The Current Volume 25 Issue 2

The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College

Vol. XXV

October 1, 2010

St. Petersburg, Florida

Issue 2

Loco for Loko?

The controversy over Four Loko, page 3

photo by Matthew Davis/Treatzone

Register, or get towed Campus Safety steps it up

News & Features — Page 6

Ground zero tensions The debate continues

Viewpoints — Page 13

Sex on the beach

A guy’s advice to the ladies

Arts & Entertainment — Page 16

news & features

Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Petra Stevenson Director of Advertising Abby Gestl currentads@eckerd.edu Web Editors Max Martinez Shawn Craine Faculty Adviser Tracy Crow Director of Finances Beth Robinson News Editor Laurel Ormiston currentnews@eckerd.edu Asst. News Editor Ashley Daniels Entertainment Editor Johnny Jones currententertainment@eckerd.edu Asst. Entertainment Editor Jeralyn Darling Viewpoints Editor Jaclyn New currentviews@eckerd.edu Asst. viewpoints Editor Liz Tomaselli Sports Editor Will Creager currentsports@eckerd.edu Asst. Sports Editor Lincoln Andres-Beck

Staff Writers Kristen Torres Shelby Howell Sarah Malhotra Sarah K. Yost April Green Morgan Swim

Photographers & Illustrators Doug Thayer Michael Specht Tonya Gabriel Brianna Dickinson Ethan Cooper Ashli Fiorini Kelly Grasty

Contributing Writers Aaron Coder

• October 1, 2010 • • Vol. XXV Iss. 2 • 2

Friday, October 1, 2010

Student government: What’s new this week

By Kristen Torres Staff Writer Eckerd College Organization of Students and the student senate have announced their programs and campaigns for the year.

First up, punch cards and prizes. As part of this year’s campaign to instill school spirit and a strong sense of community, ECOS will hand out “punch cards” at designated events thought to boost school spirit – sporting and CPS events, and Palmetto Productions.

Get enough stamps, and you get a prize.

If, at the end of a month you have acquired ten punches on your card, bring the card to the ECOS office in Brown for a prize.

Second, student government leaders are addressing the more serious issue of vandalism.

By now you’ve probably noticed the trendy design of the “Respect” T-shirts popping up all over campus. Last week, their arrival was heralded by troops bearing megaphones, going from dorm to dorm to announce the free shirts and explain the campaign.

The T-shirts are more than just an effort to reduce vandalism, says ECOS leaders.

They are also a way to revive a sense of school spirit and pride at Eckerd. If you look closely at the “Respect” T-shirts, they encompass everything Eckerd: the triton seashell, the wave and the image of Triton, the EC mascot.

ECOS leaders say they wants everyone to feel as if they to can voice new ideas or concerns. Stop by the office in Brown Hall, and get to know your student government.

ECOS “Get Punched” Events Oct. 1 Women’s Soccer Game 7p.m.

Oct. 2 Women’s Volleyball Game 4p.m.

Oct. 5 Women’s Soccer Game 5p.m.

Oct. 5 Men’s Soccer Game 7p.m.

Oct. 8 Women’s Volleyball Game 7p.m.

Oct. 9 Men’s Soccer Game 7p.m.

Senate Election Results Alpha: Rhemy Brezin* Beta: Annabella Lopez Commuter(s): Rachel Chilton** Delta: Lauren Thompson* Epsilon: C.J. McGuigan Gamma: Kyle Berghold* Iota: Tiffany Campbell* Kappa: Donald McMulen Nu: Hannah Nelson Omega: Allie Mills Sigma: Kendal Hansen* Zeta: Derek Kelly* *Unopposed **The second commuter representative was still undetermined at press time

Journalism minor approved

By Shelby Howell Staff Writer Eckerd College recently approved a minor in journalism. The news elicited cheers from students who for months waited hopefully as faculty hammered out the details.

“I was ecstatic, really, when I found out about the new journalism minor, and plan on making it one of my minors,” said Sophomore Jeralyn Darling, assistant entertainment editor for The Current. “As an Eckerd student, it really amazes me how well the faculty listens to what the students want. We wanted a journalism minor and we got one!”

The minor consists of five courses, three of which are required -Introduction to Journalism, Advanced Journalism and Media Ethics. For communication majors, Media Ethics is the only communication course that will double for the major and minor.

Students will also choose two electives from a lengthy list that includes newly approved courses, Web Journalism and Creative Nonfiction.

“Those of us in the communication discipline are very excited for the addition of a journalism minor to the Eckerd curriculum,” said Karen Pitcher, assistant professor of communication.

“I know many of my students have expressed interest in this area, but in years past they have had to develop the concentration on their own. It’s a great complement to the communication major. In addition, I look forward to having those pursuing the journalism minor in my media courses.”

Communication majors aren’t the only ones, however, to benefit from the journalism minor. “This is an exciting opportunity for the marine science major, the history major, and the bio major, too,” said Tracy Crow who teaches the journalism courses here and advises The Current. “Someone has

to write about the exciting discoveries,” she added. “Who better than someone already passionate about the topic, and with exceptional writing and research skills?”

Meagan Bemis (’10), an EC admissions counselor, knows a thing or two about journalism at Eckerd.

She spent four years on the staff of the college newspaper, winding up her career as managing editor. Even though the minor wasn’t approved in time to help her, she’s “very excited that current and future students will have the opportunity to study journalism at Eckerd.”

Under Bemis’ leadership last year, The Current received its first journalism awards from the Florida Collegiate Press. This year, the newspaper staff has already doubled. “There’s definitely a growing interest, and this is the best way to cultivate that.” Bemis added.

news & features

Four Loko: Are you crazy 4 Loko?

By Max Martinez Web Editor

F

our Loko, the popular alcoholic energy drink, may be leaving store shelves as quickly as it appeared, along with 30 similar brands.

Virtually unknown two years ago, alcoholic energy drinks have become wildly popular across the country, especially on college campuses. Sales of Four Loko rose more than 2,000 percent in the twelve-month period ending in August 2009, according to Nielson market research. United Brands Company’s Joose, Four Loko’s largest competitor, saw sales triple in the same time frame to 1.3 million units.

On campus, the increased presence of Four Loko is undeniable. On weekend mornings, recycling bins from Kappa to Beta are overflowing with Four Lokos, resting just above a graveyard of Bud Lights and Solo cups.

“It was crazy,” said Senior Anna Williams of her first time drinking Four Loko. “I was on my a--, but I didn’t know that I was.”

Being unaware of one’s level of intoxication is common when alcohol and energy drinks are combined, a reason some point to as grounds to ban drinks such as Four Loko.

Just one 23.5-oz. can packs quite a punch. At 12 percent alcohol by volume, finishing one Four Loko is comparable to drinking three Natural Light tall boys, with one notable exception; Natural Light tall boys are completely free of caffeine and other potent ingredients. Four Loko throws in generous helpings of caffeine, taurine and guarana. How much is a generous helping?

Nobody knows. But the Food and Drug Administration wants to find out.

That’s why, last November, the FDA sent a letter to 27 companies, all of which produce and market alcoholic energy drinks, informing them the FDA planned to investigate the safety of their products. The investigation stems from two letters sent to the FDA: one from a group of scientists and the other from the attorneys general of Connecticut, Utah and Guam. All three are co-chairs of the National Association of Attorneys General Youth Access to Alcohol Committee.

“The [Department of Business and Professional Regulation] does register Four Loko energy drinks for sale in the state of Florida,” said Alexis Lambert, an official with the division of alcoholic beverages and tobacco. The DBPR had no comment on the health concerns or possible illegality of the product.

By FDA standards, alcoholic energy drinks are foods with additives, and any food additive not “generally recognized as safe” (or GRAS) must obtain pre-market approval. Caffeine, up to a level of .02 percent, is GRAS in soda and similar beverages. But Four Loko is hardly a

soda, and anybody who has ever tried one can attest to its higher-than-.02 percent caffeine content. Therefore, it will need pre-market approval to prove the drink is safe for consumption.

But is it safe? Logic says combining two mind-altering drugs, no matter how widely used they may be in society, is a bad idea.

Available research on the topic confirms this. A recent Wake Forest study (O’Brien et al, 2008) found that consumption of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED) was associated with “increased heavy episodic drinking and twice as many episodes of weekly drunkenness.”

The study found that almost a quarter of students who had consumed alcohol in the past month had also consumed AmED. The unique problem caused by drinking AmED is due to the stimulating effects of the caffeine, which make drinkers feel less drunk than they actually are. This, the attorneys general and FDA argue, leads people to drink more than they normally would, sometimes to dangerous levels.

Four Loko is special, though. The undisclosed amount of caffeine will keep you drinking and socializing further into the night, but it’s another ingredient that’s responsible for the drink’s signature effect: wormwood.

Better known as the main active ingredient in absinthe, wormwood was used as far back as ancient Egypt for medicinal purposes, but rose to popularity in 18th century France when absinthe was invented.

Absinthe is currently illegal in the United States.

According to WebMD, “wormwood oil contains the chemical thujone, which excites the central nervous system.” This explains the “body buzz” one may feel after drinking a Four Loko.

But thujone isn’t all fun and games. WebMD contends that “thujone is a potentially poisonous chemical found in wormwood. Distilling wormwood in alcohol increases the thujone concentration.”

So is there actually thujone in Four Loko? Again, logic would dictate that if the drink has wormwood , and wormwood contains thujone, then there’s probably some thujone in Four Loko. That claim, however, cannot be confirmed because an official ingredients list has yet to be released.

With the safety of drinks such as Four Loko in doubt, lawmakers are starting to ask the question, “should these beverages be made illegal?” Around the Eckerd campus one weekend floated the rumor that Four Loko would be illegal before the next weekend, and while the

promotional material rumor proved false, the possibility could be around the corner.

On Aug. 1, just a few miles from campus on 22nd Avenue North, a father and his three adult sons were killed when a car driven by Demetrius Jordan shot through a red light at 80 mph, sending their Ford Fusion into the beam of a 7-Eleven sign. According to a St Petersburg Times article, an empty Four Loko can was found behind Jordan’s seat at the scene of the crash, but he also admitted to drinking a beer and smoking marijuana before driving that night.

While Four Loko cannot be solely blamed for the crash, the caffeine in it may have led Jordan to believe he was not as intoxicated as he really was. That is exactly the concern expressed by the attorneys general who wrote the FDA last year. In their letter, they called for “the immediate removal of [alcoholic energy drinks] from the marketplace” to combat the “serious public health risk” posed by these drinks.

Eckerd students, perhaps predictably, disagree. “The government should only stop you from doing things that harm others,” said Junior Beth Robinson.

Senior Breen Eitel agrees Four Loko should remain on store shelves, but added, “If [an] FDA study showed that drinks like that are a severe health burden or risk, then there should be an additional (and higher) tax bracket that drinks like Four Loko would be subject to.”

If the FDA does prove Four Loko and similar drinks present a unique health risk, Robinson says, “it should have a warning like cigarettes do about how dangerous it is.

“People either know from experience what it does to them, or know from other people,” said Williams.

“Anyone who drinks it knows what they’re getting themselves into.”

