The Oracle
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Library hires monitors to enforce quiet zone rules
U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F LO R I DA
By Jessenia Rivera C O R R E S P O N D E N T
Due to complaints of unwanted noise and disruptive behavior, library officials have recently hired monitors to enforce quiet zones, ensure general cleanliness and help deter theft with the goal of establishing a better study environment for students. Terry Hutchings, the library operations manager, said monitors have the primary task of providing comfort and safety for all students. “Our goal is to make sure everyone has a great study environment,” Hutchings said. “We have a lot of collaboration going on, but we also have people who want quiet spaces.” According to Hutchings, the job is simple. When there’s a loud group or a noisy person disrupting the floor, monitors approach the person or group and ask them to keep it down. If the situation isn’t controlled with the gentle reminders or warnings, the next step is to notify one of the librarians and let them handle the situation from there.
Students march in pro-life rally Page 4
Human trafficking is slavery Page 6
The monitors are paid minimum wage and their pay comes from general library funds. The fifth floor, also called the “Quiet Zone,” was designed to meet the needs of students who seek to avoid the noise and chatter on other floors. Some students have complained that this hasn’t been achieved. “We’ve gotten a lot of complaints,” Hutchings said. “Many people don’t realize what the floor is for.” Students are able to make complaints using postcards with QR codes that are spread throughout the library. Although unawareness is expected from new students, library officials decided to take action for the sake of those who want complete silence as they work. Carolyne Tuwei, a graduate student majoring in finance, said the need for monitors shouldn’t exist. “You can clearly see this is a quiet zone,” Tuwei said. “Why would you be noisy?”
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Club baseball improved for 2018 Page 8
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NEWS
College of Public Health to race for human trafficking awareness
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
News Briefs Ken Nwadike Jr. to be next ULS speaker in February
The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) announced that the next speaker lined up for the University Lecture Series (ULS) will be Ken Nwadike Jr., also known as the “Free Hugs Guy.” According to a press release for the event, Nwadike is a peace activist, video journalist and YouTube personality who has inspired many through his motivational videos. Nwadike, once a homeless athlete, now owns Superhero Events, an event production company that raises funds and awareness for homeless teens. Founder of the “Free Hugs Project,” Nwadike works to bring awareness to social issues and inspire change through his videos. As a part of his “Free Hugs Projects,” Nwadike offers free hugs to people in high-tension situations such as protests or political rallies. It is meant to engage participants in productive conversations. The press release stated the speech will include a speech that will explore how to overcome the differences that divide us. Nwadike will be speaking on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. in the MSC Oval Theatre.
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Students will help raise funds to help combat human trafficking on Saturday. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE By Jessenia Rivera
Sheriff’s Office Community Newsletter, Florida ranks third in The Global Disaster the number of calls received by Management, Humanitarian Relief the National Human Trafficking and Homeland Security (GHH) Hotline. Overall, it’s been reported will host the 2018 “Light Up the that each year 300,000 children, Night” event to raise awareness between the ages of 12 to 14, are of human trafficking on Saturday. prostituted against their will. Joined by the Pasco County Police, AnnaMaria Orlando, the Light Up the Night will include a organizer for Light Up the Night, 5k and 1-mile run/walk race. said participants and community The event will be geared toward members will be continuously collecting funds for a variety of educated throughout the event. agencies who are set on ending “There will be different facts the human trafficking. According about human trafficking,” Orlando to event details, the goal for said. “While people are running or participants is not just to run for walking they can think about the the cause but also to educate purpose and reason and keep it in participants about the prevalence their minds.” of human trafficking globally and The event will start at Pascolocally. Hernando State College and will According to The Florida later move to the Shoppes of Department of Children and Wiregrass. The 5k and 1-mile run/ Families, there was 1,892 reports walk race, which will be taking of Human Trafficking in 2015- place on the college campus, 16. This is compared to 1,225 in along with a speech from survivor, 2014-15. Edie Ray. According to Pasco County “(Edie Ray) is with Healing C O R R E S P O N D E N T
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Root, and she’ll be giving us a small snapshot of her life,” Orlando said. “The whole purpose is to bring awareness to those benefiting organization and to sponsor them.” Elizabeth Dunn, Assistant to the Director/Instructor of GHH, said “Light Up the Night” gives public health students a chance to get involved. “By partnering with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office on their antihuman trafficking efforts, students have been able to support events like Light up the Night that are designed to educate the community about the prevalence of trafficking throughout the Tampa Bay area,” Dunn said. “Many of our students are eager to get involved with areas they are passionate about and volunteering allows them to explore public health issues, expand their social networks and work with leaders in our community.”
