October 15, 2021 by FSC Southern

OUTHERN S The Student Voice of Florida Southern College

Students experience burnout as fall break nears

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FRIDAY, October 15, 2021 VOL. 138, NO. 3

Activists inspire college students to protest

Dylan Olive Staff Writer Students are reporting burnout at Florida Southern College as classes have been in session for a full month now, and the stress from academics and student life is taking a toll on many Mocs. Those experiencing student burnout may feel exhaustion, frustration, lack of focus and lack of motivation when it comes to their coursework. Since this is many students’ first time back on campus in over a year, and a new freshman class is still adjusting to life in college, it is not shocking that students would be facing burnout.

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-Anika Francisco FSC junior

“A good percentage of students who come to the counseling center [are] dealing with stress,” Director of the Counseling Center David Aranda said. Aranda went on to say “The Counseling Center tries to push a good balance, socially, physically and emotionally.” Aranda says many students tend to focus on one aspect of holistic wellness, such as studying all night and not spending any time with friends, but you have to focus on the social, physical and emotional practice in order to find a good balance. “Lately it’s been really bad to the point I have been missing multiple classes due to sleeping in or just not having enough energy to walk to them,” freshman Desiree Vitale said. Many FSC students have claimed to have a lack of energy throughout the day and are losing sleep due to stress and lack of time, whether that be due to their course load, extracurriculars, work or other activities students take part in. “I have been extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of work I have. I also have been constantly worrying about planning out my time so that I can get everything done. Also it has been hard to sleep,” junior Anika Francisco said.

Read the full article on Page 3

SGA introduces new committee for inclusion Sabrina Woolf Staff Writer This semester Florida Southern’s Student Government Association appointed the new Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. This committee was created to address social justice issues on campus and generate change. The committee was proposed and approved into the bylaws on Sept. 30. The committee will organize educational opportunities and events about inclusivity and “... is responsible for listening to the concerns of the student body,” SGA President Allen Shorey said. Another goal of the committee is providing support and solutions to students facing exclusion. The Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will also collaborate with the Simmons Center for Multicultural Appreciation to support other student organizations centered around these issues. A report from this committee will be distributed to the SGA Senate at every meeting, which is open to all Florida Southern College students. Shorey notes that meetings are only closed to the student body on a case by case basis. “[Meetings are closed] depending on the content of the material being discussed… at the discretion of the administrative vice president as well

Stone Crab Research Grant The Marine Biology Department has received a grant from the National Scince foundation for nearly $300 thousand dollars. PICTURED, NEWS - PAGE 2

Shows happening at FSC

ENTERTAINMENT - PAGE 6

SOCIAL MEDIA

Photo by Aidan Border

Protesters at Lake Mirror marched on Barnett park on Oct. 2.

as the committee chair,” Shorey said. SGA executives Jollice Boyd and Shorey were inspired to create this committee following the death of George Floyd, an innocent Black man who was killed by a police officer on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis. His story woke several Americans up to the realities of systemic racism in the country, and these Florida

Southern students were determined to use their positions to further the school’s social justice efforts. Shorey wanted to keep the momentum going although time has passed since George Floyd’s death. “We wanted to make sure that we didn’t fall into complacency. It is easy to make change when it is demanded, but creating change on campus proactively was at the forefront of our minds,” Shorey said.

Boyd researched the structures of other college student governments and was inspired. “From there we decided this was something we wanted to implement into our Senate and the idea has continued to evolve and grow ever since,” Boyd said. This is SGA’s fifth Senate committee. The goal of the Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is to create a better college experience. The majority of Florida Southern students are white, and SGA is committed to ensuring that everyone has a voice. “Since SGA is supposed to be the face of the student body, we want this committee to be a place where our students feel heard. We plan to work with administration to communicate the needs of the student body as well as work to educate our student body on the needs of other students,” Boyd said. SGA is actively working to make our campus a more inclusive place. To execute this vision is going to take hard work, and both students think this is a promising start. “[It will take] the right mindset, openness to growth, and movement in the right direction… Assessing where we were at and the steps we can take in the right direction is a way that we can stay focused on progress at any given time,” Shorey said.

Biden Budget Plan

FSC Student Magazine

Student Political Hesitance

Hockey Student Spotlight

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...we want this committee to be a place where our students feel heard.

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I have been extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of work I have.

