UNIVERSITYPRESS FAU’S FINEST NEWS SOURCE JANUARY 20, 2015 | VOL. 16 # 10
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Table of Contents f
The Staff
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Read us - upressonline.com Follow us - @upressonline
TUESDAY JANUARY 20, 2015
Editor-in-chief: Wesley Wright Managing Editor: Emily Bloch Associate Editor: Michelle Friswell Creative Director: Sabrina C. Martinez Business Manager: Ryan Murphy Print Photo Editor: Max Jackson
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Web Editor: Mohammed F. Emran Asst.Web Editor: Alexis Hayward
Rooms for Improvement Story by Annie Pizzutelli
Florida Atlantic can’t fill its housing facilities, and students give insight as to why they choose to live elsewhere.
Web Photo Editor: Tim Murphy News Editor: Jillian Melero Asst. News Editor: Lynnette Cantos Features Editor: Emily Creighton Sports Editor: Josue Simplice Science Editor: Andrew Fraieli
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Designers: Netanya Walton, Ivan Benavides
Come Get Me Story by Max Jackson
Students are disregarding FAU’s new smoking policy that they had no say in.
Contributor: Annie Pizzutelli Copy Desk Chief: Carissa Noelle Giard Asst. Copy Desk Chief: Reimy Benitez Distribution Manager: Jake Stuart Advisers: Neil Santaniello Michael Koretzky
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Oxygen Hurts Story by Andrew Fraieli
Oxygen may be necessary for life, but it might be what ends life as well.
Cover: Mohammed F. Emran
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PUBLISHER FAU Student Government The opinions expressed by the UP are not necessarily those of the student body, Student Government or FAU.
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Breaking Neutral Ground Story by Lynnette Cantos
FAU has gender-neutral bathrooms, but where are they located?
The Second Act Story by Josue Simplice
Transferring to FAU not only rejuvenated Alison Gorrell’s career, but also her passion for the sport that she loves.
January 20, 2015
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News
ROOMS FOR IMPROVEMENT
On-campus occupancy rates are continuing to stagger. Students tell us what they want out of residence life.
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Occupancy Percentages (from Division of Student Affairs Department of Housing and Residential Life)
2012-2013 2012-2013 2012-2013
91.8% 88.1% 86.6% Parliament Hall
Story by Annie Pizzutelli
he shoe-box sized dorm room, dining hall food and annoying roommates are all thought to be part of the quintessential college experience, but that does not seem to be the situation at Florida Atlantic University. According to the Division of Student Affairs Department of Housing and Residential Life, since the 2012-2013 school year, occupancy rates have dropped from 91.8 percent to 86.6 percent. As occupancy numbers have declined, FAU has attempted to make on-campus living more appealing to students. Older residence halls like Algonquin Hall have been renovated while new luxury living spaces, including Parliament Hall that claims to offer ocean views, have been built. Also, the Recreation and Fitness Center opened in 2010 with the new football stadium following in 2011. Yet, even with these new accommodations, the percentage of oncampus residents remains low. According to FAU’s 2012-2013 annual report, only 15 percent of students lived on campus.To compare, the University of Florida had 24 percent of its students living on campus during the same school year, as stated in the school’s common data set statistics. At any university, resident life can be an ideal way to acclimate to campus, make friends and feel connected to the university — but it comes at a price. The high cost of living and strict rules often leave students craving the freedom that comes with moving off campus. “Living on campus is a great way to meet people as a freshman, but once you get past that initial awkwardness of making friends, you just want to be out on your own and not have to deal with all the rules,” said Alexis Perez, a junior neuroscience major who lived in Heritage Park Towers her freshman year before moving off campus. Housing guidelines include regular room checks and restrictions on having certain items like candles, according to FAU’s Housing Guidebook. Innovation Village Apartments, the newest upperclassmen residence hall, looks more like a swanky condo than a dorm room, but the luxury comes with a hefty price tag. For the 2014-2015 school year, the least expensive room in IVA, a 4-bedroom apartment, costs $4,800 per student each semester. Freshman students living in Parliament Hall will pay $3,300 for a shared double dorm room. “I’m not happy about the price. We were living in UVA last year, but we couldn’t get it this year because we signed up too late. [IVA]
