February 19, 2021

OUTHERN S The Student Voice of Florida Southern College

Faculty member leaves art dept.

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FRIDAY, February 19, 2021 VOL. 137, NO. 2

Future of in-person events depend on student compliance

Sophia Gonzalez News Editor

Photo by Jillian Kurtz Professor William Allen teaches the Intro to Digital Film course in a classroom in the Old Safety building.

Professor Matthew Herbertz, after spearheading the BFA film program at Florida Southern, has stepped down from his role as Program Director. “There was a lot of pressure I was putting on myself, I had a lot of high hopes and aspirations and I like to move very quickly and sometimes the wheels of higher-ed don’t move that quickly. That creates a lot of tension,” Herbertz said. Joining the faculty as a full-time professor of film in the fall of 2017, Herbertz viewed the position as a “stepping stone.” He saw the potential for film at Florida Southern to grow, he said. When Herbertz started at Florida Southern, he was only six months out of grad school. “Fast forward to me stepping down and I think a lot of the pressure I put on myself was a big reason why I wasn’t in a place to continue,” Herbertz said. The film program at Florida Southern expanded from a concentration within the communication department to a Bachelor of Fine Arts program in less than four years. Associate Professor of Digital Media William Allen was on the search committee that hired Herbertz over three years ago. Allen spoke of the friendship that he developed with Herbertz and they were able to work together to build the program to what it is today. “I had the opportunity to write every word of curriculum with the help of Professor Allen,” Herbertz said. “My goal was to create a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program which is that pre-professional degree so it would be rigorous, intense and hands-on.” Allen has added a few more courses to his schedule, picking up some of the slack from the absence of Herbertz. Intro to Digital Film is a course that Allen taught at his previous institution and is looking

SOCIAL MEDIA

forward to getting back to the basics with the newer students in the program. Allen is also the program contact for the new Interactive and Game Design BFA which is also within the Visual Arts and Design department. The two BFA programs work hand in hand, with some of the course requirements overlapping, so it has been manageable for Allen. “Academics is based around transitions, students stay with us for four years and then leave, so I’ll just have to fill that gap while we wait to fill his [Herbertz’s] position,” Allen said. “ Chair of Visual Arts and Design William Otremsky has been a big encourager and supporter in the transition, according to Allen. “It’s unusual, or a challenge, to have a professor leave mid-year, but I think the timing was right for Prof Herbertz,” Allen said. Jesse Quales is a sophomore BFA Film major and was drawn to the hands-on approach that Herbertz brought into the classroom and out onto sets. “The biggest reason I came here was the mentors, especially Matthew Herbertz, he’s the one who got me on board here because he showed that he actually cared and was genuine about his work,” Quales said. Herbertz set up a meeting with the students of the film program to announce his transition out of his prominent role. Quales recalls being pretty disappointed in the news, but understood the reasoning behind the transition. Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Sara Harding emphasized Herbertz’s hard work in building the film program from the ground up. “He has done a terrific job framing that program out, connecting with students, recruiting and really getting that program off the ground,” Harding said. “We really owe him a debt of gratitude by getting it set up so very well.” The visual arts and design department faculty, specifically Professor William Allen, has been working to make sure the

film program is still being nurtured and the students are getting the education that they are guaranteed as students here. “I don’t think we will skip a beat, quite frankly,” Harding said. Harding stated that the art department, School of Arts and Sciences and the College as a whole are fully dedicated to the success of the BFA in Film program and its continued success. “We are moving positively forward and have a high commitment for success,” Harding said. “I think it’s really demonstrated through the department— faculty have picked up advisees, it’s a team effort.”

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It’s the hardest decision I’ve made in my life so far.

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Jillian Kurtz Editor-in-Chief

-Matthew Herbertz Professor of Film

Emphasizing the concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and hiring, the school is hopeful to fill the vacancy in the future. According to Herbertz, there will be a search within the next year in hopes of filling the role by the fall of 2022. “As soon as we are in a position to do a search and hire, we will,” Harding said. “As far as the timing of that, it’s just not predictable as of now.” After he is finished teaching part-time, Herbertz will no longer teach at Florida Southern after the completion of the spring 2021 semester. “It’s the hardest decision I’ve made in my life so far, but I knew it was a decision I had to make for my mental health and my sanity at the time - I needed a break,” Herbertz said.

@fscsouthern

The future of on-campus events relies on students and organizations following COVID-19 procedural guidelines set by the Center of Student Involvement (CSI). “The College will continue its fall policies regarding on-campus events,” FSC said in an email sent out to students before the start of the spring semester. This means that the school will be moving through phases to provide clubs and organizations with proper procedures to follow when hosting activities. These procedures will be in accordance with the most current information from the CDC and the Polk County Department of Health. “Student clubs and organizations are permitted to host in-person events as long as they follow the event guidelines that CSI has in place for the spring semester,” Director of Student Involvement Jacqueline Inskeep said. In order to follow proper safety procedures on-campus organizations have had to take extra precautions. Students must wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing. Winter Wonderland was a bigger event, so they spread it out throughout campus and ensured that the ice rink and other equipment were properly sanitized, according to Inskeep. Sophie Talbert is Alpha Chi Omega’s Vice President of New Member Education and was involved in sorority bid day preparations. “We ensured that that there were no more than 25 people gathered at any point during the day and that masks were worn at all times, even in photos,” Talbert said. For bigger events, this can be more difficult but Inskeep says that if any oncampus organizations need creative ways to plan a safe event, that they should reach out to CSI. On-campus events are important for students to feel a sense of community, especially freshmen. “Our organization felt it was important to have an in-person bid day because it allows the new members to feel connected to us,” Talbert said. “Many girls going through recruitment are freshmen, so they have not had the opportunity to meet and connect with friends as easily as they have in the past.” Inskeep stated that success with following safety protocols in the past inperson events this semester such as Winter Wonderland will ensure that we have more on-campus events in the future. Failure to follow events can result in disciplinary action from the school. “In the event that a student does not follow COVID procedures during an inperson event at FSC, they will be asked to leave the event and reported to the Office of Accountability, Education and Compliance,” Inskeep said.

