The
Springhillian
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam | March 8, 2012 | Volume 94 Issue 6
Badgers head to playoffs after defeating South By KieferGINGLES Sports Reporter
The Spring Hill College Rugby club defeated the University of South Alabama Jaguars 38-17 on Saturday, March 3. The Badgers fired quickly off the beginning whistle, putting up the opening points of the game within the first two minutes. First quarter scorers were sophomore Brandon Thompson and fifth year MBA student Zachary Quinn. Senior and team captain Max Westendorf added two conversion kicks. The Jaguars made a small comeback toward the end of the first half, making the score 14-7 as the game entered halftime. South Alabama had the momentum early in the second half, adding one score but failing to convert the extra points. Spring Hill regained possession and control for the rest of the game, see RUGBY on page 14
InsideNEWS
Parking tickets at an all time high
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InsideOPINION
Changing the union of marriage
|6
InsideLIFESTYLES
Where are you living? Housing 2012
| 11
InsideSPORTS
Investigation on Saints
| 15
THIS WEEK |
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EVENTS
WEEKLYFORECAST fri
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ADVISOR StuartBABINGTON
NEWS editor CoraALLEN LIFESTYLE reporter(s) AliciaCANDELA BrandyJONES SPORTS editor MattLaBORDE SPORTS reporter KieferGINGLES CARTOONIST EfrenFLORES
HillianCONTACT The SpringHillian a: 4000 Dauphin Street c/o The SpringHillian Mobile, AL 36608 e: hillian@stumail.shc.edu p: 251.380.3850 f. 251.460.2185
on
the
cover
Zach Quinn helps the Rugby Club defeat South Alabama in last Saturday’s game. Badgers won the game 30-17 and now have a shot at the playoffs next week. Photo by KeliMAZZA
OF THE
WEEK
3/9/12
A Day of Films
Two films will be shown in the LeBlanc Room, Student Center from 2-5 p.m. “Comfort Foods,” an original short drama about a baker turned serial killer by Keli Mazza and “Game of Minutes,” an original documentary on two players from the Spring Hill College Men’s Basketball Team by Rico Dread will be shown. Feel free to provide the students with feedback on what you think and enjoy some snacks. Invite your friends. If you are unable to make it, the films will be available later on YouTube for everyone to check out and comment on.
3/13/12
Freshmen Retreat Leaders
If you are interested in being a student leader for the freshman retreat in the fall, please come to an informational meeting on Tuesday at 12:15 in Student Center room 225. Freshman retreat will be held August 24th and 25th. If you would like to be a leader but cannot make it to the meeting please contact Colleen at cflee@shc.edu.
Hillianstaff EDITOR(s) AllisonPATRICK KatelynGARDNER
March 8, 2012
3/15/12
Jambalaya Lunch
Join Campus Ministry in their Jambalaya Lunch next Thursday in the Gautrelet Room. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. - 1p.m., and will include jambalaya, bread, salad, dessert, and drink for only $8. Tickets may be purchased from any of the ISIP students or by calling Campus Ministry at 380-3495. All proceeds benefit the International Service/Immersion Program.
3/16/12
Undergraduate Research Symposium Information Meeting The SHC Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held on Friday, April 20, 2012 from 3:45-5:30p.m. (following the Honors Convocation). Information sessions will be held on Friday, March 16 from 12-1p.m. in QH301. For more information about the symposium, visit kudzu.shc.edu/urs Contact Dr. Jamie Franco-Zamudio jfrancozamudio@shc.edu 251.380.3058
3/17/12
Luck of the Irish Cook-off & Parade
The Luck of the Irish celebrates all things Irish with a family–friendly event in Bienville Square on St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish stew and corned-beef & cabbage cook-off will begin early that day and be ready for tasting by 11 a.m.. The parade runs at 2 p.m. and wraps around the Square. The park will be filled with Irish bagpipers and troubadours as well as Irish dancers. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate with children under 12 free with a paid adult. Call 251.479.5700 for more information.
3/17/12 MS Walk
Please join us as a community to support MS Walk. Sign up/ Student Center Information Desk Donation, $10 includes t-shirt and donation to Multiple Sclerosis.
3/21/12
Housing Forms Due
Housing Contract is due on Wednesday the 21st which includes a $150 commitment deposit. Students must be registered as a full-time student with 12 credit hours for Fall 2012 by March 23. March 26 will commence round 1: Fairway’s & Skip’s Place April 11 will start round 2: 1-Person Housing & 4-person Housing April 16 will be the 2-Person Housing due date.
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March 8, 2012
| NEWS
Three of 4 crewman’s bodies discovered Behind the scenes of housing students the best he can. Seafter tragic Coast Guard helicopter accident pion states, “We believe that By KieferGINGLES Sports Reporter
On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 28, an MH-65C helicopter carrying four crew members of the United States Coast Guard crashed into Mobile Bay near Point Clear during a night training mission. The four crew members aboard the helicopter were flight mechanic Drew Knight, co-pilot Lt. J.G. Thomas Cameron, rescue swimmer Fernando Jorge, and pilot Lt. Cmdr. Dale Taylor. So far, rescuers have been unsuccessful in locating the body of Petty Officer Third Class Andrew Knight who hails from Thomasville, Ala. Unfortunately, the other three members have now been discovered and pronounced dead. As reported by Mobile’s Press-Register, Jorge’s body was the first to be discovered. He was found, unresponsive, only hours following the catastrophe and was declared dead soon after. However, the remaining three crew members were missing and unable to be located on the night
of the crash. On Thursday, two days after the initial incident, and after extensive searching from multiple organizations including the Coast Guard, Daphne Search and Rescue, and Escambia County Search and Rescue, the bodies of Taylor and Cameron were lifted from the bay. It is still uncertain what exactly caused the mishap, but Mobile Bay’s murky waters have made the search effort for the final missing crew member very difficult. With conditions in the bay limiting rescuers’ underwater visibility to less than one foot, it has been an accomplishment to discover any of the crew. According the Press Register, the Coast Guard has said that at least 95 percent of Mobile Bay has been combed over several times by rescue crews. The members of the training mission were from four different states which truly make this a nation-wide tragedy. The four states that the crew members called home are Oregon, California, North Carolina, and Alabama. Our city is a major hub for Coast Guard activity due
to its USCG Aviation Training Center located in West Mobile. Junior Cale Finta knows about the Coast Guard family. Finta’s father has served many years in the Coast Guard and the tragedy really hit home for him: “My dad was a helicopter pilot for 20 years; flying the same model helicopter that went down. I can’t imagine what the families are going through. The Coast Guard is small enough that it’s like a big family, so this has affected people across the country.” The search efforts continue for the remaining crew member, and parts of the aircraft are being discovered around the bay daily. The Coast Guard asks that anyone who finds a part of the aircraft does not touch or move it, but call 911 as it may be evidence that could lead to the discovery of the final crewman. In addition, anyone who wishes to donate to the families of the fallen members, please visit coastguardfoundation.org. Any contributions are greatly appreciated and will go directly to the devastated families.
