The food truck phenomenon Curbside Gourmet sells foods ranging from tacos to crab cake sliders, and it is completely mobile.
Features 4
Moving from sexual brokenness The Rahab House will create an atmosphere of safety for those faced with sexual brokenness.
News 3
Sunshine State Showdown
Photo by Christina Cernik for the Beacon
Rallying Support: A group of volunteers assembled outside of the Palm Beach County Convention Center in order to gain support for Mitt Romney’s campaign. Tomorrow, the four remaining candidates will face off for votes in Florida, a state that is important due to its size and cost. Weeks ago, Romney was the clear front-runner for the nomination.
With different candidates winning important caucuses and primaries in Iowa and South Carolina, tomorrow’s Florida Primary has become a key battleground on the road toward the Republican Nomination. By Cash W. Lambert News Editor
W
hat started as a caucus in Iowa has landed on the mediarich platform in Florida, giving voters tomorrow an opportunity to vote for one of the four men running for the Republican Party nomination for the president of the United States. With the political spotlight on Florida holding the most important primary yet, pressure is on the four candidates vying for the nomination: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum. Meanwhile, First Lady Michelle Obama added to the political limelight on Jan. 26. Her motorcade drove on Okeechobee Boulevard through downtown West Palm Beach and passed Palm Beach Atlantic University, headed to a fundraiser on Palm Beach Island. Students and onlookers lined the road hoping to get a glimpse of the president’s wife. Weeks ago, Romney was the clear front-runner for the nomination. But recent events have made Romney look vulnerable. The Iowa caucus, which was initially won by Romney, was re-counted and given to Santorum for the win. Romney then lost the South Carolina primary on Jan. 21 to Gingrich. “Romney’s lead has dwindled because his record is being exposed,” said Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager for President
Obama on a nationwide conference call. In previous primary states, voters had an idea of who would win based on the early polls. But because of the recent shake up, along with the difficulties of campaigning in Florida, the picture isn’t so clear as to who will win the people’s vote. Campaigning in Florida is unlike campaigning in the previous primary states, partly due to the state’s population of 18,537,969 that makes up its 67 counties. The populations of the three states that have voted before Florida - Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina combined are still shy of Florida’s population. With such a large and diverse people group, Florida places a financial burden on the candidate’s campaign. “Florida is an expensive state,” said former Governor of Arkansas and radio/television show host Mike Huckabee. Huckabee ran as a candidate in the 2008 Republican primary and finished second to John McCain, who lost the presidential election to Barack Obama. “It has 10 major media markets and is too large geographically to [campaign] grassroots style,” Huckabee said. James Watt, former state representative, Palm Beach county commissioner and current adjunct political science professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University, agreed and emphasized the importance of using the media to a candidate’s advantage. “It’s not just the size of Florida and its delegates; there are so many media markets,” said Watt. “To campaign in Florida, you have to be on television in the panhandle as much as in south Florida.”
See Primary, page 6
Florida Primary 2012 Who can vote? Who: Registered Republicans.
When: Early voting is currently underway. The polls are open for regular voting on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: There are
multiple voting locations. To find yours, visit pbcelections.org
2 news / opinion
The Beacon
Monday, January 30, 2012
Students fight for trafficked victims
By Charlotte Rakestraw for the Beacon
By Tyann Mullen Staff Writer Silent and constrained are the nearly 27 million slaves in the world today. According to National Geographic, this is the highest number of bondage in human history. Men, women, and children are forced to work and are solicited for sex against their will. It is happening all over the world as well as in our own nation. Passion 2012 united 42,000 students across four days at the Georgia Dome stadium in Atlanta to inform these statistics on students. Founded by pastor Louie Giglio of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Passion 2012 is another in an ongoing series of
conferences intended to engage the “university moment” with the story of Jesus. This year, the focus was on freeing the enslaved around the world. The conference invites students between the ages of 18-25 from around the globe to participate in the cry for social justice. The 18-25 year old generation is known in their group as the 268 generation, which is derived from Isaiah 26:8 which says, “Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.” What made Passion 2012 so compelling for many wasn’t the impressive list of popular Christian speakers, including Francis Chan, John Piper and Beth Moore. It wasn’t the popular worship music of Chris Tomlin, the David Crowder Band, and Hillsong United. It was making today’s social injustice a reality. The conference began with students donating towels and socks for Atlanta’s homeless. They progressed to donating their own money to organizations looking to prevent, rescue and restore those who have suffered. The goal for the event was to raise $1 million to support various anti-slavery organizations. By the end of the week, the students brought in over $3 million. Students gathered from across the U.S. and some internationally to be a part of the movement. Shelby Grant, a Palm Beach Atlantic University sophomore, attended the conference. “It was such an awesome experience to be a part of something so much bigger than myself,” she said. On the last day of the conference, students stood in the cold Georgia air to embrace a statue illustrating the fight against human trafficking. The statue resembled a hand of worship and justice for those without freedom. Students covered the 100-foot high statue in items made by slaves with their prayers written on them. Cameron Moreau, a PBA junior, also attended and has big hopes for our generation. “We have so much potential to do big things for the kingdom, and I hope none of that potential goes to waste,” he said. Although Passion 2012 has come to an end for the year, there are still ways to contribute to the end of human trafficking, especially in our own community. According to the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches, Miami International Airport is ranked as one of the top entry points in the United States for foreign human trafficking victims. With the yearround summers and three borders, Florida appears as an ideal destination for human trafficking victims. PBA student organizations continue their efforts to raise awareness of this undeniable problem in the area.
