Volume 121 Issue 4 Thursday, October 2, 2014
color coded crime page 6
Page 2 • NEWS News
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Established in 1894 with the following editorial:
EXECUTIVE STAFF David Matteson Editor-in-Chief Ali Perry Managing Editor
CONTENT STAFF Marcela Oliveira Head Content Editor Alexandra Mariano Head Copy Editor Lauren Waymire Content Advisor Stephanie Garcia Webmaster Kate Barnekow Daniel Udell Copy Editors
Washington, D.C. Pyongyang, North Korea Freetown, Sierra Leone
Eric Hilton Raquel Leon Section Editor Kaitlyn Alkass Micah Bradley Nicholas D’Alessandro Staff Writers Matt Boggs Nolan Brewer Production Assistants
Sydney, Australia
DESIGN DEPARTMENT Kayla Powers Head Designer Shaayann Khalid Brooke Preston Ginna Vick Designers
BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden
Interim General Manager of Student Media
Dr. Emily Russell Associate Professor of English Taylor McCormack Business Manager
PUBLIC RELATIONS Diana Drpich Ben Smith Public Relations Interns John Berggren Multimedia Manager Irina Ryabikina Multimedia Intern
ADVERTISING
Contact: advertising@thesandspur.org
Cover Art Designed By: Kyle McCoy ‘15
Compiled by Lauren Waymire Washington, D.C. After the fourth longest tenure in the history of the position, Eric Holder is stepping down as U.S. Attorney General. He has been in the position since 2009 and is one of only three members of President Obama’s original cabinet staff that still remains. His most notable achievements while in office included the protection of voter rights, pushing for equal rights for the LGBT community, and prosecuting terrorist suspects. He is the only cabinet member in U.S. history to be held in contempt of Congress after refusing to meet demands during the investigation into the botched “Fast and Furious” operation in 2011. Freetown, Sierra Leone The government of Sierra Leone has declared that over one million people within the
confines of its borders are under curfew in the latest governmental attempt to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola epidemic. Since the implementation of the curfew, over 350 new cases of the disease have been found when health workers conducted doorto-door searches; the search also found over 260 from victims, 216 of which have since been buried. Ebola has already infected more than 6,200 people in West Africa. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that without the current amped up response, approximately 1.4 million people would have been infected by January. Pyongyang, North Korea After he missed several public appearances, North Korean media confirmed that leader Kim Jong Un is suffering from poor health. The story was initially published by South Korean
media, in which they reported that the 31-year-old dictator was suffering from gout, diabetes,
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Over one million people...are under curfew in the latest government attempt to stop the deadly Ebola epidemic
and high blood pressure. He was last seen in public with his wife at a concert on September 3. The North Koreans would not confirm any specific illness but did say that he was suffering “discomfort.” According to various sources, he is simply suffering
from excesses in unhealthy food and alcohol consumption. Sydney, Australia Following a string of protests and international outcry, the Australian government signed an agreement with the Cambodian government to send some rejected asylum seekers to Cambodia in exchange for payments amounting to $35 million. The payments will be made over four years and go towards “developmental aid projects.” The asylum seekers—mainly coming from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq and Iran—will go to Cambodia in small trial groups. Many have protested the decision, saying that Cambodia is too corrupt and impoverished to take on the challenge and that Australia’s treatment of the refugees is inhumane and deplorable.
Page 3 • OPINION
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Thursday, October 2, 2014
color coded crime Kaitlyn Alkass
Staff Writer
“Our mission is to aid men in their mental, moral, and social development for life... and also use color coordination to drug local campus women so we can get laid.” This might as well be added into the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity mission statement, at least for the Zeta-Zeta chapter of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who is currently under aggressive investigation. On the night of September 12, four students attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee were hospitalized after experiencing a “strange feeling” before blacking out, unable to walk and vomiting profusely. The three women hospitalized were found to have had red Xs marked on their hands. The male was marked with a black X,
but claimed to have taken a sip from his friend’s drink who had been marked with red. Police are under extreme suspicion that the fraternity used this color coding system as a premeditated plan to target certain females for possible date rape. The third hospitalized woman said that a fraternity member who mixed her a drink hid the cup under the bar out of plain sight before giving it to her. She passed out 30-45 minutes after finishing the drink. Other attendees of the party told authorities the vodka based drinks that the fraternity members were mixing appeared “cloudy,” leading to the suspicion that the fraternity was using the date rape drug Rohypnol, commonly referred to as “roofies.” President of the fraternity Thomas Kreinbring was charged September 19 for possession of a prescription drug without a val-
id prescription, keeping a drug house, and other charges. UWM issued a statement to WISN 12 News regarding the date rape scandal September 18. It reads in part, “We are deeply concerned about these allegations because the safety of our
young women like animals is not the breaking point. Unfortunately, the not at all stupidly named “Zeta-Zeta” chapter is a real fraternity undoing the hard work that the Greek community across the United States has done to dispel the unflattering image and
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the fraternity used this color-coding system as a premeditated plan to target certain females for possible date rape
students is our No. 1 priority. UWM police are aggressively pursuing this investigation to determine exactly what happened and who may be involved.” At what point will this aspect of fraternity culture no longer occur? Clearly, branding
reputation of fraternities. The purpose of a fraternity is to provide an opportunity for young men to get involved with their respective college campuses, and is a great tool that universities can employ to ensure a decent retention rate. Howev-
er, when the fraternity is clouded with certain sexist ideas of what makes a “frat” respectable and cool on campus, all hell can break loose. Perhaps this often illegal aspect of fraternity culture can be fixed with a short how-to class entitled: How-to Not be a Rapist. Lesson 1: Do not mark a girl for premeditated date rape as casually as you would purchase a Brooks Brothers bow tie. A universally accepted goal of fraternities is to be able to “get” the hottest specimens of young women on campus as well as fostering an incestual brother/sister relationship with the “hottest” sorority on campus. If fraternities were to shift their archaic views toward how they view the opposite sex and to not so frantically look for sex in the same manner an addict looks for their next fix, campuses nationwide would be much safer.
Floods impact Campus Life Letter to the Editor This week, Sigma Alpha Epsilon was officially recognized as a Fraternity on campus.
Daniel Martinez (staff illustrator) On Tuesday, September 23, heavy rains flooded campus basements and Holt Avenue, which made commuting difficult for many students.