By AliciaCANDELA Lifestyles Reporter
Housing is a process that starts up every year in March and every year there are always new changes The housing process starts with each student being issued a lottery number, by year entered into the college. The process is broken down into three rounds, which students are encouraged to participate in. If at first the students do not get a choice of where to live, they are then moved to the next round, and so on. There are many questions regarding housing, and Dan Sepion, head of Residence life, provides the answers. A common question is: what are the chances of seniors getting Fairway Apartments next year? According to Sepion, “with a variety of housing options including singles, apartments, pods, and suites, it is impossible to know what housing every student will choose.” Sepion tries to accomodate
students can find housing they will enjoy and feel comfortable in. We like to focus on who students live with; as who you live with makes the college experience.” Another concern about housing next year is how the new Skip’s learning communities will work out. Sepion explains what the Skip’s learning communities will be like saying, “the Skip’s communities are resident initiated and created. Any type of community is possible, since it all depends on students coming together and creating one.” As for the apartments, Sepion makes it clear that there has not been a GPA requirement for a few years, and that the apartments are just for seniors. As Sepion stated previously, it is up to what the students choose for housing next year to determine who lives where, there is no way to predict ahead of time.
Jeffrey Hilperts named vice president for advancement at Spring Hill College
Photo courtesy shc.edu
Mobile, Ala. – Spring Hill College president Richard P. Salmi, S.J., has announced the appointment of Jeffrey A. Hilperts as vice president for advancement. He will join the Spring Hill community in mid-April. Hilperts is currently serving as senior director of development and campaign director for The Ohio State University
Foundation, where he is directing the university’s $2.5 billion multi-year comprehensive fundraising campaign and providing leadership in campaign planning, management and volunteer engagement. He worked with academic executives and volunteer leaders to develop the strategic plan for the campaign, the largest comprehensive campaign in the university’s history. As vice president for advancement at SHC, Hilperts will direct operations in development, alumni programs and communications and institutional marketing. He will serve as the college’s senior development officer and
strategist and as chief adviser to the president, the trustees and other college officials on all matters involving current or potential philanthropic support for the college. “We are pleased to welcome Jeff Hilperts to lead our office of advancement,” said Salmi. “Jeff ’s solid background and exceptional experience in developing and managing successful fund-raising campaigns will be invaluable in strengthening alumni and development initiatives for the college.” Hilperts previously served as director of development and alumni affairs at the Michael E.
Moritz College of Law at Ohio State and was a regional representative for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Hilperts is a native of Fairhope, Ala. He holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Spring Hill College and a Master of Science in human services management from Franklin University. “We have an amazing opportunity to capture the momentum on campus and chart a brave new course for the advancement of the college,” said Hilperts. “I could not be more excited to return to my Alma Mater and am thrilled to work with Fr. Salmi,
the trustees, faculty, staff and students to build a culture of engagement.” SHC is the oldest college in Alabama, the first Catholic college in the Southeast, the third oldest Jesuit college and the fifth oldest Catholic college in the United States. U.S. News & World Report ranks Spring Hill 17th among the Southern colleges and universities granting master’s degrees. The college is also ranked 11th among only 15 schools listed in the South’s “Great Schools, Great Prices” category, colleges that offer quality academic programs, affordable tuition and significant financial aid.
NEWS |
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March 8, 2012
Public Safety announces changes to the parking on campus By BrandyJONES Lifestyles Reporter
Director of Public Safety Todd Warren is considering changing the coding for parking on Spring Hill College. Originally, as it stands now, the color coding for the different dorms is that each dorm has their own color. For instance, in Byrne and O’leary’s case, there are two colors, one for each dormitory. With the new coding that Warren is looking into changing as early as next semester, there will be one color for both. The commuter parking will not change and neither will the physical space of the parking spaces. According to Warren it is their hope that the new coding will make it easier for the students. Warren stated that one of the problems that they are having this semester is that some of the students are not registering their cars. An unregistered parking ticket is $30, according to the student hand book. Three or four unregistered parking tickets can be anywhere from $90 to $120, plus the parking boot fee. “What most of our tickets were for is not registering. By far the majority of our tickets that
we have written are for folks that haven’t registered. The other violations we have been pretty lenient on, but not registering is such a safety issue. We need to know who is on campus and by not registering, we can’t know whether or not the owner of the vehicle is student or not,” said Warren. According to Warren it takes around four tickets to get a boot put on ones car. It then costs $100 to remove the boot. If there is a second boot put on the car, according to the Spring Hill College handbook, the boot costs $100 to remove, and the student could lose one’s parking permit and privileges. Warren said that there have been at least two boots placed on student’s cars this semester alone. Parking tickets usually range from $30 to $40 for offenses such as parking in the wrong spot or on the grass. Yet, for offenses such as driving under the influence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident as well as causing an accident the tickets are ranged anywhere from $100 to $250. There is an appeal process that one can take when a ticket is given. “It is best to come and
Photo by BrandyJONES
see me before getting the second ticket. We appeal a ticket if one has a reasonable defense as to why they violated the parking code. I’ll listen to what they have to say and make a decision from there. If it is reasonable, then I will most likely appeal the ticket,” said Warren. According to Warren if a student has a complaint about the parking ticket they can come to him to appeal it. However, if a student should seek to change the actual, physical size of the parking spaces they could go to
A students vehicle was booted due to unpaid parking tickets and failure to register
the student government. How do the students feel about parking? “It is terrible! I have to back in five or more times before I can get out of the full parking lot in order not to hit another vehicle,” said senior Kayla Tompkins. “I know that my friends have gotten parking tickets. Like if you live in another dorm and you visit someone in New Hall, you get a parking ticket. And I do not think it is fair. People shouldn’t get tickets for visiting their friends for a little while. I think that if you have
a decal then you should be able to park wherever you want on campus,” said sophomore Robert Robinson. Registration for parking is done at the beginning of the year. According to the handbook it is $100 for Spring Hill College residents and $75 for non residents. Once paid, a colored decal is issued to the student. The color tells the student where they are allowed to park. The decal should be placed in a visible spot on the lower left corner of the inside of the front windshield of the vehicle.