Unemployment rate for college graduates depends upon major By Kaitlyn Chassé Staff Writer
Corrections for 12/05: See an error we did not catch? Help hold us accountable by emailing the editor of the section. Our goal is to bring you the cleanest copy possible.
V
erse of the week:
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. -Psalm 62:5-8
Georgetown University has released a study to show which majors yield the highest unemployment rates: Hard Times: College majors, unemployment and earnings; Not all college degrees are created equal. Architecture has the highest unemployment rate with a 13.9 percent at an undergraduate level, according to the study. The study said, “Unemployment rates are generally higher in non-technical majors, such as the arts (11.1 percent), humanities and liberal arts (9.4 percent), social science (8.9 percent), and law and public policy (8.1 percent).” On the flip side, majors that deal with technical work yield the lowest unemployment rates. According to Georgetown, “Unemployment rates are relatively low (5.4 percent) for recent college students who majored in healthcare and education because these majors are attached to stable or growing industry sectors.” In a mid-range category, the following majors had an average unemployment rate of 7 percent: business, psychology and social work, engineering, communication and journalism, and agriculture/natural resources. “With the exception of majors in architecture, international business and theater arts, more experienced workers have substantially lower unemployment rates and higher earnings than recent college graduates,” the study said. While an unemployment rate of 8.9 percent seems high, understand that the unemployment rate for individuals with only a high school diploma is 22.9 percent, and 31.5 percent for high school dropouts. “A bachelor’s degree is one of the best weapons a job seeker can wield in the fight for employment and earnings,” according to Georgetown. Getting ready to graduate, you may find yourself how you can keep yourself off the unemployment list. A PBA alum offered her advice on how to do just that. Jen Rodino, a recent journalism graduate, wasted no time in
By Charlotte Rakestraw for the Beacon
the job search before her graduation in December. Rodino said she secured her job by taking advantage of career services at PBA. She suggests that seniors take the time to search for jobs during their last semester. Rodino said that waiting till after graduation only prolongs the process of getting hired. “I made regular visits to career services to see if they had any opportunities they had heard of that I could send my resume to,” said Rodino. Rodino was very worried about unemployment so she made a decision to find a job before graduation. Her hard work and determination paid off when Fortris Corporation finally called her nine months after she had applied.
The Beacon
news 3
Monday, January 30, 2012
By Christina Cernik for the Beacon Healing for the sexually broken: “There is nothing greater than seeing people come in for counseling who have dealt with relational issues and who leave completely restored.”
Rahab house on PBA campus offers help By Faith Warren Staff Writer Imagine feeling hopeless, ashamed and broken. Imagine feeling as if there were no one to turn to, no one to talk to, and no one who understood the weight of regret. Imagine if these veiled feelings of pain were frequent amongst students at Palm Beach Atlantic University. The more integrated Suzette Gregg became in the student life at PBA, the more her heart was broken as her eyes were opened to students suffering from post abortion struggles and other sex related trauma. “I was saddened and shocked as I was informed about the serious need for post-abortion recovery and all those sexually broken at PBA,” Gregg said. “I would have never known.” Working with First Care Family Resources, Gregg devotes her time to serving the Christ-centered organization by providing assistance, education, and encouragement to women, men and youth concerning abstinence, pregnancy and post-abortion issues. Responding to the sexual brokenness on campus, Gregg started a ministry for PBA students called “The Rahab House,” which is operated by First Care Family Resources. “Sitting and waiting for a crisis to occur in students’ lives was not good enough,” Gregg said. “We are here to prevent it before it happens.” As the name alludes to an Old Testament figure in the book of Joshua, the Rahab House reflects the story of a hopeless and lost woman who was redeemed and restored by the demonstration of her faith. “God uses sticky pasts for His glory,” said Stephanie Mejias, senior at PBA and First Care Family Resources’ campus outreach assistant. “A great percentage of students on this campus either have been or are sexually active, but I believe we will see hearts transformed through the Rahab House.” Following the model of First Care Family Resources, the Rahab House will focus on three branches: prevention, intervention and restoration. Available to
males and females, single or dating, the house will be a place where students can be educated, redeemed and encouraged. “I am in it for the sex,” Mejias said. “The Rahab House will be a place where students can learn from various discussions like what is love, why one should wait to have sex, and how to combat sexual tension.” For people from all different walks of life, the Rahab House provides students with confidential counseling as well as pregnancy and STD testing. Post-abortion recovery is available for students who have suffered from an abortion or have been affected by an abortion and are seeking healing. “There is nothing greater than seeing people come in for counseling who have dealt with relational issues and who leave completely restored,” Mejias said. “When I talk to someone individually they come in with one mindset and leave with another.” Rahab will be open for students to attend weekly co-ed discussions, weekly small groups, and entertaining and informative events. The Rahab House also encourages males to come and connect with other males, receive discipleship, and gain knowledge on how to handle future decisions. “There will be a lot of opportunity for male bonding,” said Joe Lograsso, a PBA alumnus and current volunteer. “Rahab is a place where guys can grow and learn how to step up as men in their relationships.” Located in apartment A1 of Samaritan Gardens, the Rahab House is furnished and stocked with snacks for students. With no residents living in the apartment, Rahab is a ministry house where students can hang out, drink coffee and connect with other students. “What we brought to PBA is entirely new, but I have seen dramatic change for those who listen to the message Rahab has to offer,” Gregg said. “We are seeing a difference county wide as we teach students on how to live above the world’s standards.” Anyone interested in becoming involved in the Rahab House to receive confidential counseling or volunteer may call Mejias at (561)939-4384.
