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[thetalononline]

Student Government elections have begun; candidates express their plans for TCC

By Allison Kridle

Tallahassee Community College students are in the running for Student Government Association officer positions, which will be decided by an election that began April 8. “I’m not going to vote. I didn’t even know there were elections coming up and I haven’t heard a lot about the candidates,” said Julia Kenney, a TCC student. An announcement was posted on the TCC website on March 29 regarding the upcoming elections, which included a list of the candidates and their platforms. There was also an SGA debate that took place April 3 on the Student Union Green. Leopold Merrick, a TCC student, is the sole presidential candidate, but said he feels he is in a competitive race against the status quo, the negative stigmas and the ignorance within the student body. “In terms of the student population, creating a platform and environment of transparency is what my administration will bring to the campus. We will bridge the gap between the student body, the faculty and the management of TCC,” Merrick said. Merrick also has plans for SGA. “There are a couple of internal or SGA related concerns that must be addressed, so under my administration a major constitution overhaul will take place, my focus is to transform and elevate the quality and distinction of the organization,” Merrick said. Students such as Kenney know what they would like to see from the future officers. “I would like to see [the officers] be dedicated in improving the school and willing.

to listen to the students’ ideas,” Kenney said. Michelle Scheuermann and Valeria Rodriguez are going head to head for the vice president position. “After having served as a senator of returning adult students, I was encouraged by staff and peers both to further my involvement with SGA by running for an executive board position,” Scheuermann said. Scheuermann said one of the main issues at TCC is the lack of resources and wasted resources, such as buying textbooks that are not used in the classroom or for homework assignments. Discussions of a smoke-free campus have also been circulating around campus; however, Scheuermann’s platform challenges these ideas. “I firmly believe in freedom of choice, enforcing the current smoking policy allows the students and staff of TCC to continue to make their own choice to smoke if they want. At the same time, it addresses the rights of others to breathe clean air as they go from one class to the next,” Scheuermann said. The treasurer position is being competed between Daniel Castilla and Carina Manent. “I’m going to do my best to locate and dismantle any forms of corruption within TCC and SGA. One of the biggest issues on campus is the improper allocation of funding for student clubs and organizations, and because of this I’m going to make sure that TCC will have greater budget transparency,” Castilla said. Castilla would also like to inform TCC students how their tuition is being spent. Manent said she hopes to increase student interaction and involvement with clubs, organizations and events. “I believe it’s important for students to be involved because college isn’t just about a degree. College is a place and time to meet different people from all walks of life as well as become an involved member of the community that we all love so much,” Manent said. The secretary candidate, Brionna Boileau-Theresias, said she believes she would be good for administration work as well as communicating to students and the other officers. “I would like to unite the student body more and communicate with them to get them more involved,” Boileau-Therasias said. Anlee Guillaume, the sole candidate for senator of academic support, has been working in academic support for a year and a half as a work-study student. “My job entails helping students function and navigate through campus with ease, making them aware of the different opportunities that TCC has to offer, [such as] tutoring help from the learning commons, advising help, or even just making them aware of events that TCC puts on for students,” Guillaume said. Corinna McCarthy, the candidate for senator for communications and humanities, would act as a liaison between the students and faculty, as well as the TCC staff and administration. “I plan to find new ways to respond to the students’ needs and concerns. Making sure that students are well represented at meetings and college events by going out regularly and engaging in conversations to see what students are thinking,” McCarthy said. McCarthy would be one of the go-to officers for any campus issues that students are facing. “I would like [SGA] to try and improve parking on campus,” Kenney said. Students will be able to vote until April 12 at 5 p.m. and the results will be announced within four days after the polls close.

