The Oracle MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014 I VOL. 52 NO. 51
USF Health, Stetson partner to help veterans receive benefits.
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New book celebrates chastity. Page 4
Montage
S PORTS Bulls’ fumble cripples comeback. BACK
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Sorting through the VA
Inside this Issue
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By Chelsea Mulligan S T A F F
W R I T E R
The U.S. Office of Veterans Affairs (VA) has become a subject of national scrutiny as now former secretary Eric Shinseki has resigned amid accusations of misreported wait times for veterans at VA hospitals, which allegedly obscured the lengthy period many veterans endured to see a doctor. Six months since the scandal broke headlines, USF Health and Stetson University College of Law professors are partnering to attempt to ease the burden on veterans by assisting in faster treatment. Stacey-Rae Simcox, Stetson law professor and head of Stetson’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic, said the partnership offers veterans an
opportunity for better aid. “The partnership between USF and Stetson is, as far as we know, the first of its kind in the nation because it partners a medical school with a law school to help veterans get the disability benefits that they’ve earned,” she said. Simcox also said the partnership between medical and law students significantly increased the likelihood of veterans receiving care while also giving students a chance to train between disciplines. According to Simcox, the VA overturns its decision to withhold care to veterans 82 percent of the time when medical students collaborate with law students. The partnership has strong merits, but Dr. Charles Lockwood, head of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, said veterans are often faced by other challenges such as the variety of services offered by the VA. “The VA is many different things, not one thing,” he said. “You get multiple sets of benefits beyond just health.”
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USF Health and Stetson College of Law are assisting veterans who are waiting for medical care. ORACLE PHOTO/CHELSEA MULLIGAN
USF supports FSU
USF students outside of the Library on Friday signed a poster that read, “May our campus and library be free from such atrocities that plagued FSU” in reaction to Thursday’s shooting that injured three Florida State students . ORACLE PHOTO / ROBERTO ROLDAN
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Student hit by car while crossing 50th A USF student was hit by a car while crossing 50th street near campus Thursday, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). HCSO reported 19-year-old Elizabeth Courtney was crossing 50th at Sun Ridge Palms Drive within the crosswalk when a silver Nissan Altima traveling southbound at approximately 7:54 a.m. hit her. Courtney was medivaced to Tampa General Hospital, where she was in a stable but critical condition according to HCSO Thursday afternoon. The driver,
Ernest Washington, was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian within a marked crosswalk. Courtney’s condition was not available as of Sunday evening. “It is more important than ever that students stop and look before stepping out into streets, even when there is a marked crosswalk,” said USF Dean of Students Michael Freeman in an email to The Oracle, in which he cautioned students to be mindful while crossing roadways.
VETERANS
Simcox has personal experience dealing with the complicated VA benefit claims system, as both she and her husband were army, or JAG, lawyers. Even both law professionals were confused by the complicated system for filing Simcox’s husband’s claim, which led them to establish a veteran’s clinic at the College of William and Mary, and then later on at a larger scale at Stetson. “My hope is that this will open up to a wider range of professionals,” she said. “Eventually this is going to become broader because we want to take care of this veterans’ issue holistically; we want to see how we can look at this veterans’ issue in 360 degrees.” The partnership also places a strong emphasis on the role of the community in helping veterans receive their benefits more quickly. “I think that that is the least we could do for this population,” Marrero said. “In many cases, they are misrepresented by their psychological conditions that they have.” Simcox agreed on the importance of the community, especially because she said the VA is dealing with a vast quantity of veterans seeking benefits. “As a community, some of this is on us, to support the veterans who have volunteered to put their life on the line,” she said. “It trains our young professionals to be good contributors to the community around them, and it trains them to be sensitive to veterans’ issues when they may not have had the chance to see that otherwise.”
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The purpose of USF Health in the partnership is to decide if these disorders or behaviors are related to time in service, so that the veterans who need aid the most can receive health care. “Some of it may be a lack of full knowledge of what their rights and benefits are, and they may have been denied those benefits based on an incomplete assessment,” Lockwood said. “Our job is to represent them and do an assessment.” Dr. Isis Marrero, a psychiatric behavioral neuroscientist at USF Health, said post-traumatic stress is one the most common afflictions she sees in veterans, but it is common for veterans to also experience generalized anxiety disorder, depression and traumatic brain injury, which can alter behaviors and moods. Simcox also said the VA could also be overwhelmed due to a lack of information, which is where Stetson Law can collaborate with USF Health to make a case for a client. “The people who are deciding these cases at the first level are not lawyers and they aren’t doctors,” she said. “It’s hard for them to go through all of these complicated issues, and if they don’t have the right information available, they have to figure it out. If all the evidence can be brought together, law students can package the information, hand it to the VA and change their mind.”
