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0 201 0, 4 3 1 E er SSU emb 2 I Nov 1 . VOL

First issue is free; each additional copy is 50 cents and available in the UP newsroom.


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www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 2

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W O N N E R P U O O Y Y U B O T S E H T O CL


letter from the editor

Trashed but not university press www.upressonline.com November 30, 2010

trashy

Editor-in-chief Karla Bowsher

ART DIRECTOR Mariam Aldhahi Copy DESK CHIEF Ricky Michalski Entertainment Editor Briana Bramm SPORTS EDITOR Franco Panizo PHOTO Editor Liz Dzuro Listings Editor Zhenya Bonchuk OWL NEWS TV Editor Karen “Kat” Herisse senior Reporters Brandon Ballenger Monica Ruiz senior PHOTOGRAPHER Christine Capozziello STAFF REPORTERS Sergio N. Candido Alyssa Cutter Mark Gibson STAFF photographers Todd Roller Elizabeth Whitton COPY EDITOR Rachel Chapnick STAFF illustrator Adam Sheetz Business Manager Chris Persaud I.T. SPECIALIST James Shackelford ADVISERS Marti Harvey Michael Koretzky

777 Glades Road Student Union, Room 214 Boca Raton, FL 33431 PHONE: (561) 297-2960 ONLINE: www.upressonline.com Want to join our team? E-mail: upress@fau.edu Staff Meetings: Every Friday at 2 p.m. in the Student Union, Room 214 WANT TO PLACE AN AD? Contact Marc Litt at (732) 991-6353 or marc@universityimpress.com PUBLISHER: FAU Student Government The opinions expressed by the UP are not necessarily those of the student body, Student Government or the university. Cover by adam sheetz

Nearly 3,000 stolen issues later, I say props to the cops — and thanks to the thieves KARLA BOWSHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF In October 2009, student Nick Letteri was kidnapped and hazed by his fraternity brothers. In October 2010, professor Clevis Headley resigned as chair of the department of philosophy. So, what do they have in common besides FAU? Both were the subject of investigative cover stories in the UP. And both of the issues those stories appeared in were snatched from our red bins on the Boca campus and promptly relocated to nearby trashcans this year. They’re our first two issues to be stolen since 2005 — and I couldn’t be happier. Of course, I can only say that because the FAU Police Department has handled both cases so well. Last time, they caught the newspaper bandit (a fraternity member) just a few days after he tossed 900 issues. This time, after nearly 2,000 issues were stolen on Nov. 10, they had to sit through probably dozens of hours of video footage just to figure out who the bad guys were. But they’ve already made one arrest (philosophy major Yona Rabinowitz) and are looking for the second suspect. So, all the side effects of this year’s stolen issues, especially the latest, seem to be positive:

1. More notoriety The theft has been covered not only by us but by outlets across the country. The Sun-Sentinel, WPTV, a national student media blog based out of Tampa, and the Student Press Law Center near D.C. have all written about it now. Last week, I got an e-mail from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a nonprofit in Philadelphia. They had read about the theft on the SPLC’s website and wanted to make sure “the administration [is] taking this seriously.”

And as the news spreads, so does the UP’s name.

2. More readers

Our website traffic has been steadily increasing since the summer, but it’s really taken off in the last couple of months. In October, we broke a record, scoring more website hits than in any other month in 2010. This month, we destroyed even our October record, increasing hits by more than 70 percent. Circulation is also increasing: This semester’s average has already surpassed last semester’s. I have to wonder if it’s because we’ve started to make a name for ourselves. Thanks to a combination of investigative journalism and breaking news, no one has covered FAU quite like us this semester. The news of professor Headley’s resignation was broken in the UP — and that’s just the latest in a handful of stories we covered before any other outlet, including big local names like the Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post. And based on the numbers, readers are taking note.

3. More proof that Student Affairs isn’t always right Besides increasing our notoriety and our readers, the theft of nearly 2,000 issues is also a compliment — one that defies the words of certain administrators. If people are stealing our newspapers, it means they fear people would otherwise read them. And with two thefts this year alone, readers are clearly on the rise — which puts a lie to the claims of administrators like our own student media director. She’s bashed our numbers and our product all semester when she’s supposed to have been advocating for us (visit our Owl Management blog for more details on that). But two thieves willing to risk arrest, a growing audience, and professional outlets and organizations across the country beg to differ. So, to the FAU PD: again, a job well done. And to Rabinowitz and friend: a thank you well earned. I hope you enjoy your grand theft charge as much as we have. Just don’t forget to pay up.

continued on page 6 >>>

3 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com

WEB editor Tyler Krome

photos by chris persaud

Managing Editor Gideon Grudo


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NEWS

<<< continued from page 3

An open case “This is still under active investigation,” FAU Police Chief Charles Lowe told me by e-mail on Friday, Nov. 26. Although one suspect was arrested on Nov. 19, police are still looking for the second suspect. He’s a student but has not been attending class lately. “We are still following leads,” Lowe explained. “We expect new developments in the coming week.” Visit www.upressonline.com to read more about the theft and the first arrest, and check back later for updates on our case.

