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FEBRUARY 19, 2020 VOLUME XL ISSUE II
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New College of Florida's student-run newspaper
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Lawmakers propose merging NCF with FSU What is known, what is not known and what people think
BY ANNA LYNN WINFREY On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the Florida House Education Committee passed a proposed bill that would merge New College with Florida State University (FSU) and Florida Polytechnic University with the University of Florida (UF). The details and potential outcomes of this legislation remain unknown, but Rep. Randy Fine argued that the bill would cut costs for taxpayers. Many vocal students, faculty and staff have emphasized New College’s independent status and are organizing to defeat the bill. House Bill 7087, states that all of New College’s property would be transferred to FSU. The bill also says that the tuition and fees for current New College students would remain the same until they graduate. The Board of Trustees of all of the involved institutions would have to finalize their plans for the merger by
ing that the state spends too much money on New College and Florida Polytechnic. “We have an obligation to taxpayers to generate degrees at the lowest possible cost,” Fine said to Florida Politics, which first reported the story. At the committee meeting, Fine also mentioned higher administrative costs and declining enrollment, despite the college receiving additional funds from the legislature for growth. Second-year Ellie Young disThird-year Joey Daniels and thesis student Alex Barbat spoke about the walkout agrees with how Fine assessed the organized by the NCSA at the community forum on Feb. 13. value of New College. Jul. 1, 2020. O’Shea, leaders at the other affected “The idea that cost per student Fine proposed that New Col- institutions and many state legisla- to the taxpayer is the most imporlege function as a satellite campus of tors said they had not heard about tant metric of an education [is] really FSU, which NCF Director of Commu- this bill before the evening of Feb. messed up,” Young said. “It's not like, nications and Marketing Ann Com- 10. Rep. Fine said that he had con- ‘Insert coin, receive degree.” er-Woods confirmed. But further sulted with FSU president John New College’s 2018-19 budget details, such as the impact on the ac- Thrasher before announcing the bill, of $52 million comprised 0.4% of the ademic program or student life, have but Thrasher denied having any prior state’s total funding on higher edunot been clarified. knowledge. continued on p. 4 New College President Donal Fine pitched his bill by arguSergio Salinas/Catalyst
Four Winds Café officially closed, space repurposed BY IZAYA GARRETT MILES
https://doc-0k-18-docs. googleusercontent.com/ docs/securesc/s7jurnmk912se8sp3mgg3hd8llrh0uos/obdpo7fpcdn719 co01n4qb7t57rv346b/1 506448800000/0533393 9401667025082/025783 83506865688437/0B4ze ECbsUTILVjVXY25YUU 52ZUk?e=download
The student-run café by the anthropology lab, Four Winds, has closed. The Four Winds has been a fixture of the campus since it was founded in 1996, but over the past year its future became uncertain. From its origins as an independent study project (ISP), the Four Winds was student run until Aug. of 2019, when an outside manager was brought in an attempt to mitigate its heavy losses. Despite the changes made, it was untenable to continue operations into the Spring of 2020. Not only does the loss of Four Winds mean one less food option for Novo Collegians, it means one less space where students can gather. The Four Winds became a major issue in Jan. 0f 2019, when the New College Student Alliance (NCSA) suddenly announced that it would not
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be funding the Four Winds going forward. Four Winds had long been a major money loser that the NCSA had countenanced with regular bailouts. From 2016 through 2019, the Four Winds received over $45,000 from the NCSA. As student population fell, the NCSA budget shrunk, and it became too costly to maintain. The Four Winds had never once turned a profit in its 23 year run; its losses ranged from a mere $6,587 in 2004 to $41,817 in 2012. “I can’t think of a single year it was ever profitable,” Eshel Rosen, thesis student and NCSA Vice President of Relations and Financial Affairs, said. “It’s not really a profitseeking organization; it started as an ISP. It started as a community driven space. I think that’s what the end goal going forward should be.” The Four Winds halted operations in Jan. 2019 as the NCSA could
no longer commit to paying the $5,000 to $10,000 expenses it would accrue every semester. A committee was formed to determine what the Four Winds future could look like. Traditionally the Four Winds had been run by alumni managers who would serve only one-year contracts. Under the new plan, Metz ran the Four Winds, with a manager being brought in to serve in a more permanent capacity. Additionally, the food selection would be drastically cut down. In previous years the Four Winds had served made-to-order hot meals like paninis or salads, the new Four Winds was limited to serving grab-and-go foods like bagels. The new rules that Four Winds needed to operate by lead to a different experience than in years past. “Having all the corporate rules was very hard,” Four Winds employee and thesis student Ella Denham-
Photo courtesy of Four Winds Cafe
The Four Winds platter was a favorite among students as it provided a filling, fresh variety of produce, hummus, pita bread and nuts.
Conroy said. “We wanted to use the reusable cups, or any of the equipment in the kitchen. But we had to serve everything on paper plates with plastic utensils and give bagels continued on p. 10
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CATALYST
BRIEFS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst
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BRIEFS BY HAYLEY VANSTRUM
Artists to Black Literature Read-in involves students listen to in a broader community of readers during Black History Month
Every February, Black History Month events encourage members of the New College community to learn new concepts, reflect on shared experiences and discuss noteworthy topics. This upcoming Tuesday’s Black Literature Read-in, featuring writer, planner and publisher Tyree C. Worthy provides students with the important but rare opportunity to directly engage with pieces of literature created by Black authors, poets and journalists. Professor of English Robert Zamsky, who collaborated with Professor of Sociology Queen Zabriskie to bring this event to both his “In the Break: Innovation in African American Poetry” class and New College as a whole, believes the read-in is an invaluable piece within the Black History Month puzzle. “The baseline value of an event like this is the visibility of African American writing and broader artistic and cultural practice,” Zamsky explained. “For me, as someone whose teaching and research focus on American poetry, African Ameri-
can literary practice is at the center of what I do. There is just so much great, exciting and important work out there. Any chance to engage with it is a real addition to the campus.” This event, which encourages New College community members to bring some of their favorite works by Black authors to read and share with each other, will allow Professor Zamsky’s students to take part in the literature they have been working with over the course of the semester in a different, much more hands-on way. Through facilitating studentpractitioner relations via events such as this read-in, students become involved in a broader community of readers and are able to take a more active role in the literary process. “Preparing a poem to read it in public, even if it's a short poem, changes a student's relationship to that poem,” Zamsky said. “It will also give the students a chance to think about the poems they choose in the context of other work selected by others participating in the reading.” After the read-in, students will
get a chance to hear from Worthy on a more instructional level at his curator’s workshop, “Creating Space for Arts and Community.” Worthy will provide some crucial insight regarding his own professional journey from part-time editor and reporter to full-time author, poet, businessman and creator of his own social event planning collective, Atypical LLC. “I'm sure [students] will learn a lot through their interactions with Tyree Worthy,” Zamsky said. “He's very active as a poet, publisher and organizer, so there are many facets to his career for students to engage with.” The Black Literature Read-in will occur Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the CEO Lounge from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be followed a few hours later by Worthy’s workshop, which will take place in the Four Winds Café from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Both events are free and open to all students, faculty and staff.
