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THE ORACLE

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

Changes to statutes may impact SG elections

By Leda Alvim S T A F F

W R I T E R

New changes in the Student Government (SG) statutes made last fall will be applied for the first time during this year’s general election, allowing senators and any candidate to run for two positions simultaneously.

The SG statute 705.3.7., which stated that candidates and tickets cannot run for more than one office was overturned last semester by the SG Senate, and this year will be the first time that candidates are allowed to run for two positions.

The updated statute reads: “In order for a single applicant to be placed on the official ballot as a Senatorial candidate AND on a President/ Vice President ticket, they must attend meetings fulfilling each of the above requirements...The applicant must additionally sign a form expressing their

understanding that, should their ticket win the Presidential election, they shall not be eligible for a Senatorial seat even if they receive the requisite number of votes...If a candidate is elected to both the winning ticket and Senate, their subsequent senate seat(s) shall be given to the runner-up senate candidate(s).”

Before this change was made, if a senator would like to run for president, they would have to resign their senator position.

The proposed change was originally vetoed by Student Body President Moneer Kheireddine, but then it went back to the Senate where it was overturned by a 2/3 majority.

In addition, the Senate positions are now paid. This change began last semester, where senators work part-time and have to attend mandatory Senate meetings. Each senator

n See SG on PAGE 3

With the Student Government general elections right around the corner, changes to the statutes may impact who is eligible to run. ORACLE FILE PHOTO

Library improving elevator system, accessibility

By Alyssa Stewart N E W S

E D I T O R

The USF Library is hoping to elevate its student experience by updating some of its features.

A “Please Pardon the Inconvenience” poster board was placed in front of the USF Library elevator doors on the

first day of the spring semester.

The poster board announced its $1 million worth of renovations which will take place throughout the 2019 school year to improve machines and controls, increase accessibility upgrades, new guides and cables and a cab interior.

The year-long project is

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estimated to be completed by the summer of 2020, according to Dean of USF Libraries Todd Chavez.

The project began in August when the construction on the decades-old elevators began.

Most of the electrical rewiring and mechanical components were done behind the scenes

OPINION 6

since the control room is located on the roof, according to Chavez.

The project is expected to last longer since the construction is only being done on one of the three elevator carts at a time.

The maintenance completed so far included replacing the old cabling and guides, which will result in a smoother transition

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between the floors, Chavez said.

Construction on the elevators will be between the hours of 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. The elevator company, Thyssenkrupp, is required to fill out a noise forecast sheet whenever there is projected hammering or drilling

n See LIBRARY on PAGE 3

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

Editor in Chief Jesse Stokes @JesseStokes813

Managing Editor Maria Ranoni @ByMariaRanoni

Associate Editor Sam Newlon @newlon_sam

News Editor

Alyssa Stewart

Assistant Sports Editor Brian Hattab

Opinion Editor

Aida Vazquez-Soto @realAidaVS

Staff Writers Leda Alvim

Graphic Artists Avery Dyen Jessica Thornton

Advertising Sales Skyler Nickols Katelyn Williams

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

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NEWS

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

SG

Continued from PAGE 1

works approximately 20 hours per week as a USF student employee.

To be eligible to run in any position, candidates must be enrolled for at least six credit hours as an undergraduate or four credits as a graduate degreeseeking student and maintain at least an institutional 2.5 GPA as an undergraduate student and a 3.0 GPA as a graduate student.

According to Sebastian Leon, SG’s supervisor of elections, this years’ general elections have a higher number of applicants than years prior due to the recent changes made in

“

rules that each candidate must follow throughout their campaign and will answer any questions that they might have.

“I would like to see in the future more rules to make it more aware and easy for people to run for office,” Leon said.

“The more competition the better.”

This year, there will be two polling stations located every day throughout the week of Feb. 25-28. One of the locations will be inside the Marshall Student Center and the other station will rotate around different locations, including the library, The Village, the Education building and the Engineering building.

As a way to increase voter

The general elections have a higher demand than the midterm elections

”

Sebastian Leon, SG supervisor of elections

the statute.

“The general elections have a higher demand than the midterm elections,” Leon said.