Students utilize military benefits, dedicating themselves to a life of duty By AliciaCANDELA Lifestyles Reporter
Although Spring Hill does not have its own ROTC program, there are many students and alumni who have chosen the military life as part of their college life. One example of a Spring Hill student who is involved in the ROTC program at South Alabama is junior Kat Kuklish. When asked what inspired her to get involved with ROTC Kuklish replied, “My grandparents had been in the military and both my parents were officers so
I guess you could say that I grew up in the Army.” After asking her what her future plans were Kuklish replied, “I plan to go to Leadership Development Assessment course this summer with my fellow cadets and upon graduating, commission as a second lieutenant and branch signal or JAG after getting a law degree. According to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Ramona Hill, “We currently have four students receiving ROTC awards, 32 students receiving veteran benefits,
and 50 students receiving Coast Guard tuition assistance.” Another student who is also involved in the ROTC program is John Blain. After being asked what inspired him to join the ROTC program, Blain replied, “I decided to join because my mother was in the military for twenty years and my dad is currently a civilian that works on base, so it was something that I wanted to try.” Senior Catie Palmer explains her reasons for joining the Military saying, “My dad was in the military for twenty
years and I’ve always strived to flying helicopters for at least the be like him. I also want to have a next ten years,” says Palmer. profession that is honorable and demonstrates duty to my country.” Palmer earned the exceptional honor of being the first female Battalion Commander, as well as the first Battalion Commander from SHC last semester. She was also ranked in the top two percent of cadets (male and female) in the nation. Palmer’s future plans are to commission as an officer in the United States Army on May 11th and then on May 28th begin flight school. “I Photo by AliciaCANDELA will be an army aviation officer Cadet John Blain salutes
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March 8, 2012
| NEWS
Immigration law causes association to cancel convention By CoraALLEN News Editor
The Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) has canceled its plans to hold an annual convention in Mobile next year due to Alabama’s controversial immigration law. A press release by the ADFM states: “We, in ADFM, place the highest value on making sure that all of our members can attend our annual meeting without feeling personally threatened or subject to an increased level of monitoring or scrutiny.” It goes on to state that House Bill 56, “has created an environment that threatens the personal sense of safety, security, and comfort for some of our members, particularly our Latino members.”
According to al.com, Allen Perkens, the chairman of University of South Alabama College of Medicine- Family Medicine Department, worked to bring the convention to Mobile. The previous destinations had usually been resort towns and tourist destinations, but since the 2010 oil spill, the association wanted to bring business to the Gulf Coast. The group planned to hold its annual convention at the Battle House Renaissance Hotel and Spa in downtown Mobile, and would have reserved about 600 hotel rooms for the event. According to the hotel’s general manager, that’s about $100,000 worth of business. President of the Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, David Randel, estimates that
the city is missing out on about $700,000 of revenue due to the cancellation. Dr. Robert Harding, Chair of International Studies and Political Science at Spring Hill College, thinks that the problems that will arise from the law are going to be more concerned with the lack of labor in the agricultural and manual labor sectors, rather than from loss of tourism revenue. He does, however think that the Association of Departments of Family Medicine is making a political statement, or social commentary with this recent move. While he doesn’t foresee “a wave,” of cancellations like this, he does say “they’re making a political point, and I hope they made their point loud.”
Radio station says goodbye after 39 years By BrandyJONES Lifestyles Reporter
Mobile Ala., says goodbye to a local radio station after a 39 year run. O’Daly’s, located in downtown Mobile Ala., was packed with people gathered to say goodbye to 97.5, WABB on Wednesday, Feb. 29. Several of the on-air personalities signed autographs and spoke to their fans throughout the night which was the last night of airtime for the Gulf Coast’s hit music station. That night, WABB played songs from 2012 all the way back to 1973. They concluded at midnight with the first song ever played on the station, “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again,” by Bob Dylan. “107.3 is known for its nonstop music, but WABB was the station valued for its update on current issues and the weather news. I followed it in high school to catch up on the news. It kept me up to date on what routes to take and which ones to avoid on my 30-minute drive to school,” said Spring Hill student Khadeeja Ahmaad. According to WABB.com, it began its first broadcast on Feb. 5, 1973. WABB was owned by Bernie Dittman and his
family for 39 years. In 1984, it moved toward the format of album-oriented rock. Before then, it was a simulcast with a station operated by the Mobile Register, Alabama’s Best Broadcasters. Dittman passed away in 2006, leaving the station to his daughter, Betsey. In Feb. of 2012, the Dittman family announced that WABB had been sold to the Educational Media Foundation. The station is now K-LOVE, specializing in contemporary Christian music.
Photo courtesy WABB.com
Today in Atlanta, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit will be hearing arguements over whether state can pass legislature that “cracks down,” on illegal immigration, a power typically reserved for the federal government. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguements over Arizona’s own controversial immigration law in only two months, but the Alabama law goes a bit furthur than Arizona’s. Alabama’s immigration law was signed into effect by Gov. Robert Bentley in 2011, and has created strict controls on illegal immigrants in the state. The Obama administration sued in August claiming that the state was interfering with the Federal Government’s exclusive authority
over immigration procedures. Some parts of the law have been temporarily blocked by federal courts, like the provision that required public schools to obtain a birth certificate upon enrollment, or the provision that requires illegal immigrants to carry immigration documentation at all times. However, many of the controversial aspects remain intact. For example, the law requires police to check immigration status at routine traffic stops. It also prohibits illegal immigrants from conducting business with local governments; it is a felony for an illegal immigrant to attempt to renew or apply for a drivers license, identification card, or licence plate.
OPINION |
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March 8, 2012
Until death do us part: Equal Rights for same-sex couples With states such as California, New York and Washington D.C. legalizing gay marriage, the conflict between church and state are at a tipping point.
