UP14_17

UNIVERSITY PRESS FAU’s student magazine

JANUARY 22, 2013 | VOL. 14 #17

In the Public Eye He questioned the Newtown massacre and sparked nationwide controversy. Meet James Tracy — the professor behind the blog posts

P. 14 READ US - upressonline.com LIKE US - facebook.com/universitypress FOLLOW US - @upressonline upressonline.com January 22, 2013 FIRST ISSUE IS FREE; EACH ADDITIONAL COPY IS 50 CENTS AND AVAILABLE IN Kennedy THE UP NEWSROOM. Designed

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Tuesday January 22, 2013

The Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - Regina Kaza

IN THIS ISSUE Cover

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MANAGING EDITOR - Lulu Ramadan

He’s questioned conspiracy theories since college. Read more about James Tracy, the man behind the blog posts.

By Lulu Ramadan Photo (left) by Michelle Friswell

ART DIRECTOR - Chase Kennedy BUSINESS MANAGER - Michael Chandeck WEB EDITOR - John Kramer WEB DESIGNER - Phaedra Blaize COPY DESK CHIEF - Emily Mitchell-Cetti NEWS EDITOR - Lore Khazem SPORTS EDITOR - Rolando Rosa FEATURES EDITOR - Emily Bloch PHOTO EDITOR - Michelle Friswell

News

28.

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

FAU appoints new Board of Trustees chair and vice chair, both with financially troubled histories.

By Dylan Bouscher

Christine Capozziello, Ryan Murphy COPY EDITORS Chris Hamann, Alyssa Ruane, Amanda Rubio STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER - Melissa Landolfa

Features

STAFF WRITER - Mohamed Abdihakim SENIOR EDITOR - Ryan Cortes SENIOR REPORTER - Dylan Bouscher DISTRIBUTION MANAGER - Lore Khazem

4.

Find out more about Andy Warhol’s vintage exhibit near FAU’s Fort Lauderdale campus.

By Sarah Pruzansky Photo (left) courtesy MoAFL

CONTRIBUTORS - Max Jackson, Laura May Jockers, Zack Kelberman, Breanndolyn Lies, Kevin Mann, Jordanne Pitter, Sarah Pruzansky, Claudith Saint-Jean ADVISERS Dan Sweeney Michael Koretzky

Cover - FAU communication professor James Tracy. Photo by Michelle Friswell

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Students showcase their tattoos as FAU releases Stories on the Skin documentary

By Emily Bloch Photo (left) by Max Jackson

Sports

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Find out what keeps Chenise Miller smiling on and off the court.

By Rolando Rosa and Zack Kelberman Photo (left) by Ryan Murphy

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Greg Gantt is having the best scoring season in the history of FAU.

By Mohamed Abdihakim Photo (far left) by Max Jackson

upressonline.com January 22, 2013

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Features News

Photo courtesy of MoAFL Truck, 1985

Warhol’s wheels Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art showcases Andy Warhol’s work with cars

By Sarah Pruzansky Contributor

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ou may recognize the pop art pictures of Andy Warhol’s Campbell's soup cans and Marilyn Monroe, but there’s a side of Warhol you haven’t seen, and it’s at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art — his passion for cars.

Climbing the staircase of the museum, FAU students anticipate seeing colorful pop art interpretations of 20th century cars, such as a red Mercedes-Benz. From works done on silk-screen to tracing paper, Warhol and Cars features Warhol's work

with cars throughout history.

“As one of the most iconic and influential artists of the 20th century, Warhol has helped to define America,” according to the Andy Warhol Museum’s press release.

With more than 40 pieces, the entire exhibit focuses on Warhol’s fascination with cars, instead of the usual Campbell’s soup cans and pop art versions of Marilyn Monroe.

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Features News the museum only 381 feet from FAU's Fort Lauderdale campus from Nov. 10, 2012, and will continue until Feb. 10.

“I think of myself as an American artist … I’ve heard it said that my paintings are as much a part of the fashionable world as clothes and cars.” Warhol’s quote is plastered in navy blue letters across the museum’s gray wall under the the name of the exhibit.

All of the works come from the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Penn. which regularly hosts traveling exhibits like this one. According to the museum’s website, more than eight million people have attended the traveling exhibits the museum regularly holds across the world.

Senior architecture major Emilia Fischer has yet to visit the exhibit, but is looking forward to it, “for the history aspect and the process of it.”

Near the exhibit’s entrance, guests are allowed to walk into a barred off room filled with floating shiny silver pillows filled with helium. As the pillows float around, the guests can hit them and watch as they float up to the ceiling. The room is titled Silver Clouds; it is based off a museum installation

by Warhol that was originally shown at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York in 1966.

“I was by myself. There was nobody else in there,” said third year architecture major Catheryn Espino. “I guess [visitors] didn’t know they could go in there. But it was nice to have the balloons around you.”

Warhol’s technique with his pop art consisted of multiple layering of saturated colors to achieve unique looking pictures of manufactured products and celebrities.

One wall showcases a variety of different layers Warhol used for one picture of a truck. The truck is translucent and layered over different colored backgrounds in

each picture, demonstrating the different ways Warhol would use this technique. In one picture, the background is red, while in another, the background is blue.

Guests can make their own layers for the picture as well; on a magnetic board, they can use pictures drawn by themselves or other guests and layer them together, then place the translucent picture of the truck over all of it.

Propped up on a wall, Warhol’s Lemon displays an image of a Volkswagen Beetle with the word “Lemon” written below it. With his fascination in painting famous advertisements, Warhol made a painting in silk-screen interpreting the 1960 “Lemon” ad for the car. The original advertisement featured a black and white photo of the vehicle, but Warhol’s picture added color. Each picture has a different color scheme; while in one the car may be green with a pink background, another is blue with a yellow background.

For an extra glimpse into Warhol’s life, guests can scan QR codes which take them to videos online, such as a video on youtube.com of Warhol eating a Burger King hamburger.

Not only are guests able to watch Warhol online, but the exhibit also showcases a short film of Warhol painting a race car, an original BMW M-1. The film took place in 1979 for the BMW Art Race Car Projects and is projected onto a blank wall for visitors to sit and watch.

“It was interesting to see him in action,” Espino said. “I didn’t know that he painted a car, so it was nice to see it and how it came out.”

