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A crowd of about 150 wel- comed this year’s candidates to the Student Government (SG) vice presidential debate in the Marshall Student Center Oval Theater on Monday night. As the applause died down, each individual was introduced. Mike Malanga, a senator in the College of Business, is running alongside Andy Rodriguez, the cur- rent SG Senate president. His opponent, Alexis Sacasas, recently stepped down as ranking justice of the SG Supreme Court, and is running alongside Sammy Hamed, who also recently stepped down from his position in the Supreme Court to run in the elec- tion. The audience observed a moment of silence for four young men who died at this time last year, and soon afterward the debate began. The candidates opened with introductory statements, each reflecting the candidate to unfold in the coming debate. Sacasas emphasized her love of USF and her investment in it. Her running mate, she said, is her best friend. “We want to see this university shine, and we want to be the lead- ers that take you there,” she said. Malanga spoke about his engagement with the USF commu- nity and involvement in the Green and Gold Guides. He joked about his New Jersey roots. “I’m from New Jersey,” he said. “Most of my friends tell me that makes me an international stu- dent.” When cheering from each cam- paign died down again, the ques- tions began. One student asked what differentiated each platform, as many have speculated that each campaign pushes for the same things. Sacasas pointed out that she and Hamed have already begun acting on the plans of their admin- istration, such as having spoken with Congresswoman Kathy Castor. “Security, integrity, growth and you,” Sacasas emphasized, are the most important aspects of their platform. “The difference is … our platform’s already in progress. It’s an actual plan that’s already in the process of being utilized.” Malanga, however, disagreed that the platforms were similar at all. He spoke about his campaign’s The Oracle www.usforacle.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 I VOL. 52 NO. 78 I NSIDE THIS I SSUE MONTAGE SPORTS Women’s basketball makes history with rank in AP poll. BACK LIFESTYLE Campus MovieFest sparks inspiration in student filmmakers. Page 4 News ................................................................. 1 Lifestyle ...................................................... 4 Opinion ....................................................... 6 classifieds .............................................. 7 Crossword ......................................... 7 sports ............................................................ 8 The Index By Grace Hoyte ASST. NEWS EDITOR With nine days left until polls close, both campaigns for student body president have raised over $3,000 from dona- tions, according to the lat- est Student Government (SG) documents. One ticket, Andy Rodriguez and Michael Malanga, has raised $3,768.67. The other ticket, Sammy Hamed and Alexis Sacasas, has raised $3,050 so far. Of the money raised, Rodriguez’s campaign has spent $2,642.69 on expendi- tures, such as T-shirts, chalk and banners across campus. Hamed’s campaign has spent $3,756.85. The discrepancy between the money Hamed raised and the money spent is due using a payment plan to buy T-shirts through a vendor. Hamed said he expects enough pledges to make up the $700 difference. T-shirts are, by and large, the most costly expenditure for both campaigns. Hamed’s campaign spent $3,608 on 800 navy blue shirts to hand out to students. “They are the easiest to give away,” Hamed said. “You get name recognition when peo- ple see it all the time. I walk around in my T-shirt everyday. I don’t take it off unless I’m in a suit.” Rodriguez’s campaign spent $1,945 on 500 purple shirts. “It is the only advertising you’ll get inside of classrooms, all of the dining halls and all of the residents halls,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not like you can put a flier in every classroom.” Both candidates also spent money to buy chalk. Rodriguez’s campaign spent $94.60 and Hamed’s cam- paign spent $24.85 on chalk for campaign staffers to write candidates names on side- walks throughout campus. “For students walking by, it leaves a little memory,” Hamed said. “When they do go to the ballot, they remember.” Chalk has become sort of a SG tradition. After candi- dates are allowed to campaign, Rodriguez said the nominees and their supporters go out “chalking.” “It’s always a fun experi- ence,” he said. “Everyone gets together at midnight that night and go chalking around cam- pus ... I’ve done it a few years now.” By Wesley Higgins NEWS EDITOR Candidates connect with crowd in VP debate Donations pile up for student campaigns Candidates Alexis Sacasas (left) and Mike Malanga spoke about campus safety and raising school pride in Monday night’s debate in the Marshall Student Center. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU n See DEBATE on PAGE 2 n See CAMPAIGN on PAGE 3

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Transcript of 2-10-15

Page 1: 2-10-15

A crowd of about 150 wel-comed this year’s candidates to the Student Government (SG) vice presidential debate in the Marshall Student Center Oval Theater on Monday night. As the applause died down, each individual was introduced.