By KatelynGARDNER Co-Editor
Society has taken a turn in the last 30 years. We have stepped away from categorizing homosexuality as a psychological disease or even a mental illness, to accepting it as an inborn, biological determination. Years of testing show that conversion and reversal therapies such as NARTH (National Association Reparative Therapy for Homosexuality) are unsuccessful in
changing an individual’s sexual orientation. So why is our society still failing to recognize the rights of so many? If equality is something we as Americans strive for, it is failing tremendously in the realm of equal rights for same-sex couples when it comes to marriage. The LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community uses the values of freedom and equality to fight for the same rights as heterosexual married couples. Catholic teachings, however, stand behind the sanctity of marriage and obeying the Scripture as well as Church doctrine. Although I stand behind the Church is every respect, it is difficult to force my beliefs onto a same-sex couple that is just as loving, self-sacrificing, and committed as a heterosexual couple is. I personally know plenty of same-sex couples that are monogamous and have had only
one partner in their lifetime. Consequently, the argument that the LGBTQ community is promiscuous and shortens one’s life (due to diseases such as AIDS) is proven false by my own observations and personal relationships with couples and individuals who are not heterosexual. So why do most state governments regulate marriage as heterosexuality and not leave it up to private interest? In my opinion, if the government can allow a woman the right to threaten an innocent life, why can’t two people commit to each other on a deeper level than just a mere domestic partnership? I realize that it is difficult to decide where religion extends into the state. I agree that gay marriage is not life-giving in the sense that the couple is not able to naturally procreate; however, there are heterosexual couples that are infertile or choose not to have children, proving that
marriage does not always have to provide a life. Also, for years the traditional view of marriage has been one that focuses on complementary elements that involve both a man and a woman. And for some people their complement is someone of the same sex, their joy lies in a soul that unfortunately has a label that is considered “queer” to the rest of society. Although I was born heterosexual and therefore fit the “norm,” I can’t help but want for someone else the rights that I was given just by being born biologically “normal.” It is hard to stand against my religion, but it pains me to see love swept under the carpet. If God is forgiving, all-knowing and benevolent, am I to think that he extends his hand out to only those who fit a social norm? And if we are all born in God’s image, then how can I think that someone is “un-
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holy” strictly upon judging their sexual orientation. Moreover, God calls us to love, not to judge. I am not the one who will decide who receives the Lord’s salvation; therefore, I have no right to judge their actions, choices or decisions. Furthermore, we all remain sinners during our time on earth, making it impossible to “cast the first stone” when we are all standing in a bed of rocks. I know many will disagree with giving gay marriage a stamp of approval, but before we judge the actions of others, shouldn’t we take an internal inventory of the many faults we have accumulated throughout our lifetime? You in no way have to agree with my stance, nor accept my opinion as representing the Church in any sense. In a way, I am still a young adult, trying to figure out where church and state are able to create a unified mesh in such a diverse society.
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March 8, 2012
| OPINION
Please don’t stop the music in our schools
By AliciaCANDELA Life Style Reporter
Just think about this for a moment: when you were younger did you always look forward to music class or even participate in a play? Those of you who have an interest in music, might want to continue on reading. We all know that because of the economy today, schools are on budgets and usually the
first thing to go is the music program. Unfortunately, most public schools and even some private schools do not have a choir or even a music department at all. I feel as if the music department is always put as a last choice and it seems as if no one cares anymore. One possible reason the music programs are being removed is because they are viewed as a waste of time by those who don’t share a passion for music. I strongly disagree with this because I feel that music is a way of self expression. Sometimes you can express yourself easier by playing a musical instrument or singing about how you feel. If explaining how you feel is hard, you can easily find yourself through music. The arts have benefits and can be good
for the mind: according to overgrownpath.com, “A scientific study by a hospital has found that patients who listen to live music need fewer drugs and recover more quickly than those who do not.” The same website also states that music reduces blood pressure, heart rate, and hormones related to stress. For these reasons, in addition to some of my own, I believe that music is necessary in the school systems. Believe it or not, you are learning a lot while studying a song. For example, math is involved because you have to figure out the rhythm of the song and how many beats there are in each measure. Also, learning music improves your memory because when hearing a song over and over again, you are
learning the tune and your brain is taking in new patterns. In an article titled “7 Insane Ways Music Affects the Body (According to Science)” by Anthony Jurado, he lists reasons that music is beneficial to our health. One of the first reasons is that music can repair brain damage. It has been proven that through music, brain-damaged patients are able to gain back the ability to speak and see. By singing along with a song, music is transferred as a language to the brain and therefore gives them the ability to speak. Other reasons music is beneficial are that it lowers stress levels and helps you have a better immune system. Not only will someone’s stress levels be lowered but their risk of heart disease will also decrease.
I realize that the economy is rough but I believe that the government needs to take those who are not athletic into consideration. Some students do not participate in sports and make music part of their lives. If music is taken away from them, then there is nothing in which they can participate. By taking away the music programs in schools, the government is taking away something very important to certain people. I feel that schools need to adjust their priorities and set up a budget of how much money is going to be spent on the athletic department, the music department, textbooks, etc. My hope is that music programs stay present within schools throughout the country and that people realize how music can make a difference in a child’s life.
SUBMISSIONS The SpringHillian publishes guest submissions at the discretion of the student-editors and section editors. Submission should be no more than 300 words, and editors reserve the right to edit the submissions for length and content. Original articles should be mailed or delivered to: Student Editor Communication Arts Spring Hill College 4000 Dauphin Street Mobile, AL 3660
EDITORIAL POLICY The SpringHillian is published weekly from September to May, except during examination periods and vacations. The views expressed within do not represent the views of Spring Hill College and are not the views of the faculty, administration, staff or students, but are the views of the individual columnists.
Life on the Hill
LIFE STYLE |
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March 8, 2012
Photo by CoraALLEN
All photos by BrandyJONES
Top: Eric Thomas, Roman Ow- Bottom Left: Bobby Brown, Bottom Right: Courtney ensby, Bennett Champagne, and Matthew Tusa stroll down the beautiful pathway located by the grotto while enjoying the view.
Chris Lazarine, and Steven Koch enjoy lunch in the student center while socializing, eating and studying before classes.
Gibson reads her psychology textbook, preparing for a week of tests while relaxing under the sun on a Tuesday afternoon.
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March 8, 2012
| LIFE STYLE
Photos by GigiSABIO
Sunshine on the Hill
Top Left: JD Sabio tees off in last week’s Spring Hill golf tournament. The golf team’s upcoming game will be held at 8 a.m. on March 26 at the Lou Hart Invitational.
Top Right: Will Kirkikis sports a Phi Mu jersey during the Sunday LaCrosse game while fighting for the face-off.
Bottom: TJ Will enjoys long boarding down Rydex Commons after classes on a sunny afternoon.
