the current vol 25 issue 7

Vol. XXVIII February 4, 2011 St. Petersburg, Florida Issue 7

Do you have a fake ID?

Underage alternative risky for students

News & Features — Page 2

Harry Potter Generation

We’ve got the books, the movies and a

themepark

Entertainment — 6

“Skins”

MTV’s latest disaster

Viewpoints — Page 7

photo by Carl Juste/Miami Herald

BY LIZZY BROPHY

Contributing Writer

With clammy hands and a rapid heartbeat, you join the line of people waiting outside the bar. You scan the information on your fake ID. Trying to appear cool, you chat with your friends a little and fake a laugh. Suddenly, the person in front of you leaves and

face with the bouncer. Trying not to shake, you hold out your hand and give him your ID. You take a hard swallow. He looks at you intently, then down at the card. Locating the birthday and picture, he looks up at you again to compare.

dry your mouth has become. He glances back at the card. He hands you the ID and gestures you onward. With disbelief, you walk in the

Many Eckerd students share this experience. St. Petersburg is where they use

to an online survey, about 60 percent of Eckerd students have used a fake ID.

The reasons for having fake IDs vary.

access to bars, half of survey responders use fake IDs to purchase alcohol at stores.

“When I became of legal drinking age, a lot of students began asking me to purchase alcohol for them to drink with friends,” says Senior Drew O’Rourke.

can be both inconvenient and costly. Many students will charge a fee for the purchase of alcohol to younger kids. Fake IDs eliminate the need for this exchange.

Fake IDs seem to be prevalent at Eckerd because of a lack of on-campus activities.

“The house party scene at Eckerd is pretty nonexistent,” says Sophomore Liz Hackett. “If students want to branch out from their usual group of friends, they’ve got to go to the bars because that’s where the social scene occurs.”

other colleges and universities, especially large state schools, have established

makes the party scene more developed then it is here at Eckerd,” he explains.

Underage students can get their fake IDs through different means. Many students get their alter-ego IDs from illicit manufacturers, paying upwards of $100. Other students choose to use real IDs from friends or family that have a similar appearance.

remember feeling like I was actually 21

the ID, my friends and I began to use them at bars and concerts to get drinks.”

Many students think that using an ID in St. Petersburg is easier than in other places. “I believe the high crime rate in St. Petersburg leads cops to ignore the underage kids drinking because they have far greater

problems to deal with than a 20-year-old girl drinking at a

He also added, “The police know that a lot of the business of the local establishments is driven by those under 21. If they were to strip places of this business, it would be devastating to the local economy which is already fragile.” One bar frequented

by Eckerd students is the Sloppy Pelican.

Bartender EJ Matthews says that he sees a

fake IDs that once belonged to other people,” he says. He typically does not involve the police when he catches someone underage. “I will take their ID and ask them to leave,” he explains. Matthews also adds that he has never seen anyone arrested from fake ID use.

However, as rare as it is, the police can get

a misdemeanor. “The law would allow up to 364 days in county jail,” he says.

rarely prosecuted to this extent. However, the consequences can depend on other factors, such as past criminal records.

Depending on the circumstances, the offender would probably be given a notice to

or a weekend in county jail. “The judges have a number of different options,” he said.

Students seem to be unaware of this possibility. “I haven’t met anyone who’s had any problems using a fake ID before,” says Hacket. “It doesn’t seem like a big deal. In the worst case scenario, the bouncer might take your ID away.”

news & features

Executive Board

Editor-in-ChiefPetra Stevenson

News EditorLaurel Ormiston

[email protected]

Asst. News EditorAshley Daniels

Entertainment EditorJeralyn Darling

[email protected]

Asst. Entertainment EditorShelby Howell

Viewpoints EditorJaclyn New

[email protected]

Asst. viewpoints EditorLiz Tomaselli

Sports EditorWill Creager

[email protected]

Asst. Sports EditorLincoln Andres-Beck

Web EditorMax Martinez

Web MasterShawn Craine

Faculty AdviserTracy Crow

Director of AdvertisingAbby Gestl

[email protected]

Director of FinancesBeth Robison

Staff Writers

Sarah MalhotraEmma Lord

Rachael Sevier

Photographers & Illustrators

Michael SpechtTonya Gabriel

Brianna DickinsonEthan Cooper

Contributing Writers

Patrick FallonAaron CoderAnna Gobeil

Mikhail TurnerSean Lawlor

Ali ClinesBrillianna D’Angelo

Ethan Horbitc

• February 4, 2011 •• Vol. XXVIII Iss. 7 •

2 Friday, February 4, 2011

Police Blotter

felony possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture and deliver; one felony charge of possession of controlled substances, Clonazepam and a misdemeanor charge; and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s report. Duerr was released Jan. 8 on a surety bond.

Fake IDs common at Eckerd

Police Blotter

with two felony possessions of controlled substances, cocaine and clonazepam, and two misdemeanor charges, possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s report. Chitester was released Jan. 8 on a surety bond.

Would you risk 364 days behind bars for a few hours on a bar stool?

photo courtesy of TheIDShop.com Fake IDs are available online.

Friday, February 4, 2011 3

news & features

H A I T It h e y e a r i n r e v i e w

BY ASHLEY DANIELS

Asst. News Editor

For Haiti, the poorest and least developed country in the Western Hemisphere, 2010 was not a year any Haitian would want to relive. January 2010 began with a devastating earth-quake, followed by a cholera outbreak just six months later and ended with political crisis.

The earthquake left the country and the densely populated capital, Port-au-Prince, in ruins. The quake took the lives of more than 200,000 Haitians and cost the country be-tween $8 and $14 billion, accord-

-can Development Bank. The worst earthquake in more than 200 years displaced more than 1.3 million Hai-tians into more than 1,300 tent cit-ies. Life in these tent cities is now considered normal, given that only 200 camps have closed down since the earthquake.

-ence, international donors promised Haiti $5.3 billion to help with the re-construction. But Haiti is still waiting for the reconstruction to begin. Then, just as the country was starting to get back on its feet, cholera struck.

It was suspected that Nepalese peacekeepers inadvertantly intro-duced the disease to the country. So far, the epidemic has killed more than 3,000 Haitians and infected more than 400,000. In a video by

-gram manager for Partners in Health said, “Cholera is a completely treat-able disease. What makes it so dev-astating for Haiti is the lack of water

and sanitation systems.” The only hope Haiti had left for the

year was for a successful election of a new president. What they got was a

-zation, voter intimidation and fraud. Twelve of the 18 presidential candi-dates called for the election to be can-celed, but President Rene Preval had them continue as planned. On Dec.

successor and Mirlande Manigatt,

round of voting. Michel Martelly, a singer and political newcomer, came in third.

-

that the election had been fraudulent

second ahead of Celestin. On Jan. 16, Haiti was scheduled for run-off election. However, international al-lies stated they would not recognize a run-off not conducted according to

run-off was held. The issue then arises: what will

Haiti fall in political limbo? “This is an earthquake of an

election,”said Leslie Voltaire, Haitian presidential candidate in a New York Times article. “This will divide the country, not unite it.”

The New York Times, a Haitian elec--

low the three candidates to compete in the runoff as a proposal to end the stalemate. The second run-off will take place March 20.

photo by Carl Juste/Miami Herald Man calling attention to a survivor trapped under ruins in Haiti after the Jan. 12, 2010 earth-quake.

UN panel places priority on rebuilding Haitian education BY LIZ TOMASELLI

Asst. Viewpoints Editor

Leaders gathered for a panel discussion

opportunities of Haiti’s children since the earthquake a year ago. Held in the Economic and Social Council chamber at the United Nations, the panel included Carolyn Miles of Save the Children U.S., Rodger Yates of Plan International, Corina Villacorta of World Vision International and two students from Haiti.

The panel’s priority was to address the state of security, health and development of the children of Haiti.

Sexual violence was one of the most pressing topics on the agenda, as recent reports have speculated about the issue

escalating in Haiti. “There is a tradition of violence against women and children there,” says Miles. The panel emphasized the use of schools and clubs as safe havens for children. Yates pointed to the lack of registered people in Haiti as a cause for increased violence. He suggests, “Once people have proper registration you can create protective services around them.”

Speaking through a French translator, two female students from Haiti spoke as

of the earthquake and have witnessed the

eloquently requesting a moment of silence to honor the lives that were lost, the students shared their views on the current state of Haiti and how they hope to change its future.

The unfortunate status of the education

system in Haiti, mainly the secondary education system, is due in part to the fact that all of the universities were centered

most of the universities collapsed. Most cannot afford the private universities and state universities require an admission test and accept few applicants.

