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Florida Tech confirms 12 COVID-19 cases | Nov. 20 update

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Florida Tech reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 among students and one employee case in the Nov. 20 weekly update.

“I’m pleased to report that we are doing far better this week than previous weeks, with a dramatic decrease in COVID-19 cases.” Florida Tech President T. Dwayne McCay said in the email update.

This week’s number is a substantial decrease; the total number is just over one third of last week’s reported spike of 35 cases.

McCay once again encouraged students who are traveling for Thanksgiving to complete the remainder of the semester remotely.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that the safest plans for Thanksgiving take place at home, with your household.

The CDC has provided guidance for those who do travel, stating that measures such as outdoor gatherings, refraining from sharing food or utensils, and keeping guests to a minimum can make things safer.

Brevard Restaurants Navigate Reopening

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Ethan Qualle | Staff Writer

“Business has been good,” Jean Phillipe Reis, the owner of the downtown Melbourne restaurant The Burger Place, said.

Reis is one of many Florida restaurant owners who have navigated through phases of reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With restaurants and other businesses currently in phase three, establishments like The Burger Place are permitted to operate at full capacity. Face covering mandates appear in many business entrances.

Reis added that he only requires his employees to wear masks while delivering food, not in the kitchen. He said that masks in the kitchen are not necessary when his employees are in close contact with one another on a regular basis. 

Reis is originally from France and provided some insight on the situation there. As of Oct. 30, the government of France has implemented its second lockdown, only allowing for nonessential travel within metropolitan France and Martinique. 

“Places such as bars, restaurants, and metros are places where the spread of COVID-19 is prevalent,” he stated. 

Reis said he also worries that the proximity of The Burger Place to crowded bars in downtown Melbourne is putting him and his employees at risk. 

“Students and young people do not always wear masks at bars,” Reis said.

Main Street Pub in downtown Melbourne has taken significant precautionary measures regarding COVID-19. Lena McAneney, the owner of Main Street Pub, explained several steps she has taken to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in her establishment.

“We have to close the door on Fridays and Saturdays to limit capacity.” McAneney said.

She also stated that they hired a professional cleaning service, Servpro, which continually sanitizes the establishment as needed. On top of that, customers and employees must wear face coverings at all times, except while actively eating or drinking while stationary. 

Main Street Pub has also expanded its outdoor seating, giving patrons additional space to allow for social distancing in an more open environment. McAneney then mentioned that she is at a high risk of more serious COVID-19 symptoms herself, so implementing these protocols were imperative to her own health.

Senior and psychology major Delainee Rust, who works part time at Bruno’s Pizzeria in Cocoa Beach, suggested that the pandemic has affected business flow.

According to Rust, Bruno’s Pizzeria has experienced more demand for carry-out and delivery orders, though the dining room is open.

“Sometimes [customers] have to wait up to 90 minutes for their pizzas due to the influx of orders,” Rust said.

The genre-less treasure of underground music: Ghostemane’s ANTI-ICON

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Sonja Michaels | Editor-in-Chief

Anti-Icon cover art // Blackmage

This album starts out with a deep, sounding bass. As the bass drones on, it takes the listener’s mental landscape to the gray, clouded side of an isolated mountain. A drum begins to slowly pound, guiding the first steps down the mountain. Pausing, a moment of silence occurs. It erupts into chaos before fading out into whispers.

What a way to start an album.

Track two, “Vagabond”, takes us back in to some “usual” Ghostemane. There’s a pleasant variety of sounds going on. The listener is led to believe they’re hearing rap, but pounding drums come in at 1:20 and launch the listener back to early 2010s Warped Tour.

Three songs in, we reach “Lazaretto.” Is it metal? Is it hardcore? It’s hard to determine. 

Ghostemane, or Eric Whitney, has roots in hardcore punk and metal. A Florida native, Whitney, played guitar and drums in multiple bands early in his musical career. Leaving Southern Florida seemed to coincide with a shift to a more rap-oriented career; Whitney moved to Los Angeles in 2015, and has formed or participated in numerous projects outside of Ghostemane. 

So far the hallmark of this album is the careful manipulation of all the sounds. Yes, there are harsh sounds, but they all feel intentional. They are foiled by some soft, distorted vocals whispering to the listener at transition points. Ghostemane walks the line between grating effects and smooth soundscapes. 

“Sacrilege” deserves to be listened to with an excellent sound system. The mix of real drum sounds and hyper-computery processed synths is the best whiplash between metal and synth-pop. The word pop isn’t the first you’d expect to hear in a Ghostemane review, but the first half of the song is filled out enough with danceable synths that harken back to the ‘80s that it’s hard to ignore. 