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The Southern FEBRUARY 19, 2021

NEWS BRIEFS

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Virtual recruitment impacts house numbers Diego De Jesus Staff Writer

Polk grocery stores distribute vaccines Publix, Walmart and Sam’s Club added Polk to its list of Florida counties that will offer COVID-19 vaccinations, According to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Healthcare personnel with direct patient contact, residents and staff in long-term healthcare facilities and persons 65-years and older are eligible for the vaccines at 24 grocery-pharmacies in Polk.

This semester’s sorority recruitment week was different due to the COVID-19 pandemic with concerns for safety due to partially in-person Bid Day. Allison Tracey, a sister of Gamma Phi Beta, is the Outgoing New Member Educator. She was in charge of planning Bid Day and the education of new members; getting them ready for their initiation into the organization. “The whole recruitment process is a lot different this year, but in my opinion, it

is a lot less overwhelming than in-person recruitment,” Tracey said. “It is nice to recruit from the comfort of my own apartment and not have to rush from my internship to RP Funding.” COVID-19 caused recruitment to be held over Zoom and many like Tracey find it more convenient than doing it in-person. However, due to the virtual setting of recruitment, sororities’ bid numbers dropped. Most sororities are currently going through continuous open bidding to make sure that they hit their house total numbers. “I don’t know the exact numbers, but

SoCo Artist Spotlight FSC’s student artists will be performing online. The event will take place on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. Audience members can tune into SoCo’s IGTV page or go to their YouTube Channel to watch the event. This is SoCo’s first spotlight of the semester.

Poetry, Spoken Word and Open-Mic On Feb. 21 from 6 to 6:30 p.m., community members can go to Stage Room at Lemon Street to read self-written poetry or read excerpts from their favorite poets. This event is free and is hosted every third Sunday of the month. Attendees are encouraged to donate. Proceeds will go towards Just Cares Inc.

Paint by Number Giveaway The Simmons Center for Multicultural Appreciation is hosting a paint-by-number activity to help celebrate Black History Month. Participants are signing up to make paintings of Black icons: Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Michelle Obama. The event will take place at the Simmons Center on Feb. 22 from 5 to 6 p.m.

LKLD Indie Fest 2021 The Lkld Indie Fest will take place at The Yard On Mass on Feb. 28 from 1 to 7 p.m. Presale tickets are $5 or $10 at the door. This event will feature local artists. There will be food trucks at the event for guests, no outside food is allowed.

Photo courtesy of Gamma Phi Beta

Gamma Phi Beta welcomed their new class home with their ‘honey I’m home’ theme.

I do know that the number of girls who signed up for recruitment was less than last year,” Tracey said. “I don’t think COVID is part of the cause, I think that some girls who are waiting to sign up until they know that they will be able to do events safely in-person and not via Zoom.” Jacqueline Inskeep, the Director of Student Involvement, provided COVID19’s effect on recruitment number-wise. “We did expect to see a decline in recruitment numbers as a result of the pandemic, however it wasn’t as much as we were anticipating,” Inskeep said. “This year we saw 55 less women go through the process. All things considered – we are quite pleased with that. Registration for men’s recruitment is still going, but we anticipate roughly the same difference.” Rushing for sororities is different from fraternities. Sororities mutually select their recruits which depends on how each person ranks the sorority and vice versa. Freshman Kaitlynn Rogers went through formal recruitment as a potential new member and was the first class to experience going through recruitment in a virtual setting over Zoom. “It is all virtual, so I am not concerned about it,” Rogers said. “And for Bid Day it is broken up into groups so not everyone will be there at once.” Continued online at fscsouthern.com

Polk County city declares Trump holiday Andrew Thompson and Salvatore Ambrosino Staff Writers Frostproof, Fla., a small rural community in southern Polk County, has officially declared the first week of February as Donald J. Trump week. This decision has drawn both support and outcry from members of the local community. The resolution has been championed by Jon Albert, the mayor of the city. Support for Trump remains significant in the region as displayed by the proclamation. Mayor Albert cited this support and Trump’s record on manufacturing jobs as the reason for celebrating this holiday. The proclamation also cites the creation of more than 9,000 new opportunity zones and “no new wars” under Trump’s presidency, the document reads, as for the reasoning for the holiday. “Former president Donald J. Trump was overwhelmingly supported by our community,” Albert said. Members of the local Republican party and some residents of the community have expressed support for Trump’s holiday. Opposition to the holiday stems from Democrats who staged a protest on Feb. 5. The protesters, who occupied the outside of Frostproof’s City Hall, were most offended by the holiday occurrence during Black History Month. “The Republican Party is declaring this holiday as a PR stunt,” Catherine Price, chair of the Polk Democratic Party said. Price discussed how roughly five to six Democratic Executive Committee members attended the local protest and recognized that the issue is deeper than it appears.

Photo by Salvatore Ambrosino

Frostproof’s City Hall declared ‘Donald Trump Week’ the first week of February. “To the local community, the holiday reflects the racist attitudes in the Frostproof area,” Price said. “As demonstrated by the lack of access to resources like fire hydrants for people of color.” Stressing the duty of local Democrats, Price insisted on the importance of combating hyper-local issues. Although many of the opponents are angered that the holiday falls throughout the first week of Black History Month, a fact mayor Albert claims to have not known. “I don’t think it’s fair that it’s turned into a race issue. I don’t think there was any ill intent on behalf of the City Council,” President of the Republican Club of Lakeland James Ring said. Florida House of Representatives member Anthony Sabitini spoke in favour of the proclamation at the meeting at which

the holiday was declared, celebrating because the city was “the first in the nation to do this.” “Great to be in the city of Frostproof FL tonight to speak in favor of a proclamation declaring this week ‘Donald Trump Week,” Sabitini said in a tweet on Feb. 1. Although Florida voted for Barack Obama twice, Trump was able to defy expectations by flipping the state in 2016 and holding it again in 2020. Trump’s main strengths came from rural regions like Frostproof, which he carried by around 76 percent of the vote in 2020. With a population of over 3,000 residents in 2019 and a poverty rate of 23 percent, the city is a working-class community empowered by the industries of agriculture, forestry and hunting. Moreover, white Americans account for 78 percent of the total population.