Travis Ray traces Black and Latinx theater To Travis Ray, Associate Managing Director of Sarasota’s West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, theater is everything. Ray, who presented a brief summary of the history, present and future of Black theater during his “Black/Latinx Theatre: Where Can It Take Us? and Will You Embrace It?” talk on Feb. 13, believes that the beauty of Black and Latinx theater is in the undeniable strong presence of voice in both genres. “That’s what’s so beautiful about it,” Ray stated at the start of the discussion. “It’s reflective and it’s open for everyone to appreciate.” Black theater, as described by Ray, is a dramatic movement encompassing plays and musicals that centers the Black experience. While most people believe that Black theater started in the 1820s and 1830s, Ray believes the tradition of Black theatrical performance has much older and deeper roots. “I would say it happened much
before then, in Africa,” Ray explained. “The [Yoruba] people who followed the Orisha [spirits] believed that we got our abilities, our gifts, even the things we appreciate in our lives like love, art and culture, from the Orisha. They believed we got that from our ancestors, so it was always in us and within our blood.” Throughout his presentation, Ray tracked the evolution of Black theater in America alongside the progression of Black life, starting at the transatlantic slave trade and going through the popularity of minstrel shows and blackface, the artistry of Harlem Renaissance musicians and the rise of Black directed and performed Broadway shows. Black history, as Ray exemplified, has always been at the forefront of the history of theater. For those who missed this discussion or are eager to hear more, Ray will be returning to ACE Lounge on March 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. to pre-
"Claire's cat followed my finsta." © 2019 the Catalyst. All rights reserved. The Catalyst is available online at www.ncfcatalyst.com, facebook.com/NCFcatalyst instagram.com/NCFcatalyst twitter.com/ncfcatalyst The Catalyst is an academic tutorial sponsored by Professor Maria D. Vesperi. It is developed in the New College Publications Lab using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign and printed at Sun Coast Press with funds provided by the New College Division of Social Sciences.
sent on Latinx theater. Ray also encourages New College students to become involved with the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe through coming to shows, shadowing performers and attending events such as this talk. Hayley Vanstrum/Catalyst
Ray shows students an image of a Nigerian performer taking part in a Yoruba "Engungun" masquerade.
Editor in Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Layout Editors Social Media Editor Staff Writers & Photographers
Jacob Wentz Anna Lynn Winfrey Claire Newberg Cait Matthews & Sergio Salinas Hayley Vanstrum Sophia Brown, John Cotter, Vianey Jaramillo, Charlie Leavengood, Izaya Garrett Miles Ky Miller, Sofia Lombardi & Willa Tinsley.
BY JOHN COTTER AND HAYLEY VANSTRUM Compiled through a series of oncampus student interviews, the Catalyst presents a short list of diverse musical artists. Princess Nokia Puerto-Rican American rapper Destiny Frasqueri, who self-identifies as a radical intersectional feminist, addresses socio-political issues spanning from gentrification to male domination in the rap industry in her music. Third-year student and Nokia fan Jas Marie recommends both Frasqueri’s 2017 album, 1992 Deluxe, and a few singles, including “Sugar Honey Iced Tea,” “ABC’s of New York” and “Green Line.” Mahali Mahalia Burkmar is a British singer, songwriter and actress who uses her platform to promote both body positivity and her politically conscious music. Burkmar’s 2019 album, Love and Compromise, has been nominated for several awards, including Critics’ Choice at the BRIT Awards and Ones to Watch at MTV Push. Students on campus included “I Wished I Missed My Ex,”“Simmer” and “Sober” as standout songs from Burkmar’s musical catalogue. Salif Keïta Salif Keïta, known to the African music community as “the Golden Voice of Africa,” is an afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. First-year student and fan Karl Dinang appreciates how Keïta uses his condition of albinism as a way of connecting to his listeners, both in Africa and elsewhere. Keïta has been recording music for over 40 years and has produced 27 albums over the course of his career. Some of his most popular songs include “Kalabancoro,” “Madan” and “Africa.” Direct submissions, letters, announcements and inquiries to: The Catalyst 5800 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, Florida 34243 catalyst@ncf.edu The Catalyst reserves the right to edit all submissions for grammar, space and style. No anonymous submissions will be accepted. Submissions must be received by 12:00 p.m. Friday for consideration in the next issue.
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Pool renovation intends to improve campus beautification BY SERGIO SALINAS The cold beginning of spring semester has seen the pool remain closed while under renovation. The pool is currently being resurfaced since it has worn down over time. The renovations will also bring about the replacement of the outdoor furniture and surrounding deck. The total cost of the project is $200,000, which will be taken out of the Capital Improvement Trust Fund (CITF). Upon completion, the new pool will have a modern look that intends to refine the Fitness Center’s aesthetic in an effort to further improve campus beautification. New College Student Alliance (NCSA) President Steven Keshishian approved the maintenance project after consultation with Facilities Planning Coordinator Itza Frisco, Director of Fitness and Recreation Colin Jordan and Director of Facilities and Construction Alan Burr. The decision was made after concluding that the pool floor had gotten to such a state it would be in violation of health regulations. “In an ideal situation, we wouldn't have had to spend the money resurfacing the pool,” Keshishian said. “We would have been able to use it somewhere else, but since the pool was not in optimal maintenance condition we had to use money to maintain it. This in the long run will save us other money on maintenance.” The pool will get a brand new modern look as the surface is replaced along with the coping—the material used to separate the pool’s
Sergio Salinas/Catalyst The pool will become modernized in the beginning of March with a new surface and aesthetically-pleasing outdoor furniture.
structure from the surrounding deck—as well as the surrounding deck and furniture. The decision to also upgrade the aesthetic came after taking a look at the money available in the CITF and deciding there was enough to spend. “In addition to the surface which has to get done, this is something that will upgrade as far as the look,” Jordan said. “Every so often you want to upgrade because you got new students coming in and they’re touring, you want to see things like, ‘Oh this is a nice place, I can see spending four-five years here.’ The look of it, while not critical to function, is important to bringing in new students.” The renovation will also see the removal of the spikes from the surrounding fence due to an incident last spring that saw one student hos-
pitalized while attempting to break into the pool after hours. Instead, a new alarm will alert campus police to deter any students from breaking into the pool. Unfortunately, in the process of deconstructing the pool floor and surrounding deck, workers found issues with the pool’s coping. When it comes to coping, replacements can be placed over each other twice; new over the old. However, workers found that the pool’s coping had three layers, which broke regulation and therefore needed to be replaced. Old architecture and building practices are often a recurring problem when it comes to construction on New College, as building codes and practices have been changed since its founding in 1960. The CITF funds are generally used for improvements and upgrades
on the residential side of campus, including the new pool table in Hamilton “Ham” Center. “Those funds can only be used for student services, like the fitness center, any upgrades to facilities, repairs, or anything on this side of campus,” Frisco said. “Anything across the street, with the exception of Four Winds, is Education General Funding that can be used.” All universities in the Florida State University System (SUS) receive CITF funding based on the size of their student body and admissions. Due to New College’s small size, the money received is often not a considerable amount, but surpluses carried over to the next year have allowed for funds to build up to cover the cost of the pool renovation. “We’re in this interesting position as a school where we are flush with certain kinds of money and we don’t have nearly enough of other kinds of money,” Jordan said. When it comes to future campus projects, students can be directly involved in the decision making process. If a student finds a particular need, the project idea can be presented at an NCSA cabinet meeting, where it will be discussed as part of the NCSA agenda. The NCSA President would then take the project and discuss it with President Donal O’Shea and Physical Plant to discuss necessities and costs based on the CITF funds for that year. The pool is expected to reopen in the first week of March, when students can look to cool off from the stress of a long Spring semester.
