Issue 9 • Volume 125 Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 www.thesandspur.org
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Faculty speaks out against Cru
Forum attendees showed sadness and frustration with President’s pending decision By Ellie Rushing
F
Curtis Shaffer
Faculty and staff spoke out against any potential changes to the college’s non-discrimination policy during last week’s forums.
erushing@rollins.edu
aculty and staff members who attended open forums held by the Diversity Council took a firm stance against allowing Cru to become a registered student organization. Last week’s forums were part of a multi-step effort to understand the campus climate on President Grant Cornwell’s pending decision of changing the non-discrimination policy to allow the evangelical Christian organization to be recognized on campus. The consensus among those in attendance was clearly against changing the non-discrimination policy and the group showed growing frustration and impatience with Cornwell’s lack of a decision. Some professors choked back tears as they recalled personal instances of discrimination. One professor read a list of names from Florida’s LGBTQ
community who have been murdered on the basis of their sexuality or identity. Many questioned the integrity of the college and the President for even allowing this conversation to take place. “The fact that we’re having this conversation right now is so offensive to me. It’s a slap in my face,” said Dr. Samuel Sanabria, associate professor of counseling. “We are looking at a group of people who, historically, have been so oppressed, especially at the hands of religious groups,” Sanabria said. “We would not be having this discussion if it were about discrimination on the basis of race or sex. So, why are we looking at LGBT people and saying maybe we should have a discussion about their community? Are we saying that LGBT people are less than women, racial, or ethnic communities?” Sanabria is just one of approximately 40 faculty and staff members who attended the three forums. His comments stem
from the fact that the Orlando-based Cru would not allow gay students to be campus leaders, which is a direct violation of the college’s non-discrimination policy. Students involved in Cru submitted an application to become a registered student organization last spring, but were denied because of the policy violation, which all campus organizations are required to uphold. From there, the students took their application to Cornwell in protest, claiming that the policy discriminates against their religious freedom. Cornwell has been contemplating the subject since last April and has stressed that a decision is not imminent as he seeks to hear the perspectives of all parties involved. Ultimately, his decision would be to either uphold the current policy or create a “carve out” within that would offer religious organizations an exemption. ‣ See CRU Page 7
Still undefeated at home, women’s soccer’s journey continues Team’s 1-0 win against Florida Tech gives them an edge on way to semi-finals By Henri Balla
hballa@rollins.edu
W
omen’s soccer continued their season’s success with a 1-0 win over Florida Institute of Technology, propelling them into this Thursday’s conference semifinals. When asked about the team’s first win in the conference playoffs, the typically serious Head Coach Alicia Schuck said, “I think we’re badass!” This was an apt description of the game’s lone goal, a flying kick with the outside of the foot by Chynna McGirt (‘21), following an elegant assist by Kathryn O’Brien (‘19). “We wish we would’ve got our second goal, but one is sometimes all it takes to win a soccer game,” Schuck said, smiling at
the bigger picture in a post-game interview. “We’ve formed this identity that we’re tough, we’re physical, we’re strong, and we like to shoot and try to score goals.” After a slow start, Rollins dominated the rest of the match, despite notable efforts by the Panthers. For McGirt, author of the match-winning goal, there were scores to settle: “We had to leave it all out on the field. Last season, we did not do very well. This team actually ended our season last year. We were determined to end their season, and in turn, to go as far as possible.” O’Brien, who scored a brace against Florida Tech last week, inflicted constant chaos among the opponent’s ranks with her explosive incursions on the wing. ‣ See SOCCER Page 6
Rollins Sports
Chynna McGirt, No. 7, scored the game-winning goal against Florida Tech on Monday, Oct. 29.
