Spring break

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Table of Contents Spring break budget tips ........................................ page 4 Netflix to survive the break ................................... page 9 On-campus break tips ........................................... page 12 Movies to fill March .............................................. page 14 In-state vacation to-do’s ...................................... page 16

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Budgeting for the break

By Miki Shine C O - N E W S

E D I T O R

With spring break rapidly approaching, talks about plans are flying across campus.

However, college students’ minds are always on their wallets. Having fun while keeping an eye on your finances can prove difficult, but here are some suggestions to help ensure you have an exciting spring break without breaking the bank.

Bring your student ID A fair number of museums, restaurants, parks and attractions offer student discounts since they recognize that students are always on a budget.

While the amount may vary, any kind of discount helps.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Amtrak offers 10 percent off select tickets for students, making it easier and cheaper to travel farther distances.

Road Trip with friends While a plane ticket can cost around $250 this close to the break, the price of gas doesn’t inflate because of it. Although it may be expensive, splitting the cost with two or three

friends, traveling suddenly becomes far more affordable.

Beyond gas, traveling with friends also means cheaper hotel room. The average price for a hotel room is $137 per night, according to hotels.com.

However, by traveling with friends, that price gets cut down.

For example, a room at $137 for two nights with four people becomes $68.50 each.

Don’t be afraid to shop around to look for lower rates.

Pack everything By double and triple checking that you didn’t forget anything, you can cut down on needless spending. While sunscreen may be about the same price no matter where you are, buying it beforehand can guarantee the best price.

Plus, the worse thing one can do is buy it beforehand and then forget it at home. At that point, he or she is paying double for something simple.

In addition, some of the more tourist-driven destinations jack up prices for the basics — the most common things that people forget because they’re necessities and people will buy them.

Ensuring that you have them before you get there means spending less money and you

won’t waste the time looking for a replacement.

Don’t forget day trips By staying local and focusing on destinations you can get to and from in one day, you’d severely cut down on costs. That means less gas used but also allows you to skip the hotel cost which are the two of the biggest costs of traveling. On top of that, each day can become a new kind of adventure.

Go camping On average, after the price of equipment, primitive camping costs about $5-10 a night.

However, for many, this can prove daunting as that means there will be no access to indoor plumbing.

Tent camping, on the other hand, can be a tad more expensive. For instance, it’s about $25 per night at Blue Springs State Park near Daytona. If you’re willing to dish out a some extra bucks, they also offer cabins, which range from $25-95 per night.

Many state parks offer swimming, hiking, canoeing and fishing, so there’s plenty to do out in the wilderness.

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Netflix and chill to last you through the break

By Adam Mathieu M A N A G I N G

E D I T O R

For those who cannot afford to travel during spring break or will be abandoned by their friends, it’s time to create a dent in the couch and catch up on some new shows or seasons.

“Love” (Netflix) The new Netflix original is helmed by Judd Apatow, of “40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up” fame. Carrying on Apatow’s formula of boy meets girl, “Love” manages to be fleshed out more than his films as he has more time to build character arcs.

“Love” simultaneously follows Gus (Paul Rust) and Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) as they depart relationships on sour terms and enter the single life in a haze of depression, selfloathing and substance abuse.

Remaining spoiler-free, the show accurately portrays modern crushes, as one epi-

sode shows Gus constantly checking his phone for a text from Mickey and him repeatedly writing out a text, only to delete his draft as he overanalyzes his composition.

While the show dishes out humor with no problems, the realistic back-and-forth between Gus and Mickey is the real hook, as they dance around one another through text, mixed messages and narcissism.

The show premiered in late February and is well worth adding to your Netflix “my list” folder, especially for the single folks and Apatow fanatics.

“Daredevil” Season 2 (Netflix) Coming out at the tail end of spring break, fans will have plenty of time to flip through all 13 episodes of the blind superhero’s ventures in Hell’s Kitchen.

With the first season garnering critical and fan praise, the second season builds on

Matt Murdock’s (Charlie Cox) vigilante persona, Daredevil, as he encounters comicbook classics Punisher (Jon Berthnal) and Elektra (Elodie Yung).

While the first season followed an inexperienced Daredevil running around in black tights, this time around viewers will see a seasoned hero decked out in his crimson armor and horns as he tackles the Yakuza who are threatening his city.

The show is one of the darker incarnations of Marvel characters, as the streaming format allows more freedom and adult content than the typical family-oriented Marvel film.

This season is looking to be more packed than the before, as Netflix’s Marvel Universe expands ever closer to a collaboration. All 13 episodes will be available on Netflix on March 18.

“House of Cards” Season 4 (Netflix) Returning for a fourth sea-

son, the tumultuous political drama will unload all episodes of the Netflix original in early March. Since “House of Cards” premiered as the first Netflix original series, it has become a staple in the streaming service and commands respect with an all-star cast.

