The Current Online Issue 1

The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College

Vol. XXIV

November 20, 2009

St. Petersburg, Florida

Issue 5

TO DO: 14 page paper Read for lit Study Sociology pres entation

Adderall???

Finals week approaches

Are students relying on drugs to get their A’s?

News & Features — Page 3

Iphigenia

2012

The truth behind the Mayan prophecy

A new-age twist on an old Greek tragedy

Viewpoints — Page 7

Arts & Entertainment — Page 12

news & features NEWS BRIEF

Executive Board Managing Editor Meagan Bemis thecurrent@eckerd.edu Editor-in-Chief Petra Stevenson Copy Editor Emily Krumm Director of Finance Michael Yunker Director of Advertising Caitlin Gerry Asst. Advertising Abby Gestl currentads@eckerd.edu Faculty Adviser Tracy Crow

Editorial Board News Editors Laurel Ormiston Brooke Bargowski Entertainment Editor Francie Devine currententertainment@eckerd.edu Viewpoints Editor Catee Baugh currentviews@eckerd.edu Photography Editors Shawn Craine Erin Linebarger Palmer Suk Sports Editor Max Martinez Asst. Sports Editor Kasey Kilinski currentsports@eckerd.edu Sports Photographer Doug Thayer

Iranian journalist shares experiences Donate to the Iranian author and award-winning journalist Gelareh Asayesh visited Eckerd’s journalism class Nov. 3 to speak about her experiences.

Asayesh, from Tehran, started work as a journalist in 1983. Since then, she has been a staff writer with The Miami Herald and The Baltimore Sun, covering police and education beats. She has also written for The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and the St. Petersburg Times.

“Journalists live outside the bubble,” she said, recalling the time in Miami she crossed the yellow police line at a crime scene in a cemetery and saw her first dead body. She was 21.

Asayesh admitted she has found great personal growth from journalism, and developed what she referred to as an intellectual richness through

being forced out of her comfort zone and normal routine. She responded positively to the Eckerd students who expressed interests in being the voice of the voiceless, but quickly reminded them that good reporters do not have agendas. “If you’re not interested in truth, don’t go into journalism.”

Like most reporters, Asayesh has covered her share of beats, mostly the night police beats and education beats. Her presence in city affairs, she believes, helped to keep officials on track. “Journalism,” she said, “is essential to democracy.”

These days, in addition to her many writing projects, Asayesh is engaged in writing grants to further journalism programs within St. Petersburg schools.

St. Petersburg Free Clinic!

The St. Petersburg Free Clinic needs your help.

An Eckerd QFM group is working with the Clinic to collect 300 pounds of dry or canned food and personal hygiene items from students across campus.

To liven things up, a cross-collegium competition is currently underway. So get involved!

The competition runs until Dec. 1.

Donations can be left in the multi-colored cardboard food drive boxes in each collegium office.

As of press time, 173.8 pounds of food have been donated.

Staff Writers Jaclyn New Jeralyn Darling Johnny Jones Sarah Malhotra Sarah Yost Sydney Albright Will Creager Abby Gestl Shelby Howell

For more information, contact group member Michael Yunker at yunkermw@eckerd.edu.

Contributing Writers Allie Solan Holly Eikenberg Ashley Daniels James Clappier Brian Arbeiter

• Nov. 6, 2009 • • Vol. XXIV Iss. 4 • 2

Friday, November 20, 2009

Front cover art by Shawn Craine

Correction: In Issue 4, The Current printed that Seiko Tanaka was an exchange student, when she is actually a residential student from Japan. We apologize for this discrepancy.

news & features

Flash cards, study guides and...Adderall?

As finals week approaches, students struggle to find time and resources for studying. Adderall, a drug used to fight Attention Deficit Disorder is quickly becoming a popular choice.

By Holly Eikenberg Contributing Writer

M

ike Pariseau is an Eckerd senior who knows all too well the dangers of Adderall. “I was in my room, at my desk doing work. That’s the last thing I remember before waking up on the floor.”

Pariseau is lucky. He survived the seizure.

With the pressure of final exams looming before him, Pariseau said he “took the Adderall to keep [himself] awake during the night so [he] wouldn’t have to lose time sleeping.” He says he had been taking the drug for three days straight and had critically low blood sugar because he had barely eaten anything. His story is not the only one like this. So, why is this drug the new trend around college campuses?

In a survey sent out to Eckerd College students, 16 out of 50 claim to use Adderall while studying, writing papers or partying. Those sixteen are both frequent users and students who use it on occasion.

Adderall is an amphetamine that stimulates the central nervous system. The chemicals affect the brain and the nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. It is mainly prescribed for people with ADHA, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Now it is being used for other purposes.

Students like to use Adderall because, as Pariseau claimed, they do not have to waste time sleeping. They can study harder, longer and remember more. The New York Times calls Adderall the “drug of choice these days…. a legitimate and even hip way to get through the rigors of a hectic academic and social life.” Jacquelyn Martin, a senior at Virginia Tech, says, “It’s like Tylenol.”

So, do those who claim Adderall is helpful know the real dangers? How improper use can lead to death?

Amphetamines can induce symptoms similar to those in obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder and phobic disorders. They also can cause erectile dysfunction in men. If use is abruptly stopped, amphetamine withdrawal can result in extreme fatigue and severe, even suicidal, depression. The effects of amphetamines are

similar to those of cocaine, but the onset is slower, the duration longer. Chronic abuse can result in psychosis that resembles schizophrenia, paranoia, picking at the skin, preoccupation with one’s own thoughts and auditory and visual hallucinations.

Some of the more serious side effects are fast, pounding or uneven heartbeats, fainting, increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness or seizure), or tremor , restlessness, hallucinations, unusual behavior, or minor tics. Less serious ones include dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of interest in sex or difficulty having an orgasm. Still want to pop that pill before the next big exam?

Eric Heilingenstein, a clinical director of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, says to the writers of Adderall.net, “These medications allow you to be more structured and more rigid. That’s the opposite of the impulsivity of creativity.” In other words, Adderall may seem to be helping, but it can really be hindering. Some students reported feeling less inclined to take creative leaps while writing a paper or playing an instrument.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s publication called Amphetamines, Adderall is a Schedule II Drug which means it is a controlled substance because it is “potentially highly addictive.” If so, how is it so easy for students to obtain Adderall on college campuses around the country? The publication also states that since 2007 the government has been loosening restrictions on the drug. Eckerd Senior Joseph Dabah was prescribed Adderall in middle school. “Because of my unlimited prescription, my friends are always asking me for Addys. I only take them when I have a big paper, but they’re really easy to get rid of.” He has never been re-evaluated for ADHD, but still receives prescriptions from a doctor.

Is Adderall the preferred drug on college campuses?

Pariseau says, “Oh yeah, pretty much everyone I know either has a prescription of it or can get some, and the fact that it works so well keeps people using it.”

It It is is always always better better to to be be proactive proactive than than reactive reactive Tips for better study habits for the struggling student To-Do Lists: Making a list of tasks and putting them on a time line is a great way to manage large amounts of work. Crossing off even one task can give you a chance to breathe.

Time Management: Making every hour of every day count is most important to getting assignments done and maintaining sanity. Make sure there are enough hours in your day to complete everything you mean to. If you find yourself running out of time, push important things to the top and put off things that are not time sensitive. Staying up all night is not a proactive means of studying — you will only deprive your mind of essential sleep.

Start Earlier: Many students tend to procrastinate until the very last moment. If you start on projects earlier and chip away at them a little at a time, you will feel less overwhelmed when the due date approaches.

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news & features

Tips for a safe Winter Term abroad

By Jaclyn New Staff Writer Winter Term abroad at Eckerd College can be one of the most life-altering adventures for a student. However, preparation for travel abroad is the key to a safe trip.

