The Sandspur Volume 125 Issue 10

Issue 10 • Volume 125 Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 www.thesandspur.org

@thesandspur facebook.com/ thesandspur

Mold and bug concerns reported in McKean First she had a cough and sore throat, then she saw the dark-colored mold growing on her ceiling

By Zoe Pearson

I

zpearson@rollins.edu

t started in September for first-year student Ruiling Gao. The McKean Hall resident started experiencing a cough, post nasal drip, and a sore throat. She thought it was the common cold most freshmen catch after moving into a new, more crowded environment.

“I hadn’t been this sick before I came to Rollins,” she said.

She said she took some medicine at first, but nothing really helped. “I was coughing every single day. I just kept coughing.”

Then she noticed the dark-colored mold growing on her ceiling in mid-October and knew her month-long symptoms were not just related to the common cold.

Apparently, a leak had sprung up near the fire-sprin-

kler head in her room, located on the second floor, giving the mold the perfect environment to grow. Gao said she was grossed out and insisted on immediately changing rooms. She contacted her resident assistant, who helped her move to a different room until Facilities Services could conduct an air quality test and take subsequent actions.

Gao said that facilities conducted three air quality tests which proved that the mold spore count in her room was high. “[Facilities] started fixing my ceiling by removing the mold, then removing the drywall,” Gao said.

After that, water was still leaking from her ceiling, so the drywall was removed again, the leak was fixed, and the ceiling was patched. About two weeks after the issue was initially reported, facilities retested the

rooms air quality and the results showed that the mold spores were down to the appropriate levels. After these changes, Gao said she is feeling better.

Victoria Salmon (‘22) had different issues in her room, which is on the fourth floor of McKean. “I have found bugs on my bed, desk, and air conditioning unit,” she said. “I’m pretty sure there are ants living in the ceiling because I always see a trail of ants in the corner of my room right next to my bed.”

In addition to the bugs, Salmon said, “I am literally always sick now. It is harder to breathe in general now. I always feel winded. I always wake up with my nose stuffy or post nasal drip.”

Salmon has not yet filed a complaint to the Office of Residential Life and Explorations... ‣ See MOLD Page 3

Let’s get this vote

Democracy Project transported 45 students to the polls on Tuesday, over five times the number they drove for the primaries

Courtesy of Ruiling Gao

Mold grows visibly on the ceiling of Gao’s room in McKean Hall.

Ramp added to Campus Center following accessibility concerns After months of complaints, students win step forward in a long fight for campus accessibility

By Heather Borochaner

hborochaner@rollins.edu

A

Caitlin Richard

Left to right: Naomi Stokes, Jackson Colling, Frances Asbury, and Mackenzie Grider encouraged students to vote in the midterm elections on Nov. 6 while handing out red, white, and blue Jeremiah’s Italian Ice.

fter months of student outcry and complaints to Accessibility Services, a temporary ramp was added at the front entrance of the Cornell Campus Center, finally offering students with accessibility needs a safer way into the building.

Accessibility-dependent students and their allies started raising concerns in August about the building’s inaccessibility. The only accessible route into the Campus Center prior to this new ramp was down a steep sidewalk to the back entrance of Dave’s Boathouse and then up an elevator to the main dining hall.

Not only was this an inconvenience, but it was a safety hazard. In an emergency situation, students in wheelchairs would not have been able to escape effi-

ciently because of the steep sidewalk and elevator-dependence.

As covered by The Sandspur in mid-September, freshman Renée Rivera (‘22), who uses a wheelchair, faced so many issues getting to the Campus Center’s accessible entrance that she avoided the building altogether.

Rivera felt that this restricted her ability to socialize with other students. She also mentioned safety concerns as she struggled to control her wheelchair while traveling down the steep sidewalk.

Now, that there is a ramp in place, Rivera said that she appreciates Rollins taking actio but added, “I wish this had been done before the school year even started, so we wouldn’t have had to fight just to be able to access one of the main buildings on campus over two months later. I really feel that the college could’ve been more proactive... ‣ See RAMP Page 3

2 Established in 1894 with the following editorial:

The Sandspur • November 8, 2018

Future food pantry to aid students in need Newest Student Support Foundation program aims to decrease food cost burden

EXECUTIVE STAFF Ellie Rushing Editor-in-Chief Christina Fuleihan Managing Editor

CONTENT STAFF Alex Candage Head Copy Editor Siobhan Nolet David Smith Hannah Butcher Copy Editors Maura Leaden Assigning Editor Alyssa Malto Headlines Kira Bernhard Photo Editor

DESIGN DEPARTMENT Lya Dominguez Head Designer Dana Wagenhauser Pat Murray Hannah Jahosky Designer Anastasia Rooke Designer / Illustrator

WEB STAFF Kalli Joslin Neny Lairet Katie McCree

Digital Content Editors

BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden

Director of Student Media

Dr. Leslie Poole Faculty Advisor Luis Diego Student Media Graduate Assistant

ADVERTISING

Contact: studentmedia@rollins.edu

Graphic by Anastasia Rooke

By Heather Borochaner

hborochaner@rollins.edu

T

he Student Support Foundation, a Rollins student-run organization, is working on the creation of a new food pantry at Rollins to help students in need.

