Issue 2 • Volume 125 Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018 www.thesandspur.org
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Juuling at Rollins: Addiction comes in small, black pods
By Victoria Alvarez
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valvarez@rollins.edu
s the popularity of cigarettes declines, more young adults, including Rollins College students, are resorting to a small, handheld vaping device called a JUUL. The JUUL’s original purpose was to help people who were addicted to cigarettes stop smoking. Now, it has become a nationwide trend for young people. “I [use a] JUUL because it gives me a head rush. When I used to have a JUUL, people would ask me all the time if they could take a hit,” said Christina McAlpin (‘21). “It’s very popular at Rollins, like I see people walking around campus using them. At the moment, I’m not addicted, but when I owned one I was,” McAlpin said. JUULs are about three inches
long and look like a flash drive, making it easy for students to carry them in their pockets and backpacks. The JUUL has been sweeping the nation since it was introduced by PAX Lab in 2015. It has become so normalized that the product has even developed its own verb: Juuling. At Rollins, students are seen using their JUUL while walking to class, at parties, or strolling down Park Avenue. In a recent survey conducted by The Sandspur, of the 363 students that responded, 46 percent said they had used a JUUL at some point and 18 percent own one themselves. Approximately 88 percent of respondents knew what a JUUL was. “Juuling is showing addictive trends. However, there is not enough solidified research to show the specific long term effects on Juuling alone since it’s so new,” said Denise Snyder,
Corpse plant raises a stink By Heather Borochaner
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hborochaner@rollins.edu
f you passed by the campus greenhouse over the weekend you may have noticed a wretched scent of rotting flesh. Fear not, it was only the blooming of Racine, the campus corpse plant. Usually corpse plants, or Amorphophallus titanums, bloom only once every 10 years, but Rollins’ has bloomed again, less than three years since it first produced a flower in April 2015. The corpse plant at Rollins is known as Racine. “When I repotted her last month the corm [a modified stem] weighed only 19 pounds,” said Alan Chryst, the greenhouse manager of more than 20 years. “When she bloomed the first time the corm weighed 28 pounds,” Chryst said. Corms are swollen underground plant stems that store food so plants
can survive adverse conditions. Racine only remained open for about 12 to 36 hours after it first bloomed, with her peak stench occuring in the early morning hours of Monday, Sept. 3. The corpse plant takes so long to bloom due to its massive size and the time it takes to store the energy required to bloom. “It also produces its own heat and steam,” said Chryst. “It requires a lot of energy in order to accomplish this.” Corpse plants only produce one leaf per year. While the leaves grow, energy is stored in the corm to build up for a bloom. “I didn’t think a 19 pound corm had enough energy to produce a flower,” says Chryst, who has read about plants that bloom when the corm weighs 100 or even 200 pounds once the flower is produced.
‣ See PLANT Page 4
Rollins Wellness Center’s family nurse practitioner. Students enjoy using them because of the instant head rush it provides without the lasting smell and aftertaste of cigarettes. JUUL pods come in eight flavors and contain five percent nicotine. As of August, JUUL said they would start selling three percent nicotine pods of mint and Virginia tobacco flavors. JUUL’s “starter kit,” which contains the e-cigarette, USB charger, and four flavor pods, sells for about $50, and four-packs of pod replacements cost $15.99. The company’s website said that 200 JUUL puffs is equivalent to one pack of cigarettes. Because it contains nicotine, many people believe its health effects are just as detrimental. Nicotine is classified as an addictive drug and is harmful for the developing brain, according to the United States Surgeon General. College students are
still undergoing the developmental process and can experience harmful effects later in life. “It is just as bad as smoking cigarettes to me,” said Raven Olson (‘20). She said that it is common for people to ask her if she wants to “hit their JUUL,” but she always refused. The sleek devices have been dominating the e-cigarette market, covering 33 percent of e-cigarette sales since 2017. The Sandspur’s survey showed that 33 percent of respondents said they smoke their JUUL inside. When asked if they use their JUUL in class, 3 percent answered yes, 3 percent answered sometimes, and 93 percent answered no. Rollins College smoking policy refers only to cigarette usage, which can only be used in designated areas. Therefore, the campus has no restrictions on Juuling.
