VOL.19 | #7
November 21, 2017
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Cult of Lane Kiffin
A year after three consecutive 3-9 seasons, FAU Football is winning while having more fun than it's had in nearly a decade.
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Cover image: The “Lane Train” usually travels around the Boca campus during a home game week. Alexander Rodriguez | Photo Editor
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EDITOR IN CHIEF Joe Pye
FEATURES EDITOR Thomas Chiles
MANAGING EDITOR Kerri-Marie Covington
PHOTO EDITOR Alexander Rodriguez
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Celeste Andrews
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Benjamin Paley
WEB EDITOR Richard Finkel
CONTRIBUTORS Nate Nkumbu, Sofya Perrin, Ivan Benavides, Matt Brown, Joshua Giron
BUSINESS MANAGER Ryan Lynch NEWS EDITOR Katrina Scales 2 11.21.2017 University Press
ADVISERS Neil Santaniello, Ilene Prusher, Michael Koretzky
Table of Contents
SPORTS
Cult of Lane Kiffin
A cult celebrity on campus, FAU head football coach Lane Kiffin is teaching FAU to win while having fun again.
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NEWS
News Briefs
A highlight of the UP’s top news stories from the past few weeks.
FEATURES Sharing a Room A look at what goes into the editing process at FAU’s two literary magazines, Coastlines and Swamp Ape Review, both based out of the same room.
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The Path to Pro Gaming Students in FAU’s College Gaming League take competitive gaming seriously — but what does it really take to play video games for a living?
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Another Way to Serve An FAU senior dedicates his Saturday afternoons to teaching tennis to local kids with special needs.
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OWLS Adaptive Tennis Club founder Oscar Fonseca teaches a child with special needs how to hit the ball over the net. Katrina Scales | News Editor 11.21.2017 University Press 3
NEWS BRIEFS JAZZ BAND season debut Sofya Perrin | Contributing Writer
Songs from jazz legend Duke Ellington were performed.
Courtney D. Jones plays the trumpet during the FAU Jazz Band’s “Back to Basics” concert. At the start of the semester, Jones was appointed assistant professor of trumpet and artistic director of jazz ensembles at the university. Sofya Perrin | Contributing Writer
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or his directorial debut at FAU, Courtney D. Jones, who has a doctorate in trumpet performance and pedagogy from the University of California Los Angeles, selected pieces he believed to be big band jazz standards and named the concert “Back to Basics.” The band played a series of jazz classics from the ’20s to ’50s during the concert, which was held Thursday, Nov. 2 in the University Theatre. Starting off with “Basie Power” by Ernie Wilkins, they continued on with other pieces from the Count Basie Orchestra, as well as
tunes from Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Frank Foster and other notable jazz composers. “In order to know where we are going, we need to understand where we came from,” Jones said. “And what better way to do that then to play big band music … to showcase, when music was music.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Owls defeat
Edward Waters 91-59 in home opener Gerdarius Troutman has career day, tying career high in rebounds. Matt Brown | Contributing Writer
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n an early afternoon tip-off, FAU Men’s basketball defeated Edward Waters 91-59 for their first win of the season. The Owls (1-1) started the game on an 18-2 run and never looked back. They led by 34 at half, 57-23, and led by as much as 42 in the second half. The Tigers (2-4) shot just 28 percent in the first half before finishing the game at 40 percent overall Thursday, Nov. 16. Charles-Eddie Smith of Edward Waters led the team with 21 points. He was 5-of-10 on three pointers and shot 53 percent overall. Rasaad Morgan played a game high 31 minutes. He pulled down 11 of his team’s 26 rebounds and had both his team’s blocks. FAU’s senior point guard Gerdarius Troutman shot 67 percent and led all players
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with 23 points. He tied his career high of six rebounds and also had four steals, his most ever in a game. Junior guard Anthony Adger scored 15 points and dished out a team high five assists. Redshirt senior Ronald Delph had two blocks and pulled down a career high 14 rebounds. The Tigers failed to reach 60 points for the first time this season. This is the first time the Owls have held a team under 60 points since Dec. 21 of last season when they defeated Webber International 76-56. The Owls next travel to Estero, Florida for the Gulf Coast Showcase from Nov. 20-22.
