prism: uf honors magazine spring 2015

PRISM UF HONORS MAGAZINE SPRING 2015

030507

period privilegethe price of pothow much do we really know about martin luther king?

+ ISSUES

+ ENTERTAINMENT

+ CAMPUS LIFE

an exclusive interview with SALEShonors goes to the movies

book review: a year in provence

111315

10 things every gator should do before they graduate

gap yearentomology:

making a huge study on a tiny subjectinfluence: the people in our lives

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1718

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it’s better being bilingualsnazzy springtime snack suggestionsmonarch madness

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+ KITCHEN SINK

founding editor co-editors-in-chief

design editorcopy editors

web coordinatordesign

photo

public relations

staff

padmini muraletharenkaterina nickel

rebecca rashdamien remington

amanda rorabaughdylan wang

lexy khellacaroline nickersonkelena klippelrosie robinsonanupa kotipoyinaalex sargent alex touchtonalessandra rosalesandi crowellcaroline nickersoncecilia mazanecconnor hartzellkierstin websterlloyd justorebecca moonitz

chris bellsally greidervedrana damjanovićmili godiorachel gordondavid hoffmanmichael holcombstepfanie lamhali mckinley lester

period privilegethe price of pothow much do we really know about martin luther king?

From the perspective of a bright-eyed college freshman, the new college world is endless, the campus is huge, and the opportunities are abounding. Now, as a graduating senior, that overwhelming world where I was once using my phone GPS to find my dorm room is much smaller. My college experience is coming to a close and the campus suddenly feels like the back of my hand, but the opportunities have not stopped exciting me. Naturally, I’m talking about Prism, the magazine you’re reading now. Four years ago, I turned an abstract idea for a UF honors magazine into a reality, starting Prism from scratch, creating a foundation and growing Prism every day. Through the struggles and accomplishments I have faced with this magazine and its staff, I’ve learned many things about leadership and this university as a whole, but the greatest token I’ve taken away from my exhilarating four years as Prism’s founding editor-in-chief is to never settle, to always strive for more and to appreciate every bit of the learning process. Prism will forever be a highlight of my time at UF, and I hope that in 10 years it’ll be an even greater and stronger publication than I can imagine right now.

Sincerely,

LEXY

it’s better being bilingualsnazzy springtime snack suggestionsmonarch madness

+ LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

PRISM: UF HONORS PROGRAM MAGAZINE

@PRISM_UFHONORSUFPRISM.COM

03 ISSUES

That dreaded time of the month. That rushed sequence of events when you bury the feminine products underneath the other groceries in your cart. Watching the products slowly roll down the conveyor belt, you just want to cradle yourself while eating a box of chocolates in the privacy of your room. Many women have grown into a society where, for centuries, the idea of menstruation was considered dirty and embarrassing. Now, with body-positive movements allowing women to embrace their cycles, inventions such as enhanced menstrual cups and a wider variety of tampons and pads fill the feminine hygiene aisles.

In light of this movement, several conditions were brought to public attention, such as the lack of feminine hygiene practice in many countries as well as in our own. There is always a lack of supplies and resources to correct this problem in both spectrums, but the newfound attention to the situation has brought about global support.

This dilemma isn’t as distanced from you as you might think. On January 29th, 2013, the city of Gainesville conducted an Annual Point In Time survey—a requirement under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The survey, spanning two days, allotted a total of 987 unsheltered persons identifying as homeless. Of the 987, 873 agreed to be surveyed. Of the homeless population surveyed, 36.2% were female, and 1% was transgendered. In raw numbers, this breaks down to 316 women and 9 transgendered persons.

Keeping in mind that most of these women will menstruate each month for between two and seven days, the hygienic routine must be tightly enforced each day in order to ward off infection. This increased risk of infection takes place due to the mucus (that usually blocks the cervix) opening during the cycle in order to allow blood to exit the body, making it possible for bacteria to travel into the pelvic cavity and uterus. Also, changes in vaginal pH during this time make yeast infections more likely.

