Volume 122 Issue 4 Thursday, September 24, 2015
( DISCUSSION ) MIGHT HAVE DISTRESSING MATERIAL .
IS iT TIME TO TAKE THE
OFF MENTAL HEALTH ?
pages 4-5
Page 2 • NEWS
Established in 1894 with the following editorial:
EXECUTIVE STAFF Micah Bradley Editor-in-Chief Lauren Waymire Managing Editor Stephanie Garcia Production Manager
CONTENT STAFF
Alexandra Mariano Head Copy Editor Esteban Meneses Barbara Padilla Amanda Hughes Copy Editors Eric Hilton Minoska Hernandez Section Editor Danielle Del Pico Staff Writer Nolan Brewer Kali Joslin Web Assistants
DESIGN DEPARTMENT Shaayann Khalid Head Designer Carmen Cheng Masha Protopopova Zoe Kim Designers Nagina Chaudhry Natalie Hayes Photographers
BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden
General Manager of Student Media
Bill Boles
Professor of English
PUBLIC RELATIONS Adam Belsky
Public Relations Intern
Anneliese Duprey
Social Media Manager
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Contact: advertising@thesandspur.
Cover Design by: Caroline Arrigoni ’17
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Rollins College claims top ranking again Despite losing the spot last year, Rollins is once again tied with Elon University as No. 1 in the South. Minoska Hernandez
applying to the school, but it will Section Editor most likely not be the deciding factor. “It is helpful to Rollins to be For 10 years Rollins College has been ranked as the No. 1 re- ranked No. 1, but what I really gional university in the South wish is that prospective students by U.S. News & World Report, and their families would pay except for last year, when it was more attention to the quality of learning that is offered at Rollins ranked second. It has been recognized as the and less attention to our rankbest among many other universi- ing,” said President Cornwell. Students apply to schools ties that meet full undergraduate for more reasons than just it havand master’s level programs and ing a good rank. degrees. Campus life, Each year academic life, the U.S. News faculty-student & World Reinteraction, and port ranks difcourses offered This No. 1 ferent univerare many of the sities based off ranking may factors that stuof many factors dents look at such as acceppossibly boost when deciding tance rate, reRollins’ appeal on a university. tention rate, and may specifically a sixfor students who Ranking help them make year graduation are thinking their final decirate among othbut it prober things. This about applying sion, ably will not be 2015-16 year, the biggest comto the school Rollins ranked ponent. at the top along“We want side Elon Unistudents to find versity. the school that “We have works best for been moving up in all categories, especially in them; we want them to come to graduation and retention rate,” Rollins because of the opportustated Steve Booker, Interim nities that are offered to them Dean of Enrollment Manage- here,” said Booker. Despite whether or not this ment. Last year Rollins moved merit has a major effect on addown to the number two col- mission, it definitely improves lege in the South, with Elon Uni- campus morale. English major Rachel versity being the school’s main competition. Due to a decrease Schlueb ’17 said, “I’m very imin graduation rate, the school pressed with the school for went down in rank, and for the holding that kind of record for first time in years was no longer a decade! As a transfer student, I know how it feels to want more number one. However, Rollins six-year from your school. Students want graduation rate has increased to a place in which they can feel 71 percent this year, which is the valued and connected. I’ve cermain cause for the school rising tainly felt more at home at Rollins than at my previous college, back up in rank. “The 71 percent increase is so it makes me happy to say that the biggest change to make us the home I’ve found here is one number one again,” said Booker. of the best.” It is likely that Rollins’ rates “And the retention rate may go up again as well, but we won’t will remain stable for some time, know for sure until the results with the exception of retention rates. It is possible that the retencome out in October.” This No. 1 ranking may pos- tion rates may increase, but the sibly boost Rollins’ appeal for results will not be officially anstudents who are thinking about nounced until October 6.
