issue II
the line up
Ruby Rosenthal editor-in-chief
It means parity between all people, no matter who they are.
Natalie Bergeron photo editor
Julia Gray
social media director
Joseph Dallas opinion editor
Isabel Solorzano creative director
Ashton Craig
news & local editor
Rene Campbell
arts & culture editor
Ihsaan Fanusie sports editor
Arnaldo Chow web director
It means everyone has a fair share to liberties others are given and to be treated the same as anyone else.
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the reporter
october 2019
hatternetwork.com
What does equality mean to you?
It means to be treated with the same respect as others regardless of race, class, and other factors.
staff
Hannah Zeller, Executive Editor Anjana Srinivasan, Copy Editor Caitlin Bhagwandeen, Photographer Kevin Vega, Photographer Lauren Barney, Designer & News Writer Maxx Smith, News Writer Naomi Johnson, News Writer Nicole Rosen, News Writer Tyler Kick, Arts & Culture Writer Lauren Ludlam, Arts & Culture Writer Julia Gray, Arts & Culture Writer Calista Headrick, Opinion Writer Jay Stearman, Opinion Writer Vivianne Skavlem, Opinion Writer D’Andre Lewis, Sports Writer Allie Wilson, Sports Writer Catie Brumit, Resident Astrologer
contributors
from the
It means having the same opportunity to succeed as another.
Jenny Fang, Writer Ashley Allensworth, Writer Solstice Backus-Little, Cover Artist
JOINING US
When it comes to joining The Reporter, we’re not picky. Whether you’re interested in writing an article, designing a page, taking photos or creating some graphics for us, we want to hear what you have to say. The Reporter is an extracurricular/volunteer operation made for students, by students, and we aim to cover the full spectrum of student life here at Stetson. If you’re interested in getting involved or have any questions, comments or concerns, email our editor-in-chief, Ruby Rosenthal, at rrosenthal@stetson.edu or apply on HatterSync.
ABOUT US
The magazine is produced six times per year, three a semester. Florida Sun Printing prints 450 copies per issue on 8.5 x 11 inch, 80# Gloss Text. Most text is 11 point Adobe Garamond Pro with 13 points of leading set with a combination of regular, italic, and bold. All pages were designed using Adobe Creative Suite CC software InDesign with photographs and artwork handled in Photoshop and Illustrator. For additional information, please visit hatternetwork.com. Questions and comments can be mailed to 421 N Woodland Blvd., Unit 8416 DeLand, Florida 32723 or emailed to thereporterstetson@gmail.com. All articles, photographs, and illustrations are copyrighted by Stetson University.
CORRECTIONS
Lettereditor
Softball is played right here on campus on Wilson Field, not on Melching Field. MF is ONLY baseball.
I constantly feel this pressure when I write to produce something that is going to be remembered. I want to be so witty and intelligent and have such a unique vantage point about the world that random passerby will pick up this magazine and think “wow, that 19-year-old child really knows what she’s doing.” But of course, all that comes with time, time and experience, and maybe the 10,000 hours rule: by practicing a task for 20 hours a week for 10 years, you’ll slowly gain the skills to become a master in your field. At Stetson, my concept of time feels skewed in a way I’ve never experienced before. My days are long, filled with anything from a 2 p.m. session working on this stapled collection of papers you’re holding in your hands right now (don’t you love when magazine editors guilt you into remembering them), to a 6 p.m. identity crisis about if I should change my international studies major to something even more economically unsustainable, and a 4 a.m. conversation about the sense of rebellion I had at 13. With the time spent creating this issue, 10,000 hours seems like it already happened. We want the stories here to illustrate the diversity of triumphs, mistakes, and celebrations that can happen on and off of this campus. The Equality issue is about you, your rights, your freedoms or lack thereof, and a majority of these stories represent the push and pull of being citizens of this saturized, overly sensationalized world. We hope you find truths and visions of yourself in these pages; if you don’t, we encourage you to contact us and tell us your story.
l a h t n e s o R y b u R 3
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the
equality
issue
TABLEcontents of
what the
TEAM Our writers share their insights from this issue’s stories.
knows
News & Local
6
Up In Smoke- America’s Vaping Epidemic
8
New Hazing Law Changes Stetson Policy
10
Overcrowding: An Investigation on How Stetson Finds Spare Beds
Arts & Culture 10
Unpacked with Gracie Caggiano
12
Death by Choice to Sell Out
14
Body Modification in a Changing World
Sports 16
Nick Blakely, Not Forgotten
20
Think Fast for Intramurals
Ihsaan Fanusie, Sports Editor The foundation started by Blakely’s mother after the incident, which helps bring awareness to cardiac safety procedures for student athletes, peaked my interest in the story. After researching the event leading up to the lawsuit, I decided that the story was worthy of being spread among the greater Stetson community.
pg. 16
Calista Headrick, Opinion Writer The internet is always tracking our activity. It can be useful, but is often times just an invasion of our privacy in many capacities.
pg. 24
Opinion 22 Who Gives a Rock, Anyway? 24 Surveillance Society 26 Reexamining Global Citizenship 5
smoke
up in
Written by Lauren Barney Design by Isabel Solorzano
A look into the risks of the newly discovered effects of vaping on America’s youth.
America’s vaping epidemic
A
s this summer came to a close, teenagers across America were anticipating their upcoming school year. As some spent their time in shopping isles picking out the perfect back-to-school essentials, other teens spent the beginning of their school year in the emergency room. Aug. 23, 2019 marks the day that the first vape related death is reported in the United States. An unnamed Illinois teenage boy was rushed to the ER after he reported severe breathing difficulties thought to result from his usage of electronic cigarettes. Soon more
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reports emerged of similar incidents throughout the country in Oregon, Indiana, Minnesota, and then a fifth in California. “Our investigation into the concerning reports of respiratory illness and deaths associated with vaping is a top priority for FDA and our federal, state, local health partners. We’re working tirelessly to gather and analyze information about these incidents,” Ned Sharpless, Chief of the FDA, said in a tweet from Sept. 6, 2019. As outrage began to pour in, many turned to the White House for possible reform. President Donald Trump expressed his intention to ban all forms of electronic cigarettes both flavored and unflavored forms. In a statement made by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, “The Trump Administration is making it clear that we intend to clear the market of flavored e-cigarettes to reverse the deeply concerning epidemic of youth e-cigarette use that is impacting children, families, schools and communities.” After this declaration, many fled to Twitter to call out the President on his hypocrisy to take such severe actions towards a few cases of vaping related deaths in comparison to the countless gun related deaths. However, the question still remains, is vaping as big of a problem as it seems for teenagers?