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MONITORS
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Victoria Mischley, a junior majoring in biomedical science, said she thinks the fifth floor was designed for more noise-friendly studying. “I think the floor set-up was made to talk,” Monasterio said. “You just feel more motivated to study here and work in groups.” Hutchings said the duties of monitors go beyond enforcing the quiet zone rules. “Their sole purpose is not just noise control,” Hutchings said. “They are there to check for cleanliness, let us know if there’s building issues and having their presence around helps to deter any thefts that may happen in the library.” According to Cetwinski, there theft is a problem because a lot of students tend to leave their personal items unattended. “We have issues sometimes with safety and security,” Cetwinski said. “I walked around the fifth floor and there were three cubicles where there was a laptop, a phone and a book bag and nobody was there.” Alicia Drayton, a senior majoring in finance, thinks that having monitors around to enforce a quiet environment is a great idea. “I don’t mind it at all,” Drayton said. “I like this floor because it’s quiet and I get a lot more work done due to that.” Cetwinski said he wants students to respect each other’s needs despite the new renovations. While the monitors will help control noise, Cetwinski and Hutchings think it’s important for students to respect each other and their needs without the assistance. “Some students don’t realize how loud they are talking when they’re in a group,” Cetwinski said. “We want students to self-monitor their actions.”
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LIFESTYLE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Students make their way to DC for the 45th annual March for Life
By Andrea Martin C O P Y
E D I T O R
One of every American’s first amendment rights is the right to peaceably assemble. The most famous American marches and protests mostly took place in Washington, D.C. It seems to be the best place to make the most noise. Some USF students, as well as thousands of others across the nation, will use this same venue to spread their ideas on one of the most controversial issues: abortion. Ashlie O’Brien, a senior majoring in public health, is the president of the Catholic Student Union and is in charge of a group of students traveling together to D.C. to take part in March for Life. “Our pilgrimage begins Thursday morning bright and early,” O’Brien said. “Our flight leaves Tampa International Airport at 8:05 a.m. We land in D.C. around 10:15 a.m. The trip incorporates mandatory events, but also leaves time for students to explore the history of our nation’s capital.” The students taking part in this trip are required to attend a daily mass at Our National The president of the Catholic Student Center at USF has organized a group of students to take part in March Life in Washington, D.C., on the 45th anniversary of the famous Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade. Basilica with students from all for SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/ ASHLIE O’BRIEN across Florida. The event itself, March for Life, is on Friday, Each year, the event hosts hashtag. accompany abortion firsthand. which is the anniversary of speakers. According to the “This will be my third year “I am a victim to abortion the Roe vs. Wade decision. In March For Life website, this attending the March for life,” and lost my nephew through this historic Supreme Court year the lineup includes Paul O’Brien said. “Believe it or this hateful act,” O’Brien said. ruling in 1971, abortion was Ryan, speaker of the House not four years ago I was an “I choose each year to march legalized in the U.S. of Representatives. Speakers avid pro-choice supporter, as an aunt, to march for my “We are there to march for in the past include Former believing women had the right nephew, and to all those who the voiceless,” O’Brien said. President George W. Bush and to choose what they do to are afflicted with tragic reality “To peacefully protest for a current Vice President Mike their body. It wasn’t until I was of abortion that are society greater respect of life from Pence. re-converted to the Catholic suppresses.” conception to natural death.” On the homepage of the Faith where Christ taught me Like many supporters who Those taking part will March for Life website are the importance of life and that make their way to the nation’s march up Constitution Avenue selected posts from multiple it is not ours to give or take.” capital every year, for the past to the Supreme Court and the social media platforms that O’Brien has felt the 45 years, O’Brien has faced Capitol building. have used the #whywemarch repercussions that sometimes opposition.