-Jollice Boyd Vice President of the SGA Diversity & Inclusion Committee

How will you be affected by the new Students open up their own fashion magazine, the “Snake Print” on campus. congressional budget plans? FEATURE - PAGE 3 OPINION - PAGE 6

Are students afraid to speak about politics in the classroom? OPINION - PAGE 7

@fscsouthern

The Southern takes a look at senior Jamie Calhoun of the FSC hockey team. SPORTS - PAGE 8

www.fscsouthern.com

fscsouthern@gmail.com

NEWS BRIEFS American Chemical Society movie night FSC’s American Chemical Society chapter will be hosting a movie night on Oct. 16 to celebrate national chemistry week. The movie played is called “Radioactive,” describing the life of famed chemist Marie Curie. The event will take place between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. at the Badcock Garden.

FSC chorus Fire and Water, part 1 The Festival of Fine Arts will be hostig Fire and Water, Part 1 on Oct. 19 at the Branscomb Auditorium. This will be the fall concert for the FSC Choral Program and focus on the importance of fire and water. The event will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is free to FSC students and faculty.

Astronomy Club Stargazing The FSC Astronomy Club will be hosting a stargazing event on Oct. 20 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the roof of the Polk Science building. Bringing your own blanket is encouraged and binoculars will be provided between uses of the telescopes.

Florida History Lecture Series makes 2021 debut Jameson Champion News Editor After a lapse in 2020 as part of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida History Lecture Series has returned this semester with a three part series that began on Sept. 29. The Florida History Lecture Series has six total events planned over the course of the 2021-2022 school year. The series features Florida historians and authors and their narratives on different aspects of Florida. The event on Sept. 29 at the Branscomb Auditorium featured New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman, who’s books on Florida have received large amounts of acclaim. Pittman also reports for the Florida Phoenix on environmental issues. “I love telling people Florida stories, because to me Florida is such a fascinating place to live,” Pittman said. “The great thing about going around telling Florida stories, as I found when I was doing book talks about ‘Oh, Florida!,’ is how many people came up to me afterward to tell me their Florida stories. Everybody has at least one, and some of them you can even repeat

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I love telling people Florida stories, because to me Florida is such a fascinating place to live

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The Southern OCTOBER 15, 2021

-Craig Pittman NYT best-selling author and reporter for Florida Phoenix

Photo by Jameson Champion

Craig Pittman speaking at the first lecture series event of the semester. in polite company.” Pittman spoke about his book “The State You’re In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife” and presented stories to the audience about the people of Florida. These stories ranged from a Florida Fish and Wildlife commissioner who had been investigated for wrestling an alligator to how the “mermaids” of Weeki Wachee springs are considered state employees. The lecture series first began in 1996 and was created to introduce students, faculty and the public to Florida’s history and culture. When the Lawton M. Chiles Jr. Center for Florida History was created at FSC in 2001, the lecture series expanded further. Speakers at the event have included governors, Pulitzer Prize winning authors and historians. Dr. James Denham is the executive director of the Lawton Chiles Center for Florida History and has been working as a professor at Florida Southern since 1991. “As a professor and scholar of Florida history and culture it is extremely gratifying to produce the Florida Lecture

Marine biology department studies stone crabs Tim Keller Staff Writer

Men Allied for Social Change On Oct. 19, the Office of Accountability, Education and Compliance will be hosting a presentation by the new Men Allied for Social Change initiative. The event will be from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Rogers Building and talk about how men can hold themselves accountable in regards to masculinity.

Silvermoon Halloween Marathon On Oct. 22, the Silvermoon Drive-In will be hosting a Halloween movie marathon. From 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following morning, the drive-in will be playing classic monster and ghost films. The Silvermoon Drive-in is located on New Tampa Highway and admission is $25.

Series for my students, college community, and the greater Lakeland-Tampa Bay area,” Denham said. This year features several authors, including Jason Vuic, Boyd Murphree, Janis Owens and Robert Taylor. These authors have written several books centered on Florida and its history. Legal professor Mary Adkins will also appear to speak about famous Florida lawyer Chesterfield Smith. Florida Southern’s own Jose Garcia will appear alongside Victor Triay on Cuban refugees escaping to Florida. The next event in the Florida History Lecture Series will occur on Oct. 28 at the Branscomb Auditorium with Jason Vuic, author of “The Swamp Peddlers” which details how cities developed in Florida’s wetlands. The last event of the semester will be on Nov. 4 and feature Boyd Murphee and Robert Taylor at the Polk County History Center in Bartow. “The insights have been interesting, sometimes controversial, and I think the series adds to [the] overall academic environment on campus,” Denham said.

