OUTHERN S The Student Voice of Florida Southern College
Students’ families impacted by storm
Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit 38 Lakeland, FL
FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 VOL. 137, NO. 3
Strawberry Festival will be hosted despite pandemic Faith Miller Staff Writer
View of the snow-covered street from senior Atley Brown’s home in Austin, Texas.
Photo courtesy of Atley Brown
Read the full article on Page 2
Poly Tech and FSC announce partnership Deanna Wright Staff Writer
once they graduate. Both FSC President Anne B. Kerr and Randy K. Avent, president of Florida Poly, agreed that this new opportunity to earn two degrees in a short amount of time will help elevate these STEM students’ career paths and open doors for many possibilities in the announcement article. “It will be good for the Lakeland community as it is a very exciting [partnership] that businesses all across Lakeland should benefit from,” Santos said. Due to Polytechnic only being open for six years, the institution has a small selection of degree programs and does not offer any Master’s programs other than in the STEM field. Allowing them to pursue a Master’s degree in another field like business will create new opportunities for the community. “Poly has such a small selection of degree programs, and not everyone wants to pursue a Master’s degree in a strictly STEM field,” Dixon said. “Many entrepreneurs at Poly want to pursue business to launch their
ideas and start-ups, and a Business-related Master’s degree from a respected school like FSC will be a great opportunity for many graduates.” Florida Poly undergraduates who meet minimum qualifications and prove their academic progression can apply for the program during their junior year for early acceptance. If the undergrad is accepted during their junior year, they will complete nine credit hours of graduate work with Florida Southern prior to them getting their bachelor’s degree. Florida Poly freshmen who meet SAT or ACT requirements and maintain a 3.25 GPA will be automatically granted admissions to the “4+1” MBA program as well as GMAT/ GRE admission testing to Florida Southern will be waived. Those who transfer into Florida Poly with a minimum GPA of 3.25 must maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA throughout their undergraduate program. After completing the nine credit hours during their senior year of undergrad, students in the program will then attend FSC for a year to finish the program.
Florida Southern College and Florida Polytechnic University announced that they have partnered up for a “4+1” MBA program for STEM students. This new partnership will offer a path for Florida Poly STEM students to get their undergraduate degree while working towards a Masters in Business Administration in five years or less. “When I first found out about the partnership I was surprised, but I think it is a great idea,” junior Justin Santos said. These institutions are two of the six schools located in Lakeland within 15 miles from each other. “The schools are pretty far from each other geographically, and I know from 4 years of observation that a majority of Poly students tend to stay around campus and don’t venture beyond Plantation Square Publix,” Florida Poly senior Jonathan Dixon said. Due to the distance between the two institutions, many students tend to only venture around their campus and not visit the opposite part of Lakeland. Having this partnership means students will be making bonds with other students from Florida Poly and this would allow students to venture out of their circle. “With a program like this, students at both schools, even in their freshman years, will be more aware of the other school and more likely to look into making connections since they will be interacting at a senior and graduate level from now on,” Dixon said. The “4+1” MBA is the first of its kind Photo courtesy of Jordan Weiland/FSC and will benefit not just the schools but also the Lakeland community. Lakeland has Dr. Anne B. Kerr, president of Florida Southern College, and Randy K. over 21,000 businesses which gives these Avent, president of Florida Polytechnic University, celebrate the exclusive students so many opportunities for careers new partnership that expands FSC’s 4+1 MBA Program.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Plant City, Fla. has announced that it still intends to hold its annual “Florida Strawberry Festival” despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival is set to take place from March 4 to 14 with the theme, “All Aboard” and will feature carnival-style games, food and rides. Due to the pandemic, the festival’s concerts and live events have been cancelled. “I will miss all the concerts, but I understand that it was due to safety efforts to try and keep everyone safe from COVID-19,” freshman Rachel Horne said. Concerts and other live acts in the past have been popular and are known to be sold out or packed. Performers of the past have included artists “Reba,” “Rascal Flatts,” “The Newsboys,” etc. When a viewer goes to look up information regarding concerts, they see a message alerting them of changes made. Despite the cancellation of live concerts and other acts, the festival still plans to hold its other headlining attractions, including “Belle City Midway” and “Neighborhood Village.” Horne described that one of her favorite things to do at the festival is to try all of the fun new foods available at booths across the festival fairground, especially the funnel cakes and fried oreos. The festival committee has come up with a list of policies to help keep attendees and participants safe. The committee recommends wearing masks while walking outside. They require masks when visitors are inside tents and buildings. The event will provide hand sanitizing stations for visitors. These policies are posted in a statement by Paul Davis on behalf of the festival on the official Florida Strawberry Festival website. “We have purchased 130 additional non-touch hand sanitizing stations which are positioned throughout the grounds in addition to the existing hand washing stations,” Davis said in a statement. The statement also describes the guidelines for food vendors attending the festival this year. According to the policies for the event, regulations include the requirement of a mask and wearing gloves when businesses serve food, handle and dispose of trash, when handling used or dirty food service items or when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. They also ask food vendors to direct customers to seating areas after completing their purchases. “As you can see, we have taken enhanced health and safety measures for you, our visitors, and our staff,” Davis said. “We ask that you follow all posted instructions while visiting the Florida Strawberry Festival.”
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The Southern MARCH 5, 2021
NEWS BRIEFS First-Gen Fridays Starting on March 5, the Student Solutions Center is hosting a series of events exclusive to first-generation students. The event takes place outside the Carlisle Rogers Building. Students will be able to interact with each other, recieve free pre-packaged snacks and take part in multiple activities. The next scheduled First-Gen Fridays will take place on April 9 and May 7.