There’s no such thing as a free newspaper We provide the UP to the university community free of charge, but it still has a price. Our staff gets paid to produce the content. Our printer gets paid to print it. Our advertisers pay to advertise. So, at least a couple of thousand dollars go into each issue. Then there’s the sticker price: Only the first copy of the UP is free. Each additional copy costs 50 cents, which means the latest thieves stole about $1,000 in newspapers. “Newspaper theft presents a serious threat to the viability of the student press community,” according to the Student Press Law Center’s website. “Letting the thieves get away with it threatens the viability of a free press itself.” That’s why we pressed charges this time. As a result, when the FAU Police Department arrested the first suspect, he was charged with grand theft.

The Tobacco-Free Partnership of Broward County is a community coalition committed to making Broward County a safer, healthier place to live, work and play. The goals of the Partnership are to:

www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 6

o Increase restrictions on minors’ access to tobacco o Restrict the sale of candy flavored tobacco products o Encourage the implementation of comprehensive tobacco-free policy in Broward County schools o Create tobacco-free multi-unit dwellings (i.e. Condominiums, Apartments) o Create tobacco-free outdoors (i.e. Parks, Beaches) o Promote Cessation from Tobacco Use

Membership is open to the general public and professionals interested in preventing tobacco use. Please join us on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 8:00AM to 9:00AM, at the Broward County Health Department, 780 S.W. 24th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. For more information please call (954) 467-4807. Of the UP’s 39 bins on the Boca campus, two thieves emptied 31 of them on Nov. 10. Nearly 2,000 copies of the Nov. 9 issue, which had been distributed to those bins the previous afternoon, were found in 14 nearby trashcans like this one and the one pictured on page 3.


NEWS

Two for the money Borders and Chegg partner for online textbook rentals

Bookstore giant Borders announced it is partnering with Chegg, an online book rental company, to offer additional online textbook rentals. This should be great news for students, right? The possibility of millions of books, and maybe lower prices? But the new service offers no palpable benefits for customers — the sole beneficiaries could just be the two companies. According to both companies, the process to get books and the quantity of books available will stay the same. The only difference: simply a new link on Borders’ website allowing customers to rent books through Chegg. “Chegg and Borders now have an exclusive partnership where Chegg charters all Borders textbook online rentals,” said Tina Couch, vice president of public relations for Chegg. Mary Davis, public relations manager for Borders, said Chegg will supply the work force, and in return, the online rental company will benefit from the bookstore’s “robust customer base.” “The rental process is not easy,” Davis said, “and requires a lot of capital and management of books that are rented.”

Davis also said that Chegg will benefit from increased promotion and recognition. Borders is currently the second-largest bookseller chain in the United States with approximately 25,000 employees and more than 500 stores. “[Chegg] is a relatively new company that some of Borders’ customers still may not be familiar with,” Davis said. Couch said Borders will increase its revenue, since most students now prefer to rent textbooks online. “Sixty-five to 85 percent of students rent their books online,” Couch said. Couch added that Chegg partnered with Borders “because they have been around for years, and [it] is a trusted company with consumers.” The new feature is supposed to have been working since Nov. 8, but there was no such option available on the bookstore’s website (www.borders.com) as of press time. Students will not be able to walk into a Borders bookstore and rent books on site, something that would have put a new spin on the book rental process, but Borders will offer a buy-back option for students who want to sell their books. The partnership comes at a time when many Borders locations are closing down across the nation. About 200

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stores were scheduled to close this year, according to the company’s website, and The Miami Herald noted the closing of another Borders store just outside Miami less than a month ago. On the other hand, Chegg’s revenues have flourished. Founded in July 2007, Chegg is currently the No. 1 online textbook rental company in the nation. The company has grown into a respected and trusted brand used by college students and was recently named one of Time magazine’s 50 Best Websites. Coincidentally, the move to offer the new option comes months after bookstore rival Barnes & Noble started offering online rentals. Student Tessa Golovich believes the service is worthless if it does not provide customers with lower prices. "I think that there should be more discounts offered, especially considering how expensive things are for students,” said the 19-year-old mechanical engineering major. “It's kind of selfish.” Computer science major Ramon Spence thinks otherwise. "I don't think students are being disadvantaged, since online rentals are already cheap,” said the senior. When asked what’s in the deal for students, Couch only said: “Chegg’s partnership with Borders is just another vehicle to access to online rentals.”

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7 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com

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"The Jewelry Mall" www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 8

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Feature

Owls fly by night

Riding

along with the

Night Owls

Photos and words by todd roller staff photographer

Walking to your dorm after a night class? Need to get to the library to study but don’t want to walk among the shadows of the night? Call Night Owls, a service run for the students, by the students. Weeknights on the Boca campus from 7 to 11:30, Night Owls carts are driven to all

corners of campus to accommodate any student in need of a fast — though sometimes bumpy — ride. Whether you call the office to get picked up, or yell, “Hey, I need a ride!” to a passing driver on a dark-green cart marked “Owl Patrol,” it’s a convenient way for Owls to travel at night.

