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Epilogue

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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

Milton Llinas: The man who silently impacted a whole university

By Josh Fiallo M A N A G I N G

E D I T O R

It’d be near impossible for one student to impact every one of his peers on a campus of nearly 40,000.

But if there were a student to accomplish it, it would have been Milton Llinas.

Whenever USF Football had a game — home or away — he was there as Rocky, USF’s mascot, energizing the crowd. When USF’s Student Government had a potential campus-altering decision, he was in the middle of it, holding SG accountable as the chief justice on its Supreme Court.

Perhaps most prevalent, however, was the smile he greeted everyone he saw with.

“Whenever you met Milton, whenever anyone did, you walked away feeling like the day was going to be a good one,” said Moneer Kheireddine, a friend and a fraternity brother of Llinas. “You felt

like the day had become just a little bit brighter.”

In his position in SG, his doors were constantly open to concerned students or senators. He always stayed impartial in decisions he made, always in the best interest of USF’s students, Kheireddine said. In some cases, he even ruled against his closest friends’ desires.

Others were always Llinas’ number one concern, Kheireddine said.

Even in the days after being diagnosed with leukemia last December, Llinas made it a point to make sure his closest friends were prepared to bare the news.

So, he made a phone call.

“He called me and said, ‘you have to watch out for them and make sure they’re okay,’” said Logan Holland, a friend of Milton who also served in SG. “Even in one of the worst

n See MILTON on PAGE 3

By Alyssa Stewart A S S I S T A N T

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Merchandise featuring USF’s new academic logo is now available in the USF Bookstore.

The number of items baring the logo is still low and the Bull “U” athletic logo will continue to have dominant representation, according to Bookstore Director Nando Padula. More products, she says, will be rolling out as the year progresses, however.

Padula said after an order is placed by the store, it could take anywhere from two weeks to six months to get items in, depending on what type of merchandise it is.

“We will continue to bring new items,” Padula said. “I know we will have a couple of different tumblers, a pennant, car emblems and we will have shirts for both men and women. Those are just some of the things we’ll have.”

Currently, there is a limited

E D I T O R

new academic logo on Sept. 5.

According to Thom VanderKlipp, assistant vice president of marketing, the university has approved partners that create the merchandise based on the brand standards set

by USF. The products that are currently available for purchase is what was the easiest to roll out quickly, he said.

n See LOGO on PAGE 3

n See ULS on PAGE 3

Milton Llinas was a SG Supreme Court Chief Justice and Rocky the Bull before his passing last week. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/COREY WATSON

amount of items currently available, including coffee mugs, hats, women’s polo shirts, unisex T-shirts and men’s sweater vests.

Padula said the Bookstore just got the licensing required to carry the new merchandise about two weeks ago, allowing the store to put in orders and receive the products in time for Homecoming Week.

USF President Judy Genshaft made the announcement of the

N E W S

Black Panther star Winston Duke was set to be the final fall semester speaker for the University Lecture Series (ULS) but canceled abruptly.

The coordinators from the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) said were taken by surprise when they received a call from his agent last Wednesday stating he was canceling his appearance due to a scheduling conflict with a movie he is filming.

ULS announced the news the following day on social media stating, “due to recent additions to his filming schedule, Winston Duke has canceled his lecture at USF on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018.”

Sabrina Alt, a graduate assistant for CSI, said ULS is going back to the drawing board to see if rescheduling is an option.

“That’s the con of working with movie stars or artists,” Alt said. “You never really know what their schedule can look like, so we’re just waiting to hear back from his agent and seeing if it can still be possible.”

Duke’s contract and the $30,000 he would have received for speaking at ULS are on hold until a new date is set.