Discover Florida: Ringling Museum
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Texas winter storm impacts student families Isabelle Hancock Staff Writer Starting Feb. 10, there was a statewide power outage and supply shortage in Texas due to the second coldest winter storm ever, Uri. The storm brought freezing temperatures, snow and ice. These low temperatures caused major power outages, water pipe bursts, carbon monoxide poisoning, shortages of gas, food and water throughout Texas. Uri has caused a lot of businesses in Texas to shut down because of the unsafe conditions and has brought many people’s education and jobs to a halt. Some Florida Southern College students and their families have been impacted by the storm. Senior Atley Brown is from Austin, Texas and is a residential student at FSC.
However, her parents and sister are home in Austin, and some of her other family members are located in Houston, Dallas and Waco. “My sister, at the University of Texas, didn’t have class for six class days due to rolling blackouts,” Brown said. “My dad hasn’t worked for eight weekdays due to pipes bursting at the school he works at.” Many families have been having similar struggles or worse in Texas statewide. Since Uri hit, there have been approximately 4 million people without power in Texas. “My parents and sister were all very lucky and had power the whole time,” Brown said. “They did go four days without water and are now on a boil notice. My Houston and Dallas family lost power for three days and had no heat.” Heather Howard is the mother of sophomore Lily Howard and is from
Students attending this event on March 6, will meet at 7:45 a.m. on Circle Drive near Branscomb. Students will have a chance to visit the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. The Ringling Museum is home to the State Art Museum of Florida, the Art Library and more.
Gift of Life Marrow Registry
SGA: Day Off The Student Government Association has secured a “Day Off” on March 10. There will be no classes held on that day. More informaton will be given on March 5.
Silver Moon Drive-In Movie Fundraiser The Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) is hosting a fundraiser at the Silver Moon Drive-In. Students can go watch two movies on March 19 starting at 7:30 p.m. It costs $10 per car and there will be a contest for best decorated car trunk. “Chaos Walking” will play at 7:30 p.m. and “John Wick” will play at 9:05 p.m. Proceeds will go towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Austin, Texas covered in snow after Winter Storm, Uri on Feb. 14.
COVID-19 vaccine is not widely available to students yet Emily Starling Staff Writer As the Florida vaccine rollout continues to push forth, college-aged students may have to wait until April or later to be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. In late December, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a statement regarding which demographics would receive the first vaccines amongst the rollout. “So let me just be very, very clear. Our vaccines are going to be targeted for our elderly population,” DeSantis said during an interview with NPR. According to the CDC, an individual over the age of 65 is 90 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to collegeaged individuals. Ten percent of Florida’s residents have gotten the first dose of the vaccine, as of Feb. 10, according to the Florida Department of Health’s vaccine summary, less than 1 percent were residents of Polk County. However, only about 13,000 from the ages 18-24 in the state have gotten the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, that’s roughly only 1 percent of the Florida population. As of right now, under the CDC guidelines, only healthcare workers and people over the age of 65 are being considered for the COVID-19 vaccination. However, this seems to be changing in the coming months. On Feb. 11, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the
nation’s top infectious disease expert, seemed to have a tone of hope when discussing the availability of the vaccine in the near future. “By the time we get to April, that will be what I would call, for better wording, ‘open season,’ namely, virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated,” Fauci said on NBC’s Today Show. According to Florida Southern College’s COVID-19 Dashboard, since the start of the spring semester, there have been 101 total positive tests for students and 13 positive tests for faculty/staff, as of March 4. Nour Lotfy, a Florida Southern sophomore, was able to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 19.
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According to their website, “AdventHealth caregivers’ relatives eligible under state and federal guidelines” are eligible to receive some of the first vaccinations in the state of Florida. “The process was surprisingly easy,” Lotfy said. “...I felt absolutely fine.” Although the COVID-19 vaccine may not be widely available to college-aged students until April, Lotfy encourages the students of Florida Southern to go get their vaccine when they are able to.
The process is suprisingly easy ... I felt absolutely fine.
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The Pre-Health Honor Society and the Health Profession & Stem Career Development Center are hosting an online event on March 10. Gift of Life is an international blood stem cell and marrow registry that helps find matches for patients in need. The online event starts at 10:50 a.m. and ends at 11:50 a.m. The Zoom link information is on Engage.
Photo courtesy of Atley Brown
Rockwall, Texas. “[The winter storm] did affect our family for food,” H. Howard said. “[There have been] power outages in grocery stores, so they were having to throw out milk, meats and perishables. Supplies are so low you have to visit four to five grocery stores to get what you need. For example, I was at Walmart today, [and there was] no milk or eggs.” Many of the shelves in grocery stores have been empty due to everyone stocking up on supplies and non-perishables as well as the power outages causing perishable food to spoil. “Propane is impossible [to get] because for some people, at this time, with no power, it’s the only heat source they have,” H. Howard said. According to “The Cut,” homes in Texas are usually under-ventilated to keep heat out rather than keeping it in, causing people to wear multiple layers of thick clothes and blankets. There have also been multiple cases of carbon monoxide poisoning due to people bringing charcoal grills and generators into their homes in an attempt to keep warm. Since the Howard family had not lost power during the storm, they used it to their advantage to help others around them. “Our family has been very lucky. But we have neighbors with busted pipes and leaking ceilings. So, I have cooked food for people who don’t have water or power,” H. Howard said. People in Texas are still trying to get back to normal, with the top priority continuing to be getting electricity and water back on for residents.
-Nour Lotfy FSC sophmore
“I was able to get the vaccine because my mother’s friend is a healthcare worker,” Lotfy said. Lotfy was able to receive her vaccine through AdventHealth, a healthcare company that is aiding the current vaccine rollout across Florida.
Photo courtesy of Nour Lofty
Lofty gets the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Orlando on Feb. 19.
3 The Southern MARCH 5, 2021
Sun ‘n Fun returns after 2020 cancellation Jameson Champion Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rachel McMarr
Four U.S. Navy Thunderbirds take off for a demonstration.
