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The student newspaper at Florida Gulf Coast University
Joseph Louis calls his kind passed people.
Louis, a 44-year-old chef at Sovi dining who moved to America from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2005, smiles when he carves meat and mashes potatoes. Louis, like many of the more than 10 Haitians who work for Eagle Dining, shoved his dream — and his life — aside for his family.
A father to 16- and 10-year-old daughters, Louis balances work with his studies at
Edison College, where he takes online classes to become an X-ray technician, all while learning English on-the-fly and helping his wife raise a family.
“All I do now is for (my kids).
I consider myself a passed person. I work for (my kids),” Louis said. “You come (to
America) and you have to change your goals. This is life. I will never be satisfied and you can’t live without problems. When you solve one, another comes. I make my effort to live.”
Louis wanted to be an engineer. As a teen, strong in the math and sciences, Louis did complex derivatives by hand. Naturally handy, Louis dropped out of high school to attend vocational school, where he learned welding, mechanics and plumbing.
Raise your hand if you ever heard the selling point, “Come to FGCU, we have a beach on campus.”
The FGCU waterfront has been closed since last summer, preventing students from using many of the amenities it has to offer.
The reason for the closure is due to the construction of a bathhouse. According to Susan Evans, university spokeswoman, the waterfront will likely reopen this month.
“The building will feature men’s and women’s bathrooms, ADA accessibility, indoor office space for the outdoor pursuits staff, outdoor boathouse storage space for our (equipment), an indoor lobby, an outdoor shower, a water drinking fountain, and a first aid/lifeguard station,” Stephen Robinson, outdoor recreation coordinator, told Eagle News in August.
Several activities are still open for operation such as tubing, wake boarding and water skiing with the ski boat. However, much of the services
are prohibited until the waterfront is reopened.
“Due to the construction, there will not be any canoe, kayak, sailboat or paddleboat rentals until the official re-open,” Robinson said.
Students are also not allowed to swim in the 80-acre lake.
However, January has come and passed and the waterfront has yet to be reopened.
“As with all construction projects, we provide an estimated time of completion, but some take longer than initially projected,” Evans said. “There is no exact date for reopening, but we believe it will be only slightly delayed, and the waterfront should reopen some time in February.”
Despite the month delay, many students are still frustrated that the waterfront is still closed, especially the freshman who still haven’t gotten the full waterfront experience.
“It (the waterfront) was a major selling point for me to come to this school since I’m used to having water near my house,” said Desiree Abelson, a freshman majoring in political science. “I bought a kayak and
have been wanting to use it, but it is still closed.”
Signs are up along the water warning students to not use the activities that are prohibited. Violators will be reported.
“I’m sure I can speak for most students in saying that it is disappointing that the waterfront is still closed,” Abelson said.
Student senate didn’t score any points with sports club members Tuesday when they discussed budget-cutting.
The 2012-13 Activities & Services Budget bill that went through first reading at Tuesday night’s senate meeting has about a $100,000 cut in funding for those clubs.
The bill will determine allocation of activities and service funds for the 2012-13 fiscal year. A&S funds come from an $11.24 per credit fee hour that is incorporated into student tuition.
Last year, sports clubs received $265,200. This year, despite that SG has about the same overall amount to allocate, the proposed funding for sports clubs has been cut to $163,235.
This cut has sparked outrage among many of the 700 students who belong to sports clubs, including Sports Club Executive Board President Thomas Edwards.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, Edwards presented more than 600 signatures petitioning against the bill. Edwards stated that he collected these signatures in only four days.
“You look at where the raises (in funding) came, which was with student government and the programming board. They’re giving themselves a raise,” Edwards said.
Senate president Rosa Mendoza said during the meeting that the Student Government Executive branch did receive $371,859, which is more than last year’s $338,908. Student Government Senate, however, did take a hit with $31,880, which is less than last year’s $35,130.Romelus
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BRIEFSA2 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 EDITOR: VERONICA VELA NEWS!EAGLENEWS.ORG
CONTACT:
MISSION STATEMENT: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.
Children Cancer Foundation: Help out on campus! Need 20 students to set up music, table, and hand out fliers to promote the Zumba Showcase event on Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Library lawn. First shift from 9:30 a.m.–noon and 2nd shift from noon-2:30 pm. Gala Hoffman, the Zumba instructor at FGCU, will teach in order to draw attention to the big event that happens 2 weeks later at Alico Arena. Contact Klaudia Balogh at [email protected].
ArtFest Fort Myers: The premier art festival takes place downtown Fort Myers and they need volunteers to decorate and help with signage on Feb. 2 and 3. During the ArtFest on Feb. 4 and 5, an all-day opportunity (no shift work) is available to assist with the Social Media Booth by using their iPad’s for Survey Monkey, using their flat screen TV, Tweeting, flip cams, and Facebook to spread social media buzz. Booth sitters relieve artists from their booth during the 4-hour shift from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Register online at http://artfestfortmyers.com/Volunteer/Volunteer.html where college students fill out the adult, not student, category in order to qualify as a volunteer.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church: Have fun and listen to a live Greek band and help bus a table! Deadline to volunteer is Feb. 10 for the Greek Fest held on Feb. 24, 25, and 26. Receive free food! To register online, visit: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHNGUzBHUWtwU2FrWWZWX2JqZjZsdUE6MQ#gid=0. Simply select “I am a college student” under the question of which school do you attend. For questions, contact Melissa Billec at [email protected].
San Carlos Park Roller Hockey: Help out at the 2012 Ironman Roller Hockey Tournament with concessions, coordinating teams, scorekeeping and scoreboard operation. Email Ed Powell at [email protected].
United Way: Help out this nonprofit with Bonita Bay Group on Feb. 11 at The Real Deal: Tastes, Tours & Tunes. Students are required to wear khakis pants, polo shirt and comfortable shoes. Contact Angela Bell at [email protected] or 239-275-5758.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure SWFL: needs volunteers to table at the Coconut Point Art Fest on Feb. 11 and 12. Need help with tabling and registering for an upcoming race. Have muscles? Need lots of guys to move artwork! Email [email protected] or call 239-498-0016.
Coalition of Immokalee
Workers: Join the large picket at Trader Joe’s grand opening in Naples on Feb. 12 at 2:00 pm. Help the scores of tomato pickers with the Fair Food accord to increase pay and protect human rights. Contact Julia Shindel at [email protected] or call 215-715-0717.
FUN-damental Fitness 4 Kidz: is a nonprofit that fights childhood obesity. Help them build or decorate a float for the Edison Festival Junior Parade held on February 12. Contact Mr. Deke at [email protected] or call 239-470-3269.
CCMI: FGCU students Andrew Green and Kate Dupre are holding the first Pureheart Clothing event on Feb. 14 from 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. to help the soup kitchen. Bring your FGCU student ID to receive a free shirt he designed! For more information, go to www.facebook.com/PureheartClothing.
The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples: Help out at the newly opened museum in Naples in February. Contact Lindsay Flanagan Huban at [email protected] or 239-514-0084.
FGCU Food Forest: is a student run botanical garden that highlights tropical/subtropical edible species that grow well in South Florida and is right here on campus! They need students to help on Friday 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Any messages can be sent to http://fgcufoodforest.weebly.com/send-us-a-message.html.
Pinewoods Elementary School: This school is unique in its passion for sustainability and environmental education. Help facilitate, plan, and organize the club meetings, as well as plan educational presentations and activities for the students. Contact Laura Layton at [email protected].
Sustainable Living and Interconnected Education (SLIE): This new nonprofit’s first goal is making the property more green. They have gardens planned, compost sections, rain barrels and hopefully some tilapia fish farming. This is just the beginning; so much of what needs to be done will be decently challenging labor, digging, building raised garden beds, constructing water capturing vessels and their gutters. They welcome any and all people with what they like to call a “green brain,”, which is anyone with thoughts of doing something to positively improve the world we live in rather than feed off of and destroy it. Contact Hunter Preston at [email protected] or 239-245-3250.
Heartland Gardens: Did you know that FGCU alums started this nonprofit? They have a 1,700 square-foot raised labyrinth and
they’re landscaping the entire acre with edible plants. Help with your financial expertise, business background, economic background, bookkeeping and data entry skills, public relations or communications background, or assist with newsletters, e-blasts, or grant writing. Contact Andrea at [email protected] or call 239-689-4249.
