The Sandspur Volume 124 Issue 23 by The Sandspur

Issue 23 • Volume 124 Thursday, April 26, 2018 www.thesandspur.org

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Phi Delta Theta investigated for Title IX, CSR violations This is the fraternity’s third suspension in three years. By Ellie Rushing

erushing@rollins.edu

or the third time in three years, Rollins fraternity Phi Delta Theta has been put on an interim administrative hold. The hold stems from an investigation after reports of Title IX and Community Standards & Responsibility (CSR) violations. According to Meghan Harte Weyant, the dean of students and assistant vice president of student affairs, the investigation, which has been completed, was performed by a third party. Harte Weyant said that investigations are always conducted by third parties when Title IX is involved. She did not specify who the third-party investigator was. Harte Weyant was also unclear on which violations occurred in this case, but said that it stemmed from a series of individual violations within the fraternity. When asked if haz-

ing and drug use was involved, she said that “those are usually things organizations are investigated for.” According to the Code of Community Standards, some CSR violations include abuse (physical, mental, or verbal), vandalism, disruptive behavior, hazing, and sexual misconduct or harassment. ` As of this publication going to press, no information was given to The Sandspur about the results of the investigation. At this time, according to Phi Delta Theta’s president, Nick Baker ’20, and the fraternity’s faculty advisor, Dr. Jana Matthews, the organization has also been withheld any information regarding the investigation. An interim administrative hold, previously called a suspension, is put into place for three reasons as outlined by the Code of Community Standards: 1. To preserve the safety and well-being of members of the College community or preservation of

College property; 2. To preserve the student’s own physical or emotional safety and well-being; and 3. If the student poses a threat of disruption or of interference with the operations of the College. The Sandspur has been investigating the suspension for approximately five weeks. No one from the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) would answer questions about or meet to discuss the suspension. Jazmine Rodriguez, director of FSL, said that their office has no involvement in the suspension process and declined to give further comment. However, Baker said that he met with Bronwyn Holder, assistant director of FSL, last week. Baker also said that his organization has been kept in the dark during the entire suspension process and did not know what events triggered the suspension. “We were not given any information, we were just interro-

gated with unwarranted questions,” he said. Baker said he was asked whether or not members of Phi Delta Theta had ever drugged someone, which he said was “completely untrue.” Baker also showed frustration in the timeline of the investigation; he felt

INSIDE

• Opinion: We demand transparency

Page 3

that it has been unnecessarily prolonged. Matthews said that the timeline of an investigation is not set, which can cause some issues for the organization depending on when it begins. For example, the current suspension began before any new members were initiated, which affects Phi Delta Theta’s retention rate and their involvement in campus activities. Matthews also said that she is impartial to whatever decision

the dean of students makes on the investigation: “I am here to advise the members, but if the results of the investigation show that they are guilty, then I support the sanctions the college chooses to place on them.” Although Phi Delta Theta’s national organization has an alcohol-free housing and anti-hazing policy across all chapters, dozens of chapters have been suspended across the U.S. since 2000. In September 2017, a freshman member of Phi Delta Theta at Louisiana State University died after a “potential hazing incident.” Other university chapters of Phi Delta Theta have been investigated for sexual assault, hazing with drugs, and racist and sexist comments in the last four years. Phi Delta Theta’s national headquarters did not return our calls.

‣ See GREEK Page 2

2 • APRIL 26, 2018

Opinion: Final exam freeloaders

Established in 1894 with the following editorial:

How to handle group members who do not pull their weight. EXECUTIVE STAFF Ellie Rushing Editor-in-Chief

Christina Fuleihan Managing Editor

CONTENT STAFF Alex Candage Head Copy Editor Cameron Ochse Assigning Editor Lauren Bishop Maura Leaden David Smith Siobhan Nolet Copy Editors Alec Stanley Diego Medrano Kendall Clarke Staff Writers Kalli Joslin Alyssa Malto Section Editors Kalli Joslin Reilly Aback Anna Kjoller Web Editors

