The Oracle TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015 I VOL. 52 NO. 106
Inside this Issue
www.usforacle.com
The Index
News.................................................................1 Lifestyle......................................................4 Opinion.......................................................6
classifieds..............................................7 Crossword.........................................7 sports............................................................8
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Bill Nye the Science Guy drops by ULS hosts Bill Nye lecture tonight in MSC Ballroom.
n
By Brandon Shaik A S S T .
N E W S
E D I T O R
LI F E STYLE
Cosplayers stand against sexist costumes in comic books. Page 4
Montage
S PORTS Astin Donovan excelling under guidance of older sister. BACK
There are only a handful of those who can harness both the power of entertainment and the power of science, and one of them is speaking tonight at the Marshall Student Center Ballroom — and it’s not Neil Degrasse Tyson. Bringing Bill Nye to USF was thanks in part to a survey conducted by the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) during the fall term. Students had indicated they were most interested in USF bringing more celebrities to campus and also indicated a strong interest in science- and technology-related speakers.
n See NYE on PAGE 3
Bill Nye will speak tonight at 7:30 at the Marshall Student Center Ballroom.
SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
Let’s get this party started
Students and faculty ate food and listened to music in celebration at USF Week Kickoff on Monday afternoon. ORACLE PHOTO / SEBASTIAN CONTENTO
2
T U E S DAY, A P R I L 7 , 2 0 1 5
●
T H E O R AC L E
Expo explores importance of anthropology in the workforce By Melody DiClemente
an anthropology student, that I see on Yahoo News and other little online websites, is always this anthropology bashing as though it’s not a very worthwhile degree, and they always suggest for you to go and get a different degree,” Darley said. “What I find is that those articles don’t really understand what anthropology is about and how it can be applied in so many different ways.” Ann Tezak, GSO president
sentation This Is Anthropology, anthropology master’s student Charlotte Noble’s response to Gov. Rick Scott’s assertion that Florida doesn’t need any more Though there has been a large anthropologists. emphasis on the careers readily Along with offering students available for STEM majors, an resume advice and networkexpo today is reminding those ing opportunities with employinterested in anthropology that ers, professors and alumni, the there are still satisfying and expo will also provide viewdiverse opportunities available. ers an inside look into USF’s The Applied Anthropology Department of Anthropology. Graduate Student Organization The Ballroom will have what (GSO), the Anthropology Club, Tezak describes the Department as a “museum of Anthropology down and Career “It’s not solely just an academic output. display” the middle of the Services will host room, “where we It’s going to be actually applied, the first This Is can hang postAnthropology Expo from 10 whether it could be for policy change ers or pictures, things like that a.m. until 2 p.m. (or) working toward development are showing curin the Marshall rent research Student Center programs.” that’s happenBallroom. ing through the The goal of the Ann Tezak anthropology event is to highApplied Anthropology Graduate Student Organization President department.” light the imporSome researchtance of applied anthropology and anthropology master’s and to show current students degree student, said applied ers at the expo will also showthere is a large job market for anthropology is an exciting case the specific technology field because, instead of always they use to gather data, such as anthropological work. The expo will provide a working at a desk, it lets aca- laser scanning and X-ray fluomeeting ground for students demics play a more hands-on rescence (XRF). One use of laser scanning is and several vendors from orga- role in the world. “You’re applying what to document changes in geonizations that employ and work with anthropologists, such as you’ve learned, the research graphical areas. XRF can help the Veterans’ Hospital, Florida that you’ve learned,” she said. determine the material makeup Public Archaeology Network, “It’s not solely just an academic of artifacts. The focus of the the Department of Veterans output. It’s going to be actually expo, though, will be on career Affairs and the AIDS and applied, whether it could be building for students and showfor policy change (or) work- ing them the versatility applied Anthropology Research Group. Zaida Darley, GSO treasurer ing toward development pro- anthropology has in the workforce. and anthropology doctoral stu- grams.” “We are hoping that if (the While this is the first job dent, said many students might not be aware of the wide range expo, it is not the first time expo) goes well, it will be able of jobs that are available to the anthropology department to continue annually,” Tezak anthropologists because of the has spread the word about the said. All majors and grade levels media’s distortion of the sub- crucial work anthropologists do are welcome to attend, as well for the community. ject’s credibility. Darley mentioned the pre- as the general public. “One of the things I notice as C O R R E S P O N D E N T
