UP13_20

University Press February 14, 2012 Vol. 13 Issue 20

Florida Atlantic University’s finest news source

To love — even if no one

Valentine’s Day isn’t only for lovers. A new approach can make the holiday this year special.

PG. 11

Why Greek’s GPA is lower than FAU’s average.

PG. 4 upressonline.com

The quidditch team flies high with brooms.

PG. 14

What to expect from the baseball team this upcoming season.

PG. 18

First issue is free; each additional copy is 50 cents and available in the UP newsroom.

2

Feb. 14, 2012

upressonline.com

News Briefs February 14, 2012 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mariam Aldhahi MANAGING EDITOR Ryan Cortes ART DIRECTOR Phaedra Blaize WEB EDITOR Andrew Alvino BUSINESS MANAGER Michae Henry COPY DESK CHIEF Michael Chandeck NEWS EDITOR Regina Kaza CRIME EDITOR Monica Ruiz FEATURES EDITOR Carolina Fernandez PHOTO EDITOR Charles Pratt SPORTS EDITOR Rolando Rosa SENIOR EDITORS Rachel Chapnick Gideon Grudo SENIOR REPORTERS Karla Bowsher Sergio Candido SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Christine Capozziello STAFF REPORTERS Dylan Bouscher Jordan Robrish STAFF DESIGNER Elena Medina STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Melissa Landolfa COPY EDITOR Jessica Cohn-Kleinberg CONTRIBUTORS Jessica Calaway, Ariana Corrao, Chase Kennedy, Taylor Johnson, Wadreama King, Amanda Rubio ADVISERS Michael Koretzky Dan Sweeney COVER Illustrations by Elena Medina

WANT TO JOIN THE UP? email upress@fau.edu Staff meetings every Friday, 2 p.m. in the Student Union, Room 214 WANT TO PLACE AN AD? Contact Marc Litt 732.991.6353 marc@universityimpress.com PUBLISHER FAU Student Government The opinions expressed by the UP are not necessarily those of the student body, Student Government or FAU.

www.upressonline.com 777 Glades Road Student Union, Room 214 Boca Raton, FL 33431 561.297.2960 upressonline.com

Sophomore vocal performance music major, Michael Clossey, rests after the Feb. 7 Sexually Responsible Bed Race. For more about the Bed Race check out upressonline.com Photo by Taylor Johnson

Police blotter Jan. 20, 2012 Location: Parking lot behind the food court, Boca campus

Jan. 23, 2012 Location: Innovation Village Apartments, Boca campus

FAU police were called to the scene when a missing golf cart reappeared in a worse condition than it was left. The complainant noticed the golf cart wasn’t parked in its usual spot, that there were scratches on the passenger side, and “smoke trees” was written on the steering wheel. No one was given permission to use the golf cart, and there weren’t any surveillance cameras in the area to catch the perpetrator.

During a health and safety check, two RA’s found drug paraphernalia in a student’s room. When police came to inspect the room, they found two glass pipes on the dresser, a small glass jar with marijuana residue, and two water bottles that were used to smoke out of. The resident wasn’t home when police searched his room, but police confiscated the items and he was given a student referral.

Go to upressonline.com to read more on the police blotter.

All information is taken from the police reports provided by FAUPD. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

News Student Government elections are right around the corner. Voting starts at midnight Feb. 28. Here’s the final list of candidates running for SG president and vice president: Robert Huffman and April Turner, Helen Pferdehirt and Ryan Ebanks, Elrigea McIntosh and Jonathan Howell. Be sure to check out the Feb. 21 issue of the UP to read all about this year’s student elections.

Features LGBTQA is hosting an event that combines issues of gender and sexuality with race and ethnicity.

Breaking the Silence: LGBTQA People of Color is a free event where a panel of faculty, staff and students will speak out about these issues and tell their stories. The event will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 7-9 p.m. in the Majestic Palm Room.

Sports Men’s basketball bounced back to defeat Denver and North Texas in close games at home after dropping its previous two.

With four games left until the conference tournament, time is of the essence (10-14 overall record, 7-5 in the Sun Belt) to carry momentum into the postseason.

The team now travels to Western Kentucky (Thursday Feb. 16).

Feb. 14. 2012

3

News

Making grade the

Greek GPA is higher than it’s been in ten years and that’s still lower than the FAU average

By Rachel Chapnick upress@fau.edu

F

AU’s Greek community has reason to celebrate. After a 10 year period of little change in their GPA, fraternities and sororities have boosted their average from a low Bto a solid B-.

While the letter grade may not have changed, FAU’s fraternities and sororities can boast an average GPA of 2.82, a 0.12 point GPA increase.

This is the closest FAU Greeks have been to the student average, which is also a B-, since 2003, according to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s Fall 2011 Community report.