DESIGN DEPARTMENT Zoe Kim Head Designer Gracie Street Illustrator

By Heather Borochaner

hborochaner@rollins.edu

t is 10 p.m. and you are still waiting to hear back from the group member you texted yesterday at 11 a.m. You break out in a cold sweat in the library, and you realize that you are also shaking from the two caramel macchiatos that you have already consumed. You start to angrily tell your friend about how you cannot believe that this group project is worth 20 percent of your grade. In the midst of finals week, some of the most dreaded final projects are those requiring group work. While group projects are necessary for the development of a student’s skills, they are not a fair assessment of the student themselves, and therefore should not be used for finals. Individual projects, tests, or essays are a more accurate representation of a student’s applied knowledge. The caveat with

group projects is that one or two people usually do most of the work. These assignments are usually long-term, and there are the infamous procrastinating group members who do not do their share of the project until the night before. Group finals would not be such a problem if they were not a large part of the overall grade. However, it feels like a helpless situation when as much as 20 percent or more of your grade can rest on the shoulders of your peers. Especially when the student does not get to pick their partners, some aspects of the grade (like the work ethic of your group) are simply out of their control. That does not seem like a proper reflection of what the individual has learned throughout the semester. Dealing with a freeloading peer is probably the most annoying part of a group project. They

are the one who does not participate in group discussions or research and have to be consistently reminded all the way up to the due date to do their part. Furthermore, despite how much trouble they caused for the group, everyone has to face the injustice of them getting the same grade for everyone else’s work. Worst case scenario, a student refusing to chip in can cause everyone else’s grade to decrease, as well. However, I do unfortunately see why group projects are necessary. As annoying as they are, and although the frustration is trying, group projects can help improve leadership and social skills by teaching us to work with people outside of our comfort zone. However, if you are stuck in a group project for a final, make sure that everyone in your group is going to work at their best early on. Finals are already stressful enough. You do not want to be

Dana Wagenhauser Patrick Murray Page Designers

stressing about groupmates who are not responding to you. State your group communication intentions clearly. Be sure to prioritize the group’s grade and to make sure everyone is putting in the proper amount of effort. If there is a problem, you can try talking to your professor to see what can be done. If you have the option to choose your group, choose wisely. If your friend is in the class, but you know their work ethic is not good, it is probably not in your best interest to include them. One of the skills developed in a group project is your ability to find people who you work well with. This is something you will likely have to do in the workplace after graduation. Finally, good luck! At least we know that we have company in numbers. The conflicts of group projects are abundant and shared by students across all majors.

GREEK ‣ Continued from Page 1

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Rollins’ Greek Life also has a history of suspensions on campus. Last spring, all fraternities were suspended for nearly two months over high-risk behavior. That suspension was announced after a reported burglary and battery charge committed by members of one fraternity on those of another. However, at the time, college officials said this was unrelated to the suspension. In 2013, Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity and Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) sorority lost their campus houses. At the time, TKE was suspended over violations of recruitment and alcohol policies. They have since returned to campus and currently live in Pugsley Hall. KKG was permanently suspended. The future of Phi Delta Theta, though, still remains in the hands of the administration and the results of the investigation.

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

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Opinion: We demand transparency Hiding Greek life misconduct is dangerous and leaves students misinformed. By Kendall Clarke

kclarke1@rollins.edu

reek life is a pervasive characteristic of any college campus. For many, fraternities and sororities are a source of joy and lasting friendships. However, oftentimes, Greek life can be a source of great anxiety. This is no fault of Greek life in and of itself; the Hollywood-fabricated stereotypes of fraternities and sororities just do not portray their realities. These stereotypes naturally cultivate anxieties for parents sending their children off to distant colleges, anxieties that colleges have to mitigate in order to effectively sell their image and maintain admission rates. Moreover, the presence of fraternities and sororities on campuses helps colleges maintain relationships with alumni.

For a college such as Rollins that receives large annual donations from alumni, maintaining these relationships is vital. Thus, it is often not in Rollins’ best interest to suspend or otherwise tarnish the reputations of the Greek organizations on its campus. However, this does not justify the college deliberately withholding the details of an ongoing investigation of a fraternity, especially when one of the reasons behind the investigation concerns a Title IX violation. Since March, the Phi Delta Theta fraternity has been suspended; its current status is called an interim administrative hold. Both the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) and the Office of Student Affairs have been extremely tight-lipped about this issue, expressing concern for the reputation of the fraternity.