‣ See JUUL Page 7
Graphic by Anastasia Rooke
Soccer upsets nationally ranked team in season opener By Henri Balla
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hballa@rollins.edu
he men’s soccer game is 74 minutes in and Rollins and Wingate University have been in a 1-1 deadlock for what feels like an eternity. Finally, midfield engine Cyrus Siminou (‘19) makes an incursion in the middle of the Wingate box and up steps interim captain Andre Nansen (‘19). Nansen’s first cross is punched away by the keeper, only for the ball to land at his feet once again. He picks up Stefan Avram (‘19) who cooly heads it in to land his second goal of the night. The Barker Family stadium erupts as jubilant Tars surround their hero, securing the team’s season-opening upset against the nationally-ranked team. “It feels amazing to beat a No. 18 team,” Avram said. The Aug. 30 game would be
the first of two wins for the Tars that week after defeating Regis University on Sept. 1. Avram secured three goals between the two games, earning him a title as the Sunshine State Conference offensive player of the week. With their performance last week, the Rollins men’s soccer team justified their fourth place ranking on the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. This comes as no surprise to
Head Coach Keith Buckley, who commenced his 28th season in charge of the Tars. “I think that poll was fair based on the players we have coming back and what we did last season,” Buckley said. The Tars will be relying on returning seniors such as Avram, Nansen, Johnny Nartowicz (‘19), and Damian Clarke (‘19) for leadership.
‣ See SOCCER Page 5
Stefan Avram scored three goals in men’s soccer’s opening week. (Brian Massey / Courtesy)
2 • SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 Established in 1894 with the following editorial:
Rollins receives $300k suicide prevention grant
EXECUTIVE STAFF Ellie Rushing Editor-in-Chief Christina Fuleihan Managing Editor
CONTENT STAFF Alex Candage Head Copy Editor Siobhan Nolet David Smith Lauren Bishop Copy Editors Maura Leaden Christina Fuleihan Assigning Editors Kendall Clarke Staff Writer
DESIGN DEPARTMENT Lya Dominguez Head Designer Dana Wagenhauser Designer Anastasia Rooke Grace Street Designer Illustrator
BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden
General Manager of Student Media
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Meghan Harte Weyant, dean of students, and Rev. Katrina Jenkins, dean of religious life, during a campus reflection on community members impacted by suicide on Aug. 30. (Douglas Jackson / Staff Photographer)
By Noelle Wamsley
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nwamsley@rollins.edu
ollins was awarded a $305,848 Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a government agency within United States Department of Health and Human Services. The grant’s timing comes after two Rollins students have died by suicide in the past six months. Rollins is one of 20 schools across the U.S. to receive the grant and the funds will be dispersed across a three year period to support infrastructure and activities that help prevent, intervene and understand students suffering from depression, mental health and substance abuse disorders. T his is a matching grant; therefore, federal funds will provide 47 percent of the financing and Rollins will provide 53 percent. Although money can’t buy happiness, it can buy research and suicide prevention is just as much a scientific study as it is a philosophical one. In fact, several studies have been conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration that contribute to how college wellness centers pick their approach. The grant money will be useful in laying a foundation for further research and training even after the three years is up. The
leaders and staff that are already trained with the money from the grant will be able to pass on the training and inform the whole community. “I think for us, you want to build what’s considered an ‘infrastructure.’ We want to increase our ability to respond effectively even when the money’s not there,” said Connie Briscoe, director of the Wellness Center. To judge what is and is not effective, the Wellness Center must conduct their own research at Rollins and report it back to the administration. If it is considered a good approach, it will be listed as a “best practice” in a database that holds different suicide initiatives with rating systems. The data is collected across the country from different institutions that have received the grant and participated in the program, and now Rollins will provide their findings, too. “We want to be very intentional about doing the types of things that we know [has] research that supports it,” said Briscoe. There is also a conversation about how students from different cultures and backgrounds respond to different approaches, as the effectiveness may depend on the group that they’re focusing on. This may include people that have been historically-marginalized and those that are identified as “high risk.”
Discussions about doing culturally sensitive work have only come to the forefront in the past 10 years or so, Briscoe said. “We’re adjusting what we’re doing to fit the populations… that really helps improve the mental health of people of various cultural backgrounds,” she said. The Wellness Center will also be partnering with the STEVE foundation, an organization focused on supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. “Our hope is to have them actually come to our campus and talk to our different student groups, to do a sort of an environmental scan,” Briscoe said.
