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Inside this Issue

C O - N E W S

How to spend a sandy Christmas in Florida.

Page 4

Montage

S PORTS Freshman Kitija Laksa doesn’t let age define her success.

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U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F LO R I DA

Student business seeks safety for partiers

By Abby Rinaldi

LI F E STYLE

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News.................................................................1 Lifestyle......................................................4 Opinion.......................................................6

E D I T O R

For Tony Liu and Jasmine Ren, it all started with the death of a friend.

In early 2015, one of their friends was on his way to pick up some alcohol for a party when he was killed in an accident by a drunk driver. Thus, GRN Pals was born, a delivery service for food, alcohol and tobacco, to reduce the risk involved with mid-party supplies runs. “… We wanted to take an further step into protecting kids like ourselves, because, you know, college kids (are) also trying to party, and we wanted to create a system that could help us party in a safe manner without getting hit or getting killed,” Liu said.

The Syracuse graduate said he researched similar delivery companies, like GrubHub. However, he hoped to add alcohol and tobacco to the offered products to eliminate the need for trips to the store for these products after one’s food is delivered.

The company was formed back

in the spring semester. Liu is mainly in charge of marketing the business. The team consists of about five members at the moment.

Ren, a sophomore majoring in art and design, said the idea came to her after the loss of her friend.

“I came up with the idea that we can (deliver) alcohol to apartments (and) to school so … people don’t have to go outside and drive under the influence,” she said.

Drunk driving is not an uncommon occurrence. In 2014, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement made 4006 arrests for driving under the influence in Hillsborough County. The 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 29.1 million people admitted they drove while under the influence.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), “(the) rate of drunk driving is highest among 21 to 25 year olds,” at 23.4 percent. MADD also reported “Every day in America, another 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes,” according to data from 2014.

Drinking among the college

population is also widespread, as about four out of every five students drink alcohol, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

For Liu and Ren, GRN Pals is mostly about safety.

The business is not the first food delivery company, but it is one of the few that includes tobacco and alcohol on the list of items one can purchase. Services such as GrubHub, Doorstep Delivery, Takeout Taxi and Mobile Meals all offer food delivery.

These services don’t, however, deliver alcoholic beverages or tobacco products. Delivery.com allows users to order food, alcohol, groceries and laundry, but they currently don’t serve the USF area.

Though these establishments don’t deliver alcohol and tobacco, Ren recalls not being too keen on using these existing businesses while spending time in the library during finals week.

“Sometimes, I got really hungry.

I don’t want to go outside and buy food because it wastes a lot of my time,” Ren said. “Then there’s

n See GRN on PAGE 2

Trading challenge winds down

By Grace Hoyte E D I T O R

I N

C H I E F

n The Muma College of

Business Trading challenge is coming to an end after more than two months. The most valuable portfolio on Friday will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

With the semester coming to a close, scholarship deadlines for future semesters are approaching.

But students in the Muma College of Business hoping to receive one particular scholarship have been competing for the privilege for over 2 months.

The Muma Trading Challenge,

The Muma College of Business trading challenge began in September as a competition between students within the college. The student with the most valuable portfolio by Friday will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. ORACLE PHOTO/MIKI SHINE which is hosted by TD Ameritrade and sponsored by Mezrah Consulting, began in early September. The student with the highest account value on Friday will win a $1,000 scholarship.

Students who registered began the competition with $1 million in “Paper Money.” And according to Daniel Bradley, chair of the finance department in the Muma College of Business and organiz-

er of the challenge, the last few months have been turbulent for participants.

“We’ve had a very volatile market over the last semester,” Bradley

n See TRADE on PAGE 2

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GRN

Continued from PAGE 1

also other delivery companies like GrubHub … but they’re mostly targeting the downtown areas, so by the time they get here it would probably be like an hour (or) two … and that was not so good.’

The business currently serves USF’s Tampa campus and the immediate vicinity. Liu said GRN Pals has obtained a tobacco license and has acquired a partnership with local alcohol retailers. But they don’t deliver any hard liquor — ­ only beer and wine.

They’ve also partnered with local food retailers with in the area, including ABC Seafood, Kung Fu Tea and Hong Kong House. Their website, GRNpals.com, is currently up and running.

The company is looking to expand to New Tampa in the next few months, and Liu said their long-term goal is to expand to a national scale, serving campuses and their surrounding areas across the U.S. Ren said GRN Pals is currently hiring new drivers. Currently, two of their friends work as drivers.

