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RIMSON The Florida Tech
The Official Student-Run Newspaper•since
1967
INDEX Campus Life.......................................2-4 Local News.............................................5 Auto......................................9 Sports.................................10-12
Voices of rape survivors
Issue 3
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020
SPRING
"To think that all three of us are standing here with the commonality that we were all raped," said one Florida Tech rape survivor. Photo//Quang Dinh
Athletic trainers leave Florida Tech
elena cuilli \\ Staff writer
A year of change is ahead for Florida Tech student-athletes who will no longer be receiving treatments from two of their athletic trainers. Natasha Gough, a former Florida Tech assistant athletic trainer, left the university in November. “Natasha was a fundamental person in the athletic training staff,” said Valur Vallson, a senior on the men’s basketball team majoring in business administration. “She helped me recover from my ankle injury,” he added. Gough was responsible for treating athletes on cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, women's lacrosse and men's rowing teams. Amanda Gick has been announced as the new assistant athletic trainer to replace Gough. Gick received her bachelor's
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degree in athletic training followed by a master's degree at Western Michigan University. Taking over some of Gough’s responsibilities, Gick will be providing treatment for athletes on women's basketball, women’s lacrosse and men’s rowing. “Florida Tech is a great place to work,” Gick said. “It is a relaxing work environment and I love the fact that I interact with international students every day.” Florida Tech swimmers have also been assigned new athletic trainers. For more than six years, Florida Tech’s swimming program was assigned Joseph Fiorina as their athletic trainer. Fiorina was also the athletic trainer for football and women’s lacrosse until January 2020, when he decided to teach sports medicine and fitness technology at Keiser
continued on page 4 Page 4 Shark Lab
Close up of the bead work of "I am ill, I still see Color and Beauty: Jamludi The Red Cow" by Zondlile Zondo. Photo//Tessa Dury
Ubuhle beadwork comes to campus
tessa dury \\ Staff writer
The Ruth Funk Center’s newest exhibit showcases a new form of bead art created by a group of women living in rural South Africa. The beadwork depicts the lives of women in South Africa. The artwork was created by sewing or tacking down Czech glass beads to a black fabric background, then displayed with carefully placed lights
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shining on the artwork. Exhibit curator, Keidra Navaroli, said the process of putting the beadwork on the galleries walls was a very meticulous and delicate job. “We wore gloves the entire time as well, to protect the art,” Navaroli said. The beadwork varies in subject matter, from more abstract works to specific imagery.
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Our Mission: Live, discover and report the truth
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CAMPUS LIFE
ISSUE 3
FEBRUARY 11
Sexual assault victims identify issues beyond reporting errors olivia mckelvey Emily walker \\ editor in chief Alumna writer
"The process of reporting my rape was nearly as bad as the rape itself," said one Florida Tech rape survivor. Photo//Quang Dinh
Five female undergraduate students said they were sexually assaulted between 2017 and 2018 and all reported their sexual assaults through various departments at Florida Tech. While their statistics have now been corrected in the 2019 Annual Security and Fire Safety reports, they expressed concerns relating to the process of reporting sexual assault on campus and how survivors are treated. “I feel better now that my rape is a recognized statistic,” said Nicole Farnsworth, a former Florida Tech student who reported her rape in 2018. Farnsworth said that as a rape survivor, she felt Florida Tech did not provide her the adequate resources in areas such as counseling and Title IX services. Other survivors also cited issues within Security, the Student Life Office and Greek Life.
CAPS Four out of the five rape survivors sought help at Florida Tech’s Counseling and Psychological Services. The four survivors all said they felt as though CAPS was not properly trained to help victims of sexual assault. Dr. Robin Tapley, director of CAPS, noted that there are three licensed psychologists on staff and five students in doctoral practices that also see patients. When these victims of sexual assault sought help at CAPS, they said they felt as though the discussions they had with their counselors— who are confidential reporters and not mandated to report rape unless there are signs of child or elder abuse—were irrelevant and not helpful. “We ended up talking about my family,” said one rape survivor. “I just wanted to understand what was happening,” she said.
