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April 6, 2017

Vol. 54 No. 51

Florida Legislature urges drivers to put it down

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Proposed bills look to strengthen texting and driving laws USF Celebrate Sound Walk Page 4

Progress in wage gap taking too long Page 6

Q&A: Brian Gregory Page 8

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T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 6 , 2 0 1 7

the Oracle the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966

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T H E O R AC L E

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News Briefs SG Senate passes ASRC budget The Student Government Senate voted to pass the annual Activity and Service Recommendation Committee’s budget of $17.8 million Tuesday night. The bill passed unanimously.

It now needs to be approved by Student Body President Chris Griffin before moving to the administration.

Paul Dosal, vice president of student affairs and student success, needs to review and sign the allotment before it goes to System President Judy Genshaft for approval.

The bill allocates over $11.9 million to student programs and services such as Campus Recreation and the Marshall Student Center, over $2.4 million into savings and reserve accounts for the senior class gift and homecoming grants, over $2.2 million to SG operations and over $1.1 million to student organizations.

State House looks to open up university records The Florida House of Representatives is looking to repeal a state law that now allows universities to keep most of their records private.

Should it pass, universities could only withhold the names of donors for athletic boosters and foundations.

The legislation would prevent universities from using taxpayer money to pay people who work for support organizations such as those who raise money for athletics.

NEWS

Florida Legislature looks to strengthen texting and driving laws and penalties

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

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Court works through grievances

By Miki Shine M A N A G I N G

Two bills in the Florida Legislature are looking to discourage phone use while driving by hightening penalties and making texting while driving a primary offense. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

By Miki Shine M A N A G I N G

E D I T O R

It’s not unlikely to look over while driving, only to see the driver in the next lane staring down at their phone rather than the road.

It is an issue among all age groups, but college students are making up the majority of these offenses.

A study by the American Automobile Association in the beginning of this year found that 59.3 percent of drivers age 19-24 were twice as likely to have sent a text or email while driving.

This is a statistic that the Florida Legislature is working to change.

The Florida House of Representatives and Senate are

each looking at two bills that would strengthen the current laws against texting while driving.

As the law stands, people can be cited for texting while driving if initially pulled over for another offense, such as speeding.

However, House Bill 69 and Senate Bill 144 would alter that.

If both pass, the law would change to allow officers to pull people over solely for texting while driving.

“One of the things that has helped life expectancy across the country has been the primary enforcement of seat belts,” Senator Rene Garcia (R), who filed the Senate bill, said at a meeting of the Transportation committee on March 22. “I think that we see the number

of accidents, especially as it relates to youth that have been happening as it relates to texting and driving has been going up and up each year.

“Unfortunately, the educational programs that we’ve put in place have not worked.

And I think this will go a long way to ensure people understand that texting and driving is a serious offense.

But Garcia knows proving a person was indeed texting while driving is not an easy task.

“I understand that it’s very difficult to prove in a court of law because you have to open up someone’s cell phone,” he said.

“You have to get a court order to open up that phone.”

Garcia said he’s had police

n See BILL on PAGE 5

E D I T O R

While students continue to wait for the official announcement for the next student body president, the Student Government Supreme Court is making its way through the seven major grievances filed.

This past Friday, the Court dismissed a grievance against president-elect Moneer Kheireddine and vice president-elect Shaquille Kent for withholding information from the Election Rules Committee.

The Court decided that it could not conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Kheireddine and Kent “knowingly provided false information” in regards to current president Chris Griffin’s position in the campaign.

The grievance cites Griffin as being in an administrative role within the campaign. However, the Court did not have significant evidence that his position was administrative, which caused doubt, according to the court decision.

The Court dismissed a grievance filed by student Daniel Tizzani after lack of response from Tizzani, according to chief justice Milton Llinas.

Wednesday night, the court reviewed requests for dismissal of two grievances filed by Jessica Vanek for destruction or theft of another’s campaign material filed against Ryan Soscia and Logan Holland. As of the time of publication, the Court hadn’t release its decision.