The Student Support Foundation assists students with financial needs by providing emergency funding for living or academic expenses.

“The main idea of the food pantry is to address some of the need we see on Rollins’ campus, especially for food-related costs,” said Josephine Spiegelberg (‘20), president of the Foundation. “Its purpose is to be a resource for students. If they need help, faculty and staff can point them in the right direction.”

Rollins has never hosted a food pantry before, making the project a new niche within the Foundation’s role on campus.

Spiegelberg said that other colleges also have similar programs that provide for students in need of food.

“Unfortunately, as the cost of living continues to rise, and [as] the wage gap increases, we are seeing a rise in need,” said Sofia Macias, office and community coordinator for the Center for Leadership & Community

Engagement.

The Foundation’s main role has been providing emergency funding of up to $200 for students in need for the past eight years. Students can apply for the funds once per semester and use the money for anything they need—whether it be for rent, food, gas, textbook fees, or other academic costs.

The money can also facilitate emergency needs such as a car accident or emergency family situation. “It’s meant to be a one-time thing, and we tend not to fund the same thing twice for one person. However, if two different emergencies happen at different points in time, you can still apply for aid, which is why we allow one application per semester,” said Spiegelberg.

Spiegelberg claimed that supplies are limited, and the Foundation is still trying to figure out how to ensure that the program stays fair and legitimate based on student applications and recommendations.

It is funded by a $4,000 yearly grant from the Morgridge Family Foundation, which is a private endowment that invests to transform communities through non-profit partners. It collaborates with Student Support Foundation groups across the nation.

“We have maxed out the grant every year for the past eight years we’ve had the funding,” said Macias. “Support takes a variety of different forms and we are always looking for new ways to serve our student community.”

The Foundation has received subsidiary funds from the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement, Center for Inclusion & Campus Involvement, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and the Student Government Association.

While it has been on campus for years, it has not been well advertised, said Spiegelberg. However, the executive board of students has been more visible and accessible this year by increasing email communication in order to let faculty, staff, and student networks know about the program.

“We’re still very much figuring it all out,” said Spiegelberg. “There are a lot of logistical problems. We’re still figuring out how to keep the system anonymous so people can take advantage of these resources without any worry, and we’re figuring out where to get the food that will be in the pantry.”

According to Spiegelberg, the Foundation has spoken to the Sustainability Program about possibly using food from the

campus’ urban farm for the pantry, but that discussion “hasn’t really gone anywhere.”

However, Ann Francis, program coordinator of the Department of Environmental Studies and the Sustainability Program, confirmed the arrangement.

“When we have produce that we can harvest, we will help supply fresh veggies for students,” Francis said.

Macias said that the requests the Foundation receives fall into a few different categories. Most of these funds go toward costs due to personal (gas, food, emergency travel), academic (books, conference fees, class fees), and community-based needs (projects that benefit the community outside of Rollins).

Anyone interested in donating non-perishable food and unopened toiletry items that will go towards supporting students in need can drop them off at the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement located at 203 E. Lyman Ave. Students who are experiencing need and are looking for support can email ssf@rollins.edu or Sofia Macias at smacias@rollins. edu. In addition, students are encouraged to stay connected with the Student Support Foundation’s Instagram by following @rc.ssf and @rollins_clce.

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The Sandspur • November 8, 2018

Book drive helps increase special needs employment Donations will go to Love Your Neighbor Books, a student-founded benefit corporation

By Caitlin Richard

R

ckrichard@rollins.edu

ollins senior Charles Bonker set out to increase employment opportunities for local people with special needs by creating Love Your Neighbor Books, a benefit corporation that collects book donations.

The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub, aka Hub, hosted a book drive to benefit Love Your Neighbor Books as well as their partner organization, Opportunity, Community, Ability (OCA). By the end of October, they had raised over 500 books.

OCA is a non-profit organi-

‣

MOLD Continued from Page 1 because she wants to create documentation of the problem through photos. She also worries about the disruption of being forced to stay in a different room while facilities personnel handle the situation.

Leon Hayner, associate dean of students and director of Residential Life and Explorations, encouraged students with concerns to reach out to Residential Life so that it can take steps to fix any issues.

