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National restaurant franchises to transform SUB into Panther Food Court

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Arianna Schuck | Staff Writer

“We’ve waited a long time to put a national franchise on campus,” Tom Stewart, director of campus dining at Florida Tech, said. 

According to Stewart, the SUB cafe was overdue for updates and renovations. With national chains a popular request by students, Florida Tech is converting the former SUB cafe into the Panther Food Court. 

“The university contacted every major franchise in the area,” Stewart said, “[Firehouse Subs, Cosmic Creamery and Einstein Bros] offered excellent reputations, and a good menu variety.”

Firehouse Subs and Cosmic Creamery are set to open in the Panther Food Court near the end of March. Einstein Bros. Bagels will open in the first or second week of April. 

“I’m extremely excited for these corporations to come to campus,” Justin D’Amato, a sophomore majoring in Aviation Management, said. “It’ll be nice to have real subs, real egg sandwiches and bagels and a variety of ice cream, which is long overdue being in Florida.”

A plan for the Panther Food Court. The first restaurants are set to open in late March. Photo: Florida Tech

Bella Worrell, a junior majoring in marine biology, is looking to the Food Court to provide more vegetarian choices. 

“Being a vegetarian makes it harder to find options, however with these new additions to campus, it will add more diversity and more tasty food options for on-campus eating,” Worrell said.

Worrell said that she will miss the old SUB, but with these franchises coming, the excitement of new options and variety will fill that void.   

Students will be able to use both FlexCredit and Panther Cash in the Panther Food Court. 

The Food Court is to be open seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. while classes are in session. The operating hours of each eatery will vary.

Brevard K-12 schools find rhythm again amid COVID-19

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Tessa Dury | Staff Writer

Brevard K-12 schools are some of many that have had to change and adapt so students can continue attending school in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Tania Pippin, a third grade teacher at Covenant Christian School in Palm Bay said that about 90 percent of its students are attending in person classes and 10 percent are attending online. 

Covenant Christian’s current policy requires that if several students in one class test positive, the entire class will go online until students receive negative tests and are given the all-clear to return safely to in-person instruction.

Pippin said that online learning can be especially difficult for elementary age students, who may find it difficult to sit still and pay full attention to a computer screen. 

“But on the other hand, I have a student who has excelled with his work because his grandfather lives with his family, and they have been working on the homework assignments together,” Pippin said. “It’s a very sweet and encouraging thing to see them working it together.”

Covenant Christian has changed its school day hours from 8:00 a.m. through 3:15 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m., giving the students more recess time outside. Students are required to wear masks at recess, in line with the school’s policy that masks must be worn at all times other than eating. 

The extra recess allows teachers to give extra attention and assistance to students who are attending virtually and may need additional help with work. 

Olivia Zajac is a mother with two children, a seventh and a fifth grader, attending online classes at Covenant Christian. 

“At first in the winter it was difficult for them to transition back to the feeling that they were in school. They still had that summer frame of mind,” Zajac said. “But the slower pace of online seems to have decreased some of their anxiety, they have less peer conflicts, and more family time.” 

Virtual learning has also had some positive effects on school events at Covenant Christian, such as grandparents day.

Grandparents day, normally held in person, was held virtually this year. Students’ grandparents, whether located in other states or nearby, were able to safely view art and other student work in an online format. 

“That was really special,” Pippin said. “No grandparent got left out because of distance.”

Viera Charter School has also implemented COVID-19 safety measures once in person classes started again in the fall. 

“Their usual activities have been changed so that the children aren’t in contact with each other,” Melissa Asafo-Agyei, whose children are a second grader and a first grader attending Viera Charter, said. “They play pool noodle tag, instead of regular tag, flag football, and their cafeteria seats have three-way plexiglass dividers.” 

Viera Charter school’s COVID-19 return plan, found on its website, details further preventative measures such as limiting the number of parent volunteers, screening staff for symptoms regularly and modifying emergency protocols with respect to social distancing.

After the new circumstances and sudden shift to online classes teachers were faced with in spring of 2020, Pippin is glad things are beginning to find their rhythm again. 

“It was so good to see the kids when they started to trickle back into in person classes,” Pippin said. “It really is so different teaching online, and it was really wonderful to have them back and to be able to see them again.”