“Living on campus is a great way to meet people as a freshman, but once you get past that initial awkwardness of making friends, you just want to be out on your own”-Alexis Perez Photo by Gouthaman Raveendran P.4
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January 20, 2015
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News is way more expensive. These upperclassman dorms tend to be pretty far away from everything … I’m sitting here walking half an hour to each class,” says Doug Stracher, a sophomore multimedia journalism major. Now more than ever, FAU is facing stiffer competition from off-campus housing projects. Between University View, University Square and soon-to-be-built University Park, students have a variety of less expensive alternatives to the traditional residence halls within a mile of the school. “For me, living off campus was actually cheaper than living on campus,” says Brad Sarsony, a senior computer engineering major, “I spend about $100 less a month for more space and more privacy.” One thing that these off-campus facilities can’t offer is convenience. Some students living in the residence halls either don’t have cars or can’t drive. Their classes, the dining hall, gym and the student union are only a short walk, longboard or bike ride away. “Living off campus is really expensive to keep driving back and forth. All my classes are in the same spot and its way easier for me to just walk to class,” says Katurah Young, a sophomore English education major, living in IVA South for her second year. For many students, the price of commuting pales in comparison to housing rates. Housing costs have steadily climbed throughout the years and will continue to be a deterrent for students as the university’s Board of Trustees approved another uptick in rates last November. As for now, students on FAU Class of 2018 (Official) Facebook said that on-campus living would be more desirable if the school made a few alterations. Currently students in the residence halls are required to purchase a meal plan. Optional meal plans could save students at least $1,512 if they choose to opt out. Residents also feel that room lockout charges are an unnecessary expense. Charges range from $15 to $25 each time they need assistance to get into their rooms. Other students complained that the Wi-Fi connection is too slow and unreliable, which poses difficulty for those with online courses and programs. The housing department is already working on resolving this problem. They have just built a new Wi-Fi tower near the IVA residences and will add another to the UVA and Parliament side of campus in the next two to three weeks. FAU is continuing to explore ways to improve resident life, especially for upper division students with more housing options. “We have to find a way to show our returning students that there’s value to living on-campus and we’ve done that,” says Corey King, the interim vice president of Student Affairs. One thing we’ve done is free laundry, we’ve just updated our Wi-Fi. We’re looking to make things more convenient for students.”
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Photo by Mohammed F Emran University View Apartments on 4th St. east of campus, formerly known as Addison Park.
LEAVING
THE
NEST
Will you be living on campus next year? (Total Response: 389) Yes: 28% No: 34.7% Undecided: 28.5% I am graduating: 8.7% On Campus: Why do students move off campus? (Total Response: 119) Cost Effective: 60.7% Living Space: 10.4% Privacy: 8.1% Living Amenities: 7.4% I am Graduating: 0% Other: 11.9% Off Campus: Why do you live off campus? (Total Response: 312) Cost Effective: 66% Living Space: 13.5% Privacy: 13.5% Living Amenities: 7.1% A survey conducted by FAU Student Government gives insight as to why students are choosing to move off campus.
