4-10-17

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April 10, 2017

Vol. 54 No. 52

USF Relay For Life serves as ray of hope Page 3

USF fights for students using data Page 4

Baseball hosts Cuts Vs. Cancer game Page 10

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the Oracle the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966

Editor in Chief Jacob Hoag oracleeditor@gmail.com

Graphic Artists Destiny Moore Mark Soree Advertising Sales Alyssa Alexander Ashley Bazile Destiny Moore Dylan Ritchey

Managing Editor Miki Shine oraclemeditor@gmail.com Sports Editor Vinnie Portell oraclesportseditor@gmail.com Associate Editor Breanne Williams oracleopinion@gmail.com Lifestyle Editor Nicole Cate oraclelifestyleeditor@gmail.com Multimedia Editor Jackie Benitez oraclemultimediaeditor@gmail.com

The Oracle is published Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and once weekly, Wednesday, 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 Jacob Hoag at 974-5190.

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news

News Briefs Students to host solidarity rally

‘I made it through’ UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

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For Our Future, UndocUnited and other student activist groups are joining together to host a rally Tuesday afternoon at the MLK Plaza in solidarity with the undocumented communities. The speakers at the event will share stories of undocumented immigrants across campus and highlight the need to protect these communities, along with the need for USF to be a welcoming community. The event is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

Egypt in state of emergency after attacks Egypt has been placed in a three-month state of emergency after two terrorist attacks killed 43 people.

The first attack, in the city of Tanta in the Nile River basin, killed 27 people and wounded 78, according to CNN. An “explosive device” was placed under a seat in the main prayer hall of St. George’s Church. Another 16 people were killed with 41 wounded outside the St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which prompted the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to declare the state of emergency.

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Former VP Biden’s campaign seeks change across campuses

By Jacob Hoag E D I T O R

dismissed as asthma, allergies or a sinus infection.

When she went again in May with exhaustion, nausea and a swollen neck, the doctor passed it off as mono.

As she continued to get worse, the doctor tested for TB and HIV, which came

n See RELAY on PAGE 5

n See BIDEN on PAGE 5

USF Relay For Life aids fight against cancer

By Miki Shine

B

E D I T O R

eing a student is hard.

Being a student with cancer is harder.

Liana Price, a graduate of Florida State and speaker at Saturday’s Relay For Life event held at USF’s Track and Field Stadium, felt the pressure of being just that.

Between 12 rounds of chemotherapy, she had to remain a part-time student to stay on her parents’ healthcare plan.

“School was still a priority for me despite treatment that often made me feel very weak and very tired,” she said. “I had no social life and felt very isolated from society as

“

I’m from Egypt, and where I’m from, cancer is a death sentence.

To come to America and see people fight is amazing.

Andro Gad, Beta Chi Theta member

any opportunistic infection could bring me down at any moment.

“But I made it through.”

Her diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma came after months of going to student health services and specialists with complaints of sinus issues and shortness of breath that got

C H I E F

A public service announcement released by former Vice President Joe Biden and his “It’s On Us” campaign, shows how easily rape culture seeps into the conversations of college students.

The PSA “Autocorrect,” released earlier this month, takes a look at a conversation between two students about a hookup from the other side.

When one texted something like, “I had to encourage her,” it changes it to “forced her” — a darker example, changing “good time” to “rape.”

Biden started the “It’s on Us” campaign in 2014 to bring to light the problem of sexual assault and ways the issue at hand is sometimes suppressed.

It is work by campaigns like Biden’s that gives life to events across the nation, such as USF’s “Take Back the Night” event, which will be held Tuesday at the Marshall Student Center Amphitheater from 6-9 p.m.

“It’s on us, it’s on all of us,” Biden said on a conference call with college students on Wednesday. “Everyone on campus and everyone in the country who sees this violence occurring has an obligation to intervene.”

Despite seeing a gradual overall decline over past two decades, sexual assaults on college campuses have not changed.

