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FRIDAY, March 1, 2019 VOL. 133, NO. 11
Women’s tennis wins five straight matches Retired Fla.
Supreme Court Justice to join FSC faculty Jillian Kurtz Copy Editor
Photo courtesy of Leslie White / FSC Athletics Junior Magda Stepnik plays during a preseason scrimmage on Feb. 7. Stepnik is currently 4-0 in singles play this season and 3-1 in doubles with her partner, senior Lorena Rionda. Florida Southern women’s tennis opened up their spring conquest on a hot streak, winning their first five matches, highlighted by a 4-3 win over No. 2 West Florida on Feb. 16.
United Methodist Church upholds ban on ordination and marriage of LGBTQ members
Elisa White Staff Writer
The United Methodist Church (UMC) decided to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy in a Tuesday vote. Delegates gathered from Feb. 23-26 for a Session of General Conference to make this decision. The conference was held St. Louis, Missouri at the America’s Center Convention Complex. In total, there were 864 delegates from five Jurisdictional Conferences (within the United States) and seven Central Conferences (located around the world) who voted on the church’s decision. For the last few months, church leaders and members have worried over the future of the church following this conference. There was also hope. “Leading up to the General Conference, my prayer has always been that our church would choose to exhibit grace, mercy, and love in pursuit of Christ,” Florida Southern’s Assistant Chaplain Bryant Manning said. “Our church may not remain united, as our name states, but my hope is that God would be glorified in its decision, our Wesleyan heritage would not be left behind, and that more people could come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.” The UMC has debated whether or not to change their Book of Discipline (the governing document of the UMC) regarding human sexuality since 2016. At the 2016 General Conference, the Council
SOCIAL MEDIA
of Bishops decided to call last week’s special session to specifically focus on settling this issue. The debate has largely been over whether or not to ordain LGBTQ clergy and whether or not to allow clergy to marry same-sex couples. Before the General Conference last week, the Book of Discipline prevented both. Regarding ordination it said, “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore selfavowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.” Regarding same-sex marriage, it said, “Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.” While several plans were presented to the delegates, only two of them gained real traction. The One Church Plan called for keeping the church united and allowing for pastors to decide for themselves whether or not to marry same-sex couples. The One Church Plan would also allow for bishops to decide whether or not to ordain LGBTQ clergy. The Traditional Plan called for keeping the Book of Discipline language regarding sexuality as is and providing a gracious exit plan for churches that want to leave. The One Church Plan was defeated in a 449 to 374 vote Tuesday afternoon. At this point, supporters of this plan began protesting, hoping to keep proposing amendments to the Traditional Plan until
Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice and Florida Southern alumni R. Fred Lewis will be Florida Southern’s newest faculty member in the expansion of FSC’s social sciences program. Lewis will be the college’s first Eminent Professor of Law and Letters. Lewis founded Justice Teaching, a major effort to further law-focused and civic education throughout the State of Florida. According to their website, the ultimate goal of this program is to pair legal professional with every elementary, middle and high school in the state. The program currently has over 4,700 volunteer lawyers and judges active in 3,000 Florida schools. The Justice Teaching Center for Civic Learning program will now be located at Florida Southern College as a change following Justice Lewis’ retirement from the Supreme Court of Florida. On the website which can be found through the main Florida Southern page, there are different lessons that teachers and volunteers can use in classrooms. These include short take lessons, elementary school, middle and high school as well as lessons for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students. Lewis will continue the legacy he left at Florida Southern when he graduate in 1969. He made his mark by being named FSC’s top athlete as a senior and was named the 1969 FSC Honor Walk Student, the highest award afforded to a Florida Southern student. Not only was Lewis a member of the men’s basketball, baseball and track teams, he was also inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. After graduating from FSC, Lewis went on to the University of Miami School of Law and was a recipient of the 2000 FSC Alumni Achievement Citation and received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Florida Southern in 2001. He is also a member of the FSC Board of Trustees.
the clock ran out to vote on it. Eventually, the tactics failed when Rev. Tim McClendon of South Carolina called for a vote on the Traditional Plan. On Tuesday evening it passed, receiving 438 votes in support and 384 in opposition. of the church, who believe that the Bible condemns the practice of homosexuality. Many expressed frustration at the outcome as a protest chant erupted across the conference floor when the vote was announced. Julianna Coughlin is a lifelong Methodist and senior religion major. “Personally, this decision really stings,” Coughlin said. “This decision reflects a new United Methodist Church that is far different than the one I grew up and have worked in. I can’t faithfully support a church that stands for this… I really thought those involved in General Conference would prioritize the worth and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of sexual orientation.” As FSC is a Methodist-affiliated school, it is unclear what this decision will mean for the college. It is also unclear what impact this will have on scholarship money given to students who are United Methodist themselves or the children of United Methodist clergy. Furthermore, students in the religion and youth ministry departments have Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons speculated that their opportunities to get R. Fred Lewis will join the FSC jobs in ministry after college could slim up faculty as first Eminent Professor of following the decision by the UMC.
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The Southern MARCH 1, 2019
NEWS
BRIEFS Graduation tickets ready for pickup Seniors graduating in May can now pick up their nine alloted graduation tickets at the Branscomb Box Office. Business hours are Monday through Friday from 2-6 p.m.. Valid ID and a student signature is required for pickup. All tickets must be claimed by May 2. Ticket exchange is open on Facebook.
SGA Executive Board elections now open SGA is now taking applications for Executive Board elections. Students who want to run for a position can find the application form on Engage. Applications close on March 15, and campaigning begins on March 20. Students can vote on Engage from March 25 to March 27. For more information, contact SGA.
FSC recognized for Fullbright students FSC was recently recognized as a ‘top producer’ of Fullbright recipients. Over the 2018-2019 academic year, four total FSC students recieved Fullbright grants. Two recieved study/ research awards and two recieved English Teaching Assistant awards.
Florida hits record number of tourists For the eighth consecutive year, Florida’s tourism has achieved a record-breaking number of tourists. Florida’s official tourism marketing corporation reported 126.1 million tourists visited the state this year, exceeding last year’s amount by 6.2 percent.
Lakeland to open new dog park in ‘20 Lakeland will open its fourth official dog park in 2020. The park will be located near Lake Mirror on East Rose Street. and East Main Street. The new dog park will be a more “upscale” park in the downtown Lakeland area. In addition to a canine playground, the park will contain many other features that the City of Lakeland has not yet released information on. More info is expected from city officials in the coming months.
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NASA says goodbye to Opportunity, Mars rover Hannah Kiester News Editor
After 15 years of Mars exploration, the rover, Opportunity’s mission has officially been called to an end. NASA lost contact with the rover in June 2018 after a severe dust storm on the surface of Mars interfered with the rover’s solar paneling that allows it to charge. Administrators made thousands of attempts to re-gain contact with the rover, but none have been successful. “We have made every reasonable engineering effort to try to recover Opportunity and have determined that the likelihood of receiving a signal is far too low to continue recovery efforts,” John Callas, manager of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) project at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said. Though Opportunity was designed to last only 90 Martian days, the rover lasted nearly 15 years on the surface of the planet. In that time, it traveled nearly 28 miles and transmitted more than 217,000 images back to Earth. “I remember growing up hearing about Opportunity roving around the red planet and being in awe,” Astronomy Club president Arjeet Tipirneni said.
“Oppy proved that rovers could perform long productive missions and laid the groundwork for future missions like Curiosity, Insight, and ‘Mars-2020’.” In addition to transmitting images back to NASA on Earth, Opportunity also found definite proof that ancient Mars very likely contained liquid water, which is necessary to sustain life. The rover’s primary objective was to “seek out historical evidence of the Red Planet’s climate and water at sites where conditions may once have been favorable for life.” When Opportunity stopped responding after the June storm, NASA spent several months attempting to establish contact with the rover. In the past when “Oppy” experienced difficulties, these attempts to re-establish contact were successful. This time, researchers have speculated as to why attempts have been unsuccessful. The most popular rationales are that either the dust storm was too large or that Opportunity has simply become too old to sustain that type of damage. The final attempt to reach Opportunity was made on Tuesday February 12 before NASA personnel ultimately decided to officially end the mission.