It is understandable that FSL and Student Affairs are not publicizing details of their investigation before it is concluded, especially when Phi Delta Theta is already in the process of reconstructing their reputation. However, reputation should never be prioritized over transparency, and while a pending investigation does little to repair the reputation of a fraternity, being open about the status of a fraternity within the student body is better than leaving everything open to speculation. Furthermore, in theory, transparency would provide reassurance to our community as to where the priorities of administration lie. Most importantly, though, if a group of students potentially pose a threat to the campus’ safety, we should be made aware of it so we can take appropriate precautions. With 43 percent of the

student body involved in Greek life, it is our friends and neighbors who are most impacted by this investigation, and we all have a right to know why. What is probably most unacceptable about this situation is that the president of Phi Delta Theta claims that they, too, have been left in the dark as to what the investigation has uncovered. Why? This accomplishes nothing but a potential repetition of the same mistakes. This lack of transparency is a trend. Students were never fully informed about last year’s blanket suspension of all campus fraternities. I understand that laws protect student information and that investigations concerning Title IX are very sensitive, but it should not have taken The Sandspur four weeks of questioning— which included unresponded e-mails—to find out why a cam-

pus organization was being investigated. No details of the suspension or investigation have been released to the campus prior to The Sandspur reporting on this event, leaving the rumor mill to spin and speculate. Information about Greek life investigations needs to be made public. We should be able to go onto the college website and see the number of times that an organization has been investigated or suspended and the reasons why. This would help students be more informed in their decision-making during recruitment. At this point, it is dangerous for a student to unknowingly rush a fraternity that has been investigated three times in three years. In a time when rumors run rampant in society, help us, Rollins, to ensure that this is not an issue on our own campus.

Hult prize team to compete in London This Rollins team, BatterEASE, is one of only 50 selected to compete in an accelerator program in London next August. Out of those, six will be picked to pitch to the U.N. and then only one will get the $1

million in seed funding. This year’s Hult competition is based around building a “sustainable social enterprise that can harness the power of energy to transform the lives of 10 million people by 2025.”

BatterEASE’s product is a battery that is Effective, Accessible, Sustainable, and Environmentally friendly. The team consists of Kinsley Gerks ‘20, Nikki Hall-Elser ‘18, Dayra Diaz-Marquez ‘18, and Ma-

tias Meirelles van Vliet ‘19. Meirelles van Vliet said, “BatterEASE is a portable, customizable, upcycled battery that effectively harnesses renewable energy while mitigating e-waste. This accessible and environmen-

tally friendly power alternative allows citizens from all regions to stay connected to families, access important information, and light their nights creating a sustainable future for an afforable cost.”

Photo by Irina Ryabikina (Left to right) Kinsley Gerks ‘20, Nikki Hall-Elser ‘18, Dayra Diaz-Marquez ‘18, and Matias Meirelles van Vliet ‘19 were awarded $1,500 by the Social Innovation Hub during the Ideas for Good competition.

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

Raise your voice Senior shares her one regret leaving Rollins— not speaking up enough. By Barbara Padilla

Graduating Sandspur staff members say goodbye

Seniors reminisce on their time and the lessons they learned with ‘The Sandspur.’

Cameron Oche

Assigning Editor

y final year at Rollins has been far from easy, and the consistent migraine that I have felt stems from the bombardment of questions like,

Zoe Kim

Head Designer

hen I first started working at The Sandspur, I was the typical, brighteyed freshman who just wanted to get involved with the school, possibly while getting paid for it. I admit that I did not really know what I was getting into other than the fact that I was applying to be a Page Designer. I might have led on that I had more InDesign experience than I actually did, so there was a

“What are your plans after graduation?” or “Are you excited to leave?” Honestly, I am leaving Rollins with mixed feelings. As I prepare for whatever else life may bring me, I know that the past four years have not been what I expected. I never could have imagined the fantastic friends I have made, the places I traveled, or the subjects I studied. All of it racks through my

brain as I realize with a low feeling in my stomach that all of these adventures are coming to an end. While I am afraid of what my future presents, I know that Rollins has given me all it can offer, so it is time to move on. I am thankful to Rollins for all of these opportunities, and hopefully, I will be able to apply the experience I gained toward my future self.

fast learning curve. Thankfully, the staff was very understanding and patient with my incessant questions. Yes, the first few weeks were brutal, but I eventually learned. Fast forward three years, and here I am, writing as the current Head Designer. This past year has been a wild ride, and it definitely has not been easy. There have been times when I wanted to tear my hair out, but when I see someone read the week’s paper or have someone actively want to contribute, it makes me proud. I am genuinely glad that I was a part of the process, and with the major changes in both design and

content, I know that the publication will only improve from here. This position has taught me so much, as a designer and as a leader. I learned how to compromise and be flexible. I learned to accept criticism more objectively, listening to opinions rather than just hearing them. Most of all, I learned the value of teamwork, especially when everyone actually works hard towards a common goal. I am certain that The Sandspur would not be what it is today without the leadership and guidance of the other members of the executive staff. I know that I do not say it often, but thank you.

