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The Oracle MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015 I VOL. 52 NO. 81

Inside this Issue

The Index

Opinion.......................................................4 Classifieds..............................................8 Lifestyle......................................................5 Crossword......................................10 sports.........................................................12

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Meet this year’s Mr. and Miss USF

L I FE STYLE

Fifty Shades fails to live up to hype.

Page 5

Montage

S P ORTS USF baseball opens season with two-win weekend.

BACK

Marion Ugochukwu (left) and Joshua Soto won their crowns Thursday at the Marshall Student Center at this year’s Mr. and Miss USF pageant. ORACLE PHOTO/ ADAM MATHIEU

By Russell Nay evening to show that they were then donned elegant suits and As the pageant drew to S T A F F W R I T E R worthy of the titles of Mr. and dresses while the announcer a close, the winners of last summarized their platforms year’s pageant took the stage Miss USF. Eleven contestants of the Contestants displayed their and values. to crown this year’s winannual Mr. and Miss USF schol- commitment to a healthy lifeOnly two contestants, how- ners, Joshua Soto and Marion arship pageant took the ball- style, sang, danced, played ever, won the title of Mr. and Ugochukwu, as Mr. and Miss room stage of the Marshall musical instruments and Miss USF and a $500 scholar- USF. Student Center on Thursday speed-decorated cake. They ship each. n Read their stories on PAGE 9

USF custodian arrested Voting begins today on charges of fraud for student elections

By Grace Hoyte A S S T .

N E W S

E D I T O R

A USF custodian has been arrested under the suspicion of creating a false identity to steal around $37,000 from USF Federal Credit Union accounts.

Between January and February, according to the Tampa Tribune, investigators said Darrell McNabb allegedly transferred a total of $37,000 from two accounts into his own.

On Feb. 6, University Police (UP) began an investigation of suspicious activity related to the accounts of two credit union mem-

bers.

McNabb, 33, was arrested under charges of organized fraud, grand theft, identity theft and 15 counts of dealing in stolen property according to the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office (HCSO) website.

McNabb is suspected of creating false identities for each of the victims, according to UP, which would have enabled him to access the accounts.

McNabb has been placed on administrative leave from USF and remains in Hillsborough County jail, with a bond set at $142,500, according to the HCSO website.

By Wesley Higgins N E W S

E D I T O R

Voting begins today for Student Government (SG) elections, including SG Senate seats and the student body president.

Polling stations are open across campus until Thursday evening. Stations are open outside the Marshall Student Center and Argos Center from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

SG Supervisor of Elections John Quiroz said due to a lack of volunteers, polls outside Juniper-Poplar Hall and

the Campus Recreation Center will only likely be open from around 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There are also computers at SG’s Computer Services in the Marshall Student Center, which is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Students may also vote online at sg.usf.edu/vote beginning 8 a.m. Monday until 8 p.m. Thursday when voting ends.

There are two tickets for student body president.

Current SG Senate President Andy Rodriguez is running

n See ELECTIONS on PAGE 2

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Marshall Center credit union closed until May

By Zach Leete S T A F F

W R I T E R

New renovations at the USF Federal Credit Union in the Marshall Student Center will change more than aesthetics come late May. The MSC branch location closed its doors Friday to undergo a complete overhaul that will significantly alter the current layout, technology and day-to-day functions.

“We’re really excited because this is going to be a different concept than the traditional credit union where you walk into a branch and there’s a teller line,” said Deborah Clark, who is the credit union’s chief marketing officer. “There’s more technology and more self-service.”

Once renovations are complete, Clark said students will be able to come into the branch and sit at a computer kiosk to watch educational videos about finances — topics will range from how to budget to how to buy a car or first home.

The new aesthetic aims to be modern, featuring a sty-

ELECTIONS

Continued from PAGE 1

alongside vice presidential candidate Michael Malanga, chair of the SG Appropriations and Audits Committee.

Sammy Hamed, who recently stepped down as SG’s chief justice, is running for office with Alexis Sacasas, who also stepped down from her judicial position as SG’s ranking justice to run with Hamed.

What senatorial candidates students may vote on depends on what college students are enrolled in. The College of Arts and Sciences, being the college with the most students, has largest pool of candidates.