Consider the following guidelines when packing: Pack lightly and leave unnecessary valuables behind. This includes flashy jewelry, objects of high sentimental value and possessions that your mother would yell at you for losing.

Professor Nancy Janus, who has led many trips abroad, advises not to carry too much money. Rule of thumb is no more than you’ll need for the day. She also suggests that you wear your purse away from the street to avoid motorcycle crime.

Keep passport, money, credit cards and other items of value in a pouch worn underneath clothing so as not to attract unwanted attention to purses, wallets and other items that blatantly scream, “STEAL ME.” Bring only absolutely necessary medications in their original containers with copies of prescriptions. This will avoid giving Customs the idea that you are a notorious international drug dealer.

Label your luggage with closed tags for easy identification.

Make copies of your airline tickets and the identification page of your passport.

Store these copies in a separate, safe location from the originals.

Maintaining and monitoring your health in a foreign country is a must.

Familiarize yourself with the area you intend to visit and keep updated on recent outbreaks of disease. Malaria is a concern in the Central American parts of Honduras, Nicaragua and Belize. It is also present in Malawi, Thailand, Cambodia, Ethiopia and Rwanda. Over the past few years, cases of dengue fever have been found in all of the preceding countries except Malawi and Rwanda.

“Take insect repellent if you’re going to buggy places,” cautioned Janus.

Malaria and dengue fever are both transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The typhoid vaccine is also highly recommended for areas where food and water are unsafe to consume.

Various illnesses aren’t the only kind of outbreaks that can occur in foreign locations. While it is unlikely that students will encounter riots or public protests, such demonstrations should be avoided at any sign of violence. Areas of particular concern are those located in Southeastern Asia, Central America and Africa.

Malawi, Belize, Honduras, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Morocco, Thailand and Nicaragua experience outbursts of political unrest from time to time.

The Malawian presidential elections in June of 2009 caused various public protests and strikes, primarily in more urbanized areas. Belizean rural areas as well as Belize City are popular areas of violent crime, and the June 28 coup in Honduras exiling the country’s president placed the country in turmoil. Public protests occur daily in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and other major cities. However, the island of Roatan, Honduras, is not experiencing such demonstrations.

Common sense is the best safety tool. The following list provides additional precautions.

Always lock vehicle doors and wear a seatbelt. Traffic accidents are common.

With regard to travel in Cambodia, Janus said, “I’d buy a helmet if I were to use mototaxis again. Every expatriate told me to.”

Analyze suspicious situations thoroughly. Criminals are intelligent and often use many ploys to get what they want from you.

Study the legal expectations of the country as they likely differ from those of the United States. Even though you are a U.S. citizen, you are still under the jurisdiction of that particular country until you return home.

Pay attention to what you photograph. Most countries prohibit photography of many military and government-affiliated buildings. It is best to obtain permission before heedlessly snapping shots.

Finally, follow your third grade instincts by using the buddy system.

Who says you can’t go home?

Delta, Continental and American, for starters

By Allie Solan Contributing Writer With finals less than a month away and the holidays not far behind, Eckerd students and their parents are finding that the cost to fly home this year is soaring, thanks in large part to the rising cost of fuel.

According to an article by airtravel.about.com, a barrel of fuel used to cost $50-60. Now the cost is well over $100 a barrel.

One way to offset the increase is to charge customers for checking baggage.

According to Airfarewatchdog.com, a popular airfare booking Web site, there are very few airlines left that allow a passenger to check one free bag.

Jetblue airlines allow its customers one free bag, but charges at least $30 for the second bag. American 4

Friday, November 20, 2009

Airlines, Continental and Delta all charge their passengers $20 for their first bag and 30 dollars for a second. The most generous company still seems to be Southwest, which does not charge customers until the third bag, at $30.

The newest way for airlines to make money is by charging their customers to pay for their in- flight entertainment and snacks. Basically, everything from pillows and blankets all the way down to the seats with extra leg room, can cost anywhere between $3 and $15.

Jaime Talarico, an Eckerd senior whose mother is an employee of Delta, has lost many of her employee discounts due to the airline’s need of money. “My mom used to get these things called a Buddy Pass, which means family and friends of a Delta employee could fly anywhere for free. Recently, within the

past year, my mother had lost this privilege.” Now Talarico explains, she has to pay $300 to $400 for a flight from Tampa to Portland, Maine. “It was the one nice perk my mom got for working so hard.”

Senior Carrie Coffin has felt the airfare price pinch for some time now. “Ever since I have been here at Eckerd, I have always spent Thanksgiving down here because it is just so expensive to get from Tampa to Colorado. No matter how far in advance I think about booking a ticket, it is never a reasonable price.

As much as I would love to go home for the holiday, I choose not to empty out my bank account because Christmas break is only two weeks later.”

When asked if she is hopeful that there would be a price drop in the near future, Coffin replies “I sure hope so. I plan on doing a lot of traveling after I graduate, so I need these prices to drop.”

news & features

Queen of internships gets the job done

courtesy of internqueen.com

By Brooke Bargowski News Editor

L

auren Berger graduated from University of Central Florida and secured a good job in her industry of choice. It was what she had worked toward, planned to perfection. Then, she quit.

Now, at 25, Berger, originally from Clearwater, Fla., is the founder of Intern Queen Inc., and runs virtually every aspect of the company, from expansion to speaking engagements to endorsement deals. She seems like Superman in platform heels.

After completing 15 internships during her four years of college, Berger developed considerable expertise on the topic. The idea soon formed to help students connect with internships, and employers connect with interns. When she met movie producer and director Marshall Herskovitz (Traffic, Blood Diamond) he agreed to back her financially for one year. She left her job at Creative Artists Agency and got started.

After one year, the company is financially independent and growing (although if Berger ever decides to sell, Herskovitz retains a 12 percent stake).

Expansion geographically and across industries is a key focus for Berger. Right now most of the internships listed on the site, internqueen.com, are media related, but Berger says, “The goal of the site is to be able to help any student in any industry anywhere in the world.” She posts new in-state opportunities each time she visits a new place on her speaking tour, and says she has begun expanding into Canada as well.

Firms are seeking out Intern Queen, too. “It’s just a matter of companies hearing about the site, gaining interest….I think a lot of companies are excited to

be a part of this, and to not have to go out hunting for interns on their own,” Berger said. The National Republican Congressional Committee recently posted on the site, adding politics to the slew of other offerings.

The site features companies such as Universal Pictures, Interscope Records, Animal Planet and many more. Send in your resume and cover letter, and Berger forwards it to her contact at the company.

Your first application is free, and it’s $3 for each successive submission. She also offers resume and cover letter “makeovers” for $20 each.

Her credentials and projects go on and on: Berger won the No. 5 slot in BusinessWeek’s America’s Best Young Entrepreneurs and has a book agent in New York, looking for a publisher for an Intern Queen book.

Eckerd’s own John Ingmire, assistant director of Career Resources, is a fan as well. “The feedback we got from students was fantastic,” he said of Berger’s presentation earlier this semester. “I mean, people were coming up to me the next day, walking in my office saying, ‘That was really awesome.’ And that’s the kind of thing we need more of,” There are plans in the works for another presentation this spring.

So you may be satisfied if you hire Berger, but what if she hires you? Berger’s fall intern this year, Anna Olivares, 22, stated, by e-mail interview, “Working for Lauren has been a great learning experience and has exposed me to practically every aspect of running your own business. There is never a shortage of things to do nor is there a shortage of amazing opportunities to participate in….I feel more like an associate or colleague than an intern.”