Dear Editor, As IFC President I would like to publicly welcome and congratulate Sigma Alpha Epsilon on their recent recognition to the Fraternity and Sorority Life community. The addition of the SAE chapter expands and strengthens our community as a whole. We are excited to include SAE in all fraternity sanctioned events, social events, philanthropic activities, and eager to see the events they can share with the college. This addition will also give interested potential new members the opportunity to join 6 organizations come spring semester compared to 5 in previous years. The addition of SAE is the start to a growing part of Rollins, with the hopeful addition of a new sorority as extension is currently happening. Once again, welcome and congratulations to Sigma Alpha Epsilon. We are excited to have you as part of the community. Best, Bradley Baker IFC President
The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sandspur, its staff or Rollins College.
Page 4 • OPINION
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Slut shaming outdated, overrated Rebecca Wilson investigates the slut shaming culture and urges students to reevaluate society’s inherent prejudices. Rebecca Wilson Writer Call me a slut. That is right. Say it to my face; say it behind my back; say it about how many partners I choose; say it about how short my shorts are. I hear this word bandied about Rollins College more than is even comprehensible. Men and women alike use the term with the intention to degrade others and to police women’s sexuality, but the “bros” on campus seem to particularly enjoy this word. I was previously horrified and offended by the use of this word, as are socially conscious people everywhere. I wondered how they dared to denigrate women for choices they make, and how they viewed their own sex lives as somehow impervious to such judgment. “Slut shaming” outrages me, and it should enrage anyone who has any attachment to the notion of equality and freedom of choice. However, this outrage is affecting me and not affecting the people who use this word at all. I can try to explain why it is offensive, even talk about the power of language and micro-aggressions, all to no
avail. So it seems to me that maybe it would be useful to reinterpret the word rather than reside in despair and struggle to make others understand its problematic nature. So while it is used as an insult, from here on out I have decided I am taking it as compliment. I have asked people to define “slut” when I hear it used in conversation many times. Once they recover from being remotely challenged on their callous usage, they usually stutter something about it meaning sexually promiscuous, having a large number of partners, or choosing partners indiscriminately. Some use it a designation that a woman is somehow “dirty”, or “nasty”, or carries STDs, or simply dresses provocatively. Here is the rub, though: none of those things offend me. If you think girls who have a lot of sex with multiple partners all carry STDs, did you ever stop to think about STD passage? People using “slut” to define a woman probably never considered that often men pressure or coerce women not to use condoms, which could easily lead to the passage of STDs. They also probably do
not consider that you could easily contract one from a long term partner who steps out of the relationship, or who does not know they carry a disease. The number of partners is not an indication of the likelihood of any person’s infection with diseases. So they are actually implying that there is something “unclean” or impure about having multiple partners. This stems from ridiculous norms about women and the idea that they should have sex only in relationships, or when they are married, or however conservative the standard is that is being unfairly imposed on others. I am not embarrassed about choosing sex partners as I see fit, no matter how others view my decisions. This process is subject only to my scrutiny, and outside opinions should be irrelevant. I currently, and will continue to, express my sexuality despite any social rules people try to impose. I wear what I like and what makes me feel good and that is all there is to it. Judging the way I dress as an indication of my sexual availability just shows your ignorance. Taking offense at this kind of ignorance has turned out to be counterproductive. It might
be better for all of us to analyze what the term actually reduces to—I have no qualms about saying that everyone should pursue consensual sexual activities that they enjoy despite what some “bros” or anyone else has to say. Their objection is to something I have no problem with, am not ashamed of, and would never judge anyone else for. So go for it, bro; call me a slut, call me dirty, and I will continue to call you hypocritical, ignorant, and ridiculously antiquated. Even people I respect in other ways have used this word, in front of groups of women, and in vastly inappropriate situations. It is pervasive not just among bros, but also among many groups of men, and even groups of women. Calling a woman a slut does not make me judge the person you are referring to. I take it as information about what an ignorant and irrational person you must be. Every which way anyone could use that word against me or any other woman or person is not at the root, an insult. Using this word is an indication that you realize a woman is sexually independent and expressing discomfort with that. I make a
The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sandspur, its staff or Rollins College.
point of dismissing other people’s opinions about my sexuality, and greatly value the freedom I am afforded in sexual choices. So why would I be insulted that you are aware of my autonomy in sexual choices? The kind of person who critiques other’s sexual choices on anything but getting consent is not someone whose approval I would want anyways, and neither should anyone else. We focus a lot on men pressuring women to have sex, but I do not want anyone to pressure women into not having sex either. The stigma attached to being considered a slut may inhibit choice, and is therefore problematic. While I abhor the mentality behind this word, I will cease to be offended, and hope that other women can also ignore the insult intended and take the acknowledgement of sexual independence as an accolade. Ignoring the pressure to have sex, or to not have sex, or adhere to sexist rules is an accomplishment. So congratulations sluts everywhere: we are defying antiquated norms dictated by bros, and we should be proud we do not fit into a damn tiny box of correct sexual behavior.
Page 5 • OPINION
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Letter
from the
Senator Student media at Rollins College is golden, and as Senator of Student Media I could not be any more excited to represent one of the college’s finest manifestations of the applied liberal arts. This is the first year Student Government Association has provided a representative for our flourishing media outlets within Senate. As this is no small privilege or opportunity, I am driven to promote and magnify the voice, resilience, and excellence of our media outlets: Brushing, The Independent, WPRK 91.5FM, and The Sandspur. September 23 marked the first Student Media Board meeting, which so very successfully set the tone for this year’s agenda. The heads of our innovative and historic media outlets, including myself, gathered to discuss the synchronous relationship between each of the media outlets. With prudent intention, each of our media outlets resolves to be a united force, mu-
tually participating in the proliferation of each outlet’s reach within our community and beyond. What this looks like is not neighborhoods within student media, but a neighborhood for student media. Those who wish to be involved with our organizations—as I highly suggest you should—need not choose one but as many as are aligned with
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more accessible, influential, and principal part of our campus culture and pride. It is my sole purpose to see to it that these goals are not only met but also succeeded. I believe in the power of the student body’s voice and equally so in the importance of strong, student-led organizations that explore academic and profes-
captivate the interests and concerns of student media and our student body. This legislation, when passed after a majority vote in Senate, commands the earnest attention of college leaders capable and interested in enacting the wishes and wants of their students. With that, if you have yet to make the life enhancing decision
With prudent intention, each of our media outlets resolves to be a united force, mutually participating in the proliferation of each outlet’s reach within our community and beyond.