Although the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life encourages chapters to maintain high GPAs, it’s assistant director Ryan O’Rourke admits there isn’t much he or his office can do about some chapters’ less-than-stellar performance. Responsibility for meeting FAU’s minimum GPA and the national chapter’s minimum GPA ultimately falls to an individual chapter. O’Rourke and his office, however, try to encourage fraternity and sorority members to aim above the average FAU student’s GPA. Ethan Aparicio of the Sigma Chi Colony believes the comparison to the school’s average GPA is an unfair one. “The University as a whole includes students who don’t leave the library or their room.

They don’t go out for Greek. They don’t have the time,” he said.

Aparicio also pointed out a fraternity’s reported grades include pledges or prospective members.

Even though some pledges do not become brothers, their GPAs are still lumped with the fraternity recruiting them.

O’Rourke explained GPAs can show a pledge’s future performance. Low GPAs cause a certain amount of suspicion. “If all new members get below a 2.0, it’s a red flag something is wrong with new member education,” he explained. “Let’s put it this way: I’ve never seen a great fraternity with a low GPA.” Normally it’s the pledges who don’t do well who drop, according to O’Rourke.

O’Rourke and his office cannot technically do anything about a chapter with a sub-par GPA. As a result, different fraternities and sororities have tried to combat low GPAs with multiple tactics.

Aparicio explains his fraternity requires study hours for pledges and brothers in academic trouble.

Cinthya Castro, Amber Carlise and Amanda Talham of Theta Phi Alpha also have a policy of

4

Feb. 14. 2012

mandatory study hours, but they have taken it a step further and instituted BYOB, or Bring Your Own Books, sessions. Carlise claims, “We have one every week.”

While O’Rourke gave credit to fraternities and sororities for trying to raise their individual GPAs, he says his office will continue to encourage Greeks to use FAU’s resources, such as supplemental instruction sessions. “Study hours aren’t as effective,” he claims, “At the end of the day those become social hours.”

While BYOB gatherings may be social, the sisters of Theta Phi Alpha still managed to report a 0.11 increase in GPA for the semester, and a 0.22 point increase for the year. Still, although Theta Phi Alpha’s 2.66 GPA may be higher than previous semesters, the sorority’s average is less than the average sorority’s GPA of 2.88. Additionally, the community report stated “No sorority chapter has a cumulative GPA above the all-women’s [undergraduate] cumulative GPA.” In spite of ranking below the typical FAU female (or student), sororities outscored the men’s 2.72 average. According to past community reports, sororities’ superiority in academics is normal.

Aparicio responded, “Traditionally girls have higher GPAs. Guys? We’re working on it.”

Interestingly, however, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life published a five year plan that calls for the average GPA of fraternities and sororities to “meet, or exceed, the FAU undergraduate women’s GPA” by the 2013/14 school year. Currently, that GPA is a 3.0, and no chapter on campus meets or exceeds this average for overall GPA. O’Rourke blames the fraternities failings on the stereotype he says can be traced back to Animal House. He claims some fraternities “like to perpetuate the stereotype that it’s all about the party.”

Aparicio also believes the stereotype negatively affects recruiting, claiming it is sometimes hard for his fraternity to attract students with high GPAs. He believes that often “The type of student we look for completely agrees with the stigma [of partying fraternities]. Many of them avoid us outright.”

Last semester, his fraternity was comfortably above FAU’s average male GPA. This semester, however, it dropped below the average male students. He said Sigma Chi will continue preventing brothers in poor academic standing from going to social events.

Aparicio rejects the notion that the Greek lifestyle was responsible for the members’ lower-than-usual GPAs. He says academics are a priority and claims “I have never heard a single Greek tell someone [with a low GPA] they had to do an event.” He admitted that while he has procrastinated on projects to party with his fraternity, he has managed to balance Greek life and his academics. He still admitted it might be more difficult for students with different majors, stating “Students in the sciences — physics, bio-med, nurses — they have a lot more work than I do. It might be more of an issue.”

O’Rourke thinks both fraternities and sororities need to confront the negative stereotype. “When fraternities and sororities are doing their thing, they belong on campus— when they’re not, they’re as far away as possible from the academic mission of the university. But they have the power to fight the stereotype.”

The ladies of Phi Alpha Theta seem to agree. Talham said, “We’re here to make a career for us.” Castro agreed, stating, “At the end of the day, we’re in college.”

O’Rourke echoed these sentiments, stating FAU fraternities and sororities need to realize that “At the end of the day, everyones priority is to get a degree.”