FAU redshirt senior center Ronald Delph (33) looks around for a pass while being guarded by an Edward Waters player. Joshua Giron | Staff Photographer
VETERANS FLAGPOLE raised on Boca campus
‘SHARK TANK’
Eight organizations competed for prize money.
Members of ROTC, Student Government, Veterans Affairs, and the Army took part in the flag-raising ceremony.
Benjamin Paley | Distribution Manager
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Benjamin Paley | Distribution Manager
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fter over a year of planning, Student Government dedicated a flag to veterans and missing in action soldiers. SG and the FAU Military and Veterans Student Success Center commemorated the installation of a flagpole featuring the Veterans and Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Flag. The ceremony took place outside the Boca campus Student Union Tuesday, Nov. 14. The flagpole project, which cost around $11,000, involved putting together legislation, purchasing materials, and organizing funding, according to a July 2017 Boca House of Representatives agenda. SG President Emily Lawless, Boca Raton campus Governor Der’Resha Bastien, and the Boca House of Representatives each contributed
FAU holds its first
U.S. Army soldiers Ronald Fulmore (left) and Paul Roderick help set up and raise the U.S. flag during the ceremony. Alexander Rodriguez | Photo Editor
$3,747.70 to the project. The FAU Color Guard, which is part of the university ROTC program, raised the veterans flag, along with the U.S. flag. Army recruiters Paul Roderick and Ronald Fulmore were involved in the ceremony as well. Maintenance of the flagpole, as well as any accommodations needed in the event of a natural disaster, will be handled by the veterans center, according to the agenda. It will be raised and lowered each day, once in the morning, and once before sunset.
wo student organizations were awarded $1,500 today after taking part in the Council of Student Organizations’ first “Shark Tank.” Health Occupations Students of America: Future Health Professionals and the American Marketing Association took home the funding prizes from COSO, which is part of Student Government. The idea is based off the ABC reality show “Shark Tank,” which sees entrepreneurs present business ideas to a panel of potential investors. The competition was held Monday, Nov. 13 and featured eight student organizations seeking funding for various events: • Fraternity Sigma Chi • FAU Ice Hockey • Health Occupations Students of America: Future Health Professionals • Women Empowerment Club • Pets in Danger FAU • The Association of Doctoral Students in Public Administration • The American Marketing Association • Future Healthcare Executives Club Council members judged the organizations’ presentations based on four criteria: creativity, FAU spirit, the presentation itself, and collaboration. Presentations ranged from PowerPoints and poster boards to flyers. COSO panel members included associate director Jessie Houston, director Jacklyn LaBayne, associate director Christina Peat, and assistant director Justin Mahone. 11.21.2017 University Press 5
The Path t Pro Gaming
Students practice their Super Smash Bros. skills in the Student Union. Thomas Chiles | Features Editor
Students in FAU’s College Gaming League offer a look at what it takes to be a professional gamer. Thomas Chiles | Features Editor
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laying video games all day sounds easy enough — but what’s not easy is making it to the professional level. The spread of competitive gaming is apparent now that popular video game tournaments are broadcasted on major cable networks like TBS and ESPN. And students who love video games are working hard in the hopes of turning their hobby into a full-time job. FAU’s College Gaming League, founded in 2008, is a club where student gamers gather to practice their video game skills. They meet in IVA South every Friday at 7 p.m., but throughout the school week you can find many club members near the row of TVs in
the Student Union. “It started out as a casual thing, and the last two or three years it has become more competitive,” CGL Vice President Jonathan Carberry said. Many of the students at the club, like Carberry, are there to get better at whatever game they’re practicing. Released in 2001, “Super Smash Bros. Melee” continues to be one of the most popular games played on campus. Carberry said his goal is to become the best “Super Smash Bros. Melee” player in the world — and he feels like he’s on his way. “Keeping it up is like playing a musical instrument,” the junior computer science major said. “You have to practice consistently and practice specific things.” But as easy as it may seem to an outsider, becoming a professional gamer takes a lot of time and practice, and it usually begins at a young age.