3 The Southern FEBRUARY 19, 2021

FEATURES

Mardi Gras restricts usual celebrations due to COVID-19

where many large gatherings are held. The new modified rules were prompted by large gatherings in the French Quarter during Super Bowl weekend. Photos from that time demonstrated that revelers planned to celebrate as usual, causing New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to take action. “To those who are upset about these restrictions, know that when it comes to the health of our people, I’d rather be accused of doing too much than not enough,”

New Orleans’ biggest party of the year will be pulling back due to COVID-19. While not necessarily cancelled, the removal of parades and other restrictions are forcing the natives to take creative measures. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, culminates the Carnival season and acts as one last holiday prior to the beginning of Lent. With a varying calendar date, this year’s Mardi Gras is scheduled for Feb. 16. Though the origins of Mardi Gras in the United States are disputed, New Orleans hosts what is arguably the most famous celebration in the U.S., typically consisting of parades, courts, parties and general revelry. However, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, much of the celebration has been restricted or modified this year. In a typical Mardi Gras season, there are over 70 parades across New Orleans and the surrounding areas, put on by the various krewes, or organizations

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There were no jobs for months and we were barely surviving. We were about to close our doors.

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-Coco Darrow Owner of Stronghold Studios

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Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

Huge crowds (pictured above) gather for Mardi Gras parade held in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2019. that put on parades and shows for festival celebrations, mostly associated with Mardi Gras. All of these parades were cancelled this year, leading natives to form the “Krewe of House Floats.” Over 3,000 houses throughout the city have been decorated to look like floats in efforts to keep the spirit of Mardi Gras alive. The krewe created a map for revelers’ drive-by tours, and many who typically work as Carnival artists have found temporary income by taking house float commissions. Owner of Stronghold Studios Coco Darrow has used orders to keep the business alive.

“Before the Krewe of House Floats, we had nothing,” Darrow said to CBS WWLTV. “There were no jobs for months and we were barely surviving. We were about to close our doors.” While the cancelled parades remove a large element of Mardi Gras, New Orleans has also imposed restrictions for the week leading up to Mardi Gras. All bars, including those that operate as restaurants, will be closed from Feb. 12 until Ash Wednesday, on Feb. 17. Liquor sales in the French Quarter will be banned and Bourbon Street, the heart of parties, will be closed off from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. The city will also fence off the Clairborne Underpass, an area

When it comes to the health of our people, I’d rather be accused of doing too much than not enough.

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Grace Newton Entertainment Editor

-LaToya Cantrell New Orleans Mayor

Cantrell said in a tweet. Despite the restrictions, the mayor’s office has assured citizens that Mardi Gras is not cancelled, but it will be different. Some traditional balls will go on as planned with social distancing requirements in place, as the invitation-only policy makes attendance monitoring possible. This is not the first time Mardi Gras festivities have been cancelled. Since 1857, parades and more have been cancelled 13 times. The most recent cancellation was in 1979, due to a police union strike, making this the first cancellation in 42 years.

Freshman opens coffee shop out of campus dorm room Coffee orders are available to FSC students, faculty and staff

Liam Gainer, a freshman film and psychology student residing in the Spivey Residence Hall, has started his own business selling and delivering maple cinnamon oat milk lattes on campus. Gainer gained his experience at the local coffee shop Black and Brew, located on Main St. in downtown Lakeland, and now works at Concord Coffee on South Florida Ave.

Though working at Black and Brew gave him a lot of experience, Gainer doesn’t attribute it to being his only source of inspiration for the business. “I’ve always had this dream of owning a coffee shop, and [recently getting] an espresso machine further inspired me to open my business,” Gainer said. Gainer is keeping the business COVIDregulation safe. He wears a mask, washes his hands between each order and makes

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Dorm Coffee was by far my favorite coffee I’ve had on this campus, maybe even in Lakeland.

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Emma Matzen Staff Writer

-Chloe Lynch freshman

Photo by Liam Gainer

Gainer’s sole menu item, a maple cinnamon oatmilk latte (pictured above).

sure his customers also wear their masks when accepting deliveries. “I wear a mask the entire time I’m making the lattes and delivering them, and [I’m] washing my hands between every order,” Gainer said. Gainer is very dedicated and passionate

about his independent business. He even wakes up early before his classes start making lattes and taking orders. “I think what Liam has put together is very innovative. He realized that people enjoy having good coffee whenever they please, and took advantage of that to make an enjoyable side job,” said freshman Avery Standifer. Many FSC students agree with Standifer and seem to think Gainer’s business is a great idea, especially now during the pandemic. “It’s a great alternative for students that don’t want to leave campus for a coffee, or want to try something different than what we can get on campus,” said freshman Taylor Butler. “Plus, he delivers.” Sophomore Nour Lotfy thinks Gainer has a lot going for him. He serves the coffee at the perfect time of day, payment and delivery are easy and the coffee itself is amazing. “My experience was fantastic,” Lotfy said. “I’ve gotten it twice so far and I love the accessibility of it. He only does one menu item for now but he’s really perfected it so I don’t mind coming back with my business. I think it’s awesome that someone has managed to come up with such a creative way to do something different, have fun, and make money.” Freshman Chloe Lynch thinks this

campus business is useful and beneficial to students all around campus, even those who have varying or unique coffee tastes. “Dorm Coffee was by far my favorite coffee I’ve had on this campus, maybe even in Lakeland,” Lynch said. “[Gainer] serves it with a smile and takes a picture with each person he delivers coffee to.” Gainer is currently selling his coffees for $5 each and they are available every weekday from 7-10 a.m. The lattes can be hand-delivered to any building on campus. Orders can be placed through Gainer’s Dorm Coffee Instagram page @dormcoffee. All orders must include pick-up times and location.

