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The Voyager
VOLUME 41 ISSUE 14
The voice of UWF students since 1968
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30, 2011
Meeting to answer enhancement plan questions Chris Elkins and Brittany Carr Voyager editors Since President Judy Bense announced the implementation of the student life enhancement plan in August, the outlined changes have sparked plenty of debate and concern within the University of West Florida community. In a meeting with the Voyager editors Monday, members of the University administration sought to address these concerns.
The Voyager has found students to be especially worried about how the money will be raised to fund the proposed programs and new facilities involved in the plan, including a football team and stadium, women’s swimming and diving teams and a student union facility. A total projected budget for the plan was not available, but the football feasibility committee worked with the Alexander Haas
❱❱ Rundown There will be a town hall meeting on Dec. 1 at noon in the Argo Galley. Members of the administration will be present to answer students' questions about the student life enhancement plan. Read the full story online at www.thevoyager.net. fundraising firm to explore the possibility of raising $15 million for the athletics program. Students like Rebekah Johansen, a graduate assistant for
the Writing Skills Laboratory, are worried about where that money will come from. “I think it’s safe to say that the average UWF student chose the
Congratulations, fall graduates!
school for the beautiful scenery, the academic focus and the affordable cost,” Johansen said when interviewed for a Sept. 20 Voyager article. “Damaging all three of those for a Division II football team is not wise.” To keep students informed of the plan’s progress — including how it’s expected to be funded — the Student Government Association and the administration
See Enhancement, page 2
VOYAGER IN BRIEF Sports Basketball team on winning streak The men's basketball team is off to a hot start, carrying a three-game winning streak before play on Tuesday. The team is 5-2 on the season thanks in large part to seniors Marquis Mathis and Jamar Moore. See full stories on page 7
Opinion Current system broken but fixable
Photos by John Blackie
Above: Students at last semester's graduation ceremony cheered with excitement as the ceremony came to a close. Below: Graduates from last spring walked off stage, proudly waving their diplomas in the air.
n Fall graduation will take place on Dec. 10 at the Civic Center
See full stories on page 3
Jade Hoy Staff Writer
L&E
All college students dream of graduation day — the cap and gown, the diploma that signifies all the years of hard work and, we hope, getting a good job. For some students at the University of West Florida, that long-awaited dream finally comes true this December. Joshua Swinford, a senior engineering technology major, graduates this December. To stay on the path of graduation, he interned at Coast Software Inc. this past semester and even appeared on the Dean’s List a few times. He said even though his senioritis kicked in around sophomore year, it never really affected his grades. “I just would wait until the last minute to do assignments and end up staying up all night to do them,” Swinford said.
Cafe offers great food for cheap Downtown Pensacola's Sunshine Garden Cafe is a great place to grab an inexpensive meal. The restaurant offers an extensive menu of soup, sandwiches, entrees and desserts. Most meals cost less than $10. The cozy cafe is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
See Graduation, page 2
Students prepare for final exams Nicole Yeakos Staff Writer It can be the last stretch, the downhill slope or the light at the end of the tunnel. Call it what you want. Finals are here. What stands between every student at the University of West Florida and a lengthy Christmas break may not be the brick wall that finals always appear to be. Responsible study habits and time-management skills can make finals week a lot less stressful for everyone. A “Voyager” poll on Facebook revealed that more than half of the responding students spend at least five hours studying during finals week. Most said they study for 10 hours or more. According to a Sept. 8 article in “The New York Times,” alternating study spaces is a good way to retain information. Memory is
❱❱ Rundown Library hours during final exam week are as follows: Dec. 3: 8 a.m. until midnight Dec. 4: 1 p.m. until midnight Dec. 5-8: 7:45 a.m. until midnight Dec. 9: 7:45 a.m. until 8 p.m. Dec. 10-11: CLOSED colored by location, and changing your study locales increases the likelihood of remembering what you’ve learned, the article said. “I like getting together with people in my class at Whataburger,” said Peyton Lovell, a sophomore pre-professional biology major. “I also like the library on the second floor, where it is relaxed and not too quiet or too loud.” The “Times” article said never to underestimate the power of your peers. Dividing and
Opinions Editor W. Paul Smith offers his fifth and final installment in his series on the Occupy Wall Street movement. In this installment, Smith argues that the American people need to pay attention, get involved and start demanding a crop of political candidates not beholden to the interests of Wall Street, massive corporations and the wealthiest Americans.
conquering is an effective way to reduce your workload and to make sure you understand the material. Other study skills mentioned by the “Times” article included making flash cards, taking practice tests, getting plenty of sleep and pacing your study time. “Study for 15 minutes, and then take a break to let everything settle in,” said Michael Solomon, sophomore musical theater major. Although important, studying is only half the battle. Some
students are not fazed until they actually sit down to take the dreaded final. According to www.collegeboard.com, exam day is just as important as the days of studying preceding it. Tips from the site include eating a healthy meal before test time, jotting down your first thoughts on the test before your mind gets overwhelmed, asking the professor about any unclear questions and using any remaining time to review your answers. Starting Dec. 3, students can take advantage of these techniques during UWF’s extended hours at the John C. Pace Library and Commons. Ann Dziadon, University registrar, said that semester grades will be available on Argus on Dec. 13.
See full stories on page 4
Take old clothing to charity or recycling points, support fashion brands, charities, and businesses that use secondhand and recycled products.