A trial is scheduled for this Friday to review a grievance filed against Kheireddine and Kent for “abusing the official capacity of their position (if an employee of the university) for their own personal campaign.”

The grievance accuses Dika Ezevillo, a volunteer coordinator for the campaign and an orientation leader, of wearing his official USF nametag while campaigning.

The remaining two grievances are still in discovery, with a schedule for the trial being worked out.

LIFESTYLE

‘Don’t walk in silence’

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

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Celebrate Sound Walk at USF raises money for hearing health

By Jacob Hoag E D I T O R

I N

C H I E F

Chase, the 19-monthold son of Matt and Rebecca Cardillo, was born with Type 2 Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that impacts both hearing and sight.

“Chase was born with mild-moderate hearing loss,” the family wrote in a letter to Celebrate Sound, a walk to raise funds and awareness for hearing health. “Ultimately at some point, though largely unknown when, Chase’s eyesight will start to degenerate to the point of extreme tunnel vision and night blindness; he will be legally blind as well.”

The Cardillo family, which is

one of countless stories behind the Celebrate Sound Walk, is one of the leading fundraisers for the walk. Their team, “Thrill of the Chase,” has raised over $1,000.

The 1.5-mile fun walk, organized by Tampa Gem Sertoma Club with aid from the USF Sertoma Collegiate Club, will be held Saturday, with the route circling the center of campus.

“It’s a really great way to raise awareness for hearing disorders and things of that nature,” said Amy Davis, a USF speech pathologist and co-advisor of the Sertoma Collegiate Club at USF. “It gets us awareness and also helps us find other funding sources

for ourselves for us to then use that in charitable ways.”

Half of the money raised by the walk goes directly to the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, and half goes back to the national Sertoma branches.

According to event coordinator Diane Warholic, the organization has currently raised $8,500 of its $10,000 goal, not including cash donations.

The money that is given back to USF goes to the USF Hearing and Speech-Language Clinics.

With the $6,000 it has received from the past two walks, the Hearing Clinic was

In its third year, the Celebrate Sound Walk is just $1,500 short of its

n See WALK on PAGE 5 $10,000 goal. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 6 , 2 0 1 7

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WALK

Continued from PAGE 4

able to put in a hearing loop system that connects with patients’ telecoils in their hearing aids to get better sound clarity.

“That means that anytime they are in that area and turn on their (hearing aid), they’ll be able to hear much better,” Davis said.

The clinics hope to be able to loop more of the facility with the money brought in

BILL

Continued from PAGE 3

officers talk to him in support of the bill. Backing up his statement, Police Chief of Lake City, Argatha Gilmore, spoke at the meeting to express support from the Florida Police Chief Association.

“The current texting laws are almost impossible to enforce as it is,” she said. “The secretary of defense and the general public knows this. Therefore, we continue to see this kind of reckless driving behavior.”

Gilmore believes if this bill passes, it will help to eliminate these “deadly and dangerous” incidents.

According to Renna Reddick, public information officer for University Police, UP did not cite anybody during 2016 under the current law.

One of the concerns raised about the bill is how it can be enforced, and whether it pertains to just texting or expands to include the use of cell phones in general.

“That will be up to the police officer at that point, but it’s really texting. The bill is texting and driving,” Garcia said. “And there’s a whole bunch of things you can be doing on your phone.

You can be looking down at it; you can be going on an app, and so forth. That in itself can be up for interpretation.”

The Transportation committee voted 5-0 to support the bill, which has now moved to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism

from this year’s walk.

The money will also continue to fund the Sertoma Collegiate Club’s projects such as their Trunk-or-Treat Halloween event and smaller projects such as putting jewels and designs on patients’ hearing aids to alleviate the stigma of wearing them.

Registration is still open for the event. Students with a USF ID can walk as an awareness walker for free, or can register at CelebrateSound.Org to donate to the cause.

and Economic Development, according to flsenate.gov.

