Spring 2019 - Issue 8 by ncfcatalyst

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New College of Florida's student newspaper

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Four Winds to become office spaces following inﬂux of new hires

ate re-opening of the space as a café, are not impressed. “We’ve been working on a business According to the New College plan and just as we get close to finishwebsite, 15 tenure-track faculty members ing it and looking for a new manager to were hired in 2018. With limited office hire, we find out that the building is bespaces offered across campus, college ading turned into an office,” Vice President ministrators decided on Monday, Apr. 1 for Relations and Finanto turn the Four Winds cial Affairs (VPRFA) Eva Café, currently an un- “We’ve seen that Ernst said. “I find it hard occupied building, into what really helps to believe that there aren’t new professor offices. any other spaces on cam“We’ve seen that keep students on pus for these new hires.” what really helps keep campus are the O’Shea had constudents on campus are sidered other spaces, but the academics,” Pres- academics.” opted for Four Winds beident Donal O’Shea cause of its location. said. “As such, we think that it is more “The other option was developing important to turn the space into one that spaces in the Pei Tunnels, but we wanted promotes academic interests as opposed them to be closer to the academic side of to social interests.” campus,” O’Shea said. Members of the Four Winds Café Committee, who have spent the semester continued on page 7 drafting a business plan for the immedi-

BY JACOB WENTZ

Jacob Wentz/Catalyst

Although the building is not yet converted, the old ‘Four Winds Café’ sign has been changed to one that says ‘Faculty Offices.’

Library to construct new café on second ﬂoor ed hours of free coffee from the newly purchased Starbucks Serenade™ coffee In an unexpected move, the Jane machines, the café was shut down at the Bancroft Cook Library announced they beginning of the spring semester, due will be clearing out the carrels and tables to numerous student complaints that in the back corner of the second floor to the Library had become too noisy, what make way for a new café with the constant emphatarea, estimated to cost ic grinding and dispensing around $80,000. The con- “I heard Four of coffee. Additionally, it struction is set to begin Winds is doing was reported that students on May 1, a conscientious clustered around the really well and often decision made to be the machines while waiting least disruptive, as few I just wanted to for the rich blend of coffee students use the Library a delightful taste) kickstart some (truly during those final weeks to fill their cups, holding of the semester. Accord- healthy free lengthy, often boisterous ing to Dean of the Library market compeconversations and disruptBrian Doherty, the café ing the Library at large. As on the first floor will be tition at New we all know, libraries are converted to make room College.” meant to be whisper-only for additional study pods, spaces. It’s called ‘inside each furnished with a set voices’ for a reason! of wireless noise-cancelling headphones. The upstairs café is sure to help “We know the library can get foster a silent environment on the second noisy on the first floor,” Doherty said. floor. In addition, the Library is looking “So we want to make sure that the study into purchasing several silent espresso pods allow for as much silence and focus machines that dispense coffee “as quiet as possible. And students really seem to as a mouse,” according to an Amazon like them!” customer review from the user “itsexAfter a semester of dedicat- pressonotespresso.” The funds for the https://doc-0k-18-docs. googleusercontent.com/ docs/securesc/s7jurnmk912se8sp3mgg3hd8llrh0uos/obdpo7fpcdn719co01n4qb7

BY CASSIE MANZ

bell tower conspiracy

tube dude takeover

Cassie Manz/Catalyst

Thesis students Alba Abrams and Kaithleen Coñoepan study hard in a study pod in the Jane Bancroft Cook Library.

new café were donated by a recent alumnus who asked to remain anonymous, but stated: “I heard Four Winds is doing really well and I just wanted to kickstart some healthy free market competition at New College.” A poll for student input

on the second-floor cafe will be sent out on May 33 following the completion of the café.

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B-Dorm in negotiations with sentient sinkhole BY KATRINA CARLIN Last Saturday, a sinkhole opened up in the B-Dorm laundry room. No residents were physically harmed when the sinkhole opened up, but emotional damage has taken a toll. Unlike most sinkholes, this one appears to be sentient, communicating with the residents.

It has not expressed its purpose yet, but has asked for offerings from residents in exchange for not damaging any structural supports in the dorm. The sinkhole is currently three feet in diameter, and has accepted offerings of food, old clothing and broken bongs. Several residents are considering moving into the sinkhole. “I slept in the sinkhole,” third-year

and B-Dorm resident Chris Coon said. “I put my hammock down there, on the roots. It was really comfy.” “Honestly, it’s a lot nicer than most of the dorms,” second-year Joey Daniels said. “At least the sinkhole doesn’t have mold in it.”

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Incoming class so small Pei rooms reverted to singles BY JACOB WENTZ The cohort of 2018 had the smallest class size in eight years. The incoming cohort of 2019 is projected to take this title from the cohort of 2018, however, with just 111 accepted students choosing to matriculate. This decrease, coupled with the largest cohort in New College’s history—the cohort of 2015—graduat-

ing, will result in a large number of dorm spaces being freed up, particularly in the Pei courts. “For the first time in years, no students will be placed in Pei triples,” Resident Hall Director (RHD) Adriana Diaz said. “Students will either be placed in Pei doubles or Pei singles. There will be so much space for activities!” The additional space for activities

comes with a caveat, however. Since the school needs to be at approximately 107 percent of the resident capacity to pay off bonds on Dort and Goldstein residence halls, fewer students will be allowed to live off campus. “But think about the activities!” Diaz emphasized.

Phony bells shock campus BY BAILEY TIETSWORTH Bells have lasted, through thick and thin, as harbingers for the hourly progression through life. Their stark chimes echo across land and sea alike. Brass against brass. New College, as an institution which holds time and timeliness in the highest regard, benefits from the use of such bells. These ancient guardians of time can be seen in the statuesque obelisk known colloquially as the “Bell Tower.” Located just outside Jane

Bancroft Cook Library, the Bell Tower is integral to every null set’s journey, from first contract to thesis. Recently, the Bell Tower has attracted attention from private investigators due to claims from students that the bells in the tower do not actually ring. Second-year Liz Bowerfind was in Christian Scriptures when she first heard the about the controversy. “I heard in one of my classes earlier this semester that the Bell Tower, the bells on it, don’t actually physically ring

and it’s just a speaker blaring the bell sounds,” Bowerfind said. Documents in the New College Archives show that the Bell Tower has a cryptic origin, enveloped by conspiracy and sabotage. The structure’s towering height proves casual examination challenging, but looking closely at the lowermost bell, observers can find the Ancient Greek words “ἐπείσθης ὑπ’ ἐμοῦ εἴδειν,” which roughly translates to

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13 wounded in latest [Forum] war BY IZAYA “TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE” MILES In a tragic but all-too-familiar occurrence, 13 students sustained serious injuries from the latest bout of email-based violence. On Apr. 1 at 2 a.m., a student made a post about their dog. Accompanying this post was a picture of their dog with a stop sign in the background. The stop sign elicited a conversation about police and by 2:25 a.m., five students were in critical condition. By the time the thread was locked at 3 a.m., 13 students required medical attention. Adding to the sorrow of the situation, this violence breaks the longest period of peace on the Forum since 2013, with an almost five-hour stretch without any serious arguments. all photos Bailey Tietsworth/Catalyst

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The spiraling rise of the tower hides the bells from a curious gaze. © 2019 the Catalyst. All rights reserved. “Try to say ‘brisk night, brisk walk,’ five times fast.” 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 Student Alliance.

