Issue 7, Volume 122 Thursday, October 22, 2015
Student debt continues to stack
What are the best ways to take advantage of financial aid and scholarships? page 7
Page Page #2 •• SECTION NEWS
Thursday, September 11, 2014 Thursday, October 22, 2015
Dave’s Boathouse prepares grand opening Established in 1894 with the following editorial:
Dave’s Boathouse is set to replace Dave’s Down Under. The new restaurant will serve fresh seafood and alcohol, as well as host various student events. Amanda Hughes
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
Dr. Bill Boles
Professor of English
David Neitzel
Business Manager
PUBLIC RELATIONS Adam Belsky
Public Relations Intern
Anneliese Duprey
Social Media Manager
ADVERTISING
Contact: advertising@thesandspur.
Cover Design by: Caroline Arrigoni ’17
Copy Editor
Rollins is about to drop the anchor for campus’ hottest dining establishment yet. Dave’s Boathouse, a nautically-inclined pub and the brainchild of John Frelinghuysen ’15, is opening its doors later this semester. Formerly Dave’s Down Under, the new restaurant will serve grass-fed-beef burgers, locally and sustainably-sourced seafood, and—yes—alcohol. You heard it right! Orlando Brewing is filling the taps at Dave’s with certified organic craft beers and hard cider that will run from $6$9 per stein; Quantum Leap Winery will provide the wine, which
runs from $4.50 to $8.50 per glass and will also be held on tap. Underage students can enjoy a root beer, in addition to other beverages. As for the dinner menu, Anthony Bundrick, the manager of Dining Services for Sodexo, said, “Our menu is going to consist of . . . mushroom and artichoke risotto balls, three-cheese quesadillas, the ever popular poutine, chicken wings, a few light but delicious salad options, some very good sandwiches including our special house-made burgers . . . some pastas, milk shakes, . . . and some seasonal [and] daily specials that we will run.” According to Rob Humphreys ’16MBA in an article for
Rollins360, at the heart of the Boathouse’s conception was a desire to return to the bonding atmosphere of the Tar Pit (19741986), the legendary pub under what is now the bookstore where students could grab a drink with friends and professors alike. However, the new space will also allow its maximum capacity of 180 students to enjoy live music and trivia in homage to the days of Dave’s Down Under. In fact, according to Pat Schoknecht, Assistant Vice President/ CIO & Business Services, SGA plans on hosting Trivia Night “every Thursday of the school year.” For those concerned about alcohol abuse, fear not! The 17
full-time positions created by Dave’s will be filled by workers who are trained to recognize fake IDs and only dispense one drink an hour per customer. Ken Miller, assistant VP for Public Safety, believes the Boathouse will be a safe “enhancement to the campus community” as long as students hold themselves and each other accountable for enjoying the menu responsibly. Dave’s Boathouse will be available for catering, and students will soon be able to schedule their own events in the space. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., with alcohol sales beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday nights and 7 p.m. every other evening.
Summer camp comes to an unexpected close Rollins Summer Camp came to a close this year, much to the surprise of both students and faculty. Alexandra Mariano
Head Copy Editor
Rollins has hosted a summer day camp every summer for 48 years—every summer, that is, until now. Most Rollins students may not be aware, but the college usually hosts a summer day camp each June and July for local elementary school kids between the ages of 5 and 11. Many campers enrolled in the wake of older siblings and even their parents. Each year the children would take over the campus, eating lunch in Dave’s Down Under, playing tennis at the Copeland court, practicing outdoor team sports at the Mary-Jean Plaza beach volleyball court, swimming at the Alfond Pool, making arts and crafts in the Cornell Fine Arts Center, and sailing on Lake Virginia. Other classes offered included Aeronautics, Art Through the Ages, Building Structures, Creative Theater, World Drumming, Book Club, Zoology, STEMming, and Fun with Forensics. An email from Assistant Camp Director Meg Kuecker went out to former summer camp employees at the end of August announcing the close of
the program. The explanation given was that the college had decided to put its resources toward more academic summer programs. At a faculty meeting just before Fall Break, the decision came back into the public eye. Some professors were taken aback by the news, particularly English Professor Jill Jones, whose daughter was a returning counselor for the camp. “I was surprised that this decision was made without any discussion by the community—the faculty, and as far as I know, most staff, had no idea that anybody was considering shutting down Rollins Camp. Typically, a campus like Rollins would have a transparent decision-making process, where everybody received information and participated in a dialogue. It is, of course, a little sad that Rollins Camp is closing. Since there has been no real dialogue about what will replace it or whether anything will, I can’t say much about that. I can’t even comment on whether or not it was a good decision because it was announced as a done deal without much explanation,” said Jones. The decision was made by the college President and Vice