However spectacular Berger’s success may be, there is no magical quality or fountain of luck enabling it – she just works hard. And while she is

exceptional, she is not superhuman. In person at her presentation, and during our phone interview a few weeks after, she was relatable. The longer she talks, the easier it is to see the process that she went through to become so confident, professional and efficient. Still, the magnitude of her productivity is so atypical that I wonder how she makes time for anything else. So I asked her how she does it, and if she ever slips up.

“I have definitely fallen off the wagon several times,” Berger said. She did not enter the professional world with a perfect set of skills. During one of her internships in college, at the Daily Buzz, a talk show based in Orlando, she was told to make coffee for all the guests of the show. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to do that. She said she pressed the wrong button and coffee ended up all over the break room.

“All of these sales associates were walking in and screaming ‘Who did this?’….We’ve all had those times where you just feel like the helpless, stupid intern.”

Her advice on surviving the stressful days? “Going to the gym is essential,” she said, inserting a pause in between each word for emphasis. This is not to say that you should quit your social life in order to divide your time evenly between working and working out. She still believes in relaxing: “Even if you have to literally schedule time with yourself, it’s really important to do that.”

Her work ethic and accomplishments are impressive for one her age. And despite the risks she takes, her intense level of commitment, her demanding schedules, Berger could hardly seem happier. “Every day I wake up and I get to do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it. And that’s called running your own business.”

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news & features

CIT: The latest bust in bailouts

By Shelby Howell Staff Writer

Commercial Investment Trust (CIT) Group Inc. is a century-old lending company that provides inventory funding to thousands of small and medium-sized businesses and real estate companies.

Nov. 1, CIT filed for bankruptcy.

This filing is the fourth largest in U.S. history. Today’s economy is an unstable one, and CIT is just one of many companies negatively affected. So the question is, just how serious is this new development?

For starters, one has to take into consideration the ramifications on individuals. According to The Wall Street Journal, “A $2.3 billion taxpayer bailout extended to CIT late last year under the Bush administration will be wiped out in bankruptcy. Common shareholders will be wiped out too.” This means more than $2 billion in taxpayer money that taxpayers will probably never get back- and the holidays are just around the corner.

While a survey of 58 Eckerd business majors revealed that less than 10 percent had heard of the CIT bankruptcy, Eckerd professors had a lot to say. Assistant Professor of Accounting, Ronald Rossomando, said, “As we get closer to

the Christmas buying season, if retailers can’t obtain funds, that could put a little additional crimp in this economic situation we’re in.”

However, it is unlikely that this will greatly affect purchasing habits this holiday season.

Morris Shapero, assistant professor of international business, said, “All societies relish holidays and rituals and do their best to celebrate that.

In the United States, we are a materialistic culture and celebrating is synonymous to gift giving. Buying those gifts really feeds our department stores and our retail sales.”

This isn’t to say that filing bankruptcy isn’t serious, but it could be a lot worse. Robert Jozkowski, assistant professor of finance says, “It’s a very

artwork by Shawn Craine

neat, strategic bankruptcy that really isn’t going to cause very many shockwaves.”

Yes, CIT is in a bit of a bad spot right now, but it has a solid plan for how to rebuild its business. Rossomando

speculated CIT will be able to eliminate 30 percent of its bond debt by restructuring the bonds. “In essence, what they would do is take the bonds that were maturing this year and next year and reissue them

to mature over five year periods starting in 2012, and that would cover 70 percent of the bonds,” he said. “The other 30 percent would be given to the bond holders in the form of preferred stock.”

Congratulations to the Eckerd College Ethics Bowl Team on its sixth annual win at the Southeast Regional Ethics Bowl Nov. 14.

The team was led by Senior Captains Kelli Barr and Catee Baugh and backed by Juniors Becca Hutchinson and Elizabeth Renihan and Sophomores Kate Hamilton, Sean Lawlor and Trent Sterneck.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

viewpoints

EDITORIAL

The gift of story When do the old stop telling and the young stop asking? Is it purely American that few of us bother to learn much about our heritage beyond our grandparents?

By Sydney Albright Staff Writer

T

hanks to the current economic decline, my family has decided, without my input by the way, to forego our usual gift-giving.

Instead, we’re each — aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., — to buy a single gift appropriate for our gender of a value no more than $10. Then we’re to play that wacky game of swap, for which you’re allowed to steal your favorite choice, until someone steals it away from you.

Great. This means I’m sure to get stuck with the bottle of Old Spice my grandfather’s likely to buy as his contribution.

Then again, nothing can top the best Christmas gift I ever received. Just before finals week two years ago, my great-grandmother moved in with us. On a selfish level, the timing was perfect. I was studying The Great Depression, and one of the assignments was to record an oral history of someone who had lived during that era.

But the day we were to talk, my great-grandmother had forgotten her promise to help, and pointed at the tape recorder in my hands. “What’s that thing for?”

“To record the story of your life,” I said, nonchalantly making room for the tape recorder on the table beside her chair, sweeping aside arthritic ointment, an inhaler and a pink plastic pill tray crammed with Monday to Sunday medication for thyroid, hypertension and depression.

She looked even more puzzled. “How can you record my life story when my story is still going?” Then she rolled her eyes. “It just keeps going on and on and on….”

Five weeks later, she died.

“Let’s start the oral history,” I’d said, pinning the microphone to her collar, “with information about your parents.”

She eyed the tape recorder with suspicion. The whir of spinning tape was filling up the room, and the silence, and the blank spaces of hesitation, or memory.

Finally, as if settling on a beginning, she cleared her throat.

“Well...Papa was Moravian, and his father, and his father’s father, and the generations before them. All of them were Moravian ministers who came down from Pennsylvania to preach.”

“What? You never told me that!”

“You never asked!”

And she was right. When do the old stop telling and the young stop asking? Is it purely American that few of us bother to learn much about our heritage beyond our grandparents? Has growing up in a society which thrives on conspicuous consumption led many of us to discard all that is not wholly valuable to our immediate needs?

I read somewhere that the British can easily name relatives five to seven generations back. I could name only two and even then couldn’t associate a personal history. That is, until the day I recorded my great-grandmother’s oral history and unraveled a delicious mystery of my own life and family. This also explained the Moravian cookies — crispy-thin, molasses and ginger-laced — she had around her home every Christmas.

So, we were Moravians, whose ancestors had fled religious persecution when

their Moravian spiritual leader, Czech reformer John Hus, was burned at the stake for teaching the Gospel in plain speak rather than in Latin. We were tethered to the Moravians who in 1738 immigrated to the American colonies to convert the slaves who were already here. We landed in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and settled there until a scouting party located and purchased a 100,000-acre tract in North Carolina, naming it Wachovia after the Zinzendorf estate. (Today, known as Winston-Salem.)

My great-grandmother is gone now, but I can press a button to hear her retell the story of her life. My voice, though it sounds as if it belongs to someone I‘ve never met, asks, “What was everyday life like during the Depression for you and your family?”

The fall deeper into poverty was never more than a meal or two away at any point before or during the Depression. We didn’t have troubles in those days as some people call them. We just had life.

I try imagining her with athletic arms and legs, her body lithe and liberated of its arthritic twists and knots. Her voice on the tape is breathless and raspy from severe emphysema caused by her generation’s love affair with tobacco. Her voice becomes further cursed by emotion when she recalls first noticing that her family was poorer than the families of her girlfriends.

When I was a little girl, maybe seven or eight, and saw that my girlfriends had linoleum on their kitchen floors, I was ashamed that we had wooden floors.

Papa’s people lived with dirt floors. I was too ashamed to invite friends to my house. Things like that affect children, you know. All children just want to fit in.

All around me were children who had so much more than I had, and I was ashamed. Everywhere there was talk about a Depression. Papa walked in one day and fell into his chair – said he’d lost his job at the foundry. I was too embarrassed to go back to school anyway, so I quit, and looked for a job.

She’d stumbled onto work at a hosiery mill. The $10 she earned each week helped to provide for her family and left her with a little extra for clothing.