Mike Malanga, a senator in the College of Business, is running alongside Andy Rodriguez, the cur-rent SG Senate president.

His opponent, Alexis Sacasas, recently stepped down as ranking justice of the SG Supreme Court, and is running alongside Sammy Hamed, who also recently stepped down from his position in the Supreme Court to run in the elec-tion.

The audience observed a moment of silence for four young men who died at this time last year, and soon afterward the debate began. The candidates opened with introductory statements, each reflecting the candidate to unfold in the coming debate.

Sacasas emphasized her love of USF and her investment in it. Her running mate, she said, is her best friend.

“We want to see this university shine, and we want to be the lead-

ers that take you there,” she said. Malanga spoke about his

engagement with the USF commu-nity and involvement in the Green and Gold Guides. He joked about his New Jersey roots.

“I’m from New Jersey,” he said. “Most of my friends tell me that makes me an international stu-dent.”

When cheering from each cam-

paign died down again, the ques-tions began. One student asked what differentiated each platform, as many have speculated that each campaign pushes for the same things.

Sacasas pointed out that she and Hamed have already begun acting on the plans of their admin-istration, such as having spoken with Congresswoman Kathy

Castor. “Security, integrity, growth and you,” Sacasas emphasized, are the most important aspects of their platform. “The difference is … our platform’s already in progress. It’s an actual plan that’s already in the process of being utilized.”

Malanga, however, disagreed that the platforms were similar at all. He spoke about his campaign’s

The Oraclew w w . u s f o r a c l e . c o m U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D AT U E S D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 I V O L . 5 2 N O . 7 8

InsIde thIs Issue

Montage

SPORTSWomen’s basketball makes history with rank in AP poll.BACK

LIFESTYLECampus MovieFest sparks inspiration in student filmmakers. Page 4

News.................................................................1 Lifestyle......................................................4Opinion.......................................................6

classifieds..............................................7Crossword.........................................7sports............................................................8

The Index

By Grace HoyteA S S T . N E W S E D I T O R

With nine days left until polls close, both campaigns for student body president have raised over $3,000 from dona-tions, according to the lat-est Student Government (SG) documents.

One ticket, Andy Rodriguez and Michael Malanga, has raised $3,768.67. The other ticket, Sammy Hamed and Alexis Sacasas, has raised $3,050 so far.

Of the money raised, Rodriguez’s campaign has spent $2,642.69 on expendi-

tures, such as T-shirts, chalk and banners across campus. Hamed’s campaign has spent $3,756.85.

The discrepancy between the money Hamed raised and the money spent is due using a payment plan to buy T-shirts through a vendor. Hamed said he expects enough pledges to make up the $700 difference.

T-shirts are, by and large, the most costly expenditure for both campaigns. Hamed’s campaign spent $3,608 on 800 navy blue shirts to hand out to students.

“They are the easiest to give away,” Hamed said. “You get

name recognition when peo-ple see it all the time. I walk around in my T-shirt everyday. I don’t take it off unless I’m in a suit.”

Rodriguez’s campaign spent $1,945 on 500 purple shirts.

“It is the only advertising you’ll get inside of classrooms, all of the dining halls and all of the residents halls,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not like you can put a flier in every classroom.”

Both candidates also spent money to buy chalk. Rodriguez’s campaign spent $94.60 and Hamed’s cam-paign spent $24.85 on chalk for campaign staffers to write

candidates names on side-walks throughout campus.

“For students walking by, it leaves a little memory,” Hamed said. “When they do go to the ballot, they remember.”

Chalk has become sort of a SG tradition. After candi-dates are allowed to campaign, Rodriguez said the nominees and their supporters go out “chalking.”

“It’s always a fun experi-ence,” he said. “Everyone gets together at midnight that night and go chalking around cam-pus ... I’ve done it a few years now.”

By Wesley HigginsN E W S E D I T O R

Candidates connect with crowd in VP debate

Donations pile up for student campaigns

Candidates Alexis Sacasas (left) and Mike Malanga spoke about campus safety and raising school pride in Monday night’s debate in the Marshall Student Center. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

n See DEBATE on PAGE 2

n See CAMPAIGN on PAGE 3

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ambition for a student-funded foundation.