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I object to air shows because they’re essentially epicenters of waste and pollution. -Abigail Torres FSC sophomore
Fun, ACE also helps with education support and provides scholarships to students in the field of aeronautics, spending $2 million annually. “I personally don’t go, but it’s a good chance for the CFAA kids to go and learn,” Lakeland resident Jacob Balaguer said. There have been concerns expressed about air shows and the potential for pollution they create because of airplane emissions. “I object to air shows because they’re essentially epicenters of waste and pollution,” sophomore Abigail Torres said. “I wouldn’t spend my money supporting that.” Tickets bought for last year’s event can still be redeemed at this year’s Sun ‘n Fun expo. The event will be taking place at Lakeland Linder Airport’s Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus, general admission is $45 per person.
FSC’s cat club asks students to stop feeding them
The Campus Cat Club and its members are in charge of taking care of the campus cats found at Florida Southern College. Probably every student and staff member has seen at least one cat around campus. Florida Southern College is part of a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program for the cats, which ensures that they are fixed and returned to where they were found. The cats around campus are given medical care as needed as well as monthly flea treatments according to the Cats at FSC Facebook page. All the cats had recent shots for leukemia, rabies and distemper in 2017. It’s important that the student community is giving the cats their space, since they are still feral, but there has recently been an issue of students leaving food out for the cats. Some of the campus
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I think we are a very lucky campus in that we can even take care of these animals.
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-Amo Oehler FSC freshman
cats in the Florida Southern community are on special diets, so this could be harmful to their health. All the cats are fed every evening, so they don’t need the extra snacks. Leaving extra food out has also been attracting other wild animals to campus, which is an issue for both cat and student safety. Coyotes have been spotted several times on campus already. “I think we are a very lucky campus in that we can even take care of these animals, and we should do better to make sure what we’re giving them is safe,” freshman Amo Oehler said. Unfortunately, one of the campus cats Jojo, was killed recently by a raccoon. Leaving the feeding to the members of the Cat Club who are in charge of the cats’ feeding could help prevent this from happening again in the future. “[We] should respect the fact that the school is already feeding them too,” Oehler said. “If they get too much food they’ll get sick, so the best thing for us to do is either get cat treats for the club or just love on [the cats] if they’re in the mood to be loved on.” Christina Meiser, a 2018 Florida Southern graduate, is the original organizer of the Campus Cats Club as well as the person running their current social media accounts. “If [the cats] eat random food during the day,” Meiser said, “they might not show up on time for dinner in the evening,
Traditional St. Patrick’s Day events in Lakeland are being adjusted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “I think they’re rolling with the punches with COVID. From everything that I’ve heard, they haven’t planned anything this year,” sophomore Jared Law said. “I work downtown and I haven’t seen anything yet.” Law has lived in the Lakeland area for three and a half years. He works in the Jimmy John’s sandwich shop downtown. Since no big plans have been announced, Law believes a lot of people might go celebrate the holiday in a larger city like Tampa, where they have more celebrations lined up. Lakeland might plan events the week before the holiday, but there is no word yet. Thomas Prokuski, a sophomore at Florida Southern College, was born and raised in Lakeland and provided details on what Lakeland does for St. Patrick’s Day. “A lot of local restaurants will decorate for the holiday and hold their own themed [celebration] in their establishment,” Prokuski said. “St. Patty’s day is more so celebrated in Tampa; Tampa’s going to be the biggest celebration. A lot of beaches will definitely celebrate.” There are some traditions from the past year that might still be in effect. Phalen DeJarnette, a junior at Florida Southern College who lives in Lakeland, reflects on celebrations from the past years. “There’s most likely going to be a themed first Friday celebration thing going on if it hasn’t changed because of COVID on the 5th,” DeJarnette said. First Friday is when Lakeland closes its streets on the first friday of that month and holds a series of events that correlate with a theme.
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A lot of local restaurants will decorate for the holiday and hold their own themed [celebration].
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students to get firsthand experience in aeronautics. The CFAA is part of a larger philanthropic initiative sponsored by Sun ‘n Fun, the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE). The ACE program and its staff provide educational services like summer camps and outreach programs to students with an interest in aeronautics. According to Sun ‘n
Feeding campus cats affects their health Emma Matzen Staff Writer
Lakeland simplifies St. Patrick’s Day due to COVID-19 Diego De Jesus Staff Writer
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The annual aerospace expo Sun ‘n Fun has officially announced that it will be making its return this year after last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19. Scheduled to take place between April 13 and 18, this year the event will be entering its 47th year in operation. Last year marks the first time the event has been cancelled, as in previous years events would be rescheduled due to inclement weather and other circumstances. As part of the return of the event, new COVID-19 protocols have been put in place to avoid the spread of the pandemic. According to their COVID-19 policy, masks will be required in all indoor locations on the expo campus while they are strongly recommended in outdoors locations. Sanitization will also be increased throughout the event. These policies were tested in December at Sun ‘n Fun’s first holiday flying air show. Many Lakelanders and FSC students alike are interested in the event’s return because it is one of America’s largest air shows and features famous air squadrons like the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. “I would be interested in attending Sun ‘n Fun,” freshman Rachel Williams said. “I don’t commonly study that facet of technology so it would be cool to see what they have to offer and what I can learn from the event.” Sun ‘n Fun and its expo campus are also a part of an education initiative in Lakeland for Kathleen High School as part of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) program, allowing high school
FEATURES
-Thomas Prokuski FSC sophomore Photo by Kat Hostetler
Pictured above is Carrot, one of FSC’s campus cats. which isn’t good for us because we need to monitor their health and keep tabs on [which cats] are showing up, or if one might be missing.” The safety of these cats is a community driven effort. Unintentionally bothering them and giving them food they shouldn’t have may be harmful to their health. To help support the campus cats and the Cats Club, donations can be made via PayPal and goods can be bought off the Amazon Wishlist on the Cats at FSC Facebook page or the Cats at FSC Instagram (@cats_at_fsc).