January 20, 2015
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News
Come Get Me fau's new smoking policy may cause more harm than good. Story and Photos by Max Jackson
“I
would not, I would not be inclined to obey this. I would not leave campus to smoke a fucking cigarette.” Junior English major Sam Siegel, is a former cigarette smoker who now only smokes her e-cigarette. “With the e-cig I don’t have to smoke it, I can put it down for a week at a time and not touch it, you know? But it’s just something that I enjoy,” she said. Florida Atlantic’s smoking ban, which took effect Jan. 1, prohibits students, staff, faculty and visitors from using any tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, while on campus. University policy specifically states, “smoking and tobacco use are prohibited on, in or about all university property … This prohibition includes without limitation smoking and tobacco use in any vehicles while parked, stopped or traversing university property.” If the policy is violated, the student or faculty member caught risks penalties up to expulsion from school or termination from his or her job. Despite the ban and its steep consequences, smoking continues to happen on campus. In his video to the university about going tobacco free, FAU President John Kelly states the change is “an effort to create a healthier environment for all students, faculty, employees, vendors and visitors [at Florida Atlantic University],” but it may cause more trouble for its members who are trying to quit. In a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine conducted in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia, out of the 5,939 current and
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former smokers who responded, “75.4% stated that they used ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) to help them reduce their smoking; and 85.1% reported using ENDS to help them quit smoking.” “I think that’s a little harsh … to be honest … I think that may be a little too much,” said current Student Body President Michael Cepeda on the inclusion of e-cigs and smokeless tobacco. The logic behind including e-cigarettes in this policy, according to FAU’s “Tobacco Free Manual” is that “the FDA has the authority to regulate e-cigarettes as a tobacco product.” The answer goes on to cite a link from the University of Kentucky Clean Indoor Air Partnership that explains what an e-cigarette is. Students aren’t buying the banning of e-cigarettes just for the sake of it. Even non-smokers are speaking out against the ban. Sophomore Natalia Cereceda said, “I’m not a smoker myself, but I’m not in favor of the change. What someone chooses to do with their body should be a choice at everyone’s disposal. Secondhand smoke is not difficult to avoid anyway.” Senior and Boca Student Government Senator Stefon Napier said, “the smell is so strong. And it’s actually [a problem] for me because I have asthma. So, I mean, in some ways I suppose I like it, and in some ways I know and understand that [smoking’s] what people need. This is a university, it is very stressful. Do I think there are healthy alternatives to smoking? Yes, but who am I to decide that?”
January 20, 2015
Continued on page 10
! !
THANKS FAU is NOW TOBACCO FREE!
There is a NEW Tobacco Policy!
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
TOBACCO
FREE EST. 2015
January 1st, 2015 Marks the beginning of FAU’s Tobacco Free Policy 4.1.7
Text
Text
Coming January 1, 2015, FAU will be Tobacco Free For assistance and information go to
http://www.fau.edu/ healthycampus /tobaccofree/ www.fau.edu/wellness/tobaccofree.php Text This means No Cigarettes, No Chewing Tobacco & No E-Cigarettes
!
Find out how you can be involved! Volunteer! Become an AMBASSADOR
Pick up Quit For the Day Bags at Health and Wellness Office or FAU Clinic!!
News
This begs the question: Did FAU ask the students and faculty if they were in favor of a smoking ban? Cepeda said, “This [smoking ban] was something that was made before my time. I came in knowing about it, like ‘Hey by the way, January, new smoking policy,’ so I was like OK.’” Former Student Body President Peter Amirato was contacted by two representatives from the American Lung Association who pitched the idea of becoming a tobaccofree campus in June 2013. “It was a very serious pitch, too,” recalled Amirato, “they came with packets of information and pamphlets of their statistics and numbers … I told them, first of all, the only thing I would ever consider is smoke-free, but even then that’s not a decision for one person to make.” Amirato proposed a compromise. His plan was to poll the students – the body of people who this decision would directly affect. He said, “I wanted to have a large, well-organized poll and referendum so that if three, or four, or five years down the road … this is ever brought up, we can say ‘Hey … well the students spoke