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City of Lakeland hires new Assistant City Manager Jillian Kurtz Copy Editor
Emily Colón was announced as the new Assistant City Manager for the City of Lakeland on Feb. 25. Colón and Ocea Lattimore were selected as two of the four finalists for the position, but the two male candidates widthdrew as applicants for personal reasons. “I am extremely excited to appoint Emily Colón to the assistant city manager position,” current City Manager Tony Delgado said in a press release. “She has established herself as an extremely knowledgeable and customer focused public servant; honing her skills in both the public and private sector. This has created a solid customer centric foundation that will assist her in becoming a notable leader within the city’s Management team.” Colón is currently the Program Administrator for the Pasco County Government and is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Florida. Lattimore is currently the Director of Logistics and Asset Management for the City of Tampa. The position of assistant city manager was made available after Shawn Sherrouse was promoted from the position to deputy city manager in July 2018. The assistant city manager reports directly to the deputy city manager who then reports to the city manager. “I am excited about this opportunity with the City of Lakeland and am confident that it will be a great fit for me and my family,” Colón said in the press release. “I have been extremely fortunate in my career thus far to have worked with and learned from such dedicated public servants (on the local, state, and federal level) and I look forward to continuing that tradition in Lakeland. Everyone I have met so far is so passionate about the City of Lakeland. It’s
Lkld to improve accessibility Victoria Salvatore Staff Writer
A public input open house meeting was held at the Lakeland Public Library on Feb. 19, regarding Lakeland’s Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. The public was invited to attend a meeting where a presentation was given by a representative from the Disability Access Consultants that explained how Lakeland will be moving forward to make the city more inclusive for those with disabilities. City officials were looking for residents to come and give input on how they think Lakeland could become more accessible. “The self-evaluation was put in motion within the last 5 years,” City of Lakeland ADA Specialist Jenny Sykes said. “The first step was to work with Kimley-Horn (engineering consultants) to get an initial assessment.” The city looked at five different firms to work with and eventually chose Disability Access Consultants because they work solely on helping with accessibility issues. The representative from Disability Access Consultants, Barbara Thorpe, presented the project overview. The firm looked at parks, the library, parking lots and more to assess Lakeland’s accessibility. The city’s programs, services, activities, events and procedures were also evaluated to see if there was possible discrimination. In their study, the firm looked at the accessibility of 49 facilities, 42 parks, 340 miles of sidewalk, 70 intersections and 2,645 curb ramps. Following the presentation, the floor was opened for citizens to ask questions or give input on how they thought accessibility could be improved.
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“My goal is people will Google the most accessible city and Lakeland will come up.”
- ADA Specialist Jenny Sykes One man that spoke wondered why
Photo courtesy of lakelandgov.net Lakeland was just now adhering to the contagious and inspiring, and I can’t wait to become a part of it!” According to lakelandgov.net, the assistant city manager assists the city manager in the performance of managerial duties. The person in the role may act for or represent the deputy city manager or city manager at City Commission meetings, committee meetings, among other official functions. Delgado has been in the position since 2016 and has been working with the City of Lakeland since 1997. He led the search for the new assistant city manager and put together the interview panel for the candidates. “Our new assistant city manager will work closely with the city manager’s office and our city departments as we continue to build a vibrant, innovative, culturally inclusive, world-class community,” Delgado said. The city manager’s duties include planning for the future welfare of the city and all departmental activities and organization, prepares City Commission agenda and prepares annual budget and submits budget for approval to the City Commission, among other things.
American Disabilities Act, since it has been around for many years. Sykes explained that the city has been involved with making accessibility a focus and that it’s now more of a concentrated project than before. “The standards have changed,” mayor Bill Mutz said. “We’re ripping out things that have been done. We have ramps but they’re not up to standard anymore.” One citizen that had just moved to Lakeland voiced his appreciation for all that Lakeland has done for accessibility although he added that when he went to city hall, he had difficulty parking. Thorpe mentioned that while Lakeland may not be the best city in terms of accessibility, she would say the city is above average. The city has already taken measures to be more inclusive such as adding two accessible viewing areas at Lake Morton, making an accessible viewing area at the Christmas parade and creating better parking at Lake Hollingsworth and Munn Park. “My goal is people will google the most accessible city and Lakeland will come up,” Sykes said.
The Southern MARCH 1, 2019 3
Mardi Gras celebrates festivities and fun Mady Lauderman Staff Writer
This year, thousands of people will celebrate the annual holiday, Mardi Gras, on March 5. The term Mardi Gras is a French term that literally translates into “Fat Tuesday.” Every year, Mardi Gras is celebrate the day before the Christian tradition of Lent. According to the United Methodist Church, Lent is a 40 day period, not including Sundays, dedicated to prayer and fasting. Its purpose is to mimic the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. A post from History.com indicated that in the days leading up to Lent, people would consume all their rich and fatty foods due to the restrictive diet and fasting of Lent. According to Got Questions, the period leading up to Lent is know as ‘carnival’, and its final Tuesday is the holiday, Mardi Gras. Since Mardi Gras is the final day before Lent, it is associated with people’s final chance to indulge. Over many years, this has led to the celebrations seen worldwide throughout media today. Mardi Gras is mainly associated with New Orleans, Louisiana and is an official holiday of the state. Florida Southern senior, Hanley Simpson, is from New Orleans and was able to speak on the culture of the celebration. “Mardi Gras in one of the biggest celebrations for the city of New Orleans,” Simpson said. “It is a huge part of our culture and is something that locals look forward to every year.” Though thousands of people travel through New Orleans during the whole of the carnival season, those who live in and around the city experience this holiday in their hometown surrounded by all of their friends and family. History indicated that the first celebration of this holiday in America was on March 3, 1699, when a French explorer landed near
The Orientation Leader applications opened last week and will close on March 18 on Engage for the upcoming school year as professional staff members make decisions about who will serve next year. “O-Leaders” are one of the first faces that incoming students see when they come to campus. They serve an integral role in welcoming new Mocs to campus. Brooke Bezdek, a senior Orientation
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Alex Zimmer Legal Intern
Photo courtesy of William Metcalf Jr./Creative Commons Mardi Gras Day in New Orelans, LA-Krewe of Mondo Kayo walking parade on St. Charles Avenue in the lower garden district. present day New Orleans. However, the first Mardi Gras parade would not occur for another 138 years. Among all the festivities of Mardi Gras is an ample amount of tradition. Two of the most common and famous are the throwing of beads and eating King Cake. The beads seen throughout the world on the celebration of Mardi Gras consist of the colors purple, green and gold, and they each hold a specific meaning. According to another post by History, purple stands for justice, green stands for faith, and gold stands for power and they were traditionally thrown to those who exhibited such characteristics. According to a post from Southern Living, the name king cake is derived from the three Wise Men found in scripture. What makes king cake so distinguishable, other than its purple, green and gold coloring, is the presence of a small, often plastic, baby found in each cake. The guest who receives the piece containing the baby
is said to gain favor for the year and is responsible for hosting the celebration and providing the cake the following year. Today, Mardi Gras is celebrated with costumes, makeup, parades, food, beverages and much more including its past traditions. In New Orleans, parades march among the streets throughout the entire Carnival season. Mardi Gras is a day of celebration and tradition that is especially highlighted and admired in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to Mardi Gras New Orleans, on the day of Mardi Gras itself, parades will begin as early as 10 a.m. and will continue all throughout the day, as people prepare to begin their Lent season. “My favorite part about Mardi Gras is the whole city coming together on one street in the city for parades, music, food and fun,” Simpson said. “The parades are a blast, but being surrounded by friends, family, and fellow locals makes the experience what it is.”