[thetalononline]

Op/Ed: Live life to the fullest

By Britt Lewis

Live life like today was your last. We always tell ourselves that, but do we really do it? I know I don’t. When you hang out with a friend, do you consider that it could be the last time you’d ever see them? I didn’t. In the early hours on March 29, one of my friends was involved in a car crash, while coming home from college for Easter weekend. The first thing I found out when I woke up that morning was that he was dead. Emotions rushed through my body. I felt numb. News of this was all over social media and anyone who knew him was talking about it. I thought back to the last time I saw him. The fact that that was the last time I would ever see him sent chills through my body. Being a college student, it is easy to take things for granted. But what if today was your last day on earth? As a 20-year-old, I do not consider the possibility that I could die any day. I think that I have plenty of time left. If I don’t do something today, I can always do it tomorrow. Right? Wrong. Cherish the time you have with people and on Earth, because nothing in life is guaranteed. Every day on Earth is a blessing, and it is definitely time to start living like it. Laugh every day. Never take a smile for granted. Tell the people you care about that you love them. Love with everything your heart can give. And live every day like it was your last. In the words of Bob Dylan, “Take care of all your memories, for you cannot relive them.”

[thetalononline]

Remembering Freel

By Britt Lewis

A Tallahassee Community College alumnus, Ryan Freel, spent eight years in the MLB and left everything on the field. “That’s the thing that stands out the most about Ryan was just how much passion he had about the game and how hard he played the game. I mean he played it hard,” said TCC baseball coach Mike McLeod. Freel was found dead in his home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Dec. 22, 2012. “He loved the game. Every time he walked in this field house he knew he was fixing to walk on the field and that’s where he was most comfortable in life, was on a baseball field,” McLeod said. Even though Freel was drafted in the 13th round of the 1994 draft after his senior year of high school, he turned down the chance to turn pro for an opportunity to come to TCC. Freel came to TCC in 1995, the fourth year of baseball scholarships, and he helped build the TCC baseball program into one of the best in the nation. “For us to land a guy of that quality, every junior college in the country wanted that guy and so did the four-years. For us to land him was big for our program,” McLeod said. In his freshman season, Freel stole 38 bases and set a TCC record for the most stolen bases in a single season. Freel wound up improving his draft stock and got drafted in the 10th round of the 1995 draft. “[Freel was] a tremendous person to be around. You knew you were around something special; it didn’t take a lot of insight to see this guy was probably going to play in the major leagues someday. That’s how good he was,” McLeod said. During his time in the MLB, Freel had a .268 career batting average. He also stole 143 bases while hitting 22 home and tallying 122 runs batted in. Of his eight seasons, he spent five with the Cincinnati Reds, where he left his biggest impact. “The Reds family is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ryan Freel,” the Cincinnati Reds said in a released statement. “His teammates and our fans loved him for how hard he played the game, and he loved giving back to the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.” Reds’ second baseman Brandon Phillips, a former teammate of Freel’s, took to Twitter in support of

Freel. “Really hurt by his passing. You never will be forgotten,” Phillips wrote on Twitter. Freel will not be forgotten because of his inspirational career, according to McLeod. “It shows that there’s a place for guys that play hard. A guy like Ryan … even though he’s small, he can play multiple positions and you know he’s going to play at 115-percent every time he goes out there; he’s never going to take a pitch off. There’s a place in the major leagues for that,” McLeod said.

[thetalononline]