Due to COVID-19, First Friday celebrations won’t occur on March 5. Celebrations will resume on April 2 with Sun ‘n Fun. The city of Lakeland itself doesn’t hold any celebrations on St. Patrick’s Day. Parades and such aren’t held on St. Patrick’s Day unlike in bigger cities like Tampa. Instead, locally sponsored events spring up in downtown Lakeland. Julie Townsend, the Executive Director of Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, is in charge of planning events in downtown Lakeland and listed the many events taking place around St. Patrick’s Day. One of the upcoming events Townsend plans is Tasty Tuesdays on March 16 where participants can try samples from multiple restaurants from Downtown Lakeland. This event lasts from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Southern MARCH 5, 2021
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CENTER
REGGIE ARDIS BACK-TO-BACK
Reggie Ardis (top center) celebrating with his team after defeating Central Michigan University two straight for the 1971 title.
Greg Pryor slides home to give the Mocs the lead, and the championship over San Diego State in 1972.
Early Black baseball player speaks on pioneering collegiate baseball and harrowing 1970’s racism Salvatore Ambrosino Staff Writer Reginald “Reggie” Ardis shared his experience at Florida Southern College as one of our first Black baseball players. Experiencing both the racial peril of the early 1970’s and the short-lived fame of an elite college baseball team, Ardis made his debut with the Florida Southern Mocs in the Spring semester of 1971. Alongside senior outfielder Atlas Jones, Ardis described living through what they had as the first Black players to make the A-team 50 years ago. Growing up, Ardis had been a scorekeeper and bat-boy for Florida Southern College baseball. After finishing with Manatee Junior College as their first Black player and the No. 2 junior college baseball program in the nation, he approached late Athletic Director and famed head coach Hal Smeltzly “demanding” a scholarship. “He looked at me like I was crazy. But he asked me if I could play; he had seen me play for Manatee Junior College,” Ardis said. “He’d watch me that summer, and [said] if I was good I could have a scholarship.” Ardis played in Lakeland’s All-American Legion baseball during the summer of 1970 as the first Black player in that league. There, he won MVP. Smeltzly kept his word, rewarding Ardis’s MVP performance with a scholarship and admission to Florida Southern that fall as one of the earliest Black student-athletes on record. “I went to college for one reason, and it was not to get an education. I’ll be honest,” Ardis said. “It was to play ball.” After making Florida Southern’s roster, Ardis was one of eight Black student-athletes at Florida Southern. He remembers getting along with his teammates and earning a starting position his freshman year. “I didn’t have a real good stretch,” Ardis said. “Coach Smeltzly had
a place right next to him during the games. In other words, I got to sit on the bench.” Ardis soon thrived among his teammates, breaking records, securing a record 5 double-plays in only 5 innings. Earning his position on the AllTournament roster in 1971, he was not only recognized as a designated hitter; he was Black. His hard-earned recognition in the sport of baseball and from his teammates did not always keep him safe from the racist premonitions of the 1970’s. Ardis received a bid from ΦΕΚ (Phi Epsilon Kappa—pronounced “PEKE”), a social fraternity that is no longer on campus. This was a line Ardis claimed to have “crossed.” “I crossed the line from being an independent to joining a Greek organization,” Ardis said. “I was the first ‘Black’ [person] to be a part of a Greek organization at Florida Southern.” ΦΕΚ came in first in academics and won the athletics trophy during his stint— despite it, Ardis recalls “horror stories” from crossing the line: run-ins with a racist rival fraternity. He remembers Kappa Alpha (KA), an organization that disbanded from Florida Southern’s campus in the 1980s. Ardis was careful in his word-choice. “They were not real nice,” Ardis said. “We had to have the authorities come out because we had an issue with the way they were wanting to treat me. They were staunchly against the involvement of Blacks in White communities. It was a major problem at the time.” A small team within ΦΕΚ took to Ardis’s defense on campus. The KAs were
5 The Southern MARCH 5, 2021
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Head Coach Hal Smeltzly led the Mocs to back-to-back championships in 1971 and 1972. Since then the Mocs have won the most D2 championships of all time. Mocs cruised to their best record in 1971, going undefeated against schools like Yale and Brown University. (34-4)
a “serious threat” to Ardis as a fraternity with affiliations to the Ku Klux Klan that had marched in Munn Park in the 70’s. Ardis recalls the shotguns kept in possession of his frat for his protection and that he and his fraternal brothers “were ready to battle if they had to battle.” Thankfully, Ardis said, it never came to that. Being number one was a dream to many and reality to only few. The reality struck twice at Florida Southern in 1971 through 1972 when the Mocs cruised to becoming the first school to have ever won back-toback national championships. Ardis remembers the fame. “We traveled to the national championships by charter plane—that was unheard of,” Ardis said. “Everybody else was busing. Gives you a little bit of an idea of the respect we had throughout those years.” What Ardis remembered most clearly about his time playing baseball throughout Florida and the U.S. was the treatment of his team because of his race. Despite the team’s fame and despite the records, denials from restaurants, hotels and cities haunted their game. “The [incident] I remember the most—the one I can’t stand even today was at the University of Florida gates,” Ardis said, recalling taunts and slurs aimed at him and his teammates. “The coach in Gainesville tried to recruit me [afterward]. There was no way I was going back to Gainesville after the insults I heard there.”
Photos courtesy of McKay Archives Center and Florida Southern Athletics
When hate flew high enough to prevent Ardis from competing, he was only thankful to his head coach for looking out for the team. “We were near Avon Park. There was a field across the one we were playing at. The night we played, the coach told me I needed to stay in the dugout. Across from the field we played at, they had planned a [KKK] rally. You could see the big bonfire in that field,” Ardis said. Smeltzly did a good job keeping him and the rest of Florida Southern’s elite squad safe. Ardis said if they received future threats, the whole team wasn’t showing up. “What I learned as President of the [Lakeland] NAACP is patience— you have to be really patient with change,” Ardis said before pausing. Drawing on his six years of leadership with the organization, he believes today we need better leaders. The discipline of a good leader is that like a soldier, he said. “[Change] might be alien to your personal beliefs,” Ardis said. But regardless of how we feel, “you have to be a good teammate to be a good leader.” The Florida Southern Mocs team photo in 1972. Ardis is pictured second to last on the top right.
