OUTHERN S The Student Voice of Florida Southern College
Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit 38 Lakeland, FL
MONDAY, November 8, 2021 VOL. 138, NO. 4
Black Student Union hosts ‘Harlem Renaissance Night’ Sabrina Woolf Staff Writer Florida Southern’s Black Student Union is presenting the art show “Harlem Renaissance Night” on Nov. 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Polk Art Museum. Admission is free and the event is open to all FSC students. This exhibit will feature Black volunteers who can showcase their art, which includes ceramics, poetry, music, and more. The students will have the opportunity to explain their art and express what it means to them.
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[BSU] originally started from a Snapchat group chat with black students on campus
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-Rashida Blair President of Black Student Union
BSU is also collaborating with the Music Fraternity, represented by John Espinosa, and the Poetry club, represented by Lexi Potter and Antoinette Warren. The BSU historian, Raven Harrison, will give a presentation about the significance of black art at the beginning of the event. The President of the Black Student
Photo courtesy of the Florida Southern College Black Student Union Members of the BSU celebrating on Indigenous Peoples Day. Union, Rashida Blair, will also make a commencement speech. “We’ve been meaning to work with the art museum for a really long time but we never had the right event to put on. We saw that there were a lot of creative people in our BSU meeting ice breakers and wanted to show what they could do. It is a great way to bring the community together,” Blair said. The BSU has come a long way since 2020. The club was originally founded by recent FSC alumni DJ Wilkins. His kind
and approachable personality propelled the club forward. “It originally started from a Snapchat group chat with black students on campus,” Blair said. “Before we were an official organization we would talk to black FSC alumni. One former baseball player at FSC said it was a completely different world and he wishes he had more diversity and a community when he was a student,” Blair said. “George Floyd’s death in 2020 also pushed the community to come together.
This semester the foundation has been set and we are more established as an official organization. I believe that right now we have over 20 members actively paying their dues and showing up to general body meetings in the Simmons Center.” Blair is grateful for her all-female BSU executive team and the club’s advisors and consultants, especially Coach Mike, Vanessa Beckham, and Dr.Dykes, who made the “Harlem Renaissance Night” possible. They were always helpful despite their busy schedules. Blair’s first position in the BSU was handling social media. “Before getting involved in the BSU I was shy on campus,” Blair said. “Everyone who wanted to talk about the BSU would come through me. I try my best and lead all of the executive and general body meetings and handle most of the communications for the club. It is a lot of work but it’s rewarding and I love doing it. I walk around campus and try to make it a point to remember everyone who comes out to an event. Keeping the club organized and on track is a big part of the job.” The “Harlem Renaissance Night” is still open to volunteers who want to come out and display their talent. Participants will also receive a certificate. For more updates students can follow “fscbsu” on all social media platforms and BSU meetings are every other Friday in the Simmons Center from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Incumbent Mutz wins 2021 Lakeland mayoral election
Residents of Lakeland cast their ballots during the local elections on Nov. 2 to elect the mayor and two city commissioners “Local elections are just as important for students at FSC to get involved in. Even if Lakeland is your home away from home, as a member of the community you should play a part in helping better it,” senior Lexi Potter said. The mayoral race between Bill Mutz and Saga Stevin was perhaps the most highly contested out of the three elections. Nonetheless, Mutz won the election with 58.6% of the vote compared to Stevin’s 41.4%. Unlike Mutz, who campaigned on the need for an experienced leader, Stevin campaigned as a political outsider shaking up the status quo. Local and cultural issues such as police body cameras,
Airline pilots on strike
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affordable housing, funding for the police and the removal of the Confederate statue at Munn Park took center stage during the campaign. Stevin took a populist and culturally conservative approach, opposing the alleged radicalization of the city, while Mutz promoted his record as mayor. “I decided to run for mayor because I saw a lot of things happening in Lakeland that I saw happen in Minneapolis that brought down the destruction of Minneapolis,” Stevin said to a reporter for ABC Action News. “The mayor’s race heated up a lot because of Saga’s position on what was a dead issue: the Confederate statue,” said Dr. R. Bruce Anderson, the associate professor of political science at Florida Southern College. Mutz, the incumbent mayor, grew up in Indiana before moving to Lakeland in 1996. Prior to successfully running
for office in 2017, Mr. Mutz ran an automall and participated in numerous local organizations. Stevin grew up in Lakeland before moving to Minneapolis, but decided to return to Lakeland last year. The commission elections were “remarkably civil exchanges on real policy issues-the road diet, infrastructural
needs and the future of the airport,” said Dr. Anderson. Incumbent Sara Roberts McCarley faced a challenge from Democrat Allyson Lewis in a race which is designated as nonpartisan. Lewis rose to prominence in the community last year after organizing racial justice forums. While progressive groups such as Ruth’s List endorsed Ms. Lewis’s pro-social justice campaign, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and local businesses supported Ms. McCarley, a Florida Southern alumni. After winning a close special election in May, Mike Musick faced off against Shandale Terrell again in the election for Commission District D. Mr. Musick is the owner of Musick Roofing Company and a staunch conservative while Mr. Terrell is an educator and Democrat who ran for the Florida House of Representatives prior to running for the Commission this year.
Petitioners on campus
COVID-19 regulations
Student Spotlight
Local elections are just as important for students at FSC to get involved in. Even if Lakeland is your home away from home...