“My friends do share the same ideals, however my family and others I encounter do not,” O’Brien said. “I choose to live my faith publicly each and every day, facing rejection in order to live the Gospel as Christ modeled for us.” Another student taking part in the march, Nicole Dunleavy, a junior majoring in secondary science education, believes that these opposing views should not impact relationships. “I have many friends who share my beliefs about the pro-life movement and I also have friends who don’t share my beliefs,” Dunleavy said. “I think it’s important to respect each other’s beliefs in friendship regardless of how different they may be.” At the first March for Life in 1974, several thousand marchers made their way through the streets of the capitol. In 1987, there was a record of 10,000 marchers. Since then the numbers have skyrocketed. According to VOX News, the march with the highest attendance took place in 2013 with an 650,000 attendants. This is Dunleavy’s third time participating in the march and she said she believes there’s strength in numbers. “When many voices come together to speak out on an issue, the likelihood that they will be heard increases significantly,” Dunleavy said. “Being a part of this movement allows me to have a small role in helping the message of the pro-life movement to be heard.”
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Human trafficking is modern day slavery
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What you said Multimedia Editor Chaveli Guzman and Sports Editor Josh Fiallo asked students if they think that the fifth floor of the library should have monitors.
“It’s supposed to be expected that silence is respected and practiced, but other times people disrupt other people. So it’s kind of a good thing.” — Adrian Ewing, a sophomore majoring in business.
With little coverage of human trafficking in the media, Americans are unaware of the severity of the issue. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
By Samantha Moffett O P I N I O N
E D I T O R
The idea of slavery in the U.S. is a reminder of our nation’s dark past, but it is a reality that is still very much alive in our “Land of The Free.” Human trafficking is silently plaguing the nation and the terrifying industry continues to grow right in our own backyard. In order to truly abolish human trafficking, we must treat the issue as the modern-day slavery that it is. Human trafficking comes in many different forms and can affect every demographic. The stories of victims who are lured in by seemingly normal, safe individuals and are sold time and time again for profit are not isolated; these stories are frequent occurrences throughout the nation. The International Labor Organization reports that the human trafficking industry is worth over $150 billion worldwide, and estimates that there are 20.9 million victims globally. Victims are mainly targeted during travel, and those who seem vulnerable are targeted most heavily. When people think of human trafficking, it is typically thought of as selling young women into prostitution. While this does
constitute a huge part of the human trafficking industry, prostitution is not the only issue. Immigrants are sold into the workforce for little to no wage children are sold on the black market and men are taken advantage of in the workplace. Each of these groups are the silent victims that human trafficking claims. The National Human Trafficking Hotline recorded 7,572 human trafficking cases in the U.S. in 2016. While this number is staggering, it does not include the countless cases that happen in silence. Between 2015 and 2016, the rate of human trafficking rose 35.7 percent and the number will surely continue to increase unless we work to prevent this national crisis. While the legislature passed a plethora of bills in 2017 to help put an end to human trafficking, no change of law alone will bring trafficking to its end. Legislators, law enforcement, the mainstream media and members of every community must work in unison. The media plays a huge role in the information that we consume and understand. However, the media lacks coverage of the severity of human trafficking in the U.S. What would happen if more people understood the severity that human trafficking is taking place at every day, right in front of us?
Would it help us to realize the signs that something is wrong? Notorious for their reputation of human trafficking, many massage parlors and nail salons have been busted for abusing and selling their workers into forced labor or prostitution. From 2007 to 2016, Polaris reported approximately 2,950 cases of human trafficking in nail salons and massage parlors alone. Polaris explains that because most of these victims were Asian females between the age of 20-30, a language barrier may have prevented them from reaching out for help. By being more aware of our surroundings, recognizing telltale signs and discussing the human trafficking issue that is unfolding in every corner of our nation, we too can help to eventually bring this issue to a close. As members of this nation, we have a duty to help victims and to spread awareness. If you have any suspicion of possible human trafficking happening around you, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center’s hotline at 1(888) 373-7888 or visit traffickingresourcecenter.org.
Samantha Moffett is a sophomore majoring in mass communications.
“It’s counterintuitive to have someone to tell you to be quiet, while we are supposed to be quiet on that floor anyway.“ — Bryce Sentatus, a junior majoring in health science.