‣ See GRANT Page 7 Warning signs of suicide: • Talking about wanting to die • Looking for a way to kill oneself • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain • Talking about being a burden to others • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious, agitated, or recklessly • Sleeping too little or too much • Withdrawing or feeling isolated • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge • Displaying extreme mood swings
What to do if someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: • Do not leave the person alone • Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt • Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) • Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional
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Full Sail student broadcasters join athletics By Christina Oliveira
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coliveira@rollins.edu
he Rollins College Athletics Department has started using broadcasting students from Full Sail University’s Dan Patrick School of Broadcasting to cover Rollins sports events. “This opportunity came up to raise our profile to the next level… their equipment, manpower and other resources are something we couldn’t dream of matching,” said Nate Weyant, assistant athletic director for strategic communication. The Athletics Department’s decision, which was made over the summer, came as a surprise to many students, coaches, and current broadcasters. Although the Rollins sportscasters will still be around for other roles in reporting athletics, many will miss their old broadcasting role. Victor Anderson, longtime sportscaster for the volleyball and softball teams, said, “I was on call a couple of weeks ago when they informed me of the change… It genuinely felt that all of the preparation done for the upcoming year just got flushed down the drain.” However, Anderson said that he ultimately respects Rollins’ decision. “That’s how the industry works; the old lion trains the young lions,” he said. “I came in to Rollins as a broadcasting student from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. It’s life coming full circle so to speak.” Anderson is also looking forward to the benefits that the Full Sail partnership will bring. “We’re not being let go or fired, we’re just being assigned different roles. This partnership with Full Sail and Rollins will serve as a benefit to all main parties involved. The association with Gus Ramsey, Dan Patrick, and others only will be a plus for those students in the program,” he said. Weyant confirmed that former broadcasters will still play a role in Rollins sports. “Everyone who has broadcasted with us in the past will still be contributing through still doing games when need-
ed, working the WPRK studio during basketball games and other video projects within the athletic department,” he said. It will take time for the coaches and students to adapt to the new decision, since the players and sportscasters have bonded over the years. “Having Victor as one of our broadcasters was one of the coolest things about playing,” said softball player Amanda Guglietta (‘20). “He would spend time with us on the field before the games and get some of the tension out of us by making us laugh a little,” Guglietta said. Sports broadcasters play an important role in the overall spirit of the teams and games. Therefore, Rollins is keen on making sure that the partnership reaps benefits for the players and viewers. Full Sail students are also eager to benefit from the opportunity. “Our program director Gus Ramsey is an alumnus from Rollins and he has worked tirelessly to get us this opportunity. I think it’s a very big opportunity for all of us to get some experience as play-by-play men and commentators,” said Chris Burns, one of the new Full Sail student broadcasters. Players also recognize the value of the partnership. “I can see the value in partnering with a college nearby like Full Sail to give jobs,” said softball player Erin Crawford (‘20). “By creating this working bond, more doors are opened to Rollins students.” This is not the first time Rollins College and Full Sail University have collaborated with each other. A 2017 partnership has allowed the music departments at Rollins and Full Sail to assist each other in their goals. Rollins provided the talent of their music performance students to Full Sail while Full Sail lended their music production students to Rollins. Full Sail has also opened their music production facilities to Rollins. Time will tell how this new partnership between the two colleges will favor their athletes, broadcasters, and fans. Tune into their broadcasts ar RollinsSports. com to find out.
Lake Howell High School students protested gun violence during a walkout on March 14. (Curtis Shaffer / Staff Photographer)
Opinion: Active shooter drills must be taken seriously By Anna Murray-Campbell
amurraycampbell@rollins.edu
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his week, Campus Safety planned an active threat drill, and as a resident of Parkland, I know the importance of each individual’s actions. I know how being underprepared for an active shooter situation can change an entire community forever. The purpose of this drill is not only to practice preparations for an active threat, but also to learn how to improve security in that situation. When asked about the specifics of the drill, Assistant Vice President of Public Safety Ken Miller said, “Instead of sending out emails that might not be read or having a low turnout at a discussion, we believed that it would be best to conduct training while faculty, staff, and students were in the spaces that they would need to react.” The purpose of the drill was to ask those difficult questions so that areas of concern could be addressed and improved. “One of the biggest challenges that we face is the overall comfort on our campus… This leads to complacency, a lack of preparation, and not taking emergency communication seriously,” Miller said. “The college believes strongly that we need to take advantage of the closeness and size of our community to be proactive and prevent incidents from occurring.” My hometown of Parkland is a place parents choose to live
in because of the safe, family-oriented environment. Much of the ‘it could never happen here’ sentiment in Winter Park was held with the same confidence in Parkland; therefore, no one expected such a tragedy would take place in such a tight knit community. On Feb. 14, I walked into the music room at my high school in Fort Lauderdale to see the headline “Shooting at Stoneman Douglas High, Parkland.” I was floored. The school where my childhood friends went every day was now ground zero. That music room went silent. We all turned to social media looking for hope. The Broward Sheriff’s Office would post confirmed updates on Twitter, and the students inside cried out for help on Snapchat. They posted videos and pictures from inside locked classrooms, not knowing if it would be the last thing they would ever do. Soon after the tragedy, a candlelight vigil was held, where I saw faces I have not seen since middle school. As speeches were made, there was a thought that kept running through my mind: this is my home. The streets I saw every day were now lined with emergency vehicles and news vans as far as the eye could see. Then came the activism. The March for Our Lives rallies were held with the intention of inspiring change in local and federal policy against gun violence. The epidemic of school and mass shootings is a complex is-
The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect those of ‘The Sandspur’ or Rollins College.
