Feb. 27, 2018 VOL.19 | #12
Lives in Limbo
DACA recipients at FAU wait for a decision from Congress on whether or not they will be sent back to a country they may not remember. PAGE 8
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DACA recipient Ana Aleman. Cover photo courtesy of Alexander Rodriguez | News Editor
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UP STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Kerri Covington MANAGING EDITOR Katrina Scales CREATIVE DIRECTOR Celeste Andrews WEB EDITOR Richard Finkel BUSINESS MANAGER Ryan Lynch NEWS EDITOR Alexander Rodriguez FEATURES EDITOR Hope Dean 2 02.27.2018 University Press
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PHOTO EDITOR Joshua Giron DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Benjamin Paley STAFF WRITER Nate Nkumbu SENIOR DESIGNER Ivan Benavides CONTRIBUTORS Kristen Grau, Makayla Purvis, Sophie Siegel, Kevin Carver, Ross Mellman, Cameren Boatner, Rachel Gavilan, Carly Russo, Dan Bartholomew, Elynette Munet ADVISERS Neil Santaniello, Ilene Prusher, Michael Koretzky
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News Briefs PROUD
SLUTS AT FAU Students protested against sexual harassment and body shaming By Rachel Gavilan
Photo by Elynette Munet
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TUDENTS CHIMED IN with “Me Too” and “Time’s Up” on the second SlutWalk held at the FAU Boca campus. Planned Parenthood FAU chapter Generation Action hosted the Feb. 14 march and a few dozen like-minded students attended, eager to make their voices heard. The walk is part of a global movement that began in 2011. Funded in part by Planned Parenthood, the march took place around the campus’ Housing Lawn. Before the walk started, attendees sat around a table crafting colorful signs and discussed the principles behind the SlutWalk movement. Pre-med student Mabelin Bernal said, “In our society, men are allowed to do whatever they want, but women are shamed for what they wear and what they choose to do with their bodies.” During the walk, participants held up their signs and chanted, “No means no! Yes means yes! Maybe means maybe! Don’t call me baby!” “My body! My choice!” and “No matter where you go, no matter how you dress, no means no and yes means yes!” The walk welcomed all genders, but was also for anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or assault. Part of a table display set up by FAU Owls Care Health Promotion highlighted how rape culture can affect the LGBT community, as well as men. Following the march, pizza and water bottles were provided for participants. Student singers Muna Muhammad and Aubrey Laudano performed several Top 40 hits, as well as Alicia Key’s “Girl On Fire” to close out the event.
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PROTESTING AGAINST PHOTOS OF DISMEMBERED FETUSES ON CAMPUS By Carly Russo AN ANTI-ABORTION group demonstrating on the Boca campus was met with FAU student protesters Feb. 13. The Canadian Center for Bioethical Reform presented their anti-abortion message on the Free Speech Lawn with graphic images of aborted fetuses. Signs were posted around the Social Science building to warn students of the shocking images on display. “We believe in human rights for every member of the human family. Abortion decapitates, dismembers, and disembowels pre-born children and is a human rights violation,” Devorah Gilman said, a representative handing out flyers. The FAU Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) held a silent protest a few feet away from the anti-abortion protesters. They arrived at 2 p.m. to promote women’s rights over their bodies. “Our nation is founded on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How is a woman supposed to live her life and pursue happiness if she doesn’t
have liberty over her reproductive choices,” Dave Maxwell said, YDSA vice president. The YDSA protesters held signs, ignored the demonstrators, and handed out roses to students who approached them. Many images displayed by the anti-abortion group compared abortion to genocide, which offended some students. “I think it’s despicable especially because they’re putting up pictures of the Holocaust,” pre-law major Serena McGann said. “I know people who are Holocaust survivors and the fact that they’re comparing the suffering of Holocaust survivors to abortion is disgusting.” Another student also expressed his discomfort with the photos displayed around the Free Speech Lawn. He said it weakened the message of the antiabortion organization. “I think they’re going about it the wrong way because they are not getting students to agree with them. It seems like they are forcing it in people’s faces,” freshman business major Jacob said, who requested his last name be omitted to keep his personal views private. The group visits the Boca campus on an annual basis.
News Briefs
CONSIDERED BUT UNAFFORDABLE FOR FAU Singers Camila Cabello and SZA won’t be available for the next music festival By Alexander Rodriguez
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EFORE ANNOUNCING the spring music festival’s lineup Feb. 14, Program Board considered several other artists. The board started looking into potential performers following OwlFest in October 2017 for spring’s Fly On Music Fest. “The focus was on overall talent of the performers and providing something different for the student body,” Assistant Director of Student Activities and Involvement Richard Mahler said. Two artists considered included former “Fifth Harmony” member Camila Cabello and R&B singersongwriter SZA. “As with any show Program Board does, many other artists were considered … Unfortunately the popularity of these artists began to skyrocket during the offer process and we were quickly priced out of their market,” Mahler said via email. Country music singer Hunter Hayes will headline the fest due to his popularity, high attendance rate, and name recognition. Hayes was offered $42,500, Youtube star JamieBoy
VIGIL FOR PARKLAND SHOOTING VICTIMS
Attendees lit candles to remember the lives lost at the event held on the Boca campus By Alexander Rodriguez
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WO DAYS after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, FAU students and the community came together to remember the 17 people killed. The FAU College Democrats held a candlelight vigil at the Free Speech Lawn outside the Social Science building Feb. 16. They gave out candles and posters marked with the names of victims.