— Staff report
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Staff applications for the Spring 2014 semester are now available. For more information, email the editor in chief at oracleeditor@gmail.com
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Lifestyle
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Author finds happiness in chastity By Katie Lamont C O R R E S P O N D E N T
Arleen Spenceley is a 29-year-old virgin and isn’t ashamed to admit it. The Tampa Bay Times writer and author of the new book “Chastity is for Lovers: Single, Happy, and (Still) a Virgin,” embraces her label as well as the idea that she may always be a virgin. “I believe I’ll be fine if I never get married,” Spenceley said. While her book focuses mostly on living a chaste life, it also debunks some myths about the Catholic Church, of
which Spenceley is affiliated, and uses humor to open her writing for discussion, rather than lecturing readers on lifestyles. “It’s a window into a different world,” she said. “My world.” Chastity isn’t always an easy decision, especially in a culture Spenceley said does not really understand her lifestyle choice. “People confuse abstinence with chastity,” she said. Chastity, for Spenceley, is about being “thoughtfully in control” and having “moderation of one’s own behavior.” Chastity doesn’t end after someone gets
married and has sex, she said. It’s a personal decision, and Spenceley wrote her book on why she’s saving sex for marriage to make one thing clear: Chastity is for everyone, not just the religious. In the book, Spenceley wrote about the idea that some people aren’t aware that chastity is a choice available to them. Spenceley, a USF graduate, knows her intended demographic — young adults. She said her book is important for college students because, in college, no one is discussing it in the same way as her. “Discussions of sex and chastity end with youth groups,” Spenceley said. “If we stop talking about it because a kid isn’t a kid anymore, we imply it isn’t relevant.” Spenceley has made it clear she not only wants to help those with the same values feel less alone, but also be able to show those who have made different choices aware of the other options. “If I tell myself I can only be happy if I am married, then I will be only be happy if I am married,” she said. The book also clears up a lot of the words used when discussing chastity. She discusses the difference between chastity and purity, dedicating an entire chapter to that distinction alone. “Chastity is something I do with God’s help,” Spenceley said. “Purity is something that is entirely in
“Chastity is for Lovers” will be released this Friday. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
Spenceley first wrote about chastity in an essay that was published in the Tampa Bay Times. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE God’s hand.” The book also speaks to the separation of prude and prudent. “As someone who practices chastity it is my responsibility to be prudent,” said Spenceley. Not to be confused, however, with the word prude, implying someone who is excessively proper or modest in his or her mannerisms, while prudent generally refers to wisdom or discreetness. “This is basically the most personal thing about me,” Spenceley said. “If I put something so personal for all to see … what will my future clients think of me? Will they feel uncomfortable?” And Spenceley’s decision to go public about her choice, originally back in a 2012
essay published in the Tampa Bay Times, hasn’t been easy. However, Spenceley admits her essay was worth it. “Now all my colleagues, my friends, my family and… 40,000 readers know,” she said. “I almost backed out. Ultimately it changed the course of my career in great ways.” At the end of the day, Spenceley believes chastity is not just about sex: it is about behaving moderately. The book is her way of hoping to restart the conversation of a chaste lifestyle and maybe change a few minds about the stereotype. “Chastity is for Lovers” is scheduled for release Friday and will be available in digital and paperback through most major booksellers.