Editor in Chief Audrey Warne Managing Editor Jacob Wentz Copy Editor Cassie Manz Assistant Copy Editor Eileen Calub Bailey Tietsworth Online Editor Advertising Manager Michala Head Social Media Editor Katrina Carlin Staff Writers Noah Baslaw, Haley Bryan, Emiliano Espinosa & Izaya Garrett Miles Layout + Design Team Harrison Angsten & Cait Matthews

Direct submissions, letters, announcements and inquiries to: The Catalyst 5800 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, Florida 34243 ncfcatalyst@gmail.com 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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New College of Florida's student newspaper

Preliminary Plan introduced to eContract System BY HALEY BRYAN At the core of New College’s educational philosophy is the contract system, which allows students to focus their academics and college experience, not on numerical grades, but goals, levels of engagement and satisfactory completion of classes. Among the active changes taking place across campus, administration is also refashioning the contract system with the addition of the Preliminary Plan. The Preliminary Plan is an electronic form that students will complete during the second module of every semester to document their intentions for courses and educational activities to take for the next semester. By meeting with faculty and prompting students to envision their life on campus next semester, the Preliminary Plan aims to reinforce the nature of student-faculty advising and help the harrowing retention rate. Fall 2018 marked the first semester that students and advisors completed the contract through an electronic platform.

This electronic contract, the eContract, is of the semester to review and discuss their the foundation of the electronic contract plans. There is no required advisoral sigsystem that was put in place to help pro- nature on the Preliminary Plan, though vide efficiency to the registration process. the bottom of the form will feature a The eContract system is now expanding “Sponsor Preliminary Plan Acknowlto include the Prelimiedgement” box which nary Plan, which was profaculty advisors will use posed by the Provost ear- “It’s a positive to indicate whether they lier this year. Developed development that have discussed the plans in 12 days by the Office with their advisee. Afof Information Technol- everybody should ter the faculty sponsor ogy (IT), the Preliminary benefit from.” acknowledges the PrePlan was released by the liminary Plan, students Office of the Registrar as will not be able to make a part of the eContract system on Apr. 3. changes on the form, though these plans Starting in Apr. 2019, students are are non-binding for the official class required to submit Preliminary Plans schedule that students will decide upon listing courses and educational activities through the eContract at the beginning they intend to take for the subsequent of the semester. Preliminary Plans will semester. Much like the eContract, the be due in April for fall semester and NoPreliminary Plan includes sections for vember for spring semester, prior to the the students’ goals, educational activities, contract renegotiation deadline for the proposed tutorials, certification criteria, current semester’s contract. other activities and a faculty sponsor. StuBy demanding more thought and dents are expected to meet with their fac- energy from students for considering ulty advisors in the eighth or ninth week their next semester, the new component

of the eContract system aims to make the experience navigating through the academic process more meaningful and significant. “It’s a positive development that everybody should benefit from,” Registrar Brian Scholten said. “Opposed to students just accessing the course request system (CRS) and picking a course just to be done with it and to avoid the late registration fee, the Preliminary Plan is something where we want the students and the faculty advisors to work together to think through what a potential class schedule would look like for the student, so there’s a little more thinking and planning involved.” Another benefit from the Preliminary Plan is that recording courses and tutorials that students plan to take allows faculty and staff to track class demand more accurately than the CRS, which has traditionally been used to register stu-

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CPD softens its interview room BY IZAYA GARRETT MILES

https://doc-0k-18-docs. googleusercontent.com/ docs/securesc/s7jurnmk912se8sp3mgg3hd8llrh0uos/obdpo7fpcdn719co01n4qb7

For many people, coming to the police is hard. Even if they are the victims of a crime, there can be an atmosphere surrounding police interactions. The Campus Police Department (CPD), formerly referred to as the New College Police Department (NCPD), and Title IX Coordinator Rebecca Sarver are aware of the problems this causes: beyond the discomfort of the students, this discouraging reputation leads to less victims reporting, which in turn leads to more offenders free to hurt others. In response to this, the CPD and Sarver are trying to make the process softer. “One of the things I think folks will notice when they come over is that the room itself, physically, looks different,” CPD Captain Kathleen Vacca said. “It has always been used as an interview room, both for victims and suspects. What we’ve done is softened it.” The interview room is a far cry from what typically comes to mind when one thinks of a police department’s interview room. A white carpet lies beneath the table and chairs and over the dark gray wooden floor. The dark blue chairs are

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soft and armless, intended to be comfortable and unrestricting. The walls have textured blue-gray panels hanging on top of the plain white walls. On the top of one of those panels, there is a painting of a sun over an ocean, its pale yellow light mixing with the blue ocean to create a soft green. In the corner, underneath the painting, a gray stuffed rabbit and a dark blue whale sit together in a wicker basket. “When people are more relaxed, they tend to share more,” Vacca said. “That’s true both on a personal level and on a professional level. We want people coming in who have seen, heard or even experienced violent encounters. It is essential for law enforcement not to miss information, because that information may help to identify a suspect.” The origin of this idea for a soft interview room came from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) meeting Sarver attended in June 2018. At the meeting, the University of Central Florida (UCF) Police Department gave a presentation on their own soft interview room, which motivated Sarver to schedule a meeting with Vacca to discuss the idea.

Izaya Garrett Miles/Catalyst

Soft objects serve to provide comfort in stressful situations.

“Captain Vacca is always ready to meet and see what things we can do,” Sarver said. “She was all about it.” Sarver brought back two other ideas from the ASCA conference. One, which would seek to bring a therapy dog to the CPD, is something that many officers are interested in but the department does not currently have the budget for it. However, the other idea, training in ‘trauma informed interviewing,’ is being initiated along with the soft interview room. “I thought it was really important

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to show our campus that we are not only dedicating the physical space but also the time and energy from our police department,” Sarver said. “The training that we put together is called ‘Listen, Support, Act.’” The training program takes the form of a PowerPoint with explanations and further information provided in a voice-over. The PowerPoint includes instructions like ‘allow silence to sit in’ and accept nonverbal answers such as facial expressions or sounds. The CPD is eager to make their space more comfortable for New College students and takes pride in the work they have done so far. “The idea here is not always about what we are doing to punish students,” CPD Police Chief Michael Kessie said. “It is a partnership to help students. We have students who become victims and when they come in here, we need to soften it up for them. We need to make them feel comfortable.” The CPD will hold an event celebrating the grand opening of their soft interview room on Apr. 18, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

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briefs by Adriana Gavilanes

Evan Hunter wins first place in Toastmasters speech contest On Mar. 23, members of the Toastmasters Club represented New College at the Area 53 contest. First-year Evan Hunter and thesis student Zulfiia Tursunova both gave prepared speeches for the International Speech Contest, in which Hunter placed first overall. The International Speech Contest is a prepared speech contest on a subject of the contestant’s choosing. “In my opinion, the time limit of seven minutes and 30 seconds maximum is the biggest limitation,” Hunter said. “That’s what really dictates what you can

or cannot do. What I will say is that typically this kind of speech for Toastmasters is usually done as a motivational speech and that’s not the route I took.” The speech Hunter gave was centered around the way words lack meaning and the effect of this on the international political culture. Hunter explained that politicians use this mode of communication to talk around issues, which can be exhibited through the example of Brexit. This results in overlooking the target of the substantive issues or the causes of these problems.