CREW Land & Water Trust: Organize/lead CREW hikes. Contact Deb Dorsett Hanson at [email protected] or 239-657-2253 or cell 239-229-1088.
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium: Numerous opportunities! Contact [email protected] or call 275-3435.
Rookery Bay The Estuary Explorers 4th Grade Program needs volunteers to teach either the oyster or plankton lab section of the class every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please pack your lunch. The dates are: Feb. 14, 15; March 27 and April 12. Call 239-417-6310.
Naples Botanical Garden: Horticulture gardening starts at 8 a.m. Monday thru Friday and includes weeding, potting, moving plants, digging, raking, sweeping, clearing debris, etc. Wear closed toe shoes. No shorts or tank tops. Bring water. Wear sunscreen. Bring work gloves if you have them. Looking especially for groups of students on Fridays. No last minute requests. Give 4-5 day lead time. If you commit, then can’t make it, give notice. Be on time. Email Sally Richardson at [email protected].
ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization): is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization that exists for one major reason, to help those working internationally with the poor be more effective, especially in the area of agriculture. To help, send an email to [email protected].
FGCU Contemporary World Religions Professor Ehman needs two students to assist him in his large class REL 2306, Contemporary World Religions, which meets MW at 9:30–10:45 a.m. in AB5, Room 112. Contact Amanda Parke at [email protected] or call 239-590-7833.
Grace Community Center: has a multitude of opportunities! Help with an afterschool program for at-risk high school students, tutor to GED seekers, thrift store assistance, or serve food to neighbors in need. Contact Cheryl Wilcox at [email protected] or 239-656-1320.
FGCU Athletics: Numerous opportunities with game day operations. Serve as ushers for basketball, baseball, softball, and
timers for swimming and diving. Contact Will Pitt at [email protected] or 239-590-7055.
Dress for Success: Do you love posting on Facebook, have a passion for marketing, send email blasts, or want to update a website? Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women to thrive in work and in life. Contact Barbara Dell at [email protected].
The Quality Life Center: Want to help kids with their homework? Contact Angela Pena at 239-334-2797.
FGCU Center for Academic Achievement: Need tutors in math, Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Statistics, and Intro to Psychology. Applicants have earned a B+ or higher in the course they desire to tutor and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Paid students are not eligible to earn service-learning hours. Contact Frank Graceffo at 239-590-7992 or by email at [email protected].
Abuse Counseling & Treatment (ACT): Second Act Thrift store needs help. The benefit of volunteering is a 50 percent discount! Also, need someone to help this nonprofit agency with a marketing plan for 2 – 3 months available. Contact Honara Jacobus at [email protected] or 239-939-2553.
YMCA: Help coach basketball, soccer, flag football or assist with events. Contact Lisa at [email protected].
SWFL Youth Basketball: Help coach basketball to children ages 5 to 17 with running score books and clocks on Saturday and Sunday. Contact Dave Smith at [email protected] or 239-267-7922.
M.C. Library Education Center Corp (MCCLECC): Assist with library, food bank, after school program, internet radio and adult services. Contact [email protected] or call 239-288-5349 x200 or x217.
Brookes Legacy Animal Rescue: Animal care opportunities. Email [email protected] or [email protected].
Take Stock in Children: Become A Mentor! Few bonds in life are more influential than those between a young person and an adult. Take Stock in Children needs mentors for Caloosa Middle School, Dunbar High School, East Lee County High School, Fort Myers High School, Ida Baker High School, Lehigh Senior High School. Call 239-337-0433.
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, Jan. 25 at 2:28 p.m.: A student reported to UPD that after getting off the shuttle bus she walked to her dorm in building O and as she was entering the building a bucket of water was dumped on her head. The student told officers that she attempted to make contact with the suspects but they wouldn’t answer the door. The incident was turned over to housing.
Friday, Jan. 27 at 1:05 a.m.: A drug search conducted in Everglades Hall recovered more than 20 grams of marijuana in a student’s room. The student was placed under arrest and brought to UPD for processing. He was then transported to Lee County Sheriff ’s Office.
Friday, Jan. 27 at 8:34 p.m.: A student reported someone
keyed his car while he was in class. The incident took place in Parking Garage B.
Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10:22 p.m.: During routine patrol officers encountered numerous students, members of the Lamba Phi Alpha fraternity, at the waterfront around a bonfire. Officers checked with RA’ and no one had been given permission to have a bonfire. UPD advised
them to extinguish the fire.
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.
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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 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) to [email protected].
He knew he couldn’t thrive in poverty -stricken Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, so he moved to the U.S.
Louis’ father, already living in Immokalee, applied for a visa for his son.
Fluent in French and Creole and poor at English, Louis can still use his hands.
As he took English classes, Louis worked at a laundramat for five months.
“I liked it, actually,” Louis said. “It took focus and I worked hard.”
Still, he wanted more. So, when his sister, a former employee at Aramark, told her brother about an opening at the Perch, Louis eagerly applied.
In August 2006, Louis became the first Haitian worker at Eagle Dining.
Two weeks later, Louis took an application for his cousin, Rodrigue Celestin, who soon began work at Sovi.
Both of Louis’ daughters hope to become surgeons.
“I just want my kids to have a better life,” Louis said. “I don’t want them to follow the steps I did and work the same jobs I did. Education is the only thing we can give them. We need a better future for them.”
***
Celestin tries to smile, but won’t force
one.As the first in his family to immigrate
to America, Celestin, a 38-year-old chef at Sovi whose clean face and shiny skin make him look 10 years younger, funnels money back to his home outside Port-au-Prince for his wife and 6-year old son.
Without any family to help, it took him five years to receive a green card, as the Haitian government makes it difficult to discern who can immigrate and who can’t.
In Haiti, Celestin lived without a big dream. He didn’t graduate high school and worked in the fields, farming cucumbers, tomatoes and sweet potatoes.
When he finally moved to the U.S. on June 15, 2000, Celestin worked odd jobs.
He worked at a golf course and washed towels at a laundramat for four years.
While the work seemed mundane at first, Celestin found art in each towel, meticulously arranging and folding them.
“Every year I got a certificate because I did a good job,” Celestin said. “We lost a lot of business while I was there and people were let go. But I earned three certificates because I’m a good man.”
When Celestin dices veggies and flips omelets, he works slowly.
He moves deliberately, because he seeks perfection, but also because he carries his kids with him.
“Sometimes, when I finish working, I buy a ticket to go to Haiti see my wife and kid,” Celestin said. “I don’t feel good right
now. I want to see my family, my kid, my brother, my father. I work here five days a week and then I go home and live by myself (Celestin lives with his 13-year-old son).”
Celestin applied for a visa for his mother, father and wife. The process drags as his family struggles to recover from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince in 2010 and destroyed Celestin’s childhood home.
He expects to be reunited with his family in six months, but Celestin knows to stay on guard.
“When my wife comes here I will finally be happy,” Celestin said. “I’m not very young. I have to live with my family and go somewhere better. I work (at Sovi). It pays the bills and I can send money back. I don’t feel good now.”
***
Haiti scares Jean F. Romelus, a 37-year-old father of three and Louis’ cousin.
He won’t go back. He hasn’t been back since he came to America in 1980. He saw enough of the prowling gangsters and dead bodies on the streets to last a lifetime. The corruption makes him mad and the terror causes nightmares.
“You can’t have money in Haiti,” Romelus said. “If I have 20 dollars, gangs and thieves know it and they will try to kill me. The police don’t mean anything. The government pays the police and
they just shoot people. In America, you do something bad and you’re in jail for a while. In Haiti, you kill someone, and, if you have money, you are in jail for a day.”
So when Romelus scrubs tables and dirty plates at the Home Zone, he carries perspective with him.
When he started at the Perch, Romelus flipped burgers. When the Perch became the Home Zone, he was reassigned to janitorial work. He turns to his pocket-sized Bible during breaks to clear his thoughts.
Romelus actively looks for a better job (he wants to be a plumber) to support his three kids and wife.
He has skills — before his work at Eagle Dining, Romelus packed tomatoes and finished concrete for $18 an hour.
And he has hobbies. Romelus spends his weekends cooking rice and beans for his family, and walking beaches and parks.
But he doesn’t expect much for himself — only his kids.
