-cultural environmental issues.”

All films are free and open to the public. According to Andersen, students appreciate that they are not the only ones commenting on the films. It is refreshing that people aside from Eckerd students care about these issues.

“They capture some of that enthusiasm,” Andersen said.

The festival accepts submissions, so email Catherine Griggs if you have a submission for future Environmental Film Festivals.

CPS event features neuromodulation, brain’s connections

By Sarah Raney Science & Tech. Editor

On Feb. 19 in Sheen Auditorium, Eckerd will welcome Dr. Bruce Johnson to speak at a CPS event about neuromodulation. Neuromodulation is a natural process in the brain that involves neuromodulators, a type of neurotransmitter, which tweak the circuits of the brain.

“If you’ve got a cell or circuit in your brain that drives some sort of behavior or perception, primary neurotransmitters push that function on or off,” Assistant Professor of Biology Gregory Gerdeman said.

“The neuromodulators are the molecules that are like the dimmers on a light switch.”

Neuromodulators can make the circuits of the brain more or less active as well as increase or decrease sensitivity. It is less a process of turning things on and off as increasing or decreasing the level of activity.

This process affects the synapses of the brain. A synapse is the gap between a nerve cell and its target cell, which can be another nerve cell or a completely different type of cell. Most synapses can have their level of activity altered, according to Gerdeman.

“Neuromodulators tweak the circuit instead of driving it,” Gerdeman said.

The brain functions on an electrochemical gradient. An electrical “push” from one cell can cause another cell to alter its behavior. Neuromodulators can function as an extra stimulus to encourage its target to change its behavior. For example, a cell may not fire without the presence of a specific neuromodulator, according to Gerdeman.

Although neuromodulatioin is a natural process, outside influence from drugs or electricity can be a stimulus.

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“Alternatively, a chemical compound (drug molecule) can be delivered directly to particular regions of the nervous system (typically parts of the brain or spinal cord),” Assistant Professor of Chemistry Lisa Bonner said in an email.

Neuronal plasticity and neuromodulation are two highly connected processes in the brain. Plasticity, according to Gerdeman, is the ability of the brain to change or adapt, usually to stimulus. Synaptic plas-

For example, memories may become stronger or be remembered more vividly when associated with strong emotions or emotionallyprovocative situations.

“I remember what I was doing when on Sept. 11, 2001,” Gerdeman said. “Part of that is because [with] the emotional arousal of that stimulating event, you have neuromodulators at play that help to promote a long-lasting rearrangement and strengthening of certain synapses. I

graphic by Hannah Hamontree Synapses fire in the brain in response to stimuli .

ticity is the idea that the synapses between brain cells can become stronger or weaker with experience.

“Cells that fire together in coordinated ways become more tightly wired together,” Gerdeman said.

“In many cases, [it’s] because of the presence of a neuromodulator that allows the synapse to get stronger or weaker.”

wouldn’t normally remember what I had for breakfast that day 14 years ago.”

Understanding neuromodulation and neuronal plasticity could have important implications for medicinal purposes.

“A few examples of treatments that have already been developed are deep brain stimulation (DBS)

for Parkinson’s disease, sacral nerve stimulation for incontinence and spinal cord-targeted drug delivery for pain alleviation,” Bonner said in an email. “Cochlear implants used to restore hearing in deaf patients also qualify as neuromodulatory devices.”

Neuromodulation is just one component of understanding the vast complexity of the brain. According to Gerdeman, many neuroscientists are working to “map” the brain based on its connections.

One such example is the connectome, or map of the synaptic connections within the brain.

While understanding these connections is important, Johnson’s talk will broaden the discussion. By understanding neuromodulation, one can have a better understanding of the map of synaptic connections. A map is not always the most useful tool if one does not know how to read it.

Additionally, Johnson and Dr. Greg Gage, the co-founder of Backyard Brains, will be working with Gerdeman to conduct labs with two of his classes. Backyard Brains is an organization that strives to make neuroscience accessible to science teachers everywhere, especially through videos of experiments and providing kits with the necessary tools. Gerdeman’s classes will conduct a pilot run of a new experiment. The experiment will use optogenetics, a method for controlling brain activity by using light, to study the neuronal circuitry of food consumption in a fruit fly.

Junior and Biology major Sarah Pavlich is in Gerdeman’s Neuroscience class and Comparative Physiology class. She is looking forward to both lab opportunities.

“It’s pretty exciting,” she said.

“All of our labs are pretty exciting. We actually get to handle real brains, real neurons, which is really interesting.”

10 Science and Technology

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Feb. 20, 2015

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that global climate change is of high importance and concern.

This small community of passionate environmentalists has big plans to expand outside of the Eckerd community. In addition to their Facebook page, a website is being developed to handle their content, and a video editor will process future video interview posts. In the meantime, the group has created a logo to match their group’s goal of becoming more professional. Busch hopes that the information the community compiles will eventually start a local, then statewide and even global dialogue about how we can minimize the effects of climate change.

The project drew some attention to their cause on Feb. 7, but much more is planned for the organization as it matures. One step is col-

laborating with sister organization Our Climate Change Australia to gain advice on where to take the group next. The team is also looking for a grant that will help them to take off online.

Though this campaign has huge goals in sight, they need to start from somewhere and that’s at Eckerd. Anyone can get involved by looking up the group on their Facebook page, getting in touch with Busch by email or asking an ambassador how to volunteer with the group at any of their events. But there is an even simpler way to help the group and its goals, as offered

by Busch.

“I urge people to be aware of surroundings, and how the environment is changing and how this affects so many people around the world,” he said.

Eckerd students attend environmental conference

By Fiona Maguire Staff Writer On Feb. 12, six Eckerd students traveled to Gainesville, Florida, to attend “Powering the Planet: Energy for Today and Tomorrow,” the 21st annual Public Interest Environmental Conference (PIEC). The three day long event was run by Levin College of Law students with the help of faculty advisors. The agenda comprised of plenaries, a roundtable discussion, workshops, a banquet and other special events.

Guest speakers included Florida Director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Susan Glickman, and Environmental Attorney at Byrd Law Group Christopher T. Byrd. Glickman hopes to help give students the tools they need in order to make a career out of protecting the natural environment.