“Especially from the Senate, we are expecting more people to run in this general election due to paid positions and the new changes in the statute. As long as the requirements are met, any student can run for (student body) president or even Senate in this general election since there are Senate seats open.”

The applications for the general elections are due Friday, Feb. 1. Every candidate has to attend at least one mandatory informational meeting which will be held in the MSC. The meeting will cover the set of

turnout, Leon said SG will be giving out items like shirts, flyers and pizza during the week to motivate students to vote either online or in one of these locations.

“I always tell people to come out and hear what these candidates have to say and at the end of the day, vote for the one that best represents their interests,” Leon said.

“This is money and activities that do affect you and by getting involved, you’re helping improve your own college experience and the school.”

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LIBRARY

Continued from PAGE 1

in that particular week.

Chavez said the library will adjust the construction schedule to avoid disturbing students during densely populated times, such as during finals or testing in the Smart Lab. Although the interior of the elevators seem okay at first glance, Chavez said the machinery generated a variety of issues, which caused the carts to be out of service for months at a time. Due to the dated equipment, he said the elevator parts would have to be handmade.

Chavez said the announcement in front of the elevators has a picture of the replica of the cab interior design which will include a stainless steel ceiling and paneling, LED lighting and new flooring, as well as a gray color scheme.

In regards to accessibility, the announcement said door chimes, lanterns and indicators would be upgraded.

Students with Disabilities Services (SDS) Director Deborah McCarthy said chimes are a modern feature that are used for people with little to low vision to hear what floor the elevator is on. Braille or raised numbers for tracing are also common elevator features for accessibility.

Chavez said the new elevator upgrades comply with the updated Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.

Currently, there are audio chimes and accessibility options, but it is hard to navigate with the current chime system and dim lighting, according to Chavez.

“People outside the elevator are going to be able to see the indicators better with the new lighting and will be able to hear when they are on certain floors with the new chimes,” Chavez

The library will be updating its three elevators one at a time.

ORACLE PHOTO/MARIA RANONI

said.

After complaints from SDS, Chavez said there have been minor adjustments to the chime system for the time being. However, full replacements won’t happen until the renovation project is fully completed.

McCarthy said most of the issues that have been relayed to her from SDS students are about uncourteous students and entering an elevator with adapted equipment such as a wheelchair.

“The concerns that SDS students have mentioned to the library are not about the equipment itself, but it is important that they are upgraded according to building codes,” McCarthy said. “The concerns that I hear from

students who are trying to use any elevators on campus is about not stepping aside or allowing the extra time necessary for someone with equipment to get in the elevator.”

Chavez said students should have no issues in regards to the project renovations, however, the construction does entail a tedious and long process. He said future projects include updating the air conditioning system and the fourth floor of the library to replicate the fifth floor renovations done last year.

“The only disruption students would receive is the fact that there would be only two working elevators at a time, but we do have the large staircase,” Chavez said. “By the end of the project, it will be well worth it for students.”

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

By Jared Sellick

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DeSantis: friend or foe of environmentalists?

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USF as a sanctuary campus may do more harm than good

By Aida Vazquez-Soto

C O R R E S P O N D E N T

O P I N I O N

E D I T O R

The governor’s mansion in Tallahassee has been home to Republican leadership for the past 20 years. Now that Sen. Rick Scott has passed the baton to Gov. Ron DeSantis, what can we expect to change in Florida’s executive branch?

Will DeSantis’ policies differ from his predecessor? It depends on which Ron DeSantis we get.

The most obvious deviation between the Scott and DeSantis administrations appears to be their posture toward environmental policy. DeSantis has long been an opponent of the sugar industry’s disproportionate voice in Florida politics, a sentiment broadly shared by the Florida electorate.

Gov. Ron DeSantis may be using his first days in his new office to This could be proof that appeal to environmentalists, but his record suggests that won’t last.

DeSantis is a “Teddy Roosevelt SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE Conservationist” as he claims.