their desires and skills. The leaders of student media recognize the future of our media outlets and their significant opportunities. We also recognize it rests with you. Thus, we as a whole are determined to make student media at Rollins College an even
sional interests. Serving as Senator is not a decorative item for a resume, but a direct assimilation of a passion for media and the success of all students. Over the course of this semester, I look forward to authoring two pieces of legislation that effectively
to not only support your school but also indulge in some quality radio, we are about to make the process incredibly easy. With the support of their fantastic leadership, a bill is in draft to have WPRK 91.5FM played on campus. This is the first example of
many that I hope to provide to future Tars and student media. Your support is requested in this effort; Student Government Association seeks to represent the student body. However, it is essential to have that voice be heard. Every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in Bieberbach Reed at the Cornell Campus Center, we invite you, the student, to share your opinion and express what you feel needs attention within student media and on campus. It is a direct way to lead and make a change, and I look forward to seeing you there. Undoubtedly, this is an exciting time to be a part of student media. Whenever bodies come together to forge a greater community, one thing is certain: the light we now walk in is just the tip of our sunrise. -Phillip Denizard Senator of Student Media SGA
Anonymous app makes private thoughts public The digital campus bulletin known as Yik Yak offers an interesting source of amusing community gossip. Samantha Hirsch
Writer
So some of you may have heard of the app known as Yik Yak recently here at Rollins. Many are avid users, many find it to be frivolous and stupid, and many others have absolutely no clue what it even is. Before we continue on, I am going to attempt to describe what Yik Yak is. Yik Yak’s official motto is: “Share your thoughts and keep your privacy.” Essentially, Yik Yak is an app where you can post anonymous comments about
virtually anything you want. Yik Yak works on a location-based premise, so, depending on where you are, the yaks available to you will change, allowing you to be ‘up-to-date’ on what is going on in that specific area. Many campuses throughout the country have their own Yak accounts, including Rollins, where others outside of that location can look at what is being said there. The app was first created in 2013 by two college graduates from Furman University. They created it with the intention of it becoming the “local anonymous
Twitter” or the “digital campus bulletin.” Now with Yik Yak at college campuses all throughout the country, the app has gained an enormous reputation. As you can imagine with it being an anonymous app where literally anything can be said, there have been many uses of profane language, racism, as well as cases of severe bullying. Some campuses have even gone as far as blocking the app due to cases of cyber-attacks against students. I asked some students here at Rollins about their opinions on Yik Yak and the following is what
they shared. Johanna Olsson ’17 said, “I think its fun! It’s always fun with new social media, and Yik Yak is something that I look at everyday. I guess the downside would be that people can pretty much write whatever they want—some mean—and get away with it. Overall, though, I think it’s a creative and funny way of demonstrating of sense of community here at Rollins.” Aidan McKean ’17 added, “It’s an interesting source of anonymous community gossip, that is sometimes humorous but sometimes offensive. You can’t believe
The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sandspur, its staff or Rollins College.
everything you read on Yik Yak.” Finally, Matthew Chamberlain ’18 very forwardly stated, “Honestly, I think most of it is people who don’t have the balls to say these things with people knowing it was them. Some of it is pretty funny, though.” Overall, Yik Yak is an amusing app to have, read through, and even post on if you dare. I personally am a fan of Yik Yak, but as sophomore Taylor White ‘17 stated so accurately: “To be honest, it’s just another way to waste time, but it can be entertaining.”
Page 6 • OPINION
Thursday, October 2, 2014
What’s the value of an education?
Page 7 • OPINION Danielle Del Pico
Thursday, October 2, 2014 Writer
Is college for me? It is a question everyone asks—whether they are on the brink of high school graduation or in the midst of their adult responsibilities— why do I need an education? I am sure many students have heard of the phrase “Cs get degrees.” and you begin to wonder why you should even make the effort. Several students and alumni from Rollins College were asked what an education meant to them. Eddie Huang ’04, a chef, writer, and former English major, considers this question with respect to the world being a melting pot: a multi-level highway where everything connects in a way that compliment and influence one another. This is the way you grow as an individual. College can help you achieve this, Huang ’04 advises the most important skill you can learn is critical thinking: “The ability to create your own values and apply them to situations is the beginning of a good education. There is so much misinformation and noise in the world today that you really have to scream to hear yourself and avoid falling into the matrix with the rest of the lemmings.” Kirby Ferguson, a Los Angeles based filmmaker argues that “our creativity comes from without, not from within. We are not self-made.” In his TED talk from June 2012 entitled “Embrace the Remix,” he pres-
ents the notion that, as individuals, this acknowledgment allows us the license to “simply begin,” satiated in the understanding that we cannot do it alone. Who inspires us to go to college? Some students cited their children and some their parents. James Farrell ’15, a Computer Science major, credits his twin sons for his motivation: “I want them to see that I valued getting an education so they will be more inclined to finish school with a college degree.” Karen Hays ’17, in the Accelerated Masters Program for Business, witnessed in her lifetime an array of adults attending college later in life, including her mother. This inspired her to attend a Rollins informational seminar. “Attending school later in life runs in the family,” she remarks, being a prime example that college is an enthralling experience at any age. For Katie Rhodes ’16, English major, her upbringing dictated that college was just part of life. Upon attending Rollins, her classmates and their passions inspired her: “The people around me who had to work and fight to attend the higher education I had always just taken for granted made me appreciate going to college, and helped me see it for the privilege that it is.” Joseph Long ’17, an Organizational Behavior Major, thanks his late father for his zeal: “He’s always told me that the value of getting a college degree is the most hopeful feeling in the world, that you can
always find a place in this country learning what you love to do through the many that gifts you have.” Brooke Varney ’16, English Major, gives thanks to her grandfather, a successful engineer and first generation Italian immigrant: “I’m certainly no genius, especially when it comes to math, but if he could achieve all he did after starting out with little to nothing, I’d feel like a fool to not even try and further my education.” What could dissuade someone against an education? Finances are always an issue. Some students have been fortunate to receive scholarships, financial aid, and assistance from their families to help fund their education. Rhodes ’16 laments that the biggest obstacle for attending college is herself: “I’ve gone through periods where I allow myself to get caught up in different aspects of college life and end up drifting off course and not doing well in school. But I’ve also found that in addition to being my own worst enemy in that respect, I’m also my biggest advocate and have the power of being able to motivate myself to do things more than anyone else.” As an educator, what can be done to inspire students in the classroom? At Rollins, the opportunity for students to have specialized attention by their T:10” to the smaller professors, due class sizes, is extremely helpful and, maybe for some, crucial. Rollins English Professor Mau-
rice O’Sullivan worries that there is a growing sense that college is just a business: “Too many people want college simply to become a training program to prepare people for specific jobs and limited lives.” How do educators fight against that? By being honest with their students and supplying them with material that teaches them lessons they can carry with them in all walks of life. For those eager to learn, what could a college education offer us? “To me, the most important gifts any student can take out of college are curiosity, an appreciation for learning, and a passion for some subject,” remarks Professor O’Sullivan. “A real education makes people far more interesting than they might otherwise have been. Taking courses just to get a degree or certification without investing any effort or emotion simply lets people wallow in their dullness. And who wants to live with dull people?” Continual curiosity is what Dana Ivey ’63 ’08H, film and Tony nominated stage actress, has taken away from her Rollins education. As a Theatre Arts alumni and Honorary Doctorate of Humanities, she gives invaluable insight to current Rollins students pursuing a creative career and what it takes to be successful: “A creative career is a difficult path. It flies in the face of our culture’s bottom-line value system. Few people who follow a creative path become rich, except in spirit and intelligence.