There is a possibility Duke would be an extra speaker along with the three to five people for the spring lineup, though nothing has been finalized, according to Alt. If Duke cancels completely, his contract would be voided and ULS

Bookstore debuts new academic logo merchandise

By Maria Ranoni

ULS hopes to reschedule Winston Duke following his cancellation

NEWS 3 OPINION 6 FOCAL POINTS 7 SPORTS 8

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

Editor in Chief Jesse Stokes @JesseStokes813

Managing Editor Josh Fiallo @ByJoshFiallo

News Editor

Maria Ranoni @ByMariaRanoni

Sports Editor Sam Newlon @newlon_sam

Multimedia Editor Chaveli Guzman @ChaveliGuzman

Opinion Editor

Aida Vazquez-Soto

Staff Writers

Continued from PAGE 8

New York and being successful there gave me the opportunity to be called up. To be called up in Tampa is even funnier.”

Sweat and NYCFC are approaching the MLS playoff where they are currently the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. With City, Sweat has established himself as a regular starter at right back, playing on a weekly basis on the same field as Spanish legend David Villa.

The USF alumnus has had success with NYCFC since he was brought on the team last season. He has 41 appearances and one goal with the side. Despite being a standout in high school and college, Sweat’s professional career has been anything but smooth.

He was drafted 14th overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew SC where he inconsistently played with the first team. The next

FOOTBALL

Alyssa Stewart Brian Hattab

Continued from PAGE 8

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Offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert wants his team to focus on individual assignments and scoring earlier in games.

“Just being cleaner on our execution, you know, continue to focus at each position and each guy going out and executing at a high level,” Gilbert said. “Those are things we are focused on right now. We need to go out and do it at a beginning of a game.”

Quarterback Blake Barnett is coming off a lackluster 17-for-39 passing performance, but came through with a big fourth-quarter drive, connecting with Tyre McCants on a 32-yard reception in the last moments to set up a Coby Weiss game-winning kick.

“I did not play anything close to my best game on Friday,” Barnett said. “I will be the first to admit that. I really needed to step up and I’m just glad the guys stayed behind me and we were able to pull it out in the end.”

Barnett wants to develop a pace that puts pressure on the Huskies for

year, the team waived Sweat.

About a month later in 2015, Sweat signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, an NASL club. He made 33 appearances in two seasons with the Rowdies and left at the end of the 2016 season. He tried out with NYCFC in 2017 and was signed to the club in February 2017 — about two years after being cut from the Columbus Crew.

Now he’s playing at the highest level on the international stage with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

“I’ve been working very hard, been very patient with my career,” Sweat said. “I always had plans to play at the highest level and I knew I could compete at the highest level which, for me, is the international stage right now.”

Delgado knew that Sweat was due for some more good fortune from his experiences — both his successes and failures.

“I think [Sweat] is meeting an four quarters.

“Everything starts with the quarterback,” Barnett said. “We are the tempo of the offense, we are the leader so you know, it’s my job to get them going, to make the right decisions, to do my part.”

The coaching staff has worked hard to establish a winning culture and mindset inside the program which has paid dividends with a fast start to the season.

“From the time we got here these players have bought into, you know, our coaching style and the way we want to run the program,” defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary said. “It’s a testament to the program and the players that we are 6-0 and trying to get to 7-0.”

The quest to continue the success started before the regular season even began. The offseason preparation has instilled the work ethic needed to build a winning culture.

“That’s how we train them through the summer,” Jean-Mary said. “We like to push them in the offseason. It’s always a mental grind. You can see that in our fourth quarter comebacks.

opportunity by being patient,” Delgado said. “As a young player, I don’t think this was at the top of his list, but I think he always knew he could achieve this.”

When he got the call up two weeks ago, Sweat was flooded with congratulatory messages. Kiefer and Delgado both were among the first to reach out.

“We talked via text,” Kiefer said. “I try to keep track of what my guys are doing. For him to get a call-up was great and well-deserved.”

Sweat said that Delgado was “buzzin’” when he found out about Sweat’s news.

“Since he got the call-up, I sent him a congratulatory text and he’s been in constant contact,” Delgado said.