A Shifting Culture Competitive gaming, or eSports, is comparable to traditional sports in many ways. For example, if you start training at a young age, the potential to go professional is significantly increased. One problem young American gamers may face is that many parents today frown upon their child playing video games for extended periods of time. They may even discourage the pursuit of professional gaming altogether. “A big issue is definitely parental support,” CGL President Ricardo Bolanos said. “More often than not, young players rely on their parents for transportation and if the support is not there then they just can’t do it.” At first, Carberry said his parents didn’t realize his potential as a competitive gamer. “I don’t think my parents believed that I could be the best, even in South Florida, until I actually brought home money,” Carberry said. Carberry plays and wins money in local tournaments hosted at Versus Gaming Center, located in Pompano Beach. Even if gamers aren’t reliant on their parents for support, there is still a stigma in the U.S. surrounding people who take video games seriously. “When Super Smash Bros. was on TV, there were so many tweets from people complaining about a video game being on ESPN,” mechanical engineering major Bolanos said.
But as eSports continues to blossom, Bolanos hopes the general public will become more open to the idea of competitive gaming.
Practice, Practice, Practice Garen Mazmanian has been playing “Super Smash Bros. Melee” since he was 6 years old. “Ever since I first played it something magical happened, as cliché as it sounds, I just loved the game,” Mazmanian said. Mazmanian, 23, is now one of the top ranked Melee players in the area. Although he graduated from FAU with an associate degree in computer science a few years ago, he still shows up at the Student Union and CGL meetings from time to time to get in some practice. “In South Florida right now I’m ranked about fourth to seventh, somewhere like that,” Mazmanian said. “But I don’t really want to stop here, my goal as a competitor is to be the best. Right now, I’m just not pleased, I don’t check [my ranking] because I’m just disgusted when I look at it.” Mazmanian has been gaming competitively for the last four years, and he believes that a large factor in keeping your gaming skills sharp is connected to your mindset and mentality. “Realistically, you just have to play as much as possible and enjoy learning,” he said. “Either you win or learn, there is no losing.” CGL member Darlington Igwenagu explained how important consistent practice is for pro
gamers. “The top Smash players have been playing for over 10 years, and practice many, many hours,” the sophomore multimedia media studies major said. “They watch videos of themselves and other top players to study.” So how many hours does one have to practice to become a pro? While everybody is different, Joemar Celcis, another CGL member, said the “10,000 hour rule” is applicable to many games. “In order for someone to achieve mastery over something, 10,000 hours is the minimum to fully understand it,” Celcis said, a junior management information systems major. “That’s how long musicians practiced since they were young to become masters of their instruments.”
“I don’t think my parents believed that I could be the best, even in South Florida, until I actually brought home money.” - College Gaming League Vice President Jonathan Carberry
Students play Super Smash Bros. on the Student Union TVs. Thomas Chiles | Features Editor 11.21.2017 University Press 7
“Just like regular sports, eSports requires you to commit to something and keep playing it. Yeah, you’re playing games, but you’re playing games to be better than everyone else.” - College Gaming League member Joemar Celcis
He added that there aren’t casual players who just stumbled into the competitive scene without trying, saying that becoming a professional gamer takes over your life. “Obviously [pros] love the game but it’s a job,” said Celcis. “You play the game to practice and win, and that changes your mentality a lot.” Carberry, the club’s vice president, knows how vital every hour of practice can be. “I used to play a whole lot, about eight to 10
hours a day,” Carberry said. But it wasn’t long before he began feeling pain shooting through his hand when he played.
NO PAIN, NO GAME A trip to the doctor revealed that Carberry had developed tendinitis from practicing too much. The doctor told him to take it easy when handling the game controller. Now, he takes precautions each time he sits down to game. “Everytime before I play I stretch my hands, just keep everything loose to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Carberry said. When Carberry goes to tournaments, he plays for hours on
end — so he was forced to get innovative when dealing with hand pain. “Sometimes in specific fingers I feel pain, so I’ve trained myself to switch between different controller grip styles,” said Carberry. Some professional gamers have developed chronic hand pain due to excessive playing. One pro even went as far as building his own custom controller to relieve stress on his hands. So when Mazmanian practices, he makes sure not to overdo it. “Sometimes I play about three to four days in a row, and I have to take weeks off at a time to relax my hands and get out of bad mindsets,” Mazmanian said. “It’s good to rest your hands and your mindset.” Celcis said that eSports aren’t all that different from traditional sports like football and basketball. “Just like regular sports, eSports requires you to commit to something and keep playing it,” Celcis said. “Yeah, you’re playing games, but you’re playing games to be better than everyone else.”