When asked about the power of public speaking, Hunter said, “It gave me a way to step outside of myself and talk about an issue and not have to make everything personal. I can examine an issue and present a solution. It’s a way for people to effectively communicate using facts, without the pressure of having to worry about what others think about the individual themselves as there is more focus on the representation of their position or view.” Information for this article was gathered from news.ncf.edu and toastmaster.org.

Metz receives “A-ranked” Vegan Report Card Anyone who gets food at the Hamilton “Ham” Center cafeteria will notice Metz’s A-ranked Vegan Report Card. The Vegan Report Card stems from a nation-wide program launched by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The objective of this program is to encourage academic institutions to provide more vegan options in cafeterias across the country. “When I first came here it was beans and rice as the vegan option every day,” General Manager of Metz Bill Moore said. “We’ve changed it slowly. I didn’t know a lot about veganism when I came here; this was all new to me. The students taught me a lot, so the chef and I worked together with PETA and looked

at some of their recipes.” PETA determines the Vegan Report Card grade based on whether the institution follows the 5-step program to “Veganize Your Cafeteria,” a brochure released by PETA. This incentivizes institutions to offer at least one vegan entree at every meal, offer non-dairy milk products and participate in Meatless Mondays. Although the average ranking in the state of Florida is “C,” some students are not completely satisfied with Metz’s vegan options. “I think it’s awesome and they try really hard to give us a lot of vegan options but I don’t think the report is accurate,” Council of Green Affairs (CGA) member Simon Bustetter said. “I do not

think we are an “A” school, but compared to other schools we are.” Moore explained that the goals for Metz are to maintain an “A” rank, get more students involved and for Meatless Mondays to return, but gradually. “What I found out with New College students is that you can’t just throw something at them, it has to be gradual,” Moore said. “Next year we might take one more station and make it completely vegan.” Information for this article was gathered from peta.org and Peta’s “Veganize Your Cafeteria” brochure.

photo courtesy of MSNBC

Professor Mark Paul featured on MSNBC regarding Green New Deal Professor of Economics Mark Paul made an appearance on MSNBC to ask Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a question about the Green New Deal. “Initially, I was invited to be on the MSNBC show,” Paul said. “Unfortunately they changed formats and I ended up being asked to ask Ocasio-Cortez a question about the Green New Deal.” Paul simultaneously teaches economics courses at New College and works as a Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, an economic policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. and New York. His work focuses on the strategic economic planning of transitioning the economy from a fossil fuel-based economy to a net carbon neutral economy in an equitable fashion. “I asked her a question about lessons learned about the original New Deal,” Paul said. “If we want to have an equitable transition moving away from a fossil fuel-based economy I think we need to think carefully about what the lesson learned from the original New Deal was and how we can ensure we build a more equitable economy moving forward.” Paul was particularly drawn to work with the Green New Deal because it addresses what he feels to be the two largest crises that Americans face today: climate change and inequality. “What I love about the Green New Deal is that it recognizes the fact that these two crises are inextricably linked and we can’t address climate change without addressing inequality,” Paul said.

Professor Mark Paul got over a minute of airtime on MSNBC Green New Deal Forum. © 2019 the Catalyst. All rights reserved. “Try to say ‘brisk night, brisk walk,’ five times fast.” 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 Student Alliance.

Editor in Chief Audrey Warne Managing Editor Jacob Wentz Copy Editor Cassie Manz Assistant Copy Editor Eileen Calub Online Editor Bailey Tietsworth Advertising Manager Michala Head Social Media Editor Katrina Carlin Staff Writers Noah Baslaw, Haley Bryan, Emiliano Espinosa & Izaya Garrett Miles Layout + Design Team Harrison Angsten & Cait Matthews

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The Activist Newsletter

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Florida Senate legalizes gardening in private front yards BY MICHALA HEAD

Throughout this week (4/10 - 4/17), activists have the opportunity to participate in public meetings, lectures and film screenings. Read on if you want to get involved in the community regarding environmental protection, prison reform and women’s rights.

BY EILEEN CALUB Wed., Apr. 10, Project 180: State Solutions @ 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Michael’s on East - 1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota. Secretary of California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation Ralph M. Diaz joins Project 180 to discuss the progressive programs being offered to inmates at San Quentin and other California prisons, including Shakespeare, the Prison University Project, Cultural Awareness Environmental Conscientiousness, distance learning partnerships for bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and more. Secretary Diaz has over 27 years of experience in the field of corrections. He started his career in 1991 as a correctional officer and has been instrumental in developing policies and processes that focus on staff well-being and training, inmate rehabilitation and accountability and communication with victims and families. Lecture tickets cost $35 and include the cost of lunch. Registration is available at https://bit. ly/2S29mOT. Thurs., Apr. 11, Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club General Meeting @ 7 - 9 p.m. Sarasota Garden Club - 1131 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota. Help contribute to sound environmental policy in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The featured speaker will be Dr. Sharon Hanna-West, from the University of South Florida (USF) Department of Management and Muma College of Business. The ManateeSarasota Sierra Club seeks to protect the natural places in our community, teach others to understand and respect the fragile environment in which we live and promote the responsible use of Florida’s ecosystems and resources. This meeting is free and open to the public. Tues., Apr. 16, Resilience Film Screening & Community Discussion @ 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Morgan Center - 6207 W. Price Blvd., North Port. Watch a free screening of the film Resilience and discuss how adverse childhood experiences can have lasting impacts. Resilience reveals that toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at risk for disease, homelessness, prison time and early death. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment

of society is immune. Resilience, however, also chronicles the dawn of a new movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress and the dark legacy of a childhood that no child would choose. RSVP to Kim FindleyGorr at kim.findley@myfl families.com. Tues., Apr. 16, Government Operations (GO) Symposium @ 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Robert L. Taylor Community Center 1845 34th St., Sarasota. Sarasota County invites residents to register for the first Government Operations (GO) Symposium as part of April’s National County Government Month. The four-day symposium is an opportunity to learn about the function of local government services, each agency’s role and how all the organizations work together. The symposium also serves as a supplement to Civics 101, Sarasota County’s popular citizens’ academy. The symposium will run from Apr. 16 to Apr. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at various government buildings in downtown Sarasota. For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-8615000 or visit scgov.net to register.

