The Oracle THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014 I VOL. 51 NO. 130
Inside this Issue
The Index
News.................................................................1 Lifestyle......................................................4 Opinion.......................................................6
www.usforacle.com
classifieds..............................................7 Crossword.........................................7 sports............................................................8
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Light up the night
LIFESTYLE
Students battle it out in USF clubs. Page 4
Montage
Over 100 new state laws take effect this month By Wesley Higgins N E W S
S PO RTS Herget thankful for USA Baseball tryouts.. BACK
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New LED lights were installed to shine on the Bulls outside the Marshall Student Center last week. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
E D I T O R
Lobsters bubbled a sigh of relief Tuesday when several new Florida laws went into effect, including tougher penalties for spiny lobster poachers. But this was just one of the 157 bills Fla. Gov. Rick Scott signed into law. U.S. Veterans. HB 7015 U.S. military veterans and National Guard members may now claim in-state tuition, regardless of residency. Before the bill, many veterans paid out-of-state tuition, costing approximately $10,900 more than in-state tuition. Joshua Davis, a junior majoring in anthropology, said he joined the U.S. Air Force in
n See LAWS on PAGE 2
USF student caught in undercover child sex sting A USF student was arrested Saturday for soliciting sex from what he believed to be a 13-yearold boy, according to Polk County Sherriff’s Office (PCSO). The suspect, 20-year-old Jacob Bickel, was caught in a Central Florida Internet Crime Against Children operation targeting suspects who travel to engage underage teenagers in sexual conduct. So far, the operation has led to 13 arrests for traveling for sex with a minor. Bickel allegedly traveled from Tampa to Naples with intent to meet a boy he propositioned through an anonymous chat application. In the online conversation with the undercover detective, Bickel, under the username “Jake.Bulls94,” allegedly requested nude pictures, asked about sexual experience and offered to teach various sexual acts, according to the arrest affidavit. The PCSO report stated Bickel
drove to the predetermined location on Saturday and was arrested at the front door. Police said the suspect carried two condoms and personal lubricant in his front pocket. When a detective again sent a message to “Jake.Bulls94,” police confirmed the suspect’s cellphone received it. The report stated, when asked, Bickel said he was lonely and only came to talk. Bickel is charged with traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of sexual conduct, transmitting sexual material harmful to a minor and using a computer (cellphone) to commit a felony. The arrest was a part of Operation Cyber Child III, an operation launched June 18 to arrest suspected sexual predators who target children. USF student Jacob Bickel was caught in a Central Florida Internet Crime — Staff report Against Children operation for allegedly soliciting sex from an underage teenager. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
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LAWS
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hopes of one day receiving a college education. “I think I deserve it. I did my civic duty,” he said. “Sometimes I refer to it as I sold my soul for school.” Sexual Offenders. SB 522, SB 524, SB 526, SB 528, HB 7005 Effective Oct. 1, tougher sentences will be enforced for sexual offenses against minors. Colleges and universities are also now required to notify students and faculty of the sexual offender registry during orientation. Convicted offenders will now also be required to carry a driver’s license with “SEXUAL PREDATOR” stamped on the card. E-Cigarettes. SB 224 The bill expands tobacco regulations to e-cigarettes. As such, e-cigarettes cannot be sold or bought for anyone under the age of 18. The bill regulates nicotine-dispensing devices, but also includes e-cigarettes without nicotine. Nicholas Taurus, a freshman majoring in computer science, said he thinks it is a good idea to restrict marketing to youth, but doubts it will make a difference.
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“People will buy them for kids anyway,” he said. “I don’t think anyone really cares.” Davis, who also uses an e-cigarette, said it’s his experience that e-cigarette vendors card clients regardless of the law. Tuition Equality. HB 851 Students who graduate high school in Florida after three years of residency now qualify for instate tuition at any state college or university, regardless of immigration status. Also included in the bill is a clause preventing state universities from increasing tuition without the consent of Florida Legislature. Epinephrine Injectors. HB 1131 Restaurants, youth sports leagues, theme parks and sports arenas are given greater access and permission to use epinephrine auto-injectors in case of an allergic reaction emergency. Other bills passed Insurance companies cannot discriminate against gun owners. Text messages are included in the Do Not Call program. Public schools must allow parents a platform to contest textbooks and subject material. Renewing vehicle tags is less expensive. Florida State Poet Laureate is no longer a lifelong title.