[Nov. 3, 9:46 p.m.] As a “walk-on,” Charlie Berichi flagged down the Night Owls cart while it was en route to a call, then asked for a ride from Parking Lot 1 to the University Village Apartments. As police liaison officer for the Boca campus, Berichi finds the Night Owls service “good for girls,” and he tries to hop on whenever he can.

[Nov. 3, 10:37 p.m.] Amber Addario (right) and Nicole Blahut (left) recognized Ross Bond, the driver of a Night Owls cart, and decided to hop on for a ride from the Student Union to the Indian River Towers dorm. Blahut, a junior biology major, said she uses Night Owls frequently because she is “afraid of pervs.”

9 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com

[Nov. 10, 10:05 p.m.] Ross Bond, a driver for Night Owls, drives to a call near the University Village Apartments. Bond, a geology major, has been driving for Night Owls since April and works Mondays through Wednesdays. As a junior, Bond said he got the job because he was already familiar with the Boca campus. While traversing the campus’s many nooks and crannies and driving students from place to place, Bond listens to his two-way radio for more calls from headquarters. The shortcuts Bond uses become apparent only when he creates them, squeezing his cart through hallways and past guardrails with only inches to spare.


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www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 10


NEWS

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LIZ DZURO

High-er education

FAU takes on marijuana

Marijuana, cannabis, hemp, pot, Mary Jane, or whatever you want to call it, has records of its usage dating back 8,000 years in China, Black Tuna’s gang leader, where its seeds were used Robert Platshorn, is for food. Now one of the sentenced to 64 years most debated plants in in federal prison for California Governor America, it's continuing smuggling weed (see online). Arnold Schwarzenegger signs Senate to make history. Irvin Rosenfeld becomes Bill 1449, which lessens adult marijuana the second federal possession charges from a criminal Pot becomes illegal in medical marijuana misdemeanor to a civil infraction. the U.S. patient in the U.S. (see online).

The first marijuana law is enacted in Jamestown Colony, Va., where all farmers are ordered to grow India hemp seed. United States census counts 8,327 hemp plantations that grow cannabis for industrial usages like cloth and canvases. Congress passes the Harrison Narcotics Act, which regulated and taxed production and distribution of opiates. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics is formed and directed by Harry J. Anslinger.

President Bill Clinton admits California voters have the to experimenting with marijuana as a Rhodes chance to vote on Proposition Scholar at Oxford University, but claims he 19 to legalize marijuana for “didn’t inhale it.” recreational use, but it doesn’t Marijuana is put in the pass. same drug category as California heroin. legalizes pot for medical use with Proposition 215. The Drug Enforcement Administration is formed. Canada is the first [Sources: www.nytimes.com, www. county to legalize norml.org, www.concept420.com, www.pbs.org] marijuana. Jimmy Carter campaigns in President Barack Obama favor of abandoning federal admits to smoking criminal penalties for marijuana before he ran for marijuana possession for up president. “When I was a kid I inhaled to one ounce of marijuana. frequently, that was the point.” According to the DEA, 26 million Americans are smoking pot regularly.

Florida bans selling water pipes and any type of paraphernalia.

11 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com

ALL WORDS BY MONICA RUIZ SENIOR REPORTER


NEWS

NEWS

FAU’s NORML club wants to lessen the charges for marijuana possession on campus Plotting out the pot

C

www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 12

alifornia is known for its killer waves, movie stars, and being the marijuana capital of the U.S. In 1913, California was the first state to pass laws against pot, but on Nov. 2, 2010, the state voted on Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana for recreational use. It came close to passing but didn’t. California has the most liberal laws for weed, while marijuana advocates claim Florida has the harshest. Here in the Sunshine State, the battle is just beginning — and FAU students are trying to get the word out. “I was not surprised that Prop 19 didn’t pass, because there was so much awful propaganda spread about it in the weeks before the election, and when you consider that they only lost by 10 percent, it should be a landslide win in 2012,” said Sabrina Koramblyum, a junior risk management major. “In terms of legalization in Florida, I don’t think it will be a setback at all. We’re one to two years away from decriminalization and two to four away from medical assist.” Koramblyum is the president of the FAU chapter of NORML, a national organization that lobbies for marijuana reform. Her biggest goal is to pass a “SAFER referendum” on campus to make the penalties imposed by administration for small marijuana possession similar to those for underage drinking. If SAFER passed, students who get caught with less than 20 grams of pot, which is enough pot to fill half a plastic sandwich bag, would pay a ticket or a small fine and have to take a drug and alcohol class, instead of facing expulsion or suspension. This semester, Koramblyum had one NORML member found drinking underage, and another got caught with weed. FAU sent the student who was drinking to a drug and alcohol course, while the student busted for pot was kicked out of her dorm, sent to a drug and alcohol course and given a community service requirement. So far, 13 college campuses have made efforts to pass SAFER, and FAU could be next. Vice president of FAU NORML Chris Alford said he wants students to act responsibly when it comes to smoking weed, but doesn’t agree that getting caught with a blunt or two should ruin a student’s future. “Instead of diverting the student’s attention away to all these rehab programs you would have for marijuana, [SAFER] would be just like alcohol: Do your online