Recognizing this issue, many organizations have begun to make school building a priority. However, no recovery or rebuilding effort would have any chance of being effective without strong support from the government. Unfortunately, Miles claims they are unsure of how much a priority this will be for the new government and concludes that their “focus is now on primary education.”

Senior leaders on the panel agreed that education is one of the most pressing issues

in Haiti. Save the Children estimates that only 50 percent of children in Haiti were enrolled in school prior to the earthquake, and those numbers have only decreased. Miles recognizes Haiti’s large private school system and small public school system as one of the greatest obstacles to overcome. One Haitian student comments that because of the current partiality in the system, “they learn only what they can pay for.”

In their closing remarks, the Haitian students called for the children of Haiti to enjoy a healthy, full development, including adding schools in the Haitian provinces, educating parents and respecting the rights of children. “Our voices have to be heard,” said one student, “We request our place in the reconstruction of Haiti because we, the young people, are the future.”

news & features


BY PATRICK FALLON

Contributing Writer

Carl Juste – photojournalist for The Miami Herald and co-founder of the Iris PhotoCollective – recently visited to speak to students about Haiti and his mission as a reporter.

The lecture gave students a chance to experience Juste’s

to sit up front in what he assured were the good expensive seats. Once everyone was settled, the presentation began.

of what that is. “Take news and give it a human face.” Juste was born in 1963 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His father

had been unjustly accused of murder only a few years earlier and wanted a safer environment. So in 1965, his family moved to the United States. Twenty-four years, a scholarship to Miami, and a photo minor later, he began working as a

teaches journalism here, says, “Those with the best work

jobs in this industry. The cream always rises to the top.”Juste earned his job working under a rigorous work ethic:

hard work is not cheap and cheap work is not good. “My Dad

looks of what was shown – a number of slideshows and videos some being Pulitzer nominated material – all that hard work

culturally, but still at heart part of the collective memory Haiti left him with.

his trips was Sacred Rubble: a picture of the now decimated Sacre Couer church where his mother was married. Between buildings collapsed under the earthquake, a woman paralyzed by the pain of

up with casualties as people gather to pay respects; his work shows no lack of atrocities. But Juste contests that “even in the worst situation

that be from two boys playing in a refugee camp or a single smile.

Juste’s work has been praised for everything from subject matter to his tact as a photographer. Crow said, “His work contains an undeniable blend of composition and light, and he has this uncanny instinct about where he, the photographer, should be physically to best capture the storytelling angle within each image.” But what sets him apart is his message: one

of humanity and equality. People often approach a

conversation about Haiti by noting the people’s resilience, but Juste has one thing to say to that: Haitians are not

it is the mission of his group, The Iris PhotoCollective, to represent fairly the humanity in all situations. Three of the collective’s members, Juste,

Williams are former students of Poynter Institute’s Kenny Irby, and his principles of fair reporting make themselves well known in their work.

only how you lose but how you handle wins,” says Juste. “If you believe in something strong enough you can actually shape the world. I surrender to my belief that it is important to be accurate and as fair and balanced as possible.”

BY MIKHAIL TURNER

Contributing Writer

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 disaster struck in the Caribbean.

a seven on the Richter scale hit Haiti, a country of about 10

people died, over 180,000 homes were damaged along with major landmarks such as the National

Cathedral. Now, almost a year later, the effects are still being felt for those in the country and their relatives abroad.

Recent Eckerd graduate Valdine Henrius is of Haitian descent and her family was greatly affected by this disaster. Henrius lived in Haiti when she was younger and visited frequently once she moved to Brooklyn. In this interview Valdine discusses her history with Haiti, how her family is doing now, and Haiti’s future.

Did your family have any damage to their property? Did they lose a lot due to the earthquake?

Yes. The house that I lived in Port-au-Prince, and frequently visited when I would travel back and forth, was completely destroyed. Some, but not all, of members of my family lost their homes as well. My uncle in particular, who is a medical doctor,

Was any of your family injured or otherwise harmed?

I lost members on both sides of my family due to the earthquake. Most of the family I lost was young children and some infants. They were mostly cousins but I also lost many

distant relatives as well. I mostly lost people from my father’s side of the family because my father was born in La Tibonite and raised in Port-au-Prince and, therefore, I had family members from both areas who were either severely injured or passed away. My mother was born in Jeremie. I lost less people from her side of the family but the people I did lose were distant relatives. Furthermore, the members of my family who survived the earthquake are still suffering from emotional shock which is something my entire family is now dealing with in addition to everything else.

How pleased were you with the immediate worldwide response to this disaster?

I was completely surprised by the worldwide response to

of this magnitude in Haiti in many, many years, Haiti has been hit with natural disasters before that have been covered

how much people really cared and were so willing to open their hearts and render services and donations to help the cause. Some of my professors and friends were also especially sympathetic, which is something that I really appreciated.

How do you feel now almost a year later?

perception of the country and its people may not have completely dissipated, I feel that society has become a lot more sensitive and aware of the suffering of people in Haiti and other third world nations that are desperate for help.

Do you think that Haiti has been forgotten a little

This is an interesting question. I feel that Haiti was a

as this disaster was, natural disasters occur all the time and I honestly do not expect people to keep Haiti on their minds and in the limelight forever. My family will never forget, but those who were not personally affected might and I do not expect

any different. It’s an unrealistic expectation, in my opinionWhat has your family had to do to relocate? Have

they been helped at all by the funds promised by various nations, or the work of volunteers?

I am not sure if my family has personally been helped by any donations outside of the ones my parents and other relatives who now live in the States have given, but I could be mistaken. I am also unsure if volunteers have helped my family. My parents have not informed me of any relocation plans for all of our surviving family members, but I do know that my older cousins and one of my aunts have a small house in the Dominican Republic and have been staying there since last year.

Do you think that Haiti will fully recover from this disaster and why or why not?

I am not sure if Haiti will recover fully from this disaster, but if they do, it will not be for an extremely long time. I believe that this has mostly to do with the political issues that the country has been plagued with for the past several years. In my opinion, the effects of natural disasters and other debilitating issues that can occur within a nation cannot be fully remedied when the nation’s government is not sound.

As an alumna, is there anything you would like to see Eckerd do help?

I am proud to see the level of compassion the Eckerd community has shown for this and other pressing global issues. I would love to see a facilitation of a mission trip or community service trip to Haiti, rendering services to help remedy some of the environmental ruin that has occurred or helping build homes or shelters or anything else of that sort.

Does your future involve Haiti at all? I’ve contemplated becoming an immigration attorney

and using my bilingual ability to serve a mostly Haitian clientele. I’ve considered working for the Haitian embassy, or something to that nature. On a smaller scale, I would like to sponsor Haitian children in the future. I also would like to open a soup kitchen in my mother’s hometown someday.

Eckerd alumna opens up on her family’s life in Haiti before and after the quake

Miami Herald photojournalist speaks to Eckerd students on Haiti

courtesy of Valdine HenriusEckerd alumna Valdine Henrius.

photo by Carl Juste/Miami HeraldHaitian mourners outside a church.

news & features


BY AARON CODER

Contributing Writer

When Julie King and her husband Tom Dooley thought about adopting, they researched orphanages in Haiti, knowing the need for adoptive parents there was great.

In 2008, after viewing photographs of orphans in Port-au-Prince, the couple made

Chantal orphanage to meet Lise, an 8-year-old girl from Port-Salut who had been surrendered by her poverty-stricken parents.

“We met her and realized how beautiful she really is,” King says. During the visit, they also met 6-year-old Evans, an orphaned boy from Port-au-Prince.

“We really wanted only one child, but we met Evans and couldn’t think of good reason not to adopt him, too,” King says.

Haiti’s proximity to the U.S. allowed the couple to visit often while waiting for the adoptions to go through. They spent several weekends with the children at a hotel across the street from the orphanage, building emotional bridges across cultural divides, including a language barrier. Neither of the children spoke any English, and the couple struggled to learn Creole on their own.

and Dooley spent Christmas Eve snowed-in at the airport in Dallas. King recalls how the young girl emerged from the car on Christmas Day and ran to her with open arms.

“I remember thinking how glad I was that I had gone there so many times, that she already knew who I was,” King says.

King describes Lise’s adoption as “seamless,” but admits she was surprised by some of the obstacles the family had to overcome once they had brought the child home.

Despite their familiarity, King says

daughter’s trust, a common challenge for parents who adopt older children. She says Lise would often open up to total strangers while remaining aloof at home.

“That was hard for me,” King says. “She held me at arms length because she couldn’t trust that I was really going to keep her.”

hardships she left behind. She cried herself to sleep and found comfort in watching videotapes of her friends back at the orphanage.