“
Natalie Hayes
Natalie Hayes
Page 3 • OPINIONS
Thursday, September 24, 2015
A fresh perspective Three freshman students give insight into the adjustments they made and things they discovered as they started a new chapter in their lives at Rollins. Lea Warren
Columnist
The first day of orientation found me crying in my car, the nerves of starting college terrifyingly overwhelming. Yes, I would still be living at home, and yes, I would still have the support of my family, but starting college had suddenly made me realize that real life was about to begin. I was about to be thrown into the world, expected to be a capable and responsible adult, and I was petrified. As soon as I arrived on campus, however, I felt silly for ever having been worried at all. Within the first 10 minutes I realized everyone else was just as scared as I was. I managed to make
Angely Rivera
Writer
As a fellow freshman, I can truly say that this first taste of the college life is pretty sweet. Not to say there were not any sour moments, but I would rather have a mouth full of skittles than a mouth full of war heads. Anyways, I have to admit that I was a bit nervous as I took my first step into Rollins College. I was worried that my transition would not be so easy. So when
Corinne Shoemaker
Writer
Four weeks ago, hundreds of freshman piled onto the Rollins College campus and were soon greeted by President Cornwell with the words “You aren’t going to believe me, but these next four years are going to fly by.” Now, almost a month into my first semester, those words are really beginning to sink in. I was not sure exactly what
“
“From sororities to muggle quiditch, there really is something for everyone
several friends, all of whom I have been able to grow closer to throughout the school year so far. Orientation ended up being more fun than I would have ever imagined it could be and was followed by several amazing first weeks of school. I find myself excited to wake up and go to class every morning. I find myself enjoying my homework and even ending up staying on campus far later than required most days just to enjoy the facilities. I look forward to studying in the library with friends or grabbing dinner at the campus center. It is a bit different—and sometimes challenging—to live off campus, but it is definitely worth it to be a student at this amazing school. I was introduced to so many people, students, advisors, and clubs that wanted not just me, but so many other freshmen to be a part of something amazing my concern was blown away. They made me feel so invited and welcomed! So at home that I began the first week of school on a good note. So thank you Rollins College for this great first taste! Hopefully, the rest of the class of 2019 can agree with me when I say that this upcoming year is going to be great! to expect when first stepping foot on campus. I knew that the college is ranked No. 1 for “Most Beautiful Campus” and “Most Philanthropic”—two qualities that first sparked my interest in Rollins College. However, as far as the student body itself goes, I was not sure exactly where I would fit in. I knew before arriving on campus that I had no interest in going to parties. Unfortunately, I was told by more than a few people that partying is central to having a social life in college. Luckily, at least when it comes to Rollins, those people were wrong. Thanks to clubs, RCC events, and the generally small class sizes, getting to know fellow Tars has been easy. From sororities to muggle quidditch, there really is something for everyone. It does require putting yourself out there a little bit, but I have discovered that if you do, you will have no problem finding your tribe.
Photo by Scott Cook
Illustration by Christina Fuleihan
Page 4 • OPINIONS
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Page 5 • OPINIONS
Eric Hilton
Section Editor
Trigger Warning: this piece contains the opinions of a privileged white male and may differ from or even outright offend your own. Individuals who are unable to handle differences in perspective should not read this article. Please proceed with caution. Every time I step outside, someone, somewhere, has found yet another way to ensure that I am not offended. Signs around campus keep me constantly reassured that Rollins is a safe place where people from a wide array of backgrounds can come together and discuss their opinions in a nurturing environment. Emails remind me daily that Rollins is a protected zone and nobody should feel left out. Yet somehow this is not enough, and to properly ensure that every person is fully respected in every regard all the time, some students believe that trigger warnings should be implemented. For those unaware, a trigger warning’s purpose is to cater to individuals who have trauma related to a past incident. Yet, through the power of the internet, trigger warnings have been transformed into a means to pro-
Thursday, September 24, 2015
tect people from anything that might offend them. Trigger warnings are a slippery slope. What happens when they are applied to social interactions? Should I spend 15 minutes warning my friends about the ingredients in my sandwich in case one of them is vegetarian? If one of my triggers is green grass, do I have a right to have Mills Lawn painted orange? Perhaps I could just not talk about anything I like or enjoy in order to avoid offense. And what happens when I use a trigger warning but still end up offending someone? Does that person have a right to bring criminal charges for making them upset? More importantly, how do we regulate trigger warnings in the classroom? Math and science teachers should get out okay, but what about the humanities? History teachers would have to a give a five hour trigger warning speech before even starting a lesson on WWII. The purpose of college is to get outside of your comfort zone and meet people with perspectives that differ from yours. Asking Rollins to design regulations and rules to protect you from being offended is childish. This is Rollins College, not Rollins Elementary.
