The Sandspur Volume 123 Issue 15

Issue 15, Volume 123 Thursday, February 16, 2017

Black History Month celebrated through art

afrofantastic

January 14 - April 2, 2017

Page Page #2 •• SECTION OPINIONS

Established in 1894 with the following editorial:

EXECUTIVE STAFF Lauren Waymire Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Mariano Managing Editor Micah Bradley Production Manager

CONTENT STAFF Amanda Grace Head Copy Editor Minoska Hernandez Morgan McConnell Rebecca Candage Copy Editors Eric Hilton Kalli Joslin Section Editors Christina Fuleihan Ellie Rushing Staff Writer Kalli Joslin Nolan Brewer Web Editors

DESIGN DEPARTMENT Shaayann Khalid Head Designer Victoria Villavicencio Zoe Kim Maliha Qureshi Designer

BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden

General Manager of Student Media

Dr. Bill Boles Faculty Advisor

Thursday, September 11, 2017 2014 Thursday, February 16,

Events struggle to attract students Many guest speaker and academic events have been lacking student attendance, which might stem from an overworked student body or lack of an organized event schedule.

Micah Bradley

Production Manager

At several well-known speaker events recently, I have noticed a distinct lack of the one key ingredient that any college event needs: students. Even George Takei’s recent talk didn’t fill the gym completely, and lesser-known speakers often have even sparser attendance.

Over my three years at Rollins, I have attended many lectures and academic events that saw barely any student representation. While I was studying abroad at Lancaster University last semester, I attended a guest lecture that was surprisingly well-attended by both students and staff—and it made me wonder what Rollins could do better to get students more involved in campus affairs.

I think the main problem with campus participation is that students are simply oversaturated with schoolwork. Many also have part-time jobs off campus or here at Rollins, are involved

David Neitzel Business Manager

ADVERTISING

Contact: advertising@thesandspur.org

ested in it; I might as well finish it.” Lancaster University runs a similar program, which awards undergraduates bronze, silver, or gold levels based on participation. Instead of rewarding attending speaking or academic events, they count activities like campus involvement and volunteering towards the award, which was developed with the help of different employers.

Rollins also needs to employ better organization. There should be a more accessible school calendar that is heavily advertised on social media which actually includes all of the academic and speaker events, as well as student club meetings, faculty gatherings, and campus-wide initiatives. Some organization and motivation would go a long way when it comes to bringing in students, but considering the amount of work that often comes with being a full-time Rollins pupil, I’m not sure we can blame people who would prefer taking a break instead of attending another academic event.

Valentine’s Day is a marketing ploy to get people to do what they should be doing every day of the year.

Nicolas Nagaoka

Cover Art Designed By Shaayann Khalid ‘17

be difficult to make students aware of specific events. Promotions and mass emails on Rollins campus have become so extreme that it is easy to ignore almost any advertising, except possibly word-of-mouth.

In order to get more students at speakers’ performances, the majors and minors involved need to think of an extra incentive for them. Perhaps this could look like some sort of award or honor within the department.

For example, if a student attends 15 English Major events over four years at Rollins (this could include Winter With the Writers, Sigma Tau Delta, Writing Workshops, etc.), they might receive something additional to put on their resume. Though this may not make many undergraduates actively attend all major get-togethers, it might evoke the same mentality that many students seem to have when they pick up a new minor. Something along the lines of, “I have already completed most of the classes by accident, and I’m sort of inter-

Valentine’s Day woes

Taylor McCormack Business Intern Jose Araneta Student Media Graduate Assistant

with executive positions in campus organizations, and participate on sports teams. Even being involved in a few areas of campus life outside of the usual schoolwork can be overwhelming, and the easiest option for an overworked student is to collapse into bed at the end of the day—or during any break between classes and schoolwork, honestly—and binge watch Netflix, play a videogame, or scroll through social media.

The second problem is that students seem to feel overwhelmed by the amount of events, both academic and otherwise, on campus. When presented with too many options, it’s easiest to just not do anything.

Essentially, famous guest speakers and campus proceedings have become almost mundane—hectic schedules seem to cause a sort of “we-can-skipthis-week’s-speaker-there-willprobably-be-another-next-week” mentality. This overload of speechmakers and festivities leads to another problem: it can

Writer

The rose petals have been swept, the chocolates devoured, the candlelit dinner stacked in Tupperware. Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone and what have we gained from it? A pretty sizeable hole in our wallets.