sue to tackle. The fact that the gunman had, on multiple occasions, been reported to police for violent outbursts, sometimes by his own adoptive mother; and was still able to buy an AR-15 is simply unacceptable. This also calls into question the competency of local police for not taking proper action for a repeat offender. Feb. 14 will be a day that stays with me forever. Tragedy can emerge from anywhere, but so can hope. Soon, the news vans disappeared, and the flowers mournful families placed at memorials began to wilt. That was the most surreal part for me: watching everything fade. Now, every person in Parkland who cares carries the legacies of those 17 students and teachers with them wherever they go. Personally, I feel the weight of that when going to college. I choose to take action by how I live my everyday life. By treating every person I meet with kindness and respect, I attempt to feel the infinite value of all the souls around me. One mass shooting is too many. If we as a campus have any power to prevent them or more effectively keep each other safe, we must. Please take Wednesday’s drill seriously, and afterward, be sure to inform campus security of any improvements that may otherwise go unnoticed. You have the power. Use it.
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General education changes bring new requirements, more course options By Kendall Clarke
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kclarke@rollins.edu
ollins’ general education has undergone major changes after a student survey on the neighborhood system received 40 percent negative feedack. After students voiced concerns about limited course selection, there is now an “open borders” policy that allows students to take multiple courses outside of their theme. The new system is called rFLA 2.0, and also includes a new “ethical reasoning” competency and an option for students to fulfill one of their requirements with a non-rFLA course. The five new themes that make up rFLA 2.0 are Innovation, Environments, Identity, Enduring Questions, and Cultural Collision. Like the previous program, rFLA 2.0 requires students to take one 100 level course, three 200 level courses, and one 300 level capstone course. The difference now, though, is that students can fulfill these requirements with any class from the
‣ PLANT
Continued from page 1 While the circumstances are extraordinary, Chryst does have some concerns for the plant’s safety. He fears that Racine will not have enough energy to produce another leaf after blooming again so soon, which could cause it to die. Dr. Paul Stephenson, associate professor of biology at Rollins, said that there is not much information on why the plant may be blooming again so soon. However, he does not see any need for concern. “Our corpse plant had a smaller than average corm when it first bloomed and seems to be continuing this trend,” he said. Stephenson also noted one case of a corpse plant blooming three times in six years at the University of Wisconsin. “It may be that we have an individual that will flower regularly from this point forward,” said Stephenson. “That would be really cool!” The first human-assisted bloom of the corpse plant was in
new themes. “New students will now chart their own path through these themes, focusing on a single question that they’re passionate about… or exploring how different disciplines and approaches can be combined to solve problems,” said Emily Russell, associate dean of curriculum. For example, a student interested in climate change might take classes in the Innovation and Environments themes. Students will have the option to substitute one of their required 200-level courses with an approved course outside of the rFLA program, allowing them to customize their liberal arts experience. For upperclassmen students, the revisions to the rFLA program allow them to fulfill their remaining requirements with any course from the new themes. “Students interested in taking that option can opt into the new catalog requirements,” Russell said. This means that continuing students interested in substituting one of their 200 level rFLA
requirements with a non-rFLA course option must also fulfill an ethical reasoning requirement before they graduate. This was added with the goal of restoring an original intention of the rFLA program. Russell said that ethical reasoning was a goal built into the original rFLA program, but it was suspended last year as faculty tried to determine how to best deliver this skill to students. Surveys conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities have found that employers rank ethical judgment as one of the most valuable skills for an employee to posses. In addition, the survey reported that employers also place a high priority on proficiency in skills and knowledge across multiple majors, so the new system is designed to help students cultivate these skills. The flexibility of rFLA 2.0 has already positively impacted some students’ lives. Tori Whalen (‘19) struggled to find a 300-level capstone that was of interest to her and within her neighborhood. She did find a
course for this fall semester, but it filled up before she had the opportunity to enroll, leaving her to put off fulfilling this requirement until the spring of her senior year. With the changes to rFLA, Whalen is now confident that she will be able to find the class she needs and wants to take. Some students, however, still prefer the old neighborhood system. Tianna Rosser (‘19) said that, while she “recognizes these changes will be good for students,” she will “miss the old neighborhood system.” Rosser also said she “enjoyed the themed classes” within her neighborhood, When Cultures Collide. She said that because of her education, she is now “able to connect with people on a deeper level.” The revisions to the rFLA program were inspired by feedback from students. “We worked with the SGA exec board, student reps to curriculum committee, and an SGA campus forum, along with a campus-wide survey to gather student feedback,”
Russell said. Students expressed similar opinions during SGA’s open forums. However, current SGA president, Nagina Chaudhry (‘19), said that many of these open forums lacked student attendance and thus did not allow for SGA to receive proper feedback. “I really want to see more attendance at these open forums so that information/news is transparent, and professors, students, and administration are all on the same page,” said Chaudhry. “This semester we are planning on holding another open forum with all professors involved in the curriculum committee, and I would really love to see more student participation,” she said. “While this is a small step, there are still many improvements to be made in the neighborhood system.” “SGA officers are constantly meeting with the curriculum committee and pitching ideas so that in the end we have something which is best for all students.”