Florida Southern College’s Marine Biology Department has received a grant from the National Science Foundation for $294,372 on the behavior and population of Florida stone crabs in the face of overfishing and climate change. Florida provides 99 percent of all stone crab landings in the United States, it being one of the state’s most valuable natural commodities in South Florida, valued between $20 to $35 million annually. Their claws in particular are highly sought after, ranging in three sizes from medium to jumbo. However, what makes these crustaceans so inviting to industry: they are capable of regenerating their claws after being harvested. Louisiana State University, an institution that received a $922,033 grant in order to conduct research into stone crabs partners with Florida Southern College for the purpose of building a biophysical model that will predict possible changes in the stone crab population in the future. According to Dr. Philip Gravinese, who’s leading Florida Southern’s portion of the project, the marine biology department will be hatching stone crab larvae and monitoring their behavior and health in tanks that will simulate the conditions of ocean acidification and temperature changes.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Phillip Gravinese

Larvae count of stone crabs helps determine future of crab fishing industry during summer of 2021. Students will be observing how the larvae respond to environmental changes, as well as their mortality and growth rates. In addition, a small number of students will get the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research in the water of the Florida keys. Students will get to work with the stone crabs amd fisheries. Climate change will affect the oceans in multiple ways, and the model that the research project is aiming to put together in the long run is the first of its kind. It includes climate change conditions, fishery health and a commercially important animal.

Eventually, this model could be used with other commercially viable animals that industries depend on in particular. The goal is to help these industries predict how climate change could affect their businesses in the coming years, as well as help ensure the sustainability of fisheries in the long run. An industry where even slight regulations put locals at risk of being put out of business. In Miami, near where stone crabs are most commonly fished in the Atlantic, small fisheries have struggled to keep up with the pandemic, depending on their access to harvest stone crabs for a living. “Because of the pandemic, the majority of the fishermen started all taking out their traps,” Angel Borden said to WUSF. She’s the operations manager of the Lobster Walk fish market in Islamorada. “They’re like, ‘We can’t afford to keep fishing.’” According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida’s stone crab fisheries have experienced a long-term decline in its harvests.

Online on fscsouthern.com

Sun ‘N Fun hosts Halloween event by Diego De Jesus

3 The Southern OCTOBER 15, 2021

Activists inspire college students to protest Salvatore Ambrosino Features Editor

-Continued from page 1-

Photos by Aiden Border Protesters at Lake Mirror made signs in support of reproductive rights. Patterson-James and Lovering also succeeded in engaging college students in the march, with a number of the protestors from Florida Southern College. “There’s a lot of women at Florida Southern whose rights are now under attack,” junior Ariana Perera said, angry at the state’s scientific misguidance and infringement of church and state. “A lot of people wouldn’t even know they’re pregnant by the time a heartbeat forms.” The bill proposed would cut the time women have to receive abortions from 22 weeks of pregnancy to 6. The amount of time pregnancy awareness takes on average is 5.5 weeks, maybe a couple days short of the proposed cut off, a marker at the center of debate, that scientists and activists have disagreed with persistently as being the starting point for what is considered a living human being. “It would ruin lives, it would devastate lives,” said Patterson-James. Students involved with the protest say it’s rare to have the opportunity to participate in such marches, but it’s important to do so. “I’m glad that people are here, seeing other Florida Southern College students here, that there was a really good turnout,”

freshman Arlette Martinez said. “I know it’s really rare in somewhere like Polk County. I think doing this is important, because I wouldn’t want to see something like [Texas’] restrictive abortion laws happening here in Florida.” Patterson-James and Lovering, who feared that legislation from Texas would eventually bleed into Florida, say they have more planned and will continue to be voices for women’s rights and reproductive issues. “This is going back to the dark ages,” organizer Lovering said. “This legislation is going to send women places they shouldn’t go to get abortions.” Patterson-James says she is taking time to educate herself before returning to organized protest so she can more specifically demand change. “I wish I had your guts when I was your age,” PattersonJames said. “I wish I was just as informed at your age.” “This is a dire situation,” PattersonJames said. “I’ve only just begun—I am looking at what Polk County is missing.” Editor’s Note: Mylena Ferman conducted student interviews.

FSC students plan on launching unaffiliated magazine The publication aims to produce ‘unfiltered and relevant’ content Jessica Stalter Staff Writer Snakes are not uncommon on the Florida Southern campus: the snake thrives in the Florida climate and Mocsie the mascot represents the central Florida campus. However, the Snake Print Allison Rainey and her team have in mind is a little different. The Snake Print is a fashion and culture magazine that takes a creative lens to different trends and issues in today’s culture. It is created by a team of Florida Southern students wanting to provide other young adults with a platform for openminded creativity. “When I first came to Florida Southern I saw that my world is so much bigger than just my hometown. I wanted to create something that could give thinkers like myself a creative outlet that is uncensored,” creator of the magazine, Allison Rainey said. Unlike most of the publications that circulate on the Florida Southern campus, the Snake Print is fully independent and student-ran. The creators of the magazine