$5,000, “American Idol” contestant Haeley Vaughn $2,190, and “The Voice” Matt Schuler $3,000, according to Mahler. Program Board chose the artists based off its budget and student surveys. During orientation sessions and Weeks of Welcome, the board conducts surveys and asks students what music genre they are most interested in. “Unfortunately those surveys cannot have artist names on them,” Mahler said via email. “We don’t want to promise an artist and then have said artist either deny the offer or not be available.” Before the four artists perform at FAU, they can request certain items to make their experience backstage more comfortable. When asked what their requests were, Mahler said the contracts are ongoing and have not been finalized. This year’s event will be held March 16 in the Student Union auditorium. Admission is free for students with a valid Owl ID and $20 for guests. They can be purchased at the Student Union Box Office. “There needs to be a discussion but ultimately our goal is to honor the lives of those lost,” Justin Atkins said, president of the College Democrats. Participants formed a circle underneath the Social Science building to discuss the shooting. “The realities of gun violence in the United States only become more real when it happens so close to home,” Vice President of FAU College Democrats Sophie Siegel said. She asked the audience to pray for the victims’ families and hold their loved ones close after this tragic incident. Freshman mechanical engineer major Brian Halem told the University Press he had recently graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High and knew the shooter, Nikolas Cruz. “I should’ve noticed when [Cruz] started talking about tactics and gas masks,” Halem said while tearing up. “I should’ve realized something was wrong.” Halem also worked with Cruz at the Parkland Dollar Tree. The last time they spoke was when Halem was buying Valentine’s Day cards — the night before the shooting. “I lost two good friends in the shooting,” Halem said. “I can’t help but feel partially responsible.”
FAU STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND THE MAYOR OF BOCA RATON TALK MENTAL HEALTH By Alexander Rodriguez SUSAN HAYNIE visited FAU Feb. 13 to discuss a recent Student Government bill recognizing mental health. The bill set aside Jan. 12 as Mental Health Awareness Day. “That’s what we are all about, intervention on a early stage and really assisting people,” the Boca mayor told Student Government members in the Student Union House Chambers. SG’s bill was tied to Florida House Bill 8029 saying the state will recognize and support mental health awareness from Feb. 3-10. The bill states that 43.6 million Americans, 18 years and older, have experienced mental illness in some form. The bill was sponsored in Florida’s Congress by SG, according to a Twitter message. Yet for its Mental Health Awareness Day in January, no events were held by SG, Owls Care Health Promotion, or FAU Counseling and Psychological Services. Ahead of the bill’s passing, SG hosted “Stress Less Week” from Nov. 18-25 last year. One event had students write encouraging letters to other students on campus. “If a student received a note they were encouraged to keep the good deed going,” SG said via Twitter. Haynie then discussed other surveys conducted about mental health and thanked Student Government for prioritizing the issue with their bill. Haynie said, “This is an important issue for the United States, as well for our city.” Park Vista High School senior Lindsey McFarland came out to the vigil to send prayers and express her desire for tougher gun control regulation. “How many more children, how many more teachers have to die for them to finally say, ‘OK, let’s change something,’” McFarland said. “We shouldn’t have to wait. It needs to end now.” More than 50 people from FAU and the surrounding community came to the Boca campus to remember the lives lost in the tragedy. • SEE PAGES 10-11 FOR PHOTOS •
02.27.2018 University Press 5
Features
Going Green
A comparison of six public Florida universities and their policies for recycling and environmental programs. Katrina Scales | Managing Editor 6 02.27.2018 University Press
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ollege students produce a lot of trash. According to Boston College, each student produces 640 pounds per year. So instead of dumping every crumpled essay paper or discarded Coke bottle in a landfill, many universities have taken action to reduce their carbon footprint. Some more than others. Ahead is a look into FAU’s green-minded efforts for a more sustainable campus compared to five other public Florida universities.
Florida Atlantic University:
environmental initiatives from colleges and universities. In the spring, the campus participates in a nationwide competition called RecycleMania in which colleges across the country compete to see who can recycle the most and reduce the amount of waste they produce. Last year, the school came in first in the state after collecting 680,244 pounds of recyclables — that’s more than five times the amount the second place winner collected. FIU currently has a recycling rate hovering between 25 percent and 30 percent, according to its Go Green web page. Its Office of University Sustainability is the central office for maintaining policies and procedures regarding the integration of environmental education, research, and outreach. In 2010, the university created the Sustainability Committee, comprised of an equal number of students, faculty, and staff.