One in five women on college campuses have, or will be, sexually assaulted during their time at a university,

By 6 a.m. Sunday morning, over $61,000 had been raised with $11,000 coming from Saturday’s, according to event lead Jana Mahon. ORACLE PHOTO/MIKI SHINE

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RELAY

Continued from PAGE 3

back negative. The doctor questioned whether it was allergies, whether she wanted to be in school and even whether it was a mental health issue before doing a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia.

“The chest X-ray saved my life. It showed that I had a mass in the middle of my chest, and that there appeared to be a significant amount of fluid surrounding my heart,” Price said. “I was immediately whisked away to the ER, but I had no clue what was going on. I felt as though nobody was telling me how serious everything was.

“I had a whole lot of fluid around my heart that needed to be drained … I was awake, but in twilight sedation during the whole procedure, watching them pull out giant needles full of yellow-green fluid from around my heart.”

The speech echoed a theme seen throughout the event: everyone knows somebody affected by cancer.

Though Price felt isolated,

BIDEN

Continued from PAGE 3

according to a survey done by the Association of American Universities.

It’s a trend Biden has worked to reverse.

“We have to change the culture on campuses, and we can,” Biden said. “It is within our power to change the culture.”

But his efforts so far, though the resources have been put in place, haven’t been able to bring about a decline of sexual assaults on college campuses.

For that, he calls on the students to challenge the administration.

“Demand of your school, whether you’re at one of the top universities academically in America or at a community college, demand that your administration have a mechanism in place to greet, with open arms, women who have been assaulted or are asserting they have been assaulted,” Biden said.

That is one thing that Alexandra Pellot, President of

A candlelight vigil was held to remember those who have battled cancer as part of the USF Relay For Life event. ORACLE PHOTO/MIKI SHINE she was one of millions affected by the disease.

Over 120 teams spent 15 hours walking, participating in activities such as Zumba and fundraising through selling food or engaging others.

Along with food, teams used video games, face paint and henna tattoos, and jewelry to raise money.

Some used more unique N.I.T.E at USF, said the school does well.

USF, along with other college campuses, puts on events like “Take Back the Night,” giving students a forum to talk about sexual assault.

“It is important to give people a forum to speak in and address this widespread issue because sexual and relationship violence is something we are taught to keep under the radar,” Pellot said. “People often ask, ‘Well why did you not fight? Why didn’t you just leave?’

“But it is not that easy. So therefore, no one really talks about it.”

Pellot said this event brings these issues to life, making them no longer a statistic or an abstract idea.

“Speak outs put a face to the story,” Pellot said. “It is no longer words on a page. You hear and see the raw emotion and impact that this has on the person.

“It also serves as a reminder that it is happening in the community, it’s happening right here on our campus.”

means to raise funds.

Scott De Silva used a marshmallow launcher he built with his roommate Zac Primus for an engineering expo to raise money. The system used a face detection program to launch marshmallows for the person to catch in their mouth.

The Beta Chi Theta fraternity used a mock jailhouse to raise money by charging $2 for

them to arrest somebody and $5 to get out.

Andro Gad, the brother who came up with using the jailhouse, said it engages the people put into the jailhouse to get those outside to help.

Gad said he and the rest of the fraternity came out to support one of their brothers who’d been diagnosed with cancer and used some of

the programs offered by the American Cancer Society such as the Hope Buses while seeking treatment.

“I’m from Egypt, and where I’m from, cancer is a death sentence,” he said. “To come to America and see people fight is amazing.”

By 6 a.m. Sunday morning, over $61,000 had been raised with $11,000 coming from Saturday’s, according to event lead Jana Mahon. The board can continue to fundraise until August, according to Gina D’Onofrio, activities coordinator.

“You need to be your own advocate,” Price said. “If something doesn’t feel right, please stand up for yourself. If you don’t feel right, please get it checked out. Many adults ages 18-24 forgo yearly check-ups or going to the doctor because they don’t have the time or the money. I understand that.

“Who wants to spend money on a co-pay when it could be spent on a round of drinks for your friends or the cost of a textbook that is necessary for class? If you don’t get that check-up, there may be no rounds of drinks.”