Website tool added to calculate cost of college By Heisy Padilla Staff Writer Palm Beach Atlantic University has placed a net price calculator on its website to assist prospective students and their families with an estimated net price for attending PBA. According to Andrew Shankman, PBA financial aid counselor, since the PBA net price calculator was launched it has been viewed by about 6,000 people, and about 1500 people have calculated from start to finish and seen their net price. Other colleges and universities are also adding the net price calculator to their websites to fulfill the requirement of the U.S. Department of Education.
Jason Flaherty, financial aid counselor at PBA, said that the measure was taken to “help families get a better idea of what that college is going to cost before having to go through the application process.” PBA launched the net price calculator last year in April. Students can use the tool many times to create “what-if” scenarios, and the calculator reflects costs associated with college attendance including books, transportation and personal expenses. The website also states that the estimation made by the calculator does not represent a “final determination or actual award of financial assistance.” Flaherty hopes the net price calculator will encourage families and students.
“A lot of times families see a university like PBA or a private university that has the large sticker price, and it turns them off,” Flaherty said. “They immediately say ‘I can’t afford that,’ so the net price calculator really helps a family in entering their personal financial information and then they can kind of see that it may be more affordable than what we thought.” “It was a useful tool that gave a ballpark of how much I’ll be spending on my education,” said Franqui Carver, an education major. “I definitely recommend it for prospective studentsh to use this free calculator. It may help them make their final decision.”
4 features
The Beacon
Monday, January, 30, 2012
‘Livin’ Fit & Alum drops 80 pounds and blogs about it.
By Becca Stripe Staff Writer Because of her heavy weight, the shoulder bars on the Sea World ride didn’t come down to secure her in. With all the people watching, she became embarrassed as they watched her struggle to fit in the seat. That’s when it became a major wake-up call for her. “It literally started to affect my life,” says Cheyanne Lent of her weight. Lent graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University in the spring of 2010 with her bachelor’s degree in communications and since then has been going through a life-changing journey by working hard at losing weight. Lent entered PBA at 240 pounds and since has chosen to turn her life
Before and After: PBA Alum Cheyanne Lent who once weighed 260 pounds, is using her faith as motivation for her weight loss journey.
Photos Courtesy of Cheyanne Lent
around by throwing away her old bad habits. She currently weighs 180 pounds and hadn’t been below 200 pounds since she was 14. “Now I’m 24 years old so it’s the first time in ten years that I’ve actually seen a 1 on the scale,” Lent says. Lent lives in Los Angeles, and is pursuing her passion for the acting field. Becoming a talk show host is her dream. “I’ve always wanted to feel a hundred percent confident, but my body would always get in the way,” Lent shares. “I wanted screen acting to be my major at PBA, but I was too scared to do that because I didn’t like how I looked on camera.” Lent started taking her weight loss journey seriously at the beginning of her last semester at PBA, weighing in at her heaviest of 260 pounds. Realizing that she couldn’t keep pushing it off she says, “Tomorrow was never going to come because I was never caring enough about myself today.” Currently at 180 pounds, Lent has 35 more pounds to lose to reach her desired weight of 145 pounds. Initially Lent set her final goal to be 175 pounds “because at 260 pounds at the time that sounded good to me,” she says. A common focus for Lent is reminding herself “it’s not about trying to look a certain way. It’s more about becoming healthy.” Lent has always been athletic. Growing up she played three different sports, but took it slowly when she started exercising again. “I started walking to the beach and along the Intracoastal Waterway,” she says. “Getting involved with exercise classes really gave me a great variety and a wonderful support system,” Lent says. She started to take yoga,
Fancy food trucking Blocks from PBA, Curbside Gourmet serves sophisticated meals at a reasonable price. By Kayla Viaud Features Editor Tender pork is marinated in a tangy mojo seasoning. It is then added to a soft taco shell. The taco is topped with chunks of tomato, corn, and scallions and served with a lemon wedge on the side. Also on the menu, are crab cake sliders, basil zucchini soup and mahi tacos with mango salsa. This is not your local sit-down restaurant. This is gourmet food truck, Curbside Gourmet. Curbside Gourmet is the first of its kind in West Palm Beach. “There is something fun about going to a mobile kitchen and getting a fast meal,” says owner Mary Brittain, “It’s a different experience”. Gourmet food trucks don’t serve your average street food. “There is a difference between a food truck and gourmet food truck,” says Curbside Gourmet chef Mathew Somsy. Jochen Esser, organizer for Gourmet Truck Expo, has seen simple dishes like pizza, hamburgers, and fries to more elaborate dishes like alligator, frog legs, and dishes that contain Kobe Beef on gourmet food trucks. The Gourmet Truck Expo specializes in creating food truck events in South Florida. Brittain describes Curbside Gourmet as “sophisticated meals in a simple environment.” “The ingredients are really fresh and the price is reasonable,” says Derek Garrett, Curbside Gourmet customer. According to National Restaurant News, a food truck’s
menu is just as important as its brand. Brittain considered this when designing the food truck with local graphic designer Hillary Jordan. “We didn’t want to be an eye sore on the side of the road,” Brittain says. As for the food at Curbside Gourmet, most of it is prepared in a local commercial kitchen the morning of, loaded on the truck and the meals are made to order. If ingredients are forgotten, and are then not available on the truck, the chefs make the dishes work to satisfy the customers. “Everything must be on the truck when we leave; if not we have to go without,” Somsy says. The space on the truck is much smaller than a normal restaurant. The three-person crew, consisting of two professional chefs and a cashier, maneuver around each other during the lunchtime rush. Somsy says the atmosphere is “hectic, but rewarding when people tell you how good the food is.” Some may worry about the cleanliness of eating from a food truck. However, food trucks must pass a rigorous inspection before being allowed to sell food. “We had to get a lot of permits,” says Brittain. Both state and county permits are required and every worker on the truck must have a cooking license. Food trucks in Florida are under the same rules for cleanliness and safe food handling as regular restaurants. Gourmet food trucks began in Los Angeles and have become a popular sight in South Florida. “Part of the popularity certainly is caused by pricing that is very reasonable compared to some traditional brick & mortar restaurants,” Esser says. Curbside Gourmet is located on Dixie Highway near the old Carefree Theater and is open for lunch from 11 to 3:30. Curbside Gourmet also provides a discount for PBA students.