The Southern MARCH 5, 2021
OPINIONS
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Social media provides sexual assault survivors with platform
Emily Starling Staff Writer Social media continues to be a tool for survivors to bravely share their sexual assault stories. On Feb. 1, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Instagram Live to disclose that she was a sexual assault survivor. “I am a survivor of sexual assault” said Ocasio-Cortez .“...and I haven’t told many people that in my life.” She bravely shared her story to an audience of 150,000 while recounting her traumatic experience at the pro-Trump riot that took place at the capitol last month. However, influential women coming forward about their experiences with sexual assault is not new. In 2017, the “#MeToo” movement took social media by storm and sparked a national discussion on the topic of sexual assault. This movement inspired women across the globe to share their own experiences with sexual misconduct. A-list celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence, Lady Gaga, Gwyneth Paltrow and more have all come forward with their stories on social media, similarly to how Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez did. Although the #MeToo movement hit its peak in 2017, survivors are continuing to utilize social media as a space to have an
open discussion about the topic of sexual assault. It continues to be so important for prominent figures like Ocasio-Cortez to come forward about their stories because survivors tend to minimize their experiences, like myself. On Jan. 29, I used my own social media account as a platform to come out about my personal experience with sexual assault.
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Since 2017, the Office of Accountability, Education, and Compliance has increased ongoing prevention education for the campus community. -Amanda Blount Assistant Dean of Accountability, Education, and Compliance After teaming up with a women’s advocacy organization called “Nice For What,” a group that empowers and shares the stories of survivors , I have been able to share my story with nearly 40,000 people.
Now, four years after my assault, I’m learning how to heal from my trauma while also learning how to navigate safely through my time on a college campus. College aged-students make up 54 percent of all sexual assault cases, with college women being three times more likely to become victims. “Since 2017, the Office ofAccountability, Education, and Compliance has increased ongoing prevention education for the campus community,” Assistant Dean of Student Development for Accountability, Education, and Compliance Amanda Blount said. According to Florida Southern’s Annual Security Report, there have been 10 reported cases of sexual assault on campus since 2017. “What we know is that when an individual has been through a traumatic experience, what works for one person for the healing and resolution process, may not work for another student,” Blount said. These supportive measures may include changes in campus housing, no contact directives, and “connections to local law enforcement and Victims’ Assistance departments,” Blount said. Providing support for those who have been sexually assaulted is something that is important and certainly something that has helped me along my journey of overcoming the trauma of my assault has caused. Students can visit Florida Southern’s
Photo by alecperkins/Creative Commons Person carries a “Can You Hear Me Now? #MeToo” sign during protest. “JustAsk” site to report incidences of “...sexual discrimination or harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.” If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available for free at 1-800-656-4673. You are not alone and confidential help is available.
EDITORIAL: your future is on you It has been almost a whole calendar year since we were all sent on our “extended spring break” as many called it at the beginning of the pandemic. Over 500,000 people in this country are dead. There is no doubt that you know someone or are the someone who has been directly impacted by the loss and devastation. What will it take for you to finally take this seriously? It’s past the time to take this pandemic seriously. We are supposed to be acting as role-models for the younger generations.
Stop being selfish. Have some compassion. The college’s rules aren’t in place to prevent us from having an enjoyable college experience, they are in place so that we keep each other, our professors, the staff members and everyone else on this campus and in this community safe and healthy. If students continue to turn a blind eye to the death and disparity that this pandemic has caused and continue to gather irresponsibly -we will never return to the “normal” that you want. On-campus restrictions will do nothing if students are gathering at parties, bars and crowded beaches. The future of your experience at this institution is in your own hands.
Be responsible. Hold yourself and your friends accountable. Would you rather have your friends be upset at you or be sent home and potentially miss out on the last months of the semester? There are a lot of possibilities that would be sad to see come true if this campus community cannot grasp the importance of following the Covid guidelines. The rest of the semester virtual? Virtual graduation?
That’s up to you.
7 The Southern MARCH 5, 2021
Mocs lacrosse resume play at Florida Tech Ellie Clissold Staff Writer
The Florida Southern men’s lacrosse team will step back on the playing field this month, after their season was cut short by the pandemic last year. Players received the news from men’s lacrosse head coach, Marty Ward, that their 2021 official schedule had been released. The team’s first stop on the schedule is an away match at Florida Tech on March 20 at 12 p.m. The Mocs have high expectations since their last game against Florida Tech
was canceled during the 2020 season. “Our team is looking pretty good,” junior Sean Nolan said. “The freshmen are playing well. I think that we’ll be more than ready for the first game of the year and we definitely have the potential to go undefeated this season.” The Mocs finished their 2020 season with three wins and four losses prior to their following eight games being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Men’s lacrosse players jumped right back into preseason training when they were allowed to return to campus after winter break during the last week of
Photo courtesy of Madi Wood / FSC Athletics
Mocs scrimage at a practice field in Lakeland.
January. With practice and weight training every day since then, players are anxious to put their preparation and efforts to the test. “A lot of time and hard work from both the coaching staff and players has already gone into this season,” Nolan said. “We know it’s all in preparation to have a great season.” The team will open the 2021 season ranked No. 18 in the country, according to the Nike Lacrosse Division II Preseason Top 20 poll. Seven other teams across Florida are a part of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). The Mocs are scheduled to play their rivals, the University of Tampa Spartans twice this season. The first game will be on Florida Southern’s home turf on March 31, with the second game being held in Tampa on May 1. To reduce traveling and coronavirus risks, the Mocs will only face other SSC opponents. No fans will be allowed at any FSC sporting event this spring. Despite these changes, the Mocs still have high expectations for this season, with hopes of taking home a ring at the end of it. “We’re going to come out strong the fist game and do our best to keep it going throughout the season,” Nolan said. “Our eyes are definitely focused on a conference or national championship.”
