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Andy Enfield wants to practice fast so his team can play faster when it matters.
Few whistles. No drawn-out, tiresome lectures. More meaningful learning.
Enfield, FGCU’s first-year men’s basketball coach, shaped his style over time.
A career assistant in both college (where he assisted at Florida State under coach Leonard Hamilton), and the NBA
(where he worked under Rick Pitino with the Celtics and Mike Dunleavy with the Bucks) and a product of a basketball family, Enfield always knew he’d be a head coach.
He’s prepared for it the last 17 years.
And he knew he’d be good at it. He would do it his way, the same way, to
everybody.As FGCU kicked off official pre-
season practices Oct. 15, Enfield showed his readiness as a head coach, displaying a welcoming, fresh style that players say contrasts with that of former coach Dave Balza.
Returning players described a coach who patiently explains concepts rather than barks instructions, carefully probing for select times to raise his voice.
“There’s more intensity with his (Enfield’s) practices,” said Kevin Cantinol, a senior center. “We keep going and going. With the coach we had before (Balza) we would go hard for a while and then stop for a long time. He (Enfield) explains things better and knows the game better.”
Enfield wants his words to carry significance, his teaching to have impact.
“I’m big on positive reinforcement,” Enfield said. “You need to be negative at certain times. If I raise my voice at a player, I want it to get their attention, so it means something to them. I’m not a big proponent of yelling at my players all practice, all the time.”
He’ll find his coaching style as he goes, but it won’t be hard.
Enfield coaches as he carries himself in life, taking interest in his player’s lives,
[ ]
En!eld
With only three weeks to go, more than half of the tickets to Eaglepalooza have already been sold.
Melissa Khayata, concert director, advises students who are interested in attending Eaglepalooza to act quickly.
“Tickets are going very quick, so they definitely want to try to get them before the radio starts announcing … then, everyone in the public will know about the show, and the
show’s going to sell out,” she said. Students can purchase tickets until Oct.
31 for $12. However, on Nov. 1, ticket prices will increase to $20 each.
“The show is for the students; that is the only reason why we raise the prices, to encourage the students to buy their tickets before the public gets them at the discounted price,” Khayata said.
“We don’t want to see our show sell out and then students not get their tickets because, obviously, the show is for the students and we just open it up to the
public,” said Joseph McGibboney, program coordinator.
McGibboney explains that on Nov. 1, tickets will be advertised through five radio stations and one Latin-based television station.
Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. There will be standing-room-only on the floor, while the remaining attendees will be seated in the bowl.
There will be a DJ that will play in between the artists. Na Palm will open, followed by Travis Porter and ending with Pitbull.
Outside, items promoting FGCU and the Programming Board will be given away.
There will be no shuttle service to the event; however, parking is free for students.
“Multiple businesses and corporations are contacting us to purchase 30 to 50 tickets,” Khayata said.
McGibboney encourages students to get tickets soon. “We want a larger population of students than the public to be there,” he said.
Students can buy tickets at Germain Arena.
If Einstein were alive today, perhaps he would be a supporter of Gov. Rick Scott’s new vision for Florida’s higher education system. In reality, however, Scott’s recent proposals are being met with mixed reviews.
Scott desires a stronger emphasis on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, otherwise
known as the STEM fields. In other words, he wants Florida universities to turn out more STEM graduates in order to better meet the needs of employers. This, Scott proposes, will lead to a better economy.
His plan to achieve this is to shift state funding to STEM programs and away from programs he deems less desirable to businesses. Translation: discouraging students from majoring in the liberal arts.
“If I’m going to take money from a citizen to put into education, then I’m going to take that money to create jobs,” Scott told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune last week. “So I want that money to go to degrees where people can get jobs in this state.”
Scott has already begun laying the groundwork for his plan, starting with a letter to Florida’s 11 state university presidents, including FGCU’s President
Wilson Bradshaw. The letter included a series of questions asking for information such as what the university has done to meet the needs of employers and what measurable goals the university has with graduating students with specific degrees, such as that of STEM programs.
Glenn Whitehouse, an associate professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a strong defender of the liberal arts.
“I think there is a common misunderstanding about the purpose of liberal arts education,” Whitehouse said. “Many people seem to take the view that universities should offer a separate major for each kind of job that is out there in the marketplace. But this is not how higher education works.”
Thursday, Oct. 13 at 4:28 p.m.: Medics were called to the third floor bathroom of Holmes Hall to find a female bleeding from the head. The subject claimed she had slipped and fell and denied transportation.
Friday, Oct. 14 at 6:18 p.m.: A cheerleader outside of Alico Arena suffered minor injuries from a fall during a routine. The subject requested that the ambulance not be called and FGCU Athletics treated minor injuries.
Friday, Oct. 14 at 11:26 p.m.: University Police noticed that the security cameras in the student housing parking garage were all flipped upside down. After reviewing the tapes, UPD concluded that a suspicious male wearing black shorts and a red bandana had skateboarded
through the garage and purposely hit and flipped the cameras. The incident is under investigation.
Sunday, Oct. 16 at 8:32 p.m.: A concerned student notified UPD after being followed by a white vehicle that resembled a police car. When the student arrived at her dorm, the person following her got out of the car but was not in uniform. He then threatened to issue her a speeding ticket. UPD has not yet verified if the person was, in fact, an officer.
Monday, Oct. 17 at 12:03 a.m.: A drug search was conducted in building M of student housing. Officers confiscated Adderall pills, 5.1-grams of marijuana and two partially-smoked marijuana cigarettes. All items were
turned over to judicial affairs for further evaluation.
Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 3:47 p.m.: UPD received a request from the Wellness Center in regard to transporting a sick student who was experiencing extreme abdominal pain. The student was unable to walk. EMS responded to the call and the student was transported to Gulf Coast Medical Center for treatment.
Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 2:34 a.m.: A concerned student contacted UPD after spotting a man, who seemed to be in his 40’s, wandering around outside of student housing J building. The suspect was reported as shoeless and seemed incoherent, drunk and drugged.
The Police Beat is compiled by
Eagle News staff from public logs available at the University Po-lice Department. Police Beat is not associated with the UPD. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
POLICE BEAT
SERVICE LEARNING
BRIEFSA2 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26 EDITOR: MEGAN HOOLIHAN NEWS!EAGLENEWS.ORG
CONTACT:
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Eagle News, the student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University, represents the diverse voices on campus with fairness. We select content for our publication and our website that is relevant to the student body, faculty and staff. Members are committed to reporting with accuracy and truth. Our purpose is to encourage conversations about issues that concern the on-campus community. Eagle News views every culture with equal respect and believes every person must be treated with dignity.
ABOUT US:
Eagle News, founded in 1997, is the student newspaper at Florida Gulf Coast University. The newspaper is the only student produced publication on campus and is entirely student run. Eagle News is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters and monthly in the summer, with the exception of holiday breaks and examination periods. The print edition is free to students and can be found on campus and in the community at Gulf Coast Town Center, Germain Arena and Miromar Outlets.
Business Manager
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Rookery Bay: Do you like music and the beach? Help out at the Marco Island Beach Music Festival on Oct. 29. Volunteer orientation is on Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. at the Marriott. Four hour minimum shifts. Choose 10 a.m., 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. Free lunch and T-shirt. Contact Donna Young at [email protected] or 239-417-6310 x412.
Pancreatic Cancer: Need help with set up and clean up the Pancreatic Cancer Walk on Oct. 29 at 6:30 a.m. until around 11 a.m. Contact FGCU student Cristina LaGrasta at [email protected].
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium: is looking for volunteers for their Friendly Forest event on Oct. 29 and 30. It will include some environmental education activities for children. Contact Adam at [email protected] or call 239-275-3435.
NCH Foundation: Need 20 volunteers at the Hospital Ball on Oct. 29 from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. You’ll get food and will be provided polo shirts. Volunteers need to wear black or khaki dress pants and flat dress shoes. The volunteers will be registering, handing out and collecting Bidpals for the silent auction. Contact Marta Nardone at 239-436-4511.
City of Fort Myers Beach: Enjoy the beach and earn service-learning hours. Help out at the 25th Annual Sand Sculpting event held Nov. 2-6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. near Lover’s Key State Park. Contact Jane Ross at jane@fmbchamber or 239-454-7500.
Island Coast Aids Network (ICAN): Help out at the Handbag Happy Hour at Miromar Design Center on Nov. 4. Especially need volunteers that can stay late to clean up. Contact Mitch at [email protected] or call 239-337-2391.
United Way has partnered with WCI for a Fundraiser Yard Sale on Nov. 5 at Walden Center in Bonita Springs. Approximately 8-12 volunteers are needed from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to assist with parking, set-up, sales and tear down operations. Contact Ruth at [email protected] or 239-498-8631.
City of Fort Myers: Help out with the 29th Annual Taste of the Town on Nov. 6. This is an excellent opportunity for large groups of students. Volunteers receive free admission to the event and a t-shirt. Visit www.jlfm.org to learn more. To volunteer, register online by Oct. 27 at http://www.jlfm.org/?nd=form__56. If you have any further questions, contact Micaela Heuglin at volunteers4taste@
gmail.com.Rookery Bay: Have fun at the
Party of All Parties event at the Environmental Learning Center on Nov. 6 from noon to 4:30 p.m. Contact Donna Young at [email protected] or 239-417-6310 x412.
The Immokalee Foundation: Help with the live auction for this exciting fundraising event on Nov. 11 at the Ritz-Carlton. It will be an incredible evening with tons of entertainment. Receive a free t-shirt. Contact James Graves at 239-404-2024.
Lovers Key State Park: Help with the Great Outdoor Adventure Day on Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact Catherine at [email protected] or 239-463-4588.
