Issue 13 • Volume 125 Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 www.thesandspur.org
@thesandspur facebook.com/ thesandspur
A promise kept: Woman rushes fraternities in friend’s honor After the death of her best friend, Bethany England becomes first female to rush Rollins fraternities By Zoe Pearson
zpearson@rollins.edu
Content warning: This article discusses suicide.
I
Curtis Shaffer
Bethany England enjoys a cigar on Park Avenue, something she and Samuel Morse used to do together weekly.
Softball wins locker room after years of requests Having faced crime and vandalism, now the team feels heard and has a safer space to convene By Henri Balla
A
hballa@rollins.edu
fter 23 years as head coach of the Rollins softball program, Michelle Frew will finally get to gather her team in its own locker room facility. The City of Winter Park leased a building to Rollins located behind Martin Luther King, Jr. Field, where the softball team plays and practices. Over winter break, the College transformed the unused space into a sports clubhouse filled with personalized wooden lockers, leather couches, a conference table, and a television. “What our athletic director and president did was amazing,
coming through with this,” said Frew. “For years, we’ve always said, ‘Why can’t we get that building out there? They don’t really use it for much.’ No one really made it happen, but they did and we’re thrilled.” The team received the facility after a long fight led by members who pointed out the safety threats and disadvantages they faced without one. “We’ve had people break into our cars or the field and steal our bags. Base paint was used to vandalize our dugout,” Erin Crawford (‘20) said. “People have hopped the fence and there were no security cameras, so having a building where we know that we can go in and be ‣ See SOFTBALL Page 8
t started with a conversation over cigars last year. Bethany England (‘21) told her close friend, Samuel Morse, that she had always wanted to join a fraternity. To Morse, that was that—he was set on the two of them going through recruitment as a pair one day. But then Morse, a rising sophomore at Rollins at the time, died by suicide in July 2018. “In whatever I wanted to do, even if it was outside the box for a female, even if I wasn’t good at it or I was probably going to fail, he still supported whatever I was interested in,” said England. England took their promise to heart, and decided to go through fraternity recruitment two weeks ago in Morse’s honor. “At first it was a joke between the two of us, but after Sam [Morse] died, I realized the importance of community. The importance of having people
there for you, to have your back, and having people to reach out to. That’s something that a fraternity and sorority offer. Rushing is an opportunity that he lost. I did this for him,” England said. Once the first night of recruitment rolled around on Wednesday, Jan. 16, England dolled herself up in a sharply ironed pink pantsuit paired with the perfect bright red lipstick and loosely curled hair. “I knew I was going to be the only female in the room, so why try to hide it?” she said. She was not nervous heading into a male-dominated setting. “I spent most of my childhood and teenage years hanging with guys and doing ‘masculine activities.’ I’m a total girlie girl when it comes to fashion and style, but interest-wise, I align closer with men,” England said. She walked out of her dorm room confidently, interested in sparking discussions about suicide awareness. “I wasn’t intimidated going into it because of the fact that I found strength in the reason why I was rushing. And because of the opportunity to
start the conversation about suicide awareness,” England said. She was very serious about joining a fraternity, though, and went through the process in hopes that she could find the sense of community that Morse had found through his friends in Lambda Chi Alpha and X Club. She also went into the experience open to becoming the first woman to join a fraternity at Rollins, as Morse’s words of encouragement still rang in her ears. “You never can let your fear get in the way of your purpose,” England said. Once she arrived at the event, England mingled with the fraternities, taking special interest in the Rollins chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha. She went over to X Club, the College’s local fraternity, when she heard that they had someone rolling cigars. She said that it felt like everything was coming full circle. Since she and Morse smoked cigars every week, experiencing this as a part of the recruitment process was fitting. England said that she had a ‣ See RECRUITMENT Page 4
Upcoming Campus Center renovations look to enhace dining experience Layout changes aim to maximize space and dining options for students By Caroline Klouse
S
cklouse@rollins.edu
killman Dining Hall, which is the main dining hall in the Cornell Campus Center, will undergo a $2.1 million renovation from early May through mid-August of this year. With new serving stations, tables, seating, and flooring, the renovation will completely reshape the center and its functionality. Cristina Cabanilla, director of Dining Services, highlighted the “showcase cooking experience, where students can actually watch the food be cooked right in front of them and have a prop-
er dining experience.” In addition to the current pasta, all-day breakfast, entree, international, and deli stations, there will be a vegan station added where students will be able to access a guaranteed vegan option at each meal. Other vegetar-
Photos Page 4 ‣ Potential dining hall plans ian and gluten-free options will also be provided. Additionally, students can have their own salad made at a new salad toss station. “A key eye-catcher will be the new brick oven in the cen-
