The Sandspur Volume 122 Issue 5 by The Sandspur

Volume 122 Issue 5 Thursday,October 1, 2015

Olin Library celebrates freedom with Banned Books Week page 4

Page 2• OPINIONS

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Student Pleads to Preserve Planned Parenthood

Established in 1894 with the following editorial:

Congress has recently attempted to defund Planned Parenthood, which has caused controversy. A student argues that the services the organization provides are non-negotiable for many women.

EXECUTIVE STAFF Micah Bradley Editor-in-Chief Lauren Waymire Managing Editor Stephanie Garcia Production Manager

CONTENT STAFF

Alexandra Mariano Head Copy Editor Esteban Meneses Barbara Padilla Amanda Hughes Copy Editors Eric Hilton Minoska Hernandez Section Editor Danielle Del Pico Staff Writer Nolan Brewer Kali Joslin Web Assistants

DESIGN DEPARTMENT Shaayann Khalid Head Designer Carmen Cheng Masha Protopopova Zoe Kim Designers Nagina Chaudhry Natalie Hayes Photographers

BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden

General Manager of Student Media

Bill Boles

Professor of English

PUBLIC RELATIONS Adam Belsky

Cameron Ochse

Writer

Recently there has been discussion that, while planning this upcoming year’s budget, Republicans in Congress started the ball rolling to stop using taxpayer money to fund Planned Parenthood. Due to Republicans and Democrats being so divided over the issue, a potential government shutdown is looking like a possibility within the next few weeks. In 2013 the government went through a temporary shutdown when Republicans caused a standstill in an attempt to stop funding for the Affordable Care Act. While Republicans are hesitant to cause another shutdown, the ultra-conservative members of the Tea Party are pressuring Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner (who will step down from the position in October) into being more aggressive towards conservative policies with the president. One of the policies they are pushing for is the defunding of Planned Parenthood. Overall, I cannot help but

“

Republicans caused a standstill in an attempt to stop funding for the Affordable Care Act.

think this is not something that is going to pass, even if a shutdown does occur. The Tea Party is an ultra-conservative political group in a country that is increasingly liberal with each coming generation. The Supreme Court events of this summer show that the government is beginning to takes a more liberal approach to moral issues that have been plaguing campaigns and Congress for years now. While most liberals stand firmly in the pro-choice arena, the pro-life conservatives have been voicing the concerns even louder after the anti-abor-

tion propaganda film Human Capital was released that supposedly proved that Planned Parenthood was illegally selling fetal tissue for research. While Planned Parenthood has apologized for some of the comments their employees used in the film (which was created using a hidden camera), research into Planned Parenthood has proven that they have not broken the laws the video accuses them of breaking. The video makers have also been accused of editing their videos to make the organization look worse than it is. Planned Parenthood is something that needs to stay, whether conservatives back it or not. Abortions only account for 2 percent of the services offered by Planned Parenthood. STD testing and treatment, contraception, cancer screenings, and other women’s health services are all vital services provided in their clinics. Anti-abortion supporters are quick to demonize Planned Parenthood because they seem caught up in this one service, but we need to grow up and realize this is a non-negotiable service.

Public Relations Intern

Anneliese Duprey

Social Media Manager

ADVERTISING

Contact: advertising@thesandspur.

Accepts R-Cards! “My favorite is spinach, tomato, and feta”

Locally Owned and Operated

OPEN 000-000-000

Minimum Purchase required for delivery. Delivery charge may apply. Limited delivery areas.

1214 99

& Marbled Cookie Brownie

each

CODE 5041

LIMITED TIME OFFER

LIMITED TIME OFFER Cash Value 1/20c. Prices may vary. Tax may apply. Code 5908

CARRYOUT OR DELIVERY

Cover Design by: Christina Fuleihan ’19

1 LARGE ANY WAY! Large 1-Topping Pizza Choose any style with any toppings

STORE LOCATION

000-000-000 ORDER NOW AT DOMINOS.COM

2 LARGE

Minimum Purchase required for delivery. Delivery charge may apply. Limited delivery areas.

Large 3-Topping Pizza & Marbled 2-Topping CookiePizzas Brownie

13 99

Additional Toppings extra.

CODE 5364

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Code 5909

Cash Value 1/20c. Prices may vary. Tax may apply.

CARRYOUT ONLY

Valid with coupon only at participating stores.