President back in early 2015, but the proposal for the camp’s close was made by Assistant Vice President Pat Schoknecht. She said that she had spoken with several campus groups whom she thought might have been affected by the camp’s closing, including the camp’s senior staff. Schoknecht stands by the decision and is excited about integrating more academic summer programs where campers will be able to live on campus, such as the already-adopted Duke Talent Identification Program. She proposed closing the day camp in lieu of the many summer sports camps because, unlike the sports camps who solely used the fields around campus, the day camp was also taking up classrooms and meeting rooms that the college wanted free for other purposes. Schoknecht believes that while Rollins Summer Camp was once unique, there are many more summer programs in central Florida that offer much of the same activities. Although many legacy families and others have expressed their displeasure with the close, Schoknecht said, “That is actually a great testament to the quality of the program that Rollins
offered. If we stopped a program and no one cared, we wouldn’t have been doing a very good job.” Former returning counselor Yesenia Loor ’17 lamented the close. “When I read the email about the camp closing, at first, I was sad. I truly enjoyed working with the campers in the activities we had to offer. I think the single thing I’ll miss most is the campers. Many of them ask us, the counselors, if we will be returning next year and look forward to spending another summer with us. Although the camp is closing, I just hope I left an impact with the children and helped them enjoy their time here with us.” As a former returning counselor myself, I can still hear the words of a fifth grade camper named Soriah, who would be going on to middle school and was saying good bye to her summer home of several years. Soriah eagerly told me that in six years, when she would be 16 and eligible, she would come back as a camp counselor; she demanded that I apply to be a teacher so she could see her favorite counselor again. Unfortunately, it seems that Soriah’s dream will not be realized.
Page 3 • OPINIONS
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Working through neighborhood problems While the neighborhood program had its share of problems in its debut year, the new approach to general education shows promise in the future. Camreon Ochse
Photo by Scott Cook
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Writer
When I started Rollins last year, it took me a while to wrap my head around the competencies we must complete. We have to take and pass classes for foreign language, health and wellness, writing, and mathematical thinking in order to graduate. The classes of 2018 and 2019 now have another list of competencies to add to those, instead of the “Alphabet Soup” requirements of upperclassmen. Students are directed to pick their top two neighborhood options in a survey and are then randomly assigned to either of their choices. So if a student is only interested in one of the options, then he or she might be out of luck. From the Neighborhood courses, students select classes covering the arts, humanities, sciences, and community engagement to complete course requirements. The classes are offered in chronological order, starting at the 100 level. For my first semester at Rollins, I was in an RCC class while they finished preparations for the start of the Neighborhoods. Therefore, I have really only been through one and a half Neighborhood courses. I remember not having any clue what the “Neighborhoods” were, and I did not hear anything about them until the end of my first semester approached. Nobody realized that we had been chosen to be a sort of “guinea pig” year for Rollins to test out its newest general education system. A lot of the faculty and staff were very excited for the creation of the Neighborhoods, which got me excited as well. Yet there seemed to be problems as soon as the experiment began. Many people, myself included, had their eyes set on a specific Neighborhood but did not get placed into the one they desired. I understand that not everyone can get their first choice so students are spread evenly, but I could not help being annoyed that I was forced to take classes that I did not want to sign up for. To me, it seems a little reminiscent of high school, and this is college. We are also only allowed to take one course outside of our
Neighborhood, and I had to use up my one course this semester. For some reason my Neighborhood was not offering a science course this semester, and I was not going to wait until there was a course available at the 200 level next semester because science is not my strongest subject. I had to use my one out-of-Neighborhood class choice in order to keep myself from getting a poor grade in a higher-level science within my own Neighborhood. I would have loved to take some humanities or arts courses in different Neighborhoods. Additionally, students who planned their schedule with a course outside of their Neighborhood last semester were initially dropped from the course. This was because we were unaware that we needed permission from the “mayors” (or faculty directors) of our Neighborhood in order to do so. Therefore, if a student did not realize they had been dropped in time, she may have lost her spot in their initial course choice. This happened to several of my friends. Overall, I do not appreciate being in the guinea pig year, considering so much can go wrong in the developmental process. I am also irritated that I have to add another set of competencies to my already full course schedule while attempting to double-major. The entire program also reminds me a bit too much of high school curriculums because we are forced into taking classes that do not relate to our major. However, I do believe that the Neighborhoods are a great opportunity for the newest classes. There are some great courses being offered in these upcoming semesters, and all the professors seem genuinely passionate about what they plan to teach. The Neighborhoods will allow students to study something that they might have never considered before. With being the experimental year, there are of course going to be some bugs that have to be worked out. Once Rollins has worked through the bugs, the Neighborhoods have the potential to be a great general education system. I have never seen professors so eager and ready to teach classes, which gives me high hopes for the future.