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Andrew Thompson Staff Writer
-Lexi Potter Political science major Lexi Potter
Southwest airline pilots have gone on Petitioners spotted on FSC’s campus are being removed. strike. How will this affect student travel? NEWS - PAGE 2 NEWS - PAGE 2
Florida Southern College’s Fall 2021 covid guidelines. NEWS - PAGE 3
The Southern looks into how improv show Studio Box has fared in the pandemic.
Senior students talk about whether they’re prepared to graduate. OPINION - PAGE 6
FSC “Fall into Dance”
The Southern spotlights FSC’s annual dance showcase“Fall into Dance” ENTERTAINMENT - PAGE 5
SOCIAL MEDIA
Studio Box in-person
ENTERTAINMENT - PAGE 5
Seniors prepare to graduate
@fscsouthern
Claire Bonham is a senior and marine biolgoy major at Florida Southern College. FEATURES - PAGE 4
In-depth on esports
Esports players weigh in on how they fit into FSC athletics. SPORTS - PAGE 7
www.fscsouthern.com
fscsouthern@gmail.com
BRIEFS BSU Hosts Game Night On Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. FSC’s Black Student Union will be hosting a game night. The event is $5 with a $3 admission. BSU members and attendees will be able to compete for a chance to win prizes with games like “NBA 2k,” “Uno” and “Mortal Kombat.” The event will take place at the Simmons Center.
Kristallnacht Remembrance FSC’s Hillel chapter will be hosting a Kristallnacht Remembrance event at the Water Dome on Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. The event will be 15 minutes long and is meant to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of Germany’s 1938 Jewish pogrom.
First Gen. College Student Celebration The FSC Scholar’s Experience will be hosting a First Generation College Student Celebration on Nov. 8 at the Badcock Garden. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and celebrate First-Gen college students, faculty and staff with activities and free food.
APISA and BSU Host Anime Night The Asian and Pacific Islander Student Association and Black Student Union will be collaborating to host an anime night on Nov. 10. The event will take place at the Simmons Center between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
League of Legends Finals Watch Party On Nov. 6 Mocs esports and Misfits Gaming will be hosting a League of Legends World Finals watch party at the Snake Pit Arena. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to watch the finals of the 2021 world championship.
Student travel affected by airline regulations Dylan Olive Staff Writer On Oct. 4, Southwest Airlines announced a vaccine mandate among its employees: to keep employment, you will have to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or be exempt for medical or religious reasons by Dec. 8. The Southwest Airlines Pilot Association asked a federal court in Texas, where Southwest Airlines is based, for a temporary hold on the vaccine requirement to prevent the vaccination mandate from being carried out. The mandate complies with Joe Biden’s executive order requiring federal employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. American, United, Frontier, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, as well as JetBlue, have all announced vaccine mandates for their employees, Southwest being the most recent to announce their mandate. The Southwest Airlines Pilot Association is seeking an injunction from a federal court in Dallas for the vaccination mandate to be put on hold, the SWAPA also asked for a request to seek an immediate hearing in court, claiming that Southwest Airlines have continued to take actions that violate the Railway Labor Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Federal action supersedes any state mandate or law, and we would be expected to comply with the President’s Order... -Southwest airline to POLITICO
Photo coutresy of Kevin Dooley
Many students need to use airlines such as Southwest to return on breaks. The Railway Labor Act solves disputes between carriers and employees. Texas Gov. Greg Abbot signed an order on Oct. 11 banning vaccine mandates for any private business with over a hundred employees. Last month, the Biden administration said it would require any business with more than one hundred employees to get vaccinated or get tested weekly. Despite Abbot’s new order, Southwest Airlines is going to continue their vaccine mandate, and the Biden Administration is continuing to push its executive order. “Bottom line is we’re going to continue to implement the law, which the President of the United States has the ability, the authority — the legal authority to do, and we are going to continue to work to get more people vaccinated, to get out of this pandemic,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “I believe the federal vaccine mandate supersedes any conflicting state laws, and this does not change anything,” a spokeswoman from the airline said. In a statement to POLITICO, Southwest
said “Federal action supersedes any state mandate or law, and we would be expected to comply with the President’s Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.” Over 2,000 flights were canceled starting Oct. 8 through that entire weekend, and it left thousands of passengers with a major inconvenience on their hands. The passengers wanted answers as to why so many flights were getting canceled out of nowhere. “ATC issues and disruptive weather have resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend while we work to recover our operation,” Southwest Airlines tweeted on Oct. 9. Many assumed that the strike was due to the large number of flights suddenly canceled: if there is no crew, then there can’t be any flights. No other airlines had this weather issue like Southwest did, which leads people to believe that the cancellations were due to the Southwest strike.
door at LHA,” Silver said. “It’s the same man from Target. You can imagine I was scared because this random man who has my personal information just showed up at my school owned apartment.” Silver says it seemed to be a coincidence because the petitioner appeared to be going door-to-door.
legislation by telling subscribers that they are helping to fund hospitals and schools. The language in the initiative only describes a “minimum capital investment requirement,” with no mention of hospitals or education. But different initiatives reported by The Alligator are being canvassed in Gainesville and Orlando supporting the Seminole Compact, protecting the profits of The Tribe, apparently in opposition to the petitioners in Lakeland. With enough signatures sent to the state, these initiatives could be included on a list of legislation eligible to be passed during Florida’s 2022 gubernatorial election, according to Daisean Wilson, the supervisor of the petitions for Voters in Charge in Polk County. In Florida, a petition needs nearly 900,000 signatures to be considered for the ballot. In August, Governor Ron DeSantis passed the Seminole Compact, the largest gaming compact in history, which is projected to yield a minimum of $2.5 billion in revenue for the state over the next five years—$6 billion through the year 2030. The compact also means the rollout of new casino games, translating to “more jobs for Floridians and more money invested in the state,” according to DeSantis. Currently, the Seminole Tribe of Florida pays none of their revenue from casinos to the state.
