STANLEY CUP HYPE: THE LATEST CRAZE Pg. 4
URBAN HOUSING CRISIS IN THE US Pg. 20
Photos Courtesy of Adobe Stock
THE TEASE
Stanley cup Hype
The latest Craze Pg 4
Modern Dating: A Curse or a Blessing? Pg 10
Women's Flag Football take the feild Pg 8
What does it take to win? Nomines or not pg 16
BUCCANEER STAFF
WEB & DIGITAL EDITOR
Anna Galaktionov
LAYOUT & GRAPHICS EDITOR
Nicole Dashtaki
GRAPHICS EDITOR
Alyssa Leal
MANAGING EDITOR
Isabel Pulgarin
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS
Kean Huy Alado
Viviana Corbisiero
Litzy Grijalba
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Olga Maria Flores
STAFF WRITERS
Kean Huy Alado
Almendra Carrion
Viviana Corbisiero
Mariajose Fernandez
Litzy Grijalba
Camila Hubss
Diana Morose
Brendalis Puig
Isabel Pulgarin
Victoria Rivera
FACULTY ADVISER
Tiffani Knowles
The Buccaneer welcomes student contributions. Editors assign stories for pay at this time. Letters to the editor, story ideas, news releases, photos and artwork can be submitted to The Buccaneer office in Garner Hall or through campus mail or email. All contributed material must include the signature and the mailbox or telephone number of the contributor. The Buccaneer reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for style and length. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of The Buccaneer editorial staff or those of Barry University. “Interested in advertising your business in the Buccaneer? Contact Professor Tiffani Knowles, 305-899-4572” Circulation: 1000
CAREER & LEADERSHIP
MY BEST SPRING BREAK EVER
By Mariajose Fernandez
As our winter fades away, spring has pleasantly come along. The sun is brighter, we all have a little more energy, life is beautiful, and the only thing we care about is spending time with loved ones. As Miamians, the beach is your best ally. Going on strange adventures with a tan on your skin and colorful swimsuits. Miami’s a special place but others love to discover new places.
As students, spring break is one of the most anticipated times of the year.
The Buccaneer interviewed juniors and seniors about their best spring break experiences while studying at Barry. Here we give you some spring break ideas for your break during March 4-8.
Mexico
Whether it’s Tulum, Cancun, Mexico City or Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is one of many favorite destinations of many people to vacation. Mexico is a very colorful country rich in culture and filled with kind and friendly people.
“What I liked most about Mexico were the beaches, you can do whatever you want. There are a variety of prices that you can have fun and do everything according to your budget without exceeding. The food is amazing. It is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Juan Wulf, a senior majoring in applied sports and exercise science.
THE PARKS ARE MY FAVORITE PART OF ORLANDO. IT IS A MUCH QUIETER CITY THAN MIAMI, BUT THIS CITY BRINGS OUT YOUR INNER CHILD.
-PATTY MAYORCAGraduate Sports
Psychology
Student
Orlando
Miami & Key Biscayne
Miami is the hot spot of all the spring breakers. if you want to have a crazy experience of clubbing, eternal beach days, happy hours on rooftop bars, and meet-cutes with people from all around the world in just one night, you might as well stay local.
“I’ve spent my happiest and craziest times on the past spring break nights. The truth is, you make the perfect place, when you are enjoying the company of your friends,” said Carla Davila, a Sports Psychology graduate student.
Key Biscayne is also a destination just as fun and beautiful to spend your spring break is in. It’s a charming island town that entices tourists with its unspoiled beaches, natural beauty, and laid-back vibe. Key Biscayne is well-known for its gorgeous Crandon Park Beach, a sanctuary of smooth sand and glistening waves that provides the ideal escape for travelers looking for a mix of action and leisure.
A city well-known for its enchanted ambiance and exuberant vitality presents a captivating fusion of topnotch entertainment, exhilarating attractions, and plenty of sunshine. It’s the home of Universal Studios and numerous theme parks perfect for a spring break full of thrilling experiences and priceless memories.
“The parks are my favorite part of Orlando. It is a much quieter city than Miami, but this city brings out your inner child. And it makes everything blissful, you forget your problems and you dedicate yourself to enjoying yourself. When you go to the park it feels magical, it makes you remember your childhood,” said Patty Mayorca, a graduate sports psychology student.
Leaving aside the destinations where you are going to spend spring break, be sure to create unforgettable memories. These early ones stay and accompany you during this beautiful journey in life.
By Brendalis Puig
A scene out of a crazy Black Friday is how TikTokers describe the stampede that happened at Target on Jan. 3, as eager shoppers ran to secure a cup of the limited edition Valentine’s Day Stanley. The internet’s influence on consumer behavior in today’s digital age has undeniably reached a peak.
Social media trends shift at the speed of light and dictate not only the lifestyle of users but also fuel their obsessive need for the latest products. While mass consumerism is nothing new, the Stanley Cup is the latest example at the center of the epidemic.
The Stanley cup is a reusable water bottle manufactured by Stanley, a company with over 100 years of history. The company’s website displays the sustainability of its products, which are reusable, one-of-a-kind, and “Built for Life.” Its fun colors and unique designs sparked a big obsession.
Despite the brand being on the market for so long, the company revenue jumped from $74 million in 2019 to $750 million in 2023, according to a report made last December by CNBC.
As limited editions are released and Stanley cups get swept off shelves and sites in mere hours, it becomes more and more chaotic in stores nationwide. On release days, eager consumers wake up early to wait in line and, if necessary, even fight with each other to get their hands on the latest Stanley cup edition. Consumers have gone as far as spending triple the money on retail to obtain one of the special editions.
The popularity surrounding the Stanley cup aesthetic began last sum-
STANLEY CUP HYPE
THE LATEST CRAZE
mer due to the viral WaterTok trend, which involved adding flavorful, sugar-free, and low-calorie powder to water to achieve the recommended daily water goal intake. Different from other water bottle brands, the Stanley cup became the influencer's favorite for being visually aesthetic and unique.
Viviana Rivas, a sophomore majoring in political science, weighed in for The Buccaneer.
“As a Stanley owner, I think that people can be easily influenced, including myself. I do not think that people should go to the lengths that they have gone for the cup, but it is a good product and convenient,” she said.