FGCU Food Forest is here on campus. They need students to help with their botanical collection of edible species every Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. til mid-November. Sign up online at http://fgcufoodforest.weebly.com/service-learning.html.
Cape Coral High School is partnering with Heartland Gardens to put in a 500 sq. ft. garden on their campus. They are looking for volunteers of various commitment levels and hours. Please contact Lori Kaminski at [email protected].
Pinewoods Elementary School: This school is unique in its passion for sustainability and environmental education. The Explorer’s Club is for 5th grade students interested in making the school greener in different areas such as maintaining the Japanese Garden, developing the butterfly/herb garden, maintaining the five senses garden, and beautifying the campus with environmental art. Need college student role models to help facilitate, plan and organize the club meetings, as well as plan educational presentations and activities for the students. The program meets every Thursday from 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., and extra hours awarded for students who prepare presentations or activities. Contact Laura Layton at [email protected].
Naples Botanical Garden: Horticulture gardening starts at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and includes weeding, potting, moving plants, digging, raking, sweeping, clearing debris, etc. Wear closed toe shoes, sunscreen and work gloves if you have them. No shorts or tank tops. Bring water. Looking especially for groups of students on Fridays. No last minute requests. Give 4-5 lead time. If you commit then can’t make it, give notice. Be on time. Email Sally Richardson at [email protected].
The Friends of Rookery Bay
are looking for a volunteer who is familiar with Flickr. The volunteer will establish an account for FORB and then upload photos and captions which will be provided so the media can access upcoming event and general reserve images 24/7. Contact Donna Young at [email protected].
Heartland Gardens: Assist at their mini-farm on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Did you know that FGCU alums started this nonprofit? Contact Andrea at [email protected] or call 239-689-4249.
Florida Panther Festival: Opportunities galore to help plan and organize this exciting event with live music, demonstrations and presentations. Event is on Oct. 28. Volunteers are needed to help with planning, event logistics, assist with facilitating speakers and on event day, lead educational activities, provide orientation to visitors, etc. Email [email protected] or call 239-353-8442x 229 or x222. Visit the website www.FloridaPantherFestival.com for additional details.
DasHuh (That’s Her) Basketball Foundation: Multiple opportunities. Help with the following: website design, press releases, grant writing, graphic design and coaching. Contact Shannon Graham at [email protected] or 239-357-6791
Abuse Counseling & Treatment (ACT): Do you have a talent for marketing? Do you want to take the lead and help this nonprofit agency with a development plan? Do you have 2–3 months available? Contact Honara Jacobus, Development Coordinator, at [email protected] or 239-939-2553.
Haiti Conference “What’s Up with Haiti? Continuing Support for a Resilient People” is a multi-day, on-campus event to commemorate the second anniversary of the Haitian earthquake of 2010 and to draw attention to the continued need for help and support in rebuilding. It will take place on Jan. 11-12, 2012. It includes a mini-concert of Haitian music, a film festival, a keynote address and an academic roundtable. Help promote the event and contact local businesses to see if they are willing to offer support. Also need help with website design and students with the skills to coordinate the film festival. Please contact Dr. Nicola Foote at [email protected] or 239-590 7368.
Philharmonic Center for the Arts: Numerous opportunities. After filling out a Volunteer Profile,
you’ll be interviewed, trained and then assigned. Assignments include Archivist, Docent, Lobby Desk, Museum Library, Museum Store, Music Library, School Activity Volunteer, Jewelry, Will-Call at Box Office. Contact David Varisco at [email protected] or 239-254-2779.
Harry Chapin Food Bank: Sort and pack food for the hungry. Work 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday (no afternoon shift on Friday or Saturday). Proper attire required: closed toe shoes (no sandals), jeans or shorts, (shorts length must be at least to your fingertips) no tank tops or bare midriff tops. Contact Bedzaida Bryen at [email protected] or 239-334-7001 x141.
Goodwill Industries: Be a mentor to at-risk youth in our communities. Commit to one year of service mentoring for 4-6 hours per month. For more information, go to http://www.goodwillswfl.org/goodguides/.
The College Reach Out Program (CROP): Local middle and high school students are starting a chapter at Estero High School. There are 10 students who want to join the program but have limited English skills. Right now, they only speak Spanish. Need a mentor/translator to meet with students every Thursday from 1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Contact Susan Genson [email protected] or 239-590-7836.
The Rushman-Micah Angel Foundation: Are you computer savvy and want to work from home? Help update the RMAF website and Facebook page. RMAF is taking a lead role in bringing awareness to bridging the gap of technology and education for the special needs community and their families. Contact Barbara Brown at [email protected] or 239-216-2363.
FGCU Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences: Need students throughout the semester to test their GIS Exercises, help with the Franco Service Learning Workshop and more. Contact Dr. Marguerite Forest at [email protected] or call 239-590-7412.
Lee County Community Tennis Association: Volunteer opportunities every Tuesday for Special Olympics Tennis at Rutenberg Park at 6 p.m. Contact Lyn Bruner at [email protected] or 239-489-2378.
Information is provided by the Service Learning department. All opportunities are pre-approved. You can find more opportunities on Facebook at “FGCU Service Learning.”
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A3WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG
HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Eagle News highlights the photography of our readers. Send your best pictures — of events, vacations, scenery, wildlife —
whatever you’d like. If your photo is picked, you’ll receive two free tickets to Regal Cinemas in Gulf Coast Town Center.
E-mail submissions (with your name, grade, major, phone number and a description of the photo)
Many students are well aware of FGCU’s unique focus on service-based learning.
This focus is becoming increasingly apparent, as FGCU was recently recognized for its dedication to community service by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.
The “Higher Education Civic Engagement Award” was presented to six schools out of 140 nominees. The other recipients were Augsburg College, Benedict College, DePaul University, Duke University and San Francisco State University.
The recipients were chosen based on leadership in community programs and projects.
President Bradshaw accepted the award at the Center’s annual awards luncheon on Oct. 3 in Washington D.C.
“This honor from The Washington Center is especially meaningful because civic
engagement and service is such a central [aspect] of who we are as a campus community at FGCU. I continue to be impressed with the unwavering commitment our students, faculty and staff have to serving both our local and our global communities. It is a constant point of pride for me to know that our students demonstrate this commitment each day,” Bradshaw said.
“The Higher Education Civic Engagement Awards were created in 2009 to find colleges and universities that are true role models for civic engagement in the academic community,” said Mike Smith, president of The Washington Center. “Florida Gulf Coast University has created an environment that brings students and community organizations together, showing that the best and most well-rounded academic experience is not just defined by classroom learning.”
In addition to the award granted by the Washington Center, FGCU was also recognized at the 20th Annual Florida Campus
Compact Awards Gala on Oct. 20 as the 2011 “Engaged Campus of the Year” for the state university sector.
Several aspects of FGCU’s curriculum and policies make the university stand out in the realm of community engagement.
All FGCU students are required to complete 80 hours of service-learning prior to graduation.
FGCU’s EaglesConnect program provides students with access to more than 300 community agencies.
All bachelor students must also complete University Colloquium, which is geared towards course-based service-learning.
“The FGCU campus is located in a geographic area with a unique environment and ecosystems, and as such, we seek to instill in all students a commitment to lifelong understanding and sustainability of the environment,” said Susan Evans, university spokeswoman. “This commitment is reflected in FGCU’s Mission, and because of this commitment, we opened the University in 1997
with a requirement that students complete a three-hour Colloquium course.”
Evans describes Colloquium as an interdisciplinary environmental education course designed to explore the concept of sustainability as it relates to a variety of considerations and forces in Southwest Florida. The course takes into special consideration different environmental, social, ethical, historical, scientific, economic, and political influences.
In addition to Colloquium, all students of the College of Arts and Sciences must complete a three-credit Foundations of Civic Engagement course. The course is also required for some majors, such as interdisciplinary studies.
Despite the recognition for community engagement, there are students who are upset about having to take and pay for mandatory service-learning courses that are not required at other universities.
“I think it’s stupid that you have to take mandatory courses that have nothing to do with your
major,” said Kayley Santiago, a freshman majoring in nursing.
Jessica Rhea, director of community engagement and service-learning, feels that service-learning courses have several unique benefits.
“Academic research shows that the incorporation of service-learning is a ‘high impact practice’ that not only increases content knowledge, but higher-order thinking skills, problem-solving, career awareness, civic responsibility, and empowerment, therefore increasing a student’s chances of success in the global workforce,” Rhea said. “Having each student at FGCU walk away with these strengths is a goal of mine as the director of this program and as a faculty member.”
In 2010, FGCU students completed 132,451 hours of service-learning, which helped FGCU pass the 1,000,000 hour mark since the university opened in 1997.
A4 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26 EDITOR: MEGAN HOOLIHAN NEWS!EAGLENEWS.ORG
Gov. Rick Scott is proposing that Florida state universities take a look at Texas’ system for higher education and start a conversation about how that plan can be mimicked here.
However, the plan has met a great deal of opposition, particularly from professors, who will be affected the most.
“The plan will turn classes into popularity contests and universities into diploma mills,” said Professor Ron Hefner, an instructor of English.
The plan proposes that faculty teach as many students and classes as possible to earn their performance bonuses. The plan would also measure the efficiency of professors by reviewing how many students earned A’s and B’s and what the student satisfaction was with the professor.
“If Governor Scott can’t think of anything better than imitating such foolishness, he apparently doesn’t care about quality education for college students in
Florida,” Hefner said.The plan refers to students as
customers and many liken it to a business model more than one meant to improve the system of education now in place.
One administrator is happy to partake in Scott’s conversation.
Eric Barron, president of Florida State University, wrote a response to the Texas plan called “Breakthrough Solutions for Higher Education: Florida can do better than Texas.”