Page Page #2 NEWS& ENTERTAINMENT 4 •• SECTION ARTS
Thursday, September 11, 2014 Thursday, October 22, 2015
Photos by Lea Warren
Lea Warren
Fashion Week flaunts local style Columnist
Last Saturday night was the Park Avenue Fashion Week show, hosted just a few blocks down the road from the Rollins campus. The event, celebrating its ninth year, is broadcasted not only as a way of showcasing high fashion in our little Winter Park community but also as a fundraiser to aid in the fight against breast cancer. If anyone has noticed the pink flamingos that have been appearing all over the city, each one symbolizes money donated to the cause, so the more the merrier.
At the Park Avenue Runway Show, everyone in attendance purchased tickets, and a portion of the proceeds from those tickets will also be put toward the ongoing fight against cancer. To emphasize this cause, the show opened with the “Doctor Thriver Walk,” during which local doctors fighting breast cancer walked with cancer survivors down the runway. Each individual was met with thunderous applause from the audience, signifying just how much support there is in the community for fighting this terrible disease. As the runway show continued, audiences saw beautiful
collections showcasing the flavor of many of the local shops and boutiques on Park Avenue. Participants included The Bridal Collection, Glorious Beautiful Hair Supply, Scout & Molly’s, Eileen Fisher, Tuni, Forema, Tad of Style, John Craig/Current, La Bella Intimates, and Red Carpet Couture & Gems, with an added bonus of the emerging designer fashion show opening the second half of the show. The emerging designer portion showcased the talents of five designers hoping to make it in the fashion world, from which the designer Inna Rudenko was chosen as the winner of the
emerging designer competition. The entire event was wonderful with food and beverage service available, VIP seating and general admission seating, music, lights, and most of all, fashion. Everyone in attendance came dressed in their best, and there were many outfits among the audience that were recognizable from the very shops that showcased their collections. During the runway show, model after model paraded down a raised runway, posing for countless pictures in the process and showing off the best of each boutique. The show lasted from 7:30
p.m. to about 10 p.m. with a short 15 minute intermission halfway through. There was never a dull moment in the show, especially with the final boutique showing in the first half, Tuni (whose models charged the runway with antlers in their hair), and the first shop to show in the second half, Forema, who had models bursting with personality, interacting with the audience and dancing their way down the runway. Every store that showed on the runway showcased a unique style, pleasing the crowds and assuring everyone that no matter what style you are in search of, you can find it on Park Avenue.