Does she, I ask, remember seeing the long lines of men at soup kitchens or outside of employment offices – the stereotypical images most of us conjure when we think of the Depression, those, and the pitiful conditions portrayed through John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath.

No, but after a couple of years at the mill, they made all of us who were seventeen start working from six at night until six the next morning. I didn’t mind.

Her family had little to eat during the earliest years of the Depression, but never turned anyone away who came looking for food. To welcome strangers, her parents marked the outside of the house with paint as a signal. Sometimes, she says, all they had to give was a slice of bread.

But the last thing my great-grandmother says on tape is, “If I can’t tell you, then who can I tell?”

When do the old stop telling stories and the young stop asking? I don’t have the answer. But thanks to a class assignment, this oral history has become a legacy for our entire family. Sure, we’re struggling, like so many others right now, but I have to believe we’ll survive. It’s in our blood. And this is what I need to remember during our family’s wacky gift swap, when I get stuck with the bottle of Old Spice.

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viewpoints

“Amusing

EDITORIAL

Keep it classy this holiday season

By Catee Baugh Viewpoints Editor

“Poetry should not be written by 14year-olds.”

The holidays. The most wonderful time of the year.

Also the time of year when you are not only likely to see old friends but all your extended family as well.

And while you love these people, please know, they WILL judge you.

That’s why you’ve got to keep it classy over the holidays. You’ve got to glide through like you’re just made of grace, festivity and the holiday spirit.

So here are some tips for keeping it classy. Some will keep you out of un-classy situations, some will keep you looking like you know what’s up in the most ridiculous situations.

“Toward the end of her life, she was crotchety and weird.”

Eat like a Champ this Thanksgiving a.k.a. Mix It Up

—A composition professor on her middle school poetry attempts

—A literature professor on Queen Elizabeth I

“Now, Abe Lincoln was a wonderful president, but he’s just not someone you’d ever want to imagine having sex.”

You want to stuff your face. You know you do. And look at all that food sitting in front of you. You are going to take ridiculously huge, I-haven’t-eaten-in-a-month portions.

And you know that there are several things you have to get your fill of NOW, because they’re just going to get cold. (Such as mashed potatoes and stuffing).

But you’ve got to remember one thing. This isn’t random food. This is family-made food. As in, you might hurt someone’s feelings if you A) don’t eat all you take or B) throw up half of it later because you made yourself sick.

Therefore, you need a game plan! You need the “cut” method. Cut the mashed potatoes with turkey. Cut the stuffing with cranberry sauce. Cut the rolls with vegetables. Just keep mixing it up.

Keeps you from getting bored and allows you to eat all you want.

Stick to that plan and you’ll keep a little class while negotiating the carbohydrate-minefield that your relatives oh-so-kindly laid out.

Re-Gifting Smart

—A creative writing professor on Abe Lincoln’s sex appeal

“Caffeinated. Like a squirrel.”

—A composition professor on a student’s personality

I hear you all out there grumbling about how re-gifting is so tacky and cheap looking.

Yeah? Well, deal. You’re college students and the economy is still tanked.

You might have to just re-gift.

So be careful! Think long and hard about who gave you what. The last thing you ever want to do is give something back.

Nor is re-gifting a “seeable” option. If a family member gave you something you never used you’d better make sure the family doesn’t see you give it to someone else. Live by the rule of family gifts go to friends and friend gifts go to family.

And if you can’t remember, then you’d better just give that gift to the Goodwill.

Forgetting Someone’s Name

“I have a snuggie now. I’m perfectly content.”

—A compostion professor on not wanting to leave the house to do research.

Musings ” 8

Friday, November 20, 2009

Do you have a big family? Or are you just seeing a bunch of extended relatives you haven’t seen since you were three this year?

You don’t want to mess up a name. They’re family, which means one thing and one thing only: they will remember your mistake.

So ask about family members who’re coming to dinner BEFORE the big event. Try to find out as much information as possible, and at the get-together, listen! Someone else remembers who they are (hopefully).

Something’s Burning Uh-oh. Someone managed to light the Christmas tree on fire or knock the menorah over and the good linens are ablaze. (A little too much eggnog, perhaps?) What do you do now?

It’s the holidays, isn’t it? If you can’t get that fire put out quickly, you’d better find someone to blame it on. Surely there’s a cousin you’ve always hated standing around, right?

Just remember, don’t jump up and down pointing your finger. It’s the holidays. Keep it classy.

viewpoints

EDITORIAL

Is the world coming to an end? Or is it all a bunch of hype?

By Johnny Jones Staff Writer It’s the end of the world as we know it…and I’m not falling for it.

I’ve noticed recently that there seems to be an overwhelming number of people who legitimately believe that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012.

These claims have caused so much commotion and argumentation, especially across the Internet, that I decided to do a little research and investigate them myself.

My search for answers led me to Arthur Demarest, the Ingraham chair of Anthropology and Archaeology at Vanderbilt University. He specializes in ancient Mayan culture, which means that there are not too many people in the world who know more about this subject than he does. I interviewed him in hopes of calming some of this unfounded hysteria.

He explained that the problem was that people

were misinterpreting the calendar’s meaning.

“In the Mayan calendar, time repeats itself in different cycles, much like our decades, centuries, and millennia,” Demarest said. The only difference is that their calendar is based on the numbers 13 and 20. One turn is 360 days long or about one year; 20 tuns (“katuns”) are about 20 years; 20 katuns (“baktuns”) are about 400 years. The completion of 13 baktuns, roughly 5125 years, is called the “Great Cycle.” Since the Mayan calendar began in 3114 BC, the completion of the “Great Cycle” brings us to the year 2012 AD. The Mayans had a very different outlook on time than most Westerners. “The Mayan concept of time is cyclical,” Demarest explained, “the calendar itself is in the shape of a circle. Our conception of time is linear, with everything having a beginning and end.”

So it makes sense that people believe that the world might actually end in three years.

But the problem is that this statement is completely hypocritical: the Roman calendar goes through

PerspECtives

cycles in the same way. The end of the Great Cycle, while certainly a cause for sacrifice and celebrating, is nothing more than a restart of the calendar. “We see this as so strange and yet we don’t see it in our own calendars,” Demarest said.

Other panics about the apocalypse have come and gone in human history, but none as persistent and prevalent than this one. It’s the same kind of behavior that we saw around the year 2000 when people got hysterical about the Y2K “virus.”

When asked why he thinks so many people tend to believe in these predictions, he cited the new movie 2012. “It’s all crap, but it’s good for business,” Demarest said. Hollywood has figured out that people love being scared into believing these kinds of hypes.

Demarest assured me that I had nothing to worry about. Then again, if people truly do think that the world is going to end, he said the best thing for them to do is send donations to his office.

“I am going to destroy all the presents I get.”

—Paul Lasseter, freshman

Q: How do you plan to deal with the troubled economy this holiday season?

By Erin Linebarger Photo Editor

“It’s not really on my mind yet.”

“By ignoring it completely.”

—Ben Maxwell, junior

—Harry Shaw, freshman

“I don’t know. Regifting. That is the plan as of now.”

—Clair Stover, freshman

“I learned to knit this year, and I make jewelry, so instead of buying gifts, all my friends are getting homemade gifts.”

—Liz Renihan, junior Friday, November 20, 2009

9

arts & entertainment REVIEW

The story behind the five-syllable tongue twister

IPHIG

By Laurel Ormiston News Editor After months of rehearsal, the fall theater production Iphigenia was finally presented by a small army of students and faculty during its two week run Nov. 5-14 at Binninger Theatre. Written by P. Seth Bauer, the play retells the ancient Greek tale of Iphigenia with equal parts wit and humor. From a sumptuous visual array to emotionally compelling performances, the fall production was a chance to showcase the vast spectrum of Eckerd’s theatrical talent.

