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The Voyager
VOLUME 40 ISSUE 3
The voice of UWF students since 1968
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 2011
Florida Board of Governors comes to UWF campus Jon Short Contributing Writer The Florida Board of Governors of the State University System visited the University of West Florida last week to discuss the components of the 2010 annual report. This year, the board chose UWF as their meeting place, which was held on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20.
“The meetings are on a rotation between all the other universities in Florida,” student ambassador Thomas Anderson said. UWF President Judy Bense said the last board meeting held at the university was in 2002. Bense said the Board of Governors meetings help to pinpoint the future of the State University Systems of Florida.
“It’s been about eight years since the last meeting was held here,” said Bense. “The entire leadership of the State University System is here. “It doesn’t get any higher than this.” The 2010 annual report, discussed by the board of Governors Chair Ava L. Parker, highlights five major areas of focus for the 11 state universities of
Florida. Parker said the report includes work plans that would be a pivotal role in creating the future that Florida deserves. Parker said the report shows talent and innovation among students, faculty and researchers. She said the State University System awarded more than 53,000 baccalaureate and 20,000 graduate degrees to university
“The entire leadership of the State University System is here. It doesn’t get any higher than this.” — Judy Bense University of West Florida President students. Parker also said the New Florida Initiative, a partnership with the Florida
Legislature, would help universities recruit and
See BOARD, page 2
VOYAGER IN BRIEF Sports
2011 SECOND LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
UWF drops third straight GSC game UWF women’s basketball team was defeated 66-61 by University of West Alabama. The game was the Argos third conference lost on the season. Despite the lost, senior Jessica Young provided a double-double. See full story on page 7
Opinion SGA referendum, zodiac changes The Voyager editorial board discusses Thrusday’s SGA referrendum election and gives its endorsements of the ballot options. Opinions editor W. Paul Smith discusses the recent news story of changes to the zodiac dates. See full stories on page 3
Life
Photo by Xynn Tii
Chonchon Moriarty, a television and film major, participates in the Second Lunar New Year Celebration fashion show held on Jan. 19. The celebration was co-hosted by the Chinese Students Association, the Asian Student Union and the International Students Association. The event also featured several musical acts.
Read about the celebration and see more photos on page 4
Bense announces creation of new economic office Lindsey Ales Staff Writer
Photo by Xynn Tii
President Judy Bense announces the new Office of Economic Development and Engagement.
The University of West Florida President Judy Bense announced the creation of the Office of Economic Development and Engagement in a press conference on Jan. 19. “It is a historic day at the University of West Florida,” she said. “The new office is going to help our region and our state recover from this great recession that we are in.” Richard Harper, director of the Haas Center for Research and Economic Development, will lead the new office. “It’s truly a great pleasure to be here and take on these new responsibilities,” Harper said. “I look forward very much to
the challenge.” Our state and legislature are laser-focused on economic development and creating new jobs, Bense said. Gov. Scott has said many times that he wants to create 700,000 new jobs that are desperately needed by the citizens of our state, she said, and Chancellor Frank Brogan has called on universities to become economic drivers. UWF has two unique assets to the university that will help us be an economic driver are the UWF Small Business Development Center and the Haas Center for Research and Economic Development, Bense said. The UWF Small Business Development Center is part of the nationally accred-
ited Florida Small Business Development Center Network, according to the UWF College of Business website. “The FSBDCN creates a link between the state education system and community outreach to provide aid in the development and education of Florida’s entrepreneurs and small business community,” according the website. The Haas Center for Research and Economic Development helps industry leaders and entrepreneurs obtain the information they need, the website says. They collect, analyze and distribute information about the Northwest Florida region.
See OEDE, page 2
Pensacola native hits big screen “The New Year,” the new film by Pensacola native Brett Haley, is being showcased at Gulf Breeze Cinema 4. The movie has met rave reviews from “The New York Times,” and “The Wall Street Journal.” See full story on page 4
Index
News . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..2 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Life & Entertainment. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4-5 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-8
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News
SEAS pushes for new energy fund Gabriela Chaney Staff Writer
Photo by Joslyn Rosado
Students study and relax in the new Skylab on the fifth floor of the library on Jan. 20. Part of the student technology fee went to fund the new computers installed in the newly remodeled lab, which was previously closed off to students. It’s designed for students to work together, rather than studying alone.
SkyLab now is open to students n New computer lab offers 30 PCs and four MacPros, among other equipment Joslyn Rosado Staff Writer The new Skylab on the 5th floor of the John C. Pace library, which was partly paid for by the student technology fee, was opened on Jan. 5 to the student body. Two separate costs were involved for the Skylab, one for the renovations of the fifth floor and another for the equipment in the lab. The renovations were paid for by the provost, while the equipment was paid for by the student technology fee. “Not a cent of the student technology fee was used for the renovations of the fifth floor,”
Interim Associate Dean of Libraries Lisandra Carmichael said. “For the Skylab, we received $167,933, and that has been used exclusively to purchase the items that we listed on the tech fee proposal.” The idea for the Skylab was devised by three librarians, Douglass Low, Dean Debolt, and Jeannie Kamerman. They each had a separate idea for something new to be added to the library, and when all three ideas were put together, the Skylab was created. The name came from Fred Barry, who is from Information Technology Services. “We really wanted to create a place that
was unique on campus and special in that it would give the students an opportunity to be in a learning environment that was relaxing and had all the computer equipment and software that they could possibly need to do their projects,” Carmichael said. “We thought the fifth floor would be ideal because it has such a beautiful view of the area.” Students are really enjoying the new Skylab, using it as their new study spot. The Skylab was designed for students to work together rather than separately. “The Skylab has that positive feng shui,” freshman Victoria Glass said. “This is the best spot to get studying done. I’m here all the time.” The Skylab technology manager, John Barksdale, has been keeping tally of how many students have come into
the Skylab since Jan. 8. At the time he was interviewed, more than 1,400 students had visited the Skylab. “One of the big draws of the Skylab is that you have personal assistance,” Barksdale said. “If you need help with the computers or the software, either myself or one of my assistants are here to help you. “We have high-end computers and state-ofthe-art software.” The Skylab offers 30 PCs and four MacPros along with scanners, projector and screen, a networked printer, digital media card readers, a Cannon T1l digital camera, a Cannon digital video camcorder, a media conversion center that has converters for cassettes to MP3 and video to DVD, and software including Adobe CS5 master collection and Apple Final Cut Pro 7.