An actor, particularly, even more a dancer, may have a very hard time making ends meet, so there must be overwhelming passion for the art to hold you fast and propel you forward.” Work ethic is what sets you apart from the rest of the pack; it is the deciding factor in who makes it and who does not. Ivey ’63 ’08 cites dedication as the foundation in which we must build for ourselves: “Dedication means perseverance, patience, attention to detail, doing exercises, reading, always learning, appreciating, and believing in what you are doing, without cynicism (a soul-killer) or defeatism. There is no room for slacking, no room for attitude, no room for discourtesy.” When someone puts their pen to paper and writes what they know or wish to know more about, when a dancer or an actor takes the stage, when a businessperson writes up an important proposal, or when you are tucking your children into bed, you are sowing seeds. Whether you are utilizing critical thinking or creating art, you are not only shedding layers of yourself, allowing others to see you for the person you are, but also developing layers, to allow others to draw inspiration from you. It is our duty as students to not only celebrate the light, but also be a motivation for others. From the moment you walk on campus for the first time, to the moment you are walking on stage on Graduation day, Fiat Lux. Let there be light.
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Page 8 • FEATURES
Thursday, October 2, 2014
CISA panel enlightens audience On Sept. 18 a panel discussion organized by the Center for India and South Asia came to Rollins and discussed the current situation in India.
Michael Dulman
Writer
To inform the local Winter Park and Rollins academic community about prospects for India following its May national elections, Rollins College hosted a public panel discussion organized by the Center for India and South Asia (CISA) in the Galloway Room of the Mills Building on September 18. “It was an interesting view into how the local Indian community viewed the changes within the new Indian government, and it was inspiring to see the high hopes they have for Prime Minister Modi to transform the infrastructure of the Indian economy,” said Debate Team member Caleb Archuleta ’18. Welcoming the audience and explaining the purpose of the event, Dr. Carol Bresnahan spoke on the goal of CISA to promote the spread of knowledge of India, South Asia, and their peo-
ples dispersed around the globe. By bringing discussion of these cultures to Rollins, CISA seeks to elevate the college as a leader in national and international educational exchange. Already, Rollins runs a dual-degree program with Jindal Global University in Delhi—allowing students to earn a degree in India and the U.S.— and sends professors to teach in India, so the organization wants to capitalize on Rollins’ actions and educate its community about India. Dr. Yudit Greenberg then gave a brief background of the situation in India: in the recent elections, new Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party gained an outright majority, able to pass motions as a whole without fail, in the lower house of India’s parliament. This considerable power—together with Modi’s successful political history, wide popular appeal, unique views, and the improving Indian economy—present the opportu-
nity for India to improve itself on a domestic and global scale. With the audience sufficiently aware of the context, the six panel speakers began the presentation segment of the evening, moderated by Dr. Smaw. Among them were Rollins students Avani Mooljee ’16 and Vanshaya Saigal ’15, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Hindu Society of Central Florida Mr. Dev Sharma, Orlando attorney Rana Tiwari, Visiting Professor of Economics Dr. Somnath Sen, and the former President of the Indian American Chamber of Commerce Dr. Beena Parikh. Each of them presented a specific aspect of India in turn: foreign policy, economic policy, treatment of women, attitude towards globalization, and domestic policies. After their presentations, Dr. Smaw continued the discussion with the question-and-answer segment, challenging the positions set forth by the speakers; Dr. Smaw
Josh Chesarek DIVERSE PANEL The discussion panel included six people from different ages and genders. began the questioning, and then several members of the debate team, who attended the evening as a club event, asked their own questions.The formal discussion concluded with grateful applause for the speakers and continued informally over delicious Indian fare. Listening to the speakers changed the way I thought about
India, transforming it from a faraway country that had little to do with me to one with which my country may soon form powerful economic ties. It has inspired me to become more informed about events in India and global events in general. I encourage others to attend such presentations and similarly broaden their global perspective.