home to parents and has to take a $50 educational class at the Today and Beyond Wellness Center. Depending on the severity of the case, more sanctions can be added. “We try to not be cookie-cutter,” said King. Sanctions can range from suspension to getting kicked out of the dorms for good. Just like Karen Goldstein feared, because alcohol is legal, passing SAFER at FAU might be challenging. “Marijuana is illegal. Alcohol is a legal drug and we treat it according to our laws. Anything that happens in terms of marijuana becoming legal, it has to be passed by the citizens of the state of Florida. I think we view it from a holistic standpoint — it would have to be a state approval policy regarding the usage of marijuana. [If] you are 21 you can consume alcohol, it’s legal,” said Brown. Ayden Maher, student body president, said marijuana is not the same as crack, cocaine or heroin. “You never hear someone overdosing on marijuana.” Maher is familiar with UCF’s attempt to pass SAFER, but stated, “You can pass any referendum you want, but it’s really who executes the policy.” He does encourage FAU NORML to put it up for student vote and agrees with the goal of SAFER, especially on a college campus. “I think by incriminating a student, you can ruin their chances for graduation, finding jobs and hinder their ability to [move] further in life. If a student is selling, that’s another story, but at the end of the day it’s something the university should consider.” Chris Alford and Sabrina Koramblyum understand that passing SAFER might require overcoming some hurdles, but they want to get their foot in the door. “Why aren’t we doing something about this, even though we can all agree that this isn’t right? We might have differences in the direction we may want this to go, but where we are right now, we can agree that it’s kind of stupid where it’s at and things need to be changed,” said Alford. “If Dr. Brown totally neglects us, that’s fine, but this issue is not going to go away. Unless we sit down and have a discussion about this, it’s only going to be a revolving process that needs to be changed.” So far, about 400 students have signed the SAFER referendum. Marijuana laws are changing and the gears for reform are turning. FAU NORML plans to continue to fight the good fight on and off campus. “What we have been able to get out of FAU NORML is a stepping stone. Now we can get a better idea of how the process works to go out into the real world and do what we want to do,” said Alford. “If there was a law you didn’t like you would bear with it, but after being in a movement that’s catching so much speed, I really see that if there is something you don’t like in the government, you have the power to change it. We can completely change the government as it stands,” added Koramblyum.

Using police reports, the UP has pointed out the drug activity on the Boca campus from the spring semester till September.

University Village Apartments: total arrests:

5 2 non-FAU students found smoking and trespassing

Heritage Park Towers dorm: total arrests:

1

student referrals for marijuana:

3

Brevard Court (street by the IRT dorms): Total arrests: 3, 2 non-FAU students arrested for under 20 grams and drug paraphernalia. student referrals for marijuana: 1 trespassing warning after smoking: 1

Parking Lot 40 (by Palm Beach State College): total arrests: 1, hit-and-run resulting in an arrest for Xanax pills

trespassing warnings after smoking

Glades Park Towers dorm, North Tower: Total arrests: 2, 1 student charged with possession of more than 20 grams with intent to sell and possession of ecstasy and drug paraphernalia Student referrals for marijuana: 1

Glades Park Towers dorm, South Tower: Total arrests: 0 Student referrals for marijuana: 0

Indian River Towers dorm, East Tower: Total arrest: 1, following a sting investigation with an undercover officer and informant. Student was arrested for delivery of marijuana and possession of 273 grams of pot. Student referrals for marijuana: 1

Indian River Towers dorm, West Tower: Total arrests: 2, 1 non-FAU student, other resident student Student referrals for marijuana: 5 Algonquin Hall dorm: Student referrals for marijuana: 2

Broward Ave. (FAU main entrance street): total arrests:

paraphernalia

2 for pot, 1 for pot and

Lot 23 (by the new Living Room Theaters): Total arrests: 2, 1 for possession of marijuana over 20 grams with intent to sell and drug paraphernalia, and the other because student was in the process of making drug purchase.

620 NW 35th St., by Jet Turbine parking lot: Total arrests: 2 for under 20 grams and drug paraphernalia

Parking Garage 1, by College of Education building: Student referrals: 2 students caught smoking

Parking Garage 2, across from student apartments: Total arrests: 1 for under 20 grams of pot

Florida Atlantic Boulevard and Glades Road (by second campus entrance): Total arrests: 1, carried out with the sting operation with an undercover officer. Student was arrested for intent to sell. He was found with an ounce of pot and $100; another 30 grams of marijuana, $300 and a scale were found in the bed of his truck.