King was surprised to discover that Lise was afraid of the couple’s four small dogs. She learned that in the poorest parts of Haiti dogs are often seen as competitors for food, only to be chased away like pests.

It was clear early on that Lise’s exposure to

During a visit to the mall, King says, Lise became overwhelmed by all the stimulation.

“She just completely shut down,”

King says. “I was suddenly able to see all that through her eyes.”

King says Lise opened up a lot more after Evans’s arrival. But that arrival almost never happened.

Evans was one of the lucky ones; he escaped injury. But the 2010 Haitian earthquake paralyzed much of the nation’s infrastructure and brought already lengthy legal processes like adoption to a near-standstill.

Before the earthquake, at least 50,000 orphans lived in Haiti. Some sources claim that number grew to 300,000 after the earthquake; others say it’s more than a million.

family and told them to remain “on alert” for news of Evans’s status. They applied for an emergency visa for Evans, and Dooley took off for Miami. It was the weekend of Superbowl XLIV, and the hotels in the area were booked. Dooley stayed at the airport in Miami for

under a humanitarian parole status from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.

With Evans safe at home, the family was ready to resume building the connections that started during those weekend visits to Haiti. The children were eager to attend school

classmates. Within months, King says, both

“They really wanted to learn

But King knew maintaining connections to Haitian culture would be essential to the children’s adjustment. Through a Haitian-born journalist, King was able to connect the

children with a small local Haitian community. “They’ve become really good friends with

one Haitian woman in particular who’s

King says. “She’s pretty much Lise’s auntie.” King says those kinds of connections

have helped her stay aware of cultural idioms she might have overlooked.

“ W h e n Lise got here, all the Haitians told me we had to have her hair done.” King says.

had her on the weekends we just left her hair natural. So I immediately had

King says the children like to stay informed about what goes on in Haiti these days. Like most children their age, however, they show little interest in politics or elections, but news reports of violence and cholera outbreaks bring questions about old friends and relatives on the island.

“Lise’s biggest fear was that her family had been killed in the earthquake,” King says. “She was sure their house must have fallen down. It was ramshackle to begin with.” King reminds Lise that the earthquake didn’t strike where her family live.

“They constantly ask, ‘is so-and-so dead?’” King says. “Speaking of death seems almost matter-of-fact for both of them.”

In fact, much of what the children knew in

Haiti is gone. Part of the orphanage collapsed in the earthquake, and the hotel where the family stayed together during weekend visits was destroyed. Evans’s last few nights in Haiti were spent sleeping outdoors.

King says she hopes to take the children back to visit once the situation in Haiti has stabilized.

In the meantime, the family plans to focus on building their bonds. Long weekend hikes with the dogs allow them to spend time together without feeling pressured to talk the entire time. The

approach seems to be working.Evans, now 9, is at the head of his class in

math and recently went four rounds in a spelling bee. King says he’s interested in landscaping

That’s not to say he isn’t tough, though. “They had to get about six shots in each

leg because they couldn’t go to school until they were up-to-date on their shots. He didn’t move a muscle,” King says, adding, “I’ve only seen him cry twice.”

Lise, now 11, demonstrates a resilience and determination that seems to echo that of the Haitian people as a whole. King says Lise struggles with math and will soon begin working with a tutor. But when asked to know her favorite subject in school, Lise replies

In a recent letter to her birthmother, Lise wrote of her love for her new home, her brother and their dogs.

“She seems very content,” King says.

credit for the children’s successful transition, it’s clear she and her husband made exhausting accommodations to help the children feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

But the hardest part, King says, was getting

with ketchup were all they would take. “They had never even had milk or cheese

before,” King says. King bought a Haitian Creole cookbook and tried to recreate some traditional Haitian fare like fried plantains, but her efforts were met with mixed reviews.

But those culinary experiments led to a new tradition in the King-Dooley household.

On New Year’s Day, which is the day the Republic of Haiti celebrates its independence, King prepares her version of joumou, a soup made of pumpkin or squash, which was a favorite among the French colonists of Hispaniola. The slaves who prepared it were forbidden from eating it, but since the Haitian Revolution in 1804, sharing a bowl of joumou Jan. 1 has become a tradition and symbol of freedom for millions of Haitians.

The children have also grown accustomed

“Now they’ll eat anything,” King says. “Besides asparagus.

Haitian adoptees adjust to life stateside

“She held me at arms length because she couldn’t trust that I was really going to keep her.” — Julie King

photo courtesy of Tom DooleyTom and Julie with their adopted children Lise and Evans.

news & featuresnews & features


BY SARAH MALHOTRA

Staff Writer

Imagine your roommate coming back to your room at 3:30 a.m. She’s hysterical, incoherent,

enough to speak: “I was raped.”

department, what do you do? The newly formed Student

help. The entirely student run committee of advocates dedicates its time to helping student survivors of sexual misconduct through the conduct process.

“We have students that are very interested and very passionate about it, so they wanted to get

Campus Safety Tonya Womack. “It sometimes is easier for students to talk to students. It’s good to know students want to be a part of it.”

started the committee after realizing that things often slipped through the cracks when a student didn’t

him/her through the procedures.“The last thing someone who’s

just been raped wants to think about is deadlines for appeals, or making sure they’re not going to have to face the person who raped them, or getting housing accommodations or no-contact agreements,” said

in. We take care of all of that, and help them through all of the convoluted procedures and take on as much of the burden as we can. We want to help them regain some feeling of control in their lives.”

The main goal of the committee is to support student survivors who want to pursue the conduct process within the school and make sure they know their rights

guide students through the procedure and support survivors.

advocates went through a series of specialized training sessions,

SCSB training. The advocates have read and understand the relevant portions of the EC-Book and have been educated about the procedures

so they can explain them to students. While the advocates are not

counselors, they do have some training on how to be supportive emotionally to survivors of sexual

sure the student feels empowered throughout the conduct procedure.

“If a person were to call, having just been raped, I would answer the phone, offer to meet with them at 3 a.m. or whatever, comfort the person as best I could and most importantly listen to them and

If a student wants assistance with the conduct process, an advocate will be assigned to help. The advocate will make sure the student understands the process, help the student deal with unwanted results and tell the student about all resources available on and off campus.

If you’re looking to help a friend or just want information about sexual assault, the committee can help. Located in the Women’s Resource Center (at the back of Fox Hall), the committee provides information and referrals regarding healthcare, counseling, other rape crisis centers or other kinds of rape advocates.

Survivors,” will have an informational meeting Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Women’s Resource Center. The group is for victims of sexual abuse.

“Sexual misconduct happens a lot on college campuses and it’s often ignored or not talked about,” said

to have more awareness on college campuses and stop pretending like it doesn’t happen, because it does all the time, and those students deserve a voice in our community.”

If you want to be a part of the committee, applications will be accepted every semester. The ideal advocate is extremely reliable, trustworthy, personable, empathetic, easy to talk to and a good listener. S/he must

For students who want to be involved with the cause but don’t necessarily want to become advocates, a public relation team is in the works. Feedback and ideas are also encouraged.

The committee can be

BY SHELBY HOWELL

Asst. Entertainment Editor

While Eckerd has a lot of great qualities, the high cost of tuition is often a cause of distress. However, some students have found a way to pay their tuition with the help of either Eckerd’s ROTC

Both branches are listed as part of Eckerd’s special academic offerings and consist of 12-16 credit hours of course instruction. This takes place over a two to four-year period. During this time students are also working toward their undergraduate degree. When they graduate, they

give the orders and lead the troops, you can either go through one of the academies, like West Point or you can go through ROTC,” says Sophomore Nicholas Napoli. “So, when I graduate I’ll have

The compensation that students can receive for participating in the ROTC program is substantial.

$300-$500 and also provides uniforms, equipment and textbooks required for any classes or training. In addition, the ROTC provides competitive scholarships that will pay full tuition and up to $1200 for textbooks for regular Eckerd classes.

None of the training occurs on Eckerd’s campus. Eckerd

students in the ROTC program, known as cadets, must travel to either USF–St. Petersburg or Tampa. The actual training involved requires cadets to put in a lot of hard work both in and out of the classroom.

“Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, we have to wake up around 5 a.m. to have physical training at 6 a.m.,” says Napoli. “It’s pretty intense, lots of sit-ups, push-ups, running.”

training sessions where they’ll take you out to the woods for three or four days and they’ll have training exercises prepared for you. They’ll split you up into squads and you’ll have your rucksack and whatever gear you’ll need. It’s basically like being put in a combat situation.”

meet Eckerd’s graduation requirements.“ROTC is a huge time commitment,” says Simpson.