Rollins faces second largest freshmen class Five hundred and fifty-five freshmen entered Rollins this fall, leading to major adjustments on campus. Micah Bradley
Staff Writer
This year’s incoming class is the second largest in Rollins’ history, which demanded several accommodations. 543 first year students, along with 70 transfer students, began to call Rollins home this fall. These two additions make the overall student body the largest in the college’s history. The two previous largest incoming classes came in fall 2013 which brought 480 new freshmen, and the previous year that brought 520 people. Fall of 2011 was the largest incoming class that Rollins has ever had—that year saw 555 students enter the college. “People ask me: is there a cap? And I’m like, you know what, I don’t know how much bigger you’d want to get,” Acting President Craig McAllaster said. Despite budget issues, the Admissions Office did not make a major push to admit more students than last fall. In fact, admissions was expecting a smaller class, closer to 500 students. This
was based on the low numbers in fall 2013. Part of the reason for the large increase in student body is the new Business and Entrepreneurship program. “Having a traditional business management program, I think, is one thing that helped drive the numbers,” Interim Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Steve Booker said. This was the first year that admissions could advertise the new major. In the past, a lack of options in business majors was a relatively common reason among students who choose another college over Rollins. Last year 100 students began their college careers as International Business majors. This year, 150 first years came in with declared majors in the business department, making the total 50 people larger than before. The number of international students has been steadily increasing over the past few years. Two years ago, about 6 percent of the incoming class was international, last year it was 8 percent, and this year 10 percent of the
incoming freshmen class come from abroad. The faculty and staff were concerned about providing for more students than anticipated. “This summer when it began to become apparent that we weren’t going to melt like pre-
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543 first year students, along with 70 transfer students, began to call Rollins home this fall.
vious years, that brought in the deans and housing and student affairs. I said alright: Are we up to the challenge? You know, what are we going to do to make sure we don’t leave anyone saying, ‘Where’s my room?’ Or, ‘I can’t get a class?’ So, I think we’ve done a good job getting ready for this,” McAllaster said.
The Rollins College Conference course, or RCC, program had to be expanded to accommodate the larger incoming class. Normal class sizes and scheduling is expected to be relatively unaffected by the increase in the student body . Housing in the first year dorms is packed. Traditionally, Ward and Mckean were the housing buildings for freshmen. This year, the freshmen are housed in Strong Hall 220 and 221, and a few first years are in Elizabeth, which has always been an upperclassman dorm, in addition to Ward and Mckean. Residential Life also had to convert one of the study rooms in Ward into a double bedroom. Every freshman that wanted a bed on campus was able to get one. Most of the first years that were placed in an upperclassmen dorm are being given the option to move, as people leave the college or make late cancellations. “We’re pretty tight in first year halls. One of the things that means is that there’s not as much room for people to move around as they would like,” Director of
Residential Life Leon Haynes said. This could pose a problem, especially if a large amount of first years want to switch roommates or residence halls. Luckily, more freshmen than usual are living off campus. Over 70 first year students decided to live at home this year, which is much higher than it has been in the past. Despite this, freshman housing is still almost at capacity. Right now, it is unclear if Rollins can expect larger class sizes every year due to the impact of the business degree and more international students. It is possible that this year was just an anomaly. Though Rollins has had to make accommodations for an unusually large class, other small liberal arts schools have struggled with enrollment this semester. “A lot of schools this year like us are not having record years. A lot of liberal arts schools are just trying to be where they were last year, and many of them are not even hitting that number. So we are very fortunate,” McAllaster said.
Page 9 • FEATURES
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Hamilton Holt students speak up Ariana M. Simpson
Writer
If you have gone to Rollins long enough, you are probably well aware of the misguided and shockingly apparent disparity amongst Rollins College’s Arts and Sciences students and Holt students. The Holt Faces and Voices idea, as Morgen Chaderton ’15HH puts it, is“…mostly an initiative taken on by the Holt School administration, the Dean of Students, Connie Holt, Dean Richards, and Deborah Tatum, to name a few.” Although it is referred to as the Hamilton Holt School, it is better recognized as a different program so as to not further divide A&S and Holt; both abide by the same rigor and uphold the same academic expectations of their students because we are all—whoa, wait for it—Rollins students. As an A&S student taking part in primarily A&S classes, I am well versed in the thought processes of other A&S students. A startlingly great deal of us look at Holt students very differently, seeming to believe that their education is somehow different from the ones we receive, while other A&S students even rumor that Holt students are not “really Rollins students.” This is clearly not true; as a student of Rollins, whether your class takes place in the day or the evening, you are receiving a great deal of the same exact classes which are taught by the same exact professors—not by a bunch of randoms housed in Orlando Hall to teach a different critical analysis of Orwell’s ‘1984’. No. Just… No. That is not
how this works. Now, some confusion might come from the vast age group of Holt students, but they also consist of a large number recent high school graduates. Slowly debunking the ill-informed idea of a Holt Student, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit down and speak Chaderton ’15HH, an all around exceptional Rollins Holt student. Chaderton ’15HH is senior who has double majored in Music and International Affairs while also being a friendly face you might see in the Financial Aid office where she works as an assistant. Chaderton ’15HH is also a senator for SGA and is heavily involved in the music sorority of Sigma Alpha Iota. She acts as a member of the presidential search committee, peer advisor to other Holt students, a Rollins Student Ambassador, and “actively assists in our New Student Orientations and BA Information Sessions” as Holt Advisor Deborah Tatum shared with me. Chaderton ’15HH opened the interview stating that “Holt is always known as the best kept secret at Rollins... [but] the students are stereotyped to just come to class and then leave, [while] in reality there are Holt students everywhere: sororities, fraternities, leadership positions on campus… It’s not fair that they’re left in this stigma, and it’s time for Holt to have a voice, Holt to have a say in things—for everyone’s voice to be heard and treated equally at Rollins.” This statement, a reaffirming dismantling of rumors I had heard reouccuringly my freshman year in regards to Holt students—of how they are not
