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Brevard elects officials, new and incumbent

February 10, 2021 by Ethan Qualle 1 Comment

Ethan Qualle | Staff Writer

Dozens of new and incumbent officials have been elected to foster the next four years of Brevard County’s legislation, in the age of a global pandemic. 

Brevard County residents voted 57.48 percent in favor of electing incumbent Republican Donald Trump; the minority voted 41.08 percent in favor of Democrat Joe Biden, according to Lori Scott, the supervisor of elections in Brevard County.

Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey was re-elected for his second term on City Council. According to the city of Melbourne, Alfrey is a native of Melbourne and has served in the Sanford, Florida Police Department, Melbourne Police Department, United States Coast Guard, and currently serves in many local, non-profit charity organizations.

Alfrey is assisted by Vice Mayor Tim Thomas, who was also elected for his second term in November. 

Thomas stated in an interview that this term will be heavily focused on small business recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis, and that Melbourne residents are “encouraged to buy local.”

Thomas explained his office will also put an emphasis on creating new jobs, saying that Aerion Supersonic, a pioneer of low-emission supersonic aircraft, will be bringing “up to 660 new jobs” to the Space Coast. 

Vice Mayor Tim Thomas also serves on the Orlando-Melbourne International Airport Authority Board; Tim Thomas and Mayor Paul Alfrey worked closely with FIT Aviation back in 2017 to provide relief to the Bahamas, having been devastated by Hurricane Irma. 

The 2020 election brought another term for Republican Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Ivey is partially known for his viral videos such as the ‘Wheel of Fugitives,’ a weekly series profiling a randomly selected criminal.

Ivey and his deputies were also involved with the controversial death of Black veteran Gregory Edwards in 2018. According to Florida Today, Ivey originally opted to not release video footage of the altercation to the public. 

Vice Mayor Tim Thomas further stated that the City of Melbourne will be investing in police body cameras, in response to the death of Edwards. A profound number of police departments have adopted the use of body cameras, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Republican Kevin Markey was elected for Canaveral Port Authority. Markey has previously served as general counsel for the Titusville Cocoa Airport Authority and the assistant city attorney for Cape Canaveral. 

According to Markey’s campaign website, he will be responsible for, “the current operations and future direction of the port.” According to their website, Port Canaveral is a large hub for maritime operations, both for cargo and cruise operations.

Disney Cruise Lines, a major cruise operator at Port Canaveral states on their website that sailings are suspended “through March 2021.”  Royal Carribean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Carnival Cruise Lines also operate scheduled cruises from the port, and most sailings will resume in the second quarter of 2021. 

“I’m looking forward to working with my fellow commissioners and Port Canaveral’s leadership to ensure the Port’s economic viability and future success,” Markey stated in an email interview. 

Republicans Rita Pritchett, John Tobia, and Kristine Isnardi were all elected as the team of county commissioners for the next four years. 

Filed Under: All-Stories, Local, News, Politics, World Tagged With: brevard, county, election, officials, politics, votes

Biden Elected 46th President

November 7, 2020 by Sonja Michaels Leave a Comment

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.

America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.

The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.

I will keep the faith that you have placed in me. pic.twitter.com/moA9qhmjn8

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 7, 2020

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.

Filed Under: All-Stories, News, Politics, World Tagged With: biden, campaign, election, harris, politics, presidential candidate, presidential race, world news

OPINION: A College Student’s Guide to the Election

November 2, 2020 by theCrimson 3 Comments

The following is an opinion-editorial piece. Views expressed in this piece belong solely to the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Crimson or any other organization.

Brianna Forté | Copy Editor

Hopefully by the time you are reading this, you’ve seen countless posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat reminding you of the importance to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

I’m sure you are tired of hearing the phrase, “your vote matters.” With the current political and environmental state of our country, and world, it is tempting to feel discouraged and insignificant. On top of that, as college students struggling to find our path while adjusting to COVID-19 protocols, it’s hard to emotionally invest and donate time towards educating ourselves on the candidates for this upcoming election.

As a bisexual female in STEM majoring in marine biology and minoring in Communications, my values are centered around environmental conservation and social equality. I’m here to share my choices on the general election ballot for Florida District 309 in the upcoming election, based off these values. 

I am by no means an expert, and of course these are solely my opinions being represented, not Florida Tech’s or The Crimson’s. But, I hope that if I share these choices as a cheat sheet, it will serve as a guide for the undecided or unmotivated college students to help them vote. Because truly, your vote matters.

President and Vice President

First things first, the presidential candidates. If you are voting for Donald Trump, you do not have your best interests in mind. Trump’s platform for the environment is basically nonexistent. According to The New York Times, President Trump has officially reversed 70 environmental rules and regulations during the four years he’s been in office and is in the process of 26 additional rollbacks. Trump has also formally started to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, “in which 195 signatories set voluntary limits on greenhouse gas emissions,” explained National Geographic. Regardless of the economic policies that provide an appeal for some Trump supporters, there is no wealth to gain from the deterioration of the state of our environment. Climate change is real, as the evidence from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration proves. It’s a dire issue, and the fact that Trump refuses to provide a platform to effectively regulate environmental threats will affect the quality of life for our entire generation.