bpadilla@rollins.edu

o you make yourself heard? Does the Rollins community know who you are and what your views are? I am on the verge of graduating, and one thing I regret is not using my voice as much as I would have liked to during my time here at Rollins. As an off-campus student, I believed that my involvement in campus life was going to be minimal from the beginning. It was not that I did not want to get involved with the great programs on campus. I just found it difficult to justify driving an hour in from home and an hour back for an event or meeting, so I did not attach myself to a group of people or a campus organization. At times, I wondered, “Does my kind of voice even matter?” I wanted to be involved in causes, but I always felt like I was never speaking out enough. With that said, will speaking up now lead to my voice being heard when I leave this campus? I know I have grown. Many staff and faculty members inspired me to grow and stop locking myself in the dungeon that is Olin Library. Now, even though I still occasionally lock myself up in the dungeon, I am using my voice. I have tried to bring people together despite my off-campus situation. Sadly, though, my voice never reached The Sandspur until now—a place where it would have felt comfortable. As an English major who writes… a lot, it is almost blasphemous to have not used my voice more in places

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like our school newspaper. Silence, however, is the defense of choice, but why? There is a strength in embracing one’s voice that other freedoms cannot compare to. Interestingly enough, I find that most students on campus feel like they are not being heard. To all of you out there struggling to speak, just know that sometimes you will have to create a space where your voice can be heard. You may wish to talk through writing; you may use your own vocal chords; but you can also communicate through a collective organization’s voice. Also, voices cannot exist without listeners—we should always keep that in mind. I have had wonderful experiences at Rollins, but I have seen many changes implemented without enough communication and consideration. The interests of the school often muffle the voices that need to be heard. Rollins needs to remember that decision-making should include the people it affects. Seriously, whether it be students, staff, or faculty, how can any of us embody the idea of global citizenship when our voices are muffled and subsequently anchored in discouragement? Although Rollins wants us to find our anchors, I would like to say to everyone on campus: please do not leave this school without solidifying and using your voice. Personally, I feel that I have waited too long to use mine, and I do not want others to feel the same regret come graduation time.

There is a strength in embracing one’s voice that other freedoms cannot compare to.

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

Taking a stand against gun violence In solidarity with a national walkout, students commemorate on Columbine shooting anniversary.

Photo by Kira Bernhard Students, faculty, and staff gathered on Bush lawn to remember the victims of the Columbine shooting.

By Kendall Clarke

kclarke1@rollins.edu

tudents and faculty gathered together on Bush Lawn to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Columbine tragedy. Participants sat to honor those who have lost their lives to gun violence. Many of those gathered there also read moving speeches, recited poems, or gave performances. The Commemoration of Columbine event was the idea of Jordan Boyd ‘21, an off-campus Holt student, who wanted to create the event in order to draw attention to the increased number of school shootings in the last 19 years. Boyd asked the Off-Campus Student Association (OCSA) to help coordinate the event. On April 20, 1999, two students of Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. brought multiple weapons to their school, including a semi-automatic handgun, and began shooting fellow students. 13 people were killed and more than 20 wounded. At the time, Columbine was the worst high school shooting in U.S. history. According to The Washington Post database, over 208,000 students have experienced gun violence since Columbine. That is equivalent to approximately 10,947 students experiencing gun violence every year. According to the same data-

base, there have already been 13 school shootings in 2018 alone. On April 20, students across the nation participated in school walk-outs to protest gun violence, espousing the message that “enough is enough.” The Commemoration of Columbine event was in solidarity with this national movement, given the absence of an official walk-out event at Rollins. The event featured several students and faculty who shared speeches about past school shootings. However, these speeches were not a mere repetition of facts and figures, like some featured on the daily news. These speeches recounted the lived experiences of survivors, the reactions and feelings of victims’ parents and loved ones, and how these individuals continue to fight against gun violence in America. These speeches gave faces to the figures and humanized the tragic events that occured. In doing so, these individuals conveyed the need to avoid becoming desensitized to such acts of violence. Iman Gareeboo ‘18, president of OCSA, said, “We wanted people to remember that many horrific shootings have happened, since we tend to forget about older shootings every time they hear the phrase ‘another school shooting has happened.’” “We also picked shootings that people are unlikely to know

