The Oracle THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 I VOL. 52 NO. 61
Inside this Issue
The Index
News.................................................................1 Lifestyle......................................................4 Opinion.......................................................6
www.usforacle.com
classifieds..............................................7 Crossword.........................................7 sports............................................................8
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Breaking it down
LI F E STYLE
Art exhibit brings attention to Mexican protests. Page 4
Montage
Victim sues apartment complex over 2013 assaults By Wesley Higgins N E W S
SP O RTS Even with struggles, Bulls’ future remains bright. BACK
Demolition of the long abandoned Life Sciences building began this week. A USF spokesman said university administration sought approval from the state for the demolition over a year ago after finding the building obsolete. Future plans for the space are not determined at this time. In October, there was a security breach in the building that potentially involved student records. The records have been moved to a secure location. ORACLE PHOTO / ALEX ROSENTHAL
Get Greek
Students visited the Greek Expo on Wednesday at the Marshall Student Center to talk to fraternity and sorority members from over 45 organizations about the Greek life experience. ORACLE PHOTO / ADAM MATHIEU
E D I T O R
A former USF student filed a lawsuit last week, claiming the off-campus housing complex Cambridge Woods failed to provide security that could have prevented the 2013 rampage that left four women sexually battered. The woman, a victim who is not named, is filing the lawsuit after being sexually assaulted at the time, when she was an 18-year-old freshman at USF. The lawsuit is against UDR Inc., owners of the Cambridge Woods Apartment complex less than a mile north of the Tampa campus, where many USF students live. The Baird Law Group took the case and, according to the Tampa Tribune, claims a number of security measures could have been taken to make residents safer, such as hiring security guards, building a gate and installing security cameras. Cory Baird, the lawyer who represents the complainant, further told the Tampa Tribune that his office reviewed crime reports of the past five years and found numerous incidents of battery, rape, assault and robbery in the quarter-mile radius of the apartment complex. Therefore, the lawsuit, according to the Tampa Tribune, said that the large amount of crime should have compelled the owners of the complex to take actions to protect its residents.
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Three semesters have passed since the Charles Bates’ rampage that took place over two days in September 2013 and left the entire main campus on alert. The rampage ended when police killed Bates in a shootout that followed a high-speed chase, but only after a series of home invasions. On Sept. 5, Bates entered an apartment at Cambridge Woods apartments with eight students inside. He tied four
men with duct tape and sexually battered four women. Bates then entered Eagles Point apartments, where he forced a woman into her apartment but left without harming her. Bates ran across the street to The Oaks, where he interrupted a birthday party. He held more than 20 people at gunpoint and fired a round into the floor before fleeing. Outside the apartment, Bates fired missed shots at a man
before escaping the area. Police discovered Bates in the car he stole from a victim, which led to the fatal chase. An autopsy indicated Bates was under the influence of a powerful synthetic hallucinogen. Baird, according to the Tampa Tribune, said his client had to drop out of the university and still has difficulty coping with what happened. The Oracle could reach neither UDR Inc. nor Baird for comment by time of print.
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Lifestyle UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Student raises awareness through art By Brandon Shaik L I F E S T Y L E
E D I T O R
On Sept. 26, 2014, 43 students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College of Ayotzinapa travelled to Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico to protest for education reform at a conference held by the mayor’s wife. En route to the conference their bus was intercepted by local police on orders from the mayor, and the students went missing, were tortured and killed. Janett Pulido, a third year student in the MFA Studio Art program at USF, created #YaMeCansé, an exhibit currently on display in the USF Oliver Gallery, named after the social media movement in response to the occurrence in Iguala. “This is a normal situation, people who protest and just suddenly disappear,” Pulido
A first generation Mexicansaid. “To them it just happens, ments have been found in but this particular situation is mass graves, as well as paint American, Pulido travelled to what broke the camel’s back.” enamel to represent the issue. Mexico annually to visit family, In her time at USF, Pulido The sculptures are placed on and recalls instances of her experimented with incor- sheets of Plexiglas and nested family getting pulled over by local police and being forced to porating elements of her in charcoal. pay just to be let go. Mesoamerican and Roman “This is a normal situation, Drawing from her Catholic practices into her culture and personal art, creating unique works people who protest and just experiences with of art that serve to tell a police injustices, story. suddenly disappear. Pulido was inspired As a result of her frusTo them it just happens, to raise awareness of trations with the issues in not only this issue Iguala, Pulido created 43 mixed-media sculptures but this particular situation is but issues that have up to it. to represent each student, what broke the camel’s back.” led“We are so raised each accompanied by a up on fear, that quote from the media Janett Pulido something may regarding the issue. Master’s student, creator of “#YaMeCanse” exhibit happen to our fam“I wanted to create “The charcoal is also a rep- ily members because it has some form of individuality just to give an idea of what I resentation of gun powder happened in the past to shut assume are the personalities of because that’s a reflection of people up, and there are a lot what’s been happening not of Mexicans that are afraid each student,” she said. Each sculpture consists just in this particular situation, to stand up and protest these of a piece of rock or brick, but also prior to that because situations, but now we’ve all representing the burial of the this has been happening for become fed up,” she said. “People are actually standing students as several bone frag- years,” Pulido said.