Photos courtesy of MoAFL Seven Cadillacs, 1962

“I think of myself as an American artist … I’ve heard it said that my paintings are as much a part of the fashionable world as clothes and cars.”

— Andy Warhol

Organized by the Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey, this exhibit will be running at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art until Feb. 10. Students get in at a discounted price of $5.

Photos courtesy of MoAFL Car, 1950s

Revved up . . .

“What did you think of the exhibit?”

“I love it. I love Andy Warhol’s work. It was interesting to see another part of his work. I never saw a whole collection about his cars.”

— Catheryn Espino

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“I liked the art exhibit a lot because I mean, I love cars, it’s something I enjoy.

And then the artistic aspect, how he changed colors, how he did the Silver Cloud exhibit, I really liked all that stuff.”

— Brittni Durie

Photos by Jordanne Pitter

Photos courtesy of MoAFL Female Fashion Figure, 1950s

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Sports

Born to ball Through faith and character, Lady Owls leading scorer Chenise Miller is guiding FAU to another winning season

Chenise Miller pushing the ball up the court against Louisville. In that game, she had 16 points and eight rebounds en route to a blowout win.

By Rolando Rosa and Zack Kelberman

Y

Sports Editor

Contributor

ou wouldn’t expect it based on her recent experiences, but Chenise Miller maintains one of the most bubbly and naturally perky personalities on the FAU women’s basketball team.

Miller doesn’t let much — if anything — get her down. Even in hostile road environments, her sunny character shines through like a hot summer day.

“I was shooting a free throw and someone was like, ‘Number 25, you gon’ miss,’” Miller recalls hearing during a game at Troy this season.

‘You’re built like a Buick!’”

She ended up getting the last laugh and shot down any misconceptions.

“After the game, when coach stopped talking, I came in and was like, ‘I just want to clear this up: I am not built like a Buick, OK?’” Miller says, wagging her finger in a mixture of dismay and humor.

That type of response is typical of Miller, a joker off the court and an ideal teammate on it.

Owls coach Kellie Lewis-Jay describes Miller as the kind of person that can get along with everybody. She says Miller even takes it upon herself to host visits when potential recruits

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Miller's passion is always on display, especially when driving hard to the basket.

Photos by Ryan Murphy come to campus.

However, underneath Miller’s pearly white smile and constant laughter are reminders of pain and sadness.

A born-again Christian, Miller’s faith was put to the test when her grandfather, Donell Williams (who she calls “Papa”), and brother-like figure Joseph Wilson, passed away within a few weeks of each other before the season began. Both men succumbed to significant illness: Papa of lung cancer and Wilson of a brain tumor.The timing of it all is what Miller says made it so

hard to deal with initially.

Wilson died while Miller was visiting Papa on his deathbed in Michigan.

Miller was particularly close to both of them.

Papa, a retired employee of General Motors, picked her up from school every day from preschool to 8th grade, and frequented many of her basketball games back home.

The bond between Miller and Wilson was more natural than one of her jump shots swishing effortlessly through a basket.

Miller’s mother once dated Wilson’s father, Designed byby Chase Designed ChaseKennedy Kennedy

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Sports News practically raising him as her own child. A flight attendant for Delta, Wilson would put Miller’s mom first on the airline’s discount list, allowing her to fly around the world.

It was the least he could do to repay the woman who was responsible for a significant part of his childhood — the woman he called “mom” for the duration of his life before it was tragically cut short.

Wilson’s ever-changing schedule allowed him to attend family reunions and functions. He may have traveled the globe, but there was truly one place Wilson called home.

For a non-sibling of Miller’s, it only seemed right.

Though she admits it’s been one of the most trying times of her life, Miller kept her poise through constant prayer and a positive attitude.

For the second straight season, she’s leading the Owls in scoring and doing so with her trademark smile.

Miller is dedicating this season to honor the memory of Wilson and Papa.

“They’re in a better place,” Miller says of her loved ones. “That’s what gets me through it.”

Chenise Miller is from a basketball household in Oak Park, Mich. Her dad, Jeff, played pro ball in Portugal for three seasons and she would often compete in the driveway with her mom, Cheryl Miller.

No, not that Cheryl Miller, the former Olympic standout, brother of NBA All-Star Reggie Miller and sideline reporter for TNT. This Cheryl still held her own, having played professional basketball in Italy for seven years.

“When I was getting recruited, they’d ask what my mom’s name is,” Miller says. “I’d be like ‘Cheryl Miller,’ and they’d say, ‘the Cheryl Miller?’ and I always have to say no. It comes up a lot of times. It’s funny.”

As a young girl, Miller would take to the driveway with her mom to see who had game.

This is when she developed her toughness and work ethic. Loss after loss, Miller refused to relent.

“I can remember playing my mom in the driveway and she would beat me and beat me every game, and I would not want to stop,” Miller remembers. “I’d be like, ‘one more time, one more time.’”

Her older brothers Jeffrey, JaCorey, and Kevin were instrumental in her developing her skills.

Little sister tagged along with her brothers whenever they went to hoop it up.

“I always wanted to be like them,” Miller says.

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Photos courtesy of Chenise Miller “We’d go against the neighborhood kids in Detroit,” Miller remembers. “I wasn’t good on offense, but when we would be on the same team, they made me tougher.”

And better.

As soon as she hit her teens, the student became the teacher, for both her mom and dad.

“I probably would give up before she wanted to play,” her father Jeff Miller says when asked if he could still pose a challenge today. “I’ve known that since high school. I thought as a guy I could be a little more physical, but she’s really upped the ante now, so I’ll just sit and watch.”

Miller arrived at FAU from Eastern Michigan University in 2010. Three years later, the redshirt junior is a key contributor for an Owls squad hoping to crash March Madness. Her selfless, on-court demeanor is the driving force.

Miller’s priorities are geared toward putting the team above herself. She’d rather grab 30 boards than score 30 points. It’s a trait that pleases her new coach.

“I’d love that. That’d be good,” Lewis-Jay says in response to preferring rebounds over points.

“Unfortunately for Chenise, she does have to do a lot for us to be successful. She’s got to give us double digit points and double digit rebounds. That’s a lot to place on somebody, but I think she definitely handled it well this

Owls forward Chenise Miller says her father Jeff, a former professional basketball player in Portugal, inspired her as a child to pick up the sport.

year. She’s someone that has to rebound for us and has to score for us.”