ter of Skillman, where students can have a versatility of things cooked right in front of them, like pizza, casseroles, rotisseries, and more,” said Cabanilla. To avoid the morning and afternoon rushes where students are huddled behind one another in line, “there will be two check-in stations at the entrance of Skillman Dining Hall where students can swipe into [the] dining hall, in order to avoid a long line,” said Bill Short, associate vice president for finance & assistant treasurer. Though the layout of the Cornell Campus Center is changing for the next semester, the dining plan will not be changed. ‣ See DINING Page 4
2 Established in 1894 with the following editorial:
The Sandspur • January 31, 2019
‘The Florida Project’s’ Sean Baker on the various lives changed by the film
The recent speaker’s film inspired scholarships and sparked community conversation
By Heather Borochaner EXECUTIVE STAFF Ellie Rushing Editor-in-Chief Christina Fuleihan Managing Editor
CONTENT STAFF Alex Candage Head Copy Editor Siobhan Nolet David Smith Hannah Butcher Copy Editors Maura Leaden Assigning Editor Alyssa Malto Headlines Kira Bernhard Photo Editor
DESIGN DEPARTMENT Lya Dominguez Head Designer Dana Wagenhauser Pat Murray Hannah Jahosky Designer Anastasia Rooke Designer / Illustrator
WEB STAFF Kalli Joslin Neny Lairet Katie McCree
Digital Content Editors
BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden
Director of Student Media
Dr. Leslie Poole Faculty Advisor Luis Diego Student Media Graduate Assistant
ADVERTISING
Contact: studentmedia@rollins.edu
hborochaner@rollins.edu
S
ean Baker may be known as a director in the world of film, but in Central Florida, he is known as the man who brought critical attention to the area’s affordable housing crisis, which helped a young boy gain a full-ride scholarship to Rollins. Baker, director of the Orlando-centered film “The Florida Project,” spoke at Rollins last week as part of the Winter Park Institute’s 2018-19 speaker series. While this was his first time at Rollins, he was already familiar with the area. In a personal interview before his evening speech, he shared that he and his team spent over a year researching the film before they wrote the screenplay. The film takes place at the Magic Castle Inn and Suites, a dingy purple motel located a few miles from Disney on U.S. Route 192. The motel is meant for tourists, but it is widely inhabited by homeless people who cannot afford the area’s silently steep housing prices. The film follows a young girl named Moonee, who is played by Winter Park resident Brooklyn Prince, and her mischievous life living in the motel and avoiding homelessness with her mother. While the characters and events in the film are fictional, they are heavily based on situations real people live through, specifically the children raised in these conditions. “We didn’t write the script until after we had spent time researching and talking to those who lived there, learning their stories,” said Baker. “It was invaluable to work with the community living at the Magic Castle.” Moonee’s best friend Scooty was played by Christopher Rivera, a now 11-year-old boy who was living at the Paradise Inn in Kissimmee, a low grade motel, when filming locations were being scouted. After Rivera was cast as Scooty and the movie was released, Rollins administrators were so moved by his story that they worked with the film producers and film distributor, A24, to secure Rivera a full scholarship when he graduated high
school. “Christopher’s scholarship is the true success of the film,” said Baker. “That had the most meaningful outcome. His life will be changed.” Rivera now lives with his mother at an apartment in Lakeland. In an article from Orlando Weekly, Brandy Fransen, Rollins senior associate director of international admission at Rollins, talked about the “The Florida Project’s” impact. “I think to me what stood out was the disparity between an incredible place like Disney World and then in the backyard is complete opposite to what you think is there,” Fransen said. Another character directly created from Baker’s research was Bobby, the motel manager, who was played by Willem Dafoe. This character was inspired by the Magic Castle’s actual manager, John Manning. “John opened his world to us,” says Baker. “Without him,
there would be no Bobby.” Bobby was a character who cared about the families living at the motel. He helped them out when he could, even while knowing he may have to evict them at a moment’s notice because of legal trouble or unpaid rent. Dafoe was nominated for multiple awards for his portrayal of the character. Seeing community members like Rivera and Manning again after returning to Orlando for the premier was a “beautiful moment” for Baker. “Their approval and acceptance was so important to me,” he said. “It was a very moving night. Made us feel like we achieved what we wanted to achieve.” Baker said he plans to visit those families again after his speech at the Winter Park Institute. “The Florida Project” was nominated for awards across multiple film festivals and was well-received by both critics
and audiences alike, but Baker tries not to think about potential awards while making a film. “I actually thought it was going to be pretty divisive,” he said with a grin. “It ended up being universally loved.” Baker said that for young filmmakers, it is a constant learning process. This is something that he emphasized in his campus speech. “I’ve been making movies for years and I still don’t know what I’m doing,” he remarked with a laugh. “So don’t wait. The best time is now. Just pick up your camera or your phone and start making movies.” Through “The Florida Project,” Baker hopes that the increased awareness of hidden homelessness will lead to policy changes that make housing more affordable. Although he refrained from giving specifics, Baker revealed that he is planning films that will continue to tackle underrepresented issues in American society.