Opinion

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

EDITORIAL

USF fights for students

USF is taking a stand to help its students, and other colleges should follow its lead.

USF has recently begun using data analysis to pinpoint at-risk students in an attempt to get them help before they fail or drop out of college. Though its reasons behind the intervention may have more to do with money and prestige than a genuine desire to help, the results are inarguably positive.

The university’s graduation rate has steadily climbed over the past five years and data companies are playing a key role in reshaping the very environment of college.

USF partnered with Civitas Learning Software for $286,000 a year, according to the Tampa Bay Times. This partnership took big data and ran it through an analysis that highlighted at-risk students.

If a student begins to turn in assignments late, suddenly begins to have low exam scores or stops engaging on discussion posts, the university is alerted that student may have a problem. It also monitors classes that are strong graduation predictors. If a student is struggling, they are highlighted.

USF then sends someone close to the student, either a resident assistant, a professor or an advisor to check in.

The student realizes they aren’t alone. And if they share their issue or their worries with the person sent to them, they can be offered the help they need. Whether that be tutoring, financial assistance or even counseling.

Students have extremely high expectations on them from society, friends, family and even their peers. When they struggle, they often feel they can’t reach out to anyone without feeling like a failure.

So they simply trudge on. Unfortunately, without help, they are unable to conquer whatever hurdle or obstacle is in their path. So they leave.

USF needs students to graduate. Graduation rates impact funding, and if the university can meet the bar set by Florida Lawmakers, it can potentially get millions in bonus funds, which will allow for the hiring of more faculty. In turn, more students can be better served, helped and taught by the brightest minds in their respective fields.

Yes, there are concerns that too much data analysis is a breach of privacy for a student. And yes, if a student knows his or her struggle in one class predicts they will fail in others, it may cause them to despair and quit without trying.

If USF begins to steer those struggling into different tracks to boost graduation rate, there will be a major problem.

But as long as USF continues to walk the fine line between helping and invading privacy, both the university and its students will benefit.

A higher graduation rate means more money to hire a larger and increasingly more qualified staff.

Continue the data analysis.

Students don’t need the gesture to be laced with authentic concern. They simply need the help that comes with it. By highlighting and reaching out to struggling students, more people graduate, which is all everyone ultimately wants.

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Drivers, put down the phone

The Florida Legislature has multiple bills on the agenda that would crack down on texting while driving.

ORACLE PHOTO/JACKIE BENITEZ

By Jacob Hoag C O L U M N I S T

There’s nothing more frustrating than driving behind or next to a distracted driver.

They swerve. They slow down. But most of all, they’re dangerous not only to themselves, but also to other innocent drivers around them.

With multiple bills circulating the Florida Legislature looking to crack down on texting while driving by making it a primary offense, it’s time for drivers, especially students, to put the phones down.

Far too many times, avoidable accidents and injuries occur due to people behind the wheel reading and responding to texts and tweets rather than paying attention to the road.

And as students, we are a large part of the problem.

A study by the American Automobile Association found that 59.3 percent of drivers age 19-24 were twice as likely to send a text or email while

driving.

In the age of social media, we are constantly on our phones, consuming any bit of information that we can.

We send texts, check emails, change songs on Spotify, send out a tweet or a Snapchat.

We Facetime and talk on the phone. Some of us even Netflix or put on the latest basketball game we’re missing.

We argue that checking texts at red lights and stop signs is perfectly safe. Then we argue that glancing down to skip a song or read a text on an empty road is no big deal.

Next thing we know, we’re sending a text on the interstate going 80 miles per hour and look up too late, only to find traffic has suddenly stopped.

But when we’re on the road, it’s not only our lives that we’re putting in danger. It’s the mom driving her three children to soccer practice, the grandfather on his way back

from the doctor or a fellow student looking to get to class without harm.

One in four vehicle crashes in the U.S. involve a cellphone, with nine Americans dying every day. There are over 340,000 accidents of this nature that happen each year, according to the Huffington Post.

It’s an issue that is ruining lives, and it’s an issue that is 100 percent avoidable.