Kevin Spacey plays President Frank Underwood alongside Robin Wright, First Lady Claire Underwood.

The show takes place in a very grim Washington, D.C., where dirty tactics are often employed to get ahead in the political machine.

In the previous three seasons, viewers have watched as President Underwood destroyed the lives of others as he rose to his position in the Oval Office. Executive produced and occasionally directed by David Fincher (“The Social Network,” “Gone Girl”), the show is not afraid to go dark as it portrays political rivalries and the means to which some will go to protect their positions of power.

The series is often met

with critical acclaim and has received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as lead acting nominations for both Spacey and Wright in all three previous seasons.

“11.22.63” (Hulu)

The adaption from Steven King’s successful 2011 novel “11/22/63,” the Hulu Original has turned the time-travelling sci-fi story revolving around JFK’s assassination into a miniseries. The premise of the story is that Jake Epping (James Franco) finds a gateway to travel to Sept. 9, 1958 at 11:58 a.m., precisely.

Epping decides to use this portal to camp out in the past and try to prevent JFK from being assassinated, meaning that he must sacrifice five years of his life to the cause and be sure not to make a mistake or alter the future in a negative manner.

The show is executive

n See NETFLIX on PAGE 12

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Campus stay-cation

By Abby Rinaldi C O - N E W S

E D I T O R

For those stuck on campus for spring break, fun most likely seems hard to come by.

However, having a good time is not out of the picture. Here are some options for those who will have the whole campus (almost) entirely to themselves.

Explore the places you’ve never been to before Rent a bike, as the fight for them won’t be so fierce anymore, or walk around the vast expanse of campus. USF has tons of green space and even more nooks and crannies just waiting to be discovered.

Have you never gone to the medical complex on campus?

Have you never set foot in the Interdisciplinary Sciences building? Go on your own little adventure and discover all of the lovely spaces on campus you haven’t yet experienced.

In the process, you might find new shortcuts to classes you’d never dreamed of.

Claim the gym Some students avoid going to the gym because they don’t want to run into any beefheads. The campus recreation

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produced by J.J. Abrams (“Lost,” “Star Wars The Force Awakens”), as well as the author and master of horror himself, Steven King. For those with a Hulu subscriptions, by the time spring break rolls around viewers will be able to stream six of the eight episodes of “11.22.63”.

“Louie” Season 5 (Amazon Prime) The latest season of the sardonic show, which follows a fictional Louis C.K., “Louie” has been a critical hit from the beginning due to its unique blend of dark humor and serious issues such as depression.

center (as with most other places on campus) will be almost empty, so Spring Break can be the perfect time to dedicate yourself to getting in shape while maintaining a comfortable two-machine distance between you and the next person. If you’re not into exercise machines, there are sure to be lanes open at the pool.

Relax at Castor Beach

Castor Beach is the perfect, on-campus alternative to Siesta Key, as long as you weren’t hoping to swim. Complete with sand, hammocks and umbrellas large enough to shield you and a few friends from the Florida sun, it’s all the fun of relaxing in direct sunlight without any of the craziness of typical Spring Break beach spots.

Enjoy the silence of a nearly-empty pod

Take a moment or two to enjoy taking over the common area in your dorm without noise complaints from those people down the hall. There is also the joy of silence, if you are like those people down the hall. Feel free to live it up without having to deal with as many angry neighbors.

C.K. has won two Emmy awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for his work on the show, which he writes, directs, edits and stars in. True to C.K.’s own life, the show follows Louie, a divorced stand-up comedian who often struggles to raise his two daughters and re-enter the dating world as a grown man who lacks self-confidence.

While on paper it appears heavy in subject matter, the show is littered with humor and occasionally explores surreal or absurd moments extracted from everyday life.

All five seasons are available now on Netflix and Amazon Prime, making spring break a perfect time to either binge the series or simply catch up with Louie.

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March movie madness

By Jasmin Faisal L I F E S T Y L E

E D I T O R

Who doesn’t love going to the theater, eating popcorn and enjoying a movie? With Spring Break fast approaching, there will be more time to go see the latest blockbuster movies either with your friends, or solo. So, whether you’re traveling abroad to get home, hopping over a few states or staying in Tampa, here are four of the new movies to see this March.

Allegiant The end of the epic Divergent trilogy has fans wondering what else to expect. The citizens of a dystopian city, have lived their lives separated into different factions based on a series of tests that determine their dominant personality traits.

In the second movie, the audience learns the citizens of Chicago were a social experiment intended to create the perfect human: a Divergent.

Beatrice “Tris” Prior (Shailene Woodley), the films’ protagonist, is one such individual.

The citizens are invited to rejoin the rest of the world, unaware of what lies beyond their walls.