AV E R A G E

2.88

G.P.A. 2.90 3.00 Overall sorority

Overall FAU undergraduate

Overall FAU undergraduate female

Party harder, score higher In spite of the stigma that fraternities and sororities partying causes low GPAs, schools such as University of Florida and University of South Florida that outrank FAU as a “Party School” according to Princeton Review and the U.S. News and World Report have Greeks with higher GPAs than FAU’s Greeks. According to the Gainesville Sun, UF’s Greeks actually had a higher GPA than the average UF student. UCF,

2.72 Overall fraternity

2.80

Overall FAU undergraduate male

which was ranked as the number nine party school by Playboy, also reported that their fraternity and sorority members had higher GPAs than the average student in its Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s Annual Report.

O’Rourke suggested traditional schools like UF and FSU have more established Greek scenes, and are therefore able to concentrate more on academics.

upressonline.com

upressonline.com

Feb. 14. 2012

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Feb. 14. 2012

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Opinion

I

By Carolina Fernandez was just trying to find the

buy-one-get-one-free

Velveeta macaroni boxes at Publix and I somehow ended up in the Valentine’s

Day aisle. It felt endless, littered with hearts and smiles everywhere.

I immediately regretted doing my grocery shopping a few days before

To love — even if no one

the day dedicated to love and lovers. I reluctantly picked up the Hallmark card with a bumble bee licking a big jar of honey. It didn’t look like it would be too bad.

On the front it read “My sweet angel, I can’t get enough of you and me, honey.” And on the inside it read “With you, life is good… and love is sweet.”

Is that sarcasm? That’s the cheesiest thing I’ve ever read in my life. In fact, if someone gave me that card, I’d donate it to an engineering class so that they could make a bridge

Valentine’s Day through a cynic’s eyes

out of it. You know, the way some of them do with school newspapers.

I set the card back in its spot, backwards as so to spare anyone the mistake of reading it, or worse, buying it. I continued with my Velveeta hunt.

That’s when it dawned on me: the reason I’m slightly bitter about Valentine’s Day is because I would have a Valentine of my own if my boyfriend lived in the same city as me. Actually, I’d be satisfied if we lived in the same time zone. Instead, he lives in St. Louis, Missouri — a whole 1,190 miles away from Boca. And even though I roll my eyes at the sight of couples smooching and acting extra in love on this one day of the year, I secretly wish I was doing the same.

As cheesy as it is, I’d love to be the girl receiving the flowers or the over-sized teddy bear.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had to write something for those who might be feeling this way too at this time of year. Let’s face it: for us, this whole Valentine’s Day frenzy is just a glorified reminder of our own loneliness. But I decided life’s too short to be bitter about any part of it for too long, even if it’s just for a day. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be as dreadful as I’m expecting it to be. It could actually be something I embrace, ironically enough — a chance to interact with others who are spending it alone and make the most of it together. It could serve as a reminder to tell the important people in our lives (not just in the romantic way) how much they mean to us. Who cares if they see it as a cause for concern and ask if I have a fever?

Whether you’re single or your special someone lives a thousand miles away, or whether you just think the holiday is a capitalist mousetrap for our society’s corny people, this is my advice to you. Walk and talk amongst the sappy, love struck people frolicking around in public spaces, holding hands and feeding each other heart-shaped chocolates.

Wear an attitude that says you don’t really need any of that

Illustration by Chase Kennedy upressonline.com

to be happy.

Continued on page 12 Feb. 14. 2012

11

Cover

1

continued from page 11

Throw an anti-Valentine’s Day party Chances are you’re not the only loner amongst your friends on Valentine’s Day. If you’re single, V-Day can make for a perfect excuse for a party on a Tuesday night. Gather all of your fellow singles into one place and pretend it’s your bachelor or bachelorette party. Even if you’re not getting hitched in the freakishly-soon future, you can always pretend — just for the sake of the party.

2

4

Head to Coyote Jack’s (or an off-campus college bar, like The Irishmen)

A college student’s Valentine’s Day guide

So Coyote Jack’s might not be the most interesting bar in the world, but you can’t go wrong with a beer that costs $2.50, delicious burgers and wraps, and big TV screens that will either be playing movies or sports games. If you’d rather go off campus but stay close, you could go to The Irishmen where they offer the same, plus a jukebox where you can make your own playlist.

The Irishmen is a few blocks from campus on 2nd Avenue — and you’re bound to find a fair share of college kids there as well.

{Single or not}

You don’t need to get over-sized teddy bears or heart-shaped balloons on Valentine’s Day to have a good time. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of the holiday for couples if you don’t have a significant other. (Yes, there are other alternatives besides wallowing in your loneliness and hating on lovebirds.)

Invite your friends over for a movie night If you don’t want to go through the trouble of throwing a party, pick a few movies that everyone will enjoy. Make some popcorn and bring out the beer. And avoid romantic comedies at all costs — those could potentially be counterproductive. Here are some movies that are guaranteed laugh attacks: Stepbrothers, the hilarious story of two grown men who go from strangers to loving brothers or Bridesmaids, a film about a group of women who drive each other crazy when they have to work together as their friend’s bridesmaids. No matter what gender you are, these movies will have you and your friends cracking up.