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Lifestyle
Students battle in USF fight clubs UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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JUDO CLUB
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COMBAT CLUB
COMBAT CLUB
Students can get physical in various combat-based clubs at USF, such as the Judo Club, the Fencing Club, the Brazilian Jiujitsu Club and the Combat Club. PHOTOS SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE By Courtney Combs L I F E S T Y L E
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Fighting is an intricate part of human history. What was once an animalistic necessity for survival is now a well-groomed art form, used more commonly for exercise and competition than defending the clan. At the USF Campus Recreation Center, students are picking up swords and brandishing their fists all in the name of learning these martial arts in a variety of combatbased clubs. Judo Club Judo may sound like a very heavy-handed fighting style but in reality, Danielle Rehberg, the current president of USF’s judo club, said it is just Japanese jiujitsu stripped of all the particularly dangerous moves. However, one of the main goals remains to physically throw your opponent. “It’s definitely a combat sport,” Rehberg said. “Within about a month you’ll do your first throw, you’ll never injure anyone by doing that either. We’re actually just about as safe as golf.” Rehberg has been practicing judo for a year and a half and has already been named state champion for the second time. “It was actually a way for me to get back into athletic training,” Rehberg said. “I didn’t expect to
like it at all and I just kind of fell in love with it after a couple weeks.” During the fall and spring semesters the club has what Rehberg calls “a full mat” with roughly 30 to 40 members. She said about 95 percent of its new members have never even heard the word judo before. “I was definitely one of them, I looked through all the sports clubs and went ‘seems interesting,’” Rehberg said. “It’s a very different sport from what anyone would usually do. You don’t normally wake up in the morning and say I wanna throw people, but it’s a huge stress relief.” The judo club participates in competitions all across the state from Orlando to Miami. The club uses university funds to pay for competition entry so anyone can come along. “Normally in fall we’ll have maybe two competitions, during the spring is really the competition season,” she said. “That works out great for anyone who joins in the fall because they can actually compete in the spring, you’ll have enough skills and knowledge to actually do that.” Fencing Club From swashbuckling rouges to gallant musketeers, the art of sword fighting has been heavily romanticized by popular culture. “Another name for fencing is physical chess,” said Shannon
Mangan, a sophomore studying musical performance and the president of USF’s fencing club. “A lot of it is physical but a lot of it is also really mental. You have to think steps ahead of your opponent.” Apart from learning how to fight, Mangan said the club does a fair amount of conditioning. The club does a lot of leg exercises because the fighting stance is almost squatting. The average beginner sword is not particularly heavy, but after a few hours of practice Mangan said it can be difficult to keep your arm up. “A lot of fencing is having a burst of stamina,” Mangan said. “A lot of it is lunge and retreat. It’s one jumping motion then you fling yourself backward so you don’t get hit in return.” One of the aspects of fencing Mangan likes most is the people with whom she fences. She said the club attracts people from “all walks of school.” “I found my best friends there,” Mangan said. “I didn’t think I’d find any best friends outside my major.” Mangan said fencing is not for everyone and many people will show up for one practice then never come again. “You can do a lot of research online, you can watch Olympic videos on YouTube … but actually showing up and meeting the
people in that club — that’s when you’ll know,” she said. Brazilian Jiujitsu Club Alexander Tremper, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, said jiujitsu is like wrestling in that the goal is to gain control over your opponent. However, unlike wrestling, in a realistic setting you would incapacitate your opponent or even break one of his limbs. “It’s an empowering thing both physically and mentally,” Tremper said. Tremper has been practicing jiujitsu for about five years. He started fighting with boxing but decided that he needed to find some other way to fight that wouldn’t cause as much permanent injury. He joined the Brazilian jiujitsu club in the fall of 2013 and is now the club’s president. “You’re learning how to use your opponent’s energy against them,” Tremper said. “It’s a back and forth kind of thing.” During practices, students learn the proper way to fall, basic takedown maneuvers and core fighting techniques. Interested students need not have studied a martial art before joining the club. Tremper said anyone is welcome to attend practice and give it a try. “You don’t have to be the most athletic person to come out and learn it,” he said. Combat Club The newest addition to the fight
