VOLUME 12 ISSUE 8
WWW.READMYBEACON.COM
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Monday, April 20, 2015
Featuring PBA’s latest and our editors’ top picks of the year
Features
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Cover design by Ryan Arnst
Monday, April 20, 2015
Spring 2015 The Beacon is a monthly student publication. DUANE MEEKS Dean of the School of Communication and Media MICHAEL RAY SMITH Adviser HANNAH DEADMAN Executive Editor CELESTE BROWN News Editor DAVID WILLIAMS Features Editor JEREMIAH SATER Sports Editor RYAN ARNST Photo Editor AMANDA HIGGINS Graphic Design Director JAMES HALL Web Editor Staff Peter Amirata Nancy Arteaga Taylor Branham Aaron Broghamer Cameron Codner Angel Conlon Tiffany Danin Ashley Destler April Evans Jordan Flug Katie Forsythe Jamie Givens Greg Halmos Jasmine McCranely Keisha Oakley Jenna Skinner Dana Stancavage Jackie Streng Becca Stripe Ryan Teason Victoria Vartan READMYBEACON.COM Questions? Comments? The Executive Editor may be reached at Hannah_Deadman@pba.edu
More than 100 students attended the AMPED coffeehouse. Taylor Zeno, left, and Joshua Conner sang top hits, along with other student performers. C Street Cafe provided the coffee for the night.
Photo by Ryan Arnst
Revamped for AMPED
Students dare to dance and perform popular hit songs By Jordan Flug Staff Writer The energy drink AMP is a beverage that provides a boost of energy. The Student Activities Board took that same concept and applied it to their final coffeehouse for the academic year last week. The theme for the coffeehouse this semester was called AMPED, which had an upbeat feel that had never been featured before at previous coffeehouses. Co-chair of SAB Joshua Conner said the goal this time was to
bring upbeat acts that fit in with the theme, rather than the acoustic sounds that coffeehouses typically provided. “All who auditioned were ridiculously talented, but we wanted to showcase those that specifically were right for the theme,” Conner says. Featured acts included rap artist Cody Young, saxophone player Reginald Ellis and Josh Conner and Taylor Zeno duet with versions of familiar tunes. Senior vocal trio Iane Da Silva, Amanda Jackson and Tori Lackey made an appearance also. Members of the band “The Calm,” Ben Crane and Marco
Pera, performed individually and senior Hannah Deadman sang top hits at the piano. Members of the SAB team surprised everyone at the coffeehouse by beginning the show with a hip-hop dance routine choreographed by senior Rachel Vogeney and junior David Williams. Students enjoyed these performances and even showed off their dancing skills throughout the night. “It was great seeing how so many students felt comfortable enough to dance around and have a good time,” says SAB member Brianne Farrell. “Many
people had the most fun at this coffeehouse because it gave everyone the opportunity to be in a loose environment that made AMPED the perfect name for this coffeehouse.” This event was the only one done this semester and replaced the original scheduling of the SAIL talent show, but the expectations of this event were still projected to be high, SAB team says. “We want to make sure all students will remember these one-of-a-kind events that a student can enjoy only at PBA,” Conner says.
South Florida’s saltwater fishing By Ryan Arnst Photo Editor Commentary As the summer rolls in, the snowbirds take their flight north and many cold-blooded fish off Florida’s shores take their place. Warmer waters mean active fisheries and a lot of fun. Choosing whether to fish inshore or off depends on one’s preference. Some prefer to fish only for open ocean sport fish like king mackerel, wahoo, black and yellow-fin tuna and our very own: sailfish. Other anglers would rather target intercostal and bay fish such as snook, redfish, sea trout, and tarpon. Shore casting is the type of saltwater fishing that I enjoy most and fits in between inshore and off. Battling against the wind,
waves and fish all at once is a lot of work, so it’s really rewarding when you finally catch a fish. Fishing from the shore is also very practical when you can’t afford to use a boat or kayak. The Greene Complex offers kayaks for rent. Use caution when kayaking in the Intracoastal, because summer also happens to be the busiest season for boat traffic. Being sensitive to the other beachgoers while shore casting is key. Keeping a reasonable distance from swimmers will help avoid any unnecessary injuries. Fish also generally avoid swimmers. Two main styles of fishing from the beach are popular. Using live or dead bait and sinking it beneath the waves in anticipation of a bite, or casting and retrieving a lure through the surf are both attractive approaches.
The two couldn’t be much more opposite, but a time exists for both. I generally stick to cast and retrieving because I find it to be more thrilling. A fish will often follow the lure very near to the beach and will go for the bite or turn away. I’ve had both a crevalle jack take the lure from two feet in front of me, and a snook turn away from three. This makes sense considering the jack is the much more aggressive fish. As for what you can expect to catch shore casting, the possibilities are almost infinite. The most common fishes that patrol Palm Beach’s beaches are bluefish, crevalle jack, snook and a variety of sharks. To effectively cast your sinking bait or lure, you will need a long pole and the right line for the job. Twenty or 30-pound test monofilament line will usually do the job, though I
Photo by Andrew Paul Davis
The warm summer waters bring in various saltwater fish like mackerel, wahoo and tuna.
typically use a 40-pound. As always, being able to identify and safely release or keep a fish is important to keep our waters healthy. Most anglers don’t realize it, but it is illegal in the state of Florida to raise tarpon over 40 inches completely out of the water. Bigger fish can’t support their weight on land like they can in the water and as a result, internal damage can occur from
improper handling. Since Florida wildlife officials tend to be much more observant and strict about saltwater fish, knowing the rules and having a license will protect both you, the fish and your wallet. Do some research, watch some tutorial videos, and get in the water. After your first fish, you’ll be hard-pressed to quit.
Monday, April 20, 2015
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New beginnings in a new destination Student shares her transition from Italy to the states By Jenna Skinner Staff Writer Everyone has his or her own way of describing the meaning of a journey. Many describe it in terms of travel, some think of it as spiritual, and some consider it a mixture of experiences and lessons learned. The Tonelli family’s journey included all of these aspects: A significant change, challenges, rewards and a significant impact. Alessandra (Allie) Tonelli was born in Milan, Italy, where she spent most of her childhood. She was raised by, whom she described, a loving family that never lacked anything. Her family owned a villa, expensive cars, and was able to travel all over the world thanks to the success of her father’s restaurant businesses. Tonelli described their life as perfect, yet she and her family noticed that something was missing – future opportunities for Tonelli and her brother. Italy’s economy has experienced a constant downfall for many years, which made it an increasingly difficult place to live. With the unemployment rate on the rise, students like Tonelli lost motivation to attend school, earn a degree and focus on their dreams. As a result of the economy’s decline, Tonelli’s parents made the decision to leave their homeland in order to give their children the opportunity to create their own success and pursue their dreams. In February of 2009, they moved to the United States. “I can still remember my uncontainable excitement immediately after setting foot into this country,” Tonelli says. “I remember the smell of fried food as we walked the streets of South Beach in Miami. I remember my reaction to the giant green road signs on the highway and admired the cleanliness of the streets of Palm Beach Gardens, where we chose to settle down.” As they began their new life in the states, so did a cycle of experiences that have made their
Photo courtesy of Allie Tonelli
Allie Tonelli came to the United States in 2009. “I knew that God had a better plan for us here, so I held onto that vision and trusted the process,” she says.
journey both challenging and rewarding. When Tonelli and her brother Alby began school, they didn’t speak a word of English, and desired to live like the American teenagers they had seen in films. “It was most definitely tough at first, mainly because of the language barrier, but also because we were clueless as to what the standards were,” Tonelli says. “We had no idea that Hollister clothing was what the popular kids wore and that the ideal school lunch included rolled-up turkey and pretzel sticks, gently packed away in Ziploc bags.” Within three months, Tonelli grasped the English language and was able to speak it fluently and eventually adapted to the American culture as if it were her own. Throughout this time and
despite starting fresh in a new country, Tonelli took advantage of many opportunities given to her in high school. She became president of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter and also participated in a number of competitive events and community service opportunities. “I tried my best to remain positive and to focus on what I needed to do to head towards a brighter future,” Tonelli saiys “I could not lose sight of my dreams.” Still, when Tonelli’s brother began to lose motivation, her family began to lose faith. “This would bring such a burden on my heart, but I knew this was not going to be our life for long,” Tonelli says. “I knew that God had a better plan for us here, so I held onto that vision and trusted the process.”