“No, what? Are we back in high school? That’s dumb that you should need that and that it’s someone’s job just to say ‘hey be quiet’ for 24 hours straight.” — Ryan Kelly, a senior majoring in political science. “I think that the idea of hall monitors is a little overbearing. We are all adults and we shouldn’t be treated like we’re children.” — Virginia Khavin, a junior majoring in English.
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TRAFFICKING Continued from PAGE 3
According to Orlando, there will be plenty to do for students who wish to visit. The six benefiting organization — Bridging Freedom, Healing Root Ministry, West Florida Center for Trafficking Advocacy, Loving You Where You Are At, Redefining Refuge and the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking — will take part in informing the public about their organizations with a small speech on the stage. “Participants will either do the walk or the run,” Orlando said. “The concert event at the Shoppes of Wiregrass have people there such as Word of Life. There will also be a K-9 group showing participants what they do to help.” At this family-friendly event, the
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community members will enjoy live music, bounce houses, face painting, horse-mounted Police Officers, food vendors, a helicopter landing and a candlelight ceremony to conclude. The goal for Light Up the Night is to generate $50,000 in funds. According to the event page, this year participants are allowed to create fundraising pages to better support this effort. The Light Up the Night event will start in Pasco-Hernando State College at 4:30 p.m. The 5k Run has a price of $30.00 and includes a $2.50 sign-up fee. For the 1-mile race walk, it’s a $25.00 fee that also includes the sign-up fee mentioned. The main event that follows in Wiregrass will be starting at 6:00 p.m. Corporal Alan Wilkett, of the
Pasco County Sheriff’s office and the Pasco County Human Trafficking Task force, will be present at Light Up the Night to bring attention to the facts behind Human Trafficking and support the event. Besides supporting supply drives, food drives or other activities that raise funds, Wilkett said there are things anyone can do to help stop, prevent and bring awareness to Human Trafficking all together. “Human Trafficking is happening all around us,” Wilkett said. “One of the things that I think is so critically important for us as a community is to understand that the better informed we are, the better our skills become at detecting when this particular crime is taking place.”
CROSSWORD
USF softball went 32-24 last season and were picked to finish third in the AAC in the Preseason AAC Coaches’ Poll that was released on Wednesday afternoon. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS.COM
SOFTBALL
Continued from PAGE 8
Potentially the biggest loss for USF from last year’s team is second baseman Kristen Wyckoff. The USF alumnus led the team with a .400 batting average, which ranks 7th alltime in USF history. In addition to her prowess at the plate, Wyckoff led the team with 17 stolen bases last season. After last season, she signed with the Akron Racers in the National Pro Fastpitch League to continue her softball career.
Head Coach Ken Eriksen will be in his 22nd season as the Bulls’ manager. In his tenure as a Bull, he has led the program to 12 NCAA postseason appearances, two NCAA Super Regionals, a College World Series berth, five conference titles and 895 wins. The Bulls will be tested early in 2018, with matchups against No. 20 Michigan and No. 3 Florida on back-to-back days on Feb. 10 and 11. After the weekend clashes against the Wolverines and Gators, the Bulls will face off against No. 12 Tennessee on
Feb. 17 and No. 1 Oregon on March 1. The Bulls will open conference play on March 23 against UConn and will travel to No. 25 Tulsa to play a series against the defending conference champions starting on April 13. The Bulls season will begin, as it did last season, with a home matchup against Illinois State, with this year’s clash starting at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 8. Last year, the Bulls defeated the Redbirds with a walk-off homerun from Keen in her first ever game as a Bull.
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Sports
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USF better than ever ahead of 2018 season Club Baseball
By Josh Fiallo S P O R T S
E D I T O R
When USF Club Baseball was founded in 2013, its situation was far from ideal. Its roster consisted of 12 players. It had no stadium or field to call home, with even local little leagues denying them field access for games. In its inaugural season, the club wasn’t admitted into the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) intercollegiate baseball league and was left with just one exhibition game to play against the University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s club team. The next season, they were denied by the NCBA again and were left to play USF St. Petersburg five more times — all of which were on the road. It lost all six of those games. “To be honest, we weren’t much of anything in the beginning,” second-year starting pitcher Jarrett Tilton said. “We’ve been exponentially getting better every year, though. This year, the division’s ours.” In the years following, many more losses would come, but so would progress for the young club, starting with acceptance into the NCBA in 2015. Now, after finishing last season 8-8, the club is favored to win its division this year over club teams from the University of Florida, UCF, College of Coastal Georgia, Stetson University, Nova Southeastern and USF St. Petersburg, according to a season preview on the NCBA’s website. Geoff Gonzalez, who graduated last fall, started every game at third base since the club’s inception without missing a game. Now, Gonzalez looks to see the club he’s been a part of since his freshman year take its next step. “I’ve been around since day one,” Gonzalez said. “I could probably count on my fingers how many practices I’ve missed.