“The college regularly does air quality tests in all of our build-

‣

Ramp Continued from Page 1 to prevent students with disabilities from having to experience frustration, isolation, a loss of time, and physical strain.”

Shey Bogumil (‘19), another student who voiced her concerns to Accessibility Services, agreed.

“That ramp should have been there from the beginning,” she said. “If you take away a ramp, you need to add a new ramp.

Rollins has not put accessibility at the forefront of their priorities, which is legally and morally incorrect,” she said.

Bogumil said that while the construction has created a lot of problems for accessibility, it has highlighted many of the ongoing concerns on Rollins campus.

“This is a very small step forward. There is still a long way to go,” she said.

Whitney Horton, director of

zation in the Orlando area that supports individuals with disabilities and other health conditions. It does this by implementing programs such as providing employment opportunities to individuals on the autism spectrum.

The books that are donated to the drive are delivered to OCA. The organization’s employees then enter each book’s information, including condition, author, and price, into an Amazon seller database. The books remain posted until they are purchased through Amazon.

From there, they are packaged and delivered to the post office.

“Unemployment is high for people with disabilities, and

Love Your Neighbor Books will help bring meaningful work to special people in our community,” said Bonker.

Bonker has been doing this kind of work since high school.

He started his first business, Cranberry Lake Technologies, when he lived in New Jersey.

The business also sold used books on Amazon. From the beginning, the purpose of the business has always been to employ individuals with disabilities.

After graduating high school, Bonker decided to attend Rollins to study social entrepreneurship and start a new branch of his business.

Rollins’ social entrepreneurship major provides students like

ings, and if an issue is identified, the college takes steps to remedy that. That includes doing air quality tests in students rooms... and/or doing visual inspections for signs of staining, mildew, or mold growth,” Hayner said.

If there are concerns when the results come back, Hayner said Rollins will “work with our facilities office to determine a plan of action depending on what type of spores it is or what the cause may be.”

Eventually, the mold problems will be resolved, because a new residential hall will be built in place of McKean. “...we’re hopeful that construction would

start maybe late this summer or next fall. We would build around McKean Hall for about a year, and then demolish McKean,” Hayner said.

Hayner encouraged students with questions or concerns about their living conditions to contact Facilities Services or Residential Life.

Hayner also encouraged students who are experiencing poor health to schedule an appointment at the Wellness Center.

“The College takes the health and wellbeing of our students very seriously, and if there are issues, we act very quickly to remedy those,” he said.

Accessibility Services, said that she is “grateful that those who are in decision-making positions in regards to construction listened to the student feedback and addressed this concern.”

Horton also said that the credit for the change should go to the students who spoke up.

“It is always amazing to see students who identify an issue, advocate for positive change, and make that change happen!” she said.

The project was approved in late September, and some time was taken on logistics to make sure the ramp would be safely installed. “There were a number of minor challenges related to dimensions and slopes, but we were able to work through them,” said Scott Bitikofer, assistant vice president of Facilities Services.

Bitikofer also said that the initial hesitation to put a ramp

in place came from the fact that it could restrict access to areas of construction. The new ramp will remain there until the renovation of Mills Memorial Hall is completed, but Bitikofer said there will be times during the renovation of Mills when it will be necessary to remove the ramp to provide access for construction activities.

“In the end, we chose an aluminum ramp that could be removed periodically as is necessary,” said Bitikofer. “We will be working to coordinate the necessary work such that it can be accomplished over the holidays while students are away.”

The final cost of the ramp, installation, and rental was approximately $25,000. This cost is much cheaper than Bitikofer’s original estimate of $100,000, which was based on a more permanent option.

On the larger issue of acces-

Bonker with the tools and information they need to create and expand their own businesses.

From setting up benefit corporations and structuring sustainable business models to partnering with the Hub, the major prepares students for entering the business world.

The Hub encourages individuals within the community to share their ideas because it is “a creative space on campus where we provide tools and resources to support addressing local and global social issues,” stated their Rollins webpage.

When approached by Bonker, the Hub gladly agreed to work with him to engage students in the book drive.

“For me it was not only an opportunity to engage students in donating books, which we have been able to successfully do through involving Greek life and other students on campus, but I️ also felt that there was a greater opportunity to change the false perceptions of autism,” said Ryan Abronski (‘20), ambassador coordinator for the Hub. Bonker recently succeeded this goal by launching Love Your Neighbor Books, which will continue to promote autism awareness and partner with non-profit organizations, such as OCA. When Bonker graduates, he plans to focus on growing his business.