Home gardening has become increasingly popular in recent years. Growing fruits and vegetables in the front yard for one’s personal consumption and enjoyment is no longer prohibited in the state of Florida. New legislation, inspired by a 2017 legal dispute, recently passed in the Florida Senate in a 35-5 vote. Sen. Robert Bradley’s Senate Bill 82 prohibits local government from regulating vegetable gardens on residential properties. All five of the senators who opposed the bill were Democratic representatives. In 2013, Miami Shores passed an ordinance that prohibited front yard gardening. Those in violation faced $50-a-day fines. Residents Hermine

Ricketts and Tom Carroll had to dig up the vegetable garden that they ate from for 17 years. In November 2017, an appeals court upheld the ruling that the couple did not have the right to grow vegetables in their front garden. Bradley called the ban a “vast overreach.” Sen. Bobby Powell argued that the real overreach was prohibiting local governments from regulating residential gardens due to one ordinance. According to Florida Watchdog, Powell expressed that Bill 82 was “well-intentioned” but

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Mystery TV show to renovate former Starlite Room BY BAILEY TIETSWORTH

Tues., Apr. 16, Women Changing the Political Landscape @ 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Michael’s On East - Ballroom A - 1212 S. East St., Sarasota. The League of Women Voters is proud to host Dr. Susan MacManus as the keynote speaker of the annual luncheon. Dr. MacManus will speak on “Women Changing the Political Landscape.” Tickets to this event are $40 for members and $45 for nonmembers. Email your reservation request to rsvp@lwvsrq.org. Tues., Apr. 16, Timothy Enos on School Safety @ 6:30 p.m. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center - 525 Kumquat Ct., Sarasota. Join a community conversation with Timothy Enos on school security. Enos is the Chief of Police for the Sarasota County School system. He was sworn in as chief in November 2018. Sarasota County School District decided to create its own police department in response to security concerns following the Parkland shooting in February 2018. This event is free and open to the public.

Despite a few superficial projects, most of the renovations will occur inside the building. On Sunday, Mar. 30, The Starlite Room celebrated the end of a four and a half year run. Staff and servers attended to their final crowd that evening, as the restaurant would close its doors for good after the festivities. However, the closing of The Starlite Room does not signify the failure of a business, but rather heralds a metamorphosis that select people have the opportunity to experience first-hand. Thanks to an agreement by owner Tyler Yurckonis with a mystery television network, the restaurant formerly known as The Starlite Room expects to reopen on Apr. 18. Featuring a completely renovated interior, menu and name, the restaurant’s journey will be televised in the late

summer or early fall. The mystery network contacted Yurckonis in October 2018 about the opportunity to take part in the pilot of a new show. Yurckonis agreed, but kept the opportunity hidden from his employees. Even now, Yurckonis restricts certain information about the network and the show. “I’m not allowed to say which channel it is,” Yurckonis said. Yurckonis went through a lengthy interview process with producers, spending three or four months on

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all photos Jacob Wentz/Catalyst

Getting the gears going : five local bike trails BY JACOB WENTZ

Biking is an important part of New College culture. Students bike to the Bayfront, to classes, to Hamilton “Ham” Center and to off-campus houses, but where do students go when they want to take longer recreational rides? Sapphire Shores Park, Indian Beach and the neighborhoods around Bay Shore Road are some of the only spots worth biking to from campus and they are all less than two miles away. For students seeking longer rides with pleasant natural scenery, the five following nearby bike trails will not disappoint. Legacy Trail (Closest trailhead: Culverhouse Parking Area, 7301 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL) Despite being a solid 40 minute car ride from campus, Legacy Trail is one of the best places to bike in the area. The Culverhouse trailhead is the northernmost access point, as the trail extends a little over 10 miles south to the Historic Venice Train Depot. There are six other trailheads along the way, all of which provide water, restrooms and other amenities that bikers can use as they head south. There are also shaded benches with drinking fountains nearly every mile. The trail is smooth, paved, level and straight, making it ideal for those who are looking for an easy recreational ride. Nature is close at hand along the trail, so much so that there are interpretive signs that identify the regional flora, fauna and history. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus once used the trail regularly. There are also several bridges that cross over waterways, which make the ride particularly relaxing and picturesque. Venetian Waterway Park Trail (Closest trailhead: Historic Venice Train Depot, 303 E Venice Avenue, Venice, FL) Starting at the Historic Venice Train Depot, the trailhead where most student bikers on the Legacy Trail would turn around and head back to Potter Park, the Venetian Waterway Park Trail extends even farther south. For those who have the time and energy, this 8.6mile trail can be a nice, albeit hefty, addition to their ride. The Waterway Park Trail follows along both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway. It is flat, though often winds through a mix of urban corridor and open green space. On the way, bikers can expect to see colorful murals and peaceful waterside views. There are also

various playgrounds, fitness stops, parks and access points. One of the most notable points along the trail is Caspersen Beach, known for the prehistoric shark teeth that wash up on shore.

Robinson’s Preserve Trail (1704 99th Street NW, Bradenton, FL) Though primarily used for hiking, walking, running and nature trips, Robinson’s Preserve Trail is praised as a great place to bike. Formerly farmland in a district of Bradenton known for its tropical plant nurseries, the area has undergone extensive restoration to become what it is today. The 7.5-mile loop features various wooden bridges, scenic views and a five-story observation tower. From the top of the observation tower, spectators

can see the Tampa Bay, Anna Maria Island, Egmont Key, Fort DeSoto and the Sunshine Skyway.

Myakka River State Park (13208 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL) One of eight Florida state parks developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, Myakka River State Park offers scenes of live oaks and arching palm trees swaying in the wind. With a 7-mile paved road through clusters of trees, grassy marshes and the shore of the Upper Myakka Lake, the park offers cyclists an opportunity to explore diverse Florida ecosystems. There are also backcountry dirt roads that bicyclists are permitted to ride on. According to the

Florida State Parks website, “some roads are hard-packed and grassed-over, others may be sandy, muddy or dug up by feral pigs.” Bikers should be aware that water is not as readily available at Myakka as it is at other previously mentioned trails. Nathan Benderson Park (5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL) Situated right at the University Parkway exit of Interstate 75, Nathan Benderson Park has a 3.5-mile loop that encircles the picturesque 400-acre lake. The loop is often used for 5k races, but provides a nice, relatively short ride for bikers. Visitors can also canoe, rowboat, kayak or paddleboard on the lake. C

The railroad corridor was purchased by the county for $11.75 million in 2004 and became a public trail in 2005.