and we heard, so we’re not doing this,’ or ‘We are or we have done this because the students spoke.’” Amirato’s demand for the poll required at least a one-in-three responce rate, then the decision would be what the majority of the voters wanted. His removal from office due to academic reasons in January 2014 caused his work on the tobacco issue to come to a halt. Amirato’s goal was to “wait until February to start the campaign, have it really pick up speed through March and … have the voting sometime in April.” Patrick Callahan became student body president after Amirato and failed to reply to the University Press’ request for an interview. Right around the time Amirato had planned on holding “the largest voter turnout that FAU has ever seen for a single topic” on the tobacco ban, a subcommittee was formed to discuss exactly that. The Tobacco-Free Subcommittee has been together
since late spring 2014 and is chaired by Donald Torok. One of the members of the subcommittee is Manager of Health Promotions for American Lung Association in Florida Matthew Competiello. The committee drafted an implementation timeline, scheduled to take effect from May 2014 to April 2015. A goal listed for January is to “provide an online reporting link to receive feedback from across the university.” Member of the Tobacco-Free Subcommittee and Ways and Means Chair of the Boca House of Representatives Chris Ferreira said, “The consensus I got from the committee was that they basically wanted to figure out … where on campus people are breaking this policy.” There is now a link to report someone breaking the policy that can be found on FAU’s Healthy Campus page under “Enforcement.” It seems that the FAU Police Department will not have a heavy hand in enforcing these new rules. According to FAU’s Chief Press Officer Lisa Metcalf, “FAU Police cannot conduct traffic stops for smoking because it is not a violation of traffic law, so someone cannot be detained based on smoking.” Instead, there will be tobaccofree ambassadors around campus to remind people to respect the policy and give them information about quitting. If a situation dealing with a smoker gets out of hand, the ambassador is meant to report them to the designated supervisors according to FAU’s Healthy Campus page. Students will be reported to the dean of students, faculty and staff to their supervisor, visitors to FAU PD and vendors to Facilities Planning and Construction. The University Press reached out to Media Relations with other inquiries, but was referred back to FAU’s new smoking policy regulation 4.1.7. Anyone who would like more information about resources to help quit smoking should visit FAU’s Healthy Campus website.
“Do I think there are healthy alternatives to smoking? Yes, but who am I to decide that?” - Stefon Napier, Boca Student Government Senator
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Marcia Lawrence contributed to the reporting of this article.
January 20, 2015
“I don’t smoke cigarettes but I like tobacco... I have a cigar in [my bag]. If I wanted to smoke it, I’d smoke it.” - Marshall DeRosa, Political Science Professor
“It’s helping us to not want cigarettes, because honestly when you have these... If you go back to cigarettes they don’t taste the same.” - Ashton Edwards, Exercise Science Freshman
Script for TobaccoFree Ambassadors Tobacco-Free Ambassadors are students, faculty and staff members volunteering five to 10 hours a month to aid in enforcing the new smoking policy. here is what they are trained to say in the event they catch a smoker on campus: 1. “You may not be aware, but smoking and/or using tobacco is not permitted at FAU. It’s part of our commitment to protect the health of everyone while they’re here.” 2. “We are a tobacco-free campus and it’s important for the health of all of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors that you not use while you are here. Thank you very much.” 3. “The ban is in place for the well-being of everyone at FAU. We would appreciate your cooperation. If you prefer to continue to use tobacco, you’ll need to move to a location off our property where smoking is permitted. Thank you.” 4. If the person still refuses to abide by the tobacco-free policy, let the matter drop and report the encounter to the online reporting site or FAU police or an FAU administrator.
“I think e-cigs should be allowed because it’s not even doing anything bad, I mean it’s just water vapor.” - Nick Paulino, Freshman at PBSC
5. If the person becomes confrontational or abusive, please walk away. If you fear for your safety, call the FAU Police.
January 20, 2015
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Science
Story by Andrew Fraieli Photo by Mohammed F. Emran
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January 20, 2015
Oxygen Hurts The oxygen you need to live is slowly killing you, but an FAU professor’s research aims to stop this.