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On-campus petitioners removed from FSC Salvatore Ambrosino Features Editor The past week, students going to class on Johnson Avenue have been approached by canvassers around Christoverson and the Buck Stop. More recently, they’ve been seen going door-to-door at the Lake Hollingsworth Apartments. While petitioning on public property is protected under state law and the First Amendment, Florida Southern College is a private entity, leading to the removal of the petitioners from campus by safety officers. “We do not allow any polling on the internal parts of our campus,” said Eric Rauch, Director of Campus Safety, who confirmed that there has been an increase of removals from campus regarding canvassers. “We had a couple people coming into The Buck Stop—that’s a place for our students to have dinner, sit down and talk to each other, and not to be bothered by people coming from off campus.” Petitioners have been spotted on the sidewalk around Lake Hollingsworth Drive; some of the strategies of the canvassers have made students uncomfortable. Ruby Silver, a communications and psychology sophomore, says she was approached by a male canvasser at the Target on 98. She signed the petition. “The next day there’s a knock on our
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We do not allow any polling on the internal parts of our campus.
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NEWS
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The Southern NOVEMBER 8, 2021
-Eric Rauch Director of Campus Safety
“Honestly it’s kind of uncomfortable to be approached with a petition where you live,” Silver said. Although the petitioners’ affiliation on campus are yet unclear, Florida Voters in Charge, a non-partisan political action committee primarily funded by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, has planted general canvassers in popular areas such as the Lakeland Public Library. The initiative sponsored by the PAC called “Amendment X, section 33” was described by one of the petitioners as a tax. Canvassers at the library promote the
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Jameson Champion News Editor The FSC Office of Accountability, Education and Compliance has recently begun the process of creating a malefocused initiative known as the Men Allied for Social Change. The Office of Accountability has created this initiative, lead by alumni member and Assistant Director of Accountability, Education and Compliance Kyle Shatto as a way to address the blaming of men and fraternities for campus problems such as sexual assault. The Office of Accountability states that MASC is “focused on education for our male student population about how to hold themselves accountable in regards
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Part of our plan is partnering with other departments and student groups to get the word out.
Photo courtesy of Florida Southern College website Kyle Shatto, Assistant Director of Accountability, Education and Compliance is pictured above.
to masculinity and provide context and education to the rest of the student population on how to navigate the topic of masculinity.” The goal of MASC is to create a studentled organization that focuses on being an educational resource for men on topics -Kyle Shatto such as healthy masculinity and men Assitant Director of accountability, holding themselves accountable. education and compliance The program also intends to hold
programming for the general student body. The program cites 30 percent of the student population being male and aims to have programming targeting the female population as well to invoke important changes. For the general student body the program intends to cover topics such as bystander intervention and addressing male stereotypes. Due to being a new program, MASC has spent much of this semester gaining student attention and has held two interest meetings so far, including “MASC Spills the Tea on Masculinity” which was held on Oct. 19. Through the rest of this semester MASC intends to have three educational programs including one on bystander intervention, one on “mansplaining” and one on reframing masculinity. Shatto also mentions partnering with other fixtures of campus such as the Simmons Center to draw more attention to the initiative and collaborate with their programs. “Part of our plan is partnering with other departments and student groups to get the word out,” Shatto said. In the spring, MASC intends to hold a white ribbon event in which male students sign a pledge to act with healthy masculinity.
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FSC updates its mask mandate policy
Graphic courtesy of Canva Florida Southern College announced on Nov. 8 that masks are no longer required inside on-campus residences or dining halls. This policy has been updated after FSC has “crossed the 70.93 percent vaccination rate on our campus against COVID-19,” according to an email sent by the FSCares team. Before the semester started, Florida Southern updated its guidelines in the fall of this year in accordance with some of the guidelines recommended by the CDC and the ACHA (American College Health Association). “The ACHA recognizes that
comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective way for institutions of higher education (IHEs) to return to a safe, robust on-campus experience for students in fall semester 2021. Therefore, where state law and available resources allow, ACHA recommends COVID-19 vaccination requirements for all on-campus college and university students for fall semester 2021, in accordance with the IHE’s (Institution of Higher Education) normal exemption practices, including exemptions for medical contraindications. The CDC also recommends that a robust testing program would help to limit the spread of COVID-19 on college and university campuses. Last year, Florida Southern reserved the entire Lake Morton village as quarantine space, while using the Warren Willis Camp in Lake County as overflow space. This year though, the school has an extremely limited quarantine space reserved for students, only at the Willis camp. However, students have been reportedly sent to on-campus houses and Lake Morton apartments if they are vaccinated and have tested positive. This space is only reserved for vaccinated students who are already at high risk. Students who are not vaccinated at all, or are at normal risk, are advised to have a quarantine plan in place. The school has a cleaning system in place as well that it states is in accordance with CDC guidelines.
The cleaning procedures also state that the school has upgraded the air filtration systems for all of the buildings on campus by using anti-microbial filters. The FSCares
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... vaccination is the most effective way for institutions of higher education [...] return to a safe, robust on-campus experience
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Harry Solomon Staff Writer
-American College Health Association
pledge outlines a list of requirements and guidelines that all students are required to adhere to. The first pledge is that students must adhere to wearing masks over their nose and mouth at all times in the classroom.Others include proper handwashing and “respiratory etiquette.” The final pledge states, “I agree that if the College is directed by a governmental agency or the Board of Trustees to transition to all remote classes, there will not be a tuition or any other associated fee refund.”