Page 5 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Prepping for the Park Avenue Runway Georyana Santos
Photos Courtesy of Georyana Santos
Writer
There is something powerful about the moment you step onto a runway, strike your first grand pose, and have a huge spotlight shine on you while hundreds of people stare. I believe that anything can be conquered if there is a strong work ethic along with a high degree of perseverance involved. A year ago I fell in love with the idea of walking on a beautiful runway. I did not envision just any runway; I envisioned walking the one at Park Avenue Fashion Week. I wanted to be on that runway, and I wanted it badly. Yet I said to myself, “I have never modeled in my life. How can I even expect to be on a stage like that? Stop dreaming.” A year passed, and even though I had no experience, my heart and intuition were passionately telling me to go audition. After a long battle with myself, I did. Little did I know that I would be pulled aside at a hair boutique for small talk: “What’s your name? Have you ever modeled before? Can you dance? Can you sing? Can you name influential African-American women?” Suddenly, I felt as if the interview turned into a history exam. I felt apprehensive yet I persisted, remaining calm and collected on the outside. The question that followed was ultimately the one that would determine it all—“Do you know who Josephine Baker is?” I paused as my stomach started to turn some more. “Her name rings a bell, but if I’m brutally honest, I don’t know who she is,” I responded. I saw intense eyes go wide, staring at me as I awkwardly smiled. Let me just say: the rest was history. I went through six weeks of training with Joyce Ward, the owner of a wig boutique on Park Avenue named Glorious Beautiful Hair and Modeling School. I was assigned to study and learn the ins and outs of Josephine Baker’s life. Most importantly, I had the task of studying what
her personality traits consisted of with the vision of bringing her back to life. American-born French actress, dancer, and singer Josephine Baker (1906-75) took the world by storm with her charisma, beauty, enchanting voice, and, fundamentally, her grace. After the six weeks, I had the honor of stepping on this year’s Park Avenue Fashion Week runway in a stunning black and white dress purchased from Bébé’s and Liz’s boutique, also located down Park Avenue. It was paired with a gorgeous pair of black, shimmery clip-on earrings, black heels, a four-piece extravagant wig, and breathtaking makeup done by aesthetician Kristie O. I was transformed into Josephine. Music started and I lifted my hands slowly, looking up to see a huge spotlight on me. It was my time to shine. With every step I took, I felt Josephine’s presence take over me; I was no longer Georyana, but the charismatic, legendary, and powerful Josephine Baker who not only fought to seek light within her, but also within others. I had one minute to walk to the runway pit and back. Cheering, flashing lights, cameras, and dozens of people yelling out beautiful comments that I quite frankly thought I would never receive. At the pit I struck the signature Baker pose, and nothing but her grace was captured. After exiting the stage, I was humbled by the amount of praise I received, realizing I had not only made one of my dreams a reality, but had also influenced others to do the same. A flow of inspiration and contentment filled me as I left after the show. Josephine Baker was brought back to life, and it could not have been possible without the stupendous support of my entire team. Park Avenue Fashion Week 2015 treated me greatly, and I could not have been more grateful for the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. When I told myself to “stop dreaming” a year ago, I could not believe I had said that. Stop dreaming? No way. This is only the beginning.
Page 6 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Bach Festival represents South America ‘Bridge of Spies’ leaves audience disappointed Nicolas Nagaoka
ally the only two who are all that interesting in this film of about eight or so relevant characters. With grand cinematographic While most of the characters flare and epic orchestral music, were pretty flat, the entire setting Director Steven Spielberg re- of the film was incredible. The turns to the screen with a Cold Cold War era was captured beauWar film. Starring Tom Hanks, tifully in this film. This created Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, and the sense of paranoia and wealth Alan Alda, Bridge of Spies tells the that was common after WWII. true story of insurance lawyer The depictions of late 1950s James B. Donovan (Hanks) as he America and the USSR were is given the task beautifully conof making a detrasted. The fense case for sense of AmerWhile most of ican pride and accused Soviet Spy Rudolf Abel Communist pasthe characters (Rylance). sion were porwere pretty flat, trayed well, sugCharacters were abundant the entire setting gesting the idea in this film, to that both sides of the film was say the least. It were not too was rather diffidifferent after incredible. The cult to keep track all. Berlin’s state of everyone of decay showCold War era who appeared cased a heavy was captured and then disapidea that Amerpeared. Luckily, beautifully in this ica in this era a lot of the movhad no care for film. ie centered on much, besides Donovan, makits own gain. At ing it easier to the same time, keep track of at Americans had least the main character. Hanks a sense of national ideal, which delivered another stellar per- was that they needed to help formance, since the viewer sees everyone in need. The film nails what kinds of problems his char- these aspects of history perfectly. acter had to deal with, along with Speaking of which, the cinethe morality of defending some- matography is all Spielberg with one who is considered a traitor to vast wide shots and tracking his nation. shots of 1957 Brooklyn and BerI was disappointed that Ru- lin. There was incredible contrast dolf Abel was not given more with the shots of the USSR court screen time. Rylance depicted a and the U.S. court, showing the weathered, yet prepared, indi- difference and similarity between vidual shrouded in mystery. He the two. Editing was seamless was more fascinating than any and smooth, which lead into seof the other characters in this quences nicely. film, even more interesting than Thinking about this film gave Donovan. I wanted to learn more me a headache, though. Not beabout Abel—not only on how he cause it was bad, but because I thought and behaved, but also felt nothing from it. It was visuhow he interacted with Donovan ally beautiful and the story was in the few short scenes they had patriotic and heroic, but I do not together, which were equally in- believe it was the film for me. teresting. Anyone who loves Spielberg and Everyone else was rather Hanks or is a massive history buff boring or phoned in, to be honest. should definitely go see it, but it They did their jobs for the short is not something I would recomtime they were there and left. mend to anyone who is not interSadly, Rylance and Hanks are re- ested in history.