Amanda Hughes
Writer
It is a misconception that trigger warnings are the bane of free speech. As the real world becomes scarier, people often wonder, “Why do I have to censor myself?” In reality, trigger warnings are a better alternative to censorship: the speaker can deliver their message while ensuring their audience consists of people who are receptive. Confusing? It shouldn’t be. Trigger warnings are short verbal or printed notifications that a presentation or other work may contain “triggering” material—that is, words or stories that might cause a negative emotional reaction in some people—and allow people to choose whether or not to engage with that material. Trigger warnings allow people who would rather not listen to leave. The speaker then continues with the topic. Self-proclaimed crusaders are currently criticizing college campuses for using what they say is an overabundance of trigger warnings. Common arguments include, “Why coddle new adults?” and “They will have to face the real world sooner or later, right?” and “We didn’t have trigger warnings when we were in school!” Opponents to trigger warnings fail to realize that de-
veloping new tactics to improve quality of life is what humanity has been doing since its beginning. Incoming freshmen received a trigger warning at the beginning of Title IX training, where they were notified that sensitive subjects such as rape and domestic abuse would be discussed. That warning took 10 seconds to deliver, but it could have saved days of recovery time for victims of violent assault. Other foes fear that trigger warnings are too pervasive and interruptive, but the beauty of a trigger warning is that the warning happens at the start of a presentation. Just like a fire alarm does not continue to ring after the blaze has been put out, trigger warnings are not needed in every sentence of an article or every page of a website. One indication at the beginning does the job just fine. The truth is, we can never know what the person right next to us has been through. If there is a small, gracious thing we can do to help a fellow student, it is to prevent them from reliving the trauma they have struggled so desperately to leave behind them. “But, wait,” challengers cry, “What about when those people enter the real world? Nobody’s going to look out for them there!”
Newsflash: This is the real world. Now, that argument, though usually poorly worded, may have some truth; as someone who lives with a mental disorder, I can testify that there are situations in which I must work with people who are insensitive to my discomfort. For every 10 people who are blind to my boundaries, there may only be one person who is thoughtful enough to give me a warning before jumping into subjects hard for me to cope with. Here is the thing: I tolerate working with the oblivious people, but I treasure working with the one considerate soul. Survivors are strong. They are going to be fine in the big, scary “real world.” But the real world is just a large group of people who decide every day how they are going to interact with each other. How much harder is it for coworkers, friends, and, yes, campuses to take that extra step of kindness for someone else? Why is it such a burden to show courtesy and respect, and why does being thoughtful mean endorsing weakness? It is time for campuses to support students from all walks of life. Trigger warnings, when concise and appropriately used, allow students to avoid stress and focus on the most important facet of college life: education.
Page 6 • FEATURES
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Photos by Natalie Hayes
Micah Bradley
Alfond Inn exceeds expectations Editor-in-Chief
The Alfond Inn is exceeding expectations, which will create scholarships for students in the future. According to the gift that helped fund the inn, part of the proceeds of the hotel have to go to scholarships. The scholarships will last for 25 years or $50 million worth of scholarships— whichever comes later. Because
of the inn’s high performance, Rollins will have to provide scholarships for the full 25 years; they are expecting to reach the $50 million mark in year 11 or 12. “At the end of 25 years, we will have fully funded over 33 full-ride scholarships; that’s tuition, room, and board,” said Jeffrey Eisenbarth, Vice President for Business and Finance and Treasure. In the 25th year, there will be 33 students across the four un-
dergraduate years who will have full scholarships. This is more than the eight Alfond Scholars that each class averages. The money that is currently dedicated to full ride scholarships can then be diverted to other purposes. Approximately $3 million (or more) a year will continue to go into the scholarship fund each year, which is invested in the school’s endowment. At the end of the 25 years, the school
expects to have approximately $145 million dollars in the scholarship fund. The Alfond Inn has been booked at a rate of over 90 percent, and they are usually full on weekends. This can be compared to the industry average of 64 percent room occupancy. The occupancy rate is higher during the school year, but summer programs, like the Duke TIP program, have helped during the slow summer months. To
get rooms during events such as Commencement, people have been booking rooms as much as a year in advance. “I think that there’s no place else to stay, and it’s easy walk to Park Avenue, an easy walk to campus,” said Eisenbarth. After 25 years Rollins will have met the requirement of the gift. The school can then choose to continue, or not to continue, dedicating part of the earnings from the hotel to scholarships.