I have never been a fan of this holiday. From the youthful days of middle school on, I have been shamefully single on this love-filled day. Wherever I look, I feel this dreaded holiday trying to guilt-trip me for being single.

The people behind the marketing of Valentine’s Day are skilled at forcing you to feel inadequate for lacking that special someone in your life. Somehow, the sin-

gle people out there are accosted for not having someone, expected to search like hunters in the wild for a friend or stranger to ask that oh-so-special question: “Will you be my Valentine?”

For every normal person uncomfortable with that idea, the answer should be no. However, everyone knows that creeping feeling of social pressure, the Valentine’s Day creature puts your logic in a vice grip. Denial of a potential valentine is the denial of social stability for that day. In other words, for 24 hours you will not hear the end of it. From experience, though, I promise that being alone today is okay.

To those of you who spent a lovely day with your partner, loving one another just a little

bit more, I have only one thing to say: why does Valentine’s Day have to be the day you love your special someone more? You should appreciate them whatever day you want. You should love them more at whatever hour you want.

Also, be more mindful when you use the word love; it loses value when you say it too much.

They know, they really do, and if they do love you, they do not need to hear it because they will always know.

Instead of telling them how much you love them, tell them why you love them. A partner in life is a friend first, a chance for romance second. Talk about the time you were on an awkward double date, when your anniversary was actually next week

not this week, or even how you met at that weird house party.

Show your partner that you see them as a wonderful person, not a romantic ideal upheld by Hallmark cards and Godiva chocolates. See the beauty in what no advertiser will.

I close this article knowing that maybe someone will read this and feel a little more relaxed.

Valentine’s Day should not dictate how or when we should use the word “love” to describe every little bit of affection we show.

Find beauty in yourself and the people around you. Treat any day like Valentine’s Day, have fun, and be a dandy person. If you will excuse me, I have 55 cupcakes to bake for a very special group of people. Happy Valentine’s Day folks!

The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sandspur, its staff or Rollins College.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Page 3 • OPINIONS

Questioning DeVos’ ability as Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ lack of knowledge on how education functions in the United States and her family’s generous donations to multiple republican senators calls into question her ability as Secretary of Education.

“

Constellations is a play about the role of choice and control in our lives and the divergent paths that are born from the decisions we make.

work in education reform to a Biblical battleground where she plans to “advance God’s Kingdom.” She has financially supported religious institutions— giving $8.6 million to Holland Christian Schools, the Grand Rapids Christian High School Association and the Ada Christian School. All of the schools DeVos graduated from have religious ties, further demonstrating the deep roots she holds within the tradition of Christian reformation.

Betsy DeVos is not an educator or a leader. She has no credentials to become the Secretary of Education. I guess when you have the money to casually donate $200 million over the years, you expect a decent return. In Betsy DeVos’ case, her return may cost hardworking American teachers their jobs and dedicated children their fundamental right to an unbiased education.

Not impressed with the facts

above? Get this. Betsy DeVos believes guns should have a place in schools due to the potential threat of, not terrorists, not school shooters, but GRIZZLY BEARS. How are parents not completely outraged and disturbed by the fact that she didn’t oppose putting guns in our schools? Just like the others, DeVos is just a puppet for Trump’s twisted propaganda.

You would think Betsy DeVos’ lack of experience and sketchy ideals would be enough to make America run the other way. The United States government continues to shock the world and ignore popular opinion by placing clown after clown in office. DeVos should not be in control of federal regulations and monetary supplements for our school children, the future leaders of America. Hide from the people, Betsy DeVos—the united, dissenting public is a far greater threat than Grizzlies.

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President Donald Trump has, yet again, allowed an extremely controversial and unqualified individual to weasel past the Senate and steal a very important position. Betsy DeVos is a woman who has never run, taught in, attended, or sent a child to a public school. Incredibly wealthy and religious, she has zero experience handling finances in general, let alone student financial aid, debt, and pell grants. Yet, on February 7 of 2017, she was confirmed as the Secretary of Education.

H e r confirmation demonstrates two concepts surrounding money. First, DeVos has proven that with money comes power.

Sitting U.S. Senators have received tens of thousands of dollars from the DeVos family.