College Gaming League Vice President Jonathan Carberry (left) and President Ricardo Bolanos. Thomas Chiles | Features Editor 8 11.21.2017 University Press
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A year after three consecutive 3-9 seasons, FAU Football is winning while having more fun than it’s had in nearly a decade.
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During a home game week, the “Lane Train” travels around the Boca campus to promote school spirit. Photo courtesy of FAU Athletics 10 11.21.2017 University Press
CULT OF LANE KIFFIN Ryan Lynch | Business Manager
EDITOR’S NOTE: ALL STATS CURRENT AS OF FRIDAY, NOV. 17.
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rom trains with his likeness rolling through the Breezeway to his tweets trying to recruit everyone from LeBron James to Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson to come to “#thefaU” Lane Kiffin quickly became the university’s newfound hero. The head football coach started out as a starstudded media circus hire for a team that was mired in three straight 3-9 win seasons. And after his first year at FAU, the hype has proven to be very real as the Owls continue to win, sitting at a 7-3 record overall. But it’s not just the fact they are winning, it’s how. Name another team that has a coach whose 77-yearold father danced in the locker room after a win, gave his star running back a Madden rating, or said that his favorite fan base to troll is Tennessee? FAU right now looks like one of the most fun teams to watch, and it’s not just because they’re bowling in the locker room. (Players pretended to bowl after their win clinched a spot in an NCAA bowl game this season.) Kiffin has been instrumental in building a brand for the team, one that reaps more success than every team that has come before in the past eight years. On offense, the Owls are averaging 39.4 points per game, the 10th best in the nation. That crooked statistic is bolstered in part by the emergence of two stars on offense. Sophomore running back Devin Singletary has
ripped apart the record book while becoming arguably the best running back in the nation. He already has the all-time program rushing touchdown record with 34 and has eight straight games with over 100 yards. Redshirt junior quarterback Jason Driskel has only thrown for six touchdowns compared to his 11 last year, but has proven to be a much better leader than his previous play showed. Despite a close loss to Buffalo 34-31 earlier this season, Driskel’s decision making along with the work of offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has created one of the best offenses in the FBS. Defensively, the secondary is the best in the nation with 18 interceptions. Seven separate players have an interception, including a team-leading five from junior safety Jalen Young. All of this is done with players who have never experienced a season like this and it shows. During the Owls Nov. 3 game versus Marshall, Driskel was asked about senior wide receiver Kamrin Solomon’s 60-yard touchdown pass to Devin Singletary. “I don’t know how to calculate passer rating, but I imagine his is pretty good now,” Driskel joked about Solomon. Solomon’s rating sits at 934 for that lone pass attempt. That’s nearly eight times higher than Driskel’s rating of 129.4. The quarterback did have a noticeable smile after the win against Marshall and so did many of his teammates who spoke after him. They joking about the game and how it felt to be going to a bowl game for the first time since 2008. Much of that has to do with Kiffin. You saw it before the season started, with scholarship offers to players who were still in middle school. He worked toward giving FAU the best signing class in Conference USA, according to 247Sports. It continued with fan-made effigies of Kiffin at tailgates, to the school handing out visors at games. Later, a Kiffin cardboard cutout became one of the most sought after prizes on Twitter, so much so that the athletic department has repeatedly handed them out. Program founder Howard Schnellenberger helped form what FAU football is during his time as head coach, guiding the team to some of its highest highs. But even then, Schnellenberger had his own way of doing business, different from the way Kiffin runs things now. It will be tough to know what will happen following this first season. Kiffin has addressed rumors of leaving for another bigger program over Twitter, saying he’s “happy here,” but one can never truly know. While waiting for the potential of a conference championship game spot, there is one thing FAU fans can be sure of. The fact is, while the team may keep winning in years to come, they won’t have another season that feels like this. Kiffin has created a cult following with his actions both on and off the field. But now, the “Lane train” may bring FAU Football places it has never been in a long time.