Testing and Training: Panther Athletes Return to Practice

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Elena Ciulli | Staff Writer

Students have made their way back to campus, among them student athletes looking to get back to training.

The athletic department outlines the strategy for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 to guarantee the safety of student athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers. Florida Tech implemented a sport-specific phased resocialization approach for each team, starting with the arrival of student athletes at the beginning of spring semester. 

The priority was to get student athletes traveling back to campus safe and healthy. In order to be allowed to return to campus, student athletes have been required to submit a negative COVID-19 test. Testing has been double-layered, with follow-up tests acting as the green light for team practices. 

“I have been very impressed with all of the measures that the university has taken as a whole.” Luis Velez, head athletic trainer at Florida Tech, said. 

Once competitions start, athletes and staff will be subjected to different protocols, depending on potential transmission risk factors as outlined by the NCAA. 

The nature of the sport and whether it is played indoors or outdoors are determining factors. Based on these guidelines by the NCAA, as competition approaches athletes and staff will be tested regularly starting the week prior to competition and throughout the season and postseason.

 “I want to also thank Brittany Collins from the Health Center, Krishna Patel from the PRT for their help, our athletic administration, and our athletic training staff for their assistance in creating and implementing our policies,” Velez said. “Our coaches and student athletes have done a great job communicating with me and my staff if any concerns arise.”

Players and coaches are expected to strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocols throughout the semester.

John Reynolds, head coach of the women’s basketball team, says that he is following the protocols to a “T.”

“This is the best way to create as safe a practice environment as possible, and I have complete trust in the precautions that we have instituted,” Reynolds said.

Valued Resolutions for a Happy New Year! | Student Counseling Center

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Natalia Velásquez, M.S., Outreach Coordinator || Student Counseling Center, Division of Student Life

This past year was filled with many changes, some incredibly challenging and others quite exciting. While many of us have likely experienced both of these extremes and many more in between, I think most of us can agree that we were ready for that refreshing feeling associated with the beginning of a new year. 

Typically, people often take this time to reflect on the previous year and resolve to make some kind of change in the new year; however, many times resolutions are difficult to initiate and maintain throughout the year. One way to produce meaningful change in your life is to 1) clarify your values, 2) create small goals towards your values, and 3) commit to actively living by your values on a daily basis, despite unhelpful thoughts/emotions that may arise.

Values are like a compass. They can help guide you towards your own unique meaningful life. Values are a direction that you choose to go in based on what you care about most in your life; therefore, there are no “right” or “wrong” values and everyone’s values will be different. They are about action and how you want to “be” and “act” in the world, not how you want to “think” or “feel” on a daily basis. Values are not a destination you want to achieve. 

Think about values as yourself wanting to travel west. West is not a place that you can reach; but, you can travel in that direction. From Florida, you can go to Texas, then California, then Hawaii, then Japan, then Spain, etc. and you will continuously be traveling west. 

Hence, whether you are prioritizing self-care (e.g., exercise, study breaks, pizza nights), challenging yourself to be more assertive of your needs/wants with others (i.e., “I feel [insert feeling word] when you [insert a specific description of your needs/wants]”), or offering yourself greater compassion (e.g., “I am doing the best that I can in this moment, and that is good enough”), try your best to align your resolutions with the direction of your identified values.

If you find yourself swaying from your values from time to time (or traveling north instead of west), non-judgmentally acknowledge it and guide your intentions/actions back to your valued path. 

For example, I personally value connection. However, I am also an introvert, so sometimes talking with people causes me anxiety. Although these thoughts and feelings may arise and I may want to hide out in my room alone, I still choose everyday to live by this value by checking in with friends and family, creating friendships with new people, greeting people at the grocery store, and helping clients in therapy. 

For more information on Valued Resolutions, including Values, SMART Goals, and Committed Action, click here.  

On behalf of the Student Counseling Center, we wish you a Happy New Year and a successful start to the new semester! If you find yourself in need of additional guidance, please reach out for help! We are your counseling center and here for you in providing 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 to find out more about our services and resources for psychological health and well-being. Be the healthiest Florida Tech Panther you can be! 