In the plan, Barron says the state of the economy and job openings at low-skill-required retailers is evidence that the U.S. is not invested enough in universities and higher education. He also said that Florida should become the leader in effective higher education and that the proposed Texas plan would make state universities similar to community colleges with large class sizes and high teaching loads.
“The mission of research universities and their role in economic development is very different than the mission and
role of community colleges … the set of accountability measures proposed in the Texas model are not sufficiently comprehensive to serve the state of Florida,” Barron’s “Breakthrough Solutions” response said.
Barron suggests a different way of testing teacher efficiency. He suggests that teachers be evaluated by their students and peers. He would also implement pre-course and post-course knowledge tests, and post-graduation assessments.
Carly Ellsworth, a junior majoring in business management, doesn’t disagree with the plan entirely, but feels that the knowledge tests would be a more accurate route.
“Teacher’s salaries being based upon student grades seems reasonable, but being based on student satisfaction or the number of students does not seem fair to the professors,” Ellsworth said.
Scott sent a letter to FGCU President Wilson Bradshaw on Oct. 13. The letter was sent to other state university presidents
as well. “I have always believed the
only way to ensure increasing levels of performance is by measuring outcomes using objective, data-driven criteria in a fully transparent environment and more importantly to use that measurement and information to develop plans for improvement,” Scott said in the letter.
Scott also requested a list of university information from Bradshaw to be sent by Nov. 15 in order to help Scott develop his plan for higher education.
These pieces of information included requests such as, “Please send me your university’s overall measurable goals and tracking from the last five to ten years,” and, “Do you have measurable goals for the number of graduates with specific degrees such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, etc?”
A work group was created through the state university system and will report to the Board of Governors next month to further discuss any possible changes.
FGCU students who are facing the possibility of defaulting on student loans might be getting some unwelcome calls on their cell phones.
In late September, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a bill that would enable federal debt collectors to call borrowers on their cell phones. While Congress has no timetable to vote on the bill, President Obama also recently introduced a deficit-reduction plan and requested that Congress allow private debt collectors to call consumer’s cell phones.
Many debtors, particularly students and recent graduates, rely primarily on cell phones as opposed to landlines.
Obama’s plan would allow federal collectors to program cell phone numbers into automatic dialers in an effort to produce “substantial increases
in collections,” as Obama states in the plan.
Under the proposed House bill, the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011, debt collectors would have the freedom to contact borrowers on their cell phones if they are 30 days or more behind on payments. Neither Obama’s plan or the House bill would apply to telemarketers; only federal debt collectors would have the ability to contact borrowers through cell phones.
Federal statistics on student loan defaults among college students indicate that Florida’s overall rate of 10.5 percent is higher than the nation’s overall rate of 8.8 percent.
FGCU students are in a slightly better position than the Florida college students overall. At FGCU, 4.6 percent of students with loans were in default in 2009. This figure is not only better than the Florida average, but the national average as well.
According to Brian Casey,
associate director of financial aid, approximately 40 percent of students use federal loans to help pay tuition.
“We try our best to educate students when they first get here about only borrowing what they absolutely need,” Casey told Naples Daily News.
Among FGCU students who graduated in 2008-09 and remained in Florida, 69 percent were employed. While this is 9 percent higher than the average among universities in the University System of Florida, many graduates are still having issues avoiding default.
Tina Vasquez, a sophomore who has not yet declared a major, is slightly nervous about the debt that potentially awaits her after graduation.
“I have not had to take out any loans so far, but with tuition increasing and financial aid getting harder to come by, loans are definitely something I may have to consider.
“And with the job market being what it is, the pressure of
paying those loans back is kind of scary,” Vasquez said.
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“(Although) many jobs do require a foundation of specialized technical knowledge, many more jobs are dependent on solid skills in critical thinking, writing, and problem solving-skills - an education in the liberal arts can provide,” Whitehouse said.
Whitehouse argues that research suggests that liberal arts degrees can actually
prepare students for these basic skills more effectively than pre-professional degrees, such as those in business or health.
He also said that while it is very important to promote STEM education, we should not isolate the sciences from the liberal arts.
That is an idea that Charles Gunnels, interim director of undergraduate research in the College of Arts and Sciences, can agree with.
“You can’t take away from
liberal arts and give it to the sciences, because then science will suffer,” Gunnels said. “Science suffers without liberal arts education. Science suffers when we don’t have good balance and good perspective. Science is not good when it’s just science.”
However, Gunnels, who is also a member of FGCU’s Whitaker Center for STEM Education, noted the advantage STEM majors have when it comes to job prospects and future employment.
But according to him, it takes dedication.
“If a STEM major understands mathematics, understands quantification, has a sense for how science operates and works, and how engineering operates, they have a huge advantage,” he said. “If they’re just trying to get by, it’s going to be difficult.”
Nevertheless, STEM students are thrilled that their programs are getting more attention on the political stage.
“It’s great that programs like engineering are getting more funding,” said freshman Maria Jackson, who is planning on majoring in civil engineering. “Maybe it will open up more engineering major opportunities, such as chemical engineering and mechanical engineering, at schools like FGCU that don’t have a big engineering program.”
Do you understand the responsibilities of student Senate?
Yes. Fully.
Not a clue.
I have heard bits and pieces
I wish I did.
I have a basic understanding
21%
43%
16%
9%
12%
Student Government has control over a large amount of money that comes directly from fees included in student tuition, and yet many students are unaware of the role that Student Government and student senate play.
One student who recently voiced his criticisms of Student Government is former senator Joseph Russo. Russo resigned from Senate at the Oct. 18 student senate meeting during discussion of his impeachment.
“Student Government has failed,” Russo said during discussion the meeting. Russo stopped attending meetings three weeks prior to his impeachment, and he stated that the other senators failed to reach out to him or inquire about his absences.
Christina Bockisch, senate secretary, says that Russo was indeed sent an email notifying him each time he received a point in violation of Senate regulations.
Senators become eligible for impeachment after the accumulation of five points, and
Russo received seven. Russo’s impeachment was
scheduled to be voted on during the meeting, but the item was struck from the agenda after Russo resigned during discussion.
“There is a leadership backing that has caused good people to not get involved,” Russo said. “If you take a look at what the possibilities are and what we’ve actually achieved, there is a big gap.”
Russo also feels that Senate has unnecessary focus on remedial things that are not relevant to the overall mission of Student Government. “Why do we have to focus on the remedial? People could do a better job,” Russo said.
Senator Eddie Livesay, who serves as community outreach chair, spoke out in defense of Student Government at the meeting.
“Student Government just held an event, a Presidential Dinner where every RSO president was invited…we had a survey about Student Government at the dinner.”
Livesay said that the survey responses showed that Student Government has had an increase in representation, availability,
visibility, and more connection to the students.
“There is definitely more of a connection, more outreach…we have events at least two times a month, and we are continuing Outdoor Senate, which is on Nov. 15. It will help shed some light on Senate and bring students in, connect to them and get on the same level.”
Livesay also said that Russo was not a model senator during his recent involvement, and that
he “dropped the ball” with two of the bills he sponsored, creating issues for RSO’s.
“He was not concentrating on student needs,” Livesay said.
While Student Government visibility may be on the increase according to some, many students do not have a full grasp of the role that Student Government and senate play.
“Only when it comes to elections do I know about them. The only reason I know is
because girls in my sorority are in Student Government or senate,” said Emily Ambrosio, a junior majoring in communication.
Cindy Desir, a sophomore who is double-majoring in nursing and communication, has a bit more of an idea about Student Government’s role.
“They plan events and try and make the school better…they go around asking how to make the school better,” she said.
Student organizations have the opportunity to request financial assistance from Student Government, and student senate is responsible for deciding when it is appropriate to allocate the money. The money that Student Government allocates to organizations comes from the “Student Activity Fee” line that shows up on the tuition fee assessment paid by each student.
Student Government started out with $337,967 in funds this fiscal year, and taking into account the bills that senate has passed thus far, that total is now $311,151. Student government spending can be tracked on the resources section of the student government website.
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(541):I’m not leaving bed today. And i guess my drunken ass last night hit my roommate in the face with a tiki torch then proceeded to cry while carrying around a picture of he who must not being name. I’m a piece of work.
(419):You told them that the brownies were safe, and then pointed to a passed out Ryan and said “see?”
(802):i woke up to banging and pieces of ceiling falling on my face
(+31):Don’t bother coming over to clean the mess. I already paid two kids 5 bucks for it, just didn’t tell them you peed all over the place. You do owe me 5 bucks though
tfln
Halloween Edition - Halloween Edition - Halloween Edition
Ready, set, create. Project DIY is a service-oriented crafting club that joined FGCU in fall 2010, where you can learn how to “do it yourself.”
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make your own blanket, knit a sweater or even make a balloon animal?
“DIY is just using whatever skills you have to create something new,” Chealsye Bowley, Project DIY president, said. They
recently participated in Eagle News’ pumpkin carving contest and have many other creative events that happen throughout the year.
On Monday, Oct. 31, the club will be having their monthly Painting on the Library Lawn event from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
In the upcoming month, Project DIY will be hosting a balloon-making workshop as well as a no-sew fleece blanket workshop.
They just don’t create projects, either. They also
perform community service by standing behind their motto, “Changing the world one stitch at a time.”
In the months ahead, you will find them volunteering at the Southwest Florida Children’s Hospital and Habitat for Humanity and they are always looking for extra volunteers.
They don’t work alone either; they also partner with other clubs on campus.
In the past, they have partnered with To Write Love on Her Arms FGCU UChapter,
raised funds for the Sanibel Island Writers Conference, and they also fund students to become trained IMAlive suicide intervention volunteers.
“If someone comes to us with a great idea, and they have the initiative to head it up, we’ll give them our full support,” Bowley said. Project DIY is open to all FGCU students. They hold meetings bi-weekly on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in Reed Hall room 163 and their next meeting is on October 26th.