Softball
An early preview of the upcoming softball season By Sam Newlon S T A F F
Dylan Benedict, the club’s ace in 2017, throwing in his final game on April 8 SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GONZALEZ I’ve been at every single game since the beginning. That’ll continue through this season as a coach.” Last season, the winner of the Bulls’ division, FGCU, which has since moved to a different league, made it to the NCBA final, but lost to Slippery Rock in the championship game. Like Tilton, Gonzalez said he believes that the Bulls have a serious shot at winning the division and eventually advancing to the NCBA Finals in Pittsburg, Kansas. “Everybody else is disorganized right now, while we’re better than we’ve ever been,” Gonzalez said. “Now that FGCU is out of the division, we’re the premier team in the division and we think this is our best chance at making a run at a potential division title and a trip to Pittsburgh (Kansas) is this year.” If the Bulls are to win the division, they’ll have current president Bryan Rosenberg to thank. Playing a big part in the club’s inability to secure a home field until this season was
issues with its “club report card,” which had failing grades due to behavior every year until he took over in 2016. Since Rosenberg has taken over, however, the club has received A’s the past two seasons and has finally secured a home playing field at Huggins-Stengel Field, a former spring training home of the New York Yankees, in St. Petersburg. “Hillsborough parks and recreation will not deal with us at all because of conflicts with past presidents,” Gonzalez said. “We tried calling them and asked if they had fields available for rent and they said, ‘No, we’re not going to rent to you guys.’ “We have thousands of dollars available at our disposable from the A&S Budget. Money wasn’t the issue, it was past encounters.” In addition to securing a home field, Rosenberg also instilled a more rigorous practice schedule and atmosphere, with weekly practices at the USF intramural fields and batting practice sessions at Temple Terrace little league on the weekends.
“Since Rosenberg took over, he kind of reoriented the club and got it back to its original purpose,” Gonzalez said. “Under prior presidents, practices were very bare bones. We didn’t do any workouts and sometimes there were whole months where we wouldn’t do a single practice.” With the outside logistics of scheduling and a home playing field settled, the team has been able to turn its focus to on-field talent. With the arm of Tilton leading the way on the mound and the bat of catcher Mike Chang, who was born in Taiwan and batted just under .600 in 2017, at the plate, the Bulls are more prepared than ever for its regular season opener against the University of Florida on Feb. 10. “He (Chang) hits bombs, has the incredible throwing arm, he can catch and play outfield,” Gonzalez said. “The only thing he can’t really do well is speak English, but that’s okay. With him plus everywhere else improving, our situation this season is definitely ideal.”
W R I T E R
With the start of softball season only three weeks away, coaches in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) predicted the Bulls to finish third in the conference in the annual AAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, which was released Wednesday. In the poll, the Bulls trailed only Tulsa and Houston, which placed first and second as the AAC’s tournament champion and runner-up last season. If 2018 is anything like last season, the Golden Hurricane and Cougars figure to be USF’s toughest in-conference competition as the Bulls went a combined 1-5 against the programs, while going 8-3 against the rest of the conference. USF is returning from a 32-24 regular season finish in 2017 and the team will be welcoming back 17 of its 23 players, including AAC firstteam all-conference pitcher Cheyenne Eggens, as well as second-team talents Astin Donovan and Lauren Evans. Eggens led the USF pitching staff with an 1.87 ERA as a sophomore last season, posting a 9-6 record in 35 appearances, 14 of which as a starter. As a freshman, Eggens finished her season with a perfect 7-0 record. Also returning for USF will be sophomore utility player Bethaney Keen. Keen earned an all-rookie team selection last season after leading the Bulls with 7 multiple-RBI games. In 2017, Keen played for the USA Junior Women’s National Team and played against international powerhouses Canada, Mexico and Japan during her experience.
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