T U E S DAY, A P R I L 7 , 2 0 1 5
●
3
T H E O R AC L E
NYE
Continued from PAGE 1
Taking the results of the survey into consideration, CSI felt that Nye encompassed the desires of a generation of students who grew up with the popular PBS show “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” Including topics such as space, environmental issues, climate change and his career in science education and television, Nye’s lecture will be accompanied by a book signing and a questionand-answer session. A former Boeing 747 engineer, Nye took to television as the goofy scientist of PBS in his popular show that garnered the attention of millions of students. In his iconic bow tie and white lab coat, Nye ruled science classrooms across the country for 100 episodes until the show’s cancellation in 1998. Although Nye no longer uses his eccentric persona to inspire budding young scientists through television, he has continued a career of science education at speaking engagements, addressing various contemporary issues in science. A critic of genetically modified foods and vaccines, Nye has been at the center of controversy and is now voicing criticism against what he feels is the public’s neglect to reduce their impact on climate change. As part of a friendly competition with environmental activist Ed Begley Jr., the two agreed in 2007 to see who could have the lowest carbon footprint. As a result, Nye insists on using public transportation whenever possible and maintains a vegetable garden in his California home. Following the recent DeflateGate scandal, in which the New England Patriots were accused of using under-inflated footballs to win a game against the Indianapolis Colts in January, Nye took advantage of the eminence of the issue to make a statement on climate change. In an online video, he conducted an experiment to investigate whether cold weather could
explain the deflation of a football, but quickly segued the discussion to climate change. “While we’re all obsessed with DeflateGate, let’s keep in mind there’s something about which you should give a f---,” he said. “Yes, like Tom Brady, the world is getting hotter and hotter, and you know why? Because we humans are pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.” Nye has also been critical of creationists in recent years, and believes spreading of creationism is jeopardizing education and rational thought. As a result of his criticisms, he agreed to debate creationist Ken Ham in 2014 regarding evolution versus creationism. The debate, held in the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, sold out its 900-seat capacity within minutes of its announcement. The live streaming of the two-hour and 45-minute debate attracted three million viewers and has since been viewed 4.3 million times on YouTube. During the debate, Nye argued against the validity of the story of Noah’s Ark in the Book of Genesis, stating that it would be physically impossible for a boat to hold the weight the story details. The debate received polarizing responses with some feeling that giving creationism attention was acknowledging that it had a degree of validity, while others felt it necessary to publicly reject the premises that creationism is based on. In an effort to grasp the attention of an older audience, Nye starred in “The Eyes of Nye,” a television show that investigated topics ranging from the science behind sex and addiction to nuclear energy and climate change. Nye is the third speaker of the University Lecture Series this semester and will be one of the main events for USF Week. Sponsored by CSI, Nye’s lecture will cost $52,000 to speak at 7:30 this evening in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom.
Rocky the Bull made an appearance at the USF Week Kickoff on Monday in the Marshall Student Center. ORACLE PHOTO/SEBASTIAN CONTENTO
Lifestyle
4
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
●
T U E S D AY, A P R I L 7 , 2 0 1 5
●
T H E O R AC L E
CausePlay fights sexist comics with cosplay By Allison Buckner C O R R E S P O N D E N T
W
GRAPHIC SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
hat image comes to mind when thinking about female superheroes? Chances are, these fierce women are usually depicted as scantily clad with extremely nonfunctional costumes. Why aren’t the ladies of comic books wearing comfortable outfits like their male counterparts? Students in Professor Alan Shaw’s Comic Books as Art course, offered through the Honors College, were “open and eager to different heroes, different protagonists and issues that are more controversial,” according to Shaw. This idea led to learning about more than the relatively well-known female superheroes. The class began studying a newly reimagined comic book heroine called Ms. Marvel, written by G. Willow Wilson about a 16-yearold Muslim named Kamala Khan from New Jersey. The PakistaniAmerican teenager’s story is one of the newest Marvel comics, and both Shaw and his students were fascinated by her. This character became a catalyst for the class to analyze how women are portrayed in comics, and what they could do to open the door for discussion. “All of the men get to wear proper clothing,” Shaw said. “Women have this objectifying, sexualizing and ultimately unfair costuming. Kamala’s costume isn’t like that — it’s chic, it’s fascinating and altogether functional. The students seemed to really like the idea of the difference in her costuming.” Shaw and his students were inspired and decided to hold an event called CausePlay — taken from the term meaning to dress up like comic book characters, cosplay — on Friday, to show their