Tonelli encouraged her brother to become more involved in extracurricular activities in school, which helped him to better adjust to life in the United States. As his motivation returned, so did the Tonelli’s faith that America was the right place for them. By her senior year of high school, her family’s life began to improve. Meanwhile, Tonelli focused on the next step in her journey – college. She was accepted into a variety of universities and earned numerous scholarships before eventually committing to Palm Beach Atlantic University. After taking off a semester to work at a restaurant called Casa Mia to help her parents pay for tuition, her dreams of attending a university became a reality. With her motivation and determination, she never gave up
on what could be considered an unattainable dream. “I am proud to say that I have finally begun my first semester of college,” Tonelli says. “As for my family, we became stronger and wiser.” She says moving to the United States has taught her the value of life, strength, positivity and courage, and learned that no matter the situation, it’s important to stay positive and to believe that things will turn out the way they are supposed to be. The Tonelli family now believes that everything truly does happen for a reason. “I will always have Italian blood running through me, but America is my new home,” Tonelli says.
The Beacon’s final issue offers new and old stories In this school year’s final issue, you’ll find a variety of news, features and sports articles ranging from stories on our campus to locally and nationally-known events. In reflection of this academic year and in celebration of the much-needed summer break, you’ll also find our top picks, which we’ve called our “Year in Review,” from the 2014-2015 issues of The Beacon. This is our way to document the year through various stories we think are worthy to be reprinted. In order to make it into the top, we
carefully considered the quality of reporting as well as writing techniques of each article. We think the stories are great and hope you do, too and are so thankful for our talented and dedicated team of staff writers. We also want to give a special shout out to our advisor, Dr. Michael Ray Smith, for his guidance, advice and sense of humor. Cheers! — The Beacon Editorial Staff
Correction: Because of an editor’s error, last month’s issue of The Beacon contained an error in the caption of “New club sport takes off on campus.” We would like to make a correction. Instead of Morgan Cruise, it should be spelled Morgan Kruse. We apologize for this error.
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Editor’s Year-End Picks
The Freefall Experience By James Hall Web Editor March 2015
At first, the Freefall Experience can be uncomfortable. The only commonality between the people who attend is their diversity. Tattoos, costumes, hairstyles, and scars seen and unseen may take some getting used to. But once first impressions wear off and the show gets going, the audience starts to feel at home. The Freefall Experience is an open mic that takes place the first Friday of every month at the Mos’Art Theater in Lake Park. At the center of it all is the founder of the Freefall, the “Hostess with the Mostest,” Jeanette Hickman. The Freefall is one of the many open mics she hosts. “I love giving artists a chance to shine,” says Hickman a Palm Beach Atlantic University alum. And the artists love her in return; in fact, one of the open mic performers wrote a song dedicated to Hickman. Every Freefall is unique, and this month’s theme let performers shine a light on human traf-
ficking. Tanya Meade, who works at Rescue Upstream, approached Hickman with the idea of a night focused on human trafficking. “As a woman and as a Christian, human trafficking hits home for me,” Hickman says. “This night is the ultimate way I can support, so I was blessed to do so.” Hickman was the first act, where she performed spoken word, a dramatic form of memorized poetry, during the artist showcase. Her first poem focused on the dark side of trafficking, while her second poem concentrated on hope and redemption. Hickman has been performing spoken word since 2011. She says the first real piece she performed was at J110, a young adult ministry at Christ Fellowship. “It was the first time I had prayed over a piece and sought Scripture out and really thought about the message I was portraying,” Jeanette says. “That changed everything.” Stephanie Barrera, a senior dance major at PBA, also performed during the showcase. For Barrera’s second act, she danced
Photo by Imani Givertz
Jeanette Hickman is a 2009 PBA alum and former R.A. She began doing spoken word in 2011.
to the sound of her recorded spoken word and music. The poem was about how she became a captive to Christ, which she says is real freedom. “True humility is aligning yourself with the truth of God and what He says about you,” Barrera says. “Using your talents for the kingdom of God and shining for Him is what we were made for.” Rescue Upstream, Hepzibah
House, Hope for Freedom and the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches were all represented at the event. After the artist showcase, Hickman invited the representatives up to the stage to recognize those fighting human trafficking. During the intermission, the audience had the chance to connect with the organizations. Open mic began after intermission.
As the audience settled back into their seats, Hickman read the rules for this portion of the night. The most important rule, she said, is encouragement from the audience, whether that be clapping, snapping or cheering. Hickman then called the first performer up to the stage. A woman slowly made her way to the mic. She took a breath and thanked Hickman for putting on an event like this, adding that she was a victim of human trafficking in her teens. The audience clapped as she began to read her poem. After she finished, the crowd rose to a standing ovation, and Hickman rushed to give the former stranger a hug. “The open mic gives you confidence, it teaches the audience respect, and it gives the performer this feeling of bravery,” she says. Hickman says she wants to pass on the passion and values of the open mic. This is why she is in the beginning stages of possibly turning the Freefall into a non-profit organization. Hickman says it would shine a light on human trafficking and many other causes while encouraging good open mic environments.
Subculture rocks Clematis The history behind the local coffee shop founded by PBA graduate Sean Scott By Becca Stripe Staff Writer September 2014 Subculture, a new coffee shop on Clematis Street, is attracting many locals, especially PBA students who storm to the place to caffeinate themselves throughout the school year. Subculture opened its doors in March of 2014 and is rapidly growing as a popular coffee joint in the area. People are finding this to be a place that brews high quality coffee in a great community. Founder and owner of Subculture Sean Scott knew from the beginning he wanted to create a place that had great coffee and a good atmosphere. After graduating with a psychology degree from PBA in 2003, he and his band Wilderness of Tekoa toured the country. Scott has always been a coffee drinker and enjoyed coffee shops. During his travels he would visit local shops. However, while visiting these shops, Scott noticed they had either good coffee and a bad atmosphere or bad coffee and a good atmosphere. “It was a challenge because I’ve always wanted a coffee shop that had both,” he says.