These bills in the Legislature may make driving an even greater annoyance if passed.

However, they will only force drivers to act the way they should.

Reversing the trend, like in many cases, starts with the millennials.

It’s up to us to put the phone down, or our lawmakers will do it for us.

Jacob Hoag is a senior majoring in mass communications.

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Crossword

Classifieds To place a classified ad go to

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The Rundown Outside USF

NFL investigating arm-wrestling contest

Baseball

Sports

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

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Bulls sweep Knights, raise thousands for fight against childhood cancer

The NFL is investigating “The Pro Football Arm Wrestling Championship,” which took place at the MGM Grand Casino from April 5-9, according to ESPN. The contest reportedly had at least 30 current and former NFL players, but the league said these players may have violated the established gambling rules. The contest will be broadcast on CBS from May 27-28, with the championship round on June 3. According to the event’s website, a portion of the prize money will go to a charity of the players’ choice.

USF weekend scoreboard Baseball

UCF USF

5 7

Men’s Tennis

USF SMU

4 2

Women’s Tennis

USF Houston

4 0

Basketball

USF graduate breaks 3-point shooting world records

Justin Dargahi was once a USF IM star before recently becoming a world record holder. SPECIAL TO Several Bulls dyed their hair blond for the past couple of weeks to have fun with shaving their heads for Cuts Vs. Cancer. ORACLE PHOTO/JACKIE BENITEZ and brought the tradition with collegiate, high school and

By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S E D I T O R him to USF in 2014. youth baseball that puts on “We as a team have been this event each year.

The USF baseball team doing it for probably the past Though the three-game couldn’t help but smile Sunday six or seven years,” Mohl said. sweep of the rival Knights put afternoon as barbers shaved “My wife died of cancer back the Bulls in good spirits, it players’ heads in the outfield in 2013. My head coach at paled in comparison to the grass near the third base line Tulane, Rick Jones, his neph- success of their fundraising at the USF Baseball Stadium. ew as a freshman at North efforts.

Not only had the Bulls just Carolina got diagnosed with Players raised money in the completed a bounce-back brain cancer, and he’s the one weeks leading up to this game sweep of UCF with a 7-5 win who created (Vs. Cancer). Ever through social media and in front of the largest crowd since then, I committed to going out in the community to of the season (1,410), but they staying with it every year.” surpass their goal of $10,000. had also raised thousands of When Chase Jones was diag“So many people are affectdollars in the fight against can- nosed with stage four brain ed by cancer, it’s an awful cer. cancer, going through the sub- disease,” sophomore catchIn USF’s third annual “Cuts sequent chemotherapy, his Tar er Tyler Dietrich said minVs. Cancer game,” play- Heel teammates shaved their utes before getting his blond ers pitched in to help raise heads in support of him. When Mohawk shaved. “Personally, $12,231 for efforts against Jones eventually survived the some guys have lost family childhood cancer. disease and his cancer was in members (to cancer), I’ve lost Bulls pitching coach Billy remission, their selfless sup- some. When you raise so much Mohl, who lost his wife to a port gave him the idea to cre- money for a great cause like rare from of cervical cancer, ate Vs. Cancer. that to help kids in the comstarted hosting the event when USF is one of 90 organiza- munity, it’s amazing.” he was a coach at Illinois State, tions throughout professional, n See FIGHT on PAGE 11

THE ORACLE/JUSTIN DARGAHI

By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S

E D I T O R

From the first time Justin Dargahi picked up a basketball, he’s had no trouble making shots.

By his recollection, he made nine of the first 10 shots he ever took, and he hasn’t stopped making them since.

“Since it was always so easy to me, I thought everyone was like that,” Dargahi said. “But right away, I figured out that I was a lot better than everyone else.”

It wasn’t long before Dargahi began to stand out for his natural gift for shooting hoops.

“Even when I would go to arcades and shoot on the (popa-shot), people would crowd around me to watch because I would break all the records,” Dargahi said. “It would get so high that it had to reset the score.

But what I don’t like about that

n See RECORDS on PAGE 11

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