Leader for the 2018 school year, said she loved being able to play such an important role in new students’ lives. “I still talk to my orientees to check in on them and all of my former orientees have played a role in my college experience as well,” Bezdek said. The role also comes with perks such as moving back to campus early in the fall and valuable life lessons. Nolan Arenz, a rising senior who has served in this role the past two years said this is his favorite leadership role on
campus. “It’s the most unique leadership role you can get on campus and comes with the best perks,” Arenz said. “I love being there for the new students and showing them all FSC has to offer, and being able to move into campus early is a huge perk here.” For the program, the admissions team is looking for leaders to help first-year students into making the most out of their time at FSC. Once students are selected and move into campus, they will be put through a training process which will provide them with the necessary information and skills to be beneficial to their orientees. Due to the intensive training that takes place a week before classes, all students selected to serve in this role are able to move into campus early avoiding the chaos of move-in day and giving them time to get accustomed to campus life. “All students should apply to be an Orientation Leader at FSC because the experience will only benefit you moving forward,” Bezdek said. “You are able to play a key role in these students’ lives not just in the beginning of the school year but also for years following.” Applications are open now and require two recommendation letters to be considered complete. They can be found on Engage and must be submitted by March 18.
2019 Orientation Leader applications open
Jacklyn Washington Contributing Writer
FEATURES
Photo courtesy of Brooke Bezdek
Sophomore Colby Firestone and senior Brooke Bezdek are Orientation Leaders for the 2018-2019 school year.
Abby McHenry Features Editor Junior criminology major and prelaw studies minor Alex Zimmer is a legal intern at the state attorney’s office at the courthouse in Bartow, Florida. Zimmer interns in the special projects unit of the state attorney’s office and works with many “odds and ends” cases. Her daily duties include legal research, trial preparations and going to court to observe hearings and trials. She finds cases that support the argument she wants to make in court to convince the judge to rule in her team’s favor. She said she has to sign a lot of contracts for confidentiality and do a lot of training before going in and doing security clearance. Zimmer looks forward to any opportunity to go to court and watch trials. “I’ve matured a lot doing it [the internship] because it’s a lot of really serious work, and we’re held to pretty high standards,” Zimmer said. “It’s people’s real lives that are affected so I kind of ‘grew up’ because I realized that these are real people and it’s not just a job.” Majority of the cases Zimmer works with deal with children in some way. She said finds it fulfilling to know that she is helping these children who have been exploited and by no fault of their own, even if it is in a small way by being an intern. For Zimmer, helping to bring justice in any way is the reason she enjoys about her internship. The most difficult part of the internship for Zimmer has been seeing children being involved in trial cases because of decisions adults made. “They [the children] are innocent in the purest sense of the word,” Zimmer said. “There is nothing that they could have done that could have possibly brought that situation on them.” Zimmer said she felt that she made the biggest impact on a case that involved a man who was sentenced to prison for traveling to meet a minor with criminal intent. He wanted to get his sentence mitigated (release before planned time) because he had a medical condition. Zimmer wrote a memo and did research to argue why he should remain in prison and the attorney she works with gave it to the judge who ruled in their favor. Zimmer is considering attending law school after graduation and is looking into a job in the field she is interning in as well as pursuing a career in law enforcement.
The Southern MARCH 1, 2019 4
OPINIONS
Migration stories cannot be relegated to single-issue discussion
Peter Edgar Editor-in-Chief
If I were to mention “migration” to any American who tunes into the news or follows the President’s foreign policy, they would likely associate the topic with the border between the United States and Mexico. Whether that American believes that the nation should be allowing more or fewer non-citizens into the country, discussions about migration and immigration become very single-issue. For the diversity of voices available to us, we seem to listen to much that steps outside of the conversations we are used to having. Dr. Navnita Behera, a visiting Fulbright Scholar from the University of Delhi, attended political science classes and toured Florida Southern College on Feb. 25. That same evening, she gave a talk in the McKay Archives Center that focused on one of her biggest subjects of study: Gender and Conflict-induced migration. Each of the stories that Behera told, whether they were at a table in the cafeteria or from a podium in the Archives, complicated my understanding of religious, political and gendered conflict in India and Pakistan. For one, I knew very little about the circumstances leading up to today’s conflict: the Partition between Hindu-majority India and Mulsimmajority Pakistan in 1947 resulted in the largest migration of peoples between nations in world history. “My grandparents participated in the partition,” junior Arjeet Tipirneni said. “My grandfather crossed the border on foot, and my grandmother took one of the trains… which was really dangerous at the time.” The conflict there is still ongoing: on Feb. 27, global media groups like the BBC, the Associated Press and the New York Times reported that tensions between Pakistan and India are growing, especially in Kashmir, due to competing narratives about air strikes and downed fighter planes on Feb. 26. The Global Press Journal reported Feb. 24 that violence against Kashmiri people has been encouraged by university professors and crude graffiti alike since a suicide bombing on Valentine’s Day killed 40 Indian armed forces members. In a separate article, the GPJ
noted gender as a factor in migration out of Kashmir. Many young men have been sent by their families to bigger cities like New Delhi so that they stay out of armed anti-India groups and so they may work for money. The gendered aspects of the Kashmiri conflict and the ways that conflict-induced migration affects different age, gender, and religious groups align with Behera’s research. One of her most celebrated works, Demystifying Kashmir, was released in 2013 and covers the decades-long conflict between various socio-political groups there. “I remember, as a child in the 1950s, hearing my parents talk about the Vale of Kashmir as a place of great beauty, halfway around the globe, where World War III might begin,” writes President of the Brookings Institution Strobe Talbott in the forward to Demystifying Kashmir. “While the Cold War is history, the Kashmir conflict is still with us.”
I and two other students had the opportunity to eat lunch with Behera in Wynee’s Bistro. In the hour that ensued, we discussed what it was like to do interviews in conflict zones. “It all depends on the chances you are willing to take,” Behera said. “You have to be vulnerable to be able to speak to vulnerable people.” Behera’s methodology blurs the lines between typical expectations of what research looks like and the manners by which information is successfully acquired. She believes that vulnerability is crucial to the research process; reporters and researchers have to avoid a double vision and the “voyeurism of violence,” which she said is akin to writing news stories because of the thrill of the scoop. “Emotion is an asset, not a liability,” Behera said. Behera described times where she was blindfolded and transported to talk to
extremist groups, interactions with leaders of terror groups both in prison and in the field, and moments when she had to choose to sacrifice safety in the interest of conversations she wished to have. In each of those instances, she knew that she was putting herself in a vulnerable space and that she might not even get the answers she sought. When she gave her talk in the Archives building later that night, Behera chose to focus on her methodology: why she chose the lenses she did, like the lens of gender, to analyze the legacy and the continuing phenomenon of conflict-induced migration in India and other nations in South Asia as well as around the world. For Behera, an immediate comparison between her view and the view of many people in positions of power in India is that gendered lens, compared to a statist one. A statist lens, one that chooses to see people through a purely political and economic view, ultimately oversimplifies narratives about migrants, immigrants or refugees. Behera’s view of migration (which can be internal as well as between nations) and immigrant/refugee movement is multifaceted. Class distinctions play into the mobility of groups and the means by which they start anew elsewhere. Cultural and linguistic differences between cities and people groups play into the extent to which people new to a community can begin to feel a part of it. Gender, especially, reveals where the state fails to keep up with the situations of women and men across borders. Behera noted instances in which women were prevented from making their own decisions about where they would live, whether they would continue to care for their own children, or their roles in migrant communities. While in many circumstances, the government made the decision for the women, in the latter it was humanitarian groups trying to “preserve culture” that re-enforced cultural rules that had become irrelevant to those they served. Dr. Behera’s work reminds us that migration is an international, global issue, not just an American and Latino issue. I agree with her assessment of the “statist,” versus the human, lens: that in the eyes of some governments, migrants seeking asylum or refuge from
increasingly hostile situations at home might be lumped into categories like “dangerous,” “illegal,” or “threat.” “You look at what’s happening here, with the caravans being perceived as ‘threat,’” Behera said, “or in Europe… my point is that this is a global issue.” I was also struck by the idea that when researchers use different qualitative lenses to analyze human issues of migration, nationhood, law and personhood, they complicate traditional narratives about each of the issues. The methodology is one by which I want to open up the conversation about conflict and conflict-induced migration in the Americas. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be exploring issues related to Latin American migration and the conflict in Venezuela through the lens of family. What effects do the humanitarian crises in Latin America have on borderlands in the United States and Mexico? What bearing do past interventions and the history of U.S. relationships with Venezuela have on the economic and international issue at their border? One of the biggest dangers to our understanding of international issues is that when we inhabit an academic bubble, or a group that is largely culturally homogeneous, or a community with a past of hostility to issues of nationality and gender, is the assumption that the issue is outside of us, that it is oceans away. This perspective, Americentrism, is a trap that citizens fall into wherever they sit on the political spectrum. “We have a president who’s more nationalistic, and part of the response - has been a more inward-looking news media,” Asma Khalid, politics editor for National Public Radio, tweeted on Feb. 27. “How often do you ever hear about an international story (that isn’t in some way related to Trump?)” As you read the Southern opinions section over the next half-semester, consider that the international issues unfolding globally are personal to students and staff at this college. We cannot afford to turn a deaf ear to the stories of those who might have the truest understanding of what is happening worldwide.