This foundation “will be all about making sure student voices are heard in the spending process,” he said.

Each campaign has weighed in heavily on the subject of campus safety. The vice presidential can-didates spoke on their respective plans to address student safety.

Sacasas spoke about her per-sonal concern for the safety of her sorority sisters and all of her friends.

“Light(ing) up this campus,” she said, to cheers from her campaign. “That’s not enough. We want to make sure people feel safe. … that’s definitely a priority for Sammy and I.”

Her opponent also expressed concern for friends and fellow students. Malanga stated personal relationships with legislators — which he said he and Rodriguez have from their experience in the SG Senate — will encourage those legislators to advocate to the Tampa Bay Police Department on behalf of USF.

“It’s about making people feel safe — all of the time,” he added.

As discussed at last week’s presidential debate, the issue of relating to Greeks and non-Greeks came up, as Sacasas is Greek and Malanga is not.

The Zeta Tau Alpha sister emphasized her long academic his-tory before joining a Greek organi-zation. She also pointed out, while she is grateful to Greek, it is just that — an organization.

“They don’t define me,” she said. “I’m also an active member of this campus.”

Malanga, who is not affiliated with Greek life, said he is here to represent students. He said he and Rodriguez can relate to every student.

“I don’t think that there’s a dif-ference between Greek and non-Greek students,” he said, and was greeted with cheers and snapping from the audience.

Closing statements cemented the candidates’ positions and personalities for the audience. Uproarious applause came from supporters of both campaigns, echoing throughout the Oval Theater when the candidates fin-ished speaking.

Voting begins the morning of Feb. 16, and students can vote online at sg.usf.edu/vote or at poll-ing stations across campus.

A few lucky student inven-tors in the seventh annual USF Young Innovator Competition may appear on an upcoming segment of “The Tonight Show,” starring Jimmy Fallon.

The competition was creat-ed to promote the innovative ideas of young inventors and is sponsored by USF, Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and the Home Shopping Network (HSN). The USF Young Innovator Competition is open to Tampa Bay area students in grades K-8, and 10 finalists cur-rently remain in the competi-tion.

While there are many science fairs and student invention com-petitions, founder and director Anton Hopen said this contest is different because it is a competi-tion for innovators.

“We just don’t think that there’s a competition like it,” he said. “There isn’t any com-petition that celebrates entre-preneurship … you’re coming up with your own idea, but not stopping there. You continue to take it and see how far you can go with it, and we think that’s an exciting opportunity for children to learn about at an early age.”

Some of these 10 students met at HSN’s St. Petersburg tele-vision studios Saturday for a presentation workshop given by host Bill Green, and for a prac-tice filming session on one of HSN’s live television sets.

Green’s workshop addressed what makes for an effective pre-sentation, as well as what the finalists should expect when they present their ideas in front of a live audience and panel of six celebrity and science judges Wednesday during the last stage of the competition.

While on HSN’s television set, the students applied the coach-ing of Green and other workshop advisers and presented their innovations again, this time in

front of a real HSN backdrop, in order to record television quality demo videos.

With the parents’ permission, these practice videos of the stu-dent presentations will be sent to “The Tonight Show” produc-ers, who may select some of the finalists to appear in an upcom-ing “Fallonventions” segment on “The Tonight Show.”

This year, the USF Young Innovator Competition received 576 total submissions, according to Green.

Of the 10 finalists, Marc Taylor (fifth grade) devised a concept for a moveable speed bump at school zones that would with-draw into the street during non-school hours; Waishy Harmon (sixth grade) developed an idea for a hairbrush with water-spray-ing bristles, named the “Rush Brush,” and Lily Quay (third grade) thought of a bandage combined with the healing prop-erties of ice.

Hopen, a 1991 USF honors graduate and patent attorney, said the contest is important because it not only encourages students to be creative and inno-

vative at a young age, but also teaches them how to express why their inventions are so important.

“There are many great … inventors, and there are many great business people who can sell things, but it’s not always easy to get both at the same time,” he said. “The most suc-cessful people that we see are able to not only invent some-thing, but convey the value of it.”