While in Tampa, Sweat had to fill more than his obligation to the national team. It was a homecoming of sorts for him.

While he was away, several influential people in his life remained

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in Tampa watching his progression.

He came back as a star.

“My family, a lot of my friends, old coaches, my former clubs, high school and, obviously, the University of South Florida, a lot of my past is still here,” Sweat said.

Even though he was flooded with attention since returning to Tampa, Sweat still made time for everyone.

He went out to dinner with Delgado before leaving. Last week, he even spoke with some of the USF men’s soccer team at their pregame dinner. “[Sweat] is not into promoting himself,” Delgado said. “He was excited to be back here at USF, the program that gave him an opportunity where he grew up from a young man into a young adult on and off the field…It just goes to show who he is as a person. He doesn’t forget who he is in the limelight. He hasn’t forgotten where his roots are — I don’t think he ever will forget.”

At Monday’s comedy show, Rocky the Bull smashed a piñata shaped like a husky, UConn’s mascot. ORACLE PHOTO/LEDA ALVIM I think the more well-conditioned team has been the team that’s won the game.”

Hard work and dedication on the practice field has led to the Bulls success and the mental aspect is just as important as the physical.

“There is no substitute for hard work. Coach Strong is a no-nonsense guy,” Jean Mary said. “He draws a hard line.”

UConn averages a dismal 20 points per game offensively, ranked 123rd in the nation. The average loss this

season for the Huskies has been by 30 points.

UConn is the opponent, at least for this week, that stands in the way of a dream, perfect season. Putting together four quarters of solid football is something Strong is waiting for from his team.

“For us to be really, really good, we have to play four quarters,” Strong said. “It’s not every time you’re going to be able to come back.”

The Bulls host the Huskies on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

NEWS

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MILTON

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moments of his life, he was worried about others. It was never about himself.”

Llinas would battle the disease for 10 months, never losing his ability to inspire and bring smiles to his fellow students’ faces. He would succumb to complications from the disease on Oct. 11 at Moffitt Cancer Center. He was 23 years old.

“He truly left an impact on every person, not just who he knew,” Holland said. “There are people on this campus that don’t know him, but they’ve been impacted by him.

Those who did know him, they looked up to him.”

At USF’s Relay For Life event in April, Llinas delivered a speech about the struggles of his disease and his drive to never stop fighting. Not

just for himself, but for his family, friends and, most importantly, his two younger brothers with autism.

“My drive in life is to be successful so I have enough to provide for them,” Llinas said in a 2016 interview about his brothers, over a year before his diagnosis. “(I want) to leave something behind for them.

“If something were to happen to my mom and dad, I’m all my brothers have.”

Llinas graduated from USF in December, the same month he was diagnosed and said he had plans of attending law school at the University of Miami.

After his speech at Relay For Life, Llinas was joined by Kheireddine and Rocky to lead the crowd in USF’s signature green-and-gold chant, jumping up and down while

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he waved his hand high in the sky.

The 500-plus in attendance erupted upon the chant’s completion. They weren’t cheering for Rocky; they were cheering for Llinas. His smile wasn’t being hidden behind that of a smirking imaginary Bull’s head, but was on display for all to see.

If there was somebody that wasn’t standing after his initial speech, they were by now.

“That was one special moment,” Kheireddine said. “Until the end, he never changed. It was still always for others, always inspiring other while still smiling and so full of life and joy.

“His impact wasn’t seen by direct contact and he never sought recognition in any way. He didn’t care about it. He just wanted to spread positivity.”

ULS

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would use the money to fund another speaker. Alt said ULS will send a spring student survey which will entail a list of new speaker options as well as a mix of people that were on the fall survey if a permanent cancellation is a reality.

Alt said ULS chose Duke because of the 300 votes he accumulated on the student survey and they knew students would be excited about his appearance.

Even though the news came as a shock for ULS, Alt said students have been understanding of the unforeseen circumstances.