is a serious threat, and every billionaire is a policy failure,” he said, “While Bernie isn’t perfect (his foreign policy needs to improve, for example), he is far better than most other candidates in the raice and much more policy-focused.” There was a time, in 2016, where I considered myself one of these supporters. When I woke up to the news that Sanders was running again, however, I groaned. I’m not alone. “I think he could do more if he sat this race out. We need to think about if he’s a realistic candidate and if he can win against Trump,” freshman and member of College Democrats Morgan McDermott said. I want a strong Democrat to win in 2020, and I don’t think Sanders is that person. For one, I’m reminded of Hillary Clinton’s rise—and fall. After losing in the Democratic primary in 2008, President Obama appointed Clinton as Secretary of State in 2009. She resigned in 2013 as one of the most well-traveled Secretaries of State in U.S. history and as the subject of investigations surrounding the State Department’s failure to prevent the deaths of four Americans in an attack in Libya. By 2015, she had cleaned up her image and announced a second run for president. She succeeded in securing the party’s nomination that time around but failed to
win the election, the manifold reasons for which are still being investigated. I fear Bernie will flop in the same way. He wasn’t able to gain the necessary momentum in 2016 to move to the general election. Even if he does this time around, I doubt his ability to gather enough support to win the presidency, especially considering his divisive reputation. Beyond his economic beliefs, in 2016 he ostracized a huge chunk of voters from the Democratic Party—people who would have otherwise voted for Clinton. Furthermore, the amount of write-in votes he received, in part due to a “Bernie or Bust” hashtag campaign, could have also had an impact in the outcome of the election. Even more than that, Sanders is no longer the most radical Democrat in the party anymore. His Democratic Socialism that was so shocking to moderate voters in 2016 is run-of-the-mill amongst other prominent members in the House and Senate now. Cornerstones of Sanders’s 2016 platform—Medicare for all, low-cost or free higher public education, raising the federal minimum wage—are all staples of Kamala Harris’s and Cory Booker’s 2020 platforms. The radical star power that carried him 2016 won’t be enough for him to secure the nomination this time around. Sanders’ run also takes away attention
from other, more impressive candidates. Harris, for example, has served as the District Attorney for San Francisco, the Attorney General of California, and is a current U.S. Senator. Her career in California stands out as more impressive. After all, California boasts a population of nearly 40 million, 70 percent of which are white with a 40 percent Hispanic/Latino population. Sanders, on the other hand, has served as both a House Representative and Senator for Vermont—a state that’s 95 percent white and 1.9 percent Hispanic/ Latino overall and has a population of less than one million. Additionally, a female candidate such as Harris may be more likely to beat Donald Trump. “My research into this area has shown me that women candidates are far more qualified,” FSC political science professor Dr. Bruce Anderson said. “They are far more studied. As a rule, they have served longer in government and have fought more divisive campaigns.” Sanders’ moment passed in 2016 when he lost the nomination. If Democrats want a chance of beating Trump in the general election, they need a strong candidate. The odds of Sanders being this candidate are slim.
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“Emotion is an asset, not a liability [in research].”
- Fulbright scholar and professor Dr. Navnita Behera
Sanders, senator from Vermont: has he already run his course? Elisa White Staff Writer
On Feb. 19, Bernie Sanders announced he was running for president again, joining a slew of Democratic candidates all competing for their party’s nomination. The Vermont senator made his announcement in an email to supporters as well as on Twitter, saying in a video, “Real change never takes place from the top on down, but the bottom up.” Sanders last fought for the Democratic nomination in 2016 against Hillary Clinton. Though he lost, Sanders grew an army of supporters who have been hopeful for a 2020 run: news outlets reported that within his first day as a candidate, he had already raised over $6 million. “I’m very excited and I’m definitely voting for him,” fifth-year English and Education major Gregory Imhoff said. “He’s up against a lot of tough candidates, but even then his progressive platform in 2016 forced the whole Democratic Party further left… His track record is unbeatable.” Ashutos Sahay, a first-year political science major, feels similarly. “Bernie should be President because Medicare-forall saves money, tuition-free college is an investment in our future, climate change
5 The Southern MARCH 1, 2019
OPINIONS
Artists’ misdeeds need not overshadow other’s efforts Victoria Salvatore Staff Writer One of the biggest questions surrounding this season’s award ceremonies was whether movies and television shows who feature artists with sexual assault allegations against them should even be considered for awards. The first time the phrase “Me Too” was used to represent survivors of sexual abuse in the United States was in 2006 by American social activist Tarana Burke. The phrase was brought into the public spotlight in October 2017 by Alyssa Milano following allegations, this time against Harvey Weinstein, regarding sexual assault. Weinstein used to run a massive movie production company, which declared bankruptcy in 2018. As of February, Vox reports that 263 celebrities, CEOs, politicians, and other powerful people have been accused of sexual misconduct since April 2017. That group includes many household names— much of the group has a huge profile in the entertainment business. Many have forthcoming projects or have been part of award-winning projects in the past, among them Stan Lee and Kevin Spacey. According to Vox, Lee’s nurses accused him of sexual misconduct on Jan. 9, 2018. Lee died last November. Lee’s impact on the entertainment industry will far outlive him, and the question remains as to whether
the sexual misconduct he was accused of will mar his legacy. More importantly, will it impact the Marvel brand, which he had a heavy hand in creating? Looking at the Marvel franchise, it’s clear to see that thousands of people have poured their lives and passion into creating the films. Although Lee created the characters and storylines in his comics, the actors, producers and everyone else involved have together crafted the films and built the franchise. The people involved in the Marvel industry shouldn’t have to suffer because of the actions of one man. Lee’s actions may have been inexcusable, but that shouldn’t stop the Marvel movies from winning awards and receiving accolades they might deserve. Kevin Spacey is another prominent figure that was accused of sexual misconduct. He was the executive producer and actor on the show House of Cards at the time of the accusations in late 2018. Spacey was arraigned in January 2018 and will continue with court proceedings in the coming weeks. Even though Spacey was instrumental in creating the show, it should not have to forfeit any nominations or awards they receive: there are no crimes in which the innocent bystanders have to pay the price of the perpetrator, and this instance is no different. The cast and crew of shows or movies
Poll: Southern Takeover buzz
Mikaela Queen Staff Writer
Julianna Coughlin, director of Southern Sound for Association of Campus Entertainment (ACE), announced that Judah & the Lion, 2018 iHeartRadio Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist of the Year, will headline Southern Takeover. Two more bands, Juice and Sawyer, will also perform at Southern Takeover. At the beginning of the semester, ACE surveyed students as a part of the decision making process of the headliner. Coughlin said the survey asked for students interest in four main genres/event styles. The styles were mainstream/pop, folk, country and rhythm and blues/hip-hop. Coughlin said that since mainstream/ pop and folk were the most popular choices of the student body, ACE developed a list of artist that “vibe” along with the budget and schedule and presented them to a focus group. “Even though the artists are chosen, we’re still getting student input for the event as a whole via ACE members and a Southern Takeover Event Committee,” Coughlin said.