media outlets are from assumptions made by the negative effects of smoking cigarettes rather than electronic cigarettes themselves. The article states, “Researchers and physicians also need to know what substances are being vaped and also various device designs. The FDA is currently updating the list to include ingredients that might be found in e-cigarettes. Nicotine is already on the list, as well as various metals and other nonnicotine substances.” Dr. Matt Schrager a health sciences professor at Stetson University stated, “Recommendations are to avoid use of all vaping products, especially those containing THC. Given the lack of regulation of these products, it is impossible to know exactly what they contain. The recent, poorly understood increase in incidence of related, serious--and in some cases fatal--lung disease is alarming.” Until further research is done to make definitive claims to the consequences of vaping, users should remain aware of the potential risks and use caution while using e-cigarette products. When asked about her continued use of e-cigarettes Michele Pulmbo, a Junior at Stetson University stated “Once I heard what was going on in the news, I stopped vaping because I was scared. You don’t want to be the next person whose name ends up on the list.”
In a CNN article titled “The Way You Vape Could Make It Even More Dangerous,” it’s stated how the world of electronic cigarettes is still under scrutiny by the FDA for possible health risks. Many of the negative factors published by
I stopped vaping because i was scared. you don’t want to be the next person whose name ends up on the list.” news & local
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new hazing law
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stetson policy
Florida bill has passed that will directly impact Stetson Greek life. Some changes included a redefinition of hazing, an expansion of the crime to include those involved in the planning of hazing, and introduces Andrew’s Law, named for Andrew Coffey, the FSU student who died from hazing which states that those who meet certain standards may be immune from prosecution. More importantly, the liability will no longer be placed in the hands of Greek organizations, and will now be under the jurisdiction of Stetson starting Oct. 1. A new definition of hazing states, “[...]Pressuring or coercing the student into violating state or federal law.” If a student undergoing rush or the recruitment process is pressured to drink underage, Stetson would be responsible for the enforcement of the law’s violation. Actions like this as well as drug use, and using terms of endearment that denote power differentials are considered hazing. A member of a sorority is not allowed to call a sorority sister “mom,” “child,” “baby,” or “daughter,” because it is considered a form of hazing by labeling them as “superior” or “under you.” The CS/CS/CS for SB 1080, the state bill in question, states: “Public and nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions must provide a program for the enforcement of such rules and must adopt appropriate penalties for violations of such rules, to be administered by the person at the institution responsible for the sanctioning of such organizations.” Starting on Oct. 1, Stetson must have a program that enforces these rules and penalizes those in Greek organizations who do not adhere to them. This new law complicates Stetson’s involvement in Greek life. Hazing appears to be heavily avoided on campus, but Stetson students that get involved in hazing, according to a Stetson sophomore involved in Greek life, would likely be prosecuted by both the university and their fraternity or sorority. In general at Stetson, Greek life appears to not have hazing in recent history, aside from refutable claims. The death caused by hazing at Florida State University feeds into the negative stigma of Greek life that does not accurately portray Greek life at Stetson. An anonymous fraternity member commented on the Greek life on campus, saying, “I cannot speak for other organizations, but I have never witnessed hazing or have been hazed.” To his understanding, Stetson would step in if there are reports of hazing. In regards to investigating hazing, “If it’s not provable then it’s a waste of time.” “Greek life gets a bad rep,” he continues by saying, “Greek life is very different here at Stetson than I grew up around and grew up hearing about.” Greek life has been beneficial to his experience as a student on campus, because his fraternity and others “focuses on the individual,” and “focus on the embetterment of the individual,” whereas this direct
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Florida is passing a new state bill about hazing. What does that mean for Stetson?
Written by Ashton Craig & Nicole Rosen Design by Ruby Rosenthal Photo by Kevin Vega
focus would be very difficult in a larger university. He also appreciates the philanthropic efforts made by the Greek organizations. Students have even made light of hazing. As a result of a poll sent out by The Reporter, a student submitted a satirical, anonymous response: “I made the filthy pledges chug flat Pepsi mixed with hot sauce, then I made them puke it on each other while they were standing in a kiddie pool. Once the [kiddie] pool was full of Pepsi-Tabasco puke, I made them strip down into banana hammocks and had them [wrestle]. They had to do this for six to 12 hours. By this time it was 4 a.m. in the morning. I then made them make me breakfast. Each dirty pledge had to make me 12 eggs and a whole pack of bacon each. I then made them watch me as I threw it on the ground and told me them even Gordon [Ramsay] couldn’t help them, and that Anthony Bourdain, my grandfather, was rolling in his grave. At this point I made them run until they collapsed from exhaustion. I then took their passed out bodies and put [them] in the bed of my truck. I then drove them out into the middle of the Ocala National Forest and told them to find their way back. We’re still waiting.” This response shows a lack of regard for the seriousness of hazing, and may possibly reflect other Greek life members’ sentiments. Sophia Wilber (‘22), a member of the sorority Pi Beta Phi, has similar sentiments and has not personally witnessed any hazing. Her parents had attended Stetson, and she has heard of hazing in their time as students, but she has never “in her time” experienced or heard of any hazing that she could confirm. Greek life for her on Stetson’s campus, “is so far from the stereotypes.” Wilber feels that the new legislation is “something that has really needed to be done,” and that she is glad that “proper legislation has been put in place.” The death of the FSU student has “put a dark mark on Greek life, not just in Florida, but anywhere.” The legislation, she feels, is a first step in the right direction to eradicate that dark mark. Wilber doesn’t feel that the new legislation will deeply affect Stetson students, because they already follow the legislation, but will allow new students to feel more safe before joining an organization. Read Issue 3 of The Reporter for a more in depth coverage of Stetson’s Greek life and hazing.
If it’s not provable, then it’s a waste of time.”