Zoe Pearson

Ruiling Gao stands holding her final air quality test in her room.

sibility, Horton said that the ultimate goal is universal design, “which is that all students and community members will have equal access to physical spaces on campus, as well as academic and co-curricular experiences without the need for accommodations.” Horton said that implementing the new ramp moves Rollins one step closer to that goal.

Though Rollins may not yet be at the point of universal de-

sign, Horton said the faculty and staff are devoted to that goal and are working to remove those barriers.

“In regards to physical accessibility on campus, I truly wish every concern could be solved immediately,” said Horton. “While that may not be possible, Accessibility Services will continue to work side-by-side with students to advocate for and support efforts toward true accessibility.”

Angela Maria Martin

Many students depend on the newly accessible entrance to the Campus Center.

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The Sandspur • November 8, 2018

WPRK hosts another successful Fox Fest during Family Weekend

Despite delays, music lovers enjoyed a fun and lively scene

Rollins celebrates El Día de los Muertos Festivities were marked by framed photos of deceased loved ones, food, and colorful decor

Gaby Davenport

Photo caption here.

By Caroline Klouse

Kira Bernhard

Local bands graced the stage at WPRK’s Fox Fest, which was from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3.

By Hannah Butcher

hbutcher@rollins.edu

OPINION

W

PRK hosted its annual music festival, Fox Fest, offering students and their families a friendly place to mingle while listening to live local bands.

The festival was strategically scheduled in conjunction with Rollins’ family weekend, so a large turnout of students, relatives, children, staff, and faculty were able to enjoy the five unique indie-rock bands that performed throughout the night.

Everyone picnicked and mingled on Mills lawn under a large marquee, awaiting the start of the festival at 5 p.m.

However, the first band, TV Dinner, did not grace the stage until 6:15 p.m. Such rock and roll tardiness fostered impatience and a sense of disappointment in the audience. Students and their families waited on the lawn for a solid hour, wondering what was going on, and no clear explanation was given for the delay.

Some frustrated parents left before the show even began.

Despite starting late, TV Dinner took the stage and rocked it. The lead singer’s vocals were refreshing, her voice sweet but

gravelly, like Courtney Love’s.

Rollins students lined up along the stage and swayed to the band’s vocals and guitar riffs.

The highlight of their performance was definitely “Radar,” the last song they played.

TV Dinner’s lead singer admitted she was not accustomed to talking on stage. She said she was nervous and eager to get right into the music. This confession was not exactly a bad thing, but the audience could have benefited from a bit more interaction after waiting over an hour for the festival to start.

In between acts on the main stage, solo artists played on the smaller stage situated in the marquee tent. The artists’ performances were not small at all, though, and their intimate natures contrasted the main acts well.

Manny Rodriguez (’21) initiated the small-stage performances, singing a mixture of contemporary covers such as “What Do you Mean?” by Justin Bieber and “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. Accompanied by his guitar, he was entertaining and easy to sing along to.

E.J. Hervey (’22) also performed on the small stage, and his vocals were instantly impressive, reaching audience members standing well beyond the tent.

With a soulful voice and friendly

vibe, he performed completely original songs and serenaded the audience with his poetic lyrics.

The two main acts of the festival were Acoqui and Pearl & the Oysters. Unfortunately, I was not able to stay for Pearl & the Oysters, but Acoqui was, without a doubt, my favorite band of the night.

Coupled with mature musicianship and a lead singer that truly felt comfortable on stage, the band stole the crowd. Long instrumental sections caused audience members to nod and sway to the beat with their eyes closed.

Personally, I could feel the beats of the drum in my body, as clear as my own heartbeat. Acoqui was truly a band that transported whoever listened to them.

In addition to music, Fox Fest served refreshments to its attendees for a price. One of the options was shaved ice, as well as warm donuts, pizza, and coffee.

Overall, WPRK did a fantastic job organizing Fox Fest and creating an artistic space for upcoming, local musicians to connect to college students and their families. Even though there were a few hiccups in the festival and some areas that could have used improvement, I would say that this year’s Fox Fest was exceptionally successful.

T

cklouse@rollins.edu

he patio of the Cornell Fine Arts Museum was adorned with framed photos and a colorful papel picado banner as members of the Rollins community gathered to honor their deceased ancestors in the celebration of El Dia de los Muertos, aka the Day of the Dead.

Rollins students gathered alongside the anthropology and Spanish departments, as the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Department at Rollins hosted Rollins’ 11th annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

The celebration mirrored the celebrations of Latin American countries, featuring refreshments, authentic Latin American food, like tamales, and an altar upon which participants were encouraged to display photographs of their deceased loved ones.

“Residents of these countries believe that the spirits of their deceased loved ones return to join the living on Nov. 1 and 2, and so they build altars to them in their home featuring their favorite things,” said Dr. Ashley Kistler, department chair and associate professor of anthropology.