Scott said he liked watching what owners did, how they did it and seeing if it worked while asking questions along the way. For Scott, coffee is much more than a great product. His love for coffee came from a special time in his life. Scott started drinking coffee at age 14 when he and his family drank coffee together at the table after dinner in their Massachusetts home. “Mealtimes were a big time for us,” says Scott. “We always ended meals with coffee and just hanging out together,” says Scott. “I think the sentimentality behind the feel of coffee shops goes back to when I was younger and just how special being around the table with my family was.” In 2009, Scott opened Habatat, his first coffee shop, just outside of Washington, D.C. Two years later he moved back to West Palm Beach and opened Habatat on Clematis Street. Habatat was only a success for Scott. He closed the shop December 2013 and in March 2014 opened Subculture on the same street. Last year Scott formed a partnership with Rodney Mayo. They quickly decided to work together with Subculture. The two shared similar work ethics, which made their part-
nership easy to maintain. “I thought that if I’m going to partner with anyone, this is the guy I’m going to partner with,” says Scott. Little time existed between the closing of Habatat and the opening of Subculture. Scott said the shop went from small to big and busy almost right away. “From city officials to students, everyone talks about coming here,” says Scott. “People want to hold meetings here and study here.” Scott said his vision has become a reality and now he can experience it every day. “It’s been really rewarding,” says Scott. Many PBA students find Subculture to be a great study spot. Whether during the day or in the evenings, students are frequently found studying or hanging out. “I fell in love with Subculture from the beginning,” sophomore Kristine Martin says. “It was beautiful.” Martin frequently visits the shop with her friends to do schoolwork. She enjoys the atmosphere, high quality coffee and the friendliness of the baristas. “I think Subculture does a really great job at making it feel like a really great coffee shop,”
Photo by Becca Stripe
PBA graduate and founder of Subculture Sean Scott plays an active role in dayto-day shop duties, while continuously engaging with customers.
she says. The shop has board games for customers to play and is open until midnight every weekday and 2 a.m. on weekends. “I definitely plan to keep going back to Subculture,” Martin adds. PBA students and faculty can show their school identification to receive a 20 percent discount. “We try to support PBA as much as possible,” Scott says.
“We’ve definitely had a positive experience having them here.” Subculture will add a second shop in Delray Beach in December 2014 with a similar style to the original. Scott said he is excited to see the new shop open up. Scott lives in West Palm Beach with his wife Natalie, who he met while at PBA, and their two young children, Selah and Landon.
News
Monday, April 20, 2015
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Editor’s Year-End Picks Swift’s 1989 goes platinum How Swift continues to dominate the billboard charts By Peter Amirata Staff Writer November 2014
Opinion In today’s ultra-competitive music industry, it has been extremely difficult for artists to gain success and sell albums. One artist that has ascended to the top is seven-time Grammy Award winning musician Taylor Swift. Beyond her good looks and stunning talents, she has the ability to perplex her listeners with catchy and jubilant songs on a consistent basis. Swift already sold five platinum records and has consistently broken records throughout her ten year career. This year, she has already had a number one song on the US Billboard Hot 100 called Shake It Off. Between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2 of this year, her album 1989 composed 22 percent of all albums sold in the United States. However, this is not the best selling album of the year; that title still belongs to the Frozen soundtrack, which has sold more than 3 million copies since January.
The money is not just coming from record sales for Swift; gross revenue from her music tours in North America are projected to total more than $112 million. Some speculate that the biggest reason for Swift’s album success has been due to the fact that she didn’t upload her music to the Spotify. In contrast to iTunes, on Spotify allows users to create an account without having to pay for each song. Due to all of the convenient music streaming services like Spotify, music industry revenues have been continuing to decrease over the last decade. In 2014, anticipated revenue from the music industry in the United States is believed to hit more than $15 billion. This is down from over $22 billion only a decade ago. Artists have adjusted to this unfavorable trend by generating more revenue from concerts and merchandise sales. Along with Swift, several other artists are also doing well in the music industry this year. According to the Huffington Post, Beyoncé’s new self-titled album has sold over a million copies and reached this year’s top five album sales. Even though competitors are
Photo by Ryan Arnst
According to Time.com, Taylor Swift’s 1989 is on track to reach more than 1.3 million copies sold by the end of this year.
doing fairly well, Swift’s originality and maturity sets her apart from her competition. Swift has been able to beat
out competitors like Beyoncé because of her originality and maturity. She sets a much better example
to her listeners by promoting songs with deeper meanings that have a positive message.
Beach renourishment project pumps sand on the island By Katie Forsythe Staff Writer February 2015 Visitors who pass by the beach on the island of Palm Beach will notice an unfamiliar element to the coastline. Bulldozers and backhoes fill the once tranquil scene of Palm Beach. A coastline development project is what has brought the equipment to the beach. The bulldozers on the familiar part of Flagpole Beach are a smaller part of the entire beach renourishment program, which is also transporting sand south to Phipps Ocean Park. According to the town’s coastal coordinator Robert Weber, this process will ensure the sand at Phipps Ocean Park is furnished with similar silt properties to what is already present. The extensive part of the renourishment program will include sand brought from Singer Island pumped through an underwater pipeline and dispersed onto Flagpole Beach. According to Weber, this project is expected to start in mid-March, and cause sections of the beach to temporarily close. The $17.6 million project, which began in January, will span more than 12 miles, starting at the Lake Worth Inlet and
ending just past the south end of town and will be implemented in small sections at a time. Palm Beach Atlantic University student Laura Humphrey said the beach environment is not an enjoyable experience. “But I understand that it is something that will ultimately be beneficial,” she said. Beach projects are done nearly every six years. The first beach renourishment project in Palm Beach occurred in 1995. “It is a necessary evil,” said PBA biology professor Angela Witmer. “It would be great to let nature have its way with erosion, but we are dealing with people – with beach lovers and tax payers.” Weber said environmental protection is a top priority. The only time renourishment is allowed is between November and March so as to not affect sea turtles during their nesting season. “Each year we have done the program, we have improved it to reduce the density of sand placement so it has less impact on the coral reefs,” Weber said. He added that the maximum amount of silt allowed during renourishment has been reduced from five percent in 2006 to two percent for the current project. “Silt is a super fine sand that doesn’t fall out of suspension
easily, so it has a tendency to get caught in coral reefs, which we aim to maintain and protect,” Weber said. Witmer said that although the procedure disrupts people and organisms, many species have developed a resistance to the disturbances caused by beach renourishment and can easily recover. Although many people may see the process as unnecessarily disruptive, it is actually one of the most effective and efficient methods of beach renourishment, Witmer said. Beach closures will happen during sand dispersion, which will only affect about 500 feet of beach at a time. Weber said that no beach should ever be closed for more than a week at a time. Once the sand is placed and distributed, beaches will reopen as the project moves down the coast. He assures beach lovers that the project will not drastically alter their coveted beach time. “Even when the beaches are closed, an open beach will always be within walking distance of the one that is being developed,” Weber said. He said the goal is to improve recreational value, provide habitat for protected sea turtles and protect coastal property from storm damage.
Photo by Ryan Arnst
Pipes that line the beach in the Town of Palm Beach carry sand dredged just offshore Singer Island. The ongoing project has been a source of controversey among some island residents because of the sand’s darker color.
Though island residents have had concerns about the color of the sand because it looked darker and appeared unattractive, the sand will become lighter and mix in with the current sand over time, said Weber. The beach’s drop-offs and unusually narrow beach have been caused by weather conditions that have continued since December, not because of the renourishment program, he said. “People will definitely recognize when the project is taking place,” Weber said. “We cannot make the sand at a universal level, but there will be a definite
change in the drop offs which will be remedied.” “Beach goers may see a change in the shoreline over the first year following the project and believe it to be a form of unhealthy beach erosion, but it is expected to be that way after renourishment,” Weber said. “Usually about 30 percent of the sand originally placed will subside after about a year, and that is a natural process that we plan on occurring during the process of renourishment .” The Flagpole Beach section will be just over one mile long, 200 feet wide and is expected to be finished in early April.