Bill Cassidy (R-La.) received $70,200; Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), $70,200; Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), $50,600. These men, along with twenty others, were blinded by greed. Each of these individuals voted in favor of her confirmation. Are you surprised?

The most disturbing concept to grasp is the “donation” accepted by Florida’s Sen. Marco Rubio. Rubio currently has a 100 percent record when it comes to backing all of President Trump’s plans and nominees. The senator ended up being a key vote in the

tion system.

The second monetary concept demonstrated by Betsy DeVos involves the money she plans on taking away from public schools. DeVos has spent millions of dollars and countless hours trying to force her homestate of Michigan to replace public schools with privately-run charter schools. She also supports the idea of taking children out of failing schools and providing them with a monetary voucher to attend a private, or charter school. These vouchers are made of money that comes directly from the failing school— it is a sneaky effort masked by a fancy word with the intent to completely defund schools.

Other than promoting for-profit schools—which evidence shows are no better at educating than public institutions— DeVos intends on pressing her religious views in education reform. She once compared her

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50-50 deadlock broken by Vice President Mike Pence. Both surprisingly and unsurispingly, it has been confirmed that Marco Rubio accepted $98,300 from the DeVos family.

The thousands of desperate Florida citizens and members of the educational community who protested her confirmation to the Senator via mail, phone call, and e-mail basically wasted their time. Rubio walked into the voting room as a puppet, his brain fogged by the scent of money and limbs controlled by the donors.

Throwback to when little Marco eloquently stated the U.S. Senators’ intentions on being a “strong check and balance system” on Trump’s policies.

That was a good one!

DeVos is not ashamed of her donation history. “ M y family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican party. . . I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now, I simply concede the point.” Said DeVos when discussing the criticisms surrounding her family’s political donations.

When grilled by the Senate during her confirmation hearing, DeVos gave very vague, unprecedented responses. Her ability to protect her corrupt donations is there, yet she is unable to fluently and persuasively defend her plans for the American educa-

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Page Page #2 NEWS 4 •• SECTION FEATURES

Maura Leaden

Thursday, September 11, 2016 2014 Thursday, February 16,

New blog serves up food news Writer

Amanda Wakefield ‘19 is a lifelong foodie who is super excited to start a chapter of the national blog Spoon University at Rollins.

“I’ve always been really into food. My mom and I follow all the food blogs, and order all the magazines,” Wakefield admitted. She has also run her own popular food-centric Instagram account for about two years and has raked up over a thousand followers. On finding out about Spoon University, she explains, “it just popped up on social media one day.”

SpoonUniversity.com has launched all over the nation, with presences on 150+ college campuses, resulting in a strong social media impact. It is a food and lifestyle blog that offers an

opportunity for any college campus to start their own page in order to dive into all of the food opportunities in the local town or greater city area. The site is also a place for students to share meal hacks for the dorm room if their wallets are running low.

Food articles range from trends, to humor, to budget advice, to health articles.

One of Wakefield’s goals for Spoon University at Rollins College is to offer another opportunity for students to come together and share their passions. “I know for myself I had a hard time, my first year especially, finding an organization that I was really passionate about, and I think this one could be a way to bring people who were like me my first year together,” she explained. She hopes that students who join the team can find a home as well a spot for

friends and food to come together. “It’s fun—the articles aren’t super-tasking,” she added.

The team’s plan is to generate excitement on campus by hanging up flyers and passing out swag items such as stickers and pens. Leadership positions are already filled, but applications are still open to join the team with writing, photography, videography, and marketing positions. You can apply by visiting spoonuniversity.com/ chapter/rollins, and start getting involved by liking the Facebook page, Spoon University: Rollins College, and following @spoon_ rollinscollege on Instagram.

After interest is built on campus and article production is underway, the Spoon team is planning on celebrating the establishment of their page with a launch party, which is in the works to occur before Spring

Break. Later on in the life of the chapter, the team is looking forward to hosting events on campus. Their plan is to get local restaurants, and possibly even food trucks, involved.

All types of students are encouraged to apply. The idea is to establish a supportive group of students who are looking to have fun, build relationships, network, and most importantly, enthuse over food. Team members can also expect their organization, time management, and professional skills to improve.

“Everybody on the team is going to have some type of task and goals set for them every week,” shared Wakefield As founder/ editorial director, Amanda is looking to establish a collaborative process between the team and leadership.

