The Oracle WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 I VOL. 52 NO. 34
Inside this Issue
M A N A G I N G
Students to write, direct, perform a Play-In-A-Day. Page 4
Montage
S PORTS Taggart almost pulls White in Tulsa. BACK
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
SG votes against Athletic fee increase Staff union By Roberto Roldan
LI F E STYLE
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The Index
News.................................................................1 Lifestyle......................................................4 Opinion.......................................................6
E D I T O R
The Student Government (SG) Senate recommended the Local Fee Committee fund only 25 percent or less of the $600,000 requested by USF Athletics for athlete scholarship differentials in a straw poll taken Tuesday night. According to the results of the poll, 18 SG senators voted to deny the funding request, 20 voted to approve $150,000 of the request, five voted to approve $300,000, four voted to approve $450,000 and only one senator voted to fully fund the request. Currently, students pay $14.46 per credit hour toward the Athletic fee, on top of a $10 flat-rate fee. The $600,000 proposed request from USF Athletics would be an additional 62 cents per credit hour per student. Prior to the poll, senators entered into nearly half an
4 in favor of 75% 5 in favor of 50%
1 in favor of full increase
18 in favor of no additional funding
20 in favor of 25% of proposed increase
By Wesley Higgins N E W S
Based on senators present at Tuesday’s Student Government Senate meeting. ORACLE GRAPHIC/ADAM MATHIEU hour of debate over the $600,000 proposed increase in student athletic fees. The debate was sparked by a presentation by SG Senator and Local Fee Committee member Corey Ulloa.
Senator Chris Johnson, one of the most vocal critics during the discussion, said the debate shouldn’t be about the merit of sports programs, rather the merit of allowing USF Athletics
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USF grad redefines beauty queen title By McKenna Skope C O R R E S P O N D E N T
By winning Miss U.S. Virgin Islands in 2012, Aniska Tonge competed for Miss America 2013 and is about to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands in Miss World 2014. Yet Tonge said she didn’t grew up a princess. “I’m not one of those girls who’s done it since she was 2,” she said. “You wouldn’t have seen me on ‘Toddlers and Tiaras.’” It wasn’t until after graduating from USF in 2012, with a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in women and gender studies, that she began competing in beauty pageants. Tonge enters pageants to
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Aniska Tonge, a USF graduate, qualified for Miss America 2013 and is about to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands in Miss World 2014. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
negotiations start to wind down E D I T O R
The state of contract negotiations improved between university officials and the staff union Tuesday as both sides came to the table willing to compromise. “Both parties should feel that we came in good faith,” said John Dickinson, chief negotiator for the university administration. “This is supposed to be what negotiations are about.” While nothing is set in stone, with some compromises contingent upon another, parties left the table with a general idea of the other’s expectations. The university proposed to reinforce in official language that if a staff supervisor reprimands an employee, it should be in a private and practical manner. “If this principle is violated, we want to know about it,” Dickinson said. “And without any fear of retaliation.” Hector Ramos, chief negotiator for the staff union, said there should be a clear definition of what a practical reprimand is. A supervisor should not yell unless there’s imminent danger, such as warning an employee about a heavy object falling. “It should be in there so everyone is clear on it,” Ramos said. “The lawyer, the employee, the supervisor — everyone.”
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to draw more money from students. “The biggest issue is that if they need $600,000 extra, they can draw up some of their existing money and not request such a large increase,” Johnson said. “I personally feel that giving them the extra $600,000, regardless of the reason why, could be subsidizing potentially poor appropriating practices.” At-large Senator Frank Cirillo and College of Engineering Senator Ana Lopez agreed with Johnson. Both senators said, after speaking with their respective constituencies, that it seemed students highly disagreed with granting USF Athletics’ request to fund athlete scholarship differentials. “All of the students who
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came to me, they all had the same concerns, which were they don’t benefit from this fee increase,” Cirillo said. “They benefit when the (Activity and Service fee) is increased or when health services fees are increased, because every student takes out of those fees.” Senator Samuel Shiflett stood up multiple times in defense of the proposed increase and said he feels paying for the student athlete scholarship differentials will allow USF Athletics to bring national attention to the university. “If you were to ask someone who USF was 15 years ago, they wouldn’t know,” Shiflett said. “Part of that is what Judy Genshaft and the rest of this university has done, part of that is our football was pretty darn good for about five or six years and brought national attention.”