The final item on the ballot is the design of the $5 OUR Shirt sold at the USF bookstore. Pictures of the design will be displayed on the ballot.

listic revamp with plans to include lots of glass and cutting-edge technology. Clark said the credit union is being redefined into an experience reminiscent of an Apple store.

The staff is being revamped too, replacing current credit union staff with students enrolled in the USF Muma College of Business.

The credit union and the College of Business will work together to begin training students to work the credit union in Fall 2015, eventually transitioning into a completely student-run facility like the one at Georgetown University — the largest student-run credit union in the country.

“We’re working with (the) College of Business to develop curriculum where students will get course credit for working in the branch,” Clark said. “The goal is that once the students go through the training with the credit union, they’ll come out as a universal service representative, an individual who can be a teller, work with cash and fill members needs.”

Credit union jobs will be paid positions, according to Clark.

The USF Federal Credit Union in the Marshall Student Center closed Friday to undergo renovations.

ORACLE PHOTO/ZACH LEETE

Until the credit union reopens its doors, MSC Director Sujit Chemburkar said credit union ATMs would still be available at two locations in the MSC, at and near

Einstein’s Bagels.

In the meantime, Clark said students could walk a few minutes north of the MSC to the main branch location on USF Palm Drive.

The Oracle is looking for opinion writers.

For details, contact: oracleopinion@gmail.com

The main facility is expected to eventually become a student-run facility, but no plans for renovations are currently scheduled.

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Opinion

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

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Why MOOCs are still worth it Tales: Origins and Evolution of Princess Stories” to “What is Music? Finding Your Song.”

Though one may question the motivation for enrolling in a nocredit course that doesn’t help toward a degree, MOOCs provide students with a sense of versatility they may not get in a fastpaced schedule. For instance, lectures that take up an entire class can be broken into smaller, focused online “units” and allow students to take their time on certain pieces, as pointed out by a recent MIT Technology Review article.

As for people who are not college students, gaining credit may not be necessary depending on the subject of the course.

People taking MOOCs such as “Common Sense Economics for Life!” or “CPR, AED and First Aid,” offered via Canvas, may do so simply for the practical knowledge these courses provide.

As stated earlier, critics of MOOCs often point to their extremely low completion rates. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education found that out of a million students across 16 MOOCs, a meager 4 percent completed them, with completion rates ranging from 2 to 14 percent.

This point, though, ignores

Russell Nay COLU M N I ST

In spite of the poor reputation massive open online courses (MOOCs) have gained due to their low completion rates, these courses remain a valuable option for students and nonstudents alike.

MOOCs are online courses that a college offers free to the public without college credit.

With the excitement of these classes wearing off, a recent Inside Higher Education column suggested they caused more harm than good with their low completion rates and expense to the host school, and stated they are perhaps “more faddish than altruistic.”

However, despite the negatives of MOOCs, these courses remain worthwhile for both colleges and students, and should be taken advantage of by both.

As reported in a New York Times article, MOOCs have amassed acceptance from elite universities such as Princeton and Duke through educational resource Coursera a year after the site’s inception. Even USF has offered several MOOCs hosted through Canvas, with titles ranging from “Fairy

the Oracle

Russell Nay freshman majoring communications.

T H E O R AC L E

What you said With voting for student body president opening today, editors Isabelle Cavazos and Adam Mathieu asked students whether or not they think voting is important.

“It think it’s important so different students can have insight in what they want changed in the school.”

— Marcus Bright, a sophomore majoring in chemistry

“I’m always very busy, so I don’t vote. I don’t feel like it makes a difference to me. It probably makes a difference to people living on campus or in an organization.” ­— Lauren Forst, a senior majoring in industrial engineering

“We have to decide who’s best suited. It’s up to people who aren’t educated to educate themselves and decide.”

is a in mass

— Kimberly Rosario, a sophomore majoring in nursing

the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966

Editor in Chief: Alex Rosenthal .............................. oracleeditor@gmail.com News Editor: Wesley Higgins .......................... oraclenewsteam@gmail.com Sports Editor: Vinnie Portell ........................ oraclesportseditor@gmail.com Lifestyle Editor: Ariana Matos .................. oraclelifestyleeditor@gmail.com Opinion Editor: Isabelle Cavazos ....................... oracleopinion@gmail.com Copy Editors: Safeena Kassoo, Caitlin Lochner Multimedia Editor: Adam Mathieu Assistant Editors: Sebastian Contento, Jacob Hoag,

the free and massive nature of MOOCs. As stated in the MIT Technology Review, some people prefer to sign up for a MOOC in order to the view the curriculum of a college-level class risk-free, without the serious intention of finishing the course. Researchers from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also determined that completion rates don’t properly judge MOOCs’ success, as finishing isn’t always the goal.

