3-29-2018

The Oracle

T H U R S DAY, M A RC H 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 I VO L . 5 5 N O . 4 7

www.usforacle.com

U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I DA

UP offers training programs for active threats

By Michael Standard S T A F F

W R I T E R

In light of recent events such as the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, what may weigh heavy on students’ minds is safety on their own school campus.

University Police (UP) offers Active Threat Prepared Training sessions that provide students, faculty and staff with skills and information to prepare for potential campus threats.

The Active Threat Preparedness Training is modeled off the training for officers by encouraging awareness of one’s surroundings and planning routes of escape The Active Threat Preparedness Training encourages awareness of one’s surroundings and planning in the event of an emergency. routes of escape in the event of an active shooter situation. ORACLE FILE PHOTO Police Chief Chris Daniel awareness of surroundings a habit. they know their physical abilities said UP does not experience the helped develop the Active Threat “The best way for me to put it is: or disabilities. They know any level of activity other agencies do.

Preparedness Training program as The police are not, during an active challenges that their environment Joseph Kelemen, a junior a means of sharing this approach threat situation — we are not going is going to prevent or to present.” majoring in information to safety. Daniel said he hopes to be able to tell every individual, While USF has experienced the technology, said that despite students and faculty will be able ‘Go out of your office, take 15 occasional armed robbery or drunk recent events, he feels safe on to contribute to the general safety steps down, go out the hallway,’ student using a firearm in a parking campus and his opinion on of the campus by implementing or anything,” Daniel said. “That garage, UP Public Information n See SAFETY on PAGE 3 safety procedures and making person knows their environment; Representative Audrey C. Clarke

Student body president provides update on initiatives

By Samantha Moffett O P I N I O N

E D I T O R

As Student Body President Moneer Kheireddine took the stage at the Marshall Student Center Amphitheater to give his third State of the Student Body Address, a crowd of around 40 students and faculty members gathered to meet his overall message of student advocacy and representation with applause and support.

After addressing issues Wednesday afternoon such as the consolidation of the USF system, advocacy for sexual assault victims and mental health awareness, Kheireddine explained that he is most excited about reforming the plus/minus grading scale.

Kheireddine’s statement regarding the removal of the minus

in the plus/minus grading system was met with obvious approval from audience members.

The audience that gathered seemed equally as excited and supportive of this specific initiative, applauding the notion that it is a much-needed change to the academic standard.

Kheireddine further explained that Student Government (SG) is working to ensure that students are not being punished academically for a simple grade weight discrepancy.

“A lot of our students have been very actively participating in a discussion on that topic (grading scale),” Kheireddine said. “It won’t be an easy road, but it’s a fight that I am excited to have.”

According to Kheireddine, students can also look forward

to more resources in support of mental health.

USF hosted its first Mental Health Awareness Day on Jan. 12 with a mental health expo and various counselling sessions, but Kheireddine’s address included a look ahead to a potential full week of mental health awareness activities.

Kheireddine said SG will continue to advocate for students by expanding mental health resources. The USF Counseling Center has recently increased its hours to 6 p.m. while they were originally 5 p.m., but the changes do not stop there.

“Our goal is to continue to increase small and innovative (changes) to ensure that mental health is addressed on our campus,” Kheireddine said. “ There

is nothing wrong with having to seek help.”

Kheireddine also said the biggest change SG is hoping to focus on, in regards to mental health, is education and the sharing of resources to overcome the stigma surrounding mental health.

With a diverse audience in attendance, advocacy for every kind of student was an overriding theme in Kheireddine’s address.

One of the initiatives SG is taking to empower all students is following the feedback of surveys sent out to students regarding the building of an on-campus rock wall and a cultural student center.

Kheireddine explained that SG will be exploring the avenues of how to bring these initiatives forward in the coming years.

n See ADDRESS on PAGE 3

Student fee to possibly fund oncampus football stadium

By Josh Fiallo S P O R T S

E D I T O R

Student Body President Moneer Kheireddine said student fees could be used to fund an on-campus football stadium during his State of the Student Body Address on Wednesday.