Friday, October 1, 2010

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news & features

Fall line-up for art gallery

Elliott Gallery, Eckerd’s on-campus showcase for artwork by the EC community and visiting artists, is now open for the fall season. The current exhibition is the Eckerd College Residential Visual Arts Faculty & Staff Exhibition. Included in the exhibit is work by Professor of Visual Arts Kirk Ke Wang, a recent first place award winner at the Florida Museum of Photographic Art 10th Annual Member’s Show Exhibit for his image “Passage of Time.”

Gallery Hours are Monday-Friday 10:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To view a preview of the art featured, as well as a schedule of upcoming shows and events for both the Elliott Gallery and those in the Armacost Library, visit http://www.eckerd.edu/academics/visualarts/events.php.

EC financials on upswing Eckerd College is in better financial shape than in previous years, according to President Donald Eastman during a talk before faculty and staff Sept. 22.

Likened to a state of the college address, Eastman reported that the overall operating budget of Eckerd is $68 million. The college, he said, now has $23 million in reserves, a significant improvement over a not-so-distant era when reserves dropped to negative digits.

The financial goals, said Eastman, are to balance the budget, add to the cash balance, grow the endowment, which is currently at $38 million, and elevate the college’s credit rating even higher to make borrowing for future construction projects more affordable.

Eckerd isn’t immune to the economic

Are you protected against H1N1?

“Coming from China”

downfall, yet Eastman reported a “hold the line” approach on layoffs, furloughs and benefit reductions. “We are looking at new early retirement incentives for faculty,” he said.

Salaries at the associate professor rank may also see an increase to bring them more in line with national averages.

The “hold the line” approach also means no change to the 13-1 student-teacher ratio and no backing off current construction projects such as the new science center, which is expected to be completed by August 2012.

Five-year plans include such items as parking lot changes, improvements to the waterfront and a new Ceramics center. “We’ll continue to improve the attractiveness of the campus,” said Eastman.

This year’s flu shots now guard against H1N1. Getting vaccinated helps prevent the spread of the virus during cold and flu season and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for all persons older than 6 months.

Shots cost $29.99 at Walgreens, located near Eckerd College at either 3700 34th St. S or 3077 54th Ave. S. You must pay upfront with either cash, credit or debit cards; bring your insurance cards for reimbursement.

artwork by Kirk Ke Wang

Get ready to pay for going green Shelby Howell Staff Writer by

If you’ve used the computer lab lately, you’ve seen the notice: printing is no longer free.

However, you can breathe easy for now.

While you will be shown how much your pages cost you will not have to pay – yet .

The new printing system, Papercut, is about conserving paper. Each student gets an allowance of 600 pages ($60) for the year; seniors, a thousand($100).

According to Information Technology Services, this fall is a trial run to determine the average number of copies per student, 4

Friday, October 1, 2010

per semester. The data may reveal the need for changes to the number of copies per student.

“It’s mostly about Eckerd becoming a more green campus,” says Lakeisha Hall, the instructional services and science librarian. “Hopefully, [seeing the number of copies] will help students be more aware…maybe start printing certain things double-sided.” To encourage this concept toward greener living, double-sided print jobs will not receive any additional charge.

“I already allow students to submit work that is printed on both sides,” says Sterling Watson, professor of literature and creative writing, “but I ask for a copy for my own

use that is one-side only.”

If the trail run leads to implementation, students and other library patrons will be able to view their printing account at http://www.papercut.eckerd.edu. If you wish to add money to your account, you can do so with either a credit card or with a kiosk in the library.

“I’m not sure I understand the new policy, or that students understand it yet,” says Watson. “Students in my classes have articulated very different versions of the policy.” Watson already promotes the idea of double-sided copies, but cautions that his students will always need hard copies of their work —no matter how far

technology advances. “Creative writing,” says Watson, “cannot be effectively taught without paper copies of student work in the classroom. Electronic transmission of documents does not work. There is always someone who couldn’t open the file or someone who did not receive the attachment.” Cost conscious students may have another consideration when choosing courses. Watson advises, “If the new policy does end up costing students money for copying, they should pay without complaint...Don’t make decisions about classes or assignments that will save you a few dollars now but cost you a piece of your future.”

news & features

Eckerd reacts to BP Gulf oil spill April Green Staff Writer by

Imagine Eckerd without the waterfront: forget fitting in a wake-boarding trip after class or spending an afternoon kayaking around the bird sanctuary. Even worse, consider walking outside for breakfast in the morning and only smelling one thing: crude oil.

If the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill of April 2010 had reached Eckerd, the effects would have been devastating.

Cleanup crews, that included Eckerd students and faculty, worked during the summer along the northern Gulf Coast to prevent oil from reaching Eckerd’s coast and helped to save endangered sea life.

Junior Patrick Reed worked at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City, Fla., this summer. “We set up an oiled sea turtle center,” said Reed. “Each night, we would clean oiled sea turtles that were caught by boats in Florida and Alabama. We would clean off the oil with Dawn, and give them medical treatment when needed. Overall, we cleaned just under 200 sea turtles.”

Senior Hope Ronco also helped sea turtles in the Florida Panhandle. She worked with a team from the University of Florida, searching the beaches near Port St. Joe for female loggerheads. Ronco’s group tested the loggerheads for oil contamination through blood samples, carapace swipes and cuticle clips. They put satellite-tracking devices on four turtles to see if the turtles traveled through oil on their journey from Florida; thankfully, she said, none of the four swam through the part of the Gulf heavily affected by oil.

Along with tagging, Ronco spent many hours painstakingly relocating sea turtle eggs from the Gulf Coast

to the East Coast of Florida.

While the implications of moving so many eggs are still unknown, and probably will be for at least 25 years, at least the young turtles will be out of the oil’s destructive path. “Everything is looking good so far,” she said.

About British Petroleum, Ronco said, “We couldn’t have done anything without them.” The oil company paid for the training and equipment used to tag, test and relocate sea turtles.

But not only upperclassmen were involved in cleanup. Even before coming to Eckerd, Freshman Alex Welsch volunteered.

A Louisiana native, Welsch photo by Jonathan Cohen traveled from Baton Rouge to Workers cleaning up the oil in Gulf of Mexico.

Lake Pontchartrain, and was uplifted by how many people pelican trapped in an oil spill. Proceeds of the book will were there to volunteer. Welsch took on different jobs. be donated to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.

“We went where we were needed. Some days, I cleaned In light of the Deepwater Horizon BP explosion, oiled pelicans, and other days, I went out on a boat, Eckerd’s marine science program joined another dragging things to skim oil.” prestigious group: Eckerd is one of 18 Florida institutions Carol Alt, a member of the Osher Lifelong Learning (mostly colleges and universities) that make up the Oil Institute at Eckerd College, responded to the oil spill by Spill Academic Task Force. OSATF was developed to aid collecting materials needed to clean birds. Alt also wrote Florida and the rest of the affected Gulf Coast in response a children’s book called “Who is Goo?” about a brown to the spill.

Eckerd College students and marine science faculty, partnering with universities such as Florida State and Florida International, are working specifically on three projects: •Finding a baseline for impact assessment of zooplankton and imaging oil droplet detection for west Florida.

•Assessing the impact of the oil spill on sediments and the benthic communities of west Florida •Finding the penetration, accumulation and degradation of the oil in Florida’s sandy beaches.

Marine science professors Jonathan Cohen, David Hastings and Gregg Brooks are heading up these research projects on the Eckerd front in collaboration with professors at other OSATF.universities. “Our studies will involve research cruises,” said Cohen, “where we will tow a video system to quantify both zooplankton and oil droplets in the Gulf, and shore-based studies on the toxicological effects of oil and dispersants on zooplankton behavior.”

Oil from Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico.

photo by Harold Green Friday, October 1, 2010

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news & features

Modern slavery hidden from view

New Campus Safety policies: car towing, earpieces and the SPPD April Green Staff Writer by

Sarah Malhotra Staff Writer by

In past years, a student might have gotten away with failing to register a vehicle.

That was in past years.

This year, Campus Safety and Security is cracking down on campus vehicle violations, especially driving around without a decal. Director of Campus Safety Adam Colby said the “biggest [new policy] is that any vehicle with three failure to register tickets will be towed at the owner’s expense.” Colby said this policy was put in place because of “safety concerns.”

Under the old policy, students could rack up vehicle violations, pay their fines and drive on. The reason for the new towing policy is to show students that Campus Safety and Security feels that registering a vehicle on campus is important. Some students feel otherwise.

Sophomore Megan Gouldrup said, “I think that’s a bit ridiculous. Most college students can’t afford to pay to get their car back. I think Campus Security should think of another policy, like charging the student’s account.”

But not only does vehicle registration prove that someone has a license and is supposed to be driving on campus, it also proves vehicles are insured. If something does happen to a vehicle on campus, “Campus Safety will know who to contact,” said Colby.

Another noticeable change with Campus Safety is the much talked about earpieces now worn by officers. Why are they necessary? And, what are they saying to each other? Colby said, “There are just some things everyone shouldn’t hear.”

In other words, the earpieces solve quite a few privacy issues. If there is a medical emergency, the information necessary for emergency personnel isn’t announced to the surrounding student body. On the other hand, the earpieces signal that Campus Safety and Security means business. If officers need assistance, back up or just about anything else, they can transmit

needs quickly and quietly. With a new year and a new director, other questions related to Campus Safety and Security have been raised as well.

Anyone have the feeling that the St. Petersburg Police has a more frequent presence on campus?

According to Colby, “Students said that last year too.” He said that there is no plan to increase the number of officers or amount of times St. Pete Police will be on campus this year. However, he said, “Our campus is in their jurisdiction.”

Colby insisted that his department has not requested a more noticeable presence of the St. Pete Police, but if there happens to be one, it should be accepted. Sophomore Lauralea Rubino said she has concerns whenever police officers shows up on campus. “It makes me feel that something serious is going on. I don’t know why they need to be here.”

One reason for their presence here, according to Colby in an interview he granted The Current last summer, is to familiarize St. Pete officers with the layout of Eckerd buildings and dorms should there be an emergency. During the summer, St. Pete police trained here, and as a result said they now feel more ready to respond to a call for help.

As for Eckerd’s number-two ranking on the Princeton Review’s “Reefer Madness” list, Colby said his department has no plans to change existing procedures, offering that drug violations are taken “very seriously.” As in previous years, policy violators will go before the Community Standards Incident Review Committee.

Police Blotter Robert Harrison Jacobs, 19, was arrested Sept.

24, and charged with two felony possessions of controlled substances, Oxycodone and Ritalin,

and a misdemeanor charge, possession of drug paraphernalia according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s report. Jacobs was released Sept. 25 on a surety bond.

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Friday, October 1, 2010

courtesy of Wikicommons

When she was just 13, Rosa, a young waitress in a Mexican village, was offered a chance-of-alifetime opportunity to work in the U.S. The offer sounded too good to be true, but her family desperately needed the money. Her parents were all for it. They had no idea that what they were sending their daughter to was nothing short of white slavery – human trafficking.

The term “slavery” usually evokes thoughts of an institution that existed long ago. But the past has become the present. In recent years, cases of human trafficking have cropped up all over the U.S. Earlier this month, a federal indictment accused six recruiters for Global Horizons Manpower, Inc. of orchestrating what the FBI is calling “the largest human trafficking case ever charged in U.S. history.” Since 2004, the recruiters lured 400 Thai workers to the U.S. under false premises. The workers were promised good working conditions; upon arrival they were stripped of their passports and treated as virtual slaves.

