The Oracle
M O N DAY, F E B RUA RY 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 I VO L . 5 5 N O . 3 9
w w w . u s f o r a c l e . c o m U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I DA
She thought her brother could be gone On Wednesday, Emily Blank, a current USF student, had her world turned upside down with over 300 texts saying her brother’s high school was under attack by an active shooter. By Josh Fiallo S P O R T S
Former students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mourn at a candlelit vigil held in the MLK Plaza to honor 17 victims of a shooting at their former school in Parkland, Florida. ORALE PHOTO/JOSH FIALLO
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It was Valentine’s day. After attending her sociology class at USF from 11 a.m to 12:15 p.m., Emily Blank went back to her room to relax and take a shower. She was preparing to go out with her friends to Acropolis for dinner later that night. When she got out of the shower and checked her phone, however, a day of love quickly turned to that of terror. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which Emily graduated from in 2016, was under attack by an active shooter. Her 17-year-old younger brother, Johnathan Blank, was in class at the Parkland, Florida high school of over 3,000 students at the same time. Her heart sank immediately. “I got in the shower around 2:25 (p.m.),” Emily said. “I got out of the shower to 336 text messages all saying, ‘There’s been a shooting at Douglas.’” To find out about her brother, Emily called her dad first. When he picked up, his answer made her fears all the worse. “My dad said, ‘Johnathan was in one of the classrooms (that was shot into). I can’t talk right now,’” Emily said. Without elaboration, he then hung up. Emily’s mother, a teacher at a middle school right next to Marjory Stoneman Douglas, was under lockdown
herself and couldn’t speak to Emily on the phone. Three and a half hours away from home, with nobody to provide her with answers, Emily recalled being an emotional mess. She said she screamed into her phone while searching for a news channel at her Sigma Delta Tau sorority house. Her sorority sisters comforted her, but they couldn’t understand her pain. This was more than just another American massshooting to Emily. This was Parkland. This was Douglas. This was family. After what felt like hours, around 3:15 p.m., Emily’s phone rang. The voice on the other end of the line was her brother, alive and physically injuryfree. He explained to his sister that he went straight to the ground whenever the sound of gunshots began to ring-out, leaving his phone on top of his desk, which is why he didn’t call to say he was OK sooner. He didn’t want to risk getting up to grab it. He also told his sister that the gunshots were the loudest thing he’d ever heard. “It was the scariest moment of my life,” Johnathon told CBS Miami. “I’m with my family and friends now. I tell them that I love them all of the time. You just don’t know when your last time with them is.”
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the Oracle the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966
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Copy Editor Andrea Martin
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NEWS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Bullets inflict wounds time can never heal
Emily Blank, a USF student from Parkland, FL, had a brother at Majory Stoneman High School during the shooting. ORACLE PHOTO/JOSH FIALLO
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Though Johnathan was able to escape the school without physical injury, others at the school, including two of his classmates — Nicholas Dworet and Helena Ramsey — weren’t as fortunate. Seventeen people in all, 14 of which were students, died from gunshot wounds inflicted by a 19-yearold gunman The gunman was taken into custody shortly after the massacre and was booked on 17 counts of premeditated murder. He has since confessed to the shootings. When Emily heard the gunman had been found and detained, her first thought was about his punishment. “My first reaction was that I hope he doesn’t get the death penalty,” Emily said. “I hope he has to rot in a cell for the rest of his life.” When she saw her brother
for the first time on Friday, she said they embraced each other for numerous minutes. They spent all day watching the TV show Narcos together, trying to keep things as normal as possible. Emily and Johnathan, along with the city of Parkland as a whole will never be quite the same. Even after she returns to classes Monday afternoon, which USF has excused her from, the thought of the massacre will always linger. “He’s not the same, and I don’t think he ever will be,” Emily said. “I don’t think anybody can be. Not even myself. If it can happen at Douglas, it can happen anywhere. If it can happen in Parkland, it can happen anywhere.” “When people would ask me where I’m from, I used to say I’m from a small town in-between Coral Springs and Boca. I won’t have to say that anymore. Everyone knows where Parkland is now.”