Counseling Center is available for students struggling with brunout

chose this method because it places priority on the creative team and allows them full creative rights and ownership of their own work explained by chief editor Isabelle Hancock. “We believe with this publication we can produce unfiltered and relevant content,” said Hancock, who is a part of The Southern Newspaper’s social media team. Rainey has had the idea of creating a fashion and culture magazine since her freshman year. Over time, she gained enough confidence in her idea to actually begin her project, largely after seeing a similar concept in a chapter-based studentled magazine called “Strike.” From there, Rainey was able to further develop her idea, especially seeing new perspectives through her time in quarantine to bring her concept to life. Quarantine was one of the major events that gave her the time to brainstorm her idea and decide to take action. “With quarantine we were stuck inside and the only thing we could do was think and reflect not the world around us. I want those thoughts from quarantine to spark a fire for Snake Print,” Rainey said. Rainey, now a senior, has since gathered

a group of other creative minds around herself to make the Snake Print a reality. The Snake Print has a whole team working behind it, including Rainey as creator, Sami Beason as creation lead, Hancock as chief editor, and Morgan Shelton as photography lead. The team still has many positions open for interested students that can be seen through their Instagram page “@snakeprintmagazine.” This Instagram page is also a way for students to get in contact with the staff. The first issue of the Snake Print has a tentative release date set for November. “I am so excited to start this project and create a platform that the young have control over. We have so many thoughts and we are the future of this world.” Rainey said. Their team is currently looking to fill their staff, and is unaffiliated with Florida Southern College. Allison Rainey says she wants to give full ownership of the work published to the publication’s teammembers. Editor’s Note: Multiple editors on The Southern are affiliated with Snake Print.

Senior Alex Perdue says he and many others are going through burnout right now. “I’m finding it increasingly difficult to wake up in the morning and even doing mundane tasks throughout the day that pile up drain me. There’s just so much to do and not enough hours in the day,” Perdue said. Some students cite the school’s COVID-19 restrictions as making their classes and extracurriculars more difficult. “Trying to work with social distancing or singing with a mask on is difficult

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I’m finding it extremely difficult to wake up in the morning and even doing mundane tasks throughout the day. -Alex Perdue FSC senior

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During a day of nationwide protest on Oct 2., two women’s rights activists joined mothers, business owners and some Florida Southern students to march on downtown Lakeland in response to legislation proposed in the Florida House of Representatives. The Florida Heartbeat Act, sponsored by State Rep. Webster Barnaby in September, follows suit of Texas’ recent ban on abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Filed 22 days after the Texas ban was enacted on Sept. 1, the Florida bill would implement what women’s rights activists say to be the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. The two activists who organized the protest, Kim Lovering and Bonnie Patterson-James, say that they were surprised when they learned no marches were going to occur in Polk County on a day of over 650 Women’s March events occurring simultaneously across the country. “I couldn’t believe it, I was outraged,” said Patterson-James, a grandmother and former healthcare worker. “There had to be a voice. So I signed up, I put a post out there that we hadn’t even gotten approval, but the voice had to be out there.” Patterson-James reached out to her sister and began organizing the march with her other friend turned co-organizer Lovering. “I was marching with or without an approval and said with 3 or 30 we are marching,” Patterson-James said. “As loud as we can.” By the evening of Sept. 28, the day the event was registered, only 10 had signed up to march. By Saturday Oct. 2, Patterson-James said there were 45. Along the way, the movement gained supporters from the sidewalks they marched, building into a larger crowd that would march on the promenade of Lake Mirror. “We picked up women and men and allies along the route, and more in the promenade,” Patterson-James said.

FEATURES

and irritating. Not being able to do some exercises because of social distancing. But again, better than going virtual. It’s really hard to learn acting techniques or sing and play an instrument through zoom,” junior Lilly Thompson said. Desiree, Anika, Alex and Lilly gave their personal solutions to battling burnout: hanging out with friends, giving rewards for achieving tasks, taking breaks, working out and sleeping. A resource that is free and available to FSC students is the Counseling Center. The Center specializes in providing an environment for students to go to when they need help emotionally or mentally, as well as anything else currently affecting them. Services offered at the Counseling Center are individual, couples and group counseling. Students can visit the Center during their hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sophie, the FSC counseling canine is also on campus two days a week, typically Wednesday and Friday. “5 to Thrive” Mental Health Checklist for College Students gives five things students should have or should be doing to maintain good mental health: establishing healthy habits that work for you, building resilience and coping skills, finding local mental health support, growing and maintaining support systems and getting help when you need it. If a student is experiencing burnout contact the Counseling Center at 863680-6236 or at counsel@flsouthern.edu.