In many Latin American communities, Dia de los Muertos represents the belief that ancestors’ spirits do not die, but rather move on to the afterlife. The origins of this holiday celebrate and combine Catholic beliefs with the indigenous traditions of Cen-

tral Mexico. “Dia de los Muertos is a way to remind people about their ancestors and their importance in local culture,” said Kistler.

The Rollins community continues to familiarize students with global citizenship through celebrations of various cultural traditions and holidays, including Dia de los Muertos. Rollins continues to celebrate this holiday because, as Kistler said, “It showcases the beauty of this Latin American holiday and the Latin American community on our campus in the Central Florida community. We feel that celebrating cultural events is an important part of our Latin American and Caribbean studies program.”

Not only was there a great gathering of the Rollins community, but Kistler estimates that roughly 40 photographs, including her personal photos of loved ones and those of the Rollins community, were added to the altar.

“I have always been passionate about Latin American and Caribbean culture. It is great to observe cultural practices, especially here at Rollins,” said Mackenzie Penco (‘22).

Kistler expressed hope that Rollins students “understand that the holiday is not a scary one but a beautiful one that celebrates ancestors and their role in contemporary cultural practice.

I’d also like them to understand the historical and cultural importance of the holiday and to know that they can join us every year in this celebration.”

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Hillel honors

Pittsburgh victims Jewish student organization gathered with people of all backgrounds to lead prayer

By Christina Oliveira

D

coliveira@rollins.edu

ozens of students and staff gathered in a peaceful moment of prayer to honor the victims of the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack against the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

“May it be your will, Eternal One, Our God, God of our ancestors, that wars and bloodshed be abolished from the world, and bring into the world a great and wonderful lasting peace,” read Rachel Wasserman (‘19), president of Rollins Hillel, the Jewish student organization. This was part of a prayer that calls for God to bring peace to the world and expel hatred from people.

The reflection, hosted on Tuesday, Oct. 30, was organized

by Hillel, which is dedicated to encouraging students from different communities to explore and expand their understanding of Judaism. The organization frequently hosts Shabbat and other Jewish traditions.

Students, faculty, and community members of various backgrounds gathered to commemorate the victims of the attack and to express their thoughts on the tragedy. The Wellness Center also sent employees to the room to help those in need.

Emily Block, associate director of Jewish student life, said, “The most impactful thing about the event was the ability for people to come together…It was reassuring to know that we are individually not alone, and that the Jewish community is not alone.”

Students who are not Jewish also attended the event and were impacted. Sebastian Hernandez (‘22) said, “It was nice to see so many people…from all aspects of life. You saw people from different organizations from the Rollins community. That was really touching to see.”

Hernandez said that his decision to come to the event was caused by something that happened personally with his own spiritualness.

“I was hearing about what had happened from different news sources and being aware

of the overall climate of antisemitism that has been on the rise for the last couple of years. I thought it was important to be there for that community and show support,” he said.

During the reflection, the Prayer for Peace was spoken, as well as the Mourner’s Kaddish, which is a traditional Jewish prayer that honors the dead. The prayer was recited in Hebrew

by Yudit K. Greenberg, director of the Jewish studies program and George D. and Harriet W. Cornell professors of religious studies.

After these prayers were recited, a candle was lit for each victim of the shooting. The candles were lit one at a time after each name was read aloud. Following this, participants were allowed to voice their feelings.

A few people became very emotional while recounting their thoughts.

When given the opportunity to voice their thoughts, many in the room expressed fear about where the country was headed.

People of all communities were concerned about the hatred that has gripped America these past few years. However, they also stated their hope for the future regarding the love and support the Jewish community has received from other communities.

There were also conversations about fighting prejudice and using love to combat hate.

Block emphasized the importance of continuing to show this type of solidarity with the Jewish community long after the tragedy. “One of the most meaningful things that members of religious groups can do is just to show up, show their support, and educate themselves…We as a united community at Rollins need to combat hatred with love and understanding for all the diverse communities on our campus and in our world,” said Block.

Participants were also given an opportunity to write messages to those who attend the Tree of Life Synagogue. After the gathering, Reverend Katrina Jenkins, dean of religious life, led a reflection at the peace pole in the rose garden at Knowles Chapel.

The Sandspur • November 8, 2018

Stressed students unwind through board games and memes Board Game Club offers a new way for students to take their minds off school

Gaby Davenport

Photo caption here.

By Heather Borochaner

hborochaner@rollins.edu

M

ost people would not think that analyzing memes and playing Monopoly are ideal stress relievers. However, for the 15 regular members of the Board Game Club (BGC) games provide stress relief, socialization, and an escape from the rigorous college life.