“We are constantly growing,
and welcome new members and ideas,” Bowley said.
Students interested in joining Project DIY can do so by coming to a meeting, attending an event, or emailing them at [email protected].
To know the dates of all of their upcoming events and service-learning projects feel free to “Like” their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/projectdiy. Project DIY may stand for project do-it-yourself, but they are definitely working for others, one service at a time.
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October is the time for all things creepy and creative, and October at FGCU is no exception. On Oct. 28, be prepared to witness the epitome of Halloween right on campus. You’ve seen the flyers, blood red and dark, and the day is finally near for their promises to come true.
The ArtLab, located to the right of the library, is going to be host to the first Dark Arts Exhibition and Projections curated by Nicole Figley and Will Bradley. From 6 to 9 p.m., art focusing on the Halloween concept will be on display in an evening of free and horrific fun, open for everyone.
“It’s the first year at FGCU,” said Nicole Figley, a senior majoring in art. “They have
one downtown at Fort Myers every year.” Bringing the Dark Arts Exhibition to
FGCU all started with Anica Sturdivant, the interim gallery director.
“She wanted the same thing that they had downtown,” Figley said, who originally wanted to curate a printing show.
Thanks to careful planning, the Dark Arts Exhibition became a reality and the date was set.
Art submissions were due on Oct. 20 and 21. An open submission process diversified the art.
“Anybody can submit,” Figley said. “We just had a nursing major bring something by.”
Art isn’t the only thing that will be showcased this coming Friday night, either. “There’s going to be food, music,
movies. We’re having a raffle to give away free stuff. You can’t get much better than that,” Figley said.
Along with the exhibition, there will be a projection of “Nosferatu” and “La Belle et la Bête” (The Beauty and the Beast) just behind the library, a DJ, and a festive game of Zombies vs. Survivors, which will start in AB3 and will take over the campus.
“It’s made like a game of puzzles for the survivors. They have to complete riddles to move on and the Zombies have to tag the survivors,” Figley said about an eerie twist to a classic game.
Those wanting to immerse themselves in the game as survivors or as one of the walking dead can e-mail [email protected].
Costumes are encouraged for this
coming Friday but, in case you forget, the Theatre Student’s Honor Society will be helping you get into the frightening spirit, offering zombie hair and make-up for those who seek to look undead.
The Dark Arts Exhibition and Projection is more than an art show; it’s bringing the spirit of Halloween to campus. For those with no ideas for the holiday, Friday night is the perfect opportunity to get dressed up and partake in all things creepy and classic.
It’s Halloween week and there’s a lot to do at FGCU to get in the spooky spirit. We’ve got you covered with a guide to all things that go bump in the night so you can make the most of Halloween this year.
Wednesday, Oct. 26 – North Lake Village Fright Night, 7-10 p.m.
Join us for exciting events across all of North Lake Village. Carve and smash pumpkins by the Tiki Hut, then head over to the Chiki Hut by the waterfront for the ultimate zombie station.
There will be a bonfire and a big game of Humans v. Zombies. Stop by and we’ll give you a clue—it’s a little like playing
tag. You can also trick-or-treat by visiting the candy buffet and Ice Scream sundae station in the courtyard between Egret and Pelican.
While you’re there, snap some photos of your costume in the photo booth and upload them to our Facebook page to be featured. Make sure to be in front of the Chiki Hut at 9 p.m. for the big dance and costume contest.
Thursday, Oct. 27 – Horrific Holler-ween Party in the West Lake Village Community Center, 8 -10 p.m.
West Lake Village residents are encouraged to get in the Halloween spirit by joining us for a party in the community
center. You can enjoy pizza while watching classic scary movies. Make sure to come in your best costumes, because there will be a costume contest with fantastic prizes.
Friday, Oct. 28 – RHA Harvest Party, 4 -7 p.m.
Join RHA and the Office of Community Outreach and give back to the Fort Myers community by volunteering for the annual Harvest Party on the South Village Green Space.
There will be carnival games, bounce houses, music and trick-or-treating for the children of Fort Myers. Visit the RHA website to sign up to hand out candy for trick-or-treating if you’re a resident of Palmetto Hall, otherwise, sign up to help
on the Green Space. You can earn service-learning hours and have a blast doing it.
Friday, Oct. 28 – Annual Halloween Spooktacular in SoVi, 8 p.m.
This year the annual Halloween Spooktacular will be taking the party to the roof. Join us on the roof of the SoVi parking garage for an out-of-this-world party.
The theme is extraterrestrial and all in attendance will have the opportunity to meet Morgan Beall, a UFO investigator from MUFON. There will be food and drinks, a DJ, games, prizes, a costume contest, an alien dissection table and more.
A painted skull doesn’t exactly suggest comfort and peace, but for one student it represents just that.
Juanita Alvarez, a senior majoring in legal studies, paints spooky art, also known as dark art.
“It’s my thing,” she said.Spooky art represents paintings and
sculptures of ominous objects. In lucid terms, it is Halloween-inspired art.
Alvarez came up with the idea in 2006, but the medium has roots that date back to the 1950’s. Manga, a type of Japanese comic that began in the late 19th century, heavily influences the genre.
Alvarez considers painting spooky art a hobby, but it is something that she has not always attended to because of the time her academics demand.
“I have always been interested in art. I used to want to be a graphic designer,” she said. “My interest shifted from art to law and politics and I put the art thing on the back burner.”
Now it is back in her life.She hopes that it will generate interest
and maybe a little revenue as the genre catches on locally.
Alvarez is in the process of developing a website where she can sell her original pieces. She currently sells her art on eBay.
“It sparks more interest during Halloween,” she said. “I would like to see it all year round, though. I would like to see spooky art turned into T-shirts and totes.”
Alvarez expects to pay the bills working as a business law attorney after her graduation from FGCU in the spring, but hopes that selling her artwork will create an excuse to indulge her hobby.
“Painting makes a real good balance,” she said. “It is comfortable.”
The online merchandise ranges from $4 to $20. Currently, Alvarez is focusing on painted skulls and pens.
Her favorite piece of work is a skull named “Gepetto.” Gepetto is painted a light shade of purple with blood streaks on the top of his head. All of Alvarez’s pieces get names.
“I have different skulls going on right
now, and pens. Skulls are different designs. It is mostly acrylic artwork,” she said. Acrylic is the best medium to use, Alvarez said.
“It has always been my favorite to paint with. You can manipulate the colors. It just feels right to me.”
The painting style Alvarez embraces is very fluid. There is no order. The only requirement is that her homework is completed first.
“I have to have finished all of my homework. I couldn’t do a good job otherwise.”
The best ideas come uninterrupted, she said. “A clear state of mind is best when getting ready to paint.”
“I don’t like to start something and then come back to it. Even if it takes hours into the night I will finish it.”
You can view Alvarez’s artwork online at Facebook by liking her page, “Spooky Art.”
“I am hoping that the products I make will bring inspiration into the lives of others and add more color to people’s worlds who might currently be a bit drab.”
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Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
A whisp of black moves through a room without a face or a voice. It leaves no evidence along a path of groaning floorboards. Darkness is its only feature.
Some people will seek validation and for others a check-in at the insane asylum. Others will believe the figure to be a mirage of imagination.
“I love the thought of communicating with someone’s spirit,” said Betsy Mclain, a member of Southwest Florida Paranormal Investigations, who finds hauntings and the afterlife to be both a thrill and a comfort of knowing. “Paranormal investigating is an opportunity of reaching to the unknown.”
SWFPI is a non-profit organization.Members volunteer their time to study the paranormal through means of scientific research. The evidence they gather is used to educate the public about natural phenomenon, haunted locations, property history and UFO phenomenon.
The group receives reports of haunted areas from all over Southwest Florida. “We’ve investigated the Clewiston and Desert Inn,
the Pondella Funeral home, Buckingham Cemetery, the Historic 1908 Arcade Theatre and homes all over Southwest Florida,” Mclain says.
“I have collected some really good EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon). I am hoping more experiences will come soon.”
“EVPs” cannot be heard with the human ear. The recorder gathers a noise frequency that falls below a human’s hearing range of 300 Hz.
Electro-magnetic field readers, EMFs, are an important instrument to record paranormal phenomena. These readers monitor microwave and radio frequencies to help detect the hidden sound of spy equipment. This allows the evidence of SWFPI and other investigation groups to avoid contamination and provide accurate readings.
Other tools for investigation include temperature sensors, radiation monitors and computer programs.
With numerous reports of hauntings around Southwest Florida, the team is consistently traveling and interviewing clients.
“We interview the person at the site of the haunting after conducting research on the past history of their home,” she said.
Before investigating, the team researches the property history of the location including ownership, building age and construction date. The person is then asked to meet with SWFPI to interview about their haunting experiences.
“People just want to know they are not alone and won’t be labeled crazy,” Mclain said. Humans have always been both afraid and fascinated by the unknown. Mclain is one of the few that are more interested than frightened.
“I would just love to find out for sure that there is communication from their world to ours,” she said.
Morgan Beall, a member of SWFPI, has become more fascinated in the area of UFO phenomenon.
Beall has stepped down as President of SWFPI to become state section director of Mufon. The Mutual UFO Network, (Mufon), is a non-profit organization that investigates cases of reported UFO sightings.
More than 10 million Americans are estimated to have seen what they believed to be a UFO. It’s a phenomenon that most skeptics dismiss as non-existent in definition.
Beall has been working on an official Mufon app that is scheduled to be released next month for the iPhone with an app for Android
near the beginning of the year.The app is called “UFO Connect” and will
provide live reports, updates and uploads.“The app will have sections for people
to communicate with members of Mufon and learn how to become their own field investigator,” he said. The app connects people to live traffic reporting from all over the world, mainly off the database.