Baseball team continues winning streak

By Connor Harrison

The Tallahassee Community College Eagles continued their winning ways with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Gulf Coast Community College Commodores on April 1. Nick Deckert, the starting pitcher for the Eagles, held the Commodores to one run, which came at the top of the first inning. Deckert handed the job over to Dan VanSickle, a sophomore from Jacksonville, later in the game and VanSickle was the pitcher that sealed the deal for TCC. Deckert started the game off slowly, walking the first two batters he faced. Gulf Coast’s third man recorded a base hit, allowing a runner to advance to third base. However, the Eagles threw out the runner heading to second base. Mike McLeod, head coach for the Eagles, called for a timeout to talk to Deckert on the mound. At the end of the conversation, Deckert remained in the game. Still in the top of the third, a Commodore hit a pop fly ball into the outfield, which was caught. The third base runner tagged up and made it home, putting Gulf Coast up by a run. Once again, the ball was hit high in the air, but it was fielded cleanly for out number three. The first Eagle up to bat was Anthony Torres, a sophomore from Puerto Rico, who started off the inning and was walked to first base. The next Eagle in the lineup was Chad Mabini, a freshman from Alpharetta, Ga., but he could not connect with his pitches and struck out, granting TCC its first out. Clay Fenwick, a sophomore from Jacksonville, batted in Torres, which tied the game up at 1-1. Trent Higginbothem was next to step into the batter’s box. While Higginbothem was up to bat, Fenwick went to steal second base, slid in and made it safe. A couple of pitches later, Higginbothem was walked by Gulf Coast, putting a runner on first and second base. The next man up for TCC was Tyler York, a sophomore from Tallahassee. York hit a ground ball to the third baseman, who stepped on third for one out and threw the ball to first to get the double play and end the inning. Gulf Coast’s run that batted in this inning would be their last run in the game, but TCC had another run to put up on the scoreboard. After TCC got three outs in the top of the second inning, John Price, a freshman from Gretna, Fla., was the lead-off batter for the Eagles, dropped the ball out in centerfield for a base hit. James Abbatinozzi, a sophomore from St. Augustine, nailed the ball straight to the third baseman. When Abbatinozzi went to throw it to second base, it went out of the reach of the second baseman and allowed Price to run to third base. Price scored the last run of the game, when Matt Bahnick bounced the ball over the third base man and into the outfield, and Price did not have to slide in. The side was retired a few batters later with no one else coming home. The rest had players being stranded on base as there were six hits for each team, but when it came down to getting an RBI, both teams were struggling. This stayed true all the way to the top of the ninth inning, where Gulf Coast went three up and three down, giving the Eagles the win by a single run. This win extends TCC’s win streak to eight in a row and gave the Eagles an overall record of 37-5, and 10-1 in conference play. Their last loss was to Chipola Community College on March 18, where they fell 13-6. This was also their only loss in the conference. TCC has four home games remaining on their schedule, including their regular season closer against Gulf Coast again. With the Eagles having momentum on their side they may be looking at a run deep into postseason play. The next scheduled game for TCC is against Northwest Florida State College at on April 8 at 5 p.m

[thetalononline]

Theatre TCC!’s “FAME”

By Giorgy Molano

Theatre TCC!’s spring production of “FAME” is one to watch. The cast is full of old timers and fresh faces with the same amount of passion. Not everyone can be a superstar singer and the cast did a brilliant job exaggerating less experienced vocalists to add a comedic element to them. George Ramirez’s portrayal of Jose “Joe” Vegas, an aspiring young actor, stole the show with his over-the-top personality that reflected on the stage. From his facial expressions during scenes to his memorial performance during musical number “Can’t Keep It Down,” Ramirez was a crowd favorite. The set on stage put the audience in the dead center of the performing arts high school in New York. While lead characters talked to each other, there were others walking around, checking their lockers or trying to get a tuba through a door and a flight of stairs, which steered the audience’s attention away from the dialogue. A live orchestra accompanied the brilliant choreography and storyline, although it was difficult to hear the actors at certain times during the show. Between too much music and too much tuba, some scenes drowned with their surroundings. Audience members truly got the feel of how much work and effort the cast and crew put in. From the top-notch dance choreography and passion in the actors’ eyes, viewers will definitely remember their names in this remarkably executed musical. Theatre TCC!’s presentation of “FAME” will have its final shows April 11-April 13 at the Turner Auditorium on campus

[thetalononline]