“I think this is the most fun I ever had in my theatre career. It’s a plethora of excitement that contains a visionary director, a fine cast, a great story, and brilliant technical elements,” said Senior Dustin Geisler, who played Achilles. Looking at my notes from multiple viewings of the show (a total of three performances) I have to agree.

Director Cynthia Totten, Professor of Theatre, interpreted with a keen eye for the present political environment. “I tried to direct it with a lightness of 12

Friday, November 20, 2009

touch throughout rather than being heavy-handed with messages about war. I think the play addresses our ongoing dilemma about why we go to war, should we go to war, how to protect our people, what sacrifices we should make and issues of duty to country vs. duty to family,” she commented in response to the parallels between the play and the United States involvement overseas.

As for the claim of a “fine cast,” two actresses in the show, Senior Tori Reeves and Sophomore Elly Glavich, were nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Award by the adjudicator for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. With respect to the rest of the cast: judging by the chuckles, giggles and, sometimes, sniffles heard during the performance, the entire cast succeeded in forging emotional connection with the audience.

Transfer student Janice Scarpinato had been nervous about auditioning for the production.

However, after being cast, she said Totten helped her feel at ease. “She makes you feel really comfortable [as an actress], she just wants to bring out the best in you,” said Scarpinato. She wasn’t the only one to

feel this way. “I just want to adopt her as my aunt,” “Cindy’s amazing!” and “I love her so much!” were among the instant cast reactions I got when I inquired about working with Totten. The simple question had spawned an informal appreciation session.

But Totten wasn’t the only professor to be praised.

Geisler said of the faculty, “I think we have some of the best acting professors in the state of Florida. My courses with Gavin Hawk allowed me to enhance my perspective, as well as emotional availability.

Reeves said that Prof. Gavin Hawk’s Meisner Scene Study class was among the most influential things for honing her craft. “That class in particular really helped me grow as an actress and helped me connect and control my emotions as well as strengthened my ability to listen.”

Oh, actors. Always talking about acting. But we’re missing an important element of theatre if we neglect the dark arts that make the show spectacular.

Welcome now to the technical side of the theater world, headed by Assistant Professor of Theatre Jessica Thonen. Much of the credit for the success of Iphigenia goes back to Thonen, who designed the

arts & entertainment

ENIA

photos by Bradley Ennis

set, costumes and puppets for the show.

“We talk about how professors really care about us and our opinions as students on the Eckerd campus; but each time I experience it, it still blows my mind and leaves me in awe,” said Junior Casey Malone about working with Thonen. As assistant costume designer, Malone worked hand in hand with Thonen to develop costumes that evoked the natural landscape of Greece: dusty yellow soils blended with the turquoise of the sea. Malone said she got to assist in decisions that she doubts a student at any other college would have a chance to do.

Another such opportunity opened up for Freshman Rosie Kraemer-Dahlin, who unexpectedly became involved in the construction and design of the shadow puppets thanks to an independent study with Thonen. “The puppetry in the show brings back a beautiful and often forgotten art form that gives the audience yet another enchanting aspect to watch,” said Kraemer-Dahlin, who was also featured in the play as Myrmidon #3 and Deer Dancer. The shadow puppets, if you recall, scrolled across the back of the stage like scenes from a Grecian urn, creating

an interesting tension for the audience between the sense of the “current” and the sense of the “ancient.”

Speaking of which…can I get a show of hands on who would have expected “We’re Off to See the Wizard” to make an appearance in this play?

Not many! Director Totten incorporated that very tune, “America the Beautiful” and a re-worked Irish drinking ballad, “All For Me Grog,” into the production to make it more accessible to students. “[Iphigenia] is an edgy little play that presents fairly even-handed arguments for and against war,” Totten said in response to why she chose the music.

“I ultimately chose tunes that I thought would contain this edginess, innocent or beautiful music in counterpoint to disturbing lyrics.” “We’re Off to See the Wizard” in particular was an innovative way to mix patriotism and satire. “America the Beautiful” was chosen for similar reasons. “I was struck by the contrast between this lovely American patriotic anthem and the harsh threatening words such as ‘The Greeks arrive on your shores. We won’t leave till your people have died.’”

While I loved the tunes Americana, my bias

comes from a life-long addiction to musical theatre. Others were less thrilled. “I thought it was weird,” commented Creative Writing major Cassia Finklestein, who attended the play as part of her literature course, Drama I. Classmate and Ancient Studies major Gena Goodman had similar views to Finklestein. “I found it distracting. I mean, I would have gotten it [the themes of the show] anyway,” she said. As for the typical audience reaction? During a Thursday night performance the second week of the show, I glanced around the audience when “We’re Off to Kill the Trojans” came up: Expressions were equally divided between grins and frowns, smattered with a few stares of surprise to find me looking at them.

Regardless of whether you adored or disliked Iphigenia, it can be agreed that the cast and crew had a remarkable time working on the production. I wish I could share with you all of the anecdotes I’ve heard…but that would require a novella. Next up for the theatre department will be the spring production Adding Machine: A Musical, directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre Gavin Hawk. See you there!

Friday, November 20, 2009

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arts & entertainment

St. Petersburg to celebrate centennial

By Kirsten Sengstacke Contributing Writer St. Petersburg will commemorate its waterfront park history with a yearlong celebration, beginning December.

The original waterfront parks of St. Petersburg, established in December 1909, spanned from Seventh Avenue North to Fifth Avenue North. According to Peter Belmont, co-chair of the Waterfront Parks Centennial Celebration Steering Committee, the parks were the “greatest Christmas present St. Petersburg has ever had.”

There are several purposes for the Waterfront Centennial, according to www.stpeteparks100.org.

The first is to commemorate the beginnings of St. Petersburg’s system of downtown waterfront parks and to honor those city leaders who delegated the land of the first waterfront park for public purposes. Second, the committee strives to promote awareness of the history of the waterfront parks. Last, is the desire of the committee to recognize the magnitude of the waterfront parks in forming “the character and charm of St. Petersburg” and discover ways to preserve and enhance the downtown waterfront parks for the next century. Belmont expressed hopes that the city’s waterfront “remains for the next hundred years.”

The celebration will begin at the end

of December, and continue throughout the next year. Sharing in St. Petersburg’s illustrious New Year’s Eve First Night, the first official event of the Centennial will kick off with a historic treasure hunt.

Throughout the year, there will be movies shown outside in the parks of downtown St. Pete, as well as parties in Straub Park.

In hopes of successfully promoting the Centennial Celebration, the steering committee sought out a renowned local artist Carrie Jadus to design and create the elegant posters that are going to be displayed throughout downtown and the rest of

the city. Although she is originally from Tampa, Belmont jabbed, Jadus has lived in St. Petersburg for the majority of her life and now raises her two sons Brody and Wesley in the heart of the city.

Jadus’s painting, which features an evening in Straub Park, stood on display for the duration of the presentation. Jadus said that the inspiration for the painting was her kids climbing a Banyan tree in the middle of Straub Park. “It was the image I wanted for this poster.”

The two Jadus boys went around and presented copies of the finished print to each member of the council and Mayor Rick Baker while their mother talked. Following the display of the painting and the poster, Brody and Wesley posed for a quick photograph with Baker, Belmont and their mother.

In hopes that future city councils and future governmental administrations continue protecting St. Petersburg’s beloved waterfront parks, the steering committee declared at the end of their presentation that they will be making Baker an Honorary Chair Member.

Sneaking in at the very end of the presentation was the great granddaughter of Straub himself, Catherine Starkey. She expressed her happiness in the efforts of the committee in trying to make the Centennial an extraordinary and significant event. Assuring that she and her family will partake in the upcoming events.