“People can report live sightings that alert others to location.” Apple gave the app a top rating of 4+, which is the highest rating it can receive while under review.
No one is immune to paranormal or UFO phenomenon—from the average man or woman in the street, to astronomers and physicists.
Although investigations work in separate groups they all have one thing in common: They seek to help both the living and the dead to find peace.
If you find silver shadows, or white or transparent figures, contact SWFPI at swfpionline.com.
If you see flying discs, shooting lights, or laser appearances, contact Mufon at mufon.com.
In the 1950s, little boys and girls enjoyed dressing up as their favorite characters from TV shows and movies—G.I. Joe, the Little Mermaid, Elvis. Nowadays, however, it seems to be a bit different. In the immortal words of Mean Girls character Cady Heron, “In girl world, Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” But bear in mind, by “girls,” I am talking about children—not teenagers.
Halloween is a holiday of make-believe and dress up. However, this dress up should have
some level of decency. For those who would say, “Let kids be kids,”
would you let your third grade daughter or little sister wear a “naughty maid” costume with fishnet stockings and a mini skirt? Yes or no? Why not? Perhaps because you might be concerned that it gives off the wrong impression to other parents—or your daughter’s fellow students? Trust me, they make inappropriate costumes for children that age—“Google” it.
Dr. Robyn Silverman of Patch.com calls this trend “the pornification of children’s costumes.” It is along the same lines of girls developing eating disorders at younger and
younger ages. It is a societal trend and young girls are feeling the pressure to fit societal stereotypes.
Do you want your little sister to be known as the class tramp? Children can be cruel and I personally don’t want to give my children’s classmates any more ammunition to tease them.
Perhaps it should be the goal of parents to stand against societal trends for what they know is appropriate behavior for their children.
Just for the record, if you are one of the parents who want to be your child’s “friend” and not their “parent” and you think the best
way to get your child to love you is to let them do or wear whatever they want—you are in for a surprise when they grow up.
If you aren’t one of “those parents,” think about using Halloween as a teachable moment to show your kids that sometimes the popular way is not necessarily the best way—and they don’t need to show their skin to be popular.
I’m not suggesting that the only appropriate costume for a young child is that of a princess or a cowboy.
However, it you look at a costume on your child and there is a high proportion of bare skin to fabric—there is probably a problem.
By Rachel PerezStaff writer
Calling all ghouls and goblins, it’s that dreadful time of year for all that is horrible and wicked. Halloween is just around the corner and is the one day of the year where dressing in rags and blood stains is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
As the years pass, Halloween costumes are becoming shorter and tighter for some, more creative for others, and everyone else in between don’t even bother. Creativity is put to the test for those who do celebrate and they are pushed to the boundaries with their ideas.
Bloodshed is always a popular theme when it comes to Halloween, but you don’t need to be a special effects artist to pull off some fun and gory wounds.
A simple bottle of liquid latex and some tissues is all you need. Liquid latex, an inexpensive tool for mimicking wounds, can be found at Halloween shops, Wal-Mart, or Walgreens.
For a particular nasty scrape or gaping wound, simply spread some on your skin (given that you’re not allergic) and add thin layers of tissue or toilet paper, ripping it as desired.
When it dries, add make-up around the wound. Using cheap liquid foundation, you can blend the tissue to match your skin tone. Next, add either old or cheap eye shadow (reds, greens, yellows) to give the skin a sickly tone. Fake blood can enhance the horrid effect and then you’re ready to gross out your friends and freak out some children.
For those of you that don’t like the feeling of dried blood under your fingernails or rags of ripped sheets covering your wounds, fear not.
As the years pass by, it seems as though the fall holiday goes through popular themes regarding costuming.
Last year the streets were littered with scores of Snookis and Guidos; the year before that, vampires ruled of a different nature ruled the sidewalks—no longer
dark and sickly but kind and sparkly. This year however, the ideas seem to be
of a celebrity nature; Charlie Sheens and Casey Anthonys of a satirical nature will be at the parties and in the streets.
Regardless of age, trick-or-treating still remains a tradition for some. “This Halloween, I’ll probably go trick-or-treating even though my mom says I’m too old. The weekend before Halloween, my two friends and I are having a big Halloween party at my friend’s house,” Alahna Shayji-Kindred, a dual enrolled student, said. “It’s just a big get-together for my friends and their friends.”
Your methods in celebrating Halloween may vary, but costumes are always a must. With rising prices and the theme that each year seems to have, it’s much easier—and cheaper—to simply make your own get-up.
Goodwill is a place to start and, for many, is the only stop for Halloween costuming. Most notably, the Goodwill located on 41 near Sweetbay Supermarkets is a popular location. The cheap prices are
a given, but the US-41 location seems to have more variety than the others.
Some students opt to celebrate in another fashion. “Like usual, all the clubs are having their own parties and specials, but a lot of my friends are throwing parties themselves,” Vicky Dennis, a freshman majoring in music, said about her plans for the holiday.
Halloween is all about the one day of the year where we can be anything we’d like whether it be Harry Potter or Professor Xavier—the opportunities are endless.
We may have outgrown trick or treating (only a few of us can still pull it off) and we no longer desire to dress as pirates or princesses, but the excitement and festivities are still there.
Eat too much candy. Watch old horror movies. Halloween is a day to enjoy yourself and your company, with maybe a few frightening twists included. Have fun and stay safe.
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The old joke about how you can tell a politician is lying is when their lips are moving has gone out of date. A politician’s weakness comes from not caring about the outcome, enjoying the executive power too much and the kit that comes along with power.
That is becoming the case for Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida in his goal to get the Sunshine State back to work.
During his campaign for governor last year, Scott said his goal was to create 1 million jobs; that goal has since shifted to 700,000 jobs.
On a local conservative radio talk show on Oct. 13 when Scott was questioned about his jobs plan and the changes made to it, this was his response:
“I could argue that I don’t have to create any jobs. I just have to make sure we don’t lose jobs.”
But that was only the beginning. He later went on to criticize the role economists play:
“No economist can tell us where the economy is going, And look at what’s happened nationally. Unbelievably slow job growth.”
Governor, exactly when did economists become incapable of doing their jobs and exactly when did you decide that you didn’t have to create jobs after pledging to this state that you would create 1 million jobs?
While Scott’s plan to create jobs is starting to look worse than Kim Kardashian on an episode of “Jeopardy!,” the jobs situation has become much worse in cities all over the country—from Florida’s capital of Tallahassee to Columbus to Madison where protests over unions and voting rights have been the talk of the nation for months now.
The reason for these protests are that state and local government jobs are being slashed at an average of 23,000 jobs a month.
But sadly, this doesn’t seem to bother Scott, who last month during a speech bragged to a crowd of his fans about slashing 15,000 government jobs in the state of Florida while reciting the famous Republican quote: “Government doesn’t create jobs.” That’s because when Republicans are running the show, they take jobs away from honest and hard-
working people no matter how beneficial they are to society.
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of The Sunshine State is now taking that same cue in Washington with a bill he is cosponsoring that would eliminate the public sector workforce by 10 percent by 2015.
That decision would be disgraceful at any time in our nation’s history, but it feels worse given that the national unemployment rate is still above 9 percent.
As the public sector jobs are slashed, West, East, North and South, bridges are left unattended until they collapse into a river, police officers aren’t getting all of the training that they need to protect our society, highways are falling apart and the Environmental Protection Agency is on the verge of destruction.
Many right-wingers have forgotten that it was one of their own, President Nixon, who established the EPA, the very organization that conservatives today label as job killers.
Republicans have this mindset that if spending and taxes on very wealthy people are dropped dramatically, America will be put back to work magically. They do not realize the consequences of slashing public sector jobs that are valuable to our society because the Republican Party is in such a partisan war with President Obama it has given up on the middle class.
Make your vote count on election day, and until these so called “patriots” understand that the middle class is a vital part of America and that Ayn Rand was wrong, they do not deserve our votes or any more of our precious time.
Alex is a junior majoring in communication. He enjoys going to concerts, going to Starbucks, listening to his Sirius Satellite Radio, going to the movies, swimming and playing games like UNO and Monopoly. His favorite musicians are R.E.M., Bon Jovi, Elton John and Kenny G. His favorite magazines are Mother Jones, Newsweek and Rolling Stone, which he loves to pick up at the campus bookstore.
It’s rare that I read something that
shakes me to my core, something that simultaneously angers and disgusts me, something that reminds me how uncivilized and barbaric the human race can be.
It’s simply mindboggling that I have stumbled upon two equally sickening news stories in one day. On the same day the news of the vicious murder of Stuart Walker became an international
story, the Florida Family Association (FFA) slammed the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention hotline and resource aimed at helping gay, lesbian, transgender and questioning youth.
Stuart Walker was a 28-year old man who lived in the small town of Cumnock in Scotland. His friends and family described him as well-liked and the life of the party.
He was openly gay and now there is wide-spread speculation his sexuality might have been the reason he was brutally assaulted, set on fire, and left dead on the side of the road.
The Scottish government has recently made progress toward allowing same-sex marriage, much to the ire of the Catholic Church, which has vowed to increase its efforts of opposition. Unfortunately, as the Scottish government and the Catholic Church struggle against each other, hate crimes are rising.
According to The Independent, hate crimes are on the rise throughout the United Kingdom, but Scotland in particular has been hit hardest.
The number of hate crimes based on sexual orientation or identity are five times greater than they were five years ago, and occurrences doubled from 365 during 2007-08 to 666 in 2009-10.
Hate crimes are everywhere. The
more horrific ones make headlines and shock us, but it shouldn’t take a story like Walker’s to make people realize that hate is wrong. A crime of this nature could easily happen here.
In fact, it only took seconds for me to revert to the memory of Matthew Shepard, the University of Wyoming student who was tortured and killed 13 years ago this month because he was gay.