There are three fundamental habits to maintain a healthy body during a woman’s menstrual cycle, according to Intima’s website, most of which are difficult to access in the homeless population-- washing regularly, washing correctly, and changing the products often: 1. Bathing at least once a day to keep the body clean and odor-free. 2. Since the vagina is more sensitive than other parts of the body, it requires a different kind of wash. Never use normal soap, douches or shampoo on the vaginal area, which can upset acidity. 3. Continual use of the same sanitary napkin or tampon increases a woman’s risk of infection and the much heard about toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Also, a prolonged exposure to damp sanitary pads can irritate skin, which can eventually become broken and susceptible to infection.

Since there are only 350 beds for homeless individuals available on any given night, according to the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, imagine the limited access to restrooms and showers. Many homeless shelters require forms to be filled out before the usage of their restrooms — a homeless individual would have to fill out a blue card for police clearance and then wait for approval, according to WUFT. Clearance is provided if the individual is free of arrest warrants and is not registered as a sexual offender or predator. The hassle of paperwork (which is entirely for the safety of other sheltered individuals) and limited access to restrooms provide an environment that presents many obstacles to Gainesville’s female homeless population.

Where do we go from here? PRISM is holding a drive for feminine hygiene products this semester. Bring tampons and pads to any of our tabling events, and we’ll make sure all proceeds will go to Pleasant Place, Inc.

(like PRISM: UF Honors Program Magazine on Facebook for upcoming dates)

BY KELENA KLIPPELSOPHOMORE, NEUROSCIENCE, ENGLISH

MINOR

ART BY PADMINI MURALETHAREN

PERIODprivilege

UF CAIRES INAUGURAL SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE

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PRISM | SPRING 2015 04

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UFCSC.weebly.comVISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION AND RULES TO COMPETE IN THE SUSTAINABILITY SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO CONTEST FOR PROJECT FUNDING!

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INVITES YOU TO ATTEND ITS INAUGURAL SPRING CONFERENCE

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SUSTAINABILITY

05 ISSUES

BY CHRIS BELLFRESHMAN, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY

The legalization of marijuana has been one of the most polarizing and prevalent issues confronting America in recent years, reflecting changing attitudes towards social issues. Today, marijuana is recreationally legal in four states and medically legal in twenty-three states and Washington D.C. Florida voters recently failed to ratify an amendment to the state constitution that would have legalized cultivation, purchase, possession and use of medical marijuana as a means to treat certain medical ailments.

After decades of national dismissal of the plant, the national attitude towards marijuana has evolved immensely. While vehement rejection of marijuana still exists, the stance towards marijuana is much more mild and open-minded than in years past. This change in the conversation has come about because of marijuana’s medicinal qualities and economic benefits.

After recent innovation in implementation by doctors, medical marijuana has gained traction throughout the medical community for an array of medicinal benefits. Because of the naturally occurring pain-killing cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, marijuana has been used to treat the painful symptoms of gout, HIV and multiple

THE

OF


sclerosis. Marijuana has also been used to treat the blinding symptoms of glaucoma. In addition, patients suffering from suppressed appetite, nausea and vomiting have looked to marijuana to treat these ailments.

Despite these medical benefits of marijuana, there are still medical detriments. The THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in marijuana binds with cannabinoid receptors within the brain, affecting the user’s attention, judgment and balance. The main side effect propagated by marijuana’s detractors is that marijuana causes cancer, as determined by the National Institutes of Health. Studies investigating this proposition remain inconclusive. One key factor regarding the issue of marijuana is the level of THC within the plant today. During the beginning of its popularity in the 1960’s, marijuana contained about 1-3 percent THC. However, the average THC potency in marijuana today is around 12.3 percent, according to a recent Harvard study. This recent increase in THC potency creates a problem when investigating the health effects of marijuana.

Along with the changing view of marijuana as a legitimate medical treatment, people have begun to examine the economic benefits of marijuana. Three hundred economists have signed a petition recognizing a recent study conducted by Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron. The study concluded that the U.S. could save up to $13.7 billion if it were to legalize and tax marijuana. While this will by no means make a dent in the $18 trillion national debt, implementation policies can make an economic difference on the state level. Colorado, the first state to legalize recreational marijuana, collected $60 million in tax revenue from marijuana during only the first year of the drug’s legalization. Additionally, the state saved $145 million by not punishing people for using marijuana. The large amount of money saved from not enforcing prohibitory marijuana laws comes largely from the legal costs of marijuana-related felons throughout the court system, from simple court costs to the immense financial burden placed on prisons for housing inmates. Over 50 percent of U.S. inmates are imprisoned for drug offenses, with over 27 percent of these offenders imprisoned solely for marijuana-related crimes.