Students may also be in line for tremendous opportunities.

Wakefield explained that some “people who have done Spoon on their campuses have gone on to have careers with some of the major food magazines and corporations” such as Food Network and Bon Appétit!

Already, doors are being opened for Wakefield due to her leadership position. She was invited to a Food Network panel where they will be answering questions about potential careers in the industry, “something that I probably wouldn’t have been able to do” without this connection.

If you’re not into writing or photography, there is still a spot for every student at Spoon University. Every blog needs a hearty following of readers!

Therefore, writers and readers alike can start to get excited about the new food blog on campus.

Creating innovative change through video The Rollins Innovation Hub recently announced the Changemaker Video Competition as part of its continuing goal to cultivate social revolutionaries on campus.

Christina Fuleihan Staff Writer Change will indubitably come; whether it is the right kind of change is another issue altogether.

Ensuring that the change of tomorrow is the change that we envision today requires each of us taking an active role in change-making. If people are passive about the change they hope to see, that change will not happen. One must both want to see change and be willing to catalyze it. There is nothing passive about progress, and there is always progress to be made.

The on-campus organization Innovation Hub strives to be a collaborative space that encourages change from all parties in the Rollins community. Rollins Innovation Hub colleagues have been able to put a definition to the illusive “change-maker” delineation: “To be a change-maker is to actively, collaboratively, and creatively think about what needs to be changed in the world and society, and to form ideas and solutions that bring those sus-

tainable ideas into action.”

College campuses across the nation serve as centers for change-making educations and liberal philosophies. The youth of our generation are the leaders of tomorrow.

In recent years, college students in universities across the United States of America have been some of the most vocal and active change-makers. Patient 9 Foundation, COS Nigeria, and the Food Recovery Network are just a few non-profit organizations founded by American college students.

Rollins students actively lead and plan Immersions around local community-service-centric needs identified in the area. Past students have also co-founded numerous service-centric and change-making organizations, including the Rollins Coalition for Sustainable Investment, which is campaigning for divestment from fuel companies.

If there is a change Rollins students want to see, either on-campus or on a larger scale, the Innovation Hub offers a great platform for students to share ideas. Creating a change-mak-

ing video as a part of the ongoing Rollins Change-maker Video Competition is just one way to share one’s message and reach out to a larger audience.

“Our goal with the Changemaker Video Competition is to give students a creative platform to share their innovative ideas of how they want to change the world and address a social challenge they are passionate about.

We want to spark ideas that will encourage students to continuously participate in change-making events and activities.”

There is also an added incentive being offered to those interested in making a video: the top four videos chosen by a panel of judges will receive gift cards, while the top three videos will be potentially featured by the Rollins Marketing Department as a way to share Rollins student experiences with the incoming Class of 2021.

Several students have already been encouraged to begin preparing their own videos, but the deadline to submit a video is not until Feb. 28. It is definitely not too late for interested parties to get started on their own video

project. All individual or team submissions are welcome.

There are a number of upcoming events also being sponsored by the Innovation Hub. The Hub will be hosting a pitch competition, Ideas for Good, on March 23; students can present potential solutions to international issues and compete to win $1,000 to kickstart their project.

The deadline to apply for this competition is Feb. 27. A fashion show with student models will be held on March 28 as a part of the Rethinking Fashion

Event. Also, the Innovation Hub is giving interested students the opportunity to apply to and attend the Sullivan Retreat, from April 7-9, in North Carolina, where students will be encouraged to develop skills that will better help them become agents of change.

If anyone wants more information about these events or an open space in which to discuss change-making and other ideas, they are encouraged to email changemaker@rollins.edu and introduce themselves.

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Page 5 • FEATURES

Thursday, February 16, 2016

Photo Courtesy of alumnus Sam Barns

Field studies offer students international perspective Rollins is offering several field studies this summer as part of its mission of global citizenship. The studies include learning about sustainable development in Tanzania and gaining cultural perspective in China.

Christina Fuleihan Staff Writer In keeping with Rollins’ mission of global citizenship, there will be several international summer field studies taking place in May and June. These field studies span a wide range of interests including research, community service, ecology, education, history, theater, and community development.

