CO-ED CROSSOVER
Head coach Kellie Lewis-Jay has been inviting men to practice with her players. | P.14
GAY+ RATING
FAU is applying to Campus Pride, an index that ranks LGBT-inclusive schools. | P.6
SWITCHING IT UP
Student gamers are excited for the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch. | P.8
ONE NATION UNDER TRUMP Political student organizations on campus attempt to move forward after an intense presidential election. | P.10
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ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR Celeste Andrews WEB EDITOR Richard Finkel COPY DESK CHIEF Kerri-Marie Covington NEWS EDITOR Joe Pye SPORTS EDITOR Hans Belot Jr. FEATURES EDITOR Tucker Berardi CONTRIBUTORS Benjamin Paley, Alexander Rodriguez, Bella Riccitelli, Nate Nkumbu, Chris Libreros, Tim Becker, Brandon Harrington ADVISERS Neil Santaniello, Ilene Prusher, Michael Koretzky COVER PHOTO BY Brandon Harrington 2.7.2017 / University Press / 3
News Briefs
Sophomore communication major Nicholas George wears his Mandalorian Mercs cosplay. Photo by Alexander Rodriguez
REPEAT BOOK THIEF
FAU arrests man — for the third time By Joe Pye Some people can’t take a hint. Since 2012, Gymson Belizaire has been arrested by Florida Atlantic police twice on FAU’s Boca campus and once on the Palm Beach State College campus. He was first arrested on charges of retail theft and dealing stolen property by FAU police on Dec. 3, 2012, for stealing $4,000 worth of merchandise from the Palm Beach State College bookstore, according to FAU police. On Oct. 13, 2016, Belizaire was arrested on University Drive on the west side of FAU Stadium on charges of trespassing. At the time, he was caught asking students to sell his books to the Palm Beach State College campus bookstore, FAU police said. His most recent arrest was on Jan 25, 2017, on charges of trespassing and grand theft of $907.20 worth of textbooks from the bookstore on the Boca Raton campus. FAU police said that they found him on Volusia Street near Parking Garage 1 with two copies of “Physiology of Behavior” and two copies of “Materials For Civil and Construction Engineers.” He was also spotted on campus outside of the FAU bookstore on Jan. 16, 2017, but left before FAU police could make an arrest. 4 / 2.7.2017 / University Press
FAU hosts first Star Wars night By Alexander Rodriguez
“STAR WARS” fans came together on the Housing Lawn at the Boca campus on Jan. 26, 2017, to enjoy an evening of arts and crafts and laser tag. The “Star Wars” themed event is the first of its kind that was hosted by Florida Atlantic Program Board, which has also recently held themed events revolving around “Harry Potter” and Disney. The Housing Lawn was filled with inflatables to create the laser tag arena. Students were split into two groups and
given blasters to shoot one another with. The inflatables and laser guns were provided by Laser Tag of Miami. Some students came out for the arts and crafts to create galaxy shirts and necklaces. Program Board provided the shirts for students to color and necklaces to create. “We wanted students to come out and relieve stress after any tests they have taken this week,” Gabby Barrozzi, a junior marketing major and member of Program Board said.
Student Government Says ...
NO TO THE ARTS By Nate Nkumbu
A student-run art event that has been at Florida Atlantic for more than 25 years is now in danger of not being held due to a lack of funding. On Jan. 27, Student Government rejected BRHB 17-31, a bill that would give students of the art department $2,900 to host their annual Juried Student Exhibition. The bill was rejected with 17 votes against and 11 in support following a 14-14 tie in the first round of voting and a 10-minute recess. Last semester, members from the art department came to current student body President Michael Cairo and Vice President Juliana Walters with the same issue regarding a lack of funding. But according to Speaker Pro Tempore Marianne Alex, there is no record of that request. “There were no minutes and there was no bill signed off by everybody,” Alex said. “Not by the governor, the president or [Vice President of
Student Affairs] Dr. [Corey] King.” Student House Representative Dylan Sawyer said that the most recent bill was voted down due to the art delegation lacking the proper paperwork. In a Facebook post from student Jacalyn Gmoch, she claims that Student Government would not fund food and beverage for the event because nonFAU guests would be in attendance. She added that the governing body “does not understand” why the judging panel consists of impartial people separate from the program instead of FAU art professors. Gmoch also stated that Student Government is attempting to pass a bill that would make the event’s organizers form a separate organization, preventing them from asking for funding in the future. Following last week’s meeting, Student Government met with the art students organizing the gallery on Friday, Feb. 3 for the second time. Cairo said that the art event should be funded pending a legislative verdict.