“The Public Interest Law Conference is a great opportunity for students, public interest advocates and attorneys to come together, share information about the latest on energy issues and water policy and create strategies for moving forward, so we can protect our natural environment,” Glickman said.

The conference allowed students to learn about the nation’s prog-

ress in clean energy and meet with professionals who are also working to make a change. Sophomore Jo Campo helped to organize the event and get fundraising in order to make the experience possible.

“I learned that there is a lot more being done than I thought there

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photo by Ross Busch Our Climate Change asked individuals at the Saturday Morning Market what climate change is to them.

was, and legislature is actually being put into effect, but it’s just an issue of getting them to enforce it. […] It’s not really that people aren’t aware of the issues,” Campo said.

ECOS helped with the costs of the trip and The Jelks Family Foundation, which sponsored the conference, also offered scholarships to select applicants. The event was also sponsored by Springfield Law, Gainesville Health and Fitness, the Bagel Bakery and Sustainable UF. A 5K “Eco Run” on Jan. 31, organized by the law school’s Environmental and Land Use Law Society (ELULS), raised funds as well.

At the conference, it was clear that advocating for the environment is not an easy endeavor, and that oftentimes politics get in the way of advancement. Although it may seem like an impossible task, it is important to keep working and engaging the community. Byrd encourages environmental advocates to stay positive.

“In a day where we can become frustrated with a lack of leadership and where politics are going, we can re-energize and actually achieve change from the local level using grassroots organizing,” Byrd said.

photo by Adrian Mahoney David White, George Cavros, Sophomore Jo Campo, Sophomore Fiona Maguire, Senior Nicole Zavala, Susan Glickman and Junior Derek Bedami attended an event at UF’s Levin College of Law on Feb. 14.

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On Feb. 7, Our Climate Change took to the streets of St. Pete during the Saturday Morning Market to interview attendees. This Eckerd group is trying a different approach to the problem by humanizing the effects of global climate change and allowing the common person to weigh in on the issue.

The beginning of this concept came from Senior and International Relations major Ross Busch after a study abroad trip to Fiji. There, he worked with the international development company Development Alternatives Incorporated, assisting local villages affected directly by climate change. Busch said the experience shed light on the fact that global communities are being affected by this issue, while people in the U.S. have little to no idea about these consequences.

“On an emotional level, it was disturbing to see how peoples’ lives were changed,” Busch said.

When he returned, Busch began brainstorming about a database for all the voices of people affected by climate change anywhere in the world. He noted that although there are many climate change campaigns out there, few focus on the human aspect of it. From this idea grew the organization Our Climate Change.

Our Climate Change is now a grassroots Eckerd group that Busch has been running since last year.

“The main idea is to give a human perception to climate change without bombarding people with information,” Sophomore and club

member Andres Bastias said.

Members hope that by giving attention to the topic of environmentalism in a personal and relatable way, they can get across to community members the importance of climate change. That way, voters might be more likely to elect into office those in favor of climate change policies.

To achieve this, Our Climate Change has enacted a few different campaigns, one being the addition of two Facebook pages, one for public use and one as a private discussion page. On the public page, people can post pictures, videos and stories concerning how climate change affects them. The private discussion page has more in-depth posts about climate change issues and contains more information about upcoming events and meetings.

In conjunction with the Facebook page are two projects being implemented by members of the group. The first is a ‘What Climate Change Is’ campaign, in which students post pictures of themselves holding whiteboards saying what climate change means to them in a few words. The other is a series of interviews conducted by the organization’s ambassadors that ask students, faculty and other people important climate change questions.

One element the group prides itself on is fairness: they give anyone a chance to speak on the issue, even those opposed to their mission.

“We want an equal flow of information from all people,” Busch said.

At the same time, the group hopes to convince such individuals

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In life, you are going to learn whether you want to or not. In fact, it’s hard not to learn anything. If you sit in the same position watching the same rerun of “Friends” over and over, even then there is no guarantee that you won’t learn something. I have learned just as much from the people at Eckerd as in the classes I have taken.

But how do we learn? What causes the warning to let us know that thunder comes after lightning, touching fire can hurt or mixing vodka and milk is a bad idea? It all has to do with our brain and how it makes connections to come to an understanding. The cells in our brains relating to learning are called neurons, and you were born with over 100 billion of them.

Neurons have dendrites, which are like branches that grow out of the cells. These neurons and dendrites act as the storage containers of information. When we learn, two dendrites from two different cells come together, making a connection with the information between the two cells. So when we touch fire, our known information on fire and our understanding of pain come together.

We learn in different ways too, depending on how we observe something new. The two types of learning are observational learning and associative learning.

Observational learning is when we learn by observing the world around us. For example, watching someone do something can teach us about what we should or should not do. Associative learning is learning through establishing connections between two things, like learning that fire hurts by putting your hand over a candle. How and what we learn depends on what we do. William Glasser, a renown American psychiatrist, once said “We learn 10 percent of what we read, 20 percent of what we hear, 30 percent of what we see, 50 percent or what we see and hear, 70 percent of what we discuss, 80 percent of what we experience and 95 percent of what we teach others.”

Our capacity to learn is dynamic and subject to change.

Our neurons can be damaged by radiation, an unfortunate side effect when treating patients with cancer. Luckily, we have science!

With this science, researchers led

by Steve Goldman, a neurologist at the University of Rochester in New York, have grown human stem cells to help restore the learning and memory abilities.

Radiation treatment tends to be very effective, yet it can leave the patient with a learning disability, Goldman said. The stem cells are designed to help reestablish the connections within brain cells by reinforcing the dendrites, improving the learning capacity of cancer patients. This could be a major step forward in treatment for radiation therapy. The researchers tested the new stem cells on rats. After 10 weeks, the rats performed better in a series of tests to analyze their memory and learning skills and did not appear to experience any side effects from the treatment.

Learning is one of the most necessary and important functions we can do. I encourage you to treasure what you have learned and how you learned it.

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Feb. 20, 2015

Arts & Entertainment 11

Arts & Entertainment Peace Prize Winner Elie Wiesel speaks to freshmen

photo by Lia Nydes

Elie Wiesel prizes the gift of learning and is both a teacher and a student.