Index News . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..2 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Arts &Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-8
2/News
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
www.thevoyager.net
The Voyager
Enhancement: Town hall meeting will answer many questions From Page 1 will host a town hall meeting at noon on Thursday Dec. 1 in the Argo Galley. Answering questions at the meeting will be Vice President for Administrative Affairs Matt Altier, Vice President for Student Affairs Kevin Bailey, Vice President for Advancement Kyle Marrero, and Athletic Director Dave Scott. “A lot of changes are going to happen on campus over the next 24 months,” Altier said Monday. “This
is an exciting time to be at UWF.” The plan is still in its early stages, but the main focus now is funding for the sports programs specifically, rather than for new facilities. Marrero said the first step was looking at possible student fee increases, which would be implemented next fall at the earliest. Under Florida statutes, how much student fees can be raised is tied to how much the legislature allows tuition to be increased. For instance, if the state
approves a 40 percent jump in tuition, that could be accompanied by a hike of up to 5 percent in student fees. If the legislature approves a lower tuition increase, a lower fee cap would apply. Marrero said the University is basing the budget proposals on the assumption that the legislature will approve a 40 percent increase in tuition, for up to 5 percent in extra student fees. The student fee committee recently approved, 16-0, a proposal to designate 100 percent of next
Photo by John Blackie
Graduates make their way into the Pensacola Civic Center for the spring graduation ceremony in May 2011.
Graduation: Due dates come early From Page 1
pre-orders and the publication of the commencement program, she said. Sarah Kuhl, catalog and graduation Besides making the grades necescoordinator in the Office of the Registrar, sary to graduate with a 2.0 GPA, among said that students should apply for grad- other requirements, Kuhl said that not uation for the semester they intend to talking with your advisers about what complete all degree requirements. This classes to take is detrimental to the includes required internships and comple- graduation process going smoothly. tion of incomplete grades, she said. “It is also important that students “The graduation application is due monitor their SASS degree audits to two semesters ahead of time,” Kuhl said. ensure they are meeting all degree This requirement allows the student two requirements prior to graduation,” she full semesters to make changes to his said. or her schedule in the event that any The rest of us must stay focused and requirements are lacking, she said. keep our grades up to make it as far as Graduation applications may be Swinford, so he gave this advice to those submitted after the deadline, but not graduating this December: students run the risk of missing out on “Get10:24 involved with 1something that 12686-U of West Florida:Layout 1 10/6/11 AM Page the announcement of commencement doesn’t involve UWF,” he said. “If you deadlines, including cap and gown don’t, you will go insane.”
Barry Law students (L-R) Brian Kozlowski, Leanne Palmer, John Berry
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year’s allowed fee increase to athletics, whether it’s 2 percent or 5 percent. That would mean the activity and service fee and the health fee would remain the same as this year. Though these fees would not be raised, enrollment growth at UWF means they would also generate additional funds. “The proposed fee levels will be presented to President Bense by Dr. Bailey,” Student Body Vice President Cora Merritt said in an email interview Oct. 31. “The proposed fees will then be presented to the
UWF Board of Trustees on Dec. 9 for final approval.” The second step, Marrero said, involves seeking changes to current legislation that allows a university to add a $2 per credit hour fee if it moves up in athletic division classification. For example, a university could add this fee if it moved from Division II to Division I. The University administration has made it clear that it intends to stay a D-II program. Instead, it wants to see the legislation revised so that UWF can apply the $2 fee, Marrero said.
“We’re lobbying to add language to the legislation that would add football, a major sport, and Title IX equity,” he said. If the Legislature approved the new language, UWF could add the fee as early as fall 2012. “The student body has supported the plan so far,” Marrero said. “We hope they would then go the next step.” It would be difficult for the legislation to pass without student support, he said. Visit www.thevoyager. net to read the full story.
Opinions Editor, W. Paul Smith
opinions@thevoyager.net
3
Opinions &
Editorials
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
Time to share your thoughts with the administration Since President Judy Bense’s announcement at the beginning of the semester, a football program and other student life enhancements have been widely discussed on campus and in the community. Rumors have swirled concerning student fees and timelines, and no one seems to know what is fact or fiction. That’s where the town hall meeting on Dec. 1 comes in. The administration is giving students a chance to ask questions, and they’re offering the answers. Students, this is your opportunity to let your voice be heard, and we at The Voyager are encouraging you to take it. A few members of the administration took the time to sit down with the Voyager staff on Monday to discuss the plan and its most recent developments. See the story on Page 1 to learn more about the progress being made. For now, students can rest assured that no fees are currently going to pay
for the programs and facilities included in the student life enhancement plan. Many students have said that they don’t want to pay for programs and facilities they won’t get to enjoy. We at The Voyager feel that, while it is a good point, Matt Altier, the vice president of Administrative Affairs, also made a good point when he said the plan could help everyone connected to the University of West Florida, even alumni. As the University grows and potentially gains national recognition, the value of a UWF degree will increase, which could help graduates as they look for careers in other states. We encourage the administration to continue its efforts to keep the student body informed as decisions are made and definite plans are put into place, and we urge the students to let their voices be heard.