GOOD SIGN
Kiffin’s first class tops the conference By Brendan Feeney Less than two months after becoming Florida Atlantic’s football coach, Lane Kiffin has already recruited the best class in Conference USA. Rivals and 247Sports — two of the nation’s top media outlets focusing on college recruiting — say Kiffin signed 24 players so far. Of those, 15 received three stars out of five. Last year, FAU signed 19 players, with only eight earning three stars. In total, the Owls picked up 15 freshmen, two sophomores and seven juniors. Thirteen of the recruits call Florida home, two hail from Kiffin’s old stomping ground, Alabama. Others come from California, Texas and Georgia. Kiffin attributed his recruiting success to already making an impact in his brief time at FAU. “I think we won a lot of those battles because the families, the players saw our staff and our players and the environment we’re creating,” he said. Check the UP’s website for the full 2017 class.
Photo by Brendan Feeney
Caught with Weed in GPT By Ryan Lynch Cooper Kilinski’s weekend ended early. Close to midnight Friday, Florida Atlantic police arrested the Glades Park Towers resident for possession of drug equipment, marijuana with intent to distribute and Xanax without a prescription. FAU police say they received a complaint of a “suspicious odor” coming from Kilinski’s dorm room. An officer asked him if he had any marijuana in his room and Kilinski replied, “Yes, do you want me to go and get it for you?” Instead, police say they searched his room — and found nearly three ounces of marijuana, two bongs, a pipe and a hash oil pen. Kilinski’s bond was set at $6,000, which was posted on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4:55 a.m., after which he was released. He has a court date on March 9 in West Palm Beach.
Breaking Down the Boston Bombing By Bella Riccitelli On Feb. 2, Boston police commissioner Ed Davis spoke on the Jupiter campus about his experience with terrorism. On April 15, 2013, America was faced with an act of domestic terrorism committed by Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev with the help of their pressure cooker bombs set near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Davis, at the time of the attacks, worked alongside the FBI and other local first responders to ensure the safety of those within the city during the Boston Marathon bombing. A film that portrays the events of the Boston Marathon bombing was released on Jan. 13, 2017 with actor John Goodman playing Davis. 2.7.2017 / University Press / 5
FEATURES
g n i v e i Ach a
of other t s i l e h t untry. o c ng to join i e k h o t o l d n s i FAU ges arou e l l o c y l d n LGBT-frie Editor i | Features rd ra e B r e Tuck i cker Berard Photos by
6 / 2.7.2017 / University Press
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n case you hadn’t noticed, Florida Atlantic likes to brag about how diverse it is. And with some help from Campus Pride, the university is hoping to increase its diversity even further by improving its standing with LGBT students. Campus Pride, a nonprofit organization working to create a safer college experience for the LGBT community, is a national online community and resource for prospective LGBT college students and their parents. It scores hundreds of college campuses in the United States in terms of inclusivity and opportunities in enrollment and on campus for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, and anyone else who identifies as LGBT. “Campus Pride, for over a decade now, has tried to take the invisible population [of LGBT students] and connect them with colleges who are looking to recruit and cater to LGBT students,” Shane Windmeyer, the executive director of Campus Pride, said. Students are able to “shop” through the colleges on the index — which are scored from one to five stars in terms of “LGBT friendliness” — and contact admissions offices directly from Campus Pride’s site. Windmeyer said that the Campus Pride website gets an average of 60,000 to 80,000 views per month. Receiving a high ranking on the index would therefore put FAU on the radar of a larger number of prospective LGBT students. Colleges are able to get their name on the index via a thorough application process. The application consists of 80 in-depth questions that explore everything from on-campus LGBT organizations to LGBT-inclusive health services. The Office for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs is currently working through Campus Pride’s extensive application process, recording every program and opportunity that LGBT students have at FAU. LGBT coordinator Geanny Joseph Ruiz is based out of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. She is in charge of the Campus Pride application process and said that the questions have made her think of more ways to improve LGBT inclusivity at FAU. “I am going through the questions. It is very indepth and intense. There are questions pertaining to student life, faculty, housing, everything pertaining to the University,” Ruiz said. “I am very thankful for the questions, you can see that their purpose is so that you cross all your t’s and dot your i’s and you’re making sure you’re doing everything possible to ensure inclusivity of LGBT students on campus.” Windmeyer, a gay man and longtime LGBT activist,