ANDREW'S LAW
Those who meet all of these standards are immune from prosecution:
That he or she was present at an event where, as a result of hazing, a person appeared to be in need of immediate medical assistance. That he or she was the first person to call 911 or campus security to report the need for immediate medical assistance. That he or she provided his or her own name, the address where immediate medical assistance was needed, and a description of the medical issue to the 911 operator or campus security at the time of the call. That he or she remained at the scene with the person in need of immediate medical assistance until such medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security arrived and that he or she cooperated with such personnel on the scene. 9
Are there students living in hotels? Students living in greek houses without being affiliated? A sitdown with VP of Housing, Residential Life and Learning has revealed answers to several common questions regarding the housing process at Stetson. Written by Maxx Smith
an investigation on how Stetson finds spare beds
Design by Isabel Solorzano Photo by Kevin Vega
S
tudents can typically anticipate their bed for a quick nap before hitting the books for their homework due the next day. What if that bed was in a hotel? Or in a Greek affiliated house? There are three things that all universities strive to provide: adequate education, food, and housing. In the case of overcrowding, how does a university handle one of these three necessities? Some students have ideas, yet it appears that no one has a clear consensus, so an inquiry was made into the housing process, more specifically, how Stetson deals with overcrowding and a “Stetson housing issue” exists. Fortunately, The Reporter was able to reach out and hold a conversation with Larry Corell-Hughes, Ph.D., Vice President of Housing and Residential Living and Learning. The housing process seems straightforward: Housing gets a target number of students from Enrollment management and is given from January to August to prepare. These predictions are based on “historic and retention data,” Dr. Correll-Hughes said, “Sometimes a few small changes [in the projection] can result in larger impacts on housing targets.” If 31 students were projected to study abroad, but only 21 did, that’s 10 beds they weren’t anticipating to fill. This is where the hotels and the fraternity/sorority houses come into play. As Dr. Correll-Hughes puts it, “We don’t want vacant beds that can’t be used, the reality is that people need a place to live, and these are places for them.’’
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In 2015, Stetson’s housing department confirmed that 48 freshman men lived in a Hampton Inn, and out of those 48 men, only 10 were moved on campus by the end of the semester. Since 2015, housing has used the hotel plan as a last resort, and typically reserves it only has a temporary solution for students who refuse their off-campus residency exemptions. Individuals will only be placed into Greek life houses if these houses cannot be filled to capacity with their own members. Dr. Correll-Hughes stated that they work from August to January with affiliated houses to fill the rooms with members and friends of the organization, but many organizations do not force their members to live in the house. Regardless of where the bed is, if it’s owned by Stetson and if a student needs it, they’ll be given that bed. It’s all fairly straightforward, more often than not, the only people put into affiliated houses are second-year students and above who have turned in their housing request later than others, as housing is by a first come, first serve issue 2 basis.
Stories such as a member of the class of 2021* who resided in a fraternity house before he was affiliated with a greek organization are noteworthy regarding their uncommon nature. He recalled, “I filled out the housing request fairly late, but it was like phase II, I didn’t think I would be thrown into a frat house.” What makes this student’s story unique is that as he went through formal fraternity recruitment and pledged to a fraternity that wasn’t the one that he was living in. “Living in the house jades you,” he said, “You see some more of the day-to-day operations that are more telling than what they attempt to sell during rush.” It appears quite daunting when imagining living in a house that is not your own organization’s, the student reflected this sentiment quite bluntly: “Wearing my letters in the house made me slightly uncomfortable, I would catch looks just walking down the hall trying to use the bathroom.’’ At the start of the second semester, the individual moved into their respective fraternity house. The effects of non-affiliated members living in these Greek houses before rush week and if it impacts their decisions during rush can be problematic. There are no glaring problems in the housing process through conversations with individuals and in our interview with Dr. Correll-Hughes. It appears that most issues are created through a lack of agency on the student’s part in filling out housing requests. Specifically, in a conversation with housing, a recurring theme of students who weren’t happy with their housing situation typically reported a housing request in the later phases. To return to Dr. Correll-Hughes, “There are enrollment and admissions targets that are set, there are different entities, housing and Residential Living and Learning works with occupancy projections”. Enrollment hands a number of projected students that need a place to live for the semester, and the department of Housing and Residential Life and Living attempts to give those students any spare beds they can find. *- this individual preferred to stay anonymous
UNPACKED How Gracie Caggiano’s belongings make up who she is.
Written by Tyler Kick Photo by Natalie Bergeron Design by Ruby Rosenthal
9
6 8 1
3 4
7 2 5
with Gracie Caggiano (‘21) 1 “Being a composer is a very
collaborative effort. I find that I have to talk to a lot of different people because even though I’m creating this certain work, I have to collaborate with performers— because I can’t play all of these instruments on my own! I also have to collaborate with poets when I want to use text in music. 4 “So along with composition, I also study voice here at Stetson and I take lessons. So we have to learn so many songs every semester. And so a big part of my life outside of composition is practicing. It’s also a way to see works by other composers in real time as I’m working on them.” 7
“A little different compared to everything else, it was a gift from a friend. There’s a legend that in ancient times they use this stone to heal snake bites, and so it’s a reminder to stay strong even when you have something going on that’s stressful or impacting you.”
2 “There’s a lot of technology
and resources nowadays— notation software—but I find that it makes the creative process more intimate to use actual paper so I stay stocked up on it.”
5 “This little notebook [is] just
where I write what I have to do. I’m kind of a fluid person when it comes to scheduling, so I don’t have to use a planner— I find that it doesn’t work for me. So I use this notebook and just waste everything that I have to do once I get it done”
8 “I’m a music theory tutor at Stetson. That’s something that I’ve just started this year, but I enjoy it a lot. The end goal of course is to compose all the time for the rest of my life, but I also have a strong desire to teach, and so this is giving me some experience in helping people gain knowledge— not teaching per se but helping people understand.”
3 “I have some scores from the
library. I go to the library all the time and look for music by other composers that can help me learn different techniques for composition”
6 “Being a musician, you’re
always listening to things and that’s one way that you learn. Half of the listening is just listening to life because I feel that nature is a primal composer and that we can learn from it. But the other half of it is actually listening to works by other composers. I mean you can look at the scores, but actually hearing what’s going on has a big impact on learning.”