Social media influencers have driven the obsession to another level by promoting the idea that one cup is never enough. Social media platforms, mainly TikTok, are overflowing with videos of women collecting the different colors available of Stanley cups. What was first a sports accessory aimed at reducing the single use of plastic water bottles has now turned into a must-have symbol of popularity and the opposite of what was its original purpose as many women happily display their matching outfits with the Stanley cup on their socials.
While some people participate in the Stanley cup craze, others wonder how a reusable cup became the latest symbol of over-consumerism. They question the necessity of buying more than one water bottle, especial-
ly considering that Stanley cups are not cheap.
“I think it’s just another trend that’ll eventually go to waste, and people will have all these cups for no reason like the hydro flask,” said Destiny Robinson, a sophomore majoring in TV production and digital media.
In a survey conducted by The Buccaneer with a total of 111 responses, about 57.7 percent of Barry students do not own a Stanley cup while about 42.3 percent confirmed they do.
Katrina Lyn Kee Chow, a senior majoring in television and digital media, expressed her contempt for Stanley cups and their wide-spread obsession.
“They are so overrated and, in my opinion, a total waste of money. Like depending on the price, for that, I could buy a meal or even repurchase some of my favorite makeup and skincare products,” she said.
The appeal of Stanley cups has expanded beyond its purpose, touching on psychological factors about social media-driven consumer behavior and the fear of missing out. As the reliance on social media becomes more than just the norm, apps like TikTok are becoming for decision-making and buying products because others have them rather than because they need them. Before making a purchase, users tend to scroll different social platforms to gauge whether it is a popular item rather than if it’s the most convenient and reliant.
The Stanley cup water bottle serves as a reminder of the influence of social media on people. A practical product proclaimed as being sustainable has transformed into a symbol
of popularity and status, reflecting today’s fixation on being part of the latest trends. While the TikTok obsession lasts, people wait and wonder what the following must-have product will be.
o
Photos Courtesy of Adobe Stock
PRINTER MADNESS: THE NEW SYSTEM
By Victoria Rivera
The next time you need to print an assignment, you might want to come a little sooner than you need. Barry’s printer system has been changed this semester, and the once familiar process might be confusing even for long-time users.
Barry’s library has provided access to printers for students at only five cents–starting with ten free papers upon opening an account with print.barry.edu. Before, accounts would be directly linked to the student’s credit cards. However, as of February, library printers have introduced a new payment system in the form of Flex Bucs. Flex Bucs has been a form of currency on campus since the beginning, but before it mostly only applied to the Barry stores and any on-campus food stops.
They may be attained online through the "GET” mobile app or site. If a student has no access to either, one can also get funds on campus through an attendant in the Landon Student Union’s office or the self-service machine.
With the new system, printers no longer operate off of PrintMe. Instead, to use the printers:
to any printer station, log in, and print whatever was uploaded.
For further aid, one can visit eguides. barry.edu/NewPrinting, as well as Barry’s IT help desk in the back of the second floor of the library. This new system grants students unrestricted access to printers at any time, unlike the previous system, allowing for easy printing of files for all students across campus.
Leslhey Vergara, an IT worker on campus grounds, feels the change proves useful to students.
From a distance, a three-step process does not seem so intimidating. But, when a due date is tomorrow or even in a few hours, and it used to be only one or two steps, suddenly the switch is a lot more daunting.
What should be one website trip can instead be made into the hassle of getting an entirely new app solely for getting Flex Bucs. For some students, it can feel like spending money to get another form of money, all to print a few pages. Even when using Barry computers, each time one logs in requires the user to verify their identity: which further wastes time or adds to frustration.
1) Go to print.barry.edu through any Barry computer. You can also use any personal device, including phones
2) Go to “Barry Print.” It will lead to the “view my printers”
3) After going to “view my printers,” sign into your Barry account using the green button
4) Go to the web print menu, select “submit a job,” and upload files.
5) After doing so, the files will be seen as “in queue.” From here, you’re able to go
“The GET mobile app is pretty good in my opinion. One of the perks is that you can just put funds in there. You can [even] use it for the dining hall: it’s not going to waste,” she said.
Despite the attempts at being user-friendly, the sudden shift has caused chaos for students. With the exclusive use of Flex Bucs, you can no longer directly pay for the next pages. The printers do not accept credit cards of any kind at all. It’s an additional layer of intended convenience that can instead turn students away.
The user interface design of the printers is a visual bombardment of options. If a student is under a time crunch, minor frustration can become a full-on panic.
“I have no idea of how to use the paper. This is complicated. All we had to do is use a barcode, ID, and print,” said Kenny Valmyr, a sophomore nursing student, who was frustrated while printing. “But with this one, it’s complicated.”
She spent over three minutes fiddling with the machine to print out an assignment. Under a time-crunch, she said she could not even easily find the exit button to back out.
Though the introduction of using Flex Bucs should have allowed for easier payment for all students, it remains a printing nightmare for the same people It's meant to help.
“I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO USE THE PAPER. THIS IS COMPLICATED. ALL WE HAD TO DO IS USE A BARCODE, ID AND PRINT."
-Kenny ValmyrBarry Nursing Sophomore
A TRUMP PRECEDENT
NEVER BEFORE DETERMINED
By Isabel Pulgarin
Trump Update: The former President Donald J. Trump’s first criminal trial is set for March 25. He faces four criminal indictments across four cities. Of the many cases both criminal and civil, this case deals with his hush money payments from campaign funds made to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
It was last December that criminal immunity was denied by the U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously after Trump’s lawyers hoped to use the constitutional law of presidential immunity from criminal and civil cases as their defense in a federal case. Article II Section Three stood in front of all this litigation and whether a current or former president can be sued or charged at all.
Barry’s political expert and chair of the Department of History and Political Science Dr. Sean Foreman deconstructed the immunity law.
“First of all, immunity means that someone would be immune to being charged with a crime or forgiven, given a blank check—a pass—from being charged with a crime. Typically, it doesn’t happen for anybody,” said Foreman. “No one is above the law, but while they’re the Chief Executive Officer of the country, there’s a lot of concern that if you allow lawsuits against the president, it could lead to other ones that are frivolous and unnecessary. But that brings us to Donald Trump potentially committing crimes.”