Parking Lot 60 (near student apartments): Total arrests: 2 for possession of cocaine

continued on page 14 >>>

13 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com

ALL WORDS BY MONICA RUIZ SENIOR REPORTER

course, go to this class, pay for your dues, and then move forward,” said Alford, a senior public administration major. “We want to keep them in the college focused on what they are here for.” The University of Central Florida and Florida State University both passed SAFER, turning the wheels for marijuana reform in Florida colleges. In March, UCF passed SAFER, but was shot down a month later by Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for Student Development and Enrolled Services, because she didn’t want to place maximum penalties on marijuana cases, saying that each case is unique and should be individually examined. Although SAFER at UCF was cut short, Travis Sturgill-Trahan, president of UCF’s NORML chapter said they are going to try again, this time with help from Mason Tvert, deputy director of SAFER, to revamp the bill. The University of Maryland also tried to pass SAFER last year, but that effort came to a hasty stop. “Our administration is very conservative,” said Lauren Mendelsohn, president of NORML Terps at UMD. “It’s unfortunate that administration really doesn’t care that a vast majority of students are for it. It’s pretty undemocratic how the system is set up here.” Karen Goldstein, director of NORML of South Florida, thinks education is the way to change college regulations and state laws. “[If] people understood the truth about marijuana, not the lies they been told since the mid-1930s, most people would agree that marijuana is not only harmless but also has proven medicinal use. By educating people and taking the fear out of what they perceive, we can hopefully change minds,” said Goldstein. She thinks because alcohol is legal and marijuana has a criminal stigma, SAFER is harder to pass. FAU NORML needs more than 2,800 student signatures — 10 percent of the student body — in order for SAFER to pass. Students will then be asked to vote on the following question during next semester’s student body election: “Do you agree that the sanctions imposed by [FAU] for the use and possession of marijuana should be NO greater than the sanctions imposed for the use and possession of alcohol, and that students should not face suspension or removal from student housing for the private use and possession of up to one ounce of marijuana?” Corey King, associate vice president and dean of students, and Charles Brown, senior vice president of student affairs, both said that whether an underage student gets caught with a beer or a blunt, each sanction is dealt with case by case. If a student is caught with pot, Student Affairs reviews the police report, talks to the student and then evaluates whether the student is a casual or habitual user or if they deal. According to Brown, nine times out of 10, students are honest and straightforward. A student caught drinking underage gets a letter sent


NEWS

<<< continued from page 13

Have you ever smoked weed? The UP asked administrators about their drug experience in the past, and this is what they said. Charles Brown, senior vice president of Student Affairs: “I’ve never used drugs and never drank alcohol.” Corey King, dean of students: Didn’t verbally answer the question. He just shook his head. Ayden Maher, student body president:: “No comment.”

FAU tries to weed out students who smoke pot

I

www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 14

t’s about midnight on a Friday in October, right outside the Indian River Towers parking lot, and Conor Mckee just finished smoking a joint when he accompanied a buddy to get his wallet from his car. At the car, campus police pulled up behind them, got out and took a flashlight out to see what they were doing. Within minutes, Mckee was handcuffed, put behind the police car and taken to the Boca campus’s on-campus holding cell for marijuana possession. “He said he smelled it on me,” said Mckee, a freshman biology major. Mckee was arrested for having 0.4 grams of marijuana, which is enough weed to pack a small water pipe, but was charged with a gram. He’s not the only student getting busted for pot. FAU records show that from the beginning of the spring semester till the end of September, there were 27 reports involving students getting caught smoking pot. Twenty-two students were found smoking in the dorms and 13 were found with possession or paraphernalia in traffic stops. These numbers represent an increase in pot busts compared to recent years, and because there is more weed on campus, an undercover officer and informant were brought into the picture this fall semester. Police Chief Charles Lowe didn’t want to comment on the multi-agency drug investigation between the FAU Police Department and the Palm Beach County Multi-Agency Task Force, but said undercover operations are fairly rare at FAU. “[The investigation] is not targeted to college students, it’s targeted to our community,” said Lowe. “We had information that we had people selling drugs on campus. If you have folks that are selling drugs in your community, you want to find out who they are and deal with it appropriately.” Student Affairs couldn’t give a number as to how much of a drug increase there has been, but dean of students Corey King said they’ve seen “a lot more” than last year. According to Lowe, a lot of drug busts are connected with automobiles. “For some reason we don’t encounter students drinking in automobiles like we do with them openly consuming marijuana in automobiles. I can’t really explain that. We don’t have a lot of cases with alcohol,” said Lowe. Amir Rakhshani, a freshman sociology major, was smoking off campus with his friends in mid-October. On their way back into FAU they were pulled over by campus police. The officer told him and his friend that he could smell marijuana. Rakhshani didn’t have any pot on him, but was handcuffed, while his other friend wasn’t so lucky — he was arrested with three misdemeanor charges. “I was spaced out the whole time,” said Rakhshani. “I come from India, and I used