3
The Sandspur • January 31, 2019
Business professor remembers Dr. Michèle Boulanger Friend and colleague reminisces after fellow International Business professor passes away By Dr. Emmanuel Kodzi
ekodzi@rollins.edu
Editor’s note: The following is a tribute to Dr. Michèle Boulanger, associate professor in the Department of International Business, who died on Jan. 17 in Antibes, France from health complications following a stroke.
I
t was Fall 2011. I was at Rollins College for a conference. I got to meet Michèle when a guest speaker to her class invited me along. She was a warm person, and she struck me as someone who was very intelligent and comfortable in her skin. We exchanged emails after that. In 2012, when I applied for a position in the Department of International Business, I was told that “a preferred internal candidate” had also applied for the position. As it turns out, I was competing with Michèle—she was a visiting assistant professor at that time. The search concluded with both of us being hired, and we quickly developed a strong connection. I did not know of any other faculty member from Africa at the time, but Michèle was born in North Africa, so I called her my African sister. Two weeks ago, I lost a col-
league, a friend, and a sister. We had served the department together, taking turns to teach statistics and operations management. We always had some students who were frustrated with us because, if they had challenges grasping the tough quantitative concepts, they just assumed we were terrible teachers. Some dropped my class and took hers, and vice-versa, but they realized that they faced the same issues. Michèle and I encouraged each other to stay the course and give our students the best. We would not dumb down the courses, but keep working to help students make the right linkages. We were there for each other. I recall her sitting in my statistics class while I taught over video conferencing years ago (I needed to be away that week). She was able to give me an accurate picture of how that session went, and she gave me confidence to teach the second session the same way. Michèle is the one who introduced the JMP software to the department. She was an expert in effectively using the software for data visualization and data analytics. I called her the JMP queen! She was really good at what she
did.
I also served with Michèle on the assessment committee of the department for our accreditation. She was a structured but inclusive leader. You never felt like attending meetings was a
Dr. Michèle Boulanger waste of time. She would plan ahead and ensure that things got done. She knew how to delegate and hold people accountable to the tasks she had assigned them. She took the same organizational skills into her classes. I had the honor of observing her in action. She taught with poise and
clarity. She brought her extensive industry experience to the subject matter. Yes, she was once Vice President of quality at Motorola. She served in many executive, consulting, research, and teaching roles. She worked really hard developing standards under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and she served as Chair of the technical committee on applications of statistical methods. The department recognized this effort and awarded her scholarship credit for her amazing accomplishments in international standards. She was also the department’s representative to the Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education (CUIBE). I recall the very early years at Rollins, when someone referred to us as the “young ones” in the department. Yes, we were the newest to join, but we were not young. Michèle had long been a grandma, but she took this graciously and just let her experience come through. In any case, her long and productive career had taught her valuable lessons about taking the high road, and she did that with style. She was a kind woman in her words and manner, but not
a pushover nor a bootlicker. She stood and voted for principle, not politics. In fact, she demonstrated such strength when she faced various instances of prejudice. I admired her and how she carried herself. I recall our last few conversations before her declining health prevented her from going back to class. We talked about the department, our students, our holiday plans, and the gators in the lake near her home in Maitland. A few months ago, I saw her driving her sleek BMW convertible in Winter Park. She had stopped at an intersection, and I yelled, “MICHELLLLE!” just before her car moved. She gave me one of those classic smiles as I watched her go. That was the last time I saw my friend and colleague. Her husband later told me she was receiving care in France... I was not expecting that shattering news of her Jan. 17 passing. I miss you already, MB. It was a great honor to have known you and learn from you. May your legacy be preserved. Rest in peace, my sister! Emmanuel Kodzi is an associate professor of International Business Operations and the director of the International Business Program.