“There’s nothing I can do, but do the best I can,” Romelus said. “If I can find a better job and a better life, I will. My 13-year old son said he wants to be a fireman. Then, the other day, he changed his mind and said he wants to be a football player.
“I want a better life for my kids and I don’t want them doing what I’m doing.”
A4 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 EDITOR: VERONICA VELA NEWS!EAGLENEWS.ORG
Genocide is a term that is heard often in history and present day. The Amnesty International club wants to make that term more than just a word, but a tangible concept that students grasp.
The club will be holding a one-day conference on genocide to discuss and clarify what it is and how students can help change this continual tragedy.
“It is an important event to attend because the term ‘genocide’ is often misunderstood,” said Chealsye Bowley, president of Amnesty International. “This mini-conference will explore the legal definition and discuss the ways students can get more involved in human rights.”
The conference will take place Feb. 6 in the Student Union Ballroom. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and will begin with a light breakfast, followed by Amy Snyder, director of the Southwest Florida Holocaust Museum, speaking at 11 a.m.
After the lecture portion, the conference will conduct workshops in the afternoon taking place from 2-3:15 and from 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Then, at 6:30, the keynote speaker Carl Wilkens will be speaking .
Wilkens was a missionary in Rwanda when the genocide began in 1994 and made the decision to stay with the people he was aiding even though he had the opportunity to leave.
Wilkens will be speaking about his experiences and will answer audience questions, along with his wife Theresa, after his speech.Bowley hopes the conference will help students realize that they are able to make a difference by learning the lessons of history and being aware.
“We can use previous experiences, primarily from the Holocaust and Rwanda, to curb future atrocities and gain an understanding,” Bowley said. “The evening lecture is from a man who witnessed genocide first hand and he is very eye-opening and inspirational.”
Last spring, Kate Pozeznik noticed an opportunity for the university to take another step toward its mission of sustainability, so she spoke up and made a difference.
Pozeznik was in her final year as an FGCU undergraduate and found herself spending a lot of time in the university library, often needing to print assignments. That’s when she realized the black and white printers in the library computer lab were not capable of being set to double-sided printing.
Whenever Pozeznik tried to manually print on both sides of the paper, the process was tedious. First, she would print the odd pages of her document, retrieve them from the printer, flip them and reinsert them into the tray. Then Pozeznik would return to her computer to print the rest, hoping the entire time that no other student was sending a print job to the printer with her document.
When it worked, paper was saved. When it didn’t, multiple students could potentially find the need to reprint their documents—leading to a greater waste in paper.
She took her concerns to the Library Computing and Technology Department where Chuck Bryan became an ally for her cause.
“Chuck made this happen,” Pozeznik said in a telephone interview. She noted the staff had a “forward thinking” attitude from the beginning.
According to Pozeznik, Bryan informed her that the university administration takes student initiatives into account when they make decisions.
So Pozeznik started a petition to purchase printers with built-in duplex printing capabilities as replacements for the aging black and white printers the library had.
The petition garnered the support of 230 people who agreed there was need for change.
Mario Bernardo, assistant director of computer applications; and Lee LeBlanc, coordinator of computer applications, both work with Bryan in Library Computing and Technology Systems. The three explained why Pozeznik’s petition was a critical element in the replacement of the library’s 22 black and white printers.
According to Bryan, when the computing lab was first set up, duplex printers were “extremely hard” to find, which was the main reason they were not purchased in the first place. Only color printers were duplex units.
Since then, the department had been investigating the options to add to their duplex printing
capabilities. One of the hurdles was a lack of demand for the option.
The computer lab functions for the purpose of assisting students in the completion of their assignments. Every cent charged for printing goes directly into a fund set up for the costs involved in purchasing, maintaining, running and supplying the machines.
Additionally, printers with built-in duplex capabilities are more expensive than traditional ones, but with support from Pozeznik’s petition, Library Computing was able to find a vendor to supply the new printers at a price that didn’t force an increase in student printing costs.
Library Computing is committed to keeping printing costs in check, but with a new contract coming, they have not been able to add a discount for students who take advantage of duplex printing. Bernardo hopes to find a way in the future to “work savings in.”
And though Pozeznik’s petition made a difference, there’s still room for more improvement. As of now, setting the printers to make duplex printing the default is not possible — not because it’s difficult, but because it could prove detrimental to students.
“Anything that involves default settings needs to come from the top,” Bernardo said.
This includes duplex printing and options such as margin sizes and default fonts. The reason for this is it could potentially lower
students’ grades if they do not manually change them back to meet APA and MLA standards. If faculty doesn’t accept double-sided papers, grades could suffer. That’s where the sustainable options of duplex printing nudge close to issues of academic freedom.
“There is an accepted setting,” said LaBlanc. “If it’s changed unilaterally it appears like a push.”
Library Computing does not have the power to make such a push, and feels that the power for change must rest in the hands of students.
At the current pace, even with the new printers, 1 million sheets will be used by the end of the spring semester, meaning any improvement will have an impact.
While Pozeznik was organizing her petition, she found faculty and students alike were supportive. Now, she’s a graduate student in the Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences and the Editorial Associate at Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education. She wants other students to know they have the power to make a difference.
“What surprised me the most is that you can do something to make a positive change,” Pozeznik said.
This story is part of a series detailing sustainability and education. Look for the logo at the top to denote the series.
UFGCSustainable
youSustainableFGC( )
What’s colorful, a little different, but perfectly cheery and bright?
The mystery object is a 12-foot high-by-4-foot wide sculpture titled “Skyward” by St. Petersburg artist Clayton Swartz.
“I am interested in the physical act that goes into creating my work,” Swartz said. “I describe it as a performance or dance with the material . . . a chance to change something raw into something beautiful.”
The sculpture is located near the side entrance of Sugden Hall between the Student Union and Parking Garage 1.
Unfortunately, most FGCU students walk by it and don’t notice it at all.
“I’ve never really noticed it,” said Mason Bellamy, a junior majoring in communication.
Bellamy says he never saw the statue because he never parks in that garage.
Some students notice it, but are unsure what to make of it.
“It’s different,” said Mary Mcgahan, a sophomore majoring in communication. “It fills up space; otherwise, it’s just a pile of dirt.
However, FGCU’s Art In State Building Program, a state of Florida requirement for each academic building that was funded with Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) dollars, thinks it’s more than just a pile of dirt.
“FGCU is required to spend on public art one-half of a percent (0.5 percent) of the construction cost of each such building,” said Susan Evans, university spokeswoman. “The art selected for each building is determined by an FGCU committee for that particular building and the committee includes the building’s architect,
a faculty representative housed in the respective building, and two members of the art community from Southwest Florida.”
The committee issues a “Call to Artists” to determine which artists might be interested in working on the project, which could include an exterior sculpture, interior sculpture, interior paintings and more.
Interested artists submit proposals that are reviewed by the committee, which then selects an artist for that particular building.
“It’s an inclusive process, but an open discussion from the beginning.” said Mark Flickinger, a committee member and independent contractor.
In the case of Sugden Hall, the committee selected two sculpture artists. The other artist is to be discussed later on.
“I did want something bright with a sort of contemporary feel,” said Sherie Brezina, a resort and hospitality professor and faculty representative for the project. “And I think the committee did a good job of picking that up.”
“I think the sculpture compliments the building,” Swartz said. “It has a very uplifting theme.
The unique metal sculptures deal with simple composition, geometry, form and saturated color, Swartz said.
“Looking into any one of my sculptures will take you deep into a maze of parts, design, formal unities, and holistic composition that will give you a sense of revelation into the sculptures design and meaning,” Swartz said.
One theme found in Swartz’s artwork is the concept of heart.
“The hearts symbolize a strong connection to my family and a love of life and my modern abstracts illustrate a passion for vibrant color and form,” Swartz said. “I am interested in the physical act that goes into creating my work.
I describe it as a performance or dance with the material ... a chance to change something raw into something beautiful.”
The front of Sugden Hall is about to become more beautiful and uplifting as it will soon be enhanced by three other sculptures near the main entry.
The other sculptures are being created by artist Harry McDaniel
and they will be completed and installed sometime in February or March, Evans said.
“The other statues will be a complement to the building,” Brezina said. “And they’re kinetic, which is a little more interesting because they move.”