Airline pilots are on-strike
- Continued from Page 2 An update from Southwest was released on Oct. 11 as to why the operational disruptions were happening. Weather issues caused cancellations, and that resulted in a continuous buildup of crews and aircrafts not being in the right place for their current schedule. “On Friday evening, the airline ended the day with numerous cancellations, primarily created by weather and other external constraints, which left aircraft and Crews out of pre-planned positions to operate our schedule on Saturday,” Southwest said in a statement. On Oct. 12 Southwest CEO Gary Kelly apologized on Good Morning America to the customers and employees affected by these cancellations. Whether or not staffing was the issue due to all the cancellations, the Allied Pilots Association is worried that the vaccine mandate will result in a loss of employees for the airline, “We are also concerned that the Executive Order’s anticipated 60-day implementation period for mandatory vaccinations could result
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If my flight were to get cancelled, it would put stress on both me and my family... -Hannah Noll FSC student
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Office of Accountability introduces MASC
NEWS
in labor shortages and create serious operational problems,” said the APA. The APA went on to say “Airlines generate a substantial portion of their annual revenue during the holiday period, with a great many travelers depending on us to get them to their destinations.” If the vaccine mandate is not affecting Southwest currently, then it will once the busy holiday season starts, and when the Dec. 8 deadline is here. Many Florida Southern College students fly home for breaks, and the vaccine mandate could have an impact on flights being affected. This would result in some students having more difficulties in getting home. “As a college student living over 1,000 miles from home, I usually fly home,” Hannah Noll said. “If my flight were to get cancelled, it would put stress on both me and my family to try to find another flight, and if we couldn’t find another one, I would be stuck at school, loosing the little family time I get.”
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Claire Bonham Sophia Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief Claire Bonham is a Marine Biology major at Florida Southern College. Her community service involvement, internship work, on-campus membership status and buoyant disposition separate Bonham from her peers. “The most important thing, especially at Florida Southern, is to stay involved because everyone around you wants to help you and wants to see you succeed,” Bonham said. “You just have to get out there and talk to them.” Bonham is passionate about sustainability and the environment. Last year, she interned with the Manatee County Audubon Society as a Wildlife and Management Intern. “That’s how I wrote my first letter to the editor with the Lakeland Ledger,” Bonham said. In her letter she argued that cities in Florida should be able to set their energy use standards, instead of the state government. Outside of internship work, Bonham is also actively involved in on-campus student organizations. Bonham is the current president of Flosoco where she is in charge of organizing events throughout campus and the Lakeland community that help and educate others about sustainability. This year, Flosoco hosted a “build your own recycling bin” event, meant to encourage more freshmen to have recycling bins in their rooms. Flosoco has also hosted Lake Hollingsworth lake cleanups and volunteered at the Live Green Ecofest, meant to educate citizens of Lakeland on how to live more sustainably. In her freshman year, Bonham volunteered at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and this past summer she was an animal-care intern at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Currently, Bonham is volunteering at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, and is a member of Beta Beta Beta and Rho Rho Rho honor societies. When asked about what Bonham has learned throughout her time at Florida Southern, Bonham stated that the most important thing is to “do what makes you happy.” “You’re going to be way more happier doing what you want to do, not what you think you should be doing,” Bonham said. Bonham would like to move back to Illinois to be with her family and find a job working in the environmental field with a non-profit. “That’s the goal,” Bonham said.
Professor shares motivations behind unique style Salvatore Ambrosino Features Editor Christopher Novak is known to most students as capable of engaging even the most sleep deprived undergrad in the room. The professor prefers the word “eccentric,” when it comes to describing his teaching style. “It’s fast but it’s informative,” Dan Sanders said, a senior multimedia journalism student. “He kept us engaged even during the ‘boring’ lessons and I will always appreciate him for that.” He likes to start most classes with music, a video clip or even a dance. “I remember him dancing around to ABBA,” Eliza Leaver said. Leaver is a communications minor. She says she and her friends have an unofficial fan club for the professor who maintained their attention every day with his unique approach to teaching. “Christopher Novak is the most passionate professor I’ve had during my time here at Florida Southern College,” said Rachel Ward, a former student of Novak and member of that fan club. “The time he puts in both inside and outside of the classroom compares to no other.” Mass Media and Society, one of Novak’s courses, is a core requirement for all students studying in areas of communication. “He zoomed around class but he also really wanted to have discussions. He definitely grabbed your attention,” Leaver said. Novak’s nearing his tenth year at Florida Southern College. Before becoming a professor, he was the head of
the internship program within the HSN, formerly the Home Shopping Network. Then working out of Tampa, motivated by the time he spent with the students he worked with as interns and by instructor friends at the University of South Florida, Novak pursued a master’s degree, proposed a course plan and was hired. The biggest influences on his methodology are film and television or “how film and television influence us,” Novak says. “I usually will play music that has at least some relevance in terms of popculture,” Novak said. “Not only to get students interested or curious about what they hear, but to get myself jacked up for class and get excited for it.” He has a penchant for joke-telling, admittedly scripted or rehashed— sometimes.
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I have to entertain them as I teach. I don’t want to lose them, I don’t want them to get bored.