The club was founded about a year ago, but past members had trouble setting up successful meetings since many interested students could not meet at arranged times.

“At the start of this semester, I revived [the club] like a Phoenix,” said Blake Osman (‘20), club founder. He managed to get a table for the R-Fair where he claimed that turnout was unprecedented.

“I ended up with 50 signatures, so even if a fifth of them showed up, I could still have a healthy club,” he said. A wordof-mouth strategy, carried out by current members and posters alike, has also helped increase membership. Around 70 people have attended their meetings so far.

The group meets twice a week, Monday and Friday evenings, in Room 277 and Room 202 of the Bush Science Center, respectively.

“The reason [we meet] so often is to give people tons of flexibility [and] opportunities to find a time they can come, with no pressure [to make] it to all the meetings,” said Osman. The BGC prides itself on being an understanding, adjustable organization.

The group plays games that members bring from home such as Clue, Monopoly, Pictionary, and Risk. Card games and video games are also on the table, including Uno, Mario Party, and the Jackbox Party Pack. The possibilities of the club’s available games are virtually unlimited and dependent on the members.

“It’s only restricted by what people would be willing to play,” said Osman. There has even been a subsidiary group that plays Dungeons and Dragons.

“This has been a place where it’s super easy to make friends and have a community that just wants to hang out and have fun,” said Osman. “We’ll sometimes meet up for lunch or have an impromptu game with some members who happen to be free at the time.”

Manny Solis (‘20) said that he is a part of the club because it allows him to connect with new people.

“It’s an amazing source of stress relief because, for two hours and 30 minutes of the week, you get to just relax and

not worry about anything,” said Solis. “The worries of schoolwork and responsibilities can fade away, and you can truly invest time into your friends while you enjoy a fun board game.”

Isabella Braga (‘19), chief justice of the Student Government Association and the co-director of Rollins’ Millenium Fellowship cohort, is also a member of the club.

“It’s funny because the BGC is the last thing people would expect me to enjoy,” she said.

“BGC is a place where people who study and work hard take a couple of hours a week to destress with jokes and games. It’s, in some ways, more of a family to people.”

Autumn Wilson (‘22), another regular member, said that everyone should experience the BGC at least once. “It’s honestly so much fun and I’ve met amazing friends because of it,” she said.

“Just knowing how I’m able to help people’s weeks be even just a little better makes all of this worth it,” Osman said. “We have regulars and newbies, but everyone feels welcome and is integrated into the fun. If someone ever needs a rad group of people to relax with, we’re here for them.”

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The Sandspur • Nov. 8, 2018

Top notch classes: Cool courses offered in the spring Still looking for another course to add to your schedule? We’ve got you covered

Graphic by Name Name

RFLA 100 / CMC 110: Digital Storytelling TR 2-3:15 p.m.

CMC 335: Critical Disability Studies Monday, 1-3:30 p.m.

Have you ever been interested in video editing or creating storyboards? This class is usually designed for critical media and cultural studies majors/minors and film minors, but this semester it is also offered as an rFLA humanities course.

Students are given the chance to study the components of a good story and practice developing them through photography, audio recordings, and video. They are even able to learn basic skills in Photoshop and the Adobe video-editing software known as Premiere.

Podcasts have also become a popular storytelling technique, making them a major element of study in this course.

Digital Storytelling analyzes modern storytelling techniques, and it allows students to partake in the narrative.

This course focuses on examining disability as it is viewed from various perspectives. Students will explore disability as a medical condition, but also as a source of social and systemic inequality. By analyzing multiple sets of text and media, students will understand this issue in relation to culture, identity, gender, race, and sexuality by using multiple critical theories as lenses.

Students will be able to apply a wealth of knowledge on this complex topic to interpersonal interactions, media and popular culture, public policy, and just about every aspect of society that oppresses individuals with disabilities. This course will prove to be immensely helpful in expanding students’ abilities to empathize with and comprehend the varying experiences of people with disabilities.

WCC 300: Global Journalism TR 9:30-10:45 a.m.

In a time when American journalists are labeled “the enemy of the people,” this course examines the history and values of the media. Students will have the opportunity to read global news while analyzing its ethical, legal, and social contexts. In addition, they will analyze the effects of censorship and the importance of free press, key components of our First Amendment rights.

These concepts will be applied at a global scale in which students will evaluate the media in countries with and without freedom of speech laws. Dr. Hesham Mesbah, the professor of the course, said, “I plan to get the class to Skype with journalists from different parts of the world and conduct case studies about the persecution of journalists in some dictatorships.”

COM 220: Interpersonal Communication MWF 8 -8:50 a.m.

MW 2:30-3:45 p.m.