USF is home to 97 students who are alumni of Majory Stoneman Douglas High School. ORACLE PHOTO/ MIKI SHINE By Josh Fiallo S P O R T S
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The names of the 17 victims were read aloud. Students, many fighting back tears, walked forward with candles and flowers, placing them on the ledge of the MLK fountain where pictures of the victims and other symbolic items, such as a Douglas baseball cap, were placed. Some stayed at the ledge, eyes closed and heads bowed for minutes. Others fell into their old classmates and friends’ arms, weeping. This was the scene Friday night at a candle-lit vigil, organized by former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
students to honor the 17 victims of Wednesday’s mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. USF has 97 students who are alumni of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, but many of them returned home to Parkland to be with family. Those who were at the vigil spoke about things such as old high school memories, stories about victims, stories of heroics on the day of the shooting and, most prominently, a call for change and unity. The vigil lasted for over an hour, with 23 students and Provost Ralph Wilcox speaking. “My sister and I don’t have the strongest relationship like most brothers and sisters should have,” Riana Scalia, whose sister goes
to Marjory Stoneman Douglas, said. “We fight a lot, but when I heard (about the shooting), I realized, ‘Oh my God, she might not be okay.’ I’m four hours away, and I won’t be able to be there to be the big sister. It was the worst feeling.” Scalia went on to speak for five more minutes about the communities of Coral Springs and Parkland uniting, as well as emphasizing to make sure the victims are never forgotten. “They didn’t deserve this,” Scalia said. “I don’t think anybody does.” A pin drop could be heard in-between speakers. After one student told his or her story, another would somberly walk
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LIFESTYLE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Black Panther shows black stories matter
By Camara Silver
C O R R E S P O N D E N T
The latest Marvel film, Black Panther, has brought superhero movies to an exciting new level. Not only was it a thrilling adventure, it opened up new possibilities for films representing black culture. In fact, the movie is a landmark moment for Hollywood because of its novel image of black culture and because it is the first Marvel movie to feature a predominantly black cast. Set in the fictional East African country of Wakanda, where the country poses as a third-world economy, but is something of a technological utopia, the film follows Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/ Black Panther. T’Challa faces an internal crisis at home, where he is challenged for the throne by Erik “Killmonger” Stevens, played by Michael. B Jordan. The plot is full of Shakespearean themes, including familial conflict, tragic heroes and political strife. The exhilarating performances by all of the major actors, along with the inspired writing, makes this film a memorable one. T’Challa’s
sister is played with dripping charisma by Letitia Wright, who assists her brother on his missions. Danai Gurira as Okoye, the sword-wielding general, is equally as stunning. Lupita Nyong’o dazzles as Nakia, T’Challa’s ex-girlfriend who also happens to be an undercover martial artist. This movie represents the gold standard for the superhero genre. Throughout the film, audiences are treated with thoughtful, creative storytelling, even though the plot is somewhat familiar. Still, the many wonderful details push the genre with mind-blowing stunts, epic battles that rival Lord of the Rings and intricate characters. Black Panther is a poetic action film whose action sequences are enhanced through clever writing, beautiful special effects and vibrant cinematography. Most importantly, Black Panther is a game changer in the way black people are portrayed on screen. Robert Townsend’s Meteor Man, which featured a black superhero as the main protagonist, could not break the barrier that Black Panther achieved. In a climate
where there has been relatively negative representation of black people, this film will open up new possibilities to a younger audience. Even though this film is about a monarchy set in a fictional country, it demonstrates that black people can be portrayed in a complex way, rather than being submitted to tired stereotypes. The Cosby Show, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder broke the typecast barriers on TV, and now Black Panther has achieved this on the big screen. The bottom line is that in this climate where topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement are contentious dinner conversations, Black Panther proves that black stories matter — not only can they tell a rich, vibrant story, the general public is open and receptive to hearing about them. This long overdue movie will be a treat for the entire family, including those who usually wouldn’t attend a super hero film. Black Panther transcends its genre, transcends racial stereotypes and revives the true spirit of black film.