The Southern OCTOBER 15, 2021

CENTER

OCT

Breast Cancer

ZTA members pose with Think Pink sign.

ZTA partnering with Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in support of the philanthropy

Brooke Morgan showing her respect for breast cancer survivors and fighters.

Zeta Tau Alpha held multiple events throughout th awareness for their philanthropy: breast cancer Awareness month in October. The events took place towards their

ZTA visits HTeaO.

BER

5 The Southern OC TOBER 15, 2021

CENTER

Awareness Month

Hunter Orvis throws the crown at the FSC tabling evemt on campus.

he FSC campus and Lakeland community to raise education and awareness, during Breast Cancer from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8, and they raised around $4,000 philanthropy.

ZTA members tabling on campus for breast cancer awareness month.

Members of ZTA at a bowling event to “strike out cancer.”

Briana Reinisch poses in all pink for the breast cancer tabling event on campus.

The Southern OCTOBER 15, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT WHAT’S NEW ‘The Four of Us’ Releasing on Netflix on Oct.15, this show features two couples who swap partners for the course of a month. They experiment has one rule, to not have sex. Throughout the course of the month and afterwords, the couples realize what their relationships were missing and the consequences of breaking the rules.

‘Pretty Smart’ This new Netflix series follows the story of “booksmart” Chelsea when she plans a brief trip to visit her “bubly” sister and three roomates in California. The trip becomes a bit more permanent. Throughout the series she earns how to loosen up and enjoy life along with the sisters becoming closer than ever before.

‘There’s Someone Inside Your House’ Released Oct. 5 on Netflix, this spooky thriller is based off of the 2017 novel by Stephanie Perkins. It follows the story of a group of teenagers who’s town is being threatened by a serial killer. The teens begin to try and figure out who the killer is as they announce embarrassing stories of their upcoming victims.

‘Just Beyond’ On Oct.13 Disney+ released “Just Beyond,” a new supernatural series. According to the descripition, the show is inspired by the writings of R.L. Stine, the author of “Goosebumps” and “Fear Street.” The show features eight different stories involving witches, a masked tormentor and dark secrets.

Theatre department produces ‘Blithe Spirit’ Deanna Wright Online Editor This past month the theatre department put on their first in-person live show, Blithe Spirit, since pre-covid. “Blithe Spirit” is a comic show that follows a novelist, Charles Condomine and his second wife Ruth. Mr. Condomine invites Madam to conduct a seance to help gather material for his next novel. After the seance he is haunted by his first wife, Elvira, and goes a little mad and everyone else believes he is just pulling a prank. “Kinda chaotic, not gonna lie,” junior musical theater major Amanda Townes said. “There is a medium, there is a lot of confusion, there’s mockery of the upper class, there’s a maid, there’s all sorts of things. It’s going to be more comedic, shocking, and reveal different things.” With that being said, all of the shows the department put on have so much work that goes into creating the show before an audience even gets to see it. According to Townes, for this show, the students in the department worked on painting the sets, even the minor details as well as working on the little things such as the smallest detail on a prop for weeks. Not only did sets have to be prepared, the actors also had so much background work to study and learn the part they were portraying. “There is so much homework behind researching the historical context of this comedy and manners play that make it a very complicated but beautiful process,” Townes said. The whole set for this particular show

Photo by Madalyn Macko

Zachary Covell, junior, and Isabella Falber, junior, rehearse their roles. consists of a living room that had three stairs separating it from the platform the bookshelves, table, piano and doors to other doors and outside were on. The last scene of the show had a lot of planning and creativity to make most of set pieces fall to make it seem like Mr. Condomine’s dead wives were still in the house. “The frames were hung on the wall like normal pictures would be, just instead of nails it was short wooden dowels,” freshman run crew member Mikayla Smith said. “From the back side of [the] set we would pull the dowels and they would fall off the walls.” Also according to Smith, the way they were able to push the books off the shelves was by attaching a wooden dowel that came through a hole on the set like the dowel rods for the pictures. It was then connected to a piece of luan that