Charles Lowe, police chief: “I’m not even going to answer that question. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

to pay off the cops [when getting caught with marijuana]. I gave them four or five dollars and they’d leave you alone.” According to Charles Brown, senior vice president of Student Affairs, students who smoke in the dorms and are found with possession of marijuana are kicked out of the residence halls for good. “In reality, even if everyone has their own room and they have their privacy which we can’t invade, the environment is in close quarters and people tend to notice burning marijuana. That’s a thing that’s hard to get away from because of the close quarters,” said Lowe. Lowe, King, Brown, and Ayden Maher, student body president, all agree that FAU’s drug issues aren’t any different from any other college campus. “I think many students who use drugs come to campus using drugs, they don’t learn about drugs when they arrive. I don’t think our problems are any worse than other campuses. I would never say that we don’t have students using drugs; we do,” said Brown. “We have many educational programs set up to make sure students are aware of the consequences of drug use. We don’t want to lose students to drugs.” Brown said that today’s college students experience a lot more than today’s administrators did 30 years ago when they were in college. “There are some drugs that are legal, like spice, which is a drug a student can go out, buy and smoke like reefer, but it’s synthetic stuff that can kill you, but people smoke it,” said Brown. “I went to the [gas] station outside of 20th and bought a pack. I bought it to see what it is. I opened it up and it’s like rubber.” Chief Lowe thinks that the increase in drug arrests is a result of campus police being more proactive and doing more traffic stops. “Most crimes tend to be cyclic. We come and go through these periods of times there will be a significant number, then a low. This might be part of a normal ongoing cycle, but I think the investigation was a result of this spike,” said Lowe. If the student body is catching on to the drug busts, Lowe hopes that it might have an impact on next semester’s drug numbers. “I would hate to think that we would continue to arrest an ever-increasing amount of students. We don’t get a prize for the number of students we arrest. There is no benefit to us; we don’t want to see that continue.” As for Conor Mckee, Palm Beach County dropped his charges, but FAU gave him 25 hours of community service, and he has to pay a $100 fine and take a drug class. He is on school probation till December 2011. He said he will continue to smoke, but if he is arrested again Student Affairs told him he will get kicked out of FAU.


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What: Karaoke Night When: Wednesday, Dec. 1 Where: Coyote Jack's, Student Union, Boca campus What time: 8 to 10 p.m. Cost: Free Details: Party More info: Randale Nunley, (561) 239-2231 What: Fall Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition opening reception When: Thursday, Dec. 2 Where: Ritter Gallery, Boca campus

What time: 6 to 8 p.m. Cost: Free Details: Exhibit runs Dec. 3 to 10 More info: Polly Burks, (561) 297-2595, (561) 2972966 What: Gallery Showing and Reception When: Friday, Dec. 3 Where: Gallery 14, 1911 14th Ave., Vero Beach What time: 5 to 8:00 p.m. Cost: Free Details: Exhibition. The show Our Beautiful Ocean will run Dec. 1 through Jan. 8. A portion of the art sales will benefit ocean science research at FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. More info: www.fau.edu/hboi What: Dances We Dance performance showcase When: Saturday, Dec. 4 Where: University Theatre, Boca campus What time: 8:00 p.m. Cost: Adults, faculty, staff, students and alumni: $10. Children under 12: $5. Details: The showcase will include performances by groups such as the FAU Ballroom Club as well as independent choreographers. More info: Polly Burks, (561) 297-2595

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What: Messiah, Performed by FAU Choral Groups When: Sunday, Dec. 5 Where: University Theatre, Boca campus What time: 7:30 p.m. Cost: Free, with suggested donation of $10. Details: Concert. Annual holiday season tradition More info: Polly Burks, (561) 297-2595, (561) 2973820 What: From Shelf to Stage When: Sunday, Dec. 5 Where: Wimberly Library, fifth floor, Boca campus What time: 3 p.m. Cost: $15 to $20 Details: From Shelf to Stage is a musical performance with Aaron Kula and Klezmer Company Orchestra musicians Randi Fishenfeld and Jackie De Los Santos. The KCO trio will perform classic Klezmer melodies and Yiddish songs from the FAU Libraries Jewish print music collection. More info: Dottie Pierce, (561) 297-3921

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15 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com

What: Photo Exhibition of Surgery Performance When: Wednesday, Dec. 1 Where: Schmidt Center Gallery Public Space, Performing Arts Building, Boca campus What time: 1 to 5 p.m. Cost: Reception and exhibition free and open to the public Details: Works of French performing artist Orlan will be on display. Orlan will be present at the opening reception to celebrate the first U.S. solo exhibition of her historically significant surgery performance photos. Opening reception is on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m. More info: Polly Burks, (561) 297-2595, (561) 2972966


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www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 16