— The Voyager Courtesy of Andy Marlette/amarlette@pnj.com
American democracy is broken but still fixable W. Paul Smith Opinions Editor Regardless of what anyone thinks about the Occupy Wall Street movement, there is at least one idea the movement embodies that I would hope everyone can get behind: the idea that our system is badly broken. Occupy Wall Street is ultimately about wanting something different than the bloated, repetitive, greedy, self-serving, phony system that we have. Can anyone honestly say that the way Wall Street functions is fair and beneficial to our society? Can anyone honestly say that the way the American political system functions is fair and beneficial to our society? It’s no wonder a massive, growing number of people have become cynical and apathetic toward American politics — the system is corrupt and, perhaps, seems hopeless. But while the Occupy Wall Street movement may contain a disparate smattering of viewpoints and agendas, what the movement has shown is the sincere hope for something different. This is the final installment of my series on the Occupy Wall Street movement. In the past four installments, I have tried to meticulously detail many of the problems with Wall Street and Washington. This time I want to examine what the average American can do about it.
Corporate influence If you don’t realize that practically every facet of American democracy has been bought and sold to corporate interests then you simply aren’t paying attention. The voices of average Americans are drowned out by torrential monsoons of corporate cash in the form of lobbying and campaign contributions that are deluging the political process. One of the most important goals for fixing American democracy has to be to limit the power corporations exert over our political process. There’s nothing wrong with a corporation in and of itself. Almost every form of business is incorporated under U.S. law in some form or another. However, the problem is that the interests of the largest corporations operating in America do not necessarily reflect the interests of the average American or the community in which she or he lives. A corporation is beholden to the bottom line. Generally speaking, a corporation must do everything in its power to maximize profits and appease its shareholders regardless if the pursuit
of such aims does not take into account what is best for the community at large. And let’s not kid ourselves — corporate lobbying is nothing more than legalized bribery, plain and simple. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, from 1998 to 2010, lobbyists spent over $32 billion to influence our political system. And this figure does not even include campaign contributions. Do you really think corporations and special interests groups are spending billions of dollars on politicians and expecting nothing in return? They spend the money because it gets results, such as members of Congress voting certain ways on bills or drafting specific legislation. And that’s when the lobbyists aren’t actually writing the bills themselves. Time and again, corporate lobbyists are directly writing the legislation designed to deregulate their industries. It’s time for this to stop.
Even Teddy Roosevelt once said, “All contributions by corporations to any political committee or for any political purpose should be forbidden by law.” Unfortunately this change would be extremely difficult to achieve, but the nonpartisan group Free Speech for the People has proposed a constitutional amendment to do just this and, so far, has gathered 250,000 signatures. Senator Tom Udall (D – Colorado) has also proposed a constitutional amendment to limit corporate and special interest money in our elections. A petition in support of this amendment has gathered 122,000 signatures so far. However, part of the problem with this idea is that many people consider giving money to politicians to be a form of free speech — even the ACLU supports this notion. In the 1975 Supreme Court case Buckley v. Valeo, the court did, in fact, rule that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech. I can see certain situations in which Campaign Donations the act of giving money could be When it comes interpreted as freeto campaign dom of expression, “The main thing we contributions, we such as donating can do as average have entered a money to a cause time in American or a charity you Americans is to simply politics when more support. money than ever is However, I can pay attention, get spent to buy polialso see a scenario involved and start ticians. And the in which the law candidates with the would restrict such demanding a crop of most money almost an expression. always win. For example, I political candidates Over 90 percent certainly cannot of congressional who are not beholden claim it is my First elections are won Amendment right to the interests of by the candito funnel money to date who raised a terrorist organiWall Street, massive the most money zation such as al for his or her corporations and the Qaida. campaign, accordThe simple wealthiest Americans.” ing to the Center fact is that when for Responsive money exchanges Politics, and in hands, the law can the 2010 midterm and does place election, almost $4 billion was spent by certain restrictions on such transactions. congressional candidates alone. So, why not draft either legislation or a I think almost everyone on both constitutional amendment to put limits sides of the aisle agrees — whether it be on campaign money? Democrat, Republican, independent, Tea Partier or Occupy Wall Street protesEnd corporate personhood tor — corporate and special interest money is a crippling problem that has We run into another problem with completely corrupted the democratic this idea. Under current U.S. laws, process. corporations are considered to be legal persons with constitutional protections Remove the money such as free speech. I won’t go into the long history of corporate personhood came to be, but One idea that has been proposed is the courts have created precedent time to either completely remove or at least and time again to suggest a corporalimit the flow of corporate money in our tion has the same rights that natural political process.
living persons have under the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment was originally adopted after the Civil War to ensure the equal protection and citizenship of former slaves, but it has since been used in a far overreaching manner to protect the interests of corporations. And in keeping with this notion that corporations are people, in 2009, the Supreme Court case Citizens United v. FEC gave corporations the right to spend unlimited amounts of money campaigning on behalf of candidates. A growing number of people are beginning to find this notion of corporate personhood absurd. Ending corporate personhood is another issue that could be solved with a constitutional amendment. In fact the same constitutional amendment proposed by Free Speech for the People and the one proposed by Sen. Udall seek to do just this: end corporate personhood and limit corporate spending.