Don’t know: 32%
Freshman Hayden Caffey said he has never heard of Judah & and the Lion, but will still be attending the event. “I’m excited about the event because I love concerts and having on at FSC seems like a cool idea,” Caffey said. Sophomore Sydney Kralovanec said she has only heard of a few Judah & the Lion songs. She said she will be attending the event again this year. “I went last year and it was a good time hanging out with friends, listening to good music, and watching the artist perform on stage,” Kralovanec said. Of a survey about the artist reveal for Southern Takeover conducted of 25 students, 16 said they listen to alternative music, five said they did not and five said only sometimes. Out of those same 25 students, 15 said that they have heard of Judah & the Lion before while the other 10 had not. Both Sawyer and Juice were less popular, as only 24 percent of the students had heard of Sawyer and 16 percent had heard of Juice. “The response overall has been super positive,” Coughlin said. More information about Southern Takeover is available at fscsouthern. com.
Kind of: 28% Yes: 48% No: 20%
No: 20%
Yes: 52%
Photo courtesy of World Economic Forum Kevin Spacey at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Jan. 22, 2016 that are associated with those accused of sexual misconduct shouldn’t have to endure any consequences. The only person that should have the potential to be banned from winning awards is the accused individual but that isn’t necessarily what should happen. The only time an award should be withheld is if charges are brought against an individual and they’re convicted. In America, defendants are innocent until proven guilty. Of course, companies are going to want to fire or cut ties with anyone associated with claims of sexual misconduct which
makes sense, but it’s important to note that an accusation doesn’t hold as much weight as a conviction. It’s dangerous when people take an accusation as fact. We want to believe the victim because the accusations they’re making, if true, are horrendous, but it’s irresponsible to put sole trust in something that can’t be proved with solid evidence. Victims shouldn’t be silenced or feel ashamed, but it’s our responsibility to seek the truth in these matters and make sure someone’s life isn’t destroyed over something false.
OUTHERN S The Student Voice of Florida Southern College
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The Southern is published every other Friday during fall and spring semesters of the academic year at Florida Southern College. The newspaper is produced by students through the Communication Department. Opinions expressed on the opinions pages are not necessarily those of the department, the administration, the Board of Trustees or The Southern editorial board. Written and signed responses to views expressed on these pages, or relevant to other Florida Southern College issues, are encouraged and will be considered for publication. All members of the Florida Southern community — students, staff, faculty, administrators, trustees, alumni and other friends of the college — are invited to voice their opinion in or about The Southern. All material submitted is subject to editing for length, style and taste. All material must be submitted to fscsouthern@gmail.com to be considered. The Southern office is in the William F. Chatlos Building on Johnson Ave. Staff can be reached at fscsouthern@gmail.com and at their email addresses, listed above. The Southern is also available for reading at fscsouthern.com. It also posts on Twitter, @FSCSouthern, and receives interaction from readers on said platform, as well.
The Southern MARCH 1, 2019
6
Spring Break
taylor wilson staff writer Spring Break is here and the Florida Southern Mocs are getting ready for their week off of classes. It is that time in the semester where everyone is planning their spring break trips and excursions, but there are options for students who are staying on-campus for the time off. There are many activities and recreations for students who are staying at FSC over break to participate in. One of these is the school’s Discover Florida program which allows students to see parts of the state that held various attractions and events. Sara Ellis is the Discover Florida Program Director at Florida Southern and she has been in this position for about two and a half years. “The best part of planning this program is giving unique opportunities to students to experience parts of Florida they may not otherwise be able to,” Ellis said. Ellis’s favorite trip that she has put together, since taking over the position is the Wild Florida trip. Here, students were able to ride in an airboat, eat lunch and hold an alligator. There are two trips that are scheduled to take place over spring break, these are as follows: On March 5, there is a trip to Disney’s Blizzard Beach, which is a waterpark. This trip is ideal for students who want to cool off and enjoy some fun in the sun, as well as to experience a Florida waterpark, free for students. This trip is currently sold out. The other trip is on March 7, to the Florida Aquarium, located in Tampa. This excursion allows for educational opportunities, while looking at the 8,000 plants and animals at the facility, as stated on the Florida Aquarium’s website. Ellis also shared that last year there were more Discover Florida events, but they were community service events. Generally, over fall and spring break there are programs planned on Tuesday and Thursday, and the service options are not being offered this year.
“I am going home to Englewood over break, but if I wasn’t and I was staying on campus I would go on the Discover Florida trips,” freshman Alex Wackelin said. Discover Florida trips are not the only thing to do for students on campus over break. There are also several sporting events that are taking place over break that students can attend. For on-campus events, admission is free for FSC students. A few of the sporting events are women’s beach volleyball, men’s tennis, and baseball. For a full list of all the games and matches being played next week, visit fscmocs.com. “For spring break I might go to Daytona with some friends or I might stay in Lakeland to work over break,” sophomore Jay Sumada said. “It is nice to know that there are different things planned over break. Depending on the sport I might consider attending a sporting event, especially if I know someone who is playing.” Even if you don’t go on a trip or watch a sport, there is still plenty that Lakeland has to offer. From strolling downtown, to eating smoothie bowls at Tea Largo, stuff to do in the area is one quick Google search away. First Friday in Downtown, Lakeland is also happening during break. The theme of March’s First Friday is still unknown, pending sponsorship, according to the website for downtown Lakeland. The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College will continue displaying the exhibition, Degas: The Private Impressionist. This is a highlight of some of Degas’s private work and takes a look into common themes from his work. It will be up at the museum until March 24. Additionally, the RP Funding Center will be hosting a basketball game between the Lakeland Magic and the Erie Bayhawks on March 3 at 3 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased online; the starting price for tickets is $10. All events going on in Lakeland can be found on the City of Lakeland website.
7 The Southern MARCH 1, 2019
March 4 Detroit Tigers vs. St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training at Joker Marchant Stadium
5 Discover Florida: Blizzard Beach
6 Ash Wednesday: First Day of Lent
7 Discover Florida: Florida Aquarium
8 Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City
Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Spring Training at Joker Marchant Stadium Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
The Southern MARCH 1, 2019
8
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Abducted In Plain Sight’ captivates Netflix audiances Victoria Salvatore Staff Writer
Some of the most horrific stories that are told on the big screen are ones that have happened in real life. A documentary called “Abducted In Plain Sight” was recently released on Netflix and it’s one of the most shocking documentaries. The documentary tells the story of a 12-year-old girl, Jan Broberg, that was abducted twice by her next door neighbor and close family friend, Richard Berchtold. Producer Skye Bergman tells the harrowing details of the abductions and the actions leading up to the kidnapping and gives the audience insight into the nightmare that the Broberg family endured. There are many shocking elements within this story but two of the most shocking are the naivety of the Broberg parents, Bob and Mary Ann and the pure evil of which Berchtold was capable. In the beginning of the documentary Broberg explained that people weren’t familiar with the term pedophile in the 1970s. Even if that’s true, it’s hard to believe that the Brobergs didn’t sense something was off about Berchtold. The Brobergs allowed Berchtold to have a mind boggling amount of access to their daughter both before and after her first kidnapping. It’s clear that there were dark forces at work to tear apart this family. Berchtold had complete control over the parents and Jan. Seeing the power that this sociopath had over what seems like a normal, average family was scary. This documentary not only showed the story of a girl was kidnapped, but it reveals the level of depravity that’s present in the world. Bergman did a great job of balancing Jan’s narrative of the story with her parent’s point of view. If the documentary only focused on the kidnapping and not the event’s repercussions, it would, have been incomplete. After “Abducted In Plain Sight” was released, many people spoke out saying the Broberg parents failed at their jobs to keep their daughter safe due to their naivety while others pointed to their forgiveness being the problem. Throughout the retelling of the events it’s painfully clear that it was difficult for the whole Broberg family to talk about. It was a dark time in their lives and the parents admit to blaming themselves and feeling like they had failed their daughter. Despite their shortcomings, it’s a great story of forgiveness. Not of the parents forgiving the kidnapper, but of Jan forgiving her parents. Even though her parents played a part in allowing these horrible things to happen to her she found it in her heart to forgive them. This part of the story is so important because without it the documentary would be too enraging. The parent’s remorse softened the harsh reality that they were too blinded by their mistakes to help their daughter. The story began with a shocking jolt and moved on to be one of the most heart wrenching and confusing stories, but the elements of forgiveness and closure ends it on a hopeful note. “Abducted In Plain Sight” is available on Netflix today.