Starkey stated that the Straubs are a “family that certainly loves parks.”

An Evening in Straub Park, by Carrie Jadus

Re(ACT): Iphigenia fun facts and background

By Laurel Ormiston News Editor Want to find out what happens next?

Check out The Orestia.

This trilogy by Aeschylus begins with Agamemnon’s return from Troy.

Spoiler: Clytemnestra’s still irate.

Looking for more puppets?

YouTube Avenue Q, the infamous 14

Friday, November 20, 2009

Broadway musical that features such hit songs as “I Wish I could go back to college,” “It sucks to be me” and “The Internet is for Porn.” Well, I never said this was Sesame Street.

Curious about the music?

The following artists and albums were featured during the production and are available on iTunes. My vote is for the upbeat and quirky album Baglama Virtuozu, featured during the Myrmidon segments.

Artist: Çetin Akdeniz Album: Baglama Virtuozu

Want to get involved in theater at Eckerd?

Artist: Djivan Gasparyan Albums: Apricots from Eden, I will Not Be Sad in this World

Auditions for the spring production Adding Machine: A Musical are Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 from 7-10 p.m. in Binninger Theatre. You are asked to prepare a short section of a song from any genre which allows you to present your merits as an actor.

Scripts are available for perusal in the theater office. For more information, keep an eye on your Eckerd webmail or contact the theater department.

Artist: Mikis Theodorakis Albums: Iphigenia (1977 Original Soundtrack), Greek Dances Artist: The Silk Road Ensemble & Yo-Yo Ma Album: Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon

arts & entertainment

The “Bubble” List: must do’s before graduation 1) Stay up all night on Kappa field- lay and watch the stars, play soccer or light up Frisbee.

2) Late night IHOP or early morning Skyway Jack’s.

3) Visit Dinosaur World in Plant City—cheesy and educational fun.

4) Jump into Frenchman’s Creek.

5) Dress like a burrito for Halloween and go to Chipotle — free Burrito!

6) Yellow bike ride in the rain.

7) Camp out in the Palm Hammock (and probably get lost).

8) Cook out at Ft. Desoto.

9) Grab a couple friends and play putt- putt golf at Polynesian Putter.

10) Visit The Holy Land Experience in Orlando.

11) Pet the stingrays at Lowry Park Zoo. 12) Enjoy the revolving view of St. Pete Beach from Spinners restaurant.

13) Take a hot tub at the Don Cesar.

14) Visit Weedon Island.

15) Go see the manatees near Tampa Electric in Apollo Beach.

Which came first, the movie or the book?

By Francie Devine Entertainment Editor As a literature major I may be a little biased, but it seems that great books are being neglected in favor of movie versions. My idea was realized by the hype of Where the Wild Things Are. As a book from our generation, it holds special meaning to some of us, so it makes sense to want to relive a piece of childhood.

But when does choosing a movie over a book become a problem?

This trend seems to be occurring largely in children’s books such as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, A Christmas Carol and Alice in Wonderland (March 2010).

In our society, what are the chances a kid would pick up a book over a movie? At this pace, reading may be phased out completely in favor of this more popular medium. When asked about the potential impact of altering a book into a movie, an Eckerd literature professor, Jewel Spears Brooker, said, “My overall response, however, depends on the director’s allegiance. Is he attempting to be faithful to the work itself? Regardless of cost or political correctness or budget?

Or is he using the book to reach a mass audience (and of course make a fortune?).”

Films continue to be a growing business, constantly improving with CGI and visual clarity, but it may come with a sacrifice of imagination. Reading is one of the world’s oldest activities, so in altering certain aspects, but keeping the overall premise the same, can a remake of a book be considered an original idea? Some believe entertainment value outweighs accuracy. A fantastic novel can go relatively unrecognized until it’s put on the big screen. For example, I am not a big fan of Jane Austen. I have had many discussions with those who claim to love Pride and Prejudice.

When asked what part of the book they love the most, many responded that they haven’t read the book, but they love the movie. Is this a suitable substitute as long as the plot gets across?

In a way, a movie can be just another venue for a great story. I, like many others enjoy movies because they are an escape. Sometimes there is just nothing better than laughing at a ridiculous comedy or watching a movie so many times that you can say the lines. I have also heard people complain about the cost of books, and in this economy, I don’t blame them. Sometimes, an $8 movie is more cost effective than a $12 book.

But even by today’s standards, people are still looking for a happy ending. This can be seen through romance novel sales. Romance novels are often made fun of and criticized, but evidently people want to experience this fantasy life in contrast to harsh reality. According to Ezine Articles online, “Today, Harlequin remains the largest publisher of romance novel series- publishing over 500 new titles every month- in 25 languages.”

Books and movies have been struggling to receive the same amount of recognition for years. I would like to see books come out on top. There is nothing more powerful than the imagination, and books allow for your own creative interpretation. Brooker commented, “In cases where the director is faithful to the work, the film is better seen after reading the book, and not as an introduction to it.” I am not discouraging movies all together, just give books a chance.

It might just change your life.

Dec. 1 is the deadline for applications and submissions to this year’s conference, which is open to Eckerd students as a winter term course. This year’s writing faculty will include Dennis Lehane, Anita Shreve, Laura Lippman and many others. For more information visit writersinparadise.eckerd.edu.

Friday, November 20, 2009

15

arts & entertainment REVIEWS

Savannah’s is a lunchtime treat, but think twice about dinner

By Sarah Katherine Yost Staff Writer We were in downtown St. Petersburg, simply ravished, and a quaint two-story yellow building glowing in the afternoon sun appeared before us.

Savannah’s Café is right off Central Avenue; one can recognize it by the large blanched rocking chairs lined up outside and by its chic southern look. Once inside, I started to nod my head in appreciation for the warm mustard walls and the slightly eloquent high ceiling. The restaurant has an upstairs that makes one think of a Savannah, Ga., Saloon in the 1800s where in any minute a woman in a Scarlet O’Hara dress might appear with her handsome Rhett Butler by her side. One can see a dusty mirage of that southern charm time period hazing into focus.

A friendly waitress served us in a saffron collared shirt and black slacks. My friends and I mulled over what to eat. The menu had to offer an imaginative meals such as Seared Black Bean Cakes, Florida Rock Lobster Ravioli, Oven Roasted Zellwood Corn and Avocado Mousse Salad, Low Country Po’Boy, Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Seafood Jambalaya.

I decided on the House Burger, a six-ounce grilled beef patty and fresh fruit. I have to say the burger was good, but I’ve had better for sure. My companions thoroughly enjoyed their meal, as did I. Rays of light jaunted through high glass windows, the ambiance was just right for that golden afternoon.

We listened to a mirthful jazz mix of high-spirited tunes and I sipped on sweet Huckleberry Lemonade, which consisted of lemonade fused with blueberry juice. We liked it so much that we made plans to

Our top 10 holiday classics

By Jeralyn Darling Staff Writer

return to the same café, this time for dinner.

Dressed in our most southern of outfits we sought out the restaurant at about 6:30 p.m. As soon as we were seated and handed the dinner menus, the excitement disappeared from our faces. We were staring at $21 for a six-ounce steak and $23 for grouper. We decided to leave before our drinks came out.

Instead, we hit a very simple yet more exotic restaurant, Green Chili Raga, Indian Cuisine. Ah yes, much better prices and a college discount!

So Savannah’s Café for lunch if it’s a brilliant day and you’re looking for a meal that isn’t more than $15. For dinner, however, if you don’t want to spend a week without any cash then I would suggest dining elsewhere.

Sloppy Pelican: Good food, good times

By polling the students and faculty of Eckerd College, I created this top 10 list of the must-see movies and TV shows of the holiday season.

By Kasey Kalinski Assist. Sports Editor

1) A Christmas Story (1983). A classic tale of a boy and his BB-gun – hilarity ensues.