driving range, parking lot and intramural field on The Baars-Firestone The S t u d e n t Wildlife Sanctuary, across Environmental Action from Village East. SEAS is still waiting on Society on Jan. 19 discussed one of its prin- an outside grant to pay for cipal efforts, getting a advertising and promobill passed in the Student tional material aimed at Government Association stopping this part of the Senate to authorize the Master Plan from becomstudent body to vote on ing more than a proposal. “This is still at a point funding for a new project called Student Green where we can prevent it,” President David Lee said. Energy Fund. The project is an “We’re going to try, no, we’re going initiative for to stop renewable “People don’t them from energy and doing this!” energy-effilike fees ... cient technolSEAS is ogies on the but we’re only also planUniversity of talking about nc oi nngt r i bt oWest Florida campus. To to $1 per credit u t e accomplish this year’s hour.” this goal, “Recycle SEAS favors — Daniel Osborn Mania,” a approval of a SEAS member competition fee per credit between hour that schools in would supply the State funds for the project. University System of “This per-credit-hour- Florida. SEAS will focus fee is the controversial on inciting a competition part for some, and what between UWF residence makes it an uphill battle halls to recycle. This event for us,” member Daniel has been significantly Osborn said. “People don’t important in the placelike fees — we understand ment of many more recy— but we’re only talking cling bins around campus about $1 per credit hour in the past year. in order to get things like For student organisolar panels on roofs and zations wanting help in energy-efficient lights.” making their events ecoIf the bill is passed, friendly, SEAS members students can vote on the will be volunteering their Student Green Energy time in a new program Fund project with the called “Green Your Event.” general SGA elections at A “Welcome Back” pizza party will be held the end of March. A newer battle SEAS outside Building 13 on is fighting is Save Our Jan. 26 from 11:30 a.m. Sanctuary. The UWF - 1:30 p.m. for students administration’s Athletic wanting more informaFacilities Master Plan tion on SEAS, upcoming proposes construction of projects or how to get a three-hole golf course, involved.
BOARD: Members discuss annual report, focus on future of system retain faculty that will help increase Florida research dollars. Another area shows continuous work of strategic planning of the State University System. Parker said that each university has outlined a vision for the next five to 10 years that shows immediate university priorities and ways of achieving them. The report also ensures the State University System of Florida remains accessible and affordable
through close review of tuition and fees. Parker said the State University System is the 48th lowest for in-state undergraduate tuition. Several board members agreed that the future of the report was dependant on the state’s economy. “The Board of Governors has the constitutional responsibility to make informed decisions that continually build Florida’s critical knowledge-based economy and
transform Florida to then be more competitive amid national and global economies,” State University System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan said. Brogan said the report would bear interactive tools and “come alive,” becoming a national model for higher education. “How we approach educating our workforce is how we choose to see the future of Florida,” Brogan said. The Board also high-
lighted the key accomplishments made in 2010 by individual universities in the State University System. UWF was recognized for the opening of its School of Science and Engineering Building. According to a press release, the building has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The State University System is governed by the
17-member Florida Board of Governors, according to the Board website. For more information on the Florida Board of Governors, visit www. flbog.edu. Bense said that no new money will be taken from the university to help fund this new department. “I am not taking any new money from the institution,” Bense said. “We are taking money we already have and pulling it together to try to get it
so that it is positioned to grow and develop.” Bense said she believes that the new Office of Economic Development and Engagement will be a huge assest to UWF. “I believe this is a unique opportunity for UWF to create new revenue streams and take the lead in the economic recovery of the Northwest Florida region, while providing critical information and new outreach to the entire state,” she said.
OEDE: UWF to take on new role in Northwest Florida economy with office No other university has either of these centers. “We have these assets, and these are how the University of West Florida can contribute,” Bense said. By putting them together she hopes they will “explode to the next level.” By putting the two
centers together means the Haas Center does the policy data analysis and the Small Business Center has the outreach, so that UWF can create a huge pipeline to go from Pensacola out to the state, Bense said. “I believe there is a tremendous synergy to be
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
had,” Harper said. “We have a wonderful distribution pipeline to the 35 FSBDCN centers around the state, which has a long history of providing quality business information to the entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium businesses across the state.” Bense said that no new
money will be taken to get it so that from the university it is positioned to help fund this new to grow and department. develop.” Bense said “I am not taking she believes that any new money from the new Office the institution,” of Economic Bense said. “We are Development and taking money we Harper Engagement will already have and pulling it together to try be a huge assest to UWF.
www.thevoyager.net
“I believe this is a unique opportunity for UWF to create new revenue streams and take the lead in the economic recovery of the Northwest Florida region, while providing critical information and new outreach to the entire state,” she said.
The Voyager
3
Opinions &
Student parking is a total wreck
Editorials
Bob Thomas Contributing Writer
Joslyn Rosado Contributing Writer
I
P
arking on the University of West Florida campus is the worst. Not one, but two parking lots have recently been closed, Lots R and Q. Argo Hall residents can no longer park in Lot R, which is right next to the building, because parking services closed Lot Q for the construction of the new College of Business Complex and Phase 2 of Heritage Hall. Lot Q, a major parking lot for commuters and faculty, will be closed through the summer, forcing commuters to search for parking elsewhere. Before the school begins building a new residence hall or business complex, the parking situation needs to be fixed. Lot R was closed for repainting, as all the reserved parking spaces from Lot Q were relocated to Lot R and 20 new reserved spaces were added. Argo residents are frustrated, as now they have to fight with Pace Hall residents for the convenient spaces in Lot S, located between Argo and Pace Halls. Argo residents were notified the day before the lots were going to be closed. At 8 p.m. on Jan. 14, UWF police officers and Argo Hall Resident Assistants went door-todoor telling residents they had to move their cars. Residents asked where they should move their cars and were told anywhere as long as it’s not a reserved spot. This means they could park in commuter spaces if they wanted—so any commuter seeing an Argo or Pace resident parking in a commuter space, blame the closure of Argo’s main parking lot. Even though Pace residents were also given the notice about the lot closure, it doesn’t affect them as much as Argo residents. Argo residents were already hindered when they could park in Lot R because there still weren’t enough spaces for all the residents. Argo residents are also allowed to park in the Pace lot, but are forced to walk around Pace and through Pargo to get to where they live. Some Argo residents have even been forced to park their cars in Lot P next to Heritage Hall, which is an even longer walk. I’ve lived in Argo Hall for three years and have had to hear the same complaints from my friends every year when it comes to parking — and now that these lots have closed everything has just gotten exponentially worse.