Spotlight: The Jonas Brothers

By Giorgy Molano

After a three-year hiatus, brotherband trio, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas are coming back to the music world. During the three years, each brother did his own side projects. Kevin, the oldest, premiered his reality TV show on E! called “Married to Jonas,” and the second season airs April 21. Joe recorded and debuted his solo CD, “Fastlife,” and went on tour with opening acts Jay Sean and JoJo. Nick continued his passion for music by guest starring on FOX’s hit show “Smash” and got the lead role on Broadway’s “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” the part originally held by Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe. The band announced that they were working on a new album in the fall of 2012, after leaving their previous Disney record label, Hollywood Records. The brothers performed a one-night only, sold-out reunion show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, NY, and introduced three samples of their upcoming music. The trio later held three backto- back concerts at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. The Jonas Brothers announced their first tour together since a 2010 World Tour in the fall of 2012, with several shows in Central and South America. With no new songs released in four years, Kevin, Joe and Nick released their single, “Pom Poms,” on iTunes and premiered the accompanying music video on April 2. On the single’s first day, it quickly shot up to the top of the charts. The brothers not only released their single and music video, they also confirmed the released of their fifth studio album and their “Like the First Time” summer tour. Tour dates and locations can be found on their website, www.jonasbrothers.com. Tickets go on sale to the public on April 13 and are available for pre-sale for current Team Jonas members on April 9 at 10 a.m.

[thetalononline]

Op/Ed: Big Orange Heads make a name for themselves in the local scene

On any given night in Tallahassee, there are at least two very successful local bands performing shows, such as the up-and-coming Big Orange Heads. Despite the number of other successful bands in the Tallahassee area, BOH consistently draw in a healthy crowd with their fun, upbeat and passionate performances. “I wasn’t sure what to expect since I personally had never heard of them but they really brought out the energy in the whole crowd,” said Justin Bostock, a Tallahassee Community College student after attending his first BOH show. In the short time since the band’s establishment in 2011, BOH has become very well known among the late night college crowd. The band has played many venues, such as Gaines Street Fest, Bullwinkle’s Saloon and Mockingbird Café, which have helped to make them a staple in the local nightlife scene. Local fame does not come without a dedicated fan base. “They clearly love what they do and their enthusiasm really shows when they perform,” said Windy Boudreau, a former TCC student and fan. The combination of passion, energy and the crowd feedback contribute to their steadily growing fan base and performance venues.

[thetalononline]

Strokes releae "Comedown Machine"

By Alison Kridle

Rating: 4/5 For a band that has been around since 1999, The Strokes have yet to freshen up their style and overall quality, and if they haven’t done it by now, they hopefully never will. Even though they have had their fair share of growing, their new album, “Comedown Machine,” proved that they are done progressing and are just going have fun from now on. The Strokes’ edgy and garage bandesque music is just as successful in the sixth album as it was when they first came together. The track, “Tap Out,” introduces the album. The song takes no time to kick off the album; it starts quickly and adroitly. It will remind a Strokes fan what they have been waiting for and show a Strokes virgin what they have been missing. The screeching guitar at the beginning prepares the audience for lead singer Julian Casablancas’ soulful voice. His voice makes its varying ranges throughout the whole song and reveals that this talented singer could hit any note. The song’s meaning was fairly simple, yet mysterious. Casablancas sings about being with a stranger that you do not care or plan on getting to know, typical friendly Strokes. The melody and chords in the track are slightly similar to The Strokes’ last album, “Angles,” which also contained several songs that had a hint of electronic in them. “Angles” was the album that the band stepped the furthest out of their comfort zone. It was a relief to hear them carrying it over to “Comedown Machine.” The following song, “All The Time,” jumps at you as soon as “Tap Out” finishes. I almost forgot about the previous song when I heard this track. I feel that “All The Time” perfectly encompasses The Strokes and it explains why they are such a great band. The instrumental is arranged without flaw and compliments Casablancas’ strong vocals as they overpower the other sounds. This is one of The Strokes’ more rapid songs, especially in the chorus when Casablancas sings, “You’re livin’ a lie/ You’re livin’ too fast,” which is repeated a few times. The lyrics and beat seem to have a correlation. The beat is fast and the song explains a person who is living too fast and needs to look at their life the way it is. Lesson learned thanks to The Strokes. Here’s where “Comedown Machine” gets more interesting. The third track, “One Way Trigger,” has a melody that you may hear in a video game or at a dance in the 80s. While the instrumentals are a little wild, Casablancas’ soothing voice contrasts them in the beginning, which doesn’t last long. The vocals go to the moon, they are so high, but Casablancas goes low within seconds. Thankfully, Casablancas still has his polished and dynamic vocals that he experiments with in every song. He goes from high to low pitch with vigor and ease. If there is one thing that is lacking in “Comedown Machine” that earlier albums accomplished, it would be the lyrics. They are somewhat ambiguous compared to The Strokes’ previous works. If anything, the lyrics told me that the band is now starting to be more carefree and enjoying themselves more than working themselves. However, in my eyes, a band like The Strokes is allowed to lay back. They have already made their mark in the music industry and will continue to no matter how hard they try.