Sarasota rejects offshore fish farming project proposal BY CHARLIE LEAVENGOOD Ninety percent of the fish consumed in the U.S. is imported from other countries. In turn, the U.S. exports around 65 percent of its fish and the global demand is growing. However, the ocean cannot be fished sustainably to meet these numbers. One solution is fish farming. On Feb. 3, however, Sarasota city commissioners issued a letter opposing the fish farming project to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The pilot project, titled Velella Epsilon, would be located 45 miles south west of Sarasota. The project would farm 20,000 Almaco Jack, which are a native fish to the Gulf of Mexico, in one net pen. Ocean Era, formerly named Kampachi Farms, is a private company working out of Hawaii. It currently has fish pens off the coast of Kona, Hawaii. If approved, this would be the first offshore aquaculture farm in the con-
tiguous United States. “I think it’s morally bankrupt for us in America to continue to import seafood from elsewhere around the world and expect other people to provide us with the seafood” founder and CEO of Ocean Era Neil Sims said. The mayor of Sarasota, Jen Ahearn-Koch argues that the ecosystem of Florida’s West coast would have a different response to offshore fish farming than Hawaii. “Where they’ve done this before in Hawaii, the waters are 1,000 feet deep and cold,” Ahearn-Koch explained. “Where they want to do it here, our waters are 130 feet deep and the temperature is around 79 degrees”. Along with controversy over geographic differences, issues of nutrient excess from long-term multiple fish farms in the Gulf are at the forefront of opposition in Sarasota. According to Ahearn-Koch, there is already a second offshore aquacul-
ture permit pending. There are concerns of disease and antibiotic use and the excess nitrogen and phosphate produced from feed pellets and fish waste could encourage Karenia brevis (Red Tide). “The last time Red Tide happened, it cost $94.6 million dollars in damages” Ahearn-Koch said. “If we’re going to even risk a chance of that, why would we do it when there is no public good that comes from it, this is a private company”. Sims argues that this net pen is only a demonstration. He said the project was not going to be measuring environmental impacts because it was too small to have an impact. “The purpose of this demonstration pen is to show the local community that this is actually going to be something they’ll love” Sims promised. According to Sims, aquaculture is more heavily regulated than any other poultry, pork or beef pro-
duction in the U.S. Sims trusts that with proper monitoring, aquaculture could be one of the most sustainable sources of protein. He entrusts the management and regulations created by the U.S. to keep this project from seriously impacting the environment. On Jan. 28, the EPA held a public hearing at the MOTE Marine Aquarium for comment and concerns to be raised. The fingerling Almaco jack would be raised at the MOTE Marine until they are ready for deployment to the offshore cages. The Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associates (CONA) also discussed the project at their monthly meeting on Jan. 10. Founder of Suncoast Waterkeeper and alum Justin Bloom spoke at both events against farming in the Gulf. “This pilot project might have some local impact but looking at continued on p. 10
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 cation, which is approximately $13 billion. Professor of Political Science Keith Fitzgerald, who represented Florida’s 69th district in the state House from 2007-2010, said that this bill could be a part of larger political maneuvers. “My sources told me that it's part of a complicated political game,” Fitzgerald said. “That doesn't mean that it's not a risk.” In an interview with the Catalyst, O’Shea said that Thrasher and Kent Fuchs, the president of UF, would probably not wield their influence to defeat the bill. “Both of them have a lot of fish to fry and they're not going to pick a fight with the legislature over something that's a drop in the bucket to them,” O’Shea said. “So they will say that they are telling everybody they don't want it. But they're not actually going to expend political capital opposing it.” Florida Polytechnic issued a statement on Tuesday in opposition to the bill and President Randy Avent testified at the Feb. 12 hearing. Neither UF nor FSU has issued a comment. O’Shea traveled to Tallahassee on Tuesday and Wednesday to meet with lawmakers. He also published op-eds in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Tallahassee Democrat. He has encouraged faculty and staff to call and send letters to legislators. The bill passed the committee 12-6. All 12 committee Republicans except for Elizabeth Fetterhoff of DeLand voted for the bill, and all but one of the committee’s Democrats, Dr. James Bush III of Miami, voted against the bill. HB 7087 will be heard next by the House Appropriations Committee. It could undergo further review before heading to the House floor. The legislative session started on Jan. 14 and is scheduled to end on Mar. 13. Fitzgerald speculated that the bill is unlikely to pass but might remain viable until the end of the session. “I think at the end of the day, it's going to be yanked, or watered down with a study or something like that, but you just can't be sure,” Fitzgerald said. “So it's a little scary that way, but yeah, we'll probably keep going until near the end.” As soon as the news came out last Monday night, student email forums blew up with speculative questions and outrage. But some students started organizing: Second-year Ellie Young hosted an event the following day in the Gender and Diversity Center (GDC) to call representatives and thesis student Alex Barbat compiled the phone numbers for the represen-
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst
tatives on the House Education committee. “I care about New College,” Young said when asked about why she organized the event. “I care about small colleges. I care about education, and I'm very, very upset by this proposal.” The New College Student Alliance (NCSA) is organizing a walkout at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 on ACE Plaza. NCSA leaders have collaborated with Florida Polytechnic’s student leaders, who will stage a similar protest at the same time. “I think our biggest concern right now is how do we mobilize students to advocate for an independent New College,” NCSA President Steven Keshishian said. At the Feb. 12 faculty meeting, less than 48 hours after the debate over New College’s future began, O’Shea reflected on the uncertainty of the moment but assured staff and faculty that their jobs were not endangered. “If the worst happens and this goes through, there are not going to be massive layoffs, or anything like that,” O’Shea said at the faculty meeting. “I don't think there'll be any.” Congressman Vern Buchanan, whose district includes Sarasota, tweeted on Tuesday, Feb. 11 that New College should remain independent. Buchanan traveled to campus to host a news conference with O’Shea on Friday afternoon. Buchanan also met with Governor Ron DeSantis on Sunday night to discuss the proposed legislation. Buchanan tweeted a photo of himself with DeSantis on Monday morning and ended his caption with, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!” Sarasota state Rep. Margaret Good, who is running against Buchanan for Congress, released a public statement on Tuesday supporting New College’s independence. State Senator Joe Gruters, who represents Sarasota, has publicly announced his support for New College, but Senate President Bill Galvano, who represents parts of Manatee county, has said that he would be open to the idea. The Sarasota Herald Tribune published an editorial on Feb. 12 in support of New College remaining independent. A nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog, Florida TaxWatch, released a statement on Wed., Feb. 12 urging the legislature “to reconsider moving forward with the proposed merger[s].” They also expressed skepticism about the costsaving rationale. At the community forum on Feb. 13, third-year Lily Tanner cautioned other students to avoid speculating about worst case scenarios. “This is a time of a lot of uncertainty. And in times of uncertainty, we tend to cling on to little bits of information that we hear and we pick up. So I strongly, strongly caution
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In-state tuition Out-of-state tuition 2018 total enrollment
NCF $6,916
FSU $5,656
FL Poly $4,940
UF $6,381
$29,944
$18,786
$4,940
$28,659
837
41,717
1,339
56,567
$1.52 B
$87.8 M
$3.45 B
0.41%
11.95%
0.69%
26.98%
311
6648
247
18460
$305,001
$605,378
$562,796
$1,131,114
N/A
$107 M
N/A
$141 M
2018-19 total op$52.4 M erating budget 2018-19 total operating budget as % of state total Full-time employees Presidential salary (2019) Athletic budget
Sergio Salinas/Catalyst
NCSA President Steven Keshishian spoke at the community forum to inform students of the actions being taken to prevent a merger with FSU.. Anna Lynn Winfrey/Catalyst
Students gathered to write letters to the editor expressing their concerns about merging with FSU.
you to think about what you're saying and to really make sure that you're not coming up with and spreading rumors,” Tanner told the crowd. She advised everyone to take productive action instead. “Right now is the time to be focusing on the phone calls and the emails and making our plan and then once the decision is made, then that's when we can start to kind of be con-
cerned about the implications of this thing. But until then, we need to support one another rather than making people nervous or making ourselves nervous by focusing on what may or may not happen.” Information for this article was gathered from sarasotaheraldtribune.com, tallahassee.com, flbog.edu, srqmagazine.com
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst
The Activist Newsletter
Hayley Vanstrum/Catalyst
Throughout this week (2/19–2/26), activists have the opportunity to participate in performances, workshops and public talks. Read on if you want to get involved in the community regarding reproductive rights, environmental activism and anti-racist work.