Courtesy of Andy Marlette/amarlette@pnj.com
Let your voice be heard — vote On Thursday, Jan. 27, the SGA will hold a referendum election to allow students the opportunity to change certain aspects of the organization’s constitution. The issues on the ballot have the potential to affect how SGA leadership is chosen—and those leaders are responsible for spending millions of your dollars in the form of student fees. It’s vital that you get the facts about these issues and make your voice heard. The first question of the referendum would give students the opportunity to elect the SGA Senate president. Currently, the appointment of this figure has been the exclusive privilege of SGA senators. We at The Voyager understand that some members of the Senate want to retain the right of the senators to elect their leader. However, some of us think that students also should have a say in the matter. The second amendment on the referendum would allow candidates for president and vice president to run as a single ticket. The Voyager staff is divided on whether this change would be wise. Some can see an advantage in this revision but believe that ultimately it would restrict the election and narrow the choices. Those in support of separate votes for president and vice president believe that part of the SGA experience is learning how to work with people even if they don’t hold to your exact beliefs, and as such, it’s important to retain the current system. Those of us who want to stick with the current system feel that if you have the chance to pick the best candidate for each office, you’ll get better overall leadership — instead of potentially being hobbled by having to choose one good candidate at the cost of accepting a lessqualified running mate. Those in support believe the potential for stalemate is a worthy tradeoff. Other staffers embrace the revision
as a great leap toward a more serious SGA. We feel that a candidate for president’s choice of running mate offers a deep insight into his or her judgment. Someone who might look like the prime pick might select an unqualified running mate — which, to us, sends a signal that the president is less qualified than originally suspected. Those in support of change also feel that voting for a dual ticket removes some of the “popularity contest” aspect to which SGA elections have fallen victim in the past. As it stands, voting often seems to be less about who has the best vision for the UWF community, and more about who has the biggest personality. Having to pick top leaders as a unit forces students to seriously consider their potential leaders’ philosophy and policy visions and allows them to vote for the best ideas. As it stands, voters pick their favorite candidate, not their favorite plan. We believe a single-ticket system would encourage voters to educate themselves about the candidates, and that anything that lessens the chance of deadlock is an improvement. The final question on the ballot will concern removing the House of Representatives from the constitution. Since the Internal Student Organization Council already serves the same purpose that the House was intended for, we believe that the House should be removed to allow the SGA to focus more on helping the ISOC with its objectives. We at The Voyager have our opinions on these matters, but we hope that students take the time to read the summaries on the ballot and make their own decisions based on their own convictions. Please use this opportunity to help the SGA formulate a more efficient constitution.
— The Voyager
Born under a wrong sign W. Paul Smith Opinions Editor
R
egardless of what you’ve heard, no one’s astrological sign has changed—the dates for identifying them have just been incorrect for hundreds of years. Recently, a news article announced that the zodiac signs we’ve all grown accustomed to were, in fact, wrong and many people were not actually born under the sign they thought they were. Once this story broke, it didn’t take long for the Internet to explode, and many of the good folks on Facebook and the blogosphere proceeded to lose their collective minds trying to sort this all out. It was as if they had suddenly been told that up was down and puppies were poisonous. But for anyone with even a casual familiarity with astronomy, this was not news at all. It fact, this was not just old news, it was about 3,000 years old. This whole brouhaha started when an article appeared in The Minneapolis Star Tribune quoting an astronomy instructor named Parke Kunkle (let’s all take just a moment to appreciate that sweet name: Parke… Kunkle) who said that the dates for the zodiac signs were incorrect. Kunkle wasn’t breaking any new scientific discovery, but just casually mentioning something that is common knowledge among most people familiar with astronomy. But to hear some people tell it, and even in many subsequent news stories’ coverage, you would think some committee comprised of the world’s most esteemed astronomers got together and collectively decided to
Gun control would be a misfire
change the zodiac and ruin everyone’s day. Every 2,200 years or so the zodiac signs This was not at all like the story from shift about one month. While it’s difficult to 2006 when Pluto was suddenly demoted say exactly how long the Babylonian dates from a “planet” to a “dwarf planet” by the have been wrong, they have at least been International Astronomical Union. inaccurate for about 500 years. This was just Astronomers have a dude from a long been aware of small college in axial precession, and “Seriously, it’s time Minneapolis saying the concept dates what many people back at least as far as for people to stop already knew. the Greek astronofreaking out. The The zodiac (a term mer Hipparchus who derived from the made the discovery zodiac dates have Greek for “circle of sometime in the simply been wrong for animals”) is a ring of second century B.C., constellations along when he compared hundreds of years.” the ecliptic, which is his longitudinal coorthe apparent path the dinates of certain Sun seems to trace in stars with the the sky throughout the year. measurements of his predecessors. About 3,000 years ago, the Babylonians This means for many people who learned divided the ecliptic into twelve equal zones from the Star Tribune article and the of longitude on a celestial coordinate system insanity that followed that their signs had to be used as the basis for their calendar suddenly changed from, say, Aquarius to (there was actually a thirteenth constellation Capricorn, that the truth is they were never along the ecliptic sometimes referred to as actually born when the Sun was in Aquarius “Ophiuchus,” but the Babylonians liked the at all. number “12” better than “13”). The dates were not changed arbitrarily. The dates the Babylonians used 3,000 This is just basic astronomy, and, in fact, years ago were correct at the time, but most people first learned of this in entrybecause of a wobble in the Earth’s axis, level college astronomy courses. those dates have been incorrect for quite Seriously, it’s time for people to stop some time now. freaking out. The zodiac dates have simply This is due to a process known as axial been wrong for hundreds of years. precession, a slow, cyclical change in the No one’s sign changed. You just never orientation of the Earth’s axis of rotation were what you thought you were. The only caused by gravitational forces of the Sun and thing that has changed is the tilt of the Moon. earth’s axis. This causes Earth’s rotation to wobble So, if you’ve been reading the wrong and spin like a toy top. And that wobbling horoscope all your life or happen to have a spin traces a cone that makes a complete tattoo of the wrong astrological sign, well… cycle approximately every 26,000 years. Pluto’s not a planet anymore either.