about in order to illustrate that many more shootings happen than people are generally aware of. Overall, our message was that students and teachers should worry about school shootings because both have lost their lives in active shooter situations,” said Gareeboo. In addition to these speeches, multiple poems about gun violence were recited. The winners of the Haiku Contest held by the English Department and Sigma Tau Delta were announced at the event: grand prize winner, J. Diego Medrano ‘18, and the two runner ups, Melissa Simon ‘19 and Chase Walker ‘19. Students also conducted musical performances at the event. At 11:19 am, Erin Henderson ‘19 played “Amazing Grace” on the violin to mark the time when the shooting began at Columbine High School. Alex Candage ‘20 and JoAnn Wood ‘21 sang “Found Tonight,” a song released and sung by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt in honor of the March for Our Lives. The song is a mash-up of Brodway musical ballads: “The Story of Tonight” from Hamilton and “You Will be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen. Such unity and activism is a testament to the spirit of Rollins and the dedication of the student body to service. Hopefully, with continued efforts and events such as these, gun violence will become a thing of the past.

Single Serve Baked Apple Oatmeal By Kira Bernhard

kbernhard@rollins.edu

ith only a week left of school before finals, nothing quite hits the spot like comfort food. While some comfort foods can make us feel groggy, this baked apple oatmeal dish will not. The apples actually contain quercetin, an antioxidant, that enhances memory function! Servings: 1 Time: 25 Minutes Difficulty: Easy Ingredients: • ⅓ Cup Rolled Oats • ½ Cup Apple, Chopped • 1 Large Egg • ⅓ Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk • ¼ tsp Baking Powder • ½ tsp Cinnamon • ½ tbsp Raw Honey • ½ tsp Coconut Oil

Recipe: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 2. Chop the apple into cubes. 3. Heat a nonstick skillet on medium-low heat and add in coconut oil. Once the skill is hot, sauté the apples until the edges turn brown. Continue stirring so the apple cubes do not stick to the skillet (roughly 6 to 8 minutes). 4. While the apples are cooking, mix together the rest of the ingredients in an oven safe bowl. If the batter is too thick or dry, add another tablespoon of almond milk. 5. Add the sautéed apples to the mixture in the bowl and stir. 6. Bake in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Do not overcook them because they can quickly dry out! 7. Serve while hot and enjoy the soft, caramelized apples hidden in the oatmeal. Feel free to add a dollop of yogurt or additional honey if desired!

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

Senior reading moves audience Students come together for the last time to read their works to faculty and peers. By Diego Medrano

jmedrano@rollins.edu

he Senior reading is a place where senior English majors and Writing minors share their best work with fellow students and faculty. This year’s writers displayed subtlety, wit, and emotion through work ranging from hybrid poetry to performance pieces. Readings began with Sigma Tau Delta President Barbara Padilla, who presented several hybrid poems. One described interactions between the mind and the body, where the mind responds to physical anxiety. Another featured a young child being chastised repeatedly by parents. Some of Padilla’s poems incorporated her stomping her foot to punctuate certain points. Padilla’s hybrid poems held an implicative, inquisitive tone with harsh deliveries interspersed. The language was casual, often blunt, and always cleverly balanced between musing and accusing. Writing minor Williams Peters followed Padilla with fiction. His story was formatted as a “choose your own adventure” tale set on New York’s Coney Island. The choice of setting for

the two characters was between the beach and the famous Wonder Wheel, and (perhaps because Fox Day had already passed) the audience selected the Wonder Wheel. As he described his two characters arguing about love and the Wonder Wheel falling apart, Pesters employed his usual satirical, witty style of writing. His descriptions were clever, cynical and unromanticized, and his characters are sassy and bold. Luis Guerrero, a Venezuelan Psychology Major and Writing Minor, contrasted with a short creative non-fiction piece. The story recounted Guerrero’s first relationship in the United States, one unfortunately wrought with toxicity and manipulation. The emotions, arguments, and conflicts had powerful attention to individual feelings. Guerrero’s style in this work is reflective, contemplative, and sober, considering the way life was following the relationship. It was also philosophical about its teachings. The events described are done so boldly, without any attempt at hiding. On a more lighthearted track, Cody Noles succeeded Guerrero. Noles presented a short comedic fiction piece titled “The Prince of Darkness.”