In addition to Trump’s bismal platform for the environment, Trump represents the regression back to inequality within America. The main values that Trump embodies include racism, sexism, and homophobia. At the first presidential debate Trump was asked to simply condemn white supremacists, and his response was to tell a far-right, neo-facist, male-only group known as the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.” Since the beginning of Trump’s term, his administration has worked to undermine the civil and human rights our nation had set in place. These actions from 2017 until now are outlined by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and require a considerable amount of scrolling to read through. If you identify as a minority, or simply have a human connection for the people that we share this country with, then you should feel obligated to protect people’s rights by not voting for Trump. 

While Joe Biden is not the optimal democratic candidate, the Biden/Harris ticket is still the best option between the two choices. And I only acknowledge the two main candidates because although our two party system is flawed, a vote for any third party candidate is essentially throwing your vote away. Biden has a completely comprehensive environmental platform and acknowledges and has a platform for racial inequality and civil rights.

According to National Geographic, Biden’s platform includes protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling, promising to stop keystone pipelines, favoring the end of fossil fuel subsidies, planning to rejoin the Paris Agreement, and outlining strategies to achieve 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Having a comprehensive plan is vital to ensuring a safe future, where every living organism on this planet is better off. Science is absolutely critical for the progress of our planet, and Biden is the first president to ever be backed by the Scientific American in response to his opposing candidate’s complete disregard for science in relation to COVID-19, health care, and climate change. In the statement released by the Scientific American it is stated that, “Joe Biden, in contrast, comes prepared with plans to control COVID-19, improve health care, reduce carbon emissions and restore the role of legitimate science in policy making.”

In addition to Biden’s platform for environmental conservation, Biden acknowledges the systemic racism within our country and has proved his commitment to reforming the criminal justice system. According to the Los Angeles Times, Biden plans to invest in programs that increase home ownership among families of color, eliminate racially discriminatory zoning ordinances, and although he doesn’t support defunding the police he has called for greater accountability among police officers who use deadly force along with better training. In addition to the platform Biden has created to address racism within this country, he is also endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign. President of the Human Rights Campaign, Alphonso David, said that Biden’s, “dedication to advancing LGBTQ equality, even when it was unpopular to do so, has pushed our country and our movement forward.” 

As a person whose rights in regards to birth control and sexual orientation are endangered by the possibility of another four years of the Trump administration, I urge my classmates to consider the rights that are at stake in the presidential election. In addition to civil rights, which are critical, this election will determine how our country will move forward during this climate emergency.

Representative in Congress District 8

In addition to the presidential election, the other federal election on the Florida District 309 ballot is for the U.S. House of Representatives. According to the Ballot Ready, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives are responsible for beginning the legislation process, offering amendments, and serving on committees.

For Florida’s 8th Congressional District the two candidates are Bill Posey and Jim Kennedy. Bill Posey is the incumbent, and is endorsed by the Florida Right to Life, the National Rifle Association, and Donald Trump. Posey’s platform according to his website, states that he’s against the Green New Deal, doesn’t have any platform centered around environmental conservation, and is mainly focused on increasing national security. Posey has voted yes to banning federal health coverage that includes abortion according to On The Issues.

Meanwhile, Jim Kennedy has demonstrated belief in environmental reform including supporting companies that make an effort to be environmentally conscious and supporting research into technologies that can make a difference. Kennedy also has a comprehensive platform for educational reform, reproductive rights, gun regulation (without revoking the right to possess firearms), and criminal justice reform.  

Posey has served as a representative in congress since 2013, and it is time for Florida’s 8th Congressional District to have a representative that values the younger generation and the earth they’re inheriting while also prioritizing civil rights. 

State Senator District 17

As important as it is to be informed about the presidential and congressional candidates, this upcoming election does not just revolve around your vote for federal candidates. In fact, your vote will have the most direct impact on the local level. This includes the state and local candidates. 

First up on the ballot are the candidates for the Florida Senator for District 17. According to the website Ballot Ready, the members of the Florida State Senate are responsible for passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

For Florida’s State Senate for District 17, the two candidates are Debbie Mayfield and Scot Fretwell. Mayfield’s website does not display her platform, but she is endorsed by the Florida Right to Life. According to Ballotpedia, she has sponsored a bill that would prohibit physicians from performing an abortion for a minor unless specific requirements are satisfied. 

Unlike Mayfield’s platform, Fretwell has a clear outline of his policies on his website. Fretwell’s platform includes multiple approaches to protecting the environment, including proposing legislation that requires all of Florida’s energy suppliers to convert to 100 percent renewable power sources by the year 2040, establishing a bottle return system in Florida, and committing Florida to the Paris Climate Accord. Fretwell also acknowledges systemic racism within the United States and has a strong platform for Justice and Police Reform. According to Fretwell’s website he wants to legislate the police reforms proposed by #8cantwait, legalize recreational marijuana and “expunge the records of anyone who was arrested for non-violent drug charges involving the possession of marijuana,”, and require that all law enforcement officers be trained in racial sensitivity and de-escalation techniques. Fretwell has a clear strategy for improving Florida’s environment, economy, and criminal justice.

State Representative District 53

Next up on the ballot for state elections are the candidates for the Florida House of Representatives for District 53. According to the website Ballot Ready, the members of the Florida House of Representatives are responsible for passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes. The two candidates are Randy Fine and Phil Moore.

Fine was elected as the Florida State House of Representatives in 2016, but does not have a platform or website to refer to. His list of sponsored bills can be viewed here. Although he is endorsed by the Florida Right to Life and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. 