Serving it Up: Curbside Gourmet cashier Andrea Duclos serves food to
The Beacon
Monday, January, 30, 2012
Fabulous’ step, and body pump classes. One of Lent’s greatest obstacles throughout her weight loss journey has been with food. “It’s so hard to deny that temptation, especially when you’re stressed out or have a strong craving, but it’s important to start putting the bad food out of the house,” Lent says. She believes that people need to train their bodies how to eat correctly and that’s something “I still struggle with that every day and I think it’ll always be an obstacle for me, but I believe that it’s definitely worth overcoming.” “It’s been beautiful to see how the Lord has taken one of my strongest weakness and turning it around into one of my greatest strengths,” Lent says speaking on how her faith in God has changed since her weight loss. “Throughout my weight loss journey I’ve been able to share Christ, which is something that I never thought that would be anywhere near possible,” Lent says. “Because of what God has done through me I am now able to do with others.” People can do all the dieting and exercising they want, but “I truly believe that if God’s not there, something huge is missing,” Lent says. “A total person is mind, body, and soul and you can’t forget about the soul part.” To share her weight loss journey with people, Lent started up a blog called Livin’ Fit & Fabulous (livinfitandfabulous.blogspot.com) while attending PBA. She wanted to inspire others and have some accountability. “My blog is almost like a prayer journal because when looking back it shows me what all God has brought me through,” Lent says. After the success of her blog, Lent decided to create a YouTube show
o a customer.
(username cheybeachgirl88) to continue bringing hope, advice, and encouragement to people. “God knew that this would happen, that I was going to have such a great success and that it was going to lead to a YouTube channel.” “It’s about enjoying the journey and recognizing the things that you’re learning,” Lent says looking back at all she’s been through and accomplished. “Enjoy the journey that God has you on.” “If you want a change in your mind, you need to make a change in your decisions and choices. People often want quick fixes and they definitely just don’t exist,” Lent says, “You have to work for your end results. It’s taken me two years, but was it worth it? A hundred percent definitely, yes.” “I had never thought about making a YouTube channel,” Lent says. “God knew that this would happen, that I was going to have such a great success and that it was going to lead to a YouTube channel.” Lent realizes that people often think too much about the destination and not the journey. “It’s about enjoying the journey and recognizing the things that you’re learning,” Lent says. “Enjoy the journey that God has you on.” When giving advice to people who also want to lose weight, she encourages them to ask themselves exactly why they want to lose weight. Lent believes the “why” behind the “what” is important to ask themselves before their process of losing weight. “If you want a change in your mind, you need to make a change in your decisions and choices. People often want quick fixes and they definitely just don’t exist,” Lent says, “You have to work for your end results. It’s taken me two years, but was it worth it? A hundred percent definitely, yes.”
By Kayla Viaud for the Beacon
features 5
By Charlotte Rakestraw for the Beacon
Christian Love
The baggage of divorce
In the first part of a Christian Love series, Cory Copeland explains his views on being a Christian divorcee.