“If I have 30 rebounds, that means I have some points,” Miller says. “They’re not all going to be defensive (rebounds). Especially because that’s what we need this season.”

This year, Miller has given the Owls everything they need. The team started out with a 5-0 Sun Belt Conference record before suffering their first loss on the road to Middle Tennessee.

Her defining moment came in a Dec. 1 game at The Burrow against Arkansas State. Miller devoured the Red Wolves, scoring more than half (17 of 32) of the points for the Owls at the break, en route to a career-high 29 points and victory.

“It was just the Chenise show, and thank goodness because it kept us in the game,” Lewis-Jay says. “If she wouldn’t have done what she did, it would’ve been hard for us to come back and win that game. That was impressive.”

Miller is still nickname-less (“Chenise the Beast” was promptly rejected when suggested by our photographer), but her teammates recognize how important she is to their success.

“She’s a big key. Without her, we’re under 5’11”,” Owls guard Takia Brooks says. “She’s a huge key to the team.”

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Sports News Off the court, Miller has many hobbies, including cooking, painting nails, and playing card games with her teammates. In the locker room, she’s the undisputed champion of Mafia, a card game similar to Heads Up, Seven Up. Imagine a heated and intense game of Heads Up, Seven Up, consisting of 12 competitive players with an unwavering will to win.

But this was nothing you experienced in grade school.

“Oh, it gets real in Mafia,” Owls guard/ forward Shanequa Schrouder says. “She’s the leader.”

There was an echo with that sentiment.

“She’s better than me at Mafia,” Brooks admitted. “I’m terrible.”

Although her blood family is miles away, Miller’s teammates and boyfriend David Hinds (former Owls linebacker) have filled the void and provided a steady semblance of companionship in Boca.

Though, no person or no thing could have prepared her for certain, unavoidable elements.

When she first arrived at FAU, Miller was overwhelmed by the smothering heat, a stark contrast from the frigid Michigan climate she was accustomed to.

“It was August or September, but it was still hot, hotter than anything I ever dealt with,” Miller says, recalling her first couple months. “It was so humid. I would look for trees and say, ‘OK, only a couple more steps until this tree.’

Wait for shade, go to the next tree, then go to the side of the building that had air coming out. I would stand there for a little while. It was terrible.”

The FAU Women’s Student Athlete of the Year, Miller concedes that the responsibility of balancing everything out has its pros and cons.

“At times it can be overwhelming, but I try to stay organized and use my time wisely,” Miller says. “I was never a good student until I came to FAU. I was always average. That’s why I think it was meant for me to be here. I became saved and became a better student and individual in general.”

When she graduates, Miller revealed that she plans to get into nonprofit management, providing underprivileged children and teens with an outlet and source of faith.

Guard Kim Smith was part of the reason Miller got saved. Soon after she joined the squad, Smith invited her to church, and now Miller is a Sunday regular. Miller, in turn, now has no problem reciting the music of the Lord to her teammates — and their families.

“There was one time I was talking to my

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grandma on the phone, and Chenise started singing a song for her: ‘Jesus Loves Me,’” Smith says with a chuckle. “It’s fun, she’s always kind of singing and stuff.”

“Stuff ” would include chucking up half-court shots, a ritual that takes place at the end of practices. A half-hour after one practice, Miller starts firing away. We begin to video record on our phone, hoping to capture the magic.

She clanks her first nine attempts as the video memory runs out.

“I usually make one by now,” Miller says with a hint of frustration.

We turn to each other, joking that she’ll nail the next one.

The following shot?

Swish.

and speaks softly.

“I think about him a lot,” Miller says of her grandfather. “My grandpa would be at every home game at Eastern Michigan. They [her grandparents] would leave early right after the game, so sometimes I couldn’t see them afterwards because they’re older and want to get back home,” Miller says. “But he was always there and always was like, ‘So, when are you going to shoot a three?’ Big supporter, always there for me.”

The funeral for Papa was one of the hardest experiences for Miller in her life. While giving her eulogy, Miller expressed how much she was going to miss seeing him on the sidelines. Miller spent most of her time at her grandparents house while living in Michigan, something that made the situation even more hurtful.

“I had to get myself together in the middle of speaking,” Miller says. “I was crying. Another person who was always there for me. I don’t No matter how busy life as a student athlete think he’s ever gotten a chance to see me play gets, Miller’s mind often wanders back to her basketball. He was a flight attendant and he loved ones. worked all the time,” Miller described. “But Miller pauses, chokes back evident emotion, whenever I needed something, he would get it for me. One thing I’m proud about is I’m supposed to graduate in May and he brought me back real pearls from the Philippines. I’m going to wear them when I walk across the stage.”

The contest against Georgia Southern — the first following their passings — was difficult, she admits. But it wasn’t until after the game when reality began to sink in.

“Getting the win, thinking about how proud he would have been,” Miller said. “It kinda didn’t feel like it was real.”

Her father knows Papa is still keeping score from up above.

“He would just sit there and grin. He’d have a big smile on his face,” her dad says. “I have no doubt that he’s looking down upon her right now and enjoying what he’s seen in her.”

Miller about to lay in another bucket.

She's the Owls' leading scorer this season, averaging over 14 points per game.

Photo by Ryan Murphy

Chenise Miller posing with her father, Jeff, who doubled as her childhood coach and mentor.

Photo courtesy Chenise Miller

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA Barry University School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (Section of Legal Education & Admissions to the Bar, ABA, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738).

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News

In the public eye A look at the life of James Tracy, the man who made controversial statements — and media headlines — about the shootings in Newtown, Conn.

James Tracy introduces himself in his first class of the semester following the media coverage of his blog posts about the Newtown shooting.

By Lulu Ramadan Photos by Michelle Friswell

Managing Editor

J

Photo Editor

ames Tracy made his way to the front of his classroom of about 30 students and placed his hands on the desk before him. He looks to his students, smile wide. “My name is James _____Tracy,” he says. “You may have heard of me.”

“So you’re the big man on campus?” teased Charity Munger, junior multimedia journalism major, leaning forward in her chair in the front of the class. Tracy laughs.

It’s the first Public Opinion and Modernity class of the semester. For many of his students, it is their first time meeting Tracy, but certainly not their first time hearing about him.