Farnsworth said that she experienced something similar. “After a few sessions at CAPS, it just got so repetitive and redundant to the point where I felt like it wasn't helping,” Farnsworth said. Tapley explained that victims of sexual assault are treated the same as other patients in terms of gathering information. “That first appointment is helpful for establishing goals and providing coping mechanisms on a very individualized patient-bypatient basis,” Tapley said. Another issue that the survivors spoke of referred to a generalized treatment plan of “blanket coping mechanisms.” “It should not be one shoe fits all,” said one rape survivor. Another survivor of rape stated that she went to CAPS multiple times, but later stopped going. “I don’t put blame on the
therapist, I just think there are things at CAPS that can and should be improved,” she said. Security One student who said she was raped in 2017 initially reported to Title IX in 2018 and had a disciplinary hearing seven months later. When she reported her rape to two security officers, she said she was asked questions about what she was wearing and if she was drinking alcohol the night that her rape occurred. “Especially during my hearing, the fact that I was drinking was constantly brought up,” she said. “It was degrading to my character to hear that over and over again.” Erin Robinson, the press secretary for RAINN—the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network—explained that depending on how the victim interprets them, questions regarding what the victim was wearing and whether or not they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs is potentially re-traumatizing. “That type of language does not suggest that the survivor will have a greater level of comfort talking about what happened to them, or make the reporting process any easier,” Robinson said. Frank Iannone, director of security at Florida Tech, said it is not typical for these questions to be asked during an investigation of a rape. “To my knowledge, no security officers have asked those types of questions,” Iannone said. Iannone has been director of security at Florida Tech since the spring of 2019. He was not working at the university during the time in which all reported rapes mentioned by the above students took place. Title IX Two women who reported their rapes in 2017 stated that they had positive interactions with the Title IX coordinator
at the time, Joni Oglesby. “She made me feel comfortable and made me aware of all my options,” said one rape survivor. Oglesby left the university in 2018, and Linda Jancheson took her place that February. As of January 2020, Jancheson has been removed from the position of Title IX coordinator. “I won’t believe for a second that Linda Jancheson received proper training,” said one student who reported being raped in her dorm in 2018. “I was handed some generic papers and told to be on my way.” In August of 2019, Jancheson told The Crimson that she specifically had a Title IX certificate, but was unsure if it was mandatory, deeming it “helpful.” “The most important thing is that I’m up-to-date on any federal regulations or laws in compliance with Title IX,” Jancheson said. Another rape survivor said she had a positive experience with Jancheson. “She even helped me avoid running into my rapist by giving me security clearance to the back door of the building I had classes in and where my rapist also worked as a student employee,” she said. In the time since Jancheson was removed from the position of Title IX coordinator, she has not commented despite multiple efforts made by The Crimson. Office of Student Life One student who said she was sexually assaulted in 2017 went to Cat Nanney, director of student involvement, and Dean of Students Rodney Bowers for help. “The guy that sexually assaulted me was a brother from PIKE [Pi Kappa Alpha],” she said. She added that she went to Nanney and Bowers to see if there was anything they could do, whether it be kicking him out of the fraternity or
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continued from 2 providing other consequences. “Both of them told me there was nothing they could do,” she said. “I was told that they have no control over chapter membership and that was it.” According to Nanney, if a student comes to her with a report of sexual assault in Greek Life, it is dealt with on a student basis, not a fraternity basis. “I can’t hold the entire chapter accountable for one particular member,” Nanney said. Nanney also added that in the past she has gone directly to the fraternity national headquarters to notify them of the particular sexual assault report. Bowers also stated that he cannot remove members from Greek Life. As a mandated reporter, he must report cases of sexual assault to campus security and let them carry out their investigation. “Temporary measures” are an option that Bowers also mentioned. Referred to as interim measures in Florida Tech’s Title IX policy, such actions include access to counseling or mental health services, an order of no contact, residence hall relocation, adjustment of course schedules or workstudy employment, a leave of absence, transportation arrangements or reassignment to a different supervisor or position. Bowers said he “could not recall” if any “temporary measures” had been taken in the past three years. Nanney said that she has not had to take any “temporary measures” within the past three years because those types of sexual assault reports have been passed onto the fraternity’s national organization for further review.