Lakeland and surrounding areas host Halloween events

Caroline Bryant Staff Writer

From ordering your first pumpkin spice latte of the season to finding the perfect costume, trick or treat yourself to some fun, local Halloween activities this month. Harvest Holler Corn Maze Nov. 14 : Sit back, relax and sip a refreshing glass of homemade sweet-tea on a tour of the luscious scenery around Harvest Holler Farm on their family favorite hayride. Then, get lost in the corn maze on the way to a game of miniature golf or even learn how to tadpole fish. Zombie Paintball Halloween Hunt Face the undead at Anderson Farm’s annual Paintball Halloween Hunt. At the hunt, each team must race to save the Snowbrier Containment Facility with their very own speciality zombie

slaying equipment before it’s too late. Booger Mountain Lakeland Pumpkins Oct. 15-31: While they’re known for their Christmas trees, pick some of the biggest (or smallest) pumpkins, gourds or squash at Booger Mountain. Grown in North Carolina, these handpicked pumpkins are a perfect piece of fall to spice up dorm decor. Halloween Horror Nights Celebrate Universal Studios’ 30th annual Halloween Horror Night getting lost in the ten haunted houses and soul-snatching scare zones around the park. Ride attractions exclusive to the event- such as Diagon Alley in Harry Potter World, Revenge of the Mummy, Men in Black: Alien Attack and more. Howl-O-Scream Already been to Universal? Prolong the exhilarating experience at Howl-O-Screams

‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Season one of this new Amazon Prime show will be released on Oct.15. The show follows a group of teenagers who following a party on the night of graduation, partake in a fatal and mysterious accidents. Months later, the group begins to be stalked and left mysterious messages and threats.

rested against the books. The whole thing formed a “T” and then backstage during that scene they pushed the dowel into the books so they would fall off the shelf. “The books[‘] pages were taped together, that way the book would fall off the shelf and the dowel wouldn’t push in between the pages,” Smith said. The doors were able to swing open and shut close due to the fact they attached 1x2 boards with hinges which allowed them to pull the doors from further away so the audience would not see them in the background. So much more goes into the shows that the department does and each one is completely different. The rest of the shows the department will be putting on this school year are: “Tom Jones:” Nov. 4-7, “Songs For New World:” Nov. 18-21 and Dec. 2-5, “Godspell:” Feb. 17-20 and Feb. 24-27 and “Clybourne Park:” April 7-10.

with Cirque X- Scream, a performance filled with jaw dropping flips and tricks bound to excite. Afterwards, visit the park’s three new haunted houses: Witch of the Woods, The Forgotten and Cell Block Zombies. Scream N Stream Haunted Drive Thru Pile up some friends in the car and head to the Oviedo Mall for Scream N Stream Haunted Drive Thru. Each car must seep their way through the ominous fog, defending themselves with laser guns from terrifying zombies and clowns that may creep along the ride. Freakfest Music Festival Oct. 15: Jump back into concert season with an unforgettable seven hour tribute to the most unusual night of the year. This EDM festival hosted at the Central Florida Fairgrounds Warehouse will feature world renowned DJs such as Zomboy, Wooli, Inzo and Benda for one night and one night only. An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel Henry B. Plant Museum Oct. 22-23: After the body of a helpless woman was found, it’s up to each team to break the perilous chokehold that’s dominated the hotel for 129 years. Teams must work to piece together evidence and clues dispersed around the room to prevent the fall of future victims.

Photo by Olivia Aboulhosn

Olivia Aboulhosn, junior, attends ‘30 years, 30 Fears’ at Hallween Horror Nights

Lighted Halloween Boat Parade Riverwalk, Tampa Oct. 30: On a lighter note, watch spectacular displays of dazzling lights float across the water as they compete for “best boat.” Guests are able to enjoy the show from the water or land, Tampa’s 2nd ever boat parade is a great way to end a day trip in the city.

7 The Southern OCTOBER 15, 2021

OPINIONS

Biden’s new proposed budget plan leads to partisan bickering

Plan only increases the pricy bills that taxpayers are left to pay Andrew Thompson Staff Writer Congressional Democrats are hoping to pass the “Build Back Better” plan, a budget proposal which would cost taxpayers $3.5 trillion and is crucial to President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda. President Biden proposed the plan at a joint session of Congress in April, but as a proud populist Democrat, I believe this legislation represents typical wasteful spending by the government and needs to be amended prior to its passage. The new plan calls for government spending to apply for a ten year period, and includes measures like expanding access to education, healthcare, changing the childcare support system, investing in infrastructure and combating climate change. While reforms to these programs are necessary, the proposed reforms require an expensive price tag which taxpayers will have to pay. However, other aspects of the proposal, such as providing tuition free community college and pre-K, increasing infrastructure spending and the creation of a climate corps for green jobs must be passed since they will help working class Americans. The proposal of the bill comes not long after the U.S. Treasury warned the U.S. government that they will be unable to pay all obligations if the debt ceiling is not raised, since the agency will exhaust its borrowing capacity this month. According to the Committee For a Responsible Federal Budget, Mr. Biden’s

proposal may require roughly $1 trillion of direct borrowing, thereby adding 9 percent of GDP to the debt. “We have a bill that is literally the most expensive bill in the history of the United States,” said North Carolina Republican Rep. Richard Hudson. Policymakers must remember this when making a decision on whether to pass the bill. While the plan’s possible increase to the debt is concerning, the bill poses other potential economic consequences. For example, it would reduce the output of the U.S. economy, raise taxes and lower job opportunities. The Tax Foundation,

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

President Joe Biden speaks at a kick off rally in 2019.