Each song on “ANTI-ICON” has a different feel, but there are some uniform sounds and feelings. These songs are all part of the same journey through the album’s soundscape. In some places it is more organic, with acoustic and natural-sounding instruments evoking images of storms and empty nature, where in others the listener can only envision a hardcore band rocking out in a garage. 

“Fed Up” stands out, mostly because Whitney shows restraint when it comes to the rapping. The lower, gravelly mumbles blend well with a video-game like bass tone. His higher-pitched, clean vocals are well mixed, not overly contrasting with one of the calmer songs on the album. It is just powerful enough. A minimalist, metallic outro ties this song off. “Fed Up” is understated – and for that, it can’t be overrated. 

“The Winds of Change”. Right away a more organic instrument catches the listener’s attention. The sounds and tones evoke images of ‘90s alternative and emo bands like Sunny Day Real Estate or Twelve Hour Turn. This is the kind of song that makes you want to lay on the floor, stare at the ceiling and drift away into your thoughts for a while. A developed musician knows where an instrumental break belongs – Ghoste nailed it with this one. 

Slower parts or songs like “Melancholic” demonstrate Ghoste’s versatility. Sure, you can defy a genre – but he takes it to the next level by showing diversity even in his own fantastically strange sound. 

This album is diverse, but a common vibe exists. While paces and instruments vary, familiar bass tones and synth instruments appear throughout. Many of the lyrics are classic Ghostemane, addressing the dark themes he is known for.

Whitney takes the influences of rap, hardcore, punk, and more, pulling them all together to create an album that defies any one genre. Past Ghostemane albums have been unique, creative, and well-done; “ANTI-ICON” enters a new realm, acting as the carefully crafted, complete and refined work of a skilled artist.

35 new COVID-19 cases at Florida Tech amid nationwide increase

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In the week ending on Nov. 13, Florida Tech confirmed 35 new cases of COVID-19 among students and employees.

This is the highest number of confirmed cases among the Florida Tech community in a single week, exceeding the previous spike of 18 cases reported on Oct. 16.

“Yes, it may have felt worth it to head to that crowded party or bar, or to take your mask off for a dose of ‘how-it-used-to-be’ freedom.” Florida Tech President T. Dwayne McCay said in the Nov. 13 weekly update, “Yet think about what you risk for that fleeting bit of enjoyment. “

McCay stated that students have the option to switch to remote learning for the reminder of the semester after the Thanksgiving break, advising students who plan to leave campus for the break to do so.

This increase in cases comes during a time of nationwide increases, with a recent trend of daily cases over 100,000 in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that weekly hospitalization rates have been increasing since the week ending on Sept. 26.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering reports that Brevard County has seen 13,452 confirmed cases, with 409 deaths. The CDC reports that 37,059 new cases have appeared in Florida in the last seven days.

This story is developing. Additions may be made as more information becomes available.

Chi Phi brothers hope to rebuild from barn fire

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Brianna Forte | Copy Editor

A fire completely burned down the gathering place known collectively as “The Barn” on the property of the Chi Phi Xi Delta chapter on Sept. 3, and the fraternity is currently working to fundraise and rebuild.

The front of the Chi Phi Barn after the destruction from the fire. | Photo: Francesco Isaza

The fire incident report from Melbourne Fire Station 78 stated that “from the station we could see a large column of smoke behind the address we were dispatched to.”

A neighbor located behind The Barn raised an alarm at 7:01 p.m. on Sept. 3. Brevard County Fire Rescue and Melbourne Fire Department arrived on scene by 7:24 pm.

Senior at Florida Tech and president of Chi Phi Xi Delta, Cody Cochran, explained that the residents at the Chi Phi house were inside the main house roughly 200 yards away when they were alerted about the fire.

“We had no idea by the time we got out there, but it was pretty up in flames,” Cochran said.

No one was injured in the fire, according to the incident report, but the heat from the fire proved an issue.

Cat Nanney, director of student involvement at Florida Tech, arrived on scene after being notified by Cochran, following the crisis management plan for student organizations and greek life.

“The heat was incredibly intense,” recalled Nanney. “We were standing pretty far away and wearing masks, and I was still dying from the heat.”

According to Cochran, Nanny worked with her team members to rehouse the brothers living on the Chi Phi property and provide meal plans for them for seven days.