ART continued Two panels of beadwork created by artist Nonhlakanipho Mndiyatha called “Transkei Landscapes” are examples of the more abstract beadwork on display. The beads resemble mountains or trees. Bold colors with a variety of shapes and patterns suggest the possibility of nature within the piece. One student at Florida Tech received artistic work experience and other benefits from the exhibition. Frederico Giovine, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering at Florida Tech, created an interactive game based on the beadwork to go along with the panels in the gallery. Giovine said working on the project gave him a deeper appreciation for the art. Other displays at the rural South African exhibit depict glittery images of animals
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CAMPUS LIFE The student who said she was sexually assaulted by a member of Pi Kappa Alpha later was black-listed from the fraternity house and was told it was because she “was a liability.” Two of the five students who have come forward said they were sexually assaulted by two different members of Florida Tech’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter in 2017. President of Florida Tech’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter, Robbie FraserCaris, sent The Crimson the following statement: “If any allegations of sexual misconduct arise, the chapter leadership places the accused member on administrative suspension pending the outcome of an investigation by the university or related authorities. The chapter supports any person who may have experienced sexual misconduct in reporting it to the appropriate authorities and/or to seek counseling and other forms of support services provided by the university and local organizations. For Zeta Sigma Chapter, the care, safety and well-being of our members and guests remain our top priority.” Fraser-Caris also emphasized that all members of Florida Tech’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter have completed sexual assault prevention and intervention training and stated that “treating all persons with dignity and respect is critical” to the chapter. Response from President McCay Changes have been made at Florida Tech in light of the university under-reporting certain crimes such as sexual assault from 2016 through 2018. Women’s self-defense classes on campus have begun, student athletes have recently received their annual Title IX such as oxen and chickens. The largest piece in the exhibit is several panels put together in a display called “The African Crucifixion.” The piece is 15 feet wide and 23 feet high. According to The International Arts & Artists nonprofit organization, the African Crucifixion took seven female Ubuhle artists over a year to complete. Furthermore, the piece was commissioned to be a decoration in the Anglican Cathedral in the South African city of Pietermaritzburg. There were many visitors at the exhibits opening night, and their emotional responses to the art were heard in hushed tones all throughout the gallery. “It’s quite powerful,” said Donna Sewell, Ruth Funk Center’s manager of visitor services. “I don’t normally feel quite so moved, but this art really is something.”
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"My sexual assault continues to be minimized," Farnsworth said. Photo//Quang Dinh training and programs such as writing love letters to rape survivors have been organized by Florida's Tech student life office. In the faculty senate meeting held on Jan. 14, President T. Dwayne McCay discussed the Clery Act. The faculty senate meeting minutes read: “McCay explained that there are lots of nuances when it comes to reporting.” He also said that there were six rapes within three years. He then “reiterated that all six cases involved alcohol, and all were between people that knew each other.” In a phone call to The Crimson, McCay said he felt it was necessary at the senate meeting to discuss the risk of drinking. “When you drink too heavily and become
inebriated, it can lead to problems,” McCay said. According to a 2007 campus sexual assault study published by the U.S. Department of Justice, alcohol consumption by the victim is a major risk factor for sexual assault. “One’s decision to drink or not to drink does not give someone the right to rape,” Farnsworth said. According to statistics published in the 2017 National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the Department of Justice, eight out of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim. “You know rape to be violent and aggressive from what we were taught or what was shown on TV, when in reality that is not always the case,” one Florida Tech rape survivor said.
"The African Crucifixion" on display at the Funk gallery. Photo//Tessa Dury
“I wanted to dismiss any fears that some may think we have rapists running around on campus,” McCay told The Crimson. He said he wanted to emphasize in the faculty senate meeting that Florida Tech is a safe campus and students' safety is a top priority to him. With the topic of sexual assault being dicussed at the faculty senate meeting and on the agenda for the upcoming town hall, McCay spoke of the nature of rape itself. “Rape is horrifying, but murder is worse,” he said over the phone. McCay then emphasized that this situation is being addressed and necessary measures are being taken to ensure campus safety.
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CAMPUS LIFE Dive into the Shark Lab
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trainer continued
arianna schuck \\ Staff writer
Gick provides treatment for Florida Tech student athletes at Clemente. Photo// Elena Ciulli
University. Christine Clancy and Daniel Musch have now been providing treatment for athletes that previously saw Fiorina. Clancy received her bachelor’s in athletic training from Valdosta State College. She then earned her master’s in arts and teaching at Georgia State. Working at Florida Tech for now 13 years, Clancy currently treats athletes in women's soccer, softball, men’s golf and men and women’s swimming. “I was part of a swimming team when I was younger and it’s fun to work in this environment,” Clancy said.
Musch has been assisting Clancy and has been an assistant athletic trainer at Florida Tech since 2017. He graduated from the University of Toledo and received a Master of Science in athletic training at the East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania before starting his career at Florida Tech. It’s a “transition period for the Panthers with more changes to come,” Clancy said. She said that within the next few weeks more news regarding the status of athletic trainers on campus will likely be released.