“There’s a little breakfast place near the Venice Train Depot,” a local sunrise biker said. “We call these rides exercise with bacon.”

taking it up a gear:

all photos Anna Lynn Winfrey/Catalyst

‘Wheely’ cool campus bicycles BY ANNA LYNN WINFREY These bikes are sure to be noticed zooming down the overpass, being worked on at the Bike Shoppe or cruising around town. The Catalyst sat down with the riders of nine iconic bikes and talked with them about how they got their bike, their favorite memories and places to ride them. Emily Anne King Thesis student Emily Anne King found their touring bike on Craigslist and was planning on re-selling it to someone else, but they soon realized it fit them perfectly. “That was just a euphoric first couple of days with this 1983 Cannondale,” King said. King runs a Facebook page, “Craigslist Bike Classifieds,” and posts links to notable bikes from Sarasota’s Craigslist. King enjoys riding the trails near the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus and the Uplands neighborhood. Professor John Doucette Professor of Computer Science John Doucette not only lacks a car, but also does not know how to drive. However, he does have a collection of bikes to get around town. He bought a 1998 Lemond Buenos Aires off Craigslist in 2013 when visiting his wife in California: the airport was over 50 miles away, so he took a train and got the bike along the way. His favorite ride is taking 17th Street to Nathan Benderson Park by University Town Center. Kaithleen Coñoepan Thesis student Kaithleen Coñoepan started building this bike her first year. She wanted to build a road bike, and the Bike Shoppe Teaching Assistant (TA) led her to a recently donated frame. She learned about bike building through the process, and finished it by October of her second year. She has a better connection with her bike than her car and will take it with her abroad after graduating. Coñoepan enjoys biking to the downtown farmer’s market. Ben Cook Thesis student Ben Cook found his bike on Craigslist for Bike Building Tutorial in March 2018. His fondest memory is when he rode this bike for the first time after having worked on it for so long; he wanted to get it ready in time for a collective bike ride around campus. He does not have a car and does not enjoy commuting to his job on University Parkway, but does enjoy biking around the neigh-

Thesis student Kaithleen Coñoepan poses with her bike outside the library.

Third-year Sydney Clingo’s bike resides in second court.

Thesis student Ben Cook poses with his bike in the nook.

borhood and around downtown after the farmer’s market. Sydney Clingo Third-year Sydney Clingo’s mom found this bike for her on sale at Walmart at the beginning of her first year. She wanted to attach a milk crate, but her mom thought it was aesthetically unpleasing. At the dollar store, they spotted some fake sunflowers and were immediately drawn to them. “We have to get these, because that milk crate is just too ugly,” Clingo recalls her mom saying. She enjoys taking the path by the native plant restoration area to the Bay. Sydney Rosenthal When third-year transfer student Sydney Rosenthal was moving to New College, she wanted to fit all of her possessions in her car at once. Her full-sized bike wouldn’t fit, but her mom’s friend had this bike, “Miss Behaving,” that his daughter had outgrown. It wasn’t long before she realized it wouldn’t ride over the overpass, and brought up her bigger bike instead. “Now she’s rusting outside because I care about my other bike way more,” Rosenthal said. “I hope someone will take her for a joyride. She’s free to ride to anyone who wants, and to be loved.” Tall Boy & Long Boy According to alum Drew Zay (‘10), these two bikes were built from Bike Shoppe scraps by Michael Getz and Kevin McCombs between 2012 and 2013. Getz created a Bicycle Frame Building Tutorial and got funding for welding equipment through the Student Allocations Committee (SAC). Of the Tandem, Zay recalled that he and Getz “used to ride the Tandem around as a fixed gear and pass up roadies with our combined leg power.” Thesis student Evan Teal, who has ridden Tall Boy in the past, remarked, “It needs to be repaired but it is fun to ride.” Jasmine Bullara Over the past year, many bikes have been stolen from campus. Thesis student Jasmine Bullara, whose bike was stolen in December 2018, remarked, “I feel sad...it was a pretty big loss.” Her bike was over 30 years old and previously belonged to her dad. When she was growing up, she would ride around her neighborhood with her dad, but Bullara’s favorite ride on campus was to Old Caples. On the increasing bike thefts, Bullara suggested, “We need a bike vigilante to steal the bikes back.” C

CATALYST

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10 questions with sex educator Yana Tallon-Hicks BY AUDREY WARNE Yana-Tallon Hicks is a sex educator, writer and therapist who focuses on the pleasure-positive aspects of sex and sexuality. She travels across the country teaching workshops to high school students, college students and adults on topics ranging from consent to female ejaculation. Tallon-Hicks taught a workshop on communication skills for healthy sex and relationships on campus on Mar. 28 and sat down with the Catalyst after the event to chat more about the importance of adult sex-education and open communication. 1. How long have you worked as a sex educator? “I want to say 10 years.” 2. How did you first become interested in sex education? “It became interesting to me kind of organically, like through school being so shitty in terms of sex-ed. I went to school before Google, so we didn’t really have a lot of information available to us. Then, when I went to college—I went to Hampshire College—I took a class called “Sexuality and Education,” and I just found it to be really interesting. At Hampshire we get to create our own majors, so I decided to design my major around sex-ed.” 3. Why is adult sex-education important? “It’s important because most people get severely undercut by traditional sexed. We’re not getting a lot of the information that we need and we want. It can be difficult to find resources that actually feel relevant to us, and even though we could get a lot of this stuff online—and we do and that’s good— I think there’s something to be said about having actual people talking about this stuff together in the same room. It’s nice to have—and this happens with my clients a lot too, like one-on-one—an example of someone who is comfortable talking about sex in front of a lot of people.” 4. What are some of the most popular workshops that you teach? “By far the most popular is the ‘Consent and Cookies’ workshop, which I do for high schoolers and also college students. Basically, it breaks down all these components of consent and then builds up a metaphor of how we practice consent by frosting and decorating cookies together. That one’s really popular because it’s really interactive and accessible to a bunch of age groups. Then the second most popular one is probably ‘Hitting the Spot,’ which is about sex toys and pleasurable anatomy.” 5. Does your experience teaching workshops change when you’re working with college students? “I think that high schoolers are more just relieved that an adult is talking to them about sex in a way that isn’t super veiled and really vague. The ‘Consent and Cookies’ workshop was actually designed because I was invited to teach a workshop about sex, but I wasn’t allowed to talk about sex directly. We really just dumb-down high schoolers’ access to this stuff. They know—they can Google whatever they want—so we might as well be talking to them about it. A lot of the high schoolers I work with are super fucking self-aware and know what’s