“You cannot take classes on Thursday because you

Tuesday/Thursday classes [at Eckerd]. So you have to plan your schedule really well to work around that.”

While this may seem like a daunting amount of work, many cadets interviewed said it was worth

says Freshman Brittany Snyder. “If you’re having problems you can rely on them. Even in the

to have your back in life or death situations.”

had this guy visit our class who was on a two-week

told us, you know, the truth that you’re pretty much guaranteed deployment when you’re graduated. So, we’re all facing the fact that there is a chance we’re all going to get deployed and that’s one of the biggest things. You look at these guys left and right and realize that these are the guys I’m going to graduate with and I may be deployed with these guys. It’s basically a big brotherhood. We all take care of each other.”

Being involved in ROTC can also provide some pretty exciting opportunities. Cadets can specialize

Military, Engineering, and Law Enforcement. When Cadets graduate, they will hold the rank of second lieutenant. The active duty pay for this

all around the world, cadets will have a chance of nearly endless travel opportunities after graduation.

Sophomore Karen Wayes says, “Right now it looks like I’m going to go into one of two tracks.

pilot track which is more competitive to get into.

new they don’t really know exactly how their doing the training program, so I’d kind of be a guinea pig

For more information and scholarship enrollment, contact the Suncoast Battalion

Scoop on EC ROTC

photo courtesy of Karen WayesAFROTC Color Guard, from the left; Cadet Nelson, Cadet Steven, Cadet Lodono, Cadet Wayes.

Newly formed SAC club Do you know your rights?

BY LIZ TOMASELLI Viewpoints Editor

Dear MTV,You blew it.I, like so many other young adults between the ages of 12

and 25, have had a tumultuous relationship with MTV over the years.

First, there were the naïve years. The years where MTV was purely a status symbol for me. This is why I probably can’t name one show on the air at that time, except maybe for “Room Raiders.”

Then there were the ‘honeymoon’ years, when the “Real World” was worth watching and Carson Daily hosted “TRL.” There was also MTV’s “Newlyweds” with Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, which I absolutely adored, mostly for Jessica’s ridiculous comments, but also because the idea of getting a glimpse into the seemingly normal lives of a favorite celebrity was enticing.

Next came the era of “True Life” and “Made,” which quickly became MTV staples. This was something I was willing to accept since they seemed to display, albeit maybe dramatize, the trials and tribulations of teens across the nation.

Finally, after a brief separation (which consisted of me turning to the CW

I fell in love with MTV all over again. MTV’s “Laguna Beach,” and eventually “The Hills” and “The City,” were everything a teen girl could want. They were all of the drama we see in high school plus tons of money, waterfront views, expensive clothes and tan skin. Jackpot.

(Notice I’ve failed to mention “Jersey Shore”—no it didn’t slip my mind,

I have been lobbying for MTV to develop a teen drama for some time. It seemed like MTV had lost its sparkle, and why not follow in the success of other networks’ striking ability to hit our demographic spot-

on with shows like “One Tree Hill” and “Gossip Girl”? It would

and with planned storylines.Finally in 2011, MTV created “Skins.” Fail.

group of friends throughout high school, is off to a controversial start. The show, who’s title is another name for rolling papers, has had six advertisers — Schick, Subway, Taco Bell, H&R Block, GM and Wrigley — pull out of the time slot since the debut episode.

With that, the Parents Television Council has made it their latest mission to get the show off the air. They call it “the most dangerous television show for children that we have ever seen,” and have even gone as far as to ask the government to open an investigation of child pornography.

As a viewer who is undoubtedly included in MTV’s target audience, I’d say it was a waste of 60 minutes. The show ended with me feeling confused and a little pissed that I skipped a re-run of “Criminal Minds” to watch a bunch of mediocre looking minors do a lot of illegal things.

Now, as a college student, I’m not offended by underage drinking and illegal drug use. However, the extent at which it was shown was childish. “Skins” felt like a pre-teen testing how far it could push its parent’s boundaries. It was vulgar just for the sake of being vulgar and most of the foul language, nudity and

drug use were unnecessary to the plot.

To add to MTV’s list of blunders, the show views

This isn’t Sundance; not many young adults will be impressed by the artsy undertone and the ones who are will not be watching

Too bad. MTV had a real opportunity to reengage and entertain a generation that is sick of watching teen moms and trashy quasi-adults with fake tans and poofs.

My loyalties are to the CW now. At least “Gossip Girl” has class.

“Amusing

Musings”

“You’re saying it has more

electrons so it has to share?

What a socialist you are!”

—A chemistry professor on rules for Lewis Dot Structures.

“When you all become senators,

please convert to metric and end

this insanity.”

—A chemistry professor on U.S. students not knowing the metric system.

“They’re really pretty freaking

mysterious actually.”

—A biology professor on centrioles, a cell organelle.

“Stay away from the marijuana

weed.”

—A creative writing professor giving advice on life.

EDITORIAL


“I’m so tired and I even took

speed a minute ago.”

—A creative writing professor exaggerating caffine intake during a

late night.

viewpoints

MTV’s controversy:

promotional photo

promotional photo

is “Skins” too sexy for TV?

viewpoints


BY ETHAN PACKEY

Staff Writer

Three months ago, President George W. Bush published his presidential memoir, “Decision Points,” giving his opinion on the events of his presidency. I have had the pleasure of read-ing “Decision Points,” and while it didn’t completely change my opinion of President Bush, the book changed my percep-tion of his presidency and increased my respect for our 43rd President.

Bush’s memoir covers a great deal of material concerning his presidency and approximately half the book is devoted to

about George W. Bush’s presidency at all, but a concise autobi-ography. It covers everything from his childhood in Midland, Texas, to his schooling in New England as part of the family tradition. Bush talks about his days working in the Texas oil business and his initial exposure to the greater world and its injustices through his father’s career prior to becoming vice president. However,

chapter are the stories of his faith in Christ and his struggle to quit drink-ing (He says he’s been sober since

formative years are when Bush devel-oped his passion for the basic human

so much of his work as president of the United States.

One of the greatest impressions I got from “Decision Points” was the strength of President Bush’s religion.

his life and gave him the strength he needed to stop drinking. Bush had several domestic policies during the early years of his presidency that re-

cells on which Bush spends an en-tire chapter outlining the discussion and debate that went on within the administration and the Washington

-sition was that he would not approve more federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Bush’s choice was redeemed in late 2007 when spectacular advances were made in non-em-bryonic stem cell research. Bush recounts his joy at hearing of those advances and indicates his happiness that science and ethics can coexist.

Bush’s Christian faith also shines through when he discuss-es his opening of the federal grant process to religious institu-tions. He speaks of his great joy at seeing the transformative power of faith in the lives of former criminals. Regarding his pained recollection of Hurricane Katrina, he recounts the me-dia’s accusations of racism against him as the lowest point of

faith is his support for international disease control, especially in Africa. In 2002, he announced a program, PEPFAR, which would contribute $15 billion over 5 years to help an estimated 2 million people suffering with AIDS. He reauthorized PEP-FAR in 2008 with $30 billion for the next 5 years. He also appropriated more than $1 billion to other easily controllable diseases that run rampant in Africa, including malaria.

Other relatively unknown legacies of George W. Bush were his multiple domestic achievements, including at least one

major bipartisan initiative was the No Child Left Behind Act -

porters for this initiative was the late Senator Ted Kennedy, a staunch Democrat. Student test scores rose drastically over

education gap between themselves and white students. Bush’s next major success was the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. It created an extensive pharmaceutical drug coverage program for Medicare recipients where none had existed be-fore and provided great incentives for Medicare recipients to switch to privately run Medicare Advantage Plans. It was a compromise that Bush reports he is still greatly pleased with.

Another great domestic initiative I have to mention was also done with the help of the late Senator Kennedy. In 2007, President Bush tapped Kennedy to make an attempt at com-prehensive immigration reform. The package ultimately failed by a close margin and included greater provisions for border

security, a new temporary workers pro-gram and greater incentives for businesses to not hire illegal immigrants as workers.

part of his lasting legacy were the bailouts of 2008, which saved our economy from to-tal destruction. In his book, Bush express-es regret over expanding the size of govern-ment and its role in the private sector, but ultimately feels he acted in the best interest of the country.