By Hailey Escobar & Jennifer Lincoln Online Editor & A&E Editor He walked into the room, a coat draped over his shoulders and a navy scarf around his neck. The room grew quiet as the presence of Elie Wiesel settled over the group of students and professors. They waited earnestly to ask their questions in hopes of glimpsing some of the wisdom that he had accumulated during his 86 years. Soft-spoken and humble, Wiesel took the stage to address the crowd in Fox Hall on Feb. 13.

Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has

come from the cold of Boston University to visit sunny Eckerd during Winter Term, for the past 23 years, but it is the teachers and students he teaches and learns from that keep him coming back.

“I learn from the student more than the student realizes,” he said.

Every WT, he teaches a course alongside Professor of History and American Studies Carolyn Johnston. Then, each February, after freshmen have read the first of his 6o books, “Night,” as part of The Human Experience course, Wiesel takes the time to speak to the freshmen class.

“Elie Wiesel taught me to ques-

tion everything,” Sophomore Jennifer Hollander said. “Now that I know to do this, I gain a much better understanding on whatever it is I’m questioning, and realize the answer is not the most important part, and sometimes doesn’t even exist. When I spoke with Elie Wiesel and he informed me that Eckerd was the only school he taught at other than BU, I realized how truly special Eckerd is. He agreed with me on this.”

This was a special opportunity for students to gain a deeper sense of the atrocities that Wiesel witnessed in 1944 and 1945 when he and his family were taken by the

Nazis to Auschwitz. This was one of the largest death camps in the Third Reich. Since then, he has become a witness to crimes all over the world and has used his influence to help those who are affected by these injustices.

Students were shy about asking questions at the beginning of his talk. Slowly, hands were raised one by one, asking how Wiesel survived what he did and what drove him to fight.

“What was the alternative?” Wiesel asked. “In truth, I didn’t fight.

In those years, I couldn’t fight.”

As the speech continued, students felt more open and the crowd

filled with raised hands. Wiesel patiently worked through the crowd’s questions, even inviting one student to sit up front when she was unable to hear his response.

His main message was evident in his public speaking as well as in all of his books: never stop learning.

He contended that we are all teachers and students in different aspects of our lives, and that there is a certain beauty in that.

“There is nothing more beautiful in life than to teach because there is nothing more fulfilling in life than to learn,” Wiesel said.

When all else fails, learning is a constant. Wiesel told the freshmen class to never give up on studying and striving for new knowledge.

Wiesel also spoke about the importance of documenting events in life, even if they are tragic. Writing books is a serious undertaking, but a necessary one. Where there are no words, sometimes we must create them. Even if the event seems impossible to write about, the documentation will help people in the future, whether through understanding the event or aiding them in coping with their own struggles.

The lessons Wiesel taught in those minutes reverberated through Fox Hall after the students left. We learned how Wiesel faced some of the worst crimes against humanity during the Nazi regime, and yet he still lived to tell his story, to teach philosophy and literature.

In the end, Wiesel’s favorite words still hung in the air. He said, “And yet..” These are the two words he mentioned to every student in his WT class each year, and can be found in many of his books. In his first memoir, “All Rivers Run to the Sea,” he writes, “And yet. Those are my two favorite words, applicable to every situation, be it happy or bleak. The sun is rising? And yet it will set. A night of anguish? And yet it too, shall pass.”

Our time this year with Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel has ended, and yet we will see him again.

Taco Bus drives its way into Eckerd’s heart

By Riley Huff Staff Writer USA Today named this place one of the top 10 best foodie spots in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. On the Food Network’s “Diners, DriveIns and Dives,” Guy Fieri ate one of the best tortas he’s ever had here.

Adam Richman of “Man vs. Food” could not resist squirting the restaurant’s salsa verde straight from the bottle into his mouth.

Located on 2324 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, the aptly named Taco Bus is more than just a restaurant. It is an actual school bus that owner Rene Valenzuela converted into a kitchen to serve authentic Mexican food.

Besides its unique venue the bus’s fresh ingredients set it apart from the competition. All dishes are cooked from scratch. Healthconscious eaters should know that cooks do not use stock or lard, and they only use salt-free tortillas.

Taco Bus also welcomes customers with alternative dieting prefer-

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ences. Vegetarian entrees include the vegetarian burrito and rajas con queso. The butternut squash tostadas are “100 percent vegan,” as are many of the fillings. The red and green salsas and the guacamole are vegan too. The restaurant has gluten-free options as well, according to its website.

“We want to be sure that everyone is able to enjoy a taste of Mexico within their specific dietary guidelines,” Director of Customer Acquisition Cristalyn Stokes said.

Taco Bus caters to college students with long store hours, as the restaurant is open until 4 a.m.

Thursday through Saturday. Additionally, they indulge students with large portions. Their recent creation, El Jefe, is a 2 lb. burrito with double the amount of every ingredient. Each month, a portion of El Jefe’s proceeds go toward a First Responder charity.

Cochinita pibil, a favorite filling of the staff, is based off a 5,000 yearold Mayan recipe, in which shredded pork is wrapped in achiote, a

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traditional spice, and slowly roasted for flavor, according to Stokes.

Valenzuela began selling tacos at farmer’s markets in his hometown of Monterrey, Mexico at the age of nine. In 1996, he arrived in Tampa armed with a refurbished school bus and traditional recipes.

His food gained popularity quickly, and since then he has been featured in multiple television shows and expanded his chain to five stores in the Tampa Bay area.

The original bus still acts as the kitchen for the flagship restaurant in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood, according to its website.

The restaurant still takes pride in its Mexican roots through its slogan “Broken English, Perfectly Spoken.”

“The concept for our slogan is that since we (Taco Bus) came over to Tampa Bay from Monterrey, English of course was not our first language. So our broken English is as authentic as our food,” Stokes said.

The restaurant also caters events

photo by Riley Huff

Taco Bus serves award-winning Mexican cuisine.

for just under $10 a person. At $15 a person, the restaurant will send a bus and cater from the bus itself for the ultimate Taco Bus experience,

according to its website.

“It’s just authentic and you really get bang for your buck,” Junior Federica Brandi said.