Photo by Ryan Arnst
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Monday, April 20, 2015
‘Little Shop of Horrors’ presents PBA theater’s final perfomances of the semester By Nancy Arteaga Staff Writer
PBA’s semester performance of “Little Shop of Horrors,” directed by Professor Andy McCoy, is a satirical musical comedy where the main characters try to do anything to achieve their desires. It’s also the last chance to see three senior performances by Andrew Trotter, Heley Ondrejka and Nathan Ynacay before commencement. “We want to work and support the seniors that taught us so much,” said junior Stephen Hedger and sophomores Bernie Pino and Jennifer Coe. “The play makes fun of other productions or moments in a satirical way,” said Hedger, who plays antagonist Orin Scrivello. “It has a lot of funny moments; Orin is a fantastic and fun character to watch, and Seymour is a lovable awkward character,” Coe said. “It is great to work with all the actors.” According to Hedger, Trotter and Pino, the actors “take
pleasure in the challenge and the way the play is set up, enjoying the irony of their characters’ different types of greed.” Trotter plays the main character Seymour Krelborn. “My main partner is a giant plant, which provides an interesting experience [of] the character’s journey, and his love for the main girl character Audrey, played by Ondrejka. One of the challenges is Seymour’s socially awkward interactions and Long Island, New York, accent,” Trotter said. Ynacay plays the puppeteer that interprets the giant plant movement. The antagonist, Orin, creates conflict between the two main characters, Seymour and Audrey. In addition, there’s a scene with three of the characters played by Hedger that requires a fast-paced change of character, costume and voicetone. “I also play five more characters; one of [them] is an old rich woman,” Hedger said. “The difficulty of changing characters in my mind and the 30 –second outfit change is a challenge.” The other play character who wants to keep the plants that grants desires is Pino, who plays
Photo by Nancy Arteaga
Actors rehearse at Fern Street Theater the week before the opening night of “Little Shop of Horrors.” For the seniors, this will be their final set of performances with the PBA theatre program.
the flower shop owner, Mr. Mushnik. “What is likeable of the character is the challenge of playing a 50-year-old Jewish man who is always grumpy, and the ridiculous element of a talking plant,”Pino said. Moreover, he also mentioned that the closing act was in particularly very catchy to him. During rehearsals he walked around
repeating the final line of the last song, “Whatever they offer you, don’t feed the plants.” The cast wants the audience members to learn to “be careful of what [they] desire,” according to Pino. “Don’t feed the temptations of this world, “Hedger said. Trotter agrees. “The audience will enjoy the messages of the musical.” While the show has already
opened, other show dates and times are this Saturday at 2p.m., April 23 and 24 at 7:30p.m and April 25 at 2p.m. All shows are at Fern Street Theater. General admission tickets are $15 or 2 for $25; seniors $10; and students with ID $5. For more information, call (561) 803-2970 or contact ticket_central@pba. edu to purchase tickets.
Senior artists prepare for showcase By Angel Conlon Staff Writer
The Senior Art Exhibit will run from April 25 until May 5, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. This free showcase will have a reception to meet the artists on April 24 at 6 p.m. in the library. All students in the art program are required to participate in the show during their senior year. It’s a chance for them to show off the skills they’ve learned throughout their time at PBA and display their best pieces of work for friends, family, staff and sponsors. The art program consists of Studio Art, Graphic Arts and Art Education majors. Students who have been at PBA for four years have many various pieces from which to choose. “I have included some label and package design, publication designs, photography and a stationary packet,” said graphic design major Sarah Pinder. “I selected these pieces because it shows a variety of what I have created and what I am capable of.” Katelyn Hlavaty is another graphic design major who will display pieces from her area of expertise: Corporate branding and marketing.
“I also have a pretty strong background in traditional art so I’ll be submitting a couple of traditional pieces, too,” Hlavaty said. Since the show is only a few weeks away, the seniors are busy selecting the works they want to show and perfect under their professors’ direction. “The art professors here are all caring, competent and completely invested in their students,” Hlavaty said. “They’re looking to set us on a good course for the future, not just improve the university’s statistics.” “Right now all of us are working hard to select our pieces and matte them for the show,” Pinder said. “I found it challenging to select which pieces I wanted to put into the show. I wanted to make sure I showed my graphic design and my photography. It was difficult to narrow it down.” After selecting pieces to show, the students spend time tweaking them to near perfection. Studio art major Britta Martinez stressed the importance of being self-critical in the art department. “That may seem harsh, but without it I would be a lost artist with no direction after graduation,” Martinez said. “The professors. . .have taught me to be my own professor.” According to Pinder, the stress that the seniors are facing right now and the time invested in revising their work will be only a memory when show time comes around. She believes that the
most rewarding part of being an art major will happen when her friends and family get to see her work. “It will be great to be able to see how far I’ve come,” Pinder said. “I remember in my freshman year going to my first art show and thinking to myself, ‘Wow, I wonder what I will create in my four years here.’” Graphic design major Dan Hyland feels confident to find a career after graduation. “Probably the most rewarding part…has been how prepared I now feel to go and pursue a career in graphic design,” Hyland said. As the seniors reflect on their time at PBA, they want to impart their knowledge on the upcoming senior class for when they participate in the show. Hlavaty’s piece of advice is rooted in a lesson she’s learning. “I haven’t even started my matting and the art show is three weeks out,” she said. “I’m feeling the pressure, and I don’t have that much time to make mistakes. Listen to the professors. Get your work ready on time.” Pinder and Hyland encourage the next graduating class to feel proud about all of their accomplishments. “No matter what, they [will] have made it into the senior art show. They are incredible artists and they should work hard and pick the pieces that best represent their passion,” Pinder said. “Look for ways to improve, always want more and do every-
Photo by Angel Conlon
Professor David Pounds lines up Sarah Pinder’s matte with her first piece of artwork, as she watches carefully. The students will have to repeat the matting process, which can take up to 45 minutes, for every piece of artwork they will display.
thing you can to achieve that,” Hyland said. “Cherish your final year of college because it flies by.” The show will run from April 25 until May 5, from 8 a.m. until
5 p.m. The Senior Art Exhibit will have a reception to meet the artists on April 24 at 6 p.m. in the library.
News
Monday, April 20, 2015
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Armenian Genocide centennial draws attention to historical tragedy, first one of 20th century By Victoria Vartan Staff Writer
April 23rd marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and much has changed. Television was invented, humans walked on the moon and the iPhone was released. But many people do not know about the Armenian Genocide, which began April 24, 1915. On that day in Constantinople, Ottoman authorities started arresting Armenian intellectuals including teachers, writers, doctors and lawyers. That day is now known as Red Sunday, the inception of the eight-year-long extermination of the Armenians from their homeland. In 1915, under cover of World War I, Ottoman Turks exterminated one third of the Armenian population. Ranging from death marches to concentration camps, the Turkish government nearly succeeded in the abolition of the Armenian population. This was the first genocide of the 20th century. The event resulted in the death of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. In Armenian, it is called Medz Yeghern, which translates into the “Great Crime.” Stories through generations Aram Hallacian, 89, remembers his mother telling him about the Armenian Genocide. “My mother saw and dealt with a lot, both during and after the
genocide,” he said. His mother Arpi saw her parents die right in front of her at the age of seven. “I could not even imagine the feeling of a seven year old seeing her parents killed,” Hallacian said. “She, her mother and father, along with other Armenians were deported from where they were living.” When the Armenians were deported, they were separated, according to age and sex. “All the men, women, and children were forced to walk in the desert with no food and water,” Hallacian said. He recalls his mother telling him that they were beaten if they did not walk. “My maternal grandmother collapsed and died during this walk, and my mother saw every little bit of it.” Just when things could not get any worse, Arpi’s father also passed out. “My mother saw her father collapse from the distance and couldn’t get to him,” Hallcian said. Arpi’s father’s body was taken and put on a wagon, along with other people’s bodies to be brought to mass graves. “My mother was strong and carried through, not eating or drinking anything.” After his mother walked through the desert, she was taken to a building where Turkish people later adopted her. “My mother was raised by Turkish people for about seven or eight years,” Hallacian said. During those years, Arpi tried escaping from her Turkish fam-
ily three times, but was caught every time because the family notified police, who found her and brought her back. “There was a neighbor who lived above the family who was Christian,” said Hallacian. “One day, she told my mother to come upstairs because she was going to tell her something. My mother says when she went up there, the neighbor prayed over her and taught her how to make the cross, saying to her, ‘Never forget that you are Christian.’” That same night, Arpi escaped and succeeded, running away to a church where Armenian orphans were rescued and adopted by Armenian families. “My mother was adopted by a rich Armenian family who had escaped and were living in Egypt at the time,” Hallacian said. Hallacian added that celebrities like the Kardashians are perfect for educating younger people about the genocide, since that is their main demographic. “All I’m praying for now is that America joins the 22 other countries in accepting the Armenian genocide, “ Hallacian said. Activism today Last week, Pope Francis spoke about three major tragedies of the past century. “The first, which is widely considered ‘the first genocide of the 20th century,’ struck your own Armenian people, the first Christian nation, as well as Catholic and Orthodox Syrians, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Greeks,” Pope Francis said.