The Southern FEBRUARY 19, 2021

CENTER

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Celebrating Blac

Students learn Afrobeats dance st Abby McHenry Online Editor

Jollice Boyd dances at the Afrobeats class on Feb. 15 in B adcock Gardens.

Students engage in the dance lessons led by Onose Ijewere.

The Multicultural Student Council hosted an “Afrobeats Dance Class” at Badcock Gardens on Feb. 15 which was open to all Florida Southern students. The dance class was instructed by MSC’s President, Senior Onose Ijewere, who has been dancing for 15 years starting with ballet and tap and later took on African dancing. She had always been interested in hip-hop, but was never formally trained in the style. Her favorite style is Afrobeats and dancehall. Coming to Florida Southern, Ijewere did not know anyone interested in Afrobeats and African music. “As a Nigerian, afrobeats and african music makes me happy, and feel at home,” Ijewere said. “Afrobeats is something that is best enjoyed with people, so I wanted to share this with others. I wanted to share my culture and the joy it brings me with other people who may not have experienced it.” Junior Lexi Potter is a member of the

organization and appreciates inclusivity the organization h has previously gone to a danc and enjoyed her experience. “The best part was knowi else was just as intimidated dancing,” Potter said. “I didn’ dance perfectly.” MSC Vice President Joll organize the Afrobeats Dance the dance is a combination of version of Afrobeats which ori “We just really enjoy doi movement that’s also like a co so we thought it was a good Bl event to do,” Boyd said. “My f event] is Onose. I love seeing and just being able to put other seeing other people just enjoy and have fun.” MSC meets every other w a formal meeting or an event BHM Painting Giveaway will 22 at 5 p.m. at the Simmons information on MSC’s events v Instagram.

5 The Southern FEBRUARY 19, 2021

ck History Month

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CENTER

Spotlight Meg Thompson Staff Writer Senior Onose Ijewere has used her inspiration from family and life experience to build a positive community here on campus. Ijewere is pursuing a degree in nursing, as well as minors in biology and chemistry. She has plans to pursue medical school in the future, but is also interested in spending a year as a nurse before attending. On top of her academics, she is President of the Multicultural Student Council (MSC), serves as VP of Diversity and inclusion for SGA and holds a seat on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, a campus wide initiative founded last summer to address discrimination on campus. Ijewere is also an active member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Sigma Theta Tau, honor societies that recognize academic excellence. Ijewere can be spotted giving tours as a Southern Ambassador or working in the Simmons Center. Ijewere shared how important her work on campus is to her, explaining it has a lot to do with helping people and giving voices to others. One thing she is particularly proud of is the forming of the Black Student Union at FSC. “Seeing Black people come together on campus has been so powerful and beautiful,” says Ijewere. She went on to share that she strives to create a community for others who felt like their voices weren’t being heard. Ijewere was born in Florida, but moved to Nigeria when she was 7. Back in Florida for college, she mentioned the culture shock was an adjustment. “I came here from Nigeria and nobody looked like me, spoke like me, nobody really understood me,” Ijewere said. “I wanted other people who felt misunderstood or overwhelmed by the culture shock to have a safe space to grow.” In her free time she loves spending time with friends, dancing and teaching people about how to take care of natural hair, which she shares on her nstagram account. Inspired by her family to spread positivity and work hard, she continues to do that here in the FSC community. Photos by Kat Hostetler

The Southern FEBRUARY 19, 2021

OPINIONS

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Lamb’s appointment in line with with state-wide disaster

Rebekah Jones, the architect of Florida’s once praised COVID-19 dashboard, has been succeeded by Gov. Ron DeSantis’s basement epidemiologist of choice. Firing the data journalist on grounds of insubordination, DeSantis’s latest hire, Kyle Lamb, embodies the unproven science regularly espoused by former President Donald J. Trump, DeSantis and their orientation of pseudo-scientific pandemic deniers. Lamb frequently spouts his beliefs on Twitter, levying sophisms in-common with most Republicans in Congress. From debunking lockdowns, touting hydroxychloroquine as a cure, and accusing the Chinese of “biowar,” the Ohio sports-blogger holds nothing sacred. In Twitter DMs obtained by the Miami Herald, Lamb states he began studying the virus in Jan. while working as an Uber driver. One thing has led to another for Lamb: “It’s my pleasure to announce publicly that this morning I officially accepted an offer to go work for Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Florida state capitol,” Lamb tweeted on Nov. 6. “I will be doing data analysis on several fronts for them including but not limited to COVID-19 research and other projects.” DeSantis has been met by inflamed Florida House Democrats disturbed by the snake oil for sale under DeSantis’s newest state-level data analyst. “Given that Lamb is an unqualified conspiracy theorist, his role as a member of your COVID-19 response staff is inexplicable and grossly irresponsible,” the letter, signed by 10 of 13 House Democrats including former Florida DNC chair Wasserman Schultz, D-FL., states. “We call on you to immediately remove Lamb from this critical role.” The Tampa Bay Times reports fellow sports-bloggers on their pay-wall site were “floored” when hearing of Lamb’s new day job in the Sunshine State. His theories, presumably valued by the ranks of Florida legislation, are described by his colleagues as “laughable,” and “unhinged.” “The firing of Jones, a qualified expert aiming to protect the well-being of Floridians, and the hiring of Kyle Lamb,