NASA Prepares to Return Humans to the Moon

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Alexander Polimeni | Staff Writer

For the first time in 48 years, a human-capable spacecraft destined for the Moon rolled out of NASA’s Armstrong Operations & Checkout Facility, in preparation for a launch in late 2021. 

On Jan. 16, the Orion spacecraft emerged from its assembly hangar at a crawling speed, bound for the Multi-Purpose Processing Facility, the vehicle’s final stop before it is mated to its rocket. At the MMPF, the spacecraft will be fueled prior to launch. This particular propellant is used to maneuver Orion while in space, along with returning the capsule to Earth.

“I’m incredibly excited to service Orion at our rocket fuel gas station,” said Marcos Pena, a NASA manager based out of the MMPF, in a NASA press release.

Orion rolls from the Operations and Checkout Facility on Saturday. The spacecraft is protected by a tarp. Photo: Alexander Polimeni

Later that day, the core stage, the largest component of the 321-foot tall Space Launch System rocket, completed an engine firing test in the swamps of Mississippi. A whopping 1,670,000 pounds of thrust was unleashed on the test stand for approximately one minute, marking the first ignition of the most powerful rocket in the world, according to Boeing, the manufacturer of the core stage. While the test ended earlier than planned, it was designed to iron out any issues with the rocket before shipping to the Kennedy Space Center. 

“Seeing all four engines ignite for the first time during the core stage hot fire test was a big milestone for the Space Launch System team,” said John Honeycutt, the SLS program manager, in a NASA press release.

When SLS arrives in Florida, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage will be lifted atop the 212-foot tall core stage. After launching atop the core stage, the United Launch Alliance-built ICPS will separate in space, and boost the Orion spacecraft to the Moon. Already complete, ICPS underwent periodic maintenance at the Delta Operations Center, at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in December, according to ULA.

Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) sits inside the International Space Station Processing Facility, awaiting launch. The silo-like structure protects its delicate engine. Photo: Alexander Polimeni

The Exploration Ground Systems team at the Kennedy Space Center has been preparing to receive components and assemble the first SLS rocket. EGS has begun stacking the massive 12-foot wide solid rocket booster segments according to NASA, each producing 3,280,000 pounds of thrust at launch. Two of these solid rocket boosters will be strapped to the side of the core stage. 

A series of rollout tests have been completed with the rocket’s Mobile Launch Platform, a steel skyscraper used to transport the rocket to the launch pad vertically. The MLP will endure the brunt of the weight; 5.75 million pounds when SLS is fully fueled. 

“Stacking the first piece of the SLS rocket on the mobile launcher marks a major milestone for the Artemis Program,” said Andrew Shroble, a manager with NASA contractor Jacobs. “It shows the mission is truly taking shape and will soon head to the launch pad.”

Mobile Launch Platform rolls back inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, after undergoing testing at the launch pad in 2018. Photo: Alexander Polimeni

The mission is named Artemis I, after the sister of Apollo, an apt allusion to the program that landed humans on the Moon in the 1960s. This uncrewed shakedown test of the launch vehicle and spacecraft will involve the insertion of Orion in lunar orbit, and spending three weeks in space, according to a Lockheed Martin press release. The launch is currently planned for late 2021.

Shortly after, Artemis II will propel humans around the Moon, the first time since the end of the Apollo Program. The pinnacle of this program is Artemis III – landing humans back on the surface of the Moon, a feat not accomplished since 1972. 

Before Artemis can make history and return humans back on the Moon, the transport of Orion was the culmination of a decade of work to make the first test flight of SLS reality. 

“It will blaze a trail that people will follow on the next Orion flight, pushing the edges of the envelope to prepare for that mission,” said Mike Sarafin, Artemis I mission manager, in a NASA fact sheet.

Test Scores Not Required for Graduate Programs Next Academic Year

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Stephen Pickrom | Staff Writer

Admissions to Florida Tech graduate programs in the upcoming academic year will not require test scores from graduate exams.

Testing centers for the GMAT, GRE, and other exams are harder to access due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Vice President for Enrollment Management Brian Ehrlich.

“They’re scheduled less frequently and there’s less testing centers as well, so there’s a complete access problem,” he said.

To remedy this issue, Florida Tech made the decision to make exams optional for those applying to graduate programs in the 2021-22 academic year.