The story followed Billy Cunningham, a 15 year-old boy, now known as Friedrich the vampire lord, and his attempts to secure a sacred artifact with his friend and warlock, Francis, alias Darkheart. Noles effortlessly captured the voices of each of his different characters with hilarious precision, from the u nconcer ned mother to the amused and patronizing father to the excitable little sister. Friedrich, being a cent u r ies - old vampire, has his own extravagant and ominous narration style, which, coupled with the antics of his family, drew laughs out of everyone present. Following Noles was Iman Gareeboo, a French and English double major originally from Mauritius. Gareeboo writes for The Independent, and her work is culturally explora-

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tive and nuanced on several layers. She read a poem and a short piece of fiction. The poem, titled “Pamplemousse”(the French word for “Grapefruit”) describes how, as a country, Mauritius is currently transitioning into more modern practices all over. The poem contained vivid images of natural scenery overshadowed by cold concrete. The other piece, titled “The Hand,” described a student contemplating her hand alongside her professor’s; it delves into convent iona l beauty standards and their unfounded reasoning. Gareeboo’s style carefully blanded images and abstractions to present powerful arguments. The ideas left the page and forced readers into questions and challenges. The final reader was English major and Brushing Co-Ed-

Seniors expressed gratitude towards the English Department and its wonderful faculty and staff for their guidance, teaching, and encouragement.

itor-in-Chief, Sianna Boschetti. She presented an excerpt of a performance piece in which she discussed her experiences being gay and having epilepsy. This included stories of going out to LGBTQ+ dance club Southern Nights, coming out, and discussing epilepsy with professors. Boschetti’s style is wholly enjoyable for its straightforwardness; in performing, she is conversational, witty beyond belief, and relatable in all descriptions. At the same time, it uncovers ever-present societal malpractices. Many respected professors of writing, rhetoric, and literature were in attendance at the reading. Distinguished faculty of the English department such as Dr. Matthew Forsythe, Dr. Martha Cheng, and Dr. Jill Jones, Victoria Brown, and James Driggers were present to hear the culmination of their students’ work. Professor Brown, a published author, greatly encouraged many senior Writing minors and English majors to participate in the reading. Seniors expressed gratitude towards the English Department and its wonderful faculty and staff for their guidance, teaching, and encouragement. Professor Brown said that the department will be sad to see them go, but overjoyed to see them succeed.

Make some noise for 'A Quiet Place' New horror movie features American Sign Language and leaves a lasting impact on viewers. By Diego Medrano

jmedrano@rollins.edu

Quiet Place, the latest Hollywood horror film, displays a uniquely riveting plot and beautiful cinematography. The movie stars real-life married couple John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, as well as Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe. A Quiet Place follows the Abbott family as they try to live in total silence and hide in a post-apocalyptic world overtaken by creatures with impeccable hearing and brutally homicidal tendencies. The premise itself is not terribly impressive until you see its execution. The film contains long, careful shots of natural and abandoned

urban scenery with purely ambient sounds. There is often no music at all. Breezy, creaky ghost towns and bridges are filmed alongside rich green forests, rushing rivers, and waterfalls, with the lonely chirp of birds here and there. It is both haunting and soothing, which pulls audiences in opposite directions. More impressively, hardly any speaking occurs throughout the movie. The Abbotts communicate almost completely through sign language. When Krasinski and Blunt, or rather, Lee and Evelyn Abbott, have their first out-loud conversation about halfway through the movie, the effect is jarring. In fact, deaf daughter Regan Abbott is played by Simmonds, who is also deaf. Krasinski was heavily

encouraged to cast Simmonds for her talent and her suitedness to the film. In an interview with Gregory Wakeman, Simmonds talks about the set of A Quiet Place being welcoming and respectful, treating her like any actor. She also found its filming very refreshing since it contains so many scenes with sign language, many of which do not involve her. A Quiet Place, on top of being a good movie in general, makes for an excellent horror film. Despite there being little sound, the film does not rely exclusively on jump-scares and sudden explosions of sound to frighten audiences. Rather, it uses silence to create a lasting, maddening tension, one that stays in your gut and makes you squirm in your seat for some-