Finally, no review of Bush’s presidency can be complete without covering the Glob-

-ated following the fateful events of Septem-ber 11t. Bush goes into great detail about 9/11 and the events that followed, too much detail for me to recount here, but it is clear he acted in what he saw as the country’s best interests. One of the most stunning parts of the book comes in Chapter 6 when Bush elaborates on the increased efforts in homeland security and intelligence gather-ing. Bush indicates that out of “thousands of detainees, approximately a hundred were placed into the CIA interrogation program, about one-third of those had interrogations with enhanced techniques,

and that only three detainees ever received water-boarding”

-eratives were located because of water-boarding and that the technique gleaned us more than half of the usable intelligence that the CIA program received from interrogation. In my opin-ion, the controversy over the CIA interrogation program was incredibly overblown. In his sections on Iraq and the surge, Bush goes on to mull over his mistakes and promote the poli-cies he championed over public opinion, including the surge.

Overall, I believe that this memoir gives an amazing portrait of a president who was unfairly scorned during his time in of-

it does contain numerous lessons from which other political

and cooperation should be prized highly and used wherever possible. It is sad that this legacy of Bush has not been con-tinued.

The Tea-Party rhetoric of the 2010 congressional elections and the controversy of the Ground Zero mosque are examples of when passions have gone too far. Leaders of both parties might take heed of Bush’s legacy and do what is right for the country, not what is politically expedient.

courtesy of georgewbush.com Cover of George W. Bush’s memoir

BY PETRA STEVENSON

Editor-in-Chief

When I was a freshman, I spent most mornings in class,

in the library. I took excellent notes. I spent hours outlin-ing textbook chapters and copying down glossary terms.

computer screen, typing essays and reading responses. I bullet-pointed everything.

Sophomore and junior year, my course load increased, and I passed a good portion of each weekend in the library, just trying to keep up. I often did homework on Friday nights. And of course, there was also this very newspaper to attend to, which takes much more effort to pull together every few weeks than most people realize. I often spent more time on the computer with Adobe InDesign, mov-ing little gray boxes around a virtual page, than I did with

Okay.Flash forward to senior year. Suddenly, things aren’t so

hard. Suddenly, I can write an eight-page paper on Sun-day night, no biggie, though granted not a very good one. I guess my standards are lower. Sure, I still take pretty good notes in class, but they’re often second to notes on funny things that my professors say and visual interpretations

on Friday night. Or Saturday night. Or any other night when I just don’t really feel like it. I don’t work on assign-ments past midnight, but I do sit up watching reruns of “Family Guy” on Adult Swim. It’s called priorities.

I have to say, it seems rather unnecessary to take read-ing notes, ever. And outlining textbook chapters? Forget it.

Yes, you could say that I have senioritis. According to Urbandictionary.com, senioritis is a “crip-

pling disease” with symptoms that include “an over-exces-sive wearing of track pants, old athletic shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts and sweatshirts.”

Um, yes. I often wear athletic shorts with an old sweat-

crippling. Socially crippling. Senioritis also features a lack of studying, repeated ab-

sences, and a generally dismissive attitude, says Urban-dictionary.

I’m dismissive so much as more laid-back. I know that time will pass and that I will get things done, maybe. I usually go to class, physically speaking, though my mind is elsewhere. And lack of studying? That’s called improvi-sational test-taking.

I’m a huge fan of playing it by ear, especially when it comes to presentations. I’ve given dozens of presentations at Eckerd, and they’ve all been terrible. I am very good at giving consistently bad presentations. I mumble, I stutter,

the Rahall center. But anyway.I know that I am not alone. There are hundreds of us: se-

niors who feel too old to still be in college, yet too young to enter the working world. Seniors who want to squeeze out the last, juicy drops of their Eckerd experience, but who really, really don’t want to study anymore. Who love their courses of study, but can’t bear to look at another textbook

they can. And who, a lot of the time, just don’t give a crap.So welcome to Senioritis, which will run through the

end of spring semester. Up next? Comps. Oh, yeah.

Senioritis: If you don’t have it yet, just wait.

Lessons from Bush’s memoirEDITORIAL

Introducing a new column

viewpointsEDITORIAL

BY SEAN LAWLOR

Contributing Writer

In his recent State of the Union address to Congress, President Obama attempted to set a new path for the American economy while encouraging a sense of togetherness among competing political ideologies.

At the beginning, Obama gestured to the vacant chair of Congresswoman Giffords who had been shot a few weeks before by an enraged gunman, suggesting that the nation’s political leaders should make an effort to tone down divisive rhetoric. He encouraged Americans to

remember that we are one people, and that setting us apart as a nation will only make America weaker.

With regard to the economy, Obama seemed to change the message from one of economic recovery to one of re-inventing America for the 21st Century. “Our destiny remains our choice,” Obama proclaimed. “I’m not sure how we’ll reach that better place beyond the horizon, but I know we’ll get there.” To improve his standing among Republicans, Obama sounded pro-business by encouraging government aid and tax cuts to small businesses, the

regulations on industry and increased investment in industries such as medical research, information technologies and clean energy. Obama cited recent trade victories such as the industry/arms sale with India and a new free trade agreement with South Korea, which he claimed would further fuel job growth with added foreign investment.

According to Obama, trade alliances with China and India should support the growth of 250,000 new jobs within the coming years. Also, the South Korean agreement should create another 70,000 jobs. Obama made an overall estimate that American exports should double by 2014. His recent appointment of General Electric CEO Jeffery Immelt to the Presidential Council on Jobs and Competitiveness echoes this call for pro-business policies.

government by ordering a review of all government regulations. Rules that place an unnecessary burden on American businesses would then be removed. However, he also cautioned that he would not hesitate to implement logical safeguards that protect Americans. This year, the president promised to further American business in South America by signing free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama.

Referencing competition from rising developing nations such as China and India, Obama said that America is at a “Sputnik Moment,” one in which America could embrace the opportunity of building innovative ideas that would insure a technologically advanced communication system as well as a

carbonless energy future. At present, competing economies are also investing in alternative energies. The president’s speech pointed to the fact that China now hold’s the largest solar energy research facility. It also alluded to the advanced high-speed rail lines that now link the cities of Japan, China, and Europe. To match the modern world’s standards, two infrastructure goals were stressed that Obama suggested would help re-invent America into the 21st century. To create a nation that can compete with other advancing economies, the president set an agenda for “renewing America from high speed internet to high speed rail.”

Currently, $8 billion in federal funds has been set aside for the purpose of building high speed rail lines in a few states, Florida included. Employing historical references such as the construction of the transcontinental railroad and the interstate highway system, Obama called for a new wave of infrastructure projects that can put people back to work. This would also train a new generation of technicians and engineers.

By 2035, the president demanded that 80 percent of America’s energy should come from clean energy sources.

that America must seek to “win the future,” and this is how we’re going to do it.

Continuing his diatribe, the president referenced another example concerning the atrophy of American greatness, education. According to the president, America is ninth in the number of children who achieve a college education. The president suggested education in the U.S. can be improved with added parental responsibility and respect for the occupation of a teacher. Once again using South Korea as a model, the president explained that, “in South Korea, teachers are known as nation builders, and in America they should receive the same respect.”

As for college education, Obama called for the nation to revitalize community colleges and for Congress to create a tax credit for four years of college education that is worth $10,000. Also included in the section of education was a call for immigration reform. Obama defended students of illegal immigrants who get turned away from American education due to no fault of their own. Instead of turning away creative

encourage foreign students to learn at our educational institutions to apply their skills toward a better tomorrow for

the United States. Addressing an area of recent concerns,

Obama welcomed Congressional improvements in the sweeping health care reform last year. “Anything can be improved,” Obama said reassuringly, “if you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I’m eager to work

that Obama mentioned was an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses that could be corrected by House Republicans. However, Obama cautioned that he will not reverse legislation passed that prevents health care companies from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions.

Another concern that the president

for a domestic spending freeze that would

the next few years. This spending freeze would include capping the wages of federal government employees, cuts in the military budget, and a reform of the social security administration which currently takes $45 billion more than it takes in. “Every day,

Obama said. “They deserve a government that does the same.”

Overall the president’s State of the Union stressed two major themes, setting a new chart for America’s destiny in the 21st century and the importance of striving for compromise as one democratic union. It is often the president’s job to establish order among competing parties in the federal legislature, especially in times of crisis and disagreement, as our nation is currently experiencing. So it is no surprise that two of the president’s most quoted phrases in the speech were “togetherness” and “Democrats and Republicans.”

Toward the end of the State of the Union, Obama listed off the recent accomplishments at the end of the last Congress in December such as the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the passing of the new START Treaty with Russia and the tax cut deal made with Republicans. Obama said he hopes this bipartisan partnership that has been so successful in the last month can continue further into 2011. At times of uncertainty such as this, we all must remember that our

Chinese competitors. As Obama put it, “our destiny remains our choice.”