ENG 277: Visual & Verbal Text Design Wednesday, 6:45-9:10 p.m.

After taking this course, students will never look at the design of a document the same way again. This class gives students the opportunity to study rhetoric, multiple design theories, and the implementation of color, type, and layout in visual and textual documents.

Dr. Cheng herself is an expert in rhetoric, but she also creates a thoroughly interesting syllabus with recognizable scholars. Besides learning computer skills, students will learn how to effectively use visuals in presentations and will even get the chance to use Adobe InDesign to practice layout exercises and eventually redesign a flyer.

Most importantly, since this is an English course and counts toward the writing competency requirement, time is spent tightening students’ writing skills.

This class can also count toward a critical media and cultural studies major/minor and writing minor.

If a student has not yet taken this course, they will probably think it is simply about reviewing common sense information about communicating with others. However, this course provides tremendous knowledge that can be applied to understanding and improving personal and professional relationships alike.

As the semester progresses, students will learn about theories and concepts that are prevalent in everyday dyadic communication, and they will develop the ability to analyze daily interactions in more complex ways.

As students’ understanding of interpersonal communication increases, they will be able to recognize the most effective and healthy ways to proceed with communication within relationships.

Sometimes, studying the things that seem most simple and innate proves to be the most useful class.

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ENV 130: The Geosphere MWF 10-10:50 a.m.

Monday, 2-5 p.m.

Why does Florida have so many lakes? Why do we have thunderstorms every afternoon in the summer? How do hurricanes form? These are the questions students will learn to answer in one of the core courses of the environmental studies major.

This course explores the regions of matter that make up the Earth and its atmosphere.

Students will observe Florida’s physical features, vegetation, and historical events that shaped it into the unique landscape it is today. Moreover, weekly labs will allow students to take these concepts and apply them to Winter Park and the Rollins campus, leading them to discover areas that conserve the most water and which campus buildings are the least eco-friendly.

Dr. Lee Lines, with a very detail-oriented approach, will make sure all students leave his course with a greater understanding and appreciation of the forces that shape our physical environment.

ENG 234: Studies in Literature: Game of Thrones MWF 10-10:50 a.m.:50 a.m.

In this course, students will examine the texts that inspired the widely popular “Game of Thrones” novels and television series.

Dr. Mathews knows how

The Sandspur • Nov. 8, 2018 to liven up discussion and class time with healthy competition.

For instance, in the beginning of the semester, students form their own houses (just like in the series) and compete through group projects for points and bragging rights against the other teams.

The projects are fun to create and tie into a weekly topic.

Between battles, Dr. Mathews also teaches students how to read critically, a skill incredibly important for any English major or minor to learn. She starts out with video clips from the series and later gets students used to reading paragraphs of medieval text. She gives students clear instructions for each assignment, and since every quiz and essay is submitted through Blackboard, the class is very accessible.

Additionally, in the middle of the semester, the class takes a trip to Orlando’s Medieval Times. What more could you ask for?

The best part of the course are the discussions. Students will delve deep into some of the most debated philosophical thought experiments, such as the trolley problem. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, so for those who are not as comfortable with discussing moral dilemmas, this class provides a nice balance between learning and application. For anyone even remotely interested in getting to know more about the discipline, this is a great gateway class.

The difficulty with taking a particular science course is that there are often lengthy prerequisites and limited space in the class. While everyone should be encouraged to take a hard sci-

For those interested in morality and virtues, ethics is a great introductory philosophy course that provides substantial foundational background. All philosophy courses are great for promoting one’s critical thinking and analytic skills, and this course is no exception. Throughout the class, students will become familiar with some of the most well-known philosophers and be able to present a short informational presentation on them.

Course Registration Dates

Seniors: Nov. 6-9

Honors, AMP, DDP, Bonners: Nov. 7-9

Juniors: Nov. 8-9

Freshman, sophomore athletes: PSY 155: Perspectives in Psychology II TR 3:30-4:45 p.m.

PHI 108: Ethics TR 2-3:15 p.m.

ence course with a lab in order to enhance scientific literacy and an understanding of the research process, the reality is that it is not entirely feasible.

So, for those who want to take an introductory course in science, Perspectives in Psychology II might be the most practical option.

This is an interesting course taught by three professors that highlight three divisions in psychology. Depending on the professor, the highlighted sub-disciplines are different each semester: a student might be introduced to behavioral psychology or cognitive psychology, depending on the curriculum.

There are no prerequisites for this adaptable course, so it can be taken at any point in your Rollins career.