The fact that MOOCs don’t produce income for the host college can be offset by the fact that professors use these courses as a supplement for their students enrolled in a for-credit course, a dynamic mentioned in the MIT Technology Review. For instance, some professors implement content in MOOCs as an alternative for attending lecture.

Overall, MOOCs currently offer a unique opportunity for people seeking higher education who may not be able to afford it or who may have unpredictable lives. The courses are versatile enough to justify their funding, and allow anyone from the curious passerby to the serious student to learn about a wide selection of subjects.

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“By voting, we’re giving our opinions. The elected officials are picked by the students to represent the students.”

— Jiaxin Zhang, a freshman majoring in accounting and finance

Lifestyle

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

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Bond-esque ‘Kingsman’ charms audiences

By Grace Hoyte

C O M M E N TA R Y

SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

Eggsy and a group of fellow Kingsman hopefuls attend a very unique form of training or, in the words of Merlin, their supervisor, “the most dangerous job interview in the world.”

Meanwhile, Valentine embarks on a global kidnapping spree and, inexplicably, maintains the love and adoration of the entire world.

It is up to Harry Hart, Eggsy’s mentor, played by Colin Firth, to investigate and challenge Valentine.

Nearly every second of the movie is action-packed and suspenseful, but the peaceful, domestic moments in London serve to make the spy world that much more appealing.

While most modern trailers seem to spoil the entire plot and reveal every worthwhile scene, “Kingsman” is chock full of humor and intrigue.

Even the punch lines from the trailer are funnier within the con-

text of the film itself. Eggsy tells an imprisoned princess that he’ll “Be right back,” but the trailer makes him sound innocent, while the movie makes him sound funny and sexy — a veritable Bond.

Bringing in over $35 million opening weekend and rated four stars by Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb and Common Sense Media, it would be a shame if this movie doesn’t become the first in a series of “Kingsman” features.

‘Fifty Shades’ fails to reach climax

By Sarah Sharfstein C O M M E N T A R Y

SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

Upcoming Movies Ariana Matos

C O M M E N T A R Y

Few movies have the capacity to be introspective while remaining well made and original. When spy movies hit theaters, the immediate comparison made by most moviegoers is James Bond.

The newest film in that category, “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” which opened Friday, accomplishes this realism and keeps the pace regardless. The movie doesn’t shy away from allusion to the more famous espionage agent.

Taron Egerton stars as “Eggsy” Unwin, a London youth, whose life kicks into overdrive when his late father’s colleague appears to recruit him for a spy agency. This agency, a brotherhood known as Kingsman, is investigating a billionaire known as Valentine, played

by Samuel L. Jackson, who plans to unleash a global weapon on V-day.

“And this is the part where I reveal my plan and then come up with an elaborate and convoluted way to kill you,” Valentine jokes.

But the movie steers clear of such obvious Bond cliches, leaving the audience speechless.

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Despite a record-breaking opening weekend, “Fifty Shades of Grey” proved entirely disappointing.

Though Christian Grey (played by Jamie Dornan) and Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) spent the most of their on-screen time achieving climax, the film itself fails to do so.

The majority of the painfully long 125 minutes was spent agonizing over whether or not the naïve and inexperienced Anastasia would eventually submit to the coercion and intimidation of powerful billionaire, Christian Grey.

The first hour of this movie felt like the set up for a Lifetime

movie about an obsessive boyfriend that ‘eventually goes too far,’ complete with cheesy reaction music.

Christian stopped at nothing to have Anastasia agree to become his 24/7 submissive — breaking and entering, tracking her movements and using sex as a weapon. Yes, these were the flirting tactics of Seattle’s most eligible bachelor.

However, after all the build up to wild, BDSM sex, all viewers got was a half-hour of spanking and light bondage.

One would hope there would be an incredible resolution to reward audiences for the film’s tedious exposition. Just as the plot and characters actually began to develop, the movie ended abruptly, leaving the audience erupting in groans of frustration.