Photo by Salvatore Ambrosino Ron DeSantis on Trump’s Tampa campaign trail, Oct. 29, 2020. an unqualified conspiracy theorist, leaves us with no choice,” the letter states, “but to question your hiring practices and conclude that you are putting the health and safety of Floridians at risk.” Marshaling politics over policy, Florida’s Republicans once again forget their spines in the backrooms of pollsters, borrowing the smoke and the mirrors from Trump’s pedagogy for conspirators and conmen. DeSantis effectively invalidates his state party in a political motion so fatal, incorporating bad faith and viral conspiracy into the state’s very legislation, that it openly betrays the general principles of credibility and decency. In response to the letter, Lamb’s attorney, Sott Essad, called the Democrats “a bunch of goofs.” In an email, Essad stated it was “sad” that politicians doing well for themselves financially would remove a “low-level, entry position guy” from his employment for saying “the same sorts of things on Twitter that a substantial portion of the country has also said in the past eight months.” This new low for local politics is in fashion with the election of QAnon promoter Majorie Taylor Greene, R-GA., along with other newly-elects having received Trump’s endorsement, and in turn

the zeal of the cult. Lauren Boebert, R-CO., fellow “Q” promoter, also found a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives following Trump’s plaudit. Trump’s norm-shattering endorsements have implicitly legitimized a new generation of misinformation czars and right-wing vigilantes, who although deriding at it, depend deeply on “the media” for their sensation. Republicans in Congress are consistent in one way, and it is in a loud and emphatic appeal to ignorance, evidently unchallenged in sheer size. In and of itself a bonafide rite of the GOP, distrust in the media becomes the entire nation’s prevailing irrationality. America picked up from thick-skinned demagogues the brazen ignorance to abandon the burden of proof, nerfing statewide pandemic response at large. Lamb’s appointment is a part of DeSantis’s (and his friends’) broader rebellion against public health communication. Hand picked from the obscurity of the blogosphere, Lamb is only the tail-end of DeSantis’s questionable—“expert”— appointments and response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Jayanta Bhattacharya, a Stanford

worth celebrating to the extent of dedicating a holiday to Trump. In his four years as president, he has done more harm than good, which is no cause for celebration. Not to mention both of the crimes that Trump was charged for are unforgivable and inexcusable when talking about a regular civilian, let alone the President of the United States. Trump was first impeached in December of 2019 on the charges of obstruction against Congress and abuse of power. “Using the powers of his high office, President Trump solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States Presidential election,” Speaker of the House of Representatives said. “In so doing, President Trump used the powers of the Presidency in a manner that compromised the national security of the United States and undermined the integrity of the United States democratic process.” As years passed, things only got considerably worse. Trump’s media presence, public derogatory comments, and racist remarks and actions did nothing to improve his reputation. His famous catch

phrase has to do with harassing women and grabbing them in private areas. His social media accounts, Twitter in particular, became a laughing stock because of the outrageous things he tweeted. He gained no points in his favor with his treatment and lack of action plan during the global pandemic either. His failure to act quickly and convey the urgency and danger of this deadly virus to America early on has led to 28 million cases of COVID-19 in the US alone, 486,000 of those cases resulting in death. With only two weeks left in office, Trump was impeached again, not long after he lost his chance at re-election to none other than Joseph R. Biden Jr, another US president first. Upon losing, Trump began to spread false rumors around the country pushing the claim that, in his own words, “[they] won this election, and [they] won it by a landslide.” He began telling his followers that “if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country anymore.” It was statements like these that led his devoted fans to attack the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, aiming to

medical professor and addition to the governor’s Re-open Florida Task Force, was previously under investigation by his institution for slanting the fatality rate of COVID-19 research in political pursuits. Democratic city leaders across the state of Florida have recently urged the governor for more leadership, criticizing him for his hands-off approach to the pandemic. “The herd immunity that is being advanced by some of the advisors of the governor really isn’t working,” City of Miami Beach mayor Dan Gelber said in a video conference with four other Florida mayors. “It’s not protecting the vulnerable, in my small community we’ve had 13 seniors die in a nursing home.” Choosing to bypass reporter questions and pleas from city leaders in favor of video messaging through the state’s emergency alert system throughout the end of 2020, DeSantis’s post-presidential election disappearing act has left Florida without a clue in dealing with the statewide surge which has earned us a embarrassingly high spot on a domestic travel restriction list.

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The herd immunity that is being advanced by some of the advisors of the governor really isn’t working.

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Salvatore Ambrosino Staff Writer

-Dan Gelber City of Miami Beach mayor

DeSantis had been holed up for over months somewhere before taking questions from the press in Jan. In that time he made only one appearance on The Weather Channel to respond to tropical storm Eta. True—it may be difficult to tell where exactly DeSantis’s mismanagement of COVID-19 begins and where it ends (from dysfunctional shutdown strategies to reckless vaccination rollouts), the points at which he ceases to manage the affairs of the state altogether are glaringly obvious.

Trump holiday offers stark contrast to harrowing four years

Nathalie Moreno Features Editor Ohio Republican (GOP) lawmakers, Jon Cross and Reggie Stoltzfus, have decided to try and designate June 14 as an annual state holiday in honor of former president Donald J. Trump. Both believe that in his single term in office, Trump made accomplishments that have led the nation to unparalleled prosperity despite great odds and challenges. “Let’s show the 3,154,834 Ohio voters (a record and historic number of votes received for President in Ohio) who cast their ballot to re-elect Donald J. Trump that we as a legislature recognize the accomplishments of his administration,” Cross and Stoltzfus said. “The Ohio house believes it is imperative we set aside a day to celebrate one of the greatest presidents in American history.” When thinking of holidays, people mostly think of historical events or public figures that are worth celebrating. After becoming notorious for being the only U.S. president to be impeached twice I do not see anything

disrupt the official count of electoral votes to confirm the election result. “In an attempt to interfere with the Joint Session’s solemn constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election,” the Speaker of the House of Reps said in the second article of impeachment, “[insurrectionists] unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement personnel, menaced Members of Congress, the Vice President, and Congressional personnel, and engaged in other violent, deadly, destructive, and seditious acts.” There is no way that after being held responsible for multiple deaths and malicious acts, along with other disgraceful manners and behaviors not fit for the country’s leader, Trump is deserving of a holiday dedicated solely to him. If we choose to celebrate Trump, we are celebrating all the ways he mishandled dire situations that resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of people. We are supporting the racism and sexism and discrimination that he has instilled in this country and a lot of its citizens.