Money is usually seen as a good thing, especially if it’s free. And the Student Government Scholarship Fair wants to help students get as much free money as possible.
This year the fair’s theme is “Think Big, Dream Big!” in hopes that it encourages students to do just that.
The fair will do more than connect students to scholarships that best suit them; Financial Aid staff will be present to answer questions along with other organizations like Career Development Services and Student Involvement.
The Writing Center will even be providing assistance with scholarship responses to students that bring their FGCU Foundation Scholarship essays in for improvement. The tutoring will take place in separate, private rooms where students can meet with a representative from the Writing Center.
Monica Goldie, director of scholarship for Student Government, says this is an especially great opportunity since the application for Foundation Scholarships is due March 1.
“My goal with this event was to get students to “think big, dream big”, hence the theme,” said Goldie. “I’d love for students to come to the event and ask what each of the participating departments can do to help them be more successful.”
Students unable to make the event will be able to find the resources and contact information soon after the fair and can contact Goldie at [email protected].
The fair is also offering free food and giveaways. It will be taking place Feb. 8 from 11 to 2 in the Cohen Center ballroom.
WEDNESDAY, FEB.1 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A5WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG
More than 60 students attended the meeting, and several spoke in opposition of the budget bill and funding cuts.
Juan Cubillo, a sophomore majoring in communication, was one of the students that attended in opposition of the bill. “I think they are making their decisions personal and it’s no longer about the students,” he said.
According to Senator Richard Michel, the senate appropriations chair, there were several reasons for the cuts.
One of the reasons is that there are many new student organizations this year that requested money, putting a
greater strain on the funds available. There were 81 registered student organizations that requested and received funds. The funds received by these RSOs totaled $257,750. Separately, 24 sports clubs asked for and received funds totaling $163,235.
Audience members expressed concern about such cuts being made when tuition and enrollment are increasing each year.
“Yes, tuition has gone up,” Michel said. “But the amount that Student Government has received from A&S funds has not gone up, it is still $11.24 per credit hour. Additionally, the administration in the budget office has changed. They are
more conservative.“Senator Michel also noted
that the cuts were decided following violations of the finance code made by Sports Clubs concerning re-allocated funds, though Edwards claims that no violation took place.
“The Sports Club president kept saying tonight that we are taking away their power to re-allocate funds, when the truth is that they never had this power,” Michel said.
The bill will be voted on during next week’s senate meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in Chen Center 247.
A6 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, xxxxxxxxxx EDITOR: VERONICA VELA NEWS!EAGLENEWS.ORG
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(215):Why was there a 1000 piece puzzle cov-ered in hot sauce being cooked in the micro-wave?
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Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
1. “The Grey”$20 million
2. “Underworld Awakening” $12.4 million
3. ”One For the Money” $12 million
4. “Red Tails“ $10.4 million
5. “Man on a Ledge” $8 million
These figures are courtesy of boxofficemojo.com.
Search “Keeping your refrigera-tor stocked will get you many
women”
Top 5 Movies of the
Weekend
YOUTUBE:Featured video
of the week
Your Tunes
1. “Brighter than the Sun” by Colbie Callat2. “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” by Kelly Clarkson3. “We Owned the Night” by Lady Antebellum4. “I Don’t Want this Night to End” by Luke Bryan5. “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele
What are you listening to?
Lindsey HayesFreshmanNursing Tired of the same thing week
after week? Want to find new local bands or a new art gallery?
Well then, Southwest Florida’s very own twothreenine.com is here to help you make plans.
Twothreenine.com is a non-profit arts and entertainment website where journalism and music collide.
The website is filled with news about events and local concerts that are happening around the Southwest Florida area.
The site focuses mainly on the Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Naples areas. The goal of twothreenine.com is to bring affordable and unique events to FGCU students and the public.
Twothreenine.com strives to be different from other Southwest Florida-based websites.
“We aim to find the more underground stuff. We aim to be down to earth. We try not to be commercial, we try not to be totally polished,” says Billy Table, executive editor/events coordinator.
“(The website) is more laid
back, it’s not like professional journalistic writing. It’s conversational and fun.”
When talking to Table, she explained how twothreenine.com is here to help better the community, but they, the staff at the website, also have FGCU students in mind.
The website has begun recruiting students and offering to give them three college credits.
After turning in a résumé and a writing sample, the student will receive an interview.
Once done with the interview, the twothreenine.com staff will deliberate whether or not you fit.
If you do, you can expect to write for the website and help with publicity plans.
When founded by FGCU students, one of the priorities that twothreenine.com had was to try and help local businesses and charities. To do this they held benefit concerts and events for the businesses/charities.
The events that the website feature range from concerts at local café shops such as Cool Hand Luc’s to charity events. One particular event seems to stand
out from the rest and that is the website’s TwoThreeNine Day.
This event was held Jan. 16 with a bake sale and a barbecue and $20 tattoos from Forever Tattoo Parlor. The best part was $5 from every tattoo was donated to the American Cancer Society.
One of the upcoming events that the website is hosting is called “Cheap Date Night.”
“I would love for everyone to come out to Cheap Date Night, which is a laid back fun evening of music and art,” says Table.
Cheap Date Night is open to all ages and is free. Still not sold on the event?
Well, there’s a free root beer float that you will receive as you come in. Cheap Date Night will take place Feb. 4 at Cool Hand Luc’s in Fort Myers. The event will begin at 7 p.m.
When it comes to being full-time students and saving Southwest Florida from the terrors of boredom the twothreenine staff aren’t fazed.
“It’s a lot of work, but the payoff comes with people coming and enjoying our events,” Table said.
If you goWhat: Cheap Date NightWhen: Saturday, Feb.4 at 7 p.m.Where: Cool Hand Luc’s What to wear: Casual wear
The event is free and complimentary root beer "oats will be given out when you get there.
What does your V say about you?
a step above timid
con!dent, slightly aggressive
extremely aggresive, overcon!dent
probably famous (daniel tosh)
upsetting and unnecessary
Girls, whether you can’t find the right shirt to wear with your skirt, or guys, if you don’t have time to iron a button-down shirt to wear with your blazer, V-necks are an essential piece of clothing to have in your closet.
These can be worn with a fitted skirt, jeans, shorts or skinny jeans.
Ladies, if you are going for that comfortable look but want to dress it up, try to match your V-neck tee up with skinny jeans, heels and a blazer.
Guys, don’t let girls fool you. We are suckers for a guy in a fitted V-neck with jeans. You can never have too many V-necks, so stock up on all the colors.
Here are a few places you can find affordable V-necks for both guys and gals:
Ladies: Longline V-Neck Tee, Forever 21, $4.80; Women’s Perfect V-Neck Tees, Old Navy, $4.97.
Gentlemen: Men’s V-Neck Tees, Old Navy, $9.94; Deep V-Neck T, Gap, $6.99.
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For those who believe now that both the Harry Potter book and movie series are done and that the fan base will die, they are sadly mistaken.
Harry Potter taught everyone lessons: friendship, bravery, and even gave us a new sport, quidditch. For those who don’t know, quidditch is to the wizarding world what football is to America: a sport that brings together a community.
FGCU has been fortunate enough to start its own Quidditch Club, which is a newly registered student organization.
Maikol Brito, a freshman majoring in computer information systems, is the founder and captain of the new club here on campus.
“I know almost all Florida colleges have a team,” Brito said in explaining why he wanted to start a team here, “and having played it in high school, it just seemed the right time to start one here.”
Quidditch in the real world is vastly different from quidditch in the books.
“First of all, we can’t fly,” Brito joked. “But essentially it is a mix of rugby, dodgeball, and hide and seek.”
The positions in the book are the same, with three chasers, two beaters, a keeper, and a seeker.
“The chasers get the rugby aspect of the sport and can basically tackle and
take the ball from the other team,” Brito explained.
Brito himself is the seeker, the most honored position in the series: His goal is to get all the snitches on the field for the most points and automatic win.
“The beaters get the dodgeball aspect, being able to throw dodgeballs at whoever has the ball and try to knock it out of their
hands, and can go after other beaters also,” he says.
Quidditch has become a popular sport in the U.S. and around the world. It has been in Florida for about six years, and is eventually making its way to Europe.
“There is an International Quidditch Association, who is responsible for holding the World Cup,” Brito said.
He also shared that it is rumored that there will be an announcement at the 2012 Summer Olympics about the sport coming over to Europe.