[thetalononline]

Lighting the way in Tallahassee

By Cierra Alexandria

The Way Management is an entity dedicated to honing in on the skills of young people and works as an outlet to perfect their talents. Two branches of The Way are sports management and entertainment management. The entertainment portion of The Way is an artist coalition created in the summer of 2012 that aims to “activate musicians to harness and perfect their craft,” as according to Troy Curry, an executive board member of The Way. The Way Entertainment made its first debut in the annual Panama City Universal Soul Food Festival on March 16. Performing old school music such as The Temptations, New Edition and Etta James, the artists within The Way put their own stylistics on the music, while still maintaining the original essence. “We’re looking to establish The Way as more than just a band that covers songs, though as for right now, the exposure and the experience on stage is beneficial to our artists” Curry said. Curry expressed how he sees the music industry to be “a joke. Some of the artists these days are like circus clowns except they influence our children into wanting to grow up to be just like them. We’re looking to set an example for the public by maintaining integrity in everything we do.” The idea is to establish a network of individual artists and assist them by “providing the necessary resources to exert their specialties and to showcase their talents,” according to Curry. The Way is currently in the process of building their repertoire in preparation for performances in the near future, such as the Quincy Fest that will be held May 3-May 4. Some artists in the group are recording their own music as well. If students are interested in booking or becoming a part of The Way Entertainment, they can contact Troy Curry at (850) 566-3306 or send an email to: EntertainmentIsTheWay@gmail.com.

[thetalononline]

A TCC fashion statement

By Jacqueline Stein

On Tallahassee Community College’s campus, there is a diverse set of ages, socioeconomic backgrounds and personalities. Given these variables, different senses of fashion can be witnessed while traveling across campus. Among these trends witnessed in recent times are high-waisted pants. “Legs look longer, the dreaded “muffin top” bulge and “whale tail” thong top vanish, and anyone with a long torso can leave her blazer button undone,” said Instyle.com, a website dedicated to the ideals of fashion. The trend of high-waisted shorts is being shared amongst the age groups. “I wear my moms high-waisted shorts. I’ve never had to buy a pair of my own,” said Emma Wilkinson, a TCC student. In spite of the recent commonality of high-waisted pants, the prevalence of trends has been put into question. “Seasons don’t matter, trends don’t matter, age doesn’t matter,” said Sharon Graubard, a New York style forecaster for The Boston Globe, a newspaper which keeps an eye on current trends. People have been seen wearing an array of clothing from thrift stores and other no-name fashion sources, regardless of their income level or status. “I buy most of my clothes at target. I get the whole thrift store fad, but it’s not really my thing,” said Betsy Botkin, a TCC student. Trend spotters have speculated the reasoning behind this recent trend of avoiding trendiness. “If grunge struck the first blow, the recession stepped in to finish the job,” said Beth Teitell, a staff member of The Boston Globe. Whether its students follow a trend or not, TCC offers a vast group of different types of people with different fashion expression