“People were really excited about Winston (Duke) which is why we were bummed when we got the call, but students have been understanding that there are some things that are out of the ULS’ control,” Alt said. “We can’t really do anything about him making a movie, so we are just hoping we’re still able to have him here.”

The sweater vest with USF’s new academic logo costs $84. ORACLE

PHOTO/JESSE STOKES

LOGO

Continued from PAGE 1

“The vendors are not USFowned assets, so they pretty much develop them as quickly as they can and get them out on their own timeline,” VanderKlipp said.

According to Padula, it’s unclear how the items are selling since they have only been available for a short period of time. Last week, a coffee mug was the first product to come in and the other items were received Monday and Tuesday.

“The students will be the ones telling us if we need to bring more of those items, or if we need to cut back,” Padula said. “Initially, we would like to have the same amount of items we had in the past with the previous academic

logo. We’ve seen a lot of mixed reactions, but we’ve also seen a lot of positive reactions.”

Padula said it will be more obvious how things are selling in the next couple of weeks.

Although the logo seems to have received mixed reactions from students and alumni, VanderKlipp said he hopes that the new merchandise is well received and will eventually catch on as time progresses.

“We’re very cognizant of it (reaction to the new logo) and we pay attention to it, but if you count the likes versus the negative comments, the likes far outnumber them,” VanderKlipp said. “The reaction that we’ve gotten is for the most part positive.”

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OPINION

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It is time for the U.S. to follow What you said in Canada’s footsteps

By Jesse Stokes E D I T O R

I N

Multimedia Editor Chaveli Guzman asked students what their thoughts were on the legalization of recreational marijuana.

C H I E F

Our friends to the north legalized the recreational use of marijuana.

It’s time for the U.S. to follow suit.

Canada became the first major country to officially legalize the recreational use of marijuana for an entire nation on Wednesday morning. The changes to the way the country looks at marijuana did not stop there, however.

Following the legalization of marijuana, the country also announced Wednesday morning that they were going to introduce legislation that would make the The time is now for the U.S. to follow Canada and legalize process of obtaining a pardon on recreational marijuana. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE marijuana charges much easier.

The Canadian government said have state-wide legalization of That is $3.6 billion that could be they’re going to seek to end the marijuana. spent on improving our roadways, five-year-minimum waiting period That is not enough. infrastructure and public schools. and the 631 Canadian dollar ($438 It is time for the prohibition of After Massachusetts legalized USD) fee that it currently takes to marijuana to end. recreational cannabis earlier this apply for a pardon on such charges.

The Nixon-era war on drugs is year, they are predicted $63 million Ralph Goodale, Canada’s outdated and widely unsuccessful. in revenue from the 17 percent state public safety minister, announced The benefits that come with tax that is attached to sales.

Wednesday that this is “a matter of marijuana, however, are not.

It is time for voters and basic fairness.”

In 2015, after Colorado legalized lawmakers in the U.S. to put Indeed it is. recreational marijuana, the their fears aside and realize that Around the world and industry introduced over 18,000 combatting the inevitable is just particularly in the U.S., the stigma full-time jobs and $2.4 billion in wasting more time and dollars. The that once came attached to using the state’s economy, according to a time is now for the U.S. to fall marijuana is quickly dissolving. study done by the Marijuana Policy in line, realize we are in the 21st Earlier this month, a study Group. century and embrace recreational done by the Pew Research Center The money would not just be marijuana and all of the benefits found that 62 percent of Americans added to our economy, it would that come with it. support the legalization of also be saved. recreational marijuana — which is A report from the American double the amount who supported Civil Liberties Union in 2013 Jesse Stokes is a junior majoring in it in 2000. found that federal marijuana political science.

Currently, states like California, enforcement costs approximately Nevada, Vermont and Colorado $3.6 billion each year.

“I don’t see any problems with it. I feel like if it helps people live happier lives, then go for it.”