The current delivery fee comes to $3.

T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 5

Requirements for a position include a valid driver’s license, insurance, a clean track record and completion of the GRN Pals training program.

Students seem mixed about the new business. Salil Desai, a junior majoring in biology, said GRN Pals would be a convenience for students.

“That (would) be cool, so we don’t have to go out and get stuff ourselves. I mean, it’s pure convenience,” Desai said.

But other students said it might conflict with the campus-wide smoking ban set to start in January.

“If the university is going tobacco free, it’s probably not a good idea,” Diana Nwokoye, a recent graduate in medical science, said.

Sarah Elmallah, a freshman majoring in biomedical science, thinks it might even go beyond that. She said since there are a lot of people not of legal drinking age on campus, such as freshman and those visiting from other schools, it may not be for the best.

Liu said the GRN Pals team has made a few deliveries already but are planning the full launch in the next few weeks. The launch is set to coordinate with the holiday season, Ren said, when a lot of parties take place.

TRADE

said. “(Or) we’re going to combine everyone into one. Or we’re going to have one relaxing the other restrictions. We haven’t decided yet.”

Currently, the challenge website lists 9 rules ranging from the minimum number of required trades to qualify for the scholarship (25) to the maximum proportion of one’s

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T H E O R AC L E

participants, as there would be more options and decisions to Continued from PAGE 1 make.

However, the date for the next said. “So when you get that volatilchallenge has not yet been chosen. ity, the positions tend to move up “It’s probably going to be someand down.” where in mid-January. We haven’t With the challenge wrapping decided,” Bradley said. “And we’re up, participating students are makalso contemplating opening it up ing their last trades and the standto everyone, anyone who’s a USF ings are almost set. While many student.” who signed up actively traded “It’s probably going to Currently, the website offers and participated, others did not.

“441 (students) have signed be somewhere in mid- links to investments sites that would allow business and nonup,” Bradley said. “I would say business students to research January.

We haven’t probably about half of those, so each security. far, have been active. … (But) decided and we’re also According to USA Today, stuwe’re going to do it again next dents interested in investing semester.” contemplating opening it should begin investing early and Currently, the challenge is regulated by strict rules with up to everyone, anyone do extensive research beforehand. regard to buying and selling.

The challenge will be over who’s a USF student.”

Participants can only buy certain soon and the scholarship recipistocks called securities, which ent decided, but students interDaniel Bradley include stocks, bonds and mutuested in participating next Chair of the finance department, al funds, according to learnvest. semester don’t have to wait until Muma College of Business com. then to get started.

On the challenge website, there portfolio each security can occupy “If any students are interested is a list of eligible 545 securities (10 percent).

Though the rule precludes sin- in the financial markets, I would from which to choose.

Bradley said next semester’s gle-security portfolios, an article in strongly encourage them to go challenge could take one of three USA Today stated students inter- to our web page,” Bradley said. ested in investing should diversify “From there, they could either link forms. up or — if they missed the date “Either, we’re going to run two their investments.

Bradley said a relaxation of the — there are other challenges that simultaneous trading challenges — one for business students, one restrictions in the next challenge they could get involved in that just for non-business students,” he would make it more difficult for aren’t affiliated with our college.”

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Bowl bound Football

n USF is on its way to a bowl game, the question is: where?

By Jeff Odom S P O R T S

E D I T O R

With the regular season complete after Thursday’s 44-3 rout of rival Central Florida, the USF football team now turns its attention to the long list of bowl possibilities.

The Bulls (8-4, 6-2) will all but certainly remain in state for the postseason, meaning there are four potential destinations with AAC ties for them to play in. Here is a look at where they might end up:

Miami Beach Bowl Who: AAC vs. Conference USA Where: Marlins Park, Miami When: Dec. 21, 2:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Potential opponent: Western Kentucky (10-2) The skinny: This seems like the favorite potential landing spot for USF. By all indications and rumblings from those inside the program, the Bulls want to travel for a bowl game and this would be the most ideal situation. It also opens up recruiting possibilities, with a hot bed of prospects from the South Florida area getting an opportunity to see the team up close.

St. Petersburg Bowl Who: AAC vs. Conference USA Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg When: Dec. 26, 11 a.m. (ESPN) Potential opponent: Marshall (8-4) The skinny: For local fans, this is likely the preferred option.