Photo by BrandyJONES
LIFE STYLE |
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March 8, 2012
Philosophy department gains a new perspective By BrandyJones Lifestyle Reporter
He is one of the new faces added to the Spring Hill College Faculty; a young man of average height with a sharp wit and a penchant for wearing colorful ties. Students in his class have been known to stay afterward and drop by his office to chat with him on subjects that he touched upon in class. He is Dr. Victor DiFate of the philosophy department. DiFate first became interested in philosophy when he was 19 years of age. According to DiFate, it was at a time where he was lost, miserable, and didn’t know how to live his life. “I took philosophy classes and they were about God and morality. They were about how a person should live his life; what kind of person a person should be, and these seemed like exactly the kind of questions that I needed to be asking and answering. That is what got me into it,” said DiFate. Now, he thinks about the
about things than when they walked in,” said DiFate. Although he raises many questions, he doesn’t give a lot of answers: “I give a bunch of possible answers, and then I give problems for those answers,” said DiFate. He leaves things unsettled for the students because they need to work things out for themselves. His goal is to keep students thinking about the problems even after leaving the class room. “The whole point is for you to begin thinking about this; to acknowledge that there is something for you to be thinking about; to be a reflective person after you leave the classroom because we want to live in a society where people are reflective thinkers, not just cogs in an economic machine,” said DiFate. In his spare time, DiFate likes to read 19th century French literature because he says it was motivated by ideas about what a novelist should do. “My interests are bizarrely specific. I like 19th century French literature and I also like Italian horror movies from the
heavy questions and gets hooked on things that he thinks are really interesting. “I find philosophical questions to be the most interesting, ” said DiFate. His favorite philosophical idea to teach is the problem of evil. “I like to teach it because I think that I do it in a completely brutalizing kind of way. It gets sort of more extreme, my presentation of the problem of evil every year,” said DiFate. The problem of evil, according to DiFate, is a gripping problem that is not easy to get out of. It’s a problem that everyone struggles with: “When you stop and think about whatever made this universe of ours, it’s not obvious that it had our best interests at mind. I don’t feel like I pull any punches with teaching it. It is a very sensitive subject, and in that sense I think it’s very fun to teach.” When students finish his class, DiFate hope they have achieved one goal: intellectually stimulating confusion. “I want them to be a little bit lost. I want them to walk out of my classes a little bit less certain
Photo by AliciaCANDELA
Dr. DiFate’s philosophy class encourages student debate and questioning.
mid-60s to the mid-80s,” said DiFate. His favorite movie is “Deep Red” by Dario Argento. According to Difate, he goes into every class with the intention to have a good time. He wants the students to feel comfortable and he wants to feel comfortable in front of students. He thinks only a couple of sections figure that out each semester. He wants his students to
loosen up. “The stuff we talk about in my classes, if I were a student, I would see that I am picking up some technical skill that might help me out in my future as a cog in the economic machine. I get to go to class and ask whether I have a soul, what reasons there are to believe in God, or whether scientific knowledge is possible; it can be fun,” said DiFate.
FRESHMEAT versus
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Veterans
Favorite video game and most consecutive hours played? SANCHEZ: “Dead Space. Probably only about an hour.” VAUGHN: “SOCOM3. I’m not going to lie to you...11 hours.”
Favorite moment on the Hill?
SANCHEZ: “The moment I first laid eyes on Kamrey Nichols.” VAUGHN: “The ones I don’t remember.”
FRESHMAN Ryan Sanchez
You get a dream date with anyone in the world, who do you take and where do you go? SANCHEZ: “Julianne Hough and we would take my private jet to the Bahamas...I’ve got to get her in a bikini somehow.” VAUGHN: “Sandra Bullock and to the party in my pants.”
SENIOR Derek Vaughn
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March 8, 2012
| LIFE STYLE
APPLICATION Housing for fall 2012: of the
WEEK
iStudiez Pro
Where are you living this fall? With the approaching housing sign ups, students should be educated on which dorms are the best and worst. The pros and cons of each housing facility are listed to help students decide where to live. By MatthewLaBORDE Sports Editor
Photo by AllisonPATRICK
The visual set up of the application allows users to keep their events organized. By AllisonPATRICK Co-Editor
Having trouble keeping track of homework, tests, and presentations even after you have a planner and a wall calendar? Well, ditch out the planner and the wall calendar and take charge of your schedule with iStudiez Pro. iStudiez Pro will do all the work for you! With the easy navigation you will never miss another class, will be able to track deadlines and grades, and plan homework. iStudiez Pro is a planner that allows you to input and manage any kind of schedule you may have, classic or rotating. When entering in your course you can color coordinate and assign each class an icon to mark class types. Not only can you enter course details you can also manage instructors information such as e-mail address and office hours. There is a section just for homework. You can organize your assignments by date, priority or sort them into pending and com-
pleted. In your calendar screen when you have something due there is a paper clip clipped on the day, and when you have an exam a red flag is displayed. If you have trouble remembering to do homework or even cannot remember to check your planner, you have the option to set reminders. The Push Notification feature allows you to set general alarms that will remind you when homework, a class or an assignment is due. The Today view, pictured on the left, provides a summary of your current classes and tasks that are due that day. The application provides a detailed list of all the events and assignments including location, minutes left, class instructor, number or tasks left and upcoming events for the day. The iStudiez Pro application allows you to keep track of your assignment grades. With the grade point average calculator, you can calculate letter grades based off of assignments for both previous and current semesters.