BY HAYLEY VANSTRUM Wednesday, Feb. 19 MLK: Celebrating His Legacy in Spoken Word and Song @ 7:30–9:30 p.m. VPA Theater - Booker High School - 3201 North Orange Avenue, Sarasota, Fla. Engage with the influential legacy and history of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s “MLK: Celebrating His Legacy in Spoken Word and Song” performance event. This production will feature reenactments of Dr. King’s speeches and writings, original song and dance performances by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe members and the announcement and author presentation of the winning work from Booker High School’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest. This event is $15 for general admission, $35 for premium seating and $5 for student admission and is open to the public. Thursday, Feb. 20 Planned Parenthood Sarasota Letter to the Editor Workshop @ 6–7:30 p.m. Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida - 736 Central Avenue, Sarasota, Fla. Learn how to actively participate in the process surrounding local news and legislation at Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida’s Letter to the Editor Workshop. This workshop in particular will center around SB 404, a harmful bill targeting reproductive rights that recently passed in the Florida Senate, and will teach attendees how to contact the Senators involved and hold them accountable for their actions. This event is free and open to the public. Thursday, Feb. 20 A Talk with Professor Harvey J. Kaye on American Social Democracy @ 5–7 p.m. ACE 239 - New College of Florida 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, Fla. Join writer and historian Harvey J. Kaye for his talk on the future of American democracy
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during this presentation and discussion of Kaye’s new book, “Take Hold of Our History: Make America Radical Again.” This talk, which is a collaboration between New College’s Economics, History and Political Science departments and NCF Democracy matters, is free and open to the public. Thursday, Feb. 20 Author Ed Fallon Talks About the Great March for Climate Action @ 6–7 p.m. Selby Public Library - 1331 1st Street, Sarasota, Fla. Participate in the discussion surrounding the climate crisis as author, former Iowa legislator and climate activist Ed Fallon’s talk on the story behind his recent book, Marcher, Marcher, Pilgrim, and how his participation in the 2014 Great March for Climate Action changed his life. Fallon will be discussing the importance of developing local strategies for global climate issues, the work he and his partner Kathy Brynes do as urban farmers in Iowa and the ways in which he and local Iowans have pressured both Democratic presidential candidates and mass media to focus more on climate change. This event is free and open to the public. Monday. Feb. 24 Personal Responsibility for Communal Transformation @ 7–8 p.m. Emmanuel Lutheran Church - 790 South Tamiami Trail, Venice, Fla. As a part of Venice Interfaith’s second annual American Racism event series, Reverend Darlene Garner’s “Personal Responsibility for Communal Transformation” talk will focus on institutional racism and what individuals can do to actively work against systematic acts of injustice in their own lives and communities. The Venice Interfaith Community Association centers around the belief that respectful connection between members of local faith-based organizations can be powerful and transformative. This talk is free and open to the public, as are all of Venice Interfaith’s events.
"What happened in Iowa?": The Iowa Caucus explained BY SOFIA LOMBARDI When instant election results have become standard, the dayslong delay of the Iowa Caucus results shocked Americans. Politicians, pundits and citizens alike were taken aback by the failure of hundreds of Iowa counties to properly record results. The abundance of errors that caused the delay arose largely due to the implementation of a brand new app that was designed to simplify the process of reporting the results. Both Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vice President Joseph Biden financially contributed to the development of the app, sparking conspiracy theories surrounding the potential for them to have intentionally altered the results of the caucuses. One hundred out of 1600 precincts reported results that proved to be inconsistent, missing data or simply impossible under the rules of the Iowa Caucus. Many other precincts chose to not use the mobile app and instead called in results as done in past caucuses. While this has traditionally worked, the phone lines quickly became busy and results were extremely delayed or inaccurate. For some precincts, the math done was just wrong. The state has used caucuses to elect their leaders since the early 19th century. Iowa did not start to hold caucuses similar to its modern ones until 1972, when it was the first state to hold its democratic caucuses. With the inclusion of Iowa, only four states and three United States territories hold caucuses in place of presidential primaries. This low amount of caucus participation by the United States means that the actual process is unknown to the vast majority of Americans, creating even more confusion around the 2020 results. Rather than a traditional primary election, where citizens cast ballots that are counted by election officials, caucuses focus on the deliberation aspect of democracy. In each of Iowa’s precincts, Iowans gather at set locations—typically schools, churches or libraries—to decide who they will nominate through in-person discussion and physical grouping. “That really depends on whether you want to prioritize access to voting or whether you want to prioritize deliberation. Both are democratic values, like deliberation is a core democratic value, access to polls is a core democratic value,” Professor of Political Science Jack Reilly said, when asked if he supported the prolongation of the Iowa caucuses over a traditional primary.
While Iowa has faced criticism for its process over the last few decades, more recently, the issue of accessibility has been raised. In order to participate in the Iowa Caucuses, Iowans must have the ability to physically leave their homes. They must have educated themselves enough to be able to discuss the candidate of their choice, and then congregate with their respective groups. Often the disabled, those who cannot afford childcare, and those who cannot leave work are not represented. Professor of Political Science and former Iowa Caucus attendee Keith Fitzgerald called the Iowa Caucuses “retail politics.” While he believes “the good side of it is that ordinary people get to do politics,” he argues that there is definitely an attached bias with the process. “First of all, Iowa itself, just like New Hampshire, [the second primary in the United States] is just not reflective of the country as a whole,” says Fitzgerald. “They’re among other things, way too white, too rural.” According to the United States Census Bureau, Iowa is 90.7 percent white. With the United States standing at 76.5 percent white, the significant difference in demographics sets up the argument that Iowa is too unrepresentative of the country as a whole to be the first state in the nation to kick off the presidential elections. In order to win the Iowa caucuses, candidates have to hold the largest number of delegates won by precinct. In 2020, however, the Iowa Democratic Party chose to also release the popular vote counts, sparking a debate over what it truly means to win the Iowa Caucuses with the release of these additional numbers. While Reilly argues that between the delegate count and the popular vote tally, the caucuses “could have gone either way.” He claims that in “the way the media wrote about it, they still focused on final delegate counts.” Reilly explained that despite the focus on delegate counts versus popular tallies motivated by the media and political pundits nationwide, many Americans agree that the importance of Iowa lies not in the final results, but in “the momentum that you get out of Iowa.” “We’ve always known that from the delegate count it's a meaningless event,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s all about TV and perception.” Information for this article was gathered from the New York Times.
All photos Sergio Salinas/Catalyst
JURIED ART
EXHIBITION 2020 BY SERGIO SALINAS
fact that there’s a story to tell. It’s also somewhere between morbidly amusing and really cathartic to decapitate yourself.” Barker leaves a lot of room for the observer to interpret the piece in their own way and to tell their own version of the story on those walls. Barker’s expression of the past and the different versions of the self create a nostalgia that encourages past reflection.