New parking garage in the works, will add over 750 spaces However, the construction, set to begin this semester, will temporarily remove over 100 current parking spaces By Heather Borochaner
hborochaner@rollins.edu
R
ollins is set to begin another construction project, costing over $9 million, as a new four-story parking garage is set to be built in the Ollie Parking Lot. Construction will start this semester between Holt Hall and Sutton Place Apartments. A specific date for construction has not been set. Construction will force the 106 parking spaces reserved for junior and senior students to be temporarily lost. While the Ollie Lot is closed, overflow parking will be directed to the SunTrust parking garage located off of Park Ave. When completed, the new
garage will offer four levels of structured parking and contain 777 spaces reserved for faculty, staff, and students, according to Ed Kania, vice president of Business and Finance. While the overall price for the project is still being calculated, Kania anticipates that it will cost around $12,000 per parking space—equating to $9.32 million in total cost. Part of the construction will be completed during the summer, but those 90 days will not be enough time to complete such a large project. Therefore, reduced parking in the fall is inevitable. Rollins has been in a continued state of construction and disruption with multiple different projects going on across campus. Kania said that the Ollie
garage is being added to the list of construction projects in order to meet the code requirements of the new lakefront student housing project. Disruption is nothing new to WPRK-FM (91.5), Rollins’ student radio station, which is currently housed in the Stewart Building next to the Ollie lot. As of mid-January, the station was notified that they must move to a new location by Friday, Feb. 1, according to Sydney Rock (‘20), station manager of WPRK. “This will be our second time moving in less than a year, after being promised that Stewart House would be the only place we’d be in until the new studio was complete,” said Rock. The station moved to Stewart over the summer to make way
for the remodeling of Mills Memorial Hall. “The majority of the moving process is placed on the student staff. Now we are forced to balance our schoolwork, our work as the staff, any extracurriculars, and moving to a still undetermined location has been added on top of it all,” Rock said. Rock also said the current plan is for Rollins to provide a portable trailer until Mills is finished. She said that this is still unconfirmed. WPRK is run by over 15 student staff members along with over 100 volunteer DJs who come in weekly to host twohour shows. Rock said that the constant movement has had a heavy impact on these students and volunteers, and, since it is
no longer centrally located, the station’s visibility on campus has diminished. Due to limited communication, Kania did not have an opportunity to respond to the status of WPRK’s movement on campus, but he did say, “There is never a convenient time for construction... When the parking structure is complete, it will relieve pressure on campus parking to facilitate construction as well as campus operations.” Start and end dates for construction have not yet been confirmed, but more information on this will be available in mid February.
4
The Sandspur • January 31, 2019
‣
DINING Continued from page 1 The current system of meal swipes and dining dollars will continue. “This renovation will create a better dining experience for the students and allow for them to meet with one another in an environment that they really enjoy,” said Cabanilla. She added that the Student
Government Association “also played a role in influencing the choices and layout for the new renovation.” The purpose of this renovation is to maximize space and dining options. The proposed plan is to increase seating capacity by more than 100 seats. The seating options will include the tables that are already in place, in addition to new booths, counters, and more intimate tables for
students to choose from. As shown in the proposed plans for the dining hall, there will be multiple stations spread throughout where students can access a wide variety of food stations. This is unlike the current layout where all of the dining options are congregated and served in the left area of the hall. Finally, unlike the current pile of dishes dropped off at a back counter, there will now be
a dish drop area where students can place their dirty dishes on a conveyor belt. A new technological feature will also be included in the renovation called MyFitnessPal, which is a smartphone app that will be integrated into students’ dining experience. Starting in mid- to late-February, a barcode will be placed next to each dining option. Students can take a photo of the
barcode that will be sent to the MyFitnessPal app. These barcodes will allow students to access all of the nutritional information associated with each dining option. This includes the dish’s ingredients and the recipe. It will also feature a breakdown of calories, including carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to allow for students to truly understand what they are consuming.
Designs by Jenna Atwell, graphic designer.
(Left) This design shows the layout for the renovation of the Cornell Campus Center detailing where the main kitchen, food stations, and seating will be placed. (Top Right) This design shows the more intimate seating arrangements near the new vegan and all-day breakfast food stations. (Bottom Right) This design shows the brick oven that will be the new focus point of the Skillman Dining Hall, as it is accompanied by booth seating and elongated tables for larger groups of students.
‣
RECRUITMENT Continued from page 1 positive experience going through recruitment and that the fraternities all responded favorably. She originally planned on attending all of the events that she did not need an invitation to, assuming her experience would end there. However, Lambda Chi Alpha invited her to return for the final night before bid day and ended up giving her an unofficial bid. According to the bylaws of each fraternity on campus, people who identify as women cannot join these organizations. National fraternities are subject to the rules set for them by superiors outside of Rollins and must uphold them under penalty of losing their charter, while local fraternities, such as X Club, are free to change their bylaws upon action by current members. Although X Club had the authority to make changes to their bylaws, they did not extend a bid to England. On bid day, although women are not allowed to attend, and England could not be offered a real bid, Lambda Chi Alpha gave her an unofficial bid card. “She just really related with our chapter. We were close with Sam [Morse], and it meant a lot to us
that she went through this and that she was changing the way we were thinking about things,” said Fred Marro (‘19), president of the Rollins chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha. “We knew that we couldn’t officially bid her, but it was clear through our reactions [when she came up in the bid discussion] that we all really connected with her, and we all cared for her,” said Marro. While she cannot officially be a brother, Marro made it clear that the brotherhood sees her as one. England believes that part of Morse’s goal in encouraging her to go through recruitment was to open the door for other women like herself who think a fraternity is the right space for them. Marro said that England’s recruitment experience was important in more ways than one; not only was it symbolic of a true dedication to her friendship with Morse, but it pushed the boundaries of what a fraternity is and created a space for more open discussion about it. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). You can find a list of additional resources at SpeakingOfSuicide. com/resources.