9 “I drink coffee a lot. It’s kind
of a comforting thing to wake up in the morning and just have a cup of coffee and start brewing ideas for the day. It’s nice to just sit there and wake up, get caffeinated, and start thinking.”
arts & culture
11
death by
choiceut o l l se to
I still vividly remember the first time the name Taylor Swift began to have some semblance of significance in my life. Twelveyear-old René caught on very quickly to the catchy chorus of “Love Story,” and was singing her out even before she knew what love and heartbreak really meant.
Taylor Swift, whether you love or hate her, has accomplished a feat that few artists tend to pull off. Her country roots, which spanned from her 2006 self-titled debut album, and closed out with “Red,” her studio album from 2012, ultimately earned her a place within the world of country music, and later the pop scene as well. This huge genre shift was unbelievable, especially for her country fans who had been belting “Teardrops on My Guitar” without regret for six years. Her country roots had thought of as long gone after her later albums “1989” and “reputation” were filled with electronic synths and all too catchy choruses, but I feel that fans of the “old Taylor” can find some solace within her seventh, and newest full length studio album, “Lover,” while also keeping her newfound pop following pleased. “ME!” Swift’s first single for her 2019 studio album, featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! At the Disco, is a wild ride as far as pop anthems go. As much as I hate to bash on anything that Urie is involved in, “ME!” is a track that would be better off forgotten. This single is honestly a horror show of a cheesy musical number combined with weak lyrics. Most notable of these are: “Hey kids! Spelling is fun!” which was taken out of the studio version after it received intensive backlash from fans over the internet. If this isn’t a sign for a terrible song, I don’t know what is.
12 issue 2
Taylor Swift uses her seventh album as a chance for self-reflection and renewal. On her largest LP to date, Swift lets go of her emotional baggage and brings a positive twist to her repertoire. Although “Lover” has its imperfections, her lyrical honesty shines through as she puts past pop gimmicks behind her.
Written by Rene Campbell Design by Isabel Solorzano
Because of that track, it was a rough start for “Lover.” The second single, “You Need to Calm Down” also filled me with disappointment. I had hoped that Swift would stop centering her music around the hate she received, but this clap back of a song seems more so to me as backfiring by putting her haters in the spotlight yet again. It wasn’t until the title track, “Lover,” that I received hope before the release that there still would be moments on the album to enjoy. The track shines through because of the gently placed percussion, piano, and light pizzicato; her waltzy and lyrics of star-struck love are a nod to her younger works. Beyond the title track, the full length album of 18 songs has plenty of other moments that fall and rise, almost mirroring the often turbulent path one takes to find love. Swift opens up her album with “I Forgot That You Existed,” a snappy and sassy lyrical jab that’s on savage level par of best friends gossiping about their exes. From here,I thought that there was no way that she had more salt to pour out, but in “The Man,” Swift goes off about gender perception and how societal gender roles play a part in how success is received by the public. An interesting concept, and although it is such a bop, it definitely sticks out like a sore thumb to include in “Lover” as a whole. Out of place, or not, I’m still going to be blasting it and destroying my eardrums simultaneously. Swift calms down a couple notches within “Archer,” a song that lyrically addresses failed relationships and the struggle to balance past mistakes and the emotional baggage they carry. Lyrically, the song is fairly impressive: All the king’s horses, all the king’s men / Couldn’t put me together again / ‘Cause all of my enemies started out friends / Help me hold on to you,” Swift laments in the third and final pre-chorus. Her dark twist of a well known nursery line
captures a loss of innocence. This is one of the few songs on the album that highlights Swift’s potential for lyrical artistry. On the other hand though, the electronic synths and pulsing drum beats kept me anticipating a build for the final chorus, which never arrived. Ultimately, the monotone background left me feeling incomplete and unsatisfied.
“
Although it is a song I will continue listening to, it is also one that after playing, always reminds me of papers I write and never edit: something that does not reach its full potential.”
Moving on to “Death By A Thousand Cuts,” I was quickly attracted to the track because its title sounds so emo, and I’m totally here for potential emo Taylor Swift. The contrast hit me immediately with the cookie-cutter pop beat and colorful piano keys. When the chorus hits, Swift proclaims: “Cause I can’t pretend it’s okay when it’s not / It’s death by a thousand cuts.” By just reading these lyrics alone, it could easily be some My Chemical Romance stunt, but I guess Swift is done switching genres because this song’s emo potential is completely drowned out by upbeat synths, so take that juxtaposition as you will. The second and final collaboration on this album: “Soon You’ll
Get Better,” which features The Dixie Chicks, is more of a success than “ME!” by a longshot. Although very depressing since the song exposes Swift’s struggle with her mother’s illness, the raw emotion that she displays, accompanied by soft acoustics, is a likeness to her old school country days. When I reached this song and found myself wishing for old Taylor Swift back, I realized the difference in her music: SHE’S HAPPY NOW GOD DAMN IT. I am fully convinced that Swift’s happiness and comfort in her life has inhibited her talent as an artist because as soon as she came across depressing content, such as with this song, it was much better. Finally, Swift closes out with her final two tracks: “It’s Nice to Have a Friend” and “Daylight.” The first of the two is as a whole: lackluster. Although it hints to love in relation to childhood innocence, it is just as underdeveloped as young love gets. “Daylight” is much neater for the album closer, with soft synths that work in Swift’s favor, and even a reference to the last of her country days in the bridge: “ I once believed love would be burning red / but it’s golden / like daylight.” All in all, this album was a wild ride. Ultimately, it did succeed in capturing my attention enough to listen to the whole thing through, unlike “1989” and “reputation,” but Taylor Swift has a long way to go before I return to my twelve-year-old fangirl state.