U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with conspiracy to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election and committing fraud in order to remain in power last August. It was this federal criminal indictment Trump’s lawyers appealed, but the D.C. Appeals court found his actions were those of a presidential candidate and not duties of a sitting president, as his lawyers claimed.
Trump’s lawyers’ named immunity but his lawyers failed in February to file an appeals motion to the Supreme Court due to the seriousness of the crimes. But constitutional lawyers believe his future defense will still rely on it.
“There is a [previous] case dealing with presidential immunity and Bill Clinton when he was president in the 1990s, but it had to do with a civil suit,” said Foreman.
In 1994, Paula Jones alleged in a lawsuit that then
affair with Monica Lewinsky, she was put on the list of witnesses to contribute to the case.
Clinton found out and took steps to cover up the affair. And when he was asked to testify, he lied about the affair and dug his grave, eventually being impeached for perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of power.
“The Supreme Court had to decide can she sue him while he’s president for something that happened before he was president. And they decided yes, by 9-0, the president can do his job and still respond to the civil lawsuit,” said Foreman. “And then when they got him to testify about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, he wasn’t fully truthful, and they impeached him for perjury.”
There have been four impeachments in American history but never a presidential indictment of criminal charges. The first impeachment was against Democratic President Andrew Johnson in 1868 for attempting to remove cabinet officials without advice and consent of Congress. The second was against Clinton in 1998. The other two were
against Trump. The first was December 2019 for seeking election interference from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy through quid pro quo, military aid for information on opponents. And the second was only seven days after the Jan.6 insurrection in 2021 where supporters, that were found to be incited by Trump at an earlier rally, overtook the Capitol—something he is only being charged now with a few years later.
Republican President Richard Nixon was facing impeachment for his involvement and attempted cover-up of the Watergate Scandal, the burglary of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, but he resigned before proceedings.
Nixon had lost support from his party. Clinton was found to have failed morally rather than having failed in leadership in a time where he had bipartisan support. All impeached presidents were acquitted and never faced criminal charges.
Clinton faced a civil matter which was allowed to go through—the lawsuit was eventually settled. This removed Trump’s immunity from civil cases. It is only now that the fate of criminal immunity is up in arms.
“We’re in a whole new territory because we’ve never had criminal charges against a sitting or former president before,” said Foreman.
“First of all, IMMUNITY means that someone would be immune to being charged with a crime or FORGIVEN, given a blank check—a pass—from being charged with a CRIME. Typically, it doesn’t happen for anybody.”
-Dr. Sean Foreman-
Barry Political expert and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science
Of the many, Trump’s actions as president and those of his followers are in question at the Supreme Court.
The justices, with the majority being conservative and half appointed by him, determine whether Trump’s actions warrant him to be removed from the ballot for presidency this 2024 election cycle. This comes after the Colorado Supreme Court decided so in January, calling on Section three of the 14th amendment. Thirty more states have also done so but these filings are paused awaiting the Court’s judgement.
As the 14th amendment bars an insurrectionist from holding office, the Court is questioning what the circumstances warrant.
Should he be allowed to run, win the Republican nomination, and win the election, only to have Congress on Jan.6 - while counting ballots - decide to restrict him then? Or should the court cut him off at the knees during his run and allow him to be taken off the ballot in almost all the states?
But this involves questioning whether the events of Jan. 6 rose to the level of an insurrection, as
Colorado ruled it to be for the first time ever.
The fact is there is no law against a criminal from holding office if he is found guilty in any of his criminal cases. And Trump is still spearheading the Republican party in Congress and our election.
It’s all a messy waiting game for the country with a sea of legal filings and expensive civil settlements for him.
Photos Courtesy of Adobe Stock Supreme Court Washington, DC USA
By Litzy Grijalba
WOMEN'S FLAG FOOTBALL
TAKE THE FIELD
Barry has once again expanded its sports program with the newest addition of the women’s first flag football team. This new inclusion offers students who are athletically talented the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete at a high level. Although the women’s flag football team is considered a club sport, Barry’s latest addition is bringing in the hype and enthusiasm to what is yet to come from women’s flag football!
“With women’s flag football there are not a lot of opportunities around. It is quite a new sport, it is not really recognized by the NCAA. The ultimate goal is to turn it into something down the line, that it would be considered athletics,” said Amanda Traynor, coordinator of intramural sports and club sports.
The women’s flag football team originated from the idea of Essence Nobles, a senior majoring in sports exercise science with a specialization in fitness. She also thas taken on the role as captain and quarterback. Nobles has played flag football since the start
of her freshman year of high school. When she got to college in 2020, women’s flag football was unheard of until her sophomore year, even then Barry had yet to be one of those schools to incorporate women’s flag football.
“I was actually the one who started it, not by myself, of course, but it was my idea and I brought it to my boss, Amanda Traynor, coordinator of intramural sports and club sports. She helped make my dreams into reality,” said Nobles.
With this being the team’s first season, it started off rocky in the coach search, but the team has undoubtedly overcome hurdles.
“It has been a long grind. I would not say it has been smooth, but we slowly but surely have been getting there. I love the way it is headed though. The sky's the limit for us,” said Roc Perry, head coach for the women’s flag football team.
not know Barry University has a women’s flag football team, so the ultimate goal is to win a championship. It is not all about wins and losses, but it is just being able to compete at a high level to show people we are here,” said Coach Perry.
The training regimen for the women’s flag football team is rigorous. It typically focuses on building strength, speed, agility, and football-specific skills. As an athlete in women’s flag football, mental preparation is just as significant as physical training. By investing in their mental preparation, it elevates their overall performance and unlock their full potential on the field.
“We start practice at 5 AM. Going over offense and defense perpetually. We do a lot of running. As well as getting our athletes mentally prepared to take on the field,” said Coach Perry.
Essence Nobles' tenure on the team will come to an end shortly as she is set to graduate, but she views the women's flag football
team as a special chance to guide a fresh round of players and the beginning of something great at Barry.
“Hopefully we can be the team I know we can be soon and have a great season because it may be over for me since I graduate this semester. However, we are the start of something new at Barry and I just hope it is able to continue and be successful in the future as well,” said Nobles.
Support and wish the women's flag football team, our newest sports team, well on their upcoming seasons!
"THE
SKY'S THE LIMIT FOR US."