Shiflett also repeatedly told the Senate that if the proposed increase in student Athletic fee is approved, students would see a return on their investment because “Athletics operates on a profit” and “brings money to the school.” According to the USF Athletics 2013 fiscal report, the department made a total profit of $453,723 last year while receiving roughly $16 million in revenue from student fees. The Local Fee Committee will have its final meeting Friday when the committee will finalize the fee increases to take effect next academic year. Ulloa said he will take the results of the straw poll and key points of the debate back to the committee for discussion.
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On a pay increase, Dickinson countered the staff union’s original proposal for a 5 percent wage increase with a 2 percent increase and a small bonus for workers who receive exemplary evaluations. “Merit should drive compensation,” Dickinson said. Ramos returned with a 3.75 percent across-the-board increase for all staff. He said bonuses based on merit are too inequitable and too subjective. At last month’s bargaining meeting, Ramos said the contract should be an accessible and primary source for questions staff may have. Dickinson said the university is willing to provide someone who would assist staff in finding requested information. To further transparency, Ramos said all new employees should be given a copy of their contract and a letter from the staff union president, Susie
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Shannon. Regarding grievance hearings, Dickinson said the university is willing to allow the union to file a grievance without a signature from the complainant until it goes to the first stage of grievance hearings. However, Ramos said this process would still be unequal to faculty union. Furthermore, Dickinson said in the event of a grievance receiving arbitration, that the university would be willing to split the arbitration cost. Currently, the cost of arbitration falls to the party that lost in court. At the end of the meeting, both parties expressed optimism that the negotiations could conclude in time for ratification before the beginning of 2015. “If we come to the next meeting as prepared as we were today, we should knock this thing out,” Dickinson said. The next bargaining meeting is set for Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. in the Student Services building.
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QUEEN
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win scholarship money for graduate school and to raise her confidence. She said she once struggled with anxiety and depression in high school, so she wrote a book as a blueprint for young people facing similar challenges. “I was a shell,” she said. Pageants like Miss America allow her to promote mental wellbeing on a greater scale, but she said she finds herself fighting the beauty queen stereotype. “I hate people thinking I’m not educated or intellectual, or that I don’t do anything outside of pageants,” she said. “I’m not a person who has no sense of ambition other than looking good in a swimsuit.” Upon returning home from Miss America, Tonge said she realized she still wanted to pursue a meaningful career. “Everything I’ve experienced has shown me my responsibility to mentor the girls coming up under me,” she said. “It would have been ridiculous for me to say, ‘I did Miss America, now I’m done.’” So she founded the nonprofit organization 4Her in December 2013 with a commitment to teaching young girls about professional positivity, healthy relationships, community involvement and academic achievement. Since 4Her’s founding, Tonge has visited every high school on the Virgin Island of St. Thomas, sharing the lessons she learned while competing in pageants. “I thought that if I was pretty enough, it would let me love myself,” she said. “How I was trying to love myself was the wrong way to do it.” Devon Travern, the editor of Live Inspired Magazine, said Tonge’s own hard work doesn’t escape those around her. “It’s amazing because she self-funded it,” Travern said. “It was on her dime because
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she believes in it. She connects with (the girls) on a personal level and has an influential conversation with them.” Travern said Tonge raised $2,000 to purchase homecoming and prom dresses for girls on the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix. 4Her also hosts seminars with motivational speakers on relationships, professional development and peer pressure. Tonge said she hopes to start a scholarship program through the foundation. Tonge is also focusing on getting ready to leave for London in November, where she will compete for the title of Miss World in December. She will compete in all six segments of the competition. In preparation, she is working out everyday, doing at least one mock interview per week and working with her vocal coach. Though she said she is ready for Miss World more than she was for Miss America, this is likely her last pageant. “I don’t want to be 40 and still competing in pageants,” she said. “I don’t want to be Mrs. World.” After the competition, Tonge plans to spend a few weeks in Europe before moving to Atlanta where she will pursue graduate degrees in international communication and theater. “(Pageants) judge you on how you look: ‘do you fit this part?’ I’m not going to win everything because I’m not always going to have that look,” she said. “Life is like that, but that’s not what matters most.” Tonge admitted her life isn’t perfect, but she acknowledges the role pageants have had in helping her become the person she is today. “I still have so much to learn about myself. I’m still trying to figure things out,” she said. “But (pageants) have helped me figure out where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do.”