The bill’s counterpart in the House of Representatives has made it through one reading on the House floor.

The Legislature is also looking at a bill that would change the penalties for texting while driving in a school zone.

According to the Department of Motorized Vehicles, under the current law there’s no points put on an offender’s driver’s license, two points are added to a primary offense such as speeding if it occurs in a school zone and six points are added if the texting resulted in a crash.

This can include a $30 ticket.

If passed, the bill would double the amount of the traffic citation if somebody is found texting while in a posted active school zone or designated school crossing.

“We can note all the studies that we want to and I can bring in other studies that say it really doesn’t help,” Garcia said. “But we’ve all seen it time and time again when we’re on the road and we see people in front of us and we have to beep because they’re looking on their phone, looking on their apps, texting.

And I think all of us are very frustrated.

“How many times have we seen somebody going between lanes because they’re looking at their phone? There’s also a lot of other instances. You can say, ‘Oh, changing the radio or the AC is distracting,’ but there’s nothing more distracting than staring at those phones.”

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OPINION

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

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Progress for equal pay further away than many realize

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T H E O R AC L E

What you said Associate Editor Breanne Williams asked students if they ever speak up when their friends begin texting while driving.

“I usually say something when I know the person is constantly on (the phone) and swerving. I do text and drive, but I’m a safe driver.”

- Dalieen Ramize, a junior majoring in mass communications

On average, women are still making 20 cents less than their male counterparts for each dollar earned.

SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

By Breanne Williams C O L U M N I S T

Equal Pay Day was this week, and women across the nation gathered together to protest the fact that they are still not paid the same wage as a man.

On average, women still make only 80 cents to every dollar a man earns in the same job.

A report by the Institute For Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) found the country wouldn’t close the wage gap until 2059. By analyzing the pay gap from 1959 to 2015, the IWPR was able to predict the year the gap would close if we continue to progress at the same rate.

Florida is projected to be the first state to close the wage gap, and upon first glance, that seems like a fact Floridians can celebrate. However, a second look reveals a more bleak reality.

According to the report, Florida will have equal pay in 2038, a depressing 21 years from now. Those graduating college this year will be in their 40’s by the time they are treated equally in the workforce.

And the state’s “progres-

sive attitude” toward wages is not anything to praise. The reason Florida is estimated to be the first to finally treat women like their male peers is because the state has slowly been decreasing the wages made by men, not because it is valuing women more.

It’s not revolutionary to catch up to a lowered standard.

Elsewhere in the country is an even more dismal truth.

North Dakota, Utah, Louisiana and Wyoming are not predicted to have true equality until the 22nd century.

Wyoming alone isn’t estimated to crack that glass ceiling until 2153. Not only will all of us be dead, our children will be gone as well before all the states are equal in wages.

Granted, part of Wyoming’s issue is the type of jobs prevalent in the state. It has a large portion of men working in energy, extraction and construction jobs, which females traditionally do not flock toward. These industries usually offer exceedingly high wages, but few women are employed, hence the drastic gap between sexes.

However, that stereotype has begun to shift, as more women have taken up “non-

traditional” jobs in the last few decades. If that trend continues, those states may see a faster narrowing of the wage gap.

Some states have recognized the flawed system still plaguing our nation and have made conscious efforts to remedy it.

California and Maryland, who are estimated to be fully equal by 2043, have focused on altering and adopting policies to ensure equal ground in the work force. They have passed multiple paid sick leave and paid medical leave policies, as well as focused on parental leave and maternity leave, which has helped level the playing field.

It’s depressing to say the least, to think we will go the majority, if not the entirety, of our lives without ever having equal pay in this nation.

However, it is imperative we continue to fight for the essential right.

If we won’t be successful in our generation, we must fight to ensure those yet to be born have a chance at true equality.

Breanne Williams is a senior majoring in mass communications.