Not only did “Fifty Shades of Grey” have poor critical reception with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 26 percent, it has also received negative criticism from audiences. The BDSM community in particular is dissatisfied with the film’s portrayal of BDSM relationships.

According to an article in the Daily Beast written by a New York City dominatrix, Mistress D. Sandoval, the coercive and abusive tactics used by Christian Grey are incongruent with the values of the BDSM community.

Additionally, the stress the film places on a connection between childhood sexual abuse and a preference for BDSM is inaccurate and offensive for those who enjoy BDSM.

“Chappie” From Oscar-nominated writer and director Neill Blomkamp of “District 9” comes the next robotcentric effort, “Chappie.”

Set in near-future Johannesburg, South Africa, the “Chappie” universe is patrolled by a tyrannical robot police force. When a scientist, played by Hugh Jackman, implants one robot with new programming, the experiment leaves him, the eponymous Chappie, able to think and feel.

The cast includes the controversial South African rap group Die Antwoord and award-winning actor Dev Patel. Release date is set for March 6. ** “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” In recent years, comedies seem to be seriously lacking in the funny department. The formula is stale and predictable, leaving audiences restless and disappointed, so it is with some trepidation that “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” is listed.

The film centers on the same group of friends (Adam Scott, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke and Rob Corddry), but their knowledge of time-travel has made them all millionaires.

It has been four years since the original was made, so here’s hoping the dynamics work without the presence of John Cusack.

“Hot Tub Time Machine 2” hits theaters this Saturday. ** “Focus” Will Smith plays a seasoned con man who takes on a beautiful con woman as his partner, played

by Margot Robbie, to pull off a big heist. Eventually their strictly platonic relationship gets complicated when she seduces him.

If half-naked Will Smith simulating sex with a blonde woman provides excitement, this film is perfect.

The action thriller is just one of a long line of crowd-pleasing Will Smith blockbusters. If audiences are to believe in Smith’s track record, it is sure to be entertaining.

“Focus” hits theaters Feb. 27.

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Classifieds UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

To place a classified ad go to

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HELP WANTED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Veterinary Tech/Assistant or Receptionist needed for animal hospital close to campus. Part-time or full-time.

Experience a plus, but will train. Email resume to acahhiring@gmail.com.

PT/FT Customer Service Looking for full or part time employees with strong customer service skills and an upbeat personality. Must be able to lift 50 lbs. and mechanical skills are a plus, but not required. Please call Pinch A Penny 9 at 813-988-0306 and ask for Gary or Tracy.

Email pinchapenny9@verizon.net

Mural Artist Looking for someone who can create an “under the sea” mural on one textured wall 13’w x 10’h for baby nursery. Fee negotiable, paying cash.

Need to start and finish ASAP...baby is almost here! Email me your contact information, a breif introduction, and attach a sample of your work if possible. shesdangerous@verizon.net

Crossword

Math Tutor Math Tutor grades 5-12. Afternoons.

Contact (813)969-4242 Email nadia@brightonlearning.org

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Mr. USF speaks Miss USF speaks for acceptance of for awareness of cultural diversity domestic violence Joshua Soto said he joined the pageant to do have that community on campus, and we give back to the university and its surround- tend to forget in our close circle of friends what’s on the outside,” he said. “I think the ing community.

“All of the opportunities I’ve gotten since hardest thing for families and students on freshman year have been because of the campus is accepting those who have mental strong community we have, and (winning disorders and disabilities. I want to raise Mr. USF) was my way of figuring out how awareness and promote acceptance.”

Soto is majoring in interto give back to the comnational studies and said he munity,” he said. “I feel like now I can give back in “For me, being able wants to learn about different cultures and traditions a different way and show to put myself in around the world, and how everybody else that with countries interact with a little determination, anysomebody else’s those one another. thing can happen.”

“USF is so diverse … the The pageant, Soto said, shoes and same community we have was a trying experience at times. Staying motivated experience their here at USF is mimicked at different places in the world,” and confident was often difficult, but he said he culture has been Soto said. “For me, being able to put myself in somebody had a group of people who amazing.” else’s shoes and experience supported him to victory. their culture has been amaz“I think a lot of the Joshua Soto ing for studying abroad … time it was staying with it Mr. USF I was in awe the entire time; and not just stepping back every single country I went and saying, ‘Okay, I can’t do this anymore,’” he said. “I was getting to had a different culture and a different overwhelmed, but I think the amount of sup- atmosphere.”