2 Established in 1894 with the following editorial:
The Sandspur • Nov. 1, 2018
Jewish student reflects on Pittsburgh shooting
EXECUTIVE STAFF Ellie Rushing Editor-in-Chief Christina Fuleihan Managing Editor
Shooter targeted Jewish people on their most vulnerable day and in their safest space
By Hannah Butcher
hbutcher@rollins.edu
CONTENT STAFF Alex Candage Head Copy Editor Siobhan Nolet David Smith Copy Editors Maura Leaden Assigning Editor Alyssa Malto Headlines
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BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden
Director of Student Media
Dr. Leslie Poole Faculty Advisor Luis Diego Student Media Graduate Assistant
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Contact: studentmedia@rollins.edu
OPINION
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ongregants of the Tree of Life synagogue peacefully welcomed the Sabbath on Saturday morning when Robert Bowers, armed with at least three handguns and an AR-15, burst into the temple. The aftermath of the malicious attack and intense shootout left 11 Jewish congregants dead and six police wounded. According to the Anti-Defamation League, this assault is the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in United States history. In Judaism, it is believed that a death is the destruction of a world. Eleven is the destruction of a universe. If such a catastrophe is heart-wrenching for Americans thousands of miles from Pittsburgh, then the grief of the families and friends of each victim is unfathomable. It is difficult to quell my anger when I think about what Bowers did. The Sabbath is a day of rest, of vulnerability, of connection to G-d. The fact that anyone would take advantage of the observance of that precious day is despicable. Last year, I celebrated the end of the Sabbath in New York’s Time Square and was weary of participating with a huge crowd of Jews in such a public space. I was terrified that someone would attempt to bomb us. Such fear should not exist. No one should ever feel as if their life is in danger when practicing their own religion, especially in their own temple of worship, where you are supposed to feel safe in your spiritual home surrounded by your spiritual family. This feeling of anger leads us to want to attach blame to people that have nothing to do with the isolated incident. For example, right and left-winged groups alike blame political leaders and their agendas. Democrats blame Trump’s advocacy of gun rights, and Republicans blame Democrats’ support of gun control.
The real tragedy, though, is that both sides of the political spectrum are using the gruesome attack to their advantage. They twist the outcome in their favor by bending the victims’ stories to fit their own. But, at least right now, we cannot ascribe politics to a crime that stole so many lives. Doing so at this point would be a violation of our own humanity. We need to give each other strength and grapple with the emotions of the tragedy without applying politics. Political spokesmen have specifically mentioned gun rights and the ‘what if’s’ attached to them. What if a licensed gun owner was carrying at the time of the shooting? What if an armed guard was present? The truth is that it is not feasible for every religious institution in the country to employ armed guards at its entrances. The Pittsburgh shooting is an isolated event and should be treated as such. According to CBS News, hate crimes have increased in most major cities, with Jews suffering the highest percentage of any group. As you read this article and think about the Pittsburgh shooting, please keep in mind each victim individually. The ages of the 11 deceased range from 54 to 97: ‣ David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill ‣ Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill ‣ Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township ‣ Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood Borough ‣ Irving Younger, 69, of Mount Washington, City of Pittsburgh ‣ Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill ‣ Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland, City of Pittsburgh ‣ Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg ‣ Sylvan Simon, 86, of Wilkinsburg ‣ Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill ‣ Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill My prayers and thoughts are with everyone involved.
Plans begin for annual Christmas celebration Vespers will take place Dec. 7-9 and tickets are free for students
Curtesy of Scott Cook
Vespers is an annual tradition in the Knowles chapel.
By Annie Murray-Campbell
amurraycampbell@rollins.edu
A
s people take down their spider webs and pumpkin decorations go down, they replace it with tinsel and garlands. For the Rollins Choir, this also means practicing hymns and carols for the annual Christmas Vespers celebration. Every year since 1933, Rollins hosts a concert of Christmas carols, preceded by a candlelit procession and followed by Christmas-themed scripture readings. In this Christmas celebration, the Rollins Choir and Orchestra come together to perform songs of worship as members of the campus community read the original story of Christmas from scripture. This time-honored Rollins tradition dates back 85 years and takes the name “Vespers” from traditional evening prayer services. It seeks to fulfill a similar purpose by uniting communities
through music and storytelling. Christmas Vespers is open for students, faculty, and local Winter Park residents and will take place in Knowles Memorial Chapel Dec. 7-9 at 6 p.m. Tickets are free for students and staff, and cost $10 for community members. They must be reserved in advance and sales have already begun. “Vespers sells out every year, so you need to get tickets super early,” said choir member Charlotte Kelly (‘21). “Dr. [John] Sinclair [chair, director, and John M. Tiedtke professor of music] teaches the music and skills, but the performance is entirely student-conducted. A couple of the songs are even student-composed.” Choir member Anne Miller (‘20) described her experience with Christmas Vespers as “an amazing experience to be able to be a part of. I loved singing in the chapel and celebrating our school and the Christmas holiday.”