The Juried Art Show is a yearly event that allows students to present their original artwork in front of a juror, with hopes of selling their artwork to New College to adorn the walls of Hamilton Center. This year’s exhibition saw a variety of works ranging from “The Red Girl,” a pastel on paper painting, to “Shit Wagon,” an elaborate contraption consisting of welded steel, wood and miscellany. "College Burnout" The reception occurred on Feb. 6 and Another piece by Barker, “Collethe exhibition will remain on display until March 13 in the Isermann gal- ge Burnout” is made from a laser-cut lery in the Caples Fine Arts Complex, wooden figure encased in a lantern, giving students plenty of time to ad- suspended on strings. “This piece was for a final promire the work of their peers. ject at the end of the semester, so it was pretty reflective of my mood at "Ghosts of Myself" “Ghosts of Myself” was created the time.” Barker wrote. Burnout is a feeling all too faby second-year Liz Barker. The work consists of five individual watercolor miliar to college students. Barker paintings that together form an ela- went into the piece with relatability borate story that Barker purposeful- in mind and while choosing to keep the figure faceless was a logistical dely left open to interpretation. “My favorite thing (and the sca- cision rather than an artistic one, it riest thing) about art is how it’s mea- adds to the piece by allowing anyone ning can grow and change beyond the to see themselves within the glass intent of the artist, and I went into walls of the lantern. “I hope it’s something people this piece wanting to leave plenty of can fi nd some catharsis and humor room for the audience to tell the story with what I’d given them,” Barker in,” Barker wrote. Connected to the bottom of the wrote in an email interview. Drawing inspiration from figure’s feet is a piece of string, which contemporary artist, Amy Cutler and at first seems to serve no real purpoher work; Barker elaborately displays se to the piece, but Barker cleverly the trials and tribulations that come intended to set the string on fire to with growth through her simplistic add another layer to the piece’s title. “The string tied to the figure’s backgrounds that leave a focus on a subject that has been bruised, beaten feet would be lit, burning it’s way up and even decapitated in one pain- to the wooden figure until that figure also caught fire and eventually the ting. “I believe that the marks we piece self-destructed while the aubear tell part of the story of where dience watched,” Barker wrote. While it is sad to hear of the piewe’ve been and who we are, at least ce’s inevitable fiery end, Barker’s exmore so than a blank slate,” Barker wrote. “Not just scars but tattoos, pression of college struggles kindles wrinkles, freckles, band aids, doodles encouragement in other students done in sharpie, notes scrawled on a and gives them a sense of solidarity. hand, chipped nail polish, whatever. "Yorik, the Death Horse" They make the viewer wonder what Within the gallery a lone stalhappened. They’re a visual clue to the
lion stares out at anyone passing by, “Yorik, the Death Horse”, projects a menacing presence that even Jack Skellington would be scared of. Created by second-year Claire Stout, the ride was built to participate in the Parking Lot Regatta, where Stout developed a closer relationship with her steed. “It started out as just something to race with but then it became something that I could invest some artistic creativity in,” Stout wrote in an email interview. “The way that the head bobbed up and down as I pumped the cart along made me think of the head of a running horse. It was almost like it was me and my cart working as a team to win the race.” At the bow of Stout’s ride is Yorik himself, named after a dead jester whose skull was recovered by a gravedigger in Act Five, Scene One of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Sticking to the grim nature of the scene Stout decided to go for an intimidating and shocking aesthetic, which eventually led her to land on a horse for a figurehead. “Horse skulls are particularly creepy and look nothing like the head of the creature so it was a nice fit,” Stout wrote. “When I was creating the horse skull, I would keep thinking of Shakespeare. I would hold it up and recite the speech from Hamlet where he is holding Yorik's skull and say ‘Alas, poor Yorik!...’” Yorik is made up of welded steel for the frame and other found objects including recycled golf clubs for the vertebrae of the skeleton. Stout’s skill in seamlessly welding different objects to create a stallion of death makes one think: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”
sion” and “Fig4: Choked Up,” all part of the same series. “These pieces are a part of my thesis, which is focusing on anxiety disorders,” Chapman wrote in an email interview. “Misery and sadness is just one aspect of living with these disorders.” Chapman chose to use oil paint on top of polyester to create a popping effect that creates separation between the subject and the background. This effect is then emphasized by the way the gallery’s lights hit the piece, casting shadows onto the polyester that create a heavier focus on the subject. Chapman also used embroidery on top of her paintings to show the difficulties of living with anxiety by depicting them as physical conditions. In the case of “Fig1: Misery”, Chapman used red embroidery to both depict the tears that come with misery and depict anxiety as a dermatological condition upon the face of the subject. “I’ve personally never seen paintings on sheer material, so I decided to give it a shot and I fell in love with how it almost calls to the viewer’s attention,” Chapman wrote. “It gives my pieces a unique quality that makes people stop and observe the piece longer. But it also gives my subjects an ethereal feeling that supports my message.” Chapman has a lot to be proud of, having won the 2020 Juried Art Exhibit, and hopefully students will soon see Chapman’s piece among the other legendary works in Hamilton Center. “This is my fourth year having a piece in the show, and it’s my first year winning anything at the show,” Chapman wrote. “So it was like a recognition of all the work I’ve done "Fig1: Misery" over these four years and my proA level above the rest, “Fig1: gress in becoming a better artist.” Misery,” stands out as the most indepth work within the gallery. The With many more pieces at the first place winner was created by the- gallery, the range of exhbits of avaisis student Miranda Chapman along lable for students to gaze at will have with two other works, “Fig3: Ten- a little bit of something for everyone.
Alas, poor Yorik will remain in the gallery pent up and unable to roam the fields of Z Green.
In "Fig1: Misery," the red embroidery depicts a dermatological condition while also acting as tears for the subject.
"Head in the Clouds," when turned on, gives a soft warm glow to admire.
Take a peek at the world of mirrors that hides within the walls of the cloud.
"Fig3: Tension" (left) and "Fig4: Chocked Up" (right) both expertly depict the harsh sensations anxiety can have on a person.
"Ghosts of Myself" displays different chapter's in Barker's life, but the story itself is left up to the interpretation of the audience.
CATALYST
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Generations of New College: the various experiences of students with alumni parents BY SOPHIA BROWN First-year Aidan Monroe first heard of New College in middle school after finding an NCF t-shirt while helping his mother fold laundry. The average student may start to form opinions on colleges once they tour campuses, research SAT score requirements or take advice from counselors. But for Monroe, thesisstudent Amaranth Sander and graduate student Ashley Brockway, their journeys to New College begin at home. Monroe spoke fondly of his mother Kama Monroe (’89) as he recounted a story from her college years—when her roommate invited a series of people into their dorm during a Wall and raided his mother’s stash of Jell-O. He admitted it created a different perception from what he has experienced on campus thus far. Even so, Monroe praised the close-knit environment of New College and what he described as its “aura.” After Monroe discovered the t-shirt, his mother continued to recommend New College whenever the topic of college came up. She barreled forward into law school after graduating from NCF, but Monroe knew that he wanted to attend a school with the same sensibility of
Photo courtesy of the New College Digital Collections
These three juggling students graced Palm Court in May of 1998.
his smaller high schools. “One of the big reasons why I ended up picking New College was actually the creative writing classes here,” Monroe said. Monroe knew that a laid-back and community oriented college would best suit his needs, but when it came to academic opportunity, New College had more to offer. Plus, Monroe understood that communities change over time, and the student culture that his mother had described wouldn't be exactly the same. “By the time we got here, she couldn’t really walk around the place because everything had changed,” Monroe said. “And as a result, part of the advice and selling points she gave me about the dorm life has kind of been salted.” Even so, Monroe made a new selling point for himself
out of the academic opportunities NCF provides. Sander has a similar origin story. From the moment they spied New College between the pages of Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope they knew that New College would be their destination. Never one for large traditional universities, Sander submitted applications to four different liberal arts colleges. “I didn’t even consider actually going to them,” Sander confessed while talking about the three other colleges. “New College was my only choice—it was the one.” Sander’s aunt, Laurie Dils (‘80), graduated from New College with an AOC in Political Science, and finished graduate school with a Masters in Public Health. She now writes sex education policies for Washington state. Knowing about their aunt’s
academic achievements, Sander’s perception of New College before they got here was that it was a place that students went in preparation for graduate school. “Hippie school” aside, Sander knew that New College would lead them to success. “I feel like I was so prepared to come to New College,” Sander said, reminiscing on their first semester at NCF. “The week after orientation week so many people were like ‘You’re not a first year, you know what’s going on. You seem like you got it.’ Part of that is my family and the environment that I had growing up.” Graduate student Ashley Brockway is now pursuing a degree in data science. This is her fifth consecutive year at New College, following in the footsteps of her father, Paul Brockway, who was a student from 1980 to 1985. Growing up in Gainesville, Brockway dipped her toes into the traditional university lifestyle in high school when she dual-enrolled at the University of Florida (UF). Brockway was tempted to attend a college close to home, but she was disappointed in a lack of what she described as “academic velocity” at UF. “I really did not enjoy how continued on p. 10
Increase productivity with these 10 student success tips BY VIANEY JARAMILLO Resources such as the Writing Resource Center (WRC) and the Student Success Center (SSC) offer students strategies to pass courses without going through unnecessary stress. However, different strokes work for different folks and most people encounter distractions, one of which is social media. Notions of how unproductive social media is are everywhere, but perhaps studies say otherwise. Director of Writing and the WRC Jennifer Wells and Assistant Director of Student Success Programs Kaylie Stokes have come up with the top ten ways to work smarter, not harder. 1. Make tasty tasks Most students have long, bulleted to-do lists that aim to accomplish task, however, they usually come with broad phrases that can be overwhelming. The main goal of this tip is to replace these broad phrases with something more specific, or ‘tasty.’ “So rather than ‘write paper,’ it may be something like ‘spend 20 minutes brainstorming topics,’” Stokes said.