Tracy, who has been an associate professor in the communications department since 2002, sparked controversy throughout the nation these past few weeks when he wrote “The Sandy Hook Massacre: Unanswered Questions and Missing Information” on Dec. 24 on his personal blog, memoryholeblog.com. His post discusses inconsistencies in the reporting of the massacre in Newtown, Conn. on Dec. 14 — the medical examiner’s inability to answer questions, the nature of the gunshots, and the lack

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of photo or video surveillance from that day — that lead him to believe the events of that day didn’t unfold as they presented it.

“While it sounds like an outrageous claim, one is left to inquire whether the Sandy Hook shooting ever took place—at least in the way law enforcement authorities and the nation’s news media have described,” Tracy’s blog reads.

The volume of people that Google searched “James Tracy” since that day has skyrocketed to more than 25 times as many searches, according to Google Trends. Hashtags like #JamesTracy and #FAUProfessor have been attached to scrutinizing tweets about the controversy. He’s received more than 600 comments on the blog post, whereas previous posts received no comments. And then more than 800 news sources reported on his claims about the Newtown shooting.

Since the notorious Sandy Hook blog post was written, Tracy has been thrust into the public eye.

But the Sandy Hook conspiracy isn’t the first theory of Tracy’s, and it won’t be his last.

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News

Inside his mind

Strouse, Broward Palm Beach New Times.

In Newtown, First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra publicly condemned FAU for continuing to employ Tracy after the remarks. “Shame on you, too, FAU, to even have someone like this on your payroll,” Llodra told Tracy flipped through the pages of a biography of Malcolm X in FoxNews.com. “Professor Tracy is an embarrassment to me as an educator, an African-American history class. He was 29 at the time and an and should be to you as well.” undergraduate at San Jose State University.

“I was fascinated by it. It was one of the best books I’ve ever read,” Tracy said. “That’s actually one of the first kind of conspiracies I looked Sk e p t i c s a n d t r u e b e l i e ve r s at. I think that he was regarded as being a nuisance, to say the least, by the establishment. I think that [Malcolm X] was likely killed as a result of it.”

According to a poll taken by Gallup, public distrust After that, he began looking critically into media coverage of major in the media has hit an all-time high. 60 percent of events such as the assassinations of Malcolm X. And he didn’t stop there.

Americans have “little or no trust in the mass media Throughout graduate school at Iowa State, Tracy explored one of to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly.” history’s more controversial bullets — the bullet that killed JFK. “[The assassination of John F. Kennedy] seemed unusual — the circumstances,” Tracy said. “Probably coordination between the mafia and the intelligence community.”

Tracy presented a range of theories about events like 9/11, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and even a theory on why he questions everything in the first place.

Rate my professor “I think that there’s something about being Irish, where people are paranoid,” Tracy said. “We experience oppression by our forebears that Just like any other professor, Tracy has his fair actually pass down to [us] genetically: that sense, that awareness. I think share of critics. Here’s what his students have that’s the case with the Irish.” had to say about him on ratemyprofessors.com: But Tracy is untroubled by the criticism of his conspiratorial thoughts.

“What if I told you that the government was involved in these mass shootings? Maybe they are, maybe they’re not. You can say, ‘Well, you’re a “This proffesor [sic] is as worthless as his conspiracy theorist. This is nonsense,’” Tracy says. “If you’re calling me a teaching.... Nothing intresting [sic] was taught, conspiracy theorist, then you don’t have to worry about what I’m saying. in fact, he taught against anything useful in the Because I’m nuts.” field of communications...avoid him at all costs.... you’ll end up trying to pass his awkardly strict teaching policies rather than passing relavent career material... and he loves to hear himself talk”

The man the media made

Two weeks following the initial blog post, the Sun Sentinel released a story on Tracy’s blog post — it was the first of many. “FAU prof stirs controversy by disputing Newtown massacre,” the headline read.

“I think that some of the stories are spun in a certain way,” said Tracy, “because I spoke with the Sun Sentinel reporter for over an hour, yet it’s a very brief article. We talked about an awful lot, yet it didn’t come out in that way.”

The following day, The Huffington Post re-ran the same story. Since then, the story of the conspiracy professor who believed Newtown never happened blew up on a national scale.

“You have these big media outlets that are interested in the human interest element of my remarks, eventually causing hurt to the Newtown family members,” Tracy said about the media coverage of the controversy.

“It became less to do with my critique of the media and more to do with this human interest element.”

Outlets like Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, among many others, have since reported this issue.

Along with the constant news coverage came public scrutiny of Tracy and his position at FAU. Some local news outlets have suggested that Tracy should be removed from his position immediately.

“While I am a great fan of academic freedom, I also recognize that professors shape the way our kids think. And if their work amounts to second-rate thought and paranoid rantism, they should go,” wrote Chuck

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“Professor Tracy’s class was a pleasure to take.

Yes - you have to read about 30 pgs and write a 1.5-2 pg paper weekly and you are only allowed 1 unexcused absence. That said, it wasn’t as bad as people make it seem. If you do the work and pay attention, the tests won’t be that bad.

HE GIVES YOU THE Qs 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE. I learned A LOT. Refreshing” “This class is much better than his mass comm theory class. He demands a lot out of his students, but he is fair. He is a big intellectual and likes to have long discussions during class.

He requires short papers for each class, but is pretty liberal on the grading.”

“This professor only likes to do one thing, and that is hear himself talk. He has an extremely condescending personality and thinks he is such an intellectual it comes off as been arrogant and annoying. His class is more like a graduate level class. Be prepared to write papers every week and do lots of readings. Exams are HUGE essays w/ no notes.SUX”

The nutty professors James Tracy isn’t the first professor to stir up controversy and attract the attention of the media, and he probably won’t be the last.

Peter Duesberg (University of California, Berkeley): This biochemistry professor was notorious for his denial of the link between HIV and AIDS. Controversy over the issue was stirred in late 2009 when he published an article that rejected the accepted idea that HIV was the cause for AIDS. An investigation was launched on Duesberg for academic misconduct in November 2009. In June 2010, he was cleared in the investigation and no disciplinary actions were taken.

Chris Robé, president of the university’s faculty union — the position that Tracy formerly held — believes this is a matter of free speech.

“You have to respect peoples’ right to free speech,” Robé said.

“It’s easy to defend free speech when everyone agrees with what’s being said. It’s when everyone disagrees that it gets complicated.”