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forward from the Plaza’s bench and memorial area toward the fountain. They’d usually start by saying the year they graduated from Douglas and then proceed to speak — microphone in one hand, plastic candle in the other. “One of the injured was her (Carmen Schentrup’s) best friend,” an unnamed student said about her former orchestra stand partner at Douglas. “In situations, we don’t think to save other lives first, but she did. Instead of running, she huddled her friends. Carmen shielded her friends and saved them from getting any more injured. She basically sacrificed her life for her friend.” Schetrup, 16, didn’t survive the shooting. Before her untimely passing, she was one of 10 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas to qualify as a National Merit Scholar semifinalist for
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turnovers and that’s not us.” USF finished the game with 20 turnovers, while the nights had 13. UCF had a higher field goal percentage (.403) than the Bulls (.393) and outrebounded them by one. What made the difference for USF was its ability to knock down three pointers — making 11, while the Knights made just one. USF will return home for a game against Houston on Wednesday night at the Sun Dome. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Men’s basketball falls at Tulsa 73-61 USF (8-20, 1-14) lost its seventh straight conference game on Sunday, falling on the road to Tulsa (16-10, 9-5) 73-61.
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2018. In addition to mourning, some speakers called for change in the form of gun control. “It didn’t really feel real when they said numerous fatalities,” Rachel Schwartz, whose cousin still attends Douglas, said. “Then, when they said 17, it took my breath away. Whatever your views on gun control are, I think we all agree that things like this can’t keep happening. We have to change something, some law, now.” On a board titled “How do we change?” students at the vigil placed sticky notes that echoed Schwartz’ view. Seventeen of the 30 sticky notes called for “Gun control,” or “Gun reform,” with some going into more detail. Others were vague saying, “This can never happen again.” “Let’s stop protecting guns and start protecting children,” one sticky note read. “Don’t elect politicians who In the loss, freshman guard David Collins scored in double digits for the sixth straight game, leading the Bulls with 17 points. Though his offense led the way for USF, Collins made an impact defensively as well. “That was again another quality game out of him,” USF coach Brian Gregory said. “I thought defensively, he did some really good things as well. We challenge him, it’s tough for a freshman. We put him on Taplin, who is coming off a 30-point night, and Taplin goes 2 of 6 and 3-for-3 from the field. He’s a dependable kid.” Stephan Jiggetts (16), Payton Banks (11) and Malik Martin (10) also finished in double digit scoring, but wasn’t enough for USF to overcome an 11-point halftime deficit. USF won’t play again until Saturday against Tulane in the Sun Dome. Tipoff is scheduled
At the vigil, USF mentioned services that are available to help affected students navigate this tragedy. ORACLE PHOTO/ JOSH FIALLO
value the NRA more than children,” said another. Provost Ralph Wilcox weighed in on the topic of gun control as well. “There’s been a lot of talk tonight about the need for change,” Wilcox said. “I’m of the generation that has let you down. However, I feel about gun control for 12 p.m.
Softball falls to Missouri in extra innings 4-3 With two outs, USF (5-7) rallied in the fifth inning scoring three runs on five hits to take its first lead of the game, 3-2, over Missouri (6-5) on Sunday in Clearwater. The Tigers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game and forcing extra innings, where they’d go on to win 4-3 after a walk-off single. The loss was USF’s third in a row, but with all three coming against Power-5 opponents. Two of them, No. 19 Oklahoma State and No. 10 Tennessee, were ranked. USF will return back to USF Softball Stadium on Friday to face Fordham. First pitch is at 2 p.m.
or mental health issues within this nation, we collectively have to do a better job for generations to come — for your younger brothers, sisters.” He continued by naming counseling services USF is offering to help students who are grieving and need somebody to talk to.
Though the shooting is in the past, it’s effects will last a lifetime for many former students. “No, Douglas will never be the same or even close to it,” Scalia said. “But we will stand together. We stay united and we will always be proud to be an Eagle. May our 17 angels fly high and they rest in peace.”
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OPINION UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Media response could inspire more mass shootings
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What you said Multimedia Editor Chaveli Guzman asked students what the next step is for the nation after the tragedy in Parkland.