Here in Florida, the FFA perpetuates hatred by referring to homosexual television characters as “shameful” and “inappropriate.”
By condemning a suicide helpline because it helps the LGBT community, the FFA not only condones prejudicial behavior, it sends a clear message to already at-risk youth that it’s better to be dead than to be gay.
They are effectively telling families in the process that it’s better to have your child commit suicide than to have them realize they are not alone.
Is it any wonder we, as a society, have a bullying problem?
Unfortunately, when government and religious leaders fail to promote equality, narrow-minded people take their prejudices too far. Instead of trying to “pray the gay away” let’s focus on targeting the hate.
Instead of labeling homosexuals and transgender individuals as dysfunctional let’s try to remember that we are all human beings.
There’s so much I don’t understand about prejudice and hate, and for that I’m thankful. I will never understand how any person can attack another, beat and burn them, then go about the rest of their life. I can’t wrap my brain around the fact that a person or group of people have committed such a horrific crime but yet, it’s happened. And I can’t help but to be reminded that it could easily happen to me, or someone close to me.
Jenny is a junior majoring in environmental engineering. She loves the Boston Red Sox, riding roller coasters, writing poetry and watching science fiction programs.
Some people have suggested that I
should back off of talking about events in the country, in the world, that affect our lives.
I shouldn’t offer opinions about political matters, even though a major election is coming up in just over a year.
I shouldn’t talk about religion, even though faith is a binding tie among six billion people on the planet. I should speak my mind in neutral voices about topics relevant to FGCU, her student body, and the staff.
I agree. Let me back off of the historically significant items, such as the death of a 40-year dictator, to talk with you today about the way you may talk.
I beg you to think about the words you will use the next time you speak to anyone.
Please stop describing everything you encounter as “amazing.” You do the word disservice when you describe the truly amazing sunset next to the amazing pop tart you just ate.
Not everything you encounter evokes a feeling of great wonder or surprise, which is exactly how Websters defines the term. Once something has reached amazing status, it has no where to go but down.
Please also refrain from using the word “like.” If you are not expressing how much you “like” something, you are probably overusing it.
Dictonary.com even says that like is habitually used out of context in conversation most often as fillers of gaps in the thought process.
Find other space fillers. I miss the days of “um.” By interjecting the word like as many times as you can, you prove how little you contemplated your response and how sporadic your thought process is.
I very often hear “like, ya know” at the start many sentences. I will tell you
what I tell my children when they try to talk this way. No. I don’t know. If I did I wouldn’t need you to tell me, would I?
While “ya know” is a slang term itself requesting corroboration of an idea and many people use it, it’s preferably after the statement or question. To presume I know what you are talking about before you have said it means that you think I’m psychic, and that’s impossible, ya know?
One last thing, please check your profanity. Now, anyone who knows me can testify that I have a vocabulary that could make a sailor blush, but there is a time
and a place for its usage. When you walk around public
places dropping F-bombs and female dog references, I guarantee you that more people than not see you for the child you try so hard not to be.
Cursing is something your parents usually made you avoid, even if they used it. They said those were adult words and now that you are an adult, and they are far away from you, they flow like water from a faucet.
Note the proper usage of like. For your own sake, your own image, curtail the proliferation of profanity, pretty please.
In closing, let me sum up our little chat. “Ya know, it’s amazing that like we don’t ef-in talk like this more, ya know!” This is what many of you sound like, even when in class.
Now, I return you to my thoughts on politics, religion and other topics that have no place in a college paper.
Mandie is a junior majoring in secondary social science education. She is married with two children and serves on the Board of Directors of C.A.R.E.S. Suicide Prevention.
Gov. Rick Scott has taken aim at educational institutions in Florida again. In conjunction with his comments on anthropology, the cost-cutting Republican wants to shift college funding from liberal arts degrees to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees.
Every state university has been told to outline what they are doing in order to help graduates meet their future employers’ needs—and Scott plans to use this to help create his education plan.
He’s made it clear that he’s intending to treat education like a business by
saying he wants Floridians to have the best education that taxpayers will pay for. And if that means boosting STEM programs by taking money from liberal arts programs, so be it.
His plan has rightfully sent educators into an
uproar. Glenn Whitehouse, assistant dean at FGCU, wrote to The News-Press in defense of liberal arts. He argued that philosophy majors average higher on the Law School Admissions Test and Graduate
Record Exam and that they average higher than business majors on the Graduate Management Admission Test, a business school admissions test.
The idea is that liberal arts education provides critical thinking and reasoning skills, which are used in a multitude of jobs.
The Eagle News editorial board is unanimous in our dislike of Scott’s plan. We believe that he is trying to monetize education, which is founded on principles that are fundamentally detached from a purely financial outlook.
Education should never be a pursuit that’s fueled solely by financial reasons. Do students become creative writing majors to earn huge fortunes? Of course not. Scott’s measures are saying, “No, that shouldn’t be your motivation” to all students who decide to pursue a degree and career because they enjoy doing it, as opposed to the financial outlooks.
We often hear about how education is going down the drain in America. Shortsighted policies that focus on the wrong imperatives, such as Scott’s plan, are not the solution. Education reform should not be married to absolutist financial policies. It’s important that money is not going to waste, yes, but “waste” is not equal to “liberal arts.”
Opinions expressed are those of the Eagle News board of editors. You can let Gov. Scott know how you feel about the issue at www.flgov.com
EDITORIAL
Scott
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B5EDITOR: ANDREW FRIEDGEN OPINION!EAGLENEWS.ORG
When I was growing up in the 1990s I started to idolize Mel Gibson.
What young, impressionable boy wouldn’t? It all started when my family rented “Lethal Weapon 4” from the video store.
Gibson played Martin Riggs, an unstable, quirky, and funny LA cop. He was tough, handsome, and was always shooting bad guys.
From there, I moved on to “Braveheart,” and yes, I still have a poster hanging in my room today.
In this movie, Gibson portrayed a fictionalized version of William Wallace, the brave Scottish warrior who led Scotland against the English in a way to avenge the death of his beautiful wife.
Hollywood tends to shape a lot of our perspective; I’m definitely
guilty of that myself. Most of what I learned about being a man came from fictional characters.
As the years pass I find that what I once held as a concept of manhood is becoming more and more of a caricature of what it really is.
Let’s really think about what our society tends to define as “manliness”. Brave, tough, sexy, strong, smart, boiling with bellicose testosterone. He certainly won’t snuggle
up with a girl and watch “Project Runway”; a “man” would convince any girl to turn on Monday Night Football instead.
Being referred to as a “man”, or a “man’s man” in our day is not just about the anatomy below your belt, but also about the very
gender roles that we create to set an arbitrary standard for men today.
Tim Allen is back on the air with his new show “Last Man Standing.” In the show he plays Mike Baxter, a father of three daughters, and an employee of a successful outdoors shop.
In his previous show, “Home Improvement,” which was a ‘90s success, he was a father of three sons and the host of a tool show. Allen prides himself in being a commentator on men.
Tools, cars, hunting, fishing, the outdoors, grunting, power, etc. These are all aspects of Allen’s illustrations of manliness. But is it really that material?
I was once told that because of my vegetarian diet and because I don’t eat bacon that I am not a man.
Is this how far we’ve come? Has society become this
flippant toward each other? Is manliness really boxed up and
gift wrapped in gender-assigned boxes in some assembly line?
The truth is, men (and women) have been doing incredible things since we were spawned from the primordial stew.
Whether or not Clint Eastwood or John Wayne would stamp their approval on a more liberal definition of the word “man,” shouldn’t matter. It’s not about sport or toughness, it’s not about violence or style. It’s what we all failed to learn from Tim Allen and Mel Gibson.
Even in their darkest moments, and both have certainly had them, Allen and Gibson have prevailed and kept an eye on what really matters: their passion, career and families.
Maybe what makes a man is his infallibility. It’s when one can recognize their faults and mistakes, but continue to walk on.
Moving past adversity and continuing to fight for the things
you love, no matter what your public perception, your bank account, or gender, is what makes you great.
Throw away any ideas of man- or womanhood. Take a page from the rehab book and be the best you that you can possibly be. It doesn’t take an addiction to realize that there is room for improvement and an accessible path to self-satisfaction.
So next time I pop “Lethal Weapon” into my DVD player, I’ll enjoy my veggie burger and hot cup of green tea, but most importantly I’ll remember that Hollywood makes their money off selling fiction, not societal truths.
Collin is a senior majoring in English. He enjoys writing on topics such as nutrition, society and the environment. Collin also enjoys writing long fiction.
A recent NY Post article detailed some financial troubles in the Occupy Wall Street movement.
You see, various “collectives” are tasked with filling different needs of the movement: some determine what basic necessities protesters need, others prepare and serve food and still others manage finances.
Apparently, certain collectives are upset with the disbursements they receive from the Finance Collective.
They argue that they don’t get enough money to achieve the goals they’re tasked with.
How should the scarce resources of the movement be allocated to the various demands the protesters want filled? How can they determine where the funds are best put to use? This is an interesting question, but not a
revolutionary one. In the early 20th century,
economist Ludwig von Mises wrote an article entitled “Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth.” In it, he explains how a price is a coordination mechanism.
It coordinates what producers make versus what they don’t make, how much and of what quality. Prices tell producers what consumers demand and provide them with information needed to
make production decisions.In other words, price signals
are the means by which scarce resources are allocated among competing ends. Without prices, economic calculation cannot occur. The key to the protesters’ woes!
Quite humorously, the troubles facing the protesters are solved by the very institutions they’re protesting. In a free economy, bankers and financiers act as coordinators between people
who save money (investors) and people who want loans to start new projects (producers).
Their role is to determining where saved funds are best put to use.