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created Campus Pride in 2006. He said that he did so to aid LGBT students looking for a college where they have the opportunity to express themselves and find solidarity in a campus community. “For students and family members, this index may be the only free, noncommercial tool that they can use to compare campuses and find the best fit, not only academically but also the perfect fit for them if they are gay, transgender, bisexual or fall on the LGBT spectrum,” Windmeyer said. FAU already offers LGBT programs and services on campus, from Lambda United, the college’s own LGBT student group, to the Kaleidoscope Room, a safe space for students to express their thoughts and feelings. “[The Kaleidoscope room] is in the ODMA office, and LGBT students and non-LGBT students are encouraged to got there in between classes to meet fellow students and connect,” Roman Alexander, Roman Alexander the president of Lambda United, said. “There are also books and films about LGBT history, as well as resource information from local LGBT groups.” Alexander added that Lambda United works closely with ODMA, and that the group is excited FAU is taking this step and - ROMAN ALEXANDER, SOPHOMORE, SOCIAL WORK MAJOR, applying for the index. PRESIDENT OF LAMBDA UNITED “It is great that [FAU] is taking the initiative and paying attention to the needs of the LGBT and the Seminole State College of Florida has twostudents on campus,” Alexander said. “I think FAU and-a-half stars.” needs even more outreach, more advocacy events.” While FAU would get more traffic from LGBT Ruiz said that as she works through the index she students if it scored higher on the index, he said is constantly coming across new ways to improve that any score is better than no score. outreach, advocacy and general LGBT inclusion at “We encourage all colleges to reveal their scores, FAU. because even if they have a lower score, their “Looking into the index, there are ways you would willingness to apply to the index shows that they never have thought to improve,” Ruiz said. “There are trying, and in some states, even a score of one to is a question pertaining to LGBT representation two stars may be the best option,” Windmeyer said. in grieving services on campus. I’ve never thought FAU will not be scored until next semester, of that, and the index is full of examples where but in the meantime there are still places and you wouldn’t have considered as a place where opportunities for LGBT students on campus who marginalized groups would specifically need to be may not know how to get involved. mentioned.” “When we get more visibility, I hope that the Ruiz hopes to have the application submitted and community will come and take part in campus FAU included on Campus Pride’s index by the fall events and become more prominent and involved,” semester. This move would make FAU the sixth Ruiz said. “We are a safe space for LGBT students Florida college included in the index. as well as anyone else who wants somewhere to Windmeyer said, “The University of North Florida safely express their thoughts and feelings as well has four stars, New College of Florida has three as expressing themselves. We need more visibility, I stars, the University of Central Florida has fourdon’t know that enough students know who we are and-a-half stars, Stetson has three-and-a-half stars or where we are, and that this is a place for them.”
“It is great that [FAU] is taking the initiative and paying attention to the needs of the LGBT students on campus. I think FAU needs even more outreach, more advocacy events.”
2.7.2017 / University Press / 7
SwiTching it Up Timothy Becker | Contributing Writer Photos by Alexander Rodriguez
The Nintendo Switch is about to be released, and Student Union gamers can’t wait to get their hands on it.
Graduate of Palm Beach State College Garen Mazmanian (left) competes with another player in Super Smash Bros. inside the Student Union.