While some Maymester field study courses, such as the Marine Biology Laboratory, require prerequisites and others, such as the National Parks and Protected Areas Costa Rica trip, require co-requisites, not all courses do. Students can “Journey to

the Middle Kingdom” on a field study to China or even “Study Performance Design at the Edinburgh Fringe.” This year, Dr. Chong will also be offering a new field study that will be taking a group of Rollins students to Tanzania in the beginning of June.

Dr. Chong describes Tanzania as one of the most beautiful places he has ever seen. “Snowcapped mountains, dense forests with waterfalls, underground caves, broad savannahs with exotic animals, the birthplace of the human race–it’s just a place worth seeing in its own right.”

The “Community Development in Tanzania” field study offers students a culturally-im-

mersive opportunity to learn about sustainable development in one of the poorest countries in the world, to work side-byside with Tanzanian families on organic gardens, and to learn about global tourism and the impact on tourism on the environment and poverty. Sam Barns, a Rollins alumnus who works with poor families in rural areas and who is also developing an eco-lodge, will host the students on this trip. Tourism with regards to this eco-lodge takes on a new meaning, as all profits from tourists staying at the resort will directly feed back into the community.

As college students studying in a state recognized internation-

ally for its own host of tourist attractions, we come to realize that tourism has an impact on the local community in different ways.

In Tanzania, where tourism depends on the state’s less-developed natural landscape, these repercussions can be even more apparent.

Students have already shown a lot of interest in the Tanzania field study as well as some of the other field study offerings.

WaSH, a field-study led annually by Dr. Bernal, promises to be culturally immersive, research intensive, and community-service-oriented. On this trip, students can expect to increase their fluency in Spanish (even though the language is not a prerequisite

for trip attendance). Students will also learn about water filtration techniques and the importance of clean water, conduct pH, turbidity, and chlorine level water analysis, and distribute water filters to communities in need of clean water. Students will be able to interact with many locals as they travel to different parts of the country to distribute the filtration devices and test different water sources.

The deadline to apply to any of these programs is February 20; applications are already open on Foxlink.

To view all course offerings, students can go to the Rollins International Programs’ Summer 2017 Field Studies page.

Page 6 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, February 16, 2017

New Annie Russell play explores women in the Vietnam War

Amanda Grace

Head Copy Editor

When I was just a baby actor, my drama teacher told me that if I wasn’t sweating onstage, I wasn’t working hard enough.

Well, A Piece of My Heart sure gets me glowing.

The next drama to grace the Annie Russell stage explores the roles of six American women in the Vietnam War and the occupation’s longstanding effects on their lives. Audiences are introduced to three nurses, a Red Cross volunteer, an Army officer, and a USO singer, all of whom narrate their experiences through the twenty years surrounding the war.

I think it’s safe to say that Shirley Lauro’s play has been a unique challenge for all of us.

One of the only stylistic conventions included in the script that we decided to keep was a device where none of the six main females ever leave the stage, which demands that each of the women

in our cast pay particular attention to the sequence of scenes as they progress. Most of us have to change onstage; I exchange a sundress and go-go boots for a blouse—donated to the department by Dana Ivey, no less—and mom jeans before the audience’s eyes. Every member of the cast portrays multiple characters, so our individual character studies were multiplied during the rehearsal process.

These challenges are only compounded for the two men in our cast, who very courageously take on the identity of All Men. They cycle through suits and uniforms at a pace unrivaled by any modern machine, one that makes all of us stuck onstage just a little bit nervous for our boys in the wings.

The devices we employ in A Piece of My Heart are demanding, but when they work, they really work. In fact, since the show spends a great deal of time examining somber subjects, much of the comedy in the show

has evolved from these little moments of magic that the audience gets to see. The fastest quickchange in the show occurs over just one line, in a matter of seconds, but so far, audiences have revelled in the transformation, wondering how the lieutenant they saw moments ago could now be a seedy music agent.

Half of my hair comes off in the middle of a scene.

And as much as actors like to think of ourselves, we aren’t even the best of the spells cast onstage. Our amazing technical team has made manifest Vietnam around us in all its glory, from the emerald rice paddies to the raging flames that are the trademark of the Tet Offensive.

It’s all so beautiful, and we are all so lucky to be a small part in the greater world of these six women.