But FAU distanced themselves from Tracy and his blog following the media frenzy.

“I want to make it clear that those views and opinions are not shared by Florida Atlantic University,” read a release from University President Mary Jane Saunders. “I am personally saddened by any media stories that have added to the pain felt by the victims’ families.”

The aftermath

[Source: Scientific American]

Ward Churchill (University of Colorado): Notorious for his controversial statements referring to the victims of 9/11 as “little Eichmanns” (referring to Adolf Eichmann, German Nazi and major organizer of the Holocaust), Churchill’s offensive remarks came from an article where he suggested that 9/11 was provoked by the U.S. An investigation was launched on Churchill for academic misconduct in 2005. In May 2006, Churchill was found guilty of research misconduct. In July 2007, Churchill was fired from the University of Colorado.

[Source: The Atlantic]

Norman Finkelstein (DePaul University): A political science professor from 2001 to 2007 who stirred controversy over his argument that Israel used the Holocaust to portray itself as a victim. His publication, The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering, about the exploitation of the Holocaust, was received negatively and brought hostile media attention to DePaul University.

Finkelstein was denied tenure by the university following the controversy surrounding his publication in June 2007.

In September 2007, Finkelstein resigned from his position at DePaul University.

[Source: The New York Times]

James Tracy discusses a wide range of conspiracies — from the Newtown massacre to the death of John F. Kennedy.

Tracy sat solemnly in his office last Tuesday night, about a week since the first article was released. We talked about class, we talked about conspiracies, but mostly about the outcome of his blog posts and the media coverage.

He found out earlier that the university allegedly launched an investigation of him.

“They’re getting people calling them saying that this person shouldn’t be teaching. He’s an awful person and what have you,” he said. “[My wife] thinks that the publicity is really undue. In a way, I’m a symbol of something that’s much larger, which is the contradictory statements and acts of our government. When someone holds up a red flag, so to speak, and questions that, then there’s great cause for concern.”

Tracy’s wife, an FAU librarian, refused to comment.

FAU refused to confirm or comment on the investigation, according to Media Relations Director Lisa Metcalf, citing it as a “personnel matter.”

Chris Robé recognizes the university’s right to investigate Tracy, but insists that Tracy has not done anything that warrants losing his job.

“Every faculty member has the right to say whatever they want outside of the university as a citizen,” Robé said. “How would you feel if you lost your job because of something you wrote on your personal blog?”

According to Tracy, the action is just investigatory at this point, as opposed to disciplinary.

“Disciplinary would be, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do.’ I don’t know if that would involve stripping me of my tenure and dismissing me, or what,” he said.

Tracy says that he understands the university’s position on the matter, regardless of his uncertainty about job status.

“There might be donors, from what I’ve heard, that might be second guessing collaborating and donating things,” he said. “They also have to be concerned with the money coming in. There’s been a lot of publicity, but I’m sure they likely believe that it’s not positive.”

He may not know much about the investigation, but he does know one thing. “If they intend to fire me, ultimately, how good of an institution is it?” he said. “If they’re not going to stand up for free speech and ideas and things of the like, then I’m not too sure I want to be here either.”

[Ryan Cortes contributed to the reporting of this story.]

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upressonline.com January 22, 2013

17

Opinion News

Letters to the editor From: Marianne E. Murphy Dear Editor, I just wanted to offer you the email I just sent to Professor Tracy: Professor Tracy: I am an FAU Alumni and I took a communications course that looked at film critically, including the President Kennedy assassination. As a writer, I support free speech, critical thinking, and skepticism. I believe encouraging the development of those skills is within the scope of your job responsibilities as a professor. However, presenting your opinion as fact is the not the same thing. Being controversial or contrarian for the sake of being so is not a measure of intellectualism.

Surely, in your academic pursuits, it has been made apparent that broadcasting photos of dead children would not only be overtly inappropriate, but qualify only as sensationalism not responsible journalism.

While I support free speech, I do not support it at the expense of decency and decorum. It is disappointing that someone who considers himself a communications academic cannot grasp the importance of being respectful in presenting his alternative opinion.

From: Tom Botelho I honestly do believe in free speech....and in the halls of learned men and women it is critical that it be unadulterated....I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around someone who yells fire in a theater though when there is no flame nor smoke. The Supreme Court wrestled with this issue also... and I think we all know what side they came down on.

From: Rick Thompson Mr. Tracy, Because of your narrow world view that denies anything from reality that could interfere with your lunatic personal opinions, I’m glad I don’t have a son or daughter who’s a member of any of your classes, because I’d pull them out immediately. I’m also thankful that none of my children, family members or friends were not in the Newtown massacre that you deny happening.

Your very presence at FAU discredits and fouls the entire university. Shame on you.

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January 22, 2013

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Sports News

Fourth time’s the charm Senior guard Greg Gantt is having a careeryear for the Owls

By Mohamed Abdihakim Staff Writer

Photos by Max Jackson Contributor

Erick Green of Virginia Tech, Doug McDermott of Creighton,...and Greg Gantt of FAU. The third-leading scorer in men’s basketball plays right here in Boca, and picks on his teammates while he’s at it.

“Man, I killed Pablo today,” Owls guard Greg Gantt said to assistant coach Peter Gash.

Never content, the 6-foot-2 inch senior (currently averaging 22.5 points per game) was getting some free throws up.

Junior guard Pablo Bertone, who just happened to be today’s victim, was trying to focus on his own shots.

Gantt wouldn’t have that.

As Bertone shot his free throws, Gantt kept recalling the blunders of his Argentine teammate.

“So, Pablo tries to body me...” continued Gantt, now laughing, “and I give him a quick move, and I was gone.”

Bertone starts to laugh, clanking what would have been his 12th or 13th make in a row.

Bertone got distracted. In contrast, opposing guards have had to heighten their focus once Gantt stepped on the court.

The Owls have been riding Gantt’s scoring outbursts to relevance in the Sun Belt. On one particular occasion, he scored 26 points in a win against Troy.

It was Thursday, Dec. 27, a day Gantt would make FAU basketball history.

Gantt’s performance placed him as the all-time leading scorer in the history of FAU basketball.

Now, in his senior season as an Owl, Gantt is playing the best basketball of his college career. In FAU’s 20 games so far this season, he’s scored at least 22 points in 15 contests. In his development, not

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January 22, 2013

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only has Gantt maintained his role as a leader on his team, but he’s done it while scoring at a blistering pace.