Curtis Shaffer
England still enjoys spending time at Cigarz On The Avenue, a small cigar shop located at 331 S Park Ave.
The Sandspur • January 31, 2019 5 Art through undergarments: Student shares survivors’ stories
Senior artist embroiders sexual assault survivors’ quotes into their undergarments
Courtesy of Dawn Roe
Meredith Ewen presented “Voices: Beyond the Walls” last fall in the Cornell Fine Arts Museum. She is continuing the project through her website, voicesbeyond.net.
By Caroline Klouse
cklouse@rollins.edu
Content Warning: This article discusses sexual assault. Please know that there are resources available to you, such as the Wellness Center and Office of Title IX, which is located in Dave’s Boathouse.
A
s people go about their day, they may not think much about the undergarments they are wearing. For survivors of sexual assault, however, these garments can be painful reminders of their harrowing experiences. That is why Meredith Ewen (‘19), a studio art major and programs intern at the Office of Title IX, decided to use bras and underwear from survivors to create an art project that helps survivors tell their stories. Ewen’s “Voices: Beyond the Walls” project and her “Dear Survivor” letter project show that artistry and advocacy do not have to begin when students graduate. They can start here and now. Ewen’s project showcas-
es undergarments embroidered with messages, such as the names, locations, or stories from sexual assault survivors throughout history and across demographics. Most undergarments were donated by sexual assault survivors at Rollins and the greater Central Florida community. As a sexual assault survivor herself, Ewen has noticed that survivors have an odd relationship with the undergarments that they were wearing at the time. “Some of us hold onto it, [some] get rid of it immediately, and some of us look at it from time to time,” said Ewen. She recently created a website, voicesbeyond.net, to display each embroidered undergarment. The website also provides a citation to the survivor’s story or a resource in collaboration with their identity group. At Ewen’s initial exhibition during the senior showcase at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Ewen saw the impact of her work in how each person chose to engage with the project. She said some casually glanced at it,
while others actively avoided it or stared it down. “This forces the viewer to be vulnerable in a different way,” said Ewen. Prior to her senior showcase, Ewen’s original goal was to collect 500 undergarments on Mills Lawn to represent the amount of students who are likely to experience sexual assault before they graduate college. When Ewen only received 300 undergarments, she did not give up hope. Instead, she turned the undergarments into yet another beautiful and empowering project. “What would it be like if we were to claim this object in a way that was defiant and also honoring people before us and creating a future that we want to have?” Ewen asked. Ewen’s purpose for creating the project is to ask the question, “How has that experience impacted these people?” Through this project, Ewen wants to validate and accept each person’s story and experience, as well as continue the conversation about how it impacted them. “I wanted to present a space
where the evidence wasn’t a rape kit or photographs or bruises or scars or any of that. The evidence was their stories,” said Ewen. Throughout this journey, Ewen has realized that advocacy and inclusion are active processes. Ewen looks at and honors as many various identity groups, voices, and experiences as possible. “All of these things represent people who may or may not feel like they are listened to,” said Ewen. “Everyone who has a story to tell gets to decide what to tell, who to tell, when to tell, and it is ultimately their decision,” said Ewen. She said that she has realized the importance of listening to and telling diverse stories that offer different perspectives on trauma, pain, and isolation. This process has been both a healing and learning experience for Ewen. Through this healing and empowerment, Ewen has learned that this is “not about right or wrong or fitting into a box about what a survivor looks like or what your experience was.” Instead, she said, it is
about honoring each person’s experience and realizing what the community can do to help each survivor recover. Ewen launched another project on her website titled “The ‘Dear Survivor’ Letter Project,” where viewers can engage with “Voices: Beyond the Walls” by thinking about how they would respond to a survivor if they had the time to truly think and process their experience first. Ewen’s project continues into the spring semester and well into the rest of her life as both an advocate and an artist. When the Department of Art and Art History asked Ewen how many embroidered garments she would make, Ewen boldly responded, “I will stop sewing when there are no more stories left.” Therefore, anyone is encouraged to donate undergarments to the department to allow Ewen to continue telling these stories, which are key to the healing process. Although this is primarily targeted for survivor donations, anyone can donate.
6
The Sandspur • January 31, 2019
Q&A: Title IX Specialist on her approach to the high-stakes job
SGA blends smoothie bar into the gym
New program specialist looks forward to improving campus culture
Success of three pop-up smoothie bars will determine
Rachel Stern
Sarah Laake is the new Title IX Program Specialist.
