THE ORACLE
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Stadium task force will keep pushing forward Despite students voting against an on-campus stadium fee in a referendum earlier this month, SG might attempt to garner support to help fund the proposed 40,000-seat facility.
SG Sen. Yousef Afifi said that though a student fee is an option to fund the on-campus stadium, there are some other alternatives in the works as well. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE By Jesse Stokes E D I T O R
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Students voted against imposing a $6 to $9 per-credithour fee on themselves to help fund an on-campus stadium in Student Government’s (SG) midterm elections earlier this month.
Of the 1,753 students who voted, 815 did not support the fee, 668 did and 271 did not have a preference. It is those that remain neutral, however, that could swing the majority in favor of the fee, according to the chair of the On-Campus Stadium Task Force, Sen. Yousef Afifi.
Afifi is considering the no-preference voters to be added to those in favor, which brings the level of support of the student fee to 54 percent. “I am not trying to spin this into some positive way to make it seem like more people are for it than they are against it, I am just taking data and the interpretation of the data to
mean exactly what it is,” Afifi said. Afifi said that SG did not expect to have that many people vote no preference, especially because of the nature of the referendum. “There were some things that we did not expect,” Afifi said. “The main one being was the percentage of people responded saying that they have no preference. I assume that because this is a monumental issue, something that is enticing and may even be controversial, we did not expect that many people to say that they have no preference.” According to Danielle McDonald, the dean of Student Affairs and Student Success, SG does not have the power to simply impose a fee. Instead, the next step would be to lobby the Board of Trustees (BOT) and beyond, should they choose to do so. “No, they can’t just create a fee, but they have to determine if they are going to move forward with lobbying,”
McDonald said. “They are quite aware that they cannot just create a fee, they do not have that power, the university doesn’t even have that power, so they are trying to figure out, based on student interest, if they should continue to pursue it.” For the implementation or increase of any fee, the first step would be to petition the BOT, then to the Board of Governors (BOG) and, finally, the governor of Florida. McDonald said that because current Florida Gov. Rick Scott has been opposed to any addition to or increase in student fees, it has been a challenge to get such changes implemented. “The governor has been very clear on this, that it needs to be based on student need and that he does not want to add more debt to students, so that is why we have not been able to increase fees in the past few years,” McDonald said. “As a university, we also don’t
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SG funds first of its kind Student Affairs Correspondents’ Dinner By Maria Ranoni N E W S
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The Student Government (SG) legislative branch will be hosting a Student Affairs Correspondents’ Dinner that will be similar in concept to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. It will also cost $7,800.
Of this amount, $3,000 will cover the cost of food, while $4,800 will pay for professional videography services to capture the event. “I don’t think it’s reasonable to spend $4,000 on a videographer,” said Sen. Suzane Nazir at Tuesday’s Senate meeting. “I think we’re
being quite hypocritical. We preach fiscal responsibility all the time, yet we’re spending $4,000 on a videographer … The videography has no impact for students.” The videography service will include two cameras and three crew members who will film at the dinner and create and edit a
video — which SG says will be used to promote the event as a tradition moving forward. The money used to fund the dinner will come from the Activity and Service (A&S) fee unrestricted reserve account, which derives directly from fees students pay in their tuition. At Tuesday night’s Senate
meeting, Yousef Afifi, Senate president pro-tempore, made an unallocated cash request for these funds. “This would be the one bit of programming the legislative branch has, in addition to small little events we do on the side
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NEWS 3 OPINION 6 SPORTS 7
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NEWS
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STADIUM
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want to increase debt on our students, especially if it is not necessary to do that.” McDonald said that some of the initiatives for an increase in student fees have been centered around accommodating the on-campus health and wellness facilities, which have been experiencing an exponential growth in demand. Such changes have not come about, however, because of Scott’s direct opposition and the university is waiting to see what Florida’s next governor’s stance will be on the issue. McDonald also emphasized that no matter the result of the student stadium fee vote, referendums are not legally binding to the university and as such, it is not forced to take any sort of action. She also added that the primary focus of the university right now, when it comes to construction, is the new indoor athletic center, which is projected to cost $40 million. McDonald said that she is not personally in favor, or opposed, to the idea of an on-campus stadium. “I have worked on campuses where there are stadiums on campus and I went to school where the stadium was not on campus and I think that there are pros and cons to it,” said McDonald, who got her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami. “It can definitely help impact student engagement and participation in athletics, but it can also be distracting to other things on campus as well. I do not have a real opinion one way or the other. I have worked in both structures and have seen that both structures can have great student engagement.” Afifi added that the potential student fee is not the only source in discussion
to generate funding for the stadium, though, no “alternative” is solidified. He also said that a lack of knowledge among voters about the planned amenities that the stadium has may have also played a factor in the underwhelming amount who voted in favor. Afifi said he thinks that is a result of a lack of marketing, which is something he and members of SG plan to address moving forward. “I think marketing could have been a little bit better, though I will give credit to the marketing team and anyone who participated in spreading the word of this … but, as far as my end, I could have done a better job as far as ensuring that this was marketed in a more timely manner,” Afifi said. “I will take responsibility for that.” According to Afifi, the voting-system structure may have also played a role in the way students voted. He said that by candidates running for SG and the referendums being listed on a singular ballot and voters having to click back and forth between sections, he thinks many voters may have missed the referendum being listed on the ballot to begin with. Afifi said that the idea of a football stadium being built on campus may be closer than most people think. “I do not think we are 10 years away from having a football stadium, we are more like four or five years away if the proper methods are employed and steps are taken,” Afifi said. “Obviously that five years is not set in stone, it could obviously fluctuate, but I think we are more toward that line of the duration than we are in the double-digit number of years side of the spectrum.”