-ROC PERRYHead Coach
Goals and aspirations have already been established for the women’s flag football team. Eager to accomplish them and continuum to looking forward, the girls are set for whatever is thrown at them. Their primary goal is to bring home a championship and gain more recognition and admiration.
“The team’s goal is to win a championship. To put the school on the map. A lot of people do
Photograph by Tamoi Byars
Photo Courtesy of Amanda Traynor
Senior Essence Nobles specializing in sports exercise science
HOME GAMES CALENDAR
MEN AND WOMEN'S TENNIS
WOMENS
MAR.3 10:00am vs Carson-Newman
MAR.13 2:00pm vs Purdue- Northwest
MAR.14 2:00pm vs Keiser
MAR.24 11:00am vs Delaware
MAR.30 10:00am vs Florida Southern
MEN
MAR.3 2:00pm vs Carson-Newman
MAR.12 10:00am vs Wayne State
MAR.13 10:00amvs Purdue- Northwest
MAR.23 2:00pm vs Florida Southern
SOFTBALL
MAR.1 6:00pm vs Saint Leo
MAR.2 12:00 pm vs Saint Leo
MAR.2 2:30 pm vs Saint Leo
MAR.13 3:00pm vs Kutztown
MAR.13 5:30pm vs Kutztown
MAR.22 6:00pm vs Lynn
MAR.23 4:00pm vs Lynn
MAR.23 6:30pm vs Lynn
MAR.28 6:30pm vs Rollins
BASEBALL
WOMEN'S GOLF
FEB. 26 vs Lynn Invitational TBA
FEB.27 vs Lynn Invitational TBA
MAR. 11 vs Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational
MAR.12 vs Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational
MAR.18 vs Buccaneer Invitational
MAR.19 vs Buccaneer Invitational
APR.1 vs Lady Moc Classic TBA vs SSC Tournament
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
FEB.27 6:00pm vs Nova Southeastern
MAR.6 6:00pm vs Wilmington (Del.)
MAR.8 6:00pm vs California (Pa)
MAR.9 1:00pm vs Post
MAR.9 4:30pm vs Post
MAR.10 6:00pm vs Post
MAR.15 6:00pm vs Eckerd
MAR.16 1:00pm vs Eckerd
MAR.16 4:30pm Eckerd
MAR.19 6:00pm vs Palm Beach Atlantic
MAR.28 6:00pm vs Rollins
MAR.29 1:00pm vs Rollins
MAR.29 4:30pm vs Rollins
JV BASEBALL
FEB.26 1:30pm vs Fort Lauderdale JV
FEB.26 3:30pm vs Fort Lauderdale JV
FEB.28 3:00pm vs Elev8 Baseball
MAR.4 1:30pm vs Miami Christian
MAR.4 3:30pm vs Miami Christian
MAR.11 1:30 pm vs ST Thomas JV
MAR.11 3:30 pm vs ST Thomas JV
MAR.18 1:30pm vs Millenia Atlantic
MAR.18 3:30pm vs Millenia Atlantic
MAR.20 1:30pm vs TNXL
MAR.20 3:30pm vs TNXL
MAR.25 1:30pm vs New College of Florida
MAR.25 3:30pm vs New College of Florida
MAR.27 1:30pm vs United International
MAR.27 3:30pm vs United International
APR.1 1:30pm vs Fort Lauderdale JV
APR.1 3:30pm vs Fort Lauderdale JV
APR.3 3:00pm vs Elev8 Baseball
By Almendra Carrion
What opportunity are we missing by getting carried away only by a person's photos on an online dating profile? Are we acting from a superficial perspective by not allowing the opportunity to get to know each other? Technology has a positive impact on us because we get to be closer despite the distances. However, we are forgetting the importance of having a clear intention while doing it. Swiping right or left is a method we are relying on to find our future partners.
“In the past, dating used to have a purpose to get married, now dating is about having sexual relations with other people. At this point, it should have a new name, ‘hookup culture.’” said Anise Lowe, a communications and media studies junior.
Getting to know a person can be fun because you can show your-
MODERN DATING
A CURSE OR A BLESSING?
self and your humanity. Being vulnerable involves expressing your deepest desires, past experiences, and needs. Dating organically may possibly bring excitement and flow naturally. Next time you see a person you like, be confident and break the ice. Who knows?
While hookup culture encourages intimacy without being emotionally involved, it has also grown into this new perspective of how we respect individual experiences and each other’s sexuality. But it is important to be conscious of the needs and desires of yourself and others. Emotional responsibility requires accountability and integrity.
Also, since social media is so accessible, catfishing and embellishing are issues to keep in mind when getting to know somebody.
There can be many fake profiles out there. We must be cautious about who we interact with on the internet. Some dating apps such as Bumble, ask you for verification on your profile. You take a picture of yourself to prove your account.
“Social media has distorted the dating world because there are many people you cannot trust. I think in my family and friends, everyone that has been in a successful relationship has been people they met in person, and they became friends before dating,” said Alexandra Bello, an advertising sophomore.
Dating apps bombard you with so many options that can be overwhelming and intimidating. Most prospects try to show the best version of themselves: “My interests include hiking, running marathons, traveling the world,
going to the gym, etc.” Swiping right or left determines if you both like each other but it is just the first step. Social media is part of the new dating apps of this generation because liking and commenting on photos are initiatives to meet a person.
“I think the dating world is nonexistent. You meet on Instagram, meet at school, you get somebody’s number. And you link together, they do not ask you to go on a date or plan anything. ‘Come to my house, let’s chill.’ After three times we chill in the house, we’re together. There is no intention of talking to get to know each other. In my opinion, be yourself, ask about their goals, values, financial, do not rely only on looks, also do it in the beginning of the relationship,” said Ja’shya Howes, a radio and television commination junior.
Prospects can be direct in the beginning of the interaction. It is a goal to achieve, but it can get too to-the-point. The dating experience can also be the opposite and just not flow because there’s no spark.
Just remember that dating is practice. The more questions we ask, the more we get to know each other. Go beyond the “Where are you from?” and the “Do you have any hobbies?” You have to know what you want can help you get what you want.
Here are five hacks to succeed in the dating world:
1. Be intentional if you are looking for a relationship or something casual, mention it
2. Ask the uncomfortable questions, it is easy to talk about topics we like or feel comfortable with, but the challenging ones gets us closer together
3. Do not assume, if you want to get to know a person ask them to go on a date
4. Love and get to know yourself before pouring that love to a new person
5. Be authentic, whoever is with you is fortunate, DO NOT FORGET IT!
“Social media has DISTORTED the dating world because there are many people you cannot TRUST ."