The scary thing is that human trafficking in the U.S. is more common than you’d expect.

Professor of human development Nancy Janus found herself drawn to human trafficking literature after a trip to Cambodia in 2003 to study children’s issues.

“We don’t like to admit we have problems,” she answered on why we typically think of human trafficking as a tragedy only occurring in other countries. “It’s more visible in small countries.” At the same time, the subject is getting more attention in the U.S., though not as much as it deserves. She continued, “It’s become a popular human interest story. Does it get all the attention it needs? Probably not.”

The two main types of human trafficking are sexual exploitation and forced labor, both of which experts consider forms of modern day slavery. In regards to forced labor, companies lure immigrants and migrant workers with the promise of wealth and job security, then force them to do hard labor while living in poor conditions and in constant fear. Companies use coercion, threats, and deception to get workers to comply with their demands without complaint.

Bosses tell workers they cannot quit their jobs and that they are not permitted to leave the country.

Groups committed to working against forced labor in the U.S. exist, including the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

The coalition is a community-based organization to help Latino, Mayan Indian, and Haitian immigrant workers in low-wage earning jobs.

Their Anti-Slavery Campaign has gained national and even international recognition for its innovative program human rights education and investigation led by workers. The Oct. 5 CPS event Harvesting Justice: Farmworker Poverty, the Campaign for Fair Food, and You features Eckerd alumna Meghan Cohorst, a current member of the coalition.

Professor Janus had one vital piece of advice about human trafficking for students. “Learn what to look for and learn how to protect [yourselves],” she told me.

Having a heightened awareness about what is going on is invaluable. Anyone, anywhere can be trafficked, so inform yourself so it doesn’t happen to you.

Today Rosa is locked up in jail. She managed to escape her captors, but was arrested along with them. By a cruel turn of fate she has become the criminal, not the victim. This is the reality of human trafficking, our very own modern day slavery.

news & features

SMART therapy aids children Sarah K. Yost Staff Writer by

SMART or Sarasota Manatee Association Riding Therapy is a non-profit organization home to a number of horses that act as therapy for disabled youth. Sept. 18, a group of Eckerd students took the forty-five minute drive to volunteer on the beautiful and large acreage of land in Sarasota, Fla. At SMART, the special needs children are taught how to groom and tack up their horses. They learn how to ride to the utmost of their ability, and how to care for their horses afterward. It is all about teaching the children a partnership with the horses. Possibly, even on a kind of level that humans cannot relate to as an animal can. The horse is a tool to help the children cope and act as a therapeutic an photo by Kelly Grasty enjoyable activity. The horseback riding acts as physical exercise, mental exercise Child pets horse at SMART.

Oil spill in the Gulf: a panel discussion April Green Staff Writer by

The Oil Spill Discussion Panel on Sept. 22 informed the Eckerd College community about the real issues that resulted from the oil spill: the failure of organized adequate response during the crisis, and why the Gulf of Mexico may never be the same.

The Deep Water Horizon explosion that ended in loss of human and marine life, as well as distrust of the United States government and British Petroleum, led to the disaster officially declared as an oil “spill of national significance” on April 29, 2010.

The oil spill raised awareness of the dangers of offshore drilling and created many “firsts” for the government. In the aftermath of the event, oceanographic agencies such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to determine the effects of the spill in both the short in long term. The research of speaker Dr. Erin Fougeres, the National Marine

Fisheries Serivce’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program Administrator, shows that oil contaminants in the Gulf of Mexico led to skin irritations, chemical burns, and infections on marine mammals, as well as internal problems with the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems.

Even five months after the initial disaster, NOAA, BP, and the United States Coast Guard are still in the “response” phase, although Dr. Fougeres assured students it’s slowing down. The spill is also in the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process. NRDA is the legal process to determine the type and amount of restoration needed.

Professor of Marine Science David Hastings addressed the impact of the oil spill on moral level, saying that the oil spill “exposed how far we’ll go to get black gold.” Hastings then unleashed on the crowd a sickening figure: “Yes, this wreaked environmental devastation, but there are 200 major oil spills every year.”

and spiritual exercise.

According to their website, the organization’s mission statement is to enhance “the physical, emotional, and cognitive growth of individuals with special needs through a quality educational and recreational therapeutic horseback riding and carriage driving program.”

This organization is attempting to bring awareness to their community. That it is important to remember children with special needs photo by Kelly Grasty deserve a place where they can come and have a release. Horseback riding is therapeutic for They need a chance to do the children. something “normal” as well as therapeutic. financially. Call the SMART line for more How can I help SMART? Become info: 746-1493 or visit their website at: a Volunteer or help support SMART www.smartriders.org

Intl Cinema review

Opera and the City Morgan Swim Staff Writer

by

Shelby Howell Staff Writer

by

Eckerd College’s International Cinema Series brought “Secret in their Eyes” to Miller Auditorium on September 17. The powerful film was directed by Juan Jose Campanella and starred Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil. Produced in Argentina in 2009, “Secret in their Eyes” tells the story of retired legal consultant Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin) who has been writing a story based on a brutal rape/murder case he worked on.

Throughout the movie, the timeframe jumps between the time when Esposito originally took on the case and years later when he is revisiting it. It leads the viewer along a path that portrays both the immense level of compassion and incredible evil that human beings are capable of.

“This is probably the most intense movie I’ve ever seen,” says senior Katie Rost. “It’s all about that thin line of human ethics and morals. I think it would make a really good QFM movie.”

If the movie showed only this concentration on human deceit it would probably become overwhelming for the viewer. Fortunately, the mood was lightened by extremely witty

Taking a detailed look at the effects of opera on Qing dynasty China, Doctor Andrea S. Goldman of the history department of UCLA set the stage for her lecture with lively and genuine enthusiasm. Covering such areas of Chinese culture as gender and class relations, she painted the picture of the noisy and seedy opera house of the city, the comfortable and exclusive private plays of the elites and the publicly accessible temple fair courtyard plays.

With a larger focus on gender roles, Goldman illustrated the need for young male actors to play women, due to real women being banned from acting and from attending plays at the city theaters.

“It was interesting to see that women were a distraction at plays,” said Maggie Dawson, a freshman, about the ban on women.

Professor Michael Sprunger, who teaches East Asian Humanities, was interested more in the economic ramifications of opera and “how consumer demand drove the Qing economy.”

He also added that it was good to have a CPS event on “things we often have misconceptions about.”

dialogue and a touching love story.

Friday, October 1, 2010

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news & features

photo by Ashli Fiorini Panorama of Club Fair in Fox Hall. photo by Ashli Fiorini

Club Fair Fall 2010

Another Man’s Trash members Luke Jacobs, Spencer Weiss, Elliott McDaniel and Katie Austin at Club Fair.

Morgan Swim Staff Writer by

A little rain couldn’t deter curious Eckerd students from Club Fair 2010, Sept. 12. Fox Hall bustled with many familiar clubs and a few new ones such as a Harry Potter Club and Quidditch Club.

Outside Fox Hall, under a canopy to shield them from rain, Eckerd’s improv club, Another Man’s Trash, performed a twelve-hour improv marathon.

While free candy and treats lured students to most tables, the numerous sign-up sheets filled front to back suggest that genuine interest beats out candy. With a wide array of choices from sports to anime, martial arts to activism, there seemed a club for any and all students.

Want to be a CEO? Get your internship today Sarah K. Yost Staff Writer by

Today, a college degree is no guarantee to a job. What will set you apart? Extra experience, according to Lauren Berger (self-dubbed “Intern Queen”), who recently spoke here about the importance of undergraduate internships. Berger finished 15 internships in her four years of college, and is now the CEO of Intern Queen Inc. Her website, InternQueen.com, reaches more than 40,000 students and parents. Below is a modified version of an internship quick tip list Berger gave during

photo by Ashli Fiorini Katie Austin and Luke Jacobs perform during a twelve hour improv session at club fair.

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Friday, October 1, 2010

1. Resume should be no longer than a page.

2. No photos.

3. Connect the dots in your cover letter: come full circle on why you are the best candidate.

1st Paragraph= who you are & where you are from 2nd Paragraph= what personal characteristic do you have that applies to this job 3rdParagraph= what professional characteristics do you have that apply to this job 4. Letter of recommendation-write it yourself, then have the person who you want to sign it make any necessary revisions.

5. Seek out local internships.

6. Take two hours out of your weekend to research company websites. Do it in one chunk of time.

7. Once you send your resume and cover letter follow up two weeks later. Keep you fresh in their minds.

8. The Three Interview Types: •In Person—Wear a business suit. Have a thank you note already written and once you leave theiroffice put it in the mail (Don’t hand it to them).

•On the Phone—Tell them about yourself, hold their attention (make notes before hand) Who are you, where you go to school, etc. Be loud!

•On Skype—Practice, Practice, Practice! And wear that suit.

9. Remember Intern Jealousy- the intern coordinator will hate you, so think about all the questions you have and send it in one long e-mail. (Not several questions in separate e-mails) 10. Facebook- delete those photos of you totally plastered at the Kappa Toga Party and anythingelse you wouldn’t want your Grandma to see.

11. Learn everyone’s name (Network!)

12. After completing an internship, stay in touch three times a year to stay in their minds.

13. Don’t burn bridges—what happens in the office stays at the office.

viewpoints

Letter to the Editor

Counselor responds to “madness” ranking Dear Editor: In the September 17th issue of the Current, Web Editor Max Martinez provides us with his perspective on Eckerd’s “achievement” of being named #2 on Princeton Review’s 2010 “Reefer Madness” list of the top 20 U.S. college campuses for widespread marijuana use. Mr. Martinez is right on many points. Eckerd is a community of scholars, athletes, intellectuals, servant-leaders and community activists. We pride ourselves on our academic achievement, service to the community, awards, student leadership and free-thinking spirit. I am honored to work in this community.

The Princeton Review (which is not affiliated with Princeton University) produces rankings on a wide variety of subjects, including the quality of teaching, towns and cities where universities are located, the school’s politics, sports, quality of life and social scene. The intended purpose is to use feedback from current college and university students to help high school students find the best college match. All of Princeton Review’s rankings are based on input from a limited and self-selected group of current students via online surveys. The “Reefer Madness” survey is based on students’ online responses to a single question: “How widely is marijuana used at your school?”

The problem with surveying students in this way, particularly around the issues of alcohol and drug use, is that students overestimate what their peers are actually doing. This is borne out by recent data Eckerd collected on the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment, where Eckerd students overestimated their peers’ marijuana use by three times.

Whether this kind of inaccurate data helps high school students “find the right college match,” is certainly arguable. Perhaps this is why the “Reefer Madness” rankings have little impact on our recruiting.

Aside from this methodological consideration, however, to say, as Mr. Martinez does, that Eckerd has become a “model of recreational cannabis use,” ignores the more problematic side of marijuana use, abuse and addiction: the side that includes Eckerd students whose lives (and the lives of those around them) have been negatively impacted by their own alcohol and drug use.

While not everyone who uses marijuana experiences negative consequences, clearly, some do.

These harmful effects are the reasons why the members of the Eckerd Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force, and those in Counseling Services, Health Promotion, Outreach Services, Residence Life, Community Standards, ServiceLearning, Campus Ministries, Athletics, Campus Safety and the Office of the Dean of Students work tirelessly to prevent, educate about and treat substance abuse and addiction.