Opinions Editor, W. Paul Smith/opinions@thevoyager.net
n the wake of the recent shooting in Arizona we again hear the call for gun control, the limiting of magazine capacity of firearms, and more. I somehow don’t think the object, a firearm or its components are the problem. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, people often got their first gun about the age of 12. It was not uncommon for people to board a city bus with their firearm and ride to the outskirts of town, hunt all day, and ride back in the evening. It was not uncommon for households (with children) to keep a loaded firearm behind the door for protection. During that era, people were more familiar with firearms than today because of the shift from rural to urban demographics. These mass shootings were an oddity until the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and when they did happen, they often involved a Vietnam vet. This raised the question as to why WWI and WWII vets did not engage in such activity. What was different about people then and now? The same types of firearms are available today as then. In fact, firearms could be bought through the mail until the Gun Control Act of 1968. The call for more gun control or magazine control may be born out of either ignorance about firearms or political motivation. Either way, it will do little good. One morning Neal Boortz read a long list of similar type mass shootings that have taken place across Europe, in countries where it is illegal for a citizen to own a firearm—especially a handgun. During the Clinton era there was a 10 round limit on the magazine capacity of firearms. It accomplished nothing. People who wanted to carry more rounds simply carried two pistols instead of one. This even led to manufacturers increasing the capacity of the cylinders of revolvers from 5-6 rounds to 8-10 rounds. In the competitive shooting sports those shooting revolvers can get off rounds quicker than they can with semiautomatics and can learn to reload them with the same proficiency. Today, with roughly 40 states permitting concealed weapons, citizens often carry concealable pocket guns. Some firearms training schools have even started holding a course for these weapons and recommend carrying two because of the limited capacity of pocket guns. Iain Harrison, the winner of the first season reality show, “Top Shot” on the History Channel, decided to leave his home country of Great Britain and move to the U.S. in 1998 when the government confiscated his handguns—some with great collector value. He was in the military at the time and had access to sophisticated machine guns and other weaponry, but the government said that he could not be trusted to personally own firearms. Of course Britain’s ban led to a rampant increase in violent crime and criminals did not turn in their firearms. This is a slippery slope as Britain is now banning knives (by the way New York has now started down this path). For those who think that only military and police should have firearms, I have been to law enforcement firearms qualifications many times. It was not uncommon to have officers who could not qualify until the third or fourth try. Besides, the 2nd Amendment was written to put firearms in the hands of the people and not the government. Despite the volumes of information on the number of crimes prevented every year by the private ownership of firearms, politicians still persist. Personally, I believe that society is much safer with firearms than without. And keep in mind that one of the first things taught in firearms training is that the objective of a firearm is to neutralize the threat—not kill.
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
4
Life &
Entertainment
Lunar New Year rings in Roxie Hebson Staff Writer An event celebrating the Chinese New Year, held Jan. 19 at the UWF Commons, turned into a learning experience for some students. “I’ve learned so much tonight,” Leigh Phillips, a biological anthropology freshman said. “It was great to see the Chinese students show us what they’re all about and hearing them sing their own national anthem was amazing.” The Chinese Student Association, in conjunction with the Asian Student Union and the International Student Association, presented the evening of entertainment and Chinese culture during the second annual Lunar New Year’s Celebration. Angela McCorvey, associate vice president for diversity and international education, welcomed attendees to the event. She said the new lunar year is the Year of the Rabbit, which is said to bring tranquility and prosperity. Huan Lin, president of the 30-member Chinese Student Association, also welcomed the audience and explained the significance of the Lunar New Year in China. “It’s just like Christmas, but Chinese-style,” Lin said. “We usually have families together to celebrate.” Lin said Lunar New Year is celebrated not only in China, but in other countries throughout Asia as well. He also said that like Christmas presents, gifts are an important part of the Chinese New Year.
Photo by Xynn Tii
UWF students Marvin Ramos and Erisa Rodriguez perform together on Jan. 19.
Photo by Xynn Tii
Musical group, Redefined, plays for the audience at the second annual Lunar New Year Celebration.
Photo by Xynn Tii
Erin “Calypso” Grundel dazzles audience members during the Lunar New Year Celebration. “In America, you get presents under the tree,” Lin said. “In China, we get red envelopes with money.” Red, the color of good luck in China, was a promi-
nent part of the celebration. Decorations included red lanterns, red tablecloths and red Chinese flag. The event also featured a free Chinese buffet. Entertainment included
musical performances, dancing and a fashion show. Performer Sai Chen, an electrical engineering sophomore, sang “The Moon Represents My Heart”, a Chinese love song. Chen said performing is an important part of Chinese culture. “It’s tradition to perform a show in China and to enjoy your performance,” he said. Chen said that in China the performances are taken very seriously. “This show is informal, but in China, shows are very formal,” he said. “It is a dream for the singers and actors to go on stage
“I think they should do this for every culture.” —Marie Cenoble, UWF sophomore in China. Here, we just have fun.” The crowd, estimated at 400, responded with enthusiastic applause for the performances. Along with Phillips, sophomores Marie Cenoble and Mimi Opara, said that they were enjoying the event and that the performance of two children, Anderson and Vyna Nguyen, was the highlight of the event for them. The elemen-
tary-school children are friends of students at UWF and performed a pop dance duet. “The kids were absolutely adorable and their performance pulled at my heart strings,” Phillips said. Cenoble, Opara and Phillips agreed that they would like to see more events like this on campus. “I think they should do this for every culture,” Cenoble said.
UWF student directs production Molly Bruno Staff Writer A play that whirls through the stages of personal development, the trials of spiritual growth and finding a balance between the two will be presented at the University of West Florida through the vision of director Sheila Mettetal. The UWF Department of Theatre is kicking off the production of Tennessee Williams’ “Summer and Smoke” on Feb. 17. It will run Thursday through Sunday for two weekends, ending Feb. 27. The play will be performed in the Studio Theatre in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts and will start at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. It is free to UWF students with a Nautilus Card, $16
for adults and $10 for other students. It is $12 for seniors, military, and UWF faculty and staff. “It’s a show about people and how the choices they make and the opportunities they miss out on, while pretending to be someone else will all add up,” said Mettetal, the director and a senior majoring in theater. Serving as assistant director of productions like “Into the Woods” and acting in plays such as “Goblin Market,” Mettetal has been involved in theater for the past four years at UWF. She said “Summer and Smoke” centers around Alma Winemiller, a reverend’s daughter who has been in love with the bad boy next door since they were 10 years old. “She’s always pretended to be someone she’s not, mostly because she fears judgment and
Photo by Molly Bruno
Theatre student Sheila Mettetal will be directing Tennessee Williams’ “Smoke and Summer” premiering on Feb. 17. always behaves as if being surveyed. She fears the judgment of her peers, her neighbors and, definitely, God.”