- Alexandra BelloBarry Advertising Sophomore
IS A CAR ESSENTIAL AT BARRY?
By Kean Huy Alado
In a city as big as Miami, a student’s method of transportation is critical. Although public transit is available, most opt for cars. Whether it be going from home to school, restaurants to hospitals, or banks to zoos, cars are used consistently throughout all journeys. Barry students supply their opinions on the topic of the car necessity and their preferred overall car makeups.
In an Instagram survey carried out by The Buccaneer with over 125 responses, a general preference on car properties is evident. About 57 percent of students own a car, indicating the importance of cars in the city, as well as the dependency of cars for the Barry students.
Specifically for car factors, an overwhelming 48.8 percent of respondents declared reliability as the determining factor for purchasing a car. A majority want a vehicle that will not break down erratically over a luxurious one. When it came to car price, 33.3 percent, which may reflect a college student’s economic strife. The least important car factors for Barry students appear to be gas consumption and simply
liking the car. This indicates that if a car could promise a student that it will be consistently performing at a usable quality, then any other factors or concerns can be overlooked.
Elishama Celestin, a sophomore computer software engineering major, owns a 2021 Toyota Rav 4 all-wheel-drive luxury edition which he has had for about 2 and a half years. Celestin also stated that he was gifted the car and is currently paying it off. On the other hand, Yarnelis Vargas, a sophomore pre-nursing major, is a commuter dropped off at school by her father in a 2018 Hyundai Sonata, while Erick Gutierrez, a computer science junior, drives a 2007 Hyundai Azera Limited which he got as a hand-me-down from his sister two years ago.
When both students were asked about their priorities when looking to purchase a car, both students indicated interest in cars that had rather similar responses.
Celestin said, “I look for maintenance accessibility, size, and engine performance.”
Vargas said, “I’m looking for a car that does not use too much fuel and that is reliable.”
Gutierrez said, “I always check for the fuel economy and reliability.”
In maintenance and reliability of the car, a similarity of interest in longevity is evident. Gutierrez said, “It’s better to have an older, more reliable car than a newer one that’ll break down as soon as you drive it off the lot.”
They have a consensus as students on a vehicle that will remain low maintenance over time and keep them out of trouble. They also agreed on the necessity of having a car as a Barry student to a certain extent.
“If you live 15+ minutes away from Barry then it would be smart to own a car,” said Celestin. Vargas added that, “There are other means of transportation such as the bus and train (Tri-Rail).”
In the end, what matters is that you get from point A to point B in your own style.
127 responses
What is your DECIDING factor in purchasing a car?
TAILORED PROMPTS FOR STUDENT DIARIES
INK YOUR JOURNEY
By Litzy Grijalba
Journaling is self-care. It is a great way to debrief whenever you need to take a load off and reflect. Many will even say it is as essential as showering. It is like having a theraputic daily meeting with yourself. It also serves as a stress reliever and a channel for your innermost feelings and thoughts. Students are able to process experiences, reflect on feelings, and clarify thoughts.
Give yourself some basic structure every day, week, and/or month with a little bit of reflection.
The Buccaneer compiled some easy prompts you can use:
What are the goals of this week? Stay efficient, focused, and motivated by writing down a clear desired path of what you want to achieve. It also makes it easier for you to monitor your development and recognize your successes. Plus, it can serve as a reminder of what you need to prioritize and stay on track throughout the week. Try it out and discover how it can help you achieve your goals and be more productive overall!
What’s something you look forward to?
A great everyday journal prompt. Writing down your excitements helps
to remind you of the wonderful things that are yet to come. Visualizing your dreams and goals on paper can help make them come true. You get one step closer while enjoying the present and discovering the joy in your jounrey in anticipation. As you take the time to consider your goals and objectives, it can also be a way for you to take care of yourself and decompress.
Describe a moment this month when you felt proud of yourself. Boost your sense of self-worth and confidence with this reflection. Reflecting on your achievements, no matter how minor or large, reinforces your sense of accomplishment. It also gives you encouragement to keep advancing forward and acknowledge your own development. Also, you can review the entries for a little upliftment as a reminder of your talents and abilities on days when you might be feeling low.
What was the highlight of your day?
Students can use this as a daily journal prompt as it helps enjoy the good moments and acknowledge the beauty in everyday life. It's similar to gathering tiny happiness stones. You can also reflect on those good instances and recall them in less fortunate
days. It's a method to stay optimistic and cultivate thankfulness.
Improve your organization, sharpen your memory, and ignite your creativity. Your journal or planner could be like a time capsule of your ideas and encounters. A physical form of growth and your improvement from who you were yesterday or ten years ago.
Pick up a pen and make a journal your reliable travel companion!
"STAY EFFICIENT, FOCUSED,AND MOTIVATED BY WRITING DOWN A CLEAR DESIRED PATH OF WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE."
Photos Courtesy of Adobe Stock
By Isabel Pulgarin
OSCAR BUZZ LIKE NEVER BEFORE
After a groundbreaking year of cinema with films like “Barbenheimer” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the 96th Oscars are finally around the corner. On March 10, we all find out who wins the gold man for Best Picture. Until then, here is The Buccaneer’s breakdown of the nominations in our particular order.
“Killers of the Flower
My top nominee is this Western epic based on the 2017 critically acclaimed nonfiction account of “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the F.B.I.” by journalist David Grann. It claimed nine Academy Award nominations while I’ve only just started to crack it open after discovering it in my creative nonfiction course with writer and Professor Christina Crossgrove.
This tragedy of American sin stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone, known for “Certain Women” and “Winter in the Blood.” Gladstone’s role made history as the first indigenous actress to be nominated and win a Golden Globe acting award and again when she was nominated for
the Oscars’ best actress category. Her character grapples with love and betrayal as an Osage Nation member of a tribe that endured a greedy spree of murders in 1920s Oklahoma when oil was discovered.