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The Sandspur • November 1, 2018
Political clubs reveal their endorsements
Rollins Democrats and Republican Clubs endorse opposing candidates ahead of midterms
Graphic by Anastasia Rooke
Rollins Democrats Endorsements: Florida House District 47: Anna Eskamani Since the 2016 election, we have seen the shocking rise of voter registration rates across our nation. In June of 2017, I had the honor of attending City Hall, where Anna Eskamani announced her candidacy for Florida House District 47. After introducing myself to her, we quickly related on the fact that we are both Iranian-American females who are passionate about politics and fighting for social justice. It was in that moment I knew I would be working for Anna Eskamani first as an intern, and later, as a member of her staff. From the moment I started being active in politics, I looked up to great leaders such as John McCain, who advocated for bipartisanship, and Barack Obama, who urged for political integrity. Hitherto, I have yet to see a candidate go into office to embody the principles of social justice, integrity, and empathy as Eskamani has. In the 2018 midterm elections, I am voting for Eskamani because I have full faith in her ability to increase the quality of Florida’s higher education, environmental sustainability, access to healthcare, and economic prosperity. In the age of political polarization, I trust Eskamani to bridge the gap between differing perspectives and foster an era of solution-oriented dialogue. —Sunny Toreihi, member of Rollins Democrats
Governor: Andrew Gillum Andrew Gillum is arguably the most exciting candidate on the ballot that Florida has seen for a few elections. Gillum, cur-
rent Mayor of Tallahassee, ran what was seen as an impossible campaign during the Democratic primary in Florida, yet still won. I support Gillum for governor because he has a proven record as mayor to lead. Moreover, he is running a progressive, entirely grassroots campaign. He supports healthcare as a right, environmental action, social equality, and a $1 billion investment in education. His agenda is one that can propel our state into a prosperous place for all. I am voting for Gillum because he understands our lived experiences. He isn’t from a wealthy political family and he isn’t a millionaire—he has gained experience through his service. I cannot wait to see someone with true drive and passion in Tallahassee as our next governor. —Brandon Garcia, Community Outreach Chair of Rollins Democrats
Senate: Bill Nelson Senator Bill Nelson stands for true democratic values. His voting record supports environmentally sustainable policy, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and expanded healthcare access. He has passionately advocated for increased funding for public schools and STEM programs. I believe that Nelson’s strong support of renewable energy and his record of filed legislation that provided assistance to communities affected by climate change proves an important concern for his constituents. Since the tragic 2016 shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub, Senator Nelson has led the charge against gun violence by supporting legislation to ban military-style assault weapons and worked with Florida Representative Stephanie Murphy, among others, to lift the decades-long ban on the Center
for Disease Control’s gun violence research. Senator Bill Nelson has an impressive record and has my vote on Nov. 6. —Mira Lines, Vice President of Rollins Democrats
House of Representatives District 7: Stephanie Murphy I will be re-electing Stephanie Murphy for Congress because her vision for America truly inspires me. Murphy has already served as a congresswoman for one term after winning a very challenging election. She has proven herself in office after being voted the most effective congressperson in her ‘freshman class’ on the hill due to her bipartisan efforts. Since then, she has represented American ideals such as diversity, bipartisanship, and education as tools of empowerment, and views the expansion of human rights as a means towards justice. Murphy sees her position as civil service to her constituents and to a country that welcomed her and her family when they were refugees from Vietnam. Murphy, previously a Rollins business professor, has advocated for growth in jobs and the economy through helping small businesses and infrastructure, supporting fairer taxes, and ensuring equality within the workplace. Murphy is a mother, a student, a Winter Park resident, a woman of color, and an exceptional congresswoman that has and will continue to represent you, me, and every other American interested in policy that is both effective and progressive in moving our country forward. —Meghan Oxford, President of Rollins Democrats