allowed to be involved or cannot be involved—letting the wrong belief of these weird anti-social Rollins students linger in my mind. However, these thoughts never settled as I know many very active Holt students. Holt students are in Kappa Delta, and the president of LASA is a Holt student. “The dynamic of Holt is changing, it’s not just a 40 year old mom who wants to go back to college after her kids are taken care of. We have traditional students, working people who want a second Bachelor’s, and people in their 60s and finally have time to go back to school. It is the most dynamic and interchangeable and diverse group. It needs more light shed on it.” The differences amongst the Holt program and the A&S program are that Holt classes take place at night Mondays through Thursdays, with the exception of the Music and English departments: those two programs are cross listed and classes occur both throughout the day and on Fridays. Holt students are also not required to pay the same fees that are inclusive of on-campus A&S students, which range from the meal plan to the health insurance if you do not already have your own outside provider. A&S is catered to the more traditional college experience with around 90% being of the ages 1823, whereas Holt is more heavily diverse and varied in age with the oldest student being 78 and the average being 27. For some A&S students college is sometimes just the next step, and with Holt students it is not just the next step or expected road to follow but another educational opportunity more catered to their
lifestyle. As Rollins puts it on the Holt website: “Here you’ll find the same great level of academic rigor that you would at any other esteemed residential college, but with a slight difference: our programs are designed with working adults in mind. We know the challenge of balancing life, work, family, and education, and we don’t think you should have to sacrifice one area for another. For that reason, our evening classes allow you to pursue bachelors and master’s degrees at a time that fits your schedule.” With a great deal of Holt students paying for college out of pocket, as well as the older side of the Holt program coming back to school a second time, there is also a different sense of pride that is placed on education—but each of us are all still Rollins students simply pursuing education in different ways. With last year being a bit sour for Holt students, who were not at all aware of basic things that the majority of us received incessant emails on such as Title IX or the new smoking policies that were being voted on, there is a growing change to have each of us all equally aware and voice our opinions—not just receive an email at the end of it all, completely blind of everything else. From revamping the powers that Holt SGA has, thanks to the help of Vice President of Student Affairs Mamta Accapadi, to granting Holt a greater voice, the disparity is dismantling. Holt students are being seen more and more on campus. In tearing down the outside perception of Rollins being a one type country club kind of prep school, we are being seen more as a diverse lib-
eral arts institution and are also better displaying that diversity we strive for. With students such as Rachel Kesler ’15HH—a double major in Economics and Organizational Behavior, an active member on the SGA and Academic Honor Council, and presently serving on the Academic Affairs and Food Services committees alongside being a member of the College’s Institutional Review Board (IRB)—it is hard to say that Holt students are any different from us. D’vonte Chapman’15HH, “a Music major at Holt. He is the Student Voice Leader in the Music Department and also a co-founder of the Sigma Eta Chapter at Rollins College of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.” Trevor May ’16HH, an “Elementary Education major, and serving as a Leadership Ally at Rollins and also an active member in the SGA.” Ashley Williams is a “graduate student in our Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and the graduate assistant in the Career & Life Planning Office” and a member of “Psi Chi, the international honor society for psychology,” just a few of her accomplishments. And Samantha Voehringer, a graduate student in the MAC program. She is the grad assistant in TJ’s Tutoring & Writing Center and assists struggling students develop better study and time management skills. Students like these are just some that Tatum mentioned alongside Chaderton ’15HH. The Hamilton Holt School offers a great deal to the dynamic of Rollins, and it is time that they are recognized as equal components of such.
Knowles Chapel revolutionized Micah Bradley
Staff Writer
After Dean Powers’s retirement at the end of last semester, Senior Minister Shawn Garvey and Associate Minister Talia Raymond have been appointed Interim Deans of the Chapel. The two reverends are from the First Congregational Church of Winter Park, the founding church of Rollins College. Originally this was expected to be a one-year arrangement; however, with the resignation of President Duncan and the subsequent presidential search party, the interim positions have been
extended to two years. Three of the goals that the new deans have for this year are to create a new and better interfaith area, to televise Vespers, and to have a sort of Question and Answer session with actors and musicians about spirituality and religion. “I am confident we are going to fulfill all of them,” Reverend Garvey said. The new deans are trying to get classroom 101 in the back of Knowles Chapel taken off of the class schedule so that it can be used entirely as an interfaith space. Hopefully, the process will be completed by Christmas
break, and Muslim prayer services have already begun in what will be the new interfaith area. Since Vespers has a lot of student involvement, the new deans would like to start by streaming it and then try to get it on television like other colleges have done. Reverend Garvey is hoping to get actor Sean Astin and others to participate in a sort of Question and Answer about spirituality. These talks would not necessarily be on religion, just on the person’s spiritual practices and how that influences their work. Changes are also going to be made to the Sunday services at
Knowles Chapel, which are led by Reverend Raymond. “My goal is for students to be invested in what is happening in the chapel, and to have a voice in what the spiritual needs on campus are, to have those needs met,” Raymond said. She is looking for student involvement to lead prayers, read scriptures, or pick songs. She would also like to link the Sunday services with other parts of Rollins College—potentially partnering with dancers, scientists, artists, or poets to create new components for the Sunday Worship. “So that the gifts that stu-
dents already have can be part of the spiritual life, and not separate,” Reverend Raymond said. One of the main goals for the Sunday service going forward is to give Christians on campus more of a sense of community. “There’s newness happening, which I love. And people sort of jump on that newness and get excited about possibility. And that’s really fertile ground to create stuff that hasn’t been done before…I look forward to harnessing that and using it as a tool to really propel the spiritual life of the college, in whatever way it wants and tells me to direct it,” Reverend Garvey said.
Page 10 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 2, 2014
TALK
Christopher Sarafian
Columnist
Ariana Grande seems like a Sour Patch Kid in reverse: first she’s sweet, then she’s sour. When this wannabe celeb first broke onto the scene with her hit song “The Way,” featuring irrelevant white rapper Mac Miller, people were convinced of the second coming of Mariah (well, minus the actual Mariah part—the head diva herself must have been too busy having children or riding a behemoth butterfly). Unlike the diva-ness of Miss Carey, Grande seemed so much more accessible, so much sweeter! She has that one dimple on her left cheek, resembling a spunky anime character, and is dressed like some 1960s teenager at a malt shop—not to mention that she had the Nickelodeon la-
bel tattooed to her image, which guaranteed extra “cutesie.” Unfortunately, this expectation was challenged once rumors began to swirl about the “Problem” singer’s diva antics. This week in particular probably has her publicist polishing off pack after pack of cigarettes as stories pertaining to the dark side of Grande broke constantly. I will list these rumors for the reader’s convenience (not in chronological order): 1. In order to showcase her lone dimple, Grande insists on only being photographed from the left side of her face. 2. During interviews and appearances, Grande has a strict and specific list of demands. 3. She has walked out of photo shoots. 4. She treats her fans poorly. 6. She once ventured down
Ariana Grande’s diva side exposed In recent appearances, fan favorite Ariana Grande has shown she is everything but sweet.
