OUTHERN S The Student Voice of Florida Southern College
J&J vaccine distribution paused nationwide
Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit 38 Lakeland, FL
FRIDAY, April 16, 2021 VOL. 137, NO. 5
Spring Commencement encourages unity amongst pandemic Sophia Gonzalez News Editor
Photo by Jillian Kurtz A mother talks to her son as she receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at FSC on April 9.
As of April 13, both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have called for a halt in the distribution of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines. “Today FDA and @CDCgov issued a statement regarding the Johnson & Johnson #COVID19 vaccine. We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” the tweet from @US_FDA read. This halt comes four days after 400 people were vaccinated with the J&J COVID-19 vaccine on Friday on Florida Southern’s campus. In an abundance of caution, the halt is due to six recipients of the vaccine who have developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of vaccination, according to the New York Times. As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S., according to the CDC. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is meeting on Wednesday, April 14 to further review
J&J
these cases and assess their potential significance. The cases of blot clotting have been deemed as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), which occurs when a blood clot forms in the brain’s venous sinuses. This prevents blood from draining out of the brain, forming a hemorrhage, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. “I came out to get my vaccine because I felt it was like patriotic duty to be able to get a vaccine to forward the country and to pretty much close out the pandemic,” senior William Sailor said at the FSC vaccine clinic on Friday.
“
... it does give me some hesitancy getting a vaccine in the future.
“
Jillian Kurtz Editor-in-Chief
-John Christovich FSC freshman
Florida Southern’s second vaccine site planned for Wednesday, April 14 was postponed in response to the federal agencies’ guidance.
by the numbers Less than
0.0000088%
chance of developing severe symptoms
SOCIAL MEDIA
“Due to federal health agencies pausing their distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the vaccine clinic on Wednesday has been postponed,” FSC Communications Specialist Jordan Weiland said in an email to The Southern. “We will continue to send messages on any updates regarding future vaccine clinics on campus. For health concerns, students may visit the Student Health Center or consult their physician. Dial 911 for all medical emergencies.” Freshman John Christovich was planning on attending the Wednesday vaccination site at Florida Southern and receiving the J&J vaccine. “It was surprising to me that the FDA decided to stop distributing the [Johnson and Johnson] vaccine since there were mostly no serious side effects, but it does give me some hesitancy getting a vaccine in the future,” Christovich said. If you’ve received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine and within three weeks develop these symptoms, contact your doctor. • • • •
Severe headache Abdominal pain Leg pain Shortness of breath
More than
6.8 million J&J vaccines administered
@fscsouthern
After Florida Southern College announced that it will be hosting an inperson Commencement ceremony on May 15, the school has implemented changes to graduation in order to uphold student safety. Due to the changes in the ceremony, there’s been a mixture of excitement and confusion over the upcoming graduation details. “The overall goal was to have a live ceremony option for students, and while we tried to divide areas up according to disciplinary identity, that may not have been possible in every instance,” Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Brad Hollingshead said. “Nevertheless, graduates in Schools that have multiple locations will receive a communication about their specific location.” Since graduates are being separated per School, it is unclear where seniors with multiple majors in different Schools will be located for graduation. “Students will graduate in the School that houses the primary major recorded on their official transcript,” Hollingshead said. Despite the current learning environment with remote and in-person students, an email sent out to graduating students states that students must fill out an in absentia form if they cannot attend graduation due to “extenuating circumstances.” Hollingshead confirmed that a student’s remote learning status will be enough to exempt them from attending graduation in person. “... for Schools that are using multiple buildings, such as the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, a communication will be sent closer to graduation that assigns students to the appropriate building,” Hollingshead said. FSC held a virtual ceremony in the spring of 2020, due to the uncertainty regarding the spread of COVID-19. “I’ve been looking forward to walking across the stage since I was a freshman, and I’m genuinely so glad that FSC was able to put on an in-person event,” senior double major Tabatha Lehmann said. “There are quite a few precautionary and security measures in place to keep students and attendees as safe as possible…” After holding a virtual graduation for the graduating class of spring 2020, FSC will also be hosting an in-person ceremony for its 2020 graduates at 8:45 a.m. on May 15 in the Jenkins Field House. All graduates are allowed to bring a maximum of two guests. “We have managed to handle the difficulties that COVID-19 ha[s] hurled at us,” remote senior AndrewPaul McIntosh said. “For some, who have not been on campus since March 2020, arriving at this day is all the more special.”
www.fscsouthern.com
fscsouthern@gmail.com
The Southern APRIL 16, 2021
2
NEWS BRIEFS
TITLE
APISA hosts Songkran Celebration FSC’s Asian and Pacific Islander Student Association is hosting a Songkran celebration. Songkran, also known as a Water Splashing Festival, represents the washing away bad thoughts and actions. The event will be a socially distanced water fight held on the Intramural fields on April 17 at 6 p.m. RSVP is available through Engage.