club family is the USF Combat Club. The club practices several styles of martial arts, pulling moves and styles from taekwondo, muay thai, wrestling and jiujitsu. Matthew Shirakawa, a junior majoring in marine biology, joined the club at its inception nearly a year ago. “I started karate when I was four,” Shirakawa said. “You know when you’re that age, your parents want you to do something and I wanted out of baseball.” Before starting with the Combat Club, Shirakawa had already earned a black belt in taekwondo. “I kept doing it my whole life,” Shirakawa said. “I have fun doing it. I like to fight now. It’s like a hobby, it’s a passion and I’ll just keep doing it.” Shirakawa said most of the club’s new members come in without any prior experience in any form of fighting. “A buddy and I were doing the jiujitsu club, but their hours just didn’t work for us; we could only really get there late at night,” he said. The club formed after people began to join Shirakawa and his friend during their late night practices. The combat club’s practices run from 10 p.m. to midnight. “It’s great exercise and you might have fun,” Shirakawa said. “You won’t know unless you try.”
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USF coach selected for Bucs’ coaching fellowship
USF linebackers coach Raymond Woodie is entering his second year with the Bulls. PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
Only four collegiate coaches across the nation were selected for the 2014 Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship program and USF linebackers coach Raymond Woodie is one. Starting July 20, Woodie will work with coaches and scouts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during training camp, which lasts from July 20 – Aug. 2. Woodie was also named the AAC Recruiter of the Year by Rivals.com and 247Sports. com. “It’s a great opportunity,” Woodie said in a press release. “There is so much information you can learn, and I’m going to be there like a sponge. I want to absorb a lot, take a lot of notes and just come in and incorporate.” — Staff report
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Opinion UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Starbucks sets precedent Senate bill could bring with tuition plan transfer students closer cation system and is providing its employees the opportunity to get an education without losing their jobs. The plan will allow Starbucks employees to earn a diploma with less debt than their peers. Juniors and seniors will essentially receive these years of their degree for free, and freshmen and sophomores will have decreased tuition and fees. Regardless of the school year, employees will receive a scholarship that drastically reduces the cost of tuition. For instance, it will allow freshmen and sophomores to pay $6,500 over a two-year period, only a fraction of the total cost of tuition of $30,000. Juniors and seniors receive a discounted price of $12,600 for tuition. Freshmen and sophomores are expected to pay the remainder of their tuition out-of-pocket or with financial aid, whereas juniors and seniors would be reimbursed for their educational costs through the company. The plan has been criticized for only offering reimbursement each time a junior or senior completes and pays for 21 credit hours. Until Starbucks reimburses the total of junior and senior employees’ out-of-pocket costs, employees are not expected to pay more than half of the full price and the company will help arrange stu-
Brandon Shaik COLU M N I ST
With college costs and student debt on the rise, Starbucks recently revealed its new partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) to provide 135,000 U.S. employees with a significantly discounted education. Starbucks employees who do not currently hold a bachelor’s degree and work at least 20 hours a week are eligible to choose from 40 online degree programs at ASU with no obligation to the company following graduation. The plan is not only open to Starbucks employees, but also to those working at the company’s support centers, plants and its other stores, including Teavana and Seattle’s Best Coffee. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, education benefits were the first to go and last to be reinstated; the coffee magnate made its way into the edu-
the Oracle
dent loans to help cover expenses, Starbucks Strategy Director Lacey All said to the New York Times. The plan is getting national attention as one of the few instances of a minimum wage company providing educational benefits to its employees on such a large scale. It’s time for more major corporations to wake up and smell the coffee, especially since they hold the future of the nation’s economy in their bank accounts. Companies such as Exxon Mobile, Publix and UPS also offer education benefits to their employees, with some paying the full amount of tuition and fees as well as working with employees to schedule shifts that are more flexible for their academic lives. Additionally, Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of EdVisors.com, which provides information on paying for college, told the Huffington Post federal aid could lead to increased revenue for ASU and Starbucks could become more appealing to a broader, more diverse group of employees looking to take advantage of the program. While many students are postponing an education due to financial instability, Starbucks is setting a precedent that should be followed. Brandon Shaik is a senior majoring in psychology.