Photo courtesy of BYU -Hawaii / Flickr
Pianist Jon Schmidt performs with cellist Steven Sharp Nelson onstage at Bringham Young University- Hawaii.
‘The Piano Guys’ hit all the right notes
Sarah Oulman Staff Writer
The Piano Guys headlined a show at the RP Funding Center on Feb. 18 as part of their 2019 spring tour. The Youkey Theatre, which accommodates nearly 2,226 people, was filled with musicenthusiasts who came to see the group perform. The night began with several performances on the piano and cello, including a cover of “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen,” a mashup of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” and U2’s “With or Without You.” Together, the group played compositions that combined classical, contemporary and rock and roll music, while also including high-quality videos to aid the entertainment. “We use [classical music] in our original tunes, film score remakes, mashups, and really in any sort of arrangement or composition that we put together,” cellist Steven Sharp Nelson said. The musical group consists of the pianist Jon Schmidt, cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, videographer Paul Anderson and music producer Al van der Beek. The Piano Guys originally began in a small town in Utah, where a piano store owner named Paul Anderson utilized the power of social media and YouTube
to sell his pianos. After enlisting the help of Schmidt, Nelson, and van der Beek, Anderson began making YouTube videos of piano and cello performances,
“
“We started this for fun, just trying to sell a few pianos perhaps, Now, we have over 65 videos on YouTube, 1.8 billion views, 8 albums with Sony, and we still haven’t sold a piano.” -Steven Sharp Nelson
eventually leading the group to fame. “We started this for fun, just trying to sell a few pianos perhaps,” Nelson said. Aside from performing across the country, the Piano Guys’ rise of social media fame has allowed them to have some incredible opportunities around the world. During some onstage banter between Schmidt and Nelson, the musicians revealed that the group has
performed everywhere from a cliff’s edge to the Great Wall of China. “The ‘Kung Fu Panda’ score was done by the genius Hans Zimmer,” said Schmidt. “We decided to use the piece from the movie where Oogway dies, which is called ‘Oogway Ascends.’ We then paired the song together with a Chopin piano prelude.” After several songs with the piano and cello paired together, the musicians took turns playing their instruments alone. For one of Schmidt’s solo performances, he chose an arrangement that was based on “The Greatest Showman” tunes. Later in the show, the audience could hear a unique rendition of Bach’s “Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1: Prelude” with an additional seven cello parts that Nelson created. To tie everything together, the rest of the Piano Guys also performed on the stage, leading the audience through songs that included the piano, cello, and vocal accompaniment. The Piano Guys will be continuing their 2019 tour throughout the U.S., Germany, Switzerland and more. The musicians’ next performance will be on April 25 in Oklahoma. For more information regarding their concerts, go to thepianoguys.com.
The Cado Show
New episodes every Friday
9 The Southern MARCH 1, 2019
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Bridge to Terabithia’ brings the tears 12 years later Mellina Evert Contributing Writer
Nostalgia and bittersweet adventures warm the hearts of those who watch Bridge to Terabithia. Directed by Gábor Csupó and based on the novel written by Katherine Patterson, the story takes a life of its own when two creative kids, Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) and Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson), find themselves in their own lively kingdom in a forgotten part of the forest. With every leap in their new claimed land, they travel into a world of their own time and imagination. Certain forms of gender norms and bullying cause them to escape into a promising story of their own making. When the two main characters first meet, a new girl surprises Jesse by challenging the feminine expectations set on her. Leslie is smart, strong, kind, and everything he did not expect as she beats the boys of their grade in a highly-respected sprint. She goes so far to even challenge the
daunting bully, Janice Avery (Lauren Clinton). Leslie reinforces her confidence saying, “seems to me she gives it out whether you ask for it or not, so you might as well have some fun.” Along with showing strength in school, Leslie shows Jesse the freedom of dreaming. She initiates the creation of Terabithia with her experience of imagery and creative writing filled with wisdom and light. They travel across the ground of autumn leaves and battle enemies with swords of fallen sticks. These adventures make Jesse almost forget about the stress of his home life with the expectations set upon him by his own father and his family. As these kids are already battling realworld and fictional-world problems, an abrupt and depressing plot change tears at the hearts of viewers. Spoilers ahead: if you have not seen this movie yet, I would advise you to stop reading and give it a bit of your time. Leslie was the ultimate motivation for Jesse’s creativity. So, the viewers are
shocked when Jesse comes home from an impromptu field trip with his favorite teacher to hear bad news from his family. His father is insensitive when breaking the news, saying “Leslie is dead” with a matter-of-fact tone. Hearing this changes Jesse’s life and mood as he goes through the stages of grief that lead him to getting angry with his sister, feeling guilty and building the bridge to… you guessed it: Terabithia. While the bittersweet ending invites a renewed relationship with Jesse’s sister, May Belle, it also suggests more to the story. He built the bridge not only to symbolize the life that Leslie gives even after death, but to connect the two worlds that Jesse tried to keep separate. This marks the start of new growth and creations for him and new relationships with those he least expected: Janice Avery. Bridge to Terabithia is a treasured classic and a must re-watch if you find yourself wanting a little break.. Bridge to Terabithia is available on most streaming platforms, including Netflix.
‘Crackdown 3’ brings hollow explosions to Xbox One
WHAT’S NEW Hozier’s “Wasteland,Baby!” Hozier’s second studio album is out today. The album features 14 tracks, including hit songs “Shrike” and “Nina Cried Power,” released last year. This is Hozier’s first album release since 2014. The album is available now on all Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms.
Captain Marvel Marvel’s first female lead solo film takes flight as Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) hits the silver screen. Follow former pilot Carol Danvers as she pieces together her past while also defending Earth from the pending world wide invasion from the shape shifting empire, The Skrulls. Captain Marvel also stars Ben Mendelsohn as the Skrull Talos and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Captain Marvel is in theatres everywhere on March 8.
Devil May Cry 5
Photo courtesy of GeneracionXbox.com
Commander Jaxxon, played by actor Terry Crews, looks to take down an evil crime syndicate from world control.
Blake Gee Staff Writer
A team of super cops, a worldwide blackout caused by supervillains and Terry Crews shouting “Quack quack motherducker!” introduces you to the world of Crackdown 3. Crackdown 3 is the latest Xbox One exclusive released by Sumo Digital and Xbox Game Studios (formerly Microsoft Studios). Initially announced at the 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the game was set to release in 2016, but experienced a series of delays and finally released last month on Feb. 15. The premise of Crackdown 3 is simple: an evil crime syndicate has wiped out all power to the world and it is up to the player to systematically take them down, by any means necessary. In Crackdown’s terms, that means an assortment of super powers, which you can upgrade by collecting “orbs” around the world; a wide arsenal of weapons (my personal favorite being the “Quackhammer”, a rocket launcher that releases a bombardment of bouncing, quacking and exploding rubber ducks) and a slew of fast and fun vehicles. Crackdown 3 values its sandbox above anything else.