2. Don’t rely on willpower “If you know you are prone to wasting time online, use a blocker like Stay Focused or Flora or Forest to block the sites you know you get distracted by looking at, or go somewhere without wifi,” Wells said in an email interview. “Using an app like Flora on your phone can help minimize the temptation to respond to messages while you are studying.” Some people find social media apps like Instagram or Facebook to be distracting. One way to block these distractions is to switch from automatic to manual login. This can help students ask themselves ‘do I really want to do this?’ “Your willpower is not strong enough, sorry,” Stokes said. 3. Test your knowledge “Re-reading is not really a great method of studying,” Stokes said. When it comes to studying for an exam, re-learning through flash cards, being quizzed by a friend, going over past exam questions and teaching others are all effective methods to prepare for an exam. 4. Ask questions Sometimes students can get stuck when navigating course
materials, but rather than spending hours trying to figure something out, seeking guidance is always an option. “One thing that’s important to remember is that you have TA’s and professors who are there to help you understand,” Stokes said. “They might be able to help you get that ‘ah-ha’ moment in 20 or 30 minutes instead of you spending four hours pulling your hair out.” 5. No cramming Don’t study when an exam is three or two days away. “There’s this thing called ‘the curb of forgetting,’” Stokes said. “So you leave class knowing, like, 100 percent from the lecture, and basically, if you don’t review anything within three days you only remember like 10 percent. But if you review for as little as 15 minutes a day what you previously learned, your memory stays up at like 80-90 percent.” 6. Use study tools consistently It’s important to make a study guide throughout the semester while information feels more relevant. Students could make 10 flashcards, review material with a friend,
teach a friend or plan solo study time each week, but as long as it’s consistent the better your memory or understanding of the material will be. 7. Join a study group “Studying is not something we have to study in isolation,” Stokes said. Studying with other people can work as a study tool and are effective even with one other person. “Choose your study buddies wisely,” Wells said. “Sometimes it is better to study with people you don't know as well so everyone stays on task.” 8. Use apps “Social media in general probably disrupts studying, but there’s a lot of benefits to technology that can help with our studying,” Stokes said. There are a variety of apps that help with school productivity: Habitica will gamify tasks, pomodoro apps such as KanbanFlow will track time, Stay Focused, Flora and Forest will minimize distractions on devices, Trello, EverNote and Airtable help continued on p. 10
CATALYST
OPINION
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In a world of supermen, Harley Quinn soars in Birds of Prey OPINION BY CLAIRE NEWBERG As one of the most notorious female characters in the world of DC Comics, Harley Quinn is often seen as the right-hand woman of the Joker. The newest film in the DC Extended Universe Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) challenges this notion as it gives Harley a sense of independence through her journey of redemption and self-discovery. Released Friday, Feb. 1, the film was directed by Cathy Yan and features a diverse cast, constant excitement and excellent acting. Australian actress Margot Robbie first portrayed Harley Quinn in the 2016 film Suicide Squad. The film detailed Harley’s origin story and how she came to be involved with the Joker. Though the film got relatively mediocre reviews, Robbie’s acting was generally praised. “Since [the release of Suicide Squad’s] first trailer, Robbie's portrayal has stood out as an interesting female force in a world of supermen,” Internet Archive Reporter Frank Pallotta said in the 2016 article “Harley Quinn steps up to plate in ‘Suicide Squad.’” Viewers can expect the same energy in the spin-off film Birds of Prey, which shows Harley’s life after the Joker breaks up with her. The film begins with a cheeky narration from Harley in which she details her final days with the Joker and tells of publically updating her relationship status by blowing up the chemical processing plant that was their ‘spot.’
This one action sets the whole of Gotham City after her since the Joker is no longer her protector. She is left to join forces with a child pickpocket, an ex-cop and heroines Huntress and Black Canary to take down Black Mask, portrayed by Ewan McGregor, who is after a special diamond that just happens to be inside the young pickpocket’s stomach. Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn is highly enjoyable as she never fails to lighten the mood with a snarky one-liner or entice the audience with allusions to the comics and previous DC films. She distinguishes herself entirely from the Joker and proves herself capable of finding success without the help of a powerful man along the way. Director Cathy Yan spoke fondly of Robbie’s dedication to the role of Harley Quinn and praised her capability as a producer of the film in a recent interview with Picturehouse. Yan stated that she and Robbie both wanted to create a film that featured mainly women, but did not give off the air of a chick flick. “There’s no reason that a movie with predominantly women characters shouldn’t be enjoyed by men,” Yan said. “These are just cool, interesting, strong characters whether they happen to be male or female.” The female characters of Birds of Prey are interestingly all ‘good guys,’ while the male characters are predominantly the ‘bad guys.’ The characters from either side interact and are involved in each others affairs, but there is a distinct divide between right and wrong in the film, despite
its moral ambiguity. “I think people really relate to the flawed characters and it’s important not to smooth over that and try and make them perfect, especially when they need to be a ‘hero,’” Robbie said in a 2016 interview with Rotten Tomatoes. Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of the sadistic Roman Sionis (also known as Black Mask) was riveting. In one of his first scenes, Sionis’ henchman, with whom he has continuous sexual tension throughout the film, cuts off the face of a rival gangster, establishing Sionis’ obsession with heads, faces and masks. The various interactions between the two men veered into the territory of queer-baiting at times, but it was nice to see LGBTQ+ representation, even if it was subtle. It would have been nicer, however, if the one outwardly and consistantly queer character was not the vilain hellbent on gutting a kid for a diamond. Furthermore, Sionis’ colonial characterization was interesting to see, as he fought to ‘own’ all of Gotham City and adorned his penthouse with stolen relics from African and South American tribes that all kept in with the head and mask theme. Establishing Sionis as a colonizer of sorts brings the modern political discourse surrounding both cultural appropriation and gentrification in America’s major cities to the forefront of the film’s message. The film’s soundtrack fell flat in a few scenes, but was a fun accompaniment to the film and featured primarily female anthems. There were
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Margot Robbie is known for her acting range and ability.
times when the songs seemed a little trite, such as when Harley took down six mobsters to the tune of “Black Betty” by Spiderbait, but triteness aside, it worked. Pop singer Ke$ha’s feminist anthem “Woman” played over tha last scene and the end credits, sending the audience off to the words of triumph and independence. Overall, the film was exhilarating and never featured a dull moment. The story was complex, incorporating humor regularly into the plot without stifling the more serious scenes. DC fans will not be disappointed.