“What I think needs to change is gun laws. I think that they need to be implemented more.” - Anabela Parientes, a freshman majoring in health science
USF students leaving flowers and other items at a candlelit vigil Friday night. Seventeen students lost their lives on Wednesday in a Parkland, Florida school shooting. ORACLE PHOTO/JOSH FIALLO By Paige Wisniewski C O R R E S P O N D E N T
In the wake of the most recent mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14 — where 17 people were killed by a former student — Everytown For Gun Safety, an organization aiming to reduce gun violence in the U.S., released a statistic that this event marks the 18th school shooting in 2018. This statistic is particularly alarming as 18 appears to be an extremely high number of school shootings to occur in the two months since the new year began and for such a high number the only shooting that has garnered high media attention is the one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Are school shootings becoming so common that media coverage is only provided when there is a high number of casualties? Everytown For Gun Safety measures school shootings as “any time a firearm discharges a live round inside a school building or on a school campus or grounds.” Some of the 18 school shooting cases reported in 2018 did not involve any casualties or injuries and some even occurred after school hours. For example, according to the New York Daily News, the first school shooting of 2018 happened on Jan. 3 in St. Johns, Michigan, at East Olive Elementary School, where a man died from a self-
inflicted gunshot wound in the school parking lot. The school had been closed for seven months. The next day in Seattle, a gunshot was fired into the window of New Start High School where no injuries were reported. While these shootings meet the criteria of what constitutes a school shooting, the lack of casualties or injuries involved could explain the lack of media coverage. But what happens when extensive media coverage is only provided for mass tragedy? Paradoxically, major media coverage on mass shootings could lead to more mass shootings. According to a study by Jennifer Johnson and Andrew Joy, presented by the American Psychological Association, a “media contagion effect” occurs when media focuses mostly on profiling the gunman in a mass shooting event. When the media contagion effect occurs, others become inspired to recreate a similar event in order to reach a similar level of fame and notoriety. Collecting demographics from six previous studies, Johnson and Joy profile a typical mass shooter as a “white, heterosexual male between the age of 20 and 50 who is depressed, socially isolated, and narcissistic.” Johnson and Joy argue that the shooter’s desire to achieve fame and notoriety is an attempt to “reclaim social capital.” This argument could be applied to the shooter, who has
been profiled as a troubled youth involved in a white supremacist group — the Republic of Florida — as confirmed by the group’s leader, Jordan Jereb. Media outlets such as the Washington Post and the New York Times debunked these claims. Johnson and Joy state that being part of this demographic “may convey a particular vulnerability to loss of social capital and, more importantly, a belief that one has been wrongfully cheated out of one’s rightful dominant place—a white, middle class male, with all requisite privileges in American society.” The shooter’s membership to a white supremacist group emulates this particular concern. While media coverage is important to explain large-scale tragedies, more responsible measures of reporting should be taken. Sensationalizing the gunman in such an event gives killers an undeserved fame and possibly encourages reproductions from copy killers of similar demographics to regain social capital. Johnson and Joy suggest that not naming the gunmen involved could potentially reduce the number of mass shootings. Media outlets should aim to explain rather than exploit these types of tragedies. Paige Wisniewski is a junior majoring in interdisciplinary sciences.
“The security and the way that the campus is set up.” - Alexander Collins, a junior majoring in psychology
“What needs to change is that we need to be able to talk about it on a level playing field without going to the extreme left or right.” - Alexander James, a junior majoring in theater
“I think we should have less access to guns. I don’t think anyone needs a gun. As well as putting more focus on mental health.” - Annie Scott, a graduate student studying voice performance
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Magic Puzzle
Rules: Fill the rest of the puzzle using words from the official International Scrabble Word List. Words must be spelled left to right or top to bottom. Words can only be used once. THERE IS ONLY ONE SOLUTION ! The validity of your words can be checked at https://www.collinsdictionary.com/scrabble/. Good Luck.
CROSSWORD
Solutions will appear in Thursday’s paper. Created by faculty member H. Henrick Jeanty, an instructor in the Computer Science and Engineering department.