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12 Arts & Entertainment

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Feb. 20, 2015

Mardi Gras crossword

For answers, go to www.theonlinecurrent.com

crossword by Jennifer Lincoln

By Amy Delano Contributing Writer

Now that the spring semester has begun, many students are stressed with the hustle and bustle of classes and work. Despite busy schedules, everyone needs to remember to make time for fun. This should not be too difficult since Eckerd offers many choices in terms of campus entertainment. Between Palmetto, Campus Activities, the Waterfront and a variety of clubs hosting events around campus, it is difficult to be bored at this college.

Sophomore Tommy Wright, a bass for the Tritones, had a lot to say about the upcoming entertainment provided by Eckerd’s a cappella. “[The Tritones are] a great group of individuals who love to make music with [their] mouths,” Wright said. He joined the Tritones as a freshman because he has been in-

volved in choir since he was very young. “I love to sing… and I love the sound of a cappella,” he said.

When watching the Tritones perform, it is often difficult to process the intricate sounds coming from each member, but somehow they all blend to create a song. A cappella requires detailed harmonization between four main parts (bass, tenor, alto and soprano) and each member is expected to maintain their rhythm and pitch so that together the group can create music.

For the spring semester, the Tritones have a lot going on. To start off, the group planned sing-a-grams for Valentine’s Day. Wright said that there was a variety of “some serious and loving to some sillier songs.” For only $5 students could have their friends and loved ones serenaded by the Tritones, A flower could even be purchased for an additional $2.

The Tritones will also be per-

forming at the Saturday Morning Market on Feb. 21 and once every month after that.

“We will have some scattered performances at events like the Mardi Gras showcase, the Dance Riptide showcase, the National Anthem at sporting events and our final showcase will be April 23,” Wright said.

After hearing a few new songs in the fall, many students are eager about the song lineup for the spring semester. The Tritones always offer a variety of songs, from older classics to modern hits.

“All I can say about any future songs that we will perform is that you will find out if you come see us,” Wright said.

The Tritones are a driven group of students who are working hard to showcase a unique talent that includes teamwork within the vocal realm that they all are clearly passionate about.

Araesia King Viewpoints Editor

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photo by Eileen McGraw

Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Dean of General Education at the Foundations Office Debbie Connolly has been working for Eckerd for one and a half years. She would use three wishes to travel wherever and whenever she’d like.

Women’s “I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.

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Down 1 What many sculptors begin with 2 Green citrus fruit 3 Long period of time 4 What people listen to for fun 5 A breed of chicken originating in Tuscany 6 What many people place at horse races 7 Johnnycake 8 Ridiculing and conceited remark 9 Window to the soul 10 Country that the U.S. recently lifted the embargo on 11 Acorn,. a seed that falls from trees in Autumn 12 Famous Greek philosopher 13 Greek woodland god who was half man and half goat 21 “To the right!”

22 Satiate 25 Common terminology in golf 27 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries 28 Sound a cat makes when it is content 29 Group of three friends 31 Prefix for air 32 Bodies produce this when exercising 34 Small decorative object commonly found on necklaces or bracelets 36 For fear that 38 “May the ____ be ever in your favor.”

39 What many put on bad sunburns 40 Not wearing any clothing 41 What pollution produces 46 To observe with your eyes 47 Small rodent many keep as pets 48 Embroidery piece 52 What many eat at BBQ cook-outs 54 Right angle to a ship’s length 55 Slang for a boy 56 Fables or stories 58 What royalty wears on their heads 60 Eckerd dorm next to Epsilon 62 What students study at 64 After a while 65 Sake, a type of Japanese alcohol 66 The sound a lion makes 67 Position 68 Young Men’s Christian Organization

Catch up with the Tritones

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Across 1 The most impressive type of dunking in basketball 5 Temporary failure of memory 10 Type of hat 14 Instead 15 ____ and Ivory 16 School in Calif.

17 Brand of chocolate-chip cookies 18 Comes out of a bottle to grant three wishes 19 How pirates got around 20 Surrounded in darkness 22 A gathering of friends to celebrate an event 23 Head of a company 24Abbreviation for Environmental Protection Agency 26 Neither’s partner 27 To choose 30 Periods of time 33 Loose gown worn at mass 35 Knitting stitch 37 City where Mardi Gras takes place 42 One of the five Great Lakes 43 Color of roses, lips and firetrucks 44 Short for aluminum 45 Point in life where one must make a big decision 49 Extinct bird 50 Common beverage that many drink in the mornings 51 Russian ruler 53 Abbreviation for Electroencephalograph 54 Behind 57 And so forth 59 Middle 61 Commonly thrown from floats 63 Small red fruit 69 Women’s magazine 70 Keyed 71 Device used to weave cloth 72 Strain of beers 73 To have gained consciousness after sleeping 74 Baby powder 75 What one wears to conceal their identity 76 Located internally 77 Region or location

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From BASKETBALL, page 15 After a game winning jumper from Stevenson, Rollins could not get a shot up in

in a row from beyond the arch giving the men’s squad a 31-23 lead.

The Tritons were able to hold the lead, ending the first half up 38-34.

The Tritons tried to keep the

team when it was crunch time. Now we just need to work on on executing in those clutch moments for the rest of the season.”

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Feb. 20, 2015

Health & Fitness 13

Health & fitness Workout spotlight: resistance bands

By Christie Schafer Staff Writer Resistance bands have been used for strength training, muscle toning and injury prevention for years. According to Livestrong, while elastic resistance bands are often used in fitness programs, their origins lie in physical therapy.

Resistance training can aid in the reduction of muscular imbalances, as well as shorten recovery time after an injury. Another advantage is that the band is a light-weight piece of equipment that can be taken anywhere and utilized by anyone of any age. Resistance bands, sometimes referred to as “Thera-bands,” are often used by professional athletes, specifically dancers, to warm up their muscles, provide a deeper stretch and prevent injuries in their joints from other vigorous exercise.

Thera-bands have three different levels divided by color, ranging from beginning to advanced use in the following order: tan, yellow, red, green, blue, black, silver and gold. Band exertion ranges from 2.4 lbs (tan) to 21.3 lbs (gold, when stretched to 200 percent). For a harder workout, it is recommended to use a thicker band, add more bands or stretch the band more.