Nov. 9-18

Freshmen and Sophomores: Nov. 12-18

8

The Sandspur • November 8, 2018

Women’s soccer receives bid to regionals Despite losing the conference tournament, the team looks forward to a shot at the playoffs

By Henri Balla

A

hballa@rollins.edu

lthough the women’s soccer team was knocked out of the conference tournament by Nova Southeastern University, they were selected as fifth seed for the regional tournament.

They will face Lee University on Thursday, a team they faced early in the season which ended in a 2-2 tie.

The team’s 3-0 loss in the conference semifinals last week made their regional fate unsure.

It was dependent on the University of West Florida, which is 20-0 on the season, to win their conference championship. Should the Tars defeat Lee on Thursday, they will face West Florida on Saturday.

Last Thursday’s loss came down to Rollins’ inability to score. As the unwritten rule of soccer goes, if you do not score, you will concede.

Five minutes before the end of the first half, a shot born out of the defense’s distraction somehow found its way into the back of the net. In the chaotic aftermath of the first goal, Nova managed to grab a second. The Tars came out aggressive in the second half, but lacked efficiency in front of goal. After the Sharks’ third goal, Rollins pressed even more fiercely, but it was too late.

The women’s soccer team came into the 2018 season highly motivated to prove that last year’s disappointment was an abnormality. After rigourous spring preparations, there was great anticipation for September’s games. Following a pair of draws in the beginning, the Tars crescendoed as the season unravelled.

Rollins held their own against No. 9 Lee and No. 5 Columbus State, with their only loss in September resulting from conference-leader Barry, which happened in overtime. The Tars’ only other loss came against Embry Riddle, who coincidentally crashed out of the conference tournament in the semifinals against Barry.

Coach Alicia Schuck preferred a four-four-two formation in the game, placing her trust in a core of fixed starters. It worked, as the Tars played a balanced

style of soccer, relying as much on counterattack and paced wingplay as they did on gradual pressure build-up.

Kelly Rowswell (‘20), the only keeper in the roster, offered stability between the posts. Her stats speak for themselves: with a 0.874 save percentage and 76 saves in total, it is no surprise the junior from Windermere was chosen First Team All-Sunshine State Conference.

Rowswell had a compact defense in front of her. The center-back partnership between Molly von Eschenbach (‘21) and Shalisa Crowell (‘19) illustrated this perfectly. Similarly, the likes of Kayla Crosby (‘21) and Gianna Merigliano (‘21) as wingbacks added a lot to the Rollins game.

Should the Tars defeat Lee on Thursday, they will face West Florida on Saturday.

Midfielder Jill Richards (‘19) had her best season in a Rollins jersey, leading the team in assists (six) and points (14). Her fourgoal tally placed her in a comparable spot with the forwards.

Richards represented a guarantee in front of goal from the penalty spot.

However, statistics can sometimes be misleading. Looking strictly at the numbers, one may not fully appreciate the contribution of Olivia Talmage (‘21) to the team. The midfielder engaged in seemingly-perpetual motion, covering the flank with authority, aiding both in offense and defense and helping organize collective movements.

Between the two of them, Kiera McMeekan (‘19) and Meghan

Mosley (‘22) provided the engine for the Tars’ game. McMeekan’s positioning, anticipation, duelling, interceptions, and overall strength were inspiring. The senior also found the back of the net three times throughout the season.

Mosley, on the other hand, immediately established herself as an adept freshman. Covering almost every inch of the field, she helped relieve pressure from the defense and constantly pushed forward. Although unsuccessful, her distance shots tested the opposition’s goalkeeper on many occasions.

Katie Evans (‘22) was another new addition to the team that contributed significantly to the Tars’ progress.

The strength of the women’s soccer team lies in squad depth. Megan Welliver (‘19), Rebecca Volk (‘22), and Ally Rost (‘20) consistently left the bench to influence the outcome of the game or help manage the score.

However, Sarah Buckley (‘20) deserves the power-sub recognition. Having played every game, despite only starting in three of them, Buckley is tied for second-most goals in the team with five.

Rollins is blessed to have an attacking duo like Kathryn O’Brien (’20) and Chynna McGirt (‘21). They have constantly assisted each other to help propel O’Brien to six goals and McGirt to five.

The two complement one another: O’Brien creates space with the ball on her feet, dribbling past defenders, and McGirt creates space with her offball movement, latching on to through-balls. Just when the opposition thinks they have got it figured out, the two switch, creating all kinds of problems for the opposing team. The combination makes for some fun-towatch soccer.

The Tars are undefeated at home this season, but perhaps their greatest victory lies beyond tangible scoresheets. They have used the humility from the previous season to march towards success with dignity and comradery. Most importantly, this cohort did not just live up to the reputation of the program­—they created their own.

Rollins Sports

Sophomore wingback Gianna Merigliano drives the ball downfield.

NOW thru NOV 20 2018

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