8 / 2.7.2017 / University Press
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intendo has had little variation on console gaming since the 2006 release of the Wii, but the company appears to be switching it up with its newest console: the Switch. With the upcoming platform being released on March 3, Nintendo fans are hoping it will be a step up from its last console, the Wii U. From the gate, the company was losing money as the console had atrocious sales. If it wasn’t for the release of a few select games like Super Smash Bros., Wii U and Mario Kart 8, the console would have been a complete bust. In comes Nintendo’s new darling, the Switch. “Unlike the Wii U, the Switch has a ton of games announced for its launch already,” freshman business major Anthony Riley said. Riley is one of the many gamers who can be seen playing on the game consoles in the Student Union. He is also a member of FAU’s gaming club, which bought most of the consoles in the union, as well as the TVs that can be found there. “Whenever someone has a TV they don’t use, they bring it in to use at the Student Union,” freshman multimedia studies major and member of the gaming club Darlington Igwenagu said. Riley and other members are already much more excited for the Switch than the console’s predecessor, the Wii U, which was notorious for its general lack of quality content. With the Switch, the upcoming game “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” will be released, as well as “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.” The concept of the Switch is simple enough: a screen with two detachable joysticks, which while attached, act as a sort of tablet controller hybrid. While the controllers are detached, the Switch can be connected to a television and games can be controlled in that outlet. “The Switch is Nintendo’s new hybrid console, you can play it by plugging it into the TV, or you can take it with you on the go,” Riley said. “They have [detachable] controllers called Joy-Cons.” Even before its release, the new console is facing some negative reviews. Critics are attacking the $279.99 price tag as the two other main consoles, the PS4 and Xbox One, are both cheaper. Many seem to believe that Nintendo is nickel and diming its customers. The Wi-Fi connectability is reportedly spotty and Nintendo, for the first time ever, is charging for online services. Memory capacity has always been a sore spot for Nintendo, with the Switch base model only coming with 32 gigabytes of memory. However, that can be expanded up to two terabytes. The supposed issues with the Switch aren’t halting
Palm Beach State graduate Garen Mazmanian (hooded striped shirt), freshman multimedia studies major Darlington Lgurenagu (front center), Jonathan Casique, who has a bachelors in biology (far right) and freshman biology major Jeffrey Parra (back center), play video games at the Student Union. the hype train as students at FAU are salivating at the idea of getting to play one. The Student Union is booming with gamers who spend hours on the Wii, a trend that seems likely to continue with the Switch. “I am for sure going to buy [the Switch] the day it comes out,” Riley said. “I hope I don’t have too much homework due for class, because all of my time is going to Zelda.” And the multiplayer capability seems to only further the hype. “We have a lot of gamers here in the Student Union every day. If we got the Switch, which can handle eight controllers, I could see a lot of people playing [Super Smash Bros.] easily,” Riley said. Even old-school gamers are excited for what the new console has to offer. “I heard they were coming out with a [Super Smash Bros.] Melee release [for the Switch],” Kyle Wehrs, president of the FAU gaming club said. “I’m excited for that.” The Switch presents an opportunity for the company to return to the gaming masterwork it’s been known for in the past. On March 3, fans will know if Nintendo is truly switching it up.
FEATURES
Anthony Riley
“I am for sure going to buy [the Switch] the day it comes out. I hope I don’t have too much homework due for class, because all of my time is going to Zelda.” - Anthony Riley, freshman, business major
2.7.2017 / University Press / 9
One Nation (From left to right) Republicans Brandon Walker and Susan Walker duke it out with Democrats Catherine Theriault and Marina Braynon.
College Democrats and Republicans reveal how they feel about the presidential election that reshaped the future of American politics. 10 / 2.7.2017 / University Press
NEWS
Under Trump Joe Pye | News Editor Photos by Brandon Harrington n Jan. 21, College Democrats member Marina Braynon attended the women’s march in Washington D.C. to protest the wage gap and President Donald Trump, whereas Susan Walker of the College Republicans claims the gap is a myth and that Trump doesn’t discriminate against women. “If you think women are oppressed then you should be better than the male next to you,” Walker said. “As women we need to just dominate and take over.”