— Sophia Gifford, a freshman majoring in speech method.

“I really don’t care because I don’t smoke, but I feel like when something becomes legal, more people will stop doing it.” ­— Ivan Arevanoo, a freshman majoring in industrial engineering.

“Definitely, because it should help people who can’t afford prescription drugs.”

— Jenny Aslan, a junior majoring in health sciences.

“I think it should be legalized. I feel like if you legalize it, it would help people control it better and solve a lot more problems.”

— Leticia Witkoskay De Sosa, a junior majoring in global business.

FOCAL POINTS

Life shaping art

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Daniela Vergaray uses art as an outlet to help cope with her Type 1 Diabetes.

By Amelio Nazarko C O R R E S P O N D E N T

Daniela Vergaray, a sophomore, created an art portfolio based on her experience dealing with the hardships and triumphs that followed her diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes.

Diagnosed at 10 years old, Vergaray said she had to mature quickly in order to cope with the restricted lifestyle of a diabetic.

She realized that dealing with diabetes is a matter of maintaining a heightened sense of precaution that can be emotionally draining.

“Being a kid, you want to be carefree and do whatever you want, but you have to be strict with your life,” Vergaray said.

“You have to make sure you’re doing everything correctly.”

Vergaray said she found solace in creating art after taking introductory classes at the age of 13. Once she explored various artistic mediums and realized how therapeutic it was for her, she took to art as a means of coming to terms with her diagnosis.

“After I was diagnosed, it became like a coping mechanism,” Vergaray said. “It was my way to vent.”

Vergaray’s mother, Gabriela Vergaray, said art helped her daughter to not think of her disease as something that is difficult to live with or as a roadblock in her path, rather as something that she is capable of

living a normal life with.

In recent years, Vergaray said she realized she could do her part to rectify a societal misrepresentation of Diabetes through her art.

Her urge to spread awareness about Diabetes came to be only after she felt comfortable sharing her experiences, she said.

She said that it was not easy to take an inward experience and turn it into an outward expression. Vergaray said she has a greater appreciation for artists whose work renders similar themes.

“Obviously, I wanted people to know what Diabetes is like,” Vergaray said. “It isn’t easy.

Putting it out there shows people that it is a very real struggle that a lot of people deal with.”

One of her influences is Vincent Van Gogh, who compelled some of the inspiration that Vergaray applied to this portfolio. “(Van Gogh) had a lot of issues and a mental illness,” Vergaray said. “But, he painted very beautiful, optimistic things.”

This ironic method of painting resonated with Vergaray, because she said she too found comfort in taking an optimistic stance in an otherwise painful situation.

This theme is present in her collection through the use of bright colors in geometric forms. Although that is not to say that she overlooks the pain

that Diabetes has caused her, which is reflected in the blue hues of the paintings, Vergaray said.

Vergaray used different sizes of bristol paper with oil paint and a gesso applied over top to create most of her pieces.

She said she pasted on reallife items like the blue test strips that check her blood sugar levels and wrappers from needles.

Some of the paintings employ a pixel effect to portray the careful role that diabetics must embody in order to stay healthy, and the “closeness” they must watch themselves with.

Vergaray continues to strive for a healthy relationship with herself and to transform her experience into a representation for what she believes people consider an “invisible disease.”

Her art has been featured in the art district of Miami during a senior show that showcased ten talented students. That experience brought forth a sense of excitement for Vergaray, and seeing the product of her passion garner a positive response makes her eager to continue creating art.

Vergaray’s empowered persona is an example of how art has shaped her life and her life has shaped her art.

“Knowing that I transferred a part of me into my art is such a wholesome feeling,” Vergaray said.

Vergaray’s art conveys some of the frustrations she feels when coping with diabetes. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/DANIELA VERGARAY

Vergaray’s art includes some of the medical materials she has to use to combat her illness. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/DANIELA VERGARAY

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SPORTS

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Former Bull makes first start for U.S. National Team Ben Sweat graduated from USF in 2013. He made his debut for the National Team for the first time last week in Tampa.