The scoring record, though historic, is the result of Gantt’s hard work when no one’s watching.

The senior shooting guard is moving more without the ball this season, made easier by his loss of 30 pounds. He’s taken his defenders through mazes of screens, rarely shooting those stand-still shots he was known for.

“He’s taken a small creature off his back,” head coach Mike Jarvis said of Gantt’s weight loss. “[The other players] see the fact that he’s such a team guy, they see that he’s such a hard worker. Those are things players learn from other [more experienced] players, you know. So he’s a good role model.”

That knowledge has translated to Gantt’s best season of Division 1 basketball. This season marks the first time he’s broken the 20 points per game barrier, including a current eleven-game stretch scoring at least 20 points. He hasn’t done it alone.

“It’s been a blessing,” Gantt said.

“The coaching staff here has so much knowledge of the game and it’s really helped me. My intelligence has improved over four years. I think I’m a better student of the game, which has helped me slow the game down.”

Gantt is as much a fan of the game as he is a student.

Though never modeling his game after a particular NBA player, Gantt has studied several trademark moves. “I watched Kobe Bryant in the post, Ray Allen and the way he came off of screens.”

Greg Gantt puts in some work at the free throw line. The senior guard is averaging a career best 81.6% from the charity stripe.

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Sports News Even Gantt’s toughness was something he had to develop, with the help of teammate Dante Anderson. In his junior season, Gantt would need that toughness.

That season, in 2007, Anderson was killed in a car crash. Gantt wears the number 22 jersey in his memory.

Gantt credits his teammate because “he taught me about being tough on the court.”

Gantt was always equal parts student and athlete. While attending Gainesville High School (GHS), he was awarded “Scholar Athlete of the Year” for North-Central Florida. He finished middle school with straight A’s and high school with a 3.93 GPA. As for the athletics side of things, Gantt was a stand-out.

He was a starter all through high school, leading GHS to the 2009 FHSAA Class 5A state championship title. Gantt’s high school career was the spark GHS needed to regain some prominence.

The year before he enrolled, the team had won just 10 games. His school benefitted, but all of Gainesville started to notice Gantt. The Gainesville Sun declared him “one of the most clutch players in his school’s storied basketball history.” They also awarded him “Player of the Year” three times.

Gantt’s role as an offensive spark would translate to his time at FAU. As a freshman, he led his team in scoring with 15.6 per game, along with being the Sun Belt’s fifth-leading scorer. He was also named Third Team All Sun Belt.

The following season saw the thensophomore once again lead the Owls in

scoring with 14 points per game. Gantt’s junior season maintained his role as the team’s leading scorer while also being voted to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All District 24 Second Team.

“He used to be a stand-still shooter,” says Tony Wise, who coached Gantt during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Wise was the coach who decided to take the then140 pound freshman on to his varsity team.

“And now, he’s posting guys up. I even saw him playing point guard last Saturday [against Western Kentucky University].”

Kelly Beckham, in his only year coaching Gantt (as a high school senior), saw him as a “good all-around player with great knowledge of the game.”

Gantt has been a shooting guard since high school at least. His responsibilities have always centered around scoring the ball.

That he now spends some time playing point guard, managing the offense, is a testament to his overall development as a player.

Gantt isn’t a household name among college hoops fans.

Beckham has a theory: “I think it’s just because of the conference he’s playing in, you know? It’s not the ACC, SEC, or Big 10, so it doesn’t get as much attention. But [Gantt] could play at a high level in those conferences too. He’s a fierce competitor.”

Wise agrees. “He was a sweet kid, but when he stepped in between those lines, he knew there was a job to be done.”

The University of Florida didn’t see much in Gantt’s hometown, Gainesville, to keep him around. He wasn’t heavily recruited by the

Gantt takes it to the hoop. 30 pounds lighter, the combo guard has been running his defenders ragged.

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January 22, 2013

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Top scorers since 2000-2001 season: Year 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

FAU player Points per game Jeff Cowans 13.7 Raheim Brown 16.4 Earnest Crumbley 16.2 Mike Bell 18 Mike Bell 19.1 DeAndre Rice 16.1 DeAndre Rice 20.5 Carlos Monroe 15.4 Paul Graham III 18.5 Greg Gantt 15.6 Greg Gantt 14 Greg Gantt 14 Greg Gantt 22.5 (As of Jan. 20)

Most points scored (career): Years 2009-2013 2000-2003 2005-2009 1993-1996 2000-2003 2005-2009 1996-1998 2009-2012 2008-2012 2003-2004 1992-1995 2007-2011 1989-1990 1994-1996

FAU player Total points Greg Gantt 1,744 Earnest Crumbley 1,559 Paul Graham III 1,521 Craig Buchanan 1,501 Jeff Cowans 1,388 Carlos Monroe 1,316 Damon Arnette 1,246 Raymond Taylor 1,037 Shavar Richardson 1,018 Mike Bell 1,001 Michael Harvey 919 Brett Royster 914 Shane Taylor 912 Phillip Huyler 902

(As of Jan. 20)

Gators, but by the time Gator guards were done guarding him, Gantt had hit six of his 12 shots (3-5 on three’s) in their 2010 matchup. In comparison, opposing shooting guard Irving Walker ended the game shooting 4-12 and 14 points.

The Owls are watching Greg Gantt put in a historic final season at FAU. The team’s record continues to improve as they fight for position in the Sun Belt Conference. They will need the competitiveness that coaches saw (and still see) in Gantt.

It’s the same competitiveness Gantt had developed as early as his varsity days.

As well as he’s playing nowadays, Gantt isn’t quite above some ribbing from his high school coach.

“He’s never beaten me in a game of HORSE,” Wise said. “He’ll kill me for bringing that up.”

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Features News

Tatted up A look into tattoo culture at FAU

By Emily Bloch Features Editor

Photo by Ryan Murphy

I

n honor of last Friday’s debut of Stories on the Skin, FAU’s documentary on students with tattoos, I went on the hunt and found some cool students with equally cool stories behind their tattoos. There’s also a sweet Q&A with Stories on the Skin photographer Z. Koppisch, who walked me through her experiences, her own personal tattoos, what it was like taking an

assistant professor and an associate dean to a tattoo expo, and her yoga routine.