[thetalononline]

Two regimes

By Sam Raley

Tallahassee Community College will be hosting Nadia Werbitzky’s art collection, “Two Regimes” on the first floor of the TCC library from April 4-April 30. The collection was loaned from Tallahassee locals Perry Shaw, Mimi Shaw and Kelly Bowen. The Shaws found the collection while looking through a basement at an estate sale. After contacting the artist and learning what they could, the Shaws thought it would be a great educational display at TCC. “It will be good for students to have an art show that is both artistic and has such a powerful meaning behind it,” said Tyler Sanchez, a TCC student. The show will be showing around 35 different pieces from the collection. Although there are more pieces, they will not be shown because of how fragile they have become from sitting unprotected in a basement. Werbitzky was born in 1922 in Russia and her paints focus on her life growing up in the Ukraine. They also portray the struggles she had to endure when she was deported to Germany and forced to live in work camps. Teodora Verbitsky, the artist’s mother, wrote a book called “Two Regimes” that follows the horrors she went through keeping her children and herself alive during wartime. Students interested in reading about Werbitzky’s life can find the book in the TCC library. “We have two copies of the book at the front desk in the library for students to check out,” said Karen Doster, a TCC librarian.

[thetalononline]

TCC’s celebrates 15 honorees at Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination celebration.

By Giorgy Molano

Tallahassee Community College honored15 women, including five TCC students, during its Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination event, which featured keynote speaker, Anita Davis. The ceremony was held in the Workforce Development Building in Room 105 on March 27 at 11:45a.m. The celebration included performances from TCC’s African Drum and Dance Ensemble and poetry readings from TCC’s Forensics Team. Davis welcomed and congratulated the honorees during her speech and had words of encouragement for everyone. “The best challenge out there is to make sure you try,” Davis said. “Don’t fall on your face. But if you do, have somebody pick you up, dust you off and keep on rolling.” The honorees included women who are very active in the community and who inspire and help young people around town. Women’s History Month Honorees were Joyce Carbonell, Haley Cutler, Gail Dixon, Jane Dwyer, Joanna Francis, Elizabeth Maryanski, Martha Olive-Hall, Beth Tedio, Machelle Madesen Thompson and Ksena Zipperer. One of the student honorees was Victoria Jackson, a TCC student. Jackson was involved in many extra circular activities, including Air Force ROTC and Student Government in high school. After winning many awards in high school, Jackson was nominated at TCC for recognition by Shauna Smith, a TCC humanities and communications professor, who said that TCC is a better place with Jackson as a student. “I wanted to cry, if anything I’m more then humbled and honored to be in a room of so many prestigious women. It’s a great honor to even be recognized,” Jackson said. Other TCC students who were recognized at the celebration were Ashlee Malone, Ashley Prow, Holly Hesoun and Clorrissa Denson. “Dream big but be bigger,” Jackson said. “Leave a trademark wherever you go. A good trademark.”

[thetalononline]