So, as we “embrace” the distinction of placing second on the 2010 “Reefer Madness” list, let us not ignore those in our midst who don’t (or can’t) “use recreationally.” For them, this distinction does not paint quite such a rosy picture.

“Amusing

“They’re just stupid drunk people you can identify.”

—A literature professor regarding the pilgrims in Canterbury Tales.

“Now if you want to mix things up, grab it by the neck and spank it. They like it, trust me.”

—A chemistry professor on how to mix solutions in a test tube.

“Every morning before you leave your room, look in the mirror and ask yourself, ‘am I going to get lucky today?’ If the answer is yes, go and put some more clothes on.”

—A chemistry professor on proper laboratory attire.

Sincerely, (signed electronically) Scott Strader, PhD Director, Counseling Services

Can you support the art, but not the artist?

“I’ve gotta say— the last couple years, the posters have sucked. It looked like a fourth grade science fair.”

By Liz Tomaselli Assistant Viewpoints Editor

—A QFM professor on the Festival of Hope.

EDITORIAL

Ever since allegations of Michael Jackson’s inappropriate behavior became public, I visibly cringe at the thought of him, yet I would never dream of removing “The Way You Make Me Feel” or “Beat It” from my iPod. If you asked me to name one of my favorite guilty pleasures I would have no shame in telling you that I enjoy watching the reality show “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” yet I certainly do not support the creation/ distribution of Kim Kardashian’s sex tape or the irresponsible decision that Khloe Kardashian made, which sent

her to jail for drunk driving.

I only began to question such decisions when my Facebook status read one day that I was “truly appreciating John Mayer’s voice right now.” I received a comment from my 16-year-old brother, “Oh, so you like listening to d-bags?” I had become so used to defending my beloved John (as he always seems to be making comments sans the approval of his publicity team) that I swiftly and sarcastically reminded my brother that I, being older and wiser, was able to separate the art from the artist. In my mind, there was always a clear distinction between enjoying art and praising an artist (or enabling a famehungry family), but money talks,

and it obviously makes the world go round.

So does the way we choose to spend our time and money, whether it is purchasing books or magazines, CDs, iTunes singles or movie tickets dictate our personal beliefs? Our values? Our moral compass as individuals and as a nation? Or are we just avid pop culture junkies and mindless consumers?

Will my Facebook friends think, since I obviously enjoy and support the artistic stylings of Mr. Mayer that I, in turn, support his decidedly racist comments to “Playboy” this past summer? And will John Mayer himself think, since anything with his name attached is sure to be a See ART & THE ARTIST on PAGE 11

“When I’m thinking hard, I look up because I find your faces distracting.”

—A creative writing professor.

Musings”

Friday, October 1, 2010

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viewpoints EDITORIAL

Pakistan needs flood of relief

By Morgan Swim Staff Writer

and nutritional aid and shelter that they need. Part of the reason for this is their own leaders’ inadequacy and lack of responsibility to their people, but that does not mean that these people should be condemned to their fate.

A Muslim expatriate of Kuwait, who lives in New York, expressed her feelings to me about the tension between Americans and Muslims. “This is not about Muslims or

Islam as a religion,” she said, “this is about ordinary people just like you and me who got caught in a very bad situation and were denied help for reasons that are entirely out of Even now, eight weeks after the initial flood surge caused their hands.” by heavy monsoon rains, Pakistanis are still experiencing Using the Internet, she has been posting blog entries disastrous flood levels. and updates on social media websites to spread the word According to the United Nations, 20,000 to 30,000 and encourage donations. “There will be more volunteers are still being displaced each day on top of the 20 if people know of what happened,” she said. “How can million who are already displaced. UN Secretary they if no one is speaking about it loud enough?”

General Ban Ki-moon called the floods “one of the It is difficult to discern if Americans have been slow biggest, most complex natural disasters we have to respond to Pakistan because of a lack of adequate faced in the history of the United Nations.” So why, then, has aid been slow coming and short-handed? media coverage, such as the telethons that supported Part of the reason for the lack of adequate aid is relief in Haiti, or because they are not quick to donate because the Pakistani government did not provide to a Muslim nation. for its people during the first few days of the When India was hit by a tsunami in 2004 and Haiti flooding. With ensuing riots, only extremist political by an earthquake in January, Americans opened their parties and militant groups provided relief, which wallets.

Yet the flooding in Pakistan affects more people certainly did not encourage positive sentiments or than both of these disasters combined. The American aid from America and other Western nations wary of providing resources to possible terrorists.

Red Cross claims that it only received $2 million for Out of more than 20 million affected, the UN Pakistan, but $100 million for India and $230 million stated in its Sept. 17th highlights that “three million for Haiti. children were under age five and three million Regardless of the reason, Pakistan is still in need of women were of child-bearing age.” Innocent people, courtesy of UNHCR photographer Jason Tanner help. The UN has recently launched an appeal for $2 many with their homes damaged or destroyed, are Angelina Jolie visiting those displaced by the Pakistani billion of relief over the next 12 months. only slowly and sporadically receiving the medical

floods.

Tampa Tribune article rankles EC community Jeralyn Darling Asst. Entertainment Editor There it was. A big “F” next to Eckerd in a recent Tampa Tribune article. I had a hard time closing my mouth. I read on. How could this be? My college rates an F? After completing the article, I still had no answer. The article never provided an explanation for Eckerd’s failing grade. The article, “Who needs college? Skills slip; costs rise,” published Sept 11, is Michael Barone’s opinion on higher education related to graduation requirements.

According to The American Council of Trustees and Alumni, we’re wasting our time and money on schools that are not giving a “proper” education.

Okay, but how did Eckerd rate an F? In the small print under the table of ratings that included several Florida schools, I discovered that Barone is relying on information by the ACTA, and only this group – his first mistake as a journalist. Apparently, Eckerd receives an F because it doesn’t have graduation requirements. What? We don’t?

Of course, we do. And plenty of them.

Anyone who has taken even an introductory journalism class knows you need two or more sources, and you need to fact-check – something we at The Current take quite seriously. Do we always get it right? No, even our sources 10

Friday, October 1, 2010

are sometimes wrong, which is why we’re pushed for two or more. And hey, let’s not forget that we’re still students, not highly trained professionals. So, though it is Barone’s fault that his source didn’t check its source, Barone still has a journalistic responsibility to verify information before he uses it.

By the way, Barone is the senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, a Fox News contributor, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and co-author of The Almanac of American Politics. It’s not like he doesn’t know his stuff; did he just get lazy?

Sophomore Arielle Burger said, “They didn’t do enough research. It isn’t fair to anyone, especially for the faculty who are upholding our graduation requirements. We have the toughest writing requirement I’ve heard of, our writing portfolio, which is a huge part of being an Eckerd College student.”

I decided this whole thing called for more research (which, by the way, is something they encourage here at Eckerd, Mr. Barone!) and I found a few other schools that received an F. Our fellow failing friends? Brown, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, Northwestern, Rutgers, Smith, Vanderbilt, Wesleyan and Yale, to name a few.

That’s three failing Ivy League schools and two, Harvard and UPenn, that received D’s.

President Donald Eastman wrote a letter to the Tribune, which was published Sept. 21. “The mere fact that schools such as Yale, Williams and Berkeley receive “F” grades from the very politicized and widely discredited American Council of Trustees and Alumni should have given you some idea about how biased and patently silly is its rating system.”

Eastman said his first reaction to the article was, “Where the heck did this come from?” He was frustrated because the Tribune did not call him to check its alleged facts or discuss the premises of the article before it was published because he and the Tribune have worked well together in the past.

Eastman said that colleges should not merely focus on the extent to which students are mastering a standardized curriculum, but rather on whether we “are getting the most out of each and every student.”

No one would object to questioning whether college is the end-all answer for everyone, especially during this economic downturn. But even a freshman knows the severity of being awarded an F, and most certainly the reason. This article is just another reminder of how important it is for all of us to think critically about the messages we’re receiving – from the media, from politicians, from everyone.

viewpoints

PerspECtives

“I believe there should be dance classes to count towards the art requirement. Many state colleges offer different dance courses in their curriculum. It wouldn’t only keep students in shape but it would be a fun class to take. Along with it we could learn about the history of different dances and cultures; however, it would be a more interactive course.”

Q: If you could add a course to Eckerd’s curriculum, what would it be and why?

“I would like to add a sports major. So I guess it would be a list of courses like sports sciences and the psychology behind teamwork and leadership.

Classes that teach students the basics of sports and how to teach others how to play in a way people of all ages can understand. This way, if a student wants to become a coach or physical education teacher in the future, they are well prepared.”

—Jake Wilder, senior

“I think there should be a juggling and balancing class. It would help students with their hand-eye coordination and would boost their brainpower as well as relieving stress. Juggling improves rhythm, timing and concentration, which are very useful skills to have in life.”

—Breege Boyer, freshman

—Baalika Patel, sophomore

“I believe there should be a one year physical education requirement. Students should be able to take land and water sports to continue exercising after high school. It would be a useful way of learning how to fit it into your schedule and stay active. It would also be a great way to meet new people and learn how to play sports you wouldn’t be able to learn otherwise.”

—Jeremy Keller, senior

By Kelly Grasty Photographer

ART & THE ARTIST

lucrative venture, that his success continued from Page 9 somehow warrants his behaviors as appropriate or acceptable to the American public?

I know it sounds ridiculous and hyperbolic to say that by purchasing “I Can Transform Ya” on iTunes you are singlehandedly telling the world you support domestic abuse, but numbers (and money) speak louder than the thoughts that we don’t express. Our courts may say domestic abuse is illegal, and we may despise Chris Brown’s violent actions toward his former girlfriend Rihanna, but that doesn’t change the fact that his new single “Deuces” is

currently number one on the Hip Hop and Rap Billboard chart and has been for 3 consecutive weeks (surpassing Rihanna’s collaborative “Love the Way You Lie” by about 15 spots). It’s disturbing to think that we, as a nation, could inadvertently be sending the wrong message to so many people. Because as much as we can gossip in the Caf about what a jerk Chris Brown is, that $1.99 you paid on iTunes so that you could pregame to Chris Brown’s new single is ultimately a nice little check in his pocket, a reward for unacceptable behavior.

Ironically, the spectrum doesn’t seem to work both ways.

We buy Kanye’s CDs because, in our minds, he is an artist first, and an insensitive jerk second. However, how many

people would admit to owning a painting made by Hitler?

No one! Because Adolf Hitler is a villainous murderer first and an artist second (and a terrible one at that). It’s interesting how, as a society, we could be so conditioned to think and rationalize things in a certain way—even when it comes to loading our iPods and decorating our walls.

So is this just overanalyzing consumer spending? Are we just good-spirited Americans that believe in good ole’ second chances? Or have our past spending choices warranted a closer look at what we may be inadvertently supporting? I for one am going to attempt to more actively monitor the messages I send as a consumer from now on.

Am I going to be deleting John Mayer’s discography from my iPod? Probably not. Baby steps.

Friday, October 1, 2010

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viewpoints EDITORIAL

Lesson from Nairobi

Smiles lost in translation

By Jaclyn New Viewpoints Editor

T

smile’s recipient for just a moment. Never had I been so probed and studied, yet never had I been so aware of my very own existence.