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to an associate degree Isabelle Cavazos COLU M N I ST
Last Wednesday, Senate Democrats released their 785-page bill to renew the Higher Education Act, the nearly 50-year-old law that dictates federal student aid. Among legislation to instill year-round Pell Grants and let students use two-year-old tax data when applying for aid, the bill also includes a measure that would help students who transferred from a community college to a four-year school without an associate degree. Sponsored by Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat who sponsored the renewal of the Higher Education Act, the bill promotes reverse-transfer programs, which allow four-year schools to send students’ records to the community college from which they transferred, allowing the college to award them with an associate degree if they have enough credits. Reverse-transfer programs could be an invaluable option for students who transferred from a community college to a fouryear university without earning a degree, and can be especially helpful for those who completed some credits at a four-year university without finishing. When announcing the bill, Hagan acknowledged the variety of reasons a student may not complete their degrees, from having a family to not being able to afford the educational costs. The logic behind the proposal is simple: rather than leave former students with no credentials and a pile of debt, the credits they completed could count toward a degree that will leave them better qualified for the work force. In fact, only 56 percent of community college students who transferred to a four-year institution without an associate degree
earn their bachelor’s degree within a six-year period, according to a report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Based on this, nearly half of these students don’t finish either degree. Reverse-transfer programs are nothing new, but should certainly gain more momentum. As mentioned in the bill’s press release, North Carolina is currently testing the program, which is projected to help up to 2,000 students earn an associate degree. Fifteen states so far, including Florida, have begun using this program. According to information presented at this year’s National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students Conference, only four Florida universities and 10 transfer partner schools offer reverse-transfer, with criteria such as completing 60 credits and being in good academic standing. USF is among these universities. While this may already be an option for some Florida students, the bill could open opportunities for students in a variety of situations throughout the state and the country as a whole. Another tenet of the bill is that it could not only help eligible students who did not finish their bachelor’s, but it could also help those in the process of getting their bachelor’s be academically qualified for the work force while in school. The proposal is a progressive step toward helping transfer students who haven’t earned an associate have the product of the work and money put toward their education. If the measure passes, it could improve the economic situations of current and former students throughout the country. Isabelle Cavazos is a junior majoring in English and Spanish.
Classifieds UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
To place a classified ad go to
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APTS & HOUSES FOR RENT
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CONDO FOR RENT 2bdrm/2bath 1200 sqft available in guarded/ gated community, 3 miles from USF, partially furnished, $750/mos. Call Lindsay at 813-469-1802.