It’s that time of year again, Badgers, the time of high lottery numbers, arguments about apartments, and figuring out who’s going to be the lucky roommate. It’s time to start weighing the pros and con’s of each dorm to really evaluate where we want to live. But don’t worry everybody: I did the extensive research myself and did all of the hard work for you. Now, all you have to do is choose. So, which is it? It’s getting late in the year, yet we can still hear the faint voices of women screaming at one another over Fairway roommate situations, and we’re all pretty intrigued by this Skips co-ed community idea (gender wars). Nevertheless, it’s time to start choosing where we want to live next year. Don’t worry though, I did all of the extensive research myself, so now all you have to do is choose. So, which is it? o’Leary Hall: Pros- O’Leary has just been renovated with new floors and new furniture, and it still withholds the reputation as the laid back dormitory. Cons- The location. I mean come ON. It’s probably like three miles away from the center of campus and I literally had to purchase a mountain bike to get to class on time. Ridiculous. new Hall: Pros: The building is clean, and the rooms are nice, and the piano adds a level of classiness that no other dorm can match. Cons: Again, the location. Residents of New Hall have to walk three hours uphill (in the snow) JUST to get to class. It’s not acceptable. Skips place: Pros: You get to live with twelve of your best friends and the bathrooms are exceptional. Not to mention a common
room where various activities can be had. But seriously, unlimited foosball action in the lobby area. Cons- They say there is enough glass in the parking lot to send you back to WalMart to change your tire. But we all love trips to Wal-Mart because it’s really safe late at night! Also, 2:30 at Skips Place means St. Paul’s moms and limited parking! Mobile Hall: Pros Little known fact about this wonderful dormitory is that there is a state of the art laundry facility located on the first floor. Getting the opportunity to live by yourself is also a plus, and even better: there are doubles here, too! Cons- Not a lot of people know this, but a giant actually enrolled at Spring Hill College five years ago but had to transfer because he was unable to fit in the showers in Mobile. Fairway Apartments: Pros-It’s the Fairway Apartments, you’ve been dreaming of living there one since the moment you stumbled into one as an awkward freshman. Cons- It seems like every Friday night, right around 3 a.m., that same drunk guy sings Shania Twain’s, “From This Moment On” and lightly knocks his head on your wall, repeatedly, as you can hear tears being shed. Also, the walls are so thin you can hear the couple above you having pillow talk about how much they love each other. Yuck! So before you sign off on room assignments, check the details, they may not be as “exciting” as you once envisioned. Instead of getting a party house or a study room you may end up in a disaster area. Take it from someone who has checked up on housing details, sometimes the cons just outweigh the pros.
LIFE STYLE| 12 TOP FIVE Increasing Badger pride, March 8, 2012
The year 2012 is projected to be a big year for the movie industry. The SpringHillian staff has agreed that these top five movies will be a huge hit when they are released into theatres. Fans are now preparing for the release of some great cinema screen plays.
“The Hunger Games”
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Based off the Suzanne Collin novel, this movie tells a riveting tale of life in North America after its destruction. As a powerful Capitol emerges, residents of its 12 outlying Districts individually struggle to survive under its rule. The release date is set for March 25, tickets on sale now.
“The Hobbit”
Also known as “There and Back Again,” this movie is based off of a fantasy novel and children’s book by J. R. R.Tolkien.The movie follows the quest of hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug. Bilbo’s journey takes him from his safe rural surroundings into more sinister territory. The movie will be in theatres December of 2012.
“Men in Black III”
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in action for another round of science-fiction comedy that is set to release in theatres on May 25, 2012. The film is based off of the Malibu Marvel comic book series. The main character of the movie Agent J travels back in time, changing history while saving Agent K from an alien attack.
“The Avengers”
On May 4, 2012, a group of superheroes that includes Iron Man,Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk will join together to fight a new enemy that is threatening the safety of the world. This superhero film was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The movie is based off of the Marvel Comics superhero team, The Avengers.
“The Amazing Spider-Man”
Peter Parker will search for answers behind his parents’ disappearance on July 3, 2012. When fate yields Parker to meet Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner, his world is changed forever. The movie features actor Andrew Garfield along with actress Emma Stone.
boosting our school spirit By KatelynGARDNER Co-Editor
With the help of 12 spirited ladies, Badger pride is rising to a whole new level. If you went to any basketball games recently, you would have seen the Balling Badgers, a group of ladies who work together to support the men’s basketball team and attempt to increase student participation at the games. Through posters, attendance at the games, decorations and goody bags, the Balling Badgers bring spirit, support and strength to the team during the basketball season. In addition to participating in basketball games, the club also plans events that help its members bond, forming a sisterhood among the ladies. President Ronlesa Mack describes how this unity is formed, stating, “We encourage unity between our girls and plan outings and events for our club members, so that we are not just club members, but friends as well.” From movie nights to poster decorat-
SudokuPUZZLe
2012
movies of
ing, the members not only raise school spirit, but also form a team based off of trust, support and camaraderie. According to Mack, the Balling Badgers hope to “expand to other sports, starting with the Lady Badgers basketball team.” Becoming more involved in school events is the club’s main goal. “We helped with the decorations for both Badger Brawl and Badger Blackout. We also helped with the set up and distributed the flyer for Impulse-
during Black History Month, made special Valentines for both basketball teams and got a cake and special treats for the seniors during Senior Night,” stated Mack. Last year, the club was on hiatus due to lack of leadership. According to Mack, the founders of the Balling Badgers consisted of mainly seniors, forcing the club to become inactive after graduation. When Mack and the other girls noticed the absence of the group, they decided it was time to renew membership,
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and continue the tradition of spreading school spirit among the students. After talking to the basketball team, the group discovered that the boys truly do appreciate the support. “Naturally their favorite aspect was candy, I mean, who doesn’t love candy,” stated Mack. In addition to goody bags, the Balling Badgers cheer, plan events and hang posters to decorate the gym during the basketball season. The club, although small, remains dedicated to the boys and maintains their spirit throughout even the toughest of games. Although the club is not currently taking in any new member, Mack encourages interested students to join the Balling Badgers Facebook page and send the club a message describing interest. There will also be a booth dedicated to the club at Badger Expo in the fall. For more information on the group or if you would like to join, contact Ronlesa Mack through the club’s Facebook account.
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
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March 8, 2012
| SPORTS
Volleyball star adapts to western culture in America than in China: “In China, you take longer to really know someone before you are friends. Here, you meet people and are instantly friends with them and you can talk about anything,” says Yiting. She tries to go home every summer and is anxious for graduation next year because her parents will possibly get to visit America. When Yiting is home, her parents say her Chinese is poor until she gets used to things again after a couple weeks. When talking with friends at home, they often use Chinese slang words which change so often that she usually has to ask what they mean in order to follow the conversation. Yiting is happy to be in the United States and is thankful to be attending Spring Hill College. She would not have had such an amazing experience if it were not for the help of all the important people in her life. Moving from China to the U.S. was an experience she will never regret: “It changed my life. In a lot of ways, it makes me feel like life is not all about how good I can do in my life. It’s more about how I can do things for other people,” said Yiting.