It is up to Tris, with her friends in the Dauntless faction and love interest Tobias “Four” Eaton (Theo James), to leave the only home they’ve ever known to discover what’s beyond the walls and face a war that threatens both the outside world and their own city.

Coming to theaters March 18, Allegiant promises not to disappoint fans of this sci-fi series.

Midnight Special Roy’s (Michael Shannon) son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher), is a boy with an amazing ability. But, not everyone understands and appreciates Alton’s unique abilities, and this lack of understanding triggers fear in people. Soon, citizens take arms against Alton and Roy will do anything to protect him.

On the run from a government task force and a religious cult, Roy, friend Lucas (Joel Edgerton) and ex-wife Sarah

(Kristen Dunst), race to get Alton to safety, no matter what the cost. But could Alton’s powers bring about a change the likes of which the world has never seen before?

A sci-fi movie that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, Midnight Special also comes to theaters March 18.

10 Cloverfield Lane

After a car crash, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up in an underground bunker with no knowledge of how she got there. She meets Emmet (John Gallagher, Jr.), another outsider, and Howard Stambler (John Goodman), the man who seems to be in charger.

He tells Michelle that he saved her life and that she can can’t leave, telling her that world has come to an end. But Michelle is still determined to escape the bunker and Stambler, unaware of the dangers of the outside world.

Audiences will be able to find out what happens to Michelle when the movie hits the big screen March 11.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

For fans of the original big fat Mediterranean wedding, this long awaited sequel follows Toula Portokalos-Miller (Nia Vardalos) as she deals with her daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris), applying for distant colleges, her declining love life with her husband, Ian Miller (John Corbett), and her huge, extremely loud family.

In the film, the audience discovers that Portokalos’s mother, Maria (Lainie Kazan), and father, Kostas (Michael Constantine), were never officially married and it’s time to throw another big, fat Greek wedding.

Enjoy yourself and learn just how important family is during this feel-good film, which will be on the big screen March 25.

Other movies to debut include Batman V Superman (March 25), The Brother’s Grimsby (March 11), Miracles from Heaven (March 16) and Identicals (March 25). So make sure to buy your tickets and popcorn this break, and get ready for an array of movies you’re sure to enjoy.

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In-state Spring Break

By Breanne Williams O P I N I O N

E D I T O R

Spring break in Florida is unlike anywhere else in the country. The warm weather and many tourist attractions make it the place to be on your break from college. However, if you didn’t grow up here you may be unsure of how best to utilize your week of freedom.

Florida is known for it’s sandy coastlines and if you’re looking for a cheap, relaxing break then there is no better option than taking a brief journey to a gorgeous beach.

St. Petersburg is one of the best locations to go to during spring break due to places like Clearwater and Daytona being packed with fellow college and high school students. If you enjoy crawling over hundreds of sunburned bodies toward the one open scrap of sand in a miles radius, by all means head to one of the tourist locations.

Sticking to St. Petersburg or Sarasota will hopefully alleviate some of those crowds and will also offer much better refreshments. Nothing beats fresh seafood from a local restaurant on the water. Plus, if you get tired of baking in the sun, the Dali Museum is just minutes away in St. Pete where you can see amazing art for free with your student id.

If you’re looking for something more unique, there are several sites in Florida perfect for an adventurous excursion.

Devil’s Den is a pre-historic underground spring that is available for snorkeling or scuba diving. This spring is found within a cave in central Florida and is frequented by locals looking for a daring outing.

Crystal River offers manatee tours for an affordable price. You can snorkel for two hours in the springs with the majestic creatures and not

have to worry about any gear as most of the tours supply it for you.

One of the most obvious choices for a memorable spring break in Florida is to spend a few days at one of the major amusement parks in the area. Universal has Harry Potter world and offers deals for those wanting to spend more than one day in the park.

You can go explore Gringotts, drink butterbeer and then walk across the street and go on an adventure with some Transformers.

For those who enjoy days full of magic, Disney World is undoubtedly the best option for an enchanted spring break.

Disney also offers discounts for multi-day passes and has unique experiences you won’t find anywhere else in the world. You can dine with Belle and her Beast, travel to a galaxy far far away, take a safari and even travel to space.

Who wouldn’t want to spend a week meeting princesses and dropping down the Tower of Terror? For those who naively believe Disney is only for children, Epcot is often frequented by adults who “Drink Around the World.”

You can have a glass of wine in Italy, a beer in Germany and margaritas in Mexico. And luckily for USF, our spring break falls in the middle of Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival. This means there are gorgeous topiary displays, outdoor kitchens and amazing concerts all day long at the park.

No matter how you choose to spend your break, relaxing in Florida definitely beats whatever your friends at the University of Idaho are up to on their week off. Go enjoy the beach or spend the week at the “Happiest Place on Earth,” and make memories that will last for the rest of your life.

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