Before we get into that, though, I figured I’d share my own story. On my right shoulder lies a tattoo I’ve been proud of for a bit over two years now. It consists of a blue jay, a pocket watch, and a banner that reads “scientific.” This tattoo is in memory of my grandpa. He was a wise, cheerful man who would collect pocket

watches and literally couldn’t go 20 minutes without sneaking the word “scientific” into a sentence — nothing was cool or great, everything was scientific. When I was a little girl, he’d whistle at birds and try to get their attention, but only the blue jays would consistently answer. This tattoo is special to me because it gave me closure from his loss, and as cliché as it may seem, I know he always has my back.

Photo by Max Jackson (Below) A look at some of the artwork that was exhibited Friday, Jan. 18 for the Stories on the Skin premiere at the University Theater.

Photo courtesy of K. Zoppisch

(Above) Z. Koppisch, a senior designer who photographed all the Stories on the Skin featured students, was so inspired by the project, she got its logo tattooed on her ankle.

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January 22, 2013

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Features News

Under the needle Here’s a look at the stories behind these students’ tattoos.

Joe Dixon, grad student, chemistry: “I have a track foot here. I was involved in track for a big part of my life. There’s also a cross country symbol, a shield of faith because I strongly believe in faith, wings with my mom’s name inside, she passed not too long ago, 10 stars inside the wings for my five siblings and my mom had five miscarriages, so there are 10 total.”

Vince Ambrose, junior, exercise science: “My chest piece is Veni, Vidi, Vici, which means I came, I saw, I conquered. I got it because whatever I face, I want to conquer.”

Austin Gore, junior, public management: “This is my fraternity, it’s just that I’m proud of it and I wanted to show it off. It’s Phi Delta Theta, a social fraternity on campus. I just like the brotherhood that we have, and this tattoo is just representative of all that.”

Cody Casey, sophomore, pre-med: “This is a serotonin molecule — your brain produces serotonin when you’re happy, like, your serotonin levels rise when you’re really happy or doing something that makes you feel good, so it’s a constant reminder to stay happy — and I love science.”

Ryan Desutter, sophomore, biology: “It’s a triforce from The Legend of Zelda. I got it because it was a huge part of my childhood and I liked the storyline behind it, and what the picture stood for. It’s a representation of the values of a hero — bravery, courage, intelligence.”

Jenna Johnson, freshman, marine biology: “I drew it a while ago, I just like it because its a motivational tattoo. Stay strong in whatever you do.”

Samantha Kosartes, freshman, undecided: “I got it in memory for my grandma, I’m from the Bahamas and I’m going to finish it, so I’m going to do an island type thing with it with island colors. It’s not done yet, but I’m going to finish it soon.”

Marlie Marino, freshman, journalism: “It’s wings and initials for my friend McKenzie, she passed away from a brain tumor.”

Photos by Max Jackson

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Q&A with Z. Koppisch

Ed Letter

On Jan. 18, a new documentary, Stories on the Skin: Tattoo Culture at FAU premiered at the University Theatre. The documentary featured the participation of 1,500 students and counting, and one woman got to be there for it all — Z. Koppisch, a senior designer and photographer at the FAU Libraries, photographed students and their tattoos, and continued to become inspired by them. Here’s what Koppisch had to say about her experience, her tattoos, and her hobbies in our exclusive interview: Photos by Christine Capozziello How has Stories on the Skin inspired you?

It has been like a chain of creative inspiration.

The students were inspired by an occurrence in their lives, so they went and collaborated with a tattoo artist and got a tattoo. We were inspired by their stories and collaborated to create exhibitions, performances and a film.

And now, my photographs have even inspired a high school student to create paintings of the photographic images from the project. And that’s what the creative process is all about, creating art from inspiration and collaboration.

How’s the process been for you? Have you seen any crazy tattoos?

I wouldn’t call any of the stories “crazy.”

That’s what is so amazing about this project.

99 percent of the students I met have well thought-out meanings to their tattoos.

Tattoo Convention at the beginning of the project. That was the first time they had ever been to such an event.

Do you have any other tattoos?

Yes, most of them are Celtic imagery. I am an Irish-American.

Can you sum up your Stories on the Skin experience?

This project has been my passion for the past three years. I — we — have worked a lot of hours, nights and weekends, to make this project come alive. I believe in this project so much that I got the Stories on the Skin artwork I created tattooed on my ankle.

Tell us about your first?

I was 23 when I got my first tattoo. [It] was a snake, but 15 years later, I had it re-colored and added flowers. I worked with the tattoo artist and asked him to pick out the flowers and for him to decide how they would be composed around the snake. Since I involved the artist, I think he really did a nice composition, since there was freedom to be creative and work with his own technique.

Permanent dedication’s pretty bold. So what clicked that you knew you had to get it?

I’m very attached to the project and it means a lot to me.

The fact that you do yoga caught our eye. Can you tell me anything about that?

I do yoga at the nursing building twice a week.

It relaxes me. Believe it or not, getting tattooed relaxes me. It’s what I do for myself. Some women get manicures — I’d rather get a tattoo.

“S

ome women

get manicures —

I’d rather get a tattoo.”

Do you have examples?

Several of the students had memorial tattoos.

I also met a student named Danielle who had the word “truth” tattooed on the inside of her mouth. She felt she was lying too much and this was her way of helping herself. Someone in our crew asked, “Did it work?” and she replied yes.

What else can you tell us about the making of this documentary? Any adventures?

One the most adventurous things that I did was to take Dr. Leader [Ph.D., assistant professor of art history in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History] and Rita Pellen [Associate Dean of FAU Libraries] to the South Florida The face behind the camera — Z. Koppisch photographed all the tattoos featured in Stories on the Skin. upressonline.com January 22, 2013

27

Follow the leader(s) News

Meet the new chair and vice chair of the Board of Trustees — the group making FAU’s biggest financial decisions — who can’t keep track of their own pocketbooks

By Dylan Bouscher Photos courtesy of Media Relations Senior Reporter

F

AU’s Board of Trustees (BOT) — the university’s 13 highest ranking officials — votes on multi-million dollar deals, from annual budgets to new dorms and parking garages. Yet a year-long special investigation by the UP, released last June, revealed that half of the BOT’s members have bankruptcy filings, foreclosures, or other monetary troubles in their past. The trustees have also voted to raise FAU’s tuition by the maximum amount, 15 percent, every year for the last four years.