Normally, a set of documents and information, including test scores, is required to submit to the admissions office, so that it can then be sent to that program’s academic department.

“The admissions office, at the graduate level, gathers the information and then makes sure it’s all there, but we don’t actually make the decision,” Ehrlich said.

For graduate programs, the admission decision comes from the academic department itself. This differs from undergraduate programs at Florida Tech, where the admissions department makes the decision.

Ehrlich stressed that an important part of the process was making sure all students are treated fairly when they send their information to the department heads.

“We want complete fairness and complete transparency in the process,” Ehrlich said.

The admissions department was concerned that, should two students who are otherwise the same apply for a program, one that has test scores and the other that does not, department heads would gravitate toward the student with test scores because there is more information.

Ehrlich posed the question, “What’s going to happen? Is that person able to be impartial?”

“Now, there’s chances that they could be,” he said, “But to make it truly fair, we don’t transmit test scores so that when the faculty member sees that file, they see the exact same thing for every student.”

This decision only affects the next academic year. The admissions department is looking further ahead, to see if not requiring exams will be a lasting change. They want to see how students do when they apply without test scores and if they succeed in the programs.

“That allows us to use good data to make an informed decision,” Ehrlich said.

‘Tis the Season to Share Compassion

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

In times when we might feel disconnected and divided from others more than usual, it can be helpful to practice compassion for ourselves and those around us.

Compassion involves 1) noticing the suffering that you or someone else might be experiencing, 2) responding to the pain (the word compassion literally means “to suffer with”) with feelings of warmth/care and a desire to help in some way, 3) offering understanding and kindness when you or others’ make mistakes rather than judging or criticizing harshly, and 4) realizing that suffering (e.g., failure, imperfection) are part of the shared human experience. If the latter reality is denied, suffering tends to increase and manifest in other forms, such as stress and anxiety, whereas if this reality is accepted with kindness, greater emotional calmness has a greater chance of being experienced. 

On the other hand, self-compassion begins with the acceptance and awareness of your present moment experience, as it allows you to intentionally provide kindness to yourself during times of perceived inadequacy. The self-accepting view is that your “negative” thoughts and emotions are just another part of your experience and maybe even signify that you have gone/are going through tough times. Self-acceptance involves taking a broader view of yourself and works towards a kinder, more compassionate position in which you accept a difficult part of your history and/or current experience. 

This helps to provide stability in life, as self-acceptance is not based on your perceptions of successes or failures but rather a value of how you might aspire to treat yourself and others. Therefore, rather than fighting the difficult experience in a desperate attempt to feel better, practice choosing to make room for it, accepting that it’s there, and moving towards what would make your life meaningful. 

With that said, self-compassion can be very challenging for many of us, even more challenging than having compassion for others at times. Having compassion for yourself means that you accept your humanness, as things will not always go as planned, and that’s okay. The more you practice opening your mind and heart to this reality instead of struggling with it, the more you will be able to feel compassion for yourself and your fellow human beings in the experience of life. 

Self-compassion involves 1) accepting that difficult life experiences are inevitable and offering gentleness, warmth, and understanding towards yourself during these times rather than self-criticizing, 2) recognizing that suffering and personal inadequacy are part of our common humanity rather than being something that “only happens to me,” 3) being willing to non-judgmentally observe your negative thoughts and emotions with mindful awareness rather than ignoring the pain or over-identifying with the thoughts/emotions. 

Thus, self-compassion encourages you to be kind to yourself in the midst of pain, such that you might ask yourself “What do I need right now?” and actually listen/act on whatever that might be in the present moment. For example, due to the current pandemic, many students might be experiencing the inability to go home or be with family during the break/holidays, which may lead to greater stress/anxiety, disappointment/sadness, and loneliness/isolation. If you find yourself experiencing similar difficulties, this is the time to practice extending compassion to yourself and others! 

To cultivate self-compassion, practice the following steps: 

  1. Pause without reaction.
  2. Take deep breaths for approximately 30 seconds.
  3. Notice judgmental thoughts and associated feelings.
  4. Provide a positive self-affirmation (i.e., “I am doing my best in this moment”).
  5. Ask yourself: “What do I truly need in this moment”? This could be:
    • Taking a break from constant homework/studying during finals week. 
    • Scheduling a virtual pizza night with a friend/family member. 
    • Snuggling your dog/cat while you watch a movie. 
    • Planning a whole day of self-care during break.  
    • Cooking/Decorating for the holidays and scheduling a Zoom tree lighting. 
    • Or whatever else comes to mind (remember, no judgement)!