the courage to attend—I felt as if I wore a scarlet letter on my chest. It was a senseless and brutal assault on my psyche, but one I felt was earned at the time. Dating was even worse. I wouldn’t allow myself to enter into a new relationship until I had healed from the one that ended. Yet even then, it was hard to find a girl who could accept me as someone who was whole and unburdened. By Cory Copeland They saw my baggage and prejudged the person I was Contributing Writer In today’s world, it can be fairly difficult to be a based on what I’d been through. That wasn’t easy. I would only date a good, Christian girl, but none of twenty-something Christian. Not only do we deal with the normal pressures a young person faces (school, the good, Christian girls wanted me. Catch-22 doesn’t dating, sex, work, etc.), but we do so with certain la- begin to explain it. I won’t pretend bels stapled to us by a hardened that divorce is world simply because we choose okay; it isn’t. It’s to believe the way we do. Getting “ We have all sinned and wrong. But so is to a place of personal comfort and holding someacceptance can often times be diffallen short of God’s grace, one’s past decificult. Now, take all of that and pile but, for one reason or another, sions against them. on the stigma of being divorced while within the disapproving when a fellow Christian be- Through my situation, I discovered confines of the Christian culture. comes a divorced that a Christian To put it mildly: it ain’t easy. Christian, they are dealt a divorcee is often If you haven’t quite figured it out yet, I’m a divorced Christian and I harsher punishment than if times seen as a lesser Christian. speak from experience. they had lied or stolen some- We have folded I was married at 19, and after thing.” from what we are three years of marriage, my wife taught, and in reand I decided to part ways and end turn, we are looked our union. It wasn’t an easy decidown upon. To that, I sion to make—especially since our daughter had just been born—but our relationship have but one response: hate the sin, love the sinner. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s grace, was beyond resolve. This was partly because I had married her when I didn’t love her and partly because but for one reason or another, when a fellow Chriswe were no longer getting along on any level. We de- tian becomes a divorced Christian, they are dealt a cided we didn’t want to raise our daughter in a home harsher punishment than if they had lied or stolen something. Even after time has passed and the parfilled with loudly spouted words and angry feelings. Since we were both raised in Christian homes and ties involved have moved on, that reputation of failed taught that divorce is against the Word and wishes of Christianity remains—and that can be more hurtful God, you can imagine how disappointed our families than anything. The Bible says that sin is not relative and every act were—especially in me. I can’t speak for my ex-wife and what she went through because that isn’t my is equal. So why are we so quick to remove value from place, but I can truthfully say that for the year or so a divorced Christian? We are no less worthy of God’s after my divorce, I had never felt more alone in my love and forgiveness. Consider this: if the mighty Creator of all that is life. Though they loved me, my family’s disappointment resulted in ostracizing me, in a way, from their good and holy can find it in His heart to forgive those comfort and love. Their attitude and temperance had who have failed the test of marriage, then so should hardened against me because I had dared to break we. I’m happy to say that I made it through all the judgfrom what I had been taught all my life. It wasn’t an easy time, and honestly, I found myself in a deep and ments and disapprovals—of the dating world and dark place that I am neither proud of nor willing to everyday life. And while I haven’t married again just yet, I’ve moved beyond the place where my past dicreturn to. Frankly, I am happy to have survived. Through those times of dejection, I found myself tates my romantic relationship. Dating isn’t always dealing with feelings of guilt and lack of worth. Be- easy because of the lingering stigma of divorce, but cause of my being divorced, I walked an unsteady God has seen fit to bless me with a wonderful woman beat toward acceptance. Not only did I have my fam- who bases her love for me on who I am and who I’ll be ily issues to deal with, but I also had to face the disap- rather than on who I was or what I’ve been through. And you know what? There is no better feeling in proving glances from my church and its saints. When I walked into service—on the rare occasions I found the entire world than that.
6 News
The Beacon
Monday, January 30, 2012
Opinion
The hidden horrors of female circumcision Editor’s caution: The following opinion piece explains, in graphic detail, a disturbing and sensitive subject. The viewpoints held are not necessarily those of the editors, the Beacon staff or Palm Beach Atlantic University. By Amber Braaten Contributing Writer Most of us have learned about the ancient tradition of foot binding that the Chinese practiced to make women more appealing to potential husbands. We now shake our heads in disbelief at something so barbaric. But if we think our 21st Century world is much more enlightened, maybe that’s because we’re uneducated about a present-day horror that anywhere from 100 to 140 million women are living with. That horror is known as female circumcision. There are absolutely no health benefits from these procedures, which are usually done without anesthesia. So why is such a merciless practice done? It’s to assure the men that the girls they are marrying are virgins who will never cheat on them. In order for many of these women to engage in sexual activity they will have to be cut open. Because the clitoris is cut out, sex will never be pleasurable for these women. And because they have to be cut open to even participate in intercourse and childbirth, sex will be extremely painful, thus assuring that women would never want to have sex with anyone, especially
Primary
outside a marriage. Even with the alluring promise of a virgin wife, it seems there must be another reason for such a radical practice. Many assume there is a religious tie. There is not. This practice is not supported by Islam, Christianity, Judaism or any other major religion. That being said, there are Muslims, Christians, and Jews who do have this procedure done to their daughters, because it preserves a tradition. The intended effect of FGM/C is bad enough, but there are also serious side effects. Girls are cut with razors that are often not sterilized or even cleaned in between procedures. This leaves the victims vulnerable to simple infections and also deadly ones such as HIV. The procedure rarely includes an anesthetic. Imagine the pain and also the psychological trauma, as the girls are held down by older women during the procedure. The victim faces even more pain the day after, when she has to urinate. The long-term effects include lifelong problems urinating, difficulty having sexual intercourse, gynecological problems, trouble getting pregnant and problems during labor. It’s estimated that