Swim teams hopes for Championship season Florida Southern’s swim teams made their return to the pool last month for the first time since the NCAA canceled the Division II National Championships last March. The Moccasins competed in their first meet of the season on Feb. 12 against the University of Tampa. The 2021 season for the Mocs consisted of eight swim meets, designed to be contested on four separate dates, all of which were held at the competition-sized pool on FSC’s campus. In a traditional year, the season would start as early as October, but COVID-19 restrictions and protocols prohibited the team from being able to compete until February, leaving the squad a very short time frame to administer a season. Despite roadblocks, the Mocs overcame adversity by organizing half-team practices to ensure the safety of the athletes while also managing to practice. With much of the team also having to travel internationally, these obstacles have only been magnified. Freshman Ludwig Mueller, who just raced in his first competition in over a year, had to travel from Germany, where all of the swimming pools are still closed. “Sometimes I swam in the lake, but I did a lot of dry-land [training], a lot of hiking, stuff like that, but it wasn’t comparable,” Mueller said. Finally getting to come to Lakeland was a relief for the freshman, who also noted that he’s glad to be on a team with such high morale in the midst of the pandemic. Swimmers need to have a minimum of five scored meets to be able to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships, currently scheduled for the week of March 17. After successfully completing four meets against Saint Leo University on Feb.
27, both the men’s and women’s teams have earned eligibility status for the 2021 Championships, which will take place in Birmingham, Alabama. As a team, the men dominated in their eight meets, defeating the University of Tampa in their opener before cruising past Florida Tech and Saint Leo. In their first five meets, a member of Florida Southern’s men’s team placed first in every single event this season, an astounding statistic that showcases the depth that the Mocs have in their lineup of swimmers. “It’s a little bit of a pleasant surprise,” head coach Andy Robbins said. “We’re doing great, and we’re doing what we need to do, and winning every event is awesome.”
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“I think there’s a lot of excitement about what we can do in the future and where we’re going. I think we’re very confident.” -Andy Robbins
Head Coach
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John Christovich Staff Writer
Although the women’s team dropped their first two meets of the season against the Tampa Spartans, their season wound up being a massive success. As part of the joint swim meet with the men’s team against Florida Tech, the women put together some impressive numbers in the pool, which included three first-place finishes by freshman Jazzy
Hoffman. The team wound up finishing the regular season with a record of 4-2 after winning all four meets against St. Leo. Hoffman is one of a number of freshmen who have already made a big difference as a member of Florida Southern’s swim team—teammate Allie Brinton set a school record by posting a time of 2:07.85 in the 200-yard butterfly, and then broke her own record on Feb. 26 with a time of 2:04.73, which earned her a B-standard qualifying time for the NCAA Championships. Setting the mark in her very first meet was a big moment for Brinton, who recounted that she was hoping to break a record at some point in her collegiate career. “I looked at the record board, and I want to put my name on that board by the time I graduate,” Brinton said. “I wasn’t expecting to break a record so soon, because that was my first meet that I’ve done in a year and a half, it was a three-second best time, it was just really overwhelming.” Whether any swimmers are able to qualify for the NCAA Championships or not, the fact that so many swimmers on the women’s team have improved times is a point of optimism for the team. A number of newcomers on the men’s team have been very impressive in their competitions, including the freshman from Melbourne, Australia, Kyle Micallef, who set a new school record in the 50-yard freestyle event in the first meet against Florida Tech. Micallef’s time of 19.98 seconds would qualify him for competition in the National Championships come March. This article continues on fscsouthern.com.
SPORTS
SPOTLIGHT Rachel Martin Volleyball
Deanna Wright Staff Writer
Rachael Martin, a senior nursing major who plays for FSC volleyball team as a middle blocker, plans to go back to California once May rolls around. Martin has been playing the sport since she was in seventh grade but didn’t join a club team until a year later. “I was really tall for my age, (I was 5’8 at the age of 11) and some of my friends were playing, so it seemed like a fun thing to do to occupy my time,” Martin said. The nursing program that FSC offers and its atmosphere is what drew Martin to Lakeland as well as the proximity to the Disney parks. The combinations of all of these things as well as the fact FSC has a volleyball team helped make her dream of playing in college come true. “I couldn’t imagine my life without the sport and I wanted to continue doing what I loved in any way I could,” Martin said. Within her first year on the volleyball team, she played in 30 matches and appeared in 100 sets. As well as led all of the Florida Southern’s freshmen in kills (158), and blocks (85). It wasn’t until the nine matches of the season, when she took on the role of a starting middle blocker. At the end of her freshman year she was on the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. “I am not sure if my teammates looked up to me, but I hope I acted as a positive role model nonetheless,” Martin said. During her sophomore season, she played in 31 matches and appeared in 112 sets and was ranked second in the conference and 21st nationally in hitting percentage (.374). Martin was also an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA All-South 1st Team, D2CCA AllSouth Region 2nd Team, All-SSC 2nd Team, SSC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 01, 2018, D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, and was on the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for a second year. “I felt very confident in myself and my ability to go out on the court and do my job and I felt very confident in my team to go out and do theirs. I am very lucky and honored to have been there for that and I am very proud of myself for accomplishing all that I did,” Martin said. This article continues on fscsouthern.com.
The Southern MARCH 5, 2021
8
ENTERTAINMENT
“To All the Boys: Always and Forever” is the final installment of the Netflix Original, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” Trilogy, and it provides one final goodbye to the beloved characters. Following the 2018 “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and its 2020 sequel, “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” the new film shifts the focus from the love life of protagonist Lara Jean, played by Lana Condor, to the character’s own self-discovery and upcoming college decision. Noah Centineo reprises his role as the main love interest, Peter Kavinski, who plans to attend Stanford University with Lara Jean after high school. However, following her spring break trip to South Korea and a lifechanging class trip to New York City, Lara Jean begins to reconsider her future and Peter’s place in it. Since its release on Netflix
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The film wraps things up with a swoon. -Adrian Horton The Guardian
on Feb. 12, it has been met with generally favorable reviews. Critics have praised “Always and Forever” for providing Lara Jean with more agency and character development than in the first two movies. Additionally, it provides a refreshing take on Lara Jean’s Korean background by addressing it without glamorizing it. “The film wraps things up with a swoon, effectively pulling at the nostalgic heartstrings,” says Adrian Horton of The Guardian. However, some critics and fans are left unsatisfied with the conclusion of Lara Jean’s story. “None of it is executed with the flair this trilogy demonstrated it was capable of showing in its first outing,” Constance Grady of “Vox.” said. “It all feels a little bit generic, a little bit lazy, a little bit too sweet.” While Candor and Centineo’s chemistry carries the film, other elements such as the seemingly out-ofplace literature and movie references or the multiple montage sequences eliminate the charm of the original film. The first film, directed by Susan Johnson, received much more critical acclaim and overall hype. Perhaps the change of directors to Michael Fimognari contributes to the disappointing turn of the two sequels, which are lackluster in comparison to the original. Although it does not match the delight of the initial release, it provides an adequate conclusion to the fan-favorite series by capturing the pivotal nature of senior year while not diminishing the teenage emotional experience. “To All the Boys: Always and Forever” is currently available to watch on Netflix.
Nathalie Moreno Features Editor Florida Southern College students have gone viral on TikTok, reaching tens or hundreds of thousands likes and views. Going viral is a lot easier than it sounds. The infamous TikTok algorithm takes into account the things that its users like, share and view, but most times TikTok For You Page will have some random videos on it as well. The random nature of the For You Page plays a big role in videos going viral around the world. Mariah Clark, a junior who has had multiple videos extend past the 100,000 likes and views, enjoys the leniency of TikTok, as well as the outreach of her videos that lead her to people who share similar interests. People post whatever they want, whenever they want, with no rules or expectations. “For me, a TikTok post is way more enjoyable to make than an Instagram post because I don’t have to worry about what I look like or what other people will think,” Clark said. “I get to upload whatever I want and have conversations with people who relate to or like whatever I’m making.” Apps like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook are being used now more than ever to stay connected to and make some new friends. Another benefit that comes with going viral on TikTok is the community of other TikTok users that want to engage with your content. Thousands of views, likes and shares come with thousands of comments alike, which range from notes of praise, jokes, or just random statements they felt the need to share. “It’s really cool to connect with people all over the world and talk about the same videos and topics,” sophomore Rowan Marshall said. “I made a video about pronunciation in different accents that went viral and I had people
Photo courtesy of Mariah Clark
Photo courtsey of Brooke Broxterman
Screenshots from Clark and Broxterman’s TikTok videos. from all over the world commenting on it which was surreal to me.” There is no general outline for videos that reach viral fame on TikTok. Videos can be cute, funny, aesthetically pleasing or just plain weird Other users go viral on TikTok by sharing more serious matters with their viewers. Some users utilize their
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It’s really cool to connect with people all over the world and talk about the same videos and topics. -Rowan Marshall FSC sophomore
platforms to share personal experiences or opinions on topics like racism, cultural issues and political views. Current events like COVID-19 updates, recent presidential election feedback and the Black Lives Matter movement have all been talked about or shared with others through TikTok. While users go on TikTok strictly for comic relief, they can also use it to stay updated on what goes on in the world. Senior Brooke Broxterman has had multiple videos go viral but, like others, gets more out of TikTok than just new friends and followers. TikTok also acts as a teaching tool in unexpected but necessary ways. “I don’t care that much about going viral,” Broxterman said. “I was also informed about social issues during the summer and I am very thankful that I received so much knowledge from that.”
FSC’s first licensed show post-pandemic The Drowsy Chaperone to be live streamed this month Sarah Dube Contributing Writer FSC’s first licensed musical postpandemic, The Drowsy Chaperone, is being choreographed by senior Musical Theater student Jonah Hager. Hager is a Musical Theater and Dance double major who has made a home onstage in Buckner Theater. He was seen last year in both mainstage musicals in prominent dance roles and now, after a decade of performing, has a seat on the other side of the table. “It [The Drowsy Chaperone] has been a great experience filled with wonderful people supporting me,” Hager said, “It’s a special moment being able to create your art on a larger, more public scale.” “The Drowsy Chaperone” features many musical numbers that call for a strong dance presence which presented a new challenge for Hager. “The biggest problem was with social distancing and having everyone on the stage all at once,” Hager said. “I opened up communication between the actors and myself. We are all learning from the strange and novel issues emerging during
the pandemic, so it was important to me that the cast were able to voice their concerns.” Sophomore Madalyn Macko spoke highly of working with Hager. “Jonah has been outstanding to work with,” Macko said. “He is very specific and detailed, but has maintained such a positive and reassuring attitude throughout all of the rehearsals.” The overwhelming theme of the 20202021 school year has been adaptation. With new health guidelines in place, all of the FSC community has had
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It’s a special moment being able to create your art on a larger, more public, scale. -Jonah Hager FSC senior
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Sophie Talbert Staff Writer
FSC students gain traction on TikTok
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Final ‘To All the Boys’ is a rom-com classic
to adjust. This includes the Theater Department, who have found new ways to keep their students engaged during the pandemic. Last semester, the Theater Department put on a readapted version of “A Christmas Carol,” largely put together by the department’s staff. “The Drowsy Chaperone”will be their first licensed musical. Putting on a musical post-pandemic presents a few added challenges. The department has taken this into consideration; they have separated music rehearsals into thirty minute blocks. After thirty minutes, the cast switches location in order to let the aerosols fall. “The biggest challenge with safety has been mostly mask related,” Macko said, “Quick inhalation for big dances or long notes is made harder, but it is improving our breath control overall, so it isn’t all bad.” The Theater Department has continued to require their cast and crew to wear masks and worked to keep their show as socially distant as possible. Livestreaming will also continue to serve as the department’s way to showcase their performances. “The Drowsy Chaperone” will be streaming at 7:30 p.m on March 6 and 13, and at 2:30 p.m. on March 7 and 14.
9 The Southern MARCH 5, 2021
ENTERTAINMENT
Five must-read books by female Black authors
Emma Matzen Staff Writer
In celebration of Black History Month, here is a list of hand-picked books from multiple genres written by Black authors that we recommend to students. From Young Adult fiction to poetry and essays, I have selected multiple books I hope our readers will enjoy. 1. “So you want to talk about race” by Ijeoma Oluo First off, I’d love to recommend Ijeoma Oluo’s book “So you want to talk about race.” It’s a wonderful book, which I was introduced to in my ENG 1005: Race & Pop Culture class. Oluo is a mixed-race, Black, queer woman who uses anecdotal stories to help readers understand the important concepts she discusses in regards to race that not all readers may be fully familiar with, such as intersectionality and the model minority myth. Called “Fascinating, real, and necessary” by The Root, Oluo’s writing is engaging, and she tackles sometimes difficult subjects with nuance, and often, humor. I believe that it’s a great book for people of every race to read, as it is imperative to be educated on race, to understand the effects racism and how it is part of many people’s lives, as we’ve witnessed in the last year. 2. “The Black Unicorn” by Audre Lorde Audre Lorde was an important figure in both Black civil rights and LGBTQ+ rights. She also was notably the New York Poet Laureate from 1991 to 1992.
A self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” Lorde’s work is largely centered on her identity and the politics that surrounded her identity. “The Black Unicorn’’ is a collection of poetry full of passion, in every sense. Lorde’s imagery is wonderfully intense, and there’s so much to discuss about each poem in this collection. A personal favorite out of the collection is “The Women Of Dan Dance with Swords in Their Hands to Mark the Time When They Were Warriors.” 3. “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
Made into a movie in 2018, “The Hate U Give” is a young-adult novel by Angie Thomas, which focuses on the struggle of a girl named Starr. Starr is a Black girl who attends a prep school with mostly white students. After her childhood friend is killed by a police officer, Starr stands up for herself and her community when the officer is not indicted for the crime. In a time where crimes like this are constantly being committed and televised, it’s a very topical story to read. “The Hate U Give” won several awards in 2018, including the William C. Morris award, and it is a “New York Times” best-seller. “Read Starr’s story because it’s important, but read it also to feel, to heal, to empathize and enjoy. Read it because it’s a damn good book,” wrote The Huffington Post. 4. “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker Now adapted into a movie, a musical and a radio show, “The Color Purple” is an absolute classic. Alice Walker’s book was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize and
Grammy’s set for this month Award show was delayed from Jan.
Faith Miller Staff Writer Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 63rd Grammy Awards ceremony was announced to be postponed on Jan. 6, only a few weeks before the original date of Jan. 31. The new date for the event is set for March 14 at 8 p.m. ET. The reasoning behind the delay was due to high COVID-19 numbers in the Los Angeles area within the month of Jan. According to the official Grammy website, the announcement was made by a joint statement of the Chair and Interim President / CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr., the Executive Vice President, Music, Live Events, and Alternative Programming CBS Jack Sussman and the Grammy Awards Executive Producer Ben Winston. “Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly on producing the show,” the statement said. The announcement conversed that one of the main reasons for the delay was the large COVID-19 presence in Los Angeles. “After thoughtful conversations with health experts, our host and artists scheduled to appear, we are rescheduling
the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards® to be broadcast Sunday, March 14,” the statement said. “The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity, and new guidance from state and local governments have all led us to conclude that postponing our show was the right thing to do.” The awards ceremony is currently set to be held at the Staples Center located in Los Angeles, and will feature 83 award categories. Another highlight of the event will be the artist Beyoncé, who has received the most nominations for this year at a total of nine, including record of the year with her song “Black Parade.” The event will be hosted by the former host of “The Daily Show,” Trevor Noah. The ceremony will be streamed on CBS television network. The first ceremony took place on May 4, 1959, with awards given out for music from the year 1958. The award was originally thought to be called the “Eddie” in honor of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the phonograph. However, the name would be switched to the “Grammy” in honor of Emile Berliner’s gramophone, which would further lead to the design of the trophy award to look like a gramophone.
Photo by Emma Matzen
A few of the book recommendations written by Black authors on display. National Book Award in 1983, the year after its release. The story follows Celie, a young girl living in the Southern United States, and the struggles she has in the format of her letters to God. While the subject of controversy due to the amount of explicit language and violence, as well as being put on banned books lists, “The Color Purple” is a staple in influential novels by Black authors. 5. “Bad Feminist” by Roxanne Gay Two-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award, Roxanne Gay is an influential bisexual black author and acitivist today. Gay’s 2014 book of essays, “Bad Feminist,” tackles feminism under the lenses of sexuality, gender, sexual violence, beauty standards, and
race. Often witty and blunt, Gay makes serious topics all the more engaging in her essays. “Roxanne Gay is so great at weaving the intimate and personal with what is so bewildering and upsetting at this moment in culture,” said Sheila Heti, author of “How Should a Person Be?”. An interesting and important read for people of every demographic, Gay’s work brings to light the possible struggles of women of every kind. 6. Further Reading If you are interested in reading more books by Black authors, some honorable mentions are “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morisson, “Are Prisons Obsolete?” by Angela Davis, “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson, and the poetry of Maya Angelou.
SOUTHERN
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