Finding new adventures abroad Student provides insight into her experiences with the study abroad program and her application to study in London. Raquel Leon
Writer
On September 1, I embarked on what promises to be the most exciting three months of my life. I have chosen to study abroad in London, England with the CAPA program, though it was never much of a choice. Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by this cosmopolitan city and by its politics, culture, music, and history. Unfortunately, I had never been able to visit, so when the opportunity to study abroad presented itself there was no other option for me than London. Studying abroad is a much lengthier and complicated process than I first imagined. First, students had to get approved by Rollins to apply for CAPA. Afterwards, applicants had to get interviewed, and finally in April candidates learned if CAPA had accepted them or not. With the CAPA program there are two options: taking classes or taking classes plus an
internship. I opted for the latter. The process of getting an internship is quite unconventional. You send your resumé and cover letter to CAPA, and they place you in an internship that pertains to your interest; you do not apply to specific job positions separately. There are no guaranteed internships in specific places or fields, so in that sense it was a gamble—a gamble I was willing to take. With CAPA you must be very patient because they do not give out information on internship placement, course schedule, and housing until about two weeks prior to departure. So, while all my friends going to Rome, Spain, and other places already knew what classes they would take and where they would live, I was still in the dark. Thankfully, I received all that information and am ecstatic to be living with my best friends in Earl’s Court and interning at The Independent, a daily newspaper. Getting the visa proved to
be harder than expected. All interns need to obtain a Tier 4 Visa though the British Consulate in New York. After filling out an online application and paying for the visa, you must attend a biometrics appointment to get your fingerprints and photo taken. Lastly, you send your passport via UPS to the consulate and they return it with your visa. I was spending my summer at home in El Salvador, where there are no biometrics centers, so I flew to Miami to attend an appointment, send out my passport, and wait for its return. When I finally got my passport back in the mail, I was so excited to finally be done with the whole process—only to realize my visa was printed incorrectly. I had to send my passport to the New York consulate for correction and wait another two weeks for its return. I was extremely nervous I would not get it back before my departure for London. Thankfully, it all worked out in my favor. I now have my pass-
port back with the correct visa on it! There is no doubt in my mind that all the work and stress will be more than worth it. It feels as though just yesterday I
was learning the ins and outs of British government and reading Queen Elizabeth II’s biography as a senior in high school. It is hard to grasp that I am ready to begin the semester of my life.
Page 7 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, September 24, 2015
A wish list for R-Card options
Student lists the dining options many would like to see added to the off-campus meal plan. Corrine Shoemaker
Writer
One of the many great things about being a Tar is the sheer number of meal options we have, from the Campus Center to Park Avenue and beyond. Whether you are a vegan or a full-on carnivore, you are sure to find amazing food all around campus. Unfortunately, students are limited in the restaurants where
they are permitted to use their R-Cards to purchase meals. Those places currently include Park Ave Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Pi-Hole Pizza, Jimmy John’s, A’s Sweet Treats, and The Coop. But what dining options Tars would like to see added to this list? 1. BurgerFi Located just outside of campus, this stylish and environmentally-conscious restaurant is a favorite amongst Tars. Some of the meals offered include grass-
fed beef burgers, hot dogs, and an assortment of drinks. With great food and easy accessibility, this seems to be the highest on Tars’ list for off-campus dining. 2. Panera Bread This excellent bakery/café serves up all kinds of healthy and delicious meals from soups to sandwiches. It is a relaxing environment, and free WiFi also make it a great place to study. 3. Pita Pit The Pita Pit is another
off-campus dining service that offers delicious and nutritious meals. The best part is that it is open until 3 a.m. on most nights and never closes before midnight (so it is a nice option for anyone who finds themselves pulling an all-nighter). 4. Ethos Vegan and even vegetarian Tars cannot get enough of this relaxed loft-like restaurant which serves high-quality meals, all of which are completely vegan
(though you will not really be able to tell the difference). Students enjoy Ethos’ versatile menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its location, which is just around the corner, also helps make Ethos a hotspot for students. 5. Moe’s Tars love Moe’s for its delicious Mexican meal options and friendly services. In fact, some are willing to trek the mile distance from campus just to eat here.