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that don’t really count, like Snacks with the Senators that are a couple hundred dollars,” Afifi said at the Senate meeting. The request was approved with 23 Senators voting yes and two no. Student Body President Moneer Kheireddine has not yet signed off on the request, but he has eight more days from Thursday to approve or veto it. The A&S fee is included in every student’s tuition and costs — about $12 per credit hour and $7 per semester. This means that a student taking 15 credit hours in a particular semester would pay about $188 in total for this fee, which helps fund student organizations and homecoming events. After Afifi presented this request at the meeting, a brief discussion period followed where it appeared most of the
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Senators who commented were in favor of the allocation of these funds to the event. Sen. Salud Martinez said this dinner will help Senators increase awareness of what their role is in SG, as well as present opportunities to pitch ideas that will enhance the student experience to influential administrators. “I’m in complete support of every part of this,” Martinez said. Only a few Senators expressed opposition during this period due to the cost for the videography services. One of those opposing, Sen. Samantha Whyte says she’s for the event, just not the video costs. “I see the importance of it, but we’re spending $8,000 on dinner,” Whyte said. “I get it, but $5,000 of it is photography and videos of it that I’m not going to watch. No student is going to watch it.” Afifi said that filming the
event would help to establish it as a tradition moving forward, as opposed to the ineffective approach of passing it down by word-of-mouth. Afifi has sent invitations for this event and, according to him, about 138 have responded yes, 30 said maybe and 80 say they won’t attend. He plans to send out about 100 to 150 more invites. Even though specific invites are being sent out, the event is open to all students who wish to come when it occurs on Nov. 15 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Formal dress is encouraged. Afifi will be hosting the event himself, and various people will speak — which will include Kherieddine and the SG Judicial Branch, among others. “This is something very cost-effective,” Afifi said. “It’s something I’ve ironed out the details for very well for.”