going on. I think with college students, they tend to be a more informed crowd and more critical thinkers and can handle more discussion-based stuff and don’t need to be as entertained.” 6. What are some of the most common concerns or questions that college students have? “It kind of depends on the workshop, but a lot of the questions I get are about people feeling uncomfortable bringing something up with their partner. They want to know how to get more comfortable doing that. I also get a lot of questions about sex-toy stuff in general. They are curious about sex-toys and pleasure stuff. I also think that people tend to ask how I got involved in this.” 7. Are there are any resources that you would recommend for students interested in learning more about sex-ed and maintaining healthy relationships? “Scarleteen is a website for teenagers about sex, but I actually love it as a resource. When I’m writing my column and I have a technical question, I’ll look it up on their website. My website also has resources, obviously. I’m such a book-based person, so I really like the books Girl Sex 101 and Come as You Are. I think Stan Tatkin’s work is really great. I think Esther Perel’s work is really good—she also has a wonderful podcast.” 8. You focus a lot on attachment styles in your workshop, why do you feel that is a valuable way to approach relationships and healthy communication? “Attachment styles have a lot to do with how we’re able to engage with people. Oftentimes, we think that the stuff we do (that we don’t like that we do) is our fault or bad or means that we’re broken and can’t be adjusted. I think that approaching relationships via attachment styles helps people feel less like it’s a broken component about them and more about the ways that they’ve been raised to handle conflict. I also think it lets people off-the-hook a little bit and teaches them to have a little more self-understanding and self-awareness.” 9. Are there any other psychological frameworks that you find useful for dealing with relationships and sex? “I use a lot of attachment theory, I use a lot of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—which is how we think about things and how it influences our feelings and behavior. I am trained in the developmental model of couples therapy, which is sort of a hodge-podge of concrete communication strategies, attachment theory and relational work.” 10. Is there one piece of advice you wish you could share with students? “I think a lot of this stuff just breaks down to being a little easier on yourself and a little easier on your partners. We’re all doing the best we can with what we’ve got. You’ve got to just give yourself permission to explore stuff that feels good to you.”

Tallon-Hicks is available to teach workshops and provide couples or one-one-one relationship counseling services. For more information about Tallon-Hicks, visit her website: yanatallonhicks.com.

Photo courtesy of Yana Tallon-Hicks

Tallon-Hicks holds a M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy from Antioch University and a B.A. in LGBTQQ and sexuality studies from Hampshire College.

Showing Friday April 19th at 6:30 PM in Sainer, followed by Q&A with Director Bing Liu

CATALYST eContracts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 dents for enrollment in the following semester and typically yields little thought from students. Overall, the establishment of the Preliminary Plan reinforces the importance of the contract system for students’ progression through the school. “I think one way that the contract system is better than the way most schools function is to think about the semester in a holistic way,” Professor of Classics David Rohrbacher said. “The freedom -- although, this has been chipped away over time -- to agree on different levels of engagement with different classes, and the ability to try something new and risky with the knowledge that it won’t ruin your GPA. I do think thinking about a semester rather than a class or a major is something that, when it’s done right, the contract system can really support.” With the expansion of the eContract system, New College students and

Gardening CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 could lead to “unintended consequences,” such as corn stalks becoming a nuisance to neighbors. Thesis student and Council of Green Affairs (CGA) Co-president Allegra Nolan said that the law could have a more beneficial impact on neighborhoods. “The legalization of front yard vegetable gardening will give people incentive to get outside working in their front yards, bringing neighbors and communities together,” Nolan said in an email interview. “Front yard gardens can have more impact than backyard gardens [because] people are more likely to see each other’s work, be curious about how their neighbors are gardening, ask more ques-

Starlite CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Skype interviews and conference calls. Originally, Yurckonis was told that the filming of the show would take place in December. Yet, December came and Yurckonis was left in the dark. “I just figured they picked another restaurant from somewhere else,” Yurckonis said. “There were over 60 restaurants across the country that they contacted. The first week of January I got a call from a different person, a different producer from the show, and [they] said, ‘Are you still interested?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I figured you guys had already picked someone.’” The producers said that they had postponed their selection because of roaming sicknesses and holiday plans. They hoped to start filming in March due to the setbacks, and were wondering if Yurckonis still wanted to be involved. After accepting this offer, Yurckonis found out in the first week of March that the producers had chosen him and The Starlite Room for the show. Yurckonis

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faculty can loosen their dependency on physical forms for registration. Accordingly, the eContract is part of the Office of the Registrar’s goals to create an online module for everything involved in the registration process. Along with the Preliminary Plan, an Independent Study Project (ISP) registration component is projected to be included in the eContract system in the fall of 2020. So far, the eContract system is fulfilling its potential to help with the efficacy of registration. “People have easy access to things,” Scholten reflected on the eContract system. “[Students] can do it online whenever they’re free to do it, and it takes our hands out of the pie so that we can be doing more important things. This kind of manual work is just something that is not beneficial to students and faculty -- we would rather, as an institution, have students spend their time doing the things that they came here to do instead of filling out paper forms and running around getting signatures.” By fostering students’ thought, energy and commitment to their continuation at New College, the Preliminary

Plan is also one of the various attempts on campus to help the distressing rate of retention. “This idea [of the Preliminary Plan] comes from an understanding that students probably will feel more comfortable knowing that there’s something in place,” Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Chemistry Suzanne Sherman said. “It might not be what they end up with for their contract, but they will have engaged in a conversation with their advisor to discuss what they’ve done, where they’re going and what would be a good course of action for the [next] semester in terms of the courses, tutorials, internships, and whatever would seem to be the direction that could culminate in a really good education at New College.” However, it remains evident that the Preliminary Plan is in no panacea for solving the issue of retention. “Retention is a multi-faceted problem that’s of great concern to everybody,” Rohrbacher noted. “[The Preliminary Plan is] practical for the institution, but I think there’s a lot of negative personal stories that must underlie the fact that

people are not coming back. Anything we can do to encourage and to retain is good, but I think that a lot of our focus is going to be outside the Preliminary Plan.” With constant changes regarding faculty, infrastructure and budget, the Preliminary Plan emerges to mark the evolution of the contract system, one of the main pillars of the New College experience. Preparing students for this change, the Office of the Registrar sent out emails to the student list with instructions on completing the Preliminary Plan as well as important dates for the form. Students can additionally send feedback about the Preliminary Plan through the Feedback Form on the eContracts Student Dashboard and can email questions to records@ncf.edu. “It’s always important to recognize our first principles,” Rohrbacher concluded, “and then we say this is how we think about making a contract and we think that works -- that’s the educational philosophy of the school and that we should continue to support that as much as possible.”

tions and share.” Nolan shared other insights on how the bill can encourage sustainable living. “When people grow their food, they are more connected with it,” Nolan said. “They have a greater appreciation for it and think more about its preparation. A home garden gives you more nutrients, since the food is not coming from so far away.” Nolan also spoke to how it will generally help the environment. “Local food means less transportation and less support for industrial agriculture and its environmentally destructive methods,” Nolan said. Those questioning the necessity of this law should also know that growing food in backyards is not as successful as front yard food growth. “Lots of crops need full sun for many hours of the day,” third-year Environmental Studies student Olivia Siegel said. This was the issue that Ricketts and