Moore’s platform and beliefs are easily through his website, where he outlines his priorities on economy, education, environment, equality, immigration, healthcare, gun responsibility, and small government. He’s endorsed by Florida Planned Parenthood, the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, Sierra Club Florida Chapter, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Moore is a huge proponent of civil rights, supports climate change research and conversion to renewable energy, and believes in background checks in order to purchase guns. 

Moore has a vision that will improve Florida’s quality of life for our generation, and again is the obvious choice when taking into account civil rights and environmental conservation. Which again, I cannot stress the importance of enough. 

Sheriff

The position for Brevard County Sheriff is an opportunity for young constituents to voice their support for criminal justice reform and Black Lives Matter, as these two candidates represent completely opposing values. According to the website Ballot Ready, the Brevard County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement official of the county. The two candidates are incumbent Wayne Ivey and challenger Alton Edmond.

In an article published by The Marshall Project, a nonprofit journalism organization about criminal justice, it is explained how this race between Ivey and Edmond embody the country’s conflict between Trump and Black Lives Matter. Ivey ran unopposed in 2016 and as Brevard County Sheriff publishes dehumanizing videos like the “Wheel of Fugitive” and “Fishing for Fugitives”, while also refusing to release security footage of the wrongful death of Black military veteran Gregory Edwards in 2018 according to Florida Today. Edmond is a Black former public defender who’s running on a platform for criminal justice reform. According to the article by The Marshall Project, Edmond promises to “buy body cameras for deputies, increase diversity among top staff, ban the neck restraint tactic used by the police who killed George Floyd in Minneapolis, and stop making viral videos about suspects.”

Ivey has appeared alongside President Trump at campaign rallies, and clearly embodies the racism rampant in today’s America. As a college student striving for equality for my Black classmates and friends, I am voting for Edmond. 

Board of County Commissioners District 3

Among local elections, the Board of County Commissioners for District 3 is responsible for enacting local ordinances. The two candidates are incumbent John Tobia and challenger Sanjay Patel.

Tobia is Brevard County’s current commissioner for District 3, but does not have an available website detailing his platform or what he has accomplished during his time as County Commissioner, but does have a Facebook page. Patel’s website details his plan for local environmental policies including “migrating country infrastructure to greener and more sustainable alternatives” and also “foster sustainable growth by making decisions based on science that protect our lagoon and environmentally endangered lands.” Patel also prioritizes COVID-19 recovery efforts, supporting local businesses, and expanding affordable housing and public transportation.

As someone who was introduced to the Brevard County community four years ago, I have connected with this beautiful place. I believe that Brevard’s nature deserves to be protected along with the people who compose this diverse community, which is why I am voting for Patel.

Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1

Next for local elections is the race for Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1. This position is part of a board that according to Ballot Ready, is responsible for overseeing soil and watersheds within the district. The two candidates are Henry “Boo” Minneboo and Adam Tritt.

In both a Florida Today article and a Hometown News article, incumbent Minneboo was not reached at the time to make a comment. Tritt however provided statements to both news outlets. In the Hometown News article he promised to make decisions on the basis of science and data instead of economic efficiency, and stated that “if we are to move into a future that is sustainable economically and ecologically, we need to do what needs to be done to protect our tourism and agricultural industries, both, while maintaining the beauty and uniqueness of Brevard County’s lands and waters.”

As a firm believer in science and the preservation of the environment, I support Tritt for Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1.

West Melbourne City Council

Finally, the election for West Melbourne City Council has four candidates vying for three positions. According to Ballot Ready, this council serves as the municipality’s governing body and votes on ordinances and policies, and often is in charge of hiring a city manager. The four candidates for this position are incumbent Pat Bentley, Mathew Grigajitis, Daniel McDow, and Stephan Phrampus.

Hometown News published an article profiling the four candidates. Daniel McDow is endorsed by the Sierra Club Florida Chapter, and vows to “initiate an eco-friendly roadmap.” Besides voting for McDow, I don’t believe any of the other three candidates have a strong platform that motivated me to vote for them.

To Recap

If you have stuck with me this long, thank you for taking the time to get educated on your candidates. To recap, I’m voting for Biden/Harris for the president and vice president, Jim Kennedy for Representative in Congress District 8, Scot Fretwell for State Senator District 17, Phil Moore for State Representative District 53, Alton Edmond for Sheriff, Sanjay Patel for Board of County Commissioners District 3, Adam Tritt for Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1, and Daniel McDow for West Melbourne City Council. 

If you have a different ballot, you can compare all of your candidates by typing in your address in the website BallotReady.org. Please vote, and please remain educated upon what is occurring in politics. Our country is changing and it needs the younger generation to maintain momentum in movements such as climate change, racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights, gun protection, and reproductive rights.

Filed Under: Opinion, Politics, World Tagged With: 2020 election, ballot, ballot choices, editorial, election, election day, opinion

2020 Election: Voting as a college student

September 14, 2020 by Ethan Qualle 5 Comments

Election Day is right around the corner. 

This November, the U.S. presidential election will take place, along with numerous state and local elections. 

According to The Campus Vote Project, college students make up about 21 percent of eligible voters in this election. 

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in ballots have become an increasingly popular option for voters, according to the United States Postal Service.

Thomas Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service explained in a July letter that mail-in ballots returned within Florida’s deadlines may not arrive in time to be counted, with election officials in numerous states receiving similar letters. The letter advises voters to return mail-in ballots by Oct. 27, one week before Election Day. 

Florida residents can register to vote at www.registertovoteflorida.gov. Out-of-state students have the option of utilizing absentee ballots. Sophomore Daniel Gierlach, an aerospace engineering major, said he will be voting in Michigan using an absentee ballot. 