-Christopher Novak FSC communications professor
“Some of it is impromptu, some of it just comes out naturally, if I want to crack a joke,” Novak said. “Others are statements I’ve had that I’ve been using for years and they still get a chuckle.” 1939 was a good year, according to Novak. “Oh, A lot of good movies came out in 1939, a lot of great things came out
in 1939, Gone with the Wind came out in ‘39, Wizard of Oz came out in ‘39, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington came out in ‘39, my mother came out in ‘39—IT WAS A GOOD YEAR!” “He always made me laugh,” Leaver said. Novak insists he doesn’t have a class, he has an audience. Feeding off of reactions helps him better communicate ideas in ways that make sure that his lessons are followed thoroughly. “How do I keep my audience riveted,” Novak asks himself each class. “I have to entertain them as I teach. I don’t want to lose them, I don’t want them to get bored. I don’t want them to be writing, writing, writing and myself to be yak-yak-yakyak-yak.” He’ll do just about anything, he says, for students to get what they need out of a course, something he picked up from a teacher he had in high school. “He’d always find ways,” Novak said, attributing his attitudes to him. “If I have to dance I’ll do a dance, if I have to get up on a table I’ll get up on a table, if I have to sing I’ll sing,” Novak said. Even underneath the masks, the smiles are noticeable, he says. “If I get those smiles and I get the occasional thank-yous—which I do get in my classes,” Novak said. “I’ve done my job, and it makes everything worthwhile knowing they’re getting a lot out of it. When I hear stuff like that, those are things that make my job worthwhile.” Along with Mass Media and Society, Novak also teaches a course in Speech every semester. “Everybody has their own teaching style,” Novak said. “I have mine.”
History behind black cats and Halloween Isaac Wardyn Staff Writer Though it may have taken centuries, black cats have arrived today as a fairly popular symbol for halloween. Cats throughout history have had a lot of significance in different cultures and places across time. In Egypt for example the Warrior Goddess Bastet was a deity with a
Photo courtesy of Abby White Batman is a black cat, often spotted on Florida Southern College’s campus.
woman’s body and a cat’s head, and she was the symbol for female sexuality and motherhood. Egyptian households that kept cats were said to be blessed with luck from Bastet, and much like today the pets were regarded as members of the family and were even mummified with the rest of the family when their time on Earth had ended. All of this led to a rather dark time in black cat history. Cats would be taken and killed, tortured and sacrificed as tokens to the negativity they took away. The decline in the cat population actually affected the rodent population and some researchers even think this could have been a factor in the spread of the black plague, according to HITC. These beliefs ended up in the U.S and were especially prevalent during the Salem Witch Trials. Fortunately, these beliefs have started to fade with time, but they still do have a grip on modern culture today. “I definitely don’t think that black cats are bad luck,” cat enthusiast Christina Meiser said. “Hobo [a black cat on campus] became one of my best buds while I was a student and he still is. I used to take walks around campus in the evening, and Hobo would typically tag along.” Meiser’s friendship with the cats would last. “He was a reliable and cuddly source of support and comfort when I needed it,” Meiser said.
During medieval times, Germanic and Norman societies saw black cats as unlucky and soon black cats were associated with devils and witches. These origins are where we will start to
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He was reliable and cuddly source of support and comfort when I needed it.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
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FEATURES
-Christina Meiser FSC student
see the beginnings of black cat stigma in western culture, but also their importance in Halloween celebrations. This is where their negative connotation might have originated from. “I love cats, so I don’t really care about the color,” Nicole Richmond said, a member of the cat club at Florida Southern College. “Cats are so cute, and I feel like they do not get the appreciation that they deserve, especially if they are a black cat, due to superstitions,” Richmond said. Today, there are plenty of people who see the cats for what they are: cute. The Southern interviewed Batman and Hobo, two of the black cats on campus. “Life isn’t Purrrfect,” Batman said.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Live concerts make a come-back in Florida Isabella Gargiulo Staff Writer While fans are having the chance to experience their favorite artists performing live again after two years, there have been some changes and regulations made in order to adjust to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Artists such as the Jonas Brothers and Harry Styles made their longly anticipated tour returns on Aug. 20 and Sept. 24 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Those who bought tickets to the highly popular and sold out shows had to present either a negative COVID-19 test or a valid COVID-19 vaccination card. When Harry Styles held his “Love
On Tour” at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, sophomore Gabby Vazquez was comfortable with the restrictions set in place that made the concert a memorable yet safe experience. “However, I wasn’t too worried or stressed while I was there since everyone attending had to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test or be fully vaccinated, as well as wear masks in the arena,” said Vazquez. There were restrictions set in place for Harry Styles’ “Love On Tour” concerts that eased worried fans about the pandemic, but the Jonas Brothers regulations had some fans nervous about their concert experience.
Photo courtesy of Mariah Tsipouras Clark
The Jonas Brothers perform their “Remember This” tour setlist at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre in Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa.
“It was a little nerve wracking at first because nobody was wearing a mask. Masks were recommended but not required. It ended up being super fun and it was nice to return to some sort of normalcy,” senior Mariah Tsipouras-Clark said. With the new regulations set in place for concerts, fans are still hopeful and excited for what the new concert experience will be like from this point forward. Fans still are ecstatic in what the future brings when it comes to their favorite artists performing right in front of them. “Well considering that I practically worship the man, there wasn’t a moment I wouldn’t consider a highlight or memorable experience,” Vazquez said. “But one of my favorite moments was hearing him sing “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction. It was such a cool thing to see him pay homage to his 1D days, and it gave me a taste of what it would’ve been like to see the boys in concert,” Vazquez said. Fans were able to also experience special reveals while at the concert, such as gender reveals and birthdays. “They did a gender reveal on stage that was super cool to experience. It was a girl,” Tsipouras-Clark said. Fans are hoping other artists take on the new regulations as seen in both Harry Styles’ and the Jonas Brothers concerts, but still remain grateful their favorite artists are slowly making their return back to the stage and normalcy.