thing to happen. The film also manages to be true to the brutality of its created world without the need for any gore. It uses minimal amounts of blood, instead conveying horror in more emotional ways. However, unlike most horror movies with small casts, A Quiet Place is not afraid to kill off some characters. Like any movie, A Quiet Place does have some issues. For one, I would say the film did not show nearly enough of the relationship between father, Lee, and daughter, Regan. This relationship is one of the bigger tensions, but we see very few scenes that contribute to it. Lee and Regan are hardly ever together on their own, and they speak very little in both the begin-

ning and the end. Furthermore, the film ignores a fundamental rule of acoustics, that sounds which are closer will appear louder. The Abbotts get away with many sounds as they stand right in front of the creatures that should have gotten them killed. These creatures can hear the human voice from miles away--why can they not hear footsteps from a couple of feet away? Despite these flaws, A Quiet Place still manages to offer an emotionally charged, beautifully filmed, brutally executed experience to its audiences. It is a horror movie where we care about the characters, which, as any horror junkie will know, is a very rare occurrence.

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

8 Upcoming Sports Events April 26 ‣ Men’s lacrosse SSC Tournament Semifinals @ St. Leo, 7 p.m.

Athletics seasons filled with hits and misses Following lackluster performances, many Rollins sports teams hope to finish strong and come back next year better than ever.

April 27 ‣ Home: Baseball vs. University of Tampa, 6 p.m. ‣ Home: Softball vs. Barry University, 7 p.m. ‣ Women’s rowing SSC Championship, Sarasota, Fla., All Day ‣ Women’s lacrosse @ Florida Southern, SSC Semifinals, 5:30 p.m.

April 28 ‣ Home: Softball vs. Barry, Rollins Softball Stadium, 1 and 3 p.m. ‣ Home: Baseball vs. Tampa, Alfond Stadium, 3 and 6 p.m.

April 29 ‣ Women’s Lacrosse SSC Tournament Championship, TBA ‣ Men’s Lacrosse SSC Tournament Championship, TBA

Photos courtesy of Rollins Sports, Graphic by Pat Murray (Clockwise) Men’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, women’s lacrosse, baseball, women’s golf, and women’s tennis.

By Paul Schattschneider

pschattschneider@rollins.edu

fter a year filled with ups and downs for many Rollins sport teams, athletics looks to the future with optimism and hope to end their season with momentum. Both lacrosse teams are poised to begin conference tournament play this weekend. Women’s lacrosse enters their conference tournament with strength. Their record stands at 14-3 overall. They have shown that they can compete with the nation’s best and look to continue their stellar play as they enter the tournament. The men’s lacrosse team enters their tournament at 7-6, having had a back-and-forth season. However, the team has performed well against nationally ranked teams all season, dis-

playing their potential to make a run in the tournament. Baseball will hope to turn their luck around this week as they look to snap a 16-game losing skid. The Tars face the University of Tampa, which is leading the conference with a 20-1 conference record. Should the Tars steal a game or two, it may help them build momentum late in the season. The softball team begins its final series of the season this week as they face conference foe Barry University. The team currently sits at 26-22 and hopes to improve that record in their final home games of the year. Both Rollins golf teams look to make a splash in the NCAA Super Regional Tournaments. While the women’s team has completed its conference tournament, finishing fourth, the men’s team continues to battle through their conference competition.

Both teams finished the regular season strong, and they hope to translate their success into the national tournaments. Last fall, the women’s soccer team posted a disappointing 4-92 record. However, with defenders Kiera McMeekan ’19 and Ally Rost ’19, and goalie Kelly Rowswell 20’ returning as leaders, the team has a strong back line to build off of for next year. The men’s team had a similarly uneventful regular season campaign. However, they made a splash in the conference tournament by defeating the thenranked second in the country team, Palm Beach Atlantic, en route to the final. The season ended in heartbreak, however, as the Tars lost on a last-second penalty to Tampa in the conference championship. Men’s and women’s basketball both failed to make the postseason, as well.

After making a cinderella run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II Tournament last year, the men’s team began this season ranked nationally. However, the team struggled with consistency. They ended the season unranked and without a tournament bid. The women’s team began strong with a seven-game winning streak, but failed to capitalize on the strong start. They ended the season with a 12-14 record. Despite both teams missing the postseason, the promise of returning season players and young upstarts are good signs for the basketball program’s future. As a whole, the Rollins sports teams have shown their competitiveness and determination, even if some of their seasons did not play out as well as they had hoped.