The movement system allows players to jump and dash around the vast and intricate city with incredible ease, and the cel shaded art style lends itself to a comicbook vibe that greatly compliments the playable space. The player can choose from a wide
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“The gameplay, humor, and style are incredibly reminiscent of the original title, but may come across as lacking or even archaic.” variety of “agents,” including one named Commander Jaxon, voiced by “White Chicks,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star and former Old-Spice guy Terry Crews. Other options include returning character “Marshal” from the first Crackdown, as well as “Forgey”, a tribute to the late game-developer Mike Forgey, who worked on previous Microsoft Studios titles such as The Fable Franchise and Gears of War 2. In many ways, Crackdown 3 feels both timeless and dated. The gameplay, humor
and style are incredibly reminiscent of the original title, meaning that it is perfect for players nostalgic for the charm that the series is known for, but may come across as lacking or even archaic for people looking for the more modern design influences seen in similar games such as Guerilla Game’s Horizon: Zero Dawn (2017), Avalanche Studios’ Just Cause 4 (2018), or Insomniac’s Spider-Man (2018). The one major drawback to Crackdown 3 is its multiplayer mode. Advertised as a Microsoft Cloud-powered, fully destructible environment, the final product is, frankly, a disappointment compared to the offerings advertised in 2014. Crackdown 3 is full of charm and satisfies an itch not scratched since Insomniac Game’s Sunset Overdrive (2014). Players will not find the latest blockbuster narrative or latest innovative gameplay features with Crackdown 3, but what they will find is pure and sometimes nonsensical fun. Crackdown 3 is cross-purchasable and cross-playable on Xbox One and Microsoft Windows 10, available as a standalone title or included in the Xbox Game Pass service. Crackdown 3 is not on PS4 or Steam.
Devil May Cry’s protagonist Dante is joined by new playable character Nero, the leader of a rival demon hunter office, as both try to hunt a new supernatural phenominon. DMC continues to keep the sylish, hit counter gameplay with this new installment. The last instalment of the DMC series was a 11 years ago with Devil May Cry 4 Gamers will loook forward to cutting down demons as eith Nero or Dante on March 8 for all consoles.
Frozen 2 The first official trailer for the highly anticipated sequel of Disney’s Frozen was released on Feb. 13 and became the most watched animated trailer in its first 24 hours with 116.4 million views. The teaser trailer hardly gives anything away, with no dialogue and no big reveals throughout the two minutes of screen time. Anna, Elsa and the rest of the cast are all back and facing a new threat in a new season in Arendelle. Frozen 2 is set to release on Nov. 22.
The Southern MARCH 1, 2019
SPORTS
10
Baseball swept by Barry in SSC opener Andrew Pawling Sports Editor
The Mocs were swept in a three- game series by Barry University Buccaneers. For the Mocs, the series against Barry was their first taste of conference play in 2019 and represented their first home series of the season, following single game victories against Eckerd College and Merrimack College in their previous two home games. Prior to the start of the first game of the series, the college held a ceremony to dedicate the stadium at Henley Field to longtime donor and support John Rodda. Rodda was an assistant baseball coach at FSC from 1999-2002 and served on the board of trustees before his passing in 2018. He had also been inducted to the FSC Athletics Hall of Fame in the class of 2014. “John Rodda loved Florida Southern College and did so much to help our athletic programs and the College as a whole,” said FSC president Dr. Anne Kerr. “Our facilities, both athletic and academic, are some of the finest in the country and much of that is due to John’s work. Naming the baseball stadium in his honor will be a lasting tribute to this remarkable man.” In addition to his work with the baseball program, Rodda’s construction company oversaw the building of the Barnett Athletic Complex, Becker Business Building, and the Sharon and Jim france Admissions Center. The ceremony for Rodda was also the last act as Director of Athletics for Pete Meyer, who officially retired from the position at the end of business that afternoon, ending his 20-year career at FSC. On the diamond, the Mocs struggled to produce as they were outscored 8-4 on Friday, 8-0 in the first game of Saturdays double header, and 11-2 in the final game of the series. In Friday’s loss, FSC scattered 11 total hits but stranded 11 runners on base throughout the game. Cooper Bradford threw six innings, gave up four earned runs, and struck out six Bucs. He then turned the ball over to the bullpen combination of Chace Pilato, Ryan Langford, and Andrew Williamson who kept the Mocs within striking distance for the remainder of the game. Pablo Cabrera scored twice,
Lorena Rionda Tennis
Andrew Pawling Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Mikaela Queen / FSC Athletics
Cooper Bradford pitching during game one against Barry University on Feb. 22. at Henley Field. and junior transfer Zach Scott had four hits and three runs batted in on the night. The 8-5 loss was the first at home for FSC. In the second game of the series, the Mocs only managed to put two runners into scoring position the entire game. Thomas Spinelli came took the mound in relief of Matt Martin who struggled in his start, failing to get through the fourth inning. Spinelli would throw four and twothirds shutout innings out of the bullpen. This was the first time the Mocs had been shut out since April 30, 2016 in a 12-0 loss against Nova Southeastern University. Game three started off with a rocky first inning from freshman standout Carson King, as he allowed multiple runners to score for the first time in his college career. King would recover nicely and only allow the Bucs to add two more runs over his next four innings of work. The Mocs only scoring came on a two-run home run by Zach Diewert, driving in freshman Austin
Blair in the process. Blair, a Lakeland native, had just been called up from the JV team to help fill the hole at second base while Dylan Costa was held out of the lineup with a minor hamstring injury. The sweep by Barry was the first time the Mocs had been swept in a three-game series since 2017. The Mocs are currently in the midst of a three-game series against Kentucky Wesleyan. Recaps for the first two games can be found on fscmocs.com and they are back in action today at 4 P.M. Following the series against Kentucky Wesleyan, the Mocs will wrap up their 10 game home stand with a game against Mineesota State on Monday the fourth, followed by a double header against Felician on Wednesday the sixth. The team will finish up their spring break in South Carolina with three game series against Clafin.
Florida Southern finished day two in second place with 898 points, followed by Florida Tech (3rd place) and Lynn University (4th place). “We have a lot to work on, but also we have the talent to compete with the best teams in the nation,” VanDerLaan said after the tournament. “Finishing in second place was a great experience for the guys and we look forward to the next few weeks,” White said. The Mocs will play again at the Southeastern Collegiate on March 10 at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Georgia. The Florida Southern women’s program also played in their third tournament of the season, finishing in eighth place at the Lady Moc Classic at Grasslands Golf & Country Club in Lakeland, Florida on Feb. 18-19. Senior Amanda Gartrell opened day
one with shooting a 70, followed by senior Tori Higgins and sophomore Shelby Lewis shooting a pair of 77s. The Mocs showed room to improve on day two after finishing the first day in eleventh place out of seventeen teams with 607 points. Southern came back strong on the second day of the tournament and earned their best scores so far for the season. Gartrell lead the Mocs with a tie for ninth place overall with 220 points total. “I believe that this finish will be the fire needed to push us even further,” Gartrell said. Florida Southern finished day two of the tournament in eighth place out of seventeen teams with 906 points. This moved them up three spots in the final standing and one shot ahead of No. 5 Rollins. The Mocs will be back in action on March 11-12 to play at the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational at the Grasslands Golf & Country Club in Lakeland, Florida, before going to play at the Barry Invitational on March 25.
No. 5 men’s, No. 12 women’s golf finish in top 10 Emma Tallon Staff Writer
The Florida Southern men’s golf program finished second in their third tournament this season last week at the Newberry Invitational held at The Ocean Course in Kiwah Island, South Carolina on Feb. 18-19. Southern finished strong on day one with 568 points, beating Lynn and Florida Tech to first place after two rounds. Senior Michael VanDerLaan took the lead with a seven-under-par 65 which included seven birdies, making it the best individual round shot by a Moc. Head coach Lee White said that the team has been working hard during the season as well as the off-season to mentally prepare for these upcoming tournaments. The extreme weather on day two of the tournament posed as a challenge for the Mocs, but the rain did not stop freshman Max Coutsolioutsos, from scoring an 80 and finishing with a total of 222 (+6).