Heavy bands are beneficial for strength training while a light band helps with endurance and conditioning. Unlike weights, which require a rest day after tearing muscles, resistance bands can be used to build muscle every day of the week. This type of exercise requires coordination and balance so the user utilizes more muscle groups in order to stabilize their body. Bands offer more variety because of the ability to adjust resistance in all directions, which helps strengthen neglected muscle groups. In addition, any exercise using resistance bands can be done in the comfort of one’s dorm room.

Build strength and tone your muscles with this workout plan: Targeted Muscle: Shoulders Stand up straight with feet facing forward and knees at hips width apart. Hold the ends of the band firmly in both hands and wrap the

band once around your palms. Lift the band over head and pull down and out, expanding the band until your arms are outstretched. Return the band overhead and repeat for three sets of 10.

Targeted Muscle: Biceps Stand up straight with feet facing forward and knees at hips width apart. Hold the ends of the band firmly in both hands at their respective sides. Place both feet in the center of the band and bend your photo by Nate Gozlan arms upward. Release your arms downwardTarget Muscles: Gluteus maximus, Hamstring and Quadricep slowly and repeat for three sets of 10. Increase three sets of 10. speed if necessary.

Targeted Muscle: Triceps Improve flexibility Stand up straight with feet fac- with these three stretching forward and knees at hips width es: apart. Extend your arms straight Targeted Stretch: out in front of you, holding the Calf, Ankle and Arch center of the band firmly in both Sit down with your hands.Lift one arm upward, form- legs straight out in front ing a diagonal and pull and release of you. Hold the ends quickly for one set of 10. Repeat to of the band with both the other side. Alternate sides for hands and place one three sets of 10. foot in the center of the Targeted Muscles: Gluteus band. Bend and flex your maximus, Hamstring and foot, gripping the band Quadricep tightly to create tension.

Start off by tying a secure knot Begin with three sets of around one of your arches. Place 10. both hands and knees on the Targeted Stretch: ground and extend your tied foot in Groin, Hamstring the air. Bring your foot back down and Quadricep photo by Nate Gozlan and repeat the sequence for three Hold the ends of the Target Muscles: Groin, Hamstring and Quadricep sets of 10. Switch the knot to your band with both hands Start off by tying a secure knot other foot and repeat the exercise. and place your feet in Targeted Muscle: Latissimus the center of the band.Lay flat on around one of your arches. Lift your Dorsi your back and lift both legs up, bent knee to its highest height, while Sit down with your legs straight drawing them as close as comfort- holding the band in the opposite hand. out in front of you. Hold the ends ably possible to your face. Grip the Extend your leg until it is fully straightof the band with both hands and band closer and increase the ten- ened. Pull the band with your opposite place both feet in the center of the sion to create a deeper stretch. This hand until you feel the stretch. Repeat band. With a firm grip, twist your stretch can also be done one leg at a to the other side. This exercise can body to the right side while pulling time. For a more advanced stretch, also be performed to the side.

Resistance bands are cheap comthe band and right leg back in the bend and flex your feet while your pared to prices of other exercise equiptwist. Release the twist and face legs are lifted. straight ahead. Repeat the exercise Targeted Muscles: Groin, ment. For less than $12, you can purchase a Thera-band on Amazon.com. to the left side, alternating sides for Hamstring and Quadricep

Students sport shoes for success

By Dani Cleary Staff Writer

Wearing the proper workout shoe changes depending on the type of exercise performed. Running, squatting and deadlifting or other heavy weight lifting all require different styles of shoes.

Owning these different styles will not only provide better stability and form, but they can also improve motion and ability in the desired workout.

When it comes to running, finding the right shoe can be hard.

One must take into account the way they run: heavy heel impact is common and requires a different style than someone who runs on the sides of the foot or arches.

Some stores can analyze their

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customers’ running and help find which brand works best for each individual person. Having proper shoes for your personal running style is important because it absorbs impact and can prevent some common running injuries such as shin splints, joint pain and stress fractures, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

Squatting shoes are unique and used only for a few movements: clean, squat, jerk and snatch. These shoes look a little strange with a hard wedge heel, but they provide the support which helps perfect form. Also, according to the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, these shoes can generate more force into the ground. Force is absorbed when wearing other

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shoes, such as running shoes, by the air or gel compressing when lifting heavy weight. The solid bottom takes away the compression and allow for better support when lifting up. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning also reports that wearing these shoes can prevent knee and ankle strain.

“I like [squatting shoes] because they provide a solid platform with a raised heel and help me with my Olympic lifts, CrossFit and squatting significantly,” Senior Dylan Eggers said.

Deadlifting and other heavy weight lifting movements should be done with a flat stable shoe.

It is important to be able to distribute the weight evenly on the floor through one’s feet. Converse shoes are a good example

of a flat stable shoe, but some people even like to do these movements barefoot. This style has fewer guidelines and is more dependent on what each person finds comfortable.

A good shoe that can be used for the “little bit of everything” kind of person is the CrossFit Nano series by Reebok. According Reebok’s website, these shoes were specifically made to run, lift, jump or rope climb.

“Not only do they come in all sorts of fashionable colors and designs, they are also highly functional in many areas of strength training,” Evann Martin (‘14) said.

Now go take a look in your closet to make sure there are the proper shoes for your preferred exercise style.

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By Blaide Woodburn Health and Fitness Editor Biceps are often exercised for the sole purpose of achieving an aesthetic appeal. Although it is not to be frowned upon to want an attractive physique, biceps also serve as an important supporting muscle during compound movements such as deadlift. According to a study conducted in July 2014 by the American Council on Exercise, there is a particular movement best for voluntary muscle activation.

Scientists selected seven of the most common bicep movements (Cable Curl, Barbell Curl, Concentration Curl, Chip-up, EZ Curl, Incline Curl and Preacher Curl).

After using electrodes to monitor Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC), which is the maximum measured muscle contraction, data supported the Concentration Curl as the exercise that yielded the highest MVC. Consequently, the more a muscle is worked, the more the muscle fibers will have to grow to support the constant stress of workload, thus, resulting in increased muscle growth.