By Zoe Pearson
zpearson@rollins.edu
A
fter a semester-long search last fall, Rollins officially has a new Title IX Program Specialist: Sarah Laake. Her role oversees sexual assault cases and gender-, sex-, and sexual orientation-related discrimination cases. Laake comes to Rollins from the University of Central Florida (UCF). She is a mother of two daughters and she has allowed a passion for gender equality and violence prevention to largely govern her career since she was an undergraduate college student. When it comes to campus education, she uses uses a threefold approach: educate people on risk reduction, explain bystander intervention techniques, and initiate conversations about consent. She believes that providing information on available options enables victims to make the most empowering choice for them and ultimately empowers victims to embrace a survivor mentality. The Sandspur sat down with Laake to learn more about her previous experience working in Title IX and what she looks forward to implementing at Rollins. Laake’s answers were edited for length and clarity. Sandspur: Why did you apply to be Rollins’ Title IX Program Specialist? Laake: I think there’s something special here, and I think a lot of people feel it when they come on campus. It’s almost intangible, hard to explain but I
think when you walk on campus there’s a sense of community that you experience just talking to other faculty members, staff members, and students. People, for the most part, recognize that we’re privileged to be here and they truly care and want our students to have the best experience possible. They take the mission to heart to shape and educate future leaders. S: What do you hope to accomplish as Title IX Program Specialist? L: Our ultimate goal through Title IX and any equity work on campus is to create a campus community [and] a learning environment free of sex-based discrimination, harassment, and sexual harassment. We want to educate people on the dynamics of abuse and prevent incidents from happening to create a safer, healthier, more respectful environment on campus. Smaller goals are to make sure we’re providing top-notch service to anyone who is going through the Title IX process or who has experienced interpersonal violence or abuse [and] making sure [we are doing] whatever we can do to help them feel like their access to education hasn’t been limited by what they’ve experienced. The prevention education piece is up there as well, to make sure that people are aware of what is happening here on campus and in our community, [and] that they understand how these types of incidents can impact and harm other people. People should also know how to step in to be active bystanders if they see something that is concerning
to them. They will know how help a friend or help themselves. We—here, now—are the ones who can change the world to hopefully make it violence-free. S: You have a really unique approach to Title IX issues; where does this come from? L: From the variety of different experiences I’ve had in employment and volunteer roles, and particularly in my role as Title IX Investigator at UCF. I really got to see both sides of the process—so complainants and respondents who are going through the process. Getting to work with complaining parties and responding parties in my role as an investigator and then a remedial measures specialist, I got to see that it was a difficult process for both parties. That really is the heart of what were trying to do, make a fair and equitable process for anyone who’s going through the process and that they have the support and resources they need. S: When did you get your start in Title IX? L: You have to go back really almost 20 years. I started as an undergrad at the University of South Carolina as a volunteer victim advocate at a rape crisis center in Columbia, South Carolina. They had a really fantastic training program; we had to do a forty hour training in order to work the rape crisis hotline. We also responded to hospital calls, so when people were in crisis, we were really well trained to respond and go out and be as much help as we could in that situation. That’s where my passion started for this area. I moved on from there in a variety of different volunteer roles and eventually job roles. I was the manager for a domestic violence hotline in Baltimore City and then most recently I was at UCF for about 6 years where I started out in their Victim Services offices, then moved over into a Title IX Investigator role, and then transitioned into doing more remedial measures and support. Violence prevention education has sort of been peppered through all of those different roles. Coming to Rollins has given me the opportunity to meld all those different roles together into something more holistic.
whether Dave’s Boathouse location changes By Hannah Butcher
S
hbutcher@rollins.edu
tudents passing through the Alfond Sports Center will soon have the option of purchasing a range of healthy smoothie options. On Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 3-6 p.m., there will be a pop-up smoothie bar inside the concession area near the entrance of the sports center. This is one of three pop-ups to come throughout February. The dates and times of future pop-ups will be determined by the first’s success. If all three pop-ups are a success, the bar, which is currently housed in Dave’s Boathouse, will be permanently relocated. This move is being sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA) in conjunction with Dining Services. “[The smoothie bar] was one thing we really wanted to bring to campus more than anything,” said SGA President Nagina Chaudhry. “The problem with smoothies being at Dave’s is that most people don’t know it exists or don’t want to trek all the way over there. In the mornings, most foot traffic occurs on the opposite side of campus near Bush and Cornell and closer to Sutton.” Director of Dining Services Cristina Cabanilla said that the
smoothie bar will serve the top five selling smoothies as well as any special requests. Power bars and supplements will also be available. “We are also trying to get GNC to be involved,” Cabanilla said. GNC is an American company that sells health- and nutrition-related products, including vitamins, supplements, minerals, and herbs. This health and fitness store may provide protein powder and power bars, offering students more professional options when it comes to optimizing their fitness. Cabanilla said that the proximity of the new smoothie bar will give athletes and non-athletes alike the opportunity to fuel up before and after working out. Cabanilla said that although no additional seating will be provided, the smoothie bar will hopefully incentivize students to go to the sports center more often, thereby encouraging healthier lifestyles. “We are excited to work on this project. We want to see the reaction of the students and if it becomes popular or not and if the proximity works out,” Cabanilla said.