However, when you put the rest record as it pertains to the corrupting along with Republicans to limit the of his political career in context it impact of big sugar, but that doesn’t government’s ability to assess the becomes clear that DeSantis is a mean that environmentalists should impact of climate change. put their complete trust in the new This alone should be enough wolf in environmentalist’s clothing. governor. to question his environmental DeSantis’ stance on the sugar He has attempted to play both credentials. industry was one of the clear While the distance DeSantis has distinctions between himself and sides on the issue of climate change, by claiming to be neither a climate placed between himself and the Adam Putnam, his opponent in the Republican primary. This was change “denier” nor a climate sugar industry should encourage environmentalists, they should not also out of step with Sen. Scott who change “believer.”

Statements like this should give be fooled into believing DeSantis is received $100,000 from U.S. sugar, for his political action committee any environmentalist pause because on their side. they show a real lack of concern for Considering that Florida will be during his time as Governor. one of the greatest environmental affected the most by rising sea levels, The reason DeSantis’ position on the sugar industry is encouraging is challenges we have ever faced. He we should be the ones leading the that the industry has a continuous may show concern over the issue of way on clean renewable energy.

At a time in which hurricanes habit of polluting South Florida’s toxic algae, but he is very flippant water reservoirs with phosphorus about issuing any kind of change are growing stronger in our own found in their fertilizer, which is that will preserve our environment backyard due to a changing climate, Floridians deserve more than one of the main contributors to in the long term.

His belief seems to be that taking neutrality on this all-important the state’s toxic algae crisis, which action to counteract the effects issue. includes red tide. DeSantis has been making sweeping declarations of climate change should be the Jared Sellick is a junior majoring in about how he intends to tackle this federal government’s burden to bear. crisis, but it is important to put his However, while he was in Congress, political science. and actually had influence in the statements in their proper context.

It is true that he has a better track federal government, he voted

This week, The Oracle covered ongoing discussions between Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and USF administration regarding the on-campus situation faced by undocumented students.

In a bid to advocate for the rights of undocumented students on USF’s campus, SDS has, among other requests, demanded that USF declare itself a “sanctuary campus.”

This is the wrong move.

Calling USF a sanctuary campus would do little to improve the safety of undocumented students and would almost certainly produce negative unintended consequences.

As Shakespeare puts it, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” and the same applies to USF’s undocumented student policies. USF already takes many steps to make the school safer and more welcoming to undocumented students.

Through UndocuAlly training, students, faculty and staff can become familiar with the legal frameworks of being undocumented. When President Donald Trump announced the rescinding of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), USF System President Judy Genshaft joined hundreds of college presidents and leaders in calling DACA “a moral imperative and a national necessity.”

The term “sanctuary campus” fails to encompass specifics when it comes to student protection.

Speaking at the 2017 Education Writers Association Conference, Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration lawyer at Cornell University Law School, said: “Technically, [sanctuary campus] means a lot of different things to a

lot of different people.”

It can mean refusing to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other law enforcement on campus without warrants or it can mean not actively volunteering the information of undocumented students. It can also mean not keeping lists of undocumented students or providing student immigration status to ICE. The range of policies potentially encompassed with the designation could offer a false sense of protection to students.

The most concerning reality is that, in demanding that USF designate itself a sanctuary campus, SDS is acting against the best interests of undocumented students. The term does little to improve the status of students who fall into that category, all while putting an unnecessary spotlight towards USF and its students.

This was exactly the argument made by Harvard University President Drew G. Faust in 2016 at a faculty meeting regarding the issue who stated then, “I believe [becoming a sanctuary campus] would endanger, rather than protect, our students and that is not something I am willing for this institution to do.”

If USF wants to support undocumented students on campus, it would do well to ignore the “demands” of SDS. While it might feel good to be loud and obvious about how USF is helping undocumented students, help must come in quiet and subtle ways if it is truly meant to protect these students.

Aida Vazquez-Soto is a senior majoring in political science and economics.

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BASKETBALL

Commentary

wire.

USF came into the game shooting less than 65 percent from the free-throw line and was just 6-for-16 in the second half and overtime combined.

This season, the Bulls are shooting 62 percent and are ranked 340th out of 351 Division I schools from the free-throw line.

USF committed 19 turnovers in the game, 12 from the starting backcourt of David Collins and Rideau. Coming into the game, Collins and Rideau averaged just 6.5 turnovers per game

Bell, USF’s new offensive coordinator

USF fans should be excited about

Continued from PAGE 8

USF’s defense kept it competitive The Bulls compiled 19 steals in their two-point loss to the Owls, more than doubling their season average of nine steals per game.