This is reflected in the guide-lines that students will be judged on during the finals, as the judg-es will not focus simply on the invention itself. The finalists will also be judged on their creativ-ity and persuasiveness, as well as the public benefit and mar-ketability of each innovation. Students whose presentations and inventions are proficient in all of these areas will place high-er at the end of the competition and will have additional opportu-nities outside the contest.

The student innovator who takes the grand prize of the competition will receive $1,000 in cash, and a matching $1,000

grant will be awarded to his or her school. Students who place second and third will be award-ed $500 and $250, respectively, and their schools will also receive matching grants. All finalists will receive annual family passes to MOSI, regardless of place, and Hopen stated that HSN also has 10 secret prizes planned for the finalists.

Perhaps just as important, however, finalists can commer-cialize and patent their invention after the competition, as several students from past years have done.

“One (patented invention) is a collapsible shovel that mili-tary (personnel) and campers can roll up and take in a very small space,” Hopen said. “That inventor’s name is George Seits, and he is actually going to be there Wednesday for the final competition. We’re going to be awarding him a special plaque with his U.S. utility patent on it.”

The final live stage of the USF Young Innovator Competition will be held Wednesday at the Patel Center for Global Solutions from 5 to 8 p.m.

T U E S DAY, F E B RUA RY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 ● T H E O R AC L E 2

USF’s Young Innovators prepare for prime timeBy Russell NayS T A F F W R I T E R

Finalists in USF’s Young Innovator Competition prepared at the HSN studio in St. Pete this weekend before going to the final round of competition this Wednesday. ORACLE PHOTO/RUSSELL NAY

DEBATEContinued from PAGE 1

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For the campaign launch at midnight, both candidates bought food for their support-ers. Hamed bought 200 chick-en tenders from PDQ for $124 and Rodriguez bought three boxes of cookies from Publix for $18.67.

“Food always gets people there, right?” Malanga said.

Other expenses included banners and signs to post throughout campus, as well as fliers for Rodriguez’s cam-paign to pass out in front of the Marshall Student Center and the Library.

Both candidates spent around $15 each for their respective websites, in addi-tion to free campaign pages

on social media.Money for these expendi-

tures comes in the form of campaign contributions, such as from friends or businesses.

Hamed’s campaign received $200 from the owner of Ballyhoo Grill, Carl Hinson, who Hamed said he helped in the past during Hinson’s bid for circuit court judge. The Dream Gown Bridal boutique shop, connected with one of Sacasas’s sorority sisters, also donated $200.

Rodriguez’s campaign received $500 from RSA Consulting Group. Rodriguez said one of his friends con-vinced a higher up in the firm to donate to the campaign.

Both Rodriguez and Hamed received a $500 from their fraternities, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Sigma Phi, respec-

tively. Additionally, two of Rodriguez’s fraternity brothers donated $500 and $550 to his campaign.

Both candidates had a num-ber of small contributions, ranging between $50 to $250, which were donated by friends and staffers.

Hamed also received a prom-ise of food donations from businesses, including Jimmy John’s, Hooters, Einstein Bros Bagels and Westshore Pizza.

All the candidates, includ-ing vice presidential candi-dates, donated to their own campaigns. Rodriguez and Malanga donated $750 each.

“Most of it came from what I got for Christmas,” Rodriguez said. “This year, when anyone asked me what I wanted, I told my family members this is what I’m going to be doing —

the rest of it I saved up.”Hamed spent $500 of his

personal money, and Sacasas donated $350 to the ticket.

“It was hard to put that money forth, but (running) has been something I wanted to do for a long time,” Hamed said. “I was saving anyways, these things cost money.”

Hamed said he wants to do more with the campaign, and might go to friends and family for more donations.

“Ten or twenty bucks makes a difference helping out with fliers,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to throw in another $250 (of my own money), I’m really invested in this.”

Rodriguez, on the other hand, said he is no longer actively seeking donations.

“If you look at all our dona-tions, they’ve been from peo-

ple who support us and believe in us,” he said. “It’s honestly been a blessing and we’re lucky to have so many people who want to be invested in our campaign.”

Both candidates said they aren’t done spending money yet. Hamed said his team is considering buying but-tons. Though he doesn’t want to give away what it is yet, Rodriguez said he will launch a new advertisement on cam-pus next week.