To cultivate compassion for others, practice the following steps: 

  1. Start with yourself! Regularly provide self-compassion. 
  2. Actively listen to others (e.g., be present and validate their feelings) in difficult times without imposing your beliefs or trying to fix the difficulty for them. 
  3. Offer a gentle touch, such as holding a hand or giving a hug (if appropriate).
  4. Affirm others by providing praise and encouragement, highlighting strengths/talents you see in the person, and offering support and comfort in difficult times.
  5. Show kindness through your actions without expecting anything back (e.g., giving a compliment, making a donation, volunteering, helping someone advocate their wants/needs in a challenging situation, and/or paying for someone’s meal behind you in line). 

If you find yourself in need of additional guidance, 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!

“As polluted as it is beautiful”: Algae blooms in the Indian River Lagoon

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Thomas Handel | Staff Writer

Amanda Capuano and Connor Bol collecting plankton samples using a plankton net. Photo // Thomas Handel

The Indian River Lagoon is one of Florida’s most vital environmental ecosystems. Consisting of the Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River and Indian River, the Indian River Lagoon encompasses 40 percent of Florida’s eastern coast and houses over 4,000 animal and plant species combined.

In many areas, however, the estuary system is as polluted as it is beautiful. Throughout the years, there have been many major occurrences of “blooms”, which cause environmental damage both locals and researchers fear. And it’s coming back.

Kevin Johnson, a professor of oceanography and environmental science at Florida Tech, described exactly what these blooms are.

“An algal bloom is very simply an abundance or population explosion of algae. Blooms occur when the combination of nutrients, light, and other environmental factors are just right for a certain algal species,” Johnson said. 

He explained that the more opaque the water undergoing the bloom is, the more algae are present. 

Johnson and his research teams have noted this coloring, typically green, near the 528 causeway in the Banana River. Monitoring started in July of this year. By September, and in the river around Kelly Park, the bloom had already grown considerably.

“Now the blooms have spread to other IRL sub-bodies, including the IRL proper in more northerly sub-bodies,” Johnson said.

Amanda Capuano preparing sample collection jars with formalin, a preservative. Photo // Thomas Handel

The causes of these blooms have been affecting the river for a while now. According to Johnson, the excess nutrients that often cause these blooms result from decades of run-off and sewage pollution. This results in “muck” that accumulates and causes further damage.

Prior blooms are also driven by this type of pollution, and result in algal species that are present in many iterations of blooms throughout the years. Last year, the bloom was in the Banana River, but this year’s blooms has been observed in both the Banana River and Indian River.

The effects of these blooms are toxic to both animals and humans, according to Johnson. 

“Some algae, including some that bloom in the IRL, produce toxins that can negatively impact other life in the lagoon,” Johnson said. “Some of these toxins get concentrated through the food chain and build up to the point that their concentrations can make vertebrate animals, including fish and humans, sick or even die.”

Amanda Capuano, an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science, is working on a field project that studies how human-derived nutrients affect the natural phytoplankton population. In her research, she aims to determine how these blooms can take over the plankton community.

For her research, Capuano works alongside the Pineda Highway in Satellite Beach, towing field equipment back and forth in order to capture plankton samples in order to better understand the river’s condition and composition. The water collected must be filtered through the net, sprayed down, and sealed within a special container containing a compound that preserves it for the microscope..

Connor Bol, a graduate student majoring in Ocean Engineering and Oceanography, assisted Capuano on her field work. Bol has also worked with Johnson’s other research expeditions.

“It’s definitely a substantial bloom, it covers a large area,” Bol said. “I’ve seen the water lime green at times.”

When asked about the effects, Bol only had to look around to answer.

“I see trash around the lagoon a lot,” he said. “It’s coming in from creeks and their runoff, people’s yards too.”

Johnson explained that there are methods to clean up the lagoon. These include muck removal by dredging, muck treatment, as well as diluting and removing nutrients by restoring ocean water inflow to the river.

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.