1889 at Kew Gardens in London, and since then only 200 or so cultivated plants have bloomed around the world. Each blooming captures the public’s fascination, and because of its rarity, thousands of people travel to the Rollins greenhouse to experience the spectacle and rotting stench. Once the plant finished blooming, Chryst weighed the corm again. “This lets us know how much energy it used in producing this spectacular flower!” Before it bloomed, the plant was 61 inches tall, which is taller than it was during its initial blooming. Dr. Lee Lines, professor of Environmental Studies, is one of many who are excited about the plant’s activity. “It’s great that this plant is blooming again, so soon after the initial flowering!”
Within a span of 48-hours, the corpse plant went from a sealed plant (left) to a fully-opened pollination machine.
(Douglas Jackson (left) and Kira Bernhard / Staff Photographer)
5 Democracy Project has high hopes for student voting By Zoe Pearson
zpearson@rollins.edu
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ationally, college students have low midterm election turnout rates, with only 18.8 percent of students casting a ballot in 2014. However, Rollins’ Democracy Project, a student-led organization encouraging community engagement in politics, is aiming for a 50 percent student voter turnout. “We’re trying to hit 50 percent, which is ambitious. We’d at least like to double [student turnout], but if we got to 50 percent we’d be very happy,” said Skylar Knight (‘19), a Democracy Project student coordinator. Last year, Knight’s efforts helped the organization receive an award for having the highest student voting rate within the four-year medium private institution category, as well as a Silver Seal for achieving a student voting rate between 60 and 69 percent. The Democracy Project has been working in conjunction
with the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement (CLCE) to turn this year’s ambition into a possibility. They have sent emails and hosted voter registration drives for weeks leading up to the Aug. 28 primaries and will continue this work as the general election approaches on Nov. 6. In three days, 62 students either registered to vote for the first time or updated their registration because of their efforts. “We’re trying to take on as much as we possibly can [to make voting easy for students] because everyone has a busy schedule and there’s not one time to get everyone enrolled,” said Kyle Williams (MLS ‘20), a CLCE graduate assistant. “Our goal is to be out as much as possible to slowly but surely tick away at the numbers.” At recent campus events, the Democracy Project offered signups for TurboVote, an online service that gives users easy access to all of the resources they will need to vote in their area. Peter Stephenson (‘22) said that this helped him locate his
voting station and made the process easier. When asked why he voted this election season, he said, “I don’t like what’s happening in politics right now so I decided to vote.” Stephenson voted for the winning Democratic pick for Florida’s governor, Andrew Gillum, on the basis of relatability and experience. “He’s the most connected to the people he’s trying to represent, whereas the others might have a distorted view of the populus. He’s not a millionaire and he’s had experience representing the people,” Stephenson said. However, students such as Ashley Bermudez (’21) and Kristy Moll (’20) did not benefit from the Democracy Project’s efforts for personal reasons. Bermudez cited work and school schedules that were in conflict with the day of elections. Moll requested an absentee ballot from her home county but did not send it before the deadline. Both students said that Rollins’ efforts had no fault in these matters. Despite cases like these,
according to a study, Rollins students voted in the midterm election of 2014 at a 7.7 percent higher rate than the average voting rate for institutions of higher education. This reflects well on the Democracy Project and the
CLCE. Williams believes that the benefits of engaging students in active citizenship are vital to the continued growth of the Rollins voting rate.
Graphic by Gracie Street
Rollins-tied politicians will face off in November By Sydney Brown
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sbrown2@rollins.edu
ast week’s primary elections included major headlining victories, with a former Rollins professor and graduate making the list. Come November, Stephanie Murphy, a former adjunct professor, and Mike Miller, a product of the Crummer Graduate School of Business, will compete for a United States congressional
‣SOCCER
Continued from page 1 Despite the positive start, the Tars will need to keep their feet on the ground if they wish to overcome the challenges they are faced with, including the sidelining of captain Ben Grant (‘19) due to a concussion. Buckley confirmed that the midfielder will not be on the field in the near-future. “The most important thing for him is to get well and to be able to do his classes,” Buckley said. The question of captaincy and leadership is imminent, considering the Tars currently have the largest incoming fresh-
seat. In Florida’s seventh congressional district, which encompasses Winter Park, Maitland, and much of downtown Orlando, incumbent Murphy dominated her primary race with over 85 percent of votes over Chardo Richardson, a male Democratic candidate who served in the United States Air Force for 12 years. Miller, a conservative who was previously endorsed by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, earned nearly 54 percent of the votes.