University of Florida: In late 2007, FAU launched the Mission Green Initiative — an eco-friendly campaign that looks to cut down on water and power consumption while creating a culture of sustainability among students and faculty. The goal, according to its online mission statement, is to recycle 75 percent of the waste generated and increase conservation efforts. The circa 2013 Mission Green web page boasts a bike-sharing program called “green bikes,” thriving community gardens, and more “TBA” features. Although, the gardens near the College of Business and T-Buildings (near IVA) appear long neglected. There are, however, remnants of the Mission Green initiative that are still visible on campus. Several solar-powered trash compactors with accompanying recycle slots are located on the Boca campus. The once-active Mission Green Student Associate position is currently vacant and in a “recruiting phase” according to the former faculty adviser Helen Kennedy. FAU has several LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings, such as the Culture and Society building and Engineering East. To qualify, the buildings must satisfy specific requirements for water and energy usage. It is unclear if the campaign is still in effect, as there are no oversight committees or recent information available online.
UF was highlighted in the 2017 Sustainable Campus Index in the Air and Climate section for its efforts in improving sustainability. In April 2016, UF unveiled the Neutral UF Coalition program, which offers carpool and bicycling services. The program is designed to allow faculty and staff to “voluntarily offset” the carbon impact of their commutes to and from campus. The school is also a participant of RecycleMania each spring. The university maintains an organic garden, called the Student Agricultural Gardens, for students to grow their own food on campus. UF’s nine-part “strategic vision” is outlined on their Office of Sustainability web page, which details everything from energy conservation to climate change “implementation plans.”
Florida State University:
Florida International University:
FIU received silver rating in the 2017 Sustainable Campus Index, a publication of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, which highlights impactful
The FSU Sustainable Campus was created in 2010 to promote the practice of resource conservation. Today, it has numerous programs and events that encourage students, faculty and staff to participate in sustainability on campus. A program unique to FSU is the The Green Office Certification Program. This project evaluates faculty and staff office practices to make simple steps toward becoming more sustainable including energy
conservation, waste reduction, recycling, and transportation. “Take Back the Tap” is a student-run campaign aiming to transform FSU into a “bottled water free campus,” encouraging everyone to use reusable water bottles. Last year, the school received silver rating in the 2017 Sustainable Campus Index.
University of Central Florida:
Similar to FAU’s green mission, UCF includes a plan to recycle 75 percent of its landfill-bound wastes. The campus features more than 13 buildings that have achieved LEED silver certification or higher. Preserving the natural landscape is another initiative by UCF, maintained by the university’s Department of Landscape and Natural Resources. Nearly 60 percent of the campus land is designated as conservation wetlands and diverse gardens. The school came in second in the state in RecycleMania last year.
Florida Gulf Coast University:
Named one of the top 25 Greenest Colleges in 2015 by BestColleges.com, FGCU provides detailed up-to-date procedures for its vision for sustainability on its website. In April 2016, FGCU became the first school in Florida to sign the Real Food Campus Commitment, a commitment to serve food at the campus cafeteria that is locally sourced and humanely raised. The Sustainable Campus Index awarded FGCU a Gold Rating in 2014 for its top performance in environmental conservation research. FGCU’s Environmental Sustainability Committee is governed by administrative staff to create action plans with clear objectives and identified offices responsible for their completion. Student organizations such as Students 4 Environmental Justice and the Environmental Coalition of FGCU promote sustainability programs as well. *University green initiatives’ masthead images courtesy of Florida Atlantic University, University of Central Florida, Florida State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of Florida, and Florida International University.*
02.27.2018 University Press 7
News
Editor’s note: Kershane’s name has been changed to protect his privacy as a DACA recipient.
Lives in L imb o
DACA recipients at FAU wait for a decision from Congress on whether or not they will be sent back to a country they may not remember. Cameren Boatner | Contributing Writer
DACA recipient Ana Aleman, a senior neuroscience major. Alexander Rodriguez | News Editor 8 02.27.2018 University Press
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ershane immigrated to New York from Trinidad when he was just three years old with a rare disease, cavernous hemangioma, resulting in benign tumors. Soon after, he received a visitor visa to undergo treatment. For the next 20 years, his parents stayed in the U.S. without permission, hoping for a better life. Kershane is among 210 undocumented FAU students who will be affected by the March 5 expiration date of DACA. “If we stay hidden and the March 5 deadline comes, what are we going to do?” Kershane said. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was a 2012 executive order under former President Obama that protects undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. by their parents as minors. If they apply for DACA, they can work legally, receive driver’s licenses, and go to college. There are roughly 800,000 DACA recipients living in America, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services data. Now, in the wake of President Trump’s September 2017 announcement to end the program, some recipients are speaking out against possible deportation — hoping to save their status before the deadline. Like many DACA recipients, 23-year-old business major Kershane grew up without knowing he was undocumented. While in high school, Kershane applied for a number of jobs. After realizing he didn’t have the necessary paperwork, he researched why it was missing. He then learned he was undocumented and applied for DACA in 2012. Currently a junior, Kershane is painfully aware deportation looms over his ability to graduate. He and his friend, Allie Jacobs, wanted to create a platform to speak out about human rights and immigration policy. In early 2018, they launched an FAU chapter of the Florida Student Power Network, an activist organization looking to improve the lives of oppressed people. “We’re human, this shouldn’t be happening. Just because we have a different skin color or immigration status, that shouldn’t define who we are as people,” said Jacobs, president of the organization. Jacobs, who is originally from New York, initially came to Florida to attend Palm Beach State College, later transferring to FAU. “The first people that I met here were DACA recipients … and they were the first people that made me feel comfortable and happy,” she said. She soon joined a club at Palm Beach State College called, “Equal,” which fought for DACA recipients and other human rights issues. As an activist, she wants to make sure people know they have a voice. “We engage the student community and make sure they realize they have the potential to make change,” she added. Jacobs values cultural diversity in America and said she’s disappointed by the lack of urgency for the undocumented immigrant community.