Rollins Republican Club Endorsements: By Victoria Scott, President of Rollins Republicans Florida House District 47: Stockton Reeves I am supporting Stockton Reeves for Florida House District 47 because he understands that an economy functions better with lower taxes. As someone who understands how a business operates, he will apply his keen skills in Congress. He will also do a nice job with healthcare and public safety. Governor: Ron DeSantis I am supporting Representative Ron DeSantis for Governor because he will continue all of the policies that Governor Rick Scott has instilled in Florida in regards to economic growth and limited government. Some of these revolve around instilling new businesses in Florida and helping the housing market grow. He will also work hard to keep the corporate tax rate at a minimal level and create jobs for individuals who do not have a college degree. Representative DeSantis also served in the military, so he has a deep respect for all of our military branches. Senate: Rick Scott I am supporting Governor Rick Scott for Senate because he has substantially improved the overall state of Florida over the course of eight years. Since 2010, the unemployment rate in Florida decreased from approxmately 11 percent to 3.8 percent. Because of this, over a million jobs were created under Scott’s watchful eye. When Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael hit Florida,
Scott was in the devastated areas making sure his constituents received proper care and supplies. He is the epitome of the American Dream and he also served in the military. As someone who worked in the healthcare industry, he understands how benefits and premiums work and function effectively. Lastly, Scott would champion immigration policies and does not support family separation at the border. House of Representatives District 7: Mike Miller I am supporting Mike Miller for House of Representatives in District 7 because he understands how the free market operates. He knows that lowering taxes promotes economic growth and prosperity. He shows a concerted interest for his constituents and works incredibly hard. I know he would do an amazing job in Congress.
Early voting dates: Oct. 22 to
Nov. 4 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day
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The Sandspur • November 1, 2018
Construction issues delay Rice Pavilion repairs Building to open in January following months of setbacks
WPRK back on air following antennae issues
After Hurricane Irma knocked them off the air, the station is back By Christina Oliveira
F Curtis Shaffer
The Rice Family Pavilion will be an event venue once it’s finished.
By Heather Borochaner
hborochaner@rollins.edu
R
enovations to the Rice Family Pavilion had a rocky start and have been delayed due to construction issues caused by the building’s age. The Pavilion is now expected to be open by the start of the next semester. Although it is opening in January, it is being described as a “soft opening,” according to Ed Kania, vice president for business and finance and treasurer at Rollins. This means that there will be a few test events before the building is fully open to the public. Because of the delay, most events that were scheduled for the Rice Family Pavilion have been pushed back to spring of 2019. “It looked for months like nothing was going on here,” said Kania about the starting delay. He said that the delay was mostly at the start of construction, when any sort of adjustments to the building were difficult to accomplish because of the way electrical conduits were wired and arranged. These conduits controlled the modern implementations to the building, including most of the technology and utilities, like phones. It took time for the construction workers to navigate the old style of routing that they were not used to. “What I’m discovering is that older buildings don’t have documentation and the underground mapping wasn’t the greatest, but that’s not uncommon for old colleges,” said Kania.
Additionally, the building needs windows that are proving to be hard to procure. “We might end up having to put temporary windows in place,” said Kania. He clarified this would not come at a cost to Rollins. Kania said that there was also trouble in finding qualified and available welders to handle the design of the cupola, which is the dome-like structure on the top of the building. “The labor market for construction here in Central Florida is crazy right now,” said Kania. “There’s so much construction going on everywhere. It’s hard to find contractors who can stick with it long enough.” Rollins is currently in a contract with Lamm & Company, which also built Dave’s Boathouse, Strong Hall, Mayflower Hall, Corrin Hall, and executed the renovations of the Sandspur Field. The Rice Family Pavilion, which was previously the campus bookstore, will now be used as a meeting place for students, faculty, and staff. It will also hold larger events during the weekends from outside vendors. “My crazy vision is that I want Rollins to be a one stop shop for the community. For example, you could have a wedding ceremony at the chapel and then walk down to your reception at the Rice Pavilion,” said Kania. He is hopeful that people will be able to book events like weddings as early as September of 2019.