Miller graduated from Crummer is 2008 after working as the director of development and the director of marketing and corporate sponsorship of athletics at Rollins. The election was also historical for African Americans, as the state’s first black nominee for governor Andrew Gillum received the Democratic nomination. Gillum, who is the mayor of Tallahassee, beat Gwen Graham, daughter of former Florida governor Bob Graham, with only
three percent more of the votes. In Graham’s concession speech, she urged Floridians to support Gillum. “This election was never about the candidate,” Graham said. “It was always about the importance for the future of the state that you all love... The future of Florida is at stake.” In November, Gillum will face Republican nominee, Ron DeSantis. DeSantis was previously endorsed by President Donald Trump and won the
nomination in a landslide over all other Republican candidates, with over 55 percent of votes. Local election results are also of interest to many living in the Central Florida area. Sheriff Jerry L. Demings was elected Mayor of Orange County, with a landslide of 60 percent of votes over Commissioner Pete Clarke and Businessman Rob Panepinto. The general election will occur on Nov. 6, but the deadline to register to vote in the election is Oct. 9.
man class in a decade. However, stand-in captain Nansen does not seem too worried. “I think the seniors who are still here, we have a very good culture, of working hard, practicing before and after practice [sessions],” Nansen said. “We’ve set a very good culture for the younger guys... When they come in, we demand from them. Everyone’s on the same page, so I think it is going really, really well.” Full of praise for the freshmen who played against Wingate, Buckley said, “Abdiel [Martinez] started today, Daniel [Field] started today and then Christian [Adams] came on and did a wonderful job. It is very,
very difficult at this level to play as a freshman, but we are very, very pleased.” The Aug. 30 match was also the first one for new Rollins assistant coach Luke Boden. The former midfielder has won three United Soccer League Pro trophies and helped Orlando City Soccer join Major League Soccer. “Obviously I learned [soccer] as a player, but learning it as a coach is a completely different ball game,” Boden said. “It’s only going to help me and I hope I can bring a little bit of my own and try to help the team.” Buckley lauded this new addition to his staff. “The players really relate to him. He’s got a good tactical understanding of
the game and the more he coaches, the better he will be. We’re very lucky to have him,” he said. Boden mirrored this excitement about his new position. “Obviously, I was very sad to stop playing, but this is a great opportunity and I can’t thank Keith [Buckley] and Declan [Link] enough,” he said. “The guys in the dressing room are amazing, they’re very together which is a huge part of winning games. On the field it’s one thing, but being together off the field, that’s a huge advantage.” The season ahead is set in three stages for Rollins. The first phase consists of last week’s games which ended in wins. This weekend, the team plays the
University of West Florida Argonauts and Spring Hill College. Then the challenging Conference matches await, with Conference play opening against the Florida Southern College Mocs, followed by tournament games. “We want to win the three remaining games in this phase, we want to be in the top two of our conference and then go into the tournament. That is how we aim to build the season,” Buckley said. Buckley spoke on behalf of all Tars when he added, “We like to think most of our games are going to be very exciting.”
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Rollins selected to host UN-backed fellowship
Eleven of the 15 students selected to be Millennium Fellows gathered with one of their staff advsiros, Patrick Odoyo (far left). (Caroline Klouse / Writer)
By Caroline Klouse
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cklouse@rollins.edu
his semester, Rollins is one of only 30 campuses across the world to be working alongside the United Nations Millennium Fellowship program. Only 15 Rollins students were selected as fellows. The U.N. and its affiliates have called upon the 15 fellows to convene, challenge, and celebrate as they each focus on one project in association with a particular Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The SDGs were created in an effort to change and improve the lives of billions of people by 2030. Each of the fellows’ projects will focus on working with a specific organization, both outside and inside of the Rollins community. For instance, Raul Tavarez-Ramirez (’21), an international relations and environmental studies double-major, will
undertake SDGs like “promoting responsible consumption and production” and “promoting sustainable cities and communities” by hosting service activities and tabling events with EcoRollins, the environmental club on campus. Tavarez-Ramirez planned to join his fellow pioneers at Rollins and “empower [himself] to be an effective leader,” because, “every nationwide song of victory begins with the rallying cries of a solo singer.” Similarly, Gabbie Buendia (’19) is focusing on “promoting responsible consumption and production,” with the key word being “responsible.” She believes that each global citizen has a duty and a responsibility “to be conscious of our consumption and production patterns and to forge new, sustainable, and fair ways of doing them,” she said. Meanwhile, Mary Vickers (’19), plans to focus on goals related to reducing inequality by “researching the impacts of immigration enforcement in
low-income immigrant communities in Apopka.” Vickers hopes her research supports the Rollins belief that “life is for service” by helping local organizations receive the grants and funding needed to highlight and tackle discrimination in local communities. On the other hand, Colin Brant (’19) said he is preparing to focus on “reducing poverty in the Orlando area” by addressing poverty. By joining this program, Brant hopes to “network with people from all over the world to synergize projects and ideas” and as a result, grow even more into becoming a responsible leader with a “globally conscious perspective.” Throughout the semester, students will be supported by Rollins staff and faculty as they work to achieve their goals. During the application process, Director of External and Competitive Scholarships Dr. Jay Shivamoggi played a major role in helping the students turn their
dreams of becoming a fellow into a reality. The fellows will be assistance and guided by Dan Chong, assistant professor of political science, Patrick Odoyo, staff director of the social innovation and entrepreneurship hub, and Lord Family Assistant Micki Meyer. Rollins’ achievement of being selected to host the UN Millennium Fellows speaks to its reputation. Chong said that Rollins’ reputation as a liberal arts college does not just constitute itself as a “degree-granting institution,” but rather it “teaches you how to think better, and how to act upon your most creative ideas.” In its collaboration with the U.N. and its fellowship program, Chong firmly believes that Rollins will continue to foster creativity, critical thinking and the skills needed to become an “active citizen, not just a marketable worker.”