Toby Daly-Engel, an assistant professor in Ocean Engineering a n d Marine Sciences at Florida Tech, dedicates her time outside the classroom to saving one particular animal: sharks. Head of the shark conservation lab on campus, Daly-Engel stated that a scientific study has three major parts: the question, the tools used and the application. “The question always has something to do with evolution, ecology or reproduction [of sharks] or other animals that invest heavily in reproduction which are keystone predators in their environment,” Daly-Engel said. In the lab, there is an array of tools used to answer these questions. Students are tagging and tracking sharks in the field for data, and DNA is being sequenced and then amplified in a polymerase chain reaction machine for even further study. The combination of these
Toby Daly-Engel conducting research in the field. Photo//Facebook.com-Daly-Engel Shark Conservation Lab.
tools has led to the findings of cryptic species by the lab. This means that visually, one shark could look exactly like another one but is genetically completely different. “Although the sharks have been here for a while, we’re only now finding out how many different species and how much diversity there is in these unique groups of sharks hiding in plain sight,” Daly-Engel said. She went on to add that unless an animal is recognized as its own species there is no way to protect it. According to the International Union of the Conservation of Nature, about 45 percent of sharks and rays are classified as “data deficient,”
meaning that there is insufficient information for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made. “We are worried that some species are going extinct before they are even described,” Daley-Engel said. With plenty of more research needed to be conducted within the field, the shark conservation lab aims to conduct research for a better understanding of the species and the importance of conserving them. If you work in a lab on campus that you are interested in the Crimson featuring, contact crimson@ fit.edu.
LOCAL NEWS 5 New findings and changes as a result of Clery ISSUE 3
Reports of Coronavirus decreasing sonja michaels \\ Staff writer
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, has continued to cause respiratory illness around the world, with a total of 34,546 worldwide cases according to Associated Press. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 12 confirmed U.S cases in a Feb. 7 update. No cases were reported in Florida. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization on Jan. 30. The entry of foreign nationals who had been in China in the past 14 days was suspended on Jan. 31, with the suspension going into effect Feb. 2, according to a proclamation on the White House website. The proclamation states that U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their families may enter, but must undergo health screening at specific airports including San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport. Individuals not affected by this suspension, such as U.S. citizens, are subject to screening and other preventative measures,
according to the CDC. The CDC maintains a “people under investigation” chart on its 2019-nCoV page, displaying the number of confirmed cases, negative tests and pending investigations, followed by a state-by-state breakdown. Symptoms continue to be described as fever, cough and shortness of breath. The Los Angeles Times reports that the resulting fatalities outnumbered severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as of Feb. 9, but that the number of new cases dropped by 20 percent from the previous day. Selvin McLean, director of environmental health and safety at Florida Tech, emphasized communication in regards to Florida Tech’s response to the virus. McLean said that Florida Tech references the CDC’s updates and guidelines as the basis for their response. He encouraged students to get screened if they believe they may have been exposed to the virus. “Get with your healthcare provider, or come here to the clinic to get screened, that way you are one step ahead and get that assurance,” McLean said. The environmental health and safety department at Florida Tech has periodically emailed notices with updates on the outbreak as the disease garnishes more attention and the number of cases continues to rise.
Local artist spotlight: Deserted Will jordan densler \\ contributing writer
A new music scene has been emerging on the Space Coast. With society on a high for nostalgia, themed live cover nights are popping up everywhere with some of the most popular being “Emo Nights.” This is paving the way for local rock, punk, and metal bands to gain new exposure. More and more people are discovering new songs by local bands from Brevard County. Deserted Will is one of the new up-and-coming groups in Brevard. Deserted Will is the musical brainchild of members Trevor Garlinghouse (vocalist and guitarist), Aaron Silcott (drummer) and Austin Friedman (bassist). The three met while going to college in Gainesville. Since then, Friedman went off to medical school, and the current bassist is Evan Ludin. “We went to a lot of shows
together and started jamming out a lot right after we were out of college”, Garlinghouse said. The band continued on to come up with the name Deserted WIll for themselves based off the idea that Silcott wanted a band name with the concept of “not living your life up to a certain testimony, not having your will guide you, and not really caring about it because you are invincible.” Deserted Will played their debut show at Uncle Lou’s Entertainment Hall in Orlando. Garlinghouse fondly remembered the show, saying, “It was awesome, with maybe 30 or so people there.” Since then, the band has come a long way and played many shows across the state. Now, Deserted Will has plans to release their extended play record in late March. You can catch their final show on Feb. 22 at The Dog & Bone British Pub in Cocoa. If you have a local band you’d like to suggest for a future Crimson local artist spotlight email crimson@fit.edu.