Carroll had with their backyard. A 2016 Earth Island Journal article titled “Local Laws Ban Front Yard Food Gardens in Cities Across the US” by Baylen Linnekin discusses front yard gardens at length. Linnekin cites a 2009 report by the National Gardening Association (NGA) that says one-third of American households raise some combination of fruits and vegetables at home and a NGA 2014 report, which stated that home gardening had grown by 17 percent since the 2009 report. Linnekin also discussed the legality of front yard gardening in multiple states. The article states that in 2012, code enforcement officers in Tulsa, Oklahoma went so far as to rip up Denise Morrison’s front yard garden without her permission. Linnekin also says that a woman was threatened with over three months jail time in 2011 for keeping a front yard garden in Oak Park, Michigan. Linnekin goes on to bring up front

yard gardening legal issues that occured in Newton, Massachusetts and Miami Shores. “When our garden was in full production, we had no need to shop for produce,” Ricketts said to a local CBS affiliate. “At least 80 percent of our meals were harvested fresh from our garden.” Linnekin states that the legal issues with front yard food gardens stemmed from buyers and other residents preferring to look at perfectly manicured front lawns over food gardens. “Food grown in your yard holds great benefits for the environment,” Nolan said of the recent legalization in Florida. “This is the beginning of a local food movement, not just for the privileged, but for anyone with a front yard.”

was surprised when one producer called him on Mar. 11 saying that the crew would arrive early next morning to set up cameras around the restaurant: two weeks earlier than expected. “I guess that’s how they do it, to have that element of surprise where you really can’t plan [for] them coming,” Yurckonis said. Yurckonis had also communicated over the phone with the celebrity host of the show, who wanted to do their own research for the show. “We had talked about Sarasota, the city, the type of people that come to the restaurant, the things about the restaurant that I thought were successful [and] the things that I thought were unsuccessful,” Yurckonis said. Once the production crew set up all the cameras, they started gathering film of The Starlite Room during regular service. The producers had drawn Yurckonis into the kitchen to record interviews, but while he was away from his usual place at the front of the house, greeting people and answering phone calls, the dining room began to get hectic. “You watch these shows on TV [and] you have no idea, you don’t know if they’re staged,” Yurckonis said. “I can tell

you, it was totally not staged.” Now that the restaurant has closed, the renovations have begun and Yurckonis is not allowed to take part in them. However, he still has plenty of responsibilities to oversee as the owner. “My days have been starting [around] 6:30 a.m. [or] 7 a.m. every morning,” Yurckonis said. “Last night it was 4 a.m. before I went to sleep, and then I was up at seven this morning. So I literally slept for about three hours.” Despite the minimal amounts of sleep, manual labor and managerial tasks he has to do, Yurckonis has an appreciative, optimistic outlook on the situation. “Somehow, we’ve been blessed that the city has opened their doors to this project, so everything has moved forward without any delays,” Yurckonis said. “We live in the greatest city in America. We have had so many people donate materials. There are a lot of people that aren’t making any money off of this, and they’re all doing this to give something back and I’m the one that’s going to benefit from this. It’s just really been an amazing experience, that all these people that don’t even know me are willing to help out for the show to happen and for this restaurant to be transformed into something

great.” The first floor of the three story building will receive a complete makeover, but the second floor will remain the same. Yurckonis has collaborated with community members in the past to hold late-night events on the second floor, including drag shows and other LGBTQ+ centered events. When the restaurant reopens, Yurckonis is open to working with people in the community to hold similar events upstairs, as he wants the area to be a non-judgemental space where people can come together to enjoy themselves. “This is just one of those places where everyone is open to express themselves however they want,” Yurckonis said. “I think that’s very important for today’s 20 or 30 [year olds] to be able to feel the freedom to say, ‘Hey, I’m x-y-z and I don’t really care what you guys think about it.’” While many details about the restaurant’s future remain behind the curtains, Sarasotans can expect to see an interior drastically different from what the The Starlite Room had to offer before.

Information for this ar ticle was gathered from earthisland.org, tampabay.com, watchdog.org and miamiherald.com.

Information for this article was gathered from starlitesrq.com and sarasotamagazine. com.

CATALYST

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21st Annual Sarasota Film Festival showcases 200+ cinematic works

BY EILEEN CALUB

Every year, film enthusiasts flock to Sarasota, where over 200 films, including documentaries, features and short films, will be showcased. From Friday, Apr. 5 until Sunday, Apr. 14, the 21st annual Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) will screen cinematic works from independent filmmakers worldwide at multiple venues throughout Sarasota. Following this year’s theme of “The Beauty of Intelligent Film,” the SFF highlights outstanding, impactful films that challenge viewers to think differently and provides a chance for Sarasotans to appreciate upcoming local and international artists. First-year Grace Sherman, a SFF intern in the education and programming departments, expressed her confidence in the success of the festival. “I think the festival will go well this year, due to the incredible amount of work that SFF staff have put into making it all happen,” Sherman said. “Just as filmmaking is an intensely collaborative process, a film festival also requires the collaboration of all people involved.” Inside the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, packed with eager movie-goers, the film festival kicked off with the opening night film Mike Wallace is Here.

Director Avi Belken, who attended the screening, gives the audience an in-depth review of Wallace’s long career in broadcast journalism, featuring footage from 60 Minutes of intense interviews with political figures, such as civil rights activist Malcolm X and Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Despite obstacles throughout his life, Wallace fearlessly asks hard-hitting questions in pursuit of the truth. Belken’s film not only honors Wallace’s impact on television and journalism, but also provides viewers an intimate look at Wallace’s vulnerabilities and personal struggles. After witnessing Wallace’s journalistic feats in the latter half of the 20th century, the audience is left contemplating the role of the press and news media in contemporary society. The diverse array of films slated to be screened give festival-goers a large and exciting selection. SFF’s centerpiece film, the drama and love story The Tomorrow Man, will be screened on Saturday, Apr. 13 at the Regal Hollywood theater in downtown Sarasota. The film tells the tale of an elderly man and woman who come together despite their eccentric interests. Lumpkin, GA, a documentary by New College alumnus Nicholas Manting-Brewer (‘08) focusing on the Stewart

Detention Center and town of Lumpkin, was featured in a set of Documentary 1 Shorts. Select films spotlight life in Florida, like Sundance Grand Jury Award nominee Pahokee, focusing on the life of teenagers in a small city in southeast Florida. All There Is – A Circus Story documents the history of the circus in Sarasota and its impact on the community. The SFF incorporates the 20th Annual Through Women’s Eyes International Film Festival (TWE), which highlights groundbreaking films by women filmmakers and focuses on women’s rights around the world. Volunteers from the Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. National Committee for UN Women facilitate TWE to raise funds for United Nations efforts to champion gender equality in developing nations. TWE films are marked in the SFF catalog. “Personally, I think some of the movies being shown in [TWE] look very interesting and inspiring,” Sherman said. “Many of the youth and teen short films also surprised me with how well they were able to convey captivating narrative in just a few minutes!” On Saturday, Apr. 13 at the Sarasota Opera House, awards will be presented followed by a screening of the closing

night film, Phil, the directorial debut of actor Greg Kinnear about a man struggling with a mid-life crisis and trying to discover what it means to “have it all.” With its myriad cinematic offerings and growing prominence each year, SFF is sure to continue bringing thought-provoking films to local theaters and offer more culturally-enriching programs for Sarasotans to enjoy in the future. “Having a film festival in Sarasota is a good thing for those interested in the film industry, and serves as a kind of continuation of the city’s focus on the arts,” Sherman said. “Sarasota is known to be a cultural city,” Heather Campbell, a film enthusiast visiting from Colorado, said. “[The film festival] is an event.” C Film tickets are available online or at the Regal Hollywood box office and cost $10 for students, educators and school administrators with valid ID. Regal Hollywood is located at 1993 Main St., Sarasota, FL.