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Pass the mic

Open Mic Night the best kept secret in town KISHA DEMONTAGNAC CONTRIBUTOR

photos by michael trimboli

WeMerge Thursdays “WeMerge Thursdays,” hosted by Renda Writer, is a 3-year-old open mic that takes place at Kevro’s Art Bar. The Art Bar, which is located one and a half blocks from Atlan-tic Avenue in Delray, is a relatively new spot for fresh local art and talent. While hosting an open mic, “WeMerge Thursdays” also promotes WeMerge, a maga-zine started by Writer and his partner Dwayne Adams that gives a platform for local high school and college students to express their creativity in writing, photography and art. Upon entering the bar, there is a wall-high display of original artwork that covers the walls like wallpaper. The displays of paintings and photography are donated by local arists and are rotated with new art every two weeks from local talent. Kevro’s has many “pocket rooms” with seats set aside from the full bar and colorful dis-plays. There are also tall tables and chairs outside within earshot of the performances if you choose to slip away from the main event inside. It also houses a studio outside of the bar within the patio area that has couches to relax and mingle around. Also, there’s a creative space for anyone to come in and create art with a projector, where the performances can be broadcasted inside the studio. The talent presented at WeMerge Thursdays is quite diverse. The performances are pri-marily live music, but there are also poets who perform their original work, and regularly there is a featured guest who performs poetry or live music. Matthew Ryder, a 26-year-old musician and singer who writes his own music and plays guitar, is a regular performer and guest at Kevro’s. “I hear this guy is good,” said a member of the audience as he came in from the outside seating area to hear Ryder perform his original piece “Side by Side.” “Music is my passion,” said Ryder, who has been playing the guitar for 11 years and performing for 7. Jason Carney, a poet and the executive chair of Poetry Slam, Inc., is another of the many guest poets who frequently stop by WeMerge Thursdays. Carney is currently in Florida on one of the stops on his national tour where he performs his original poetry. Carney’s poetry delves into his life experiences and viewpoints while he talks about his deceased mother, racial issues that plague society and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These artists are just two examples of the entertainment that regularly passes through. WeMerge Thursdays tends to have a mixed crowd, with college students as well as mid-dleaged patrons who all come to enjoy the atmosphere, have a few drinks and support the regular performers. The grungy art feel, the essence of Kevro’s, is what keeps guests like Ryder and many others coming back. They say it’s not just the ambiance, but the creative vibe that perme-ates this local bar. “The place has a very comfortable atmosphere,” said Ryder. “[WeMerge Thursdays] has great people here and I love watching other people perform … there is a lot of great talent here.” Check it out: Where: 166 SE 2 Ave., Delray Beach 33444 When: Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. For more info: (561) 274-0007 or www.kevroart.com

Delray Beach resident Steve Ricketson sings at the Coffee District’s open mic night. The professional painter plays to support his daughter. “I’m a working father,” he said.

17 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com

hile some are like clubs and others look like grungy basements, they all have one thing in common: an open mic. Regardless of the setup, many aren’t aware of the diversity in styles and formats that de-fine different open mics. And while most college students know about regular South Flor-ida entertainment like movies, clubs or parties, the growing open mic scene is not as well known. So if it’s one of those nights when you want to hang out and enjoy music, fresh talent and good food while being entertained without the wall-to-wall bodies and a DJ blasting mu-sic, you might be interested in attending a local open mic night in your area. There is a different type of open mic night for every kind of person — it all depends on how you want to be entertained. With so many open mics to choose from, the UP did the work for you by checking out a few local open mics to give you a taste of what your area might have to offer. Here’s what we found.

W


FEATURE

Coffee District Coffee District’s open mic has a variety of live performances from poets, comedians and musicians with a mixed crowd of middle-aged and young adults. On a typical night, the crowd starts out light, and as the night progresses more young people start coming in as more performers take the stage. Coffee District’s current host, Brian O’Rourke, has been hosting for several months now. After guest-hosting one night, O’Rourke was asked by the owner, Chung Seu, to continue as the full-time host. O’Rourke also provides the sound equipment for a lot of the live music played for many of the featured artists. The performances are primarily musicians who play live folk music and other genres as well as poetry and, occasionally, comedy. An example of a regular performer at Coffee District is “Lord Russ,” who comes to the Coffee District to perform his original music as he plays the guitar. Russ said he attends for the friendly atmosphere, where he can usually have great conversation and showcase his music. Anthony Dondrea, 27, who was invited to the Coffee District by one of the regular performers, said he keeps coming back for the performances and great coffee. The coffee house also offers wine, 80 different craft beers and an assortment of snacks. The open feel of Coffee District allows conversations to carry on inside and outside without interrupting the open mic performances. Check it out: Where: 325 NE 2nd Ave. #104, Delray Beach 33444 When: Saturdays at 8 p.m. For more info: (561) 455-0521 or www.mycoffeedistrict.com Jason Carney, a 40-year-old “artist of the word” and former skinhead, enthusiastically spits lyrics at the Kevro Art Bar’s open mic night. “I’ve got to claim that stuff of my past,” said Carney, whose poems are primarily dedicated to discussing race, class and gender. The artist went on to explain that poetry gives him a way to talk about his past.

Mello Mondays www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 18

“Mello Mondays” open mic, taking place every Monday night at 8:30, has been buzzing successfully for three years. On Hollywood Boulevard, people line up outside Club Bluster waiting to get in to listen to a lineup of poets on any given Monday night. Inside are plush white couches, a full bar and DJ Midwid, which stands for “make it do what it do,” playing old school hip-hop like Outkast, MC Lyte, Biggie Smalls, and Mos Def between poets throughout the night, at the queue of the night’s host, Asia. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a club, with its dim, colorful show lights, a microphone standing center-stage and a crowd waiting for its next poet — the focus of the night. Asia has been hosting for the three years the open mic has been active at this location and is also a poet who performs there as well as at other locations. He has one rule: “Respect the mic,” which doesn’t seem too hard to follow, since most of the artists are serious about their crafts and try to captivate the audience’s attention with their performances. Asia’s ability to hold the attention of the audience with his poetry that he sometimes performs and his signature blunt sense of humor are classic examples of the entertainment found at Mello Mondays. The poetry is explicit, raw and uncut, being the main focus of this open mic, interrupted by occasional musical performances and monologues. And the artists who showcase their poetry range in topic and style. “It was so good,” expressed Eltrisa McDaniel, 22, explaining why she came back a