Voting starts the morn-ing of Feb. 16. Students can vote online or at polling sta-tions located across campus, including outside the Campus Recreation Center, the MSC, Juniper-Poplar Hall and the Fresh Food Company dining hall. Voting ends at 8 p.m. Feb. 19.

T U E S DAY, F E B RUA RY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 ● T H E O R AC L E 3

CAMPAIGNContinued from PAGE 1

Members of the USF community gathered on Crescent Hill on Monday evening in remembrance of the one-year anniversary of the tragic head-on collision on I-275 which claimed the lives of USF students Dammie Yesudhas, Imtiyaz “Jim” Ilias, Ankeet Patel and Jobin Kuriakose.ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

One year later

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LifestyleU N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A ● T U E S D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 ● T H E O R AC L E4

Giving all students the opportu-nity to be the next Martin Scorsese or Sofia Coppola, Campus MovieFest (CMF) has returned to USF for its eighth year in a row.

CMF invites students of all majors at 50 universities across the nation and around the world to participate in an on-campus student film festival. With all materials provided, students are required to create a five-minute film and are given the opportunity to win extensive prizes and experiences.

CMF was started on the campus of Emory University by four students in 2001, under the idea that every student needs a creative outlet, even though not every student has the resources.

“CMF is open to all students, there are no big rules or regulations, no genre specifications,” said Wey Lin, promotions manager of CMF. “The simple idea is to have fun and make a movie with the possibility of winning big. Students have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Given just seven days to create a film, every participating student will be given an Apple MacBook Pro with Adobe Creative Cloud software, a

Panasonic HD camera and over 1,000 royalty-free songs to use in their film, to name a few supplies. All of these materials are entirely free to partici-pating filmmakers.

“One of the benefits of CMF is that there are no obligations to stu-dents,” Lin said. “They could sign up to participate, get the equip-ment and real-ize that it’s just not for them without any real financial obligation to us.”

F o l l o w i n g the seven-day filming and editing pro-cess, filmmak-ers will submit their films, and of those, 16 will be chosen for a red carpet film screening in the Marshall Student Center. After the 16 films have been screened, four of those will be chosen to continue on to another screening in Hollywood, California, where an overall winner will be chosen among films from the 50 universities in the nation.

The chosen winner in the Hollywood screening will receive $150,000, a one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and an

invitation to join CMF and present at the renowned Cannes Film Festival’s Short Film Corner in the south of France along with 25-30 other stu-dents.

“USF is one of the biggest universi-ties in our tour and students have his-torically done well in terms of content

and quality,” Lin said.

Described as “one of CMF’s all-stars,” USF alumni Sarah Wilson par-ticipated in the compe-tition, won best picture in Hollywood in both 2008 and 2009 and continued on

to Cannes. Following her gradua-tion from USF, Wilson continued her education at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in California.

“Winning the grand finale did wonders for my filmmaking career,” Wilson told The Oracle in 2011. “I was able to meet people in the industry and get acquainted with people to get jobs. I just did a summer internship at Warner Brothers Studios.”

Aside from boosting the potential

for an extensive career in film, Lin believes CMF has the ability to change the lives of students.

“CMF has a tendency to ignite passion in students,” she said. “We could have students that are mechani-cal engineering or biology students decide that they want to participate, and after they make their films, they decide that they had fun and they want to pursue film instead. It’s just a lot of fun.”

For the first time since its open-ing last year, the Library’s digital media lab is partnering with CMF to provide participants with equipment and technology to make their films. Because CMF runs out of equipment almost every year, Lin hopes this part-nership will encourage more student participation.

“Partnering with the digital media lab means more movies, more stu-dents, more executed ideas,” she said. “Having the digital movie lab encourages students to produce mov-ies all year round, not just during CMF.”

Students have until Wednesday to sign up on CampusMovieFest.com/USF, when the equipment will be distributed to participants. Films are due Feb. 17, and the 16 selected films will be screened Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Marshall Student Center Oval Theater.

By Brandon Shaik L I F E S T Y L E E D I T O R

Campus MovieFest returns to seek USF filmmakers

After signing up to participate in Campus MovieFest, students are given all of the necessary equipment free of charge (left), and are taught how to use it. Students lined up outside the Marshall Student Center Oval Theater to view last year’s selection of short films (center). Some of last year’s participating filmmakers posed for a group photo after the screenings of the short films (right). PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CAMPUS MOVIEFEST

“CMF has a tendency to ignite passion in students ...

after they make their films, they decide that they had

fun and they want to pursue film instead.”