I could still see Vee on the other side of the street, but with his back turned and those four million bodies in between us, I realized that I was truly alone. What is wrong with me? I thought to myself. Within seconds I was on my feet and at Vee’s side, upset with myself for being so rash. He tossed me a piece of sugar cane and we turned to resume our adventure.

A warm, clammy hand halted my procession as I was spun around and abruptly found myself standing face to face with the smiling man.

I said nothing and I did not smile this time. His eyes never left me; they shifted anxiously from my pink cheeks to my white hair until they landed at my own eyes. I stood uncomfortably as his gaze pierced right through me. I felt as if my thoughts, feelings and everything inside of me were no longer mine.

he strangest thing was that it felt like home.

Shuffling past swarms of people and carefully trying to avoid bumping into the apparently stray goats, dogs and children of this bustling Kenyan street gave me no time to think otherwise. My summer in Nairobi has topped the list for the most popular conversation topics to date, but I’ve come to find that the only things people want to hear are that my experience was lifechanging and how the mere sight of these goats, dogs and children catalyzed my desire to save the world.

Granted, my agenda still consists of various super-heroic aspirations, but each is now accompanied by some form of angst and doubt. The root of my apprehension originated in this busy Kenyan street from the most harmless of all circumstances. It has been almost 96 days since the incident, and I am still consumed by my frustration.

It began with a smile. Not my own, but his. I should have known, of course, that reciprocating a simple grin to a stranger on the street did not mean, “Hello, how are you? I am polite because I’m smiling back at you!” No, of course, it didn’t.

Vee, my friend, colleague and a native of Kenya, did not realize what he was getting himself into when he decided to explore the city of Nairobi with a blonde-haired, teenaged American girl.

Not knowing what I had done, Vee sat me down on a cinder block and sprinted across the dusty road to purchase an ear of roasted maize and a shaft of sugar cane. He was convinced that as soon as I tried these delectable treats, I would never be able to return to my scanty, college-student meals of ramen and freeze pops. I never told him, but I would have stayed anyway.

Perched atop that cinder block, I suddenly felt the curious eyes of what felt like four million people scanning over me. Time stopped as I became the center of attention in a part of the country where colorless skin and light hair is often only seen in various forms of media, as rare as they may be.

I quickly glanced around, catching the eye of my Marketplace in Nairobi, Kenya.

It began with a smile. Not my own, but his. I should have known, of course, that reciprocating a simple grin to a stranger on the street did not mean, “Hello, how are you? I am polite because I’m smiling back at you!” No, of course, it didn’t.

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Friday, October 1, 2010

He wanted to shake my hand. I did not know what to do, because his hand was already shaking uncontrollably.

I knew that Vee had been right beside me the entire time, speaking quickly and firmly in Kiswahili, but I neither heard nor saw him. I forced myself to blink, and when I reopened my eyes the smiling man slithered his fingers around my forearm and dragged me away from Vee. We plunged through the crowd and emerged at the mouth of a dark, thin alley. He pointed to a step in front of a dilapidated building and whistled. Instantly, three men came out of the shadows and started toward me, whispering to each other in a Kenyan dialect unfamiliar to me.

Although I actively resisted the smiling man’s grip and called for help to Vee, it all happened too quickly. Before long, Vee had funneled his way to the alley’s entrance, and I was caught amid the fury of five frightening Kenyan men.

The next thing I remember clearly is sitting in a small, fire-heated hut with a plate of spaghetti on my lap and a bruised wrist. Surrounded by Vee and his family, I spent the evening listening to lectures about how to avoid “the bad Africans” while allowing several giddy, orphaned girls to braid and unbraid my hair.

The strangest mixture of comfort, confusion and frustration steadily flooded in and out of my mind for the next several weeks. I would replay the entire incident over and over in my head, trying to make sense of the world through the eyes of the smiling man. While it continues to bombard my thoughts on an almost daily basis, I have come to the overly simplistic conclusion that I, unlike millions of girls throughout the world who are trafficked every year, am lucky.

Perhaps it was the afternoon sun, the aggressive words of Vee, the hole I tripped over which compelled me to look up at the smiling man, or a thousand other insignificantly small things that directed my escape that day. And although my life as a relatively successful, lively Eckerd student could have ended that very day, it did not.

So while I learned a great deal and experienced a fascinatingly curious new culture, the one thing that affected me the most is something I will carry with me for my entire life: the friendly, turned-up corners of a mouth. I will never look at a smile the same way photo by Jaclyn New again.

viewpoints Editorial

Ground zero-mosque debate rages

By Aaron Coder Contributing Writer

A

recent poll published in the New York Post suggests that two-thirds of New York’s residents oppose building a mosque at ground zero. However, these same polled citizens temper their sentiments by submitting that America’s foundational belief in freedom of religion gives Muslims the right to build a mosque anywhere, and that includes ground zero. If you find that confusing, contradictory, or more than a wee bit wishy-washy, you’re not alone. And what’s so threatening about a mosque at ground zero anyway?

The most obvious explanation to this trepidation is symbolic. Opponents say it’s a matter of respect toward the victims and families of the 9/11 terror attacks. Wouldn’t a mosque, complete with menacing minarets perched like missiles where the twin towers once stood, signify a checkmate move in the name of radical Islam?

Sure, and for those who like their arguments based more on hysterics and even less on reality, there is the “ground zero-mosque-poses-a-threatto-national-security-and/or-the-American-way-oflife” camp. Here is their thesis in a nutshell: allowing a mosque to be erected at ground zero would only be a trickle in the dyke holding back a flood of MiddleEastern zealots wanting to usurp our freedom. Give the enemy an inch and he’ll take Manhattan in a holy war. Can we, as a decidedly white, Judeo-Christian nation, risk being overrun by a foreign culture that is outwardly hostile toward our very founding ideals of tolerance and equality? The ground zero mosque might become a fundamentalist factory churning out little would-be terrorists right on American courtesy of Wikicommons soil (not unlike the one producing baby socialists/ Protesters rally in New York City near site of the proposed communists in the basement of the White House at cultural center. this very moment, I suppose). community, and – most importantly – a memorial to the But, then, we Americans are finicky regarding culture. Those aspects of “foreign” culture which we view as innocent lives lost on 9/11. How menacing. Also, the site a threat to the American way of life are probably the same where the facility is to be built is two blocks away (about aspects of foreign culture that we have not yet figured out a ten-minute walk) from ground zero, in a building – it a way to mass-market. A smattering of Sushi restaurants should be noted – already used by Muslims for worship. has sprung up around Pearl Harbor in recent years, but That building will be torn down to make room for the I’m confident we won’t be reviewing WWII anytime soon new facility. What Park51’s opponents actually oppose, to see if maybe the Japanese actually won. it seems, is a high-profile remodeling job. There are no I realize that’s a bad analogy, but it is certainly no less minarets in the blueprint. accurate than the hysterical and misleading campaign Another remarkable omission from the debate is the put forth by opponents of the mosque. There are two fact that facilities designated specifically for Muslim major problems to begin with: namely “ground zero” and worship existed within the WTC towers themselves – “mosque.” As it turns out, no one has actually proposed that’s information that Park51’s most strident opponents building a mosque at ground zero anyway. would rather not have circulating. And never mind that The “mosque,” called Park51, would actually be a multi- Muslim’s have been praying regularly in an interfaith use facility – a community center, of sorts. According facility that was installed inside the Pentagon in 2002. On to the Park51 Web site, plans include a swimming pool, closer inspection, it seems, the symbolic argument against a fitness center, dining facilities, a culinary school, a Park51 doesn’t seem to stand up. separate “prayer space” that will be open to the entire What about the political considerations? While the

most visible opponents of Park51 are conservative Republicans, resistance to Park51 is found on both sides of the aisle. As if echoing the poll data, a statement from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he supported the center, but felt it should be built somewhere else. In doing so, the senior senator and Democrat put some distance between himself and President Obama (the President has publicly expressed his support of Park51) at a time when the president’s approval rating has slipped dramatically and Reid himself is defending his seat in Nevada in a close race against a Republican contender. Rightfully, Reid’s critics accuse him of refusing to take a real stance on the issue. That the debate over Park51 has become a political sideshow is no surprise, but it seems unlikely that politics is the driving force behind the furor.

The results of a poll published by NBC reports that among New York’s boroughs, the residents of Manhattan are – perhaps somewhat ironically – the most tolerant, with only 36 percent opposed to the construction of Park51. Contrary to what one might predict, however, the tolerant population of Manhattan is not the most diverse.

Manhattan still maintains a white majority – barely – and boasts New York’s largest Jewish community. Across the harbor and on the other end of the spectrum sits Staten Island, whose residents oppose Park51 by a majority 73 percent. Staten Island is, perhaps not surprisingly, the most racially and religiously homogenous of the boroughs, with a demographic that is over 75 percent white and 60 percent Catholic, according to a 2000 census. In other words, Staten Island is overwhelmingly white, mostly Catholic, and most vehemently opposed to Park51 (even though it’s separated from Ground Zero by five miles of cold water). I’ll let the reader come to his or her own conclusion.

At best, this seems like another case of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) – making Park51 the cultural equivalent of a nuclear power plant. Outwardly, most white Christian Americans want people from all ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds to reap the benefits of the democratic ideals of this nation. But many, it seems, would just prefer it take place somewhere else. It does things to property values.

In a televised address on the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush told Americans, “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”

With that in mind, I realize that Park51’s opponents have a point: building it is, in fact, a tremendously symbolic act — just not in the way they think. A mass-movement in opposition to a Muslim community center in New York is exactly the sort of wavering of faith that Osama bin Laden and his ilk would relish. If we single out any one religious group and deny them the right to build what is, in essence, a community outreach center in the heart of America’s great city, then we have surely turned our backs – and not for the first time -- on a founding principle of this democracy. Chalk one more up for the bad guys.

Friday, October 1, 2010

13

arts & entertainment

Libra

Horoscopes

Your friends all consider you someone they can rely on. You may be reliable, but you can still say “no” every once in a while.

Madame Tabule says: If you think of something funny in the library, laugh out loud! Others around you will enjoy it too.

By Jeralyn Darling & Madame Tabule

Scorpio

Virgo

The way you’ve been spending money lately isn’t exactly advisable. It may be in your best interest to put some money aside for a special “you” day in the near future.

Madame Tabule says: A change in facial hair can lead to great possibilities. If you’re a girl, a change in hair-do will do the same.

Leo

Keep out of the dorm drama. Tempers are flaring and roommates are fighting and you need to stay away. Get out of there, even if it’s just to watch some hilarious YouTube videos in the library.

Madame Tabule says: Go outside tonight and gaze into the stars. You will find out something new about yourself in the process.

Make friends with someone who is in a few classes with you. It’s nice to know someone who is suffering with, or having as much fun as, you.

Madame Tabule says: Release your inner lion! Blow off some steam in healthy way to help control the rage.

Cancer Sagittarius

Change up your food schedule this week, it’ll spice up your life. If you normally go to the Pub, go to the CEC. Or, for some real fun, go off campus and check out St. Pete Beach!

Madame Tabule says: You might want to keep that dog on leash. Or you could take your canine friend to the Fort Desoto Dog Beach.

Call your best friend – the one you haven’t spoken to in a while. Chances are you’re both busy, but you’ve been dying to tell him or her that crazy weekend story!

Madame Tabule says: Madlibs!

Tomorrow, you will (verb) on a yellow bike! Weston will see you, and he will (verb) so hard that he falls over.