“They did a fantastic job helping us, and made the decision to move the brothers out of the house until everything was safe,” Cochran said.

The fire department was able to control the fire, but The Barn is no longer of structural use according to Cochran. The fire inspector has yet to identify a cause for the fire.

All of the brothers on the property during the fire were unharmed and most of the contents within The Barn were recovered.

“We were able to recover a lot of our old history and stuff, and the only lost one book, which was our most recent initiation book,” explained Cochran.

The loss of The Barn to the Chi Phi Xi Delta chapter changes the dynamics of the organization, as this gathering place played a central role in the chapter’s social events.

“This is something that was to some people a really huge part of their Florida Tech experience and this is going to be tough for the Chi Phi fraternity,” Nanney, a former Florida Tech student, said. “Especially with how much they cared and they loved that barn.” 

The fraternity rents out the property from the Xi Delta Housing Corporation run by elected Chi Phi Xi Delta alumnus.

According to Mario Lenato, the treasurer for the XDHC, the insurance on the building will not cover all of the repair costs, as only the structure itself was insured. The lighting, refrigeration, and other equipment were not covered in the policy. 

The inside of the Chi Phi barn is charred and unusable as a result from the fire. | Photo: Francesco Isaza

In response to these events, Lenato and the XDHC created a GoFundMe. 

Lenato said the goal for the GoFundMe was set at $150,000 based on consultations with Chi Phi Xi Delta alumni members in the field of construction management.

The XDHC is currently in phase one of their three step plan, which includes planning, design, and construction. 

“If we don’t decide to do anything with the land where the barn was, all that money gets refunded back to whoever’s donated,” said Cochran.

As of Nov. 10 the GoFundMe has raised $50,554. A total of 186 people have donated through the GoFundMe, with 17 of the donations consisting of a $1,000 donation or greater.

The meaning of The Barn to Chi Phi Xi Delta alumni is evident in the comments section of the GoFundMe. 

“We made a contribution because of the special place the barn holds in its contribution to the makeup of the Xi Delta chapter and to the character of its members,” commented Peter and Kathy Pelc.

Lenato acknowledged the negative impacts of COVID-19 on economics and health, and would like to thank everyone who has donated. 

“People have still found it in their hearts to give so that they and many more can preserve the legacy of the barn and to allow thousands of future members and students to form similar experiences,” Lenato said.

Panther athletes work(out) from home

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Elena Ciulli | Staff Writer

From staying ready to quarantine if an athlete tests positive, to getting their workouts through apps, Panther athletes have had to adapt to a “new normal” in the face of COVID-19.

Florida Tech athletes have taken a unique and challenging hit due to COVID-19. Athletes’ daily lives have been drastically changed, with the majority of their time now being spent maintaining fitness levels and skill training. 

To combat this unexpected off-season, athletes are seeking creative new ways to maintain their skills remotely. Sophomore Nolan Penn, a member of the men’s lacrosse team, had to quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.

During his time in quarantine, Penn focused on working out in his apartment with training that doesn’t require equipment.

 “Our team got shut down immediately after finding out the first positive case. Quarantine was different for each athlete and it was mainly contained to a few off campus houses,” Penn said. “During our isolation period, my roommate and I have been trying to maintain our shape working out in our apartment as much as we could.”

According to Florida Tech strength and conditioning coach Carl Putman, making sure athletes maintain good physical and mental health is the major goal of their recovery journey. 

“We tried to send creative workouts for the athletes to try at home using regular household items through a training platform on a phone app”, Putman said. 

So what do athletes in quarantine or who tested positive have to do before they return to practice? 

According to Putman, athletic trainers have been implementing “return to play” protocols for athletes coming off quarantine. This is added to lower intensity workouts specially designed for those recovering from COVID-19. 

All of these changes have presented challenges to Panther athletes.

Luis Moriyon Jr., a junior on the baseball team, has experienced some tough moments, but said he has full confidence on the coaching staff. 

“The hardest part was going back to phase one as soon as we found the first positive case in our team. At this point it’s tough to know what would be our next move, but we follow what our coaches say and we trust the process.” Moriyon said.

Moriyon said extra precautions have been taken, such as avoiding sharing equipment with other athletes. 

Putman emphasized that for any athletes exposed to COVID-19, returning to health is most important. He explained that hydration, proper nutrition, and sleep, along with stretching and mobility work, take priority. 

 “Recovery is very important and vital, particularly if our immune system has been busy fighting the virus,” Putman said.