His interest in different cultures is the port I had the entire time helped me to stay engaged and not lose track of the end goal main reason why Soto said he chose to study abroad last summer through the Semester at — to give back to my community.”

A senior majoring in international stud- Sea program — hosted by the University ies, Soto has been an orientation team of Virginia — in which students spend 10 leader, leadership assistant for the Center for weeks on a cruise ship visiting 11 different Leadership and Civic Engagement and the countries, such as Russia, Portugal, Poland, director of the Emerging Leaders Institute. He Scotland, Norway and Finland.

“That was my first time out of the counalso currently sits on the Campus Traditions Board and is the social director of his frater- try, and it’s really hard to describe the experience because so much happened. They told nity, Alpha Sigma Phi. Soto said one of the initial reasons he us, ‘If you come back home thinking the became so involved in the USF community same way, we did something wrong,’” Soto was to gain more confidence and build his said. “I came back to Florida and realized that my perspective on the world had comleadership skills.

“During my freshman year, I was the shy pletely changed.”

Soto said he hope for a bright future after student who, if you called my name, would turn around and completely ignore you,” graduation in May. He plans to work at Alpha Soto said. “So I applied for the Emerging Sigma Phi’s headquarters in Indiana. After Leaders Institute … and we (drove) off to this which, he wants to travel across the U.S. and retreat site for two days, and they gave us all expand the fraternity to other colleges. Soto the tools necessary to discover who we are.” said he’ll eventually go for a master’s degree Soto said he is passionate about repre- in higher education and public administrasenting the autistic community, and his pag- tion.

“Higher education has helped me so eant platform and values consisted of raising autism awareness and funding autism much over the past few years and just research. Soto’s younger brother was diag- shown me that once you become involved, you never stop being involved,” he said. “I nosed with autism at USF’s Hearing Clinic.

“We have a huge deaf and hard of hearing want to do that afterwards and see where community, and I want to show USF that we that goes.”

Marion Ugochukwu said she joined mature perspective on society. the pageant so that her values and “You learn so much about the way beliefs for improving society would be people think,” she said. “We’re all realheard and taken seriously. ly just products of our environment, “I wanted to become Miss USF and it’s incredible what an interview because I wanted to bring awareness can do to someone. When you interto things I care about, and I mean that view someone, you make them (feel) sincerely; it’s not just important. You’re listena gimmick,” she said. ing to what they’re say“When I came to USF, I “My number one job, ing, and they’re allowed already knew I wanted to just talk about their I feel, is to make feelings, and when you to be Miss USF because in high school I was people that opporpeople aware of give always the kid who was tunity.” really passionate about what is going on in She also said she … the environment, enjoys learning about about equality, and I’d the world because I geography, reading always get nailed for it.” almanacs, making amaWinning this year’s think that we’re so teur films and has a pageant was by no strong interest in learndetached.” means an easy task, she ing about how living said, as it required sacriorganisms work and the Marion Ugochukwu ficing sleep while putting uniqueness of human Miss USF in long hours at work. beings.

“I was working all the Ugochukwu’s pageant time, not seeing my friends, not being platform specifically dealt with raising able to call my family,” she said. “A lot awareness of domestic abuse and repof times I would lose confidence, and resenting victims of domestic violence. that was probably the hardest part.”

She said she also cares greatly about Ugochukwu also learned new talents gender inequality in general. to prepare for the contest, all while “I just care about the plight of women maintaining her 3.8 GPA as a junior worldwide,” she said. “My main goal majoring in biology. here is to make people aware of what “To qualify, you didn’t have to do too happens … my number one job, I feel, much, you just had to fill out the appli- is to make people aware of what is cation properly and on time, but to going on in the world because I think prepare … (I did) everything,” she said. that we’re so detached.”

“I learned how to play piano for the In the future, Ugochukwu said she pageant, learned how to walk in heels.” would like to use the opportunities and Now that all of Ugochukwu’s hard education she has to give back to the work has paid off, she said she may people, though she ultimately does not have more time to enjoy some of her know what career she will seek after favorite hobbies. college. She does, however, have a She said listening to music is a number of goals to accomplish later in prominent pastime for her and she life, such as winning the Nobel Peace spends a lot of money purchasing Prize and increasing representation of songs. Some of her favorite musi- African countries, namely Nigeria. cal artists are Michael Jackson, Stevie “I feel that every day I learn someWonder, Nirvana and The Beatles, as thing new about myself and about the she played three of their songs on world, and I can’t live in the same way piano during the pageant.