Gemini

Capricorn That special someone has been thinking about you too! Call him or her and make plans. You won’t regret it.

Madame Tabule says: Be on the lookout for that thing you lost last weekend. It will find its way back to you very soon.

Aquarius The semester’s just begun, and you’re super stressed. Fear not, an unexpected guide will come out of the woodwork to help you succeed beyond measure.

Madame Tabule says: Find a popsicle stand, then blow it. A change of scenery is just what you need.

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Friday, October 1, 2010

Madame Tabule puts on her thinking cap.

Pisces We all love to party, but partying too hard this weekend will need lead to nasty consequences. No Four Loko for you!

Madame Tabule says: Something’s fishy!

photo by Sarah Irwin

Aries Classes are getting a little stressful and that big essay is coming up! Don’t worry, three deep breaths and you’ll feel like a whole new person. Sit down and write!

Madame Tabule says: Watch out for that tree, especially for the man under the tree that wants to give you the biggest, sweatiest hug in the world.

Call a family member this week. They miss you, whether you’re a freshman, senior or faculty member. Don’t just say “hi;” make it a solid conversation.

Madame Tabule says: Your family wants to send you that care package; they just don’t know it yet. Drop crazy hints next time you are on the phone back home.

Taurus You work much better with others, so today is the day to get a study buddy, especially for a math or science class.

Madame Tabule says: Because of the moon in retrograde, you will be extra observant today. Try something like bird watching.

arts & entertainment Review

Bassnectar blasts explosive beats

By Ian Lindsay Staff Writer

As the decibels amplified, so did the energy of the crowd. Eckerd students definitely made up a substantial percentage of the faces on the dance floor as the vibrations

Bassnectar (aka Lorin Ashton) has been blowing the minds and speakers of college students since the DJ first appeared on the dubstep scene in 2000 with his first album, “Freakbeat for the Beatfreaks.” Bassnectar really started to circulate in the underground dubstep scene in 2005 with his first full-length album entitled “Mesmerizing the Ultra.”

Bassnectar’s style of music is often referred to as dubstep or electronica. The DJ achieves his sound by using a mix of wobble bass, synthesizers, snare on the third beat, and using sudden shifts from double to triple meter.

When Eckerd students discovered that he was playing at the House of Blues in Orlando, it was like a repeat of the Manifest Destiny. The only difference was they weren’t caravanning to mine for gold in the West; the students were searching for a wild night filled with bass. Car after car set out from campus on the roughly two-hour journey to Orlando. They wanted bass, and that’s what they received.

from the subwoofers filled the venue. During the middle of his set he stopped playing and shouted for the legalization of both marijuana and gay marriage, which got the crowd roaring for more.

House of Blues was completely sold out that Saturday. The venue was a great host to Bassnectar and the crowd, speckled by Eckerd students. Freshman Nicholas Wondolowski reported that he was very pleased with the House. With the venue reaching maximum capacity, House of Blues had to open the doors to more than 2,100 of those fans.

One thing for sure, no matter how eccentric the attire, everyone was glowing with artificial luminescence.

Glow sticks, LED gloves, and glow in the dark body paint, were just a couple of methods fans used to get their bodies glowing.

Light shows erupted from the stage in collaboration with the rhythm of the music, which added to the intensity of the venue’s ambience. I’m not sure the decibel level, but the dance floor was vibrating. After attending the show, I began to wonder: if Bassnectar played during an earthquake, would anyone actually be able to feel the earthquake? Yeah, it was that good.

courtesy of Bassnectar Review

Chihuly glass comes to St. Pete

By Morgan Swim Staff Writer

irregular shaping and off-centered openings, are a reflection of Chihuly’s raw ability.

Also on display are many of Chihuly’s famous chandeliers,

photo by Arianna Benfanti A Chihuly glass sculpture viewed from below.

Opened this July, the Chihuly Collection has become an immediate success in the St. Petersburg area. An artist famous for his work in the Seattle-Tacoma area, St. Petersburg was first introduced to Dale Chihuly in 2004 when the Museum of Fine Arts featured his work in a temporary exhibition. In collaboration with the Morean Arts Center, Chihuly now has a permanent home among the palms and pier of St. Pete. Located at 400 Beach Drive, architect Albert Alfonso custom designed the gallery to best display Chihuly’s works.

In the first gallery room, a wall displays paintings, which Chihuly used as understudies. Created by squeezing paint directly from the bottle onto canvas, the paintings reflect the energy and matchlessness of the artist.

Merging into the next room, Chihuly’s famously organic and freeform bowls and vases are on display, some of which are the end products of the previous paintings. Ranging from whimsical to haunting, these glass containers, with their

which hang only a few feet off the ground. Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier was made specifically for the St. Petersburg exhibit, and many other pieces are reminiscent of marine forms, such as clamshells and sea anemones.

Along with the opening of the Chihuly Collection, the Morean Arts Center also created the Hot Shop, a live demonstration of glass blowing along with a small shop with works from local glass artists available for purchase. The Hot Shop, located on Central Avenue, can be combined with the initial $15 admission to the Chihuly collection for an additional $5.

Eckerd art majors, or any students interested in the arts, should stop by the Morean Arts Center and the gallery for the Chihuly experience and maybe even a little inspiration. You don’t have to be a sculptor to appreciate the vivid and lively forms of Chihuly glass, and the cost of admission is affordable for students and starving artists alike.

Friday, October 1, 2010

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arts & entertainment

Sex

Review

Take advantage of on the beach Ai-Mei Thai’s student discount

By John Staymos Sex Columnist Dear Ladies of Eckerd, Too often, I see young women making mistakes when it comes to handling and interacting with us guys. Fear no more. I’m here to put your worries to rest. All guys are unique and enjoy different things, but I will give you some basic guidelines to help bag that stud muffin you’ve had on your mind.

Let’s first start off with the general things that most (not all) guys look for in a woman. After talking with guys around the Eckerd campus, a consistent quality came up: self-confidence. This doesn’t mean you should walk around campus like Snookie at Seaside, but it does mean we like to see comfortable and secure women. There is something incredibly sexy about a confident woman. And although this may sound cliché, it doesn’t make it any less true.

Guys love to be pursued and want to be wanted. We don’t always want to feel like the hunter. If you’re interested in a guy and you’re tired of waiting, take control and approach him. One of the sexiest things a girl can do is take command. Few things top a girl grabbing you, kissing you, and taking control.

Guys mostly look for a down-to-earth girl who knows what she wants. We aren’t looking for an airhead who is waiting for instruction. A relationship is a partnership, and we want the woman we’re with to be able to make decisions and function outside of the relationship. We’re also looking for a girl who is able to communicate with us. Ladies, please say what you’re thinking because most likely we are completely oblivious.

A key to obtaining your dream guy is knowing how to turn him on. Again, every guy is different when it comes to what he wants and what floats his boat, but these are some things I’ve heard from men around EC. Ladies, don’t be afraid to test the waters when it comes to texting a little dirty. Dirty texts, or sexting, can really get the juices going.

Finally, men are extremely visual. Any psychology professor can tell you we’re visually stimulated. Every guy has his own thing -- whether it’s pigtails (a favorite of mine), miniskirts or skin-tight jeans. When it comes to turning your guy on, communication is always the best route. Ask him what he likes and I can almost guarantee he’ll jump at the chance to tell you.

This advice wouldn’t be complete without sharing what turns us off. Women of Eckerd, please, oh please, do not wear too much makeup. The gallon of makeup some ladies apply each morning is heinous. Sometimes no makeup is a good look, but if you do elect to go with makeup, use a light touch, please.

It is very cool when a girl comes out and drinks with the fellas but it’s extremely unappealing when she gets sloppy drunk. Yes, I know you can drink a decent amount, but please don’t get so drunk you can’t control yourself and end up puking while running out of Nu crying, “You don’t love me!”

We prefer women who take care of themselves, too. It’s a big turn-off when a woman hasn’t shaved or showered for a few days. Please take into account the way you smell when we snuggle and us guys will try to do the same.

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Friday, October 1, 2010

By Johnny Jones Entertainment Editor You may have seen the red and white sign as you drove north on 34th Street South toward Wal-Mart. You may have seen the sushi for sale at the Pub. If either or these are the only interaction you’ve had with Ai-Mei Thai Sakura Japanese and Thai Restaurant, consider yourself a fool.

Ai-Mei Thai’s menu offers an eclectic variety of both Japanese and Thai dishes.

Entrées that include curried, noodle, and fried rice dishes range from about $9 to $14.

Appetizers such as the fried spring rolls and Thai steamed dumplings range from $3 to $8. Thai salads consisting of a mountain of vegetable and tasty soups like the coconut milk-infused Tom Ka range from $4 to $9. All dishes come with the option of four different levels of spice: mild, medium, hot and Thai hot (recommended for native Thais and the mental insane only). Each entrée can also be ordered with beef, chicken, pork, tofu, shrimp, scallop, or a seafood combination.

Of course, a good Japanese restaurant wouldn’t be complete without a top-notch sushi bar, and Ai-Mei Thai’s doesn’t disappoint. Before I got to Eckerd, I was a sushi hater. Considering I’m from Seattle, arguably the sushi capital of the United States, it’s a little ironic that my first positive sushi experience was in Florida. As a little kid, one bad experience eating plain seaweed put me off it. So the idea of eating raw fish wrapped in seaweed had

less than no appeal. But my taste buds finally evolved once I tried a special order tofu, cucumber, and carrot roll from Ai Mei Thai. The chef’s special roll list has 22 different combinations of seafood, vegetables, and sauces to choose from. Two chef’s special rolls only cost $19.99 and come with a free miso soup.

Over the course of its 19-year history, Ai-Mei Thai has won the Tampa Bay Magazine’s Best Japanese Food award 16 times. The restaurant was located across the Pinellas Bayway from Eckerd in the building where 7-Eleven is currently. The restaurant’s new location has dozens of tables, well-kept bathrooms, and a homely décor that transports you from south St. Petersburg to a faraway Asian paradise.

Be sure to look straight ahead as you walk in to see the beautiful hand-carved photo courtesy Wikicommons woodworking done by the owner himself. In addition, if you want to surf the Web or study over dinner, the restaurant also offers free wireless Internet access.

From the delectable appetizers to the magnificent sushi, Ai Mei Thai Sakura is an all around great experience. To top it off, don’t forget to show your Eckerd College ID for a 10 percent discount.

Ai-Mei Thai Sakura 4200 34th St. South St. Petersburg, FL 33711 Phone: 727-867-0965

Eckerd College discount and special list

By Johnny Jones Entertainment Editor 1. Westshore — $5 subs, $5 pizza 14 inch, one topping special, $5.75, 24 wings $13.99 2. Subway — 10 percent off 3. Ai-Mei Thai Sakura — 10 percent off 4. Purple Haze — 10 percent off most merchandise

5. Orvee’s Pet Center — 5 percent off or more (depending on item) 6. Muvico Baywalk 20 — $8.00 student tickets 7. Florida Holocaust Museum — $7 tickets (instead of $14) 8. Salvador Dali Museum — FREE (woohoo!)

9. Dr. Kurt Weber – 10 percent off (if you don’t have insurance) 10. Totsi Liquor — 10 percent off

arts & entertainment

Events

Oct. 1 — 14

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

7 p.m.