Kheireddine said the potential fee could range between $30 and $80 a semester per student. He also noted that Student Government (SG) could not change student fees without a vote by the student body and that any statement regarding student fees to fund a stadium is currently hypothetical.

“I’m working alongside several senators to ensure that we connect with USF athletics and begin a dialogue on what Student Government is capable of doing in contribution to the stadium,” Kheireddine said. “One possible way is to ask, through a referendum of our student body, whether or not our student body would like to see a fee increase of a simple one time per semester fee.

“If students vote on it and are in support of it, we would actually be able to implement that fee, which would be paid for the next few years by our students every semester.”

When USF announced it was exploring the possibility of building a proposed $200 million on-campus football stadium on Aug. 8, director of athletics Mark Harlan said student funds could be used to fund the project.

Kheireddine’s answer,

n See STADIUM on PAGE 8

2

T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

The Oracle THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1966

Editor in Chief

Asst. Sports Editor Sam Newlon

@newlon_sam

Multimedia Editor Chaveli Guzman @ChaveliGuzman

Miki Shine oracleeditor@gmail.com @MichaelAZShine

Asst. Multimedia Editor

Managing Editor

Copy Editor

Jesse Stokes oraclemeditor@gmail.com @JesseStokes813

News Editor

Maria Ranoni oraclenewsteam@gmail.com @ByMariaRanoni

Opinion Editor

Samantha Moffett oracleopinion@gmail.com @bySamMoffett

Sports Editor

Josh Fiallo oraclesportseditor@gmail.com @ByJoshFiallo

Thomas Prettyman @ThomasPrettyman

The Index News.......................3 Lifestyle................4 Opinion..................6 Classifieds............7 Crossword.............7 Sports.....................8

Andrea Martin @andreamrtn64

Staff Writers

Matthew Cutillo Brian Hattab Jessenia Rivera Michael Standard Alyssa Stewart Paige Wisniewski

Graphic Artists Avery Dyen Jessica Thornton

Advertising Sales Kim Flores Tadge Haskins Skyler Nickols

The Oracle is published Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and once weekly, Wednesday, during the summer.

The Oracle allocates one free issue to each student. Additional copies are $.50 each and available at the Oracle office (SVC 0002).

BY PHONE Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

News .................

Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . .

Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

974-5190 974-1888 974-2620 974-2620

●

T H E O R AC L E

NEWS

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Kheireddine spoke about the initiatives he hopes to accomplish through the remainder of his term. ORACLE PHOTO/JESSE STOKES Kheireddine placed importance on is the establishment of the Safe Continued from PAGE 1 Transfer Act. After USF was placed under federal investigation of the “Our focus has, is and shall handling of sexual assault cases, continue to be on empowering a joint resolution was passed in all USF students to pursue their support of notating transcripts of dreams in whatever shape they those who have been either found may take and giving each and guilty of a Title IX or are under every one of you the tools to do so,” investigation to increase combative Kheireddine said. efforts against sexual assault on the One of the tools SG will be USF campus and across the nation. looking to implement that will The address was wrapped directly affect students is an up with Kheireddine noting the increase in allowance for free consolidation of the USF system printing on campus from $2.50 to into a singularly accredited $3.00. Kheireddine also informed system, referring to it as a “new the audience that new printers are and unexpected challenge.” He currently being built at the Cypress explained that students will be help desk and The Hub 24-hour receiving a summary report of desk thanks to allocations from the how a consolidation of USF St. SG executive branch.

Petersburg, USF Sarasota-Manatee Kheireddine commented and USF Tampa campuses will on changes that have been directly affect USF Tampa and implemented in the past like the what changes will be coming. dispersion of free feminine hygiene Kheireddine expressed products across campus and the personal disagreement with the establishment of the Greens and consolidation, but said the students Gold Fresh Market. and their experience will receive The Center for Student Well- representation from the various Being was credited by Kheireddine campuses and that he will advocate for partnering with SG over the on behalf of USF during these past year to implement these “difficult and trying times.” changes. The audience applauded “We have a bright and inspiring the Center for Student Well-Being, future ahead of us still to come,” showing approval of both the free Kheireddine said. “We have a feminine-hygiene products and the future that all of us will be proud to Greens and Gold Fresh Market. make our own.”