investigation olivia mckelvey Emily walker \\ editor in chief Alumna writer
In light of the recent reporting on Clery Act violations at Florida Tech, updates have been made campuswide, and requests regarding local law enforcement records have been received. Records requests Records obtained from Brevard County Sheriff's Office show that Florida Tech has not requested Clery crime statistics from this law agency since at least September 2018. The Clery Act requires federally funded campuses to gather information from local law enforcement when compiling data for the annual security report. According to Florida Tech’s 2019 Annual Security and Fire Safety reports, the university works “directly with various departments at Florida Tech as well as the Melbourne and Palm Bay Police Departments and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office to collect all of this information.” BCSO stated that their information requests only include one fiscal year; hence, records could not be obtained to see if Florida Tech made requests for Clery crime statistics to BCSO in 2016 and 2017. “Moving forward, all of the local agencies, county agencies, state agencies and federal agencies that might have any jurisdiction or fall within any of our Clery geography will be contacted appropriately,” said Frank Iannone, director of security at Florida Tech. External consultant Another update regarding the on-going Clery Act investigation is the selection of an external consultant. According to Patrick Healy, general counsel at Florida Tech, the law firm Husch Blackwell has been appointed as the external consultant. It is expected that their review
will be completed within no more than 90 days, according to Michael Grieves, Florida Tech’s executive director. President T. Dwayne McCay told The Crimson in December that the purpose of the external consultant will be to provide expertise and clarity. Husch Blackwell will also be responsible for re-examining the internal review of crime statistics conducted by Iannone. McCay emphasized that the external consultant will also add external validity to the process. Title IX Fanak Baarmand was announced as the new title IX coordinator on Jan. 13. Baarmand was appointed when the previous Title IX coordinator, Linda Jancheson, was removed from the position. “The Crimson Clery articles raised our awareness of the fact that the university may not have demonstrated the appropriate empathy for some of the students who sought assistance with Title IX issues,” Healy said. Healy, whom Baarmand reports to, said that someone in the position of Title IX coordinator should be capable of managing conflict and have a working knowledge of Title IX as well as some familiarity with Clery, the Violence Against Women Act and other areas of discrimination law. “I am confident that Fanak has the requisite knowledge and demeanor to be an excellent Title IX coordinator,” Healy said. According to Healy, over the past 30 days, Baarmand has completed the online Title IX coordinator training course offered through the National Association of College and University Attorneys. He said she has also completed the Title IX coordinator and administrator level one training and certification course offered through the Association of Title IX Administrators. “We anticipate that in
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the coming months, Florida Tech's Title IX training and procedures will be significantly strengthened under Fanak's leadership,” Healy said. Since starting her position as Title IX coordinator, Baarmand has aided at least one student who said she was sexually assaulted in 2017. The sexual assault victim stated that she had a class with her assailant this semester and “was panicked” when she saw him on the first day of classes. “I went to my professor and asked what to do, and they told me to go to the Title IX coordinator,” she said. Shortly after going to Baarmand, her assailant was removed from the class, and a no-contact order was put into place. “She was super helpful and made sure I got what I needed,” the sexual assault victim said. Crime logs Another change that has been implemented since the Clery investigation is the process of obtaining crime logs from the department of security. Previously, crime logs were sent daily to The Crimson via email and were accessible if requested. As of January, Security has implemented a new process that requires students to come into the security office to view the crime logs. Authorized security staff supervises the viewings of the crime logs. Students are also not allowed to take videos or pictures of the logs, although they may take notes. Grieves said that he was the one responsible for the change in the crime log policy. “Could I basically say to you that in the past, we had 60-day crime logs that were up-to-date and viewable? I can't say that,” Grieves said. Grieves added that he can now confidently say that with the new policy that Iannone has implemented, crime logs are up-to-date and available for inspection to comply with the Clery Act.
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AUTO 9 Review: Harley Davidson Street 750 ISSUE 3
Kevin Boodoosingh \\ managing editor
The Street 750 is Harley Davidson’s attempt to rebrand and market themselves to a younger audience. I say they did a good job. The Street 750 is not a power cruiser, a big long haul cruiser or a track weapon. The Street 750 and it’s smaller sibling the Street 500 is designed for commuting and city riding.