U.N. Millenium Fellows: • Alexa Baires-Jovel (’21) • Elizabeth Berry (’19) • Colin Brant (’19) • Gabbie Buendia (’19) • Christina Fuleihan (’19) • Isaac James (’19) • Muniba Khan (’19) • Skylar Knight (’19) • Grace Marshall (’19) • Raul Tavarez-Ramirez (’21) • Ellie Rushing (’19) • Josephine Spiegelberg (’19) • Shannon Sullivan (’20) • Mary Vickers (’19)
7 94 percent of first-year students received financial aid By Hannah Butcher
T
hbutcher@rollins.edu
he Office of Financial Aid works diligently to lighten the weight of the Rollins College price tag, one that costs over $65,000. The office’s goals include providing Rollins-specific aid and educating students about their financial statuses. “We know that giving financial aid to students can change lives,” Steve Booker, director of the Rollins College Office of Financial Aid, said. “As a result, an impressive 94 percent of the Class of 2022 received some sort of aid this year, including both Rollins-specific and federal aid.” According to College Board, the nation’s average private college costs $34,740 per year, mak-
‣ JUUL
Continued from page 1 The Sandspur’s survey asked students if they thought JUULs were addictive; addictive but not as bad as cigarettes; or not addic-
‣ GRANT
Continued from page 2 A tactic that has been known to show results is Gatekeeper training, commonly known as Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), which is a figurative checkpoint used to catch suicidal tendencies early on. Currently, peer mentors and resident assistants go through basic QPR training before the fall semester begins, as they interact closely with students. “They’re the ones who are going to see students, who students may go to first,” Briscoe said. “Our goal is to eventually, over the course of three years, have at least a quarter of our campus community, who knows the warning signs of suicide and who knows how to intervene when someone is struggling,” she said. Building the campus’ defense against suicide will be an ongoing project as it has been for many years, but the community is ready to guard itself with as much knowledge as possible. Suicide is the second leading cause of death globally for 15 to 29-year-olds, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide rates rose steadily in every state from 1999
ing Rollins’ fees appear extreme. When considering added room and board fees, residential students will pay $67,942 and commuters will pay $55,862. “All scholarships are considered financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education considers any type of award to a student (including grants, scholarships, loans, and work) as financial aid,” Booker said. Lower-income groups, who otherwise would not be able to attend Rollins, are given the opportunity to afford a private school education by way of financial aid. Rollins’ financial aid is a considerable reason why the Class of 2022 is one of the most diverse classes in college history. “[The office] partners with the Harris Rosen foundation and the Boys and Girls club to
give low-income students the aid they need,” Booker said. He explained that, while Rollins always does its best to offer scholarships, “there was also a 2 percentage point increase in the amount of Pell Grant recipients this year.” Pell Grants are given to students identified with the highest financial need. Despite the goals of the office, some students feel as if their financial situation has been overlooked. One freshmen, for instance, did not believe that their financial needs were fully met. “I think Rollins met my need enough, but it could have been better,” Zoe Milburn (‘22) said. “There are four kids in my family attending college, meaning we have four separate tuitions to pay.” Milburn is not taking out any loans, but the remaining
payments are coming out of her parents’ pockets. The office also aims to encourage financial literacy, promoting the ability to manage personal finances among students. “The state of Florida now requires Rollins to send out loan letters,” Booker said. These loan letters promote financial literacy by keeping students updated on their loan status, making them aware of what they owe and how to plan to pay. “There is a nationwide need for financial education,” he said. Students agreed that their generation’s financial literacy is not up to par. “The amount of people who are financially literate is probably low,” Milburn said. “Students are not often taught financial responsibility or how to do a
lot of real-life things.” The office wishes to increase financial literacy on campus by continuing workshops and having more classroom discussions. It is motivated to appeal to students and make it more interesting to learn the fundamentals of finances. Students are encouraged to apply for jobs both on and off campus through Handshake, a website where students and recruiters can share opportunities. The office also enthusiastically encourages students to make appointments with experts. “We are happy to meet with students,” Booker said. “We’d love to do four-year plans for students who are concerned about their financial statuses.”