“Yeah. I usually say, ‘Yo bro, don’t text and drive, that’s not cool.’”

- Michael Trelles, a junior majoring in biomedical sciences

“It’s really hard to say something, but if it’s a good friend, I’ll be like, ‘I can text it for you.’”

- Sachaye Walker, a sophomore majoring in secondary education

“Yeah. You’re putting me and yourself in danger. Not to mention everyone else on the road.”

- Nicholas Gomez, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 6 , 2 0 1 7

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GREGORY

Continued from PAGE 8

road (today).

Q: So far during your short time on the job, has anything stood out or surprised you that you weren’t expecting?

A: I knew this facility was nice, but I didn’t know it was this nice. I mean, it’s off the charts. I think one of the things it does in the recruiting, it clearly shows a commitment to the basketball program, and

WICHITA

Continued from PAGE 8

“I think this is the first time in the last three years we’ve had a team win without an individual winner. That just showed you what a team effort it was, everybody contributed.”

Gregory adds familiar face to staff USF announced the hiring of Tom Herrion on Wednesday, finalizing new coach Brian Gregory’s staff.

Herrion, previously a head coach at Marshall and the College

guys want to guy to a place where the school is committed to their program. Secondly, it puts us on par with our competition.

There are positives and negatives to every school. One of the things that we do in recruiting is we address any negatives and make sure the guys know it because we need guys coming here with both feet in, ready to unpack their bags and fully commit.

Q: You might not be able to get the wins to make postseason play or anything like that, but how do of Charleston was officially hired on Wednesday morning as the Bulls third, and final assistant on staff.

Gregory and Herrion most recently coached together at Georgia Tech from 2014-2016, with Herrion in the same role that he’ll serve at USF. “I’m excited to have a coach of Tom’s caliber and experience join our staff at USF,” Gregory said.

“Tom is a great teacher of the game, motivator, and highly successful recruiter. He also adds a new dimension as someone who has been a successful head coach at the highest level.”

To go along with numerous NIT and NCAA tournament appearanc-

you judge success? What are you looking for to define a successful first year?

A: I think it’s all going to be based on culture. We’ll see if the wins come as we build that, but nothing is more important than establishing how our guys go about living their daily lives as a part of the program.

As a man, as a student and as a player. At the end of the year, if we’ve moved the needle on that in terms of solidifying that, then we’d have to consider the first year a great success.

CROSSWORD

es, Herrion won the NIT last season with Texas Christian University as a special assistant.

USF football kickoff set for season opener The Bulls will begin their 2017 campaign at San Jose State in a primetime matchup.

Slated to start at 7:30 p.m. (ET) Aug. 26, the game will be aired on CBS Sports Network, and will be the Bulls first of three primetime TV appearances in 2017.

Entering the game, the Bulls are currently ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25 Poll, and are riding a five game win streak dating back to last October.

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Sports

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Q&A: Brian Gregory

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

The Rundown Outside USF

Lynch visits Raiders, could return to NFL Retired running back Marshawn Lynch visited the Oakland Raiders today, and could soon be playing in the NFL again. Following Lynch’s meeting with the team, a source told ESPN that a deal “will eventually happen” between Lynch the Raiders and Lynch. The Seahawks still retain the rights to Lynch, and granted permission for today’s visit.

According to Seattle general manager John Schneider, the Seahawks and Raiders have discussed the situation and that Lynch, 30, would only play for Oakland if he were to return from retirement.

S P O R T S

T H E O R AC L E

Newly hired USF men’s basketball coach Brian Gregory faces a tall task in reconstructing a program that hasn’t had a winning season in five years. The Oracle’s sports editor, Vinnie Portell, recently sat down with Gregory for an exclusive interview to find out his plans for the offseason and creating a new culture at USF. Q: How do you motivate these guys after a season like this, especially with them having a long time until they play again?