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With Braynon as the director of membership and outreach of the Florida Atlantic College Democrats and Walker as the development director for the College Republicans, the two rarely agree on political issues. Following one of the most polarizing elections in United States’ history, they are more torn than ever on the direction of our country under a Trump presidency. Walker feels that when the government regulates and passes laws on wages and sexual harassment, it creates bigger problems for women. “If you’re a beautiful woman in the workplace
you’re probably going to get hit on,” Walker said. “If you sue and make a big deal out of someone who looked at you, companies aren’t going to want to put women in higher positions.” College Democrats President Catherine Theriault is uncertain of how the next four years will play out, being part of the LGBT community and a Quebec native who just earned her American citizenship last year. However, the triple major in political science, French and international business does fear living in the U.S. under a Trump-Pence administration. “Currently I’m worried about everything he said during the campaign,” Theriault said. “I fear for women, minorities and immigrants.” Theriault feels that former President Barack Obama made an impact for marginalized and lowincome communities by legalizing same-sex 2.7.2017 / University Press / 11
marriage and enacting the Affordable Care Act. “I think [Trump] ran his entire campaign on reversing all that Obama did under his term,” Theriault said. “Saying ‘Make America Great Again,’ for a lot of us, it’s not going to be great. Maybe for us it never was.” Trump’s selection of Vice President Mike Pence, a politician who strongly opposes marriage equality for same-sex couples and believes being gay is a personal choice, is one major factor that bothers Theriault about Trump’s presidency. “The people that he has appointed and surrounded himself with don’t have a good track record on LGBT and women’s issues,” Theriault said. “Someone like Mike Pence who believes in [conversion] therapy makes people afraid.” Theriault is just one member of College Democrats who fears Trump will ignore marginalized groups in the U.S. Vice president of the College Democrats Justin Adkins says he wants to give President Trump a chance, but he is irritated by the prospective Cabinet members Trump has nominated like Betsy DeVos for education secretary and Jeff Sessions for attorney general. “With his Cabinet nominees, it shows that it’s very unlikely that he does have the best interest in mind for the country,” the junior political science major said. “It’s more like a system of ‘I owe this person.’” “We are moving towards an oligarchy,” he added. Adkins is an African-American man who fears that with the way Trump spoke during his campaign will carry over to his presidency. “I fear there will be more of a cultural line in the United States under Trump,” Adkins said. “When he made certain allegations against the Hispanic population and the Muslim-American community and blamed blacks for the violence in the United States, that really hits home.” Members of the College Republicans disagree that Trump is insinuating violence among the American people. Chairman of the College Republicans Brandon Walker blames mainstream media for the way Democrats view Trump. “He’s not out to advocate for violence, but he is out to be the voice of the people. He has said things that politicians don’t say because he is not your typical politician,” the sophomore political science major said. “The liberal media try to spin him into a monster and look at Trump through a fish bowl.” Walker feels media outlets like CNN and The New York Times don’t fairly report on Trump. “What he says — maybe he didn’t specifically mean it the way [the media goes] and turns it 12 / 2.7.2017 / University Press
(From left to right) Republicans Brandon Walker and Susan Walker attempt to amend their differences post election with Democrats Catherine Theriault and Marina Braynon. around,” Walker said. “I think that when the media is out for ratings and [don’t] give a balanced point of view is where we see a lot of division and hatred.” He believes that there is a level of hypocrisy in Democrats and liberals following the election with the way people have been protesting Trump and creating social media protests like #Notmypresident. “I think the Democratic party and liberals are kinda hypocritical in the way that they have reacted to the inauguration this election,” Walker said. “They have completely done away with everything that they said during the campaign basically demonizing Trump for not accepting what the outcome would be if [Hillary Clinton] was elected but the tables have turned.” Like Theriault, Braynon identifies as LGBT, and is an African-American woman. She has been bothered the most about Trump’s comments regarding abortion. During a Town Hall meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin on March 30, 2016, Trump said that he believed there should some form of punishment for women who choose to have abortions.
“I think what upset me the most about Donald Trump and why I decided to go up to D.C. was his stance on abortion. It could’ve just been campaign rhetoric but he still said it,” Braynon said. “Women who have abortions should be punished? I think that’s ridiculous because 1/4 of women in their lifetime will have an abortion. Do you know how many women that is?” Despite their major differences, members of both organizations are working together to pass legislation in Florida. “Currently we are trying to work with the College Republicans to write a joint resolution supporting the elimination of sales tax on a feminine hygiene product’s bill,” Adkins said. Braynon said that aside from their conflicting views, they are still college students and have common interests outside of their political beliefs. “Our views are so different [but] we actually get together … Someone in our club is dating [a member of the College Republicans]. If we want to debate about policy, heads are going to get ripped off,” Braynon said. “We get along — just when we don’t talk about politics.”