Political hesitancy limits students Isaac Wardyn Staff Writer Politics is one of the most important parts of our lives every day. No matter where you live and no matter who you are, politics affects us and those around us in almost every aspect of our lives. Whether it’s climate change, economic reform, police reform or any of the other thousands of issues that we face the topics that come up when we discuss politics are some of the most important if not the most important in the world today, and as political news is more popularized and more people begin engaging in politics, they are floating around everyone’s mind. According to an Intelligent Magazine survey, more than 50 percent of college students who fall on the left, right, and even center of the political spectrum are not willing or are uncomfortable addressing politics in the classroom. This study by Intelligent Magazine involved a survey of college students. 500 liberal students, 500 conservative students and 500 moderate students were surveyed. What they found was that students in a classroom setting are less likely to express political opinions than not.The study found that overall, 52 percent of students rarely or do not ever share their political perspective while in class. To break it down further, the study found that 49 percent of liberal students, 52 percent of moderates, students and 55

a bipartisan think-tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., estimates that the plan “would reduce long-run economic output by 0.98 percent and eliminate 303,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the United States.” I also oppose the way Democrats plan to pass the measure. Instead of investing in our country by encouraging bipartisanship, Congressional Democrats will utilize the reconciliation process in order to eliminate the need for Republican support. When the Biden administration could have displayed an act of unity by urging Congress to pass the infrastructure

percent of conservative students were hesitant or unwilling to express their political views. Intelligent Magazine’s survey also found that among liberal, moderate, and conservative students, they all worried about losing the respect of their peers and professors, jeopardizing their grades, being ridiculed or confronted and for their physical safety. Conservative students were once again the most concerned about all these ramifications. Students feel socially trapped when talking about political issues, but when it comes to solving this and creating a space where students are encouraged to speak out and share opinions John J. Lupinacci, Associate Professor of Cultural Studies & Social Thought in Education at Washington State University says that responsibility of creating a space where students are encouraged to speak out and share opinions falls on the professors. “I think the more educators allow for spaces that welcome a diversity of perspectives and then provide tools for how to consider and value multiple perspectives as part of our education, the more our students will more openly share their questions, ideas, and beliefs,” Lupinacci said. Students are apprehensive about sharing ideals, but as education evolves and educators and students learn more so too may the way we view politics and the topics within it, hopefully pushing us towards more constructive conversation.

compromise measure, they instead chose to cave to the demands of progressives, leading to the postponement of the bipartisan measure’s passage until the passage of the reconciliation measure as well. The current version of the bill faces bipartisan opposition. Although the House Budget Committee approved the measure, Scott Peters, a Democrat from San Diego, joined all Republicans in opposing the measure. Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema also oppose the measure on the grounds of its cost. “What I have made clear to the President and Democratic leaders is that spending trillions more on new and expanded government programs, when we can’t even pay for the essential programs, like Social Security and Medicare, is the definition of fiscal insanity,” Manchin said in a press statement. President Biden’s proposed budget reconciliation legislation reflects this administration’s desire to participate in partisan bickering rather than helping everyday Americans. Although an overwhelming majority of Americans support the bipartisan infrastructure plan, a PEW Research Center poll shows how only 49% of Americans support the reconciliation measure. This significant statistic in itself demonstrates how unpopular the bill remains. If the President wants to really help working class Americans, he must call for amending the reconciliation proposal and the immediate passage of the bipartisan infrastructure plan rather than allowing the progressives to take over the Democratic Party’s goals.