Stunt people deserve academy recognition OPINION BY JOHN COTTER Big budget action movies have become box office draws in today’s film industry. Directors like Michael Bay have made millions producing films within the genre. The driving force behind the success of these films are often forgotten: stunt performers. Without the hard work of stunt performers many of the largest-grossing movies would not have been possible. Stunt performance has been part of the film industry since its rise in the early 20th century. Before labor unions were pushed to include film crews, these individuals would risk life and limb for the perfect shot. The Spaghetti Western film Stagecoach is an example of the technical ability and grit required by stuntmen. In the film, stunt performer Yakima Canutt slid through the legs of six running horses and a drawn carriage in a continuous shot. This scene
required 16 takes before the director was satisfied. Canutt went on to be one of the top stunt performers in Hollywood, acting in both Zorro and Lone Ranger. Despite his status among other stuntmen Canutt was relatively unrecognized in the larger film industry. During his career Canutt suffered great injuries. In one film, Canutt broke both of his ankles and his wrist, and returned to filming two weeks later. In the years between 1925 and 1960, 98 stuntmen were killed in the filmmaking process and more than 10,000 were injured. While modern movies no longer put stuntmen and women in the same level of risk as the early 20th century, there is still an immense amount of work that goes into scenes. The action shots depicted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe often takes months of planning by stunt coordinators to ensure the safety of
those involved. In just one 30 second shot, a stunt choreographer, stunt cinematographer, stunt script writers and stunt director must all collaborate to produce what is seen on the big screen. For nearly every role behind the scenes of a film there is a duplicate position within the stunt industry. Given their immense importance to the film industry, stunt people have questioned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and the lack of a category for stunt professionals. Stunt coordinator Jack Gill raised this same issue 28 years ago. The response Gill received detailed a painstaking process. “It’s like belonging to a very elite golf course, where you can look at the course but you can never play,” Gill said in an interview with Vulture. Before one can win an Oscar, a branch must first be created to accurately represent the contributions
made. This branch must then gather enough members, who must be approved by the AMPAS committee, to vote on the new category. This process can take several years—for Gill, 28 years and counting. These obstacles have not stopped Gill from continuing to push for representation. As of 2020, the stunt group boasts 95 members. The group hopes to finally have representation in the 2021 Oscars. Recently certain sects of the film industry have begun to recognize stunt performance. The Screen Actors Guild introduced the Best Stunt Ensemble Award in 2007. Prominent actors like Leonardo Di Caprio and Harrison Ford have publicly supported the creation of a category for Best Stunts in the Oscars. “Winning an Academy Award does bring with it a lot of respect. I think we want it just to be recognised within our peers,” Gill said.
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ued to hemorrhage money, losing $15,000 throughout the Fall semester in 2019. “The reason we had to close in the end was because we were only making an average of around $60 a week,” Denham-Conroy said. “And there was hardly anyone coming in, which I’m sure had to do with the fact that it wasn’t really the Four Winds that everyone knew. It was just kind of empty inside.”
In the immediate future, Four Winds will not be operating as a café, though the NCSA and administration both hope to preserve the space as a community nexus for students. “[The Four Winds] could be a place that students have access to 24 hours a day,” Randy Harrell, whose term as interim Dean of Student Affairs had just been extended into the 2020-2021 academic year, said. “It could be a place where if a stu-
dent group wanted to have a talk-in or a teach-in, it could be reservable for that. It could be a place where if the NCSA wanted to have a comedy night, with campus comedians... It could be a place where food was served on a short term, per event basis. So, I think the Four Winds can continue to be a centerpiece of student culture on campus, just a little different than what it was in 2015.”
mental laws are properly followed. This includes which permits the EPA issues and approves. Right now, Ocean Era is atCONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 tempting to get a National Polluwhether or not to issue a permit, tion Discharge Elimination System you need to look at the cumulative (NPDES) permit. In a public letter impact of the proliferation of fish to the mayor and commissioners of Sarasota, marine biologist Dr. Randy farms” said Bloom. Suncoast Waterkeeper works to Edwards explains that this permit protect Florida Suncoast’s waterways was not designed for monitoring nuthrough education, research and pol- trient excess from a fish farm in the icy enforcement and accountability. Gulf and would not be sufficient in It also works to ensure that environ- monitoring its environmental im-
pact. Edwards encourages the community to demand monitoring from an independent panel of scientists that could be accomplished by contacting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration- National Marine Fisheries Service Permits (NOAA-NMFS) instead of the EPA. At this point, Sims and AhearnKoch have not communicated. Both Bloom and Ahearn-Koch stated that they support sustainable aquaculture, but they both argue that further research and monitor-
ing is needed to assess the effects. However, neither of them believes that the Gulf of Mexico is the place for aquaculture. With a growing population and demand, the complexity of this problem deepens.
Alum parents
most students without alumni in their families, Monroe, Sander and Brockway had all been familiar with New College from a young age. Brockway remembers riding by New College campus at five years old. Of course, no one is obligated to go to a college just because of where their parents went. Instead, New College met the standards of these students independently from their parents’ recommendations. Brockway was captivated by the concept of forming bonds with faculty, something UF had not offered. Brockway grew up surrounded by stories featuring some of NCF’s most talented and
prominent faculty. Peggy Bates – the famed resident of Pei’s First Court which now shares her namesake – was her father’s first advisor and even invited him and others over weekly for tea. Coming to NCF also served to strengthen her bonds with her own father. “He would also say that there’s not just one type of New College student, there’s individuals striving to be the most themselves they can,” Brockway said. “In such a small place you can feel like there’s one defining aspect to the culture, but there’s actually none that define the culture.” Brockway was unexpectedly
assigned to spend her first year at NCF in the same Pei Third Court dorm that her father lived in, and she describes it as a “very special and shared experience.” “I don’t think anyone’s ready to go to New College,” confessed Brockway. “But I do think having him made me feel a lot better.” New College continues to attract people over the generations for a reason. Regardless of outside perceptions, NCF has a unique and challenging academic system, a tight-knit social dynamic and an irreplaceable and immensely skilled faculty that drew people in then as it does now.
apps or watching a video, which are usually done while sitting or even laying down, during a break typically won’t be re-energizing. “That’s going to be really hard to get out of when it’s time to go back to work because our bodies are like ‘oh, but this is so nice I just wanna stay here,’” Stokes said. “So you can use those activities as a reward when you’re done and not asking yourself to go back to work.” Something that students can think about as a re-energizing break is to go for a walk, eat a snack, call someone or play a card game. 10. Create motivation “Best way [to motivate yourself] is to just start,” Stokes said. Getting started can take as little as two minutes, which proves effective in the long run to finish an assignment. “This [two-minute rule] comes from author James Clear, but the idea comes from physics: objects in motion tend to stay in motion,” Wells said. “Getting started studying can be hard, so just tell yourself you are going to do something for only 2
minutes, maybe that's all you do, but at least it was something, but more often than not, once you get going, it is easier to stay going.” Figuring out what motivates you can increase productivity. “Are you motivated by rewards? Then set small goals and rewards that come with accomplishing them. Are you motivated by list making and tracking? Then use that. If you are only motivated by negative consequences, check out stikk.com,” Wells said. So does social media disrupt studying? Social media has been found to negatively affect mental health and quality of sleep due to its addictiveness, which can disrupt studying as a result. Depression and lack of sleep can make it harder to concentrate on tasks, which can lead to procrastination. Using social media as a form of procrastination, however, can happen to anyone and Stokes believes that it shouldn’t cause students to feel ashamed. “They’ve done a lot of studies and the more self-compassion you
can have in the moment, after you’ve procrastinated, the more likely you are to be able to actually move on from it, [plus] you’re less likely to procrastinate the next time,” Stokes said. Also, digging deep into what may be the culprit of procrastination can give a student power to reach out for help. “Procrastination isn’t about being lazy, it’s about emotion regulation and dealing with these icky feelings we have about whatever it is that we’re supposed to be doing.” The Students Success Center currently has 10 student coaches that are available to assist anyone, even students doing well in courses. It is a professional, collaborative setting and Stokes is ready to help. “Be aware that [procrastination] is not a moral failing, and that there’s something you can do about it with help, support and accountability.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 for people to heat up themselves. It was very different; it was kind of frustrating because of all that.” Despite the leaner service and menu, Four Winds was still unable to perform up to the hopes of the NCSA and Metz. While it was not expected to turn a profit, it contin-
Fish farming
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
sterile it was to sit in a 400-person lecture and how you couldn’t have a real conversation in your classes,” Brockway said. “No matter how hard you try, your professor more than likely won’t remember you until you’re a junior in college.” None of these students described feeling pressured by their parents (or aunt, in Sander’s case) to attend New College, but each of them felt the reminder that this unique institution existed. Unlike
Study Tips
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 organize tasks, Chipper and Google Calendar serve as planners and Wunderlist is a place to make digital to-do lists. Also, WasteNoTime is a free browser extension that blocks certain websites and offers reports of time spent online. “Habitica [uses] an avatar and your to do list [to] earn you gold coins, and you can use those coins to ‘buy’ things for your avatar,” Wells said. “You can also track time, so say you are going to spend 25 minutes reading for a class, then count how many 25 minutes blocks you accomplish. When you track work getting done you can see you are making progress and it is much easier to stay motivated when you are making progress.” 9. Take re-energizing breaks “A lot of times as breaks we chose things that are depressive activities,” Stokes said. For instance, scrolling through
Information for this article was gathered from suncoastwaterkeeper. om, npr.org, wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu, ocean-era.com, conasarasota.org and heraldtribune.com.