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SHE’S G T GAME
As allowed by NCAA rules, the women’s basketball team has been inviting men to practice with them. Christopher Libreros | Contributing Writer Photos by Alexander Rodriguez
14 / 2.7.2017 / University Press
nside an empty FAU Arena, the Florida Atlantic women’s basketball team steps onto the practice court as the coaching staff prepares the game plan in preparation for its next opponent. As the sounds of sneakers squeaking start to echo throughout the gymnasium, the main doors open up to reveal the final members of that Jan. 11 practice — six male students. These practice players, each of whom were recruited by head coach Kellie Lewis-Jay and her team, serve a vital role that has helped the athletes from both genders grow as both players and friends. “They [have] made me better to be honest,” junior business major DaSean Cannon said. “We’re supposed to make them better, but they made me better too.” The group of guys have also become the team’s biggest fans, attending all of the women’s home games and going as far as Jacksonville, Florida to support the Owls in their road game against the University of North Florida back on Nov. 20. Lewis-Jay has a history of implementing this style of training at other schools, using it as a way to prepare her players for the speed, strength and physicality they’ll face every night throughout the season. “We’ve had practice guys everywhere I’ve been, and it’s always a positive for us,” said the fifth-year head coach, who previously served as an assistant for both Connie Yori in Nebraska as well as June Daugherty in Washington before arriving to FAU as a head coach. The practice players, much like everyone else on the team, carry their own unique roles and - KELLIE LEWIS-JAY, responsibilities. During a typical practice, Lewis-Jay and her coaching staff will designate specific practice players individually or as a group to participate in certain drills or scrimmages. She then assigns the girls to one of the two stations on either end of the floor. These drills are designed to improve reaction time on defense, physicality on the glass for rebounds and something that both parties raved about during their time playing for Lewis-Jay: the elevation of their basketball IQ. “I feel like going against them, I get stronger and smarter,” sophomore forward Ra’Kyra Gabriel said. “They’re faster and they’re stronger so I feel like they teach us more about not how fast we can go to make the game faster, but basically how we can use
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different angles and different ways to beat them, even if we’re not fast enough or not strong enough. They help us with our basketball IQ.” But why not other women? According to rules on the NCAA’s website, any woman participating with the team in practice must become a part of the active roster, meaning that their play cannot be exclusive to the practice floor. Coach Lewis-Jay decided this NCAA practice regulation could be a different solution to better her team, as it has in the past. “If a woman is good enough to challenge us, she should be on the team,” Lewis-Jay said. “We need people who are going to challenge us, we need people who are bigger than us, faster than us and stronger than us, otherwise there’s no other point to do it.” The recruiting of these practice players was thorough and vigorous. Currently, the practice team is made up of male students on campus who were approached by either the players or Lewis-Jay herself either while they were playing basketball recreationally or through connections to some of the players. Lewis-Jay said that she prefers to recruit some of these guys as freshmen when possible in order to attain some familiarity. “We like to have carry over, because they know what’s expected. We have to kind of in a sense train them a little bit when they get here, that they’re not trying out for the NBA,” Lewis-Jay said.
“You know, it’s a sacrifice for the guys to come out ... part of the reward that they get is feeling that they’re part of the team and I would say they are.” HEAD COACH
To accomplish this, Lewis-Jay sets the tone from the start, briefing the players on what’s expected of them and the importance of helping the team improve. Spare time in college can become hard to find in the midst of balancing studies, a job and a social life. So what drives these everyday students to work as hard as FAU athletes without receiving any of the shine? For players like Cannon, it’s an opportunity to play the game he enjoys while also getting in shape so he can try out for FAU’s football team. “We like the game, it’s fun. And we knew some of the girls before so we were like, ‘We might as well,’” he said. “Last year was my first year and I loved it. It
SPORTS