Columnist
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Florida’s oldest classical musical association successfully integrates South American music in this year’s festival. Esteban Meneses
Copy Editor
The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Central Florida’s oldest classical music organization, opened its 2015-2016 season on Saturday afternoon with a program that celebrated the music of North and South America. If other orchestras have also billed recent programs as “Music of the Americas,” it is because there is a distinctive flavor to music written in America or influenced by American cultures. Representing South America was the 1954 piece “Cantata Criolla”: two vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra, set to music a Faustian tale with a typical South American spin. Venezuelan composer Antonio Estévez employed rich orchestral forces, antiphonal choral writing, and clearly stated melodies for the vocal soloists. Venezuelan singers Idwer Alvarez, tenor, and Juan Tomás Martínez, baritone, played the roles of Florentino and the Devil, respectively. Both soloists displayed full-blown bravura, polished clarity of tone, and arresting power of projection—enough to fill every corner of Rollins’ Knowles Memorial Chapel two times over. “Cantata Criolla” progressed with careful attention to storytelling; the orchestra set the mood for the story of Florentino, a plainsman who is challenged to a singing duel by El Diablo. With call-and-response texture, the large chorus introduced Florentino as he rode along the flatlands to his fateful encounter with the devil. Each of the soloist entrances were short, which created tension and anticipation. Estévez’s melodies for the tenor and baritone are made of few, elongated notes, which left ample room for the singers to add flourishes and vibrato. Both Alvarez and Martínez added much to their parts. The instrumental forces displayed penetrating clarity, often loud and raw—fittingly for the dramatic score. The percussion section was enhanced by xylophone, blocks, maracas, cymbals, and orchestra bells. The climactic orchestral clash that introduces “The Duel” was momentous; the
cymbal crash resonated fiercely and set a screeching background for the ensuing duel. As the section progressed, the mood of the piece shifted to a lilting South American dance rhythm, which oddly contrasted well against the heavy choral parts and the seriousness of the soloists. The strength of “Cantata Criolla” was its superb handling of folk material from the composer’s country in the style of twentieth century modern music. Of course Florentino, our good plainsman hero, wins in the end, and so does Venezuela for representing the spirit of South America with this smart choral piece—a highlight among recent Bach Festival Society performances. Though its composer was Czech, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” was composed in the United States and heavily influenced by Native American music and spirituals. Conductor John Sinclair and the orchestra gave us a strong reading of this famous piece, with particularly powerful first and fourth movements. Sinclair polished the obvious details that make a good performance: the first movement used subtle inflections in the strings, with crescendos that sounded as though the strings were slowly illuminated as they rose to majestic statements. The signature
brass themes of the first and fourth movements were bold and hefty; the raw power they produced made for a thrilling performance. Sinclair also paid attention to the restatements and allusions to themes that have come before, which is one of the things that make the Dvořák symphony so memorable. In the finale, he seemed to place emphasis on the restatement by the low strings of the heroic brass theme from the first movement. Something peculiar was the second movement: Sinclair seemed to have taken literally the ‘largo’ (very slow and broadly) tempo marking, particularly during the main theme. Although the group interplay did not falter, the famous English horn theme lost some of its character at such a slow pace. Boasting some of the best the Bach Festival Society offers, “Music of the Americas” succeeded in presenting strong choral and instrumental forces, especially in the organization’s foray into music from South America. All Bach Festival events are free for Rollins students, faculty, and staff members who present their R-card at the door (availability is limited). They can also reserve their free ticket before the event, together with a paid ticket for a guest. For upcoming performances, visit bachfestivalflorida. org
Page 7 • FEATURES
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Swamp Immersion experience memorable and worthwhile The Hot and Sweaty in the Swamp Immersion left the team exhausted, yet satisfied with hard work in two of south Florida’s national parks. Alexandra Mariano
Head Copy Editor
Campus was empty during Fall Break—one might even have seen a tumbleweed or two roll across Mills Lawn. While some students went home for the weekend and others seized the chance for a micro-vacation, a small group of 10 made their way to the city of Homestead to serve in two of southern Florida’s national parks. The Hot and Sweaty in the Swamp Immersion is a tradition typically intended exclusively for first-year students; however, only a small number of freshmen applied this year, and so the Immersion opened up to the entire school. There ended up being quite a diverse mix, from seniors to freshmen, from environmental studies majors to music majors. The facilitators were Assistant
Danielle Del Pico
Director of International Programs Mike Rainaldi, Heather Schleiffer ’16, and Jackie Wright ’17. The participants were Charlotte Whiteman ’16, Quinn Bohan ’18, Davin Laskin ’18, Jackson Nguyen ’19, Alex Mariano ’17, Alex Peterson ’17, and Ken Zhao ’17. Fun was had by all. The group left Rollins in a Center for Leadership and Community Engagement (CLCE) bus at around 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9. The drive to south Florida was long, as their hostel was just shy of Miami. Arriving at close to midnight, they quickly went to rest up for their first day of service. Their energy rose with the sun. That Saturday they made their way to Everglades National Park. A welcoming park ranger and his intern handed out bug jackets. Splitting into groups, half trimmed vegetation and the other half cleared the trails.