to Whoville and stole Christmas (I kid). Alright, so which of these accounts are backed by fact and which are just rumors? To begin, any celebrity might appear “rude” just because they are having an off day; however, these various sources seem to paint one pretty similar picture. The dimple mandate is, indeed, true: E! News Host Giuliana Rancic has explained the scenario on air. “I think [Ariana] does have a little bit of a diva thing going on,” Rancic admits. “...Because I remember, I think it was at the [American Music Awards], she came up on the platform, and normally I stand on this side [her left side] to the camera. I had to fight 13 years to get this side to the camera, it’s my good side, but I fought 13 years for this, okay? Little Ariana
comes over, I feel like BING, elbow in my side, I’m like ‘what’s going on?’ and they push me to the other side.” Allegedly, Grande is so picky about being snapped from the left that she resorts to dramatics to ensure it. “She demanded to be shot only on her left side and told the lighting crew that if they used red light, she would ‘kill herself,’” an unnamed source told Star. In regards to the third rumor, Ariana, the one and only, has debunked it: “It was just a photographer or something who got mad at me because I left to change my outfit mid-photo shoot because I didn’t like my top... I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll be right back!’ and then I came back and he had left... Then he came out and said all these ridiculous, untrue things about me. I was like, ‘That’s not real. That’s non-
sense!’” Alright, that is right from the diva—I mean horse’s mouth. But what about being rude to fans and staff? The main instance that ignited gossip sites this week was Grande wishing her fans would drop dead. “She did autographs and pics and was all smiles until she got into the elevator,” a stunned industry insider tells us. “And as soon as the doors shut she said, ‘I hope they all f—king die,” says The New York Daily News. Yikes. Well, if there is one thing about diva behavior, it is this: it allows you to float on top for a moment, but sooner or later, people get sick of it. For example, some critics cite Christina Aguilera’s attitude as a cause of her career’s slippage. I cannot say that any of these allegations are fact. What I can proclaim, however, is this: “Bang Bang” is a terrible song.
Winter Park Beer Company opens its taps Rebecca Finer
Writer
Almost by accident, I happened to stop in at Winter Park Beer Company with a friend of mine on Tuesday night. Located at 1809 East Winter Park Road, WPBC is close to Redlight Redlight and Stardust. Lucky for us, David, who brews all of the beer they make in house, also bartends on Tuesdays. He was kind enough to tell us all about WPBC so that I could share it with all of you fine Rollins folks. WPBC opened up their taps about two years ago, originally under the name of Taps For Scratch. Hardly five months ago, though, they changed things up and renamed themselves the
Winter Park Beer Company. The space is half bar and half art. WPBC brews seven full time beers as well as one or two seasonal concoctions. You can try a flight of four of their beers for a cool ten spot. In addition to the ones they make themselves, WPBC brings in 10 to 15 other beers in cans and bottles. If beer is not your jam, though, they also have wine: a cabernet sauvignon, a chardonnay, a pinot grigio, and a pinot noir. In addition to beverages, many activities go on here: Poker on Mondays: starts at 7 p.m., free to play, and the winner of each round gets a free drink of their choice. Live jazz band every other Tuesday: need I say more? Paint night on Thursday:
aptly named “Pints and Paints” and taught by Cari, the curator of The Elephant Art Gallery. For around $20, you can paint and take the canvas home with you—or you can paint a ceiling tile that stays there for everyone to see! Trivia on Fridays: starts at 8 p.m.., hosted by Curtis Earth. He is quite possibly the best t r i v i a host in all of the Greater Orlando area. Whenever you happen by WPBC, rest assured there will be free pool as well as a plethora of board games that you can play while you sip your refreshing beverage. In addition to their regular weekly activities, WPBC has several special events coming up. On September 27, in conjunction
with the release of a new seasonal beer (sweet potato pumpkin), WPBC is doing a canned food and clothing drive called Hops for Hope. From 11 a.m. through 2 a.m., you can get a free beer by bringing in five cans of food, five items of clothing, or five dollars. If all of this is not enough to get Tars to head over to WPBC, then maybe one of their signature brews will sway you. One of the seven beers they have had on tap since day one is called The Rollins Rye (a rye American pale ale)! Hungry? They currently offer the bar menu from O’Stromboli’s, but by November WPBC plans to serve their own food every night from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. It is rumored that this food menu might include sushi!
WPBC is a really nifty space. You will almost certainly feel good vibes when you walk in. Above the bar hangs a “Words of Affirmation Dollar Chandelier.” This “chandelier” started off as just clothes pins with positive words on each one, but when a customer wanted to hang a ten dollar bill from his pin, a trend was born. Now there are countless dollars on each clothes pin, each with a unique design. Anyone is welcome to add their own. There are several semi-private rooms to drink and play games in—the back room is filled with games and even a toy castle complete with dragon and knight action figures. Oh, and did I mention they have beer?
Page 11 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 2 , 2014
‘Souled Out’ sells out
Front runners for Oscar season Film aficionado Nicholas D’Alessandro previews the must see movies which are top contenders for this season’s Academy Awards. Nicholas D’Alessandro
Staff Writer
Gone Girl: October 3 Gone Girl, based on the best-selling novel by Gillian Flynn, is the wicked and deceptive story of Nick and Amy Dunne. The Dunnes are a seemingly happy couple, perfectly in love, until one day when Amy suddenly disappears. The film stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike and it is directed by the masterful filmmaker David Fincher, who is well-known for his films Fight Club and The Social Network. Fincher is a master of crime stories with a dark twist. This film will definitely be recognized by the Academy, and it is sure to be a thrill ride of a story. Whiplash: October 10 Whiplash is the breakout dra-
ma piece from director Damien Fury: October 17 This film stars Brad Pitt as Chazelle. The film star Miles Teller of The Spectacular Now a tank operator near the end of fame as a young man trying to World War II. His team is played work his way up as a collegiate by an all-star group of actors, injazz drummer. His teacher, cluding Logan Lerman and Shia played JK Simmons, originally LeBeouf. The story follows the tank seems helpful and kind, but his operators as violent teaching they attempt to habits appear as into Nazi the work gets Gone Girl will defi- push territory and harder. Along nitely be recognized strike at the last with the Chanof the defenses, ning Tatum and by the Academy. but end up beSteve Carell film, Foxcatcher ing completely surrounded and (also opening Oct. 14), this Oscar season has a outnumbered. It is sure to be a nice amount of brutal coming- wonderful ride, full of drama of-age stories. Check this one out and grit. Brad Pitt has been defor the incredible acting that will livering hit after hit the last few be presented by Teller and Sim- years, so this is an easy contendmons, both playing roles they er for Best Actor Nomination or even Best Picture. would not normally accept.