Nutrition takes a plunge

By Madison Boukas

On Tallahassee Community College’s campus, health and nutrition are at an all-time low, alongside the rest of the state of Florida. TCC students are deprived of adequate nutrition options when on campus, due to the complete lack of healthy food options in both the Student Union and the vending machines on campus. “A lot of the problem comes from the fact that foods that are easy or fast are usually the worst for you, worst meaning high calories, low nutritional value. People are okay with eating food they know is bad for them because it’s readily available,” said Chris Wooland, a TCC nursing student. The lack of nutrition on campus is a reflection of the state as a whole and a trend of accommodating failing health. Rather than attempting to correct it, the state of Florida has supported unhealthy foods, which have become more prevalent in recent years. A recent article published by Carol Kuruvilla, a New York Daily News reporter, revealed that Florida’s Orange County spent $23,000 on a new ambulance that is specially designed to carry obese patients weighing up to 1,100 pounds. This trend has left students and residents alike wondering where the health of TCC and Florida are headed. A fire alarm was set off in the Student Union building on Tallahassee Community College’s campus around 1 p.m. on March 27. “I was coming from class and trying to go into the building and the officer wouldn’t let me in. There was about 100 people waiting outside,” said Austen Miller, a TCC student. Students and faculty surrounded the building as TCC officials guarded all of the entrances. “It’s just standard procedure to evacuate the building ‘til we know it’s safe,” said Scott Gaines III, a campus police officer. Desley Thurmond, a TCC student, said that he could see mobs of people evacuating the building even though he was far away. “I heard a fire alarm and everyone was outside the building when I got there,” Thurmond said. Miller said he believed a student pulled the fire alarm as a prank. “You know, there’s a little glass bar on the fire alarm and I’m assuming someone just pulled it. People do it all the time,” Miller said. Officials quickly put the rumors to rest. “The reason the fire alarm went off is one of the smoke alarms detected smoke inside McCormick’s. When investigated there was no smoke. McCormick’s said when they evacuated there was no smoke inside the kitchen area,” Gaines said. TCC officials deemed the building safe and there were no documented injuries. “The officers cleared it and they didn’t even have to call the fire department … They came out and said everything was fine so we went back in. People were out of the building for like 20 minutes,” Miller said. This is the second fire alarm to go off on TCC’s campus this semester. The Strokes release “Comedown Machine” By Allison Kridle Entertainment Page 5 Campus Life is no more; New name, New focus Changes have been made regarding Student Affairs at Tallahassee Community College. Campus Life is no longer a part of TCC and the Campus and Civic Engagement has recently been created. “Honestly, I don’t really know the difference,” said Terrance Booker, a staff member of the Department of Campus Life. Booker said he has yet to be “really heavily affected” by the shift. During the last general assembly on March 27, former volunteer coordinator Lindsey Smitherman-Brown gave word to the body of the changes, presenting a chart of the new restructuring. Smitherman-Brown is now acting director of the revamped department and assures the functions of Campus Life will still be present on campus. The department is still in affect, however the name will be different. “With the new mission and vision of the college, including ‘Civic Engagement,’ we’re refocusing our energy towards preparing students for what lies beyond their time here at TCC,” Smitherman-Brown said. Campus Life was seen as the department that played music in the courtyard and gave away free food. While these things will still be made available to students, Smitherman- Brown said she wanted students to know there was much more to Campus Life than just free food. “The name change to Campus and Civic Engagement was very purposeful because we want students to extend their participation,” Smitherman- Brown said. Smitherman-Brown emphasized the value of using “an institution to create student leaders and people who will be active members of our community.” Trips for scuba diving, skydiving, horseback riding and other activities were advertised on campus prior to the changes. During Spring 2013, there were no Eagle Adventures trips, and students became curious about the effects of budget cuts on these activities under the new structuring of the department. Funding was “definitely cut” and the money comes from “activity and service fees Cierra Alexandria Fire alarm goes off in the student union Students are stranded outside during the alarm. Photo by Helena Marklin. Helena Marklin Soon to be former Campus Life office. Photo by Cierra Alexandria.

[thetalononline]

Fire alarm goes off in student union

By Helena Marklin

A fire alarm was set off in the Student Union building on Tallahassee Community College’s campus around 1 p.m. on March 27. “I was coming from class and trying to go into the building and the officer wouldn’t let me in. There was about 100 people waiting outside,” said Austen Miller, a TCC student. Students and faculty surrounded the building as TCC officials guarded all of the entrances. “It’s just standard procedure to evacuate the building ‘til we know it’s safe,” said Scott Gaines III, a campus police officer. Desley Thurmond, a TCC student, said that he could see mobs of people evacuating the building even though he was far away. “I heard a fire alarm and everyone was outside the building when I got there,” Thurmond said. Miller said he believed a student pulled the fire alarm as a prank. “You know, there’s a little glass bar on the fire alarm and I’m assuming someone just pulled it. People do it all the time,” Miller said. Officials quickly put the rumors to rest. “The reason the fire alarm went off is one of the smoke alarms detected smoke inside McCormick’s. When investigated there was no smoke. McCormick’s said when they evacuated there was no smoke inside the kitchen area,” Gaines said. TCC officials deemed the building safe and there were no documented injuries. “The officers cleared it and they didn’t even have to call the fire department … They came out and said everything was fine so we went back in. People were out of the building for like 20 minutes,” Miller said. This is the second fire alarm to go off on TCC’s campus this semester