was fun, got me in shape … I got to get in shape for football so it helped me do that too.” For others, it’s a chance to finally experience being on a team. “It’s a fun experience for them, they get to feel like they’re part of a team,” said coach Lewis-Jay. “You know, it’s a sacrifice for the guys to come out ... part of the reward that they get is feeling that they’re part of the team and I would say they are.” She has also made it a point to go further than that, rewarding many of her practice players from both the past and present with letters of recommendation and support in future endeavors. “The coaches put you in a good position to succeed and be as helpful as possible,” sophomore psychology major and member of the practice team Ysmael Darius said. For some of the men, getting the chance to be honorary members of a team with experienced coaches for the first time fed into a desire for improvement. This hasn’t gone unnoticed by the head coach, who said that “it’s fun to watch them, I mean they get better too.” Along with improving on the court, the men all admitted to learning something important. “They’re tougher than I thought they were. They’re strong,” playfully remarked Cannon. ”Like I used to think girls were like weak, but they are not weak. They push me around sometimes and I have to be like, ‘Oh, I got to wake up.’ … They work hard.” Darius felt a similar sentiment when he commented on the competitive spirit of the women’s team and what stood out to him from his first practice. “The intensity of it, just playing rec ball my whole life, like you know a lot of times people go out there and they don’t play as hard as they should, sometimes that frustrates me,” said Darius. “But coming out here, they really play … it’s high intensity, but I love it.” The two sides have gone on to embrace the challenge of going up against each other in practice, and even engage in friendly trash talk over bragging rights. For freshman guard Julia Jenike, the competition between sexes was nothing new from her time growing up in Ohio. 2.7.2017 / University Press / 15
“Definitely when someone’s talking smack to you or something or thinks they’re so good, and you’re a girl and come out and do the stuff they can do, it’s really funny,” Jenike said. “Where I was, playing just pick up, you don’t really know a lot of people,” she said. “I would be like one of the only girls. Maybe one, maybe my sister, like two of us, and everyone else would be guys. The guys would look to not pass to us, and try to score more, but once we got people who knew us and knew we were capable it became fair ground.” Lewis-Jay recalled her own experiences from growing up playing against the boys in her neighborhood, and she only had one mindset once she stepped onto the court. “No, nobody can stop me,” she said as she cracked a smile. At the end of practice, everyone comes together one last time to refocus on the task at hand, walking away from the gym united for the next opponent. And if the female players are the only ones allowed on the court, their male practice players aren’t very far. “They’re our loudest fans in the stands,” Lewis-Jay said. “They’re just good guys and I think we’ve been pretty lucky to get some really really good guys and good people to come out and help us, because it is hard to find.”
BUT WHY NOT OTHER WOMEN? According to rules on the NCAA’s website, any woman participating with the team in practice must become a part of the active roster, meaning that their play cannot be exclusive to the practice floor.
16 / 2.7.2017 / University Press
“They’re tougher than I thought they were. They’re strong. Like I used to think girls were like weak, but they are not weak. They push me around sometimes and I have to be like, ‘Oh, I got to wake up.’ … They work hard.” - DASEAN CANNON, JUNIOR, BUSINESS MAJOR
DON’T BE LEFT IN THE DARK
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UNIVERSITY PRESS 2.7.2017 / University Press / 17
Arts and Lifestyle
By Celeste Andrews | Assistant Creative Director and Ben Paley | Contributing Writer
Ask Luna This week, Luna writes about gap-year options Dear Luna, What are some ways to spend a gap year between undergrad and grad school? Rosa Roman Hey Rosa, It all depends on what you are looking for and/or what you want to do. Many students decide to spend a year (or two) after college completing service projects. AmeriCorps is a national organization that consists of several different sub-organizations for young adults interested in public service. One of AmeriCorps organizations, City Year, is a national program that affords 18-24 year olds the chance to serve in underprivileged schools. The Peace Corps, founded in 1961 and run by the U.S. government, is another volunteer program that graduates flock to for a gap year. Some recent college graduates decide to travel. Gapyear.com is one site you can go to for help planning a gap year backpacking and traveling. Another resource is gooverseas.com. There’s always the option of getting a part-time job or landing the elusive paid internship. Gapyear.com also has several projects listed that are geared toward those who wish to spend their gap year starting a business. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide. Sincerely, Luna If you are looking for advice or want to ask Luna a question, please email asklunaup@gmail.com. 18 / 2.7.2017 / University Press
Love in the Breezeway
Have you seen someone you thought was cute around campus but didn’t catch their name? Let the University Press help you find them.
REDHEAD GUY SITTING AT PICNIC TABLE You: Redheaded male with freckles working on homework Me: Blonde girl on blue bike on my way to class Message: Thought you were cute. Want to study? When: Jan. 26, 2017 Where: In front of the Social Science Building at the picnic table underneath the large tree Time: 4:10 p.m. FUNNY GIRL IN HEALTH You: Girl in white flower shirt with curly hair Me: Guy in Yeti hat, black shirt, accidently dropped my skateboard at the end of the class Message: You and your friends kept making jokes during the lecture. I thought they were hysterical. Wish I could have gotten your name or your number. I love a funny girl, want an audience? When: Jan. 24, 2017 Where: General North, Room 101, Intro to Exercise Health Time: 8-9:30 a.m. Has someone around campus caught your eye? Email lovenbreeezewayup@gmail. com with a description of who you saw, where you saw them, what time it was and a message you want them to read.