7 The Southern FEBRUARY 19, 2021

SPORTS

FSC Athletics resumes without fans in attendance

An inside look at the first FSC sporting event since the shutdown Andrew Pawling Contributing Writer

Last March, in the middle of the busiest time of the year for FSC Athletics, everything came to a grinding halt. Through months of deliberations, Zoom meetings and sleepless nights, here we are 337 days since the final home event of the spring. The women’s basketball team returned to play on Feb. 5 in a home home game against the Panthers of Florida Tech. The score and overall outcome of that game was secondary to the joy that came with seeing Mocs competing for the first time this academic year. The return to action for an athletic department that had sat in flux for 11 months was a colossal win for the college as a whole. Athletic Director and Dean of Wellness Drew Howard whose efforts on the administrative end played, sitting through hundreds of zoom meetings, played a large part in the return to action, was able to let out a sigh of relief following the game. “There was something about tonight, that first time seeing the tip go, seeing the first three go in, it feels good being back here playing some college basketball,” Howard said. With no fans in attendance, the arena was eerily quiet at times. I was fortunate enough to be in the Jenkins Field House as a part of the live stream broadcast crew. There were a mix of emotions and stresses

Photo by Andrew Pawling

The women’s basketball team warms up in an empty Jenkins Field House before facing Florida Tech on Feb. 5. throughout the day due to the lengthy layoff. Looking back several days later, I’d say the main emotion for all involved was grateful - grateful for the chance to compete and to work and take in a live sporting event for the first time since last year. It may have been different from the packed house we are accustomed to, but that’s okay. Different isn’t always a bad thing. In this case, being different is allowing FSC to compete while other universities have thrown in the towel on their spring athletics schedules. From a performance standpoint, the star of the weekend was junior guard Mackenzie Steele, who set a career high in rebounds (14) on Friday and points (27)

on Sunday. She handily led all scorers with 45 points combined over the two games. Steele has spent her time off working on expanding her game on both ends of the court. “Over the break I worked on every part of my game, but I really put an emphasis on attacking the basket whether it’s into a pull up or all the way to the basket as well as my on-ball defense,” Steele said. “These are two things that I wanted to have an impact in my game to go beyond just shooting.” While the fans were missed, Steele acknowledged that the duties of providing motivation fall solely on the team. “I think with or without fans our team

Schner leads men’s basketball during fifth year

Jacob Schner is a men’s basketball player and graduate student currently finishing out his collegiate athletic career as a team captain for the Mocs. Schner has been a member of the Mocs basketball program since he arrived on campus as a freshman in the fall of 2016 and he remains a member of the program despite graduating from the Barney Barnett School of Business in the Fall of 2020 with his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Sports Business management. Since graduating last spring, Schner now attends Florida Southern and the Barney Barnett School of Business as a

graduate student where he is seeking his Master’s in Business Administration. In terms of NCAA eligibility to play, Schner credits an injury he had as a freshman which led to him redshirting that year. Due to that redshirt season, Schner is still eligible to play this school year while doing his graduate studies. “It’s actually been a blessing,” Schner said. “I think I needed room to grow; and now I have a role on the team where I’ve been here for a while and it’s a blessing.” However, beyond just this school year, due to COVID-19 there’s a chance that this also won’t be Schner’s last year of eligibility. He has said that the NCAA is offering him an added year of eligibility in response to the pandemic. This would in turn create a sixth year that Schner could be a member of the Florida Southern

basketball team. “I’m in a weird situation because due to COVID, I got another year of eligibility next year,” Schner said. “I’m kind of on track to finish my MBA next January. I’m still determining whether I’ll come back and play that next year since this year is kind of a scramble.” Though Schner is still yet to make a decision for the 2021-2022 school year and his own eligibility, he speaks very fondly of the memories and life experiences he has already had over the last 5 years.

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The longer I can be at Florida Southern the better, I love it here. -Jacob Schner Team Captain

Photo courtesy of Jacob Schner

Jacob Schner plays at a University of Tampa away game during the 201819 regular season.

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Danny Buchell Staff Writer

“The bus rides with guys, after wins, hanging out, all the times in the locker rooms, these are guys when you’re not having class you’re with them every second so it’s just those memories and the connections I made with those guys,” Schner said. “Even when guys graduate we still talk and it’s just great.” Being a student-athlete and playing basketball at Florida Southern has made a lifelong impact on Schner and the truth is, he’s not at all upset to be involved with this program for more than four years.

has always done a good job bringing energy and getting the team ready to play,” Steele said. “You can’t rely on your fans to get you going so bringing it from within the team helps us.” This holds true to how the women played over their two games, suffering a hard fought 64-57 loss on Friday before winning in a convincing fashion by a final score of 74-43 on Sunday. “There were a lot of nerves because it had been 11 months. We’ve been through a lot of adversity just like everybody else... For the girls to pull off what they did on Sunday, in such high fashion the way they did, it was a pleasant surprise, and it was fun to watch,” Head Coach Betsy Harris said. For Harris, the team must remain vigilant in their ability to tackle the next situation, while taking care of the variables that are in their control. “We try to find that bright light somewhere, and if you can’t find it then you need to make it,” Harris said. “You bust through that darkness and you pull that light out and make the best out of everything.” With the first two games in the book, Howard and the rest of his administration will now look to see which other teams will be able to return to play safely. “We’ve put together, in my opinion, a strong policy and procedure for all of our sports teams to be able to participate,” Howard said. “We are testing across the board, all of our sports, with different levels depending on the contact risk and if all continues to hold well, we are going to be really busy in the month of March.”

UP NEXT Men’s Basketball 2/20 vs. PBA 2/24 vs. St. Leo* 2/27 vs. Barry* 3/01 vs. Barry* 3/03 vs. Tampa

Women’s Basketball 2/20 vs. PBA* 2/24 vs. St. Leo 2/27 vs. Barry 3/01 vs. Barry 3/03 vs. Tampa*

* Indicates away game

The Southern FEBRUARY 19, 2021

8

ENTERTAINMENT WHAT’S NEW Taylor Swift: ‘Fearless’ On Feb. 11, Taylor Swift announced an upcoming rerelease of her second album, ‘Fearless.’ Including six new songs, the release date has not yet been announced. Swift dropped the re-release of her song ‘Love Story’ on Feb. 11.