coliveira@rollins.edu
or the past few months WPRK, Rollins’ very own college radio station, has been triumphantly broadcasting over the airwaves after overcoming many challenges caused by Hurricane Irma. WPRK officially returned to air on Aug. 17 after 11 months of online streaming. “Our antenna was damaged [by Irma] and had to be removed before the students returned to campus,” said station manager Sydney Rock (‘20). Greg Golden, director of student media, said, “We were alerted that the antenna was… at an angle, and the college decided that it posed too much of a risk that it could fall.” Therefore, the school had to remove the antenna with a crane. Rock said that they had to install an antenna in an off-site tower since Mills was closed. Installing the new antenna proved to be more complicated than initially expected. Golden said that after they bought a new antenna, an engineer determined what a new good site would a tower near Minnesota Avenue would be the best option. After getting approval from the Federal Communications Commission to be able to broadcast from that spot, WPRK began the process of placing the antenna. However, another challenge presented itself: “What we didn’t [know] was that there was a bald eagle nesting on the site of the antenna,” Golden said. It is illegal to construct an antenna on a site where bald eagles are nesting. “We couldn’t construct our antenna on that tower until the nesting season was over. In Florida, August is the only month that eagles aren’t actively nesting,” said Golden. After waiting for months, the eagles left, and the station was finally able to install their new antenna. Months without an antenna meant that WPRK was not able to conduct on-air radio broadcasts. Golden said that online streaming was used to replace the broadcasts. “We’ve been streaming online for over 10 years, so we were able to contin-
ue sending our signal out over the internet.” Unfortunately, Golden said, the absence of radio transmissions greatly reduced the amount of listeners that tuned in. Viewed in a positive light, however, “it was a way for us to continue operating at that time.” Now that the station has installed their antenna, it has resumed broadcasting information and music to a diverse set of listeners. WPRK hosts a variety of shows, including podcasts, music broadcasts, and live radio interviews. Rock said that the station “serves the greater Orlando community and the Rollins community. WPRK is continuing to grow and expand.” One of the ways WPRK is growing, Rock explained, is through the upcoming Fox Fest, an annual music event that “invites community members to connect with the station and our campus.” Fox Fest will be this Saturday, Nov. 3 from 5-9 p.m. on Mills Lawn. WPRK plans to increase their influence by hosting local events
Nov 3, 2018 5PM-9PM Mills Lawn
that “help in supporting the local music scene in the area… This year’s Fox Fest features a strictly local lineup of bands,” said Rock. Golden said that WPRK has always existed to serve the community ever since its founding in 1952. “We are really looking at ways in which we can continue to elevate voices that are underheard on campus and in the community, and also to work and partner with other organizations and businesses in the area,” he said. Organizations that have benefited from WPRK’s equipment and knowledge of broadcasting include the Boys and Girls Club, PACE Center for Girls, and Upward Bound. WPRK is looking forward to hosting volunteer opportunities with more local projects. The station is student-run, and anyone interested has the ability to join. Students can become involved by attending meetings every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in their office at the Stewart House, located between Holt Hall and Sutton Place.
WPRK FOX FEST
Pearl & The Oysters
Acoqui TV Dinner & MORE
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The Sandspur • November 1, 2018
Students design young adult grief program Local non-profit partners with communications class to help college students cope with death
Curtis Shaffer
New Hope for Kids has a large facility with multi-use rooms, including an art room and many areas for children and families to come together and grieve.