The Street focuses on maneuverability, handling and reliability. And it is styled for the part. The Street is pretty modest in the styling but it is without a doubt a Harley Davidson. This bike is a great alternative option for a beginning rider. It is an easy bike to ride with well-adjusted suspension and brakes to
allow a new rider to feel confident on control inputs but it has enough power to get make you nervous if you are overconfident. And this power is the Street 750’s best attribute. Using a variation of the iconic Harley Davidson V-Rod’s engine, the Street 750 and 500 uses a liquid-cooled v-twin engine that is very responsive.
The Street 750 takes a lot of its styling cues from its bigger more expensive brothers. With a starting price of $7,600 it is competitive with bikes in its class such as the Kawasaki Vulcan S, $7,000 and the Yamaha Bolt $8,000. Photo// Kevin Boodoosingh
It responds very quickly and you will find yourself shifting through its six gears quickly. You can definitely tell that this bike is designed for city riding. With the Street’s engine combined with its handling, it dodges potholes and cars with ease. The Street 750 is a great beginner bike that is going to keep a rider captivated
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for some time. With generic cruiser looks, it is going to blend in with the bigger cruisers but with its high revving liquid-cooled motor, the Street is definitely going to be in front of bigger cruisers and may even keep up with some sport-bikes on city streets and paired with a custom exhaust it will for sure sound menacing.
The Street 750 uses a liquid-cooled variation of the V-Rod's engine. The engine produces 53 hp and 47.9 lb.ft. Photo//Kevin Boodoosingh
10 SPORTS ISSUE 3
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Free tuition from half court shot marc kannah \\ staff writer
Florida Tech students have the opportunity to win a year of free tuition at the Florida Tech men's basketball senior night on Feb. 26. In order to win this year of free tuition, four finalists will be selected at home games by competing in three-point shot competitions. The finalists will then face off in a half-court shot competition on senior night. Two finalists have already been chosen, sophomore Gustavo Antunes and junior Daniel Talisuna Owurum “I love basketball, I try putting in some work whenever I can,” Antunes said. “I’m excited, I hope I win.” The competition is being organized by the Office of Student Life. Bino Campanini, senior vice president of student life and alumni affairs, said that the competition along with past events are geared at increasing sporting event attendance. As an alumnus himself, Campanini noted that spring attendance is not what it used to be in the
past. “We believe that once they [students] get out and you get a lot of people there, it becomes a fun activity,” Campanini said. Campanini also said that having events that incentivize student attendance enhances the experience of basketball and other spectator sports on campus. “The idea is that we have existing events on campus, that lets us build on those instead of always trying to create something brand new,” Campanini said. Student Body President Jace Petrowski said, “I think it's a great step forward.” Petrowski believes this will be a fun and exciting way to provide more opportunities for students to receive scholarships. The next opportunity to become a finalist will be on Feb. 15 and Feb. 22. Both games begin at 4 p.m at the Clemente Center.
Find yourself twiddling your thumbs during the week? WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO.
Join the weekly Crimson meetings on Wednesday nights at 6:00 p.m. in the newsroom (the back entrance of Grissom Hall) to snag a story and a slice of pizza.
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SPORTS
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Football sees a rise in traumatic brain injuries nationwide johnny obrien \\ staff writer
During Super Bowl LIV, a moment of silence was taken by NFL officials and fans to commemorate players who have suffered from brain-related injuries such as concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy during the 100-year anniversary of the NFL. CTE is a degenerative brain disease that can lead to memory loss, depression and dementia; and has become more prevalent in recent years in sports with numerous cases surfacing in football since the 1970s according to the Netflix documentary “A Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez.” The first case studied was that of center Mike Webster, a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty in the 1970s. After dying of a heart attack in 2002, Dr. Bennet Omalu studied Webster’s brain for what would be the first case of CTE in a continuous observation for medical doctors for years to come. A study from the medical press published in 2017 cites as many as 202 deceased former football players showed evidence of brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head across the NFL, collegiate teams and even high school teams. One hundred seventy-seven of those players had confirmed cases of CTE. One hundred ten of the 111 NFL players that have donated their brains to research have confirmed cases of CTE, a trend upwards of 99 percent. According to psychologists, CTE occurs in players