2

Nothing screams Valentine’s Day like a girl crying on her beau’s shoulder in a public theatre. Luckily for couples, the heart-melting chick flick, The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, hits theatres on Feb. 10.

Ladies, try not to wish your boyfriend was Channing, and guys, we all know the movie is scripted, but take some tips from the heroic heartthrob protagonist. You might be glad you did so later on. If you don’t want to travel off campus you can always go and watch A Dangerous Method at the Living Room Theatres on the Boca campus. This suspenseful drama starring Kiera Knightley is about two men fighting over one woman, and even if it’s not going to win an Oscar any time soon, some reviews say it’s pretty good. Plus, with reclining seats and food and beverages served to your seat, the Living Room Theatres can make for an intimate atmosphere for you and your Valentine.

3

Go to an affordable restaurant with good deals We know you’d love to take your special someone to a fancy restaurant where they only serve the most expensive champagne, and all the tables are topped with rose petals. But the reality is you’ll probably have to save that for when you’re an established professional on a bigger budget. Luckily, there are still ways you can have a nice dinner for two and not break bank. At the P.F. Chang’s on Glades Road across from campus, you could split the “two for 40” deal and each get a four-course meal for $39.99. It might not be as cheap as a McDonald’s happy meal, but you’re still getting a bang for your buck.

3

Some restaurants around campus have deals on meals that could make for a perfect, and affordable hangout for friends. You and your single friends probably want to go out to a place with drink deals and a casual atmosphere. The Millers Ale House on Yamato Road might be the perfect place to dodge any sort of romance. You can get $6 pitchers of beer and a mountain melt that you can share with a friend for under $11.

With its discounted drinks and close location, The Irishmen is one of the closest bars to the Boca campus. You’re likely to find groups of singles there on Valentine’s Day. The Irishmen is located on 1745 NW 2nd Ave, Boca Raton. All photos by Christine Capozziello

5 things to do if you’re single Feb. 14, 2012

Even if you already have a significant other, making him or her a home-cooked meal would give you extra brownie points —and that can never hurt. You don’t even need to pretend you’re Emeril to make an impressive meal cooked with lots of love. It can be as easy as making angel hair spaghetti with some vodka sauce.

Combine that with warm garlic bread, a fresh salad and a fine wine or soda pop if you’re under 21, and “bam!” — you’ve made your Valentine a delicious meal.

5 things to do if you’re in a relationship (but on a budget)

Catch a flick at the Living Room Theatres or a nearby cinema

Go out to dinner with a group

12

1

Make dinner for two in your dorm or off-campus apartment

5

You may be caught in a situation where you just started dating your Valentine, and don’t want to do anything too romantic. You may just be in the mood to hang out with a fellow couple. Whatever the case may be, you could always resort to double or triple dating on Valentine’s Day. By doing this, you can still be on a date, but keep it casual with the company of friends. You could go bowling as a group at Strikes off Military Trail and Renaissance Way or watch a movie together, on or offcampus, followed by dinner.

Fix yourself a nice dinner Maybe you don’t really want to go big this year; maybe Valentine’s Day isn’t a cause for celebration at all. You just want to go to sleep early because you have class the next day, but you figure: hey, if everyone else is doing something special, I should, too. It’s not lame to make yourself a substantial, borderlinegourmet meal for one. Besides, it might be time to give the ramen noodles a break and try something more challenging, like a linguine with shrimp and white wine. You’ll thank yourself later.

4

Double or triple date

5

upressonline.com

Sing karaoke at a nearby college bar

The Cinemark Palace 20 is the closest off-campus movie theatre. Following the classic dinner-and-a-movie tradition, many college students will likely be taking their dates there on Valentine’s Day. The theatre is located on 3200 Airport Rd., Boca Raton.

For those who aren’t afraid to show off their singing pipes, karaoke could make for an extremely fun date. If you’re 21 or over, go to Holloway’s Irish Pub off Mizner Boulevard for a night of singing — or watching other people sing, which could also be quite entertaining. Karaoke is the perfect way to break the ice, be silly together and maybe even get a free drink.

Feb. 14. 2012

13

Cover

1

continued from page 11

Throw an anti-Valentine’s Day party Chances are you’re not the only loner amongst your friends on Valentine’s Day. If you’re single, V-Day can make for a perfect excuse for a party on a Tuesday night. Gather all of your fellow singles into one place and pretend it’s your bachelor or bachelorette party. Even if you’re not getting hitched in the freakishly-soon future, you can always pretend — just for the sake of the party.