Did your professor say the funniest thing in class the other day? Do you have an opinion about something you read in The Current? We’d love to hear from you.

Send your responses to [email protected].

courtesy of Wikicommons


viewpoints

PerspECtivesQ: What is your New Year’s resolution?

BY LIZ TOMASELLI & JACLYN NEW

Viewspoints Editors

“I want to be a better leader on and

off the court. Off the court, I started

mentoring at an elementary school.”

—Darrien Mack, sophomore, right

“My New Year’s resolution is to be fit. I’ve been

working out a lot and I try to work out almost

every day.”

—Shannon Vize, freshman

“My New Year’s resolution

was to lose some weight. I

haven’t lost any weight to

my knowledge yet, but I’m

still working on it.”

—Ethan Packey, sophomore

“My New Year’s

resolution is to read

more than 50 books

within the year. I’m

a literature student

so it should be pretty

easy. I wanted to pick

something that I knew

I could acheive.”

—Leslie Taylor, senior

“I want to eat healthier. I started eating more

vegetables and more fruit. I’m trying to eat

a serving of fruit and a serving of vegetables

with each meal that I have.”

—Josh Snodgrass , sophomore (left)


arts & entertainmentWe are the Harry Potter generation

Review

promotional photo

BY SHELBY HOWELL

Asst. Entertainment Editor

If you can’t remember a time when there was no such thing as Hogwarts and Horcruxes, congratulations. Like the rest of the Eckerd student population, you are part of the Harry Potter generation.

Laugh, but when you stop to think about it, it’s true. The

alongside Harry Potter. “Other kids grew up with ‘The

Biagioni. “We had Harry Potter.” What started as a simple children’s book has grown into

it was pretty much impossible not to be exposed to the Boy-

only thing any of my friends were talking about so I felt like I had to keep reading it just so I could be included in the lunch

has not only become a cultural phenomenon but literally a

the year the last book was coming out I went to Costa Rica and noticed how the books had become as popular as the

realistic qualities that kids can relate to. “But the big part

“He had that childlike innocence when I did when I was in elementary school and he was going through teenage angst

the same time I was.”

their own addendums to the series. Lines for the midnight

plot point for me at school the next day.”

interesting to see. But if any story is capable of enduring through the years, Harry Potter would be the one. Many

Madison, asked me if I had read them one day, to which I

was a little confused. I guided her way through each of the

The second half of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”

BY SARAH MALHOTRA

Staff Writer

comedy starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher portrays

The plot isn’t all that original. Boy meets girl. Boy falls for

Adam (Ashton Kutcher) meets Emma (Natalie Portman)

at a college party, at Emma’s dad’s funeral and at a street

He ends up passing out drunk in Emma’s apartment. Emma

up the next morning surrounded by Emma’s roommates from

t

journey, promising to end it if either one falls for the other.

gets Emma a “Congrats” balloon because she does a good job during sex. He also makes Emma a “period mix” to get her

is a surprise.I hate to say it, but despite the two famous lead actors, it

“No Strings Attached” a predictable rom-com

photo by Jeralyn Darling

View of Hogwarts at Universal Studios Orlando.

arts & entertainment

Horoscopes

Mar 21 – Apr 19You may think you’re ready for this semester, but you will want a break after the second week. As long as you manage your time wisely, you will

Apr 20 – May 20You’re better off this semester than you think. You know what you need to do and it will all get done. Try focusing on your social life a little. You know what the perfect balance is.

May 21 – Jun 20-

ning of the semester, but don’t let that get you down. You will end the semes-ter with your head held high.

Jun 21 – Jul 22Don’t sweat the small stuff. You are right where you need to be, you just

are in order, try focusing on something else in your life. Try eating healthier or attend an aerobics class.

Jul 23 – Aug 22Don’t let any misunderstandings with friends or family affect your studies. Take this semester one day at a time.

Aug 23 – Sept 22Technology is the only thing standing in your way this semester. Try spending some time away from the computer and turning off your phone.

Sept 23 – Oct 22You stress too much. Relax. As long as

away for an hour and get right back to work.

Oct 23 – Nov 21Napping is more of a blessing than you could imagine. Last semester you lost

bank some hours of sleep for your next all-nighter.

Nov 22 – Dec 21

end! Do the best that you can do. It doesn’t matter if anyone else is proud of you, as long as you are proud of yourself.

Dec 22 – Jan 19Do not fear the blank page. Your most challenging projects this

walk away for a few days, and then come back with fresh ideas.

Jan 20 – Feb 18Last semester was stressful enough. Try to relax a little this semester. Do your homework in a hammock or sit

the pond.

Feb 19 – Mar 20That break was all you needed to start fresh. If spring semester were a pool, you would jump right in!

always time for a little fun.

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

ARIES

PISCES

AQUARIUS

CAPRICORN

SAGITTARIUS

SCORPIO

LIBRA

BY JERALYN DARLING

Horoscope Muse


Welcome, Ophiuchus!

BY JOHNNY JONES

Staff Writer

“If these walls could talk…”

Restaurant patron Bird Parker were almost lost in the breakfast bustle.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then

Lakewood Elementary class pictures, Munch’s décor showcases its colorful history. The staff boasts an experienced team of waitresses who

to 3 p.m.

the family business. His parents, Dean and

“It’s really more like a general store,” Munch explained.

lunch, Munch’s sells an assortment of items. Used paperback books, candy and medicine can be purchased at counter. According to munchburger.com, certain dry-cleaning and

The cheap breakfast deals will make your jaw drop, but Munch’s has been more than a place

the Munch family turned their restaurant into

night is a unique tradition. On Thursday

Unfortunately, the staff only kept it up for three years.

One Munch’s tradition that won’t go away is the Lakewood Elementary class photographs.

pictures one day and people seemed to like them. Larry laughed as he explained that there

its irresistible charm. Certain restaurants

out-of-towners. But since the walls can’t talk, let the food and

Local restaurant serves slice of St. Pete

photo by Johnny Jones

Diners enjoy their meal at Munch’s Sundries and Restaurant.



Feb. 4 — 17Events

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday ThursdayWednesday

7 p.m.Raymond JamesStadiumMonster Jam

8 p.m.St. PetersburgLittle Theatre“Chicago”$10 for students

2 p.m.St. PetersburgLittle Theatre“Chicago”$10 for students

8 p.m.The Havana ClubFat Black Pussycat

9 a.m.Clearwater Farmer’s Market

11 a.m.-5 p.m.Florida State FairIrish Festival

7 p.m.Florida State FairRanch Rodeo

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

7 p.m.Miller Aud.Summer Wars

8 p.m.Jannus LandingHighway to HellFREE

7 p.m.The VenuePaper Tongues

10 a.m.Downtown BradentonBradenton CraftFestival3 p.m.Roberts 104EC Chamber Music Concert

Happy Valentine’s Day!

6:30Boyd HillNight Hike$3

8 p.m.Main Cafe PatioThe Story Behind the Food

8 p.m.Ruth Eckerd HallWillie Nelson

2:45 p.m.Lewis HouseLines from Woodland Lane

8 p.m.Jannus LandingCurren$y

First Friday

7 p.m.Miller Aud.“Case of Angel-ica”

Jannus LandingThe Hip AbductionFREE

6 p.m.Fox HallHip Hop CulturalSociety

7:30 p.m.Buffalo Sabres vs.Tampa Bay Lightning

BY JERALYN DARLING

Entertainment Editor

dining.

friendly and fast, but the food… I would swim in their she-crab soup.

it’s that good. Their grouper sandwich was great as well, not to mention it’s locally famous, but the she-crab soup is the

soup.If soup’s not your thing, take a bite of any of their other

Their crab artichoke dip, baked stuffed grouper and seared sesame tuna are all delicious but I would still recommend their she-crab soup.

spend some time somewhere else. Clearwater has so much

encounter!

world delicious.

Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill: soup for the soulReview

courtesy of Frenchy’s

A delicious bowl of she crab soup.

BY ALLY JINN

Sex Columnist

Dear Ally,

work with no strings attached, or will someone eventually

Sincerely,

Frustrated Fran

I thought about your question for a long time and all

there been feelings before? How often will you see each other?

things to consider are why you are in a casual relationship and not a monogamous one, whether or not there will be texting or social time together, dates with the promise of sex after, etc.

relationship is possible, but not likely. In such a personal

of chemistry. Once an intimate relationship is added to the mix, emotional attachment slowly sneaks its way in. To be

all the attractions of a committed relationship. Each party needs to agree on the uncommitted part of the relationship

When I said it was possible, I meant it. As long as both

more of a chance for the relationship to remain “friendly.”

feelings that he or she does not express. If one partner does not want a serious relationship, the other may accept this

If you start to feel something more than just the attraction of sex, let your partner know. Communication should always

open and being honest with each other could be the one thing that makes this sort of relationship work.

romantic feelings and you are not comfortable with this progression, you need to stand your ground. Don’t wait. Don’t feel it out. If you don’t share the same feelings and want to commit to a relationship you may need to end the

her on, will only hurt someone in the end.