Pepper and Shwayze Jannus Landing $10 ticket from Palmetto Productions

7 a.m.

Susan G. Comen Race for the Cure Renaissance Vinoy 5 p.m.

Oktoberfest Pinellas Park

12 p.m.

Folkfest St. Pete Downtown 2-5 p.m.

Auditions Various Scenes Bininger Black Box Theater

7 p.m.

Yeasayer The State Theater WINTER TERM ABROAD APPLICATIONS DUE

7 p.m.

Harvesting Justice Fox Hall — CPS 9 p.m.

AAS Comedian Michelle Buteau Triton’s Pub

9

10 a.m.

Clothing Swap Marketplace at Bargain City

5:30 p.m.

Downtown Artwalk St. Petersburg

4 p.m.

WRITING PORTFOLIOS DUE Foundations Collegium

8 p.m.

Florida Orchestra presents Pines of Rome Mahaffey Theater

7 p.m.

Gwar The Ritz Ybor

10 6 p.m.

South Beach Supper Club 10 a.m.

Antiques and Collectibles Show 535 4th Ave. N. St. Petersburg

11

7 p.m.

Electric Six Jannus Landing 7:30 p.m.

Human Elephant Conflict Miller Aud. — CPS

8 p.m.

Papa Roach Jannus Landing

8

3 p.m.

Gallery Talk Elliott Gallery — CPS

12

7 p.m.

ID vs. Evolution film Miller Aud.

7 p.m.

ID vs. Evolution speaker Fox Hall

8 p.m.

Ghost Tour St. Petersburg 300 Beach Dr. NE, Suite 124 St

7 p.m.

Vampire Weekend Jannus Landing $20 ticket from Palmetto Productions

13 3 p.m.

Serotonin and Autism Sheen Aud. — CPS 6:30 p.m.

The Flaming Lips Jannus Landing $25 ticket from Palmetto Productions

8 p.m.

Bob Dylan USF Sundome 7 p.m.

Mushroomhead The State Theater

14 7:30 p.m.

It’s Our Turn to Eat Fox Hall — CPS 7:30 Antigone Now Bininger Theater — CPS

7:30 p.m.

Antigone Now Bininger Theater — CPS To advertise your event with The Current, contact Current Entertaiment at currententertainment @eckerd.edu Friday, October 1, 2010

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arts & entertainment

Choir of angels headed to Spain

By Sarah Irwin Staff Writer You’re walking to and from art class when you hear a beautiful choir of angels practicing for “A Festival of Hymns.” Those angels are your very own Eckerd College Concert Choir directed by the man with great socks and an even greater repertoire, Dr. Marion Smith.

We have many new members this year, which makes our sound full and forte. That may be because we are going to Sevilla, Toledo and Madrid in Spain this Spring to sing in an all a cappella concert. While you will probably not be able to hear us there, you can come to our upcoming show, “A Festival of Hymns: The Writers Tell Their Stories,” on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.

Our choir is different from most others because we have a student conductor. Zach Johnston, a senior from St.

Paul, Minnesota, lights up as he teaches our choir songs and keeps us in time. He recently attended the Berkshire Choral Festival as a conducting apprentice and is greatly looking forward to conducting our Messiah concert. He will also be conducting in Spain. Messiah is one of Zach’s favorite works, although he has never heard it sung live.

Zach also loves the music of J.S. Bach and Beethoven.

He commented, “I get [Beethoven’s] music, and hear his voice.”

When Zach conducts, one can tell by the swing of his baton that he is passionate and deeply in love with conducting. He tells me that conducting is most rewarding and that he missed the choir and band over the summer.

His smile stretches to the ends of the room when the audience starts to applaud. “The greatest compliment I can get is that you (the choir) sound beautiful. It’s strange when people compliment my conducting.”

Our unique choir would be incomplete without our accompanist, Brent Douglas. He is a freelance pianist,

Review

organist, and conductor, as well as a physical therapy student. You may find him gardening, swimming, watching old black and white movies, and cycling to train for the Miami to Key West bike ride in November. He says that he is impressed with the first few weeks of choir and is looking forward to going to Spain.

A last important figure to the choir is Dawne Eubanks, the vocal instructor on campus. She teaches voice lessons almost all day Monday without much of a break. Although she is a workhorse, students are always delighted by her kindness and energy. She makes even the last student of the day feel like her first.

The Eckerd College Concert Choir is off to a great start this year, thanks to all of our great help. We also have Choir Party coming up and many enthusiastic and hardworking singers excited for our thrice-weekly rehearsals. When you hear 30 kids humming the same tune around 5:50 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday, you know who we are now and hopefully won’t think anything strange of it.

Review

CocoRosie lives up to crazy image

“The Town” : choppy, haphazard, illogical

By Sarah Yost Staff Writer

By Ashley Walsh Staff Writer

What do you get when you mix two sisters, tattoos, pattycake and painted mustaches?

CocoRosie! The band named after the Casady sisters Bianca “Coco” and Sierra “Rosie” formed in Paris, France in 2003. Their first album ‘La Maison de mon Rêve” was released by an independent label, Touch and Go Records.

Since then, they have recorded three subsequent albums and toured all over Europe and the United States.

Their latest concert was on Sept. 23 at The State Theater in downtown St. Petersburg. The doors opened at 7 p.m. but the show didn’t start until 9:40.

Despite the wait, the show was incredible. CocoRosie definitely lived up to their crazy image.

Bianca’s eerie, quirky voice fascinated and captured the audience. Her look was also amazing; she sported a mangy Mohawk/mullet rat-tail braid and a large t-shirt with a harness that cinched at her waist. She had a painted mustache right above her lush red lips. Her sister, Sierra, wore a pale pink baby doll sack with a fetching headdress

“The Town”, a new action flick, had a successful opening weekend. Being number one at the box office, “The Town” has received a lot of attention and several good reviews, all of which I personally felt were undeserved.

Starring Ben Affleck, who was also the writer and director, “The Town” was a complete flop.

The acting was sub par, the tears were fake and the awkward anti-climactic moments were all products of unfortunate directing.

Even more flawed was the script itself. The script seemed to revolve around three or four key moments into which Affleck had obviously put a lot of thought and effort, but the rest of the story was just thrown together haphazardly in the hope that it would all make sense in the end. The flow of events and dialogue between the characters seemed illogical and even forced.

The story starts with a bank robbery, during which the thieves take the bank manager, Claire (Rebecca Hall), hostage. The robbers keep her license to remind her

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Friday, October 1, 2010

promotional material

that complimented her geishalike face. The performance was mesmerizing. The artists did their best to achieve the overwhelming sound quality from their album. In my opinion, their live performance was better than their studio work.

The best part of the show was when Tez, their French beat boxer, unloaded his skills on the audience, absolutely blowing them away with his infusion of sound. Their presence on stage had girls screaming in a fanatic frenzy. The band kept a constant flow of highs and lows in their “freak folk” style throughout the night. The entire theater, packed with sweating, indie hipsters, relished in the music and soaked in the atmosphere of all that is CocoRosie.

they now know where she lives. Soon, the group of bad boys, Doug (Ben Affleck), James (Jeremy Renner), Gloansy (George “Slaine” Carroll) and Desmond (Owen Burke), relax, until they realize the woman they just kidnapped lives down the street. After making this discovery, Doug decides to keep an eye on her by conveniently running into Claire. The script almost immediately transitions to a romance. The script continues to switch between both chick flick melodrama and high action thriller for the next hour of the movie. The juggling act ends, however, when Affleck throws in the towel with the script and strings together scenes, which put him at the absolute center of attention.

Ultimately, the biggest problem with the movie was that the pacing was choppy.

Too much of the attention was concentrated in specific areas, which made all the other aspects of the movie boring.

However, I do give Affleck two thumbs up for central theme of the film. Heist movies, while somewhat clichéd, are always fun. And falling for a woman you helped kidnap, now that is a “meet cute”. Despite the effort, the execution was flawed.

I simply don’t recommend promotional photo spending the $8.

sports

Top-ranked Tampa spoils Tritons home debut Courtesy of Eckerd Athletics The Eckerd College volleyball team opened the 2010 home season with a 3-0 loss (1525, 20-25, 17-25) to No. 1 Tampa on Tuesday at the McArthur Center.

Jessica Yingling had 11 kills, while Melissa Vanderhal had six kills and 11 digs, as the Spartans (6-2, 1-0 Sunshine State Conference) won for the sixth time in eight matches.

Julie Howlett had a match-high 21 digs, and Camille Hanks had six block assists, helping to hold Eckerd (5-4, 0-1) to a .092 hit percentage. Tampa had 12 total blocks overall.

Lindsay Biggs had seven kills and 10 digs to pace the Tritons. Fellow freshman Kaleigh Humphrey had four kills and 10 digs, and Hallie Ward had 13 digs.

After Tampa won the opening set, Eckerd kept the pace in set No. 2. An Alex Laton kill cut Tampa’s lead to 22-20, but the Spartans rallied to take the next three points to a 2-0 lead.

The third set went back and forth early, and the teams were tied at 9-9 before Tampa took control. The Spartans won nine of the next 11 points to grab an 18-11 advantage.

photos by Ethan Cooper Left: Ariana Chinn spikes the ball past the Tampa defender as Hallie Ward (7) and Kaleigh Humphrey look on. Below: The volleyball team line up before their home opener against Tampa.

Friday, October 1, 2010

19

sports

With new coach, men’s soccer optimistic about 2010

By Lincoln Andres-Beck Staff Writer This year is a year of questions for the Eckerd College men’s soccer team. How will the team respond to losing several key players from last year’s squad? How will they respond to a new head coach by the name of Steve Magee?

Can they get their team chemistry down with so many new faces on the squad?

The answers to these questions appear to be yes. The team seems to be closer than ever before and working well together under the leadership of Coach Magee.

Talking to senior forward George Marchant made this clear. It was a theme throughout our conversation, and he discussed some of the things that were bringing the team together as Magee was working to “make the team more of a family.” Junior Alex Patterson also attributes the smooth transition to the new coaching style to the willingness of upperclassmen to help make a smooth transition.

So far the leadership of Coach Magee has found success on the field with several big wins, including the upset over then #23 ranked Florida Southern. According to forward George Marchant, the key to their big win was hustle plays and the willingness to work hard. This produced 2 rebound goals in their 2-1 victory. Another key to the team’s early success is the number of contributors on the team, which makes the Tritons difficult to defend because the opponents never know who is going to step up and score.

The target finish for the team this year is to reach the Sunshine State Conference playoffs, which means ranking in the top 6 of the conference at the end of the year. But Magee said that if they make it into the tournament “we can win it all” and it is just a matter of taking it one game at a time.

This year is a year of change for Triton soccer, but with a large amount of potential for success if things fall into place. Magee has made a point of showing his team that every time they step over the sideline the players not only represent themselves and their team, but also their school and all of us who are students here at Eckerd.

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Friday, October 1, 2010

photos by Doug Thayer Above: Junior Anthony Arico throws in the ball in a Sept 11 game v St Thomas.

Right: Matt Duffy goes up for a header against St Thomas’ Piere Ceraphin.

Three goals in five minutes cap easy Triton victory Courtesy of Eckerd Athletics The Eckerd men’s soccer team defeated Clearwater Christian 4-0 Tuesday in the team’s second home game of the season.