voting. “I hear young adults talk about not caring towards From page 1 politics,” Smith said. “They fail “You either make it or break it to realize that politics affect with media coverage,” said Jesse your life whether you like it or Biter, chairman of Santorum’s not.” Watt, when discussing campaign and president/CEO how to motivate the younger of Biter Enterprises. “Without it, we don’t have a stump to generations, gave an example of stand on and get our message his son Andrew Watt. Andrew began volunteering out.” in 2008 for then-campaigning The candidate who claims Pat Rooney Florida will by walking be that much “They (young adults) door to door closer to and putting fail to realize that winning the R e p u b l i c a n politics affect your life up campaign signs. Now nomination whether you like it or Andrew is at the GOP a legislative n a t i o n a l not.” - Smith assistant convention in to Rooney, a Florida state August in Tampa Bay, Fla. Candidates in both primaries representative. “Candidates are always and general elections attempt looking for volunteers,” Watt to motivate the youngest voting said. “And you never know what generation to get involved in the it could turn into.” process. “Just volunteer,” said Biter. “The youngest voters will live with the decisions that the He explained the influence a government makes the longest,” single volunteer can have on a Biter said. “When I was younger, campaign. “If you vote, that’s a I didn’t care about politics,” single vote for the candidate. If said Biter. “But when I started you make 10 phone calls, that my own business I realized could be 10 votes. If 50 people how important the government see you wave a sign that could be 50 votes. Who knows how really is.” Sawyer Smith, a PBA many votes you can change.” Pick up a copy of next week’s sophomore heavily involved Beacon for results and an in in politics, commented on the depth look at what took place lackadaisical approach some at the Florida Primary. young Americans take towards
women who have had FGM/C done to them have infertility rates as high as 30 percent. This procedure may secure a man a virgin bride and continue a tradition, but can this justify the right to crush a woman’s natural desire to bear children? One hundred forty million women. That’s a little less than half the population of the United States. The biggest problem with this custom is that it is a cultural tradition unknown to many outside the culture. I live with six very intelligent women. Until I studied this issue as the outcome of a class discussion, none of us seven could have given you a definition of FGM/C. Knowledge is power. Though it may have been very unpleasant to learn about this practice, you now have the power of knowledge. Please use that power to do something, to spread the word, increase knowledge and make a difference. When I first learned about these procedures I was horrified. After watching documentaries, reading testimonies and seeing graphic photographs, I no longer saw this evil as an injustice occurring worlds away from me. Instead, I saw the beautiful faces of the women, my sisters in Christ, who have
had to live with this mutilation every day of their lives. I truly believe God made sex a beautiful act to be performed only within a marriage. These women will never get to enjoy this aspect of life that God created for them. No one should have the power to take God’s gifts away, but we let cultural traditions and geography become ethical loopholes for us. It’s time for us to start seeing problems such as this as a one-way street we all go down and not a fork in the road with the decision to ignore it or address it. To learn how you could
make a difference, go to orchidproject.org and click on the “Get Involved” tab. A quick Google search will turn up a number of other organizations working to stop FGM/C. You could make a donation to help these organizations. You could also contact your members of Congress, calling for the State Department to take the matter before the United Nations. At the very least, share this painful story with someone else. Some three million girls are at risk to have this procedure done this year alone. How can we ignore that?
What is female circumcision? Female circumcision is also known as female genital mutilation or cutting, FGM/C. It is a tradition practiced mainly in Africa and the Middle East, but also in a number of other areas. It’s a torturous process that may include four different types of procedures (as defined by the World Health Organization): Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals). Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora; (the labia are “the lips” that surround the vagina). Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer labia, with or without removal of the clitoris. Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.
Mayor discusses first year, unemployment in speech By Meghan Gilmore Staff Writer
year. Muoio said that when people would first ask her how she liked being mayor, she would always reply with the same response: “Be careful what It wasn’t the typical “ding, ding, ding,” you you wish for.” Despite the high stress of the job, hear at 7 a.m. to wake you up to roll out of bed. Muoio said she still loves the job. “I wake up every Instead it was the clashing of trash can lids and day excited about the possibilities of where we can the stomping of Palm Beach Atlantic Universi- take our city.” ty’s dance ensemble waking up the business and In response to the hot topic of unemployment, political leaders of West Palm Beach. All of the Muoio said, “Just one year ago today, the unemnoise was created to prepare the audience for the ployment rate in our City was at 11.6 percent. mayor of West Palm Beach, Jeri Muoio, and her Today,it’s down to 9.8 percent,and we’re not stoppresentation of the anping there. We’ve also “The University (PBA) not only seen an additional 40 nual State of Our City address theme “Build- brings a lot of money into our city’s new business ventures ing an Inspired City,” on come to downtown West economy but more importantly it is Palm Beach, adding Wednesday, Jan. 18. The mayor’s main fo- shaping the leaders of our city for hundreds of jobs to our cus was that West Palm local economy.” the future.” - Muoio Beach is an inspiring The mayor listed some city built on the talents of the items that the city of the residents and business and neighborhood has accomplished under her term including, “cutleaders. Muoio said the PBA dance ensemble was ting the cost of our overhead by reducing paper the best choice for performers not only because of needs; increasing reporting efficiency; renegotitheir God-given talents but also to remind the au- ating existing vendor contracts, improvements dience what an impact the university has on the in our construction services department; and the city. Muoio said, “The university not only brings increased on-line access to more government sera lot of money into our city’s economy but more vices and information, including the launch of our importantly it is shaping the leaders of our city for own iPhone app, WPB Connect.” the future.” The PBA dance ensemble embraced “We have negotiated six different employee its creative nature and used instruments in the contracts including both our fire and police union performance from objects found on the streets in contracts,” said Muoio. “We’ve accomplished penWest Palm Beach from trash can lids to stop signs sion reform, passed a budget in which our millto create their music. age decreased without dipping into our reserves, Muoio described her first year as mayor and and imposed a compensation reduction package what the city can look forward to in the upcoming to our city’s top tier administrators.”