I was living yesterday …and if I keep Miss USF said she also enjoys con- that mind, I think I’ll go down the right ducting recreational interviews with road,” she said. “I’m going to continue people and that it allows her to learn to pay attention to the people around more about the people in her com- me, learn from my experiences… I’m munity, such as a variety in Downtown not going to put a cap on what I want Tampa, and helped her to gain a more to do.”

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Men’s Basketball

Memphis prolongs Bulls’ streak

By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S

E D I T O R

The USF men’s basketball team’s 11th-straight loss was never in doubt Saturday in the Sun Dome, as Memphis easily handled the Bulls from start to finish in a 75-48 stomping.

Outside freshman Ruben Guerrero’s career-high 17-point performance, USF struggled mightily on offense. The only other Bull to score in double digits was freshman Bo Zeigler, who scored 10 points, but made only 2-of-8 shots.

Memphis (15-10, 7-5) led by only 10 at the half and the Bulls were able to cut the lead to three points two minutes into the second half, but Memphis outscored USF 44-20 down the stretch to put the game out of reach.

The Tigers were efficient on offense throughout the game, dishing out 10 more assists than USF (7-19, 1-12) and committing seven fewer turnovers.

“I think we started turning the ball over and our turnovers were leading to fast break points for them, which led to giving them more energy and affecting ours a little bit in the second half,” coach Orlando Antigua said in a press release.

Freshman Ruben Guerrero had 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, but USF couldn’t generate much else on offense as it lost to Memphis 75-48 on Saturday. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/SEBASTIAN CONTENTO While the Tigers’ well-orches- ing before the conclusion of the trated offense led to a 45.8 regular schedule, and its offense shooting percentage, the Bulls must play better than it has in had four players miss at least six the past two months if it wants shots and the team combined to to win. The Bulls have scored over 60 points only twice in shoot 0-for-7 on 3-pointers.

Memphis was able to spread 2015 and have won only one out its offense, as seven play- game in that timespan.

The Bulls will continue in the ers scored at least seven points. Shaq Goodwin led the Sun Dome as it hosts struggling charge with 18 points and nine Houston (9-15, 1-11) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting.

USF has five games remain-

Men’s Golf

Hole-in-one seals win for Correa

By Jacob Hoag A S S T .

S P O R T S

E D I T O R

On the par-three 15th hole, in the first round of play at the SunTrust Gator Invitational, USF freshman Claudio Correa hit a hole-in-one on his way to his first individual title as a Bull and No. 23 USF’s first win of the spring season.

“He’s played tremendously since he’s been here, and won a tournament in December in his home country,” coach Steven Bradley said in a press release. “He clearly has a lot of talent and a lot of game. He’s learning a lot and the future is really bright for him.”

Senior Trey Valentine made up ground on Sunday, the final day of the tournament, tying his career

Claudio Correa captured the SunTrust Invitational title Sunday after hitting a hole-in-one. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS.COM best with a 5-under 65, putting him their part and they all stayed in the in a tie for 11th place. present and played one shot at a Sophomore Rigel Fernandes time. We beat a lot of really good finished 19th and junior Chase teams and we’re happy to get the Koepka finished tied for fourth at ‘W’ for sure.”

2-under.

USF will return to action March “It was really a collection of 1 in the Querencia Cabo Collegiate individual efforts to make it a team in Los Cabos, Mexico. win,” Bradley said. “They all did

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Wyckoff’s hit capped a recordsetting, 11-run inning for the Bulls.

Freshman outfielder Astin Donovan started the inning with a single to left field, followed by consecutive singles from Wyckoff and senior D’Anna Devine. Sophomore Juli Weber would bring the Bulls their first runs on a single up the middle to put USF up 2-0.

After a walk by freshman Lauren Evans to load the bases for a second time, junior Lee Ann Spivey doubled to right field to bring the growing lead to four.

USF would tack on seven more runs with RBI hits from Donovan and Wyckoff.

“The pitching and defense will come as the season goes, I’m not worried about that,” USF coach Ken Eriksen said. “If we can put runs on the board and cookin’ runs like we did today, we have a good chance of being competitive.”