In some of the trails, the brush was so dense overhead that the sun was completely blocked out. The Everglades were closed during the summer due to the overwhelming amount of mosquitos, and the Rollins kids were getting the park ready for inner-city school field trips in the coming weeks. During lunch, the rangers doled out insight into the park ranger life and National Park fun facts—2016 will be the centennial celebration of the U.S. National Park Service! Although no alligators were seen, a lot of work was accomplished. On that Sunday the group offered their services to Biscayne National Park, a mostly maritime park dedicated to preserving manatee and sea turtle habitats. They travelled by boat to the very beginning of the Florida Keys, having to wade from the boat to a shore covered in garbage. After
several hours of work, the team managed to clean up 88 pounds of trash. Unfortunately, one island they visited was so infested with mosquitos that they had to turn around without even fully getting off the boat. On the way back to the mainland, Peterson’s cap flew off his head into the Atlantic, and the guide was kind enough to stop the boat and turn back for it. With the combined help of all 10 participants and an extended hook, they managed to save one more hat from washing up onto a potential sea turtle nesting ground. Monday, the last day, was not only the day for the journey back home, but a chance for cultural excursions for the exhausted participants. Their first stop was an airboat ride, where they finally saw their fair share of alligators, adult and baby. Afterward, they made their final
pit stop at Miami Beach, where the translucent cerulean water rejuvenated their spirits and washed away the itchiness of their bug bites. The white sand was not quite home, though, so they washed off their sunscreen, strapped on their backpacks, climbed onto the CLCE bus, and headed back to Rollins, each bursting with their own service story to share. Schleiffer, one of the facilitators, had this to say: “This Immersion, like any service, was messy and unpredictable. Everything came down literally to the last minute, but that made all the difference in the outcome of this experience. We had a small, diverse group of people and each brought something to the table to create one of the most meaningful and memorable (and final) Immersions I had the pleasure of participating in.”
Financial aid misconceptions cleared Staff Writer
What’s the deal with student debt? There are many questions regarding this component instudent’s lives, from encountering tuition funding options for the first time as a first generation student or attempting to fund an education while living on your own. From the class of May 2014, approximately 56 percent of the class borrowed student loans at some time over their college career at Rollins, and they left with an average debt of $26,689, in comparison to the national average of $33,000. Steve Booker, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management at Rollins College, mentions several misconceptions regarding financial aid. Many students believe that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is difficult to complete. He assures students that the Office of Financial Aid is there to assist with the task. Also, FAFSAs should be newly completed every school year. If household changes occur, it is important to contact the Financial Aid office
to be sure students are receiving the most accurate amount of aid. Lastly, the most common misconception is that scholarships are few and far between. There are various scholarships a student can apply for, whether they are through Rollins or outside sources, that can help assist with the cost of tuition. Booker wants students to be educated about their scholarship and loan options. “There are scholarship scams out there, and we want students to protect their information and not pay for scholarship services or applications as they do not work. In regards to loans, if you have to borrow student loans, do your homework and only borrow what you need,” said Booker. “Some students need loans to live on, but they might be able to cut back on some expenses that are really ‘wants,’ which would reduce the total amount of debt upon graduation. Student loans can be a good investment when used appropriately, but we are always concerned with the potential to over borrow.” Another important thing to keep in mind is to not delay re-
paying student loans. Experts say a student should begin repaying their loans six months after graduation; many student loans offer this six month grace period. If a student is considering graduate school, undergraduate loans can be deferred as a request. Keep in mind interest can accrue while obtaining a graduate degree, increasing total debt. Additionally, beginning in October 2015, the U.S. Department of Education is kick-starting a program allowing students to use their loans and grants for non traditional education, such as internet courses or open online courses. These are considered experimental programs, and prior to this initiative only accredited schools were eligible to receive student loans and grants. With the diverse kinds of studies at Rollins comes a diverse group of students. While it pertains to the ever-growing concern of financial aid, do certain kinds of students have more of an advantage over others? Booker claims that success belongs to a responsible student. “Each student brings knowl-