SoCo Artist Spotlight FSC’s student artists will be performing online. The event will take place on April 17 at 8 p.m. Audience members can tune into SoCo’s IGTV page or go to their YouTube Channel to watch the event.
Spring Workout at The Yard The Yard on Mass is in partnership with DX Sports to host a circut workout located at The Yard. The event will take place on April 21 at 6 p.m. Admission is $15 and includes a drink voucher on select drafts.
Sun n’ Fun hosts 5k Race Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) hosts the 47th annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo on April 17 at 7 a.m. The race will begin at the Terminal Ramp and will be flanked by the U.S. Navy Blue Devils. Throughout the course of the run, over twenty hot air balloons will be released. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Lakeland Aeroclub and the Women in Aviation Lakeland Chapter.
Remedy Make-Up Arts and Crafts Remedy will be hosting a make-up arts and crafts day on April 21, featuring crafts that the club has offered previously this semester. It will be hosted on the lawn outside the Fannin Center and students are welcomed to come by anytime between 1 and 4:30 p.m. RSVP is available through Engage.
How the legislation impacts college campuses and reporting Jillian Kurtz Editor-in-Chief
This article is the first part of a three-part series about Title IX. The separate parts explain how Title IX legislation plays a part
Part 1: History and Changes to Title IX According to The U.S. Department of Education, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Throughout most of its early history, Title IX opened doors for women to have access to higher education institutions and opportunities, with a large focus on athletics. The federal regulation under Title IX remained largely focused on intercollegiate athletics until 2011 when sexual harassment became the controversy at hand. In 2011, under the Obama administration, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the Department of Education released a “Dear Colleague Letter” that was the first official statement regarding sexual harassment in the context of Title IX stating that “The sexual harassment of students, including sexual violence, interferes with students’ right to receive an education free from discrimination and, in the case of sexual violence, is a crime.” “We are the first administration to make it clear that sexual assault is not just a crime, it can be a violation of a woman’s civil rights,” then Vice President Biden said to students at the University of New Hampshire in Durham in regards to the new additions to the federal law. In the “Dear Colleague Letter” from 2011, the U.S. Department of Education under the
from the national stage all the way down to our Title IX office and resources on campus, to Florida Southern organizations and student perspectives. As a way to set up the stage, the first part of this series is about the creation and history of Title IX. In
order to understand the implications and actions of how the legislation plays a part on our own campus, it is imperative that students, faculty and staff are aware of how this piece of legislation was created, has changed and how it continues to change.
Obama Administration urged institutions to better investigate and adjudicate sexual assault cases on their respective campuses. There was pushback from the letter due to some language that was used, not being certain whether this letter was just a suggestive piece or actually “carry the force of the law,” as stated by a letter from Senator James Lankford. The ideas Lankford stated in his letter resonated with many, with those ideas eventually leading to Betsy DeVos, the Former United States Secretary of Education, rescinding the 2011 guidance in 2017 and then implementing the August 2020 updates to the Title IX legislation. In May 2020, DeVos, released a statement regarding changes to “Strengthen Title IX Protections for All Students,” the headline read. “This new regulation requires schools to act in meaningful ways to support survivors of sexual misconduct, without sacrificing important safeguards to ensure a fair and transparent process. We can and must continue to fight sexual misconduct in our nation’s schools, and this rule makes certain that fight continues,” DeVos said in the statement. The list of the Key provisions of the Department of Education’s new Title IX regulation can be read here. The action of “final rule” was effective August 14, 2020. In A Rule by the Education Department on 05/19/2020 under the section “Anonymous Reporting and Anonymous Filing of Formal Complaints,” it is clarified that an option to submit an anonymous report is still required by some state laws, but is still not able to be formally investigated due to the fact that there is no “formal complaint.” “The written notice of allegations under § 106.45(b)(2) must include certain details about the allegations, including the identity
of the parties, if known.” Under § 106.30, a formal complaint is defined as “a document filed by a complainant or signed by the Title IX Coordinator alleging sexual harassment against a respondent and requesting that the recipient investigate the allegation of sexual harassment. The phrase “document filed by a complainant” means “a document or electronic submission (such as by electronic mail or through an online portal provided for this purpose by the recipient) that contains the complainant’s physical or digital signature, or otherwise indicates that the complainant is the person filing the formal complaint.” With this understanding, an anonymous report cannot be investigated without a complainant’s signature. In Devos’ additions, she emphasized the importance of “due process” along with “a presumption of innocence” for the accused. When it comes to reporting a sex crime, this can hinder how victims want to go about the reporting proccess. DeVos’ definition of sexual harassment only includes conduct “so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it denies a person equal educational access.” The Obama-era definition of “unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature” goes further and should be restored, according to future-ed. org. On March 8, 2021 President Joseph Biden signed an Executive Order that expands on Title IX which now clarifies guaranteeing an educational environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation or gender identity. As Title IX continues to change with each administration, it is imperative that students stay informed on changes so that they are able to get and provide support as needed.