Brevard residents also have the option of in-person voting or early voting at a local polling precinct. www.votebrevard.gov provides a tool to locate your precinct. Palm Bay resident Jesus Aviles, a junior studying IT management, said he will be voting at his local precinct. 

Texas native Thomas McHenry, a junior studying aeronautical science with flight, also anticipates voting at his local Brevard County precinct.

“With my Florida driver’s license, I can avoid the hassle that comes with Texas absentee voting,” McHenry said. 

According to vote.org, Texas residents must provide an excuse to request an absentee ballot. Only those who are 65 and older, disabled, confined in jail, or out of state on election day are eligible to apply.

One resource for obtaining an absentee ballot is vote.org. This website enables voters to  request an absentee ballot, register to vote, or check their registration status. College students can request an absentee ballot in all 50 states.

Voting resources mentioned in this article:

Florida voting registration: registertovoteflorida.gov

Precinct locator: www.votebrevard.gov

Obtaining absentee ballot: vote.org

Filed Under: Local, Politics, World Tagged With: college voters, election, election day, mail-in ballot, students, vote, voting

NCAA student-athletes can now profit off their fame nationwide

November 26, 2019 by Tyler Jones Leave a Comment

After the NCAA board of governors passed a law to allow college athletes to profit off their fame in several states such as California, Florida and Colorado, they voted unan- imously on a similar agree- ment nationwide on Oct. 29.

The board has asked the three divisions of the NCAA to create the necessary rules immediately in order to have them in place no later than January of 2021.

Bill Jurgens, Florida Tech’s athletic director, stat- ed that he does not have an opinion at this time, due to this information just being released, and the fact that the NCAA is still looking into this matter.

According to TIME, the NCAA needs to determine how athletes can profit off of their name, likeness and

image, while also maintaining rules regarding amateurism.

Jake Hahn, a junior on the lacrosse team, said he thinks that for these rules to be effec- tive, the NCAA would have to redefine the term of amateur- ism in college sports.

“I think the main thing that categorizes an athlete as a professional is that they get paid to play their sport,” Hahn said.

Hahn then explained that an athlete can’t be both a professional and an amateur at the same time.

He elaborated that the hard thing about allowing student athletes to make money off their name is the fact that once that student starts making money, it’s hard to say if they can still be considered an amateur.

Johnny Poret, a sopho- more on the football team, said he believes that players

should be paid based on the amount of money they bring into the school.

“Big time players bring in big time money for schools because people want to come watch them play,” Poret said. “The more money a player brings in, the more money that player should receive.”

How universities will assist students in profiting off of their name and likeness has not been decided.

Both Hahn and Poret brought up the suggestion of personal jersey sales, or team equipment inside the univer- sity’s bookstore or on their website.

As far as recruiting is concerned, Hahn said he believes that this new rule will potentially have no impact on the smaller Division II and Division III schools, but could have an effect on Division I schools.

Hahn went on to explain that the high quality athletes, such as those who are considered four or five star recruits, won’t have an interest in coming to Florida Tech, as they have the opportunity to

pursue Division I schools. With just a little over a year until this rule will be put in play, much more informa- tion regarding rules and regu- lations from the NCAA itself

are still to come.

Filed Under: Colleges, Politics, Sports Tagged With: athletes, athletics, budget, fame, florida tech, florida tech athletics, money, NCAA, student

Florida Tech fails to acknowledge reports of rape required under federal law

November 24, 2019 by theCrimson 21 Comments

By: Emily Walker, Olivia McKelvey, Kevin Boodoosingh

Florida Tech failed to acknowledge multiple reports of rape within the 2019 Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports under the Clery Act.




  • The Campus Crime Statistics lists zero sex offenses have occurred in the in the past three years. If there have been cases of sexual assaults that were not included in the crime statistics, then that is a violation of the Clery Act. 

Two students have come forward with accounts of rape and how they reported their cases through Title IX and Security.

Their cases did not appear on the Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports, which is in violation of the Clery Act.

What is the Clery Act:

In 1986, Jeanne Clery, a student at Lehigh University, was raped and murdered in her residence hall.

Four years later, the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 was established in order to create accountability for reporting violent crimes and providing transparency on campus crime statistics.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act—the Clery Act— is a federal law requiring United States colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around campuses.

Due to the fact that Florida Tech receives federal funding, it is required to publish an annual security report for both students and employees every Oct. 1.

What is included within the Clery report:

Florida Tech’s Office of Safety and Security prepares an annual report in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies such as Melbourne Police Department, Palm Bay Police Department and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Other university departments also work in collaboration with compiling crime reports and statistics such as the Title IX office.

The report is required to include data from the past three years on the following crimes:

  • Criminal homicides such as murder and non-negligent manslaughter and negligent manslaughter
  • Sex offenses such as rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape
  • Arrests and judicial referrals for liquor law violations, drug abuse violations and weapons law violations
  • The “other” category, which includes robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson
  • The Violence Against Women’s Act—VAWA—is an amendment within Clery that expands the rights to campus survivors of sexual assault and includes the following crimes:
    • domestic violence
    • dating violence
    • stalking
  • Hate crimes, which include offense definitions relating to hate/bias-related crime, larceny, simple assault, intimidation and destruction/damage/vandalism of property

Clery cites that the following individuals on campus are Campus Security Authorities—also known as mandated reporters— a term created by the Clery Act that encompasses groups of individuals and organizations at Florida Tech:

  • Dean of Students
  • Director of Security
  • Security Department
  • Title IX Coordinator
  • Senior Vice President for Academic Administration
  • Chief of Staff
  • Athletics Director
  • Athletic Coaches
  • Office of Student Life
  • Director of Student Housing
  • Other Campus Security Authorities that have a “significant responsibility for student and campus activities.”