USF won both games Friday

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since USF’s blowout loss to UConn when the Bulls were outscored in the paint, 38-24.

USF’s bench was held to just nine points, bringing almost no relief to the starters in the latter part of the game.

Sunday was the Bulls’ first loss in nearly a month, win-

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Bulls cushioned their lead, scoring runs in each inning thereafter.

Pitcher Michael Farley (1-0) relieved Lawson for the fifth inning. The sophomore earned the win, striking out seven over the next three innings.

The Bulls also broke out to an early lead Saturday with Levi Borders’ two-run homer in the first, but the Cardinals tallied runs over the next three innings, taking the lead for good with a fourrun third inning.

Senior pitcher Casey Mulholland (0-1) allowed four earned runs on seven hits through three innings. Redshirt sophomore Cody Hernandez allowed another two runs in the fourth before redshirt sophomore Tommy Eveld pitched four shutout innings.

“Tommy Eveld’s a guy that just picked up baseball after being off

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T H E O R AC L E

to start the weekend, beating St. John’s 4-2 and Detroit 8-0 by run-rule in the fifth, but Saturday proved rough with USF losing 9-1 to Tennessee (9-0) and 14-6 to Fordham (6-4).

In the first game of the double header, senior pitcher Sam Greiner and junior Erica Nunn combined to give up seven earned runs off 11 hits and five walks, while the Bulls could generate little offense off their five hits.

Later in the night, USF would battle back and forth with Fordham before securing a 6-5 lead in the fifth. The Rams didn’t let them stay comfortable for long with an eight-run sixth inning, giving USF its second loss of the weekend.

“The best antidote for feeling crappy like we did yesterday is a W,” Eriksen said following Sunday’s win. “We came out hitting the ball pretty hard in the first inning … once you hit that turn in the batting order with the 8, 9, 1, 2 (batters), it’s nothing but pure speed.”

ning 14 of their last 16 games, which put them in position to receive their first AP Poll ranking in school history. USF’s loss to ECU almost guarantees the team will be ousted from the top 25 in a national poll for the second time this season.

USF will be back in the Sun Dome on Wednesday to take on Tulsa (14-10, 9-4) at 7 p.m.

it for about seven years, and that’s pretty impressive,” Kingston said.

“When you can pitch four shutout innings against a team that was just in the college World Series — it doesn’t happen very often, so we’re going to build off that.”

Dominant pitching propelled the Bulls on Friday. Junior Jimmy Herget walked four and struck out nine over five innings. The right-hander allowed one run in the third before freshman Joe Cavallaro pitched two shutout innings.

Cavallaro (1-0) earned the win, as USF scored two runs in the sixth with Luke Borders’ two-RBI single.

“We put really good arms on the field tonight,” Kingston said.

“Cavallaro is a freshman — didn’t look like a freshman. That’s what you want to see. What you hope as coaches is if you put them in big situations and show confidence in them, they’ll have confidence in themselves.”

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Sports

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

The Rundown Outside USF Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves won the 2015 Slam Dunk on Saturday night, beating out Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic in the championship round.

The 19-year-old rookie was the first contestant with multiple dunks for perfect scores since Dwight Howard in 2009.

Weekend scores

Men’s Basketball

Memphis 75 USF 48 Women’s Basketball

USF ECU

64 65

Conference update

Men’s Basketball No. 25 SMU (21-5, 12-2) defeated UConn (14-10, 7-5), 73-55 Saturday, for its conferenceleading 12th AAC win.

Temple (19-7, 10-3) was victorious over ECU (11-14, 4-8) on Saturday 66-53, due to a strong defensive first half in which the Owls held the Pirates to only 18 points.

Women’s Basketball No. 2 UConn (24-1, 13-0) beat Tulane (19-6, 10-4) 87-39 in a game in which the Huskies outscored the Green Wave’s final score before halftime.

Tulsa (14-10, 9-4) defeated SMU (5-9, 1-12) 72-59 to maintain its standing as fourth in the AAC.

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Women’s Basketball

Merrell shines as Bulls win two USF ends winning streak at ECU

By Tiana Aument C O R R E S P O N D E N T

The USF baseball team huddled together after its 12-4 win over Alabama State on Sunday.

Immediately after speaking with his team, coach Mark Kingston headed toward his family.