3 The Southern APRIL 16, 2021
FEATURES
Administrative assistant Donna Greek leaves department Sam Odom Opinions Editor After working as the communication department’s administrative assistant for approximately four years, Donna Greek is saying goodbye to Florida Southern’s campus. Greek has been a key part of the functionality of the communication department, with her responsibilities like managing student workers, work study requests, pay orders, check requests, travel expense reports and helping students and professors in any way she could. A Lakeland native, Greek found the position at FSC through a connection she made while attending McKeel Academy. Greek played soccer with Rose Pagano, who works in the nursing building, and Pagano told Greek about the position in the communication department. “[She] was like ‘Hey, I have a position that I think you would really like, and they really need someone who’s organized,’ and… I’m very into organization,” Greek said. Before working at FSC, Greek worked as a substitute teacher and a nanny while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Polk State College. Greek explains that her love of organization brought her to FSC, which she joked “makes [her] sound like a real nerd,” and then once she got to FSC and learned what interpersonal and organizational communication was, she realized that was something she really enjoyed. A few months later, she decided to stop taking classes at Polk State, since FSC would pay for her bachelors degree. Greek is very aware of her financial status when at FSC, and explains that this class awareness began in high school when she had a $400 Craigslist car she had to replace the transmission in twice, while her classmates would drive brand new
Photo courtesy of Donna Greek
Former communication department secretary Donna Greek (pictured above) embraces pet and stands besides picture of herself and full name. expensive cars. Another difference she felt was a difference in experiences. “I don’t know, I feel like there’s that and being around people who don’t understand what it’s like to not have people to fall back onto, or not be able to do things or, go places or just have experiences that others are able to,” Greek said. Such an experience is the ability to have family vacations, or something as simple as healthcare. “I had to save up money and [pay] 16 hundred dollars in cash to get all my wisdom teeth taken out because we didn’t have insurance,” Greek said. This class awareness shaped how she saw her future. “I was only a few miles away [from FSC], and I literally never thought I would be here. Not working, not going to school, nothing,” Greek said. Greek explains that, before working here, she only ever came to the FSC campus when she graduated from high school in the Branscomb Auditorium. Greek feels that her experiences made her aware of how students in attendance have
a base-level privilege that enables them to leave home and attend a private college. Greek herself cared for her grandmother who had Alzheimer’s, which affected her ability to leave home. “I think that Florida Southern was an amazing opportunity, and it has definitely shown me the benefits and the drawbacks of higher education, both in a private and public [sense]…,” Greek said. Greek felt her position at FSC also revealed the humanity of higher education, an institution she saw as romanticized. “[Being a professor is] like [being] this person on a pedestal, and then somebody asks you how to open a .pdf and then you’re like oh, we’re all just humans and you’re not actually a mythical being,” Greek said. “Though it was kind of nice and humbling, and… you know how people say people don’t actually know what they’re doing, everybody’s just guessing? It’s not wrong.” Greek also speaks highly of the communication department, saying that the department feels “like family,” and that this position differs from her past retail and managerial positions where she was
looked down on. “So, even though I am the person who sits at the desk, I am considered an equal, which was not something I was prepared for,” Greek said. “I was more kind of prepared to be like, [who] everyone just dumps things onto, which, while I do have things just dumped on me, it’s with respect, and not like ‘well, you’re a garbage person, so take care of my garbage type thing.’” She explains that being around the communication professors and an educational environment made her realize she wants to work towards a master’s degree. As for her next move, Greek plans on nannying twins for a friend, a position she has done in the past. She also plans on getting her Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification and teaching students online. “I’m hoping that I can get some local places or local students, probably people who’ve immigrated over and need some help getting their language where it needs to be,” Greek said. Greek’s overall life aspirations land outside of the U.S., and currently she sees herself applying for a full-english Master’s program in Germany after moving to Germany and settling in for a while and being an au pair, and eventually teaching on a collegiate level. After taking an intercultural communication course at FSC, Greek hopes to study national and transnational studies. She explains that she grew up in a racist household, and the course gave her a better understanding of this perspective. As Greek’s eyes turn towards her future, there are things she will miss, like the faculty and students. “I’m definitely going to miss my department, and everybody that’s in it,” Greek said. ”That includes the faculty and the students, there are some students that are close to my heart, you know the ones that actually come and talk to me.”