Studio Box contiues to perform live shows Dylan Olive Staff Writer
This fall, Studio Box has continued performing live shows, following restrictions at the beginning of spring due to COVID-19. Last spring was Studio Box’s first time back with in-person performances since the start of COVID-19, but in order to maintain safety standards amidst the pandemic, Studio Box events were held outside. This year, the club is back at performing and practicing inside. Studio Box is Florida Southern College’s on-campus improvisation group. Shows are twice a month on Friday nights in Branscomb Auditorium, and shows typically have a theme for audiences to participate in. The team is made up of current FSC students, and they perform for free throughout the school year, at Scholars Weekends and other on-campus events. “Studio Box performances this year are wildly different from the past few years because we’re slowly returning to pre-covid conditions,” member Rory Tracy said. The team still has to be cautious while performing due to COVID-19 precautions. “We have to be more cautious of how close we are to each other and how much we can interact with the audience. This year is all about getting people back into our audiences,” member Abby Almond said. Studio Box plays a variety of games including short form improv games: Film Noir, Party Quirks, Last Line, Cellphones and of course Studio Box, the game from which they are named after. “We play guessing games, witty one liner games, and games that could last 15 minutes,” Almond said. “We try to keep it versatile because every boxer has different strengths and every audience member has a different perspective on what is funny.” Almond went on to say her favorite game
Photo by Kendall Uslan FSC studio box members particapate in a game during a live show in the fall 2021 semester. is Film Noir, “It’s a game where two boxers pretend they’re outrageous characters in the 20’s and they can step out to make asides to the audience. It’s heavily based on one liners.” The first show of the year was on Sept. 3, the show being 80’s themed. The second show was “career day” on Sept. 17, and Oct. 8 was Rory’s 21st Birthday Party. Most recently was the “Spookio Box Show” on Oct. 29 where audience members were able to dress up in costumes. The president of Studio Box, Stephanie Berger, said that a typical audience consists of 250 students. “They’re very fun! It’s a great place to laugh off the stress of the week and just enjoy yourself with friends,” audience member Delaney Thurston said. When asked about their experience in Studio Box, members had nothing but positive things to say. “I know it’s cliche but we really treat each other like a family. We make sure to
hear everyone’s opinions on how shows and games go regardless of seniority,” Almond said. “I immediately felt at home and supported because we all had the same love of making others laugh,” Tracy said. “So far, being in Studio Box has been my favorite experience on campus at Florida Southern,” new boxer Lilly Brewster said. “It is so special to be able to meet up with friends twice a week just to laugh.” “Studio Box is special because it is a group made up of very different people, majoring in anything from theatre to accounting, but despite these differences, we all share a love of making others laugh.” Auditions for Studio Box are once a year in the Fall, but President Stephanie Berger says they are holding additional auditions in the Spring as well, and encourages everyone to come out and audition! The next Studio Box show is Friday Nov. 19 in Branscomb Auditorium.
FSC dance and theatre produce ‘Fall Into Dance’ Sabrina Woolf Staff Writer
Florida Southern College’s annual dance showcase “Fall Into Dance” has two shows on Nov.13 and 14 as well as a “Preview Night” on Nov. 12. Tickets are free and can be reserved at the Branscomb Box Office or picked up at the door. This unmasked performance will feature work from a wide range of choreographers and dance styles. It is also the first opportunity the FSC Dance Program has gotten to perform for a live audience since the COVID-19 pandemic. FSC sophomore Eliza Claire thinks that rehearsals have been going very well for the showcase. “For one of the guest artist pieces we had Doug Galespy from the Kate Weare Dance Company come in,” Claire said. “Those rehearsals were really intense but also really rewarding. He really had a collaborative approach that was really an enriching experience as an artist.” Rehearsals for that piece were during the evening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day for a week and the artists ended up staging the whole piece in three days. Performers saw the experience as rewarding and as a way to improve the skills they have been taught. “It was really challenging, but I think having that challenge was just a really exciting experience,” Claire said. FSC has had to find creative ways to allow their students to get back onstage in a safe way. Students and theatergoers can look forward to connecting with the audience without any facial barriers onstage. “It was still a privilege to be able to perform but it does take away from the experience and I can’t really deny that so I’m really excited,” Claire said. “We were looking forward to finding a safe way for us to be unmasked while on stage.” Mask will be worn backstage along with COVID tests being done on those involved in the show. Students and theatergoers alike can look forward to connecting with the audience without any facial barriers onstage. “There is an energy that’s missing when an audience isn’t there and you really can’t replace it,” Claire said. The two pieces that Claire is dancing in are modern styles and contemporary ballet on pointe, which is an extremely advanced dance form where people dance on the tips of their toes. Modern dance has an artistic, free style with slow movements that is not as restricted as classical ballet and is meant to express a feeling. FSC collaborated with the Florida Dance Theater in Lakeland to choreograph these challenging numbers. As the performance draws near, dancers look forward to demonstrating what they have been working on. “Every single one of the dancers in the program are just so hardworking, so passionate and it’s just a really good environment. Everyone is always building each other up and I feel pushed every single day. The faculty is absolutely incredible,” Claire said. “...I’ve watched videos of last year’s Fall Into Dance and I know that when I watch the video this year I will see how much I have grown.”