Information for this article was gathered from sarasotafilmfestival.com and throughwomenseyes.com.

all film stills courtesy of Frank PR

All There Is - A Circus Story showcases the history of the circus in Sarasota.

A man navigates a mid-life crisis in Greg Kinnear’s debut film, Phil.

An elderly couple unexpectedly come together in The Tomorrow Man.

Broadcast journalist Mike Wallace is featured in the film Mike Wallace is Here.

CATACLYSM

Financial Aid Trailer has close encounter with a plane from Montreal BY MICHALA HEAD Discussion of accumulating student loan debt is no longer the most stressful thing to occur in the Financial Aid trailer, located a parking lot away from the Harry Sudakoff Conference Center. On Monday, Apr. 1, the trailer broke loose and began to roll onto airport turf. “I was honestly terrified and so confused,” Associate Director of Financial Aid Kim McCabe said. “I wasn’t sure whether jumping out would be more or less dangerous.” To make matters worse, the trailer did not stop until it was on the runway. “Once we realized where we had stopped [Director of Financial Aid] Tara

and [Assistant Director of Financial Aid] Corey got out and started pushing,” McCabe said. Somehow, through their superhuman strength and by the grace of God, the trailer narrowly missed an incoming plane from Montreal. “At first I thought it was Financial Aid for travel right on the runway and that this airport’s service was impeccable,” Petunia Bagley, a passenger on the Montreal flight said. “Then I realized, wow, that adjacent school is on fire! Montreal was lovely though.”

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Free Store Spiritual attendance to be drops to privatized haunting BY ANNA LYNN WINFREY levels

Ever since moving to Gold Lounge from Hamilton “Ham” Center in Fall 2018, the Free Store has erupted with knick-knacks due to decreased foot traffic. Heaps of dingy t-shirts, piles of halfused cosmetics and stacks of mediocre books have accumulated, much to the frustration of many students. Some concerned students and staff have called for privatizing the Free Store, which will be implemented next week. The new owners will restrict hours, impose item-by-item prices, collect sales taxes and manage the

“I work so hard to keep this place neat, but so many people disrespect the space. I hope that changing how it works will make the Free Store less gross.”

FAKE NEWS

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BY IZAYA GARRETT MILES

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Horoscopes BY MICHALA HEAD

Aries: After staring deep into the eyes of a grizzly bear, Secretary of Education Betsy Devos decided to forgive the student loan debt of anyone born in the month of April. Sorry, March Aries. Taurus: Your future mother-in-law will accidentally dial you this week. Gemini: The Mueller Report did not exonerate you from obstruction of justice or double dipping. Cancer: You will encounter a mysterious hole in your kitchen wall. Leo: A rat in a hat will confront you about the past. Virgo: Is your refrigerator running? No, and you are going to need to get that repaired. Libra: You, visiting 2019 from 2069, will bag your groceries this week. Paper or plastic?

Retention rates are scaring students away.

inventory. They will not be accepting any donations at this time. The Free Store TA, third-year Lucille Sanz, remarked that she hoped that it would improve the current hazardous standard of cleanliness. “I work so hard to keep this place neat, but so many people disrespect the space. I hope that changing how it works will make the Free Store less gross.” Students are advised to check their emails to sign up for focus groups with administrators to discuss this initiative.

Much of New College’s appeal stems from its reputation as a welcoming place for those who are coming to terms with their untimely demise. When the Catalyst investigated ghost stories back in 2010, New College had a thriving phantom community. However, when many of those same spirits were sought in the October of 2018, a frightening reality came to light: they had moved on. “The social environment has just become too toxic,” Diego Miruelo, Spanish explorer and 326th-year said. “It’s just becoming really tempting to take your chances in the afterlife. Really, unless the atmosphere improves soon, I don’t think this place has a ghost of a chance.”

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Scorpio: Going forward, bear in mind that sometimes eyebrows are sisters, not twins. Sagittarius: Your phone battery will die, but its spirit will live on. Capricorn: Your favorite book will read you. Aquarius: You will adopt a new attitude soon, and also an elderly cat. Pisces: Beware of broken glass and intact feelings.

CATACLYSM

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Airport officials usurp Pei campus as lease ends BY LYNNANA FREEWIND Over the summer, Sarasota airport officials announced that they would not renew the 99-year lease with New College and will soon commence demolition. The airport has dealt with higher traffic and increasing tourism over the past few decades since Sarasota-area beaches have remained intact while most others in the state have eroded and become increasingly polluted. Albeit disappointing, this announcement comes as hardly a surprise, since administrators have neglected the residential side of campus for the past few decades. According to archival records, the last construction on the eastern side of campus were the letter dorms, completed in 2007. But since then, there have been many projects on the bayfront side of campus. A multipurpose building opened in 2027 despite significant funding and construction delays. Also, construction of a new wing of Heiser was completed in 2048, amid significant uproar from humanities and social sciences students about deferred maintenance in the Academic Center (ACE). The dorms and facilities on the Pei campus have fallen into decrepit condi-

tions as a backlog of normal upkeep and mold problems continued to accumulate. After a 2035 outbreak of malevolent mold in first court, in which 14 students were hospitalized, administrators condemned all the Pei dorms; they have not been re-opened since. Parties in Palm Court, which had fallen out of fashion by the start of the 2020s, have become more popular, as many students enjoy frolicking around the desolate dorms. Second-year David Lindsay remarked, “Yeah, you know, it’s crazy that people lived here only 25 years ago. It’s fun to hang out in this place that reeks of history…and mold.” Demolition of the Pei campus will commence next month. In an interview, the president said that there will be a ceremony in Palm Court for students, faculty, staff and alums preceding the first bulldozer. The president added that she had submitted a plan to the Board of Governors to actualize I.M. Pei’s original idea to build dormitories in Sarasota Bay. “Since we’re expecting the Bayfront campus to be underwater within the next couple of decades, we’re going back to the drawing board to execute Pei’s initial ideas. This could be a sustainable solution to keep New College afloat.”

photo courtesy of Departures

Pei passed away in 2028 at the age of 111. On his deathbed, he allegedly called the deteriorating state of the buildings “an insult to me and all of my ancestors” and the letter dorms “egregiously appalling architectural monstrosities.”

Anna Lynn Winfrey/Catalyst

photo courtesy of the Campus Master Plan, 2008 (revised 2015)

A vintage photo of the bayfront found in the NCSA Archives, taken in Spring 2019 by Catalyst staff writer Anna Lynn Winfrey. Pei’s original plan for building dorms on the water may be actualized now that the entire east campus is shutting down.

All of the Pei Campus land will be absorbed by the airport, which intends to use the area for expanded surface parking. Airport officials were unclear if they would also renovate some of the deteriorating dormitories into a luxury hotel.