By Christina Oliveira
S
coliveira@rollins.edu
tudents enrolled in a health communications class are partnering with a local non-profit to develop a cirriculum that will provide young adults in Central Florida with a safe space to grieve. The course “Difficult Dialogues in Health Communications,” taught by Dr. Sarah Parsloe, assistant professor of communication, is working with New Hope for Kids, a non-profit organization that specializes in assisting families that are dealing with the loss of a family member, as well as families with children who have life-threatening illnesses. The organization works with kids ages 3 to 19-years-old. However, the organization currently does not have a program for stu-
dents in college. Parsloe said that New Hope wants to expand the program to include college-aged young adults. Grieving young adults “often feel very isolated in their grief, especially when they’re transitioning to college,” said Parsloe. Both Parsloe and New Hope for Kids are hoping to provide a valuable resource for these grieving college-aged adults. Parsloe said that she set up her class to help in the process. “My class is designed to help New Hope for Kids develop a grief curriculum for young adults,” she said. The purpose of the class is to teach students how to help others with different types of grief, preparing students for the task of creating a grief curriculum for New Hope for Kids. In this way, the work of these Rollins students will benefit college-aged students across the Central Flori-
da community. The relationship between the organization and the class is beneficial for both parties. Marilyn Lopez (‘20) said that the class taught her that “listening to someone’s story is more efficient and more helpful to the person that’s going through the situation than offering an opinion.” Gloria Capozzi, volunteer and marketing manager for New Hope for Kids, said that “when starting a new program, assessing the need and providing good and thorough research is critical. Sarah [Parsloe], through this critical dialogues class, embraced this effort with purposeful passion.” Capozzi also recognized the importance of having young adults, in this case Rollins students, involved in the effort to bring this new addition to the organization. She said that the
students are “working on a difficult topic for their peers…their age group and can relate and empathize.” Parsloe said that students are engaging in research to better understand grief and how to help someone get through it. They have been to the New Hope for Kids center to conduct fieldwork. Parsloe explained that the students are observing the current grief groups and “reimagining what they would look like for a young adult population.” Recently, the students also started conducting focus groups at New Hope for Kids. The participants include those who once used the organization’s services as children. The focus groups involve asking questions to these young adults and assessing their desire and need for the new program. New Hope for Kids’ center,
located in Maitland at 544 Mayo Ave., has a variety of amenities to help children and families grieve. For example, there is a video game room, craft room, and a central hearth and kitchen. The environment is very comfortable and home-y. The central hearth and kitchen have the design of a normal living room. Each of the rooms in the periphery serve a separate purpose and have clean and specific designs. The “hurricane” room, for example, contains soft padding and a punching bag. The video games room has a sleek white design and two flat-screen televisions. Capozzi summarized the solidarity between the class and organization by saying that “it is our goal to serve our community in grief, and this beautiful effort gets us there.”
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The Sandspur • Nov. 1, 2018
Upcoming forum look at future of Central Florida city planning
Winter Park officials gather to examine city’s sustainability By Victoria Alvarez
R
valvarez@rollins.edu
ollins will host an event featuring prominent Winter Park officials to showcase the Winter Park community as an environmental planning model for the future of Central Florida. The event is called “Winter Park and Florida’s Next Golden Age,” and it will be hosted in the Suntrust Auditorium on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. The wide-ranging discussion will explore how Orlando city planners can create more areas that cater to its citizens, rather than to their vehicles— meaning more open space for walking and social interaction. The goal of future planning is to have more walkability, nature preservation, better architecture, and less suburban sprawl. Bruce Stephenson, professor of Environmental Studies, and Maurice O’Sullivan, Kenneth Curry professor of literature at Rollins, published a book called
“Florida’s Golden Age: The Rollins College Colloquy” that describes the time period from 1880 to 1930 when city planners designed Winter Park using the Mediterranean Revival aesthetic. They will briefly discuss their book at the event; however, the main objective of the evening is to discuss Florida’s next Golden Age, specifically looking ahead to the year 2030. City planning is essentially about making citizens happy through things like convenience and a beautiful environment. Some parts of Orlando’s layout accomplish this, such as Baldwin Park, while other parts do not. “One of the main things we have discussed is that Winter Park needs more parks for the community to come together,” said Stephenson. The design of Rollins’ campus is essentially a model for how Orlando could look in the future. For example, when comparing Rollins’ layout to University of Central Florida’s, Rollins clearly caters more to the student
while UCF caters more to the vehicle. Stephenson said, “What we wanted to do was bring leaders of the community: the mayor, the top architect, an entrepreneur, and [an] attorney together to look at the next age of Winter Park.” Members attending the event include Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary; Phil Kean, a modern architect; entrepreneur Steven Goldman, who is known for contributing to natural preservation projects; and former Winter Park City Commissioner Pam Peters. “The city of Orlando wants places to be as walkable as Rollins, not only the physical form, but how do we look at the future and work towards that—it’s essentially the students future,” said Dr. Stephenson. The event, moderated by O’Sullivan, will be held at the Suntrust Auditorium and is free and open to the general public.
Rollins Sports
The young team looks forward to a shot at winning their conference.