Clery geography:

Another factor Clery examines when categorizing data is geographical location of a specific crime.

Clery includes both on-campus and non-campus locations within the report.

An on-campus location is defined as any building or property owned or controlled by an institution, such as an academic building or dorm.

Non-campus geographic location can refer to any Florida Tech owned entity that is frequented by students.

The non-campus definition also includes campus leased or rented spaces for an event that was sponsored by the university or any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution.

How Florida Tech violated the Clery Act:

In the 2019 Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports, all sex offenses, including rape, were cited as zero for the past three years.

According to definition in Florida Tech’s 2019 Annual Safety and Fire Report, rape is defined as “the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”

An anonymous student has gone on record and said that her rape, which occurred in 2018 on campus, was not included in the Clery report.

“I went into the Title IX office because I wanted this put down on record,” she said. “I wanted them to know that women are being assaulted and raped on this campus.” 

The student went to the health center and Counseling and Psychological Services, neither of which are mandated reporters.

She later went to Linda Jancheson, the Title IX coordinator, who reports to, as listed in Florida Tech’s organizational chart, VP/General Counsel.

“I spent 20 minutes waiting in the Title IX office, five minutes in Jancheson’s office and I left with three extra papers that I didn’t know what the hell meant,” the student said.

The student later talked to another Campus Security Authority and discussed her options with Security.

She ultimately decided not to take action against her rapist and no charges were filed in this case. 

Despite the student not taking action, according to Frank Iannone, director of security, whether or not a victim decides to pursue charges, a report is made regardless of the outcome.

When asked how many cases of rape have been reported to Jancheson for the past three years, she said, “I do not know the exact numbers.”

When asked how many Title IX reports Jancheson handed over to Security to include within this year’s Clery report, she said, “I do not know.”

The Title IX coordinator was asked these same questions two times, in two separate interviews, and responded with “I do not know,” in each instance.

Jancheson went on to say that she was not in the Title IX coordinator position when reports were made last year in 2018, though her start date was February of 2018.

Another anonymous source was raped in 2017 on campus and reported her rape to Security in 2018.

The student went through an investigation and disciplinary hearing, which took over one year and resulted in disciplinary action for her rapist. 

This student’s rape was also not included within this year’s Clery data. 

“Sitting down with two security officers not once, but twice to relive the details of my rape in depth and on record was anything but a warm environment as a victim,” she said. 

After her initial report, the student heard nothing for five months regarding the investigation and the scheduling of the disciplinary hearing.

“It was the worst experience of my life,” she said. “The process of reporting it was nearly as bad as my actual rape.”

It is not immediately known whether or not campus security filed these two reports of rape with local law enforcement.

Both sources will remain anonymous. The Crimson does not disclose the names of sexual assault survivors.

Repercussions for violating Clery:

According to a press release from the National Association of Clery Compliance officers and professionals, as of February 2019, the new amount that the U.S. Department of Education can impose for noncompliance with the Clery Act is $57,317 per violation. 

In 2016, Penn State was fined 2.4 million dollars for having been “out of compliance” for 11 serious cases dating from 1998 to 2011.

In 2018, the University of Montana was fined $966,614 for “inaccurate and misleading crime statistics” from liquior law violations to cases of rape between 2012 and 2015. 

Two anonymous students at Florida Tech have come forward to discuss their rapes in 2017 and 2018 and how they reported it to Security.

Those cases have not been cited within this year’s Clery report. 

Iannone said that from the statistics that are provided within this year’s Clery report, he feels the numbers accurately represent the campus.

If you have made a report to Security or Title IX and feel it has not been handled correctly, visit endrapeoncampus.org/the-clery-act to file a complaint.

As a student-run newspaper, your voices are extremely important to us.

If you feel you have experienced something similar as described in this piece and would like to speak with us, please contact us at crimson@fit.edu.

National Sexual Assault Hotline -1-800-656-4673
Women’s Center Counseling 321-242-1526

Filed Under: All-Stories, Clubs, Colleges, Crime, Local, News, Opinion, Politics, World Tagged With: CAPS, clery, clery act, communities, crime, fit, florida, florida institute of technology, florida tech, food, housing, issues, problems, rape, raping, report, safe, safe places, security, security issues, sex, sexual, sexual assault, students, technology, title 9, title IX, title ix coordinator

The death of the Newseum in the era of fake news

November 18, 2019 by theCrimson Leave a Comment

The Newseum stands tall for the last months of the year as its closure looms Photo // Newseum

It’s been two weeks since our editorial staff attended a college media conference in Washington D.C.

We left the nation’s capital with an arsenal of tips for better reporting, but also deeply disappointed to see one of journalism’s biggest odes to the industry to be uprooted by the end of the year.

Since opening day in 2008, the Newseum has dedicated itself to increasing public understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment.

“In all of the 30-plus years I spent in broadcast journalism, I would’ve never expected something like the Newseum to ever exist, anywhere,” said Paul Littman, a retired PBS broadcaster who has spent his early years of retirement volunteering at the engaging and interactive museum of news. “I was born and raised in D.C. and to see something as great as this close down will leave me heartbroken.”