Regards, Ally Jinn


SEXon the beach


BY RACHAEL SEVIER

Staff Writer

her ballet company, booting out “old” Beth (Winona Ryder). Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) is the choreographer that pushes Nina to break through her sexual boundaries in order

Lily (Mila Kunis), the new, edgy, sexually free ballerina is the perfect person to help Nina shed those boundaries.

isn’t until Lily gets Nina out of her house, with her childish bedroom and a mother reminiscent of a prison warden, that

Nina begins to push through her boundaries. Nina lets go and acts on these new sexual impulses with Lily. But, as she lets go of her personal boundaries, her mind begins to

chemistry she has with Kunis and Leroy is awkward to

of Nina’s fragile mind.The idea of the breakdown of Nina’s mind parallels quite

after the curtain falls, but Nina transforms into an “actual” swan on the screen, feathers and all. I still cannot get the image of Portman’s red eyes staring at me with incredible intensity, and feeling as if they were going straight through

are terrifyingly beautiful.

recommend going with your mom or dad.

“Black Swan” terrifyingly beautifulReview

Ingredients

2.5 pounds Ground Chuck OR

Portabella Mushroom Caps

½ Onion (diced)

1 Red Pepper (sliced)

Italian Seasoning

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Worcestershire Sauce

Tomato

Cheddar Cheese

Baby Spinach

11 French Rolls

It’s getting warmer out and with grills available all over campus, you can make this fun, gourmet and cost-effective meal with ease. Gather some friends around 5 p.m. and you’ll have the perfect amount of daylight to cook and a beautiful sunset to finish your meal. With this burger recipe, we made 8 meat options and 3 vegetarian options (for our more earth-friendly friends). In total with charcoal and lighter fluid, we spent $3.66 per person in making this meal.

Mix together the ground chuck, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce and marinate for at least 30 minutes prior to the commencement of grilling. In preparation for the mushroom burgers, marinate portabella mushroom caps and red pepper with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, olive oil and balsamic vinegar for equally as long as the meat. When both have finished marinating, split the beef mixture into 8 equal patties and go scope out the perfect grill. Once you’ve located the perfect grill among the plethora available on campus, light it. Once the grill is lit, place the beef patties and the mushroom caps on the grill and cook for as long as desired. Now top both with cheddar cheese, baby spinach, and tomato after placing on a freshly cut French roll. Have fun!

Dorm cookin’

BY ALI CLINES & BRILLIANNA D’ANGELO

Contributing Writers

Portabella Burgers

promotional photo

The daily routines of the EC sailing team

sports

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Saturday, Feb. 5v. Rollins4 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 9@ Tampa7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12@ Nova Southeastern4 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 16v. Florida Southern7:30 p.m.


SportsCurrent WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Saturday, Feb. 5v. Rollins2 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 9@ Tampa5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12@ Nova Southeastern2 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 16v. Florida Southern5:30 p.m.

photo courtesy of Eckerd sailing Eckerd sailing upwind at Women’s Atlantic Coast Champion-

ships.

BY LINCOLN ANDRES-BECK

Asst. Sports Editor

On the campus of Eckerd College, most students probably know a little about what an athlete goes through. The early morning practices, late night practices, travel to away games and missed classes for these contests. For members of the soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball teams, these are just parts of being a college athlete.

But what is involved in being a member of the Eckerd College sailing team, how much do they practice and when and where do they travel? In general, how does this team function?

The schedule of the sailing team changes as the season goes on. Practices run from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday on the water, sailing. Team meeting goes from 1-3 before practice on Wednesday, and they have workouts from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. This time commitment is similar to the amount of time spent by a varsity student-athlete on one of the mainstream sports teams here.

The team uses Mondays as a kind of warm-up for the week’s

on for the week. Thursday is race day and Eckerd’s teams will race while focusing on the topic for the week.

Then every weekend, the team competes in regattas. The

man boats: an “A” boat and a “B” boat that will score separate results. In the spring, the regattas are team races where each team has 3 boats out at a time and there is a team score determined by the time for all boats to complete the race as opposed to individual times.

In addition, there are also single-handed races where one person races in a smaller sailboat. Some weekends also see

multiple teams from Eckerd competing in different events, according to sailor and RA Michael Hemberger, up to 3 in a weekend.

These events can range from local Florida events and events in the southeastern U.S. to events going all the way up the East Coast. There is even a possibility of a West Coast event in the next year. Events last 1 to 2 days, but usually tend to be 2-day events. The closer events sailors can drive to the morning of Saturday or Friday night, while events farther north the

a host family or at a hotel, depending on the situation. After graduation every summer, the Nationals event is held

that teams qualify for through regional competitions and

handed racing, and co-ed racing. While there is an all female class of sailing there is not a straight up male class for sailing, only co-ed races will have male competitors.

Who races for the team at regattas is decided by the coach, Jesse Combs, and according to Hemberger, the decision is merit based. “To go to a regatta we have to choose those who will best represent the school,” he said.

Hemberger went on to describe some of the qualities that should be shown to be chosen for a regatta, including commitment shown by showing up to as many workouts and practices as possible, improvement, and lastly Hemberger talked about the need for respect, clear communication, and awareness on the water during practices.

The regatta assignments are also spread out, according to Hemberger, so that everyone gets a chance to race and no single sailor is away every single weekend, all year long.

The most commonly used boats on the sailing team are the Flying Juniors or FJs and the 420s. These are both 2-man racing dinghies, meaning a small boat and not necessarily the lifeboat that would be expected alongside a ship during the

Napoleonic wars. The FJs were originally built as training boats for the

then-Olympic class Flying Dutchman boats and have a sail area of 100 sq. ft. The 420s are a class of monohulled boats measuring 4.2 meters long, meaning the hull is a single piece

area to weight ratio and is designed to plane easily, meaning that the bow lifts out of the water and allows the boat to pick up speed and skip across the water at higher speeds. There is also a common use of the Laser Radial single-handed boat for singles races. The Laser Radial was picked as the women’s boat for single-handed competition at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and a variant of the Laser Standard with a shorter mast and reduced sail area allowing lighter sailors to sail in heavy wins.

BASEBALL

Saturday, Feb. 5v. Warner (DH)1 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 7@ Southeastern7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 11v. Ave Maria7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 15@ Saint Leo6 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Saturday, Feb. 5v. Palm Beach Atlantic (DH)2 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 6v. Northwood (DH)1 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 11v. Bowie State (DH)5 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12v. Warner Southern (DH)12 p.m.

sports


sports


COURTESY OF ECKERD ATHLETICS

The Eckerd College men’s basketball team held Florida Tech to 33 percent shooting in a 64-59 win on Monday at the McArthur Center.

Lance Kearse, Walade Wade and Dale Carn each scored 10 points, as the Tritons (14-4, 5-3 Sunshine State Conference) won their third straight contest. The game was televised live on Bright House Sports Network.

The Tritons won despite struggling with a season-high 25 turnovers. But Eckerd held the Panthers (12-9, 2-5) to 10 percent shooting from 3-point range (2-for-20 overall).

Florida Tech, meanwhile, committed just one turnover in

11 points off 15 Eckerd miscues, but the hosts stayed in it thanks to 56 percent shooting.

Eckerd grabbed control with an 11-0 run early in the

to play.The Tritons never trailed again.Justin Sedlak scored a game-high 22 points to lead the

Panthers.


The Eckerd College men’s basketball team used an 11-0 run to start the second half en route to an 84-71 win over visiting Nova Southeastern on Saturday at the McArthur Center.

Lance Kearse scored 15 points, one of four Tritons in double

snap a three-game losing skid. Kearse also had a game-high seven rebounds.

Wayne Sears Jr. scored 14 points, while John Harper and Woody Taylor each added 12.

Alex Gynes had 25 points on 10-for-22 shooting to pace NSU (10-5, 3-2), and John Brooks tallied 19 points. But

goals.“I thought we really raised our defensive intensity in the

second half,” said Eckerd head coach Tom Ryan. “Our ball pressure picked up, and we came out a little stronger.”

second half and committed three turnovers as Eckerd jumped in front.