up and protesting.” Shortly after the disappearance of the group, a mass grave was found in the woods near Iguala. The investigation of the missing students continues as more bodies are found and identified to be students of the group. The final piece in the exhibit is the only piece in which the paint enamel is flowing from the Plexiglas stand, representative not only of this issue, but all issues of police injustice that continue to go unaddressed. “They were just protesting education reform, and then they end up decapitated,” Pulido said. “You rely on the police to help you out and they’re the ones who are igniting that.” The reception for #YaMeCansé will be held Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in FAH 102.
Each of the 43 pieces in the exhibit was created to represent the individuality of each student kidnapped and murdered in Iguala, Guerrero. Each color of paint used is unique and the size of each sculpture was designed to create an intimacy between the viewer and the piece. The juxtaposition of each sheet of paint enamel is representative of the issue as it continues to progress. ORACLE PHOTO/BRANDON SHAIK
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the “housing bubble” that preceded the Great Recession, an event which stirred less confidence in the housing sector for young people, according to the article. Also, even though 69 percent of unmarried millennials would prefer to be married, falling short of good economic standing can keep many from doing so, per the Pew research. It is only understandable, then, that millennials are forced to put off homeownership, like marriage, because of student loan debt and the impracticality of managing a household while in college. Knowing this, it is easier to see how traditional aspects of adulthood don’t make sense for millennials. However, this should not condemn an entire generation as lazy, apathetic or selfish, as previous generations and the media often label it. In a country as diverse as the U.S., it is impossible to generalize in such a sweeping way that millennials are merely suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome, causing them to shrink from the trials of adulthood. Instead, millennials are in the midst of deciding what it means to be an adult in a post-Recession economy.
From the New York Times to Fox News, the common conception surrounding millennials is that they are collectively refusing to take the step into adulthood. Millennials, whose ages range from 18 to 33, are less likely to own homes, have families or hold jobs — choices that recently inspired a debate among columnists at the NY Times. These shortcomings appear as obvious rejections of pleasant, suburban hallmarks of adulthood. However, despite these uninspiring realities, the Pew Research Center shows that millennials are also the best-educated generation to date, as a third of older millennials have a four-year degree or higher. Additionally, it must not be forgotten that the pursuit of higher education often comes at the price of a delayed entrance to the real world. With that in mind, one must
take into consideration the number of millennials in higher education and the effect that has on their maturing. For instance, having a family while young was not only practical, but acceptable in the past because it was also common for Americans to enter the job force immediately after high school. Now, as an effect of seeking higher education, millennials live in the new reality of a buffer zone between the harshness of the job force and the immaturity of high school. This buffer zone, for the most part, is not conducive to having children or even being married. Most of young adult life is now spent in academia, as seen in the Pew Research findings, alongside the hope of eventually acquiring a high-paying or stable job. Education, however, also comes with the burden of student loan debt, which can amount to as much as $30,000 in some states, as reported by the Project on Student Loan Debt, an initiative of The Institute for College Access and Success. Homemaking and family life is hard to achieve without a living space, and massive student loan debt makes a mortgage seem much less attractive, as reported in a Money News article. Critics need to remember millennials came to age surrounding the last days of
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COLU M N I ST
Editor in Chief: Alex Rosenthal ............................ oracleeditor@gmail.com News Editor: Wesley Higgins ......................... oraclenewsteam@gmail.com Sports Editor: Vinnie Portell ........................ oraclesportseditor@gmail.com Lifestyle Editor: Brandon Shaik ............... oraclelifestyleeditor@gmail.com Opinion Editor: Isabelle Cavazos ....................... oracleopinion@gmail.com Copy Editors: Grace Hoyte, Caitlin Lochner Multimedia Editor: Adam Mathieu Assistant Editors: Sebastian Contento, Jacob Hoag, Polly Snover Staff Writers: Zach Lowie, Chelsea Mulligan, Jeff Odom, Amar Rele Graphic Arts Manager: Luke Blankenship
T H E O R AC L E
What you said
Millennials refocus traditions of adulthood
Chelsea Mulligan
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The New York Times’ Room for Debate section recently addressed whether millennials are “smart” or “irresponsible” for putting off the traditional expectations of adulthood until they are ready. Editor Isabelle Cavazos asked students about millennials’ adjustment to adulthood.