OUR FAVORITE WEB HEADLINES DURING LANE KIFFIN’S TENURE A lot of things happened throughout the coach’s first season in charge. Here are some of our favorites, as told through the headlines. 1. F lorida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin says terrible promo video was done on purpose and ‘perfect’ Dallas Morning News
2. W hy is FAU coach Lane Kiffin talking about sending a cardboard cutout of himself to Nick Saban? Sun Sentinel
3. T he Lane Train keeps on trolling ESPN
4. Lane Kiffin trolls media over Nick Saban’s ‘rat poison’ comment AL.com
5. Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin offers 13-year-old a scholarship USA Today
6. Lane Kiffin Turns Into Twitter Philosopher? Sun Sentinel
7. FAU coach Lane Kiffin says tweet of purposely not covering the spread was a joke Sun Sentinel
8. FAU Offering Fans Chance to Win Full Size Cutout SEC Country
9. Lane Kiffin follows ‘UT Coach Kiffin’ on Twitter because he’s gonna troll Tennessee forever SB Nation
10. L ane Kiffin on coaching at Florida Atlantic: ‘If I don’t make it here, I guess I’m just a play caller’ SEC Country
11.21.2017 University Press 11
Another Way to Serve
Katrina Scales | News Editor
An FAU senior teaches tennis to local kids with disabilities as part of his new on-campus club. After a warm-up, the kids line up to practice hitting a foam ball across the court. Leah (pictured) was one of the first participants in OWLS Adaptive Tennis Club. Katrina Scales | News Editor 12 11.21.2017 University Press
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rowing up, FAU senior med student and tennis player Oscar Fonseca became close with his cousin Jose Miguel, who has Down syndrome. Despite facing med school deadlines, he dedicates his Saturday afternoons to teaching tennis to local kids with disabilities. Fonseca, 21, started the OWLS Adaptive Tennis Club less than a year ago and already has a flock of nine local preteens, all on the autism spectrum, participating in his weekly meetings. During the week, he is a full-time biology student, applying for medical school and clocking long hours in the science lab. “I think I am fortunate for having such experience with my cousin because it has allowed me to understand the many hardships that people with disabilities go through,” Fonseca said. “Having been part of my cousin’s many life challenges and accomplishments has allowed me to understand that everyone must be treated the same way, with the same respect and dignity.” Originally from Ecuador, Fonseca played tennis competitively before moving to Florida five years ago. He previously volunteered for “Fundacion Escuela Ecuatoriana de Tenis en Ruedas,” a foundation in Ecuador providing tennis lessons to kids with cerebral palsy. Fonseca’s club is strictly recreational with no pressure to compete with other players. The organization is free and open to both students and non-students. After some practice shots with the foam “adaptive” tennis balls, the kids practice hitting real ones over the net. The kids are constantly
shouting words of encouragement to each other, echoed by their parents on the sidelines. Fonseca enures each participant has enough chances to perfect their aim. “It’s special. It’s different than teaching with no disabilities. You have to have special care with them. You have to know that they’re no different, but they learn different,” Fonseca said. “So, be friendly with them and make sure you’re supportive and that they have other people around that support them.” Patrick, 13, is one of the oldest kids in the club. He’s in eighth grade and enrolled in AP Spanish. His mother, Consuelo Guerrero, said her son is improving on multiple levels thanks to Fonseca’s club. Guerrero expressed her gratitude that her son finally has a chance to be physically active. Fonseca’s patience is a gift that Guerrero, a special needs teacher herself, said she understands. “If I put him in a regular tennis class, first of all, I’d have to pay. Second, it wouldn’t work because of his schoolwork,” she said. “Third, all the other kids are going to be, like, perfect and he’s going to be left behind. Oscar will never leave any child behind.” It’s uncommon for programs like Fonseca’s Adaptive Tennis club to be free. Most parents can expect to pay at least $100 per session and often, a long car ride. Tennis is a budding sport for individuals with autism and other neural disorders. It’s an individualistic sport and requires strategic-thinking skills. Since there is no team to depend on, the feeling of accomplishment that comes with being solely responsible for progress can quickly build confidence and self-esteem. “In tennis, players must keep their eye on the ball
at all times so their hands can quickly react. This type of focus can aid in the development and progression of a child’s hand-eye coordination that can translate outside of tennis,” according to the Autism Society. Though the club’s roster is growing, Fonseca said he’s uncertain about its future following his graduation in the spring. But by working with local organizations like the East Coast Tennis Foundation, who provides the club’s equipment, Fonseca hopes to get others involved before he graduates.