Adult Ralphie narrates the tale of his childhood Christmas present dream: “An official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle.” But be careful with guns, kids, “you’ll shoot your eye out!”

Located at 677 75th Ave. on St Pete Beach, the Sloppy Pelican is a waterfront bar and grill with a friendly atmosphere and familiar faces. It’s a favorite of locals and tourists for drink specials, food, friends and fun.

If you love football, Sloppy’s is a great place to watch the game every Monday on a12-foot HD projection screen. Monday night specials consist of 50 cent wings, $10 Budweiser family buckets, and free shots when your team scores a touchdown.

If you are looking for somewhere new for some good eats, Sloppy’s is a good, but often over-looked choice. They have tasty and affordable seafood like their Bacon Wrapped BBQ Scallops, Beer Battered Grouper Cheeks, and Fish Tacos. They also have amazing nachos, and garlic fries to die for. If you are feeling like trying something you have never tried before, try the Alcatraz Burger (two 8 oz Burgers stuffed with boardwalk fries and cheese), or the Cardiac Burger (1/2 lb burger smothered with cheese, four strips of bacon and two eggs and between two grilled cheese sandwiches).

Both of these unique burgers are under $10.

Every Monday from 510 p.m. they have all you can eat Snow Crab for $19.95. Daily lunch specials (11 a.m.—4 p.m. courtesy of Wikicommons are served with chips and a draft beer.

2) It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) .This beautiful black and white film makes you realize, “you’ve really had a wonderful life.” A guardian angel shows George the importance of himself and what life would be like without him.

3) Miracle on 34th Street (1947). This timeless story captures the magic and mystery of the real Kris Kringle. “I believe, I believe. It’s silly, but I believe.”

4) Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 and 2000). Your heart may “grow three sizes” after watching this movie. Dr. Seuss’ Whoville is graced by the presence of a Christmas-hating Grinch, but will he ruin the holiday?

5) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964). Ho, ho, holy Christmas, look at that nose!

Everyone knows the story of Rudolph, he went “down in history!”

6) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). An unfortunate-looking tree gets a little sprucing up from the lovable Peanuts crew. “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!”

7) A Christmas Carol (multiple).This movie has been re-made so many times, no one could choose a favorite version. The newest version starring Jim Carrey came out on Nov. 6.

8) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). This scary Christmas/Halloween movie is a fantastic musical. You’ll never get the memorable songs out of your head: “What’s this?

What’s this? There’s color everywhere! What’s this? There’s white things in the air!”

9) Die Hard (1988). Yes, I know, not what everyone thinks of, but this movie is the incredibly popular action movie of the holidays. “Yippee-ki-yay, m— f—” 10) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989). Nothing really seems to go according to plan in this holiday comedy of a family on holiday. “It’s a bit nipply out, I mean nippy.”

16

Friday, November 20, 2009

sports

Men’s rugby topples USF in final minute

By James Clappier Contributing Writer

T

he Eckerd College Men’s Club Rugby Team won a hard fought game against USF on Saturday, Nov. 8. Conditions during the game were challenging, with a 15-20 mph wind blowing from the east and a blinding sun high in the western sky, hindering both teams’ catching and kicking abilities thoughout the contest.

Eckerd and USF were evenly matched throughout the game, with five lead changes in the final 10 minutes. Trailing late, USF scored a try to put them ahead by two points with little time left in the game. However, Eckerd received a penalty and chose to attempt a field goal. Sean Roubik made the three-point field goal, putting Eckerd back in the lead by one point. With under seven minutes remaining, Tritons hoped their defense could hold the lead.

Unfortunately, USF got through the Eckerd defense with an overload of more offensive players, allowing their wing to dive into the corner of the try zone for a score, putting them back in the lead. Though the angle to the goal posts and strong wind made their kicker miss the conversion kick, USF was now up by four points with only two minutes left in the game. Eckerd kicked the ball downfield to USF, a ruck formed, and Eckerd stole the ball during the struggle. Mike Loop passed to Christian Pantazonis, who charged head-on toward the USF defender, passing the ball to Mike Shiva at the last second before plowing into the defense.

With one defender taken out by Pantazonis, Shiva was able to burn past the rest of the USF squad to score a try directly between the goal posts. His positioning lined Eckerd up for a good kicking angle, and Raymond Ritola easily made the conversion kick to win the game 22-19.

“We could have given up with two minutes left and put our heads down in defeat, but instead we fought hard to the last play of the game and won,” said senior Pantazonis. “Our defense won us the game. Their guys were bigger and stronger than us, but we played with more heart and stopped them in the redzone countless times.”

The victory was not without its costs, as the Tritons suffered multiple inuries.

The worst was junior Alex Buck, who broke his collarbone after being tackled by two USF players on a dash down the field. His effort was not in vein, as Bill Griswold recovered the ball after the ruck and was able to score a try. Buck was later taken to the hospital and underwent surgery on Monday. Sean Roubik was kneed in the head, suffering a concussion and breaking his cheekbone. Jon McChesney suffered a sprained and possibly fractured foot while in a ruck, trying to lift several USF players off the ball. However, Eckerd faired better than USF, who had one player knocked unconscious on the field.

Taking photos from the USF side of the field for better lighting, I was able to get a glimpse of their team atmosphere. Having lived with the same group

Eckerd men’s rugby defeated USF Nov. 7, moving to 5-1

photo by Doug Thayer

of rugby players as neighbors for almost 3 years, it is apparent that the team is very close-knit. This bond carries over onto the field during games as members of the team can constantly be seen enthusiastically supporting teammates. In stark contrast, the USF players would switch between trash talking the Tritons and their own players for any faults on the field.

The squad also has a large group of fans. Every home game, the east side of Kappa Field is packed with students, some of whom go as far as to carry their couches onto the sideline. The student support is undeniably felt by the team and they play with a lot of heart to win and give the fans a good rugby game.

Although many studnets in attendance may not understand the rules of the game, everyone enjoys the show.

Eckerd is currently ranked first in the Florida Rugby Union’s “Florida Cup” standings, with rival Florida Atlantic University close behind. The Florida Cup is won by the best-ranked team in the state after the 2009 fall and 2010 spring rugby seasons, and Eckerd Men’s Rugby wants it badly. The next game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, against the University of Florida Gators, at their Gainesville campus.

Sports Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball

Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic

Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic

Friday, Nov. 27 v. UPR-Bayamon 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 27 v. UPR-Bayamon 3 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28 v. Edward Waters 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28 v. Montevallo 3 p.m.

Men’s Rugby Saturday, Nov. 21 @ University of Florida 2 p.m.

Friday, November 20, 2009

17

sports

The all-too-real world of fantasy sports

By Brian Arbeiter Contributing Writer The Vikings were in the red zone and about to score a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. “Come on Vikings! Let’s get a score!” screams Seth Godfrey, an avid Carolina Panthers fan. “I need Adrian Peterson to get six more fantasy points in order for me to win this game. I could care less about the Vikings.”

Outbursts such as these are being uttered in sports bars and households across the country nowadays. A good bulk of sports conversation today, in fact, generally revolves around fantasy sports talk.

Playing fantasy sports is a cultural phenomenon of our time. This is not surprising considering how prevalent it is in our media. For starters, Fantasy Football Week and Fantasy Focus are two T.V. shows dedicated to giving fantasy football players tips on how to win their game this week. Newspaper columns and entire magazine publications, such as Lindey’s and Fantasy Sports, are also dedicated to similar goals. Additionally, professional sports sites, such as nfl. com, nhl.com, nba.com and mlb.com, all have links to entire sites dedicated to the fantasy version of their sport.

“I’ve read about three magazines to gain an edge on my opponents for this upcoming season,” said Jon DeHeus, a Drew University undergraduate student.