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FUMBLE
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sophomore running back Marlon Mack fumbled the ball and Memphis took over possession. “We faked it to the back and pitched it up to our tailback and the timing just wasn’t right and he ended up dropping it,” Taggart said. The fumble would be the Bulls’ only turnover of the day, but it proved too costly against the Tigers. “We said to have a good chance in this game we couldn’t have any turnovers,” Taggart said. “I know we had one, but it was critical.” While USF’s offense kept the game close until the fourth quarter, the Bulls’ defense made it a struggle. Memphis running back
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Brandon Hayes rushed for 189 yards on 21 carries and allowed the Tigers to take advantage of play-action passes. “It was frustrating because the running back was running really well and as a safety, and pretty much as a defense period, you want to stop that run,” junior safety Jamie Byrd said. With the defense focused on Hayes, who contributed over 200 yards of total offense, sophomore quarterback Paxton Lynch was able to open up the offense and essentially score at will. Lynch threw for 232 yards on 18-of-23 passing with two touchdowns. He also picked up 44 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. In an effort to slow down the Memphis offense and keep the game within reach, USF opted to run the ball often and throw shorter passes. By sustaining long drives this way, the Bulls were able to control the ball
for 36:47 of the game, which is something White said played a big factor in keeping the game close until the final quarter. “We felt we had to just go out there and keep their offense on the field and go out there and have those long drives that keep our defense rested and keeps the ball out of their offense’s hands,” White said. But despite the Bulls’ efforts to keep the ball as long as possible, Memphis’ quick offensive attack had the Bulls on their heels for most of the game. “They were moving so fast, we were trying to think as fast as they were moving and there were so many missed assignments,” Byrd said. With the loss, USF (4-7, 3-4) will be held out of postseason play for the fourth consecutive season. USF will host UCF (7-3, 5-1) on Friday at noon in the Bulls’ final game of the season.
Opinion
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Soylent: The product of an overworked society tive change through addressing hunger and poverty. He wants to see people freed from, essentially, the constraints of the body’s needs while still enjoying the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet. And from the perspective of a burned-out college student, one less thing to worry about at least sounds tempting. However, Soylent isn’t perfect and the drink isn’t so much a product of world hunger as it is the work-till-you-drop culture. Some who try to subsist on it struggle with indigestion, cravings for solid food, and Soylent’s bland flavor. It is boldly utilitarian, standing in stark contrast to a culture that has created entire TV channels around food. Soylent rejects the emphasis on plating and visuals, and can be served from any personalitydevoid pitcher into a glass or other container. The goal here is clearly function over form. Soylent is by far not the first meal replacement drink, either. From Slim Fast to Ensure and Carnation Instant Breakfast, science and the food industry have been trying for far longer than Soylent’s origin to answer the country’s needs for fast, easy and dependable calories. In many ways, Soylent and other nutritional drinks appear
Chelsea Mulligan COLU M N I ST
Soylent is cheap, beige and asks a compelling question on its website: “What if you never had to think about food again?” It is intended to be a liquid meal-replacement by the original creator, Robert Rhinehart, who believes that human beings waste far too much time, money and energy on eating meals that often lack nutrients. A cheap, easy and thoughtless way of getting necessary nutrients can look like the perfect solution, and the more one thinks about Soylent, the more a very tired and overscheduled part of one’s brain begins to agree with the concept of streamlining this very simple aspect of life. Rhinehart’s passion for Soylent goes beyond a mere desire to save time; it seems that he is passionate about making posi-
the Oracle
to be the logical end to fast food, although Soylent is more a symptom of a work-obsessed culture than anything else. Despite the stereotype that Americans are lazy, the U.S. actually represents one of the world’s hardest-working developed nations. Americans work longer hours, get less vacation time, and tend to work nights and weekends. Young Americans feel especially overworked, with many college students experiencing sometimes very severe forms of depression and anxiety. All of this work apparently means the parts of life that make us human and alive, like eating, sleeping, and meaningful relationships, tend to suffer. In order to meet the hours, Americans morph themselves into machines: they don’t eat, sleep or enjoy each others’ company. Students use anything to keep them going, from coffee to “study drugs” like Adderall or meal replacements like Soylent, without asking if their bodies are really the issue. After all, it’s far easier to force our physical bodies into a work culture than to ask if our obsession with work is the problem. Chelsea Mulligan is a freshman majoring in international studies.
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What you said In response to a USF student being hit by a car while crossing 50th street on Thursday, multimedia editor Adam Mathieu asked students if they feel safe crossing the roads that surround campus.
“I live on 42nd street so I cross the streets a lot and the time of day affects how bad it is to cross. I try to avoid crossing during the busiest times for traffic because people whiz down the roads without a care.” — Jessica Bird, a sophomore majoring in microbiology “I think it is safer when there are more people crossing at once so I try to be with a group.” — Joantell Williams, a junior majoring in health science
“I cross almost all the roads around campus and don’t really feel safe. I just try to wait for a break in traffic before crossing.”
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“On campus I feel much safer because people are conscious of others, but when you get off campus the drivers are less aware of pedestrians.” — Navis Merceron, a junior majoring in economics
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
The Rundown The No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team defeated Montana State 86-28 Sunday. Montana State made 12 of its 61 shot attempts and just two of 23 3-pointers in the blowout.