Dale Carn (nine points) scored six points in the second-half run and capped the spurt with a jumper to give the Tritons a 47-38 lead with 16:24 to play.

The Tritons shot 69 percent in the second half and 54 percent for the game. Eckerd led by as many as 18 points in the second half.

Men’s basketball

wins third straight

photos courtesy of Eckerd AthleticsTop: Senior forward Lance Kearse (23) driving in a game against Florida Tech. Above: Senior center Nick Agress (40) leading a fast break in a win over Lynn.


The Eckerd College men’s basketball team is currently ranked third in the nation in rebounding margin. The Tritons’ strength carried them on Saturday.

Eckerd overcame a sluggish shooting afternoon with a strong rebounding effort to escape with a 69-67 victory over Lynn at the McArthur Center.

Lance Kearse scored a game-high 16 points, and John Harper added 11, as Eckerd (15-4, 6-3 Sunshine State Conference) won its fourth straight game.

a 45-27 rebounding advantage (14-6 offensive) in a physical contest that saw 54 fouls called.

Terrell Williams led Lynn (4-15, 2-7) with 14 points. The Fighting Knights were hampered by a 15-for-27 (55 percent) afternoon from the free throw line.

Neither team led by more than seven points in a see-saw affair that saw 12 lead changes. Eckerd used an 8-0 midway through the second half to grab a 51-48 lead with 8:56 remaining.

Lynn responded with its own 8-0 run to take a 56-51 lead with 6:33 to play. But senior guard Chris Gray scored seven points in a 1:18 stretch to help the Tritons tie the game at 60-60 with 4:15 left.

Williams gave Lynn a 67-65 lead with a layup with 1:34 remaining, but the Knights were held scoreless the rest of the way.

After a technical foul on the Lynn bench, Kearse made three free throws with 54.2 seconds left to give Eckerd a 68-67 edge.

Nick Agress added a free throw with 29 seconds left to

Men’s basketball escapes

with victory over Lynn

Second half run

helps men’s

basketball top NSU

sports

Rays stay busy during offseason


o Meet Bella, the bed

bug busting Beagle

Online Now:BY WILL CREAGER

Sports Editor

Just months after leading the American League with 96 wins, winning the AL East division, and getting

Texas Rangers, the Tampa Bay Rays’ roster has been totally revamped.

The biggest loss for the Rays was losing all-star left

rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Crawford led the Rays with a .307 batting average, 184 hits, 110 runs scored, 13 triples and 47 steals to go along with his 30 doubles, 19 home runs, and 90 RBIs.

Rocco Baldelli and Gabe Kapler. Six members of the bullpen also departed: lefty Randy Choate and righties Grant Balfour, Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, Joaquin Benoit and closer Rafael Soriano, who went to another division rival, the New York Yankees.

The Rays then proceeded to trade away shortstop Jason Bartlett, who struggled in 2010 after a breakout 2009 campaign, to the San Diego Padres for four

prospects. Just weeks later, the Rays traded 15-game

and minor league pitcher Zach Rosscup to the Chicago

The Rays have added to their team in the past couple weeks, signing free agent veteran reliever Kyle Farnsworth to help provide depth to their depleted bullpen. They also signed three other veteran bats:

and Ramirez are both very familiar with the American League Eastern division, as teammates on the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.

It looks as though this might be a tough season coming up for the Rays, as both the Yankees and the Red Sox have very strong ball clubs. However, the near future seems bright for the Rays and their strong farm system. Four players in the Rays organization are among the Top 50 Prospects according to mlb.com, including right-handed pitchers Jeremy Hellickson and Chris Archer, who was one of the prospects received in the Garza trade. Left-handed pitcher Matt Moore and

prospects to watch move through the system in 2011.

o Bed bug infesta-

tions are on the rise

across the country.

Has Eckerd been

hit?

www.theonlinecurrent.com

sports


SUPER BOWL

GUACAMOLE RECIPE

Ingredients3 avocados - peeled, pitted and mashed1 lime, juiced1 teaspoon salt1/2 cup diced onion3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro2 roma tomatoes, diced1 teaspoon minced garlic1 pinch ground cayenne pepper

DirectionsIn a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice and salt. Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes and garlic. Stir in cayenne pepper. Refrigerate 1

-ately.

BY ETHAN HORVITZ

Contributing Writer

On Sunday, December 11, 2005, things looked bleak for the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, sitting on a 7 and 5 record. Everybody knew they had a solid team, going 15 and 1 the previous year before succumbing to Tom Brady’s passing attack in the AFC Championship game. But no one thought the team would win out and make the playoffs. Yet they did, and much more. Eight straight wins later, the Steelers were Superbowl XL champions.

The Steelers hadn’t won it all since the era of the Super Steelers in the 1970’s. Led by coach Chuck Noll with players like Quarterback Terry Bradshaw, running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Blier, and Recievers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, the Steelers won an NFL record four superbowls in six years and established the Steelers’ as one of the NFL’s greatest Dynasties.

Perhaps that group’s most famous moment was Franco’s immaculate reception. Trailing in the fourth quarter of a playoff game to the Oakland Raiders, quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass that bounced off a defender’s helmet, only to be scooped up by Harris, who ran it in for a touchdown to win the game. If you travel to Pittsburgh International Airport today, you’ll see a statue of Franco making the immaculate reception right next to one of George Washington.

Perhaps no team is as important to its host city as the Steelers are to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has always been a football town. According to legend, Art Rooney founded the Steelers as the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1933 from money he won at a race track. Since then, the team has taken on the personality of its city.

The people of Western Pennsylvania were primarily blue collar coal miners and steel workers. The philosophy of their

always featured a strong running game, a crushing defense,

of the 1970’s were exactly that. They were nicknamed the Steel Curtain for a reason. Players like Dwight White, Jack Ham, Ernie Holmes, L. C. Greenwood, and of course Mean Joe Greene punished any offense that dared oppose them and established the tradition of hard hitting overpowering

to come.Now, 30 years after the original Super Steelers last

championship, we may be in the prime of their second dynasty.

title in 2008 right here in Tampa, The team appeared to be a serious contender to repeat as champions and win their seventh title halfway through the ‘09 season with a 6 and 2

game skid primarily due to defensive breakdowns late in what seemed like every game. Part of the problem was the absence of defensive end Aaron Smith and Safety Troy Polamalu, who has the ability to change the pace of a game. Without their best defenders, the Steel Curtain seemed ordinary. They lost to some of the worst teams in the league including the Oakland Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns. They managed to rebound and win their last three games, including a 36-37 thriller victory over next weeks opponent: The Green Bay Packers. Ultimately, however, it was not enough to make the playoffs. But it did provide a glimmer of hope for fans of the franchise.

Then the real trouble began. Events started to transpire that threatened to rip the organization to shreds. Quarterback Ben Roethlesberger was accused of sexual assault for the

employee in lake Tahoe. This time it was by a college student in Midgeville, Ga., whom allegedly was taken advantage of in a bathroom at a bar. He was never charged with a crime due

public relations nightmare. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Ben for four to six games for what he called at the very least poor judgment. Whether or not Roethlesberger did anything immoral, he did put himself in a vulnerable situation. Professional athletes are often the target of these sort of allegations because they are often easy targets. That said, Roethlesberger does have a notoriously bad reputation in Pittsburgh for refusing to sign autographs, cutting out on bar tabs and generally being considered a douche.

Within days of the Roethlesberger incident, Steelers wide receiver and Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes was sued by an Orlando woman for throwing a drink at her in

in trouble with the law. In 2006, Holmes was arrested on domestic violence and assault charges, and in 2008, he was cited for possession of marijuana. After the incident, the Steelers’ organization, overwhelmed by scandals of two of it’s top players decided to release Holmes.

However, the Steelers were able to make the best out of a situation that could have gone very badly. Due to good behavior on the part of Roethlesberger, Goodell lowered his suspension to just four games, and behind back up quarterback Charlie Batch, the Steelers were 3-1 by the time he got back.

then beat the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets in the playoffs, earning themselves their spot in the Super Bowl, where if they beat the Green Bay Packers, they will capture their seventh Super Bowl victory in franchise history, the most by any team in the NFL.

The stairway to sevenThe Steelers’ road to a seventh NFL championship

photo courtesy of Eckerd AthleticsSophomore guard Woody Taylor (11) drives to the basket in a game against Nova Southeast-ern on January 15.

Eckerd sailing teamWhat it takes to be a sailor

Page 15

Tampa Bay RaysThe AL East champion Rays undergo a busy off-season

Page 18

EC men’s basketballMen’s basketball gets hot during recent conference play

Page 17

the current vol 25 issue 7

Documents