“The World Cup would be played between 80 teams, and though there is one now, we have seen a drastic drop in particating teams.” Brito said.
To many people, quidditch may seem like a silly idea, but those who play know how strenuous and hard it really is.
“We are intense, we do suicides, and run a mile for practice,” says Fiorella Anzola, a sophomore majoring in accounting.”
“I am learning new things every day, and getting the opportunity to play and relive my childhood is amazing,” Anzola said.
Brito’s goal is to show the student population, “We are not a fan club, and to show people that it is a sport.”
They are still looking for more members.
“It takes about seven to eight players to actually play on the field, and it is nice to have extra people to switch on and off the field,” he says.
Let the magic of the sport encourage you to take flight, and enjoy the sport as much as Harry himself did.
For more information, contact Maikol Brito at [email protected].
Looking for a sweet escape to relax and develop your relationship with nature, or maybe help out and earn some service-learning hours?
If you appreciate the environment, you will certainly enjoy the Happehatchee Center. Only 5.8 miles away from FGCU, this eco-spiritual center welcomes anyone who would like to connect with nature and enjoy moments of peace.
“Happehatchee” is an indigenous word that means “Happy River,” since the center strongly encourages members to pursue their inner happiness and personal empowerment.
The center holds many events, activities and weekly classes for the community.
The late Ellen Peterson, founder of the Happehatchee, was one of the most well-known environmental activists in Southwest Florida, a woman who devoted her time and energy to preservation of nature She founded Happehatchee mainly to preserve a parcel of the natural Floridian environment.
Travis Wagner, meditation teacher at the center and a senior majoring in communication and philosophy at FGCU, said, “Ellen started the nonprofit to ensure that after she passed away, the land would continue to be preserved.
“The Happehatchee Center was her guarantee that the land would not be developed or sold to a corporation.”
The Happehatchee Center, as a non-profit entity, relies on support and donations of any kind from the community in order to maintain its grounds as well as to create new programs.
The center accepts as donations not only money but also services, goods, ideas, and volunteer work. The “in-kind” wish list has some items that are needed such as garden tools, art supplies and yoga mats.
“We do ask for donations for classes in order to give back to the nonprofit and also to ensure that the center can remain open to the public, but the donations are suggested, not required,” Wagner said.
Students and staff can get involved in several areas, such as helping with the center’s preservation and land maintenance, public relations and publicity, programming, planning as well as many other opportunities.
The center is looking for as many volunteers as are willing to help. So students who are looking for service-learning hours or just want to volunteer will find Happpehatchee a welcoming place.
For many years, FGCU students have been helping out and building projects at the center, always bringing people along and being part of Happehatchee’s history.
Wagner, who had been involved at Happehatchee for a year, encourages students to participate in the many activities provided by the center as well as help come up with new options.
“Students can participate in
Happehatchee Center’s activities that already exist, but they are also welcome to become teachers and/or organizers themselves,” Wagner said..
The Happehatchee is a place for the community to come together and share experiences in the natural landscape of Southwest Florida,” says Wagner.
The classes and activities offered are: Yoga (for all ages), Tai Chi, Meditation, Art Classes, Belly Dancing, Drum Circle, Sweat Lodge, Kayak & Canoe, Community Organic Garden, Butterfly Garden, Labyrinth, Children’s Nature Play Area, Women’s Empowerment, Alternative Energy Workshops, Reiki, Yoga Teacher Training, Sacred Circles, Health & Healing, Movie Night, and Astrology
As its mission, the center focuses in providing individuals with a “getaway” in which they experience love for the earth, spirit and for others.
“The Happehatchee Center is always trying to develop new classes and activities for the community, and they are always open to suggestions,” Wagner said.
“The future of the center is not etched in stone, but I’m sure the bottom line is to ensure that the land is preserved in its natural state,.
“Happehatchee, one of the best kept secrets of Southwest Florida, is known as a place to make sacred connections with people and nature. It is a special space for people to gather, celebrate, learn, heal and grow,” Wagner said.
OpinionB4 www.eaglenews.org
The FGCU Programming Board’s Jan. 24 announcement that Wiz Khalifa is headlining Nest Fest immediately drew a lot of criticism. A raging debate erupted on the PB’s Facebook as both sides traded blows.
In one corner, there were the “Wiz Khalifa is awesome” people, and in the other, there were the “Nest Fest is supposed to be rock” or the “way to cater to only hip-hop fans” people.
Even I, who have no appreciation for this Khalifa guy, was pretty miffed when I heard that the follow-up to such a banging show last year (Taking Back Sunday, 3oh!3, Jack’s Mannequin, The Maine) was the opposite of what I expected.
And the proclamation that Nest Fest and Eaglepalooza weren’t going to be genre-specific anymore seemed like a fishy excuse to get out of booking a less-popular rock artist so that they could book a sure-to-sell out hip-hop artist.
As it turns out, though, the PB did have an extensive list of rock bands they tried to book before turning to Khalifa. Their press release notes Paramore (awesome), A Day to Remember (insane), Skrillex and Maroon 5.
While I initially perceived a lack of effort by the PB to book anyone but the most mainstream rock
artists, when I sat down with concert director Melissa Khayata and saw the rest of the artists they tried to book, I was floored.
Personal favorites such as All Time Low, Blink 182, Cobra Starship and All-American Rejects joined names like Korn, Slipknot, 30 Seconds to Mars and Cage the Elephant.
Even ska-punk mainstays Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish were considered, and it’s a shame they couldn’t have been booked because both are quite the hoot live.
According to Khayata, all of the artists on the list fell through, either because they were already booked or weren’t available. Khalifa came up as a potential alternative, but there wasn’t much time to act — they went ahead and booked him.
Just days later, the Australian music festival that had sucked up a lot of the other acts tried to get Khalifa. And the PB is expecting the show to be huge.
“There has been some negativity and we don’t want people to be upset with it because we want to try to please as many students, but at the same time we’ve had the largest number of positive reactions to this concert than any other,” Khayata
said.But there were vocal critics
of the decision all over Facebook and Twitter. Mainstream music, a category that Khalifa easily qualifies for, has a particular quality in that it attracts the most vehement critics, who often accuse artists of being sellouts or talentless or x other baseless claim.
I try to be less haughty as I clutch vinyl records of much less glamorous bands. After all, I’m used to driving hours outside of Fort Myers to get to any sort of interesting concert.
Let’s be honest: Fort Myers is hardly a concert town. There’s the 99Xmas Ball, of which I’m no big fan of, FGCU’s concerts, a few good Germain ones, and that about covers it. It makes sense that the PB would grab the artists that are most likely to sell student tickets because it’s one of the few shots they have to bring activity here.
The numbers don’t lie, either. According to records, the PB spent $159,000 solely on booking costs for last year’s Nest Fest, which sold a total of 3,403 tickets. However, they spent $96,500 on booking costs for Pit Bull, Travis Porter and Na Palm, and Eaglepalooza sold nearly double the amount of tickets at 6,686. You can say that Pit Bull is a classless hooligan, but he really sells tickets. Last year’s Nest Fest sounds like an experiment gone wrong.
“We had trouble getting a good rock artist and that’s why we went with the underground,” Khayata
said about the 2011 Nest Fest. “We figured it would bring in a different crowd, which in a way it did, but at the same time the attendance wasn’t what we expected.”
For people like me who think a two-hour drive to a concert is a blessing, Nest Fest’s unappealing lineup doesn’t matter much in the long run. I would have liked to see some more rock acts considered before jumping on Khalifa, though.
I could envision bands such as Anberlin, Underoath or Mayday Parade (all of which are Florida bands) making a stand, in addition to out-of-state acts such as Linkin Park, Rise Against or System of a Down.
The cold, hard situation is that these concerts cost a ton of money to put on, and when you start to dip below the “well-known” threshold for bands, you start to lose a bunch of ticket sales to people who simply don’t know who the bands playing are.
I could sit here all day and rattle off bands I want to see such as The Summer Set or The Wonder Years, but is it really fair to acquiesce $150,000+ to one of me when there are 10 other guys looking to see a more well-known artist play? The key is finding a good balance.
As for those who are ticked off that the PB has decided to abandon genre-specific shows, keep in mind that this works both ways and that it’s possible different genres of music could share the same stage.