“We thrive off of cultural diversity and people have to start appreciating that,” she said. If there is no decision to replace or rescue DACA, its recipients will be vulnerable to deportation following March 5, according to the New York Times. Until then, Kershane and the other DACA recipients are scrambling to make the best of their situation before it’s too late. Ana Aleman, a neuroscience major, is trying to finish her degree before her protection status could end. Originally from Honduras, Aleman came to America when she was eight years old because her parents didn’t feel their family could be kept safe. “We left everything just to have a better future here,” Aleman said. The 25-year-old has one semester left to graduate and is trying to get her bachelor’s degree before the expiration of her DACA status. Aleman aspires to be a doctor, but if she goes back to Honduras, she wouldn’t make much more than a teacher. Because of the country’s corruption, she said, government officials can get doctors hired at private hospitals. If not, doctors are forced to live off a teacher’s salary. Some DACA recipients aren’t willing to speak out, Aleman said, because they want to maintain a relatively good relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency that
‘‘We are very desperate for help. Right now, we are clinging by a thread and nobody wants to help us anymore.” - DACA recipient Ana Aleman
detains and deports undocumented immigrants. FAU allowed ICE on its Boca campus Feb. 22 to recruit students for jobs/internships in the Breezeway. Jacobs and Florida Student Power Network held a silent protest against ICE’s mass deportation of immigrant communities. The protestors were eventually escorted from the area by FAU police. DACA recipients, however, have had trouble participating in these types of demonstrations for fear of recognition. Kershane said, “The DREAMers, they don’t like to speak out. If you don’t make a move, you’re going to get checkmated on your side.” Aleman agreed, adding that they can’t keep quiet anymore. “We are very desperate for help. Right now, we are clinging by a thread and nobody wants to help us anymore,” she said. Aleman has been working with her FAU advisors to make sure she gets all of her credits completed as quickly as possible before March 5. President John Kelly issued a September 2017 statement outlining his support for DACA recipients attending FAU. This came days after President Trump announced his administration was ending the program. Following Kelly’s statement, he was criticized by members of the student body because he didn’t indicate whether FAU would become a sanctuary campus once DACA’s deadline expires. Kelly has made no plans to make FAU a sanctuary campus as of Feb. 19, according to Joshua Glanzer, assistant vice president for Media Relations and Public Affairs. “When the situation actually arises, will (Kelly) practice what he preaches or will he be a hypocrite?” Kershane asked. Al Zucaro, an immigration lawyer, believes DACA recipients should be continuously granted a legal status. “I’m not sure what that status should be. Should it be citizenship? Probably,” he said. However, he views the idea of designated sanctuary
cities for undocumented immigrants as potentially “harboring criminals” and a breach of law. Although Zucaro opposes this concept, he believes DACA recipients’ lives are being toyed with by the government. “The president is sitting here, faced with the issue of hundreds of thousands of people that are in limbo at no fault of their own, I grant you, that are being played in the politics of this nation by the Republicans and the Democrats,” he said. Aleman said she agrees with this sentiment, adding that politicians use the recipients as commodities that they trade at the expense of human lives. “Stop playing with our heads. Stop playing with our minds. If (Trump) is going to do something, then (he should) do it,” Aleman said. Kershane and Aleman believe the best way to promote immigration reform is to inspire more DACA recipients to speak up. As March 5 approaches, Kershane and other DACA recipients are calling for change through activism. He said, “They have to speak out now. If we can get them to actually come out, start speaking, doing protests and movements, we might actually get something done.”
“If we stay hidden and the March 5 deadline comes, what are we going to do?” - DACA recipient Kershane
Terms to Know Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): A 2012 policy put into place under
President Obama that allows undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children to work legally and shield them from deportation.