Mayfaire by-the-Lake returns to Lake Morton next month
Faith Miller Staff Writer
This year marks the 42nd annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake event, hosted by the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, inviting visitors and artists from all over to view its outdoor art gallery. “We’re not taking hosting Mayfaire lightly,” Dr. Alex Rich, executive director and chief curator of the museum, said in a press release. “And we want to ensure the safety of our visitors and all participants. The Polk County Health Department, with whom we have been in active conversation, will also have a presence at the festival, promoting best practices and COVID prevention awareness.” First launched in 1971, the function began as an arts and crafts fair located on the lawn of the Lakeland Public Library, and it has now become one of the largest and oldest outdoor art’s festivals in Central Florida. The festival is located along the sides of Lake Morton and was ranked number 36 among Sunshine Artist Magazine’s 200 Best Art Shows in 2019. After not being held in May 2020 due to coronavirus concerns, the museum and the rest of the Lakeland community is looking forward to resuming the annual Mother’s Day celebration.
“Mayfaire by-the-Lake is one of the most celebrated Central Florida events each and every year,” Rich said. “It is a Mother’s Day weekend tradition that we all look forward to, and our not being able to hold Mayfaire in 2020 was heartbreaking for us and the whole community.” Although the art show is making its return this Mother’s Day, the accompanying event Mayfaire Saturday Night, where people can enjoy fireworks at the Frances Langford Promenade, will be postponed until 2022. Mayfaire weekend will also include its annual 5k race around Lake Mirror, set to take place on May 8. The festival will feature its traditional “featured image,” a piece of art done by a local artist to act as a centerpiece for the event, along with more than 150 artist booths and works of art. This year’s featured image was created by R.L. Alexander and the piece is titled, “Procession of the Swan Queen.” It features fairytale-like elements including a dragon playing an instrument, forest animals inspired by those around him, and a swan queen riding a huge, majestic swan. The swan queen is accompanied by her lady-in-waiting riding a pelican, the court musician and more. R.L. Alexander is from Celebration, Florida, where he lives with his wife and two greyhounds, who often find their way into some of his paintings.
Photo courtesy of Mayfaire by-the-Lake
This year’s Mayfaire by-the-Lake’s featured poster painting, ‘Procession of the Swan Queen,’ by artist R.L. Alexander. The event will be judged by Graham C. Boettcher, the R. Hugh Daniel Director of the Birmingham Museum of Art. According to the official event website, he has previously served as a juror for several art festivals including Chattanooga’s 4 Bridges Arts Festival, Birmingham’s Bluff Park Art Association Annual Show and Art Fields in Lake City. Mayfaire by-the-Lake will also include different performances from different groups throughout the course of the weekend like dance companies, local musicians and more. The performances will be located on a stage on the front lawn
of the Lakeland Public Library. Those interested in performing on the lawn as well may contact the Mayfaire office by emailing MayfairebytheLake@ PolkMuseumofArt.org. Artists who participate in the event will also receive awards and prizes. The prizes range from $200 to $5,000 and awards are given out for categories such as Best of Show, Awards of Excellence, Awards of Distinction, Merit Awards and Honorable Mention Awards. The event will take place on Mother’s Day weekend, May 8 and 9, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
The Southern APRIL 16, 2021
CENTER
4
Photo by Jillian Kurtz
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” Anne Lamott
5 The Southern APRIL 16, 2021
CENTER
5 WAYS TO COMBAT BURNOUT 01: SLEEP By staying well rested, the body is provided with the energy it needs to function on a daily basis. It is suggested that college students should get an average of 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
02: EXERCISE Not only has it been proven that exercise can improve one’s overall mood, but it can also increase productivity. Research has shown that exercise can also help alleviate long-term depression, according to the American Psychological Association.