Campus Find of
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Week Favorite Flicks The editor of Arts and Lifestyle has seen the movies, bought the popcorn and now she’s sharing her reviews with readers. Star Wars: Rogue OneThe next installment in the “Star Wars” series follows Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). Her father, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), was taken by the Empire and forced to create a planet destroyer. Now as a grown woman outrunning her past, Jyn must rescue her father and face the Empire by joining the Rebel Alliance. To ensure that her father's creation doesn’t kill millions, Jyn must go above and beyond the call of duty. Whether you’re a die hard “Star Wars” fan or just a casual viewer, this movie speaks to everyone about the emotional bonds we create with family and that friends aren’t always where you expect to find them. Grade: A+ FencesTroy Maxson (Denzel Washington) is heartbreaking in this Broadway play turned movie about a man whose dreams of becoming a baseball player have long been dead. With his built-up frustration, Troy takes his anger out on his wife, Rose (Viola Davis) and his youngest son Cory (Jovan Adepo). Things fall apart when Troy reaches his boiling point and makes a decision that will change his family dynamic forever. While Washington’s performance may come off as distressing, it’s impressive to know that the actor can play such a challenging role and break free of his usual niche. Grade: AxXx: Return of Xander CageVin Diesel returns to his role as Xander Cage, a self-promoting daredevil with a need for the extreme. In this new installment, Cage is being pushed to the ultimate limit: recover a secret weapon that can launch every dormant military missile or watch as those that he loves die. As Cage goes further into recovering Pandora’s Box, he opens up a can of untold secrets and government infiltrations. How will this daredevil survive his biggest stunt yet? This movie is perfect for those not looking for depth. What the movie lacks in performance and script, it makes up for in crazy stunts and shit getting blown up. Grade: C
Eyeing up Events Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for career fairs, Motown music, plays and more. Tucker Berardi | Features Editor Bored and looking for something to do on campus? Here are some events coming up in the next few weeks at Florida Atlantic’s Boca location.
TUESDAY Feb. 7
All Majors Career Fair | Noon Campus Recreation
There will be a career fair for all majors inside Campus Recreation from noon until 4 p.m. Dress up and bring your resume for a chance to meet with local and national businesses who are looking to hire talented college students.
Tournament Tuesdays | 1 p.m. Student Union
Come play billiards in the Student Union lobby at 1 p.m. Students will have a chance to compete against each other for a chance to win prizes.
MONDAY
Feb. 13
Dionne Warwick Motown Party Tour | 7 p.m. Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium
American singer Dionne Warwick is coming to the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium and will be joined by guest star Myles Savage. Warwick is a five-time, Grammywinning artist whose career has spanned seven decades. Tickets start at $35 and are available on
Actors perform in the University Theatre. Photo courtesy of the University Theatre TicketMaster or at the FAU Box Office. The show starts at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY Feb. 14
Tasty Tuesday | Noon Student Union
Stop by the Student Union lobby at noon to get a free, chocolate-covered snack. The event will be hosted by the Student Union.
friday-Saturday
Feb. 17-18
The Spitfire Grill | 7 p.m.
Performing Arts, Studio One “The Spitfire Grill” is a musical by James Valcq and Fred Alley about a feisty parolee who gets a job at the Spitfire Grill and brings soul and hope back to the locals. Tickets start at $20 and are available at the FAU Box Office. The show starts at 7 p.m and will take place in Studio One on the second floor of the Performing Arts building.
SUNDAY
Feb. 19
South Florida Symphony Orchestra “Order By Disorder” | 1 p.m.
Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium This collection of orchestral arrangements will be performed by the South Florida Symphony Orchestra in the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium starting at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $30 and are available on TicketMaster and at the FAU Box Office. See TicketMaster for the complete lineup of arrangements.
WEDNESDAY Feb. 22
Meet Rebecca Makkai | 1 p.m. Student Union
Rebecca Makkai is an author based out of Chicago who has written novels such as “The HundredYear House” and “The Borrower.” Her short stories were chosen for the Best American Short Stories collection from 2008 to 2011. You can meet Makkai in the Student Union Majestic Palm Room at 7 p.m. 2.7.2017 / University Press / 19
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