Undocumented immigrant: An immigrant who does not have citizenship papers or a social security number. The term previously used was “illegal immigrant,” which was later ruled inaccurate as people aren’t “illegal,” only actions are. DREAMers: The term commonly used to describe DACA recipients, although the word “DREAMers” came from a 2001 policy called the DREAM Act. ICE: The U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the arm of Homeland Security that investigates immigration statuses and detains and/or deports “removable aliens.” Allie Jacobs, the president of FAU Student Power, leads the activist organization that defends human rights and educates the public on immigration policy. Joshua Giron | Photo Editor
Sanctuary city: A city that generally does not comply to ICE and typically shields undocumented immigrants from ICE officials. This can either be from a lack of communication with ICE or through refusing to help federal immigration authorities detain undocumented immigrants. *Information from Immigration Equality, Center for Immigration Studies, and U.S Customs and Immigrations websites.* 02.27.2018 University Press 9
Vigil for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
A Feb. 14 mass shooting at the Parkland high school left 17 dead and 14 injured. Two days later, the FAU College Democrats held a candlelit vigil under the Boca campus Social Science building to honor the victims.
Alexander Rodriguez | News Editor and Joshua Giron | Photo Editor
A vigil attendee protests the current state of gun control. 10 02.27.2018 University Press
A woman protects her candle from the wind.
Political science majors Justin Baez (left) and Amanda Marrero (right) stand on the Free Speech Lawn near the Social Science building, holding signs with some of the shooting victims’ names.
Graduate student Tori Seltzer, left, holds her friend. Taylor Miller, junior elementary education major, right, during a prayer at the candlelit vigil. Both students went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and knew the football coach, Aaron Feis, who died while shielding other students from gunďŹ re.
Students gathered under the Social Science building to mourn the lives lost during the shooting.
Luke Turner (left) speaks about gun reform at the vigil with FAU College Democrats members Tess Moody (middle) and Sophie Siegel (right).
FAU students and the Boca community formed a circle underneath the Social Science building to talk and send prayers during a candlelit vigil.
Tori Seltzer (left) holds her friend Taylor Miller (right) as she breaks down during the prayer held at the candlelit vigil. 02.27.2018 University Press 11
Old
Features
Y
Dogs,
New
Tricks
“Nontraditional” students, those 25 or Dean | Features Editor older, share their stories. Hope Photos by Joshua Giron | Photo Editor
ou’re never too old to learn something new. “I didn’t even have whiteboards, I had chalkboards when I went to school. I remember when we used to bang the erasers,” John “Chris” Hall said. Now he’s scrolling through Quizlet at 46, accessing flashcards and notes for his multimedia journalism major and commercial music minor. As of 2014, 32 percent of FAU’s student body is 25 or older, classifying them as “nontraditional,” according to the FAU Office of the Provost. And all across the country, the number of older college students is on the rise. About 40 percent of U.S. college students were nontraditional in 2016, and these numbers are expected to rise 14 percent by 2024, according to media company Keypath Education. In a nutshell, “Nontraditional is the new traditional,” said Daniel J. Hurley, a director of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. So the question stands: why now? For many, it’s to finish what they put on the back burner for military service. Hall, the former president of FAU Veteran Owls, entered the National Guard as a senior in high school and enlisted in the military in 1988. Over his five years of service, he was stationed in Korea as an infantry rifleman and in Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a member of the the 101st Airborne. But eventually, all the cartilage in his knees was completely gone. “I’ve been told by my sergeant major that each year in the infantry is equivalent to five normal years of aging. I mean, think about it. When you [haul] a 100-pound rucksack … all that impact on your knees,” Hall said. Due to this injury, Hall was granted vocational rehabilitation, a federal-state program that helps veterans keep or find a job after their service — and in many cases, this includes getting a degree. He has been in and out of school for the last 20 years, from Mercer County Community College in
“[I’m treated] the same way you would treat a gorilla at the zoo — mild interest, with a mix of fear. I feel weird knowing that I’m probably older than some of these kids’ fathers.” - Shawn Ambrosino interdisciplinary studies major 12 02.27.2018 University Press
“I didn’t even have whiteboards, I had chalkboards when I went to school. I remember when we used to bang the erasers.” - John “Chris” Hall multimedia journalism major
“I wanted to do something a lot harder, because I’m in a position in my life where I’m like, ‘I’ve tried a lot of difficult things, I’m going to do something really difficult,’ so I’m going with a math degree … I’m a quick learner, and I enjoy doing that.” - Chris Griffith math major the suburbs of New Jersey to FAU in South Florida. In between school, he worked several jobs, from Transportation Security Association after 9/11 to a country club in 2011. Now he works 20 hours a week at Veteran Owls’ work-study, a program that allows veterans to hold a job connected to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs while taking college classes. After he graduates, Hall hopes to work in the music industry. “For the last 20 years, when I’m not working or busy, I’ve been involved with the Electronic Dance Music industry. I’ve been going to raves since 1995 on the regular,” Hall said. His commercial music minor has “opened his eyes” on how to become an entrepreneur and work with copyright law. He dreams of starting his own business where he can bring artists together to collaborate, especially through video.