Perhaps, when the protesters take a break from drumming in circles and waving their ignorance about on cardboard signs, then can step inside one of these financial institutions and ask a financial manager for some advice.
This is in response to Collin Llewellyn’s opinion article on Oct. 19, “Clouds of smoke need to part for compromise sun to shine through.”
I would like to say that your article is dead on. In my Rhetoric and Argument class, my group is actually trying to fight for new
ways to make smoking less of a problem on campus.
I am a non-smoker as well, so I have had my
fair share of walking through that hallway and getting caught in smoke, but I am not against smokers in general.
Smokers are people too; you
can’t just ignore their needs because there are people who hate it.
Students who are non-smokers that walk through that hallway, in my opinion, choose to walk there.
They know there are ways around that hallway, yet they still walk through it. My roommates smoke, so I also get their input on the situation and they aren’t pleased.
They get upset when people complain and get upset with them, but what else can they do?
I think more seating needs to be on campus but the placement of these seating areas is what is going to make people happy or unhappy.
I feel like a lot of the smokers on campus need to fight and stick up for what they want because if there was an outright ban of smoking, you can guarantee that it will not
be all hugs on campus. My group is trying to think
of ways to make these areas nice and secluded without being too far away from campus and will hopefully get our ideas heard.
This has been an ongoing issue since I first started at FGCU, and it’s about time we do something that benefits everyone’s needs rather and making a lot of our student body angry.
The Occupy Wall Street movement is still growing, so much so that it was a topic at the Oct. 18 Republican presidential debate held in Nevada.
Since only three of the candidates had an opportunity to weigh in on the issue and two candidates were not present, I did a little digging.
I was surprised to find the candidates’ views on the Occupy Wall Street movement are not all the same.
In fact, of the eight candidates, only four are adamantly outspoken against the protests. The other four vary in levels of support.
The two men considered to be front-runners, Herman Cain and Mitt Romney, have been outspoken against the protests that are spreading throughout the United States and even around the world.
They are joined in their opposition by Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann.
During the debate, Cain was challenged regarding his remarks that the protestors should blame themselves for their economic situation. He stood by his words and reiterated the problem is Washington—not Wall Street—asking if protesters thought the bankers would “write them checks.”
Romney agreed with the sentiment of blaming President Obama for failed policies. The following day, Bachmann, speaking at the Commonwealth Club of California, railed against the notion of any similarity between the Occupy movement and the Tea Party because “the Tea Party picks up their own trash.”
Cain and Romney have spent the majority of their careers in the private sector. They have made their personal fortunes in an honest way. I get that. Good
for them. Bachmann and Gingrich
combine for over 30 years of politics. They are indoctrinated in the status quo of corporations funding political campaigns. I get that, too.
But their criticisms of the Occupy movement are indicators that they just don’t get the issues that are important to the majority of Americans.
Ron Paul used the debate to take a well-placed jab at Cain. He stated his opponent was “blaming victims” because the Occupy Wall Street movement is comprised of many who were foreclosed upon or lost their jobs because of the fraudulent policies of the banks and the Federal Reserve. Paul indicated an understanding of the frustration driving the movement.
Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman have also expressed a certain amount of sympathy to the Occupy movement.
Santorum has stated that he
doesn’t agree with the solutions he believes the protesters are seeking, but he believes they have a “legitimate claim” to their frustration.
No candidate, however, has been as supportive as Buddy Roemer, who not only spoke out publicly in support of the movement, but actually took part and visited the Occupy Wall Street protesters on Oct. 11.
Furthermore, Roemer is the President and CEO of Business First Bank!
That’s not a typo. He’s a banker who supports a movement that condemns predatory practices in the financial sector.
He’s a politician who supports a movement that condemns politicians being heavily influenced by corporate donors.
Clearly, Roemer understands not only what the Occupy movement is about but also what America needs—a governing system that is less about the corporations and banks and
more about the people.
G i n g r i c h called the m o v e m e n t a “natural outcome of a bad education s y s t e m , teaching them really dumb ideas.” The dumb idea is
sitting back and doing nothing. The Occupy movement is
about ending the slacktivism that plagues America.
It’s about standing up and letting the government know we want them to be accountable to the citizens while letting greedy corporate and banking executives know that we are not afraid to take control of our money.
I just hope when election time comes we all occupy what matters—the voting booths.
Roemer
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Upon reviewing his high finishes in meets while leading the FGCU men’s cross country team, it might seem that running well comes easily for sophomore Argeo Cruz. But the time and effort he puts into the sport on a daily basis suggests something otherwise.
Cruz, a community health major from Immokalee, has had several good finishes for FGCU this season, including a first-place finish
in the FGCU Invite in September and seventh -place finish in the Disney Classic earlier in the month. But his standout performances don’t come without a lot of effort.
Cruz puts in roughly three to four hours of work every day, including workouts and stretching,
and his efforts have helped the Eagles to a No. 8 ranking in the Atlantic Sun Conference and three top 10 finishes in meets this fall as the team heads for the finish line and the A-Sun Championship this weekend.
To hear coach Cassandra Harbin tell it, Cruz seemingly has it all.
“He is one of the toughest kids on the team,” Harbin said. “And he is smart when it comes to running and planning how to run races. We got very lucky with him when he decided to come to FGCU. He’s the kind of athlete that does whatever he has to, and that’s what makes him great.”
As a freshman at FGCU a year ago, he set a record for a freshman in an 8K event. Before coming to FGCU, he won several meets and had finishes in the state meet while at Immokalee High School.
“He leads by example,” Harbin said. “He’s sort of a quiet guy, but what he says is very important to the team and others around him. He is always trying to improve and stay fit as the season goes on.”
While attending Immokalee High School, where he also starred on the track team, Cruz started playing soccer. Then a friend turned
him on to going out for the cross country team.“It (cross country) was something I loved
almost immediately,” Cruz said. “Once you start a race, it is hard to stop. You won’t want to stop until you’ve crossed the finish line. That’s what makes it great to compete.”
Since leaving Immokalee, he has piled up a few new honors. After finishing seventh out of 214 runners in the Disney Classic a few weeks ago, he was named A-Sun Runner of the Week.
“That was probably my best meet of the year,” Cruz said. “I ran in the meet near most of the front guys, so that was something different and very special. The course we ran there was tough, but we enjoyed it a lot.”
FGCU’s women are ranked sixth in the A-Sun and the men eighth heading into the A-Sun Championship in Nashville this Saturday. The Eagle men and women got the chance to preview the course in September when racing in the Commodore Classic in Nashville, hosted by Vanderbilt University.
“We all know that really the only ranking that matters is after the race on Oct. 29,” coach Cassandra Harbin said. “I expect the teams to do what they do best on Saturday. The course is hilly and it will be a lot cooler than here. We’ve tried to integrate that into our training. ”
The Eagles will see good competition in both races from: the University of North Florida, which won the recent FLRunners.com Invitational earlier this month; University of South Carolina-Upstate, which features Kenyan Gilbert Kemboi, who finished second out of 258 in the Charlotte Invitational this season; Lipscomb, which has won men’s and women’s invitational meets this month; and Kennesaw State, Belmont and East Tennessee State, all ranked top 20 in the USTFCCCA.
“We’re prepared for it mentally,” said Kelly Perzanowski of the FGCU women’s team. “We’ll come in knowing it will be a different atmosphere, so we won’t let it get to us, and just focus on doing well. We’re looking forward to going to the meet and hopefully passing people.”
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He acts deliberately, making calculated, big-picture decisions.
“I don’t stop (practice) a lot,” Enfield said. My coaching style is to coach on the fly. That means I don’t blow the whistle and stop every possession. We need to play through mistakes. If I blow the whistle it will be to make a point to the entire team so we don’t repeat it.”
FGCU returns six players from last year’s team that finished seventh in the Atlantic Sun. They will be joined by Enfield’s five-member freshmen class.
Enfield judges each player with a clean slate. He hasn’t decided on playing time or a starting line-up, but believes he has the athletes to compete with, and outrun, anybody in the conference, a message that trickles into practice.
“I want to play fast, up and down the court,” Enfield said. “If you’re constantly blowing the whistle, stopping and giving long lectures, it’s impossible to practice fast ---- and to play fast you need to practice fast. We want our guys to constantly be moving.”
Cantinol appreciates the urgency in Enfield’s practices, a departure from past culture.
“We practice the way we’re supposed to play in the games,” Cantinol said. “It wasn’t always like that before he (Enfield) came. The games are intense, so we might as well practice like that.”
The job description of a head coach runs deep.
As an assistant coach Enfield made recommendations. Now he must make the final decisions.
He won’t just be devising game plans and plays anymore. He’ll be implementing them.
Enfield realizes, and embraces, the challenge.
“Every day I make decisions,” Enfield said. “It takes a different mentality to know you have the final say. But I don’t feel any different. I’ve made a lot tougher decisions than I’m making right now as a head coach. As far as being ready or saying I can do it, of course I can do it. I’ve already done a lot harder things in my lifetime than what this is.”
The FGCU volleyball team is headed to the playoffs.
After a split over the weekend with conference foes Belmont and Lipscomb, the Eagles are locked in their spot for the Atlantic Sun Volleyball Championship.
“We were hoping to come out with a split,” head coach Dave Nichols said. “We were disappointed that we didn’t play a little cleaner. We came away with a belief that when we play our best, we are the best team in the league.”
In both matches last weekend, Nichols thought that the Eagles didn’t finish the matches, which caused some trouble. If those problems aren’t fixed come playoff time, he believes they won’t win the conference.
“We understand that other teams are more consistent and more disciplined than us and if we don’t fix those elements, we won’t win the conference tournament,” Nichols said. “If we tidy up that stuff we will win the conference tournament because we’re the most athletic team in the league.”