Oscar Fonseca at the Athletics Tennis Complex on the Boca campus. Katrina Scales | News Editor
“It’s special. It’s different than teaching [kids] with no disabilities. You have to have special care with them. You have to know that they’re no different, but they learn different.”
Sam, a participant of OWLS Adaptive Tennis Club, poses with her racket after a lesson. Katrina Scales | News Editor
- OWLS Adaptive Tennis Club founder Oscar Fonseca 11.21.2017 University Press 13
After a round of practice swings with foam tennis balls, the kids gather around Oscar Fonseca to hear about next week’s practice. Katrina Scales | News Editor 14 11.21.2017 University Press
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tudents sit around a table in Room 301. Half of them are working on a story about taking a trip inside an umbrella. The other half, on an expedition where everyone kills each other. Both stories will be published this year but for two entirely different publications. And they both work out of the same room. The College of Arts and Letters has two literary magazines, Coastlines and Swamp Ape Review. Founded in 1970, Coastlines publishes, on average, a 90-page paperback book once a year, giving students the opportunity to write and edit poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and submit illustrations. The publication can be taken as a class under the arts and uate FAU grad d letters college. n student a Swamp Ape Review is a new literary magazine master’s er b m e sm degree program founded in 2015 that’s created entirely Coastline eda Issac Zep p by master’s students. Taking its inspiration from the his pop-u presents s mythological human-like creature of the same name, the Coastline book at a r magazine has a theme of alternative poetry, fiction, and Alexande meeting. nonfiction. z | Photo Rodrigue Unlike Coastlines, Swamp Ape Review has been r Edito exclusively online and accepts worldwide submissions, some coming from as far as Iceland. But this time around, the students involved are looking to print their first ever paperback. Every Wednesday afternoon, students meet in Room 301 of the Culture and Society Building to start working on this year’s editions of Coastlines and Swamp Ape Review. After the initial meeting led by both group’s faculty
adviser, English professor Kate Schmitt, the groups split off and head to different rooms in the culture building. Down in Room 125, Coastlines’ editing team talks and reviews entries submitted for its upcoming annual fall showcase being held on Nov. 29 in the Live Oak Pavilion. The showcase will feature writers and artists from past issues. Graduate assistants Mary Mattingly and Meryl D’S are part of Coastlines and Swamp Ape’s editorial team. They help decide what artwork and writing submissions get accepted to both publications. Once the submissions are in, they, along with members from each literary magazine, discuss and edit the pieces. “We discuss the submissions and put them on the screen,” Mattingly said. “We all talk about them at first then we have them work on each piece, each genre, and review what works with Coastlines.” The graduate assistant said that for the most part, Coastlines expects submissions from liberal arts majors. “It’s cool to see what the FAU community is submitting. Primarily, we would expect the English majors to submit, so the challenge is soliciting other submissions from a different department,” Mattingly said. The graduate assistants added that they get feedback from student contributors when deciding on a theme for each Coastlines edition. “It would be difficult to figure out a theme and not have students contribute to that,” D’sa said. “So we see what we get and get a common thread between all of them.” Meanwhile, Swamp Ape Review gathers in a computer lab in Room 240. Around 15 members work to put together what will come out in January as their first paperback edition. Graduate student Kathleen Martin said Swamp Ape Review looks for submissions that reflect the uniqueness of the swamp ape legend, said to roam around Florida and share a resemblance to Bigfoot. “Swamp Ape kind of lends us the idea about hybrid pieces and that maybe things aren’t clearly poetry or clearly fiction or clearly visual arts so it blends the boundaries of the genre,” she said. Martin added that the editing team looks for unconventional pieces. “Honestly, we just want work that is experimental,” the graduate student said. “Not work that is experimenting for the sake of experimenting. It’s boundary pushing but not of the sake of it.” Back at Coastlines, senior English major Angela Chaperon said that while editing poetry, she looks for originality. The senior said that she has never turned down entries but suggests that some need improvement before they’re considered ready for print. “There are a few really good ones that have the potential to be amazing they just need a few changes … It’s not really a major deal but they’re really amazing,” Chaperon said. Chaperon said that she often reviews poetry submissions for about two hours every week, one in
Kathleen Martin, a third-year graduate student, edits a piece for Swamp Ape Review. Nate Nkumbu | Staff Writer the Coastlines class itself and one outside of class. According to the English major, she treats it like schoolwork, giving her time to spend with friends and finish assignments for her other classes. “You have to make time for it, if you want to do it,” the senior added. Kate Viola, a member of Coastlines’ nonfiction editorial team, said that she will often debate whether or not pieces belong in the publication. “I remember there was a poetry piece, like, two or three weeks ago and we spent the entire class talking about poetry and there was this one piece that I loved and I was, like, ‘I’m going to defend this piece,’” she said. Swamp Ape Review managing editor Natalie Rowland said that she feels lucky to have the opportunity to work at the publication. “... This is giving us a chance to practice practical skills of running a literary magazine,” she said. Rowland added, “For me, it’s a lot of management, a lot of one-on-one outreach with artists and that has been really fun, honestly, because we’ve been able to connect with so many people who come to the campus.” The managing editor said that Swamp Ape has interviewed guest writers like Justin Torres, author of the book, “We Are the Animals,” and have him be involved with the FAU literary community. Rowland said that their content shows people there are passionate writers all over the world, mentioning a submission from a bartender in the Alps in Europe.