Rather than a play about religion or even beliefs, it is more about Alma not being honest about who she is from the
beginning and not knowing what she wants out of life, Mettetal said. Among other things, she cast the show, made the rehearsal schedule, ran auditions and runs rehearsals. “A student doesn’t get a lot of sleep,” she said. “A director doesn’t get a lot of sleep. Between the two, I’m getting no sleep!” At least 30 students are involved in the production, from cast members to those in charge of lighting, costumes and set design. “It’s my responsibility to unify all the visions, Mattetal said. She is aiming to keep the play historically accurate and true to the original story. “My goal is to take the words of Tennessee Williams and make them applicable and meaningful to a UWF audience,” she said.
Mettetal’s advisor for the past few years, Kevin Kern, said “Summer and Smoke” is a very intimate play. “The audience will feel like they are a part of the action,” Kern said. While the students are normally not allowed to direct season shows, Mattetal has been an outstanding student and has earned the rare privilege to direct this play, he said. “Her work on this play has been extraordinary; I'm taking lessons from her,” he said. Although Mettetal describes the process of putting on a production as strenuous, she continues to devote time to the play. “Basically, no one has an easy job, but the combination of challenges to create something all together beautiful is what makes theater an art,” she said.
Colour Revolt delivers outstanding show Josh de Leon L&E Editor Despite lukewarm feelings about their last album, seeing Colour Revolt last Friday at The Handlebar rekindled what had become a smoldering pile of ash into a roaring wildfire, much like their performance. The air in the small building on Tarragonna Street was thick with pungent smells of smoke, cheap beer, and garbage.
An air freshener would have only killed the atmosphere. The band opened with a few songs from their last album, “The Cradle,” but the people along the stage frenzied when Colour Revolt broke out into favorites like “Naked and Red,” “Moses of the South,” and “Mattresses Underwater.” That is not to say that there weren’t a few people “too cool for school” to actually loosen up and sing along, but there’s usually
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
that type of “indie-kid” pretentiousness exhibited by some people at shows like this. However, it was tough to notice such a thing when enveloped by the live, dynamic pace of the music bludgeoning one’s ears mere feet away from the speakers. As some know, the band recently underwent a big change in the lineup as three of the original members left, leaving the two guitarists and singers Jesse Coppenbarger
and Sean Kirkpatrick. If anyone has seen them live before the departure of the three members, a legitimate thought one may have is how the change might effect the dynamics of their live set. Aside from some new faces, the energy and power with which that energy was delivered was virtually unchanged. They played like a fresh band hungry for notice with a blistering heat that made the speakers into sonic ovens that charged
the air with solar intensity. But such intensity is what rock n’ roll is all about, when Jesse broke a string on the first note of “Mona Lisa,” if memory serves correct on the exact song but beer distorts such accuracies, a few people at the show chanted “rock n’ roll” a few times. These people were not “too cool,” indeed. Colour Revolt was a very generous band as Jesse says “This is usually where we stop but we can play three more.”
One couldn’t have asked for a better ending to a great set than “Mattresses Underwater.” This gem dates back their 2006 release “Colour Revolt EP,” and is a collective favorite among everyone in attendance. As Jesse belted the last and erupting song, with a voice as gritty as the floor under everyone’s feet, there was a camaraderie among strangers as many followed the proverbial bouncing ball.
L&E Editor, Josh de Leon/ae@thevoyager.net
5
Life & Entertainment
New director makes a scene Paul White Staff Writer “The New Year” is Pensacola native Brett Haley’s feature film that was shot on location in and around the Pensacola area. The film has garnered some deserved notice, being an official selection of the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, winning the audience award for “Best Narrative Feature” in the 2010 Sarasota Film Festival. Even getting positive reviews from “The New York Times” and “Variety.” Shot on a shoestring budget of $8,000 and featuring many famous local haunts such as Cordova Lanes, Seville Quarter, The Fish House, and Pensacola Beach, Haley has made an excellent and engross-
ing film that plays like a love letter to his hometown. He co-wrote the movie with his sister-in-law Elizabeth Kennedy, and the two have crafted a subtle and moving character study at times reminiscent of other indie comedydramas such as Tamara Jenkins’ “The Savages” and Zach Braff’s “Garden State.” The story involves Sunny (Trieste Kelly Dunn), a former high school valedictorian, who ends up stuck in her hometown taking care of her cancer-plagued stricken father (Marc P e t e r sen) an d w a s t i n g away her days working in a bowling alley, struggling with a bad case of what could have been. Her former high school rival Isaac (Ryan Hunter), a stand-up comic who has found some success
in New York, comes back into town for Christmas and further disrupts Sunny’s life of quiet desperation. Dunn delivers an outstanding, near-flawless perfo r m a n c e a s S u n n y , exhibiting a commanding screen presence that is an absolute joy to watch. The photography beautifully captures Pensacola, but the dialogue scenes are edited in a fairly standard shot/reverse-shot style that sometimes feels stilted and static. The music is a pitchperfect match for the film’s tone, but perhaps used a bit too sparingly. Ultimately, the film at times doesn’t quite come alive in the way it should. It feels like there is a more richly, textured movie hiding just beneath the surface
Cash only joint has local credit
wanting to crawl its way out, but there is a certain sterility to the film’s style that keeps that from happening. Re g a r d l e s s , b y t h e middle of the second act, it is impossible not to become completely emotionally involved in Sonny’s character, her world, and her struggles. The film ends on such an unbelievably perfect note, showi n g t h a t H a ley is a true talent to watch in the years to come. Photo Special to the Voyager
“The New Year”, directed by Pensacola native Brett Haley, is showing at Gulf Breeze Cinema 4.
Champions in the
Josh Cooper Staff Writer
The Jackalope Saloon welcomes one and all to its unique atmosphere. The Jackalope Saloon, locate d a t 2 9 0 7 E . Cervantes St., right across the street from Jerry’s Drive-In, is, without a doubt, a unique place. The décor definitely goes with the atmosphere. Its bright red walls, covered in classic beer signs, Elvis paintings and stuffed animal heads, including two jackalopes beside the bar, offset the dimly lit room. The room may have seemed brighter because of the Elvis Costello-80s-and90s-radio station playing in the background. Leer Baker, the owner of Jackalope Saloon, is often behind the bar greeting customers as they come in. He said he is proud of hi s e s t a b l i s h m e n t . Baker was a carpenter for 15 years, but when construction slowed down he decided to open the saloon. The building used to be a salon, but he converted it to a saloon himself. “We take a lot of pride in what we do,” Baker said, looking around the room. All the décor came from his personal collection. It’s almost like a post-modern Western theme. The Jackalope Saloon serves food — mostly tex-mex and sandwiches — and beer and wine. Baker explained that he thought about serving liquor but didn’t want to deal with all the excitement that might come with it.