Proponents of legalization often compare America’s treatment of marijuana to that of alcohol and tobacco, both of which are legal. Proponents cite the harmful medical qualities of alcohol and tobacco, both of which have proved to be effectively dangerous to consume. Alcohol and tobacco are both physically addictive substances that have been proven to have the potential for overdose, cancer, autoimmune disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Both of these substances are taxed and regulated on the state and federal levels, bringing in over $21 billion in revenue per year, according to the Tax Policy Center.

While medical and economic developments have swayed public opinion, student opinion remains split. Many, like first-year political science major Pedro Otálora-Peláez, believe this persecution of those associated with marijuana is unjust. “The legalization of marijuana will help end a bloody, expensive, and ineffective war on drugs,” he said. “It’s time to spend that money on educative efforts in minority communities and shift the focus from detention to communication. Even then, many of marijuana’s health effects have been debunked, and there are many legal substances that are far more harmful than marijuana.” Others, like third-year sociology major Kalyani Hawaldar, are more skeptical about legalizing the drug. “The biggest concern in the debate over medical marijuana is that there isn’t enough longitudinal data to identify serious health risks,” she said. “One study showed that chronic marijuana usage is linked with smaller brain volume in the orbitofrontal cortex. The significance of this cannot be known until we develop better methodologies in these long-term usage studies.”

While economic and medical benefits of marijuana remain in question, it is becoming abundantly clear that the national conversation regarding marijuana is growing and should be dealt with soon. As younger generations push a new social agenda forward, the legalization of marijuana should be at the forefront of the national conversation.

07 ISSUES

Abandoned, betrayed, misunderstood, ridiculed and scorned. These are the words that describe Dr. Martin Luther King in the last year of his life. “But it’s MLK,” you might think, “he was adored by everyone; there’s no way this is true.” Unfortunately, it is.

As a nation, we honor King’s birthday by dedicating a national holiday in his name; we know him as the positive, smiling figurehead who was integral to the development and success of the Civil Rights Movement; and we all know his famous words, “I have a dream,” from the 1963 March on Washington. This is the image of King we all understand, yet this image is as obscure as a half-remembered dream.

King lived five long and hard years after 1963, and the last year of King’s life was, by far, the truest test of his character. This is the King we never learn about in school, for in the words of Tavis Smiley, “We demonized him in life and deified him in death.” Nostalgia and martyrdom have completely muffled the extent of King’s character. His final struggles say it all.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Exactly one year before that, on April 4, 1967, King stood before thousands at the Riverside Church in New York City and delivered his thoughts on the Vietnam War. King was staunchly against the war, and on this day, he made sure the entire country knew it. “[Our] own government,” King exclaimed, “is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.” In this historic moment, King stepped forward from his “Civil Rights man” image that everyone was comfortable with and dared to expose what he contended were the evils that plagued American society: militarism, racism and poverty. This day marked the beginning of King’s slow, heart-breaking decline in reputation and influence. At a time when the country’s moral integrity desperately needed King’s voice to be heard, the Johnson administration, the media, and

even his own supporters turned a deaf ear. King viewed the three prongs of American immorality

(militarism, racism and poverty) not as three distinct issues but as interconnected threads to the same overall injustice. “War is the enemy of the poor,” King argued, asserting that the bombs this country sends overseas land in the ghettos right here in America, and a nation that spends, “more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Life magazine all gave the same talking points – that King’s ego was getting the best of him, that he was jeopardizing both the peace movement and the faltering Civil Rights movement by trying to unite them, that King was tragically misleading Negro America. These barbaric, hostile, and uninformed political attacks were only the beginning of backlash against King.

Even within King’s very own organization, the SCLC, the Southern Christian Leadership Council, some of his closest advisors were losing faith in him. Stanley Levison, one of King’s close friends and a lawyer for the SCLC, told King that his efforts at and after Riverside were, “unbalanced and politically unwise.” Some of King’s advisors as well as King’s personal physician even asserted that King’s apparent franticness was due to mental illness.