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The Oracle Editor in Chief Jesse Stokes @JesseStokes813
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OPINION
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Federalism is dead ●
By Zoe Zbar
O P I N I O N
C O R R E S P O N D E N T
When the Founders envisioned the U.S. and its governmental structure over 200 years ago, they pictured thriving and diverse states and a unifying force with just enough power to maintain the union. The federal government would hardly impact the average American life and state and local governments would tackle day to day issues as they arose. It was federalism and it was beautiful. It is imperative that state and local governments have more power In 2018, however, federalism is than the federal government. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE dead. It’s hard to go more than a spotlight effect, with news media questions of war, trade and day without hearing about the outlets focusing coverage on monetary policy. But the federal actions or comments of President national leaders and national government was never intended Donald Trump’s administration issues. to do much. or how every move the Justice But that focus on the national Once upon a time, the federal Department, EPA or stage compounds a different system was a guarantee on the Department of Education problem — lack of information American dream. If you couldn’t make will soon kill us all. It might about local government activities. find it in Hillsborough County, be hyperbole but the reality is When asked to rate performance it was easy to go to another city, that as citizens, we’ve been paying for different levels of government, county, or state and find new and too much attention and giving too the Sunshine State Survey different opportunities. much power to the lawmakers in found that 16 percent of people The end of federalism will mean Washington. did not know what to rate their the end of diverse opportunities It’s time we start paying own city government while only for upward mobility and success attention to our local government. four percent did the same at the for many. It will also mean our Perhaps the first bump in our national level. ability to avoid any national relationship with the federal Those figures speak to people agenda will be diminished and government sources back to the simply not knowing what their policies we hate will come down trust issues. In 2017, the Sunshine closest elected officials are doing, hard, without any power from the State Survey found that over one which is problematic when you state to fight back. It’s time we in five Floridians never trusted consider that local governments start looking back to our county federal government leaders to do regularly deal with issues like commissioners and mayors, not what was best for Floridians. By taxation, infrastructure and White House cabinets, for policy. contrast, more than one in three criminal justice long before respondents felt they could trust the federal government ever local government leaders to do responds. what was best at least most of the None of this is to say that Aida Vazquez-Soto is a senior time. the federal government is majoring in political science. Faith in local government unimportant. Even in its antiquity, officials to be better creates a the U.S. government dealt with
T H E O R AC L E
Voters and candidates must put a focus on the environment
By Aida Vazquez-Soto E D I T O R
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From toxic red tide to turning the Sunshine State solar, the environment is one of the most important issues driving people’s decisions this election season. The two candidates running for governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis (R) and Andrew Gillum (D), agree that the environment needs to be addressed. But they disagree on how to make these improvements and where to focus their energy and budgets. These disagreements were clear during this week’s debate. The candidates’ most stark disagreement is on climate change. Gillum prides himself on believing in science. He knows that something needs to be done quickly about climate change or Florida’s future could be swamped. DeSantis, on the other hand, does not believe in climate change. He “doesn’t want to be an alarmist.” He questions the science behind it, as do many in the Republican party. Just because DeSantis doesn’t believe in climate change doesn’t mean helping the environment isn’t on his to-do list. Endorsed by the Everglades Trust, he has a strong stance when it comes to restoring the Everglades and getting rid of green algae and red tide. One of Gillum’s main environmental areas he wishes to focus on is making Florida a solar energy state. Gillum has already implemented solar energy in Tallahassee, with a 120-acre solar farm which, he says, tripled the amount of solar energy they produce. DeSantis, on the other hand, doesn’t believe that solar energy is necessary. He says that it’ll be too costly to install and the benefits don’t justify the costs. In the short run, DeSantis is correct. It cost $32 million to build
Tallahassee’s solar farm. No one can deny that it’s a huge expense. In the long run, though, solar energy will reduce electricity bills and greenhouse gas emissions, and make us less dependent on the nonrenewable fossil fuels we’re quickly depleting. Although DeSantis’ heart appears to be in the right place, being that he doesn’t want to hurt those who can’t afford higher energy bills in the short run, the need for solar energy is apparent to helping Florida’s — and the world’s — environment. Like the sun rising in the east, in every recent election candidates promise to solve environmental issues, followed by frustrating inaction. The difference between past elections and this one is the placement of the environmental promises within the discussions and debates. Climate change was the first topic discussed in this week’s debate. This is the issue that demands to be tackled before anything else. A lot of Floridians are worried about sea life washing up dead on Gulf Coast beaches. The once white sandy havens are turning into a ghastly, smelly scene from some horror movie. Floridians are worried that Hurricane Michael, which started as a tropical storm and exploded into the strongest storm to hit the panhandle due to historically warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, is a sign of things to come. Climate change isn’t an invisible ghost anymore. People see the effects and they’re scared. Gillum or DeSantis, Florida needs a leader who is going to do something to save Florida’s environment. Zoe Zbar is a junior majoring in marketing.
SPORTS
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Women’s Soccer
Viens sets two USF scoring records, looks to finish season strong
By Nolan Brown C O R R E S P O N D E N T
It was a quiet afternoon on Sunday, Oct. 14. A slight chill filled the air at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis, Tennessee. Leading the Bulls was Evelyne Viens, the star striker for the USF women’s soccer team who, at the time, had recently tied USF’s career goals record (41) set 18 years ago by Siri Nordby in 2000. That afternoon, Viens weaved in between the Tigers’ defense, took aim, and fired a rocket past the Memphis goalkeeper in the 46th minute to seal the deal and establish herself as the top goalscorer in USF women’s soccer history. Despite reaching a monumental landmark for the Bulls, Viens remains level-headed and is looking towards the rest of the season. “I knew that it was going to come,” she said. “We have so much more soccer to come and we are not even close to being done. We need to go one step at a time.” Exactly one week after she set USF’s career scoring record, Viens set USF’s single-season scoring record with two goals against SMU, surpassing her own record from freshman year of 16 goals. She now has 45 career goals and leads the nation with 17 goals this season. Still, Viens wasn’t phased by her record-breaking performances and wants to keep the focus on the team. “If I score every game I give the team a chance to win. It’s not about the record, it’s more about getting the win,” she said. “I don’t play for [the record] I play for winning championships.” After a breakout freshman season, Viens has shown no signs of slowing down. Since breaking two records in the span of a week, she has proven herself to be one of the best players in USF history. But the question remains — how did she become a menace to goalkeepers across the nation?