By Sam Newlon S P O R T S

E D I T O R

Former USF men’s soccer player Ben Sweat made his first international start with the U.S. Men’s National Team on Tuesday in a 1-1 draw against Peru.

Sweat made his first international appearance, however, last week in Tampa against Colombia. It was a homecoming of sorts for Sweat, the 27-year-old defender whose roots in the Tampa Bay Area run deep.

He grew up in the Tampa Bay Area and caught the eye of current USF women’s soccer director of operations Alex Delgado the first time he saw Sweat play soccer.

“I watched him play at a local club in Palm Harbor called the Palm Harbor Nighthawks,” Delgado said.

“After five minutes of watching the game, we had to ask ‘who’s this little lefty out on the field?’ because he was running circles around everyone.”

Delgado was at the youth soccer game watching his nine-year-old brother play soccer. Sweat was just eight years old at the time. He was playing against other kids who

were older and bigger than him yet, according to Delgado, he was one of the best players on the field.

Sweat continued playing soccer near home with the Clearwater Chargers, a development program affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, before he started playing for the men’s varsity team at Palm Harbor University High School.

Delgado became the head coach of Palm Harbor when Sweat was a sophomore.

“He was an amazing attribute to the program and, to be honest, he’s probably the best player to ever come out of [Palm Harbor University High School], which is one of the most prestigious programs in the state of Florida,” Delgado said.

Sweat helped lead his team to a state championship in 2009 and was twice named the Pinellas County Player of the Year by the Tampa Bay Times.

Sweat started his career at USF in 2010 under then-coach George Kiefer.

“He just fit with us,” Kiefer said.

“When we recruited him we knew he was a good player. We liked to let

our outside backs go forward while I was there and that fit [Sweat] nice.

He was very clean technically.”

Sweat went on to set a USF record with 78 game appearances.

Whenever he was healthy, he was on the pitch, playing at Corbett Stadium.

Ironically, Sweat’s first international call-up brought him from New York City FC (NYCFC) back to his home in Tampa. One of his first duties was to report to team practices — which were hosted by USF at Corbett Stadium.

“It’s awesome,” Kiefer said, laughing. “I got a smile on my face when I saw a picture of the [Men’s National Team] at Corbett.”

For Sweat, practicing back at USF then playing at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa was his first time being back in Florida since NYCFC played against Orlando City on Aug. 26.

“Soccer is a funny game,” Sweat said. “It’s funny how everything comes around. Everything happens for a reason. I think playing with

Ben Sweat shares the pitch with David Villa for New York City FC. n See SWEAT on PAGE 2 Sweat plays for NYCFC when he’s not with the USMNT. COURTESY NYCFC

Football

USF to host lowly UConn for homecoming game

By Steven Gerardy

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

No. 21 USF returns to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night against UConn in search for its seventh victory in as many tries and equal its best start in program history.

The Bulls (6-0, 2-0), a team that scores an average 35 points per game, should have no trouble securing its seventh victory against the Huskies (1-5, 0-3), who allow nearly 54 points per game.

“We have eight games left and five are on the road,” coach Charlie

Strong said. “So we’re not going to get to come home that much and homecoming with Connecticut is going to be big for us. Whenever we get a chance to play in front of our home crowd we need to play well.”

USF will play games in the coming weeks against No. 20 Cincinnati and

No. 10 UCF in November. Strong has his team focused and doesn’t see the matchup with UConn as a trap game.

“You know the guys are going to look down the road, but just try to focus,” Strong said. “This is a onegame season, we have to focus on this game, stay locked in. It’s UConn guys,

we have to go play well.”

The Bulls have struggled to piece together a complete game on both sides of the ball. After three quarters, the team was behind or tied on the scoreboard in four of the last five games.

n See FOOTBALL on PAGE 2