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Lifestyle
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Students to write, direct, perform a Play-In-A-Day By Alexandra Hollander C O R R E S P O N D E N T
Usually, a play could take months to cast, produce, direct and perform – but the upcoming Play-In-A-Day event will make students do all of that in 24 hours. This year will be the third annual Play-In-A-Day event hosted by the USF Student Theatre Production Board. There are seven directors, seven playwrights and 21-28 actors in total — with one director, one playwright and three to four actors per play — all of which are students. Students have a variety of role options to participate in the event. If students sign up as a playwright, they
have 12 hours to write a brand new play of their own original work. If students sign up as a director, they have 12 hours to direct the play. If students sign up as an actor, they have 12 hours to act out the work. The playwrights will receive a list of three components Friday at 6 p.m. They have from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to write a new and original 10-minute play. Students who are directors and actors will receive the play at 6 a.m. and they will get together to rehearse and prepare for the performance. While the majority of school productions use prewritten and relatively wellknown plays, the Play-In-ADay event allows students to
write something themselves and showcase their original work to the USF community. Jaime O’Brien, a senior majoring in creative writing and theater arts and president of the Student Theatre Production Board, spoke more about what the motive behind creating this event was and what makes this event unique. “It was a push to have original work and kind of introduce students to theater,” O’Brien said. “It also was a collaboration with other students who are not involved in the School of Theatre. It gets other students involved in theater if they don’t normally have the time to.” Play-In-A-Day is open and
designed for all students, regardless of major, background or previous knowledge of theater. Asia Garcia is a student who will be participating in this event for the first time this year. She decided to participate because she likes being on stage and wants to get involved on campus. “I’ve done a few plays here and there, and it is something I haven’t majored in and I wish I did,” Garcia said. “I am a veteran, so whatever I major in for school goes through them, and acting wasn’t really an option. It is something I’d want to do and it is a great opportunity to be on stage again. I wanted to push
myself and be out there; I haven’t been on stage in a while and I miss that feeling.” O’Brien said the event brings a diverse group of student participants, and students in the past have shown great collaboration for the time-restricted event. “It is a collaboration, just working together,” O’Brien said. “The actors are given a script out of nowhere and they just have to go with it and adapt to this piece.” Students who are interested in watching the final products of the student-run event can watch the performance Saturday at 7 p.m. in TAR 120.
Beginning Friday at 6 p.m., students will write, direct and star in student plays put together in 24 hours. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
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WHITE
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attack is making that decision hard and is allowing the Bulls’ offense to come to life. “You can’t have it all,” Taggart said. “When you have guys that can go out and win the one on ones, that makes you pretty potent. When you want to double cover (Davis), it opens up room for other guys like Rodney Adams and our tight ends to make plays.” Davis has come back strong from his sternum injury, which sidelined him for four games early in the season. He has posted back-to-back 100-yard games since returning, along with four touchdowns. The audible Early in the second half Saturday, the Bulls were lined
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Sophomore midfielder Marcus Epps was the most recent player to score his first goal, recording two against SMU on Saturday. He was rewarded for his performance with the title of AAC Offensive Player of The Week. Senior midfielder Lucas Baldin has been the statistical leader of the team with five goals and eight assists. His eight assists rank him in the top-10 in the nation. Seniors Edwin Moalosi and Tyler Blackwood are second to Baldin on the team with four goals each. Moalosi is also second in
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up for a pass play on their own 46-yard-line, but White saw something and switched the play for the first time in his career. “We saw some player mismatches with the play we originally had called, so, we changed it to a run play,” White said. “We run the ‘power’ fairly well and we decided to give it a chance and it worked.” White said they have “kill” plays for every play called, but haven’t seen the opportunity to make the switch. In this instance, the change allowed Mack to break through for a 54-yard score to swing the momentum of the game. The Bulls look to build off the biggest comeback win in school history and keep the momentum rolling into their next conference game against Cincinnati on Friday at 7 p.m. most assists for the season, with six. Sophomore midfielder Lindo Mfeka and senior Wesley Charpie are third on the team, with four assists recorded. Sophomore goalkeeper Spasoje Stefanovic is leading the team in saves, with 40. Stefanovic has been awarded AAC goalkeeper of the week honors three times this season. Redshirt junior Dallas Jaye is second, with three saves through 54 minutes played. USF players have been awarded AAC honors nine times this season. The Bulls take on the Knights tonight at 7 at the UCF Soccer Complex.