second time. “I love the atmosphere … it’s unique and relaxing. You could bring a date here or come by yourself.” A young regular poet at Mello Mondays who calls himself “Initiate” performs one of his originals as he discusses his struggle with the world’s media-fed propaganda and the truth behind it. “It’s about deciphering between my perception and reality to discover my own truth,” he said as he explained his currently untitled poem. “Poetic Vibes,” another regular local poet who has been attending Mello Mondays since 2003, also performs his original sexually explicit poem, “It all started in the car.” “Everything I see is poetry,” he said as he explained his passion. Life is his inspiration in his poetry, which he uses to discuss domestic violence, love and many other womenrelated issues. The mixed urban crowd listens intently and actively participates throughout the night as it chants “rewind” to a verse or line they want the poet to repeat. At midnight, when the poetry ends, the mic is removed and the bar and the dance floor are opened to dancing like a regular club. Check it out: When: Monday’s at 8 p.m. For more info: (954) 920-6525 Where: 115 N 21st Ave., Hollywood 33020


19 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com


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Dominated FAU’s bowl aspirations end with ugly 38-14 loss to MTSU

One last chance The Owls play their last game of the 2010 season this weekend: What: FAU vs. Troy University When: Saturday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. Where: Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale For more info: www.fausports.com

FRANCO PANIZO SPORTS EDITOR

www.upressonline.com • University Press • November 30, 2010 • 22

FAU’s postseason dreams were on the line against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, but rather than putting forth an inspired showing, the Owls lost with an embarrassing performance. The Owls (4-7, 3-4 Sun Belt) saw their bowl dreams flatline as they were dominated in a 38-14 loss to Sun Belt Conference foe Middle Tennessee State (5-6, 4-3) at Floyd Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 27. “I can’t explain the feeling that I have right now,” linebacker Michael Lockley told the Sun-Sentinel. “We are not going to a bowl game after starting my career going to back-toback bowl games [in 2007 and 2008].” Blue Raiders senior quarterback Dwight Dasher was the main culprit behind the dominance over FAU, throwing two touchdowns and rushing for two others, while the hosts’ defense limited FAU to 256 yards on offense. “We got beat soundly today by a very good football team,” head coach Howard Schnellenberger told FAUOwlAccess.com. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a football team that was beat so decisive in every aspect of the game.” Schnellenberger is mainly to blame for that because although a win was anything but guaranteed, his Owls allowed the Blue Raiders, with a then-identical record, to look like a Sun Belt heavyweight.

Aside from allowing Dasher to look like Michael Vick lite, the Owls ran into familiar problems offensively. As has been the case for much of the season, FAU struggled to run the ball, gaining just 55 yards on the ground. Alfred Morris, last season’s Sun Belt rushing leader, had just 40 on 19 carries. FAU’s passing game was subpar, with quarterback Jeff Van Camp throwing three interceptions, two to former Dillard High School player Darin Davis. “It was another case of us beating ourselves. We had those three turnovers in the second half that just killed us,” Van Camp told the SunSentinel. One player who did step up to the occasion for FAU was wide receiver Lester Jean, who is a safe bet to be named team MVP by the media at season’s end. Jean made eight catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 15 in his career and moving him into second alltime in Owls history. No individual performance, however, can mask the fact that for the second consecutive season FAU has failed to make a bowl game. That means back-to-back failed seasons for a program attempting to become one of the strongest in the state. Unfortunately for FAU, it won’t be able to turn its attention to fixing that issue. Not at least for another week, as the Owls have one more game to play, and a meaningless one at that. Sure, you’ll hear the players talk about

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bragging rights and ending their seasons or careers on a positive note when they host Troy, but the outcome won’t matter one bit for the Owls when everything is said and done. That’s why next week’s game could be served as a tune-up for next season. No, don’t expect Van Camp and other seniors to be benched — Schnellenberger is too loyal for that. What you might see, though, is some of the backups getting more playing time than usual, including quarterback David Kooi, who appears slated to take the reigns for FAU next year. That approach to the Troy game should be all but a foregone conclusion, but with some of the decisions Schnellenberger has made this season, one can never be too certain. In any case, the Owls’ current injury situation will likely force Schnellenberger’s hand, as several players look likely to miss the game. Among the walking wounded are safety Ed Alexander, defensive end Jamere Johnson and cornerback Tarvoris Hill. “We’ve got a whole bunch of people injured and I don’t know who we are going to suit up and play,” Schnellenberger told FAUOwlAccess.com. “As always, a game like this is not as bad as it appears, but this one is hard to mitigate. We’ll do the things we know how to do to get us back on the field and be representative in the game next week.” That had better be the case, because ending a second consecutive failed season with a pair of embarrassments would not be the work of a program looking to grow.


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23 • November 30, 2010 • University Press • www.upressonline.com

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