As young and aspiring journalists, to walk through five floors of history and see how journalism captured every part of that left us awestruck.

One of the most visually impactful exhibits was the Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery.

To see a vulture preying on a starving child in Sudan is devastating.

But to then read that the photographer later took his own life because of the trauma and grief he felt for neglecting that child portrayed the harsh reality of reporting in third world countries.

  • A piece of the Berlin Wall showcases the contrast of freedom of speech between West Germany and East Germany. Crimson // Kevin Boodoosing
  • A piece of the Berlin Wall showcases the contrast of freedom of speech between West Germany and East Germany. Crimson // Kevin Boodoosing

Standing in front of chunks of the Berlin Wall that once separated communism from freedom was eye-opening to the freedom that we currently take for granted.

A glimpse at the civil rights movement exhibit showed that while many people turned a blind eye to the horrible things that were happening, journalists reported on the deaths of African American people, the brutal ways they were treated and the efforts they were making to gain more rights.

Walking one floor up, we entered the Stonewall exhibit, where the first Pride flag hung on the wall.

The Newseum illustrated how rights for LGBTQ people have changed and progressed throughout the years.

As in the civil rights exhibit, this was an area of history where many people were ignoring the mistreatment of the LGBTQ community or viewed them as bad people and deserving of punishment.

Meanwhile, journalists worked to uncover the truth and report it.

In another showcase—and perhaps the most emotional— newspapers from around the world covered a singular wall, each reporting on the events of 9/11.

A piece of the antenna from the North World Trade Tower stands in front of a wall of newspapers from around the world that covered 9/11.
Crimson // Jesse Villaverde

This exhibit highlighted Bill Biggart, a photographer and the only journalist to lose his life covering 9/11.

His gear was preserved in the Newseum, his photos having been recovered after the events of 9/11.

While we were in awe of the archives and galleries around us, other museum-goers were also drawn in by the history of news and value of free speech.

“This museum shows how the First Amendment is a gift to the world,” said Tim Neary, a professor from Worcester University in Massachusetts who was in town for a Georgetown Alumni celebration.“It’s a damn shame this place is closing. It seems like there has to be a solution.”

In a time when the Trump Administration has launched an attack on news media and criticized journalists for reporting “fake news,” the Newseum tells an important story.

It shows the way reporters have given their lives in pursuit of their craft.

It shows how history has been influenced by the news: When reporters do their jobs and report the truth, people take action and promote change.

In a survey of the Florida Tech community, we asked how reliable people believe the news is.

The survey is not reflective of the entirety of students, staff, faculty and alumni; rather a small portion—55 respondents—helps illustrate trends within a small section of our community.

The biggest takeaway from the survey is that 40 percent of respondents believe that the news is somewhat reliable and a little more than 38 percent believe it is mostly reliable, but we live in a time when the idea of fake news is broadcast and spread on social media constantly.

A display at the museum describes the significance of the First Amendment in a school setting. Crimson // Jesse Villaverde

Pew Research Center released a report this past June in which 68 percent of Americans, which is nearly seven in 10, said that the creation and spread of fake news is causing significant harm to the nation and needs to be stopped.

There are many people with their own agenda, but a good journalist reports facts in an unbiased way.

It is a hard job without stable hours. Many countries do not have the freedom of speech that we enjoy, and journalists risk their lives and are sometimes captured, tortured or killed as they pursue a story.

According to the journalist memorial at the Newseum, 2,344 reporters, editors, photographers and broadcasters have died doing what they loved.

These people dedicated their lives to giving marginalized groups a voice, even when others were not willing to listen.

What left us shocked in D.C. was to learn about the closing of this display of journalistic excellence.

This map compares the freedom of the press in various countries.
Crimson // Emily Walker

According to the Newseum’s website despite more than 11 years of service and nearly 10 million visitors, continued operations are no longer financially feasible.

It’s a shame as student reporters to have to wrap your mind around the fact that journalists are being torn down by the current administration in office with their jobs and the entire industry on the line.

More worrisome is the fact that no benefactor has stepped in to save this museum.

What will happen to those pieces of the Berlin Wall?

The preserved Articles of Confederation on display?

The piece of the antenna that remained from the top of the North World Trade Tower?

These are the questions reporters of our generation have now.

Filed Under: All-Stories, Arts, News, Politics, Technology, World Tagged With: 9/11, DC, death, dying news, exhibits, fake news, first ammendment, freedom of speech, news, newseum, photographs, photos, pulitzer, real news, speech, washington

Student service fees increase for SGA

November 12, 2019 by Xiao Liang Leave a Comment

The Student Government Association has made a resolution to increase student service fees by $75, resulting in a now $200 student service fee.

The fee increase was discussed and approved by the Board of Trustees.

This now allows SGA to have roughly a $500,000 initiative fund to only be used for large-scale initiatives to improve the quality of life on campus.

“This is a major step in the right direction for our student experience,” said Jace Petrowski, president of SGA.

He said that SGA is excited to start projects on campus in the spring when they receive their first round of funding.

Some of the things they will work on include adding lights on the intramural fields, supplementing funding toward esports, adding solar chargers on campus and replacing the equipment in the Clemente Center.

“We can now do all the things we couldn’t have done previously because of how low our student fees were,” Petrowski said.

With this initiative fund increase, the money cannot be used without senate approval.

Petrowski explained that Bino Campanini, the senior vice president of Student Life and Alumni Affairs, would essentially have to present any project Campanini wants to use the money for to the senate.