Khayata told me that taking away the genre boundaries means if the PB ever got a deal to say, book Coldplay for an affordable amount (highly unlikely) in the fall, they would be able to say yes and not shut them down simply because “Oh, we host a rap concert in the fall.”
Plus, there’s still a chance for the underdogs to come out swinging. The year Slightly Stoopid was booked, who Khayata admits she didn’t know of until the PB grabbed the band, was a success story of a lesser-known band nearly selling out the venue (200 tickets short of doing so).
Rock may have gotten the ax this year, but I hope the PB makes an effort to incorporate the genre back into next year’s festivals. Remember that there is a substantial block of students that appreciate the genre more than rap.
As for me, on April 13 I’ll be driving four hours to Gainesville to see earnest-rockers Go Radio and Australian pop-punk invaders Tonight Alive play to a couple hundred people in a venue just inside Gator town.
Andrew is a sophomore majoring in journalism. He enjoys exploring the concepts of cynicism and optimism side by side. He goes to far too many concerts.
As an alternative rock and metal fan, I do not like the fact that I have to skip going to another concert because there will be so-called “musicians” performing that a
lot of the teenage population likes. This happened in the fall semester and now it’s going to happen this semester. I feel that the Programming Board could’ve done a better job in searching and maybe found a popular alternative or metal band.
After last year’s Nest Fest, I was excited to hear who would be playing this year, since last year was a success. When I heard who was coming to this year’s Nest Fest, I was disappointed because it sounded like another attempt at Eaglepalooza.
I have gone to Eaglepalooza the past two years but did not go this year because of the way they changed the set up of the event. Now they are changing Nest Fest. Don’t deem it as the “rock concert” compared to what Bird Bash and Eaglepalooza were unless it is consistently going to be rock.
From what I have seen on the Programming Board’s Facebook page since the announcement is that most freshmen love the idea of having more rap at Nest Fest.
Of course freshmen do not understand the fact that Bird Bash was country, Eaglepalooza was Rap/Hip-Hop, and Nest Fest is rock. In the past, Nest Fest has been different types of rock but still in the same general category.
This year, after hearing two of the names, both appear to be rap, much like Eaglepalooza. I was disappointed.
They no longer have Bird Bash. The attendance went down because the first year they had Lee Brice, Jaron and the Long Road to Love and Luke Bryan!
The following year wasn’t as impressive, therefore less people went. Attendance was low because of the talent, not that students no longer wanted to attend events like Bird Bash.
Someone asked those of us commenting on the Programming Board’s Facebook why don’t we join the programming board instead of complaining.
Actually, some of us are already in quite a few organizations and have our plates full with that.
And by commenting on this we are expressing our opinions of their decisions. Since when is someone stating their opinions and clarifying the facts of past events classified as complaining?
All we wanted was to see rock bands at Nest Fest. Not rap.
I was really looking forward to this year’s Nest Fest because I had so much fun last year, and the performers were awesome; one of my favorite bands was included. This year I was not really happy with the choices and their decision to not to make it a rock concert anymore.
I felt we just had a hip-hop/rap concert with Eaglepalooza and now we’re having another one.
It is not expanding our horizons. It doesn’t give people with other music interests something to look forward to. I say it doesn’t matter about popularity. We’re such a diverse country and we need to be exposed to the different types of music out there.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B5EDITOR: ANDREW FRIEDGEN OPINION!EAGLENEWS.ORG
EN
On Tuesday night, Jan. 24, I watched, along with millions of others, as President Obama gave his third State of the Union address to the nation.
I applauded as I saw the remarkable Gabby Giffords show courage beyond belief as she entered the chamber and even when she hugged the president.
Between you and me, if she makes as full of a recovery as it looks like she might, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her, or her husband Mark, on a ticket in a few more years. The chamber
fell silent as the president began his remarks.
No doubt, by now, you have heard a lot of rhetoric about some of the numbers surrounding the jobs figures and the success of the auto bailout, so instead I focused in on the education part of the address.
“But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier,” the President said.
He touted the “Race to the Top” grant competition that has been going on for a few years in an effort to reform public education.
If you don’t know what this is, a lot of states sent proposals into the Department of Education outlining sets of reforms that were supposed to ensure the success of students. The states were to design assessments that would accurately measure a student’s ability, and by 2020, should help teachers and administrators improve the overall state of education.
Many of the states that were awarded these grants now say that their plans are failing because the amount of money needed to make the changes were more than the grants.
So, even though the president says that the standards are rising, it seems they may not make the grades he’s looking for.
Therefore, the president said that a main tool to solve these still-looming challenges were to have great teachers in place. Effective teachers can make differences when allowed flexibility and creativity while teaching students. A good teacher can change a life.
He also proposed that to help increase graduation rates that the dropout age should be raised from 16 to 18 years old. This aims to keep students from walking away from education. But, what about after high school?
Obama spoke about higher
education and the cost of attending college, something we should all be concerned about.
He put states and their university systems on notice that they should do what they can to cut costs and keep tuition manageable. Luckily for us, Florida universities are still under the national average for tuition costs, $5,626 versus $8,244, respectively, but we are on the rise.
Between the 2010-11 school year and the 2011-12 school year tuition rates increased approximately 11.8 percent, according to the State University System of Florida’s Board of Governors, who have also submitted a proposed budget that calls for a 14.87 percent total budget increase for the 2012-13 school year, about 6 percent of which comes from tuition support.
Gov. Rick Scott made a recent proposal to have universities focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and have those students pay more, but university leaders overwhelming opposed such actions.
President Obama encouraged university leaders to keep college within reach of everyone because “it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.”
Increasing rates on STEM subjects would put them out of reach of more economically disadvantaged students.
Another way the president urged his fellow lawmakers to help those of us in school was to stop the rates of student loans from increasing. For the 2011-12 school year, rates for subsidized student loans are at 3.4 percent as compared to last year at 4.5 percent.
The rate for unsubsidized loans has remained steady at 6.8 percent. According to the website for the Stafford Loan Network, the rates for both loans will be 6.8 percent for the 2012-13 school year.
Personally, as someone with student loans, I hope that Congress does something to stop that from happening. If the costs of going to school outweigh the abilities of what can be done with a degree, like find a job after graduation, then I agree with the president: People won’t go. The future of the American education system would be a bleak place and the nation as a whole may fall behind the achievements of other nations.
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.
Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been skeptical of organized religion. This skepticism has been fueled by many events, from going to Catholic Mass with my high school sweetheart, which gave me nightmares for years, to seeing televangelists like Pat Robertson and John Hagee spewing their hatred of women, gays and liberals every single day, to a special guest that FGCU welcomed last week.
Brother Micah Armstrong, the outrageous street preacher from Miami, came to FGCU with his wife Elizabeth with a message of hate and humiliation toward premarital sex, homosexuality, drugs and anyone else who disagreed with their black and white view of Jesus Christ.
He even sang an annoying tune called “The Homo Song,” proudly proclaiming to be a homophobe.
I said to the crowd on Monday and Thursday that Brother Micah gives atheism a good name to thunderous applause after hearing his disgusting and angry rants along with the insults he threw at many of the protesters, including myself.
Every night I drove home to Cape Coral and I thought about this pathetic excuse for a human being.
I ended up coming up with an idea for a religion of my own, considering it is so easy to create one in a hyper-religious country such as America.
We will be called The Church Of Peace & Love inspired by those who lived those two words: John Lennon, Martin Luther King Jr., John Mellencamp and Democrat Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who I hope will run for president in 2016.
Our goals will include bringing a diversity of faiths together, marching against war, supporting the LGBT community, treating addiction as a disease (not a crime), building a free health clinic,
a soup kitchen, offering job training to those looking to find employment again and offering assistance to those in the community who are unable to leave their home.
My idea is to create a religion based on those two principles of peace and love and not just on strict obedience to a higher power that myself and millions of other people have strong doubts about.
I also kept in mind those who I know who are moderately religious who know Brother Micah is a poor spiritual model.
I’m a dreamer like the figures I mentioned above, but I know I’m not the only one and I want our world to stand for the ideas of charity, unity, peace, and most of all love toward others. We only have one life on Earth and it should be directed toward making the world a great place rather than being paranoid about life after death.
Maybe through a movement like the one I am proposing, we can eliminate the idea of war and hate from our vocabulary and our souls forever.