Biden Elected 46th President

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Sonja Michaels | Editor-in-Chief

Joe Biden has reached 270 Electoral College votes, making him the president-elect of the United States.

The news comes over three days after Election Day, as Americans awaited results in the election that saw historically high voter turnout in some states.

Sen. Kamala Harris makes history as the first Black woman elected vice president. She is the first person of South Asian descent to be elected vice president.

Biden received over 70 million votes as of Nov. 7, more than any other U.S. presidential candidate ever.

The president-elect is set to speak in Wilmington, Delaware at 8 p.m. EST.

This is a developing story. Updates may be made as information becomes available.

Breaking the Stigma of Men’s Health: Movember at Florida Tech

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Tessa Dury | Staff Writer

Florida Tech’s Movember organization branch is spending the month of November raising awareness for men diagnosed with cancer or struggling with mental health. 

Jonny Blackshear, a Movember student ambassador and a senior majoring in global business and finance, said this is the second year that Florida Tech has helped the Movember organization’s cause. 

Anna Kayser, a senior in psychology and “Mo Sister” said, “The goal of the organization is to spread awareness to break the stigma of men’s health. The main focus is on suicide prevention, but it also goes beyond mental health.”

“Mo Sister” Anna Kayser. Photo | Florida Tech Movember

According to the Movember organization’s website, prostate and testicular cancer are also a major focus, as prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States.

Organizations like this are important to have on campuses because they raise awareness for issues that may not be common for people to talk about, explained “Mo Bro” Talha Kayani, a junior studying aerospace engineering. 

“Mo Bro” Talha Kayani. Photo | Florida Tech Movember

“It’s everybody’s responsibility to change the culture around mental health,” said Kayser, “We all know mental health issues are very real and very common.” 

Kayser has signed up with her crew team to participate in a 60 mile challenge, which consists of running a total of 60 miles during the course of the month. The number 60 is a tribute to the statistic that 60 men every hour will commit suicide. 

Blackshear explained that the awareness efforts aren’t limited to only men’s mental health issues. 

“Given the rollercoaster of a year that 2020 has been, we feel that while we will change the face of men’s mental health, we should also be there for the women in our community as well,” said Blackshear. 

Blackshear emphasized the overall importance of supporting each other and talking about mental health, saying that “we create an environment where mental health is taken more seriously by the university and community.” 

According to Kayani, Movember aims to take away any stigmas that may prevent men from speaking about their mental and physical health. 

“It’s not something to be embarrassed about,” said Blackshear. “It is time to step up and deal with these tough topics, because if we are able to, we will all come out better on the other side.”

To donate to the Movember fund visit Movember’s Florida Tech website.

Top secret rocket mission set for Cape Canaveral launch

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Alex Polimeni | Staff Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL – United Launch Alliance will launch the ever-dependable Atlas V rocket, a workhorse of the U.S. intelligence and defense community, just after sunset on Nov. 4.

The 5:54 p.m. launch will be lifting a clandestine mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Designated NROL-101, no details regarding the payload’s purpose or specifications are available to the public. 

The rocket was originally prepared for an Election Day launch. This was delayed due to a faulty environmental control system duct, according to CEO Tory Bruno on Twitter. ECS ducts provide conditioned air to the launch vehicle and spacecraft while awaiting launch.

A similar Atlas V launch in July 2020. The photo shows an Atlas V rocket taking off.
A similar Atlas V launch in July 2020. Photo | Alex Polimeni

According to an NRO press kit, the agency serves as the “eyes and ears,” over the most hostile territories in the world. The existence of the agency, founded in 1961, was only publicly acknowledged in 1992. Current capabilities and operations of this covert agency remain classified. 

“ULA is proud to play a pivotal role in support of our mission partners and national security by keeping our country safe one launch at a time,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of government and commercial programs, in a ULA press release. “We thank our mission partners for their continued trust and teamwork. The NROL-101 mission will be ULA’s 29th mission launched for the National Reconnaissance Office and the 17th NRO mission launched on an Atlas V.”

This Atlas V launch is monumental in ULA’s mission to reduce the costs of launch and begin evolution to their new rocket, Vulcan-Centaur. This mission will be the first to utilize the Utah-built Northrop Grumman GEM-63 solid rocket motors, according to a ULA news release.

ULA uses strap-on solid rocket boosters to increase the Atlas V’s lifting capability. According to ULA CEO Tory Bruno on Twitter, the new boosters are “higher performance,” and “approaching half the cost.” In addition, the new solid rocket boosters are nearly identical to those that will be used on the Vulcan-Centaur rocket, ensuring a crucial system is tested before the first launch in 2021. 