14 Health & Fitness

the current

Feb. 20, 2015

Food for maximal workouts

Meals with Midge:

Sweet Potato and White Bean Korma

By MJ Harford Staff Writer

© Liv Friis-larsen/Dollar Photo Club

A big part of successful college eating is preparation. Finding meals that can be cooked one time, portioned and stored for the week establishes a healthy store of weekday meals, eliminating the desperate late night pizza or skipping a meal. This meal can be prepared from start to finish in under 45 minutes and can be frozen in meal sizes for individual reheating. The base of this dish are the sweet potatoes and the white beans, which provide the much-needed nutritional strength to make this a filling meal. To round it out, adding extra kale and broccoli or green beans is a great low carb option or rice for a higher carb option.

Chicken is an example of a post workout meal.

By Samantha Schepps Staff Writer Whether one’s fitness goals are to gain muscle, lose fat or to run a marathon, diet is arguably 70 percent of the process. One of the biggest questions athletes have is what they should be eating to maximize their fitness goals. What someone eats before and after their workout is one of the biggest contributors to reaching those goals.

When working out, our bodies uses Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as explained on BiologyinMotion. com. ATP is the molecule that gives our bodies energy. A big mistake some people make is going to the gym early in the morning without eating anything beforehand. According to Jim Stoppani, Ph.D., athletes burn 20 percent more fat when they exercise on an empty stomach, but also burn through many essential amino acids. Since amino acids are the building blocks of protein, one is preventing muscle

recovery by depriving their muscles of protein. This is not ideal for someone who is trying to gain any sort of muscle or strength.

To maximize a workout, it is best to consume some sort of simple or complex carbohydrate before a workout. Since carbohydrates are the building blocks to ATP production, consuming some form of carbs will ensure that one gets the most out of every workout. An example of a complex carbohydrate might be oatmeal, potatoes or pasta. A good simple carbohydrate to consume before a workout is any sort of fruit. Just make sure to eat at least an hour before working out to allow one’s body to digest the food. Many people seem to think that carbohydrates are bad, but as long as one is getting proper exercise and has a well-balanced diet, carbohydrates are helpful in reaching fitness goals.

To make sure one’s body fully recovers and receives the proper nutrients after a workout, meals should be high in protein.

“I eat chicken at the cafe along with whatever the main protein source is in the main line,” Senior Peter Chindavong said.

Chicken, ground turkey and fish are all great to consume after a workout. Any sort of red meat, such as steak or beef, is also acceptable.

However, red meat is high in saturated fat, which is not good to eat often.

Additionally, protein shakes are a good meal substitute for anyone who does not consume enough protein in their diet. Be aware that most protein shakes are calculated based off the average daily caloric intake of a grown man. This means that women trying to build lean muscle should seek out protein shakes specifically targeted for women and based on a female daily caloric intake.

What one eats before and after a workout will determine how quickly one is able to reach their fitness goals. Make sure to get the proper food in your diet or you could hinder your progress.

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil 1 large yellow onion, diced 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 shallot, minced 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and diced 4 oz canned tomato sauce (not pasta sauce) 2 sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed 1 can coconut milk 1 can white beans (cannellini beans) 2 teaspoons curry powder 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon salt/pepper 1 cup kale, chopped

Directions: Heat a large skillet or sauce pan with the oil on medium heat, add the onion and cook until translucent.

Add in the garlic, shallot and ginger cooking until fragrant.

Add in the tomato sauce, potatoes and spices stir well and cook for about 10 minutes until the potatoes begin to tenderize.

Add in the coconut milk, white beans and kale. Stir well, bring to a simmer then turn heat down to medium and cook for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft.

Swimming to get swole

By Duncan LeBlond Contributing Writer

The pool is a major component of fitness that is at the disposal of most people interested in getting in shape or staying healthy. It is also one that is often overlooked when people plan their weekly workout routines. This happens for a wide range of reasons that span from being uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the idea of lap swimming to a lack of motivation to get in the often frigid pool and stare at the black line at the bottom. As monotonous and unwelcoming as swimming may sound, the range of benefits it provides are broad, as well as enticing to the everyday fitness buff.

When most people who are familiar with the gym and strengthrelated workouts think of swimming, they think of a workout that has nothing to do with strength and is fully based around cardiovascular health. While it is true that swimming is a great cardio workout, it also is a great source of mus-

cle development for those who are looking to supplement their routine gym workouts, according to exercise physiologist Richard Weil, M.Ed. It may seem unlikely in light of the body shape of the manatees that we often see here on the Gulf Coast, but swimming is one of the most effective resistance exercises available. This is because the root of this resistance comes from the idea that water is around twelve times as dense as air as a result of the hydrogen bonds that hold the individual water molecules together. As a result, we have an exercise that not only provides an ample way to increase our cardiovascular efficiency, but also works just about every muscle in the water as they push your body across the pool. This unique combination creates an exercise perfect for not just building muscle, but toning it for that “cut” look that so many strive for.

Furthermore, one of the other most entic-

ing benefits of a swim workout is the benefits it has on your joints and bones. Unlike many other exercises, swimming is a “zero impact” workout. This means that due to the fact swimming is a non-weight bearing sport, there is no pressure put on your joints and bones.

According to physicians such as Amanda Saltzman, M.D., joints especially act as shock absorbers for our bodies and every step someone takes and every weight they lift put pressure on these natural springs.

“Swimming keeps your joints healthy by removing the stress gravity places on your joints when participating in land sports,” Freshman Timothy Hernandez, a former Texas all-state swimmer, said.

Swimming is a way to exercise while at the same time preventing ailments such as osteoporosis and arthritis. Thus, swimming acts as a way to engage in both cardio and strength-based fitness while minimizing many of the negative impacts other types of exercise have on the body.

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

Each issue I’ll 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.

graphic by Hannah Hamontree

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the current

Feb. 20, 2015

Sports 15

Sports

photo by Lia Nydes Junior Kara Oberer fields a ball at shortstop.

photo by Lia Nydes Senior Jimmy Gutowski gives up only one run in game against Colorado Christian University.

Baseball and Softball each sweep Colorado Christian University

By Meaghan Kirby Staff Writer The Eckerd College softball team won both games against Colorado Christian University in the team’s second double header of the season at the Turley Athletic Complex on Feb. 12. The Tritons topped the Cougars 7-0 in the first game and completed the sweep taking the second game 6-3.