take on new costumes for alreadyestablished female superheroes. Shaw said the event, which will be held from 7 to 10 p.m., will feature a one hour meet-and-greet with feature representatives from Victim’s Advocacy, Women and Gender Studies and PRIDE. “Then there will be a onehour presentation from the students where they will talk about the characters they chose, whose costumes have been historically objectifying and which the students remade and will be cosplaying in,” he said. “Finally, we’ll close the show with a viewing of the first episode of the new Netflix series ‘Daredevil,’ premiering that night.” Courtney Tucker is one of the students who has redesigned a costume for Friday’s event. “I’ve decided to revamp Black Canary’s costume,” Tucker said, explaining her take on the superheroine includes harem pants and a three-quarter sleeve sweater with black feathers. Like many other students in Shaw’s class, Tucker believes she has gained far more beyond enjoying comic books. “This class is truly amazing and I really enjoy being able to talk with other people about how ridiculous and nonfunctional female superhero costumes are,” she said. “Despite the class being all about comic books, it’s a primarily female population.” The event will take place in Juniper-Poplar Hall Room 1317 on Friday at 7 p.m. Shaw said he hopes to engage other students and inspire them to look more closely at how women are seen in popular culture. “There are people that want to do this, and the world of comics has become much more inclusive,” he said.
T U E S DAY, A P R I L 7 , 2 0 1 5
●
T H E O R AC L E
DONOVAN
Continued from PAGE 8
had so far.” Coach Eriksen is not new to coaching siblings, like when twins and former Bulls Courtney and Ashli Goff played on the team from 2010 to 2014. The difference with the Donovan sisters is they’re two years apart. “They may argue with each other, but if you fight with one of them the other is going to be right behind, so it’s a nice loyalty situation that’s developed between the two,” Eriksen said. Astin attributes a lot of her own success to the sisterly bond that has only gotten stronger since joining Amber at USF. On the field, the sisters like to stay serious, but off the field they poke fun at each other and crack jokes any chance they get. In addition to giving her tips in practice, Amber also helps Astin with advice on professors or time management to help her transition into the college environment.
“It’s pretty surreal because it’s comforting to know that if I’m having a bad day or just need something, I know that she’s there for me on and off the field,” Astin said. “We’re each other’s best friends and we’re completely comfortable around each other knowing we can talk about anything and everything.” Not being able to play at her highest level often upsets Amber, but Astin helps keep her calm and remind her of the progress she has made. Amber said the chance to play with her younger sister has turned out to be unlike anything she thought she would ever experience. “Our relationship is very strong,” Amber said. “It’s very honest with everything softball-wise or just life in general. I feel like as long as our relationship stays the way it is it’ll only continue to get stronger as time goes on.” The Donovan sisters and the rest of the USF softball team will take on Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
5
Opinion
6
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
●
T U E S D AY, A P R I L 7 , 2 0 1 5
EDITORIAL
It’s time for media censorship to be a thing of the past decision to hire 10 nonstudent employees to edit and censor the paper. In addition to this Big Brother-esque situation, in 2009, the then-football coach at the University of Montana began a boycott among his team and other staff against the school’s paper, the Montana Kaimin, after a story regarding two football players’ “alleged misdeeds” was published. That same year, a campus fraternity at the University of Arizona stole over 10,000 copies of the Daily Wildcat as a way to deal with negative coverage. While these could seem like petty complaints, they are serious threats that only support personal interests and work against the right for papers to deliver. Regardless of whether the issue is drugs or honest reports on matters that don’t make a school look so good, starting and perpetuating censorship among people honing their journalistic skills only serves to keep them from doing their jobs and to prevent readers from knowing what’s happening around them.