Panther Football red shirt freshman quarterback Michael Diliello. Photo//Haydlee Slutzky with repeated hits to the head, no matter the impact of the hit, big or small. Based on information from the Centers for Disease Control, the effects of these hits have been linked to specific changes in brain chemistry, with signs of personality change, short term memory and aggression being exhibited by players with the disease. Linebacker Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers was one player who suffered from CTE. In May of 2012, he committed suicide after showing symptoms of mood
Panther Football freshman quarterback Michael Diliello. Photo//Haydlee Slutzky
swings, irrationality, forgetfulness, insomnia and depression according to the San Diego Chargers team doctor David Chao. According to “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez,” in the summer of 2013, Hernandez was convicted for the murder of family friend Odin Lloyd. Hernandez later hanged himself in his cell in 2017 and his family donated his brain to CTE research. Boston University’s Alzheimer specialist Dr. Ann McKee has studied more brains of former contact
athletes than anyone in the world. By her diagnosis, Hernandez’s disease at the age of 27 was highly advanced. “I can say that this is substantial damage that undoubtedly took years to develop,” McKee said. “This did not develop acutely, as the changes in his brain have been evolving maybe even as long as a decade.” With recent players like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly retiring due to injuries related to concussions, Florida Tech football players haven’t wavered in being skeptical in continuing to play a game they love. “I have no fear when it comes to CTE and the sport of football, and I’ll allow my children to play whatever sport they want, including football,” said sophomore Payton Cleveland, a Florida Tech offensive tackle. Cleveland recognizes that all hits to the head are different, with a lot of emphasis being put on taking the head out of the game. Never being diagnosed with a concussion himself, Cleveland admits that he has taken a hit to the head but never felt any serious pain lasting longer than a few seconds. Florida Tech psychology professor Frank Webbe has directed the Concussion Management Program at Florida Tech since its inception 10 years ago. Webbe currently serves as treasurer of the Sports Neuropsychology Society, which includes members who work with the NFL, NHL and MLB. Webbe says that while
CTE articles have been greatly promoted in national media, there is still little relative information about who might fall prey to the disorder. “It seems likely that an accumulation of insults to the brain may be the major environmental factor that brings on the disorder,” Webbe said. Webbe believes with good concussion management programs, concussed players can be removed from play until their cognitive, emotional, sleep and physical symptoms have resolved, and cognitive and balance testing has confirmed that they have recovered. “We prefer, in fact, to be conservative, so that every student who has suffered a concussion is not returned to sports activity until all vestiges of the injury have resolved,” Webbe said. Upon when and if team doctors find that a student-athlete is taking a long time to recover—usually after a history of multiple concussions—team doctors recommend that they retire from play. Alike to Cleveland, Florida Tech redshirt freshman quarterback Michael DiLiello isn’t exactly discouraged by players retiring early. “With younger players retiring early, I get that it might shake some people up who don’t play, but it’s just a sad side effect of the game for certain players.”
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Sports Recap
Chiefs crowned Super Bowl Champions
david thompson \\ staff writer
Men’s Basketball: Overall Record: 10-13
Photo//Florida Tech Athletics
Jan 29. 74-88-Loss at Palm Beach Atlantic Feb 1. 88-97-Loss at Lynn Feb 5. 84-86-Loss vs Barry Feb.8. 82-112-Loss at Florida Southern
The Panthers have now dropped four straight games and are currently placed 9th in the Sunshine State Conference. With only five regular-season games remaining the men’s team will look to get back on track Wednesday at Eckerd College.
Women’s Basketball: Overall Record: 11-12 Jan 29. 77-50-Win at Palm Beach Atlantic Feb 1.63-58-Win at Lynn Feb 5. 51-55-Loss vs Barry Feb 8. 73-70-Win at Florida Southern Photo//Florida Tech Athletics
After winning three of their last four games the women’s basketball team now sits at fourth in the SSC. With five games remaining in the regular season the Panthers will try to finish strong heading into the playoffs.
Baseball: Overall Record: 1-5
Photo//Florida Tech Athletics
Jan 31. 5-6-Loss vs Lindenwood Feb 2.5-4-Win vs Lindenwood Feb 2. 0-12-Loss vs Lindenwood Feb 7. 4-10-Loss vs Valdosta State
Feb 7. 2-12-Loss vs PBA Feb 8. 2-10-Loss at Wingate The Panthers are off to a slow start, averaging just three runs per game and allowing nine runs per game to their opponents. On the bright side, this is just the beginning of the baseball season and they’ll look to tack on their second win Tuesday against Flagler.