Plus, with the advantage of having the hub of the fan base just across the Howard Frankland Bridge, attendance would likely be solid. The Bulls played in the inaugural game in 2009 — then the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl — and soundly defeated Memphis 41-14.

AutoNation Cure Bowl

Marmot Boca Raton Bowl

Who: AAC vs. Sun Belt Where: Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando When: Dec. 19, 7 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) Potential opponent: Georgia Southern (8-3)

Who: AAC vs. Mid-American Conference Where: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton When: Dec. 22, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Potential opponent: Toledo (9-2)

The skinny: Not only is this the first bowl game on the schedule, it is also in its inaugural year. Why not make a splash and go after a red-hot team from just a few hours away?

Although it seems Miami Beach and St. Petersburg will end up fighting over USF, it can’t hurt Cure Bowl officials to make their push, especially after Bulls fans traveled in decent numbers on Thanksgiving for the UCF game.

The skinny: This is another bowl making its debut on the campus of Florida Atlantic University, but it doesn’t seem as well suited for USF. Though the Bulls could still wind up in Boca Raton, the more logical choice would be to invite a northern team like No. 20 Temple — which travels to Houston for the AAC championship game Saturday — or Connecticut.

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Breanne Williams CO LU M N I S T

President Obama attended a conference in Paris on Monday along with a variety of world leaders to discuss climate change. Over 150 leaders gathered to determine what role each country should play to ensure a sustainable tomorrow.

During his speech, Obama admitted the U.S. was partly to blame for the damage inflicted upon the environment. He then reached out to the leaders of every country present to stand with him in seeking a solution to environmental change.

“I’ve come here personally, as the leader of the world’s largest economy and the second-largest emitter, to say that the United States of America not only recognizes our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it.”

It may have taken an embarrassingly long time for the world to realize the serious consequences wrought by our reckless consumerism, but it is reassuring to know people are beginning to take climate change seriously.

Obama encouraged every leader in attendance to take a hard look at their environmental impact stating, “No nation — large or small, wealthy or poor — is immune.”

There is no doubt the world will face an untimely end if humans do not seriously alter their affect on the environment. While the knowledge has been widespread for years,

What you said

this is the first time an agreement of this nature has been made.

In the next two weeks, nearly every country will have committed to limiting its emissions in an effort to halt or at least severely reduce global warming. Currently, over 170 countries have already submitted their emissions plans, according to the New York Times.

While the world is wracked by violence and cruelty, it is encouraging to witness countries agreeing to put aside their differences to tackle such a crucial issue.

“What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it,” Obama said.

This worldwide unification is practically unheard of, and the fact that it is occurring to save our planet reestablishes the long forgone faith in humanity. We’ve been surrounded by countless ‘save our planet’ campaigns since we were kids.

Al Gore’s “The Inconvenient Truth” was part of our middle school curriculum. We have taken the health of our home seriously our entire lives and, according to a poll by the Clinton Global Initiative and Microsoft, 76 percent of millennials say they are more focused on the environment than their parent’s generation.

Leaders across the globe have finally decided it is time to make a change. The damage to our environment affects everyone. Whether you live in China, Canada or Antarctica, you are feeling the affect of a damaged ecosystem. I can’t wait to see what the future holds as this new agreement goes into place.

Breanne Williams junior majoring in communications.

T H E O R AC L E

is a mass

Monday concluded a weekend of huge annual sales.

Opinion Editor Breanne Williams asked students if they prefer Black Friday or Cyber Monday for their holiday shopping.

“Cyber Monday. The deals seem better, and it’s not as much of a safety hazard.”

- Samantha June, a freshman majoring in health sciences

“Black Friday. It’s a tradition and a fun experience.

You can say you went out and fought a crowd for your presents.”

- Morgan Taylor, a freshman majoring in psychology

“Cyber Monday. You’re guaranteed to not get something stolen out of your hands or (be) trampled by thousands of people.”

- Bejadin Redzepi, a freshman majoring in pre-med

“Black Friday. I work retail, and I love my job. I love the hustle and bustle.

I have so much fun.”

- Anna Roberts, a junior majoring in business

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MORE INSIDE

Where will USF land, come bowl season?

Read it on Page 3 ●

T H E O R AC L E

Nothing but a number Age doesn’t matter to freshman Kitija Laksa; instead it drives her.