Graphic by Anastasia Rooke
7
The Sandspur • January 31, 2019
Urban sprawl has killer consequences for pedestrians
As the deadliest pedestrian city in the US, Orlando’s poor urban planning puts citizens at risk
Graphic by Anastasia Rooke
By Hannah Butcher
hbutcher@rollins.edu
OPINION
C
onstruction work can be seen throughout the Orlando area, including Rollins College. In the name of growth, traffic is rerouted for the sake of construction, and this has had a tragic impact on pedestrians. According to a report by Smart Growth America and National Complete Streets Coalition, the Orlando metro area is the most dangerous area in the United States for pedestrians, accumulating 656 pedestrian deaths between 2008 and 2017. Florida, in its entirety, is also ranked the deadliest state for people traveling on foot. However, is ceaseless construction the silent killer—or is there a deeper underlying threat to our community? I am a native Floridian who has witnessed the unchecked urban sprawl; the exponential growth of residential and urban development disregards real people—employees, children, grandparents, bicyclists, and people with disabilities—to the point of catastrophe. In some areas, walkers are forced to jay-
walk across busy streets because a crosswalk is simply unavailable. In other places, needed stop signs are nonexistent, and traffic lights are no-shows in low-income neighborhoods. Negligent urban development is the real silent killer. Road-side construction is merely an accomplice. According to the report specified earlier, statistical patterns highlight that particular demographics suffer more pedestrian deaths than others. For example, adults older than 50, people of color, and people living in low-income communities are disproportionately killed in pedestrian-related crashes. These groups seem to be targeted because of a lack of sufficient infrastructure. Sidewalks, roads, road signs, and traffic lights in areas considered unimportant to the region’s economy are designed poorly. In addition, residents with low-income, who also tend to be less educated, are not taught how to safely travel on foot next to busy roads. Therefore, certain neighborhoods, especially in Orlando, are unintentionally designed to be dangerous. If regular walkers are in danger, imagine the risk that elderly people and people with disabil-
itites face when they choose to walk in the city. The lack of accessibility in some areas may mean that they must take unorthodox paths, unknowingly making themselves more vulnerable to car accidents and uneven surfaces. Additionally, challenges involving difficulty hearing, seeing, or speaking can hinder their safety. Orlando’s transportation website states that the city’s top priority is pedestrian safety, and it is engaging in the following projects to prevent future tragedies: • Bumby multi-use path project • Colonial overpass project • Complete streets policies to enhance safety • Gertrude’s Walk project • Orlando Main Streets bicycle and pedestrian study • Orlando Walks sidewalk program I do not think that these mini projects will deliver much of an impact. In order to drastically lower the pedestrian death rate in Orlando, a structural change needs to happen. The city must carve out spaces for more crosswalks (especially in low-income areas), provide accessibility alternatives so that people with
disabilities can transport themselves safely, and decrease speed limits where the existing limits are not taken seriously. The sad thing is that we hear news related to this issue, such as the fatal bicycle accident and teenage boy who was killed as a result, and we feel remorse for a moment. However, that moment simply fades, and we forget about the boy whose life was stolen and the reasons why he was killed. We dismiss it as a normal
occurrence, a fact of life. Facing the threat of death when legally crossing a road is not a fact of life. No one should have to fear for their life when they leave their house. The city of Orlando, including Winter Park, should try its hardest to decrease pedestrian deaths and erase its history of neglecting its city walkers. Taking more drastic—instead of passive—steps will be the key that saves hundreds of future lives.