tive at all. The findings showed that 69 percent believed they are addictive, 18 percent believed that they are addictive but not as bad as cigarettes, and 13 percent answered not at all. “Every time we inhale a
substance, we are changing the PH balance of our lung function which will have short term and long term consequences to our health,” Snyder said. “Health services is happy to support and meet students who
want to reduce or discontinue any form of substances. There is also a substance abuse counselor on staff named Reneé Treviranus and she would be happy to meet with any concerned students,” Snyder said.
If any student wants to reach out to Treviranus, call the Rollins Wellness Center and ask for her services regarding substance abuse.
to 2016, their research showed, and in 2016, there were more than twice as many suicides as homicides. In the past year, celebrities such as Anthony Bourdain, Kate Spade and Avicii have died. Rollins has also experienced student deaths from suicide, as sophomore JV baseball player Brennen Bennett died in March and Samuel Morse died in July. While the Wellness Center applied for the funding before the suicides took place, Briscoe said the grant is coming at a necessary time. “The need is not only there but there’s a greater awareness on our campus right now,” she said. “Students are more aware of the need to be good bystanders.” If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-2738255 (TALK). You can find a list of additional resources at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources. For Rollins services, students should call 833-848-1761 to speak to a counselor, or contact the Dean of Students/Student and Family Care at 407-646-2345 or care@rollins.edu for additional support services. Faculty and staff may access services of the Employee Assistance Program by calling 877-398-5816.
8
First student athlete joins SGA executive board
Greg Taicher, captain of the lacrosse team and SGA vice president.
By Tyler Schenone
R
tschenone@rollins.edu
ollins Student Government Association (SGA) welcomed Greg Taicher (‘19) as the first student-athlete to serve on its exec-
utive board. This will be a busy year for the senior who is captain of the men’s lacrosse team and vice-president of SGA. “I’m more than ready for the challenge,” said Taicher. “It will be tough, for certain, but my commitment first is school and then, as it’s always been, on the extracurriculars.” In addition to his classwork, Taicher has lacrosse six days a week and SGA meetings every Wednesday. Though it is still early in the year, Taicher believes he can balance all of these responsibilities. “With it being my senior year, I wanted to get involved more and make a difference, even though I’m sure there’ll be some busy weeks and late nights,” he said. Despite being involved in student government in high school, this is Taicher’s first year participating in SGA at Rollins. His turn as vice-president of SGA would not have occurred without his running mate
and current president, Nagina Chaudhry (‘19). “I’ve had classes with [Greg] in the past, and I was impressed with how informed he seemed,” said Chaudhry. “We’ve always worked well as a team, so I told him I thought it would be a good idea if we ran together, and he said okay.” While it may be Taicher’s first year participating in student government, he has been on the lacrosse team each of his four years at Rollins. His distinguished play has earned him All-Sunshine State Conference (SSC) honors in back-to-back seasons. With the upcoming season in mind, Taicher’s focus is on the team’s performance. After losing to eventual division runners-up Saint Leo in last year’s SSC semifinals, he anticipated the team doing even better this year. Thanks to the propitious combination of “abundant returning talent and an influx of promising freshman,” Taicher
said, “I really couldn’t be more excited for this year; I expect us to do very well.” SGA will have its own influx of newcomers on Sep. 12, when the organization hosts an informational meeting for people interested in joining. As vice-president, Taicher supervises and cooperates with the senate to address the potential concerns of the student body. Taicher and Chaudhry want to increase students’ involvement with the SGA. “We’re always trying to drum up more participation,” said Taicher. “Getting more student voices at open forum is a big goal of ours… I want to make clear that these forums are open to all students, and we encourage them to share their concerns with us.” Among Taicher and Chaudhry’s many goals for the forthcoming academic year are increasing school spirit and turnout at sporting events, bringing a smoothie bar to the gym, and developing a student life app.
The proposed app would allow students easy access to such relevant information as dining hours and services, major and minor maps, event calendars, and sports schedules. “Nagina and I have been working with the IT department and Rollins’ computer science students to develop this app,” he said. Taicher’s involvement in SGA has already accomplished one end. “Already, we’ve had a few other athletes say that they wanted to join SGA; they wanted to get involved, so we’ve already seen some of the student participation we want,” Chaudhry said. SGA as a whole is comprised of an executive board, a judicial board, and a senate. The aim of the organization is to represent Rollins students’ interests within the college’s administration. The regular season for men’s lacrosse begins in the spring, while SGA has its first meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sep. 12 in the Bieberbach Room.
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