[thetalononline]

Campus Life is no more; New name, New focus

By Cierra Alexandria

Changes have been made regarding Student Affairs at Tallahassee Community College. Campus Life is no longer a part of TCC and the Campus and Civic Engagement has recently been created. “Honestly, I don’t really know the difference,” said Terrance Booker, a staff member of the Department of Campus Life. Booker said he has yet to be “really heavily affected” by the shift. During the last general assembly on March 27, former volunteer coordinator Lindsey Smitherman-Brown gave word to the body of the changes, presenting a chart of the new restructuring. Smitherman-Brown is now acting director of the revamped department and assures the functions of Campus Life will still be present on campus. The department is still in affect, however the name will be different. “With the new mission and vision of the college, including ‘Civic Engagement,’ we’re refocusing our energy towards preparing students for what lies beyond their time here at TCC,” Smitherman-Brown said. Campus Life was seen as the department that played music in the courtyard and gave away free food. While these things will still be made available to students, Smitherman- Brown said she wanted students to know there was much more to Campus Life than just free food. “The name change to Campus and Civic Engagement was very purposeful because we want students to extend their participation,” Smitherman- Brown said. Smitherman-Brown emphasized the value of using “an institution to create student leaders and people who will be active members of our community.” Trips for scuba diving, skydiving, horseback riding and other activities were advertised on campus prior to the changes. During Spring 2013, there were no Eagle Adventures trips, and students became curious about the effects of budget cuts on these activities under the new structuring of the department. Funding was “definitely cut” and the money comes from “activity and service fees.

that all students pay upon their enrollment. That $5.35 per student fuels our department and we took an overall cut this year,” Smitherman-Brown said. With a decreased enrollment count, the funds were low. Smitherman-Brown said the programs still exist, but “we’re working to find a way for these trips to be made available to more students for the same amount of cost or less.” The Habitat for Humanity trips to New Orleans were able to take 48 students because there was a church in the area that provided board for cheaper than what hotels would cost. The shift from Campus Life to Campus and Civic Engagement was the consolidation of redundant programs and the implementation of a more

[thetalononline]

[thetalononline]

Spotlight: Jurassic Park 3D by Giorgy Molano

              Steven Spielberg’s colossal blockbuster hit, “Jurassic Park,” is returning to theaters in 3D for its 20th year anniversary. This digitally remastered action and visual packed adventure is coming to the big screens nearby on April 5 for a limited time only.                                

Audiences can remember, return and relive the flabbergasting trip to Jurassic Park in a way they never have before.

            The movie follows a team of paleontologists, Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler, and mathematician, Dr. Ian Malcolm, who are invited to visit a prehistoric creature filled theme park owned by millionaire, John Hammond. Hammond had successfully managed to recreate various types of primitive dinosaur DNA and repopulate a formerly destroyed world.

            What was anticipated to be a thrilling and breathtaking tour around a once extinct realm quickly turns into a dangerous survival story when a severe storm causes the island to lose power. Although the visitors are assured they are completely out of harms way, bloodthirsty dinosaurs escape and enter a complete frenzy with the powerful scent of flesh around them. Now stranded in bizarre and treacherous land, Grant is determined to return the tour group, including Hammond’s two grandchildren, back to safety from the all man-eating predators that lurk around the shadows of this mysterious island.