SPOTLIGHT
Lorena Rionda has been an anchor for Florida Southern women’s tennis team for the past four years. Now, in her senior season, she is in the final chapter of her legacy of success and dedication. Rionda began playing tennis at the age of six. She credits her first coach in Spain, and her father as the biggest influencers of her career, sitting her father as her biggest supporter. It was in a national tournament in Spain where she had one of her fondest memories on the court. As a 14-yearold, Rionda competed in an elite eight competition in Ibiza against the other top seven players from her age group. As far as Florida Southern, Rionda feels that the team has improved a lot during her time here. Their recent win against No.2 West Florida is one of the highlights of her time as a Moc. “We have four seniors and four juniors which helps to create good structure and we have good team chemistry after playing together in past years.” Rionda said. Rionda is in the midst of her senior season, and according to head coach Trish Riddell, has improved since her freshman year. “Lorena came in as a fairly quiet person, and her playing style matches that as she came here as more of a defensive player,” Riddell said. “She’s worked incredibly hard on adding variety to her game to enable her to be a little more aggressive.” Rionda was named the team’s most-improved player following her freshman year. She was also named team MVP her sophomore and junior year in addition to being named to the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll in her first three years at FSC. “She’s grown not only through her on court success but being very much a team player, looking out for the team and being a little more vocal than she was,” Riddell said. Rionda wants to finish her career on a high note and is looking for continued success from her entire team through the remainder of their season. Rionda said that the culture at FSC has caused her to grow up a lot over the past four years and she will leave college far more knowledgeable than she was when she first arrived as a freshman.
11 The Southern MARCH 1, 2019
Men’s, women’s lacrosse open their 2019 seasons
No. 3 women win opener, fall to No. 2 Adelphi; men fall to No. 6 Tampa, defeat Montevallo Avery Mariotti Staff Writer The women started off their season with a 19-7 win against Rockhurst University on Feb. 14. Junior Sarah Grady scored the first goal for the Mocs only twenty-two seconds into the game. The team took a 9-0 run until the 13th minute when Hannah Miller scored for the Hawks. At half time, the Mocs where ahead 14-4. Freshman Brenna Smith scored her first collegiate goal early in the second half with Grace Glinecki following just minutes later. The Mocs went on a 3-0 run over the next ten minutes. Clair Goessling scored the last two goals for the Hawks within the last three minutes of the game. Seven of the players scored multiple goals at the end of the game. Freshman Patricia Werker totaled 18:38 minutes in the net and made three saves. The Mocs acquired 41 ground balls and won 22 of 27 draw controls. The Mocs took on Adelphi on Feb. 24. Adelphi took control early on, scoring three goals within the first 10 minutes of the game. Riley Bannatyne scored an assisted goal by Aubrianna Benedeto in the 11th minute of the game. At the half, the Mocs were down 4-7. Glinecki opened the second half with a goal for the Mocs. Julia Couch and Smith also scored early on closing the gap. The Panthers recorded three more goals in the half, increasing their lead 11-7. Glinecki and Grady scored one more time before the final buzzer ended the game with a 9-11 loss. “I thought it was a very competitive game and a great day to play lacrosse,” Coach Webber said. “I think we had every opportunity to win the game today.” Men’s lacrosse started off their season against University of Tampa on Feb. 16. The Mocs scored in the 15th minute of the game as Kyle Silverstein took an assist from Carson Wallace. The lead fell
Florida Southern will conclude regular season play on Saturday, March 3rd, in Jenkins Field House against Rollins College. Both games will will include celebrations for seniors as they play their final game in Jenkins Field House. The No. 19 women (23-3, 16-2 SSC) come into senior night having previously
Baseball
M/W Basketball
3.02 vs Rollins (Senior Night)
Beach Volleyball
3.05 vs. UT Martin 3.08-10 at CofC Tournament 3.21 at Stevenson/Saint Leo 3.23 Stevenson/South Florida 3.25 Lincoln/Alabama
Photo courtesy of Reems Landreth / FSC Athletics
Grace Glinecki goes for a goal during a preseason game against the Scotland Senior National Team on Feb. 10 at Moccasin Field. as Tampa charged three straight goals in a matter of three and a half minutes. Silverstein took another goal pulling the Mocs within one goal of the Spartans. At the end of the first half, the Mocs were down by six. Goals by Sean Nolan and Skyler Sarkisian in the early second half cut the Spartans lead to four. Tampa would go on a four goal run taking their lead 15-8. The teams went back and forth during the fourth quarter, trading off goals. The Mocs would end the game on a four goal run, ultimately coming up short in the 14-17 loss. The team found victory on the road
as they traveled to Alabama to take on Montevallo on Feb. 24. Florida Southern opened up the game with the first two goals. The Mocs dominated the second quarter as they scored six of the seven goals. At the half, the Mocs were up 9-4. For the second half, the Mocs made a total of 11 more goals to end the game at 20-12. Jeff Atlas had a game-leading five goals. Nolan, Sarkisian, Joe Appio, Dalton Simpson, Liam Winwood, Andrew Medeiros, Kyle Silerstien and Austen Lison all scored for the Mocs. The team will take on Emmanuel at 4 p.m. this Sunday at Moccasin Field.
defeated Rollins (10-14, 7-11 SSC) on Jan. 19 in Winter Park by a score of 78-61. For the women, Camille Giardina, Anja Fuchs-Robetin and Mercedez Claybrone will play their last regular season game in the Streamline Sale Arena at Jenkins Field House. The women have claimed the Sunshine State Conference regular season championship outright on Feb. 23 after a
25 point victory over Barry. They have also clinched the top seed in the SSC Tournament and will host a first-round game on March 6 in Jenkins Field House. The No. 23 men (20-6, 13-5 SSC) look to revenge their Jan. 19 loss to Rollins (917, 3-15 SSC), where they fell in Winter Park, 69-83. For the men, Jonathon Lawton, Ben Marello and Slinky Jones will tip off for the last time at home. The Mocs have fallen to the third seed in the SSC rankings as Nova Southeastern has clinched the regular season title. They have clinched a spot in the SSC Tournament and will host a first-round game on March 6. Jones has also advanced to the second round in the 2019 Dark Horse Dunker Competition, defeating Malik Moore from South Carolina Upstate 58.78 percent to 41.22 percent. He now faces Cameron Jackson from Wofford College, who defeated his first-round opponent by 0.3 percent. The second round runs until March 6 with Semifinals from March 7-14 and Finals runing from March 15-22. Fans can vote once per day, per device at DarkHorseDunker.com.
Photo courtesy of Reems Landreth / FSC Athletics Senior Jonathon Lawton goes for a layup on Feb. 20 at Eckerd College.
SOCIAL MEDIA
NEXT UP 3.01 vs. Kentucky Wesleyan 3.04 vs. Minnesota State (DH) 3.06 vs. Felician 3.08 at Claflin 3.10 at Claflin
Men’s, women’s basketball to end regular season Reems Landreth Online Editor
SPORTS
@FSCsports
The Snakebite Wednesday @ 3 p.m.
Men’s Lacrosse 3.03 vs. Emmanuel 3.06 at Wingate 3.09 at Mount Olive 3.13 vs. Westminster 3.16 vs. Lynn
Women’s Lacrosse 3.02 vs. Seton Hill 3.07 at Catawba 3.08 at Wingate 3.10 at Queens 3.13 vs. Slippery Hill
Softball
3.01 at Eckerd 3.05 vs. Tiffin 3.08 vs. Lynn 3.09 vs. Lynn 3.12 vs. Hillsdale
Men’s Tennis
3.02 vs. Grand Valley 3.05 vs. Davis & Elkins 3.07 at Embry-Riddle 3.09 vs. North Dakota 3.09 vs. Northwood
Women’s Tennis 3.02 at Erskine 3.03 at Tiff 3.11 vs. West Chester 3.13 vs. North Georgia 3.15 vs. Ferris
E Sports
3.04 vs Oregon 3.05 vs Texas Wesleyan 3.11 vs UCLA
The Southern March 1, 2019
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