‘A Map of Tiny Perfect Things’ Amazon Prime’s newest science-fiction romantic drama, ‘A Map of Tiny Perfect Things,’ was released on Feb. 12. Starring Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen, the film tells the story of two teenagers trapped in the same day-long time loop.

‘Superman & Lois’ The newest series in the CW’s Arrowverse, ‘Superman & Lois’ will premiere Feb. 23. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch will reprise their roles from ‘Supergirl’ as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane, respectively. Filming for the show was delayed by COVID-19 and is expected to conclude in June.

‘Chain of Iron’ Cassandra Clare’s second book in her trilogy, ‘The Last Hours,’ will be released March 2. Taking place between her ‘The Infernal Devices’ and ‘The Mortal Instruments’ series, the book continues the story of Cordelia Corstairs, James and Lucie Herondale, and Matthew Fairchild in Edwardian London.

Largest exhibit to date opens at the PMA Deanna Wright Staff Writer

The Polk Museum is welcoming “Toulouse-Lautrec and the Belle Époque” exhibit from now until May. Toulouse-Lautrec is a well-known artist and master of the Post-Impressionist era. His depictions of life in Paris during the end of the 19th century are still recognized today, with some of those works being illustrations of the 1890s world of entertainment and Bohemianism. “Toulouse-Lautrec, in my opinion, represents a vivid time in French history,” sophomore Katie Poinsett said. Guests who plan to visit this large exhibit should expect to see extraordinary examples of his inimitable style and artistic output. The exhibit will have more than 230 works, some include Miss May Belfort saluant, La Troupe de Mademoiselle Eglantine, La Vache Enragée and many more. “With more than 230 works occupying our three main galleries — but it is filled with art that will ring familiarity to most of our visitors,” Dr. Alexander Rich said. Lautrec made a name for himself in just a decade in turn-of-the-century Paris. “He elevated his posters, which served as advertisements to the level of fine art, something seldom seen before,” Poinsett said. The odds were against him while he made a name for himself. Those who take time to dive into his story may experience echoes of their own lives or messages about staying true to one’s self no matter what. “Not every artist achieves renown during their lifetime while having the odds against them since his childhood due to disabilities,” Rich said.

La Troupe de Mademoiselle Eglantine (The Troupe of Mademoiselle Eglantine) 1896 by Toulouse-Lautrec. It is important that at all times they bring a wide array of art, artists, artistic media and artistic eras to their audience which helped the museum decide on this exhibition. With the museum being an academic community museum, it is their responsibility to try to bring world-class artistic and educational experiences to the community. “We believe firmly that our audiences come to have fun but also to learn and grow their bases of knowledge in a receptive atmosphere,” Rich said. The shop at the museum will also have a few new products for visitors to purchase based on the exhibition. They have brought in books and prints featuring Lautrec’s personal life and his work. “Accessories such as bags, notepads, and greeting cards are adorned with the beloved artist’s work as well as the work of some of his friends and contemporaries,”

Assistant Manager of Retail & Visitor Experience Megan Dye said. The staff of the museum have worked together collaboratively and seamlessly to create this art-viewing experience for the community from Feb. 13 through May 23. Being the museum’s director and chief curator, Rich believes that the team is so dedicated that their installations of this exhibit can be placed against other academic museums. “This exhibit was a different kind of art that I’ve never really thought of before,” junior Antoinette Warren said. The museum recommends that visitors make reservations in advance to guarantee a space and easy entry as well as to leave any bags in your vehicle when you visit. There will be times that walk-ins will be able to sign up upon arrival if capacity is not full, but social-distancing rules still remain in effect.

New ‘Batwoman’ breaks cultural norms Isabella Gargiulo Staff Writer The CW is breaking race and sexuality boundaries with its casting of Javicia Leslie as the new Batwoman. Nowadays, everyone is bored, looking for a new show to binge. Shows appear on a variety of platforms, such as regular television and the billion-dollar industry of

‘Music’ Sia’s new movie, ‘Music,’ was released on Feb. 10. Starring Kate Hudson and Maddie Ziegler as a set of half-sisters, the film has already attracted controversy for Ziegler’s portrayal of an autistic teen, despite being neurotypical herself.

Photo by Deanna Wright

Photo courtesy of Brett Jordan/Flickr

Batwoman fights Batgirl in DC Comics.

streaming services. With seemingly nothing to watch, one television network is assuring its viewers that new content is coming soon, such as a renewal of their favorite shows. CW is home to a wide array of shows to watch, such as some of our favorite superheroes. CW is in partnership with Warner Brothers, which helms the Detective Comics Entertainment Universe, including cult-favorite superheroes such as Wonder Woman, Superwoman, and Batman. On its network, CW has produced many DCEU shows over the years, such as “The Flash,” “Supergirl” and “Swamp Thing.” Their most recent project is “Batwoman,” centered around Bruce Wayne’s cousin, Kate Kane. Kane has a knack for social justice and fighting against Justice, a character that we have never seen on screen until now. Kane’s character is also reputable in the fact she is an out lesbian, representing viewers who may also be apart of the LGBTQ+ community. The notable character was portrayed by Ruby Rose in season one, until she had to unfortunately step away from the role for unknown reasons. Rose’s departure led to confusion for many fans, as the show had only ended its first season. This led to showrunner Caroline Dries putting out a casting call for a new character out of respect for Rose. Instead of recasting or starting from scratch, the show decided to move forward into

season two with a new Batwoman. Leslie first appeared as Ryan Wilder/ Batwoman on-screen last month. Her casting is pretty groundbreaking, as she is the first Black, bisexual woman/actress to portray Batwoman in any form of live production, as well as the first Black actress to portray the caped crusader in any kind of medium. While Leslie is breaking barriers in the entertainment industry, it is important to note that her character will not quite resemble Kane’s characteristics. Her character’s is quite likable, but untamed. She has a different origin story, being a drug-runner and outrunning the police, which leads to her to living in a van. She has the skills of a true fighter, but remains undisciplined and in pain. The only similarity between the two characters is that they are both out lesbians residing in Gotham. This may seem a new avenue for CW, but hopefully it will steer them in the right direction. With a new character incorporated into the same storyline, Ryan Wilder secures the mantle of the Batwoman. The first season of the show was panned by audiences, but the second season has been performing fairly well, with an 88/100 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. Season two of ‘Batwoman” premiered on Jan. 17, but you can catch up or binge anytime on the CW app or HBOMax.