8
The Sandspur • January 31, 2019
Patriots favored to win another Super Bowl
Although the Chargers have a strong team, the more experienced Pats are eager to avoid another loss
By Austin Nowinski
anowinski@rollins.edu
OPINION
O
ne of the biggest sporting events of the year is almost upon us. In what is set up to be one of the most entertaining games ever, Super Bowl LIII will see the perennial New England Patriots and the rising Los Angeles Rams looking to pummel each other into defeat. The Patriots will be playing in their third straight Super Bowl and the eleventh of their storied history. Their five wins have each come in the fabled Brady-Belichick era. The Rams have won just one of their three Super Bowl outings, the last of which, 17 years ago, they lost 20-17 to the Patriots. They are seeking revenge, then, but the Rams have just four players with Super Bowl experi-
‣
SOFTBALL Continued from page 1 safe is helpful.” The break-ins were so frequent that, instead of tactical pointers, freshmen were first and foremost told to conceal their belongings, Crawford said. Crawford voiced her concerns in a piece published in The Sandspur last fall. After years of complaints by students, coaches, and parents, the team can finally breathe a sigh of relief. “Now, we don’t have to carry as much equipment back and forth. It makes training smoother and it makes it easier to focus on softball and not worry about other stuff,” said first baseman and outfielder Victoria Whalen (‘19). Frew added, “It certainly helps with recruiting. Kids walk in here and they go, ‘Wow, look at what they have.’ They want to come here because they see that the school cares about their softball.” Crawford remembers the frustration when seeing the infrastructure in other schools. “Every other team had it. We knew baseball had two locker rooms before we even got one. It’s hard not to feel jealous,” she said. The news has propagated throughout the Rollins softball community. “A lot of previous players are really happy about this and it’s something which they wish
ence, compared to 38 for the Patriots. The Rams’ current roster, though, boasts one of the most stacked teams in history. Rarely do you see a team that can boast two MVP candidates, on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football: Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald. Gurley and Donald are invariably the best players on the field whenever they step out against any team. Gurley rushed 1,300 yards this season and scored an incredible 21 total TDs, and Donald led the entire league with 20.5 sacks and an impressive four forced fumbles. But these two immense talents, along with on-form quarterback Jared Goff, will have to bring their A-games on Sunday if they want to become champions. In the NFC championship, the Rams came out on top—despite leading for zero minutes of the game—thanks to Greg “The they would have had,” said second baseman Abigail Sexton (‘19). “They’re the ones who helped build this program, now they’re super excited that we get to fully experience it.” Sexton highlighted how the locker rooms have rendered the training more convenient: “Just being able to change in there, instead of coming straight from class, rushing and changing in the dugout. It’s something a lot of parents have been fighting for.” The clubhouse offers players a space to relax and bond as a team outside of their 20 hours of weekly practice. “I didn’t think we would be able to do so much with it. The girls do homework in here, they had a movie night, they have dinner. The team is closer now, because they don’t go in their different directions after practice,” said Frew. In the hopes that it will translate into the field, Frew is happy with the newly-found sense of unity. “Once we saw it, everyone’s morale skyrocketed. It’s our own space to bond and form relationships,” said Whalen, who echoed the opinion of many upperclassmen. “We’re really appreciative that the school has been willing and able to do this for us. It’s been something that we’ve been fighting for a long time, and it definitely is making a big impact in our team.”
Leg” Zuerlein’s 57-yard walk-off kick. They are looking to carry that winning momentum into the Super Bowl. As for the Patriots, they are looking to repeat the win they achieved against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, an outcome more than feasible for a team where making it to the Super Bowl has become the norm. Although the Patriots have been favored in every game they played in the past several years, this year they showed some vulnerability. They have had ups and downs all season long, winning a respectable 11 games but struggling to ever find consistency. Their worried fans were starting to believe that success was soon to be ingrained in the past, rather than in their prospective future. However, the Patriots demolished the Los Angeles Chargers in their first playoff matchup and then were able
to survive the gifted Patrick Mahomes and his capable Kansas City Chiefs. As we saw in that AFC Championship game against the Chiefs, Tom Brady continues to work his magic and put his team on his back. After winning the coin toss in overtime, he led a walk-off, game-winning drive for the Patriots to punch their ticket to the big game for the third straight year. The biggest key for New England will be their running game. In their last two games, the running game has fueled their offense, as has Julian Edelman making clutch third-down snags from Brady. The biggest keys for Los Angeles will be Goff and Gurley. Can Goff overcome the nerves of his first Super Bowl? Can Gurley bounce back after a subpar performance against the New Orleans Saints? These questions remain to be answered, but for the
Rams to win the QB/RB pairing, they will need to show up and be ready to go from the first snap. This game will be eerily similar to Super Bowl XXXVI. The Rams have everything needed to take down the Patriots, and it will take a valiant team effort to claim victory. However, Tom Brady will not want to lose in the Super Bowl in back-to-back years, especially in a Super Bowl that could be the last game he ever plays. Odds makers predict Super Bowl LIII to be the highest scoring Super Bowl ever, which sets up an enticing offensive war. I predict a New England victory of 38-31, with the Patriots going down early and trailing at halftime, but once again brilliant Brady will ultimately lead his squad to victory and their sixth championship. Catch the game, along with its famous commercials, at 6:30 pm. on Sunday, Feb. 3 on CBS.
Kira Bernhard
With the locker room, the team can keep their equipment safe in a personalized locker. The locker room also has a central space for the team to convene before practices and games.