Y
ou can survive for two weeks without food and five days without water, but only about five minutes without oxygen. And yet, oxygen is slowly killing you. The problems arise from the byproducts created when the mitochondria in our cells turn this oxygen into energy. Herbert Weissbach*, a professor of biochemistry at FAU, researches how our cells protect themselves from the problems that occur when we use oxygen. “We need oxygen to make energy, but a small amount is also being converted to reactive oxygen species,” he says. Problems such as heart disease, eventual blindness in the elderly and other age-related diseases are caused by these byproducts, according to Weissbach. A common misconception is that since we need oxygen to survive, more of it would be better. The problem with this is that breathing pure oxygen would just accelerate the process that Weissbach is trying to stop. Weissbach explains how these compounds created by the mitochondrial conversion of oxygen are dangerous to us: “These compounds readily oxidize other components
in the cell, including DNA, proteins and lipids. When these important molecules are oxidized they can lose their function and this is referred to as oxidative damage.” The little bit that mitochondria does not convert is the origin of these problems. Depending on age, our cells can handle these reactive oxygen species without much damage. As you get older though, these defenses get weaker allowing the compounds to harm important parts of your cells. Our cell’s first built-in defense against these harmful reactive oxygen species is an enzyme. The enzyme is set out to destroy these oxygen atoms when they are formed by combining them with hydrogen to make water and render them harmless. Weissbach explains the process that creates the problems: “The reactive oxygen species are mainly generated in the mitochondria where respiration takes place. In this process oxygen is reduced to water and energy is produced. However, the process is not perfect and a small amount of oxygen is never fully reduced (converted) to water but to these very reactive oxygen species like hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid (bleach).”
January 20, 2015
These reactive oxygen species are a strong cause of aging. Hindering oxygen from hurting us and activating this secondary defense could be one step closer to living longer. Weissbach’s research is in a secondary defense that our cells have called preconditioning. When there is little oxygen somewhere such as the heart, but still enough to live, enzymes are sent out to prevent the severe lack of oxygen from killing us. This is usually only activated by a lack of oxygen, but according to Weissbach, his lab has found a drug that “turns on preconditioning, even though oxygen is fine.” Activating this secondary defense other than when it is naturally used can give extra protection to vital organs like the heart and save the retina from being destroyed, which causes blindness as someone gets older. When this was used on flies in the lab they lived twice as long, just from stopping the byproduct of those pesky mitochondria. *Weissbach is the director and a research professor for the Center for Molecular Biology & Biotechnology. He also has a Ph.D. in biochemistry.
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Features Story by Lynnette Cantos Illustration courtesy of Dustin Cantos
Breaking Neutral Ground There are gender-neutral bathrooms on FAU’s main campus, but nobody knows where they are.
F
lorida Atlantic University has more than 28 gender-neutral and gender-inclusive, singlestall bathrooms, yet there is no vital information about them in FAU’s student handbooks or on FAU’s website. Despite an online petition that made local headlines last semester, there is limited access and knowledge of where the gender-neutral bathrooms are located. “They really should have them listed on a map or something, but I don’t think they ended up doing that,” junior English literature major and transitioning student Benjamin Brage expressed. Brage was in charge of social media marketing when the petition launched in the beginning of the fall 2014 semester. The goal of the petition was for FAU administration to show awareness by listing the gender-neutral bathroom locations on campus. As of publication time, the petition has garnered 138 signatures. “Sometimes it’s very intimidating going into one or the other bathroom for transgender students,” said Ashley Ashbaugh, president of Lambda United — FAU’s LGBTQIA student organization. “They don’t always feel like male or female bathrooms are the right one or the correct one.” According to the Transgender Law and Policy Institute, there are more than 150 colleges in the United States with gender-neutral bathrooms made simply by changing or remodeling single-stall bathrooms from male or female. The University of Central Florida,