Call to Action But it’s also time for the Occupy Wall Street movement to take a page out of the Tea Party book and start organizing to get specific candidates elected who share their interests. Protesting is all well and good, but if it doesn’t result in political actions then it hasn’t accomplished much more than instilling some good ideas into the American zeitgeist. People are slowly waking up to the fact that their democracy has been sold to the highest bidder, and the Occupy Wall Street movement has been largely successful in highlighting this. You don’t have to join the protestors across the country and camp out in city parks to agree with the notion that our American political process has become a bloated, corrupt system that favors the interests of the super-rich and largest corporations. The Occupy Wall Street movement has become a cultural phenomenon, a clarion call to evolve our ideas and bring badly needed reform and change to a system that has been slowly choking the life out of the American Dream for over 40 years. The main thing we can do as average Americans is to simply pay attention, get involved and start demanding a crop of political candidates who are not beholden to the interests of Wall Street, massive corporations and the wealthiest Americans. There are plenty of reason to be cynical when it comes to American politics. But it’s time to turn that cynicism into optimism. American democracy is certainly broken, but it is not beyond repair.
Letter to the editor
Penn State tragedy should be lesson for us all As a victim of sexual abuse from age 11 to 17, I know my abuser stole the biggest part of my childhood, robbed me of my innocence and forever changed my life in ways that cannot be repaid or restored. When I hear people complain that they’re tired of the ongoing press coverage of the Penn State sexual abuse scandal and ask whether it all might be a little overblown, it makes me wonder, “What will it take?” The Penn State case has taken the national epidemic of sexual abuse against children and made it a mainstream topic — finally — for debate and dialogue throughout our country. And, this case triggers a level of outrage that should lead to overdue changes in our society’s indifference toward and tolerance of sexual abuse of children. The simple, sobering fact is that childhood sexual abuse is rampant and needs to be addressed with changes in public policy and public education. In the Penn State case alone, consider the following: • An eyewitness allegedly saw a
10-year-old boy being raped and didn’t taken the minimum steps required by law and looked the other way?” intervene or call police. Those conversations are a good start, • The top coaching staff at Penn but they’re not enough. State apparently knew about these allegaIf we are serious about changing our tions but didn’t limit the abuser’s access to culture to reject sexual exploitation of young boys. children, we need • The school to change our laws system and the founto demand greater, dation that suppos“Let the Penn State personal responsibiledly existed to help ity of every adult and children allowed the tragedy serve as a demand that institualleged abuser to have national teaching tions step up and time alone with the do the right thing, victims repeatedly. moment.” even when the conseOne good thing to quences are painful. come from this case is At a minimum, we that it has made all of need to do the followus more comfortable ing: talking openly about this issue in schools, • Make it clear that everyone is at dinner tables and at work places across required to report suspected child abuse the country. Americans are asking themno matter what the abuser’s relationship selves: “What would I have done? Would with the child. Currently, the law in many I have trusted my eyes and acted on the states is murky about whether abuse must spot to rescue a child? Would I have jeopbe reported if the abuser is not directly ardized my career and the reputation of a responsible for the child’s welfare and to school I loved? Would I have faced embarwhom it must be reported. rassment and ridicule? Or, would I have
• Increase the penalties for failure to report childhood sexual abuse. How sad that under Pennsylvania law, the penalty for failing to report childhood sexual abuse was merely a $200 fine? How much value does that place on the life and soul of a child? • End the statute of limitations for prosecution of childhood sexual abuse, as Florida did in 2010. As a victim, I can tell you there is no statute of limitations on how long it takes victims to heal. So why should abusers have the benefit of a statute of limitations to shield them from prosecution? Let the Penn State tragedy serve as a national teaching moment. Let us change our culture to place an overarching priority on protecting children from sexual abuse. If that is the legacy from Penn State, it will mark a positive turning point, rather than a darke day.
— Lauren Book Founder of Lauren’s Kids, a Florida foundation for fighting child abuse
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Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
Life &
Entertainment
L&E Editor, Rebecca Barnhart
entertainment@ thevoyager.net
Garden cafe lets its tasty light shine Josh Cooper Staff Writer Little figurines, postcards and pictures line the walls of the small, quaint but bustling restaurant that serves an amazing chicken and sausage gumbo and a wonderful Reuben on rye. The Sunshine Garden Cafe is a nice spot to grab lunch during the week. The small business has been open at 1025 W. Moreno St., across from Baptist Hospital, for nearly 23 years. It caters mostly to a group of faithful patrons, including doctors, nurses and nearby residents, but welcomes all who would like to enjoy a nice lunch. The cafe is owned and run by Dave and Genevieve Bookman. They opened the restaurant in 1989 and have been serving the professional work crowd ever since. “We are known for our soups,” Dave Bookman said. The soup is definitely worth trying, but the restaurant also serves sandwiches, salads and a few entrees, such as spaghetti, that deserve a mention. Terry Solana, a faithful patron of two years, was eating brownie pie when I asked him how often he visits Sunshine Garden Cafe. “I eat here at least three times a week,” he said. I can see why. My meal, which included the Reuben, some potato chips, a sweet tea and a few samplings
Photos by Josh Cooper
TOP: A customer at Sunshine Garden Cafe enjoys her meal in the sunlight. RIGHT: The cafe on West Moreno Street offers soup, sandwiches, salads, several entrees and desserts.
w❱❱ Rundown n The Sunshine Garden Cafe is on 1025 W. Moreno St. across from Baptist Hospital. n It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cafe is closed on the weekends. n Most of the meals are under $10. n Visit sunshinegardencafe.com for more information. of some of the soups, was delicious. My total was just over $8 without a tip. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is
closed on most major holidays. Most of the items on the menu are in the $6-$8 range. For instance, the Reuben is $6.50, and a
bowl of soup will run around $4. The cafe does have a soup-and-half-asandwich deal for $8. Bookman said the restaurant usually has four soups available at any time, and they change on a day-to-day basis. But the owners always have the chicken and sausage gumbo available. The cafe seats only 32 people. So in order to accommodate a larger crowd, the servers also deliver, usually in a twoto-three-mile radius. The cafe also caters events within a reasonable distance.