Orlando, FL 32751

Roger Lewis, your local Domino’s Manager

STORE LOCATION

Valid with coupon only at participating stores.

Maitland 000-000-000 1510 S Orlando Ave. STORE LOCATION

If a woman suffers rape, incest, or is putting her own life in danger by being pregnant, there need to be options for that woman; the pregnancy cannot be forced on her. Even if none of those conditions are present, if a woman feels as though having a child is not a current possibility for her, she should not have to go forward with a pregnancy. Many people argue that

“

The Tea Party is an ultra-conservative party in a country that is becoming more and more liberal with each coming generation.

rather than getting an abortion, a person should give their child up for adoption. This is not as easy as people claim for it to be. If the fetus shows signs of being disabled, the mother does not match the adoptive parent’s idea of good genetics, or if maybe just no one seems to be interested in that woman’s fetus, people are not going to adopt a baby that easily. They are going to make sure the baby they would be committed to for the rest of their life is as perfect as it can be, and no child is perfect. If America wants to continue taking progressive steps, then we need to accept that abortion is something that will be present for a long time to come. Defunding or eliminating Planned Parenthood would be the antithesis of progress. Ultimately, if you are against abortions, then do not go out and get an abortion. Do not, however, take away another woman’s right to choose her fate just because you are opposed to a decision that she makes.

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

Additional toppings extra.

Page 3 • FEATURES

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Beating back book bans Banned Books Week, which started on Monday, hopes to raise awareness about free speech and the right to read. Danielle Del Pico

Staff Writer

Banned Books Week is Sept. 27 to Oct. 3. On Thursday, Oct. 1 from 12:30-2 p.m. in Olin Library’s Bookmark Café is the Banned Books Week Read-Out, where participants are invited to read from their favorite banned books. Erin Gallagher, Electronic Resources and Serials Librarian, shared details of what students can expect during the Banned Books Week Read-Out. “Students can expect an open-minded, convivial, and stimulating atmosphere. They can expect to see their friends, teachers, and beloved staff reading excerpts from banned or challenged books and hear how these books have impacted their lives. And, hopefully, they will feel free to lend their voices to the read-out,” Gallagher said. Gallagher has participated in events at other schools and is looking forward to Rollins’ interpretation. She said, “I’ve participated in these events at other colleges and they are always a lot of fun. Students will hear excerpts from books ranging from The Bluest Eye to The Hunger Games to the

Bible. Most importantly, they will come away from the event with an increased awareness of what it means to have access to what they want to read, when they want to read it. We’re very lucky to have that and we should not take it for granted.” Banning books has a long history nationwide and worldwide. As college students, there may be a misconception that banned books are an issue isolated to Elementary, Middle, and High School education, and are therefore not our problem. It is important to note that this is an issue affecting our neighbors and community; the books that students read while growing up are a crucial part of who they are today. According to the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association, out of all the past banned books, over the last 25 years books featuring offensive language and sexually explicit content have been the most challenged. The primary individual challenger is typically the parent of a child, and institutional challengers tend to be school and public libraries as well as schools themselves. Gallagher reflected on why

the issue of banning books needs to become a thing of the past. “What good comes from banning books? I know I take a passionate approach to the issue, but I also understand that, in most cases, books are challenged or banned due to good intentions. Parents are concerned that their children will be exposed to content that’s ‘unsuited to their age group,’ which is a valid point and one that any parent might struggle with from time to time,” she said. “The problem comes when book banning becomes a public issue that affects not only the child whose parent didn’t want him or her to read a particular book, but all the other children who would have had access to that book through their public library, bookstore, and school.” Gallagher added that censorship is not always obvious. “Censorship is a sneaky phenomenon; it can happen overtly, as with bleeping out obscenities from television shows, or it can happen quietly, as tends to be the case with book banning. I do take heart in knowing that the surest way to get people to find and read a book is to ban it,” she said. Dr. Patrick Fleming, Visiting Assistant Professor of English, agreed that banning books can

make them more popular, pointing to historical precedents. “One of the great historical ironies is that censorship can make some titles wildly popular. In Romantic-era Britain, censored texts were not afforded intellectual property protection, and so could be freely pirated— meaning they were available far cheaper than other works. Percy Shelley’s Queen Mab benefited from this fact, and it helped make Lord Byron the age’s best-selling poet. Today we refer to it as the ‘Streisand effect’ when trying to hide or censor a topic inadvertently makes it more popular.” Members of the Rollins College community can engage this week and stand up for their right to not only read the book of their choice, but also celebrate their individual freedom by participating in the banned book event at Olin Library. “Students should care about and have an awareness of the freedom to read because we’re not just talking about personal decisions and liberty and the First Amendment; we’re talking about stifling the opportunity to immerse yourself in an experience/viewpoint/perspective that challenges your own and allows you to grow into the kind

of adult who can think critically and empathetically,” Gallagher said. “How can we at Rollins tout ‘global citizenship’ if we don’t also fight against censoring the global perspective found in literature? When a library, school, or bookstore removes a book for any reason (moral, ethical, political, or religious), it sends the message that this book is wrong. Who are we to decide what is right and wrong in literature?” Professor Fleming subsequentky argued that banning certain topics ensures that important conversations cannot occur. He said, “We should trust teachers to decide what texts to assign, and students should be worried when political or religious groups try to wrest away that control. Books help readers understand the world, but they also shape the possibilities of our worldview. When we try to protect young readers, we deny them the opportunity to learn about and respond to uncomfortable elements of real life. But even worse, we marginalize young readers who encounter violence or abuse or racism by implicitly saying their experiences don’t matter and aren’t worth reading about.”

English class covers mystery, murder A course in the English department has students talking. The class, ‘Crime Fiction and Film,’ hopes to provide an introduction to American literature and filmography. Nicolas Nagaoka

Columnist

ENG190 is the home of murder, crime, and investigation. English Professor Paul Reich, who concentrated his studies on 20th Century American Literature, African American Literature, the American West, and an interdisciplinary studies and popular culture, runs the discussions and deductions of the crime genre of literature. Professor Reich, who did his undergraduate work at Rollins and his graduate work at Purdue University, has called this course an “evolutionary” one, especially since he has taught it before—finding the ideas that worked and the ones that did not work. He created this course as a fun way to learn about literature,

English writing, and the analyzation of texts. Reich stated that he found much interest in the genre of crime fiction and as such chose it as the primary focus. This is also an introductory course to the English major and as such, he came up with the idea to create a friendly and fun course to get new English Majors excited for future courses. Even non-majors can take this course and still derive a lot of enjoyment out of it. The students are given a mixture of visual mediums like television shows and film as well as texts. The texts can intrigue even the most hardened non-readers. Some of the texts include The Maltese Falcon, Kill My Mother, Real Cool Killers, and many more. The video aspect is very intriguing, as one of Reich’s goals was to screen television shows that have

just as many cinematic elements as a film does. The two television shows that he is showing this semester are True Detective and The Fall. The classroom environment is all about discussion and a lot less about note taking and theory. Discussions tend to last a long time as students continuously feed and take ideas from other students and Reich himself. Even beyond the classroom, Reich has his students write blog posts, furthering the conversations and discussions past the one hour and fifteen minute class time. This class is a phenomenal way to start the English Major, and on top of that, if you are an aspiring film student, this can count towards your Film Minor. Taking this course has really opened my eyes to film, novels, and fiction writing.

Photo by Scott Cook

Page 4 • FEATURES

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Photos by Nagina Chaudhry

Rollins supports National Voter Registration Day Rollins students honor National Voter Registration Day on Tars Plaza with festive and patriotic sign-up tables.

Destiny Reyes

Writer

It is often said that the target voting population is primarily college age, the “change makers” to be. In order to effect any change, though, students have to vote, and not only for presidential elections. On September 22, National Voter Registration Day, the Democracy Project, SGA, WPRK, and EcoRollins all partnered to encourage electoral participation on our campus. On Tars Plaza, out in the blazing heat from 10 a.m. to

2 p.m., these various organizations set up tables to reach out to the student population. The Democracy Project motivated passing community members to make use of their online medium ‘Turbovote’ to register to vote quickly and easily, with the option to choose absentee ballots for their home towns, or vote in the Winter Park Elections. With a table decorated with voting pins and stickers, the mood was festive, patriotic, and friendly. Democracy Project Student Coordinator James Ryan ’17 ex-

plained that Rollins College is currently “tenth in terms of percentage of students registered through TurboVote (which is one of the primary methods colleges use).” Plans to further increase voter registration are underway, and, as Ryan stated, “National Voter Registration Day was just the start. We will be continuing to offer voter registration opportunities across campus during the lead up to the presidential election year to ensure that all members of the community have a chance to voice their votes.”

Student Body President CJ Dunn ’16 represented SGA that afternoon as well, encouraging voter participation of a slightly different sort. In order to gauge where Rollins stands on areas like alcohol. Dunn distributed surveys to students regarding how they would feel about Dave’s Boathouse providing alcohol at tailgates and extending the BYO policy to tailgates as well. BYO stands for the “Bring Your Own” policy, which allows students 21 and over to bring a six pack of beer (no hard liquor) to events.

By the end of the event a considerable number of the student population had taken the poll. NextGen Climate also worked on engaging the campus in issues demanding involvement in order to effect change. A nonpartisan organization acting politically to prevent climate disaster and promote prosperity for all Americans, NextGen worked on reaching out to the students as well. With the combined efforts of these four organizations, it is fair to say that National Voter Registration Day was a success.

Page 5 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Universal transforms for Halloween Horror Nights This year marks the 25th annual Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, and the park is undergoing a transformation into terror.

Lea Warren

Photos by Lea Warren

Columnist

Spanning from Sep. 18 to Nov. 1, Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is an all-night event at Universal Orlando where guests can experience haunted houses and sanctioned ‘scare zones,’ where themed monsters roam among the crowds. There are also two interactive shows, one based on the face of Halloween Horror Nights 25, Jack the Clown, and a more lighthearted one, with satirical performances of current media, pop culture references, and current musical hits, hosted by Bill and Ted from the classic 80s movie Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. In addition to all of the Halloween fun, the park leaves open some of its best rides. This year is the celebration of the 25th year of HHN, which takes place on select nights, usually Friday through Sunday. For the celebration, the creators brought up the terrifying fun with nine haunted houses instead of eight. One more haunted house may not seem like a huge step up, but according to a member of Universal’s Entertainment team, the creation of a house is a huge undertaking. It takes at least a year to create a haunted house; plans for each annual HHN begin as soon as Halloween is over. The 25th HHN opened on Sep. 18, and planning for year 26 has already begun. The undertaking for this yearly project is huge. Every night, countless hair and makeup artists team up to send hundreds of ‘scareactors’ to houses and into the streets. Construction of each house takes months, as does planning for casting, music, lighting, and merchandizing.

The massive effort pays off in the end, as each house is guaranteed to send everyone running and screaming. The Walking Dead, Freddy vs. Jason, Insidious, The Purge, and 25 Years of Monsters & Mayhem showcase fan favorites with zombies, beloved thriller characters, and all the favorites from past years of HHN. There is also a returning house for the first time in HHN history, showing off the amazing costuming and animatronics that brought the classic film American Werewolf in London to life in a shiver-inducing house. For those who love gore, the Body Collectors: Recollections house showcases the slaughterhouse alcoves of a group of body snatchers. The house named Run also displays a bloody-thriller theme with a twist: as you walk through the house, you are a contestant on a killer reality television show, Run. The final house of the year is Asylum in Wonderland. Based on the iconic novel, the maze takes you through the rabbit hole into a neon 3D experience with man-eating flowers, a crazed and violent Mad Hatter, and a bloodthirsty Queen of Hearts. Between the houses, you may also encounter traveling gangs of scareactors with chainsaws who will chase you down the foggy streets. Each ‘scare zone’ also has a theme. This year, they include Psychoscareapy Unleashed, Icons - HHN, Scary Tales - Screampunk, Evil’s Roots, and All Nite Die-In - Double Feature. All in all, this unique once-ayear event is a must-see. HHN is definitely one of the most anticipated events of the year in Florida.

Page 6 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, October 1, 2015

WPRK gets the scoop on Roosevelt Collier ‘The Intern’ misses the mark

Pedal steel guitarist Roosevelt Collier shares his plans for Magnolia Fest, special sit-ins with other artists, and his own projects. Jonny Scoblionko

so hopefully I will be popping on Columnist and oﬀstage all day.” He went on to express his In anticipation of Magnolia palpable excitement to get back Fest, pedal steel guitarist Roos- onstage at Suwannee, explaining evelt ‘The DR’ Collier appeared that it is one of his favorite venlive on WPRK, Rollins’ own ues in the country. basement radio station. Among Known for his killer sit-ins, the things he shared were his Collier plays with the Lee Boys, recent All-Star shows with Oteil sits in with other bands, and colBurbridge, Nilaborates on othgel Hall, and er projects. He Anthony Cole; does not prefer living in Suwanone over the othnee County; and er, but the Lee Known for plans for MagBoys hold a spehis killer sit-ins, cial place in his nolia Festival and collaboratheart because Collier plays ing with other they are his famwith the Lee musicians. ily band and As a new knows they Boys, sits in with he resident of Suwill “always be other bands, and there.” wannee County, Collier has had espite collaborates on that,DCollier the opportunity has to host his new spent the past other projects. concert series, few years focusHe does not Roosevelt Coling mostly on lier’s Suwannee prefer one over his own projects Get Down. He and making as the other, but the much music as explained that his favorite ascan with as Lee Boys hold a he pect about the many people as Get Downs is special place in possible. that they allow “It is a great him to play his heart because feeling to just with numerous jump onstage they are his talented bands and not know family band and what is about and musicians that are just beto happen,” he he knows they ginning to gain said. “I really will “always be momentum. am so thankful Collier will to have so many there.’” be performing friends and fans at Magnolia that just love Festival—the the raw, organfour-day music ic get-downs, festival will be held at The Spir- you know. Just the whole idea it of the Suwannee Music Park of ‘let’s just jam and get together in Live Oak, this October—with and have some fun,’ that is what The Travelin McCourys, the it is all about.” Lee Boys, and, as he explained, Luckily, you do not need whomever else he feels like hop- to wait until Magnolia Fest for ping onstage with. your chance to see ‘The DR,’ as When asked if he has any he will be playing with the Roosplans to sit in with anyone, Col- evelt Collier Trio (featuring Matt lier said, “Who’s to tell? I just Lapham and Anthony Cole) at like to pop onstage. I am there Red Lion Pub on Oct. 2. all Friday and there are a lot of The interview is also availkiller bands playing on Friday, able on the WPRK Soundcloud.

“

While the film does contain strong performances from seasoned actors, ‘The Intern’ struggles to find its niche in terms of comedic style and story. Nicolas Nagaoka

Columnist

Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, The Intern, starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, deals with widower Ben Whittaker’s boredom and struggle to balance fun and productivity in his life. Not only does Whittaker ﬁnd that balance in a Senior Intern program, but he also discovers that Jules, the head of the company, is in need of advice to steer her life. The story and ‘humor’ of the ﬁlm are generic and out of place. The plot seems to have been crafted in about a week; there is no thought, heart, or even an ounce of creativity. It is boring and runs on for two hours, with little happening in the story. Protagonist Ben Whittaker (De Niro) represents the wise old man who knows everything but is also ex-

tremely kind and humble. Ben’s only problem is that he is bored, but that resolves so quickly that it feels like he has no real problems. Jules (Hathaway) fights against the idea of having an old man boss her around, when ironically she is taking his advice. The movie’s attempt to argue against sexism is contradicted by having so many female characters rely on male characters. By trying to include ‘hilarious’ jokes, the film seems to forget that it is telling a story. At one point, there is an Ocean’s 11 heist sequence that has no place except for cheap laughs at a senior citizen and three college dropouts trying to delete an email. The film is filled with “old people are slow and don’t get technology,” or “the youth don’t understand the older methods” clichés. While these jokes slow down after the introduction,

they never let up and get old quickly. However, the film wants to feel young, too. It seems that Meyers decided to add juvenile sex jokes to make the film racy and get a PG-13 rating. For example, Meyers makes a “pitching a tent” joke, but she also decides to tackle the hardships of being a woman in a man’s world; yes, The Intern tries to tackle sexism in the workplace in a contrived and contradictory way. The Intern is also generic on the technical side. The editing is boring, slow and never changes. The cinematography is passable at best. The soundtrack is nauseating and repetitive; it has generic light piano and acoustic guitar, making it sound like every day is a happy and nice day. If there is a single word to describe this film it would be boring.

‘Reefer Madness’ lights up Annie stage The Annie Russell Theatre brings to life controversial issues revolving around marijuana use to the stage. Eric Hilton

Section Editor

Combining music, dance, love, murder, and marijuana into an on-stage musical may seem like a heavy task, but the Annie Russell Theatre did just that with their latest musical Reefer Madness.The musical, directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and Dance Missy Barnes, is a satire of the original 1936 ﬁlm. “The goal of the piece is to use humor to expose the fear mongering present in the original ﬁlm,” said Marketing and

Box Oﬃce Manager Chelsea Hilend. The Annie also hopes to bring light to some of the controversy around marijuana. “Reefer Madness is in no way a deﬁnite response to the complicated issues that surround medical and recreational use, but in its own goofy way, the play raises some really important questions,” said Hilend. “The play asks us to consider the forces at play in the marijuana conversation—political, social, and economic.” This musical is by no means

tame, and playgoers unfamiliar with the original ﬁlm may struggle to understand exactly what this musical is making fun of. Regardless, Reefer Madness oﬀers something for everyone through its catchy songs, crazy dances, and the psychopathic tendencies of its many doped up characters. It even has zombies—a perfect precursor to the month of Halloween. Reefer Madness runs through Oct. 3. The musical is intended for mature audiences, and tickets can be purchased online via the Annie Russell Theatre webpage.

Page 7 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Lea Warren

Columnist

On Thursday, Sept. 24, I attended the first leg of the Emerging Designers Fashion show for Park Avenue Fashion Week, which will premiere in full on Oct. 17. The fashion show featured ten designers chosen from a pool of entries across the state, and each designer had the chance to showcase a threepiece collection. At the end of the night, five out of ten designers were announced as finalists in the Emerging Designer competition, which meant an unconventional design challenge and a final runway show in October for the advancing half. The event was hosted at a local residence about two blocks away from the Rollins campus. The designers and their models had their hair and makeup done at the Gary Lambert Salon, a local salon located on South Park Avenue. Once hair and makeup were complete, the designers brought over their models and innovative creations to the venue. There they were greeted with catering from a local restaurant and a luxurious staging area throughout the interior of the beautiful house where the show was held. I had a chance to speak with several of the designers and models, though the designer I spoke to the most happened to be my own mother, who was suffering from a severe case of nerves as the show grew closer.

She was not the only one with stage fright, though. Even one of the designers who won in the end, Raul Castillo, was extremely anxious right before the start of the show. All of the nerves of the models and the designers soon wore oﬀ as the ﬁnal

“

Every single model was elegant and poised, and every design had its own unique flare, accounting for dozens of “wow moments” throughout the course of the show.

preparations were made. As soon as the first model stepped onto the runway, it became clear that there was no cause for worry. Every model was elegant and poised, and every design had its own unique flare, accounting for dozens of “wow moments” throughout the course of the show. One designer featured beautiful flapper-era gowns; another

Thursday, October 1, 2015

drew inspiration from ancient Egypt, and one piece was inspired by anime cosplay. One designer focused on creating fierce and sexy garments, which contrasted from a different designer that showcased fresh, flowing, cute-and-comfy wear. Some designers focused on manipulating fabric in new, sharp, and imaginative ways, while others focused on the minute details of construction, adding beading, lace, embroidery, and even bedazzling. All in all, the entire show was a success, and I cannot wait to see the final round of the Emerging Designers competition, not to mention the rest of the wonderful Park Avenue Fashion Week. To anyone with an interest in clothes, beauty, fashion, and art, I highly recommend attending the local show in October, and make sure to take the time to check out the final round of the Emerging Designers show.

Photos by Lea Warren

Page 8 • SPORTS

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Coach Bedsole shares insight Top athlete on his waterskiing career inspires students Waterski coach talks about his passion for the sport and Portugal’s top tennis player Ricardo Cayolla motivated students with astute advice regarding a successful future.

Christina Fuleihan Writer On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Ricardo Cayolla asked a group of students at the Suntrust Auditorium the following question: “Who is Ricardo Cayolla?” On the surface, Cayolla might seem to have it all: a beautiful family, five tennis novels under his belt, several successful football (soccer) and tennis clubs, and a PhD. On top of all that, Cayolla holds the record as the first Portuguese tennis player to have played abroad as a professional in 1987 and once held the #1 rank for professional tennis in all of Portugal. Over the years, he has enjoyed all the fame a sports superstar is entitled to: television interviews, his photo in the newspaper, and journalists following his every move. But, behind the façade of perfection, there is a man who must continuously work hard to keep his clubs afloat—which do not always earn income—a boy who stopped going to school at the age of 15, and a lifetime of hard work and dedication. What are his three keys to success? Strategy, Confidence, and Consistency. “You can’t always control the weather,” Cayolla said at the lecture, “but you can control what you wear that day. Embrace the panic, life will only get harder after college.” Passing out a blank sheet of paper to each member of the audience, Cayolla shook his own piece of paper up and down, left and right, and then asked for everyone present to join him while the noise of flapping paper filled the room. Then, after crumpling up the same piece of pristine paper, Cayolla once again shook it from side to side—this time the room remained silent. What was the purpose of this demonstration? “The paper represents the noise of those telling you what you must do; who you must be. Over time, they continue to advise, to dictate your life, but experience allows you to tune them out,” Cayolla said to the room. “Make your own destiny

no matter what people tell you. Have the conﬁdence to make your own decisions.” When he gave up school to pursue tennis professionally, the world around him thought he was crazy, and his grandfather and father could not have been less supportive. At that time, if you wanted to dedicate your life to athletics, tennis was indubitably not the way to go—“only football.” His success story is an inspiration for those who need the motivation to commit to doing what they want and enjoy. Your parents’ dream job is not always the best ﬁt for you. Cayolla admits that dropping out of school was probably the most unreasonable decision he ever made. Of course, at that time he was playing tennis in Barcelona with some of the top athletes in the world, but he said

“

His success story is an inspiration for those who need the motivation to commit to doing what they want and enjoy. Your parents’ dream job is not always the best fit for you.

it was still a mistake. However, after returning to school years later and suﬀering the sneers of all the younger students he had to attend his classes with, he is now proud to have earned his doctorate. “I wore a black tie for three years. Now that I graduated, I only wear white.” Cayolla said. Sure enough, his tie was ivory white. When asked to name his biggest inspiration, he did not hesitate: “The answer, ‘Me.’”

coaching at Rollins. Danielle Del Pico Staff Writer Marc Bedsole had just finished skating on the lake outside his house when he sat down for our interview. Having worked at Rollins for the past 24 years, he was eager to reflect on where his water kiing roots began, in a small town called White Lake in North Carolina. “We had a lake house there. I first learned how to ski when I was four. Got sort of bit by the bug then. My brother and sister both were skiers; I just took it further than anybody in the family did. My mom and dad, neither one of them skied. My dad sure bought plenty of boats and

fuel for us to practice,” he said. With the support of his family, he ganined prowess in his sport and became a professional water skiing competitor. What is the training process like? Coach Bedsole said, “Training today at 51 years old compared to training when I was 18 into my 20s was much diﬀerent. Years ago, I would say three or four 20-25 minute practice sets. I would do four sets of those. Today with work and school, I try to get in one set at the house. Now my set is longer, more stretching and warm-up involved.” Coach Marc Bedsole was named All American in 1991. He has won countless competitions and championships. He said

that, over the years, competing became more fulfilling. “There have been times that I haven’t enjoyed it. In 1992 I graduated from college and interned at Rollins, I graduated from the enemy (Florida Southern). The water ski job opportunity became available,” he said. “In the last 12 years, I have been rejuvenated. I enjoy the people that I have gotten to know over the years. It’s not so much about winning anymore; competing is more fulfilling. At 51, I feel that I am skiing better than I have in years past. It’s like therapy for me.” What advice would Coach Bedsole give to a student athlete wishing to move into a coaching career? He commented that coaching is a symbiotic relationship with the athlete. “I am so blessed that Rollins has a waterskiing team. All the kids on my team have done coaching at some point in their young career. Waterskiing is the kind of deal where everybody can coach. We have world-class skiers on the team and I would like to hear what they have to say, too,” he said. Rollins is a special community for an athlete to thrive in. Coach Bedsole reflected on the ideal location that Rollins offers. “Rollins is unique in the fact that there is a waterski program, along with their academic reputation. Another thing that is a draw for us is that we are in Central Florida; a lot of kids can go train with top athletes. The location is certainly a draw. Lake Virginia is five minutes away from your dorm room. Even though Waterskiing is a team sport, it is so personalized. Waterskiing is definitely a community. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to ski with this caliber of athletes.”

Waterski schedule: Thursday, Oct. 15 NCWSA National Championship Friday, Oct. 16 NCWSA National Championship Saturday, Oct. 17 NCWSA National Championship