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for example, contains 17 gender-neutral restrooms and the directory map can be found within the LGBTQ tab on their main website. In comparison, FAU provides a paper listing accessible in the Multicultural Affairs office above the Breezeway on the Boca Raton campus. The paper listings feature seven buildings, such as the S.E. Wimberly Library and the Tom Oxley Athletic Center. Missing from the list are genderinclusive, single-stall bathrooms located inside the dorm lobbies including Indian River Towers and Parliament Hall. “The dorm bathrooms are not designated, but helpful,” explained Lambda United treasurer Sarah Cothron to the UP when naming the dorm bathroom locations. While the list is available in the resource center, it is not as convenient for students who are transitioning and in a hurried search for a nearby restroom. Brage heard about the gender-neutral bathroom signs through word of mouth instead of from FAU administration. “Basically, what happened was [FAU] put up signs that say ‘gender neutral’ instead of ‘family’ [restroom],” Brage said. “I’m not sure if they did anything else.” Senior marketing major Jennifer Joseph knew of the gender-neutral bathrooms but never saw them before finding one inside the administration building. “I had heard of them awhile back but never saw any until that one,” Joseph stated. “I think it’s great and it gives
January 20, 2015
people who don’t conform to typical gender conventions a safe place to do their business.” Ashbaugh confirmed with the UP that the bathrooms are open for the entire student body and are not restricted to transgender students. “Safety is most important for students on campus,” Ashbaugh said. “Not all of them feel safe going into bathrooms when they’re transgender. It’s a very hard and confusing time to be mentally one gender and biologically be different.” BENJI’S CLOSET Benjamin Brage and Ashley Ashbaugh are also leading a non-profit organization dubbed “Benji’s Closet,” with the concept of donating gently-used clothing for transitioning students. “We sort of turned [the idea] into an actual charity and we’re in the process of applying to be a 501(c),” Brage informed the UP. A 501(c) is the IRS category for tax exemption requirements under charitable organizations. Alongside their online shop and social media presence, their charity fundraiser has raised $1,500 as of publication time. “We’re hoping that we can apply to be a 501(c), and then use that money to buy binders and breast forms for transgender people in need,” Brage said.
Continued on page 19
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Features
Gender-Neutral Bathroom Location Map
Photo by Mohammed F. Emran
Gender-neutral plaque at the Tom Oxley Athletic Center.
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Interior of a gender-neutral bathroom located in the Tom Oxley Athletic Center.
Parliament Hall
January 20, 2015
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Sports
Story by Josue Simplice Photo by Max Jackson
The Second Act Alison Gorrell regained her passion for the game of basketball after traveling over 2,000 miles to a new school.
Two years ago, Alison Gorrell was at one of the lowest points in her basketball career. “I had lost my passion for the game, I just wasn’t having fun playing anymore,” said Gorrell. Today, she’s having a career year for the FAU women’s basketball team, but it didn’t come without some adversity. Originally at the University of Wyoming, Gorell transferred after her sophomore season. “I had lost my passion for the game, I just wasn’t having fun playing anymore,” said Gorrell. Players transfer from schools all the time for a variety of reasons. Many people in Gorrell’s situation would give up and find something new to do. “She’s just hyper competitive and hates to lose in anything, she understands her weaknesses and if she makes a mistake you better believe she’s gonna be in the gym working on her game,” said head coach Kellie Lewis-Jay. Not playing for a year was all it took for Gorrell to rejuvenate her career and love for a game that she’s played most of her life. It prepared her with the motivation for the second half of her collegiate career. “I think the fact that she didn’t play last year just motivated her to go out and prove herself this year,” said sophomore guard Kat Wright. Gorrell comes from Evergreen, Colo. — the type of town you read about in books where everyone knows each other, with a population of 9,038. Gorrell attended Conifer High School in Conifer, Colo. where she averaged 24 points and six rebounds. She played for coach Mick Gorrell, her father. Because of her father’s head coaching position, she was able to get access to the school gym whenever she pleased. He knew how to guide Gorrell’s passion for basketball. “My dad had the keys to the gym and me and the team could just sneak in whenever we wanted,” said Gorrell about practicing. “He knew how to push me and get the best out of me.” Mick Gorrell said his daughter pushed herself, and there was no need for him to do it. “Ali knew what to do to push herself and how to get herself to that next level. She always wanted to get better,” said her father Mick. She led her team to the state semifinals and earned Colorado Division 4A Player of the Year honors in 2011. Her play on the court also garnered interest from multiple Division I college basketball programs. The schools that showed the most
Class: Junior Position: Guard Height: 5-foot-10 Hometown: Evergreen, Colo. Last School: University
of Wyoming
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January 20, 2015
Continued on page 22
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Sports
Photo By Max Jackson Gorrell’s favorite thing to do outside of playing basketball is spending time with her sister Sarah, an FAU freshman.