Better to ‘Get Along’ with other musical options Megs Glasscock Staff Writer There are certain types of music you play to stomp your feet. There’s music you play for pushing your pace at the gym. There’s music you play for powering through a difficult paper for class. There’s music that helps you relax and find your center. Then there’s Tegan and Sara’s new album “Get Along,” which is an unadulterated comainducing snore. There’s nothing wrong with mellow music, and who doesn’t like a good film score every now and again? Twin sisters Tegan and Sara fail to deliver on keeping the crowd awake with the “Get Along” live album. In fact, when the audience applause picks up in the recording, it sounds half-asleep or a like a polite golf clap that suggests “Nice try, girls. Let’s move on, okay?” For those leery of live albums because of the potential poor sound quality, blown out bass beats, or the singer’s voice giving out, the sound quality in “Get Along” is possibly the only good thing going for it. The album is a culmination of Tegan and Sara’s greatest hits in an acoustic performance. Even the classic angry breakup song “I Know I Know I Know” lacks an emotional depth and sounds virtually anemic. “Alligator,” the open-
“It is uncertain where one track ends and another begins...” ing track, is a standout song because it is somewhat peppy and sarcastic. The song is a tale about a cheater and his jilted girlfriend who cries “alligator tears” when she gets her sweet revenge. However, the rest of the album sounds the same. It is uncertain where one track ends and another begins, except for the soft clapping of the audience
between songs. The lyrics are reminiscent of George Harrison’s 1987 hit “Got My Mind Set on You” in the way of Weird Al Yankovic’s parody “This Song is Six Words Long.” The lyrics are repetitive, sung in the same cord and repeated in a mindnumbing mantra. It’s like they couldn’t think of any other lyrics except “Run around on me / Sooner die without / Run around on me / Die without / Over you, over you / Over you, over you / Over you, over you / Over you, over you,” and this is from the likeable track “Alligator.” One could suppose there is deep meaning here, but the depth is the equivalent of a puddle. “Get Along” is an album that would be better to get along without.
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December 14, 2011
6
Community &
Classifieds
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
The Voyager Editor-in-Chief Brittany Carr editor@thevoyager.net
L&E/Managing Editor Rebecca Barnhart entertainment@ thevoyager.net
News Editor Valerie Thornewell news@thevoyager.net
Sports Editor Chris Elkins sports@thevoyager.net
Opinions Editor W. Paul Smith opinions@thevoyager.net
CALENDAR
Nov. 30
of like materials.
The UWF Wellness Council will host the annual Great Escape! from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m in the Commons. This year UWF will be escaping to Candyland. Come for free food, shirts and prizes.
For more information, contact Irina Sorset at 5950050, Ext. 103 or isorset@uwf.edu.
For more information, email Mica Harrell at mharrell@uwf. edu.
Web Editor
Nov. 30
Jon Short webeditor@ thevoyager.net
World Aids Day is coming up soon Dec. 1. In honor of this national day, Wellness is holding a World Aids Day event the day before on Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. in the UC Auditorium! There will be free HIV testing, T-shirts, raffle, games, prizes and food. There will be a viewing of the Bloodlines movie with an “Ask the Sexperts” panel to follow. In this campaign our goal is to make messages on HIV/ AIDS meaningful to students to achieve greater and lasting voluntary risk behavior change among UWF students. Please come out and support the fight against Aids and shed some light on your status.
New Media Editor Terry Strickland newmedia@ thevoyager.net
Photo Editor
Kaycee Lagarde
Copy Editors Friedrich Langerfeld Georgia Adams Kathryn Middleton Timothy Dunkle
Graphics Editor Jarrett Moore
Distribution Manager John Strickland 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.
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.
For more information, contact Lindsey Greeson at 474-2420 or wellness@uwf. edu. Dec. 1 The Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) is seeking enthusiastic volunteers of all ages to help rough sort artifacts recovered from local archaeological sites. Volunteers work inside our air-conditioned lab to rough sort artifacts recovered from local archaeological sites. Volunteers work with small screens, trays, brushes, magnets and other lab tools to clean and sort artifacts. Once artifacts have been cleaned, they are sorted into groups
Dec. 1 Join UWF administration Thursday, Dec. 1 in the Argo Galley at noon for a student life town hall. Vice President of Administrative Affairs Matt Altier, Vice President of Student Affairs Kevin Bailey, Vice President of Advancement Kyle Marrero and Athletic Director Dave Scott will be on hand to answer questions from students. Come out, and enjoy free food and a funny high-energy show. For more information, contact SGA at SGA@uwf.edu. Dec. 1 The UWF Department of Housing and Residence Life and UWF Dining will host “Late Night Breakfast” from 8 to 10 p.m. The event is designed to give students a break from studying for final exams. Breakfast door price is $6.25 and all resident students eat free. All students are invited to attend. Guests are invited to wear their pajamas if interested. For more information, contact Malerie Shelton at mshelton2@uwf. edu. Dec. 3 Join the Sailing Club for FREE sailing any Saturday this fall from 11am-4pm at the Pensacola Yacht Club! Boats, equipment and wind provided. Register by e-mailing sailuwf@uwf. edu.