Wey Lin CMF Promotions Manager

Page 5: 2-10-15

T U E S DAY, F E B RUA RY 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 ● T H E O R AC L E 5

mates at University School in Fort Lauderdale for two years before Kean transferred to St. Edwards (Ohio) for his junior season in 2013. In November, he helped guide the Eagles to a state title and the No. 17 ranking in the nation by MaxPreps.com.

Kean, who chose the Bulls over offers from Florida International and Ball State, among others, believes he can bring that same championship pedigree to USF, which hasn’t earned a bowl berth since its Meineke Car Care Bowl victory against Clemson nearly five years ago.

“I think we expect ourselves to (make a bowl game),” he said. “I

think it’s almost an expectation for our program. We have so much talent on the team, it’s an expecta-tion at this point, because we need to get there. ... We’ll definitely get there.”

Once preseason camp rolls around, Kean, a pro-style quar-terback, might find himself in the conversation for the starting job, along with sophomore Quinton Flowers, senior Steven Bench and White.

But even if he doesn’t, Kean said he’s going to work and prepare every day like he’s the starter.

“I’m just trying to give myself the best opportunity to go and compete,” he said. “I’m a pretty quick learner, so I’m going to work and learn as much as I can, be a film rat in the film room every day ... and just keep working.”

COMPETEContinued from PAGE 8

Softball honorsFollowing a 3-2 weekend in the

USF Softball Classic, juniors Erica Nunn and Lee Ann Spivey were named to the AAC conference honor roll for the first time this season.

Nunn dominated the weekend, pitching with a 1-1 record, a save

and the first no-hitter of her career. Nunn struck out 10 batters and

held opposing hitters to a .033 batting average in 9 1/3 innings pitched.

Catching those pitches was Spivey, who led the team with six hits and six RBI. She hit her first home run of the season in a 7-5 win over Hampton in the team’s season opener Thursday, and fin-ished the tournament batting .375.

ANTIGUAContinued from PAGE 8

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U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A ● T U E S D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 ● T H E O R AC L E

Opinion6

EDITORIAL

New bathroom bill discriminates against transgender Floridians

While Florida may have taken one step forward with the recent legalization of gay marriage, a newly proposed bill would take the state two steps back for the LGBT community.

As reported by Al Jazeera America, a proposed bill would penalize anyone going into a “sex-segregated public facility,” from restrooms to locker rooms, who doesn’t match the posted biological sex. While Rep. Frank Artiles claimed the bill is intended to protect people against preda-tory behaviors, including assault and voyeurism, this legislation will unquestionably discriminate against transgender people.

Though Artiles denied the bill has anything to do with sexual identity and said it is primarily a question about one’s anatomy, as he told Al Jazeera, this bill has everything to do with gender identity, which is the gender one identifies with even if it doesn’t match one’s biological sex.

Making an attempt to improve public safety usually can’t be frowned upon. However, in this case, the safety measure com-pletely ignores the importance of respecting the gender with which a person identifies. In putting bio-logical sex on a pedestal, the bill assumes gender identity doesn’t validate the right to use the bath-

room in which one feels most comfortable.

The advocacy group of the nation’s capital, D.C. Trans Coalition, claimed a proposal such as this paints transgender people as “sexual deviants,” as reported by Al Jazeera. According to the Huffington Post, an attorney from Florida’s American Civil Liberties Union even called the measure a “show your papers to pee” bill.

Along with making the ridicu-lous punishment for violating the bill a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison, as Al Jazeera reported, a recent Slate column pointed out how, if the bill became law, oth-ers would be able to discriminate against transgender people, and those who defend transgender people in spite of the law could be punished.

For example, it addressed that a cisgender person, or a non-trans person, could not only sue transgender people found in a bathroom that doesn’t match his or her sex, but owners of a public service who let a transgender per-son use their restrooms could face a civil suit.

No matter what, the gender one identifies with would be com-pletely undermined, and other people would be forced to rein-force that given the penalties.