6.5/10 my rating:
arts & culture
13
Body Modification in a changing world Body modification has been prevalent through time and even now rises in popularity on and off Stetson’s campus. Written by Julia Gray Designed by Julia Gray & Isabel Solorzano Photos by Caitlin Bhagwandeen
A
nybody with some sort of body modification might have heard these phrases before. It is true that at a base level, the idea of being impaled with a needle and then shoving a piece of shiny metal through it sounds primitive and disgusting. But once a new piercing is in, it can feel amazing. Even just switching jewelry is a complete change and there are infinite options to explore. Similarly, having a needle dipped in ink and then repeatedly stabbed into the skin to have a design forever imprinted onto your body sounds awful. But a tattoo can be a personal reminder, or a way to express artistic freedom; tattoos display an identity that the individual is proud of. It is something beautiful that bends and moves with the skin, voicing anything without having to speak a word. Body modification encompasses the world of piercings, tattoos, and even purposeful scarring in some cultures. From something as simple as an earlobe piercing to intense modifications such as full-body tattoos, inch-wide ear gauges, or even tongue-splitting, body modifications express individuality and present an impactful visual statement. Stick and poking has become popular in recent years as well. Stick and poke is a growing trend when it comes to tattoos. It involves poking a needle with skin-safe ink into the skin to manually simulate the automatic needle of a tattoo gun. Changes to the body such as eyeball tattoos, surgically inserted horns, and tattoos that cover large areas of skin often seem overwhelming or even scary, but the people who made these changes to their bodies often feel that these modifications are a presentation of their true self. This physical art is a deeply personal expression of identity that can be incredibly freeing and poignant. Although it may seem like tattoos and piercings are pretty recent, there is recorded history of body modification dating back thousands of years. There are reports of tattoos going back to 10,000 years ago in 3300 B.C. The Egyptians were tattooed, and even King George V had a tattoo, which destigmatized the views of tattoos as associated with the lesser pagan religion and criminals and spread the trend to high-class royalty. There is a very traditional and colorful tattoo style from Asia, particularly Japan, that dates back to 10,000 BCE. Piercings are traced back to 4,000 years ago in the Middle East and even in Genesis 24:22 from the Bible, a nose ring is mentioned. The Aztecs utilized piercings to denote social class and communication with the gods and in Africa, people in many communities would have piercings for religious purposes. Tattoos have also been used for hatred to mark slaves and prisoners. But despite this dark past, today’s society has been moving to consider tattoos and the practice of tattooing as art. While ancient religions utilized tattoos completely, there are plenty of religions that are against them. Some people say that a body cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery if it is tattooed. Christianity and Islam have viewed tattoos as obscene, or indicators of damage to the temple that is the body. Buddhism also opposes tattoos on the basis that it is not right to cause harm to the body. Religious versus can often be found as tattoos, and as religion is multifaceted, so are different interpretations of body modification.
14 issue 2
Sarah Hart (‘23) has a sunflower tattoo on her lower leg. She had it done
right before her 18th birthday for her great-grandmother who she was close to, and her sister has a matching one. Although her father disapproved at first, he was okay after she explained its significance relating to her great-grandmother, and she would never change anything about it. She is religious, but that does not affect her view on her tattoo.
Zoe Nicholson (’23), has three tattoos. One she stick and poked onto her
own body. Her stick and poke is of a wave because she loves the ocean. She has a mountain on the back of her arm as well. “I love mountains,” Nicholson said. “I am from Scotland, so I run up a lot of mountains.” She has a Greek crown symbol on her thumb, which reminds her to be confident and believe in herself. She regrets this one because the tattoo artist used cheap ink but will get it redone. “I have had mixed views; in general, younger people like my tats better,” Nicholson said. “I just see it as me being me, so what others think doesn’t bother me as long as I like it.”
Mason Kemph (’22) has two tattoos. He has his favorite Bible verse,
Body modifications are increasingly popular for college students, so it is no surprise that many students in the Stetson community have tattoos and piercings in a wide range of styles.
Romans 8:28, on his chest. This verse, which reads “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” reminds Kemph that “everything doesn’t [always] go your way, but as long as you continue to push forward, you can make things work out.” He also has a quarter rest tattoo on the back of his left arm. A quarter rest dictates the timing of music, so he uses this reminder to keep calm rhythm, breathe, and pause during moments of anxiety. Kemph grew up with family members that had tattoos, so he has always wanted them. He loves how personalized his are and how they remind him daily to to persevere. A few times he has encountered stares, but never any serious judgment, and although he is Christian, his religion does not negatively affect his perception of his body modification.
EsmE Grimshaw (‘23) has many tattoos. Grimshaw has the word
“beloved” on her back because that is what her name means in French and Persian. She also has the word “baby” on her right ribs, and a butterfly, heart, and an Ohm symbol on her left ribs. On her legs, Grimshaw has a Doberman tattooed on her upper thigh to represent one of her dogs and the words “you are my sunshine” on her ankle, written in her mother’s handwriting. She also has the word “amor” on her hip line. She’s always been interested in tattoos and the artistry behind them, and she loves that when she looks down, she is reminded of the meaning behind all of those stories. “I am a Buddhist, so technically I’m not supposed to partake in body modification, but at the end of the day it’s something that makes me feel whole and I don’t regret getting them done.”
There is a long and rich history of body modification around the world, and tattoos and piercings are on the rise even today. Body modification can be a beautiful form of self-expression and reassurance, and although there are stigmas, this personal art form can be seen all over Stetson’s campus.
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Nick Blakely, not forgotten Two years after his death, Hatter football player Nick Blakely continues to leave an impact on his community.
Written by Ihsaan Fanusie Design by Isabel Solorzano Photos by Stetson University Athletics
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n Aug. 28, 2017, during a routine football practice, the unthinkable happened. Stetson linebacker Nick Blakely passed out on the field and never woke up.
Beloved by his teammates, coaches, friends, and family, Blakely passed away at age 19 on that same day. An autopsy later revealed that he died from an enlarged heart.
“
Nick was a very valued member of the university, of the team, and everyone loved him.”
Since then a lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Blakely’s mother, Michelle Wilson, against the school. The lawsuit alleges a failure of Stetson football to take appropriate safety measures when presented with health concerns from Blakely. Wilson’s lawsuit totals over $15,000 for damages including “the loss of support and services of her son, mental pain and suffering, and medical and funeral expenses.” The lawsuit alleges that Blakely was required to participate in trainings and practices throughout the day despite being on certain cough medications for the symptoms of his condition. According to the lawsuit, coaches and trainers continued to push him physically even after Blakely complained of problems. An attorney was hired to represent the school and it’s defendants. Richard Ramsey, who could not be reached for an interview, gave a statement to the Daytona Beach News-Journal: “On behalf of the university, I would like to express to Nick’s parents that everyone involved with this, from administration, to trainers, to the football staff are, and continue to be, incredibly saddened by Nick’s loss. Nick was a very valued member of the university, of the team, and everyone loved him.”