Mobster film leaves viewers wanting Nicolas Nagaoka
Writer
Those piercing blue eyes say only one thing: Vicious. Black Mass, directed by Scott Cooper and starring Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumber-
batch, and Kevin Bacon tells the story of the infamous South Boston criminal kingpin James ‘Whitey’ Bulger and his rise to underworld fame via an alliance with the FBI. When I first saw the trailer for this film, I thought that John-
ny Depp looked ridiculous in the old man makeup that tried to transform him into James “Whitey” Bulger. But after viewing the film, I really did believe Depp’s performance. It was stunning to see the amount of tension that Depp could bring in certain
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scenes. There were moments in this film where Depp left, and Bulger was there. When Bulger was there, I could not breathe because of that killing intent in Bulger’s eyes. His piercing gaze would meet the camera, and that was when I felt the most horror. Despite this, there were many moments where Depp came back, and it felt like just another Johnny Depp role. Now, the other characters in the movie were okay, honestly. Joel Edgerton did a good job as John Connelly, but it was nothing special. My biggest question was why was Benedict Cumberbatch in this film? His role was minimal, and whenever he was on screen with his Boston accent I could not stop myself from laughing. He was the definition of wasted potential. The editing and pacing of this film was very off at times. The cuts in the film were sometimes jagged and blunt, and the flow of the film suffered a great deal because of it. Intense scenes of arguments and aftermaths of big events were undermined by sudden cuts and strange transition choices, which is where the pacing issues come in. The film felt rushed towards the end. A lot of the plot and focus was on the lead up to Bulger’s rise, but the fall was too fast. In a blink of an eye, Bulger the end credits rolled. The film was originally three hours long, but was cut down due to “pacing issues.” Honestly, they are still there and I cannot imagine what the film
was like before these issues were “fixed.” On top of all that, the narrative was rather odd. The film was shown in a way that makes the audience believe that they will be watching the movie from the different perspectives of Bulger’s accomplices through an interview. However, those three accomplices were not even seen in some of the scenes that they supposedly remembered and told the interviewer. The narrative dissonance became really apparent, really quick. They kept going back and forth to the interview, which made it seem like the filmmakers could not decide on what kind of narrative they were going for. I may seem negative towards this film, but there was still a lot of good in it. Again, when Bulger came out, the film really took off, and did not let you go until he left. Some of the cinematography was well done, especially when emphasizing that terrifying glare. I loved the look of the south Boston setting with the gray skies and old townhouses. Even during the parts that took place during Christmas, the film managed to bring a sense of uncertainty and darkness looming overhead. I did not hate this movie, nor did I love it, but man, it is really frustrating to see a mobster film with so much lost potential. Still, I tip my hat to Depp for a job well done on his performance. It was good fun. Not worth a second viewing, but fun.
Page 8 • SPORTS
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Rollins volleyball fails to find footing Stephanie Garcia Production Manager One of the first Find Your Anchor events of the semester was a volleyball match last Friday night at the Alfond Sports Center. The game had an abundance of school spirit and a great turnout from the freshman class.
Despite a good effort, the women’s volleyball team fell against the ninth-ranked Florida Southern Moccasins with a 3-0 loss. According to Rollins Athletics, Shannon McDonough ’18 led the Tars with 9 kills on game night, followed by Rachel Sawyer ‘19 with 5. MaryEllen Pole
’16 led the team with 13 assists, and fellow senior April Jackson ’16 notched 8 assists with a percentage of .182. The Tars’ record stands at 1-7. The team has two upcoming homes games; they are playing against Tampa on September 24 and Valdosta State on September 29.
Photos by Natalie Hayes