Another initiative that

●

T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

●

T H E O R AC L E

3

ADDRESS

The last on-campus shooting was in fall 2015 when two football players fired shots in a parking garage and then into the wall of Holly D. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU available for at least a year, all our officers are well-connected. probably more,” Daniel said. “It’s They know these channels in the Continued from PAGE 1 one of those things that nobody university and they can take that campus safety hasn’t changed. really makes the request until information to the appropriate “There’s always a lot of people something triggers the need or the level to try to get them some help.”

UP does not support arming during the day and at night and interest and then we’ll have a peak it’s very well-lit so I don’t feel too of requests. Now, if we had a lot students, faculty or staff, and uncomfortable walking anywhere of thefts, we’d have people (asking “believes that active shooter by myself,” Kelemen said. “I mean for) property (protection training). situationsarebesthandledbytrained at this point, if someone does bring So, it depends on the trend that’s and certified law enforcement a gun, I can’t do anything about it.” going on at the time. We do try personnel,” according to Clarke.

Daniel said he believes active The last prominent mass to make the information available shooting on a college campus was on our web site to help prompt threats and the problems addressing the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007. people to know that it’s there.” them are symptomatic of larger One of the ways Daniel said social trends that have communities Jessica Zelitt, a junior majoring in public health, said the campus professors can help ensure more divided than in the past.

“The police can’t be everywhere is generally safe, but she may not campus safety is by paying be prepared for an active threat, attention to the students and all the time,” Daniel said. “So, as preemptive protocol practice reaching out to the Students this becomes a community issue. for the larger student population of Concern Assistance Team Where we used to have a sense is not a current procedure. (SOCAT) office about concerns. of community, people watched “If you get papers from students for one other or would see things “I think, overall, I generally feel safe on campus,” Zelitt said. “I think, who seem out of order or if there’s going on and report it, that has though, that if there were to be a something in their writings that’s diminished over time. If you see unsafe situation that were to occur a concern, bring it up,” Daniel something that looks odd, follow on campus, I wouldn’t necessarily said. “Bring it to SOCAT. Let the your instincts. We’re skilled at going know how to handle it. We don’t practices and procedures that have into uncomfortable situations and do drills or anything like that.” been established work for them. If delicately walking out of them, Daniel said the popularity of there’s a question about a student apologizing for the inconvenience. the program offered is changes in a class, or another threat in the Call. That’s what we’re here for.” based on recent events that class, call us. Let us talk with them. prompt concern among people. We’ll be happy to sit down with the ~Additional reporting by Miki Shine “We’ve had the program professor and discuss concerns. And

SAFETY

4

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

●

T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

LIFESTYLE

Student artists to be featured in the annual Arthouse event

By Matthew Cutillo S T A F F

W R I T E R

The USF School of Art & Art History’s annual Arthouse helps connect the student body with artists on campus, allowing for open dialogue and an opportunity to see into the creative process of fellow students.

Arthouse will be taking place March 30 in the Art History building from 8-11 p.m. and will be celebrating its 20th year creating its annual Arthouse.

The production is an open house style event with free food, drinks and music. However, the main purpose of the event is to display student artwork in a unique and interesting way.

Marie O’Neil, the Academic Program Specialist for the USF School of Art & Art History said she is proud of this year’s Arthouse contents.

“All exhibitions are focused on student artwork,” O’Neil said. “The purpose is to put our student artwork on display during one big party.”

The annual Arthouse also provides an outlet for local USF musicians to play for event attendees, with a four hour time gap dedicated to musicianship on campus.