Senior Sydney Dinelli got the bats rolling for her team in the first inning when she took an inside pitch over the scoreboard in left field to begin Eckerd’s offensive show.

The second inning was a productive one for the Tritons, scoring three runs. In her first at bat of the season, Senior Erin Dixson hit a line drive home run over centerfield.

Following Dixson, freshman Chelsea Armstrong singled to left field to get on base. Freshman Rachel Luckett then stepped into the box and drove the ball over the right center field fence to help put her team up 4-0.

In the third inning, Senior Amber Hay tripled, which brought Dinelli in from second. Armstrong grabbed her second hit of the game off an RBI single. For

From BASKETBALL, page 1 Grbic dominated the game, clinching her third double-double of the year with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Kasemagi also scored 19 points and was perfect from the free throw line.

“We are honored to be a part of something so special,” Grbic said. “It gives us confidence to finish our season strong and we feel like we have a lot more to accomplish this year. We are excited about the upcoming opportunities that we have as a team.”

Not only did this win break the single season win record, but also No. 14 ranked Rollins suffered only their second loss in Sunshine State

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two innings the Tritons remained scoreless until Freshman Carrie Shere achieved her first collegiate home run over center field fence.

Hay went six strong innings striking out three to clinch her fourth win and first shutout of the season. Senior Carolyn Griffin completed the seventh inning shutting down the Cougars offense clinching the 7-0 victory for the Tritons in game one.

Eager to fight back after the first game, CCU took an early lead scoring two in the second inning and another run in the third to give themselves 3-0 lead going into the fourth. But the Triton offense woke up again in the bottom of the fourth.

Dixson came up big with Kaycie Duncan and Kiana Sladicki in scoring position. The power hitter drove a single up the middle to bring in both runners. Armstrong proved herself in the box once again knocking out a double to right center moving Dixson into scoring position. The Tritons then finally got their first lead of the game from a Brittany Mitchell RBI single. Shere was able to continue the fun in the fourth inning, putting up her second home run of the day to give Eckerd a 6-3 lead.

Dixson finished out four in-

nings of play until she handed it over to Hay who shut down CCU the rest of the night securing the 6-3 victory for the Tritons. This was Dixson first win of the season and Hay’s first earned save.

The Tritons are having an impressive start to their season, but head coach Josh Beauregard expects the upperclassmen of his team to keep a level head going into conference.

“They have to help hold players accountable, provide energy at practice, set the work ethic of the group, and, they have to set a level of expectations for themselves and their teammates which is higher than a coach would,” Beauregard said.

The Eckerd College baseball team took down Colorado Christian University in the first game of the doubleheader on Friday night, winning 5-2.

The Cougars jumped onto the board in the third inning to give them the first lead of the game.

But in the bottom half of that inning Junior Matt MacMahon made it to base, giving Lucas Luopa the opportunity to single and bring in MacMahon to tie the game up.

From the start of the season, Luopa has been on fire with a .467 batting average. Juniors Grant

Banko and Adam Moreau were brought in by Luopa from a double to left center in the fifth inning to give the Tritons the lead, 3-1.

Jimmy Gutowki had a dominant performance on the mound as he took care of business for the Tritons. The right hander went seven innings only giving up one run and fanning six batters.

In the bottom of the seventh EC added two more insurance runs for the night. Banko hit a triple down the left center gap scoring MacMahon from first. Later on that inning Banko crossed the plate from a sacrifice fly by senior James Petika to give EC the lead, 5-2.

Senior submarine pitcher Kyle Harding took over the mound in the eighth inning for the Tritons.

Harding shut down the CCU offense in the last two innings and only allowed one unearned run while completing three strikeouts.

The team completed the sweep and defeated the Cougars, 2-0 on Saturday evening. The Cougars and Tritons only combined for 11 hits and both only used three pitchers.

Sophomore Andrew Don singled in the bottom of the third inning and was able to cross the plate from Petika’s hit up the middle. Junior

Conference play -- both to Eckerd.

Before the victory against Rollins, the single season win record was set during the 2010-2011 season.

In her senior season as a Triton, Bowlin has experienced the ups and downs of the program.

“It’s great to do something that’s never been done before and to do it with two other seniors who mean the world to me and a team that works so well together is incredible,” Bowlin said. “It is very humbling and exciting that we can do it for the program.”

The Tritons sit comfortably in fourth place in the SSC with a win percentage of .615. Honsinger looks forward to the future of the women’s basketball program, beginning with the re-

mainder of the 2014-2015 season.

“Our goal to start the regular season was to make the national tournament, something that has never been done in the history of Eckerd women’s basketball,” Honsinger said in an email. “Sweeping Rollins and Tampa certainly moved us in the right direction but we have several games remaining in the regular season and we are focusing in on each opponent ahead.”

The Women’s Basketball team looks to continue their success in conference play on Saturday as they face Barry University on the road. The Tritons return to the McArthur Center at 5:30 p.m. to take on St. Leo University in their final conference matchup.

The Tritons defeat Lynn University 74-66.

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Carter Cashman then doubled to help score in Petika for the second and final run of the game.

Red-shirt Junior Kevin Plant made his home debut back on the mound for the Tritons after missing a year due to Tommy John surgery. The southpaw went five strong innings for Eckerd, striking out three and allowing no runs to cross the board.

From there Junior Zach Hoppe came in to relieve Plant, who pitched three scoreless innings, giving up one hit. Taylor Owens toes in on the rubber for the Tritons in the last inning earning his first save of the year.

“I think we played well,” Head Coach Juan Ranero said. “I thought our pitching carried us both games but as a coach you always want to be better. We need to do a better job both on offense and defense.

I think as the season progresses we will improve in those areas.”

As the Tritons begin to prepare for conference play, Ranero hopes the team’s leaders will know how to approach their upcoming competition.

“I want them to respect our opponent but also have the confidence that we will win,” Ranero said.