by EmilyHILL Contributor
Yiting Cao, a tall, sporty woman with short, black hair and piercing, dark-brown eyes can be found on the volleyball court any day of the week preparing to compete. In China, Yiting was on the Junior National Team and won the Federation International De Volleyball World Championship, which she credits as her greatest accomplishment. However, her aggressive and confident composure on the court differs greatly from her personality off the court. Yiting is soft spoken and humble, never boasting about her many triumphs. One of her greatest feats is making the transition from China to the U.S., which she did four years ago. Yiting is from the overcrowded city of Shanghai. According to the 2011 census conducted by BBC Worldwide Monitoring, Shanghai housed 23 million residents. Bumping shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers while walking on the bustling streets is routine and something Yiting does not miss: “Growing up in Shanghai, it was always busy. You couldn’t let yourself calm down or slow down even a little,” she said softly. The city, full of neon lights and skyscrapers, is truly one that never sleeps. Getting a job in such a densely inhabited place requires a person to be extremely competitive in the work force so it’s clear where Yiting gets her attitude on the court. Having gone to high school in China, she was able to experience the competitive atmosphere of Shanghai schools first-hand. “High schools in China always keep you busy. Here, you have more time to do something else instead of just focusing on school,” said Yiting. Yiting received a glimpse of the competitive work force in China when she interned last summer for an Internet-design company. Being her first time working in China and being a design major, she enjoyed the experience. She worked alongside other young students as they designed online ads and websites for different companies. Although working in China was a great experience, she plans on interning in America one of the next two years in order to compare the differences. Two years ago, she attended the 2010 World Exposition hosted by Shanghai; an extremely memorable event for her. World Expos display innovations of culture and science, like the famous Paris Exposition of 1889 that displayed the Eiffel Tower. The
This week in BADGER SPORTS Friday, March 9 Baseball (8) Faulkner University at Spring Hill 6:00 p.m.
Yiting Cao sets herself up for the serve to the opposing team photo courtesy of SHCbadgers.com
World Exposition Shanghai’s theme was “Better City, Better Life.” Over the 184 days, participants displayed content focused on urban civilization. “Each country has their own beauties to display. You cannot imagine the number of people,” said Yiting excitedly. It was the first World Exposition to be held in a developing country and she was proud to be a part of it. When arriving in America, one of the first things Yiting noticed was the television content in America; it was much more violent than shows in China: “Television shows are more restricted in China than here,” Yiting stated. She was surprised at how many shows contained profanity. She was also surprised at the topics covered on television shows. She says those “teenager mom” shows are crazy and would never appear on television in China. Making friends is a much easier and faster process
Softball Spring Hill vs Bryan College 10:00 a.m. vs Walsh University 6:00 p.m. Gulf Coast Invitational Tournament
Saturday, March 10 Baseball (8) Faulkner University at Spring Hill 1:00 p.m. Game 2 afterward Women’s Tennis LSU-Shreveport at Spring Hill
SPORTS |
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March 8, 2012 RUGBY continued adding on four more scores by sophomore Conor O’Dea, sophomore Chris Montgomery, sophomore Eric Kaftan, and senior Cody Reed. Westendorf and Reed completed the rest of the conversions for the Badgers. The club has earned a spot in next week’s Southern playoffs, where they will get a chance to compete for a spot in the Division Three tournament in Norfolk, Va. Vice President Chris Montgomery hopes to put it all on the line this weekend, saying “Life comes to choices. Weakness is frightening. Pain is temporary. Leave it all on the pitch and have no regrets.” The rugby club will play the University of North Florida at South Alabama’s intramural fields this weekend at 10:00 a.m.
photos courtesy of keliMAZZA
Pickleball is introduced at Spring Hill College By KieferGINGLES Sports Reporter
Spring Hill College is introducing a new intramural sport to the students. Imagine combining elements of badminton, tennis, and ping-pong: if this is something that sounds appealing to you, pickleball may be your new favorite sport. In case you missed the clinic that was held last month but are still interested in participating in the intramural, here are a few things you should know about the new fad that is sweeping the nation: Pickleball is played on a court that has the same dimensions as a doubles badminton court, but has a net similar to tennis, only a little lower. One unique quality of the game is the special wooden paddle used only in pickleball. Pickleball shares the most characteristics with tennis but there are some distinct differences: First, instead of a tennis ball, the sport utilizes a ball that is similar to a wiffle ball, plastic and filled with holes which reduce the speed. In addition, the reduced size of the court makes the game more accessible to recre-
ational players. The sport is played like tennis, with servers hitting the ball diagonally to the opponent’s service zone, but in pickleball this must be done underhanded. Points can only be scored by the serving team and are done so when the opponent fails to return the ball successfully. Games are won when a team scores 11 points and leads by two. According to usapa.org, the USA Pickleball Association’s official web site, the game was invented in 1965 by Rep. Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell. They came up with the idea to entertain their bored families, and after the game was introduced to a friend, Barney McCallum, the three came up with official rules. After Pritchard’s cocker spaniel named Pickles continuously stole the ball, the men coined the name of the sport after the pet; hence you have pickleball. For any more information regarding the sport, visit usapa.org. Students should check their e-mail for information on signing up for the intramural, or if there are any specific questions contact Angel Gray at agray@shc.edu.
Far left: Sophomore Mike Short gets lifted up for a line-out. Left: Sophomore Conor O’Dea kicks the ball away.
Spring Hill Men Honored with Eight SSAC Awards The 2011-12 Spring Hill College men’s basketball team collected eight postseason awards from the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) as chosen by the head coaches of the 14 member institutions on Wednesday. Center Jake Thelen of Edgewood, Ky., earned four honors as he was selected the SSAC Freshman of Year on the conference’s All-Freshmen Team and was chosen to both the All-West Division and AllConference teams. Thelen finished the year with averages of 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 63.4% (196-309) from the field. Sophomore guard Todd Martin from Mobile’s St. Paul’s Episcopal School was named
to the All-West Division roster after a year in which he shot 44.5% (53-119) from 3-point distance and averaged 9.7 points per game. Martin also earned recognition as a member of the 2012 SSAC All-Academic Team for his excellence in the classroom. Frederick Gatson, a forward from Riverdale, Ga., also appeared on the All-Freshman squad by shooting 55.6% (75135) from the field and averaging 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per night. Senior guard Steve Edwards of Newton, Miss., was chosen as the Badger member of the 2012 Musco Lighting SSAC Champions of Character Team
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March 8, 2012
| SPORTS
New Orleans Saints: Subject of ‘secret’ investigation
By MatthewLaBORDE Sports Columnist
A secret investigation conducted by the NFL has exposed the New Orleans Saints’ threeyear-old “bounty rewards” system that offered players cash to purposely hurt opposing players. According to the long and in-depth report conducted by the NFL, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was instrumental in creating and funding the program. Players were offered $1,000 for going after players with the intent to injure them. Reports say that at the peak of the program, funds exceeded $50,000.