Photo By Max Jackson Gorrell attempts a short jump shot in a Jan. 8 game versus UAB. She had 10 points in the 66-56 win.
Photo Courtesy of Alison Gorrell Gorrell, front left, in a team photo from her rec league organized by the Evergeen Rec Center.
interest in Gorrell were not the most cost effective for her. she had played in,” said Lewis-Jay. “The Ivy League schools really recruited me hard, but you don’t get Attending FAU was an abrupt change for Gorrell and the close-knit athletic scholarships at those schools and you have to pay for everything,” community lifestyle that she grew up with. said Gorrell. “When you’re 17 or 18 you’re kind of scared to make some decisions She decided to attend the University of Wyoming, a school and and don’t know what you want, but when you’re 19 or 20 you’re a little community which she thought best mirrored that of her beloved Conifer. more grown up and sure in your decisions. This is what I wanted,” said “It was right next to Colorado, and it was a small community just like Gorrell about her decision to transfer to FAU. my hometown,” she said. Sitting out her first year due to NCAA transfer rules, Gorrell went “I thought it was great because it was only about 50 minutes away and through a transition period after coming to South Florida. She adjusted we would be able to get to see her play,” said Mick Gorrell. quikly thanks to teammates like sophomore guards Kat Wright and Although she started all 32 games of her sophomore year and averaged Shaneese Bailey. 3.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, it was a far cry from “We’re not just teammates. It’s like having 12 other sisters who’d do the statistics she averaged as a senior in whatever for you and help you out,” said high school just two years earlier. She had “Ali’s our leader, and she’s my best Gorrell about the team. trouble fitting into the offensive concepts friend and someone who I can go “Allie’s just a really good person and and it affected her in a multitude of ways. to whenever I need to talk about friend, and I love playing with her,” said “I naturally play the two and three Bailey. anything, and it’s not just me, it’s the The move has paid dividends for both position (shooting guard and small forward whole team,” positions) and I was being asked to be FAU and Gorrell, and as of publication the main ball handler and point guard,” time, she averaged 15.3 points per game and - Shaneese Bailey, FAU teammate said Gorrell about her play at UW. “The 6.3 rebounds per game. offensive concepts there are also very slow paced and constricting, you She has been an asset on the court for the team, but also off of it. constantly have to slow down and run sets and plays.” “Ali’s our leader, and she’s my best friend and someone who I can go Underwhelming statistics and an ill-fitting system had an adverse to whenever I need to talk about anything, and it’s not just me, it’s the effect on Gorrell’s love for the game. She knew the time had come for a whole team,” said Wright. change in her life — at least in her basketball life. Lewis-Jay allows her players to be multifaceted and to freely play their Because of the potential she flashed in high school, when she style of basketball. announced her decision to transfer schools, numerous colleges tried to “We run a motion offense which is constantly moving and requires recruit her. But one school and coach caught her attention. our players to be able to post up (play inside) and play on the perimeter. Her decision to transfer to FAU was easier after speaking to head We just try to take advantage of any mismatches, which we get,” said women’s basketball coach Lewis-Jay. Lewis-Jay. “She said ‘I want to help you find your love and passion for the game, Her sister Sarah, one of her biggest fans, continues to support and that’s the first thing we have to do,’” said Gorrell about Lewis-Jay. “That admire Gorrell off the court. just really attracted me to the school. No one else had said anything like “She has been my role model my whole life, I look up to her more than that to me.” I think she realizes,” said Sarah about her sister. Lewis-Jay didn’t know all of the skills Gorrell was bringing to FAU, but Gorrell hopes to continue her career season and to continue playing did know what type of player she would be coaching. basketball and be a part of the game she loves for as long as she can. “I knew she was just a great player who didn’t fit into the system which “I just want to go as far as this game will take me,” said Gorrell. P.22
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January 20, 2015
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