While the decline of print journalism is often blamed on a host of problems — from the loss of jobs to newspapers’ competition with online blogs and tabloids — digital journalism does have its perks. According to the Washington Post, for instance, it helped an editor at Fauquier High School’s student newspaper, the Falconer, battle censorship for an article on drug use after the school’s principal did not allow it to run for fear it would encourage students to try the drug. The article, which covered a practice called dabbing, in which one smokes an active ingredient of marijuana off a nail, was later posted to the online outlet, Fauquier Now, and received more attention than it would have in the school’s paper. Though schools can often censor school-sponsored publications, based on Supreme Court precedent, the article was meant to be an informative piece that would explain the drug’s effects, since the writer knew students were using it. While the paper’s decision to turn to online publication is
a smart way to resist censorship, it still points to the bigger issue of censorship in a school environment. Administrators may feel the need to make sure a school paper delivers age-appropriate content, but it’s worth remembering students will be exposed to touchy subjects reported outside of a high school setting. For instance, the Washington Post recently made a round-up of op-eds published in college newspapers throughout the country, with pieces ranging from being politically correct to Indiana’s religious freedom bill to quitting Facebook for privacy concerns. All are issues that high school students could weigh in on, especially since controversy is always in the media. Though censorship shouldn’t happen in high school newspapers in the first place, it continues to be a problem in college publications. In a major scenario that made national news in 2012, student editors of the University of Georgia’s independent student newspaper Red and Black quit after an administrative
the Oracle
the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966
Editor in Chief: Alex Rosenthal .............................. oracleeditor@gmail.com Managing Editor: Grace Hoyte ......................... oraclemeditor@gmail.com
News Editor: Wesley Higgins .......................... oraclenewsteam@gmail.com Sports Editor: Vinnie Portell ........................ oraclesportseditor@gmail.com Lifestyle Editor: Ariana Matos .................. oraclelifestyleeditor@gmail.com Opinion Editor: Isabelle Cavazos ....................... oracleopinion@gmail.com Copy Editors: Safeena Kassoo, Caitlin Lochner Multimedia Editor: Adam Mathieu
●
T H E O R AC L E
What you said After a survey by the Pew Research Center found one in five Americans access the Internet mainly with smartphones instead of laptops or desktops, editor Isabelle Cavazos asked students if they use the Internet more on their phones than other devices.
“Usually I’m on the go, and I can’t just pull out my laptop if I need to look something up or go on social media.” — Maria Kocab, a sophomore majoring in biomedical sciences
“Yeah, you’re usually out and not on your computer. It’s already with you and more instant.” — Tyla Toppin, a freshman majoring in integrative animal biology
“No, I use my laptop a lot. I watch stuff a lot and I like to have a big screen.” — Ope Oyeleke, a senior majoring in chemical engineering
The Oracle is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and twice weekly, Monday and Thursday, during the summer. The Oracle allocates one free issue to each student. Additional copies are $.50 each and available at the Oracle office (SVC 0002).
BY PHONE Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sports ................ Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
974-6242 974-5190 974-1888 974-2842 974-2398 974-2620 974-6242
Assistant Editors: Sebastian Contento, Jacob Hoag, Brandon Shaik
Website: Facebook: Twitter:
Graphic Arts Manager: Luke Blankenship
CORRECTIONS
Advertising Sales Manager: Ashley Pollio
The Oracle will correct or clarify factual errors. Contact Editor in Chief Alex Rosenthal at 974-5190.
usforacle.com facebook.com/usforacle @USFOracle
“Yes, it’s more convenient. I always have my phone and I usually have Wi-Fi where I am.” — Tharren Ellis, a junior majoring in social work
Classifieds UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
To place a classified ad go to HELP WANTED Swim Instructor Must love kids and be enthusiastic. Call LaFleur’s: 813.264-5000.
LaFleur’s Gymnastics Coaching Positions Available Immediate openings for experienced, enthusiastic Girls Compulsory and XCEL coaches. Contact Alecia at 813.264.5000 or optionalgirls@lafleurstampa.com.
APTS & HOUSES FOR RENT . Luxury Room for rent at Eagles Point Apartments. One Bedroom with Private Bath. $500 per month, includes all utilities. Close to pool, gym and laundry. Just 2,000 feet from the USF campus. Call Darron (813) 500-7989.
●
Crossword
T U E S D AY, A P R I L 7 , 2 0 1 5
http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds
●
T H E O R AC L E
7
Sports
8
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Softball
S T A F F
W R I T E R
The crack of the bat was the only sound heard from freshman outfielder Astin Donovan after hitting a liner into the gap in an early season game against Portland
ORACLE PHOTO/ ADAM MATHIEU
T U E S D AY, A P R I L 7 , 2 0 1 5
●
T H E O R AC L E
Freshman Astin Donovan turns heads at USF By Zach Lowie
Astin Donovan was the Connecticut High School Scholar Athlete of the Year in her senior season.