2

4

Head to Coyote Jack’s (or an off-campus college bar, like The Irishmen)

A college student’s Valentine’s Day guide

So Coyote Jack’s might not be the most interesting bar in the world, but you can’t go wrong with a beer that costs $2.50, delicious burgers and wraps, and big TV screens that will either be playing movies or sports games. If you’d rather go off campus but stay close, you could go to The Irishmen where they offer the same, plus a jukebox where you can make your own playlist.

The Irishmen is a few blocks from campus on 2nd Avenue — and you’re bound to find a fair share of college kids there as well.

{Single or not}

You don’t need to get over-sized teddy bears or heart-shaped balloons on Valentine’s Day to have a good time. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of the holiday for couples if you don’t have a significant other. (Yes, there are other alternatives besides wallowing in your loneliness and hating on lovebirds.)

Invite your friends over for a movie night If you don’t want to go through the trouble of throwing a party, pick a few movies that everyone will enjoy. Make some popcorn and bring out the beer. And avoid romantic comedies at all costs — those could potentially be counterproductive. Here are some movies that are guaranteed laugh attacks: Stepbrothers, the hilarious story of two grown men who go from strangers to loving brothers or Bridesmaids, a film about a group of women who drive each other crazy when they have to work together as their friend’s bridesmaids. No matter what gender you are, these movies will have you and your friends cracking up.

2

Nothing screams Valentine’s Day like a girl crying on her beau’s shoulder in a public theatre. Luckily for couples, the heart-melting chick flick, The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, hits theatres on Feb. 10.

Ladies, try not to wish your boyfriend was Channing, and guys, we all know the movie is scripted, but take some tips from the heroic heartthrob protagonist. You might be glad you did so later on. If you don’t want to travel off campus you can always go and watch A Dangerous Method at the Living Room Theatres on the Boca campus. This suspenseful drama starring Kiera Knightley is about two men fighting over one woman, and even if it’s not going to win an Oscar any time soon, some reviews say it’s pretty good. Plus, with reclining seats and food and beverages served to your seat, the Living Room Theatres can make for an intimate atmosphere for you and your Valentine.

3

Go to an affordable restaurant with good deals We know you’d love to take your special someone to a fancy restaurant where they only serve the most expensive champagne, and all the tables are topped with rose petals. But the reality is you’ll probably have to save that for when you’re an established professional on a bigger budget. Luckily, there are still ways you can have a nice dinner for two and not break bank. At the P.F. Chang’s on Glades Road across from campus, you could split the “two for 40” deal and each get a four-course meal for $39.99. It might not be as cheap as a McDonald’s happy meal, but you’re still getting a bang for your buck.

3

Some restaurants around campus have deals on meals that could make for a perfect, and affordable hangout for friends. You and your single friends probably want to go out to a place with drink deals and a casual atmosphere. The Millers Ale House on Yamato Road might be the perfect place to dodge any sort of romance. You can get $6 pitchers of beer and a mountain melt that you can share with a friend for under $11.

With its discounted drinks and close location, The Irishmen is one of the closest bars to the Boca campus. You’re likely to find groups of singles there on Valentine’s Day. The Irishmen is located on 1745 NW 2nd Ave, Boca Raton. All photos by Christine Capozziello

5 things to do if you’re single Feb. 14, 2012

Even if you already have a significant other, making him or her a home-cooked meal would give you extra brownie points —and that can never hurt. You don’t even need to pretend you’re Emeril to make an impressive meal cooked with lots of love. It can be as easy as making angel hair spaghetti with some vodka sauce.

Combine that with warm garlic bread, a fresh salad and a fine wine or soda pop if you’re under 21, and “bam!” — you’ve made your Valentine a delicious meal.

5 things to do if you’re in a relationship (but on a budget)

Catch a flick at the Living Room Theatres or a nearby cinema

Go out to dinner with a group

12

1

Make dinner for two in your dorm or off-campus apartment

5

You may be caught in a situation where you just started dating your Valentine, and don’t want to do anything too romantic. You may just be in the mood to hang out with a fellow couple. Whatever the case may be, you could always resort to double or triple dating on Valentine’s Day. By doing this, you can still be on a date, but keep it casual with the company of friends. You could go bowling as a group at Strikes off Military Trail and Renaissance Way or watch a movie together, on or offcampus, followed by dinner.

Fix yourself a nice dinner Maybe you don’t really want to go big this year; maybe Valentine’s Day isn’t a cause for celebration at all. You just want to go to sleep early because you have class the next day, but you figure: hey, if everyone else is doing something special, I should, too. It’s not lame to make yourself a substantial, borderlinegourmet meal for one. Besides, it might be time to give the ramen noodles a break and try something more challenging, like a linguine with shrimp and white wine. You’ll thank yourself later.

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Double or triple date

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Sing karaoke at a nearby college bar

The Cinemark Palace 20 is the closest off-campus movie theatre. Following the classic dinner-and-a-movie tradition, many college students will likely be taking their dates there on Valentine’s Day. The theatre is located on 3200 Airport Rd., Boca Raton.