“Barbie”
This heartwarming blockbuster comedy made a statement in the box office grossing $1.4 worldwide. With nominations for best picture; best supporting actor; adapt ed screenplay; produc- tion and costume design; and two original songs, it’s painful for the crew and their fellow Barbies that its director and co-writer Greta Gerwig and lead actress Maggot Robbie were Oscar snubbed.
lows Barbie and Ken, Ryan Gosling, as they navigate and blend between the colorful Barbie dream world and human reality.
“Past
Lives”
This romance joined the cult favorites like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” as it follows a fateful, New York City week of long-lost childhood loves from South Korea after 20 years of growth.
Based on director Celine Song’s real-life encounter with a childhood sweetheart, this film is one of the three nominations directed by women— the first time in the Academy Award’s almost 100-year history—alongside “Barbie” and “Anatomy of a Fall.”
this one until I need a good, reminiscent cry.
“Poor Things”
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, known for “The Lobster” and “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” this gothic comedy film stars lead actress Emma Stone as the young and beautiful Bella Baxter who was brought back to life by a doctor played by Willem Dafoe and goes off traveling across continents with a lawyer played by Mark Ruffalo. This fantastical revision of “Frankenstein” is nominated for 11 Oscars with its set design and costumes.
If you want a weird yet wonderful philosophical movie, this one is great.
“Oppenheimer”
It’s considered an epic for modern feminism, according to reviewers, as a story of self-discovery. The film fol-
Starring the touching Greta Lee and Tee Yoo, it’s a rich story of love, closure and destiny. I’m holding off on
This dramatic epic by acclaimed director and writer Christopher Nolan is based on the real-life theoretical physicist and the book, “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Trag-
edy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,” of his role in the creation of the atomic bomb and the Manhattan Project. It’s been nominated for 13 Oscars with a great cast including the lead actor Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. and others who brought the biopic to life.
“Maestro”
Directed, co-written and led by Bradley Cooper as American composer Leonard Bernstein, this romantic biopic chronicles the complex life-long relationship and its tests between Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre played by “She Said” actress Carey Mulligan. For this Netflix film nominated for seven Oscars, Cooper shared he studied conducting for six years to capture more than six minutes of the London Symphony Orchestra live.
“American Fiction”
This dramedy is a brilliant satire of white wokeness as a novelist, led by Jeffery Wright from “The Batman”
(2022), is fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment and reducing people to stereotypes. He then uses a pen name for a “Black” book that grapples with it all to prove his point and gets enthralled in the hypocrisy. As Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut, the film has gotten rave reviews for poking societal fun. The film also stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Sterling K. Brown.
“The Holdovers”
This film is a coming-of-age dramedy based in the ‘70s starring Paul Giamatti, known for the 2002 film “Big Fat Liar” and “Cinderella Man,” and debuting Dominic Sessa as the troubled teenager babysat over the holidays by Giamatti’s cranky history teacher character and grieving head cook portrayed by Broadway and West End star Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Reviews find this film a bittersweet, redemptive holiday film about keeping everyone and everything at arm’s length.
“Anatomy of a Fall”
This French crime thriller follows a writer trying to prove her inno cence in her husband’s death. She is a mother of a partially sighted son with a relationship that gets put to the test on trial and at home. This courtroom drama explores how biased context constructs narratives possibly far from the truth.
“The Zone of interest”
Loosely based on the novel of the same name by Martin Amis, the story follows the married life of an Auschwitz commandant living right next door to the camp seemingly living a dream with their home and garden. As a historical A24 film, it’s about horrors being kept out of sight and out of mind.
As much as I want my first few favorites to win, it’s hard to go up against the great director Christopher Nolan is. So, I predict “Oppenheimer” will win best picture.
Photos Courtesy of Wikipedia
Photo Courtesy of AdobeStock
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN?
NOMINEES OR NOT
By Diana Morose
“A lot of you will go home feeling as though you’ve been robbed… some of you will be robbed… some of you shouldn’t even be nominated,” said Jay-Z at the 2024 GRAMMYs.
On Feb. 4, during his acceptance speech as he received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at this year’s GRAMMYs, Jay-Z made waves as he made reference to Beyonce and her lack of wins for the Album of the Year category.
Have you ever questioned what the criteria is to win an award? When it comes to music, is it based on the number of sales or streams, popularity, originality? Or is it based on personal bias
ists being cast aside in a way that may be reminiscent of the Oscar’s controversy in due part to the fact that black artists are not given the same appreciation as white artists.
This can be inferred due to the fact that of the 32 GRAMMY awards that Beyoncé has won only one is from winning in one of the Big Four categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Record of the Year.
Jay-Z posed the question of how the person with the most GRAMMYs of all time could not have received an album of the year award.
A black woman hasn’t won album of the year at the Grammys since Lauryn hill’s “The Miseducation
Theresa Baptiste, a senior majoring in athletic training, shared some of her thoughts on the matter.
“I heard about it through the grapevine of TikTok and I don’t think he’s wrong at all. She’s been in the game for a long time. Her music is literally
iconic and you’re telling me that in all of her established time in the industry that she hasn’t gotten an award for Album of the Year?” she said.
For Variety last year, GRAMMY voters revealed why they did or didn’t vote for certain artists. Surprisingly, some voters revealed they didn’t vote for Beyoncé because of her popularity, stating she has “already won a lot of Grammys.”
“They say that she’s won too many awards but how come that’s not the case for Taylor Swift? I just think that there is a bit of bias when it comes to who wins what,” said Baptiste. “We already know that the system is rigged but I’m glad [Jay-Z] said that to their faces.”
ly black award categories have been relegated to awards that are not televised.
The Weeknd, who also goes by Abel Tesfaye, was not nominated for a single Grammy in 2021 after he released his album “After Hours” despite it having garnered massive success. The song “Blinding Lights” broke the record for the longest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 of all time, spending 90 weeks on the chart. Outrage sparked and The Weeknd has since boycott the Grammys.
Jay-Z’s speech is just another prominent example of the growing discontentment for the apparent bias in entertainment awards show nominations.
This has also been exacerbated by the fact that certain predominant-
Similarly, a couple years back, the Oscars were under fire for their lack of diverse nominees and viewers showed their discontent with the hashtag “OscarsSoWhite.” In 2016, all 20 Oscar nominations in the acting categories went to white performers for the second year in a row. Since then, the categories’ nominees have been more diverse, but the backlash led to some of the Oscars’ new diversity guidelines that films have to follow in order to be eligible for the Best Picture category, which have been
Famous Artist Jay Z
PhotoCourtesy of Wikipedia
implemented this year leading up to the 96th Oscars, airing on March 10.