sports 7
The Beacon Monday, January 30, 2012
New AD hopes to ‘build upon tradition of excellence’ at PBA By Meghan Gilmore Staff Writer Palm Beach Atlantic University has hired Carolyn Stone as its new athletic director. “To serve as Palm Beach Atlantic’s director of athletics is a tremendous honor for me,” Stone said. Stone replaces Bob White, who served as athletic director for the past five years and will continue his role as head volleyball coach. Stone will manage the university’s athletic department, which consists of 10 intercollegiate sports for men and women competing in the NCAA Division II and the NCCAA, the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association. She will also serve on the President’s Cabinet and work with senior administrators on construction of the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus. In addition, she will assume leadership of the Campus Recreation Department “I believe so strongly in the university’s mission and am extremely excited about the op-
portunities and synergies the athletic campus will provide,” Stone said. During the 1990s, Stone served as Palm Beach Atlantic University’s first campus recreation director and later as director of institutional research and effectiveness. In addition, she was employed as an adjunct faculty member for the physical education and organizational management departments from 1996 until 2008. “I have to say that the reason I am here is because of President Fleming,” Stone said. “I have known Bill for 20 years and could not pass up an opportunity to work with such a visionary leader.” Stone said that her faith is how she came to her decision. “Sometimes you just have to let go and let God take over,” Stone said. “The obvious goal I have as the new athletic director is to continue to build on the tradition of excellence for PBA athletics,” Stone said. Even more dear to Stone’s heart is to champion community involvement and support to-
ward the completion of the athletic complex, which will create “incredible synergy” in the West Palm Beach community. “Many people think that this athletic complex will only benefit the university,” Stone said. “Those individuals have to think outside the box and see all the possibilities this complex leads to.” Stone has over 20 years of professional experience in sport management and administration. Most recently, she served as parks and facilities manager for the Village of North Palm Beach Parks and Recreation. Previously, she served the Town of Palm Beach and the City of Palm Beach Gardens in recreation and facilities leadership roles. In addition to her career credentials, Stone loves to compete and watch sports. “I did my first triathlon in 1991,” Stone said. “I was struck by a car while training in 1993, and as a result I had surgery and didn’t start training again until 2009 and began racing again in 2010. “
Courtesy of Becky Peeling for the Beacon
Taking over: In her third enrollment at Palm Beach Atlantic, Carolyn Stone becomes the school’s new athletic director. Prior to her current job, she worked as an adjunct professor from 1996 to 2008.
Expectations high for Sailfish baseball The 2012 season, opening Feb. 2, has potential “to be very special” By Saudia Ali Staff Writer In 2011, Palm Beach Atlantic University’s baseball team concluded its season with a record of 27-26, increasing by a total of ten wins from the previous season. As for this upcoming season, the Sailfish have added a couple new editions, including new associate head coach Kent Bottenfield and new assistant coach Scott Kingston, as well as 12 new players. “To be able to coach at a university that encourages me to use my life in Christ to help teach the game of baseball is very exciting,” Bottenfield said. “It is important for our players to know that being a highly competitive athlete and having a solid faith in Christ are not mutually exclusive, both can be accomplished.” “It’s something that Coach Carter has been working on with the players the last couple of years and he’ll get nothing but the greatest support from me in continuing with that philosophy.” Botenfield continued by talking about assistant coach Scott
By Cash W. Lambert for the Beacon
Hit This: Senior Logan Thomas hopes for a strong season this year.
Kingston. “Being able to bring in a guy with the background and abilities of a person like Scott will be a tremendous addition to our program,” Bottenfield said. “His passion for the game and his desire to make players better as individuals and within the team concept made him a natural fit for what we are trying to accomplish with our program.” With the new additions to the coaching staff, players feel this will be the best team PBA has had yet. “I know we will do well this season. I expect many wins with a shot at a championship,” sophomore Sawyer Smith said. Smith, who suffered a partially torn UCL ligament in his right elbow, was medically redshirted last year due to this season ending injury early last spring.
“With our dedicated and experienced coaching staff along with our solid group of guys, if we continue to work hard and stay healthy, all signs lead to a big season for us,” Smith said. “Last year was a stepping stone for the university. We had one of the best baseball seasons PBA has ever seen,” senior Logan Thomas said. “This year I expect big things. We have returned a lot of talent from last year and have added some extremely athletic players to the roster. I think this year has the potential to be very special for the program.” Brian Walker and Robbie Pettet also have high hopes for their team this upcoming season. “I expect the team to have a good year because we have worked hard and it should show
during the season,” Walker said. “We have been weight lifting, running and getting a lot of reps in to prepare for the season, so everyone needs to come out and support because that would be a big help to us.” Gary Carter, the team’s head coach, has had the team undergoing various training in preparation for the season. “We are expecting to have a very successful season this year,” Pettet said. “There’s a lot of talent on the team, including several returning starters from last year.” “The whole team is focused on our goal of having a successful season, and everyone has been working hard to prepare for it.” Bottenfield is making sure the baseball team is well prepared for this upcoming season. “Last season there was an is-
sue with our defense,” Bottenfield said. “We have been focusing on lots of field practice. It’s about how consistent you are at the fundamentals like groundballs, hand and feet work.” Bottenfield, who was a professional baseball player, finds that coaching is a completely different mindset. “Coaching is more than just on-field action; it involves administration work as well,” Bottenfield said. “I have to help the guys athletically as well as educationally. “I make sure to have good communication with the faculty and my team,” said Bottenfield. “My first priority is to make sure the boys maintain their grades; they are students first and players second.” Coaching is a great learning process and also very enjoyable to Bottenfield. “Coach Carter has done an excellent job with these boys,” Bottenfield said. “He has helped them improve a great deal. I believe that they are a team that, if prepared and focused, will win a lot of games. There’s a lot of talent.” The Sailfish open up the season with six of their first seven games at home, including their season opener at Roger Dean Stadium on Feb. 2 against Lynn University.