Petrowski also said that Florida Tech’s student service fee is low compared to other schools such as Nova Southeastern University, whose student service fees are currently $500 a semester.

Another service SGA is working on is a bike station with an outside company. SGA announced during their scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6 that the bike rental program is no longer available due to a number of bikes being stolen.

They stated that they are looking into more feasible ways to provide benefits to students.

Extending library hours is another topic of concern that the SGA senate committee is looking into after hearing many complaints from students.

A Giving Tree fundraising event will be hosted by SGA on Friday, Dec. 6 from 3-5 p.m.

Furthermore, a website will be available for donations for the event, which aims to raise funds for the Orlando Toys-For-Tots charity program.

In addition, this year’s Day of Giving will involve all Student Life organizations.

Any club or organization may partake in different challenges that are related to the theme “superpower” in order to raise funds and earn points.

The winners will receive a $200 VISA gift card.

During the senate meeting, Marc Kanneh, a senior from Trinidad and Tobago, was nominated as the new justice of SGA.

Before the nomination, Kanneh gave a speech about his past experience as a justice and ensured that he will support the offices.

“I would say it is challenging to run a government, specifically the judicial branch,” Kanneh said. “There is really no playbook on how to do this, but I hope my past experience as a justice back in 2017 and 2018 will help me support and represent the offices of SGA.”

Filed Under: News, Politics Tagged With: budget, buildings, changes, fees, florida tech, funding, funds, money, projects, rennovations, SGA, student government, students, tuition

Floridians celebrate coming out at Orlando Pride

October 16, 2019 by Isabel Cordero Leave a Comment

People march to celebrate LGBTQ community in Orlando.
Crimson // Isabel Cordero

Maria Clara Melo waved a rainbow flag proudly over her head.

The crowd was decked out in everything from shiny spandex shorts and tiny tops to overalls and rainbow striped crop tops.

She was surrounded by people of all colors, genders, shapes and sizes, and she was proud.

On Saturday, Oct. 12, Orlando Pride colored all of Downtown Orlando rainbow, just 50 years after the Stonewall Riots and one day after National Coming Out Day.

Orlando’s Come Out with Pride event aimed to remember the events and lives lost during the riots and celebrate how far the nation has come, according to the event description on Facebook.

Melo, 21, an Orlando resident, said she feels like Pride has always had a positive atmosphere.

This was her third time at Pride, and the first time she brought along her sister, Ana Bentim.

Melo said it’s important to be around people in the same community who get where you’re coming from.

“I think it’s really nice to be around people in the queer community that feel comfortable expressing themselves and their sexuality,” Melo said. “It’s really cool and validating”.

Bentim, 29, said her first Pride was a cool experience as she watched everyone come together in one place.

As an Orlando resident, Bentim said she has seen the parades from her home before, but that being at the event was an entirely different experience.

“It’s good to walk around and see everyone show a different part of them and who they are,” Bentim said.

Melo said Orlando Pride is bigger and more developed that other Pride events she’s been to before, and that there are a lot more physical structures and stands around.

“It seems like it gets bigger every year,” she said.

The event had everything from food, clothing and flag vendors, to information stations about staying healthy and safe.

While Pride is an event that’s able to take place now, the signs present at the event addressed the memory of the events at Stonewall in 1969.

Jacob Chesslo is the president of Rainbow Alliance, Florida Tech’s LGBTQ student organization.

He said, “Historically, Pride was important due to acting as a protest against anti-LGBTQ prejudice, and acted as a way to support each other in the fight for equality.”

Chesslo went on to add, “It’s a way to celebrate the steps we’ve made in equal rights, and a way to show the community love and support.”

Chesslo has been involved in Rainbow Alliance ever since starting at Florida Tech, and has been to Space Coast Pride parades, St. Pete Pride and now Orlando Pride.

Chesslo, a junior in physics, said that he believes that the country is supportive of the LGBTQ community.

“Many more allies are coming out to events and celebrating the gains we’ve made in the fight for equality,” Chesslo said.

Still, those who oppose LGBTQ rights are present in 2019.

At Orlando Pride, three protestors stood outside of the fence that separated the event from the rest of Downtown Orlando at about three p.m.

Women show affection in spite of the protesters. Picture // Isabel Cordero

They held signs saying, “Jesus saves from God’s wrath” and “Turn from Pride to Jesus.” This is not the only opposition.

According to the New York Times, the Supreme Court met last week to decide whether the current civil rights legislation allowed employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and transgender status.

Title VII outlawed discrimination of race, religion, national origin and sex, and the specifics of “sex” have not been explicitly written to include sexuality and gender identity, according to the New York Times.

Chesslo said the judicial proceedings are necessary, and that without a judicial ruling, the actions against the community will continue.

“It’s a necessary process to, hopefully, solidify the human rights that the LGBTQ community has,” Chesslo said.

Melo said that the importance of Pride is to provide an event where LGBTQ people can feel proud to be who they are.

“I love seeing all the people dress up and be happy and gay,” Melo said. “It’s nice that they can feel safe and comfortable because there aren’t that many spaces where they can be.”

The Human Rights Campaign stressed that this is the importance of National Coming Out Day, according to their website.

The day is a time to celebrate coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or another orientation.

The Human Rights Campaign website states, “Every person who speaks up changes more hearts and minds, and creates new advocates for equality.”

Teresa Rago, a junior in mechanical engineering, was one of many who celebrated National Coming Out Day.