It leaves us to wonder whether people rely on these award shows to provide a basis for the entertainment that they consume.
As award show season floats by, it will be interesting to see whether there will be more voices that state their dissatisfaction with award show voting and whether more change will be inspired in the coming years.
“To this day it seems to me that it still has weight as a badge of honor for those that are nominated and those that win,” said Brianna Torres, a senior communications major.
Torres states that many artists she loves have previously been nominated or won an award, but that does not mean she doesn’t agree with Jay-Z.
“In many ways, I agree with Jay Z’s opinions of the Grammys. The Grammys have shown time and time again how much they use artists to get views for their award show to not even win an award,” she said.
Do you think that the Grammys snub artists who deserve to win or be NOMINATED?
Do you think award shows are still RELEVANT?
Photos Courtesy of Adobe Stock
THE EVER-EVOLVING COLOR PURPLE
By Diana Morose
“The Color Purple” is the second film adaptation of the novel following the 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg. This 2023 remake features a star-studded cast including Danielle Brooks, Fantasia Barrino and Taraji P. Henson.
Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones previously worked on the 1985 movie adaptation and are among the producers for this musical remake based on the stage musical of the book.
Alice Walker is an American novelist, poet and social activist. She became the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for “The Color Purple.” She states that the novel was inspired, in part, by a story
that her sister told her about a love triangle involving their grandparents.
Set in the early 1900s in rural Georgia, the novel is centered around Celie, a young, poor, uneducated Black girl who writes letters to God because her father physically and sexually abuses her. The story follows Celie’s struggles and hardships in life before she eventually finds support and strength in sisterhood.
Since its debut in 1982, the novel has notably become one of the most banned and disputed books. According to the Banned Books Project, a public scholarship project started in 2019 by students at Carnegie Mellon University, some of the reasons for the book being banned include “religious objections, homosexuality, violence, African history, rape, incest, drug abuse, explicit language and sexual scenes.”
In 2017, “The Color Purple,” among 10,000 other books, was banned from all Texas State Prisons. The reason given is because Walker leads the reader to believe that Celie is sexually assaulted by her father. Conversely, “Mein Kampf” by Adolf Hitler and two books written by David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, were not part of the ban.
A reason for dislike of the book in the African American community is due in part to Walkers’ brutal portrayal of Black men, sexual violence and homophobia. Demonstrators picketed the 1986 film’s premiere and Black celebrities such as Spike Lee condemned it for portraying Black men in a negative light.
Although the novel is purely fiction, it provides an accurate depiction of Black life after slavery ended in the South. This could play a part in why certain audiences may find the story to be a hard pill to swallow.
Oprah Winfrey starred in the original movie and defended it.
In a 1986 article from The New York Times, Winfrey states, ‘’This movie is not trying to represent the history of black people in this country any more than ‘The Godfather’ was trying to represent the history of Italian Americans. In this case, it’s one woman’s story.’”
Amid “The Color Purple’s” resurgence in popularity with the remake, one star of the movie, Taraji P Henson, has voiced her concerns over the treatment that she and other cast members have faced while the movie was under production.
In an interview with The New York Times, Henson brought up instances where the actors were not given their own dressing rooms, food was not provided and they were expected to drive themselves to set.
“It wears on your soul because you fight so hard to establish a name for yourself and be respected in this town to no avail… I’m not the person that pulls the race card every time, but what else is it, then? Tell me. I’d rather it not be race, please give me something else.”
“I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do and getting paid a fraction of the cost,” said Henson during a Siri-
usXM interview with Gayle King while promoting the film.
Taraji P. Henson has stated that she almost left the production due to the pay disparity.
Overall, the new musical remake has been well received by audiences.
Sierra Johnson, a marketing and graphic design major, recently saw the 2023 remake and was asked about her viewing experience:
“I hadn’t seen the first one but I think the musical made it more easy to grasp, especially for those who can’t handle abuse and violence. The music choice and the singing and dancing was absolutely beautiful and heartfelt… It made me think about heaven on earth; that even though we all have our differences and take different paths, that we can still come together in the end and that’s what family is about.”
Johnson’s thoughts echo what critics and audiences had to say about the movie. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has an 82 percent critics score and a 95 percent audience rating.
“It didn’t feel like they were just acting, it felt like it meant something deeper to them.” Johnson said.
The new adaptation was available for streaming on Max.
“IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WERE JUST ACTING, IT FELT LIKE IT MEANT SOMETHING DEEPER TO THEM."
-SIERRA JOHNSON-
Barry Marketing and Graphic Design student
Photos Courtesy of Adobe Stock
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Danielle Brooks Spike Lee
Photos Courtesy of Wikipedia
SOCIAL JUSTICE
URBAN HOUSING CRISIS IN THE U.S.
By Brendalis Puig
The housing market crisis has overtaken cities across the United States, escalating to unthinkable levels. Due to inflation and greater demand, rent is becoming increasingly impossible to afford, preventing vulnerable communities from securing stable housing — especially in Miami-Dade County.
As the cost of real estate abruptly rises, people are getting pessimistic about surviving the battleground of finding a place to live.
“A studio apartment smaller than a classroom costs $1,350 a month if people [don’t] have roommates, I don't think anyone could afford to live here,” said Emilyanne Eckardt, a senior majoring in psychology.
The high cost of rent across the country has even forced the most vulnerable communities into the streets.
Last November, U.S. News and World Report highlighted that the top five of the most expensive cities to live in the United States based on rent and annual housing costs for mortgage-paying homeowners were:
1.San Diego
2.Los Angeles
3.Honolulu
4.Miami
5.Santa Barbara
For perspective, the average monthly rent in San Diego is about $2,997; in Los Angeles, it is $2,719; in Honolulu, it is $2,112; in Miami, it is $2,451; and in Santa Barbara, it is $2,842. Additionally, the real estate company Rocket Homes reports that Miami home sales prices are 6.8% higher than they were a year ago.
Students residing in Miami worry that even if they obtain a job that pays well, they will still be unable to afford housing in livable conditions.
That is the case for Virginia Rivas, a junior majoring in biology who moved from Philadelphia to Miami and expressed how hard it is to find affordable housing, particularly in big cities.