Elizabeth Keel, a senior majoring in fine arts, is participating in the Arthouse for the second time. The format of the event allows for attendees to approach each artist in an

organic way, letting them directly ask any questions they may have regarding the student’s artwork.

“As a working artist, many of us will be displaying our own work and will be answering questions from the public and getting feedback,” Keel said.

“This year, I will personally be having a number of things to discuss, which includes some of my social justice issues which will be addressed in my installation, such as the March for Our Lives movement and awareness for domestic violence.”

According to Keel, artists and attendees alike will have the opportunity to experience a multitude of art styles, as the event encourages as many different styles of art as possible.

“The most amazing thing about Arthouse is being able to see all of the artwork on display from classes that you did not have the opportunity to take yet and other disciplines, which are so fascinating and inspiring,” Keel said.

With a lineup ranging from graduate exhibitions to undergraduate exhibitions, participants will have plenty to see while roaming around the event.

“It’s amazing to see the range of work and by far my favorite thing is visiting the studios,” Keel said. “It is always such a pleasure to talk to the artists, to

see my fellow artist’s work and get to sit down with them and talk about it. It’s also inspiring to see into the creative minds of others, looking at various totems or studio detritus is laying around.”

For Keel, art is more than just a school activity, it is a loved and appreciated concept.

“I always find myself thinking about how art is in everything, and that everything people do is a form of artistry or craft,” Keel said. “People think of the stereotypes of art, which are funny and true in many cases, but its the accessibility of what people think art ‘is’ that throws everything off.”

People have many misconceptions about art, and Keel hopes to educate fellow students on art’s ability to show its face in everything.

“While there is a massive disparity between funding for football versus art and music, you can argue that the physicality, the coordination of the sport itself is an art,” Keel said. “We draw diagrams to mock up plays, we wear T-shirts and buy cars that were designed by artists, we live in houses and neighborhoods that from the top down look like circuit boards and organized into geometric patterns. Can we not say the engineering and architecture to create buildings is art?”

●

T H E O R AC L E

T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

●

T H E O R AC L E

5

OPINION

6

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

●

T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

Higher education costs raise the risk for food insecurity

By Paige Wisniewski S T A F F

W R I T E R

Students should not have to choose between success and survival. With exceeding higher education costs, this decision is a harsh reality that many low-income students may face when it comes to managing food insecurity.

Feeding America, an emergency food service organization, reported that 10 percent of its 46.5 million adult clients in 2014 were enrolled in college. Of those surveyed, 30.5 percent of students confirmed there were times they were made to choose between food and education expenses. Food and nutrition is a basic human necessity. It should not be an optional line item on a student’s budget in their pursuit of higher education.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 41 percent of USF students receive income-based financial aid intended for lowincome students. This could mean at least 41 percent of students at USF could face food insecurity while they acquire their college degree.

USF does have programs in place to address food insecurity, such as their Feed-a-Bull program or their variety of meal plans for different types of students, but is it enough to effectively reduce the severity of the problem?

With Feeding Tampa Bay reporting that one in seven people in the area are struggling with hunger, it is not likely. Feed-a-Bull is an on-campus food pantry that provides students with a week’s worth of supplemental food —

up to 10 pounds — for 10 visits.

USF Dining Services features an assortment of meal plans for the assortment of students enrolled at USF; there are plans aimed at first-year students, off-campus or commuter students and even graduate students. But for lowincome students, these services may still not fully address their nutritional needs.

Systematic change is required to ensure that all those who go hungry are properly fed. Human necessities are rights, not privileges.

Feeding America and Feed-a-Bull are honorable organizations, but charity and donor compassion can only go so far.

USF Dining Services unlimited meal plan costs $1,869 for one semester. The meal plans prices gradually decline in correspondence with the number of meals a semester or a week allotted for each plan. While there are options for off-campus or commuter students, a $500 to $1,000+ expense is not an easy or feasible commitment to make upfront. Especially if a low-income student is already attempting to juggle tuition and living or commuting costs, paying for food can take a backseat.