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SOCCER Continued from page 1 Kelly Rowswell (‘20), Sunshine State Conference defensive player of the week, cemented her elite goalkeeping status by not conceding for the seventh game this season, leading the conference in terms of clean sheets. Kiera McMeekan (‘19) presented a midfield master class with her untoppable duelling ability, countless clearances and excellent positioning. “When we play like that all together, we do amazing. I do well because my teammates do well,” McMeekan said. In a game heavily-battled in midfield, organization is key. “It’s a pressure-cover-balance sort of thing. Most importantly, we play our best when we’re all moving as a unit.” “It’s tiring,” admitted fellow midfielder Meghan Mosley (‘22), whose versatility proved instrumental against the Panthers. “You want to push through for everyone in your team. Everyone is out there, having each-other’s back.” As one of only three freshmen, Mosley was particularly appreciative of the team spirit. “Honestly, as a freshman you just want to come in and make an impact on the team, but this team makes it so easy to become a part, push forward with confidence and give it all in every game. It is indescribable, the way you feel after every game, after winning,” she said. That was not the case at the beginning of the season, according to Schuck: “It is a work in progress… Remember, it’s a really young team. There’s only eight kids on our squad that have ever been to a conference tournament before. Our older kids have just absorbed our new kids. We truly love each-other. Everybody’s respected.” Unity is crucial for the Tars, especially after last season’s dis-
appointment. “We really got our stuff together in the spring,” McMeekan said. “Everyday we focused and worked on something different. We changed our culture to more of a ‘winning as a team’ mentality.” McGirt credited the newfound teamgeist with the outstanding season the Rollins frontline is experiencing: “Kathryn [O’Brien] and I both have different abilities. Kathryn is really good on the ball, I am more of a through-ball type person, so we communicate what runs we should make, what balls we should play each-other. And Sarah Buckley (‘20) could shoot for days, so we’re always trying to get the ball to her feet so she can finish it off.” The Tars travel to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday to face reigning conference champions Nova Southeastern University for a spot in the conference tournament final. “Every game is different and it’s hard to beat a team twice. We played Nova at the beginning of the season and won 3-1, but we can’t look at past games. Every game is a new game and we’re hoping to do well,” McMeekan said. Mosley was in a similar wavelength: “We take each game by each game, because every team is just going to give it all. It doesn’t matter how good they are, it matters how much you compete at this point, how much you want it.” A year ago, talks of post-season were distant. Now, the Tars face higher-seed teams as equals. “It’s in our DNA as a program to do well,” Schuck said. “That we didn’t do it last year, was kind of a hiccup for us. The fact that we’re playing well reminds our team that, yeah, this is what Rollins’ women’s soccer really is about.”
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The Sandspur • Nov. 1, 2018
Journalist’s murder shows depth of America-Saudi relations Is America’s access to Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves worth letting the country murder its dissidents? By Hannah Butcher
hbutcher@rollins.edu
I
OPINION
t was 2 a.m., and Hatice Cengiz anxiously paced the Turkish street outside the Saudi Arabian consulate. She wondered where her fiancé, Jamal Khashoggi, could possibly be. Hours ago, he had told her to wait for him outside. He then entered the building to receive the documents they needed to get married, but he never returned. Khashoggi, a former editor of a Saudi newspaper, contributor to The Washington Post, and critic of the Saudi monarchy, was declared murdered on Monday, Oct. 8. Saudi Arabia, at first, claimed that it had no idea about the disappearance and death of
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CRU Continued from page 1 Concerns like Sanabria’s were echoed by other staff members in attendance. Cornwell declined to comment at this time because he said he must continue to listen to all points of view. The Diversity Council will send an anonymous survey to the rest of the faculty and staff this week to hear the opinions of those who could not attend or may not have felt comfortable speaking publicly on the matter. These comments will be used by the Council to put together a list of common themes and concerns in a report for Cornwell, which is part of the group’s overall effort to give an informed recommendation to Cornwell on their stance. Maridath Wilson, co-chair of the Diversity Council, said she is unsure of the timeline when the recommendation will be put together. She also said she was not comfortable disclosing the Council’s current stance on the matter. Wilson said the Council has not talked to any students or members of Cru and was not sure whether it would. As an all-faculty and staff council, its obligations are to report on the concerns of the faculty and staff; therefore, the Council said it is not obligated to talk with students. The question of hosting fo-