“People try to prolong their education so they don’t have to start in the real world.” — Sarah Junkins, a junior majoring in mass communications
“There aren’t jobs readily available, so the transition is slower. There’s more pressure on college students. It keeps us more dependent because of these circumstances.” — Lindsay Lovett, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary social sciences
“It’s harder. A lot of parents baby their children. We’re also in a state where financial debt is so high.”
Chelsea Mulligan is a freshman majoring in international studies.
— Abigail Nicholas, a sophomore majoring in computer 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).
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CORRECTIONS The Oracle will correct or clarify factual errors. Contact Editor in Chief Alex Rosenthal at 974-5190.
“Changing the norms — like marriage, buying a house — causes controversy. It’s something personal to the individual depending on their situation and values.” — Luis Calle, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering
Classifieds UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
To place a classified ad go to HELP WANTED CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT Full-time for New Tampa clinical research center. Must have good computer and multi-tasking skills. Email resume: careers@jaeb.org EOE M/F/V/D/DFWP. Email careers@jaeb.org
Gymnastics and/or Swim Instructors Needed Must Love Kids & Be Enthusiastic! Call 813.264-5000
Veterinary Tech/Assistant or Receptionist needed for animal hospital close to campus. Part-time or full-time. Experience a plus, but will train. Email resume to acahhiring@gmail.com.
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http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds
Part-time Warehouse Worker Warehouse Position Irvin, Inc., a full-service billboard supply house, is seeking to fill one part-time position in the warehouse. The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements: - Valid driver’s license - Reliable transportation to and from work - Strong attention to detail - Forklift experience, including loading and off-loading within a racking system - Basic Computer Skills (Online freight rate quotes and familiarity with Bills of Lading a plus) - Ability to pass a background check with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Job Responsibilities: - Strict Adherence to a Monday - Thursday 12pm - 4pm work schedule - Pull customer orders with attention to detail. - Create bills of lading. - Receive product in from various suppliers. - Drive forklift for various functions. - Keep warehouse clean and orderly. - Complete other duties as needed. - Be able to lift 50lbs. Only serious candidates should submit resumes to denise@theirvincorp.com. No walk-in interviews will be granted. Email denise@theirvincorp.com
Crossword
HELP WANTED
Kumon New Tampa has immediate openings for part time teaching assistant positions. See the on-line ad. 813-374-9274
Happy New Year! Start the year off with a new job! We are seeking part-time customer service reps. Make your own schedule working 13-22 hours per week! $13.50/hr starting, plus daily and weekly bonuses! Easy work, great environment! Call (813) 988-5941 for more information.