Communities Editor, Bobby Bone voyager@uwf.edu
PERSONALS
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PILED HIGHER DEEPER
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7
Sports
Sports Editor, Chris Elkins
Fitness &
sports@thevoyager.net
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
Pensacola offers fitness opportunities while gym is closed Christie McClung Staff Writer Jessica Graham, a freshman environmental studies major at the University of West Florida, reached the front door of the UWF gym. She pushed open the door and let the autumn air hit her face, which was still warm from her recent workout. The arrival of the fall season meant that classes are ending, and that more time would be available to dedicate to exercising and staying in shape. Of course, the end of the semester also means that the UWF gym will be closing its doors from Dec. 10
till Jan. 8. Although that fact will change Graham’s workout routine, she said she wasn’t too worried about having time away from the gym. “I’ll ride my bike around,” Graham said. “I don’t think the closing will affect my daily workout too much as long as I have my bike.” During the holidays, when eating and relaxing are part of the festivities, Graham said it’s important not to forget about working out. “I think students should just stay active in any way they can,” Graham said. “Anything will help.” Tara Rietz is a sopho-
more psychology major who works part time at the gym. Like Graham, Rietz also has a few tricks to stay in shape over the holidays. “I would suggest running in the morning,” Rietz said. “It will be worth it.” Although Graham and Rietz both said that having a gym is not necessary for them to work out, other students may feel that the gym helps hold them accountable. Students interested in joining a local gym during the holidays might want to consider Anytime Fitness, located at 1095 Nine Mile Road. “We do a one-month pass for $35,” Chris Havens,
a worker at Anytime Fitness, said. “We also do a week pass for $22 and a day pass for $7.” Anytime Fitness has numerous types of equipment to work out on, but it does not offer any of the basic classes found at the UWF facilities. “The only class we offer is TRH training,” said Havens. “It’s a stretching exercise that was developed by a former naval officer and a former Marine. We get great responses from the people who take it.” While this holiday break comes after a long, hard semester, it is important not to get lost in all the festivities and to find some
❱❱ Rundown n Real Time Fitness, located on Nine Mile Road, is open seven days a week and has basic memberships for as low as $9.99 a month, according to its website. n The Pensacola Runner’s Association is hosting a one mile fun run on Dec.10 at 5 p.m. in Downtown Pensacola starting at the intersection of Spring and Garden Street. Visit pensacolarunners.com for more information. n University Park will continue to be open dawn to midnight. n John R. Jones Athletic Park, located on Nine Mile Road, is an alternative to University Park for those looking for a place to run and recreate. type of release for all the stored-up energy. Keeping a workout routine and nutritious diet may help keep your weight
down, your energy level up and give you a jump-start on that New Year’s resolution to exercise more when school starts back.
Men off to best start under Stinnett n Basketball team is 5-2 to start the year Chris Elkins Sports Editor The University of West Florida men’s basketball team is finally seeing the level of play that Head Coach Bob Stinnett expected when he took over the team two years ago. After winning the first two games of the season, the Argonauts lost two games at home but were on a three-game winning streak when the paper went to press Monday night. A large part of the team’s success is a credit to the Argos dominance in the paint. The Argos have outrebounded opponents 275-229 and outshot opponents .481-.418 from the field. UWF has attempted four three-point shots this season. The Argos have been led by seniors Jamar Moore and Marquis Mathis. Moore, a two-time GSC Player of the Week in 2010-2011, leads UWF with 49 rebounds, 15 steals and 33 assits. He is second on the team wtih 108 points scored and was named GSC Player of the Week on Nov. 16.
Mathis leads the Argos with 109 points scored and is second on the team with 32 rebounds. The Argos will look to continue their success against Shaw on Dec. 13. The Argos will then play in the UWF Pre-Christmas Classic on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 at home and play in the UWF Christmas Classic on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 at home. For the most up-todate results visit www.goargos.com.
Montevallo
Montevallo took advantage of 23 UWF turnovers to defeat the Argos 75-63 in the home opener on Nov. 16, according to goargos.com.
GSW
Georgia Southwestern then defeated UWF in a heartbreaker 64-62 in a hard-fought match where the Argos came within one point of tieing the game on multiple occassions but couldn’t take the lead in the second half. Moore led the team with 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Southeastern
The Argos got their
Photos special to The Voyager
Senior Marquis Mathis looks to drive the ball in the pain against the University of Central Florida last season. Mathis is emerging as a top performer for the Argonauts early in the 2011-2012 season. first win at home against Southeastern University scoring a season-high 90 points win 90-78, according to goargos.com. Senior Marquis Mathis led the team with 24 points and made 10-of-13 shots from the free throw line. The team made 30-of-38 attempts
from the free throw line.