For those who aren’t afraid to show off their singing pipes, karaoke could make for an extremely fun date. If you’re 21 or over, go to Holloway’s Irish Pub off Mizner Boulevard for a night of singing — or watching other people sing, which could also be quite entertaining. Karaoke is the perfect way to break the ice, be silly together and maybe even get a free drink.

Feb. 14. 2012

13

Opinion

Brooms up!

The snitch has been released — FAU quidditch takes off

By Chase Kennedy upress@fau.edu

A

couple hundred people weren’t preparing for the big game on Super Bowl Sunday. They were playing it. Oh, and I’m not talking about football.

On Feb. 5, five of the 19 quidditch teams in Florida (high school, community and college) competed in the first Florida Quidditch Conference of the season in Sarasota. To everyone on that field, including me, football took the backseat.

It was broom time.

With the referees’ call of, “The snitch is released. Brooms up!” in Lee Jordan style, (the character in Harry Potter who was the Hogwarts quidditch commentator) the first two matches began. The first match we played was against Ringling College of Art and Design.

We didn’t win any games, but we did score against every team and we caught the snitch against UF, the second ranking team in the nation. Catching the snitch is a lot like catching it in the world of Harry Potter –– just without the magic.

Most people see it as the imaginary

game from the Harry Potter series. But we who play quidditch in the real world would be willing to put that myth under the table. It’s a sport.

Quidditch has been growing around the world into an international sport, with teams both above and below the collegiate level. According to the The International Quidditich Association’s website, well over 600 quidditch teams already exist worldwide. In Florida, there are 19 teams.

FAU isn’t on the list because we haven’t been around for long.

Alex Benepe, commissioner of the IQA, thinks we’re well on our way.

“I’m impressed with the professionalism and organization of the teams,” Benepe said. “The Florida teams are a very tight knit group but each team goes all out when playing. There is intense competition, but overall it’s a really mellow and nice community.”

The FAU quidditch team practices at 8 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights at the housing lawn and on Saturdays at 1 p.m. For more information if you can’t make it to a practice, check out FAU Quidditch on Facebook or visit internationalquidditch.org.

The first International Quidditch Association Tournament that FAU quidditch will be competing in is the 2012 Mardi Gras Carnival Cup in Baton Rouge, La., Feb. 18-19.

Freshman mixed media major Sam Herb and sophomore biomedical sciences major Crystal Guralnick, in a practice game on the Boca Campus Housing Lawn, Feb. 11. Photo by Charles Pratt

Quidditch for Dummies: A quaffle, which is a slightly deflated volleyball, is passed between the chasers of the team in order to pass it though Imagine a sport that is a mixture of every hard-contact one of the three hoops to gain points. sport you can think of, and you’ll have quidditch if you just add a broom or, in our case, a PVC pipe between your The snitch is not the small little golden ball from the books and movies, but a tennis ball in a sock or pouch that is legs. attached to the back of the snitch player’s pants.

The bludgers are three dodge-balls that are used by the Is quidditch a real sport? beaters to cause the ‘knock-out’ effect for chasers or other Yes. Just because we’re running around on broomsticks, beaters, which causes them to have to get off their broom and the game is based on the one from Harry Potter, it and run back to their hoops before getting back into the doesn’t mean it’s not a real sport. Like soccer, we have goals that we protect and like basketball, it’s our job to put game. the ball through one of the hoops. Not to mention, it can remind you of football at any given point.

How many positions are there?

Eight positions.

How many balls are there?

The snitch: A snitch’s job is to evade the seekers at all In total, there are five balls in play. costs so that the ball attached to their pants similar to flag

How do you play quidditch if you can’t fly?

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football does not get caught. These players are the losers in the sport because the game doesn’t end until the snitch is caught.

The seeker: The job of the seeker is to go after the snitch and end the game, though catching the snitch does not necessarily win the game for the team.

The keeper: The keeper defends the hoops from the offending chasers much like a goalkeeper does for soccer.

The three chasers: The chasers’ goal is to get the quaffle and score goals by throwing the ball into one of the three hoops from either in front or behind.

The two beaters: The two beaters’ goal is to “knock out” the chasers and other beaters, which causes them to have to run back to the hoops, and touch or run around them, before getting back on their brooms.

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17

Sports

PROJECTED LINEUP catcher No. 21

Mike Spano

first baseman

Mark Nelson

second baseman shortstop

No. 33

third baseman

No.

7 Mike Albaladejo

No. 22 No. 6

Ricky Santiago

Kyle Newton

left fielder

No.

29 Geoff Jimenez

center fielder

No.

27 Nathan Pittman

right fielder

No.