edge, ability, and fortitude with them and it’s those abilities that will impact their outcome more so than who is paying the tuition. There are a number of studies that show students who work part-time while enrolled in college (whether it’s through an internship, work study, or other types of work) have higher GPAs and higher graduation rates. These students learn to balance their time and prioritize their day in order to be successful,” said Booker. For many first generation students, funding tuition is an entirely new experience. For Dilsia Fernandez ’14 ’17MA, Rollins College was able to point her in the direction of scholarships and aid. “My advice for students to avoid financial aid debt is to get involved. I know it may sound silly, but you would be amazed by how many scholarships are out there that are not made public. You would only find these opportunities if you were involved in the community,” said Fernandez. Fernandez was so inspired by her success within the work
study experience that she applied to be a work study supervisor herself. Alumni Sophie Paulette Jupillat ’15 is also a student who ventured down the work study path. In her junior year of college, she had a dependency override because of family issues and was then made eligible for work study. She utilized work study to help pay for the out of pocket tuition owed. She owes $30,000 in student loans, which she is now paying off. “My advice to work study students is to work hard and diligently, work as many hours as you can, and make sure you work all the hours whatever department you are in provides,” Jupillat said. “Then, the usual common sense: don’t overspend, max out loans, and then find a steady job that will hopefully give an income high enough you can pay back loans bit by bit.” Overall, the most important lesson learned is to ask questions and seek help to learn which options work best. Every student’s case is different, but in the quest for a top education solutions can always be found.
Page 8 • SPORTS
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Rollins soccer suffers close defeat Rollins Men’s soccer was narrowly defeated in a tense game against Palm Beach Atlantic. The final score was 2-1.
Natalie Hayes
Photographer
The Rollins Tars welcomed Palm Beach Atlantic for a tight game Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Family Barker Stadium. Palm Beach is not yet qualified for the Sunshine State Conference, but this match still counted as a conference game for Rollins and could potentially catapult them up to the top rankings, as PBA is ranked as #4 in the nation and are still undefeated in the conference. The Tars conceded an early goal after six minutes of play. Lucas Kuscevic of Palm Beach went up unchallenged on a corner to head the ball past Drew Trautmann ’17 in the Rollins goal. The game was close in the first half, but Rollins failed to test the goalkeeper enough, recording only 2 shots before halftime. In the 58th minute, however, Matt Volk, #12, drew the Tars level with a classy finish one-on-
one with the goalkeeper. Rollins pushed for the win, recording a total of 13 shots in the second half, but it was PBA who would score the winner in the 78th minute after a well-placed shot hit the post and the rebound was converted by Cleef Desir. Rollins had their opportunities to get back into the game, including a dangerous-looking volley from #6, André Nansen ’19, in the final seconds, but PBA’s goalkeeper put in a good shift for the night with 5 top-drawer saves. Other noteworthy performances were the ever-impressing Tosan Popo ’17, #14, who always looked dangerous with the ball and tested the goalie with 2 shots, and Joe Beguiristain ’18, #21, who started his first game of the season and looked comfortable in his rightback position. The final score was 1-2, a Tars loss. The next game for the Tars is Wednesday, Oct. 28th, versus Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Considering law school?
Photo by Natalie Hayes
Stetson Law Information Day November 7, 2015 | 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Attend a simulated law class • Meet Stetson Law students, alumni and faculty • Campus tours with student ambassadors • Admissions and financial aid information • Complimentary lunch RSVP Today at stetson.edu/lawday, lawadmit@law.stetson.edu or at (727) 562-7802 by November 4, 2015
Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning 1401 61st Street South | Gulfport, Florida 33707