Chris Griffith, 31, is a freshman math major attending FAU under vocational rehab as well. He suffers from muscle failure and tears that aren’t healing and is currently in physical therapy for his ankles, back, and shoulders. “Constant damaging workouts, pushing yourself to a limit and then going past that limit almost every single day, makes it so that your body can’t heal those things. You just get scarred,” he said. Griffith joined the army at 27, originally attending Hagerstown Community College in Maryland at 17 before deciding it wasn’t for him. He later joined the army to get out of Maryland and see new places and meet new people. This led him to eventually work with SouthCon, the headquarters for the southern army in Miami. But because of his injuries, he had to leave the service. “I had enough physical disabilities on my record where they’re like, ‘You’re basically a liability, by staying in
you could really injure yourself, so we’re just going to retire you,’” Griffith said. He decided to go back to school to combat the boredom and pursue something “fun and interesting.” “I wanted to do something a lot harder, because I’m in a position in my life where I’m like, ‘I’ve tried a lot of difficult things, I’m going to do something really difficult,’ so I’m going with a math degree … I’m a quick learner, and I enjoy doing that,” he said. He hopes to use his degree to work in either research development or physics. Shawn Ambrosino, 44, is an interdisciplinary studies major with a focus in English. Ambrosino is currently a senior at FAU, although he’s collected an assortment of his credits at other colleges, including the University of Central Florida and Palm Beach Community College. 02.27.2018 University Press 13
“I like school. I like learning. I went back, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, I think … It just feels like the right thing at the right time.” - Charlie Richards English major
Ambrosino made his living as a pro wrestler for 13 years until 2011. “It’s a lot of travel. When I was doing the local circuit I was going every weekend, leave on a Friday come home on a Monday. When you go with a big company like the [World Wrestling Federation] … you’re gone five days out of the week,” he said. Ambrosino is currently a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor, as well as a writer for conservative and financial publications, Town Hall and Gorilla Trades respectively. He’s also co-owned Gulf Stream Media Partners since 2013, a publishing company that oversees lifestyle magazines. As for why he’s returned to college, the answer is simple: “I just want the piece of paper. It’s a badge of honor, it’s something that I don’t actually need — I have my own publishing company as well — but nobody in my immediate family besides my wife has graduated from college. It’s a gift to my family as well as myself.” For Charlie Richards, now a 51-year-old senior majoring in English, he chose to go back to school to better his Richards went to the University of California, Los Angeles after high school with the same major, but preferred the social aspect over studying. When he was offered a job at record label Town Hall Records in California, he chose to pursue that instead. “I figured, ‘Well, I love my work, I can support myself with it, why don’t I just go with that?’ I had no foresight to realize that the whole record store thing would eventually just completely vanish,” he said. He later moved to Florida in 2010 to take care of his elderly parents and soon realized that his job opportunities “weren’t that great” with only a high school diploma. He wrestled with the idea of returning to college, reasoning that he was too old to go back, but changed his mind after talking with a friend who was a nontraditional student. “I like school. I like learning. I went back, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, I think … It just feels like the right thing at the right time,” 14 02.27.2018 University Press
Richards said. After finishing his bachelor’s degree, he plans to attend graduate school and maybe even pursue a Ph.D. “When I meet people on campus they always assume I’m a professor,” he laughed, which is fitting, given that he wants to be a professor or a tutor one day. “I’m taking it one day at at time, and when the right thing comes along, it’ll happen,” he said. As for standing out among a sea of younger students, the reactions of every nontraditional student vary. Hall was once sensitive to it, but the fact no longer bothers him, as he sees college as an equalizer. “When I was 29, I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. I didn’t know who I was. But now that I’m 46? Yeah. I know who I am. And I’m OK with that,” he said. Richards feels much the same way, although he said he still finds himself bashful about it from time to time. “I was afraid that they might think I’m some kind of old fogie and would stay away from me, but I think I’ve been treated very nicely … I’m the one that actually feels a little self conscious, when I’m in a room full of 20-somethings, and I’m in my 50s. It feels kind of weird,” he said. Griffith doesn’t mind in the slightest. “In the army, I was surrounded by the same age of people, like 17 and 18 year olds, and I was older, so they were quicker to look up to me because I had some experiences in life. Here? I think we’re all learning the same thing … looking at things the same way,” he said. Ambrosino said he feels his age is more of a factor in his interactions with students. “[I’m treated] the same way you would treat a gorilla at the zoo — mild interest, with a mix of fear,” he said. “I feel weird knowing that I’m probably older than some of these kids’ fathers.” However, all of them can agree on one thing — returning to college at a later age has given them an edge they didn’t have before. “[I’m] very experienced on reaching deadlines, don’t mind staying up all night working on things … [you] basically have this thing in your head where you’re thinking, ‘I’ve done way worse than this … so this is cake,” Griffith said. Hall would agree.
“Discipline. Just the daily act of reciting a creed, making your bed — you’re already accomplished something. It’s vital that we do these because even Aristotle taught [that] excellence is not an act, it’s a habit … In the military I learned that. My old sergeant major had a saying — ‘March or die, motherfucker,’” he said. Ambrosino said that although he feels a disconnect from younger college students, he knows he’s in the right place. “You come into college at 18, 19 years old, you don’t know who you are yet … You don’t know what you really want to be, and who you are now is going to be different than who you are at 25, who you are at 30, who you are at 35. I know who I am. I know what I want to do with my life,” he said. And while Richards may have struggled with college before, he said he’s doing just fine now. “It’s amazing how different I am now from the way I was when I was 18. I enjoy learning now, and studying, and reading. I like the fact that I’m returning later, because … I can take my life experience and everything I’ve learned from those years to my studies now,” he said.