To schedule an appointment at the SSC students can go to the same website that makes appointments at the WRC: ncf.mywconline.com
CATALYST
COLUMNS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst
The Catalyst welcomes alums to Alumni Reunion 2020!
PAGE 11
SONGS YOU SHOULD HEAR Breakup Edition
This picture from July of 1981 captures the feeling of the Sarasota summer heat.
BY HAYLEY VANSTRUM
This undated photo was taken at New College's classic ritual of orientation.
A glimpse of campus and the HCL buildings during the 1970's leaves one to wonder where these passengers are headed.
These students were focused note-takers in Sept. of 1981.
In July of 1981, this road-biker rolls through Palm Court.
With love comes loss, but with loss comes some of the best songwriting material of all time. Take solace in the fact that one week’s heartbreak can be the next week’s hit new single with the Catalyst staff ’s handpicked breakup playlist, designed to help you through both the most minor and major romantic tragedies. “Night Shift” by Lucy Dacus “You got a 9 to 5, so I'll take the night shift. And I'll never see you again if I can help it,” Lucy Dacus sings in the building refrain of Historian’s lead single, “Night Shift,” a raw yet masterfully crafted ballad that exemplifies Dacus’ signature songwriting style. The song is an intense catharsis; a nearly seven-minute release of every ugly, uncontrollable and uncomfortably vulnerable thought that passes through the mind of someone healing from deep heartbreak and learning to be themselves again. "This is the only breakup song I've ever written,” Dacus said in an interview with NPR, and for good reason. Perfection rarely requires a sequel. “Be Free” by Weyes Blood Let Natalie Laura Mering’s silky smooth voice put you at ease this breakup season with “Be Free,” a melancholy yet comforting track—recommended by Staff Writer Charlie Leavengood—off Weyes Bloods’ 2016 album, Front Row Seat to Earth. Mering’s timeless vocals, which interact beautifully with the song’s simple, familiarfeeling acoustic instrumentals, act as a lullaby, helping the listener feel completely at ease even in the face of lost love. “All Out of Love” by Air Supply “Get your tissues and some ice cream because this is gonna
be a rough one,” Staff Writer Sergio Salinas wrote with his recommendation of Australian soft rock duo Air Supply’s one and only big hit, “All Out of Love.” The song is classic breakup material, an extremely ‘80s overdramatic masterpiece. Although Air Supply has remained a one hit wonder for the most part, their legacy lives on with this big karaoke energy success. “Two Ghosts” by Harry Styles Whether this heartfelt track is actually about fellow pop singer and ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift or not, Harry Styles’ “Two Ghosts” was an obvious breakup pick for Staff Writer Sofia Lombardi. Off a debut album notably defined by its countless ‘70s rock influences, “Two Ghosts” feels definitively personal and much more connected to Styles’ One Direction beginnings in the best way possible. “I'm just trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat,” Styles confesses, baring his soul to all who will hear him. “Lies” by MARINA Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, formerly known by the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, brings anger and sadness to the table in equal measures with “Lies,” a dark pop hit off Diamandis’ beloved 2012 album, Electra Heart. “Lies”— recommended by Editor in Chief Jacob Wentz—tells a vivid story of betrayal and disappointment, portraying the unfortunate aftermath of finding something out that can never be taken back and proving that no matter how hard anyone tries to keep it hidden, the truth will always come out. Check out the Spotify playlist for this column at https://spoti.fi/37bFKSQ.
CATALYST
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst
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PAGE 12
COLLEGE NIGHT SHINES BRIGHT AT THE
FLORIDA STATE FAIR BY KY MILLER As Jessie “Monkeyman” Moore’s elderly capuchin monkey sucked its wrinkly grey pinky toe without a care in the world, Moore somberly imparted that he is the last true organ grinder in the United States of America. It’s college night at the Florida State Fair, and Moore and Louie, the capuchin, entertain curious passersby using a genuine 20-string street organ. The organ is a rare sight in 2020, similar to those used by famed organ grinders of centuries past. The State Fair is famous for strange curiosities such as the “USA’s Largest Traveling Ferris Wheel” and “Monkeyman” Moore’s organ grinding gig. Moore has been working at the state fair for six years as an independent entertainer. He sees himself carrying the legacy of organ grinders generations before him. Organ grinding is an antiquated street entertainment practice dating back to the late 19th century in which the ‘grinder,’ or player, turns a crank on the side of a small wooden organ on wheels. Capuchin monkeys were favored as street companions for their nimble opposable thumbs, which held coin collection cups and enamored listeners. Louie is one of 15 monkeys Moore owns, many of which Moore said had been confiscated and rehomed from exotic animal sellers or illegal pet owners. The ubiquitous use of exotic animals at state fairs has garnered criticism in recent years, but Moore emphasized that his work is “turning the tide of animal exploitation towards animal appreciation.” Moore’s goal has been to spread his love of capuchins to others by traveling around the country organ grinding and educating the public about capuchins and other primates. “These monkeys share 96 percent of our DNA—they’re little individuals just like you and I and deserve to be treated like us, too”
Moore smiled as Louie nibbled his bejeweled ear. Moore told me he planned to continue traveling and organ grinding with his monkeys “‘til [he] can’t grind no more.” Another fair worker that travels around the U.S. for work is Ariel Houten, who works for the ice cream chain Creamy Rich. She looked fresh out of college, herself, with a sparkling medusa piercing and jubilant demeanor. “I can do anything—I don’t work to vacation, work is my vacation!” Houten grinned. Meeting out-of-state workers from other booths is one of Houten’s favorite parts of working the fair; she met a man from Alaska last week and said they talked for hours on end outside the Creamy Rich booth. “I love the weekdays because they’re slow and I can just talk to folks—and college night is nice since college kids don’t have money for this stuff, anyway, so I just relax and eat the pineapple whip.” The cold, sweet pineapple treat was a draw for many at the fair this year—especially USF sophomore Diana Balsamo and her girlfriend, Madison Grabow. As rollercoasters screamed above us, Balsamo said the sprawling, raucous fair is slower than the ones she’s used to in her home state of North Carolina, but as a lifelong vegan she delighted in discovering a new food that stood apart from the typical greasy, animal-based staples typical of state fairs. The couple took advantage of Thursday’s post-5 p.m. free admission for college students to have a date night, sharing the vegan dessert and people-watching beneath the 155-foot tall Midway Sky Eye. While the sun sank beneath the rows of colorful food stands and spinning rides, I spotted Moore and Louie trundling towards the college crowds once again, the organ’s tunes fading into the roar of another long night at the Florida State Fair.
The haunted castle cast a spooky vibe to draw brave fair-dwellers in.
All photos Ky Miller/Catalyst
North America's largest traveling ferris wheel was a popular part of the fair.
The fair offered a variety of overpriced fried foods for guests to indulge in.
Balsamo and Grabow were pleased to have free admission for a date night.
Jessie "Monkeyman" Moore and Louie the capuchin pose for a photo.
The flashing signs and stuffed toys drew people in to play classic fair games.