04: TAKE A BREAK Schedule time in-between classes and meetings to take an intentional break. Sometimes without planning these breaks, we tend to work over them. Give your brain time to relax and recover.
05: LIMIT SCREEN-TIME Social media use, in particular, correlates with the most unhappiness. Screen time also affects our emotions, making us unhappier the more we tap, scroll and swipe. Utilize features such as a time management app that tracks how long you are on your device and set a cap for yourself.
03: EAT BETTER What you put into your body is the fuel that helps power you through your day. Eating lighter, healthier foods can help increase your energy level. Keeping healthy, filling snacks nearby is another way to control hunger in a manageable way.
If you are experiencing student burnout or are in need of guidance, contact the counseling center at counsel@flsouthern.edu Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
The Southern APRIL 16, 2021
6
ENTERTAINMENT WHAT’S NEW ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ Taylor Swift’s remaster of her “Fearless” album strikes chords with college-aged audiences. Re-released on April 9, the independent record is nostalgic for many who grew up listening to the 2008 pop-country debut. “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” features a revival of teen hits like “You Belong with Me.”
‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Directed by Adam Wingard, the film has grossed over $350 million at the global box office and tops $60 million in revenue, making it the highest grossing film during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This is an even more impressive feat given the fact that theaters are opened at limited capacity and the movie is avaible to stream at HBO Max.
‘Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over’ Demi Lovato’s new album deep dives into her past. In her songs, she sings about her overdose, substance abuse, selfharm and her battle with an eating disorder. She collaborated with artists such as Ariana Grande and Noah Cyrus.
‘Concrete Cowboy’ tops Netflix Ricky Stuab’s “Concrete Cowboy” tops U.S. Netflix charts. The Netflix original follows “Stranger Things’” Caleb Mclaughlin as he seeks fatherhood from Idris Elba’s horseman character, Harp. The film is adapted from author G. Neri’s young adult novel “Ghetto Cowboys.”
Billie Eilish’s record breaking success continues
Deanna Wright Staff Writer Billie Eilish has been breaking records since her career started after she recorded her first song in 2015 for a dance class she was in. Her first recorded song, “Ocean Eyes,” went viral on Soundcloud after she rerecorded the single and released it in 2016. The song was originally produced by her brother, Finneas O’Connell, for his band before he gave it to Eilish for a dance performance. According to an americansongwriter. com interview with Eilish and O’Connel in 2020, they recorded the music in his bedroom and she spent hours perfecting the layered harmonies. O’Connell stated he felt there were times where she nailed the part and suggested for them to move on but she disagreed. “No, I didn’t get it,” Eilish said in the interview. “I know exactly how it’s supposed to sound. Let me try again.” After releasing “Ocean Eyes,” Eilish’s career skyrocketed, and in recent years she has broken music records, as well as Guinness World Records. Between 2017 and 2020, she released over 27 singles with 21 music videos, three EPs, a studio album, a live album and a video album. Eilish has won over 50 awards over the years from the Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, BRIT Awards, etc. At the 2020 Grammy Awards, she was nominated for six awards and out of those she won four of them. Winning the Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons the Year and Album of the year. She is the youngest artist to ever be nominated for all four major categories in one year, as well as the second artist and only woman to sweep all four major categories at the Grammys. After winning Album of the Year at the Grammys, she broke the record for youngest artist to win the award at 18 years old. Taylor Swift previously held this record at 20 years old. At the recent 2021 Grammy Awards, she won Best Song Written for Visual Media and Best Pop Solo Performance for the first time, and won Song of the Year and Record of the Year for a second year in a row. Recently, she broke the record of having the most No. 1 songs on the Billboard’s alternative songs chart by a solo artist. With her single “Therefore I Am” released back in November 2020, it rose to No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay, as well
‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ addresses social issues Sophie Talbert Staff Writer The newest television show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” tackles uncomfortable political and social issues in the midst of its cinematic action sequences, while following fan-favorite characters, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. The six-episode series features Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, who play Sam and Bucky, respectively. Together, they navigate a world following the turmoil of both “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019), where half of the
world’s population was eliminated by Thanos before being brought back with the Avengers’ help. While Sam struggles to deal with being a Black man who has been handed the legacy of Captain America by Steve Rogers himself, Bucky attends therapy to attempt to reconcile his past as an assassin. Sam and Bucky are then forced to team up against the Flag-Smashers, an extremist group who work to recreate a world without nationalist borders. Along the way, audiences are introduced to the new captain America, John Walker, played by Wyatt Russell, who clashes with Sam and Bucky. Fans see familiar faces including Emily
Wrestlemania Tampa Large crowds gathered at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, as Wrestlemania 37 went underway on April 11. The pirate-themed wrestling match was briefly interrupted by a severe weather warning.