The Southern NOVEMBER 8, 2021 6
OPINIONS
Students question accommodations for campus community
Emma Matzen Staff Writer
With a historic campus like Florida Southern, built by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, there are unfortunate restrictions when it comes to altering the campus’s infrastructure. Unfortunately, renovating or altering the historical architecture on campus has to go through multiple boards of approval to be done, which has posed quite an issue for disabled students at Florida Southern College. With face-to-face classes being the norm this school year, as opposed to most classes having the online Zoom option, it’s even harder for disabled students to get to their classes. As of 2019, Associate Vice President for Student Support Dr. Marcie Pospichal stated that the student support office does what they can to “modify [...] space[s] to be more accessible.” However, two years later, this remains to be seen. Student Andrew Thompson, Vice President of Young Adults As Self Advocates (a club dedicated to those who feel their accommodations are overlooked), is on the autism spectrum and says that at times, he feels like a second class citizen on campus. “While administration has been able to make academic accommodations for some of our students, the lack of understanding of disabled people by some of the student body and the lack of education on the topic for abled people leads to an environment which harms people like me and makes our lives more challenging,” Thompson
said. Many areas on campus are inaccessible in terms of the lack of ramps, which causes wheelchair-bound students to have to take longer routes to get around campus. Vanessa Hart, who uses a wheelchair, had to go to the Roux Library to get to a wheelchair-accessible bathroom, instead of using the bathroom at Chatlos, where her next class was, due to the Chatlos building’s lack of a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. Due to the structure of the school and the lack of ramps, Hart said it takes her about 30 minutes to get between the two buildings. “I have a friend that has had a ton of
Photo courtesy of Chloe Eggert
Chloe Eggert is pictured with her service dog, Raya.
Seniors prepare to graduate FSC Deanna Wright Online Editor FSC seniors are preparing to say goodbye to college and their college experience. Every year there is a new class of seniors who are ready to graduate but this year seems a little different. For most of the seniors at FSC, many of them have had to adapt to remote classes and a new environment when returning back to campus due to COVID-19. “Being remote was super rough. I didn’t hate it until campus started having events again and I felt super left out,” senior Callie Golden said. “In a way, I had already felt like I graduated and I felt super disconnected from student life. However, I loved getting to be back in-person for classes and events. It has been pretty emotionally and socially exhausting but now that I’m back in the swing of things, I couldn’t be happier to be back.” According to a CNBC article back in June of 2021, the pandemic has created this feeling of a so-called “lost year” for most students, especially graduates who felt like getting a job is impossible and missed out on opportunities. “I feel like college was paused for me because it hasn’t gone back to the way it was,” senior Leah Stambaugh said. “I missed out on a lot of annual school events that I was looking forward to, some handson class experiences, and club events too.” Seniors are dealing with different emotions across our campus about having to graduate either this December or next Spring. “Graduating is a bittersweet feeling,”
issues regarding accessibility for her issues with mobility,”.said Chloe Eggert, a freshman. “She has to take such long routes around the school for lack of ramps, and she’s even been denied numerous accommodations that she was told she would be granted. It’s so hard for her to stay here, because people aren’t treating her fairly.” Not only is campus accessibility an issue, but there seems to be a lack of education among abled students when it comes to disabilities, as well as service animals. While emotional support animals (ESAs) are important to many students,
Golden said. “I will definitely miss FSC and the community here, but I am also excited for the next chapter. Luckily, I will be getting my MBA here so I won’t have to completely leave yet.” With the experiences seniors have gone through the last four years, they want to leave advice for younger Mocs. According to Stambaugh, an important piece of advice is, while it is important to focus on assignments, jobs and responsibilities, remember not to take anything too seriously. “My advice is to go to everything. If someone asks you on a coffee date, to go to an event on campus, or even to study, say yes,” Golden said. “Go on lake drives, don’t skip class, go to every event of every organization you are passionate about. You can sleep later. You don’t get these four years back, so make the most of them.” As a graduating senior this December, I am dealing with mixed emotions about having to say goodbye to Florida Southern myself. My experience here has been great, other than missing out on a year due to the pandemic. I have met many people as well as tried out different things I would have never tried if I went to college in my hometown. I am truly going to miss the people on this campus the most. My advice falls along the same lines as Leah and Callie: Make sure you take every opportunity you get even if it is just being a part of an organization on campus. You don’t want to regret anything when you leave. Lastly, cherish all the things you get to do in class and with friends while you can because before you know it, you will be graduating, too.
there have been a few issues of ESAs not being properly trained. “I had someone’s ESA jump on me at Tutu’s before,” said sophomore Emily Starling. Students have alleged that ESAs should know basic commands—like sit, stay, down, and leave it. Some students, like Eggert, believe that ESAs should not be in the same vicinity as certified service animals. “My service dog has been attacked before by untrained dogs in the same space as her, and with an untrained animal in her space, she may not be able to do her job properly,” Eggert said. “Service animals are medical equipment and that’s why they are allowed public access. ESA owners should be very observant regarding how their dog is behaving, especially if they have minimal training, both for the animal’s safety and the safety of other people.When untrained dogs make a scene, it reflects badly on service dog handlers and causes us insane access issues,” said Chloe Eggert. Overall, it’s important that students on campus, specifically abled students, get educated on issues regarding disability, accessibility, and service animals. Without being educated on these topics, students will not only be ignorant regarding these important issues, but may perpetuate these problems as well. Hopefully the campus can make more strides to be more accessible and inclusive to disabled students in the future. “We must remember that everyone is unique and valuable, including people with disabilities, and be willing to connect with and listen to people from all different walks of life,” Thompson said.