sports 8
The Beacon Monday, January 30, 2012
Intramural basketball underway By Joshua Reid Sports Editor After a successful fall semester, intramural basketball again returns for the spring semester. It’s a month long regular season that starts today and ends on Feb 29. “I played basketball in high school, so a group of friends and I decided to try intramurals,” freshman Brandon Hadley said. “I would love to play intramural basketball because I miss competing in basketball when I played in high school,” junior Matthew Jammel said. “A couple of reasons why I like to play intramural sports are because I like the competitiveness of the sports, and I also like the exercise that comes with playing the sports,” junior Carlos Hechavarria said. “Playing sports allows me to keep my body in shape, which is really important.” Nu Delta Nu, led by Jared Reuter, won the fall championship. With majority of the team the same, Reuter feels this team is capable of winning it again this semester. “It took a collective team effort to win the championship for the second consecutive fall semester,” Reuter said. “No one thought Nu Delta Nu could do it. We can do it again this semester too.” For students who don’t win the championship, it still allows them to have a great experience playing a sport with their friends and fellow classmates. It also allows them to take their minds off of school work for a few hours and enjoy a few hours of playing sports and having fun. “I look forward to playing intramurals because I get to pay against my friends and classmates,” Jammel said. “I also get a chance to win a championship at that sport I’m playing in.” “I joined intramurals because I missed playing ball in high school,” sophomore Chad Wagler said. “It’s really fun meeting
By Christina Cernik for the Beacon
Practice makes perfect: Ricky Marc practices his free throw shooting
up with the guys every week and going to war. My team, Team Fight, is awesome!” “We play great together, we have a ton of chemistry on the court,” said Wagler. “I think the favorite this semester should be my crew, Team Flight.” As well as other intramurals, basketball helps build community within the school. “Last semester, Will Clark, assistant director of intramural sports, talked about the value of intramurals. “It’s an extracurricular activity students love doing to build community in the school.” “Friendly competition is always a great thing for building up a school and just giving students the chance to form relationships with each other.”
Clark said. Clark continued by saying that intramurals “are a great way to make that transition from high school to college for those who played sports in high school, but didn’t want to play varsity in college.” It’s important for the students to sign up as quickly as possible so that they’re not left out of the sport. To sign up for intramurals in the future, go to imleagues. com/pba. The website will also allow students to see what sport is being offered each month. Eric Quinones contributed to this story.
By Christina Cernik for the Beacon
Fight for the tip-off: David Phillips (in black) and Dillon Crawford (in white) demonstrate an opening tip-off for basketball during referee training.
NCAA allows more contact in recruiting By Amber Braaten Staff Writer The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) consists of 400,000 student-athletes that go to one of the 1,300 member institutions, competing in one or more of the twentythree sports recognized by the NCAA. The NCAA is composed of three divisions. While Division I and II schools offer scholarships to athletes, Division III schools
Sailfish Sports Jan. 30 to Feb. 5
cannot. Convention is the once a year meeting attended by all the divisions bringing representatives from their school, generally the college or university’s president, athletic director, faculty athletic representative and compliance coordinator. Another group is the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, or SAAC, which is made up of two members from every team on campus. One individual from each of the 23 conferences in Division II
Basketball
Men’s 1/30, 7:30 p.m. @ UCF Women’s 2/1, 5:30 p.m. @ Barry University Men’s 2/1, 7 p.m. @ Barry
as well as two at-large positions make up the national SAAC. “It is a good way to ensure that the student-athlete’s voice is always being heard by the NCAA,” Gulf South Conference representative Brandon Joyner said. “It’s also a very rewarding experience for those involved.” “Next to being a studentathlete, SAAC was the best and most rewarding experience in my college career. I think it is an honor for athletes to be selected by their coach to represent their team.”
Tennis
Women’s 2/1, 3 p.m. Home, Florida Tech Women’s 2/3, 3:30 p.m. Home, Southeastern Men’s & Women’s 2/4, 1 p.m. @ Saint Leo
This year’s convention was held the second week of January at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. One of the most important components is the business session, where every division holds its own mass meeting. In these meetings they vote on proposed legislation that will change the rules that division currently exists under. The most important item voted on this year was in regard to how much contact college coaches can have with prospec-
Baseball
2/2, 7 p.m. Home, Lynn University @ Roger Dean Stadium 2/4, 4 p.m. Home, Warner University
tive student-athletes. The majority voted to allow unlimited texting, phone calls, and e-mails on June 15 after a prospective student-athlete’s junior year. “Texting and phone calls to prospective student-athletes would have great benefits,” PBA cross country runner Faith Warren said. “It would allow and help the prospective student to feel more comfortable, wanted and connected before committing to a life altering decision.”
Softball
2/4, noon @ St. Thomas 2/5, noon @ Saint Leo