THE MINARET | APRIL 4 2013
24-HOUR EDITION
Late Night Jaeb Staff Takes Advantage of Low Traffic By ASHLEY JAMES Contributor
The University of Tampa has five main computer labs on campus. But how many of them can actually help with your personal computer? If you have
ever had an ITM class or your PC caught a virus, then you know the place to go is the Robert A. Jaeb Computer Center. While students are either going to class or to one of the rooms to work on homework, what are the lab assistants doing? And when
Photo Courtesy of Ashley James
Students that work in Jaeb computer center get their homework done while the lab is empty.
night falls, how are they spending their time with little to no traffic? For Chelsey Turtle, junior, it is a time to get some homework done. Turtle has been a lab assistant at UT for a year and a half. “I like it because it’s so convenient and on campus,” Turtle said. Not only does Turtle work in the Jaeb Computer Center five days a week, but she is also a cashier at Kohl’s and the vice president of membership for her women’s music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota. Alongside her is Taylor Frisch, sophomore, who has also worked in Jaeb for a year and a half. Frisch likes working in Jaeb and feels that it is a relaxing job. “You just generally have to help people with small issues like printer problems and small computer problems,” Frisch said. Frisch came across being lab assistant through his sister who also attends UT. He stated that his sister told him that there were spots available and that he would be able to get a job. “I was interested in getting a paycheck,” Frisch said. “It could pay better but for what we do it definitely pays well.” For Frisch and Turtle, working the night shift can have its benefits than
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working in the day. “I work on nights and weekends so I don’t ever really get too busy here but on Fridays during the day it’s usually really busy,” Turtle said. Frisch prefers working at night because he likes that his day doesn’t feel cut out. “I think it’s pretty convenient I can just like do my homework and stuff like that.” Although they go unnoticed, lab assistants are there to answer any questions you may have or to offer general assistance. Jonathan Suire, senior, said that they have helped plenty of times even when his requests were sometimes weird. If you are looking to be a lab assistant in Jaeb or any other computer lab on campus you can contact Jennifer Tanacs, Computer Lab Coordinator, at jtanacs@ut.edu. “They’re really good about our hours here [and] they work around your schedule,” Frisch said. Ashley James can be reached at ashley.james@spartans.ut.edu
A Night Out at The Retreat’s New 18+ Thursdays
By EVAN BIRSIC Contributor
my God, did I take birth control today?!” By now I had been standing in line to get into The Retreat for about 15 minutes. My friend Tevin had run back to his room to get a sweatshirt because it was uncharacteristically cold for a Thursday night in late March. Since I had no one else to talk to, I began listening to the conversation the girls in front of me were having to pass the time. “Ummmmm, I think so. Like, I literally remember you taking it this afternoon.” “Oh, cool. I want to get belligerent tonight.” Fantastic, I thought to myself. Before I could open my mouth to make some sort of snarky comment, Tevin returned, sweatshirtless, but he did put on a snapback. “We haven’t moved at all?” he asked. “Obviously not, Tevin,” I responded. Just then, the girls in front of us turned around and yelled, “TEVIN!!!!!” Eeeeveryone knows Tevin, I thought as I whipped out my phone to check the time. It was now 9:25. Who knew that some little hole-in-the-wall bar by campus would be so popular? After about 10 more minutes (and a $10 entry fee) we were finally in the bar. It wasn’t as small on the inside as it seemed from the street but there were still enough people jam-packed in the place to make me wonder if any fire safety codes were being violated. Per protocol, Tevin and I did a lap around the bar before settling into a spot for the night. As we walked I saw the usual sights of an 18+ bar: groups of kids with big, black X’s on their hands stealing sips of drinks from their friends with the 21+ wristbands, girls way too dressed up for a hole-in-the-wall bar, and, of course, guys who looked like they were wearing adultsized versions of the outfits their moms used to make them wear to church trying to mack on aforementioned overdressed girls. After our first lap around, we picked a spot that was a little less crowded than the others. As a member of the big, black X club (and an on-duty journalist), I my
“Oh
Legacy Production Group/Facebook.com
Following the addition of 18+ nights, The Retreat is teeming with students making up the majority of its clientel.
wasn’t drinking, so I was pretty much in observation mode all night. And I have to say, bars are kind of the worst place ever when you’re not drunk, or at least slightly buzzed. Everyone was loud, the place smelled like alcohol, and the deafening shriek of “THIS IS MY JAM!” every other song was enough to deteriorate my mental health to the point where I almost wished to take up smoking so I could leave for a 10 minute cigarette break. Alas, I decided to be social and get my best #whitegirl on. With a big, fake smile I decided to strike up a conversation with a pretty, brunette girl who was texting. “Heeeey.” “Oh my God, hey! You’re in my speech class, right?” “Yeah!” I actually wasn’t. I had just gone to Italy with my entire speech class and this chick definitely wasn’t there. “God, I hate talking in public.That speech we had to do today made me a wreck. I’m so glad my fake worked. I need a drink and I felt bad for making my boyfriend always
pay for them. I’m Lindsay, by the way.” “Evan. Nice to get to know you a little better. Ahh, my friend is waving me over. Later!” Tevin actually wasn’t signaling me, but he usually talks to some interesting people, so I figured that’s where the fun would be. When I finally nudged my way over to him, I realized he was talking to the two girls I overheard talking in line. After a few minutes of chatting, I found out that their names were Brittany and Ashley, and both of them had just transferred to UT this semester. After a few more minutes of small talk, Ashley asked me to go to the bar with her to get a drink. I obliged, being the gentleman that I am. We found a small opening at the bar where the two of us could order. The bartender was a larger fellow, probably only a few years older than us. He was chatty, asking us if we were having a good time and whatnot. Ashley said she was. I said, “Eh.” When I asked him how long the Retreat had been doing 18+ Thursdays, he said, “I’m not sure.
Only a few weeks now. I’ll tell you this, Thursday nights are stressful as hell, man.” I’m sure they are, I thought. After Ashley got her drink (legally), we headed back over to where we were before. I was starting to feel that nice pleasant bar buzz you get just from the energy in the room and thought that I’d stay a while longer than I had planned. Fate, however, had a different plan. During the twenty-foot walk from the bar to my friends, I had a drink spilled on my jacket and some guy almost threw up on my phone. I took that as my cue to leave. I told Tevin that I was leaving and bid farewell to my two new acquaintances. Making my way to the door, I was filled with sadness as I realized I wouldn’t be able to stumble into New York, New York for some delicious, late night, greasy pizza because I wasn’t in Ybor. I pulled out my phone to see just how late it was and was shocked to find that it was only a quarter past ten. Eh, at least Salsa Rico is still open. Silver lining, right? Evan Birsic can be reached at evan.birsic@spartans.ut.edu