By Tiana Aument

Outside USF

S T A F F

Hokies introduce Fuente as coach

W R I T E R

At 19 years old, Kitija Laksa is the youngest player on the USF women’s basketball team.

But this is nothing new for the Latvian native, as she said she has always learned from older players, dating back to her childhood.

The freshman guard said she doesn’t recall the first time she dribbled a basketball, but she does remember playing summer ball in the backyard with her brother Martins, six years her senior.

“I look at him as my role model because he’s a really good

Former Memphis football coach Justin Fuente was introduced Monday as the successor to Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech after agreeing to terms on a six-year deal. Fuente, who helped turn MemFuente phis from a Division I-A bottom feeder into an AAC co-champion last season, will make $3.2 million in his first season with a $500,000 base salary and $2.7 million supplemental compensation.

“When we were recruiting her, I was really excited because she was probably the best prospect in Europe.”

Four-star prospect chooses USF Darnell Salomon, rated a consensus four-star receiver prospect, announced via Twitter Monday that he has verbally pledged to USF. The Miami native picked the Bulls over offers from Florida, Florida State and Alabama among others. Oral commitments are non-binding until recruits sign letters of intent in February.

Jose Fernandez USF women’s basketball coach

Note-a-Bull USF men’s soccer coach George Kiefer was named east region coach of the year by the NSCAA on Monday. Kiefer led the Bulls to a 11-6-3 record and their 19th trip to the NCAA Tournament in November.

Weekend scoreboard MEN’S BASKETBALL USF 67, Savannah State 57 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL St. John’s 74, USF 70 VOLLEYBALL USF 3, Southern Methodist 1 Tulsa 3, USF 0

the Latvian national team, just like their father had. Now, their parents, Janis and Elita, coach boy’s basketball.

“Basketball has always been in our family,” Laksa said. “But I’ve never had the pressure to play or start practicing. I always went to the training camps with them. I had the interest.”

She said that interest has propelled her to develop her game.

Eventually, the 6-foot forward earned a spot on the Latvian Senior National Team as the youngest player on the roster.

“Definitely, it’s different … playing (at) my age because they’re more experienced, so that means I have to pick everything up,” Laksa said. “I’m the one who needs to learn more, to do more,

Freshman Kitija Laksa (33) — the youngest player on the women’s basketball team — is second in scoring with 47 points this season.

ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

shooter, and he’s athletic,” Laksa said.

“Of course he’s older, but there’s a lot of stuff that I can learn from him.”

Martins plays professionally for

to maybe bring a bottle of water to someone, to maybe pick up all the balls after a practice.

“They kind of used me, but at the same time, we had each other, we had the respect.”

She had just turned 17 when she played against France. That’s where USF coach Jose Fernandez first saw her.

Fernandez travels to Europe every July to scout the talent during the championship games, and Laksa caught his attention with her sharp shooting and demeanor.

“When we were recruiting her, I was really excited because she was probably the best prospect in

Europe,” Fernandez said. “She’s got a lot of experience, playing for her senior national team.”

The national team garnered large crowds, but the five-star prospect was familiar with much smaller turnouts.

Sometimes only 20 people would populate the stands, despite her team’s success.

“We were the top team in the country,” Laksa said. “We beat everyone by 20, 30 (points). There were really only like two or three games per season that were really good where we could play alike.”

This season, Laksa will face consistently tougher competition with the No. 24 Bulls. The team’s hope is to advance further in the NCAA Tournament after losing to Louisville in the second round in March.

“I think she’s very motivated,” Fernandez said. “I think she wants to be great, and I think the reason why she came to the U.S. was to be challenged and to play against the best players in the world.”

Through five games, Laksa leads the Bulls with nine 3-pointers and is third in scoring, with 47 points.

“She doesn’t have to set her feet,” teammate Courtney Williams said. “When she catches, she’s letting go. (Put a) defender right there, and she’s going to let it fly.

“She’s smooth. She’s nice.”

Fernandez said he wanted to bring in a shooter, “a kid that could really shoot the ball, create off the bounce. I think she really fits that role.”

Despite her youth, Laksa has already proven to be an instrumental part of the team as its third highest scorer, with 9.4 points per game, behind Williams (28) and Alisia Jenkins (11.2).

“I think she has a really bright future within our program,” Fernandez said.

“I’m glad she’s here, and I think she’s going to be a big part of our success this season and for our program moving forward.”