Now, the trustees have not only picked a new chair and vice chair, but they have promoted the two who have arguably the worst financial histories among their colleagues. Anthony Barbar and Thomas Workman, Jr. are both FAU alumni.

Barbar earned his bachelor’s in international business; Workman earned his in accounting. Both are also past presidents of FAU’s Alumni Association.

Both joined the Board of Trustees after they were appointed by the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) — a 17-member board governing the state’s 12 public universities — in 2008. Barbar’s term ends in 2015, and Workman’s term ended this month, but he applied for reappointment. Barbar became the BOT’s new chair, and Workman became the new vice chair at a Jan. 15 meeting.

Workman’s reappointment became official at a Jan. 17 BOG meeting.

The BOG has a Trustee Nominating and Development Committee, where Governor Norm Tripp recommended Workman for the job. Tripp is a former chair of FAU’s BOT. “I had the pleasure of serving with [Workman] when I sat on the FAU Board,” Tripp said. “He is an outstanding trustee, dedicated, with an excellent attendance record.”

When the UP asked for comments from former BOT Chair Robert Stilley, President Mary Jane Saunders, and Workman himself about his qualifications, Director of Media Relations Lisa Metcalf attached the following statement from Saunders in an email: “I am pleased that Tom Workman has reapplied for a second term on the Board of Trustees. He is a proud of alumnus of this university, and to this day continues to have the students’ best interest at heart. He has been a dedicated member of the Board, and was absolutely wonderful in his first term. Tom has attended numerous FAU functions throughout the past few years and graciously offers his continuous support for his alma mater. Tom truly cares for the University, its faculty, staff, students and alumni, and we are honored that he has requested serving for a second term.”

Now that Workman has been reappointed by the BOG, he must be confirmed by the Florida Senate. Barbar and Workman filled out the same questionnaire and were confirmed by the Senate when they were first appointed to the BOT. When asked, “Have any judgments been entered against you as a result of any civil or administrative proceedings?” both answered no.

Court documents obtained by the UP, however, paint different portraits of Workman and Barbar. In his application for reappointment, Workman attached a letter to Frank Brogan, Chancellor of the State University System — made up of Florida’s 12 public universities — acknowledging his answer may not have been accurate:

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The Board of Trustees appointed Anthony Barbar (above) and Thomas Workman, Jr. (below) — the two trustees with arguably the worst financial histories — as the new chair and vice chair of the board.

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News “In the 1980s, I guaranteed a loan with a partner who later defaulted. As a result, the bank pursued me for the full debt. After a lengthy litigation and numerous attempts to settle, my council advised me to file for bankruptcy protection to prevent incurring a judgment. On Oct. 14, 1994, a petition for discharge of debtors was filed, and on April 4, 1995, we were granted full discharge of all debts outstanding. I have never had any judgements placed against me and I owe nothing but my monthly credit cards, which I pay in full each month. I learned a good lesson and I don’t guarantee any loans for anyone anymore.”

Despite writing to the BOG that he “never had any judgments placed against him,” Workman and his wife were sued by First United Bank in November 1995 to foreclose on a Boca Raton condo they owned.

Aside from three lawsuits brought against companies he worked at, and a federal tax lien issued against another one of his companies that owed $2,700 in back taxes, all before 1995, the suit between Workman and First United Bank ended in Workman owing the bank $38,000 and the condo being lost to the bank, according to a judgment summary, available online at upressonline.com/bot.

Barbar, on the other hand, filed for bankruptcy twice in two years. The first time, in January 1991, The Barbar Group Inc. (a company Barbar’s father started as president and made his son the vice president of), filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, to restructure and pay its debts. The Barbar Group no longer exists. Five months later, Barbar, a relative, and the Royal Palm Improvement Association were being sued by the federal government to foreclose on a property they owned. In their ruling, the judge ordered three foreclosures and the defendants to pay the bank $37 million.

“In the 1980s, I guaranteed a loan with a partner who later FAU’s Board of Trustees is defaulted ... I learned a comprised of 13 members.

Together these members approve good lesson and I don’t guarantee any loans FAU’s annual budget, which was over $238 million this year. for anyone anymore.”

Add it up They approve multi-million dollar parking garages, dorms, and football stadiums. The trustees are divided into four categories:

6

members are appointed by the Governor of Florida (five-year terms)

5

members are appointed by the Board of Governors (five-year terms)

1

member is FAU’s student body president (one-year term)

“I had the pleasure of serving with [Workman] when I sat on the FAU Board. He is an outstanding trustee, member is FAU’s faculty senate dedicated, with an president excellent attendance (two-year term) record.”

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One month after that, Barbar Realty, Barbar’s father, and another relative were sued by the Bank of Credit and Commerce.

In their ruling, the judge ordered the group to pay $362,000 total: the $313,000 owed to the bank, $40,000 in interest, and $9,000 for the bank’s attorney fees. In April 1992, Barbar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy himself. The court denied him protection from his creditors. Ten years later, in February 2002, Royal Palm Mortgage sued Barbar, his father, and two other relatives to foreclose on another property they owned.

In their ruling, the judge decided Barbar and his relatives owed the mortgage company $3.1 million.

Six months after that, the landlord who owned the office space where The Barbar Group, Barbar Investment Group Inc., Barbar, and his father worked, sued to evict them. Barbar, who was president of the now non-existent Barbar Investment Group, was evicted in the judge’s ruling.

In 2009, Deutsche Bank National Trust sued Barbar and a relative to foreclose on another property they owned. As of publication time, the lawsuit is still pending.

In 2010, another landlord sued Barbar and Barbar Investment Group for $191,000 owed in back rent. In their time on the BOT, Barbar and Workman have approved loans to build the $70 million football stadium, $131 million Innovation Village Apartments, $46 million freshman housing project, and a $15.6 million parking garage.

They also approved last year’s operating budget, which defunded classes and research on the SeaTech campus in Dania Beach, and suspended the Treasure Coast and Fort Lauderdale campuses.

Barbar’s term on the BOT ends in January 2015, but Workman will now serve until January 2018. Later this year, the pair will approve the university’s annual operating budget and, if necessary, another tuition increase.

[Lore Khazem contributed to the reporting of this story.]

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