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“However, the allegations in this complaint are extremely inaccurate. The allegations about what happened that day, about what is required by the NCAA, about how people responded to Nick’s emergency are completely untrue. We are regretful that the lawsuit was filed, and we will make sure that, although we will come up with a rigorous defense to allegations that are not true, we do nothing to sully or tarnish the image of Nick Blakely.” Head coach Roger Hughes said in an interview with the News-Journal: “the No. 1 thing is to not let this tarnish Nick’s memory. I don’t think there’s any doubt that while he’s not here with us physically, he’s absolutely with this team in spirit. In the aftermath of Blakely’s passing, certain measures have been put in place to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again.
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Earlier this year, Senate Bill 60 was signed into state law by Georgia governor Brian Kemp (Blakely was a graduate of Archer High School in Gwinnett County, Georgia). The bill, which is named for both Blakely and Jeremy Nelson, a middle school student who died during a recreational basketball game, requires that student athletes be taught the warning signs of cardiac arrest. Michelle Wilson founded the Nick Blakely Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing awareness about cardiac arrest and providing schools with the resources to address it for student athletes, in her son’s honor. The latest developments in the lawsuit have not yet been released. Log on to www.hatternetwork.com for updates and more information on this story.
GAME HAVEN
Hosted by Danny Barata, this show discusses, analyzes, and reviews every aspect of Roleplaying Games. From what makes these shows timeless, to what makes them flop, to mechanics and gameplay to graphics and details, this show will take an in-depth look at some of the most popular RPGs throughout history
Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m.
ON THE RAG
Hosted by Anthony Donofrio, this is a comedy talk show podcast where he and his co-hosts come up with random topics to talk about. They tend to not be very serious during the recordings and just try to have an overall good time together. Occasionally, they have guests come onto the show to join in on our antics as well. We also have a segment called WTFFL, where Donofrio look up Florida man articles beforehand, and reads them to everybody who’s there for the recording that day.
Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.
WHAT’S THE NAME OF THIS PODCAST?
Hosted by Malachi Gabriel and Wyatt Fergus, this podcast show is a discussion of what they believe to be the best anime shows to watch.
Mondays from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.
what’s on
WHAT RADIO ‘90S ROCK Hosted by Saige Gidzinski, this show will feature rock music from the ‘90s to today. Listeners will also learn facts about the bands and their songs that are playing.
Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m.
MAXXPOLICY Hosted by Maxx Smith, this show is one part news, one part experience. A show for people looking to learn more about politics, finance, or random anecdotes. A new guest and a new topic every week.
Tuesdays from 8 to 10 p.m.
TERRESTRIAL SND Hosted by Gordon Silva, this show is a look and discussion of underground bass music genres such as space bass, halftime, drum and bass, and neurofunk.
Fridays from 9 to 10 p.m.
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fast
think
for intramurals
Written by Allie Wilson Design by Julia Gray Photo by Gabriela Molina
T
The first intramural season is up and running, but more fun teams are available throughout the year.
his year’s first intramural season has officially kicked off. With teams playing flag football, soccer, and dodgeball, it’s sure to be a fun start to the year. Here at Stetson, there are almost twenty different intramural sports available to students, including everything from basketball and volleyball to trivia. The difference between intramural sports and regular or club sports offered is that intramural teams compete against each other within the school. Registration is closed for the season one sports. If you’re interested in them, you can still join next year,
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of course. Most intramurals for next season will open for registration on Oct. 4 and close on Oct. 25. This season includes flag football, sand volleyball, and indoor futsal soccer. Futsal, an indoor version of soccer, is a good way to work on your foot maneuvering. It’s played on a gym floor with no turf, as opposed to indoor soccer. One sport in the second season, 3v3 Basketball, will open for registration on Nov. 11 and close on Nov. 29. Season three opens in the spring semester, with most of the sport’s opening for registration on Jan. 6 and
don’t let the
season
pass you by
Flag football Season:Oct 21-Nov 14 Registration:Oct 4, 10AM-Oct 18, 10AM
Futsal Soccer Season:Oct 22-Nov 14 Registration: Oct 4, 10AM-Oct 18, 10AM
Sand Volleyball
3-on-3 Basketball
Season:Oct 22-Nov 14 Registration: Oct 4, 10AM-Oct 18, 10AM
Season:Dec 02-Dec 06 Registration: Nov 11, 10AM-Nov 29, 10AM
6v6 soccer Season:Sep 11-Oct 03 Registration:closed Aug 12, 10AM- Sep 13, 10AM
closing on Jan. 24. The only sports that differ from this schedule are Trivia and Battleship. Trivia has the same opening date but closes on Jan 30th, while Battleship opens on Feb. 21 and closes on March 13. The other sports included in this season are basketball, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee. The last season of the school year opens for registration on March 9 and closes on March 27, except for the NCAA Bracket Challenge, which is only open on March 15-17. The other sports available during this season are arrow tag, floor hockey, softball, and ultimate frisbee again.
4v4 Flag football
Season:Sep 3-Sep 26 Registration: closed Aug 12, 10AM-Sep 13, 10AM
Dodgeball Season:Aug 28-Oct 03 Registration:closed Aug 12, 10AM- Sep 13, 10AM
Anyone can sign up and you can even create your own team. Intramurals are a great way to build leadership skills, spend some time with friends, and stay active during the school year. If you’re interested in intramurals and want to know more, you can always visit the Hollis Center for more information. To sign up, you’ll need to create an IM Leagues account, which you can do at this website: www.imleagues.com/stetson/registration.
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WHO GIVES A , ANYWAY?