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Jhené Aiko’s latest album, ‘Souled Out,’ debuted on September 14 and is already topping the music charts. Lauren Cooper
Writer
Released on September 12, Jhené Aiko’s latest album, Souled Out, has already hit number one on the Billboard Top 200, honoring the pun it declared. Branded as a chill pop R&B and rap artist, Aiko mingles sweet sensuality with psychedelic melody on a record that deserves to be in your Spotify rotation. In an interview with GTV, Aiko recognizes her desire to branch away from collaborative projects. On this first independent album, after releasing her 2013 EP, Sailed Out, and having been featured in rap singles such as Childish Gambino’s “Bed Peace,” Drake’s “From Time” and Big Sean’s “Beware,” she defines herself definitively as a creative creature. Regarding her sound, she declared: “people compare it to a younger Sade with urban stories.” Relentlessly, her vocals and instrumentals gently and flawlessly echo, but when they are paired with some series of verses, can lose their impact. Exhibiting this discontinuity is the album’s final track. I wanted to fall for the whimsically named,“Pretty Bird,” but Aiko made the point to reiterate the phrase a total of 53 times. We can openly acknowledge that her voice is exquisitely delicate, potentially appealing to listeners even when she speaks the same two words repeatedly. That does not, however, mean that she should. As anticipated, the songs have peaks and valleys. One peak is the introductory single, “Limbo Limbo Limbo,” which ends on the haunting note: “she was just as basic as the universal language of love necessary to keep him alive.” If that does not resonate with you, just read it again—because it should. The entire piece is dedicated to a poignant, detailed narrative of placelessness, destiny, and fear, mirroring the struggles of Aiko’s early career and personal life. Her single “W.A.Y.S. (Why Aren’t You Smiling)” would
make for a great Monday morning alarm; it is rhythmic, motivational, and definitely vibin’ with an existential mantra of “nothing really is and everything really isn’t.” It is ideal for an early morning drive as the dawn is waking up on your dashboard, your mind filtering from night before, or even when you are making smoothies, too. For the poor dude who had the song “Lying King” written about him, I am sorry that Aiko
“
Jhené Aiko’s latest album, Souled Out, has already hit number one on the Billboard Top 200, honoring the pun it declared.
called out both of your parental issues in the same track, but at least she offered you a sick hook, though the lyrics fall short. Unfortunately, he fell victim to his “pride.” Did you catch the title pun? It is the little things in life… “To Love and Die” and “Eternal Sunshine,” despite their conflicting titles, both took a special place in my heart and ears upon my first listen. The former features a 50 Cent quote and instrumentals that mirror those of Drake’s “Take Care.” Conversely, the light nearing the end of this album’s tunnel is “Eternal Sunshine,” the album’s tenth track. Taking its title from one of Aiko’s favorite films, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, we see messages that begin to morph darkness into light, pain into beauty, and doubt into strength. On the record, we continually hear the tales of Aiko’s path diverging from her past tribulations to her present place of success; the irony is too much, and we cannot get enough.
Page 12 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 2, 2014
catskill chill
All photos by Jonathan Scoblionko
an intimate festival
Music lover and festival enthusiast Jonathan Scoblionko takes us behind the scenes of Catskill Chill music festival, which has been held the first weekend of September for five years and hosted 6,000 people. Jonathan Scoblionko Columnist Small music festivals have become a cornerstone experience for any festival lover. They provide inclusive, intimate, and unforgettable musical and social experiences. Catskill Chill, now five years old, is known as one of the premier intimate music festivals in the country. Held over the first weekend in September and located on the magical grounds of Camp Minglewood summer camp in Hancock, NY, the Chill—as fans call it—featured a superb lineup this year, with acts spanning from bluegrass to funk to psytrance. Among the 74 acts were Shpongle, Electron, Yonder Mountain String Band, Dopapod, Turkuaz, The New Deal, Marco Benevento, and Lettuce. The festival brought in a crowd of around 6000 attendees,
all with an unquenchable thirst for tasty jams and positive vibes. All members of the Chill Family were invited to take part in what can only be described as a summer camp for big kids. My favorite sets of the weekend were Electron, Turkuaz, the New Deal, and Lettuce. Electron, headlining the final night of the weekend, featured Marc Brownstein (bass) and Aaron Magner (keyboards) from the Disco Biscuits, Tommy “T-Ham” Hamilton (guitar) from American Babies, and Mike Greenfield (drums) from Lotus. The set featured some jazzy, jammed out renditions of Disco Biscuits’ songs, such as “Home Again” and “Shelby Rose,” as well as covers of “Shakedown Street” by the Grateful Dead, and Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” Turkuaz was an amazing thrust of big band funk. The Brook-
lyn-based group dazzled the afternoon audience with their extremely tight rhythms and soulful grooves. The New Deal provided the mainstage with an absolute rage-fest; the nonstop dance party featured a completely improvised set with palpable energy. Finally, the modern-day funkmasters of Lettuce provided a funktastic late-night, booty-shakin’ throw down. Their set rattled the Earth, with the highlight being a brain-quaking “Madison Square.” But there was far more to the weekend than the great music. This past Chill, I also had the pleasure of working the festival in the Hospitality and Artist Relations department. Working a festival is an experience unlike anything else in the world; the feeling you get when you know that you played a distinct role in making an ex-
perience amazing for a fellow festivalgoer is beyond words. I have worked multiple festivals, but the Chill certainly felt closest to home. In fact, the reason that the Chill means so much to me is because I have spent my summers at Camp Minglewood since I was 13 years old—as a camper, counselor, and most recently an administrator. You may be thinking “why would someone ever choose to work during a festival, wouldn’t that be less fun?” Well, because the Chill has such personal significance, I really felt a need to be involved. Plus the people and the staff are really what make the Chill so magical, and I wanted to help provide that magic for others. Furthermore, I strive to one day work in the hospitality industry, so I jumped at the opportunity to work in the department—I was ecstatic. There is a
distinct connection I feel from being involved in events and festivals. When my favorite artists and musicians thank me for making them feel at home, I realize my role in making it all happen–and few things in the world make me happier. I like to think of my work as my own contribution to making the music and weekend all the more enjoyable, for everyone. This is why working festivals brings me so much joy, especially in an environment jam-packed (pun intended) with awesome music, wonderful people, and beautiful nature. If you consider yourself a lover of music, good people, and good times (pretty much anyone reading this), I highly recommend finding a festival you feel connected to and figuring out what your role may be in perpetuating the good times.