After the state finally gave

recognition and validation to same-sex couples earlier this year, it’s absurd to go backward and tease out yet another way to discriminate against the LGBT community.

As mentioned by Al Jazeera, the bill could eliminate ordinanc-es in certain counties in the state that currently prohibit gender identity discrimination, legislation that protects over half of Florida’s population, as Equality Florida found. If the bill does pass, it could turn back the clock on these existing measures.

This bill would also inevitably lead to discrimination based on the outcomes of measures in other states. For instance, a UCLA study conducted after Washington, D.C. implemented sex-segregated rest-rooms found 70 percent of gen-der non-conforming respondents dealt with verbal harassment or assault, or were denied entrance to the restroom, as Al Jazeera mentioned.

While the bill is still awaiting a final decision, it would, if passed, force a specific group of people to unnecessarily put themselves in a more than uncomfortable posi-tion and disregard a crucial aspect of their identity. It’s not so difficult to empathize with the unease of using the opposite gender’s restroom.

Editor in Chief: Alex Rosenthal .............................. [email protected]

News Editor: Wesley Higgins .......................... [email protected]

Sports Editor: Vinnie Portell ........................ [email protected]

Lifestyle Editor: Brandon Shaik .............. [email protected]

Opinion Editor: Isabelle Cavazos ....................... [email protected]

Copy Editors: Caitlin Lochner, Safeena Kassoo

Multimedia Editor: Adam Mathieu

Assistant Editors: Sebastian Contento, Jacob Hoag, Grace Hoyte

Graphic Arts Manager: Luke Blankenship

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the Oracle the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966

The Oracle is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and twice weekly, Monday and Thursday, during the summer.

The Oracle allocates one free issue to each student. Additional copies are $.50 each and available at the Oracle office (SVC 0002).

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BY PHONE

What you said A recent study by a Northeastern University professor

found that “Rate My Professors” reviews attribute different qualities to men and women. Editor Isabelle Cavazos asked students if they use the site to help them pick their classes.

“Usually I use it to see how the teacher gives work and

how they grade, not so much whether the teacher

is nice or mean.”

— Jasmine Mattear, a junior majoring in political

science

“I use it, but it doesn’t really affect the professor I

choose unless the professor got really bad

reviews. I usually read all the comments to see if

there are legitimate reasons.”

— Sheekha Patel, a sophomore majoring in

health sciences

“It can be really biased. It allows for a place for you to rant. It can be reliable,

but you have to be careful.”

— Shivani Arza, a freshman majoring in biomedical

sciences

“I don’t solely base whether I choose a class on ‘Rate My Professors,’

but I look at it to see what the grading scale is and if

they offer a curve.”

— Paola Mancera, a senior majoring in art history and

microbiology

Page 7: 2-10-15

U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A ● T U E S D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 ● T H E O R AC L E 7

Classifieds Crossword To place a classified ad go to http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds

Gymnastics and/or Swim Instructors Needed

Must Love Kids & Be Enthusiastic!Call 813.264-5000

Walk-to-USF 2bedroom/2bath fur-nished condo. Two-students $425/

month each.(727)787-8753 (727)729-0069

Interested in working as a medical scribe in the Tampa Bay area? Go to

www.msaflorida.com/job-opportunities to apply today!

Animal Caretaker wanted for upscale boarding kennel located on Morris

Bridge Road in New Tampa. Job entails cleaning, exercising and supervising daycare for the animals

in our care. Some animal experience would be helpful but not necessary.

Download application under Contact Us at our website, thelodgefordogs.com.

You may bring the application with you as we ask you apply in person. The Lodge at New Tampa 15403 Morris

Bridge Road approx. 1/2 mile south of the Cross Creek/Morris Bridge Road

intersection in New Tampa.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Veterinary Tech/Assistant or Recep-tionist needed for animal hospital

close to campus. Part-time or full-time. Experience a plus, but will train. Email

resume to [email protected].

HELP WANTED

Mural ArtistLooking for someone who can

create an “under the sea” mural on one textured wall 13’w x 10’h for baby nursery. Fee negotiable, paying cash. Need to start and finish ASAP...baby

is almost here! Email me your contact information, a breif introduction, and at-tach a sample of your work if possible.