9 The Southern FEBRUARY 19, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT Filmed theatre production ‘Hamilton’ causes controversy Morgan Bruewer Staff Writer On Feb. 3, the Disney+ recording of “Hamilton” caused controversy when it was nominated for two Golden Globe awards. The nominations, for best actor - musical or comedy and best motion picture - musical or comedy, brought the conversations theatre professionals have been having recently about filmed theatre to a new arena. Dr. Christianne Roll, Associate Professor of Musical Theatre at Florida Southern College, is in favor of the emergence of filmed theatrical productions. “I think the filming of live theatre, personally, is a good thing,” Roll said. “I think that thing that they did with ‘Hamilton’ was amazing.”

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I think the filming of live theatre, personally, is good thing.

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-Dr. Christianne Roll Associate Professor of Musical Theatre

She made a point to say that the idea of filmed theatrical productions is relatively new, and she is one opinion of many, so what is true today, may not be true tomorrow. Roll also brought up how filmed theatre is making the art form more accessible for new groups of people.

“A lot of things we are talking about right now, in 2021 is this idea of privilege or accessibility, so we have now given so many more people the opportunity to see this piece of art,” Roll said. “I don’t understand how that could possibly be a bad thing.” Diversity, accessibility and inclusion have been hot button topics the past six months, and no industry was left untouched, musical theatre included. Filmed theatre is a tool being used to level the playing field between those who can and cannot afford to see a Broadway production or tour. People who may not have been able to afford nearly thousand dollar tickets to “Hamilton,” can now access the same piece of art for $7.99 per month from Disney+. Photo courtesy of Ken Lund/Flickr However, some opponents of filmed theatre have said that more accessibility to ‘Hamilton’ marquee at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago. theatre productions could kill the theatre industry, as people will not want to go was always intended to be seen on the big out for a night on the town to see a show Roll’s enthusiasm for filmed theatre. “Filmed theatre is on the rise for sure, screen. when they can enjoy it from the comfort of Filmed theatre in the past had been their own couch with snacks and a pause and I don’t know if I like that or not,” button for at least half the price. When Fisher said. “Live theatre is great because barred from being nominated based on asked about filmed theatre’s effect on live of the energy in the room, and I don’t the fact that they are considered “special theatre’s future, Roll was quick to respond. know if filmed theatre can exactly capture events” or “special releases” and therefore “I keep thinking back to this analogy I that magic. But live streamed and filmed belong in another category. “Hamilton’s” heard, where rock bands tour. That doesn’t performances on a local level are nice for categorization could be a game changer for nomination considerations in the future. mean that people still don’t buy their my family who can’t see me perform.” Critics in the movie industry may not It seems like filmed theatre is here to records or their albums, right?” Roll said. “So this idea that no, you can only go to agree entirely with Roll’s enthusiasm for stay, at least for now, and many more New York, you can only see it in New York, these films. They were fast to make their musicals are on the track to move from you can only see it at the Straz Center, that voices heard on whether or not filmed The Great White Way to Hollywood. might be an antiquated idea at this point, so productions like “Hamilton’’ should even Movie adaptations of “Dear Evan be eligible for the Golden Globe awards, Hansen,’’ with music by “La La Land” and we might need to evolve as an art form.” Roll instead see’s filmed theatre as considering that it is technically a recording “The Greatest Showman” duo Pasek and a way to keep theatre relevant with of a performance originally intended for Paul, and Tina Fey’s musical adaptation today’s audiences in tandem with live the stage. The argument is that this type of “Mean Girls” are on the fast track to of film is in a completely different genre movie theaters.“Dear Evan Hansen” has a performances. Junior musical theatre and technical than movie musicals like the 1952 classic Sept. 24, 2021 release date from Universal theatre major, Liam Fisher, does not share “Singin’ in the Rain,” because this movie Studios.

‘WandaVision’ alters reality and the new era of the MCU Sophie Talbert Staff Writer

“WandaVision,” the first Disney+ TV show to take place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), parodies classic TV sitcoms while also changing the course of the MCU. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany continue their roles as Wanda Maximoff (aka “The Scarlet Witch”) and Vision as they attempt to hide their supernatural powers in the picture-perfect suburban town of Westview. Each episode takes place in a different decade, starting in the 1950s. As they progress through time, Wanda and Vision realize that everything is not as it seems. The unique style of “WandaVision” differs from all previous Marvel movies and TV shows, demonstrating the production studio’s versatility. Breaking free of the Marvel formula, the show features sitcom-inspired dialogue and a laugh track. Additionally, the show seamlessly transitions from its parodic style into the darker undertones, which further develops the plot and characters. These brief glimpses into the malevolent origins of Wanda’s TV show occur sparingly at the start, and increase as the show goes on. Each episode reveals more about what’s

really happening to Wanda and Vision, slowly exposing the mystery behind Wanda’s alternate reality. Although the events in “Wandavision” take place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” viewers are able to watch the show with a limited background of previous MCU events. “I am still able to appreciate the show and follow along as the plot intensifies,” senior Caroline Gardner said. “References to other Marvel characters and story lines notably help keep the average Marvel fan engaged and more connected to the show, yet I still feel tuned in even though I don’t catch every subtle reference.” For the passionate Marvel fan, there are still plenty of easter eggs and familiar faces from other installments of the franchise that they will recognize. Overall, “WandaVision” has been met with positive reviews from both critics and fans. “Each episode is a pitch-perfect – from script, to delivery, to lighting, to cinematography, to aspect ratio – but loving parody of classic sitcoms,” Lucy Mangan of “The Guardian” said. New episodes of “WandaVision” premiere every Friday at 3 am EST on Disney+, with the season finale set to air on March 5.

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