OUTHERN S
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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.
7 The Southern NOVEMBER 8, 2021
SPORTS
Women’s Cross Country 11/6 NCAA South Regional*
Men’s Cross Country 11/6 NCAA South Regional*
Esports 11/6 vs. Daemen 11/6 vs. Farmingdale State 11/7 vs. Farmingdale State 11/7 vs. St. Joesph’s (LI) 11/8 vs. TBA 11/13 vs. Southern New Hampshire 11/14 vs. Old Westbury 11/14 New York Tech
Men’s Swimming and Diving 11/5 vs. Indian River State College
Women’s Swimming and Diving 11/5 vs. Indian River State College
Jessica Stalter Staff Writer Esports have been a part of the Florida Southern College Athletic department since the beginning of the program in 2017. Because of their digital nature however, esports are quite different from the other athletic programs. “I’d say we don’t really fit the word “athletics” because esports is anything but athletic, but at the same time there are some similarities” Rocket League team member Isaac Garay said. Despite this difference in athleticism, there are some areas of overlap between esports and traditional sports, mainly the ways that tournaments, practices, and competitions are run. “Every other sport has a physical aspect while esports doesn’t, but both sides have tournaments, practices, teamwork, and things of that nature,” Garay said. Additionally the amount of support offered by teammates is very similar. “Every athletics team is part of SAAC, which connects a lot of the athletes together,” overwatch team captain Anna Patterson said. “We are also connected in ways that we are all encouraged to support one another at games. Everyone is active with each other on social media in support.” Those in the esports program have varying opinions about their position within athletics with some feeling like outsiders to the department. “We’re the black sheep among athletics, I’m pretty sure most athletes don’t even know or don’t care that esports exist,” League of Legends team member Dylan Parramore said. “The only connection most
Photo by Jessica Stalter
FSC’s Esports arena features multiple gaming set ups for it’s participants. of us have with the rest of athletics depends on whether or not we do another sport, so most of us don’t really interact with athletics that much.” “I feel like esports isn’t actually something “within” athletics, it’s kinda put there because we compete with other schools the same way sports and what not,” Rocket League team member Casey Freudenthal said. “It’s the closest thing that it fits to be put into basically.” Others view it as a positive thing despite their differences, as it is a chance to prove the importance of esports and appeal to a different demographic of students. “Among athletics I would definitely say that we are newer and earning our place in a way,” Patterson said. “I think a lot of people
Men’s basketball looks forward to 2021 season Ben Sax Staff Writer
The Florida Southern Men’s Basketball team prepares to start their season very soon. Although last season was not a success for Florida Southern, Florida Southern Men’s Basketball Head Coach Michael Donnelly has learned a lot about his team. “I learned that our team was extremely resilient. The year we endured last year was very difficult for everyone, but I was very proud of our guys and how they handled all of the very challenging circumstances both on and off the court,” Donnelly said. One of the biggest differences seen between this year and last year has been FSC’s preseason.
The coach is thankful that they are back to having a normal preseason compared to last year’s COVID-19 restrictions. “We have a lot of new faces who we expect to have an immediate impact, so we are still trying to figure out a starting lineup and player rotation,” Donnelly said. Lots of players have made a point to stand out this season. “All of our returners have played well in practice, which is to be expected. Our four transfers have stood out as well. We expect EJ Dambreville and Xavier Rhodes to have big years for us, and we also expect our two grad transfers Tarik Mckelphin and Jack Casale to have an immediate impact,” Donnelly said. One of the players Donnelly mentioned was Tarik Mckelphin.
He is a 5th year grad transfer from the University of West Florida and plays the role of a shooting guard. Mckelphin has goals both individually and as a team. “The goals I want to accomplish this year as a team is to win the conference and make a run for a national championship. The individual goals I have are to make an all conference team and have great
“
I learned that our team was extremely resilient. The year we endured last year was very difficult for eveyone... -Michael Donnelly Head Coach
Women’s Volleyball 11/5 vs. Palm Beach Atlantic* 11/6 vs. Lynn 11/9 vs. Tampa 11/11 vs. Nova
* Indicates away game
don’t really see esports as a sport or like we have a spot among athletics, so we are really just working on showing them that we do belong with everyone else.” As the esports program continues to develop its place within athletics will become more defined, but for now those on the various esports teams are embracing both the challenges and benefits of their unique sport. “I think we are set apart in the way that we may appeal to people wanting to come to the school and that we have to appeal to an entirely different population,” Patterson said. “We can’t try to reach people in the conventional ways that regular sports teams do, so we have to be creative with streams and graphics and events.”
Photo courtesy of FSC Athletics
FSC men’s basketball goes for a shot in a game against Polk State.
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UP NEXT
Esports talks about their role in FSC athletics
shooting percentages,” Mckelpin said. Coach Donnelly also has his own personal set of goals for the team this year. “Our primary goal is to be playing at home on Tuesday, March 15th at 7:00pm,” Donnelly said. “That is the date of the South Regional Championship, and our goal is to be the #1 seed in the NCAA South Regional Tournament. We are a very deep team on the perimeter, and we have a very skilled team that we believe has a chance to be a really good shooting team. We will look to play fast and also play five options at the offensive end of the floor.” Florida Southern Men’s Basketball will open up their season on November 12 against West Alabama.