This could possibly be the worst thing to happen to the Saints in a very long time. It’s a public relations nightmare and Sean Peyton has gone missing in action since the NFL first released the report of the investigation last Friday. The Saints were arguably becoming “America’s team,” riding into the Super Bowl two years ago with the burden of a city who went through Hurricane Katrina and were desperate for a championship title. Now, the Saints are faced with the burden of possibly losing a first round draft pick, or possibly loosing 27 of their current defensive players due to a two-game suspension. Sean Payton won’t lose his job, but he will lose favor with fans and surely be hit with heavy fines and strict scrutiny from the press. Although he did not directly fund or participate in the program, he allegedly knew about it and failed to stop it. Although he has yet to publicly talk about the incident, it hasn’t stopped Williams. Nick-
Photo courtesy of Stock Exchange
The New Orleans Super Dome will be home to the ROMAN NUMERAL Superbowl in the year 2013.
named “Dr. Heat,” Williams released a statement to the NFL on Sunday saying: “It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and
Games to Watch in the NBA
vs. Sunday March 11th
7:30
I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again.” This devastating news for the Saints has stunned many, but the actions of Gregg Williams didn’t surprise others. Williams has a reputation for hard-hitting defenses who are relentless, and it’s said that his philosophy centered
around the fact that defenses are better when they are feared by other teams. The Saints are waiting on Commissioner Roger Goodell to figure out what penalties will be forced on the team for the 2012 NFL season.
BADGER ZONE |
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March 8, 2012
On the Spot Name something you like to eat, but you don’t want to know its ingredients.
Jesseagustine
samjohnson
FRESHMAN
hannaCree
Sophomore
Edwinburgess
Junior
SENIOR
“McDonald’s Hot n’ Spicy”
“If there is mayonnaise in anything I don’t want to know. I hate the look and taste of mayonnaise”
“Pulled Pork”
“Definitely surprise stew, stews, soups, or mystery meat”
Movers and Shakers
Grlic with being a great influence in his life and part of his success. One of Garcia’s earli‘Movers and Shakers’ is a weekly series that highlights influential individuals on the Hill. est films and the one he credits By KeiferGINGLES length. “I thought I knew what I as the pivotal moment in his caSports Reporter was doing, but I didn’t. I had nev- reer is “Lurigancho.” The film is Daniel Garcia is a new facer touched a film camera before, a documentary on the gay prison ulty member at Spring Hill Colso I had many problems with syn- community inside San Juan de lege, but despite this being only chronization among other things,” Lurigancho prison in Peru. It was his second semester at the school, said Garcia. During this time, he during the making of this film his life experiences have made learned a lot; not only about the that Garcia matured as a filmmakhim fully equipped to take on a technicalities of video production, er and learned much about what full load; teaching four classes in but also about struggling to make it means to truly make a movie. the communication arts departit through life. He continued, “I “Sometimes films can find you inment. saved for over two years to make stead of you finding them. They Walking into his office, that first film, and it wasn’t easy. I can become attached to you, but one will immediately notice the mopped floors and gave blood for at the same time they can be very countless books on the film inmoney, and I watched it go down bad films because they become dustry that are nearly stacked to the drain as I made mistakes. But personal and you can’t be objecPhoto by KieferGINGLES the ceiling and an overwhelmI still have the film and cherish it tive. It was the first film I was able ing amount of video production for what I learned.” to stand back and let happen. It hardware that lines the walls. ing stories is what I wanted to After completing the master’s was a sign of maturity: I wasn’t Even as the interview was be- do, and I was able to get into a program in Illinois, Garcia want- just part of a film school anymore ginning, Garcia was busy fixing thesis program which allowed me ed to teach and considered getting and I gained confidence in my obaudio and video problems with to do it through film. I soon real- his doctorate. He was accepted to jectivity,” said Garcia. one of his cameras for a student, ized that I really liked to teach, so a school in the U.K., but visas were Describing making “Luriganstating, “This is my life.” teaching and telling stories is re- difficult to obtain and he realized cho,” Garcia said “It was painful, Garcia grew up in Peru be- ally my thing,” said Garcia. it wasn’t required to become a it was emotional, and it was real.” fore immigrating to the U.S. Garcia’s film experiences be- teacher. “Almost everywhere I ap- During the process, Grlic played in May of 1995. He made the gan back in Peru with his direc- plied for film school accepted me, an influential role: “I had footage journey to attend Wheaton Col- tion of a promotional piece for a but Ohio University in Athens that cost me thousands of dollars lege in Illinois where he obtained church. From there, he worked in gave me a full ride, guaranteed me which Grlic told me to cut out. He his master’s degree in communi- professional advertising for four a job, and had a European direc- said if I wanted to keep it, than I cations. Before deciding to come years before making the move tor, Rajko Grlic, employed as a could watch it in my basement at to the States, Garcia received his into theater. Total, he has been teacher,” said Garcia. A renowned night, but it was no longer relevant undergraduate degree in Latin working in the film industry for Yugoslavian filmmaker, Grlic has to the movie. It was angering, but American Literature at a Catho- over 20 years. His first piece of completed 11 features and was he was right,” admitted Garcia. lic university in Lima. It was this academic value was shot during Garcia’s mentor in film school. After the project was completed, study of literature that led him his master’s program. It was a 16 Although Garcia admitted that “Lurigancho” won the Studio Ento pursue a career in film: “Tell- mm film that was 30 minutes in his mentor was tough, he credits hancement Award in Ohio along
with a $5,000 prize. Garcia’s most current production, “Pescadora,” is a short film that is serving as the precursor to his first full-length feature film for which he is currently writing the screenplay. The film is doing exceptionally well: Garcia boards a plane for San Diego on Friday where he will attend the largest Latino film festival in the nation in which “Pescadora” was accepted. In addition to this honor, the film won “Best of Festival” in Boston’s Latino International Film Festival, and received the “Genre Award” at the Cusco International Short Film Festival. Garcia’s dedication to his films is obvious. Even having finished the film three months ago, and winning multiple awards, he is still making changes: “If there is a way to improve something, you have to try to do it even if you don’t really have the money,” said Garcia. Despite having shot rewarding documentaries ranging from the topics of child soldiers in Uganda to philanthropy in Grand Rapids, Mich., Garcia’s true gratification comes from the success and dedication of his students. “In the last four classes I taught at Calvin College, 93 percent were employed in the video production community within one year of graduating. I think that is the most rewarding part,” said Garcia.