“Unfortunately, this season hasn’t panned out the way I expected it to.”

There are studies available to the public that show just how obsessed Americans are with fantasy football. According to Professor Beason of the University of Mississippi, for example, an estimated $1.5 billion is being spent on fantasy sports in the United States annually. Media, initial league fees, and offline leagues contribute the most to this expenditure. About 15 million consumers partake in spending money on fantasy sports, a rate that is increasing 10 percent every single year.

In another study released two years ago by Challenger, Gray, and Christmas Inc. it was discovered that fantasy football alone is costing employers an estimated $1.1billion in lost revenue annually. This is because some employees are spending a lot of time on fantasy sports’ web sites, instead of doing their jobs.

There is no need to worry, though. Supposedly, the same studies also show that

fantasy sports build a sense of community and camaraderie in workplaces. In turn, this community and camaraderie makes up for lost time in a host of other ways.

For the most part, fantasy sports are a form of good and clean fun that brings people together. Also, they tend to add to the popularity of sports nationwide.

Whether or not you are an avid sports fan, there is now usually a reason to sit down with some friends to watch a game. “It’s just a good time,” claims Godfrey.

It seems like the rest of America is beginning to agree with Godfrey. The reality of fantasy sports is catching on with everyone.

If you are an avid sports fan of almost any kind, chances are that you know all about fantasy sports. For those wondering how fantasy sports work, however, the general process is fairly simple. First, you must join a league. For those beginners, free leagues that require no initial joining fees are probably the best option. Official sites such as nfl.com and nhl.com offer such leagues.

The next step in the fantasy process is to create your own team of professional players. Depending on your league’s rules (which is decided by a designated league manager), you must either draft or have the computer randomly select the players that will be part of your team.

This is where the ‘fantasy’ comes in to play. In a sense, you are creating your own team that would have otherwise never existed. Don’t worry, though. This is not your final roster. You will also be able to manage your team throughout the year. Negotiating trades, scouting potential free agents, dropping players that are not ‘producing’ and trash talking are all part of the gig.

The way you score points is by picking those players who put up the best statistics week in and week out. So, a serious fantasy sports player is always trying to pick up players that gives him or her the best chance every time a fantasy game is played. Just in case you’re wondering, everyone wants to win in fantasy. For one, money is usually involved.

“I beat you so bad this week,” yelled Godfrey. “You didn’t know what was coming.”

“Yeah, yeah… Hey, remember who’s in first place, though? I am.” boasted Mark Hugick, an undergraduate student attending Lehigh University. …Also, who doesn’t like to rub it into someone’s face once in a while?

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Friday, November 20, 2009

sports courtesy of Eckerd Athletics Soccer seniors (from left to right): Adam Skiff, Joe Copland, Colin Kuhn, Will Thacker and Luke Sheekey

Coming to an end: men’s soccer Senior Night

By Ashley Daniels Contributing Writer

Eckerd was quickly dwindling away.

In the first half, PBA out shot the Tritons 7-2.

PBA took full advantage of the opportunities given to them on offense. In the 21st minute, PBA’s Kyle Crouse scored.

The Tritons’ offense was unable to get anything started on their side of the field. The second goal of the night came from PBA’s Mark Cabrera in the 30th minute of play. Crouse came back two minutes later to score on a free kick following a yellow card to Eckerd’s Alex Patterson to finish the half.

The Tritons came out of half time more

The Eckerd College Men’s Soccer team took on Palm Beach Atlantic Oct. 24 in a match that was vital for the Tritons to keep their season alive.

Unfortunately, the team could not snap its losing streak, falling 0-4.

For five players, this game held more of a sentimental value.

The seniors of the Tritons team were honored at the game for their achievements throughout their time as players.

Coaches, players, “This year’s seniors were great leaders with fans and the Eckerd a lot of talent, so to lose that will create a big community watched as Luke Sheekey, Will hole in the team that will need to be filled.”

Thacker, Joe Copland, -Anthony Arico Colin Kuhn and Adam Skiff took the field to be determined to play. They started the second half recognized.

“The group of senior players that we have are much stronger on both sides of the ball. Anthony fantastic guys, they really do a good job of representing Arico led the offense with three of the nine total shots our program [and] representing Eckerd College,” tallied by the Tritons. However, the team still could said Jeremy Wisdo, Head Coach. “I am very pleased not connect with the net. Coach Wisdo stated, “We just missed our chances, we had a couple of good with [the senior players].”

The Senior Night game brought out different ones [but] we just didn’t get it turned on target.” feelings from each of the senior players. Collectively, PBA’s offense was not done. After a red card was given to goalkeeper Domenic Spedaliere, Skiff took however, they all knew it is an important game.

Thacker, who unfortunately was injured at the over in goal, and on a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, time, was not able to play but he shared what he PBA’s Cheyne Roberts scored. believed the team needed to accomplish during the So what about next year? The underclassmen game, “[The team] needs to get back to the basics,” teammates are already feeling the loss of these senior players. Sophomore midfielder Anthony Arico he said, “ and get back to enjoying the game.”

Sheekey was also unable to play in the game stated, “This year’s seniors were great leaders with a because of a red card he received during the Tampa lot of talent, so to lose that will create a big hole in game. Prior to the game he expressed his feelings the team that will need to be filled.” stating, “I’ve been feeling down all week [knowing I Drew Smith, a junior midfielder said, “It’s like can’t play] but my hope is that the boys get a result your big brother moving away from home.”

Looking back at their time at Eckerd, the seniors for all of us seniors.”

Kuhn talked about the absence of two of his recalled vivid memories of their freshmen year. Colin fellow senior teammates before the game saying, “It Kuhn, from Orlando Park, Ill., clearly remembers that is going to suck not having Sheeks and Will there. “all of us freshmen [were] trying to get to know each other, especially [getting to know] all of the British We have all been together the past four years.”

The Tritons took the field at the Turley Athletic kids.” For him, it was an interesting experience.

Complex to play their hearts out not only for Coach Wisdo weighed in on the senior’s freshmen themselves but also for the seniors whose time at year. “Aside from Adam (because he didn’t join the

team till his sophomore year), they have all been a part of my first recruiting class…they took a leap of faith because they really did not have much to go on as to what was to be expected.”

Together, these seniors helped build the core foundation of what the Eckerd soccer program represents today.

They feel that the program has given back to them, too. The seniors believe the soccer program has helped improve not only their skills but also their knowledge of how the game is played.

When Copland came in freshmen year he had been playing a different position so he had to learn how to be a strong defender for the team. He describes the experience as a “learning curve.”

Luke Sheekey and Will Thacker, both from England, believe through the past four years they have adjusted to the way soccer is played in the U.S. “Getting use to the [Florida] heat,” they said.

Besides soccer, there is one other thing Copland, Sheekey, Thacker, Kuhn and Skiff all share: their best memory of Eckerd soccer.

During their freshman year, the Tritons were able to beat Lynn University, which was both undefeated and ranked #1 in the nation.

To make the memory even sweeter, during their

“I don’t think I’ll ever beat that memory no matter where I play or what I do.”

-Luke Sheekey junior year, the Tritons were able to beat nationally ranked Lynn yet again. As Copland says, “[Both games] were a massive win for us.”

For Sheekey, the junior year game triumphs freshmen year. “I got the game winning goal with only a few seconds left in play. I don’t think I’ll ever beat that memory no matter where I play or what I do.”

The conclusion of a season was intensely bittersweet for those who are seniors.

As Copland described it, “[It’s] an end of an era.”

Friday, November 20, 2009

19

The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College

sports

Page 17

Rugby defeats USF 22-19

Page 18

The reality of fantasy sports

Pages 18-19

Men’s soccer says goodbye to five seniors

photo by Doug Thayer