The Voyager
courtroom
Photo by Josh Cooper
The Jackalope Saloon is located at 2907 E. Cervantes St. “It’s a pretty laid-back place,” Baker explained. The hours on the menu read “6ish to 2ish 7 days a week.” Most of the food was an average of $6 to $7 and intricately placed on a plate to present the food well. The Jackalope Saloon takes only cash, but that doesn’t stop the flow of customers coming in. Pam and Lauren Halstead were eating beef tacos at the bar
as they explained how much they enjoy the saloon. They have been to the saloon multiple times since it opened last May. “I like the feel, I like that it’s cozy, and the food is really good,” Pam said. Ed Adams ate chips and salsa at one of the four tables. He said that he liked the place. “It reminds me of walking into a ’70s honky-tonk,” he said.
When justice calls, Stetson Law is the answer.
As the nation’s top-ranked law school for advocacy, Stetson offers unparalleled opportunities for you to gain professional experience through clinics, internships and advocacy competitions. Stetson teams have won 10 national championships in the past two years. Visit www.law.stetson.edu/justice to find out more.
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Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
6
Community &
Classifieds
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Voyager Editor-in-Chief
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
Mike Greear editor@thevoyager.net
Ever wanted to be on stage and pretend you are a famous singer? Well, here's your chance! The Center Stage committee of the Campus Activity Board is hosting a Karaoke Night. Come out and sing your favorite song by your favorite artist. Compete for cash prizes.
There will be a cigar night at 6 p.m. at Cordova Cigars.
News Editor Brittany Carr news@thevoyager.net
Sports Editor Jack McMullen sports@thevoyager.net
A&E Editor Josh de Leon ae@thevoyager.net
Opinions Editor W. Paul Smith opinions@thevoyager.net
Web Editor Kristen Dressel voyager.webeditor@ gmail.com
Design Editor Georgia Adams
Copy Editors Bobby Bone Rebecca Barnhart Friedrich Langerfeld Keenan McGarey Kathryn Middleton Kristi Noah Taylor Wisor
Graphics Editor Jarrett Moore The Voyager is produced weekly by students of the University of West Florida and is partially funded by Student Activities and Services fees with assistance from the Office of Student Affairs. This public document was promulgated by the president of the University at an annual cost of $.275 per copy. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of UWF, The Voyager or its staff. Advertiser and advertising agency will indemnify and hold harmless The Voyager and its staff for all contents supplied to publisher, including text, representation and illustrations of advertisements printed and for any claims arising contents including, but not limited to defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, plagiarism, and in the case of a pre-printed insert, deficient postage. The Voyager is printed by Freedom Florida Commercial Printing, in accordance with Florida Law. The above information is presented in compliance Section 283.27 of Florida Statutes.
Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include the author’s address and telephone number for verification purposes. Only the author’s name will be printed. Letters are published as space allows and do not necessarily represent the views of The Voyager staff. The editor reserves the right to edit letters or refuse to publish letters. E-mail letters to opinions@thevoyager. net with “letter to the editor” in the subject line, or stop by Bldg. 36 Room 120 to hand-deliver your letter.
For more information visit http://www.uwf. edu/cab. Sponsored by the Center Stage committee of the Campus Activity Board and funded through A&S fees allocated through SGA. For more information, e-mail Jhonny Denis at jd24@students.uwf.edu. Jan. 26
For more information, contact Patrick Stepina at 850-766-6566 or email at pcs2@students.uwf.edu.
MOBILE
HOUSING
ANNOUNCING
Learn how you can get FREE Unlimited Talk,Text and Web Cellphone Service!!! No Contract or Credit Check!!!
Home for rent in East Hill, 2,200 sq ft 3 bedroom 2 bath with pool and large sunroom / rec room. $1,000. per month + deposit no smoking, references required. 850602-7344.
CMAA/HRRM is a professional student organization focused on the Hospitality industry. To learn more about different career, networking, and professional development opportunities.
Great plans and Great phones www.shoplightyearwireless.com.
PETS
Jan. 27 WUWF and the UWF College of Arts and Sciences will present An Evening With NPR Science Correspondent, Joe Palca at the UWF Music Hall in the Center for Fine & Performing Arts. Our own home grown NPR correspondent, Debbie Elliott, will introduce Palca who will speak about his work at NPR and about cutting edge and alternative energy research. The event is free and open to the public – though seating in the Music Hall is limited. Prior to the event, tours of the university’s new Science & Engineering building will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., including a demonstration of the building’s high tech holodeck.
JOBS If you have a job listing, e-mail The Voyager at voyager@uwf.edu. For more information on employment on campus visit jobs.uwf.edu.
Large home with pool to share in East Hill. $325. per month + utilities. Deposit and references required. 850-602-7344.
PERSONALS The Voyager is now accepting personal ads of 20 words or fewer to voyager@uwf.edu with a subject line of “classified.”
Please e-mail Ashley Burton at avb3@student.uwf. Music Honors Council will be selling singing valentines for $3 each to be delivered on Feb. 14. Please place your order between Feb. 7 - Feb. 10. For more information and to order your valentines, e-mail Patricia Izbicki at pi1@students. uwf.edu or call the Music Department at 850-474-2147.
ARGONUTS
A comic by Zach North
LAST DITCH EFFORT
A comic by John Croes
Learn more about Delta Phi Lambda. Rushees must attend either the 1 p.m. or the 6 p.m. session. Info sessions are mandatory for all rushees. Delta Phi Lambda Asian-Interest Sorority, Inc. cordially invites all undergraduate women to rush for Beta Class. All food and events are For more information, absolutely FREE. e-mail Lynne Marshall at lmarshal@uwf.edu. For more information, e-mail Alexia Blastos at melia.dphil@gmail.com. Jan. 26
Jan. 28
Welcome the year of the rabbit with Delta Phi Lambda! Festivities will begin at 7p.m. in the UC Auditorium. There will be For more information, free food, games, prizes, contact Patrick Stepina music, and performances. at 850-766-6566 or Contact Thuy Hang Do at e-mail at pcs2@stuceria.dphil@gmail.com for dents.uwf.edu. more info. There will be a weenie roast cookout at 1 p.m. on the University Cannon Greens.
