evans library

Florida Tech celebrates first amendment rights

February 27, 2020 by theCrimson Leave a Comment

By Tessa Dury

Florida Tech students were enticed by one particular thing this week to exercise their first amendment right of free speech; cookies.

The first of many events for the week began with censorship-free writing upon the blank canvas walls outside the Student Union Building on Monday, Feb. 17.

Students were encouraged to write whatever they wanted on the free speech walls. In exchange for exercising their First Amendment right, they were granted a cookie. “I came for the free cookies,” said Brian Dixon, a junior majoring in meteorology. “But seeing some of the things on here, it brings awareness to certain problems,” Dixon said. “You see what people are upset about and it drives you to do more in community outreach.”

Ella Filippelli writes on one of the free speech walls in Evans library. Photo// Tessa Dury

Many students wrote on the walls and a variety of topics were covered. Some students wrote inspirational quotes such as ‘it’s okay to not be okay,’ and ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici,’ which is Latin and translates to ‘I came, I saw, I conquered.’

Other students wrote jokes on the walls while some commented on current social and political issues, Bible verses, tributes to Kobe Bryant and personal music preferences.

The free speech walls also became a way for students to have anonymous hand-written debates next to comments they agreed or disagreed with. Students wrote on differing opinions on climate change, the Clery Act and presidential candidates.

“People shouldn’t be censored on what they say by an official authority,” Ella Filippelli, a junior majoring in STEM education and biomathematics said. “That doesn’t mean you say whatever, but you shouldn’t live in fear that you’ll be in danger for your opinion.”

Filippelli said that students have the right to speak out and express their opinions, even in cases when it may be morally ambiguous.

After the Monday event of “free speech, free cookies,” the walls were placed in Evans library, allowing more students to continue to exercise their first amendment right throughout the remainder of the week.

Camila Alvarado, a junior majoring in chemical engineering and nanotechnology, has a positive outlook on the more controversial discussions written on the boards.

“It’s free speech, there will be no judgment,” Alvarado said. “It may be better for people to show their emotions and opinions in this way, then getting the emotions out in a bad or violent way.”

Free speech is a right that is guaranteed in the United States every day under the Constitution. As part of the first amendment, “we the people” have the right to own our voices.

“Poe’s Spooktacular Tales” brings Halloween spirit to Evans Library

November 20, 2019 by Sonja Michaels Leave a Comment

Cheryl Davis reads an excerpt from “The Cask of Amontillado.” Crimson // Sonja Michaels

Evans Library embraced the Gothic style of Edgar Allen Poe on Nov. 1 for the most recent Reel Reads event, “Poe’s Spooktacular Tales: From Page to Scream.”

Reel Reads is a literature and film series hosted by Florida Tech’s School of Arts and Communication.

Poe established himself as a notable writer and editor in the mid-19th century, according to the Academy of American Poets.

“It’s a great tie-in to do it around Halloween,” said Debbie Lelekis, an English professor at Florida Tech. “Edgar Allen Poe was a natural selection for that.”

He was also prolific in the Gothic horror genre. Lelekis, along with fellow English professors Melissa Crofton and Angela Tenga, presented an analysis of Poe’s works and their modern adaptations.

During the analysis, Crofton explained that Poe’s works often resonates with her students.

The professors then opened the floor for audience members to speak about their personal interest in Poe’s work or how they discovered him.

“He exposes us for what humans fear,” Lelekis said regarding the value of Poe’s works. “We can make connections to our own lives.”

Poe’s presence in modern pop culture was a focus of the panel.

Clips were shown of Netflix’s “Altered Carbon,” a series that features an artificially intelligent character modeled after Poe.

A trailer for “The Raven,” a 2012 film where Poe is portrayed by John Cusack, was also shown.

In the film, Poe must work to prevent a serial killer from recreating the deaths from his literary works.

“The Cask of Amontillado” is one of those works, a story of one man taking fatal revenge on a friend he believes has wronged him.

Cheryl Davis, Evans Library’s distance learning librarian, took to the podium twice to read excerpts from “The Cask of Amontillado.”

Victoria Smith, Evans’ resource sharing specialist, gave a reading of “The Raven.”

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,” she began the poetry reading in a resonant tone.

In pop culture, many of the details of Poe’s personal life are disputed, leaving many aspects of his biography unclear.

“I think most of his stories intrigue people partly because of [that] mystery surrounding Poe himself,” Lelekis said.

She said that his works help people to examine human nature.

“It helps us understand ourselves better, which is something everyone needs to do no matter what your major is or what your career path is,” Lelekis said.

From Coffee Hour to International Night

October 7, 2019 by Christian Martinez Leave a Comment

Aromas of dark roast coffee and cultural chatter of the middle east filled the first floor of the Evans library on Sept. 20: International nights have officially arrived.

With a turnout of about 40 to 50 students, the United Arab Emirates Student Association began their presentation with a video on the culture and heritage of their home country.

This was followed by a PowerPoint presentation that covered a variety of topics in the UAE about geography, politics, the economy and more.

Khaled Alsamri, the new president of the UAE Student Association, gave the presentation and ended it with a quick round of trivia during which he gave out three pairs of movie ticket vouchers to students who answered correctly.

Khaled Alsamri presents his culture in the library. Crimson // Christian Martinez

As the presentation came to an end, the event’s participants were dismissed for food and drinks from Panera Bread.

The food items served included traditional dishes from the UAE, balaleet and gaimat, juices and coffee.

Balaleet is described by Alsamri to be sweet and similar to spaghetti, while gaimat is fried bread balls that are sweet and covered with honey.

International Night will be the new name of last year’s International Coffee Hour.

With cultural presentations, foods, coffee, brochures and more, Alsamri likened the change to an “evolution of the Coffee Hour.”

The UAE Student Association was restarted this semester after disbanding in 2014 due to a lack of participating members, Alsamri said. The group now has 13 members.

Alsamri, a senior in mechanical engineering, restarted the UAE Association as he realized that “no one was delivering this culture to the campus.”

“Anyone is welcome to join the club so we can share the culture,” Alsamri said. Alsamri stated that the UAE Student association was approved by the school this past Tuesday.

As he is also a part of the International Student Service Organization, Alsamri organized the event with both organizations to share the culture of the UAE with the campus.

He had prior experience helping to organize the latest International Festival and being a part of about nine Coffee Hours.

Participants in the event, like Dominic Zaio, a freshman in mechanical engineering, said he enjoyed the event.

“It gives me the chance to try foods I might have never had,” Zaio said.

Zaio also said that he’d rather have the event focus more on the culture and less on statistics in the presentation.

Another freshman in chemical engineering, Md Tahmid Islam, expressed similar thoughts, saying he’d like for the event to “be longer and have some cultural activities be added.”

While it is unknown what culture will be presented, Corq currently has the next International Night, which has yet to be updated from International Coffee Hour in the app, listed to take place on Friday, Oct. 18 from 5:00-8:00 at Evans Library.