SOUTHERN

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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 Women’s Volleyball 10/15 vs Rollins * 10/16 vs Embry Little* 10/22 Regional Crossover* 10/23 Regional Crossover* 10/26 vs Saint Leo 10/29 vs Barry* 10/30 vs Florida Tech*

Men’s Ice Hockey 10/15 vs Embry Little* 10/16 vs Embry Little 10/22 vs Florida Tech 10/23 vs Florida Tech* 10/29 vs South Florida* 10/29 vs South Florida

Esports 10/16 vs Colorado School of Mines 10/16 vs Lidenwood 10/16 vs SUNY Fredonia 10/17 vs Alma* 10/17 vs Wilmington 10/19 vs TBA 10/24 vs. USC Aiken 10/26 vs TBA

Cross Country

Hockey Senior Spotlight: Jamie Calhoun Caroline Bryant Staff Writer At the age of five, Jamie Calhoun, senior, learned how to skate. One year later, his hockey career began. While it seems crazy to trust a six-year-old with shoe blades and a big stick, Calhoun was eager to follow in his family’s footsteps. “I was inspired to play hockey by my family,” Calhoun said. “Both my sisters played, and every winter my dad would build us a backyard hockey rink. All our time was spent out there, it brought our family so close.” After leaving such a tight knit, iceloving community back home for what will be Calhoun’s fourth year on FSC’s club hockey team, he can confirm that hockey isn’t second nature here. “You can show up to a local park, or pond [in Canada] and play with complete strangers and the coolest part is

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Despite our team just being D3 club hockey, the little kids look up to you like you’re in the NHL. - Jamie Calhoun Hockey, senior

Photo by Jack Portune

Jamie Calhoun (15) takes a shot on goal in scrimmage game against Florida Alliance. everyone kind of knows the ground rules,” Calhoun said. “With hockey so new down here that overall sense of common ground isn’t really established.” To change that, the team has attended pewee practices and skate lessons at the Lakeland Ice Arena- the Moc’s home turf- in previous years to get more children throughout the Lakeland area involved in the sport. “Despite our team just being D3 club hockey, the little kids look up to you like you’re in the NHL,” Calhoun said. “It’s such an awesome

FSC cross country team set for SSC finals Sophia Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief Florida Southern College’s men’s and women’s cross country teams are finishing their season strong as they approach Sunshine State Conference Championships. “Some highlights I can think of for the team, in general, are that after the FSU invite the team received its highest national ranking ever,” senior Alex Guy said. Following their Sept. 17 race at FSU, the men’s cross country team was ranked in the top 30 National rankings for two weeks in a row. On Sept. 22, they were ranked No. 28 in the NCAA Division II Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll then remained in the rankings at No. 29 on Sept. 29. They dropped out of the top 30 rankings on Oct. 1 but are ranked

No. 5 in the South Region as of Oct. 12, according to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. “The season’s gone pretty well for the most part,” Guy said. “As a team, we’ve had a few hiccups but we’ve had a lot of successes as well and the season’s been a fun one.” In their last meet on Oct. 9, multiple runners including Guy set new PR records, with the team finishing in 8th place out of 33 teams. FSC senior Mason Jones finished 5th overall and managed to set a new 8K school record. “Expectations have been high for the team, now that we’ve entered postseason racing it’s all about just beating your man,” Guy said. “We [want to] win Conference bad. But after that the goal [is] to make nationals together as a team.” The women’s team is currently ranked No. 6 out of 10 in the South Region.

10/23 SCC Champioships 11/6 NCAA South Regional* 11/20 NCAA Championship*

Photo by John Christovich * Indicates away game

experience giving back to them.” While Calhoun has yet to step on the ice this year due to time commitments in professional water-skiing and the college’s own water-ski team, being a dual sport athlete has grown Calhoun’s appreciation for FSC athletics. He would like to thank both of his coaches on both teams for respecting his schedule, allowing him to continue both of the sports he loves. Students can catch Calhoun at his season debut game against Tampa on Nov. 13 on Sunshine State Conference TV linked on the FSC Athletics website.

Women’s cross country at the Sunshine State Conference Championships during 2020-2021 school year.

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As a team, we’ve had a few hiccups but we’ve had a lot of successes as well and the season’s been a fun one.

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SPORTS

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The Southern OCTOBER 15, 2021

- Alex Guy Cross country, junior

During their first week of the season, the women’s team was ranked at No. 9, according to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. “The season has gone really well so far,” senior Madison Santore said. “We have a very young team this year of mainly freshmen and sophomores but everyone has really been exceeding expectations.” During their last meet at the UAH Invitational in Huntsville, Ala. on Oct. 9, the women’s cross country team placed 12th out of 33 teams. The women’s team was led by sophomore Ellie Fluman who finished 54th. The average 5K time for their top five runners was the third-fastest 5K average in school history, according to Santore. “Our team has been getting better and better at each meet so that is something that has been encouraging going into Conference,” Santore said. Both the men’s and the women’s cross country teams are scheduled for the Sunshine State Conference Championships on Oct. 23. “It is definitely exciting to have a home team advantage with Conference being held at Holloway Park, which is where most of our workouts are,” Santore said.