Jan. 27
Jan. 29-30
Join the sisters at their café/poetry night. Feel free to bring original poems, or share your favorite literary pieces. Refreshments will be provided. Delta Phi Lambda Asian-Interest Sorority, Inc. cordially invites all undergraduate women to rush for Beta Class. All food and events are absolutely FREE. Rushees must attend 2/3 of the recruitment events.
Recreation and Sports Services presents Conecuh National Forest Hike and Camp for $35. For more information, e-mail Recreation at outdooradventure@uwf.edu. Jan. 31 The Argonaut Runner's Association meets Mondays at 5 p.m. in the University Commons, Room 268.
For more information, For more information, e-mail Alexia Blastos at e-mail Robin Thompson at melia.dphil@gmail.com. rat6@students.uwf.edu.
Corrections The Voyager strives to accurately report the news. If you see any errors in our newspaper, please let us know so we can issue a correction in this space. Send corrections to voyager@uwf.edu, with the subject line “Voyager Correction.” Please also include the issue in which the error occurred.
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
www.thevoyager.net
The Voyager
7
Sports Fitness &
UWF ballplayer hits the web Chris Elkins Staff Writer Redshirt junior Philip Ebert recently started a blog on www.collegebaseballlineup.com, where he will be writing throughout the baseball season about his experiences on the University of West Florida team. “I hope to give readers an honest view on what it’s like to learn pitching from scratch and to give the Argos more national exposure,” Ebert said. Collegebaseballlineup.com is a website that covers Division I and Division II baseball with team and player rankings, player blogs, team
summaries, photo albums, and “You don’t have to have the best baseball articles. stats to be a leader,” Ebert said. After checking the rankings on “It’s my fourth year. I know what to expect, what it’s like, and a regular basis and reading what the coach wants out of blogs on the website last year, the team.” Ebert became interested in Senior right fielder Greg telling his story about making Pron, a two-time secondthe transition from the team All-GSC selection, said, outfield to the mound. “Ebert is a great teammate. Ebert switched to pitchHe works very hard and has ing because he struggled at Philip Ebert great enthusiasm, which the plate in his first three really helps when some of the seasons at UWF. A career .217 others are dragging around.” hitter at Gulf Coast High School in Pron said Ebert was the most qualNaples, Fla., Ebert hit .175 in 2009 at ified player to write about the team UWF, and didn’t record a hit in 2010. However, he is a vocal leader on the because he loves baseball, loves team.
Baseball Schedule n Two game series Feb. 1-2 vs. Montevallo
n Three games series Feb. 5-6 @ Rollins
n One game series Feb. 9 vs. Spring Hill
n Three game series Feb. 12-13 vs. Flagler
See BLOG, Page 8
File photo Krissy Diggs, senior guard, is playing after a medical redshirt year. Diggs jumpshot brought UWF within one, but UWA pulled away to win the game.
UWF struggles in GSC play UWF Sports Information
File photo
Octavia Bearden, junior forward, scored eight points.
The University of West Florida women’s basketball team (7-10, 0-3 GSC) lost its third straight Gulf South Conference game Jan. 20, falling to University of West Alabama (14-2, 2-0 GSC), 66-61, in Livingston, Ala. Sher’Ryan Scott had 16 points for the Argonauts in the loss. Jessica Young had a double-double, recording 12 points and 10 rebounds. A jumper by junior guard Sher’Ryan Scott gave UWF a five-point lead, up 13-8, with 14:31 remaining in the half. Two free throws by UWA’s Mystee Dale cut UWF’s lead to one, 19-18, with 9:18 remaining. UWF would build up its lead again, going on a 12-point run, with a layup by Victoria Cecil giving UWF the 31-18 lead with 4:49 left in the first half. A jumper by Jade Howard gave UWF its largest lead of the game, going up by 17 points, 37-20, with 2:55 to go in the half. UWF went into the half with a 13 point lead, up 40-27. Jessica Young was the leading scorer for the Argonauts in the half with 10 points. Octavia Bearden added eight points and five rebounds. UWA scored nine straight points to open the second
half and cut UWF’s lead down to four, 40-36. Back-toback free throws by Scott gave UWF the 45-40 lead with 15:25 remaining in the game. A three-pointer by UWA’s Dale tied the game, 45-45, at 11:58. A jumper by Howard tied the game at 53-53 with 6:39 left. A jumper by Scott put the Argonauts up by two, 59-57, with 2:36 remaining. A jumper and a layup by Dale gave UWA the three-point lead, up 62-59, with 1:34 left in the game. A jumper by senior Krissy Diggs brought UWF within one, down 62-61, with 1:20 remaining. The jumper would be the last of the points UWF would score, as UWA went on to score four more points on free throws and take the game, 66-61. Four Argonauts were in double digits in points. Scott led with 16 points and Howard added 14. Young had 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Bearden added 10 points and five rebounds. UWF has now lost five straight games, including three consecutive conference losses. The UWF men’s and women’s basketball teams will be on the road for their next two games. The teams will travel to face Valdosta State next Thursday, Jan. 27th, and then will face Lambuth on the road on Jan. 30th.
Men’s basketball team continue bad play n Argos re c e i v e t h i rd l o s s i n G S C play after c o m m i t t i n g 2 3 t u r n o v e r s UWF Sports Information The University of West Florida men’s basketball team committed 23 turnovers and conceded nine three-point field goals in a54-65 loss to the University of West Alabama on Thursday night at UWA’s Pruitt Hall. The loss drops UWF to 7-10, 0-3 in Gulf South Conference action. UWF has now lost four games in a row. The Argonauts were led by Marquis Mathis, who scored 14 points off the bench. UWF’s turnover issue undid their fine shooting night. The Argos connected on 47.9%
of their field goal attempts. UWF’s top two scorers of the season, Mike Lewis and Jamar Moore, once again had uneven performances. Lewis scored 13 points but did not play the final 17:32 of the game, while Moore had just two points and did not play in the second half. The Tigers (6-9, 1-1 GSC) were led by Alquan Mendenhall and Richard Dixon, each of whom scored 19 points. Mendenhall was hot from outside, hitting 5-of-7 three-point field goals. UWA took control of the game right from the outset, taking an 18-8 lead on Ryan Fitch’s jumper with 14:15 left in
After UWF sliced into the lead with jumpers by Lewis and Jamel Brazeal to start the half, UWA launched an 8-0 breakout to gain their largest the first half. Later in the half, advantage of the night. A threeMendenhall scored on three pointer by Dixon straight capped the run at possessions Men’s Basketball 55-33 with 14:36 to push the remaining. lead to 29-15 Despite shooting A largely 47.9% from the field, with 6:33 on reserve linethe Argos drop its the clock. up held West fourth straight game. A It also is the UWF Alabama scoreMendenhall men’s basketball less for the next three-ball team third straight 9:50 of the game, gave UWA conference lost. briefly giving their first UWF a shot at a 20-point comeback. The lead of the Argonauts scored contest, at 14 straight points 37-17, with 5:00 left in the opening period, over the prolonged run, includand a Dixon swish on the half’s ing a short jumper from Darryl final possession made the score McGhee to cut the gap to 55-47 with 6:51 to play. 47-29 at the intermission.