as it was No. 19 on Billboard’s Hot 100 during the week of April 10. Out of the artists in the music industry at the moment, she is the ninth artist to reach 10 or more weeks at No.1 on Billboard’s Artist 100. Back in the middle of March, Eilish broke records on Instagram with her new blonde hair post. Within minutes, the post ranked one million likes. This was a new record for likes on a post on Instagram in that small amount of time. Instagram stated that her selfie is among the 10 most-liked photos on the platform. Other than breaking records over the past couple years, Eilish’s documentary “The World’s A Little Blurry,” was just released on Apple TV+ on Feb. 26. This documentary tells the story of how she became a singer-songwriter and her rise to global superstardom.
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie return to the MCU in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.’
VanCamp as Sharon Carter, the former SHIELD agent, and Daniel Brühl as Zemo, the vengeful villain of “Captain America: Civil War” (2016). However, the most memorable aspects of the show are not the seamlessly choreographed fight scenes nor the impressive cinematography. Instead, it’s treatment of uncomfortable social issues such as racism, mental health, the treatment of veterans and displaced refugees. Malcolm Spellman, the head writer of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” spoke with Variety about the intentional narrative surrounding such timely topics. “I think this is going to be an extremely relevant show in a lot of ways, and that is not by accident,” Spellman said. “Those moments...are pointed, and we dig deeper and deeper and deeper as the series progresses.” Although greatly differing in tone and plot from the previous success of “Wandavision,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” continues to prove that the medium of television allows for greater character development of the beloved MCU Characters. “Seeing storylines of them both struggling with mental health and life issues is something to look forward to in the series just because superheroes are typically one-dimensional,” FSC sophomore Gabbie Zweidenger said. The first four episodes of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” are currently available on Disney+, with new episodes airing Fridays at 3 a.m. EST.
7 The Southern APRIL 16, 2021
OPINIONS
House lawmakers pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
Bill would ensure first step towards making ‘our communities safer’ On Wednesday, March 3, House lawmakers passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. With this bill and trial, this is America’s chance to condemn systemic racism and to recognize the changes that need to be made. This landmark police reform bill would ban choke-holds, no-knock warrants in certain cases, and prohibit racial and religious profiling, thus altering the judicial doctrine known as qualified immunity. According to the 1982 U.S. Supreme
Court decision in the Harlow v. Fitzgerald case, qualified immunity protects government workers, like police officers, from lawsuits unless their actions violate “clearly established” constitutional rules. The bill originally was introduced in the summer of 2020 in response to the demands for racial justice after the death of Floyd and other racially charged murders across the country but was put on hold in the Senate, which at the time was Republican dominated. If this vital piece of legislation makes it through the now Democrat-dominated Senate, along with being signed by President Joe Biden, it would put the systematic racism prevalent in this country on display as a hope for trust between
Photo by Fibonacci Blue is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Protest against police violence - Justice for George Floyd on May 26, 2020.
Lil Nas X music video is criticized Isabella Garguilo Staff Writer Rapper Lil Nas X has been receiving a lot of attention in the media recently, mainly because he has shaken many people up over his new music video for his song “Call Me By Your Name.” The song, both catchy and a worldwide hit, is receiving a majority of its criticism over the events and imagery depicted in the video. When he travels down a pole into hell, with some pretty fashionable knee-high boots. He then proceeds to give a lap dance to Satan, portrayed by himself. When viewers first saw this scene they were taken aback, as these kinds of acts performed on a Biblical character have not been quite seen before in today’s society. Overall, the music video was visually pleasing, bringing Lil Nas X’s main vision of this song to life by embracing his sexuality and dedicating this music video to his newfound freedom. It is clear he took the time to fully embrace his creativity to release a shellshocking video to the public, where fans were able to get a full glimpse of his struggles of being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, even gaining new fans through the process. Due to his depictions in the video, many are up in arms as to how much artists should freely express their sexuality. A variety of conservatives alike are aggravated over
Lil Nas X’s video, mainly due to the fact that he performed a lap dance on Satan. Conservative speaker Candace Owens took a few jabs at Lil Nas X in a series of tweets. “You successfully got used by corporations to help further destroy our youth,” Owens tweeted on March 28, in reference to his line of Satan Shoes used to promote his song. Conservatives have a specific set of morals and values they strictly follow, such as the belief that sexuality should not be openly discussed through the media. Simply put, if you do not agree with the imagery, symbolism, or even lyrics of the video, then it is your decision to watch or not to watch, but the constant chatter and complaining of what an artist produces only gives them the upper hand in popularity and sales. “Loved it. I thought it was a hilarious and powerful kind of reaction to these really cruel things that gay people are told so often so I loved it for that and because it’s a bop,” LGBTQ+ student Mylena Ferman said. Lil Nas X has caused quite the discussion with this video, but he was also able to provide a voice to other members of the community as a gay artist. Many feel ashamed of their sexuality, forced to conceal for many years, but with his imaginative storytelling, he has allowed others to feel pride in who they are and is a voice for the LGBTQ+ community.
police and communities of color. Derek Chauvin, Floyd’s murderer, is currently on trial and facing charges of second and third-degree murder along with second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin has pleaded not guilty to all of these charges. Eric Nelson, Chauvins defense attorney, argued that Floyd’s death was from a combination of pre-existing health conditions and drug use. However, a 9 minute and 29 second video showing Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck, ultimately leading to his death, tells a different story. Floyd pleaded for help for 4 minutes and 45 seconds, suffered a seizure for 53 seconds and was unresponsive for 3 minutes and 51 seconds, according to prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the lead House sponsor for the bill, took to twitter to say “How many more videos of police violence do we need to see before we act?” A similar sentiment is likely to be made at Derek Chauvin’s trial this month. The democratic party has openly supported this bill, more specifically President Joe Biden. “To make our communities safer, we must begin by rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the people they are entrusted to serve and protect,” a statement from the White House calling attention to the urgency and importance of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act said. “We cannot rebuild that trust if we do not hold police officers accountable for abuses of power and tackle systemic misconduct – and systemic racism – in police departments.”
In order to be able to see true system change, the American people must continue to put pressure on our elected officials and hold them accountable when they do not effectively do their jobs.
“
How many more videos of police violence do we need to see before we act?
“
Emily Starling Staff Writer
-Rep. Karen Bass Lead House sponsor for the bill
“I am pleased that the House will vote next week on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” President Biden tweeted on Feb. 25. “I encourage the House to pass it. Following Senate consideration, I hope to be able to sign into law a landmark police reform bill.” Although the bill is long overdue, it faces a tough challenge ahead in attempts to make it past the moderate Democrats and Republicans currently residing in the Senate. “He [Joe Biden] certainly will be watching closely … at the time of George Floyd’s death he talked about this as being an event that really opened up a wound in the American public … racial injustice and inequality that many communities are experiencing every single day,” White House press secretary, Jen Psaki said, in reference to the George Floyd trial.
SOUTHERN
The Student Voice of Florida Southern College Florida Southern College 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. Lakeland, Florida 33801 Always on fscsouthern.com 863-680-4456 fscsouthern@gmail.com
Editor-in-Chief
Jillian Kurtz
News Editor
Sophia Gonzalez
Online Editor Features Editor Opinions Editor
Entertainment Editor Graphic Designer Advisor
jilliankurtz98@gmail.com
Abby McHenry
abemchenry@gmail.com
sophiamcecc@gmail.com
Nathalie Moreno
morenonathalie78@gmail.com
Grace Newton
gracearoni55@gmail.com
Sam Odom
samanthaodom2021@gmail.com
Christina DiGregory
Mike Trice
christina.digregory@gmail.com
mtrice@flsouthern.edu
The Southern is published as an e-edition bi-weekly during fall and spring semesters of the academic year at Florida Southern College by students through the Communication Department. The Southern is unable to print a physical paper due to COVID-19, but is still available on fscsouthern.com. 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 and 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 Chatlos Building on Johnson Ave.
UP NEXT Men’s Lacrosse 4/17 vs. FLTech 4/24 vs. Rollins 4/28 vs. Lynn 5/01 vs. Tampa*
Women’s Lacrosse 4/17 vs. FLTech* 4/21 vs. Tampa 4/28 vs. Lynn* 4/30 vs. St. Leo
Women’s Beach Volleyball 4/16 vs. TAMU Kingsville* 4/16 vs. PBA* 4/17 vs. WSU* 4/18 AVCA SCC*
Track and Field 4/17 vs. ERAU* 4/23 vs. Tampa* 4/29 vs. UNF* 4/30 vs. UNF*
Men’s Baseball 4/22 vs. Barry* 4/24 vs. Barry 4/30 vs. Tampa* 5/1 vs. Tampa
Women’s Softball 4/21 vs. Barry 4/24 vs. Barry* 4/28 vs. Nova* 4/30 vs. Tampa
* Indicates away game
SSC updates attendance policy at athletic events Jillian Kurtz Editor-in-Chief
Florida Southern home sporting events will be allowed to have some fans in attendance for the first time since the return to play post-shutdown. “FSC athletics is proud to welcome back families to watch our wonderful studentathletes in person,” Director of Athletics and Dean of Wellness Drew Howard said in a press release. The “Florida Southern College Family Fan Policy 2020-21” lists the specific requirements and limitations for those who are allowed to attend the events. Only family members of FSC athletes are permitted to attend and those family members must provide a valid ID. “As for me it was awesome,” baseball senior first baseman Jacob Teter said. “To see not just my family but other people in the stands as well was incredible. We’ve seen almost everyone else at other schools and professionally get to have fans so for us to finally get to see the Moc faithful’s back out there was fantastic. You really do take fans for granted until you can’t play in front of anyone.”
“
We are excited to bring fans back to our events. -Drew Howard Director of Athletics
Teter’s mother, Lisa Teter, drove from Melbourne to attend a game in person the day that the announcement was made. “The fact that I was there within
Photo courtesy of Jack Portune, FSC Athletics
Empty stadium from the March 7 home opener vs. the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish. five hours of the announcement speaks volumes,” Lisa Teter said. “It’s not just about baseball, which I love, but a chance to cheer for all the guys we’ve gotten to know for three years. I can’t wait to see the other parents soon.” In practicing safe protocols for COVID-19, these family members also must be able to show proof of having the full COVID-19 vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the game they are planning to attend. If a potential attendee tests positive for the virus, they must isolate for two weeks after the date of the positive test result. “We know how much it means to our student-athletes to have family in the stands cheering them on. We are excited to bring fans back to our events,” Howard said. Prior to admission into the game, permitted family members will be
screened, including a temperature check. Masks will be required for all fans during the game and social distancing will be enforced with designated seating. “As a broadcaster, much like a player, I feed off the energy the fans provide,” Andrew Pawling, senior play-by-play broadcaster said. “The chills you get when you hear people cheering in a crowd is impossible to replicate. The players definitely had some extra energy as well, and I expect that to continue as we are able to welcome more fans/family back to Henley Field and the other FSC athletics facilities around Lakeland.” There will be no concessions available on site at the games and visitors will not be permitted to interact with the studentathletes prior to the game. The games will be limited to a 25 percent capacity. For the most up to date attendance policies, visit fscmocs.com
FSC hockey games postponed due to COVID-19 Diego De Jesus Staff Writer Both hockey games that were scheduled for the weekend of April 9, were canceled two hours before the first game. The Florida Southern Moccasins and the Florida State University Seminoles were set to face off, but the matches were cancelled due to COVID-19 exposure. This isn’t the first time hockey games have been canceled due to COVID-19, as more games were planned earlier in the season.
“
and he was there, we all got contact traced, and we wouldn’t have had enough players to play in the game,” Gordon said. Most of the FSC hockey team members were contact-traced, except for four players due to their absence at practice on Thursday. All contact-traced players were quarantined. Both games were heavily anticipated, according to Gordon. Gordon said their team’s coach was
planning for another game later on in the season after quarantine. Scottie Huger, a manager for the FSC hockey team, was quarantined through contact tracing as well. “Our coach is working on getting another game scheduled,” Huger said. At the moment, the hockey team does not have another scheduled game, but further details on future games will come out after the team ends its quarantine.
Our coach is working on getting another game scheduled.
“
SPORTS
8
“
The Southern APRIL 16, 2021
-Scottie Huger FSC hockey team manager
“We had more planned for earlier this season but they all got canceled because of COVID,” freshman Montana Gordon said. Montana Gordon plays as a winger on the team and explained why this weekend’s games were canceled. “Someone on our team tested positive, and because we had practice on Thursday
Photo courtesy of Andrew Pawling, FSC Athletics
Florida Southern’s hockey team being coached during a time-out at a game in the 2019 season.