[email protected]

Page 8: 2-10-15

SportsU N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A ● T U E S D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 ● T H E O R AC L E8

Antigua looks to keep positive outlook

New QB Kean ready to compete

No. 25 Bulls continue historic run

As Brett Kean watched the snow fall outside the window of his Lakewood, Ohio home Wednesday, visions of warm sunshine, beaches and palm trees swirled around his head.

And plenty of winning football, too.

In an interview with The Oracle, Kean, who was USF’s lone quarter-back signee of the 2015 recruiting class, painted a bright future for a program desperately in need of a spark heading into coach Willie Taggart’s third season.

“USF gives me a great opportu-nity,” said Kean, who is listed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com. “I think it’s a great team. It’s just missing a couple pieces and I think we can get it back to where they used to be.”

It shouldn’t take 6-foot-1, 205-pound Kean very long to get accli-mated to his position, as he’ll have a familiar face to turn to for guid-ance: fellow Bulls QB Mike White.

Kean and White were team-

Growing pains were inevitable this season for USF men’s bas-ketball with only three returning starters from last year’s team, but a nine-game losing streak wasn’t in coach Orlando Antigua’s plans.

“We keep coming up a little bit short, but that just means we have some more work to do,” Antigua said at his weekly media appear-ance.

Antigua sees his team is strug-gling, but said it is only a mat-ter of time until they get where they need to be. USF lost another close game against conference foe Cincinnati, showing the team is at least making progress.

“It’s something I knew we had in us and you’ve seen some glimpses of it,” Antigua said. “Our job is to continue to develop it and continue

to grow it and continue to encour-age it so that we can get more consistent effort and energy.”

USF has a chance to turn things around against in-state rival UCF, but for Antigua, it’s just another game.

“The rivalry is for the fans and the alumni,” Antigua said. “For us, it’s just another opportunity to go out and compete against a team in our conference to see if we can get better.”

Allen Jr. receives AAC Honor Roll

After averaging 21 points over the past four games, senior guard Corey Allen Jr. received his second AAC honor.

Allen Jr. scored 18 points in the Bulls’ last game Saturday against Cincinnati, following up a 16-point outing Wednesday against Temple.

No one can deny that this year’s USF women’s basketball team is one for the record books.

With the stellar performance led by juniors Courtney Williams and Alisia Jenkins, the Bulls enter tonight’s game against SMU sec-ond in the AAC and on the fast track for the NCAA Tournament.

Already teetering in and out of the USA Today Coaches Poll rank-ings, USF finally broke the AP Poll seal for the first time in program history Monday, gathering 56 votes to reach No. 25.

“It’s great for our players and our program to get that national recognition,” coach Jose Fernandez said. “It gets the USF brand out in the basketball world.”

Aside from this honor for the university, Williams received yet another accolade after being named AAC Player of the Week. The talented guard averaged 23 points, four rebounds and 3.5 assists last week against UCF and

Cincinnati, both ending in wins for the Bulls.

Williams has also scored 20 or more points in eight straight games — currently the longest streak in the nation.

Williams currently leads the conference in scoring with 20.2 points per game and has scored in double-digits in 31 of the last 32 games.

The Bulls are currently riding a five-game winning streak with 13 wins in their last 14 outings. The only blemish in that run was a loss to defending national champion UConn on the road. This year’s team is shaping up to be the fast-est to reach 20 wins in program history if they can beat SMU (5-17, 1-10) on Tuesday.

“This group only has two seniors,” Fernandez said. “The team’s success shows the future of our program and those that we’re recruiting year after year.”

No. 25 USF (19-4, 10-1) is in Dallas to take on SMU tonight at 8 before taking on East Carolina 2 p.m. Sunday.

Incoming freshman Brett Kean is the only quarterback in the Bulls’ 2015 recruiting class. PHOTO TAKEN FROM @bkeanqb4

Coach Orlando Antigua said he believes the Bulls are making progress despite being on a losing streak. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/SEBASTIAN CONTENTO

By Jeff OdomS T A F F W R I T E R

By Jacob HoagA S S T . S P O R T S E D I T O R

n See COMPETE on PAGE 5

Notebook

FootballWomen’s Basketball

By Zach LowieS T A F F W R I T E R

n See ANTIGUA on PAGE 5

Courtney Williams is averaging 20.2 points per game as USF cracks the AP top 25. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU