The Sandspur Volume 124 Issue 15

Issue 15 • Volume 124 Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 www.thesandspur.org

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Mold concerns grow at Rollins Students believe asthma- and flu-like symptoms are a result of mold exposure in residence halls.

Photos by Ellie Rushing Ryan Tillotson ‘20 reported what he believed was mold growth on the ceiling above his bed last semester and believes the substance has appeared again (left) in his Gale Hall residence.

By Kendall Clarke

L

kclarke1@rollins.edu

ast semester, Molly Fulop ‘20 “had a cough, sinus drainage, and throat pain.” After about a week of symptoms, Fulop visited the Wellness Center.

In her appointment, Fulop was told by a Wellness Center nurse practitioner that “the mold in Ward was most likely contributing to the sickness lasting so long, and its severity.”

Fulop fully believes that her symptoms were due to an environmental factor at Rollins, as her symptoms stopped when she went home for Thanksgiving break and then resumed upon her return to campus. To com-

bat her symptoms, she has been using an asthma medication prescribed to her by the Wellness Center.

Aurelia Jean ‘19, a student with asthma, claimed that she was also sick in Ward last spring.

Jean expressed that her asthma was almost gone and then reappeared last semester. “My gastric reflux came back too,” she explained.

Jean now lives in Rollins Hall, where her symptoms have been the worse thus far.

When Jean went to the Well-

“

ness Center, she was told it was “an environmental factor,” so she requested an air quality test.

Jean said, “They did an air test in my room and didn’t find anything.”

H o w e ver, Jean is still convinced that her symptoms are due to environmental allergens and mold on campus, as, like Fulop, Jean’s symptoms

...other students have been forced to move in order to escape the adverse impacts....

went away whenever she went home.

The presence of mold in the environment most prominently impacts the respiratory system.

According to Denise Snyder, assistant director of the Wellness Center, “Individuals with exposure to mold or other allergens may experience allergy symptoms such as runny nose, congestion, and/or cough… [while] individuals with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, may experience exacerbations of their asthma from their environmental exposure.”

While Fulop received medication to combat her symptoms, other students have been forced to move in order to escape the adverse impacts of what they be-

lieve is tied to mold. This is what Brooke Worthington ‘21 had to do.

“I basically just moved out of McKean because I had a cough, and it went away over Winter Break but then came back when I moved back into the dorm.”

Worthington took precautionary measures in case it was caused by her room environment after one of her friends did the same. She did not have her air quality tested, though. “I had a friend that moved out and said it helped so I thought I’d try it,” she recalled.

‣ See MOLD Page 2

2 • FEBRUARY 22, 2018

FEATURES

Established in 1894 with the following editorial:

EXECUTIVE STAFF Ellie Rushing Editor-in-Chief

Christina Fuleihan Managing Editor

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Photo by Ellie Rushing While multiple students have mold-associated health concerns, Scott Rayburn stated, “No test results have been ‘extra-ordinary,’ or significant in the past 3 years at residence halls." Facilties also clarified that dorm room air filters are changed at least twice a year.

MOLD ‣Continued from Page 1 Multiple other students aside from Fulop, Wellington, and Jean have reported similar symptoms within the past semester. However, when asked, Snyder said, “The Wellness Center has not had any known mold related cases last semester.”

Students living in Gale Hall (home to X Club, Rollins’ local fraternity) have had facilities in and out of their rooms testing the air quality and wiping down their walls.

Ryan Tillotson ‘20 also experienced frequent illness in the fall and his mother urged him to have his air quality tested.

“Last semester, I started feeling sick so my mom wondered if there was mold in my room.

They did a test and cleaned it out.”

However, as of last week, faint dark colors were beginning to reappear in the same areas of the walls above his bed.

“It’s reappeared and they have started doing air quality tests again to address it,” he explained.

Scott Rayburn, safety and emergency planner, explained the current procedures in place to measure air quality: “There is no ‘schedule’ for air quality testing. We perform tests when requested, usually by staff from Facilities Management or Residential Life & Explorations.

These requests are generally triggered by the discovery of staining, odors, or excess moisture.”

He went on to clarify that, “At present, we have not determined that there is a mold problem in Gale Hall. All testing has indicated lower levels of spores inside the building than

outside. The levels that we are seeing are at relatively low levels.

This leads us to believe that the HVAC [heating, ventilation, and air conditioning] system is operating properly.”

According to Rayburn, “In 2017, approximately 47 tests were performed on a variety of campus buildings— administrative, residential, sports, and classroom areas.”

Rayburn stated, “No test results have been ‘extra-ordinary,’ or significant in the past 3 years at residence halls. RLE works closely with us to facilitate testing, and assists students who might be having issues.”

In his experience, he largely discovered mold growth “in residential and administrative rooms in old laundry, shoes, houseplants, and food.”

He continued, “Thermostats in all rooms should be set to ‘auto’—this will ensure proper functioning, as it allows the unit to adjust automatically to environmental conditions. There is a misconception that a cold room with the AC fan constantly running will eliminate humidity.

These settings can actually cause condensation—moisture—that contributes to mold and mildew growth.”

Oliver Santry ‘19, also a resident of Gale, explained that the relative humidity of his room is 67 percent.

According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), relative humidity levels should be kept between 45 and 55 percent to manage health effects and illnesses.

Santry has asthma and recalled having to sleep in the common room of his fraternity house one night because the conditions became so

unbearable.

“At one point it was so humid in here, and I felt so sick from it, I slept downstairs in the chapter room,” he said.

Mold growth in dorm rooms is typically facilitated by the misuse of air-conditioning settings and—for dorms that still have an openable window— open windows letting in extra moisture that the current airconditioning systems are unable to filter out.

Santry did admit to removing the seal on his window, but he claims that, regardless, he almost always kept it shut.

Mold in campus dorms has been a major issue across colleges in the South.

Morris College, in South Carolina, is currently being sued for $55 million in damages by five students who claim that “unsafe living conditions, including mold and other problems, were reported to the school’s administration four years ago but have gone unresolved.” Students were reportedly hospitalized and some even dropped out because the conditions were so bad.

In 2011 and 2012, Maryland’s College of Saint Mary relocated 250 students, 40 students were forced to move out at the University of Delaware, as were 270 students at University of Louisville. All of these instances were related to mold growth in residential halls.

Rollins is currently in the process of installing new methods to control the temperature and humidity levels of residential halls to prevent any extreme instances, like those listed above, from occuring.

David Markland, maintenance shop superintendent, explained that,

“The campus has been moving towards non-operating windows and changing thermostats for programmed settings that will reduce room air issues. As we remodel and build, newer dorms will have improved controls and set-points that reduce any airquality concerns. Referencing our newer, remodeled dorms, they have almost no air-quality calls during the year.”

He continued, “Facilities everywhere are always striving for reduced calls and issues with air quality. Since we have been moving in that direction, the number of calls have been reduced and continue to be reduced.”

Markland also clarified that maintenance changes all dorm room air filters twice a year, before each semester and during summer maintenance and winter break, or when there is a request for a dirty filter to be changed.

“During our summer maintenance they will clean the coils, replace the filter and adjust the controls if needed.

The best way to reduce these issues will almost always be the user, they will need to follow the guidelines for A/C unit control (auto only) and temperature not below 72 degrees.”

While following the suggested guidelines are preventative measures for mold growth in rooms, if anyone is concerned about a dorm room's air quality, you should have a member of facilities test it immediately.

OPINION

3

The price of moldy dorms “I call on Rollins to test the air quality and inspect the walls of all rooms of any on-campus living space.”

By Ellie Rushing

I

erushing@rollins.edu

f there is one thing I know for certain, it is that if I am paying close to $60,000 per year to go to college, my environment should be healthy.

Not just the kind of healthy that passes the tests, but absolutely free of any preventable environmental allergens like mold.

After hearing the accounts of multiple students living on-campus, it is clear there is some sort of “environmental factor” impeding their health, and all of their symptoms are pointing towards mold being present.

During my freshman and

sophomore year, I was sick at least every other month. Yes, being around hundreds of students with germs is not going to help my immune system; however, the fact that I have been living off-campus for almost a full year and I have not gotten sick once is genuinely concerning.

This is our home, and our health deserves to be recognized.

Students being told by Wellness Center nurses that their illness is mold-related is simply unacceptable. Students having to pack up their things and move residential halls to escape an “environmental factor” is inexcusable.

When casually discussing the issue with other students,

almost all have stories to tell.

Whether it is visible mold on the communal bathroom walls or mysterious black spots along their ceilings, there is one very alarming theme among all the reports: how casually it is treated.

Students do not fully realize that what they are seeing has adverse health effects.

Mold is a serious problem and is frequently seen among college campuses. In fact, as this is being published, Morris College in South Carolina is being sued $55 million for failure to fix a mold problem in campus dorms.

Some students who lived in the conditions were hospitalized

because of the mold exposure, and others wound up dropping out from severe illness. Closer to home in Miami, at Stanford Residential College, students returned from winter break to have personal items destroyed by moisture and mold in their rooms.

With Rollins being a primarily residential campus, its on-campus living conditions should be held to a higher standard.

When students are required to live in these residential halls for at least two years, they have the right to a healthy environment free of mold or other environmental risk factors, especially

at the steep price they are paying.

In order to ensure that all students are living in a comfortable, safe environment, I call on Rollins to test the air quality and inspect the walls of all rooms of any on-campus living space.

This needs to be prioritized over building new facilities and renovating office spaces.

The time, energy, and money going towards these new campus additions should be put towards ensuring the current environment of today’s students is not a risk.

To honor lives lost in Parkland shooting, the government must act How many more lives must be lost before real action is taken?

By Christina Fuleihan

V

cfuleihan@rollins.edu

alentine’s Day for the people of Parkland, Fla. will forever be haunted by memories of spilled blood and vulnerability, instead of candied hearts and love. Seventeen lives were mercilessly and tragically ended on Feb. 14, 2018.

Looking at the pictures of the bright, smiling victims, the knowledge that our government and our people have failed them is a tremendous burden that will haunt us for years to come, as it should. However, we owe it to the victims and their families to ensure that their loss and suffering is not pointless.

The parents of these latest shooting victims now must arrange their child’s funeral. Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter died in the tragedy, is still in shock.

According to U.K. magazine,

Independent, “The gunman, a crazy person, just walks right into the school, knocks down the window of my child’s door and starts shooting... killing her. I just spent the last two hours putting [together] the burial arrangements for my daughter’s funeral, who’s 14.... President Trump, please do something.... Action!

We need it now! These kids need safety now!”

We failed Stoneman Douglas High School. There were so many red flags that should have prevented Cruz from being allowed to purchase any weapon, let alone military-style weapons like an AR-15.

It is ridiculous that more protections are not in place to prevent this tragedy from happening again. How can it be legal to purchase a weapon like the AR-15 at 18, before one is even legally able to obtain a handgun?

Why are we not mandating that thorough background

checks are routinely conducted in all 50 states?

Why is there a waiting period for abortion in 27 states, but only 10 require the same before purchasing a gun? Why are semi-automatic and automatic weapons allowed for purchase, when even military personnel do not have access to their weapons after discharge?

Stricter gun-control regulations are long overdue.

Continuing to blame mental health issues for these tragedies stigmatizes mental health and makes it harder for people with mental illnesses to seek treatment. Saying that it is always the victims’ responsibility to report any suspicious behavior to the authorities seems to encourage witch-hunts reminiscent of the McCarthy era. Expecting people to be able to predict a person’s potential for such destruction is impossible. Of course, suspicious activity should be report-

ed, and if this shooting was any indication, it already is.

The actions of good samaritans leading up this horrific tragedy proves that this massacre was neither sudden nor unavoidable. People did seek help from the proper authorities. Yet, nothing was done to prevent it, because the institutions designed to protect us are already too overburdened to properly deal with the tips coming in.

The solution is simple: we need gun control laws to be enforced. The priority of the state should be the protection of its civilians, not the upholding of an archaic Second Amendment that was designed with different intentions in mind.

The American people are pleading for gun control. A rally for gun control held in Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 17 saw many students from Stoneman Douglas High School—still raw from shock—give their voices to the

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

cause. Why does Congress refuse to listen?

This is no longer a question of protecting our constitutional rights; this is an example of the effectiveness of NRA lobbyists and of greed impeding our democracy.

In Australia, strict gun control measures were implemented in 1996 after a similar tragedy, and since then there has not been a single fatal mass-shooting.

Though the measures were unpopular at the time, and several politicians lost their careers by voting for the gun-control regulations, the legislators’ acts of political courage ensured a safer nation and have saved countless lives.

It is time for our government to follow their example. We no longer have time to wait until the next tragedy to decide to take action. We need to take it now, before another life is unnecessarily taken by a madman with a gun.

4

OPINION

Getting your dollar’s worth in NYC Add these affordable and delicious restaurant stops to your list of things to do in the Big Apple.

Reese’s peanut butter muffins

Photo courtesy of Google Photos Next time you find yourself visiting New York City, stop by Chinatown for a unique array of cuisines.

By Ansh Jain

I

By Kira Bernhard

kbernhard@rollins.edu

H

appy “National Cook a Sweet Potato Day!” Sweet potatoes are pretty much life-changing with how they can be incorporated into any dish.

Better yet, these beta-carotene-packed root vegetables can be hidden in muffins to give the perfect touch of sweetness without seeming like you are eating vegetables.

Servings: 4 muffins Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20-25 minutes Difficulty: Easy Ingredients: • 1/2 cup Sweet Potato Puree • 1/8 cup Peanut Butter • 1 tbsp Raw Honey • 1 Large Egg • 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract • 1/8 tsp Baking Powder

Recipe: 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Line a mini cupcake tray with muffin liners.

3. Add rinsed and drained chickpeas to a food processor and blend until smooth.

4. Add in the rest of the ingredients, besides the toppings, and process until smooth.

5. Transfer the batter into the pan or cupcake tray.

6. Add toppings of choice.

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes. You will know when they are done if you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.

The edges should look a little brown. The batter may look undercooked, but that is okay. You do not want them to dry out.

8. Cool the muffins on a wire rack before devouring.

ajain@rollins.edu

t is no secret: New York City is a foodie’s paradise. On the other hand, everyone also knows that the city is not among the cheapest.

While the city boasts a seemingly never-ending list of Michelin-starred restaurants, having a memorable meal need not break the bank. Given its diversity, you can eat well for cheap no matter what cuisine. Here is just a short list of cool places to check out.

New York’s Chinatown is a great melting pot of cultures from China, Vietnam, and other countries. It makes for a rewarding experience of exploring and eating! However, its variety can lead to paralysis. Just follow your instincts and you will not go wrong.

For some direction, you may not think much of the simple, unassuming exterior of the Deluxe Green Bo Restaurant, but a meal there will teach you to never judge a book by its cover. Popular with the local community, this place offers a textbook-length menu and gives you a quick crash course in Chinese cuisine. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you are in luck too!

If your idea of a Chinese meal is unimaginable without

dumplings, your New York experience would be incomplete without a visit to Vanessa’s Dumpling House.

Either get in early or be forced to get takeout because this restaurant is extremely popular.

Dumplings freshly steamed or pan-fried are served for ridiculously low prices. Furthermore, Chinese pancakes, soups, and noodles are also all things to pay attention to.

Moving out of Chinatown, do you fancy combining sightseeing and eating? Duck into the Grand Central Terminal. Before you wonder how its famous oyster bar classifies as budget grazing, know that Grand Central also has a lively market worth a wander. Fresh seafood, cheese, and bread baked on the premises are just some of the highlights.

New York City proves that college students’ food needs trancend state lines. Just like at Rollins, college students in the Big Apple love a quick, cheap, and delicious bite. Falafel fiends have reason to rejoice at Taim, located near NYU. The word ‘taim’ means ‘tasty’ in Hebrew, and this restaurant lives up to its name.

With three different kinds of falafel, you have a vast number of choices compared to your typical falafel place. The quality is

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

great, too.

Falafel possibilities do not stop here. Amsterdam-based chain Maoz Vegetarian has a few outposts in New York and your pita wrap allows you unlimited access to the salad bar, so go indulge!

For a full-on food market experience, you cannot beat Chelsea Market. The building previously housed the National Biscuit Company’s factory.

Now, the lowest floor is home to an eclectic market. Graze your way through and try everything from artisanal donuts to Japanese-style tacos. Make room for some delicious ice-cream, too.

Finally, how can we not talk about bagels in New York?

One bagel place takes pizza bagel bites to a whole new level. A Shark Tank story come true, Bantam Bagels offers delicious bitesized bagels filled with cream cheese. You can sample many and decide which ones appeal to you the most.

Though New York has among the best in the world for Michelin-starred meals priced in three digits, there are plenty of superb offerings for budget-conscious foodies. Here, we can not only survive on them, but thrive.

Bon appetit!

5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Photo by Mitchell Laughlin The CFAM’s Towards Impressionism exhibit features a wide range of art, including one of Claude Monet’s rare original paintings.

Latest museum exhibit displays rare artwork Cornell Fine Arts Museum showcases paintings that have never been featured in the Americas before.

By Diego Medrano

jmedrano@rollins.edu

A

mong the several new additions to the Cornell Fine Arts Museum (CFAM), Rollins students can now view one of only two exhibitions of its kind in the entire United States.

Many of us have likely seen replicas of Claude Monet’s work.

Towards Impressionism, CFAM’s new landscape art exhibition, contains an original.

The exhibition displays the work of other legends such as Camille Corot, Eugène Boudin, and Theodore Rousseau, all artists who shaped the field of landscape painting.

This is the first time these paintings have ever been shipped to the Americas from the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Reims, France.

Only one other museum in the U.S. contains paintings of this

kind.

The exhibition tracks how landscape painting evolved from its Romantic roots through various French schools, arriving at impressionism.

“It’s all about light and color,” explained CFAM Director Dr. Ena Heller about impressionism. “Light and dark in conjunction, in dialogue... you look at [the way things are], and then you make them better.”

Dr. Heller played a large role in bringing this exhibition to CFAM. It will be available to the public until April 8.

In addition, from Picturing War to Butch Heroes to Ruptures & Remnants, this season at CFAM is sure to have something for every eye.

Ruptures & Remnants contains artwork concerning how we view and interact with ruins, remnants, fragments, and divides. The exhibition displays

video art, contemporary paintings, and ancient Hindu metalwork in conjunction.

Museum curator Dr. Amy Galpin elaborated on the work of Purvis Young, who enjoys incorporating discarded or forgotten objects into his art. “It’s not uncommon to see a broom or a whole door in some of his larger works,” said Dr. Galpin.

Ruptures & Remnants also contains several paintings by French artist Jean Charlot. Charlot was active mainly in Mexico and is considered one of the founders of Mexican muralism.

Galpin also noted the work of Sadie Barnette in the exhibition. “[Artist Sadie Barnette] creates visual compositions that engage a hybrid aesthetic of minimalism and density, using text, glitter, family Polaroids, subculture codes and found objects,” CFAM explained on its website.

Barnette has been featured in The New York Times, among other notable publications.

Furthermore, CFAM has dedicated an exhibition, Devotion, to the work of non-binary artist Ria Brodell, whose work addresses gender identity, history, religion, and contemporary culture. Their work in this exhibition comes from two collections.

The Handsome & the Holy concerns Brodell’s Catholic upbringing and how it mingled with their gender identity and childhood. Several paintings feature Catholic Saints interacting with beloved childhood toys and TV characters.

Butch Heroes portrays a host of individuals from throughout history who defied the gender norms of their time. Their origins range from 1600s England to 1900s Russia.

Brodell will be speaking at

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

CFAM on March 20 to discuss their process; the exhibition will be on view through May 13 of this year.

Last but certainly not least, Picturing War joins contemporary artwork discussing war with American propaganda from World War I and II. The exhibition portrays past and present attitudes towards the United States’ place in global conflict.

Galpin explained that World War I recruitment posters are placed alongside photographs of Vietnam War reenactments to create a conversation for visitors.

Picturing War is curated by Rollins senior Margaret Milford.

The exhibitions currently in CFAM span 300 years and discuss almost as many topics, if not more. Students who visit enter a new world altogether.

6

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Upcoming Campus Events

Master tips offered for creative writing and Spanish poetry Winter with the Writers showcases challenges of poetry writing.

Feb. 22

‣ Philosophy and Religion Club Meeting, 12:30-1:30 p.m., French House Lounge ‣ OneBlood, 12-5 p.m., Holt Avenue ‣ Kevin Lansberry, VP &

CFO, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Speaker, 10 a.m., Bush Auditorium ‣ Politics on Tap,

5-6 p.m., Dave’s

Feb. 23

‣ Emerging Leadership,

12 a.m., Camp Kulaqua ‣ Exhibition Tour—Ria

Brodell: 'Devotion,' 11 a.m., CFAM ‣ Rollins Microfinance

Fund Information Session, 12 p.m., Campus Center ‣ UndocuAlly Training,

By Kendall Clarke

kclarke1@rollins.edu

T

he most recent Winter with the Writers visiting authors elaborated on the craft of writing and the challenges of creating poetry in a different language.

Rollins welcomed renowned writers Garth Greenwell and Luis Muñoz on Feb. 15. Each writer gave separate craft talks followed by a joint reading, interview, and book signing.

During Greenwell’s craft talk, six Winter with the Writers interns had a chance to work with him on their pieces of short fiction. Through his critiques, Greenwell enlisted insight on the narration and setting and their roles in creative fiction.

He focused on how these elements come together to create an effective scene and how they can change the amount of pressure or drama within a scene. He

1 p.m., Woolson House

‣ Emerging Leadership,

All Day, Camp Kulaqua

‣ Emerging Leadership,

All Day, Camp Kulaqua

Feb. 26

‣ Mindful Meditation,

12:30 p.m., Faculty Club

Feb. 27

‣ Laurence Ruggiero,

Ph.D., director of the Morse Museum of American Art, 6 p.m., CFAM ‣ Tuesday Night Trivia,

8 p.m., Dave’s Boathouse

Feb. 28

‣ Purim Carnival, 12 -

2:30 p.m., Mills Lawn

Muñoz has received several prizes for his work, including the Spanish awards Generació del 27 and Ojo Crítico.

With Muñoz, interns asked specific questions about his writing process. For example, questions about his thoughts, intentions, and influences behind the poems of From Behind What Landscape. He said that he most frequently examines poetry as a craft. He compares his process of creation to the processes of other craftsmen such as doctors, fishermen, and welders.

It is this idea of poetry as a craft that inspired him to name one of his poetry collections Limpiar Pescado (Cleaning Fish).

He saw his writing process as a “mixture of craft and intuition,” similar to the act of cleaning a fish.

Muñoz also discussed the aspects of writing poetry that are unique to the Spanish language.

For instance, the long syntax of the language, the musical qual-

ities of it created by writing in eight or eleven syllable lines, and the circular nature that he believes Spanish poetry possesses.

Greenwell and Muñoz also conducted a joint reading where they alternated reading their own works. Both writers conducted a magnificent and powerful reading, artfully blending together the topics of their respective works in a harmonious fashion.

For poems that Muñoz read in Spanish, Greenwell read the English translation after them.

In the following interview session, each author presented their views on their own writing and literature as a whole, while also answering questions ranging in topic from choices that each author makes in their own writing to why such well-travelled individuals would settle in rural Iowa.

Comfortably discussing interfaithrelated issues

Feb. 24

Feb. 25

emphasized that these decisions are crucial to a successful piece of fiction.

Garth Greenwell is the author of What Belongs to You and a graduate from the Iowa Creative Writing Workshop, the most prestigious creative writing program in the nation.

His book won the British Book Award for Debut of the Year, was longlisted for the National Book Award, and was a finalist for six other awards.

The other guest, Luis Muñoz, currently teaches in the MFA Spanish Creative Writing program at the University of Iowa. He is a well-renowned Spanish poet and the author of five poetry collections.

His most recent collections include Querido Silencio (Dear Silence), Limpiar Pescado: Poseía reunida (Cleaning Fish: Collected Poetry), and a bilingual edition of his poetry From Behind What Landscape: New and Selected Poems.

Innovation Hub brings students and community members together to answer pressing questions.

By Christina Oliveira

R

coliveira@rollins.edu

ollins students engaged in conversation that can often be uncomfortable and confusing at last week's “A Dinner Dialogue: Engaging Cultural Difference and Religious Diversity."

Students discussed interand intrafaith-related issues.

Besides Rollins students, other members of the local religious community were in attendance.

Representatives of different faiths engaged in these crucial discussions, adding a vital perspective to the discussion.

Yudit Greenberg, director of the Jewish Studies Program and the Center for India and South Asia, started the event by STATING, “the idea was to have non typical interfaith dialogue… to have the students generate ideas

and themes based on [their] interests… that [they] don’t do in other contexts on campus.”

After Greenberg finished with her introductions, she invited a traditional Indian classical music group to perform an invocation for the students. The musicians were invited with the help of Jasbir Mehta, the director of the Asian Cultural Association of Orlando Central Florida and an associate of the Center for India and South Asia.

The music was meant to invoke the blessings of the Goddess of Knowledge, a fitting choice for the intellectual atmosphere of the dinner.

The classical Indian music emphasized the event’s desire to promote different cultures to students. It segued to the group discussions that were about to occur.

Each table had two facilita-

tors to help the students discuss and answer a question that each table group was provided. They also aided in maintaining a welcoming environment.

The topics of these questions were connected to issues and controversies about religious communities. Each question was posed by a student.

Topics discussed included but were not limited to gender and sexuality, faith and abortion, generational differences, cultural and religious diversity in schools, and the role of religion in government.

Before and during these discussions, students were treated to ample refreshments. Throughout the dinner, there was a relaxed atmosphere in which Rollins students could enjoy food and discuss otherwise challenging topics.

At the conclusion of the

event, each facilitator answered the question that every group received: What can each of us do to achieve greater understanding and mutual respect across religions?

Each group discussed the question at length before the facilitator publicly answered it.

The answers provided by each group were all unique and often determined by the topic that only their group received; however, a common theme throughout the answers was fostering compassion and respect for others.

The event was sponsored by the Innovation Hub, the Center for India and South Asia, the Department of Philosophy and Religion, the Office of Religious Life, the Jewish Studies Program, and the Office of International Programs.

OPINION

7

Is a Journalism major necessary?

How to prepare for a career in journalism when Rollins does not offer it as a major.

By Emily Anness

F

eanness@rollins.edu

or students wanting to study journalism like myself, Denise Cetta's career sounds like a dream come true.

Denise Schrier Cetta, writer and producer for CBS’s 60 Minutes, travels the world writing long form news on people like Bill and Melinda Gates, the pharmaceutical industry like Oregon’s death with liberty law, current events such as a medical study using the polio virus to kill brain tumors in terminally ill patients, and many other topics.

She was a nominee for an emmy award for her work on Breakthrough Status for 60 Minutes in 2017.

Growing up, I have watched Denise Cetta, my aunt, turn small ideas into large stories in front of

me. I have witnessed the storytelling process first-hand, and I hope to learn the same skills in college. As someone wanting to follow in her footsteps, it is easy to feel like there are not enough tools for careers such as journalism at Rollins.

Academically, tensions run high for prospective journalism majors because a journalism program does not exist. The suggested course route is to major in communications and take English classes, as well as a course on film in the Critical Media and Cultural Studies track. Outside the classroom, students can also write for The Sandspur, submit work to The Independent, and find jobs and internships off campus.

What did Cetta do to get where she is in her journalism career? She had a similar experience to those at Rollins.

“I graduated from Duke in

1990 with a degree in history.

Before I went to college, I had a general idea that I wanted to go into longer format news/documentary broadcasting, but I really didn’t know much about anything. When I got to Duke, I realized that they didn’t have a journalism track either. I thought about transferring to a school with journalism, but the advice I got was to get the best possible education about the world and get experience through jobs outside of school.”

As someone who experienced what we are currently going through, she discussed what crucial classes students should be taking in regards to our circumstances.

“Take classes that teach you to speak from different viewpoints, classes that grow your love and curiosity for the world.

Learn about ethics, what makes

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real news and fake news. Take classes that discuss the trade and the craft of ethical aspects of journalism, whether you are on a journalism track or not. These classes are necessary for being a good storyteller and an educated citizen. Doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and other professions need these skills, too. Storytelling is everywhere. Most of all, having a solid understanding of the world is more important than being able to write a sentence.”

As wellrounded students, we all know it is not just about the classes we take.

After college, Cetta worked for ten years before starting her career with 60 Minutes. She worked with filmmaker Charles Guggenheim, a local CBS station, NBC in Paris, went to Thailand and made a short documentary, and took as many opportunities as she could.

She remarked, “I wouldn’t trade the experiences I had before I made it to 60 Minutes.

Would I have gotten there faster with a journalism degree? Maybe, who knows. The work experience I had were at such high standards. I worked with people who have won many awards and taught me at such a high standard, and because of that, I learned the best of the craft. If I wasn’t working with the best, I could have learned messy and unethical work skills.”

On top of getting a global education in the classroom, students interested in journalism should be doing the same outside of class. After discussing how education in journalism has changed, Cetta talked about how many of the resumes she reads now include a Master's degree in

“

journalism.

In some aspects, it is a good thing. As undergrads, we can grasp core concepts about the world on a broader spectrum before graduate school narrows down to journalism.

On the other hand, for some, graduate school means more time and money and is not being considered. For those who are not considering grad school, it is okay.

Cetta stated, “Journalism is a unique business because internships can teach you so much.

When I was interning, it was more shadowing. It’s a more organized and structured process now, and the more formal process can teach you a lot.

Internships and an education that isn’t specific to journalism are a great combination because real life experiences are crucial, and you can apply the basics of journalism you learned in your job.”

For those of us who are interested in journalism, do not fret. After hearing our suggested course route for students in our situations, Cetta said that a workload in history and English would be the most beneficial to those hoping for careers in journalism.

In addition, get out of class work experience in the field and work your way up the ladder.

Who knows, maybe one day you will find yourself producing and writing for 60 Minutes, delivering your stories to the world.

I thought about transferring to a school with journalism, but the advice I got was to get the best possible education about the world and get experience through jobs....

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

8 ‣

SPORTS Upcoming Sports Events

Feb. 23 ‣ Women’s Swimming, SSC Championship, Clearwater ‣ Men’s Swimming, SSC Championship, Clearwater ‣ Women’s Lacrosse vs.

Catawba, 3 p.m., Salisbury ‣ HOME: Baseball vs.

Columbus St., 5 p.m. ‣ Women’s Tennis vs.

West Florida, 6 p.m., Orlando ‣ Men’s Tennis vs. West Florida, 6 p.m., Orlando ‣ Softball vs. Tampa, 6 p.m., Tampa Feb. 24 ‣ Women’s Swimming, SSC Championship, Clearwater ‣ Men’s Swimming, SSC Championship, Clearwater ‣ HOME: Baseball vs.

Columbus St., 1 p.m. ‣ Softball vs. Tampa, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Tampa ‣ Women’s Basketball vs.

Saint Leo, 5:30 p.m. ‣ Men’s Basketball vs.

Saint Leo, 7:30 p.m

Feb. 25 ‣ Women’s Swimming, SSC Championship, Clearwater ‣ Men’s Swimming, SSC Championship, Clearwater ‣ HOME: Men’s Tennis vs. Davenport, 10 a.m. ‣ Women’s Lacrosse vs.

Wingate, Wingate, N.C., 1 p.m. ‣ HOME: Baseball vs.

Columbus St., 1 p.m. ‣ HOME: Softball vs.

Kentucky St., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Feb. 28 ‣ HOME: Women’s Tennis vs. Mt. St. Mary’s, Orlando, TBA ‣ Women’s Basketball, TBA ‣ Men’s Basketball, TBA

Women’s lacrosse back on track Despite early loss, team pulls decisive win in first home game.

By Paul Schattschneider

pschattschneider@rollins.edu

L

ast season, despite posting a solid 12-5 record for the campaign, the Tars failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years.

Although the season was disappointing, the Tars were poised to bounce back and make the tournament this year as the number 11 team in the country in the Preseason Coaches Poll.

On Feb. 10, the Tars faced Tampa on the road in their season opener, and saw themselves in a deficit right off the opening whistle. They conceded two early goals to the underdog Spartans.

The Tars continued to fight throughout the game, tallying more shots and less turnovers

than their opponents, but never seemed to get a leg up on Tampa.

The Tars fell surprisingly in a hard fought 10-6 game, dropping not only their overall record but also their conference record to 0-1 for the season.

The team had an eight-day period to recover before they faced Lincoln Memorial for their first home game of the season, and the Tars showed they prepared for a different outcome than in their previous game.

The Tars led 9-2 going into halftime, and allowed only one goal the entire second half while scoring seven of their own en route to a 16-3 victory.

The team was lead by Nikki Stumpf ‘20 who put up a hat trick, and Kallie German ‘19 who added two goals and two assists.

After the game, defender Lindsay Van Beck ‘19, who led

Photo by Kira Bernhard Julianna Desimone ‘20 looks to score against LIncoln Memorial in Sunday’s home opener.

the Tars with two forced turnovers against Lincoln Memorial, voiced her optimism for the season despite not achieving a victory in the opener.

“Because it was such a strong team effort, I think it reinforces that everyone contributes and has a role on our team.

It shows that we aren’t reliant on our starters or upperclassmen.

Every girl on our team can make an impact,” said Van Beck, who earned Second Team All-America honors last season.

Nearly every player saw the field during the game, including some of the freshmen on the team. Van Beck emphasized their impact: “The freshman were really involved, there were a lot of girls who notched their

first collegiate goals, including two freshmen defenders.”

The same way the team quickly moved past the difficult loss in the opener, Van Beck said that the team must look forward to their next contest. “We can’t worry about last season, past games, or missed opportunities within games,” she said.

If the Tars manage to stay focused on the games at hand, they have the talent to not only compete within the Sunshine State Conference, but reclaim a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The Tars continue their season on the road to face Catawba in North Carolina on Feb. 23.

Tough matches ahead, but tennis is confident Women’s tennis is motivated for upcoming match against West Florida.

By Justin Driscoll

A

jdriscoll@rollins.edu

fter two successful wins against conference rivals Flagler and Palm Beach Atlantic (PBA), Rollins’ women’s tennis team struggled to compete with Barry.

They are now 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play as they head into the middle half of their season.

The team hopes to improve on last season’s 11-11 record. The Tars have two games this week, including a match-up on Feb. 23 against fifth-ranked University of West Florida Argonauts.

Carlye Goldman ‘18, junior captain, discussed the team’s expectations for the coming match and for the remainder of the season: “We have a tough season with the amount of matches we

have coming up, but our team is looking really strong and have already been off to an amazing start. To continue with our success, we need to come out mentally and physically strong against our toughest dual matches... so going into Friday’s match we need to mentally and physically recover for West Florida.”

West Florida holds a 4-0 overall record after defeating Alabama Huntsville 9-0 last Friday.

Rollins lost to West Florida in a 6-3 hard fight last season. However, the team is excited to return to the courts and face them again.

Goldman continued, saying, “We are super excited to be playing at the national campus in Lake Nona on Friday. The vibe will be incredible, and our team is positively motivated to compete at our fullest potential.”

The women’s team looks to

continue to compete at a high level as they head into conference games against other conference teams, and also when they take a roadtrip to Las Vegas in March.

Fabiana Vitanza ‘18, senior co-captain, explained the importance of being a captain on the team.

“Knowing you are in a leadership position is definitely motivating and pushes you to work extra hard because you know your teammates are looking up to you, and you must lead by example,” she said.

From San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Vitanza consistently played in the first spot for the team during the 2016-2017 season. Her 7-12 record last year makes her one of their most valuable players, which she understands comes with pressure to perform as an athlete and a

leader.

“Also it helps me with being accountable because my actions and attitude on court must be in line with the values and goals of the program. So that has helped me with bringing fortitude and confidence on court,” Vitanza clarified.

A major factor in the confidence and success of the team has been Beverly Buckley, who has coached the women’s tennis program for 31 years. Prior to coaching, she was a standout player for Rollins College women’s tennis before she graduated in 1975. She then pursued a professional career, competing in events such as Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

The next home game for the Tars is against Saginaw Valley Cardinals, and it will be played at Bert Martin Tennis Complex on Monday, March 5.