Photo by Victoria Vartan
Senior Victoria Vartan remembers the Armenian Genocide by creating a decoration with the Armenian flag. This Friday will mark the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.
U.S. Rep. Schiff from Burbank, Cali., has pushed for America to recognize the Armenian Genocide since he took office in 2007. Earlier this year, Schiff introduced an Armenian Genocide bill to acknowledge the genocide. Overall, only 43 U.S. states
have recognized the event. On April 22, Schiff will read off Armenian genocide victims’ names for an hour on the House Floor.
Remaining music events offer variety of styles and talents By Dana Stancavage Staff Writer
Palm Beach Atlantic University’s School of Music and Fine Arts has seven concerts remaining for the spring. SOMAFA has approximately 20 ensemble performances each semester, not including individual student recitals. “Music students spend a lot of time in rehearsals,” said Ashaki Budden, senior education student and violinist. “I think they spend about 4-6 hours a week in rehearsals, not including extra rehearsals or practice time.” In addition to talented student productions, PBA also hosts the biannual Distinguished Artists Series where professionals from around the world perform. In years past, the Distinguished Artists Series has hosted
artists including Michael Ellert, a bassoonist of the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra. “Every February we host around 15 prestigious pianists from around the world for the annual International Piano Festival,” said Sara Sebul, events and auditions coordinator of SOMAFA. Though Sebul has only worked for the SOMAFA team for six months, she considers the piano festival to be the highlight of the year thus far. “The Distinguished Artists Series allows the PBA family and the surrounding community the opportunity to attend performances of globally-recognized talent in an intimate setting for a significantly reduced price,” said Sebul. To attend these events, tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for students with their ID. Budden agrees. “For big ensemble groups we
tend to get anywhere between 60-100 attenders on average, but we could definitely get a lot more people to [attend] more of the concerts and not just the big ones.” The Orchid City Brass Band, South Florida’s British style brass band, performed in the DeSantis Family Chapel yesterday. This band combines instruments like cornets, tenor and baritone horns, euphoniums, trombones, tubas and percussion to produce timbres unique to the British brass band tradition. According to Sebul, through these events, the SOMAFA makes collegiate and international friendships among PBA students, staff, and international guests. This idea has been the leading motivation for Budden to be a part of the program as she hopes to be a music teacher. “I think music and art are
Photo by Ryan Arnst
Guest violinist plays alongside the Merling Trio in the Distinguished Artist Series.
very important. It gives people and especially children a sense of creativity and can also help build their imagination,” said Budden. “It gives them an outlet to be free and open.”
For a list of events, visit www. pba.edu/current_events and call (561) 803-2013 to purchase tickets.
Sports
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Monday, April 20, 2015
Editor’s Year-End Picks Men’s basketball assistant head coach receives local award Palm Beach Atlantic University men’s basketball team struggles after undefeated start By Ryan Teason Staff Writer February 2015 The Southeastern Conference Legends Team and Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame recently inducted Eddie Shannon, the men’s assistant head coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University. The SEC will honor Shannon at the Florida Gators’ basketball game during their conference tournament March 11-15 in Nashville, Tenn. “First thing that came to my mind when I heard I was named to the SEC Legends Team was, ‘I must be getting old’,” Shannon said. “I am very appreciative and humbled to be able to receive these accolades.” Shannon played basketball at Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach. Despite partial blindness in one of his eyes, he became a West Palm Beach basketball legend. “I was playing with my friends in a park when I was younger, and I got hit in the eye with a rock,” Shannon said. “I thought it was just a normal black eye, but it turned into a blood clot.” The partial blindness did not stop him from playing the game he loved. While in high school, Shannon was recruited by colleges like University of Arizona,
Georgia Tech and others. After verbally committing to the University of Arizona, he visited the University of Florida, where he fell in love with the school’s atmosphere and decided to attend. While at the University of Florida, he was a four-year starter and named twice to the All-SEC basketball team. Shannon averaged 10.1 points and 4.5 assists per game during his collegiate career, according to Gatorzone.com. After college, he continued to play basketball overseas in countries including France, Italy and Russia, before accepting the assistant coaching position at PBA in 2012. His recent achievements do not come as a surprise to his basketball players. Senior guard Clayton Williams, who has played two seasons with Shannon, said he was thrilled to hear the news. “Coach Shannon is a guy that comes to work everyday with passion,” Williams said. “He is an extremely hard worker, and I am glad to see all of his hard work being recognized.” Senior guard Garet Tucker agreed. “He’s totally deserving of the awards just from the little I played with him, he has taught me so much,” Tucker said. “He was a great player in college, and
Photo courtesy of Eddie Shannon
“First thing that came to my mind when I heard I was named to the SEC Legends Team was, ‘I must be getting old,’” assistant head coach Eddie Shannon (pictured) said.
he is still a great player now.” As a player, Shannon faced many obstacles. Now as a coach, he faces a different set of obstacles. After starting the season 5-0, the men’s basketball team suffered a nine game losing streak. From the sidelines, Shannon supported the team through their frustrating losing streak, Williams said. “Coach Shannon has encouraged us to not get down on ourselves about the way we have
been playing,” he said. The men’s basketball team’s points per game have dropped over the past couple of weeks, according to PBASailfish.com. “We have always encouraged the guys to put up more shots outside of practice,” Shannon said. “But recently, we have incorporated shooting drills into practice time.” Tucker and Williams, who have both experienced hardships similar this season’s challenges, encourage the younger players
not to give up. “I have been telling the younger group of guys just to continue to give their best effort,” Williams said. “I keep telling them after the losses to shake it off and remember the feeling of losing next time you are on the court and try to prevent it.” Tucker encourages spectators to attend games. “Stick with us,” Tucker added. “We all appreciate it and get so excited when we see a packed crowd.”