LAB TECH ASSISTANT Needed. FT & PT positions. Near HCC Brandon Campus. Gain science experience and schedule work around classes. Experience not necessary. Work minimum 20 hours M-F, 8 am - 5 pm. $9/hr. Fax: 813-793-4429 or e-mail hr@randglabs.com. Send work schedule availability. Email charles@randglabs.com
Condo 2b/2b Walk-to-USF, Furnished, Washer/Dryer, Pool, Two-students $425each (727)7878753 (727)729-0069
CHILD CARE
Childcare Energetic, childcare for intelligent 12 year old. Light housework 8 hours a day 1 or 2 days a week. Good salary. No attitudes. References. Call813-265-6630. Email anmolwarman@yahoo.com
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Football
Durden transfers to Youngstown State
Kenneth Durden started 11 of 12 games with the Bulls last season. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ TONY GORDON
Kenneth Durden will officially not return to the Bulls for the 2014 season following his transfer to Youngstown State. After a Jan. 18 arrest in his on-campus apartment for possession of marijuana, the redshirt junior was put on indefinite leave from the team by coach Willie Taggart. Despite being placed on leave, Durden was listed on the roster when spring practices began. In two seasons with the Bulls, Durden recorded 45 tackles and one interception. The Bulls are now forced to find a new defensive back for the upcoming season as Durden started 11 of the Bulls’ 12 games last season. — Staff report
Sports
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Baseball
Herget thankful for USA Baseball opportunity By Tiana Aument C O R R E S P O N D E N T
USA Baseball is one of the most competitive programs in the country, and USF pitcher Jimmy Herget was one of 29 players invited to the training complex in Cary, North Carolina for a tryout. USA Baseball scouts noticed Herget when he pitched for USF against Louisville and in the final regular season series against Georgia Tech. In these two starts, he combined for 15 1/3 innings during which he allowed two runs. “It was an experience that we didn’t expect, but we’re very appreciative of,” Herget’s mother, Lisa, said. “Just knowing that he was out there with the top players in the United States made (his father and I) very proud.” Though Herget didn’t make the 24-man roster, announced Monday, he said he is thankful for the opportunity to have put on a Team USA jersey. Unlike his usual performance with the Bulls, Herget gave up seven runs (six earned) on five hits in three innings during the Team USA exhibition games. “It basically prepared me for what minor league baseball is going to be like,” Herget said. “I was in a different hotel every night. My last three days, I was in seven states.” The level of competition was also different for the righthander. “Those guys are straight studs,” Herget said. “Everyone out of the pen threw over 90. All of the relievers threw 93. One kid hit 99. The hitters, every ball they hit, they hit hard. It was like there was no messing up.” Herget, who has returned to Massachusetts to pitch in the Cape Cod League for the summer, wrapped up his sophomore season at USF in May. He finished with a 1.26 ERA through 107 1/3 innings with 27 walks and 90 strikeouts.
Jimmy Herget failed to make the final Team USA baseball roster and will now set his sights on being drafted by an MLB team. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/TONY GORDON In addition to his fastball, had a bat,” Eric said, remem- USF, but after we left the meetslider, curveball and change- bering his childhood in Charm ing (with Prado), we felt realup, Herget’s personality has City. “It was just the way of ly good,” Eric said. “Prado helped him excel in America’s life. If you didn’t like baseball was the only manager that pastime. According to his there was something wrong ever talked about school and father, Eric, Herget may not with you. When I had my son, education ... the reason why be the biggest athlete at 165 whether he liked it or not, he Jimmy is there is because of pounds, but he has the most was at least going to try it. that coach. He was the most Fortunately for me, he loves it. understanding, well-spoken heart. “He does what he’s told, As of now, he’s had a 16-year guy. He gave my son a chance never talks back and just does career of playing baseball, and as a freshman. He gave him what he needs to do,” Eric it’s paid off quite well for him.” a chance against FSU, and In his junior year of high Jimmy performed well and said. “He’s very coachable, he loves the game, he listens to school, Herget started receiv- became a Friday-night starter, what the coach has to say, and ing letters from universities. and I owe it all to the coaching he goes out there and gives it He garnered 12 Division I staff.” offers and eight Division II 110 percent.” Herget, now coached by Herget’s passion for the offers, but it was an offer from Mark Kingston, will not have sport stems from his father, former USF coach Lelo Prado another shot at trying out for who grew up playing baseball that stood out to the Herget Team USA, but he will still family. in the streets of Baltimore. have two years of eligibility “We never really paid too to become drafted by an MLB “Everybody got out, everybody had a ball, everybody much attention to going to team.