His children ran onto the field to greet their father with hugs, and then proceeded to cartwheel down the first-base line. His one daughter stayed behind to hold her dad while he spoke with the media.

“What I told the team is, we played three opponents this year that will be in the NCAA tournament, and we went two-andone,” Kingston said. “That’s not too bad. Are there things we need to get better at? Yes. I think most Bulls fans, if you look at this weekend and know who our opponents are, (would take two out of three).”

USF (2-1) beat No. 17 Cal State Fullerton 2-1 on Friday, lost against Louisville 7-3 on Saturday and closed its opening weekend with a 12-4 win over Alabama State in Clearwater.

By Zach Lowie S T A F F

Michael Farley earned his first win of the season as he struck out seven batters over three innings in USF’s 12-4 win over Alabama State. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU Freshman left-fielder Kevin really good at-bats, which you Merrell went 5-for-12 with four don’t see from a young — he’s a runs over the weekend at Bright little bit of a raw — player.”

Merrell earned the leadoff House Field. He drew three walks spot in the lineup Sunday, which and stole a base.

“When you’re athletic and you Kingston said energized the Bulls.

The Bulls posted four runs have that type of speed, there are ways to help teams win baseball in the first. Sophomore pitcher games,” Kingston said of Merrell. Brandon Lawson allowed three “The things I’m most pleased earned runs in the fourth, but the about right now is he’s taking n See SHINES on PAGE 11

Softball

Claudio, Bulls shutout Eagles

By Jacob Hoag A S S T .

Houston (9-15, 1-11) at USF (7-19, 1-12) AM

M O N D AY, F E B R U A RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

Baseball

Men’s Basketball

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: USF Sun Dome TV/Radio: ESPN News /1010

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Karla Claudio helped USF shutout FGCU in her first win of the season Sunday. ORACLE PHOTO/

ADAM MATHIEU

S P O R T S

E D I T O R

With wins eluding her for all 14 appearances of 2014, senior pitcher Karla Claudio notched her first win Sunday in an 11-0, run-rule rout of Florida Gulf Coast University in the USF President’s Day Weekend Tournament.

“It’s an awesome win, especially after the one we played last night,” Claudio said. “We were all tired, but we gave it our all and I loved the atmosphere (Sunday).”

After losing to No. 11 Tennessee and Fordham on Saturday, the Bulls (6-4) were able to rebound with a big win against FGCU. Claudio ensured there would be no late drama Sunday as the righthander allowed only two hits in three innings, with no walks and

four strikeouts.

“I wasn’t trying to do too much,” Claudio said. “I was relaxed and just did what I knew how to do.”

Claudio didn’t have to carry the load in a game in which she received plenty of run support.

With one out in the third inning Sunday, sophomore Kristen Wyckoff sent a shot up the rightfield line for a three-RBI triple before scoring off an error at second base, bringing the green-andgold clad crowd to its feet.

“Right when I hit it, I just looked at it,” Wyckoff said. “I started running when I saw it was fair. I saw coach’s hands stopping me at third, but I didn’t listen to him. The adrenaline was rushing and I knew I was going home, all the way.”

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W R I T E R

After trailing by 12 points at halftime against ECU, USF junior guard Courtney Williams put on a show to narrow the gap, but the No. 25 Bulls were unable to pull off the comeback win.

Williams scored a team-high 34 points, with 26 coming in the second half. Even with eight rebounds and her scoring continuing to dominate the game, USF was unable to get an edge, losing 65-64.

The Bulls (20-5, 11-2) shot poorly in the first half, going just 6-for-26 from the field for 23 percent. ECU’s aggressive presence early on led to 22 points in the paint before halftime. Forwards Alisia Jenkins and Laura Ferreira looked fatigued and struggled to defend the boards for the majority of the game.

With only 8:39 left, the Bulls looked to the scoreboard, finding themselves down by 15 points to a team they had beaten earlier in the season by seven in the Sun Dome.

Williams scored 19 points in the final seven minutes of play to help dwindle the deficit down to one with 19 seconds left to play. ECU (17-8, 8-6) missed four straight foul shots, but the Bulls never got a good look at the bucket, missing in the waning moments to give the Pirates an upset victory.

Jenkins recorded a doubledouble for the 17th time this season, with 12 points and 15 rebounds, but Sunday was the first time the Bulls came out on the losing end of the game when she achieved this feat.

This was also the first time

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