The NROL-101 mission will mark the 86th launch of the Atlas V, along with the 141st launch for ULA, all with 100 percent mission success.

Launch is currently set for 5:54 p.m. EST. The Atlas V will be readily visible along most of Florida’s eastern coast, and will have a contrail from three solid rocket boosters. For Florida Tech students interested in watching the event, Holland Spessard Beach affords a decent view of the launch nearby. At any launch viewing sites, be sure to follow CDC guidelines, and social distance when possible.

Anxiety is NORMAL

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Natalia Velásquez, M.S., Outreach Coordinator || Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)

Anxiety is a physical, emotional, and psychological reaction to perceived threats, and many times the initial symptoms of anxiety can be characterized by what’s called the “fight-flight-or-freeze” response. The fight-flight-or-freeze response is one of the biological tools our bodies use to protect us from danger. When we feel threatened, the fight-flight-or-freeze response is automatically triggered and physiological changes prepare us to either confront, flee, or freeze in response to the threat. 

These symptoms include increased heart rate, rapid shallow breathing, tensed muscles, shaking, sweating, dizziness/lightheadedness, nausea/“butterflies” in stomach, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating. Therefore, anxiety is helpful in small doses, as it provides us with information about difficulties that may be arising in our lives and can protect us from danger. 

However, when anxiety becomes too severe and/or occurs too frequently, it can become debilitating and can lead to avoidance of the anxiety-provoking experience. Examples of avoidance include using alcohol/drugs to numb feelings, procrastinating on challenging tasks, and/or withdrawing in relationships. 

Although avoiding “scary” things can provide a sense a relief in the short-term, avoidance in the long-term can make similar threats feel even scarier and can prevent us from living our lives in the most helpful way possible for our emotional wellbeing. 

So, if anxiety is normal, and inevitable, how can we learn to notice our anxiety, allow it space in our lives, and continue living a valuable life? 

A first step in alleviating anxiety is to initiate the opposing biological reaction to stress, anxiety, and fear-the relaxation response, which includes slower and deeper breathing, relaxed muscles, and a slower heart rate. When you notice feelings of anxiety, try taking several long deep breaths at the pace of 1-2-3-4-inhale, 1-2-3-4-exhale, repeat, while intentionally trying to breathe from your diaphragm, or your stomach area. 

A second step is to check in with yourself regularly and notice if any thoughts, emotions, and behaviors arise throughout your day, including in anxiety-provoking experiences. Allow these thoughts/feelings to be present, while also using them as information that let you know “Hey, I am feeling anxious right now and that’s okay. What might help me feel better in this moment and moving forward?” There are many healthy coping strategies that can help you reduce anxiety!

Examples of coping strategies for anxiety: 

  • Relaxation exercises, such as progressive muscle relaxation. (Progressive Muscle Relaxation)
  • Grounding exercises, such as the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. (Grounding Exercise)
  • Challenging irrational thoughts, such as examining the evidence of your thoughts and gently challenging them in the moment. Ask yourself: 
    • Is my thought based on facts or feelings?
    • How would my best friend see this situation?
    • How likely is it that my fear will come true? And if it does, will it still matter in a week, month, or year from now?
    • What’s most likely to happen?
  • Imagery, such as imagining a calm environment. (Calming Guided Imagery) 

Lastly, commit to living a life that is meaningful to you, by taking small steps to live by your values despite feelings of anxiety. 

For example, although you might have some anxiety related to meeting new people, you might also really enjoy socializing and making connections with those who have grown close to you.

Therefore, challenge yourself to practice embracing the anxiety AND living your valued life, as these two experiences can coexist together. You might be pleasantly surprised by how taking deep breaths, noticing your anxiety, practicing healthy coping strategies, and making movement towards your values can actually help to reduce avoidance (which only increases anxiety) and alleviate the intensity of the anxiety. 

Remember, anxiety is normal and will likely exist in many experiences. However, the way that we engage with and move through the anxiety is how we can enhance our emotional wellbeing.  
If you find yourself in need of additional guidance during times of anxiety, please reach out for help! Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is your student counseling center and we are here for you! CAPS provides a variety of mental health and wellness services to assist you and other students in successfully reaching personal, academic, and career goals. Please take a moment to visit our website: https://www.fit.edu/counseling-and-psychological-services/ to learn more information on how to request services and find resources for psychological health and well-being. Be the healthiest Florida Tech Panther you can be!