“Most apartments are overpriced and don’t even have basic necessities like a kitchen. This would lead to eating unhealthy meals like takeout or things that don’t require a kitchen, and it is overall unlivable,” said Rivas. “It is not fair that our generation cannot afford to live by ourselves, as a lot of millennials still live with their parents because of high rent prices.”
The struggle is not only for those who want to move into large cities but also for those who were born and raised there like Brianna Torres, who was born in Miami and has witnessed how the cost of her rent has multiplied over time.
“It has gone to the point where Miami has become almost unaf-
“A studio apartment SMALLER than a classroom costs $1,350 a month if people don't have roommates, I don't think anyone could AFFORD to live here."
-Emilyanne EckardtBarry Psychology Senior
fordable to live in, and it’s terrifying to think about that,” said Torres, a senior majoring in television and digital media.
Miami is now among the most popular cities in the United States.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals began relocating to large cities as a result of the shift to remote work. People who worked remotely had the flexibility to move to other states, even if the company they worked for was established in a different state. In November, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Florida experienced more people moving in than the national average.
Individuals who work remotely represent a large percentage of the people moving into Florida. In an earlier report in April 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that remote employment is the primary cause of the skyrocketing increase in housing prices.
The dream of being able to live in the Sunshine State keeps getting out of reach, leaving aspiring homeowners and even Barry students no choice but to settle elsewhere.
Barry students looking for more affordable housing alternatives outside of Miami can consider neighboring cities, including Hollywood and Hialeah. Hollywood is situated 20 miles north of Miami, offering an average monthly rent of $2,054. Hialeah, located 11 miles northwest of Miami, of-
fering an average rent of $2,058, making it another affordable option.
The city of West Palm Beach, located 71 miles northwest of Miami, is another option to take into consideration, with an average monthly rent of $2,232. Similarly, North Lauderdale, situated 35 miles north of Miami, offers an average rent of $2,004, providing a more budget-friendly option. For students looking for ever cheaper options, 39 miles south of Miami is the city of Homestead, offering one of the most affordable alternatives at a monthly average of $1,800.
As lawmakers look for efforts to help the housing crisis, the most significant initiative was last year at the legislative session where Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Live Local Act into law, allocating $711 million to various programs intended to increase the number of available homes and downpayment aid. Even though this program made a positive contribution, there is still more to do.
Given how the ongoing housing crisis is consuming large cities like Miami and many others, urgent action seems necessary. The housing crisis is one of the significant challenges affecting America, and lawmakers like DeSantis are taking the situation into consider-
ation and beginning to prioritize affordable housing to guarantee that every individual, even the most vulnerable and isolated, has access to safe and stable housing conditions.
By Viviana Corbisiero
If you knew that the parts making up your new Tesla, Google Pixel or Macbook Air originated from the bloody minefields of Sub-Saharan Africa, would it be reason for you to slow down your purchasing behavior?
Serious humanitarian problems have arisen from the sophisticated cobalt mining scenario in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Cobalt, a metallic element used in various industries, is needed by the tech industry for electric vehicles, computers, telephones and other devices.
“It is a massive problem because technol-
OUR BLOODY PHONES
EXPLOITATIVE MINING PRACTICES IN THE MAKING OF BELOVED DEVICES
Accidents, collapses and exposure to dangerous substances happen frequently.
Additionally, the DRC’s cobalt mining industry has been connected to multiple human rights violations, including child labor. Young people who work as miners are frequently put in long shifts and in unsafe environments for little pay. Some estimates have the age of youngsters working as miners at seven years old.
Carla Davila, a master’s student in sport psychology, believes it is a sad reality for the underaged workers in the DRC.
ogy is not decreasing it is increasing even more so that people buy more and more,” said Betsy Pimentel, senior translation major. “What will happen if they do not produce cobalt anymore?”
Experts estimate that the “DRC’s soil may hold some 3.7 million tons of cobalt — close to half of the world’s supply,” according to CBS News.
CBS News reported in December that many unofficial, modest cobalt miners work in the DRC, usually employing poor equipment and not enough appropriate safety gear.
As a result, these mines can be dangerous.
“Almost everyone just buys phones, and they will never think about the children working in the mines,” she said. “People do not care about that because we are all addicted to our devices, and we could never just stop [buying] it.”
Since most Americans, especially students and remote workers, rely on the convenience of digital and electric products, this actually increases the demand for the metal and fosters abuse, conflict and inhumane working conditions in cobalt mines in the DRC.
Additionally, the fact that big tech companies usually depend on complex and transparent supply chains makes it difficult to determine the origin of the cobalt used in their products.
“We all know what is happening in Congo and to the people building our phones, but we care more about our material than them. Always the rich win over people and the industries takes advantage of the poor people in everything,” said Clara Versier, a senior biology major. “So, yeah, governments need to do something, but what can we do? Stop buying phones? Will never happen.”
Perhaps not. However, there are several ways that individuals and groups can aid the Congolese people affected by cobalt mining:
Inform people about the abuses of human rights and the damage that the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s cobalt mining industry does to the environment.
Apply pressure to technology firms to ensure that there is no mistreatment in their chain of custody and to support projects that encourage the ethical purchase of cobalt.
Look for products that have been confirmed to come from ethical sources or donate to organizations who are working to improve the working circumstances for miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Donate money or volunteer your time to organizations that support, educate and resource communities affected by cobalt mining.
By discussing this issue with the Barry community, students can consider the ethical implications of their reliance on technology and come up with ideas on ways to encourage more moral behavior in the IT industry.
They can also discuss the broader concerns regarding the global supply chain and how consumer demand is related to human rights and environmental impacts in resource-rich regions like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Almost everyone just buys phones, and they will never think about the CHILDREN WORKING in the mines. People do not care about that because we are all ADDICTED to our DEVICES.
-CARLA DAVILA-
Barry Sports Psycology Master's Student
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Demobilized child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Spring Break Word Search
•SPRING BREAK
•BEACH
•MEMORIES
•FLOWERS
•BLOSSOM
•VACATION
•SUNSHINE
•RELAX
•ENJOY
•SPROUT
•THAW
•SHOWERS
•WEATHER
•PARTY
•SWIMMING
•TRIP
Photo Courtesy of Adobe Stock