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What you said
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Men’s soccer
Charpie finalist for CLASS award
Notebook
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White almost pulled in Tulsa
Senior Wesley Charpie has played in all 74 games of his career. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM
S P O R T S
E D I T O R
Senior defender Wesley Charpie was named one of 10 finalists for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award for men’s soccer. The award is given to the athlete that best exemplifies excellence in community, classroom, character and competition. The senior defender has a 3.4 GPA and is planning on graduating in December with a degree in relation communications. He was named to the AAC All-Academic Team last season. Charpie has started all 74 games of his USF career and is also the active leader in points (29) and game-winning goals (5). “I think you see Wes and on the field he’s an excellent player, and then off the field, if you ever have a chance to spend time with him, he’s a fun guy to be around and I think it’s deserved,” coach George Kiefer said in a press release. Charpie was originally part of a pool of 30 candidates in September. A media committee recently narrowed that pool down to 10 finalists. The winner will be announced at the 2014 Men’s College Cup in Cary, North Carolina, in December.
USF looks to continue dominance over UCF
USF has a 21-5-4 record against UCF. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM
MATHIEU
By Vinnie Portell
Men’s soccer
MATHIEU
Coach Willie Taggart admitted in his weekly press conference that he contemplated pulling sophomore Mike White in the first half of USF’s comeback against Tulsa. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
By Chris Villar
By Jacob Hoag
With the reemergence of senior receiver Andre Davis, defenses have to pick and choose where they want to send help. The steady rushing
The Bulls will travel to face struggling UCF tonight as they look to continue their twogame winning streak with a victory against the Knights. USF leads the series 21-5-4, but lost last year’s contest 1-0. UCF is coming into the game after a 1-0 loss to Connecticut, who USF defeated 1-0 in overtime earlier in the season. USF has a 7-2-3 record when it plays UCF in Orlando. The Knights are currently ranked last in the AAC, with their only victory Sept. 5 when they defeated FAU 1-0. With four games remaining in the regular season, a win against the Knights (1-84, 0-2-3) would put the Bulls on top of the conference, if first-place SMU were to lose or tie with Tulsa. With 13 games under its belt, the USF men’s soccer team (8-4-1, 3-1-1) has had success across the board, with 10 different players scoring at least one goal.
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A S S T .
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E D I T O R
The Bulls had a poor firsthalf showing against Tulsa, going down 27-7 in the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback Mike White was 7-of-12 for 61 yards and an interception that resulted in a Tulsa touchdown in the first half. This left coach Willie Taggart with a decision: stick with White or give junior Steven Bench a chance. “When I told him I was thinking about it, he kind of looked at me and, I can’t use the words, but I liked that,” Taggart said. “I was impressed. If he would’ve put his head down and pouted, I probably wouldn’t have put him back in.” White wanted no part of being on the bench and responded by throwing for 211 yards and three touchdowns in the second half. “(Taggart) was looking for that fire and that passion that
I didn’t really have in the first half,” White said. “When your quarterback doesn’t have that, the offense can’t get going because they feed off the QB. Once I had passion, we all did, and played one heck of a second half.” Next week, White will have his 13th start as a Bull, in Cincinnati: the city where his career began. White said he received the first start and win of his football career in the opening game of his senior year against Trotwood-Madison throwing for just over 100 yards. Mack and company making strides Taggart has put an emphasis on establishing a strong run game and it is starting to pay off. “The (running backs) have shown you glimpses of what they can do,” Taggart said. “We’re still not running as much as I’d like, but when we
have the production that we’re having, we’ll take that too.” Freshman running back Marlon Mack leads the conference with 727 yards and is second in touchdowns, with eight. Though Mack leads the way, the Bulls have more capable backs that are all showing they can be counted on. “Any one of the guys can come in the game and we don’t have to minimize our game plan,” Taggart said. “They’re different styles of runners, but they are competitive and love football and love contact.” Freshman D’Ernest Johnson has seen the field in all seven games this season, accumulating 106 yards on 30 carries. Davis opens up the offense
C O R R E S P O N D E N T