Sports Editor, Jack McMullen/sports@thevoyager.net
Basketball Schedule Men’s basketball Jan. 27 @ Valdosta State 8 p.m. Jan. 30 @ Lambuth 4 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. West Georgia 7 p.m.
Women’s basketball Jan. 27 @ Valdosta State 6 p.m. Jan. 30 @ Lambuth 2 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. West Georgia 5 p.m.
Unfortunately for the Argonauts, they would never overcome the deficit. UWF scored just seven more points and could not overcome UWA’s methodical pace.
McGhee finished with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds for UWF. Sophomore Peter Connole came off the bench to collect a team-high four steals.
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
8
Fitness & Sports
Fitness class creates confusion Chelsea Heiser Staff Writer
Muscle Confusion came from the fact that there were no group fitness Students looking for a classes geared towards brutal workout should try men and more importantly, strength training. Muscle Confusion. Huddleston said it It offers 50 minutes of intense strength and cardio would cause an increase in training. John Huddleston, male participation in group the instructor, will be there fitness classes if UWF’s gym to coach you through every offered an intense workout crunch, squat and jumping class. Another jack. great element Muscle to Muscle Confusion “The class Confusion is one of the is that it is hard, many group offers variety, fitness classes but when I and can be offered at The need a good adjusted to University any level. of West workout, I J o h n Florida’s H u H e a l t h go to Muscle h a sd d l ebset oe nn H e a l t h , Confusion” a personal L e i s u r e trainer for & Sports two years at Facility. -Kelsi Griffith UWF’s HLS M u s c l e facility. He Freshman Confusion started teachis special ing Muscle because it Confusion is the only three semesgroup fitness ters ago. “I enjoy teaching class geared towards strength training while fitness because I love seeing the progress and overall incorporating cardio. John Huddleston and result,” Huddleston said. Kelsi Griffith, freshman, Rodney McClanahan created the class in the has attended the class twice hopes of “offering a now. “The class is hard, but class that would benefit when I need a good workout the students the most,” I go to Muscle Confusion,” Griffith said. Huddleston said. The class incorporated Muscle Confusion is a different workout every everything Huddleston said time. The class is based on it would. It had strength training with some specific workouts like P90X. The general idea for medicine ball exercises.
Photo special to the Voyager
John Huddleston, the instructor of Muscle Confusion, prepares the class by stretching. The class is based on P90x, a popular workout program. Its purpose is to strengthen muscles that are ordinarily not used in a regular workout. The class is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m to 4:50 p.m in the Pedagogy Gym. Huddleston then instructed the participants to-do some cardio exercises. “The soreness for the next few days is worth what I will get in the end,” Griffith said.
If you’re brave enough to endure Muscle Confusion it is offered twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. until 4:50 p.m. in the UWF Pedagogy Gym.
Muscle Confusion is a great way to get in an intense workout while in a group fitness class. Come out even if you are a beginner or have an injury. The
class can be adapted to any of your fitness needs. For more information, visit the HLS website at uwf.com/recreation or call (850) 474-2586.
BLOG: Player writes about Argos season to express his opinion, and always knows what’s going on with the team. In addition, Ebert uses Twitter to connect with fans and promote his blog. He created a Facebook group for it, and he sends text messages to his friends and family whenever he updates the blog. Ebert also made an e-mail account where readers can send him comments and questions. He said he will answer his two favorite questions on his blog each week. So far, the majority of his blog has focused on his history as a baseball player and his transition to pitching. He also has posted a season preview for the Argos. “Once the season starts, it’ll be more about the team,” Ebert said. He said he’s going to focus on the success
of practices and games. However, he doesn’t want it to be purely a sports blog. “I’m going to have fun with it,” Ebert said. “I’ll write about stuff we joke about and things that happen on trips.” Although Ebert has never blogged or written outside of the classroom before, he is confident in his ability as a writer. He said he wants his blog to read the same as it would sound as if he were talking to readers face to face. Ebert, said the target audience for his blog is athletes from across the country and bloggers from the North. “I want to show them what it’s like down South,” he said. He said he’s having a lot of fun with it, and if it stays that way, he’d be happy to do it again next year.
Girl Scouts team up with women’s athletics
Photo by Rebecca Barnhart
The women’s soccer team assist Girl Scouts with drills.
Rebecca Barnhart Staff Writer Thanks to the University of West Florida women’s athletic program, local Girl Scouts can add another badge to their vests. On Jan. 22, the third annual All Girl Sports Day was held in the UWF Fieldhouse. UWF women athletes partnered with the Girl Scouts Council of the Florida Panhandle for a sports workshop from 9 a.m. to noon. For their morning spent participating in various sports drills, like passing volleyballs and dribbling soccer balls, the girls would receive the field sports badge. But this workshop means more than that, said Lee Furman. Furman is the mother of a 10-year-old Girl Scout with a black belt in Taekwondo. “These girls
The Voyager
learn leadership and playing as a team.” Volleyball and basketball were held indoors, while the girls had to withstand the chilly outdoors to play softball, golf and soccer in the intramural fields. Furman said that some other girls in her daughter’s troop don’t participate at all in sports. “For some, this is the only activity and fresh air they get,” she said. “It would just be nice if the fresh air wasn’t so cold.” Tori Fish, a junior midfielder, led groups of girls in basic soccer drills. She said it was important to motivate young girls to be involved in sports. “We are helping them get active and helping build on the Girl Scout honor,” she said. The UWF women’s sports teams will be participating in other workshops for the community this semester.
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Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011