Something must give to ensure students do not go hungry. Cost reduction in some area should be made possible, especially for low-income students who already struggle with affording higher education. If tuition costs cannot be cut, then meal plans should be made more accessible to those who can not afford them, whether that means cutting dining costs or

allowing students to transfer any unused meals to others. Currently, meals are non-transferable and unused meals do not roll-over into following semesters.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “ablebodied students ages 18 through 49 who are enrolled in college or other institutions of higher education at least half time are not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),” meaning federal law does not allow college students to receive food stamps, unless they participate in work study, work part-time or care for a dependent, as well as other criteria. Since college students face such a high risk of food insecurity, government assistance should be made available to them, regardless of whether they meet a check-list of factors that current legislation deems as eligible for students to eat.

Higher education is a significant expense that leaves students in debt for years. Some type of degree is almost required to contribute in today’s economy and workforce.

Students should not have to go hungry to participate in college or pursue a career. Food insecurity needs to be effectively addressed on an institutional or federal level so students, particularly those of lowincome families, can achieve their academic and professional goals.

Paige Wisniewski is a junior majoring in interdisciplinary social sciences.

●

T H E O R AC L E

What you said Multimedia Editor Chaveli Guzman asked students what could be done to make them feel safer on campus.

“I’m definitely sure that not having guns would make me feel safer.”

—Paige Livingston, a sophomore majoring in international relations.

“More lights would help because I feel like it’s too dark in some parts of campus. Also, more blue lights.” ­— Woody Prophilen, a senior majoring in accounting.

“Maybe if I saw more officials around the campus.”

— Cesar Santos, a freshman majoring in biomedical sciences.

“I’m scared to take night classes. I guess if we had security guards walking around at night.”

— Leticia Brandao, a junior majoring in accounting.

T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

●

7

T H E O R AC L E

CROSSWORD

Classifieds To place a classified ad go to http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds

ANNOUNCEMENTS All-Inclusive Weddings at Bakers Ranch (myevent@bakersranch.com)

HELP WANTED Optometric Technician No Experience Needed. Medical field major preferred. Work with the latest technology.

Enjoy working with a variety of patients and medical conditions. 813-679-1092 Email drcancellari@gmail.com

HELP WANTED HIRING SWIM INSTRUCTORS! EDUCATION MAJORS! Will train!

SWIMKIDS USA, Florida’s #1 and Largest Family Swim School, is now hiring experienced Swim Teachers AND Swim Teacher Trainees!

- FT/PT, weekdays and weekends available - May through October - $12.00/hr-$16/hr and up (based upon experience) -Wesley Chapel, Westchase, Brandon, Zephyrhills - Only mature, professional, responsible need apply - Good working with children a must, friendly, and detail oriented Apply online @ www.swimkidsusa.com today!

(813) 991-6258

Sports

8

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

●

T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

●

T H E O R AC L E

Baseball

USF to face Tulane for second series of AAC play

By Brian Hattab S T A F F

W R I T E R

USF enters its second weekend of AAC play after dropping a midweek game to Stetson 5-3 Tuesday night. The Bulls take on Tulane in a threegame series Thursday through Saturday at the USF Baseball Stadium.

Sophomore left-handed ace Shane McClanahan will start Thursday for the Bulls as they take on a Green Wave team currently on a two-game losing streak following a 9-3 loss at Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday.

Tulane (11-15, 2-1) is scheduled to pitch junior Kaleb Roper to oppose McClanahan.

For USF’s hitters, who currently draw an average of 3.5 walks per game, staying patient

against Roper and the rest of the Tulane pitching staff will be key throughout the series.

Tulane walks an average of 5 1/2 batters per nine innings, which ranks 255th out of 297 Division 1 NCAA programs.

Roper, specifically, has walked an average of five batters per nine innings in 2018, which is the most on Tulane’s pitching staff.

Both McClanahan and Roper usually pitch Friday nights, but with Easter Sunday, the two will faceoff when the series starts Thursday instead.