New club sport takes off on campus Rowing club gains momentum after fall start By Jackie Streng Staff Writer March 2015 Since October, a new sports club has made a splash on Palm Beach Atlantic University’s campus. Practicing five times a week, the Rowing Club is a member of the North Palm Beach Rowing Club, with four male members and seven female members. Head coach Susan Saint Sing, who was part of the U.S. World Rowing team in 1993, leads the club. Justin Johansen, a junior public relations and marketing major, said he is becoming addicted to the sport. “It was something I heard about and really wanted to do,” he said. “It’s new, exciting and a great workout. It gives me the break I need from life.” Rowing requires dedication and communication, which the helps the team, he said. So far, the club has competed
once in February on indoor rowing machines called ergs. Team captain Spencer Carroll, a sophomore finance major, won first place in the 2k lightweight novice event. “It really is a lot of fun,” he said. “The early morning practices can be challenging, but the team really wants to grow and be the best we can be.” Junior finance major Morgan Poos is the assistant coach for the club. A rower since high school, he brings experience to the team and said he loves spreading the sport around PBA. “I love watching people the first time they get into the water and start rowing,” Poos said. “People love doing it as soon as they start.” Johansen said rowing does come with a few challenges. “Learning how to overcome your mistakes is the most difficult part,” he said. “You have to row through your weakness and conquer it.” Poos said he loves that the
Photo by Abigail Hews
From left, Susanna Faith, Mary-Beth Kasselman, Kara Fadden, head coach Susan Saint Sing, Justin Johansen, team captain Spencer Carroll, Colt Griffith, and Morgan Kruse. Not pictured, assistant coach Morgan Poos.
PBA community lives in a beautiful place surrounded by water. “It’s nice to know the school has a team that gets to take advantage of God’s creation all around us,” he said. The club’s next competition is at the end of March in Tampa at the Mayor’s Cup. It will be their first competition on the water.
“Our goal at this event is to see what it’s really like to compete at the college level and do the best we can,” Carroll said. “We’re going in without expectations.” He hopes more students will join the club in order to have a full season next year. “The school wants to turn it
into a varsity sport and even do recruiting,” Carroll said. The club encourages anyone to join. Rowing experience is not required. “It’s good for resumes and has a huge community of people,” Johansen said. “You really learn how to be a part of a team. It’s a lifetime sport.”
Web
Monday, April 20, 2015
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Editor’s Year-End Picks Medical marijuana and its effects The pros and cons that make the drug a controversial issue By Peter Amirata Staff Writer October 2014
“Amendment 2,” a bill created by the Florida government that would allow the cultivation, purchase, possession and use of marijuana to treat medical conditions when prescribed by a professional physician, will be on the ballot during the election this November. Marijuana has quickly become one of the most contentious issues in the United States. Many Americans believe the drug is harmful and should remain illegal, but research shows the drug could lead to medical breakthroughs. Some doctors and other medical researchers believe the drug has numerous medical benefits. Livescience.com contributor Lauren Cox explains that medical professionals use marijuana to help their patients alleviate pain from diseases like cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, AIDS, posttraumatic stress disorder, Lyme disease and seizures. She added that marijuana’s main ingredient, THC, is what causes the pain to subdue. THC
stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and is the bestknown cannabinoid in medical marijuana that acts as a muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory. According to a survey conducted by the CBS News Network, 76 percent of doctors agree that marijuana is a great choice for patients with severe illnesses because it relieves pain while allowing people to be alert and active. “Marijuana has several beneficial medical purposes, and it is especially helpful for people with autism and other disorders,” said political science professor John Calhoun. The New England Journal of Medicine revealed in a 2013 study that 92 percent of current medical marijuana patients in California agree the drug has helped alleviate their symptoms including chronic pain, arthritis and migraines. “There are people who are in serious need of medical marijuana,” said Jay Varano, a student government official. “Long term, I believe it will help a lot of people.” Despite the drug’s potential benefits, it still poses many dangers, especially to those who use
it for recreation. According to drugfreeworld. com, the drug has harmful side effects like rapid heartbeat, lack of physical coordination, depression, anxiety and disorientation. Australian studies conducted in 2008 showed that heavy use of marijuana can cause brain abnormalities. Additionally, marijuana is one of the few drugs that can cause abnormal cell division and lead to severe hereditary defects. A 2013 study from Northwestern University revealed that heavy users of marijuana have abnormal brain structures and poor memory. The study also indicated that negative effects could be worse for a people who use marijuana at younger ages. Several health associations have stood against the use of medicinal marijuana for a variety of reasons. “Heavy cannabis use in adolescence causes persistent impairments in neurocognitive performance and IQ,” according to the American Medical Association. “It’s associated with increased rates of anxiety, mood and psychotic thought disorders.”
Photo by Ryan Arnst
Senior Jay Varano talks with freshman Brie Monetti about legalizing marijuana in front of the Warren Library. “There are people who are in serious need of medical marijuana,” he said.
Some major problems associated with recreational marijuana usage are mainly through the black market, where the transactions make marijuana more accessible to the younger population. Although marijuana seems to be useful for medical purposes,
medical professionals believe it should be used with caution, with more research on the ongoing controversy. For now, Florida’s upcoming election will tell what the state’s population thinks about it.
Eight tips to improve your college experience By Becca Stripe Staff Writer November 2014
Looking back as a senior who is in her fourth year at PBA, I wish I had been given advice at the beginning of my time here. As I am nearing the end of my final year of school, I wanted to offer some advice. 1. Make your roommates your friends This might sound crazy at first, but trust me. It is a lot more enjoyable to live with people who you not only get along with, but who you can consider friends. When you come home at the end of a long day of classes or work, it is nice to sit down with your roommates and just hang out in the evenings. Try going out with your roommate to a meal, a movie, a walk, a bike ride, or a day at the beach; the possibilities are endless. 2. Join a church Belonging to a community of believers is critical to growing in your faith. No, chapel does not count. It is okay to “church shop” to see what churches you do and do not like. But do not
let the church shopping continue on for years. Pray about which church to join, asking God to guide you during each of your church visits. If you let Him, God will show you which church is the best fit for you. It is vital to your faith to get plugged in with a church family where you can be spiritually fed and also serve others. 3. Keep in touch with your loved ones For many students, your family is helping to pay for some of your college tuition, room, board or other various costs. They deserve to be occasionally updated on how you are doing. This is not to say you should feel you need to contact them all the time. But it really does warm your family and friends’ hearts when they receive a phone call, email or letter while you are away from home. 4. Schedule in your schoolwork time Life gets busy and before you know it, your whole week or weekend is booked up with various events, meetings and outings. You are in school for a reason, so do not let your studies get pushed off. One way to make sure you have sufficient
time to complete your schoolwork is to actually plan it out. Work around your commitments and then reserve chunks of time just for schoolwork. You will be able to relax and enjoy all your free time knowing you already have a time set aside for schoolwork. 5. Pray about going on a mission trip Our school offers many mission trips to various countries all over the world. The lengths of trips range anywhere from one week to nearly three months and are offered over winter, spring and summer breaks. During my time at PBA, I have been able to serve on two of their mission trips. Christians are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and that can usually mean going places where people are unreached or hurting. Serving on a mission trip will help stretch you outside your comfort zone and open your eyes to things you have never been exposed to before. When you come back, your worldview will be changed, as well as your life. There will always be mission trip opportunities later in life, but pray about going on one of the trips our school offers.