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EVERY FRIDAY
Opinion
Has the
Kristen Grau
#MeToo
movement gone too far?
Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Larry Nassar: All sexual predators. But is the newest addition Aziz Ansari?
In the midst of the rising #MeToo movement, an anonymous Brooklyn photographer, under the pseudonym of Grace, accused actor/comedian Aziz Ansari of sexual assault. In her story, she recounts how a seemingly perfect date went wrong. After she and Ansari hit it off at a party, and once they went back to his apartment in Manhattan, things took a turn for the worse. Within minutes of their first kiss, Grace said, Ansari rushes to grab a condom. Ten minutes later, he suggests she gives him oral sex to which she agrees to perform. So far, so good — right? But Ansari was in no mood to just chill and watch “Seinfeld,” as Grace said she wanted. After he consistently motioned for Grace to go down on him, she began to feel violated. Throughout the night, Ansari bombarded her with sexual remarks, including asking her to hop up on the countertop and bend over. He also asked 16 02.27.2018 University Press
Comedian Aziz Ansari receives undeserved backlash from social media in the light of recent sexual assault allegations. Kristen Grau & Makayla Purvis | Contributing Writers Photos by Joshua Giron | Photo Editor
Aziz Ansari. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Makayla Purvis
her how exactly she wanted to have sex, to which she replied, “Next time.” He also repeatedly kissed her and stuck his fingers down Grace’s throat. Grace thought that maybe the sexual advances from Ansari would stop after he asked if she was OK. He said, “It’s only fun if we’re both having fun.” Yet instead, the advances continued on and off throughout the night. Grace expressed her discomfort in such a subtle manner that it raises questions as to whether it was considered sexual assault or not. Although Grace said she was uncomfortable the entire night, it was hard to tell that she didn’t want to continue because she kept agreeing to go down on him whenever he asked. She never said no. Instead, she engaged in every sexual act and made him think that it was consensual. It wasn’t until the very next morning that she texted him and told him that she was uncomfortable with how things went down between them, to which Ansari responded with regret and sincerity. After the accusation, people took to social media and applauded Grace for her courage to speak up. People even equated Grace’s speaking out to Time’s “Silence Breakers” — but her actions weren’t the same thing. The U.S. Department of Justice defines sexual assault as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.” Grace defined it as regretting consensual behavior after the fact. The #MeToo movement is meant to give survivors
of sexual assault a voice. It is not an excuse to demonize every awkward sexual encounter. “I clearly misread things in the moment,” Ansari texted her back, adding, “and I’m truly sorry.” This account shines light on two things: 1. There are serious problems with communication when it comes to sex. 2. Aziz Ansari is really bad with girls. It is important to dwell on the former. At most, the whole ordeal was a miscommunication — not assault. Ansari should have picked up on the obvious hints, while Grace should have stopped when she wanted to stop. However, sharing her story was not a waste of time. This is a vital part of the conversation revolving around the #MeToo movement. This is where women must acknowledge the fact that “there is a whole spectrum between a bumbling, clueless lover, and alleged predators like Weinstein and Trump,” as said by a CNN opinion piece. The intended purpose of the #MeToo movement is to ensure survivors know they’re not alone in their journey and to enable them to speak out. It is not a movement dedicated to exploiting Hollywood
actors, but instead it is dedicated to telling their stories and showing people that maybe some of their beloved actors aren’t who they think they are. FAU sociological perspectives professor Carrie Hough stated, “I think that the objectives and goals of the #MeToo movement is to provide a platform for people to come forward with their stories in a safe space where their stories can be heard.” And there is no denying that victims have found sanctuary in the #MeToo movement. But there is also no denying that some women have tried to worm their way in by crying wolf. Ansari, a self-proclaimed feminist, told David Letterman that people think, “feminism means, like, some woman’s going to start yelling at them.” #MeToo cannot become that. It has to remain a movement that gives women the ability to speak up about their stories and to work toward ridding society of sexual assault. What happened to Grace was awful. But it’s not her fault and it’s not Ansari’s. The blame instead should be put on the lack of communication between her and Ansari. Professor Hough stated that, “There will be backlashes and scandals and attempts to go back to the old ways
or dismiss the #MeToo movement, but I think that if the movement really resonates for a population, society will move on in that direction.” The purpose of the #MeToo movement is to help women like Grace learn how to be able to say no, instead of being silent and engaging in a sexual encounter that they feel pressured into doing. The movement is also to empower women who have been in awkward situations similar to Grace’s and show them that they are not alone. If the #MeToo movement serves this purpose effectively, then when one woman speaks up and says no, other women around the world can say #MeToo.
Illustration by Dan Bartholomew
02.27.2018 University Press 17
Opinion
No, this wasn’t an awkward date: The case against Aziz Ansari.