Roper has made every Friday night start for the Green Wave, going 2-3 with a 4.40 ERA. He has allowed 15 earned runs on the season, including two outings of six earned runs against Cal State Fullerton on March 2 and Long Beach State

on March 16.

McClanahan’s last outing wasn’t his usual dominance.

The Bulls’ ace allowed six earned runs — his first earned runs in six starts this season — in four innings when USF fell to UConn on Friday night.

“It wasn’t the Shane (McClanahan) we’re used to seeing,” coach Billy Mohl said Friday. “He had the adrenaline going a little too much … In this league, you’ve got to throw something else beside the fastball.”

Last season, USF (18-8, 2-1) dropped two-of-three in the regular season against Tulane, but beat the Green Wave 7-6 in the first round of the AAC Tournament.

First pitch is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.

Softball

Bulls travel to Memphis for first away series

By Brian Hattab S T A F F

W R I T E R

USF will look to keep its hotstreak going as the Bulls travel out of Florida for the first time in 2018 for a three-game series at Memphis, Thursday through Saturday.

USF (25-13, 3-0) has won 18 of its last 19 games — the only loss coming at No. 4 Florida — including a three-game sweep of UConn to open conference play over the weekend.

Freshman pitcher Georgina Corrick will likely see plenty of action over the weekend if her recent playing trends stay the same. She pitched a combined

10 innings against UConn, allowing no runs on only four hits. Corrick enters the weekend at 7-4 with a 1.36 ERA and a team-high five complete games.

The Tigers (25-8, 2-1) will enter the weekend on a three-game winning streak after sweeping a doubleheader against Alcorn State on Tuesday and taking the rubber match of a three-game weekend series against Wichita State on Sunday to open AAC play.

Molly Smith has led the way for the Tigers’ pitching staff. The senior from Yamhill, Oregon, has appeared in 23 of the 33 games for Memphis this

season and has made a teamhigh 20 starts. Smith has posted a 14-3 record and the fourth lowest ERA in the AAC at 1.33, one spot below USF’s Cheyenne Eggens, who has a 1.25.

The series has the potential to have a fair amount of offensive firepower as well.

Memphis and USF sit at first and second respectively in the AAC in batting average and runs scored. USF leads the conference in home runs at 31, while Memphis leads the AAC in total bases at 418 — edging out USF by one.

First pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. at Thursday

A visual rendering of a potential on-campus stadium released by USF on Aug. 8. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/USF ATHLETICS

STADIUM

Continued from PAGE 1

which came in response to a question asked during a Q&A session at the Marshall Student Center Amphitheater, was the first public statement from SG about the possibility of student fees being used.

“After doing some research, we’ve found that multiple institutions across the nation have their student governments have an active voice and active part in the creation of a stadium,” Kheireddine said. “There is a strong possibility that Student Government will have a very large hand in the creation of an on-campus stadium.”

A USA Today report indicated more than $17 million, which is around 36 percent of USF’s total athletic revenue, came from student fees in 2016.

Some of the potential locations for the on-campus stadium include the Fowler Fields, as well as the current location of the Museum of Science and Industry. In the Aug. 8 announcement of the potential stadium, USF’s vice president for administrative services Calvin Williams said the stadium’s

construction would be five years away, at least.

“If we had the dollars today,” Williams said. “We’re still five to seven years out.”

In a phone interview with The Oracle on Wednesday night, Kheireddine said the fee-range of between $30 and $80 was calculated by “long-term goals.”

“It’s something students have been asking for, for a long, long time,” Kheireddine said. “We looked at what would be the average cost to our students in order to ensure we could pay off the cost for a stadium.”

The fee would allow USF to receive funding from the state ahead of time to complete the construction of the stadium.

However, the hypothetical student fee would have to be paid by student for years after the stadium’s completion in order to pay the state back.

“We’d have to pay the funds back over a series of years,” Kheireddine said. “Students for the next five, 10, 15 years would be paying back this fee. The fee would go away, but the stadium would stay.”