Answer
Solution to last Thursday’s puzzle
Classifieds To place a classified ad go to
http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds
ANNOUNCEMENTS Staffer West Meadows Community Club seeking part-time college students that are self-motivated, mature and assertive, to work at their clubhouse. Flexible hours. Duties include - office and computer tasks, and pool attendant. Email frontdesk@tpostcdd.com
Sports
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Baseball
USF falls in 10 innings Sunday, takes 1-of-3 against No. 6 North Carolina
Notebook
Women’s basketball prevails in OT against UCF 77-68 By Josh Fiallo S P O R T S
Shane McCLanahan pitching in a game against No. 6 North Carolina on Friday night. McClanahan threw six shut-out innings and struck out 11 batters in USF’s 4-3 win in its season opener. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS.COM By Sam Newlon S T A F F
W R I T E R
USF (1-2) opened its season with a victory over No. 6 North Carolina (2-1), but coupled its initial success with two losses to close the weekend. The Bulls’ first loss was ugly, but an extra-inning shootout on Sunday showed the Bulls can contend with some of the nation’s best teams. “Obviously, today we fell down,” USF coach Billy Mohl said. “But we put up a big seven-spot to tie it up. It just goes to show the heart of the team.” The Bulls put together a sevenrun rally in the seventh inning against the Tar Heels on Sunday, but failed to complete their comeback in extra-innings, falling 9-8. A major factor in the Bulls’ loss on Sunday were three errors, including two in the seventh inning, which granted UNC two unearned runs that put the Bulls at a deficit. “We saw a lot of good things,”
Mohl said. “Defensively, though, we need to get a lot better.” The Bulls responded loudly in the bottom of the seventh. North Carolina walked designated hitter Alec Wisely, who advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Two batters later, third baseman David Villar hit a double off of the left field wall to score Wisely. With Villar in scoring position, first baseman Carson Ragsdale stepped up to the plate and hit a towering home run over the left field wall to bring the score to 8-4. After the Ragsdale homer, the UNC bullpen started to crumble. The Tar Heels brought in three more pitchers in the seventh inning as the Bulls mounted their comeback, batting through their lineup and tying the score at eight apiece. USF then brought in junior lefthanded pitcher Andrew Perez in the eighth inning. Perez pitched two perfect innings to end regulation. In
the 10th inning, Perez gave up his first homerun since the 2016 season to UNC shortstop Ike Freeman. North Carolina called in sophomore Austin Bergner to close the game. The right-handed hurler threw three perfect innings to secure the Tar Heel victory over the Bulls. “I thought Friday and Sunday those guys competed really well,” Mohl said. “Yesterday, we laid an egg.” In their game on Saturday, the Bulls faltered from the start. North Carolina scored six runs in the first inning and USF couldn’t overcome their early-game deficit, losing 12-5. In their home opener Friday night, the Bulls rallied behind redshirtsophomore Shane McClanahan to secure a 4-3 victory over the Tar Heels. McClanahan pitched six innings in the Bulls’ 2018 debut and tallied 11 strikeouts, while only allowing three hits.
“I was just trusting the guys behind me, honestly,” McClanahan said Friday. “I was just trying to throw strikes. Its baseball, you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do.” The Bulls’ victory marked Mohl’s first career win as a head coach. “It’s awesome,” McClanahan said. “That guy (Mohl) has our back and we have his back, no matter what. We wanted him here, and we got him.” USF will continue its tough schedule to open the season when it travels to play No. 5 Florida State University on Tuesday. “We’ve got Florida State on Tuesday,” Mohl said. “Quick turnaround, get a day of rest tomorrow and go to Tallahassee and play the Noles.” After facing back-to-back top10 opponents, the next ranked opponent won’t come until April 6 against No. 24 Houston (2-1).
E D I T O R
UCF women’s basketball made its first three-pointer of its game against USF on Sunday when it mattered most. With 11 seconds remaining in regulation, Zakiya Saunders stepped up and hit a three, tying and sending the game into overtime. In the extra period, however, no more threes would fall for the Knights. Instead, USF dominated, outscoring UCF 15-6 and going on to win the game 77-68 at CFE Arena. “We’re resilient,” USF coach Jose Fernandez told Bull Unlimited. “We got the stops when we needed, they had the momentum going into overtime, but that’s why we play the schedule we play — for those situations.” The win was USF’s seventh in a row, securing it second place in the AAC if it wins at least one of its last three games. UCF and Houston are tied for third place in the AAC at 9-4 in conference play. USF, trailing only an undefeated UConn, is 11-2. For moments in the first half, USF looked like it may fall to UCF for just the second time in program history. “We were awful in that first half,” Fernandez said. “We had 12
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