6. Make health a priority Everybody has heard of it, “the freshman 15.” It can haunt you if you let it. Everyone knows it is important to eat healthy, but sometimes it is not as simple to put that into action when going to college. It can be difficult to eat healthy when there are so many unhealthy food options conveniently available on campus. Whether you are standing in front of the vending machine or the ice cream machine in the Caf, think twice about it. Allow yourself to indulge once you have already made wise food decisions. Along with eating healthily at college, sleep is just as important to your health. If you want to have enough energy to last you the next day, grab a pillow, not a coffee. You will quickly notice the difference in your energy level when you allow your body to rest. This is not an excuse to sleep in or skip your morning classes. Make sure to get to bed at a reasonable hour at night so that you can stay awake and feel good the next day. 7. Make a budget It goes without saying that college students are more often broke than not. It is difficult to
be a full-time student and work on the side. Take note of how much money you are earning and create a budget of how it should be used. Create categories such as gas, groceries, tithing, saving, leisure, etc. It is not fun being low on money, so try to avoid that stress by making and sticking to a budget. You will be thankful for it once you have graduated and it is time to start paying back your student loans. 8. Consider studying abroad I studied abroad in Uganda last fall semester and it was an experience I would not trade anything for. I understand it can be difficult to find a program that caters to your major. However, our school offers programs in dozens of countries and you can easily take some general education classes abroad. Living in a different culture for a semester really is eye opening and life changing. Study abroad programs make it as simple and affordable as possible for students. How cool is it to go to school in a place you may think of as a vacation spot. Try not to pass up on this incredible opportunity.
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Sports
Monday, April 20, 2015
School spirit on the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic Survey shows PBA’s need for tradition By Jeremiah Sater Sports Editor
Roaring crowds. Pep rallies. An obnoxious student section at sporting events. Several things found at large universities. However, at Palm Beach Atlantic University, the crowds are smaller and the student section is full for games with special giveaways. Outside of these special events, the attendance drops. “A major factor with lack of student body attendance is a big free attraction that’s a mile away – the beach,” said Assistant Athletic Director Michael Brown. According to a Beacon survey taken earlier in the semester of 200 PBA students through the email Listserv system, 77 percent of participants said they do not regularly attend PBA sporting events. “There’s so much else available,” said Kristin Knudsen, the Assistant Director of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership. She said students often choose activities with friends, so when a friend does not attend a PBA event, the other doesn’t either. Brown said he does not believe the lack of attendance is a specific problem to PBA, but for all small schools in general. “We get to talk to a lot of other administrative and staff members at other Sunshine State Conference schools,” he said. “We obviously visit them as well when we play, and they have the same issues.” In the beginning of the fall semester, PBA hosted the Hyatt Place Sunshine Classic in the Rubin Arena. During most of the four-game tournament, the student section was full. During the tournament, the main body of students sat behind the opposing team’s bench during PBA’s games. At one
The graph above represents the percentage of students who consider themselves regular attenders of Palm Beach Atlantic University sports.
point, the opposing team had to move away from their bench in order to hear one another during a huddle. “Making it more than just about the game,” Brown said referring to a strategy to involve students. “You have to involve (the students) in the promotions and marketing.” However, as the volleyball season progressed, the attendance averaged 207 per home game, according to PBASailfish.com. Game attendance includes PBA students, opposing team fans and community members. As one of the more successful teams, Brown said the volleyball
team’s poor attendance is a mystery to him. The volleyball team finished last season with a 30-4 record before losing to the University of Tampa in the NCAA South Regional Final. Brown said he hopes to draw in a large crowd next season as the team plays Tampa on senior night. He added that the athletics department seeks to better the promotion of games. “It’s honestly something we need to get better at,” Brown said. Knudsen, an alumna, agreed. “When I was a student, I attended very few sporting events,” she said. “I didn’t know when
“There’s a potential for more school spirit for the students,” Austin Peightel said.
The graph above represents the percentage of students who consider themselves regular attenders of non-sporting events, such as events hosted by Student Activities Board. events like the events put on by the Student Activities Board.
they were.” According to the Beacon survey, 53 percent said they didn’t regularly attend non-sporting events, like coffeehouses or movie nights hosted by the Student Activities Board. Junior Austin Peightel said he believes school spirit encompasses the passion someone has for his or her school. “A passion, an excitement for the school you are going to and a passion to see your school thrive and succeed whether that be in sports or academics,” he said. Peightel added that he believes PBA’s students could improve in school spirit. “There’s a potential for more school spirit for the students,” he said. Knudsen said student connections have a major part in attendance in PBA events. She said students are more excited about events when someone they know is participating. “Our school spirit could be the support of the people we know,” she said. Peightel said the faculty and staff show more school spirit than the students. “They are supposed to be setting example for us,” he said. “The highest point on the spectrum of spirit or passion I’ve seen is from the classroom.” Brown said a part of the lack of attendance at games is the lack of a winning tradition. “The lack of consistent success has certainly caused issues with that,” he said. Peightel said he believes the school spirit towards the sports teams is not as high because PBA does not have a standing tradition of school spirit.
Brown said as PBA moves into the Sunshine State Conference that athletics is working to build a tradition of school spirit. “I think it just comes over time,” Peightel said. “It’s being consistent, being diligent and having the time there.” He said he hears that freshmen are excited about the area and the classroom setting, but not about the sports teams. Peightel, who previously attended the University of South Florida, said he believes the ratio of students with school spirit is the same whether the student population is large or small. He said the only reason the school spirit seems more present is because the student body is bigger. He added that if you meet the students, the ratio would be the same. President Bill Fleming said school spirit is on the rise at PBA and expects it to be even higher in the future. According to the Beacon survey, 72 percent of participants agreed with Fleming’s statement. However, according to the survey, 77 percent of the 72 percent who agree with Fleming, consider themselves regular attenders of PBA sports. According to Brown, sports are a major factor in school spirit. “Athletics is kind of the front porch of the university,” he said. Brown attended Indiana Wesleyan University as an undergraduate, which is slightly larger than PBA. He said that during his time there the men’s basketball team struggled, which in turn caused attendance to suffer. “It’s not a battle unique to PBA,” he said.
Sports
Monday, April 20, 2015
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Seniors last season heads to the postseason By Peter Amirata Staff Writer The Palm Beach Atlantic men’s lacrosse team looks to return to the conference final as they head into the postseason. After a 17-4 win over the 25th ranked University of Savannah College of Arts and Design, the team officially clinched a spot in the Southeastern Lacrosse Conference tournament. This win is only the second time in program history that they have defeated the University of SCAD, according to PBASailfish.com. The team beat 19th ranked Lourdes University, the University of Miami and Georgia Southern University this season. Sophomore Cody Hunter attributes the team’s success to the seniors. “This season has been something special and a major part of it has been due to our senior leadership,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from them, and they will be missed next season.” Except for senior Dan Wilkerson, the seniors transferred to PBA having spent no more than one year on the team before this season. Senior Anthony Curra said he is not sure whether he will return for graduate school at PBA. If he does, he has one more year of eligible play. Last year, he was named to the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse
Association All-American team and to the 2014 SELC All-Conference team. Curra is from Palm Beach Gardens and attended Palm Beach Gardens High School. He also played on PBA’s soccer team last year. “Playing on two sports teams at PBA has been special,” he said. “I know that there is a very bright future for the lacrosse team because of the unique location and championship mentality.” Senior Nick Scalzo has played two seasons with the team. “His leadership and work ethic will be something I will try to imitate as a lacrosse player,” sophomore Camden Baggs said. Scalzo was named to the 2014 MCLA All-American team, the 2014 SELC All-Conference team and was named the 2014 SELC Offensive Player of the year. He was one of the first ever Sailfish lacrosse players to be named a first team All-American, according to PBASailfish. com. Before coming to PBA from Webster, N.Y., Scalzo played Division I at Jacksonville University. “This is a great lacrosse team and I just like to have fun with it,” he said. “Coming from playing at Jacksonville University to here hasn’t been that much different. It’s all great competition. We’ve gotten some big wins this year that show how the program
Photo By David Merrill
Palm Beach Atlantic men’s lacrosse team seeks to return to the Conference Finals for the second straight year as they move into the postseason.