USF came into the game ranked 20th in the country in steals per game.

Rideau had 10 steals to pace

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from the field. She recorded her third double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Tamara Henshaw was second on the team in scoring, recording a double-double as well. Usually not a big factor on the offensive side of the ball, she scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds.

Henshaw and Shae Leverett were both able to secure double-digit rebounds, adding to the team’s total of 42 rebounds for the game.

Leverett also added a steal for her team.

By Brian Hattab A S S I S T A N T

Laquincy Rideau recorded a triple-double in USF’s 82-80 loss to Temple on Saturday with 18 points, 10 assists and 10 steals. ORACLE PHOTO/BRIAN HATTAB

the Bulls defense while Collins and sophomore forward Mayan Kiir added three each.

Lack of bench presence concerning for the Bulls The Bulls’ bench scored just 12 points and committed five turnovers. Just one game

UConn beat USF without its starting five

UConn is ranked 14th overall in offense and it showed against the depleted Bulls squad. USF was able to keep the game close as it went into halftime down by only six. That was UConn’s first lead of the game, but it would only grow from there.

The Huskies rallied back against USF, as they were able to score 17 of their 63 points off of fast breaks. Although UConn trailed USF in rebounds, only securing 26 rebounds compared to the Bulls’ 42, it was still able to control the pace of the game.

earlier, in a victory over Tulane, the bench accounted for 23 of the team’s 66 points.

Against the Owls, Xavier Castaneda played more minutes because of Collins’ foul trouble, scoring five points to lead the bench production.

Castaneda was 0-for-2 from the free-throw line.

USF held UConn to only 26 points through the first half and most of those points came toward the end of the second quarter. UConn coach Geno Auriemma felt that his starters were not respecting the young USF team enough, and even rotated all of them out in the first quarter.

“They made the decision before the game started, they didn’t have to get up for this game since USF is depleted.

So, everyone is allowed to make decisions,” Auriemma said on ESPN after the game.

“They made their decision, so I made mine and we are even.”

S P O R T S

E D I T O R

USF football announced the hiring of Kerwin Bell as its new offensive coordinator on Thursday night, replacing Sterlin Gilbert, who left USF to take the head coach position at McNeese State.

It’s tough, and maybe even a little ridiculous, to try to evaluate a coaching hire before a single practice takes place. But, at least on paper, this looks to be a home run hire.

“I have known Kerwin for more than 30 years and have a great deal of respect for what he has done in his career both as a player and coach and the success of the football programs he has led,” coach Charlie Strong said in a statement released

by USF on Thursday night. “He has directed some very explosive, highscoring offenses and consistently puts his players in position to reach their highest potential. We are very excited to have Kerwin joining our staff.”

“Explosive, high-scoring offenses” might be an understatement considering what Bell accomplished as head coach in 2018 at Division II Valdosta State. The Blazers’ 728 points scored in 2018 broke the Gulf South Conference scoring record and led all of Division II on the way to an undefeated, national championship season.

That already sounds like a breath of fresh air for a USF offense that finished seventh in the AAC and tied for 69th in FBS in points scored.

But perhaps the greatest thing about Bell’s hire is his strong, successful ties to the Sunshine State.

Bell, a native of Mayo, Florida — the only incorporated municipality in Lafayette County — starred at quarterback for Lafayette High School, where he earned the nickname the “Throwin’ Mayoan.”

After not receiving any scholarship offers, Bell walked-on at Florida in 1983.

Bell went from eighth on the depth chart in his freshman season to the UF Hall of Fame in 1997 thanks to a four-year career that saw him throw for 7,585 yards and 56 touchdowns.

Following a career that earned him No. 26 on a ranking of greatest Gators by The Gainesville Sun in 2006, Bell was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins and spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the World League of American Football’s Orlando Thunder.

But Bell’s greatest contributions to Florida football have come after his playing days were over.

After serving as offensive coordinator — and quarterback — of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts from 2000-01, Bell returned to Florida, serving as head coach of Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, leading it to the Florida 2B state title in 2005 and a second-place finish the following year.