Most of all, working on this show has allowed me to share the voices of people I never knew prior to the process. The wonderful staff in the Theatre De-

partment and our show’s dramaturgs reached out to Vet’s groups across the state; during production, we had medical demonstrations put on by nurses, flipped through slides taken by a Red Cross volunteer, attended Vet rap groups, hosted a roundtable of intelligence officers, nurses, and soldiers who participated in the war, listened to Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy and Dr. Tuan Hoang compare policies on refugees today to the treatment of those deemed “the boat people” seeking refuge after their homes were decimated in the Vietnam altercation.

All of these people’s stories give context to the stories we bring to the stage. I portray MaryJo, a seventeen-year-old singer from Texas, whose experience in Vietnam is revealing of the gender violence and misogyny many women experienced overseas. It’s such an honor to be able to hear first-hand from a group of women how they survived mistreatment and deg-

radation as they did what they believed was best for their country in a place so far and different from home, and I hope more than anything that I can do that story justice onstage. All of our guests—all their experiences and heart—certainly give me the tools to do so.

The common thread between our informants is courage, which is written into the characters you’ll see at the Annie. The lives of Martha, MaryJo, Sissy, Whitney, LeAnn, and Steele are only marginally intertwined, but they all share a strength that is hard to imagine cultivating without the desperation of wartime.

Friends have been asking me if the show is sad; while it certainly can be heavy, it is deservedly so, and the revelation of each character’s constitution is more than worth taking part in their trials.

A Piece of My Heart begins its run in the Annie Russell Theater this Friday, February 17, with showings through Saturday, February 25.

‘God of Carnage’ another Second Stage success Alexandra Mariano

Managing Editor

Last weekend, just beyond the peaceful blades of grass swaying in the breeze blowing through Mills Lawn, something violent was brewing—something carnal.

Within the walls of the Fred Stone Theatre there was no wind and there were no peaceful blades of grass; only a fragmented black, red, and white backdrop behind a simple living room scene. For four days only, God of Carnage, a play directed

by James Blaisdell ’17, inhabited this space.

The plot’s premise was easy enough to follow, as two sets of parents discuss an altercation that has happened between their young boys; Benjamin Raleigh hit Henry Novak in the face with a stick, breaking two of the latter’s teeth. While the parents’ meeting was the direct result of a violent act committed by

offstage characters, it seemed hard to imagine how anything involving “carnage” could take place in the same room as a neat pile of books atop a coffee table.

Tensions between the two couples started off high, however, with Veronica Novak (Allison Furlong ’20) writing in the official statement that Benjamin was “armed” with his stick. The raised eyebrows of Alan Raleigh (Malakai Green ’18) could have frozen the blood in the veins of anyone who has ever dared to accuse someone else’s child of bad behavior. From there, the argument only escalates, unravelling both marriages as façades are peeled away and each character is forced to come to terms with who they are and who they’ve married.

Blaisdell ’17 made excellent use of the Fred’s limited space.

With a couch on one end of the stage and two chairs on the other, the characters never stayed in the same spot for very long.

Photo Courtesy of Mary Prather

Student media would like to thank this sponsor for their continued support.

Page 7 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, February 16, 2017

CFAM exhibits offer insight into historical black culture Two current exhibitions in the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, “AfroFantastic” and “The Black Figure in the European Imaginary,” portray aspects of black culture and art throughout history.

Cameron Ochse

Writer

Currently, there are two exhibitions at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum (CFAM) that explore black representation and imagination throughout history. The “AfroFantastic: Black Imagination and Agency in the American Experience” exhibit, which lasts until April 2, 2017, will be followed by “The Black Figure in the European Imaginary” exhibit, which runs until May 14, 2017. I stopped by CFAM to take a look at these exhibits that explore aspects of art often left underrepresented in the past.

Rollins students curated the AfroFantastic exhibit with Dr. Julian Chambliss, a History professor here at Rollins. The pieces stretch over a time span from the 19th century to modern day, covering the sociopolitical forces fueling the conceptualization of black culture in America. The time span covered in this exhibit helps the viewer witness the social transformation for black Americans over the past two

centuries, exploring topics from slavery to music and futurism.

AfroFantastic offers a great display of art that confronts the idea of the “American experience” throughout history, reminding the viewer of thealternate and macabre timeline experienced by black Americans.

From the surreal to the historical, AfroFantastic offers great insight into the transformation of the black imagination over time.