“Swamp Ape kind of lends us the idea about hybrid pieces and that maybe things aren’t clearly poetry or clearly fiction or clearly visual arts so it blends the boundaries of the genre.” - Graduate student Kathleen Martin 11.21.2017 University Press 17
“We definitely get very unexpected people,” she said. “It’s kind of cool to think about things as you go about your daily life, there’s a waiter at a restaurant who could be some super talented writer or artist. So it takes you off guard.” Meanwhile in Room 125, Coastlines Editor-inChief Brianna Vazquez works with the literary magazine’s marketing department. Vazquez, a senior studying English, said that Coastlines’ small budget means they have to focus on advertising rather than putting out more editions. “Overall, we only have about $5,000 in our account because we already used $1,000 on merchandise like bookmarks,” she said. “We had more money last year, around $7,500.” Coastlines gets the money to print from FAU’s Council of Student Organizations. According to its website, COSO is a Student Government program that helps fund student organizations like the literary magazine. Swamp Ape Review has mostly been funded through donations from the student body and teachers. But recently, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture awarded it a $10,000 grant to print its first issue. Prior to faculty adviser Schmitt working at Coastlines, she did her master’s at the University of Houston while working at their literary magazine, the Gulf Coast Journal. She said that there are fairly large differences between the Gulf Coast Journal, Coastlines, and Swamp Ape. “[Gulf Coast] was a very well established literary journal with a lot of money and a board of directors,” she said. “Swamp Ape Review was created in 2015 and originally it was called Magazine X.” Schmitt added, “They were working how to figure out their aesthetic and all of that stuff. It’s still a work in progress.” With Coastlines, Schmitt said that they replace the staff every three years. In comparison, the adviser said that Swamp Ape Review has to figure out its long term goals. “One of the things Swamp Ape is going to have to figure out that Coastlines won’t ever have to is what their long term aesthetic goals are going to be,” she said. “Whereas Coastlines, because it’s a class, they can choose what themes the magazine can be.”
Graduate assistants Mary Mattingly and Meryl D’Sa talk to fellow staff members about what’s next for Coastlines. Alexander Rodriguez | Photo Editor
“It’s cool to see what the FAU community is submitting. Primarily, we would expect the English majors to submit, so the challenge is soliciting other submissions from a different department.” - Graduate assistant Mary Mattingly
Year Founded Coastlines: 1970 Swamp Ape Review: 2015
Type of Program
Coastlines: Undergraduate literary class Swamp Ape Review: Master’s degree program
Number of People Involved
Coastlines: Around 30 Swamp Ape Review: Around 12
18 11.21.2017 University Press
d n u o r g Back Information Funding
Coastlines: Student Government’s Council of Student Organizations Swamp Ape Review: Donations and grants
Printing Schedule
Coastlines: Once per year on paperback Swamp Ape Review: Twice a year online, with its first print edition coming out in January
WE NEED
PHOTOGRAPHERS If you’re at the Boca campus, come to our meetings, every Friday at 2 PM.
MEETINGS 2 PM / STUDENT UNION / ROOM 214
EVERY FRIDAY