Khashoggi, but the Saudi attorney general recently stated that the attack on Khashoggi was undoubtedly “premeditated.” Turkish officials claim to have seen video tapes of the brutal, merciless murder itself. Saudi Arabia is now under scrutiny and accused of attempting to cover up the crime. Khashoggi’s murder is an international phenomenon. It was broadcast on news stations across the world, especially in the United States. President Donald Trump stated that the abomination was “the worst cover-up in the history of cover-ups.” The murder of journalists is nothing new. In fact, it happens all the time in places like Russia (the KGB has a particular reputation for this), Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists,
1,324 journalists were murdered between 1992 and 2018. So why is America so invested in this specific murder if it is, at least historically, nothing new? The answer is quite complicated. One may argue that, since the journalist criticized the Saudi regime in The Washington Post and a permanent resident of the U.S., our country should feel a certain obligation to him; he publically stood up for democracy and rejected tyranny, after all. His death must be avenged in order to protect the consciousness of humanity. However, this is a generous interpretation of America’s interest in the murder. Realistically, the U.S. is self-concerned. The incident caused a conflict between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, two of our
most prominent allies, and the consequences will, more likely than not, affect American economics. For instance, if Saudi Arabia is somehow condemned by Turkey’s investigators, America may lose its hold on Saudi oil. Gas prices across all states will skyrocket as supply will not meet demand, and America will no longer be connected to Saudi wealth or to its crucial Middle Eastern location. I think it will be unlikely that America detaches itself from Saudi Arabia. Donald Trump has praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his reformist, egalitarian-leaning actions: he has opened movie theatres and has, at least in theory, made it legal for women to drive. America is inclined, then, to defend Saudi Arabia in scandals as a means to fortify western de-
mocracy in the Middle East and to ensure its economic opportunities. That said, if it is discovered that the Crown Prince has played any role in the murder, American citizens should recognize this giant red flag. Is ensuring that our hands are in the Saudi oil tank worth letting the country murder its dissidents? This is a moral debate that must be discussed in Washington when or if the time comes. America must tiptoe when it comes to the investigation of the death of Khashoggi. Although we have an obligation to stand up for justice, it is undeniable that we are entangled with these Middle Eastern countries and must tread carefully. Any misstep will lead to far-reaching consequences.
rums for students was brought up, but Diversity Council members said they would not feel comfortable asking students to defend their personal identities publicly. “For LGBTQ+ members of our community at Rollins, this is not a philosophical issue or debate. This is about our existence and emotional and physical safety. It’s about being treated—or not treated—as full human beings,” said Lisa Tillmann, professor and chair of Critical Media and Cultural Studies. “About 70 percent of people in this country identifies as Christian. Members of a dominant majority group are asking Rollins for the right to discriminate against a minority group protected by our institutional policy. The right to discriminate cannot take precedence over the right to be free from discrimination,” Tillmann said. “Cru is asking to become a group recognized by Rollins; Rollins is not asking to become a group recognized by Cru. If the latter were true, no one would expect Cru to alter its policies or principles because they conflict with ours.” “I feel hopeful that President Cornwell will draw upon one of his major areas of focus: critical race studies, which is grounded in a sophisticated analysis of power and inequality,” she said. “I can appreciate the President’s openness and call for di-
alogue and deep listening. But dominant groups and minority groups do not face the same set of challenges and threats. In the U.S., it’s rare for a Christian to be targeted for a hate crime based on religion. Religion is a common basis for hate crimes, but overwhelmingly, the risk is to religious minorities, most often Jewish and Muslim. LGBTQ+ people—again, a minority group—are at risk all the time.” Tillmann, who has now been at Rollins for nearly 20 years, reflected on the fact that the college’s non-discrimination policy
was a core reason she applied for a position at Rollins in the first place. “One of the leading factors to sending in my application was reading the non-discrimination policy and seeing that it was inclusive of sexual orientation,” she said. Tillmann wrote her PhD dissertation about a network of gay male friends, who she said became her closest friends. She said that at the time, there were no national or state-wide non-discrimination protections. “Rollins’ policy showed that this college was a pocket of forward
thinking,” she said. “I think it’s possible that some students, staff and faculty would pursue other options. I very nearly didn’t apply to Rollins. I thought I’d spend my career at a state school, somewhere more racially and economically diverse. I don’t think I would have applied for this job if not for the non-discrimination policy,” she said.
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The Sandspur • November 1, 2018