●
State. “I saw the pitch coming right down the middle,” Donovan said. “After the ball fell in a gap I thought I was going to get a triple at most but coach (Eriksen) just kept waving me home, so I ran as fast as I could to reach home plate.” Before she could even catch her breath, Donovan was sliding into home plate for an inside-the-park home run — the first home run of her USF career. With so many collegiate athletes looking to make a name
for themselves, Donovan is simply focused on discovering her place in a new system. Coming from Mercy High School in Guilford, Connecticut, Donovan was highly recruited by her senior season. She was one of the state’s most prolific shortstops and was batting .513 with 34 runs and 35 RBIs in her senior year, accompanied by spectacular infield play. USF head coach Ken Eriksen said he recalled watching Donovan on film and thinking there was a certain spark to her game he had not seen in some time. “She was such a pure athlete that I thought had limitless potential,” he said. “As a coach you try to find out what players are coachable, including their natural assets. She had speed, in-game awareness and tremendous focus.” Eriksen had an extra incentive for Donovan that no other school in the country could offer her — a chance to play
on the same team as her older sister. Amber Donovan agreed to transfer to USF from Liberty University to get playing time on a competitive Division I squad while Astin played in her high school senior season. Amber’s sophomore season at Liberty University was her best — the junior posted a .296 batting average with eight home runs and 27 RBIs. After a debilitating hip injury sidelined Amber in her first season at USF, she found herself calling home and recruiting Astin to join her in Tampa. With a solid team in place and a winning head coach, the decision was not too hard for Astin to make. Despite Astin’s achievements, coach Eriksen wanted to transition this young, new talent from the infield to the outfield. Even though she had never played the position, Astin knew she was up for the challenge.
“High school is a slower game,” Donovan said. “You come to college and even though the games take two and a half hours, the game itself has a lot quicker pace. Going to the outfield has been a lot of fun because I get to chase down balls in gaps and dive whenever I feel it’s necessary.” Despite her impressive .381 batting average with 22 runs and 16 RBIs so far this season, Eriksen said he feels a crucial part of her development is being patient at the plate and slowing down the game whenever she can to better read the defense. Off the field, Eriksen wants Astin to have fun and understand there are going to be high and low points. “I think she’s at a very mature point as a freshman, far beyond what I’ve seen in the past from a lot of players,” he said. “She’s giving herself a very good opportunity thanks to the mature approach she’s
n See DONOVAN on PAGE 5
Notebook
Fernandez’s contract extended following historic run By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S
E D I T O R
Coach Jose Fernandez was rewarded for the USF women’s basketball team’s historic season Monday when he agreed to a contract extension to stay with the program through 2021. Fernandez recently completed his 15th season with USF, which was one of the best in Bulls’ history. USF earned its first-ever national ranking and played its way to the second round of the NCAA Tournament under Fernandez this season. “I’ve taken a lot of pride in building this program and there’s so much more to do,” Fernandez said in a press release. “I think this will allow
us to continue along the path we’re on.” The contract adds three years to his already-existing three-year deal. USF Baseball to battle Panthers The Bulls’ starters struggled in their last series against UConn, surrendering 16 runs over three games in Storrs, Connecticut. Even with less than ideal starts from USF pitchers, the team was able to win two of three against the Huskies due to a barrage of runs over Games 1 and 3 of the series. The Bulls will now take a one-game break from conference play as they make a trip
down to Miami to play FIU. The Panthers (14-18) have five hitters batting over .280, but the lineup has yet to hit with much pop this season. Despite a team batting average of .269, the Panthers have only one hitter with more than two home runs. Edwin Rios has been one of the sole providers of the Panthers’ power hitting this season, as the junior leads the team in home runs (9), RBIs (26) and total bases (64). Another strength for the Panthers has been the back end of the bullpen. Relievers Danny Dopico and Williams Durruthy have combined to save seven games and have allowed only 11 earned runs in 46 combined innings.
USF (22-10-1) defeated FIU 4-3 in the teams’ first and only meeting of the season thus far. Tonight, they will play their final matchup of the season at 6 at the FIU Baseball Stadium. Former Bulls invited to Bucs workout At least four USF alumni will be at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pre-draft workout Friday, according to a Tampa Bay Times report. Andre Davis, Reshard Cliett, Austin Reiter and Darrell Williams were all invited to the workout, where they will try to impress evaluators enough to draft them in the upcoming NFL Draft on April 30.
Jose Fernandez coached the Bulls to a program record-tying 27 wins. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM
MATHIEU