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli

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Feb. 20, 2015

Sports New baseball coach takes the reins

By Christina Rosetti Asst. Sports Editor

Following the 25-year reign of former baseball coach, Bill “Skip” Mathews, a new head coach is now running the show. Head Coach Juan Ranero joins Eckerd College after coaching at Rowan University in New Jersey – a Division III school and member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. He completed his 14-season career at Rowan

with an overall record of 340-193-4.

Ranero’s final season at Rowan University marked his fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship. He was named the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association Coach of the Year in 2013. Ranero also coached at Barry University, a Sunshine State Conference rival, for a four-year stretch, earning over 100 wins. Ranero looks to use his coaching experience to improve the baseball program at Eckerd.

“Skip had great tradition having been here for so long and the coaches before him did a great job as well,” Ranero said. “I want to build upon that tradition and make those guys proud of the program.”

Prior to his coaching career, Ranero was a pitcher at Miami-Dade Community College before pitching for the South Florida Huskies, a semi-pro team. He then transferred to Florida State University where he graduated with a bach-

photo by Lia Nydes Head baseball coach Juan Ranero begins his first season with a record of 4-2.

elor’s degree in physical education.

Ranero later earned his master’s degree in physical education at Appalachian State University. After completing school, he returned to Miami-Dade Community College to pursue a career in coaching.

Ranero now returns to the Sunshine State Conference as Eckerd’s head baseball coach, looking to raise the competitiveness in the conference. With baseball season well underway, Ranero has settled into the Eckerd community well.

“It is important at Eckerd for our coaches to love their sport, but to love our students more,” Athletic Director Dr. Bob Fortosis said.

“Juan fits this model perfectly.”

The new head coach was drawn to Eckerd because of the tight knit community and waterfront location. Ranero often traveled to Eckerd while coaching at Barry University and appreciated its uniqueness.

“It looked like a neat atmosphere.

In this conference, Eckerd is different than the other schools,” Ranero said. “There seemed to be more camaraderie. All the people, coaches and administrators are phenomenal and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Ranero was hired in mid-May of 2014, giving him plenty of time to get to know the team in an effort to make the transition easy for the athletes. Although Mathews continues to play a role in Eckerd College Athletics, he was not a part of the hiring process. In order for

teams to be successful during transitional periods, chemistry between coaches and athletes is crucial.

“At this point, everyday gets better. I have a great bunch of guys and I’ve already formed a tight bond with a lot of them,” Ranero said.

“You can see the improvements we’re making from that standpoint as far as the cohesiveness of the coaching staff and players.”

The Tritons were ranked eight out of nine in the annual Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll but with a long season ahead, Junior Adam Moreau looks forward to challenging the status quo.

“As a team, when we see a coach willing to lay everything out on the line for us, it only makes us want to play even harder,” Moreau said. “The chemistry this year is the best it has ever been.”

The Sunshine State Conference is known as one of the most competitive conferences in Division II baseball. Despite ranking low in the preseason poll, the team is coming off one of its best seasons.

The Tritons ended the year with an overall record of 27-22 and finishing fifth place in the conference.

Conference play begins this weekend with an away series against Rollins College.

“I am looking forward to seeing Coach Ranero put his stamp on the team and advance our competitiveness within the Sunshine State Conference,” Fortosis said.

Men’s basketball drops four straight games

By Simon Scheidegger Asst. Sports Editor The men’s basketball team lost their last four games and have not yet won in February. Three of these games were played on the road but Eckerd also failed to capture a win at the McArthur Center.

On Alumni Night, the Tritons hosted Lynn. The opponent from Boca Raton would come away with a 64-74 victory in what had been a close game throughout but the Tritons did not quite manage to close the gap. After scoring the first two baskets in the game, Eckerd struggled on the offensive end while Lynn went on a 16-2 run to take an early 10 point lead.

Back-to-back baskets by Junior forward Jerrick Stevenson, and a couple of defensive stops brought the Tritons back into the game as they cut the deficit to three.

But, the Fighting Knights stayed aggressive and played with high intensity, forcing the home team to commit some turnovers so that the Tritons, instead of regaining the lead fell, behind by seven at halftime, trailing 30-37.

Stevenson continued to have an impact offensively, finishing as the leading scorer for the Tritons with 19 points, but the deficit from the early minutes of the game should prove to be too big.

“We didn’t adjust our level of intensity early enough,” Head Coach Tom Ryan said. “When we did, it was already too late.”

With five minutes left in the con-

test, Lynn jumped out to a 12 point lead after a few turnovers by the Tritons. Then, a controversial call by the referees with 4 and 1/2 minutes left stopped a potential comeback run. Kevin Walsh stole the ball from Lynn guard Russell Wilson who fouled immediately. However, the foul was called against the sophomore guard of the Tritons. This led to several minutes of heated discussion but the call was confirmed.

“I think they were wrong,” Ryan said. The coach believed that this might have been the deciding moment of the game.

“If we get the four free-throws we can make it a four point game. Instead it was 12,” he said.

Meanwhile, Freshman guard Keshawn Ingram provided a spark off the bench, as he had done in the previous game against Nova Southeastern when he had totaled 19 points. The Tampa native shot 80 percent from the field, finishing with 15 points in just 18 minutes. Another guard who has been scoring in double figures lately is Junior E.J. Moody. He put 16 points on the board against Lynn, not enough to avoid the defeat.

The following Wednesday, the Tritons crossed the bridge to battle their rivals from University of Tampa. After falling behind early, the Tritons kept the game close.

Two free-throws made by Senior forward Theo Brunner gave Eckerd the first lead of the game five minutes into the second half. Six minutes before the final whistle, Freshman forward Trevon Young, who finished as the leading scorer with

17 points, extended the lead to five. However, the Spartans fought back and should prevail by three points, taking down Eckerd 56-53 Last Saturday, the Tritons ended their roadtrip at Rollins College.

At the beginning of the second half, Sophomore guard Shane Philips tied the score at 28. However, shortly after, the home team would pull away going on a 11-0 run. The Tritons cut into the deficit but they could not get any closer than six points. Again, it was Stevenson leading the Tritons in scoring, for the ninth time this season. He finished with 14 points.

Eckerd returned home to the McArthur Center on Feb. 18 to face Florida Southern College. Junior Jerrick Stevenson rises up over Lynn defense in 64-74 loss.

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli

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