“The Black Figure in the European Imaginary” exhibit is curated by Adrienne L. Childs, Ph.D. and Susan H. Libby, Ph.D. This exhibit juxtaposed to the AfroFantastic exhibit allows the viewer to travel between mindsets and history to compare the black American imagination to the European imagination of black people from the 1700s into the 1900s. Given the opposing mindset, this exhibit more broadly covers the topics of slavery, colonialism, and imperialism. There was a European fascination with African culture during the exploration of Africa and the Middle East. The exoti-

cism of dark-skinned people and faraway lands is a clear theme throughout the different works, while the marginalized and racist caricatures of African American people during this same time period also line the walls of CFAM. While some of these paintings may have been well intentioned, the representation of black persons through these artworks often objectifies and fetishizes minority cultures.

“The Black Figure in the European Imaginary” is examining the often biased and one-sided relationship between European artists and the black figure over the course of centuries.

Both of these exhibits offer great insight into historical as well as contemporary issues.

There is more information on both exhibits on the CFAM website, and the museum offers free admission throughout the week.

Whether you have time between classes or just want to admire a perspective other than your own, stop by CFAM to visit both these exhibitions before they’re gone.

Curator gives talk on African American art

Jojo Peloquin

Writer

Sarah Kelly Oehler is the Curator at the Art Institute of Chicago, and she came down to Rollins to speak about Southside Lives: African American Art in Chicago 1920-1950.

Dr. Oehler is extremely passionate about African American art and the Harlem Renaissance.

Many of the artists that she focuses on had different styles to their work, but they all focused on the technique of social realism— drawing attention to everyday living conditions through art.

All of the artists expressed their concerns about their own personal situations through unique executions. For example, Charles White had a more direct style of painting to focus in on and

appreciate the African-American culture of the time. Many of his paintings showed the socioeconomic struggle within his photographs and paintings. Oehler argued that White could be identified as a Chicago realist—a technique similar to social realism—constantly seeking progress, and searching for identity.

Sarah Oehler said that Chicago was one of the many places that travelers flocked to during the Great Migration, which is what makes it so interesting to study. The different people who traveled here during World War I created a different kind of atmosphere because of the diversity shared among them.

One prominent artist during this time was Archibald Motley, who was committed to creating more figurative art. Motley was

interesting because he understood that predominantly white people would view his art, and so he capitalized off that knowledge to express and expose his take on the world to oppressors.

For most of these artists, their main goal was to advocate for racial equality, the same way we do today. They wanted to show the exciting and fun side of the African-American culture instead of letting biases dictate expectations. Many of the artists would depict the idealized world of equal pleasures, appealing to both black and white arenas. Some of the younger leftists focused on exposing and exploiting poverty, daily life, and social conditions. These artists used their artistic abilities to create a political platform to engage all people.

Page 8 • SPORTS

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Hard-hitters in new Tars softball team Ellie Rushing

Staff Writer

Following one of the most historic seasons in the program’s history, the Rollins College softball team traveled to Clearwater, Florida to play in the NFCA Leadoff Classic and continue the beginnings of their 2017 season.

The team entered familiar territory with nearly a completely new team—three transfers and six freshmen make up the nine additions to the Tars. As they worked extraordinarily hard through the off season to build the strength, skills, and team camaraderie necessary for a successful season, the Tars entered the tournament hopeful and confident in each other.

Last weekend, the Tars traveled to the Gulf Shores of Alabama. Although the Tars split the weekend 2-2, the competition they faced was some of the best they will see all season. The level of competition they played at was very high for a young team, and as the new additions to the team become even more comfortable, the Tars hope to eliminate errors and perfect their offense to pull together before they are Denver-bound.

“The talent is there, as well as the team chemistry, we just have to puzzle all the pieces together” said Claire Hamilton ‘17, catcher for the Tars. “Our biggest strength as a team is our hitting, our bats are on fire and I am confident that we are going to score a lot of runs.”

Being confident in your teammates and trusting their abilities is key to a successful game and season outcome. Last season the Tars finished 40—16—1, making it to Super Regionals in the post season for the first time ever.

Eventually, they fell to North Alabama, who were later named National Champions. Many of the girls say the senior leadership and trust in each other is what pushed the Tars so far, which is what the four seniors hope to use as a weapon again this season.