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Men’s Basketball
Lack of experience beginning to show for Bulls Jacob Hoag C O M M E N TA R Y
When former USF men’s basketball coach Stan Heath was fired in March of last year, the team’s roster was virtually emptied by all of the players transferring from USF. From the offseason emerged a young team with little experience, but a very high ceiling. USF (7-9) has shown signs of improvement, but after letting a first half lead slip away in Tuesday night’s matchup with defending champion UConn, it is apparent that coach Orlando Antigua and his team have a long journey before contention for conference championships is once again a regular occurrence. Heath’s departure also saw the exit of 4-star center John Egbunu, who transferred to UF, as well as the loss of the departed coach’s son, Josh. The losses left sophomore Chris Perry, senior Corey Allen Jr. and redshirt junior Anthony Collins as the only starters left from last year’s roster. As the team’s core, Allen, Collins and Perry have seen success this season, averaging 39.1 points per game — over
half of the team’s average point total. The Bulls have shown resilience throughout the season. In a three-day span, USF battled UAB in an overtime shootout, winning 73-71, then turned around to knock off prominent ACC member N.C. State 68-65. They may have been able to hang in and win some close games, but consistency has been a problem for Antigua’s squad. Following a 6-1 start, USF dropped seven of its following eight games. When Antigua joined the Bulls, he added plenty of depth, but little to no experience. Before the start of this season, the trio of remaining starters was the only group with any Division I experience. Antigua is no different. Before coming to USF, he had no NCAA head coaching experience, though he worked under one of the best in the business, John Calipari. Although he gained plenty of knowledge from Calipari, running one’s own program is a much greater challenge. But time is all they need. During a five-game winless drought in December, the Bulls lacked one key element of a successful team: cohesiveness.
But that comes with playing together for a while. At times, the team has looked like five different players instead of one unit. This led to confusion on defensive switches and hindered the offensive flow. For instance, against UConn, there were at least four occasions on a fast break when Allen or Collins had a player open down the court, but failed to see the easy scoring opportunity. The only time in the game the team tried to push the ball up the court, it was stolen by UConn’s defense. The Bulls have the talent, but they don’t trust or feel used to one another. More mature teams can know where everyone will be much better than such new squads. With new players and a fastpaced offense, turnovers are inevitable, but the Bulls are averaging two more turnovers (14.3) per game than assists (12.5). The one consistent element from last season is the lack of outside shooting. In 2013, USF made just 25.8 percent of its shots from beyond the arc. Although the Bulls have raised that number, the one percent increase is
Coach Orlando Antigua inherited only three players with Division I experience upon taking the job with USF last spring. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
nothing to write home about. All of these growing pains are expected from a young team. The talent, coach and scheme are in place now and time will show how good this team can be. But despite the slow start, it’s not all bad for the Bulls. USF ranks third in the AAC in blocks per game (5.3) as well as shooting percentage (46.2). This is the first time the Bulls have shot over 45 percent since 2001.
The Bulls have proven they can win in close games, but consistency has been an issue for this young team that sits at 7-8 with a 1-2 conference record. USF will most likely not be a contender for a championship this season, but after a year of getting to know each other and allowing the players to lock down their roles, the Bulls have the talent and the coach to make a strong push in the 2015-16 season.
Women’s Basketball
USF focused on Owls’ guards By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S
Courtney Williams is leading USF with 18.7 points per game.
ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
E D I T O R
The USF women’s basketball team looks to continue building on its postseason resume when it travels to Philadelphia to play Temple on Sunday. USF (11-3, 3-0) is currently riding a six game winning streak, including opening conference play with a 3-0 record. But while the Bulls have opened AAC play with an undefeated record, so have the Owls. Temple’s guards have been the offensive punch for the
Owls this season, with junior Erica Covile stepping up her play as of late. The guard has averaged 19 points over her last three games, shooting 65.7 percent from the field over that span. USF coach Jose Fernandez said the Bulls’ focus will be on containing Covile and guards Tyonna Williams and Feyonda Fitzgerald. All three players have averaged at least 10 points per game this season. The Bulls’ defense has been very strong over the past two
games, holding opponents to 40 points or fewer. “(Defense has been) our strong point, it’s what we hang our hat on,” Fernandez said. “I think our kids really buy into the system and play with great effort and enthusiasm.” Junior guard Courtney Williams said the Bulls’ defensive success has been due to the team learning how to play cohesively together. “I think we just clicked,” Williams said. “It’s our chemistry and trusting our teammates
to be where they’re supposed to be at.” A win Sunday would not only extend the Bulls’ perfect conference record, but help them build toward returning to the top-25, a position they haven’t held since the second week of the season. “Wins are how you get respect, especially when we’re beating all these great teams,” Williams said. “I definitely think if we keep winning, we’ll get that respect.”