The Rock has been subject of controversy since it was put into place, but does it really matter to students? Written by Joseph Dallas Design by Ruby Rosenthal Photo by Natalie Bergeron
reporter 2 2222theissue
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f you’re a student, faculty, or a member of administration here at Stetson University, everyone seems to know about “The Rock.” This monument to Stetson’s “three cornerstone values” has been a subject of controversy for multiple years. Since being implemented as a part of the campus, students have heard constant stories about the ridiculous cost, the student protests, and the manufactured traditions associated with this boulder. But the real question we should be asking is this: who actually wants it? Dedicated in 2014, The Rock has been gifted to the school by the class of 2014 and the Student Government Association. In their article announcing its dedication, Stetson Today stated, “All iconic college campuses feature meaningful spaces that reflect the storied history and rich tradition of the university.” Intended as an iconic space for tradition and studying, Stetson was met with immense backlash following the dedication. Jokes about the Rock soon populated social media, with a Facebook page for the Rock being created soon after. Students even protested the implementation of the Rock, on parents’ weekend no less. Rumors about the replacement of the Rock circulate campus every once in a while, and the subject of its removal or replacement has been topic a lot of people have become interested in. One of these people is Kimberly Reiter, Ph.D., who, in her Stonehenge class, has created a project challenging students to replace the Rock.
“Over the two years I taught the course, suggestions included: A triad of arms, spiraling towards the central nice rose garden we used to have outside the CUB, a circle, with the entrance oriented towards the office of the President, as the power source, [and] a large circle around the Fountain,” Dr. Reiter said.
“In pre-history, place had meaning.” Dr. Reiter said, “Because the rocks seemed to follow no pattern at all, and indeed the grounds manager was pretty much told to put them next to CUB in a nice orderly way, I challenged the students of the class to measure and count the rocks and rearrange them in a pattern that had meaning.”
These suggestions, while not being physically executed by the students or the school, were still somewhat of a glimpse into what students wish for something to be iconic or traditional to the school. However, Dr. Reiter also provided insight into something just as important: its relevance.
In doing this, Dr. Reiter gave students the opportunity to use their own ideas for a different monument. Students were given a voice in what they wanted to see - something that was seemingly not taken into account when designing and constructing the Rock.
“The students think the rocks are dumb, but they generally ignore the thing,” said Reiter. This, I believe, is the real problem with the Rock. Finances and the general surrounding the Rock aside, nobody really cares about it. I, for one, have not seen the Rock used as a study space, as a place of tradition, or anything that would suggest its importance. The Palm Court fountain has more traditions surrounding it and is generally more relevant on campus than this monument specifically designed for this purpose. For something that is supposed to be iconic to Stetson, it doesn’t seem to be causing much of an impact. “With 50k spent on the rocks, it provides more worth in the conversations generated than in the traditions created,” Austin Carroll Smith (‘21) said. We would like to provide a forum for discussion on this topic. Visit hatternetwork.com to share your opinion and create a discussion.
opinion
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Written by Ruby Rosenthal & Calista Headrick Design by Isabel Solorzano Photo by Natalie Bergeron
How far can social medias go about listening to our seemingly private conversations before we are forced fight back? In the final season of the show “Parks and Recreation,” released in 2015, viewers are exposed to NBC’s vision of the future. The year 2017, according to the “Parks and Rec” writers, seems to be a spin-off of “1984,” but instead of Big Brother watching over, Pawnee has a 21st century Silicon Valley-esque company called Gryzzl, one that admits to data-mining its consumers. Viewers first recognize Gryzzl’s impact when the business puts “Gryzzlboxes” outside of homes around Pawnee, consisting of items that specifically relate to the people that live inside. The show’s protagonist, government bureaucrat Leslie Knope, for example, received a book written by her favorite politician, Joe Biden, and a poster of Supreme Court Justices sipping the "Friends" milkshake, items that longtime viewers of the show will know to be perfect for her. "There's nothing scary about Gryzzl," Roscoe, the "vice president of cool shizz" of the company said, “We just want to learn everything about everyone, and track them wherever they go and anticipate what they're about to do." However, as merely fans of “Parks and Rec,” we craned our necks, squinted our eyes, and shook our heads, thinking about how strange this was. How creepy is it that a company can have so much of Pawnee citizens’ data? How ignorant can these people be to give away such private information, for free, for a company to use and abuse it? And maybe most importantly, how did people like Knope and her husband, Ben Wyatt, really intelligent government employees, let this happen? Spiraling, I realized that responses to these questions led to more questions: When was the last time I actually read, not skimmed, but took the time to sit down to read a company’s terms and conditions before clicking “I agree”? When was the last time I had a second thought about a Facebook ad that directly referenced something I spoke about or researched? For me, it was July 2019, when Netflix released “The Great Hack”: a documentary that demonstrates the effects that apps like Facebook and Instagram can have on influencing our behavior, as well as the vast amounts of data they have on us. It begins with Professor David Carroll of The New School in New York City, who, as we soon learn, has sued UK-based company Cambridge Analytica by demanding to see the data that they had on him.