9 Alex Hudak

designated hitter

No. 40

Corey Keller

PROJECTED PITCHING ROTATION (ALL RIGHT-HANDERS) No. 12

Ryan Garton

No. 10

Jeremy Strawn

No. 41

Jake Meiers

By Rolando Rosa upress@fau.edu

W

ith success comes added expectations.

After winning the Sun Belt Conference in 2010, FAU followed up with a 32-25 record last season — respectable — but a fourth place finish in the conference. This time around, with less fanfare and attention, the boys in blue are out this spring with a mission in mind.

“We’re kind of flying under the radar,” senior outfielder Alex Hudak said. “Last year, we had these high expectations and it went to our head a little bit. This is a bunch of gritty guys that want to come out and prove ourselves. I think you’re going to see some good things on the field this year.”

“Expectations now are to win conference, as we did my sophomore year,” senior Mike Albaladejo said. “We always set them high because we know we can achieve them.”

FAU’s pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, is expected to be a strength in 2012. Junior R.J. Alvarez, who is moving into the bullpen, was named the 47th best prospect in the country by Baseball America. Relief pitcher Hugh Adams was named to the National College Baseball Writers Association’s 2012 Stopper of the Year watch list.

“That’s really the strength of the team,” head coach John McCormack said about the bullpen. “Hugh [Adams] was all-conference last year. R.J. Alvarez, who throws 94-95 [mph], is going to be in the bullpen. Kevin Alexander, who had a good freshmen year, will be in the bullpen.

We have another guy, a transfer, Mike Sylvestri, he has a chance to be special. He’s 90-93 [mph] with a good breaking ball.”

Overall, the pitching staff will only bring back two

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Feb. 14, 2012

Bouncing back After a fourth place finish in the Sun Belt last year, the Owls look to do more

FAU pitcher R.J. Alvarez is ranked second on the team with six wins and 72 strikeouts last season. Photo by Christine Capozziello

starting pitchers (out of five), Ryan Garton and Kevin Alexander, but that does not discourage the Owls. They instead believe pitching will be even better.

“I think we have a stronger staff, pitching wise,” Garton said. “We lost Paul Davis, who was real, real good last year.

But we’ve got a lot of fresh young arms, so I think our pitching will do pretty well this year.”

The lineup, which will not solidify itself for a week or two after the season starts, promises to be a diverse blend of speed and power, according to McCormack. Hudak led the team with a .360 batting average last season.

“The one thing with this lineup is we’re going to have a combination of some guys that can run,” McCormack said. “So we can have an action-oriented offense. I think we have a good balance, we just got to figure out what is the right setup.”

To prepare for the rigours of the upcoming season, coach McCormack’s Iron Owl Challenge was a fun, challenging way for the team to bond and build unity. The players participated in events like baseball knowledge quizzes, teammate name quizzes, golf cart pushes and highest individual GPA at the end of semester. This year’s winner was pitcher Ahmed Garcia.

“We do a whole bunch of crazy things from physical demanding stuff that the real in-shape guys do good on,” Alvarez said. “Then we do tests and mental stuff, some strength stuff. It’s pretty well balanced.”

“I certainly like to teach these guys that they have to compete when they get up everyday,” McCormack said.

“Just learn to compete. Because your whole life that’s what you’re going to have to do. Once you get out of school, you’re going to compete for jobs, and raises, and

promotions. College students lead a special life, they’re a little bit sheltered. But then life has a tendency to smack them in the face. That’s why I think athletes have a little bit of a leg up when they get out.”

No excuses are made for the new players brought in, such as infielders Kyle Newton, Dylan Seigel, Mitch Morales and Ricky Santiago. They are expected to produce from the onset.

“We had all fall for that,” Garton said of an adjustment period for the new players. “Everyone got used to each other and we got used to playing our positions.”

“I expect them to come in and play right away,” McCormack said. “That’s why they were recruited. I’m sure there’s a little adjustment period, but I think through the inner-squads that we’ve had in the fall and spring, I think they need to hit the ground running and be ready to go.”

The team opens up on the road against Alabama on Feb. 17, a trip they do not take lightly, and one that will help them gauge their potential for the season.

“Any SEC team is good in any sport,” Albaladejo said.

“So that’s a good test right there and will show us what we’re made of.”

Games against the University of Miami, UF and UCF add to the competitive non-conference schedule that should adequately prepare FAU for the conference play.

“I don’t think there’s any soft blows in the schedule at all,” McCormack said. “It was put together and we’re ready for it.”

FAU opens the season on the road versus Alabama for a three-game series starting Feb.17. upressonline.com

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Feb. 14. 2012

19

Sports

Funnyman and the bat Outfielder Alex Hudak can’t stop hitting — or laughing

FAU outfielder Alex Hudak, one of the team’s captains, had 17 multiple hit games last season. Photo courtesy of FAU Athletics

By Rolando Rosa upress@fau.edu

I

n Mansfield (halfway between Columbus and Akron, also known as “The Fun Center of Ohio”), little 5-year-old Alex Hudak ran into his yard dressed in Cleveland Indians gear. He walked up to the invisible plate in his backyard, bat in hand, and hammered a pitch from his father. He was batting right-handed and the ball didn’t land in the Hudak’s property.