Women’s Soccer

A: I did learn that it does take some time. I also learned it takes a little longer when you add Notre Dame, Syracuse, Louisville and Pittsburgh into the league. But I learned that the process is smoother if everyone around the program is

Notebook

Report: Wichita State likely to join AAC

By Josh Fiallo A S S T .

E D I T O R

Q: When you went to Georgia Tech, it wasn’t too dissimilar from this situation and they turned into a winning program, but it took longer than you probably would have liked. What did you learn from there that maybe you didn’t realize at first that you can use here in rebuilding USF?

Stetson @ USF When: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Corbett Soccer Stadium

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By Vinnie Portell

Baseball

UCF (23-7, 2-1) @ USF (24-5, 1-2) When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: USF Baseball Stadium

T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 6 , 2 0 1 7

Newly hired men’s basketball coach speaks on his plans for the future of the program

A: It is important that our guys understand that because of the situation in the past and the lack of success, they need to take some ownership of that as well and have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder that they’re going to be part of the change. They need to take great pride in that because that’s the legacy they’re going to leave here.

Weekend sports schedule

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Coach Brian Gregory has stressed that rebuilding the program hinges on his ability to revive local recruiting. ORACLE PHOTO/JACKIE BENITEZ aligned with what you’re doing as well and you have the support in every single area. I think that’s one of the things that really has me excited about South Florida, is there is a strong commitment to changing where we’re at right now.

Q: How important to you was it to get six years locked up, just knowing that you’re afforded the time to rebuild and you’re not forced to try to win right away?

A: Obviously I’ve been very blessed with the contract. The most important thing it does is I can sit in people’s houses and talk to parents and tell them that there’s a longterm commitment here to doing things the right way. It has a huge impact in recruiting, that’s where it has an impact. And it has an impact with then players, because they know the school is willing to make the necessary changes to take us to a different level.

Q: What kind of style do you want to bring or possibly change here?

A: Offensively we do play on a faster pace, we push the ball on makes and misses. You have to adjust to your personnel as well.

We want to be efficient offensively though, you can play fast while not being efficient and that doesn’t

really do you any good. But we do give our guys offensive freedom to make plays and utilize their versatility in different things.

Q: You’ve mentioned that this program has everything in place, do you have any idea why USF hasn’t been able to sustain success? What are they missing?

A: The one thing is some of that stuff has just occurred over the last three or four years. I think some of the sell of the facilities and so forth wasn’t previously there. There was a change in leagues, all those things. People don’t understand how impactful some of those things are. There was a coaching change and four high-quality players left during that. You look at that, and that’s going to have a negative impact on the program.

Q: What are your plans for recruiting this offseason, have you started laying the groundwork?

A: It’s a dead period right now so we can’t be on the road, but I’ve been on the road already stopping by local area high schools, just meeting the coaches, not even worried about if they have any players. I’m starting to build those relationships and we’re out on the

n See GREGORY on PAGE 7

S P O R T S

E D I T O R

Wichita State and the AAC are in serious talks about the Shockers joining the conference, beginning in the fall of 2017.

The Shockers would join the conference in all sports except for football, leaving the Missouri Valley Conference entirely.

The AAC presidents have the final vote on whether Wichita State is admitted, and will make their decision by the end of the weekend.

A source told Sports Illustrated that it’s extremely likely that the Shockers will be admitted.

The Shockers basketball program is one of the most consistent in that nation, making an NCAA tournament appearance the past five seasons, producing a 31-5 record last year.

USF men’s golf captures Old Waverly title

The Bulls captured their first tournament win of the season in dominating fashion.

In a field of 80 golfers, all five Bulls who participated in the event finished in the top-20, leading USF to victory at the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship on Tuesday in West Point, Mississippi.

The Bulls finished six strokes ahead of the next finisher, Lipscomb University, and were able to secure the win despite having no individuals finish in the top three.

“It was a complete team effort today; everybody was in it. It was really the first time this year we’ve had that go on,” coach Steve Bradley told GoUSFBulls.com.

n See WICHITA on PAGE 7