Softball: Overall Record: 1-7 Feb 1. 4-5-Loss vs Lubbock Christian University Feb 1. 2-11-Loss vs University of West Florida Feb 2. 0-9-Loss vs Valdosta Photo//Florida Tech Athletics State Feb 7. 1-9-Loss vs University of West Georgia Feb 7. 2-3-Loss vs The University of Alabama in Huntsville Feb 8. 0-2-Loss vs Angelo State University Feb 8. 3-5-Loss vs University of West Florida Feb 9. 6-5-Win vs University of West Alabama After beginning their season with six straight losses, the Panthers were able to get their first win against West Alabama. The softball team will hope to continue to shake off their slow start this weekend in a three-game series against Florida Southern College.
Patrick Mahomes was named MVP for passing 286 yards along with passing two touchdowns. Photo//Chiefs.com
Julius luchs \\ staff writer
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV with a score of 31-20, making the Chiefs the 2020 champions of the National Football League. Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, was named Super Bowl MVP after passing for 286 yards along with passing two touchdowns. At 24-years-old, Mahomes has become the youngest player to win the NFL MVP award. “Mahomes is a beast,” said Alexis Layne, a sophomore majoring in aviation management with flight. “That man can never be contained and never pushed into a position where a play cannot be made.”
Layne also said while he enjoyed this year’s Super Bowl advertisements, he has liked ones from past years better. According to Sports Illustrated, a commercial for the Super Bowl cost $5.6 million to be aired on television. The Lost Angeles Times reported that 99.9 million television viewers watched Superbowl LIV. “Super Bowl Sunday has become somewhat of a holiday these days,” said Joey Hecht, a junior majoring in aerospace engineering. “I was excited to watch the 49ers’ top-ranked defense against the Chiefs’ explosive offense.” Hecht enjoys the coaching styles of Kyle Shannahan, head coach for the 49ers, and
Andy Reid, head coach for the Chiefs. “The fact that Andy Reid and the Chiefs have been so snakebitten in the past made me want to root for the Chiefs to win,” Hecht added. The Chiefs were down 20-10 before Mahomes led the Chiefs to take the lead in the last quarter of the game. “The best thing the 49ers could’ve done to protect their 10 point, fourth-quarter lead, would’ve been keeping the ball out of Mahomes hands,” Hecht said. With Super Bowl LIV finished, the NFL season has concluded. Fans will have to wait until September for the next NFL season to kick off.
Tribute to NBA legend: Kobe Bryant Julius luchs \\ staff writer
Basketball legend and former Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant, along with eight other people, were tragically killed in a helicopter accident on Jan. 26. The 41-year-old NBA legend had a 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who was also in the helicopter during the accident and also passed away. Bryant and his daughter were heading to Kobe’s Mamba Academy Basketball Camp, along with the other passengers who had daughters that played with Gianna on her basketball team. Off the basketball court, he had a wife Vanessa, and four daughters, including Gianna. Bryant played 20 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers, had been selected to play in 18 all-star games and won five championships and two Olympic gold medals. He is well known for his work ethic and pushing himself to be the best player he can be, which he nicknamed “mamba mentality.” “Bryant’s ‘mamba mentality’ has become famous now as that was the attitude that helped him go straight from high school to the NBA,” said Billy Mims, Florida Tech’s head coach of the men’s basketball team.
Photo//nba.com
Mims has been the head coach for Florida Tech men’s basketball team for 15 years and has been coaching basketball for 39 years. “Kobe Bryant was an international star who touched lives all over the globe,” Mims said. “His international celebrity status and worldwide influence on the game of basketball makes his unexpected death comparable to the loss of other icons from the entertainment industry,” Mims referenced celebrities such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana. Mims added that Bryant’s jersey numbers, eight and 24, were honored around the world in many ways by the millions of fans who adored him as a player and an ambassador of the sport. The news seemed unbelievable to fans that have followed Bryant’s career. “In the beginning, I swear it was fake,” said Florida Tech
senior basketball guard Antonis Pefanis. “I was waiting for someone to come out and say, ‘yeah, it is fake.’” Pefanis, an international marketing major from Greece said he looked up to Bryant. “Kobe was always my favorite player, he was the reason why I started playing basketball,” Pefanis said. Pefanis’ first basketball jersey was a Bryant jersey that was gifted to him by his father. “I always wanted to be like him,” he said. Pefanis also shared how Kobe’s passing is bigger than basketball, saying, “It reminds us that you can’t take anything for granted.” The world has continued to pay tribute to Bryant, with billboards, artwork and moments of silence in sporting events such as professional basketball games, the Pro Bowl and soccer matches. “When it comes to basketball, his legacy continues through all of us,” Pefanis said. “Everyone that plays can continue to improve and become the best we can be as players and as people in the community.”