Topics of consent and safety are important to address in the current #MeToo movement. Sophie Siegel | Contributing Writer “Modern Romance,” written by Aziz Ansari, changed my life. He was called a “certified woke bae” because of his enlightened views on feminism, racism, and our current social climate. Ansari wore black to the Golden Globes for the sake of #MeToo in accordance of being a vocal supporter of the movement. But he was recently accused of sexual assault by a woman under the alias of “Grace.” She went on a date with Ansari and claimed he seemed, “eager,” to leave. Soon after, they ended up back at his apartment where things became sexual.
I consider her story to be assault. I saw people sharing Grace’s story on their Facebook
Sophie Siegel. Joshua Giron | Photo Editor
Aziz Ansari. Photo courtesy of Flickr 18 02.27.2018 University Press
timelines, saying, “It’s just an awkward date,” or “Well, she never said no,” which mirrors the dangerous rape culture term, “She was asking for it.” This story angered me. I want people to understand that assault isn’t just forced sex, but is any time that consent is not granted during sexual encounters. At first, the incident consisted of him kissing her and touching her breasts, according to the victim’s retelling of the event. She asked him to, “chill out a sec,” and they both then performed oral sex on each other after a few minutes. This encounter lasted 10 minutes. Something to note on all of the incidents that occurred was Ansari would, “not let her move away from him,” even as she began to move her hand away. That’s a nonverbal cue of not being comfortable. If she left her hand there that’d be different — but she didn’t. Grace said she used, “verbal and non verbal cues,” to get him to stop doing certain things. She even felt, “cold,” and froze up, most likely from feeling uneasy. Ansari then asked her to have sex to which she replied, “Next time.” This prompted him to ask, “Well, if I poured you another glass of wine now, would it count as our second date?” I cringed when I read that, as this goes against the grounds of consent. Grace told him she wasn’t sure if she wanted to have
sex as she felt forced and she, “didn’t want to hate him.” She thought Ansari understood, but he had her perform oral sex on him again because she felt pressured, as she claimed in her statement. This led to Ansari taking Grace to his bedroom and asking her, “Where do you want me to fuck you? Do you want me to fuck you right here?” (while mimicking the act of intercourse), according to the woman’s account. She said no, he stopped, and they stopped. After a night of him not understanding cues, she said she felt, “violated.” Grace said, “All you guys are the same,” after this encounter happened. When she left, he, “forcefully,” kissed her. Grace said this made her feel emotional and violated. She left in an Uber that night in tears. This was so much more than an, “awkward date,” as Grace never gave proper consent. Consent is never assumed, according to the University of Michigan’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Center. Consent is checking in on your partner during sexual activities. In an opinion piece from the New York Times, the author discusses how women should use more verbal cues to suggest consent as that’s her job. I disagree, as that is the responsibility of both parties — and that counts as victim blaming. Communication should never be one-sided, this goes back to victim blaming. Ansari assumed consent. Ansari never asked if Grace was fine with it, she had to give her own cues. He assumed, and that goes directly against the requirements of consent. In the allegation statement, Grace talks about freezing up due to being uncomfortable during this sexual encounter. “Freezing,” is a common response to fear or panic, according to VICE. This goes back to various other, “gray area,” accounts of assault, according to Nylon. Al Franken never raped anyone, but he groped a woman without her consent. And Louis C.K. masturbated in front of various women. Ansari kept pressuring someone. People often compare these to, “bigger,” issues such as the Roy
Illustration by Dan Bartholomew
Moore allegations within the #MeToo movement. There are no “big” or “small” issues regarding sexual assault, as we need to carry them with similar gravities. It takes a lot for victims of sexual assault to come forward. While they are all different circumstances, they can all fall under rape culture, which can be anything from victim blaming in sexual assault allegations to trivializing an allegation to forced sexual acts. This allegation set an important precedent as we do need more conversations on consent. I think now, more than ever, we need to have these difficult conversations. Sexual encounters should never be one sided and sexual encounters should never pressure anyone. In Ansari’s statement, he said he wanted to, “continue to help the [#MeToo] movement that is happening in our culture. It is necessary and long overdue.” I believe, as a woman, that I don’t want his hands anywhere near this movement. I felt he took a voice away from a woman during a sexual encounter and this discredits him as an ally. Aziz: I wish you didn’t wear black to the Golden
Globes, as I do not believe you support women in light of what you did to Grace. You cannot call yourself a feminist, as feminists and decent human beings believe in and practice consent. I wish you practiced what you preach. As a former fan, I am disappointed, angry, and upset. Many women and men I know have had a million Ansari’s enter their lives. In this current social climate, we need to keep the momentum going to help give survivors a voice and lift them up instead of invalidating their experiences. This is more than, “Boys being boys.” It is, “Hold boys accountable for their actions.”
Resources: National Sexual Assault Hotline •
Call 1-800-656-4673
•
Available 24/7
Women Organized Against Rape •
Provides resources for oppressed communities
•
Hotline: 215-985-3333
•
Available 24/7
National Sexual Violence Resource Center • Provides education, resources, and research on sexual assault 02.27.2018 University Press 19