Rollins split two games during the first day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Leadoff Classic. They started the tournament strong by defeating Tiffin University.

Although the first three innings were scoreless, Abigail Sexton ‘19 produced a two-out single, eventually scored by transfer Kacie Booth ‘18. The Tars added three

more runs as the game continued. The Dragons were hopeful for a comeback as they scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh; however, pitcher Sarah Piening ‘20 held her composure to escape a bases loaded jam—Tars won 4-2.

Friday’s second game against West Chester did not go as well for the Tars. West Chester jumped an early 2-0 lead. Even though Rollins entered the seventh inning with a 4-2 advantage, West Chester manufactured four runs in the last inning and ended up winning 6-2.

The outcome of Saturday’s play was similar to Friday’s—the Tars went 1-1 again. Rollins fell victim to the Wayne State Warriors in the first game. Producing more errors than hits allowed Wayne State to score six unearned runs. Hailee Keisling ‘17 drove home Grace Street ‘19 in the fifth inning for the Tars only run. The game ended 1-13. However, Rollins used a bad loss to propel them into Saturday’s second game and beat Central Missouri. The Tars grabbed the lead in the second inning as they scored two runs. The Tars extended their lead in the fourth as Keisling and Sarah Harrison ‘20 scored on Rachel Minier’s (‘17) bunt. In the sixth inning, the Tars finished off Central Missouri with four more runs, completing an 8-0 shutout game.

Rollins wrapped up the tournament with a win in their only game on Sunday, against California (PA), making their current record 5-4. Chelsea Reed ‘17 led the way for the Tars, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s.

“We hit the crap out of the ball, which is going to win us a lot of games,” said Reed. Hopefully Rollins uses that hitting ability to win games throughout the remainder of the season, especially as conference play begins in the upcoming weeks.

Rollins’ next games will be held at home against conference rival University of Tampa for their first series of the season. The games will be played at home at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, with the first pitch beginning on Friday 17 at 7:00 p.m. The remainder of the series will be held on Saturday 18 at 1:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon.

For more information about the Rollins softball team, their statistics, and game updates, follow RollinsSports.com.

Courtesy of Jim Hogue Photos

Tars dominate the courts

Jojo Peloquin

Jasmine Stone #3 is one particWriter ular player that came out stronger after the half; Stone came On Wednesday, February out shooting and drawing fouls 8, the Women and Men’s Bas- from NSU. #34 Tianna Rosser ketball teams took on the Nova ‘19 was another crucial player Southeastern University Sharks. for the game. Rosser made plays The women’s team had a sparse when the Tars needed it most, crowd, but they had the most she made her shots, drew out exciting game. The game start- fouls, and made her free throws, ed off with #3 Jasmine Stone which were crucial for the tight ‘18, #1 Tanaya Jones, #30 Carly game. The game went back and McLendon ‘18, #10 Julia Ingler forth between Rollins and Nova.

‘18, and #21 Marie Gilbert taking During the final minutes for the the court, and after the tip-off, game, #12 Megon Piggott on the things seemed to look down for Sharks received a technical foul the Tars. While the NSU Sharks that could have changed the outwere up within the first 6 min- come of the game. After #10 Inutes, Marie Gilbert #21 managed gler drained her shots, the Tars to score all the points for the turned over the ball to NSU and Tars. The Sharks came out strong the game was now 59-58, with and organized, capitalizing off 40 seconds to go, favoring the of the few turnovers of the Tars. Sharks. Once Rollins had possesIt was not until the third quarter sion of the ball, #1 Jones reboundthat Rollins came back strong. ed her missed shot, went up for a

second shot and made it, and she was fouled. Jones made her plusone, putting Rollins ahead by 2.

NSU turned over the ball after, and then the game was over. The Tars won 63-59, continuing their win streak to 8 games in a row.

The men’s game had a completely different vibe. The starters for the Tars were #2 Connor Mckim ‘20 , #5 Nils Lehmann ‘18, #44 Jeff Merton ‘18, #14 Mike Bedulskis ‘17, and #32 Joey Galvis ‘17. The NSU Sharks struggled to keep up with the Tars from the beginning, with a few bad passes and a ton of missed shots. The Tars capitalized off of their mistakes and were very organized and in sync throughout the entire game. Even though NSU came out strong in the second half of the game, the Tars still ended up beating them by 20 points.