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As the film goes on, we realize that the firm had ties with both President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Senator Ted Cruz’s 2018 senate campaign, using data harvested from Facebook to create “detailed personality profiles on every adult in the United States” according to WIRED. From there, the company was able to figure out the kinds of voters that could be “easily persuaded.” With this information, Cambridge Analytica could candidly issue 2 target ads to these Facebook users, using phrases,
society
including, but not limited to, “Don’t you care about your freedom?” and “Lock [Hillary] up” to convince those who could be quickly swayed to vote conservatively. Due to these extreme violations of privacy, by May of 2018, Cambridge Analytica had shut down, yet it still led me to wonder: what kind of information does Facebook typically store on a user? To find out, I decided to do a quick Google search to learn how to access that data, and from the site’s settings, I was able to download a file with everything from 2015 (when I opened my account) to 2019. Opening the file, I noticed that it was rife with folders like “your posts,” “photos and videos,” and others that had to with my personal Facebook account, information that seemed “normal” to have on me. However, as I kept scrolling, I saw I folder called “ads,” and within this folder, a link to “advertisers_who_uploaded_a_contact_list_with_your_information.” I followed the link and got to a page that said: “Advertisers Who Uploaded a Contact List With Your Information Advertisers who run ads using a contact list they uploaded that includes contact info you shared with them or with one of their data partners” Not to disregard the stalker-ish notion of these actions, but due to my personal interests, it made sense why companies like The New Yorker or The New York Times might have my contact information. However, when I saw that companies like “Toyota of Hackensack” (where is Hackensack?) or that “Rebekah Brown - State Farm Agent” had that same data, I was freaked out and confused, wondering how I and, assumedly, so many others, blindly signed away our rights like that. Knowing all this, it’s really easy to think that because we’ve already given up vast personal data to these tech companies, for most of us, years ago, there’s nothing we can do about it now. But there’s also the all too familiar American apathy of not caring about something until it directly affects you, or someone near you. I attended high school in West Palm Beach, Florida, approximately 45 minutes away from Parkland, and although 2018 had rampant school shootings, it was only after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas when my school began to crack down on its security measures. However, it’s so important to get out of the mindset of pushing issues like this to a back burner and saying that “it’s a problem for a future self ” because, with corruption done by Cambridge Analytica, we’ve already seen the kinds of effects that a lack of data ownership can have, not just personally, but internationally as well. Domestically, there have already been steps taken in the right direction for us to begin own our personal data. The Data Care Act, introduced in December of 2018 “is designed to protect users information online and penalize companies that do not properly safeguard such data,” according to The National Law Review. This bill plans to “[...] establish three basic duties, including the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, and the duty of confidentiality,” giving us ownership over basic data rights like our “social security number, driver’s license number, passport or military identification number, and account information such as username and password.” Overt as it may be to say, but our world changes every single day, and faster than it ever has before. In Ben Kenigsberg’s New York Times review of “The Great Hack,” he openly states the fears he felt after watching the documentary: “Why am I even using the internet? Why is Twitter open on another tab? Wouldn’t it be smarter to disconnect, move to the woods and live off the land?” And although these anxieties are warranted, right now, we’re in too deep to consider them. Starting today, I vow to take control over my data, to begin to learn what information what tech companies have on me, and to realize that in some cases, there’s very little I can do about it. But, I will promise to be more cautious in the apps that I download and the firms that have my information. I will take as much ownership as I can so future companies have less and less possession over who I am. And that’s tangible; because I really don’t want to live in a 21st century version of “1984.” Do you?
keep in mind scroll as you
We’ve all had that moment of realization that all of our devices are probably listening to every word we say. Something we were just talking about suddenly shows up as an ad on Facebook. And then Instagram. And then all over our internet browsers. We live in a surveillance society where our privacy is a major concern. While surveillance can serve to help us, they can also set us at a disadvantage. Here are some things to consider when it comes to internet surveillance.
1Your online activity and browsing history can be tracked through websites.
This is done to personalize what you see online and is typically compiled into a database, but most people might question if websites should have the ability to track your activity, even if it personalizes the content that you see. Would you want the websites you visit to know and keep track of what you search, even if you aren’t doing anything wrong? This could be considered an invasion of privacy.
2Advertisers may use your information and activity for their benefit.
This is often without your knowledge. Advertising companies can track online behavior to use to their advantage. This information can also be sold to other companies. And in many cases, consumers do not know. You may want your privacy protected, but companies may want to capitalize on your information.
3
Your private information may be kept for questionable or unknown purposes, and can even be sold.
Facebook and Amazon are great examples of this. Facebook faced a scandal when the information of more than 50 million people were sold unknowingly to Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm . It was discovered that Amazon workers were possibly listening in to what customers say to the Echo speakers, in addition to the Alexa function already listening as well. It becomes an invasion of privacy when users are unaware that they are being listened to, or when their personal information is being sold through social media platforms where it is their impression that their activity is not being shared with others.
4 Your location can be tracked.
Oftentimes, social media applications may track your location, sometimes when they need it and sometimes when they don’t. It comes in handy many times if it is the function of the app. But I wouldn’t be comfortable with an application knowing where I am and what I’m doing if there is no practical use except to know my location for no apparent reason. This all boils down to privacy. Although we may click “agree” to the terms and conditions that give access to our information, it comes down to a question of whether it is ethically correct that our private information is readily available to anyone who may want it, even unknowingly.
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re-examining
Written by Jay Stearman Design by Isabel Solorzano Graphics by Choonghee Hahn
O
f all the enumerated Stetson values, perhaps none is more curious than Global Citizenship. It evokes feelings of sophistication and awareness. It sounds progressive, contemporary, and the right amount of ambiguous. Global Citizenship, one of Stetson’s “Core Values,” so it is placed alongside Personal and Social Responsibility, Intellectual Development, and Personal Growth. In light of Stetson’s Values Day and the CCE’s Global Citizenship Fair, some professors in the Economics and Political Science departments have invited students to critically examine exactly what being a global citizen actually looks like. On its face, stressing this value sounds like an invitation to Internationalize your perspective, after all the university and its donors strongly encourage study abroad semesters and summer trips to Latin America and Europe. But what worries me is that adding global in front of citizenship distracts from the term “citizenship” itself, which, although somewhat vague in of itself, is typically interpreted to mean the rights, privileges, and duties of a community member. And while I do very much appreciate the efforts of the Stetson community to engage in globally conscious activities e.g. International Peace Day, International Coastal Cleanup, I really do get hung up on the citizenship aspect. I’m in the school of thought that change, especially social, political, and environmental is best made and most readily responded to when it occurs locally. We are better equipped to save Painter’s Pond from destruction than the Amazon. As students,
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global citizenship
Is this Stetson core value a champion of progress or a feeble distraction? are we being primed too heavily on global struggles rather than domestic ones? Yes, while Hong Kong is experiencing an exhilarating protest advocating for democracy in a region of the world where it is one of the most threatened, the citizens of Flint, Michigan still do not have safe water to bathe in or drink from. Which threats to human decency deserve our attention and support more? After all, while Stetson’s values (Global Citizenship included) were being showcased, spread, and celebrated Sep. 24, it looks like National Voter Registration Day (4th Tuesday of each September) fell to the wayside. Oops.
a stetson tradition by hatter network
submit to touchstone
Art Poetry Literature
&
Touchstone is Stetson University's Literary and Arts Journal. We accept poetry, prose, visual art, and audio/video files as submissions. Only currently enrolled students at Stetson University may submit. Accepted submissions may be published in Touchstone, the Arts and Culture section of The Reporter magazine, online on hatternetwork.com, or any combination of these. Please keep submissions to under seven https://touchstoneliteraryarts.submittable.com/submit pages.You may submit more than one piece of work, BUT you must submit those separately each time.
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