Bell then took over FCS Jacksonville and guided the Dolphins to a 66-35 record and three conference championships over his nine seasons in Duval.

Looking over Bell’s resume, it’s hard to find a place he wasn’t a winner as a coach. In fact, the most impressive thing is he’s continued to find success no matter what level he’s coaching.

That’s not to say there’s no chance for growing pains at USF. This will be Bell’s first experience under the bright lights of FBS football — at least as a coach — and it’s safe to say defenses are better up here than they are in Division II or even FCS. Of course, Bell never had talent even remotely comparable to Blake Barnett, Jordan Cronkrite, Mitchell Wilcox, Randall St. Felix and the rest of the USF offense at any of his prior stops. For all the improvements in the defenses he’ll face at this level, he’ll have improved weapons to fight with.

All in all, it’s a pretty good hire — a semi-local product who was beloved at the school 90 minutes up the road from Tampa and has proven success at every level he’s coached.

This is exactly what the USF offense needed.

Bulls fans, be happy. This is the guy you want in charge of your offense.

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T H E O R AC L E

Women’s Basketball

Without Rader, USF women’s basketball loses its second straight conference game

By Jeremy Johnson C O R R E S P O N D E N T

USF women’s basketball lost its second conference game in a row to No. 3 UConn 63-46 on Sunday afternoon in Storrs, Connecticut.

The Bulls (10-7, 1-2) are on a similar run to last year through 17 games, going 10-7 this season compared with last season when they were 12-5.

However, this USF defense did not allow nearly as many points compared to their first matchup last season against UConn (14-1, 3-0). Giving up 100 points in their first meeting last year, this year’s young squad was able to hold the Huskies under 70 points.

Yet another injury to USF’s starting lineup USF women’s basketball team has struggled with injuries this season, but news broke shortly before the UConn game that redshirt Junior Alyssa Rader was experiencing “concussion symptoms” and would not be able to play against the Huskies.

The Bulls were without Rader, a starter and the team’s main rebounder. Rader has 23 rebounds through the last five games and leads the team with 119 rebounds overall.

With Rader’s injury, only one of the five players who started USF’s first game this season

remains healthy — Sydni Harvey, who scored just two points and had two rebounds against UConn.

Harvey, usually a large part of the USF offense, was shut down by the UConn defense.

She was able to get off 14 shots, but only able to drop one basket. An unusual sighting for the freshman point guard, who is averaging 13.4 points a game.

Pehadzic and Henshaw lead the offense Enna Pehadzic was the team leader in shot attempts and points scored, going 6-for-18

n See RADER on PAGE 7

Alyssa Rader (right) was sidelined Sunday against No. 3 UConn for concussion symptoms. Rader leads the Bulls with 119 total rebounds this season.ORACLE PHOTO/BRIAN HATTAB

Men’s Basketball

USF men’s basketball loses in overtime, despite a second-half surge

By Steven Gerardy C O R R E S P O N D E N T

USF men’s basketball is .500 in conference play this season, but its two conference losses have combined for just a fivepoint difference. The first was from a buzzer-beating threepoint shot against Tulsa and, more recently, from an 82-80 overtime loss to Temple on Saturday.

Bulls’ coach Brian Gregory said in a press conference last week that his team would have to play well to win against Temple, and noted that his team needed to play even better as the season goes on.

“I thought we did some good things, but not enough good on the road to beat a highquality team,” Gregory said Saturday. “We have to do some things better in order to win

some games on the road, but it was a great game with tough kids out there playing every possession.”

A tale of two halves USF shot less than 30 percent from the field in the first half against Temple and went into halftime trailing by 14 points. The Bulls shot 61 percent in the second half and

overtime, going 22-for-36 after the break.

Laquincy Rideau didn’t have an assist in the first half and USF committed nine turnovers. Rideau finished the game with a triple-double, netting 18 points with 10 assists and 10 steals, becoming just the sixth NCAA player in 20 seasons to achieve a pointsassists-steals triple-double.

The Bulls started the second

half with a 27-5 run to bring the game within striking distance before losing in overtime 82-80.

Free throws and turnovers are the Bulls’ Achilles heel The Bulls shot 10-for-25 from the free-throw line in a game that went down to the

n See BASKETBALL on PAGE 7