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.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
CAMPUS PREACHERS
Last Thursday at noon, as a few friends and I tried to inaugurate Occupy FGCU for our first weekly General Assemblies, Brother Micah also made his way out onto the campus green.
As an American, and a believer in real democracy, I believe Micah is free to spew whatever hate he wants.
But, tailing that, some crucial advice for all healthy discourse, online, offline, political, and religious:
Don’t feed the trolls.Don’t reward ugly stereotypes and
racist/sexist attacks. Ignore them.In point of fact, what we need
to do is Mic-Check Micah and let each aggrieved person tell him how unacceptable his attitudes are on our campus!
Want to know how to make those preachers go away? Sure you do. Even our most devout Christian students must take exception to having some unemployed loudmouth condemn them to Hell on a daily basis. So, how do we get rid of them? Starve them. They feed off the same thing as unruly 5-year-olds and black Labrador puppies: Attention.
Don’t think you’re going to outmaneuver these people in an argument; these people aren’t here to have a reasonable discussion. If
you make a point they can’t refute, they’ll just call you a masturbator, a homosexual, or a pothead. Talking to these people is not a meaningful pursuit or an intellectual exercise. It’s a waste of time. Their job is to get you as fired up as possible and draw a crowd. When people gather around them, they’ve won.
Just pass them by. Ignore them and keep silent, cite a Bible verse, rattle off a “Family Guy” quote, kiss your same-sex partner in front of them, give them the finger, whatever — just don’t stop long enough to give them the time of day. Let them waste their time on us. Let’s not waste ours on them.
The FGCU Eagles baseball team will begin their season Feb. 17, with one major difference from last year, and that is youth. This year the Eagles have 24 underclassmen and only 10 upperclassmen as opposed to previous seasons, when the team had more veteran players.
While that could be a worry, it can also be a good thing as well. FGCU coach Dave Tollett discussed his young team after their first scrimmage Jan. 27.
“The best thing about having 17 freshmen is that they become sophomores,” Tollett said. “I would rather be talented than experienced. It’s just getting them used to the whole Division I game. The game’s a little bit faster than probably what they’re used to.”
Tollett sees plenty of talent in his young players, “There’s going to be a lot of freshmen getting a chance to play. Brady Anderson (infielder/pitcher), Zack Tillery (infielder/pitcher), our redshirt freshmen Kirby Retzer (outfielder) Alex Diaz (infielder), Michael Suchy (outfielder/first baseman). They’re very talented.”
Another talented sophomore is Sean Dwyer, who had 30 runs, 47 hits, 13 doubles, a team-high two triples, three home runs and 29 RBI in his freshman season with the Eagles.
According to Tollett, “We’re looking for Sean (Dwyer) to be our guy, be the RBI guy, because we lost Tim Roberson and Zach Maxfield, and we think Sean can do it.”
Dwyer feels that he is up to the challenge, “I have no problem with it. It’s why I came here. They expect me to be a hitter, and
that’s what I expect so hopefully I’ll have a good season,” Dwyer said.
There will also be some leadership to help these players grow, such as senior pitcher Jason Forjet.
“Jason (Forjet) is going to be a guy we’re going to be counting on for a lot of big games, especially our conference series,” Tollett said. “Jason’s right there in the mix, and provides us great leadership and a great
presence. We look for a big season from him.”
According to Forjet this will be his first time in a leadership role, “In previous years we had a lot of upper-classmen, so they’ve taken the roll of that. This year’s going to be my first year of being a leader and I’m looking forward to it.”
His hope is to make the younger players feel more comfortable. “I just try to go up to
guys and talk with them one-on-one, make sure they aren’t too nervous before the game. Make sure they’re relaxed, and just get them ready for the season to come up.”
Forjet feels that there will be plenty of upside for the young team this spring, “I think we’re going to do pretty good, because we’ve got a lot of young guys who work hard and they come out here every day at practice, do what they do, and are always improving their game. From the fall until now, there’s been a lot of improvement, and hopefully during the season it’s going to get a lot better.”
It will not be easy, though. “We’re pre-season ranked seventh in
the conference, and we think we’re a little bit better than that,” Tollett said. “I think this will be a team that gets better as the season goes on, as they get experience and begin to understand the college game. But the season’s tough. We have three games at Florida, who are the pre-season No. 1 team in the country; two against Florida State, who are ranked ninth, and three against Miami, who are ranked 11th. It’s a tough non-conference season before we get to the schedule.”
The FGCU baseball team will host 29 games at Swanson Stadium, including seven contests against teams that reached NCAA Regionals last season. The 2012 home slate also includes Big Ten foe Michigan, the ACC’s Boston College and Big East opponent Rutgers, in addition to five A-Sun Conference three-game series’.
The Eagles wrapped up the 2011 season with a 27-28 overall record, and narrowly missed their second consecutive A-Sun tournament after finishing seventh in the final standings with a 16-14 league mark.
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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B7EDITOR: JOSH SIEGEL SPORTS!EAGLENEWS.ORG
Men’s basketball Women’s basketball
Freshman Bernard Thompson came to Florida Gulf Coast University this year after taking Rockdale County High School to the Georgia 4A State Championship for the first time since 1987.
Thompson was a consistent scorer at Rockdale County, and has continued that consistency with great stats at FGCU.
Thompson chose FGCU because he believes the coaches are really genuine people who are trying to get him to the next level.
The main changes Thompson has seen between high school and college basketball are pace of play and the number of games.
“The toll of the games traveling back and forth, and
playing back-to-back games is much more different than high school,” Thompson said.
The 6-foot-3 Thompson, a guard, is averaging 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and has 44 steals on the season, which rank second, third and first on the team, respectively.
FGCU coach Andy Enfield depends on Thompson to handle the ball in spots and play shutdown defense.
“He’s very consistent and plays well on both sides of the ball,” Enfield said. “He’s (Thompson) really improved since the summer and fall practice began with his court awareness, decision making and aggressiveness. We expect him to continue getting better because he works so hard at everything.”
Thompson has 17 multi-
steal performances this season through Monday night’s (Jan. 30) game vs. Mercer. His best multi-steal game was Jan. 7 vs. UNF, in which Thompson had four steals. Thompson is tied for second in the A-Sun with an average of two steals a game and is on pace for 60.
“I seem to have a good anticipation for where the ball is going, and it’s all about being at the right place at the right time,” Thompson said. “I have quick feet, good hands, and I’m always alert on the court.”
Thompson‘s goals are not just individually based. He is a team player. His biggest goal this season and every year is to get the FGCU men’s basketball team to the NCAA tournament.
“As long as we get better every time we hit the court, the sky’s the limit,”
Thompson said.After winning three
consecutive games against Stetson, Longwood and Kennesaw State, the Eagles were defeated by Mercer on Monday, falling 75-66. Thompson contributed 7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals, including one that led to a monstrous breakaway dunk that put the Eagles within one in the second half.
FGCU is now an even .500 on the season with a record of 11-11 overall and 6-5 in conference play. Their 6-5 mark is tied for fourth in the A-Sun with seven conference games to play.
The FGCU men’s basketball team and Thompson next play Feb. 4 at Jacksonville University and is followed by a game against the University of North Florida on Feb. 6.
A new registered student organization (RSO) accepting new members is the FGCU Rock Climbing and Adventure Club.
An idea started by thrill-seekers, the club is, “Designed to connect local rock climbers and adventure-seekers, and to do trips for rock climbing and other activities,” according to an official description of the club found online. “Whether you’re a seasoned climber, or new to the sport, this club has something for you.”
Extreme sports such as rock-climbing, skydiving, jetskiing, and scuba diving are some of the adventure activities that the club would like to offer at a discount price to FGCU students who join the club.
“Initially, me and the other founding members were interested in extreme sports,” said Yarema “Jerry” Boryshchak, president of the adventure club. “We went on a few trips and figured it would be more affordable if we could get a large group together to do something we all like.” Boryshchak is getting his master’s in mathematics at FGCU, has rock climbed for about five years, and is scuba and skydiving certified.
He has made more than 400 skydiving jumps through working in the U.S. Army.
“Instead of me going by myself skydiving in Zephyrhills, Florida,
I could go with a group of four and carpool with everybody,” Boryshchak said.