To celebrate, she created an Instagram post. “Posting it online gave my friends from back home a chance to support me if they wanted,” Rago said. “It really shows how much I’ve grown and how confident I’ve become and how comfortable I am being myself in front of everyone.”

Rago said in high school, she was much less comfortable with her sexuality. However, she was still able to participate in National Coming Out Day during her senior year of high school.

“I brought rainbow-themed treats to my teammates for Coming Out Day,” Rago said. “Even though I wasn’t really out back then, I wanted to help form an environment where other potentially closeted teammates could feel safe, which is something I wish I had back in high school.”

When coming out is a concern for many young people, Orlando Pride took the opportunity to make a space where all members of the community could feel safe, especially when LGBTQ members haven’t been so safe in the past.

Pulse Nightclub, a gay nightclub, had representatives walk in the parade.

They held a banner with the faces of those who died in the shooting on June 12, 2016, with the hashtag #wewillnotlethatewin across the front of the banner.

Equality Florida, a civil rights organization for the LGBTQ community, walked as well.

The group was led by a man with a megaphone who walked in front of their banner.

Through the megaphone, he called towards the crowd following him, saying, “What do we want?” The crowd behind him replied, “Equality!” “When do we want it?” he continued. “Now!”

Filed Under: Local, News, Politics Tagged With: celebrate, gay, orlando, pride, protests, rainbow

SOSA takes part in Orlando climate strike

October 1, 2019 by Olivia McKelvey Leave a Comment

Protesters hold signs about climate change outside Orlando city hall.
Photo by Florida Tech SOSA.

This past week millions of people participated in the global climate strike.

A small fraction of those striking were Florida Tech students, demanding a change to protect and preserve the planet.

Nearly two weeks ago, Florida Tech’s Student Organization for Sustainability Action sent four of its chapter members to Orlando to attend a Friday’s For Future climate strike outside city hall.

“The energy was amazing, and seeing 200 people plus unite for a cause that they are equally, if not more, passionate about than I am was an unforgettable experience,” said Taylor Greene, SOSA president.

The Friday’s For Future is a movement started by 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, which so far has activated weekly student strikes in 150 countries.

Participating Orlando organizations and activist groups included IDEAS for Us, the Sunrise Movement Orlando, Fridays For Future USA and Fleet Farming.

These groups encouraged participants to wear green and raise their recyclable homemade signage high in the sky, reflecting the climate action they would like to see in Florida.

Guest speakers included Florida democratic state representative Anna Eskamani as well as others raising awareness for climate change.

“One of the things that resonated the most with me was when I heard Anna Eskamani preach that she didn’t run for office to talk about what was impossible, rather to fight for what is possible,” Greene said. “That was something that really spoke to me and demonstrated that there are people out there trying to do good.”

Tagging along with Greene were fellow SOSA members Jack Weaver and Jeffrey King, both of whom are juniors majoring in ocean engineering and minoring in sustainability.

Both students described attending the strike as “being a part of history and fighting for something our generation believes in.”

“I think some people believe that climate change doesn’t affect us,” Weaver said. “But people are dying as a result all around the world.”

According to Weaver, climate change goes beyond affecting the animals, it has repercussions on a human level that the majority of society should care about.

While Florida Tech’s SOSA chapter and other environmentally conscious activists rallied in Orlando, the scene in New York City was amplified.

World leaders, corporate executives and activists gathered at the United Nations Climate Action Summit.

A collaborative effort was made to turn promises into reality in hopes of global warming and rising CO2 emissions.

Topics such as the benefits and use of renewable energies were debated as well as setting a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, and yet, I’m one of the lucky ones,” Thunberg stated as she addressed presidents, prime ministers, and other diplomats. “People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing.”

While there has been tremendous outrage and protests globally with frustration for the destruction of ecosystems, there has also been distress and efforts on a more local note.

For example, the same day as the strike in Orlando, there was also a rally and march held that night at the Eau Gallie Causeway hosted by young Brevard teens.

When she wasn’t marching along side community members with decorated signs covered from head to toe in green attire, Florida Tech senior and marine biology major Erin Casellas was trying to get signatures for the Florida Climate Pledge.

Casellas works as a campus ambassador for CLEO Institute, a Miami based non-profit that strives to educate and promote climate action.

By obtaining signatures Casellas was gaining support from those who want to protect Florida’s biodiversity.

“I think that a lot of people see how beautiful a place like Melbourne is, and we have these amazing ecosystems, but people don’t understand how fragile they are,” said Casellas when asked why some may not believe in climate change.

After a week full of awareness for the environment, the invaluable resources it provides us and the necessary action society needs to take for future generations, SOSA wanted to close their week of insightful environmental mandates and motives to “stand for what we stand on” with a tree planting ceremony on the Crawford Green.

Students planting the Gumbo Limbo tree in front of Crawford. Photo by Francesco Isaza.

A Florida Gumbo Limbo Tree, also known as the iconic south Florida tree, which is expected to grow up to 60-feet tall, was planted in a ceremonial atmosphere.

“Today, Friday, September 27, 2019, we set the roots for a better future,” Greene said as she introduced her final words of wisdom.

Perhaps the most simple and powerful statement came from a sustainability professor and faculty advisor for SOSA, Ken Lindeman left students with this lasting remark: “You got to come back and look at this tree in 10 years, this thing is going to be epic.”

Filed Under: Arts, News, Politics, World Tagged With: change, climate, climate change, florida tech, protests, SOSA, strike, trees, world

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