Tritons forward George Marchant scored the first goal of the game in the 22nd minute off an assist from freshman midfielder Mark Lee. The Tritons then scored a flurry of goals in a fiveminute span during the second half. Senior defender Mike McGee scored a goal in the 72nd minute off a corner kick from junior midfielder Dylan Tewis. McGee then scored a minute later off another corner kick with assists from Lee and sophomore forward Turner Humphries.

Junior midfielder Drew Smith capped off the win with a goal in the 76th minute off an assist from Marchant.

The Tritons out shot the Cougars 26-1; Eckerd had 11 shots on goal.

The Tritons return home Oct 5, to face conference foe Rollins College.

sports

Soccer programs get new head coaches

By Ashley Daniels Assistant News Editor Eckerd’s 2010 soccer season opened with two new head coaches. Steve Magee will coach the men’s program and Danielle Fotopoulos, the women’s.

Magee and Fotopoulos take over from Jeremy Wisdo and Joe McCauley who resigned in the spring for separate reasons. Athletic Director Bob Fortosis said, “[It was] sad to see Jeremy and Joe leave. [I was] very happy to have [them] at Eckerd and pleased with the way they were doing their jobs [but I] understood that sometimes coaches move on.”

Magee and Fotopoulos were hired after an extensive national search. Fortosis said, “[It was] really quite a good pool.” The committee worked on narrowing down applicants with phone interviews and reference checks.

Three coaches for each position flew here for interviews, even meeting with student-athletes. Fortosis said, “I wouldn’t want to hire anybody unless our students had input…[we] value their input.”

Both coaches come to Eckerd with an impressive resume. Magee was the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Regional Coach of the Year and Fotopoulos was a member of the U.S. National team. But these weren’t the sole reasons for their hiring.

When referring to Fotopoulos, Fortosis said he thought she was ready to “put down roots” and “take all that she had learned as one of the world’s greatest players and pour it into the lives of our young people at Eckerd.”

Fotopoulos’ soccer career started at the University of

Florida where she helped lead the Gators to a national championship. She is also the NCAA Division I all-time lead scorer and in 2008, was inducted into UF’s Hall of Fame.

She said making the transition from player to coach was difficult. “As a player I’m used to being able to control everything on the field, as a coach I have to sit back and assess and teach the girls ahead of time, letting them grow through the process,” said Fotopoulos.

When asked why she wanted to come to Eckerd, she said, “I know it’s a great conference. I really enjoyed the school, and visiting it, I enjoyed the environment.”

Since she is from this area, taking the position feels like a homecoming.

She describes herself as a player’s coach, who is intense when needed, but who also likes to joke around and have fun. “A coach can make or break a person and a player.”

Her strategy: to find out what makes each individual girl work. “As we come together as a team and we play for each other, that’s when we’ll have success.”

As for the new men’s coach, Magee, Fortosis said that early on in the interview they realized he was a guy born to be at Eckerd. “He gets Eckerd,” Fortosis reiterated.

Magee’s journey to Eckerd is a little different. Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Magee came to the U.S. at 18 to play soccer at UNC Greensboro. He said he quickly realized that he wanted to be a coach. Magee says, “It’s fun to come to work.” But he felt ready to be a head coach.

About Eckerd, he said, “I felt it would be a great place to be just because of the people…I’m a relationship person.”

Many would agree, including junior midfielder Alex

Patterson. “Coach{Magee} is a very personable person, so he takes an interest in everyone individually, so it is easier for everyone to have a good relationship with him both on and off the field.”

Magee wants Eckerd to start building a tradition of winning. “I want to create a soccer culture,” he said. His strategy: feeling out what the team has, where the team is and how the team can get better. Magee stressed, “This year is really about setting standards, then evaluating our goals.”

Danielle Fotopoulos

Steve Magee

NCAA Div. 1 all-time leader in goals scored

Four-year starter at UNCW

Two-time SEC player of the year

Former UNCW Captain

1999 FIFA World Cup Champion

NSCAA regional assistant coach of the year, 2009

Photos courtesy of Eckerd Athletics and UNC-Wimington

No. 21 Florida Tech Knocks Off Women’s Soccer Courtesy of Eckerd Athletics

photo by Ethan Cooper Senior Nicole Davis attempts to keep the ball in play against the University of North Alabama.

No. 21 Florida Tech scored a late first-half goal and added three more in the final half as the Panthers defeated the Eckerd College women’s soccer team 4-0 on Saturday at the Turley Athletic Complex.

Casey Lademann scored the opening goal, with Kelly Whittaker, Carly Hunt and Chelsea Belfer adding secondhalf scores, to lead the Panthers (5-2, 2-1 Sunshine State Conference).

The Tritons, who were missing regular goalkeeper Kelly Zahorski, got six saves from sophomore Karen Wayes.

Florida Tech, though, recorded 19 shots – including 10 on goal. Callie Pederson had a shot on goal for Eckerd, which managed four shots overall.

Lademann got the scoring going for Florida Tech in the 38th minute, though Wayes kept the Tritons (1-7, 0-2 SSC) in it with four saves in the half.

Friday, October 1, 2010

21

sports

Steve Wallace: The importance of being focused

By Ashley Daniels Assistant News Editor Steve Wallace, a former NFL lineman, author and motivational speaker, addressed the importance of achieving peace through teamwork Sept. 21 in a program sponsored by Spiritual Life to celebrate International Day of Peace.

Wallace’s message? “The things you take for granted today are the things you’ll appreciate tomorrow.” He was a young boy when his dad first spoke those words to him and it wasn’t until later in his career that Wallace said he figured out the meaning.

Wallace, a native of Atlanta, Ga., is a former three-time Super Bowl champion. As a young man, he said he lacked drive, desire and direction. One day in the 9th grade, he heard a man speak about focus. “Focus,” Wallace said, “F-O-C-U-S.” That man told Wallace and the rest of the crowd, “I want you to simply try.”

These words hit home for a young man with no direction in life. Try, Wallace said, carries power with it and from that moment on he would simply try at everything he did.

Wallace went from being a D student to accomplishing A’s and B’s.

While Wallace stressed the importance of focus, another motivational phrase he repeated roughly 30 times during

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Friday, October 1, 2010

the course of the hour quickly became a crowd favorite.

“One day at a time, one play at a time.” The 6’6, Super Bowl ring-bearing Wallace said this is the approach each person should take on the field, in the classroom, or when seeking a job.

Wallace, a man that simply loves to win, used that very strategy to take the 1988 San Francisco 49ers from a 6-5 record to a Super Bowl XXIII win.

Wallace said he began to cry as confetti fell from the Joe Robbie Stadium – not only because he had just won the Super Bowl but because he finally realized what his dad was talking about. Never had Wallace taken football for granted, and this, he said, allowed him to appreciate all the hard work it took to get to that very moment.

Before he wrapped up his speech, Wallace talked about peace. During his time in the NFL, Wallace earned “Community Player of the Year” for appearing in two United Way commercials. At the filming of these commercials, a lady from United Way asked Wallace if he had ever thought about adoption. The thought had never crossed his mind.

But in time, Wallace committed to the call, decided to be unselfish and adopted his two daughters. His daughters brought him peace, he said.

Wallace ended his talk by encouraging the audience to hug one another. “That’s what peace is about,” he said.

courtesy of Steve Wallace

sports

Professional sports excelling in Tampa Bay area

By Will Creager Sports Editor Professional sports in the Tampa Bay area are currently flourishing, as the Rays and the Buccaneers are both having good seasons.

The Tampa Bay Rays (93-62) entered the final week of the season with the best record in the MLB by just half a game over both the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees, and by a full game over the Minnesota Twins. This will be just the second time in franchise history that the Rays will make it to the playoffs.

Their only other postseason appearance came in 2008, when they beat the Chicago White Sox three games to one in the ALDS, then beat the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS four games to three before finally losing in the World Series to the Phillies four games to one. Prior to 2008, the Rays finished below .500 in all 10 seasons since the team’s first season in 1998.

The Rays success this year has been largely due to pitching and defense, as their 3.85 team ERA ranks third in the American League, as does their .986 team fielding percentages. However, they also get the job done offensively, as their 788 runs scored are second in baseball to the Yankee’s 828 runs.

The Rays had four All-Stars this year: starting pitcher David Price, closer Rafael Soriano, third baseman Evan Longoria, and outfielder Carl Crawford.

The Rays great pitching staff is lead by the lefty Price (18-6, 2.84 ERA) and the righty Matt Garza (15-9, 3.92 ERA), who threw a no-hitter earlier this year. The back end of their bullpen is even stronger, with set-up men like Grant Balfour (2-1, 2.36 ERA in 55 games) and Joaquin Benoit (1-2, 1.41 ERA in 60 games), and then Soriano (3-2, 44 saves, 1.79 ERA) to finish games off.

Longoria (.294, 46 doubles, 22 homers, 104 RBI’s) is the team leader at the plate, with help from the speedy Crawford (.309, 16 homers, 104 runs, 46 steals). First baseman Carlos Pena provides extra power, with his team leading 27 home runs.

Men’s Soccer

While the Rays’ regular season is just wrapping up, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers season is just getting started. The Bucs started their season with back-to-back wins, beating the Cleveland Browns 17-14 on Sept 12, then routing the Carolina Panthers 20-7 on Sept 19.

The Bucs faced adversity for the first time on September 26, when they hosted the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers and lost 38-13. The Bucs will have their bye week on Oct 3, and then return to action on Oct 10 in Cincinnati to take on the 2-1 Bengals.

While it is way too soon to know if the Buccaneers actually have a chance to make it to the playoffs this year, their 2-1 start is definitely a welcome turnaround after their dreadful 3-13 season last year.

Adenhart killer convicted

By Max Martinez Web Editor

A jury in California convicted Andrew Gallo, 23, of murder Monday in the April, 2009 death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart.

Gallo, who already had a DUI conviction before the accident, is awaiting sentencing on Dec 10. He faces 50 years to life in prison.

Adenhart, a top pitching prospect for the Angels, died hours after making his season debut, a scoreless six-inning performance against the Oakland Athletics. Adenhart was driving with three passengers when a car driven by Gallo ran a red light and T-boned Adenhart’s vehicle. Adenhart and two passengers died shortly after, while Gallo fled the scene on foot.

Prosecutors filed murder charges against Gallo, instead of manslaughter, a lesser charge, because of his previous DUI conviction. Gallo also signed a court form after his first conviction stating he understood he could be charged with murder if he drove drunk and killed somebody in the future.

Sports

Women’s Soccer

Volleyball

Tuesday, October 5 v. Rollins 7 p.m.

Friday, October 1 v. Lynn 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 2 v. Lynn 4 p.m.

Saturday, October 9 v. Lynn 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 5 v. Rollins 5 p.m.

Friday, October 8 v. Florida Southern 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 13 @ Nova Southeastern 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 12 @ Nova Southeastern 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 9 v. Rollins 4 p.m.

Sunday, October 17 v. Montreat College 1 p.m.

Sunday, October 17 v. Montreat College 11 a.m.

Saturday, October 17 @ Valdosta State 7 p.m.

Friday, October 1, 2010

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The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College

sports

photo by Doug Thayer Senior Nicole Davis strikes the ball during a match against Florida Tech.

Volleyball team falls in home opener Page 19

Both soccer teams get new coaches Page 21

Ex-49er Steve Wallace speaks at Eckerd Page 22