On a recruiting trip to see players compete in Canadian National Training Centers, Viens caught the eyes of an assistant coach even though she wasn’t affiliated with the Canadian National Team. Coach Denise Schilte-Brown said Viens was the best player they saw the entire trip. “We were excited about everything about [Viens],” SchilteBrown said. “Our first conversation went really well. She was interested in exploring the idea [of coming to USF] — I don’t know if she was sold on it — then when she came down, there was a good feeling between her and the coaching staff...She’s very competitive and brave.” Viens came to deliver, scoring her first goal in the third game of the 2016 season and then registering her first hat trick just three games later. The goals didn’t seem to stop that season as she tied the record for goals scored in a season (16). Even as a freshman, it was clear that Viens was here for a purpose: to win. She kept her goal-scoring form going into the 2017 season by scoring two goals against Charlotte in the season opener — she went on to rack up 12 goals and nine assists, with one of those goals being the one that sent the Bulls to their first-ever AAC championship against rivals UCF. The Bulls won the championship last season in penalty kicks, proving they were a force to be reckoned with. Viens solidified herself as the real deal by topping nearly every statistics sheet. Schilte-Brown has been more than impressed with Evelyne’s consistency and constant improvement throughout her career. “[Viens] is a true professional and it [isn’t] easy to keep her off the score sheet,” Schilte-Brown said after Viens bagged four goals in USF’s 11-0 victory against Florida College in September. Even with her accolades, Viens is a team player above all else.
Evelyne Viens set both the single season scoring record (17) and the career scoring (45) records for USF this season. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/ “I prefer to see the team winning than having my name next to a record,” Viens said. “Anyway, records are there to be broken and it is unfair to put just one name because I have accomplished it with my team.” Viens’ modesty on the field has carried over to the locker room as she has become a source of inspiration for the whole team and a mentor to the younger players. One such player is freshman Sydney Nasello, who has also shown a keen eye for goal, racking up four goals and seven assists this season. According to Schilte-Brown, Viens helped Nasello develop her own play style. “[Nasello] had to find her way into [those] relationships with the powerhouses around her.” SchilteBrown said. “You can’t feed [Viens] every time, you’ve got to take your chances yourself and [Viens] was encouraging Nasello to do that and I think now that relationship is getting to a really great place for the both of them.” Despite her role as a team mentor,
Viens also seeks ways to improve her play with support from the coaching staff, citing Schilte-Brown and assistant coach Iban Lopez as mentors that push her to be a prolific and consistent striker. “[Schilte-Brown] and the coaching staff put us in a great environment and the team has an amazing team chemistry that it is easy to be part of,” Viens said. “You become family as soon as you come in.” With the support of the coaching staff and her teammates, Evelyne has become one of the best USF soccer players to this date and has sparked rumors of what could be in her future. Schilte-Brown, who played for the Canadian Women’s National Team, believes Viens has what it takes to play for her country on an international stage. “It’s my opinion that she could be in the full team in Canada right now,” Schilte-Brown said. “I’m proud of her because her focus is us and here. She’s ready when she’s needed. But she never takes things for granted;
she just puts her head down and works. I think that’s the kid that goes far. It’s about the here and now...she doesn’t lose sight of that.” Viens remains focused on the Bulls, however. “If I get my chance, I get my chance but it’s not something I think about.” Her chance to play at the international level may come soon as this season’s efforts have already topped her statistics in the previous seasons. The Bulls have already qualified for the postseason tournament, but will play rival UCF to decide who will host the AAC tournament. USF is undefeated at Corbett Stadium this season. “We know the rivalry between USF and UCF, but we are not thinking about them,” Viens said. “We are focusing on our game plan and being able to have a good start and implement our style of play. If we win, we host the conference championship and we want to be able to play at home for the conference tournament.”
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