Weekend scores Volleyball
USF Tulsa
3 2
Women’s Basketball
UNC-Asheville
USF
53 97
Men’s Basketball
USF
65 N.C. State 68
T H E O R AC L E
By Vinnie Portell E D I T O R
Playing against the top team in the conference with bowl eligibility on the line, USF had a prime opportunity to close in on Memphis (8-3, 6-1) with the third quarter winding down, but failed to do so, losing 31-20. Despite scoring only one touchdown against the Tigers, the Bulls found themselves trailing Memphis 28-13 with a first and goal at the Memphis fouryard line with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. A run by sophomore running back Darius Tice and a sack of sophomore quarterback Mike White pushed the Bulls back to third and goal from the nine, but coach Willie Taggart said he thought he had a play that would get the Bulls a touchdown. But rather than scoring,
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On a night that Marlon Mack became the fourth 1,000-yard rusher in USF history, he fumbled the ball on third and goal in the third quarter Saturday. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S
FOOTBALL
UCF (7-3, 5-1) at USF (4-7, 3-4)
Corey Allen Jr. took over down the stretch, scoring the Bulls’ final seven points in a 68-65 loss.
ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
Balanced Bulls rout UNCAsheville C O R R E S P O N D E N T
USF falls to N.C. State
UCF stayed one win behind Memphis for the AAC lead with its 53-7 victory over SMU on Saturday.
Women’s Basketball
By Zach Lowie
Men’s Basketball
Cincinnati shut out UConn 41-0 Saturday. The Huskies were able to generate only 129 yards of offense compared to the Bearcats’ 425.
Radio Network
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Bulls fumble bowl hopes
Conference update
When: Friday, Noon Where: Raymond James Stadium TV/Radio: ESPN2 IMG/USF
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S P O R T S
Outside USF
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With 2.6 seconds remaining and USF trailing 68-65 at N.C. State (4-0), junior forward Nehemias Morillo checked the ball in to senior guard Corey Allen Jr. at half court. Allen took the inbounds pass, dribbled a few feet closer to the basket and launched a long 3-pointer that clanked off the rim as time expired. The men’s basketball team was unable to pull away from the Wolfpack, but kept the game close until the final shot due to the play of Allen down the final stretch of the game. As USF (3-1) continued to foul N.C. State to stop the clock, Allen hit shots for the Bulls to keep the game within reach. The senior scored the Bulls’ last seven points of the game and finished with 14 points on 6-of-10
shooting. The Bulls struggled with fouls throughout the game, committing nine more fouls than the Wolfpack. These fouls resulted in 30 free throw attempts by N.C. State, 17 more than the Bulls had. Sophomore forward Chris Perry fouled out of the game with 1:15 remaining and guards Anthony Collins and Allen were both one away from fouling out as well. In the first half, freshman guard Troy Holston Jr. dove for a floater, but twisted his ankle as he came down after making the shot. He had to be helped off the floor by coach Orlando Antigua and a trainer and did not return to the game. Forward Ruben Guerrero missed his fourth consecutive game with an injury despite traveling with the team. USF returns to the Sun Dome to host Hofstra on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The Bulls (3-1) were looking to bounce back at their season opener Saturday after a blowout loss to No.8 Maryland. The women’s basketball team beat UNC-Asheville (0-3) 97-53. The team outrebounded the Bulldogs 44 to 38, controlling the post with a commanding presence thanks in part to strong physical play down low by junior forward Alisia Jenkins. “With Kate (Weber) being out, I had to work on my post moves,” Jenkins said. Switching from forward to center didn’t seem to be any trouble for Jenkins, who earned a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, along with four blocks and two steals. The Bulls forced 21 turnovers and held every Bulldog player under 10 points with a full court press, which they recently adopted. “We had to make sure our freshmen had (the full court press) down before the game and I feel we executed it very well,” Jenkins said. The Bulls had a total of 20 assists on the night, forcing UNC-Asheville to constantly defend all five players on the court. This ball-sharing and good shot selection stood out to junior guard Courtney Williams who had 18 points, six rebounds, and four of the team’s assists. USF’s bench accounted for 39 points on the day and kept UNCAsheville out of striking distance from start to finish. The Bulls now head to the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday to play in the Paradise Jam, where they’ll face Oklahoma, Illinois and Kentucky. USF’s next home game is Wednesday Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. against Stetson.