is improving.” Similar to Scalzo, senior Phil Ventresca also played at Jacksonville University. They’ve known each other for six years, including their time before they came to PBA. Ventresca is from Wilmington, Del. “Nick and I have been real close, and it’s great to play with him,” he said. “My two seasons with the team have been a growing experience.” Ventresca also has one more year of eligibility to play on the team, but is unsure whether he will return. Senior Joey Bauer ends his
Sailfish career this season. He previously played lacrosse at Florida State University. He is also a native of Palm Beach Gardens and attended Palm Beach Gardens High School. “It was a huge difference between playing at a huge public school like Florida State and here,” Bauer said. “I love playing here, and I know that the team will continue to grow.” He scored 11 goals in two games against Florida Atlantic University this season. “There is absolutely no question that the team won’t be
the same without our seniors,” sophomore goalie Drake Kessell said. “The program has a bright future with high expectations.” Senior Wilkerson ends his Sailfish career after starting his time at PBA not on the team. He is from Bedford, Mass. He joined the team his sophomore year and has been playing for the last three seasons. The team will head into the postseason as they seek to compete for the national tournament in California.
Palm Beach Atlantic women’s basketball moves into offseason
Players hold high expectations for next season By Jackie Streng Staff Writer It may be the offseason, but the Palm Beach Atlantic University women’s basketball team never quits its pursuit of excellence. Though practices don’t start again until mid-October, the team is in the weight room every day to maintain their strength for next season. “Everyone’s doing extra skill workouts in the areas we’re most weak in,” junior Kimmi McIntosh said. “We all want to win the national championship, but everyone has to get better. If we conquer our weaknesses, I know we can do it.” Head coach Carlos Palacio said the team faced adversity during the season. “The toughest part of the season was dealing with injuries,” he said. “We only had the entire roster play together for five games. That adversity allowed the other players opportunity to play, and we will be a stronger team next season.” McIntosh said the season ultimately came down to gameplay. “It was really tough because we would lose in the last few minutes of the game,” she said.
Sophomore Taylor Buchanan agreed with the struggles the team faced. “Sometimes unfortunate things happen,” she said. “But you still have to go to practice, stick together and have respect for your team.” Despite these setbacks, the team broke a school record as a provisional member of the Sunshine State Conference. “We won five Sunshine State Conference games, which is a school record,” Palacio said. The team beat rival Nova Southeastern University, at the time 20th ranked, at home in January. “It was huge for us,” McIntosh said. “We beat teams this year that we have never beaten before.” The players said the team was at its most competitive this season. “Our growth this season didn’t show up in wins, but we are happy to see the improvement,” Buchanan said. The team’s record did improve to 9-17 this season from last season’s 7-19 record. Eleven players will return next season as well as two recruits in the fall. “Having 11 players return is huge as we continue to build
Photo courtsey of Sailfish Athletics
Palm Beach Atlantic women’s basketball finished the season 9-17. “Each year we take another step forward,” sophomore Taylor Buchanan said. “Next season, we’re finally going to close the gap.”
chemistry, leadership and most importantly, experience,” Palacio said. Buchanan said she believes the team will accomplish more next season. “Each year we take another step forward,” she said. “Next season, we’re finally going to close the gap.” McIntosh agreed. “We all want to be more of a
threat,” she said. “We just have to keep playing hard all the way through, and remember that every member is vital to the team.” Palacio said the roster will also be an important factor next season. “Since I arrived, we have targeted this coming season as the year we would see the tangible results from recruiting,” he said.
“I’m very excited about the future of these young ladies.”
Jeremiah Sater contributed to this story.
Our Graduating Seniors Hannah,
James,
You are one of the most beautiful people that I’ve ever met. Your heart is passionate about Jesus and His Word, and your desire to see His will be done is humbling. Watching you intertwine your loves for marine life and journalism have amazed me since I met you; you make it seem effortless! Your care for The Beacon, its editors and its writers has encouraged me to follow in your example if I ever step into the position of managing editor. Thank you for all that you’ve taught me during the past eight months. Thank you for loving me and taking me under your wing my freshman year of college. Thank you for encouraging me in journalism, in my walk with Jesus and in my various endeavors. You bring a smile to my face no matter where I am or what my day’s been like. I remember when you approached me last semester and asked me if I wanted to be the Beacon’s copy editor; you assured me that working with the other editors would be a joy and that my worries of meeting new people were crazy. Goodness, you were right! You have been “momma” to the staff and have made going to work every week like going home to family. You’ve made a lasting impact on my heart, Hannah Deadman! Always remember who you are and whose you are. You are precious to Him. Because of His strength, you will have the ability to do anything He sets before you.
You have intrigued me since the day I met you. Your quiet strength exudes the love of Jesus! I have not met someone who cares more deeply for Him and His people than you. Your care for the people around you and the Beacon staff is wonderful. Journalistically, you are a sick writer! You do well in everything that you set out to accomplish; I am pretty jealous of your skills. Because of your extensive work this year, The Beacon’s website has grown and our social media efforts have exploded. Thank you for teaching me how to do what you do so I can keep improving! Your patience is appreciated and your passion for what you do drives me to embrace a greater passion in what I do. You’ve taught me so much the past eight months! Always remember who you are and whose you are. You are precious to Him. Because of His strength, you will have the ability to do anything He sets before you.
Much love to you, Celeste, News Editor
All the best, Celeste, News Editor Hannah and James, When I first came to the paper, my first editor was James and I would be lying if I said I was not intimidated. It was probably because he was just always towering above me (yup, I made a height joke). Hannah lived in Oceanview with me when she was my editor, and that alone was annoying, never being able to go a day without seeing my editor and still working on my story. She was not quite as intimidating, probably because I was always towering over her (see, equal height jokes on the top and bottom of the spectrum). The Beacon will not be the same without you next year. Your contribution to the stability of the paper in a time with new leadership and unknown corners has been very much appreciated. And James, this sentence, these words, and that Oxford Comma is for you. You will surely be missed. Jeremiah, Sports Editor
“If worst comes to worst I can always work at a printer-repair shop.” “Now you sound like my mother.” “James is really dedicated.” –James Tall “I only took yoga once.” “I’m a journalist; I have ears the size of Dumbo.” –Boss Lady “Who died there?” –James “All my hopes and dreams.” –Hannah
Photo by Ryan Arnst
The editors pose for a farewell photograph. Front row from left are Amanda Higgins, Hannah Deadman, Celeste Brown, and Ryan Arnst. Back row from left are David Williams, Jeremiah Sater and James Hall.
Beacon Quotes “For the good of the order.”
“I feel like fruit flies are hitting me.” –David
“Sorry, I know I’m gassing on here.”
“I’m going to eat Netflix and watch ice cream.” –Ryan
“If your lead is not compelling, I’m going to sneeze.” “We expect you to shower semi-regularly.”
“They were being loud with their wrongness.” –Sierra
“There’s something demonic about the printers around here.”
“Wait, when you spell ‘then’ is it T-H-E-N?” –Amanda
“I don’t want to say, because sometimes I’m prophetic.”
“Are you okay?” –Everyone to Celeste
“You got to figure out what to do with your hands; I do karate chops.”
“Yes! Just one pack of sugar, I don’t want diabetes!” –Sierra
“Life’s a trade off.”
“If I had a woman who was a husband.” –Ryan
“People need to realize communication is a waste of time, just like what I just said.”
-Professor Smitty
“How does Ryan find this music?” –Amanda “Everyone has a manatee clock.” –MajorSater
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