They are the third of six teams to make it to the postseason, and with seven games remaining it’s time to prepare.
“(Clinching a spot) allows us to really concentrate on preparing for the conference tournament,” Nichols said. “We know there are things that we need to do better and it takes a little bit of pressure off of us.”
With just four conference games remaining in the regular season, FGCU (13-9, 7-2 A-Sun) is currently tied for second place in the conference.
“We’ve got three weeks to get better and try to earn one of the top seeds,” Nichols said.
On Oct. 29, FGCU will finish out the month as the Eagles face Stetson in DeLand. The Eagles won the previous meeting three sets to one Oct. 1.
“We just need to play better (against Stetson),” Nichols said. “Give credit to Stetson. I thought they played very well that match and now we’re at their home and they play much better at home. So we have to go in there and concentrate on the detail work that has prevented us from being cleaner and winning easier.”
After the Stetson match, FGCU plays six matches before the A-Sun tournament, hosted by Lipscomb. In those six matches they face two non-conference opponents:Sun Belt foe Florida Atlantic and Big East for Villanova.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B7EDITOR: JOSH SIEGEL SPORTS!EAGLENEWS.ORG
For this team, the stakes couldn’t be any higher.
The Florida Gulf Coast University men’s soccer team is set to play its final home game of the 2011 campaign against Jacksonville on Thursday night at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
The A-Sun defending-champion Eagles (8-4-2 overall, 5-1-0 A-Sun) seek to put their regular season title on the line against a Jacksonville team (8-5-2, 5-0-1) that is undefeated in the conference this year. With the season winding down, and both teams only having two conference games left, this match will decide the A-Sun.
“It’s a must win,” Coach Bob Butehorn said. “For us, it is the next step. We are going to look at Jacksonville as in the way of what we are trying to do. It should be a great game.”
The game will also have an impact on seeding for the A-Sun Tournament that will be hosted by East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tenn. Due to the NCAA reclassification period, the Eagles will be Division I post-season eligible for the first time in school history. FGCU is hoping that this year’s tournament will be its coming out party.
It has been a season of highs and lows for FGCU. After entering the season nationally ranked, a tough
non-conference schedule has had the Eagles clawing back all season. They have maintained control of their own destiny in the A-Sun up to this point, but they have recently suffered another setback.
It looks as if senior goalkeeper Adam Glick is likely out for the season after injuring a knee in the loss to ETSU on Oct. 16. The injury
puts a lot of pressure on freshman goalie Nathan Ingham, who has started the last two games for the Eagles.
“We have faith in Nathan,” senior midfielder Francesco DiStefano said. “He’s played well. He has had some big saves. We are going to help him a lot. With Glick, it is unfortunate that it ended this
way, but we always support our teammates.”
Barring a boost in the NCAA Rating Percentage Index, which decides home field for the NCAA Tournament, Thursday night will likely be the last home game for FGCU’s nine seniors.
In addition to Glick and DiStefano, FGCU honored Kevin
Ante, Christian Raudales, Josey Portillo, Scott Harrison, Jonathan Hohn, Jonathan Koshko, and Tyler Sharpe at last Sunday’s Senior Day. They are all looking to go out with a win.
“We have a lot of plans in the future. We are looking at a long run, but it starts Thursday with Jacksonville,” Ante said. “We are trying to finish strong.”
Stephanie Powers is a calm, coo, and a confident leader.
This season, Powers, senior goalie, led the FGCU women’s soccer team to a share of the Atlantic Sun regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in their first-ever A-Sun tournament appearance.
FGCU will receive a bye in the quarterfinal round and then host the conference tournament semifinals and championship at the FGCU Soccer Complex on Nov. 4-6.
Powers has helped lead a defense that had not allowed a goal during conference play up until last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Belmont University.
She went an impressive 908 minutes without allowing a score.
Powers has recorded a total of 30 career shutouts for FGCU, setting the new Atlantic Sun record for most shutouts. This season alone she did not allow a goal in nine consecutive games, including, two double-overtime games against UCF and Jacksonville.
FGCU women’s soccer coach Jim Blankenship is very impressed with what Powers has accomplished in her career.
“It’s been special,” Blankenship said. “To do what she’s done is amazing, to break pretty much all the records. She’s just been a confident, calming presence for us since day one. I’m proud of her, and it’s nice to see her get the kind of accolades that come with being special.”
Senior defender KC Correllus is also happy to see Powers get the record for most shutouts in the A-Sun.
“It’s awesome,” Correllus said. “Going through the season we were always making fun of her, for just beating (for the record) Erin Switalski, our assistant coach who played at Campbell. So that was our first main goal.”
Correllus is roommates with Powers. They’ve played four years
together so they’re particularly close. The two even played club soccer together before college.
“Our backline’s pretty tough to get through, and I know if we ever make mistakes, she’s (Powers) always back there,” Correllus said. “We have a pretty good relationship.”
Correllus feels that Powers has also been a fine leader.
“She talks a lot,” Correllus said. “She keeps us organized. She is a good communicator and she’s a good leader on and off the field.”
Aside from being a leader, Blankenship feels another one of Powers’ strengths is her athleticism.
“I think she’s tremendous,” Blankenship said. “She’s so athletic. She’s technical. We recruited her when I saw her play center (midfield) and she scored two goals. She’s very good with the ball at her feet. She does things that you just don’t see in goalie normally. She’s like a field player. She’s skillful. Her will to win and her commitment to get better is bar none, and I think that’s why she’s gotten better each year.”
According to Powers, her knowledge sets her apart.
“You can be the best athlete in the world, but if you can’t set up your defense and organize them and be soccer smart then you’re not going to be successful in this game,” Powers said. “I think I can organize my backs pretty well.”
Powers is pleased with the marks she has made during her time at FGCU, but doesn’t feel she deserves all the credit.
“I couldn’t do it without a team effort,” Powers said. “Playing goalie you need everybody in front of you to do their job.
“I’ve had a really good group of girls that have worked in front of me my whole career, so that’s how I was able to get the number one spot with shutouts.”
And the season isn’t over yet.
ENSPORTSAtlantic Sun
standings
Men’s soccer
Women’s soccer
Volleyball
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ENSPORTSWeekly recap
Senior Jen Evans earned a singles win as the FGCU women’s tennis team !nished day two at the USTA/ITA Regional in Gainesville. Evans beat FAMU’s Bethany Holt. Evans lost in the next round.
A pair of under-par rounds from seniors Brandon Pena and Alex Medinis helped the FGCU men’s golf team win the Mission Inn Fall Classic on Sunday. It was FGCU’s third consecutive !rst place !nish. Pena and Medinis placed second and third, respectively, in the 50-player !eld.
Women’s tennis
Women’s golf
Men’s golf
The FGCU women’s golf team !nished its !nal round of the 34th annual Pat Bradley Invitational on Tuesday in ninth place. Senior Fabienne Haremza placed in a tie for 13th individually. Freshmen Kristin Swindell and Georgia Price each !nished tied for 30th.
Men’s tennis
Led by senior Matt Rock’s singles win in the consolation round, the FGCU men’s tennis team !nished day two of the USTA/ITA Regional Championships hosted by the University of Georgia on Saturday night. The Eagles !nished the 2011 fall season and will now prepare for the 2012 spring dual-match season.
FGCU swimmers Danielle Beaubrun and Karen Vilorio broke national records last week for their respective countries at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Beaubrun’s time in the 100-meter breast stroke was good for sixth overall in the event and first in her race, qualifying her for the Olympic “B” cut, meaning she earned a place on St. Lucia’s Olympic national team in the 2012 London Games as long as she receives an invite from her country.
Beaubrun, a St. Lucia native, and Vilorio, from Honduras, both set out to Mexico with FGCU swimming & diving coach Neal Studd.
Studd coached St. Lucia, previously serving as its coach for the World Championships in Shanghai, China, last summer,
where Beaubrun also competed. The Pan Am Games are
the second-largest multi-sport international event after the Olympics, pitting thousands of athletes from the Americas against each other in various summer sports.
Typically, the Pan Am Games are held the year before the Summer Olympics with the same four-year cycle.
“It was a really great experience,” Studd said. “The opening ceremony was unbelievable. The people in Guadalajara were just so excited to have us there. It was really cool getting to go into the athlete village and meet all the people.”
Vilorio, a fresman, delivered a new Honduran national record in the 100-meter backstroke, finishing 18th overall with a time of 1:07.06.
“I had so much fun,” said Vilorio, who was reunited with many friends and family from her
native Honduras. “I feel really proud representing my country. I got to see my mom and my friends, so it almost felt like being home again.”
She also placed 22nd in the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 5:27.31.
Beaubrun, a junior, broke the St. Lucia national record in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:10.63, shattering the mark she previously set at the World Championships last summer by almost a second.
Her previous mark of 1:11.34 ranked 18th in the world at the time.
Beaubrun previously competed in the 2008 Bejing Games. Studd is excited for her to compete in the Olympics again.
“I’m very excited for Dani and very excited for her family,” Studd said. “I know this means a lot to her.”
Beaubrun represented a nation on her own; she was the only St.
Lucia swimmer to qualify for the Pan Am Games.
“There were a lot of people from St. Lucia there and things kind of got to her a little bit during the morning prelims,” Studd said. “But we had a good time and kept things light, and she brought it in the final.”
Beaubrun’s family dealt with tough times recently as her mother has taken ill.
Beaubrun has flown back and forth from St. Lucia, visiting her family, also balancing training and school.
“Now I can focus just on training and not qualifying for the Olympic cut,” Beaubrun said. “It’s a lot less stressful.
“I know this is what Mom wanted out of me. My parents couldn’t be there, but my Dad emailed me, and said ‘this was the best medicine Mom could’ve had.’ She’s really happy for me, and I was happy I could do it for her.”