If that weren’t enough, as of 1964, without any question from the Johnson administration, the FBI had been stalking King. There is substantial evidence of the FBI planting secret spies into the SCLC, sending “anonymous” hate mail and threats directly to his house and even wire-tapping King’s hotel rooms. At this point, the media, the government, some of his closest colleagues and White America turned their backs on King. Even Black America began to proceed down the same route.

As 1967 progressed, violence and militancy against the “white man” became more attractive to disconcerted blacks. The newly formed Black Panther Movement and young, outspoken black

BY DAVID HOFFMANFRESHMAN, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PHYSICS

A look into Dr. King’s final year through Tavis Smiley’s Death of a King

H ow much do we really

know about Martin Luther King?


figures began to profess that violence is the only method to achieve true equality for African Americans. These new leaders openly separated themselves from the “old, negro non-violence,” which King embodied. In their eyes, King, “is out of touch with the times.”

In these dark days, King found himself in a harsh predicament. He understood the anger of Black America, yet he rejected their complacency with violence. When asked on national television on July 6, 1967, about the violence that broke out in summer riots across American cities, King replied that society cannot blame protestors for the eruption of violence – the true cause for blame was the atmosphere of oppressive injustice that inspire such violence. Unfortunately, ignorance and unchecked passion held the majority of the country back from seeing the light of King’s vision.

Militarism, racism and poverty: the three evils King dedicated his entire life to stopping. These evils still, undoubtedly, plague American society. Right now, in April, 2015, one need look no further than our rampant use of drones

throughout the Middle East/East Africa and our return to war in Iraq (militarism); the reports of increased police brutality against black males as well as the almost invisible struggle of Mexican/Central-American immigrants (racism); and the fact that one out of every two American citizens is either in poverty or a paycheck or two away from poverty (poverty). Were King still alive, he would be marching in the streets and organizing rallies, perhaps even more vehemently than he was during his final year. Unfortunately, we lost King almost fifty years ago, and the true extent of his fight for justice has been forgotten.

But, now, today, you’re here, and I’m here. So long as that is the case, it is our responsibility as human beings to realize King’s vision, it is the reason why we are here, and it is the reason why we are obligated to cure our country of its evils. The deadline for change is long past due. This is our moment. We all know those words spoken years ago: I have a dream. It is up to us, here and now, to decide whether it will remain just that, a dream, or if we can shape it into a reality.

11 ENTERTAINMENT

The Orlando duo Lauren Morgan and Jordan Shih, better known as SALES, stopped in Gainesville over the weekend along their odyssey of a spring tour across North America. They were fresh from South by Southwest and looking ahead to dates in major cities in the U.S. and Canada, and if their set was any indication they’ve got an exciting road ahead of them. The show felt intimate and spontaneous. Lauren’s vocals were the standout as the duo showcased their musical knack with warm, playful flourishes. Before the show, I sat down with Lauren and Jordan, along with the artist Alana Questell, to discuss their musical process, their history, and even Led Zeppelin. Read the interview below for a look at where they came from, what they’re up to now, and what’s in store for the future.

So you guys just got back from SXSW and you’re sort of in the midst of this spring tour. How is that going?

Jordan: It’s been great. It’s nice being on the road, especially being from Orlando. The west coast has beautiful scenery. We saw the desert, mountains, the ocean.

Lauren: Driving through California was amazing. We drove from Phoenix all the way up to Vancouver, so the change in scenery was epic.

J: And our first SXSW was a success. It’s a good central location for everybody to meet up.

L: Yeah, it was crazy and I didn’t know what to think of it. I felt like I was getting a lot of negative expectations from people, and it could have totally been that, but we were playing a bunch of shows, meeting musicians we’ve met in the past or online. Just getting to put a face to the name or reconnect with people. And there was a music expo with a ton of equipment; it’s a great place for a musician to geek out.

What are your big influences and what are you listening to right now?

J: I was listening to Krill last night, we saw them at SXSW. It’s quite different from the stuff that I would write, but they’re amazing.