AUM
UWF won back-toback games for the second time this season defeating Auburn-Montgomrey 73-57 in the UWF Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 25, according to goargos.com. The Argos hadn’t won
Merriewether leads by example Will Isern Staff Writer Keaundrea Merriewether is a leader. Kea to her friends, the broadcast journalism major plays guard for the University of West Florida’s women’s basketball team. This year, she has had the honor of being named co-captain alongside Octavia Bearden for their senior season, a distinction she does not take lightly. “It’s a great privilege, and I’m very thankful to be thought of in that way,” Merriewether said. “I hold it to a very high standard. It’s very important as a captain to set a good example with your work ethic.” Merriewether hails from Jacksonville and says she chose to come to UWF because she felt the school’s medium size would make a good fit. She says she is glad she came to Pensacola, and that the beach and the people are her favorite features of the area. Merriewether isn’t the only person who’s happy with her decision. Women’s basketball coach Shannan Bergen says she’s certain Merriewether was a good choice for co-captain. “She is always doing the right thing and working her very hardest, no matter what,” Bergen said. “I have never seen her take a day off, whether it is on or off the court. She is a remarkable person and one any coach would be proud to have representing their basketball team and university. I know I am.” Merriewether started playing basketball at a young age as a tagalong with her two older brothers. At 8, she signed on with a recreational center team in Jacksonville, playing there until she was old enough
back-to-back games since Dec. 31, 2010. The Argos led AuburnMontgomrey the entire game. Mathis recorded his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
North Georgia UWF
extended
its
Losing streak now at four for women’s team Chris Elkins Sports Editor
Photo special to The Voyager
Merriewether drives the ball at a game earlier in the season. She has 18 points, 27 rebounds and is tied for the team lead in blocks with five. to join the middle-school basketball team. From there, she progressed naturally to high school, playing her senior season at University Christian High School. All the while, Merriewether said, she played on club teams where the season began just as the school’s season ended, making basketball a year-round affair. On the court, Merriewether is all about defense. As a guard, it’s her job to keep the other team from scoring. It’s been tough so far this year. The team has had one win in seven games, but Merriewether doesn’t let that get her down. Instead, she said, she tries to encourage the team to do
better. “When I’m in the game, I feel like that’s part of my role, to try and get everybody motivated,” Merriewether said. Merriewether is still uncertain of her plans after graduation but hopes to make useful connections while she interns with a television station, WEAR, next semester. In the long run, Merriewether said, she would like to work in sports broadcasting, but until then she said she’s keeping an open mind and sticking to what’s brought her this far. “I just try to get better every day and learn something from everybody,” she said.
winning streak to three games for the first time this season, defeating North Georgia 73-63 in the Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 26, according to goargos.com. Mathis led the way again for the Argos, scoring 32 points in a game in which the Argos never trailed.
When a team loses over half of its players, and that half is the majority that played, it’s going to have a hard time winning games. The University of West Florida women’s basketball team is a prime example. The Argonauts have lost their last four games and are 1-6 to start the season, not including two exhibition games blowouts. The Argos have relied on four players to do all the scoring. Newcomer Hanna Vette leads the team with 106 points and senior captain Octavia Bearden is second with 86. Two other players have scored over 70. The fifth leading scorer has scored only 19. However, there is hope for the Argos. The team has only been blown out once in regular season play, an 84-49 defeat to Emporia State. The team has lost two games by two points and the other three by 12 points or less. If one more player can emerge as a scoring threat, the team could bounce back and save the season. If not, it could be another very long season.
Mobile UWF won its lone victory of the season on Nov. 15 in the home opener against Mobile. The Argos had four players score in the double digits in a 73-70 victory, according to goargos.com. Bearden recorded a doubledouble with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Montevallo
The Argos came close to their first winning streak but fell to Montevallo 69-67 in overtime in Tip-Off Classic at home on Nov. 18.
GSW
The Argos were outrebounded 60-40 in a 75-65 loss to Georgia Southwestern on Nov. 19 in the Tip-Off Classic, according to goargos.com.
Henderson State
Bearden recorded her second double-double of the season with 15 points and ten rebounds but it was not enough to defeat Henderson State as the Argos lost 76-70 on Nov. 25 in the UWF Thanksgiving Classic at home, according to goargos.com.
Emporia State
The Argos suffered their worst loss of the season, falling 84-49 to Emporia State in the UWF Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 26.