The club just came back from a trip to Miami’s X-Treme Rock Climbing gym last Saturday.
“This was my first time with the FGCU Rock Climbing and Adventure Club,” said Taylor Badonsky, a sophomore and computer-informatics major at FGCU. “I have done some rock-climbing in the past and enjoyed
myself while learning from some of the club members. They help you by coaching you on where to put your feet and where to grab while scaling the walls.”
Jessica Doroba, another member of the club, learned a lot as well.
“The people at the rock climbing facility even had something to say about how well they (the other club members) were coaching us,” said Doroba,
an elementary education major at FGCU “I’ve never gone climbing in such a huge place before. It was a really different experience. I met new people, and really enjoyed myself.”
Badonsky recommends the club for thrill-seekers and competitive athletes alike.
“This is a great opportunity for FGCU students to get out there and try something new,” Badonsky said. “I personally would recommend rock climbing because anyone can do it, and you build great bonds with people because you are pushing yourself mentally and physically.”
The FGCU Rock Climbing and Adventure Club is looking to find funds for its trip to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky this April.
It will be a five-day trip on which anyone who has attended at least one meeting going into the Miami X-Treme Rock Climbing gym can come along.
“One of the main things we are trying to do is to acclimate students into extreme sports,” Boryshchak said. “One of the trips we are offering is a scuba diving trip, where no certification is needed and members will be diving 10 to 15 feet deep under water while breathing through a tube attached to the surface.”
Other trips in the works are to Orlando for indoor skydiving and possible trips to Skydive Adventures in Clewiston.
Florida Gulf Coast women’s basketball team is really good. They are 19-2 overall, a perfect 11-0 in the Atlantic Sun and they are
gaining praise n a t i o n a l l y. Statistically, they are one of the top 15 teams in the country, and they are projected to be a 13 seed in the upcoming N C A A Tournament.
B u t with all this
success comes flaws, right? There has to be a weakness to a team that is riding an 11-game win streak. If you look at the numbers, however, it’s hard to find one.
FGCU ranks in the top 15 nationally in several categories: three-point field goals made per game (No. 1, 11.5 three-pointers), scoring margin (No. 5, 23.4 points), three-point field goal percentage (No. 12, 37.4), won-lost percentage (No. 9, 90.5 percent), turnovers per game (No. 10, 13.4), scoring defense
(No. 12, 51.7 points), and assists per game (No. 15, 16.9 APG).
Yeah those numbers are good, but they’ve actually gone down the past five games. FGCU has had three single-digit wins in that span; all season they’ve had five. What is the cause of the recent slump?
The absence of senior guard Nicoya Jackson.
Jackson, who averages 12 points with four boards and three assists in 16 games this season, suffered a sprained knee in FGCU’s win over Jacksonville on Jan. 9. But is one player really the reason for lack of explosiveness lately? Simply put: yes.
Coach Karl Smesko loves Jackson. In an interview earlier in the year he stated: “She’ll be a first team all-conference player. We’re definitely a different team when we have her, so hopefully she’ll be back at full strength soon.”
He was right; they are a different team when they have her and also when they don’t. In the five games that she has been out, FGCU’s scoring average has gone down a whole seven points per game.
“She’s one of our best players,”
said Courtney Chihil, senior guard, after FGCU’s win against Stetson where they shot a season-low 22 percent from behind the arc. “Without her out there, we struggle and it’s a different game. I’m excited for her to come back.”
That may not seem like a lot, but in the tournament, seven points can be the difference in playing the next day or waiting seven months to play again.
Once Jackson comes back, which hopefully will be before games at UNF and Jacksonville Feb. 2 and 4, respectively, there will be some more changes that need to be fixed.
Here’s one: How about the best three-point shooting team in the country, that’s FGCU by the way with 11.5 threes per game, start making more than six like they did in their win against Kennesaw State on Jan. 28. You’re reading that right. Six three-pointers. That ties a season low, which was previously set against North Carolina State on Dec. 28. They lost that game.
A team that now shoots 37 percent from behind the arc can never have a game under 30 percent and expect to make it far in March. And yet, FGCU has had four games this year where they have shot less than 30 percent from three and have a 2-2 record in those games.
Chihil said it best. “Every team has games where they don’t make it or shoot well, but you just have to keep going, because that’s what our strength is. Eventually we’re hoping that they’re going to drop.”
FGCU is a team that does shoot a lot (1,232 shots so far this season including 647 threes). But despite their recent struggles, the Eagles are still first in the A-Sun in scoring offense and scoring defense.
Even with the recent struggles, the Eagles are without a doubt the best team in the A-Sun, and when Jackson comes back they’ll be an even better team. With seven games remaining in the year, the Eagles have already locked up their spot in the conference tournament. They are ranked 34th in the latest AP poll, 30th in the USA today poll, third in the most recent College Insider Mid-Major poll and a projected 13 seed in the NCAA tournament.
So, Eagle fans, don’t sweat the last five games because the next five opponents coming up have a combined 58-96 record with only one team having an above .500 record (Stetson). Coach Smesko is doing the right thing this season and he will accomplish his goal for the year: making it to the NCAA Tournament.
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ENSPORTSWeekly recap
The FGCU women’s tennis team recently took time to volunteer at Avalon Elementary last Friday in Naples. This is the third time this year that the women’s tennis team has volunteered in the community.
Women’s tennis
Softball
The FGCU softball team was selected third in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason coaches’ poll, the league announced Wednesday. Jacksonville earned top billing, edging out Lipscomb and the Eagles.
The FGCU men’s tennis team came back from 3-1 down but fell short against FAMU, 4-3 on Saturday at the FGCU Tennis Complex. Junior Jackson Moore opened the season with two straight singles wins.FGCU fell to 0-2 on the season and FAMU improved to 1-3.
Men’s tennis
Baseball
For the third consecutive season, the FGCU baseball team will host the “Battle of the Birds” against No. 13 Miami at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. Tickets for the Wednesday, Feb. 22 contest are now available at the FGCU ticket o!ce located in Alico Arena. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.FGCUAthletics.com/tickets.
Men’s golf
Saturday’s swimming and diving home meet versus Florida International University had a familiar tone for the “Perfect Seniors,” with a 198-99 win to move to 5-0 in Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) meets.
The aforementioned seniors are a quintet of swimmers who have never lost in conference action, a perfect 20-0. Senior swimmers Danielle Butler (Orangeburg, N.Y./Tappan Zee HS/St. Bonaventure), Victoria Cadge (Long Melford, Suffolk, United Kingdom/Kelly College), Alessandra Cianci (Plantation/St.
Thomas Aquinas), Leah Daniel (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Osceola) and Teri Lytle (Melbourne/Melbourne Central Catholic) were all honored with an emotional ceremony before the meet, with a touching speech by head coach Neal Studd. He dubbed the group the “Perfect Seniors” and had a special message for each athlete. The common theme of his speech, however, was appreciation.
“It shows how much our success means to him,” Lytle said.
Her teammate Leah talked about what Studd’s speech meant to them.
“He doesn’t like to show it often, but it was really great to hear. It means a lot to know that
he appreciates us as much as we did him,” said Daniel. “We’re more like a family than anything.”
Lytle and Butler reiterated Daniel’s comments, talking about what the swimming and diving program was like in years past.
“In the beginning, we were happy just to beat one school,” Lytle said.
Butler said, “There were no expectations. Now schools we used to compete with, we face them in exhibition matches.
“It’s nice to know we started this tradition. Joining this program was the best decision I ever made,” Butler said. “We didn’t realize until recently what we had going (undefeated in conference play). It’s pretty
special.” The meet was littered with
strong finishes from FGCU, including its signature event, the 200-yard medley relay. The senior squad of Lytle, Cadge, Butler and Daniel finished second with a time of 1:49.31, while the underclassmen squad finished in first with a time of 1:45.26. The winning team consisted of freshman Emma Svensson (Uppsala, Sweden/Celsiusskolan), junior Danielle Beaubrun (Vieux Fort, St. Lucia/The Bolles School), junior Shannon Blizzard (Jacksonville/Stanton College Prep) and sophomore Christina Tanninen (Burlington, Ontario/Shorecrest Prep)
Led by senior Brandon Pena’’s "fth top-10 "nish of the year, FGCU "nished eighth out of 13 teams at the Sea Best Invitational on Jan. 31.