“He kept driving it into this guy’s yard,” his dad says.

“There was a crabby old neighbor.”

It was such a frequent occurrence that the neighbor would constantly complain about the barrage of balls

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Feb. 14, 2012

entering his yard. Hudak’s father had a solution.

“We’ll solve this,” his dad remembers saying.

Stephen Hudak made his son bat left-handed instead.

“The first pitch I threw, he hit it over the fence and into the garden,” Stephen said. “He’s been hitting left ever since.”

The neighbor’s house was safe from that point on, but now Sun Belt Conference pitchers are the victims of Hudak’s aerial attacks. The senior outfielder led FAU last season with a .360 batting average.

The 5 feet 11 inches Hudak arrived from Seminole State College in 2011.

He almost stayed close to home to play for the University of Cincinnati, but was drawn to FAU for many reasons, eventually deciding it was a better fit.

“These guys came in here at the last second,” Hudak said. “I came down here on a visit. Really liked it.

Really liked the area and the people.

It’s a laid back atmosphere. It’s just a hard working program. These guys come out here and take care of their business every day. They treat you like men.”

And in 2011, he played like one.

One game in particular caught the eye of his new head coach. It was a rainy day in March against BethuneCookman. The team needed a spark, and Hudak went 5 for 5 from the plate, leading FAU to a victory.

“He single-handedly won the game,” head coach John McCormack said. “Our team needed it then. The game wasn’t going well. He stepped it up and played great.”

But good luck trying to get the modest Hudak to boast about his accolades from last season.

“Very humble guy,” senior Mike Albaladejo said. “If you talk to him, you wouldn’t know that he was secondteam all-conference.”

Not one to dwell in the past, Hudak lives in the present.

“I think I proved myself in the box, hitting. Statistically, I proved myself, but, I’m more looking forward to this season,” Hudak said. “We had a good team last year and we didn’t really put it all together. I just feel like this group is so working hard. They’re real dedicated.”

As one of the team leaders, Hudak uses his sense of humor to lighten the mood in the locker room when necessary. Pop culture references of Stewie Griffin and Will Ferrell are rattled off Hudak’s tongue as fast as his swing.

“Very funny guy. He’s the guy that quotes movies, all the shows — Family Guy, Step Brothers, all that stuff. He knows every funny quote you can think of,” Albaladejo said. “Especially Step Brothers. That’s one of his favorite movies.”

“Every day just being around him, he’s just one of those guys that’s a real jokester, “ pitcher R.J. Alvarez said. “Real fun to be around.”

Hudak’s fun-loving approach can be found in his taste in music.

“He told me his walk up song is going to be ‘I’m sexy and I know it,’” his dad said. “I was like, ‘You’re going to get hit every single time you go to the plate.’ A pitcher is going to listen to that song and want to drill him in the ass.”

Hudak is more than just a funnyman, though.

He is serious about his studies. Hudak, a public communications major, was summa cum laude in high school at Mount Dora High School, and has a 3.3 GPA at FAU. His mother stressed the importance of succeeding academically in order to be successful after sports.

“That’s a big deal with us,” his mother said. “My dad was an educator so grades are always important. After baseball, you have to have a life.”

His mother is a pharmaceutical representative, and while he shares an interest in that field, Hudak has dreams of playing professionally, and would rather be on the baseball field for as long as possible.

“I’d like to get into that,” Hudak said. “But hopefully I’m in right field or somewhere on the diamond for awhile.”

He’s not just a leader on the field, but is one off of it as well, mentoring his teammates in the classroom.

“Me and him have the same major. I have him in a lot of my classes,” Albaledejo said. “I go to him for help.”

According to Hudak, the lessons learned on the baseball field are invaluable in all aspects of life. He wants to share them with his teammates.

“This game teaches you to be pretty independent and trust and count on yourself,” Hudak said. “So, I just try to be a role model for other players.”

Hudak does not pretend to be someone he is not. For better or for worse, he opens up his true personality for the world to see. He would not have it any other way.

“The one thing that’s always stuck with me is always be honest. Just be yourself. That’s really helped me in school, in baseball and life,” Hudak said. “Do unto others as you want others to do unto you. Treat people good, treat people right, like how you wanted to be treated.” upressonline.com

Be on the ...

LOOK “OWL-T� ...for the N C H A National College Health Assessment

In February, randomly selected students will receive an invitation for an anonymous, online survey about student health behaviors. The results will help FAU in providing better students health services.

Questions? Call (561) 297-0153

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Feb. 14. 2012

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