8/S&F
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
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Women finish 23rd at national XC meet Chris Elkins Sports Editor Harsh temperatures and oxygen deprivation were not enough to slow down the University West Florida women’s cross country Team in their first ever appearance at NCAA Division II Nationals. The women finished 23rd out of 24 teams that competed in Spokane, Wash. on Nov. 19, according to goargos.com. On paper, the second to last place finish may not impress some. But for a team that hadn’t won a conference championship since 1996 before this season and had three underclassmen scoring points, the finish exceeded expectations. “We finished exactly where we should’ve finished,” Head Coach John Bergen said in an interview with UWF Sports Information. “It was a tremendous experience for the team.” The Augustana College from
Volleyball team ends season at Regionals From staff reports The University of West Florida volleyball team ended their 2011 campaign with a 3-2 (19-25, 25-18,1825, 25-17, 15-13) loss to Florida Southern in the first round of the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Argonauts wrapped up the year with a 25-9 record and a fourth straight Gulf South Conference Championship. With the score tied at two sets a piece, UWF fell behind 3-1 to start off set number five. The Argos managed to tie things up at nine on a Florida Southern error and held a brief lead at 11-10. The Moccasins then scored four straight before ending the match, 15-13. The Argos started off well in the opening set, scoring five straight on a pair of Lindsay Homme kills. A Florida Southern error extended the lead to 10-3 with Jenny Bellairs putting the Argos in solid control with a kill to make it 18-11. A close set two went to the Mocs after a 13-13 tie was broken by a West Florida attack error. Back-to-back Haley Shackelford kills put the Argos within four late, but Florida Southern went on a three point run to end the set, 25-18. The Argos took set three after a seven point run put UWF up 12-5. Duyn then kicked off another Argo run before a Florida Southern service error gave the Argos a 2-1 set advantage with a 25-18 set three win. In set four, the Argos fell behind by seven points early on and couldn’t regain momentum. Leah Buchanan helped cut the lead down to two but not before a Moc kill ended things, 25-17. On Nov. 19, it was announced that Homme was named to the All-Tournament team. Homme, Duyn, and Stoecklein were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All South Region Team. Homme was the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year and Darktonics All-South Region Second Team member after leading the team in kills and finishing second in blocks. Duyn was named the GSC Tournament’s most outstanding player and an All-GSC selection for the regular season after finishing second on the team in kills and digs. Stoecklein was also named to the All-GSC First Team after finishing as one of the top liberos in the conference. Florida Southern went on to lose to top seeded Tampa University 3-0 on Nov. 18. Tampa defeated Eckerd 3-0 on Nov. 19 and will play Bridge in the national quarterfinals on Dec. 1.
South Dakota won the national championship in snowy conditions with a team score of 75. The University of Tampa, the NCAA South Region Champions, finished 16th with a score of 429. UWF, the NCAA South Region runner-up, scored 736. Neely Spence from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania won individually with a time of 20:53. “To go as a Florida school, and to go run in 24 degree weather with two inches of snow already on the ground…I was really proud of the girls,” Bergen said. Freshman Kelley Bahn led the Argonauts for the fifth time this season, finishing in 139th place in a time of 24:47. She was followed by junior Karyssa Tourelle-Fallon and freshman Aimee Marsh, who finished in 143rd and 146th in times of 25:08 and 25:20, respectively. “We’re pretty young,” Bergen
Photo special to The Voyager
The race begins at the NCAA Division II Nationals on Nov. 19. said. “The strength of our team is our depth.” Sophomore Renea Porsch and junior Sabrina Seignemartin
rounded out the scoring for the Argos, finishing in 153rd and 155th in times of 25:44 and 26:00, respectively.
“It was very exciting,” Porsch said in an interview with UWF Sports Information. “The 6 a.m. practices every day definitely showed in the end.” Freshman Keyanna Dennis finished in 158th in a time of 26:10 and sophomore Beatriz Labrada finished in 161st in a time of 26:18, Looking ahead to next season, the Argos will return every runner that ran this season, as well as senior Kelbe Beck, who was sidelined before the season and received a medical redshirt. Track standout McKenzie Carney also did not compete this season and should be back next year. “For those elements, they really got out there and competed,” Bergen said. “They did not give up. For me, that was really something for us to build on for the future.” Fore more information visit www.goargos.com.
Marsh helps lead XC team to new heights Garett Spencer Staff Writer The University of West Florida women’s cross country team had a lot of standouts, and one was freshman frontrunner Aimee Marsh. “Aimee is a big part of our best freshmen class ever,” John Bergen, head cross country coach, said in an email interview. “She helped the team reach nationals for the first time in the school’s history.” Marsh is a pre-pharmacy major who has a long history of running. “I started running track in fourth grade, and I started cross country in ninth grade for Traverse City Central
“Aimee turned out to be the secondbest freshman in the conference.”
-John Bergen Cross Country Coach High School in Michigan,” Marsh said. Marsh was All State in high school. She has scored for the UWF team in every meet this year. “Aimee turned out to be the second-best freshmen in the conference, and the great thing is the top freshmen is her roommate and teammate Kelley Bahn,” Bergen said. “That is one talented dorm!” Coach Bergen recruited
Marsh straight out of high school. “She is a quiet kid, who works hard every day,” he said. “She is what a coach looks for in an athlete.” Marsh said her goals for the team are to go to nationals every year and to defend their conference title and, maybe one day, win regionals. She said a personal goal is breaking 19 minutes in the 5k race and running in the 22-minute range for the 6k race. She said she also wants to complete her schooling and receive a pharmacy degree. “As a freshmen, Aimee already knows how to race and has been extremely consistent in her performances,” Bergen said. Marsh looks to her
family to help with these goals. “My family plays a big role,” she said. “They are the ones who encourage you and kind of reinforce the goals.” Outside of running, Marsh is interMarsh ested in all types of sports and art. “I like sports in general, but I like art and drawing and just going to the beach. I live in a beach town in Michigan, so the transition to the Gulf Coast wasn’t that bad. The ocean is still a lot different.” One of the biggest changes for Marsh was the climate difference between northern Michigan and
Florida. “It wasn’t as hard as I thought,” Marsh said. “I just sweat a lot more when I run, but I’ve gotten used to it.” Marsh said her whole family loves the South, and she could definitely see herself staying in the area. This is Marsh’s first semester at UWF, and she said she is enjoying it. “I really like the school,” Marsh said. “It’s not too small, and it’s not too big. I’m also looking forward to a football team. It’s pretty cool being part of the class that comes in with it.” She finished third on the team and 146th overall in a time of 25:20 at NCAA Division II Nationals.