L: I actually listen to a lot of radio, like radio rock and pop. I don’t know why I have such an affinity for that, like ‘80s new wave. As far as influences, to me, the most ultimate band is a band like Led Zeppelin. As far as taking ideas from them, maybe not necessarily, but just the idea of what a band is, what it can be. That’s what a band is, that’s what I should be… maybe. But I know Jordan and I come from two totally different music spectrums.

J: Yeah I’ve never really listened to much Led Zeppelin. I listen to a lot of electronic music, that was my main thing for a while. Growing up I listened to a lot of trance and drum and bass. You can’t really hear that in the stuff we do, so it’s tough to say what’s influenced the writing.

I think something that stands out for you guys is the fusion you’ve got going on with the drums and production alongside the guitar and vocals. So how does the songwriting process work for you? Where do you start?

L: It varies. It comes from a lot of improv, and finding a hook that’s worth playing over and over again and just building off of that. I write really improvisationally and I need a lot of help organizing my thoughts. Jordan and I have been working

together for six years and it took us that long to figure out how to work together and help each other. I feel like we’re just starting to figure it out so I’m excited about the next release. The learning curve is just like pssshffeww [makes a rocket motion with hands].

J: In terms the songwriting process, either Lauren or I will come to each other with a riff. Just kind of build on it, so everything is kind of built upon a hook, either an instrumental hook or a vocal hook. And then we just kind of add things on as we go, with a lot of adlibbing. The foundation of a song comes pretty quickly because of the chemistry Lauren and I have developed.

L: And sometimes the drum track is just to keep time and we just leave it. And it just kind of sticks because that’s the way it started. Then you can vary off of that.

J: Yeah, a lot of times the drums just start with a kick and a snare and then later once the song is more formed you add in some other percussive elements.

Who is Renee? Is she a real person?L: Yeah that’s a real person. We don’t really go out much,

but we were at this bar called Lil’ Indies and we met this elusive woman. There’s not a lot of seats, but I nabbed the last table and she asked if she could sit with us. And she took us for the night of our lives, just gallivanting. At that same bar though, just at that table. We have a video coming out where I tell the story actually.

J: She’s this really mysterious, outgoing woman. She would just say a lot of things, like she said she was a nutritionist at a prison as well as a stripper. You don’t really meet people like that who are really outgoing and pervasive. We were kind of blown away by her outgoing, embracing approach.

One thing that I really like is the album artwork and the continuity of it. And we’ve got the artist Alana Questell here, so can you tell me more about that collaboration? And more generally, what do you think is the importance of the visual arts in connection to music?

Alana: What happened was Lauren was putting these color blocks on Soundcloud, it was really nothing. And I convinced them to not do that, because it’s a little too simple, even for them. So the first one I did was “renee” and after that I thought to follow the same format. I’m happy with them, because they stand alone and together it’s complete. It’s important to have some visual representation that corresponds with the music or at least represents it accurately. So I tried to make something that was simple but still complete in its composite. I think that’s how their music is, for me anyway.

L: If I could include taste, have viewers taste things, I would, but you really can’t. You can see things and hear things, and they’ve showed us it’s really important to have the strong visual component to pair with your music. It’s a really cohesive, recognizable thing we’ve created: SALES.

J: It’s definitely important as far as separating yourself. A lot of people write good music, so how do you separate yourself? You need something that looks good, sounds good, tastes good, smells good. It needs to have all those qualities, and if it does people will gravitate towards it. So we’re really lucky to have Alana; we just gave her the go-ahead to create something that

BY MICHAEL HOLCOMBSOPHOMORE, ECONOMICS AND MATHEMATICS

an exclusive interview with SALESMUSIC


looks good.A: Otherwise it would have been color blocks and then Bo

Derek with corn rows.

What is your favorite SALES song or which song are you most proud of?

L: One of my most favorite SALES songs is probably one that’s unreleased. I love listening to those even though their unfinished; I’m really excited about those tracks. Thus far that’s been released, I mean “renee” is like my baby but I’m really proud of “Vow.” I think it was an excellent collaboration between the two of us. We were long-distance, sending the files back and forth, and I really had to grasp Ableton, the program we were working with. I even did my own little flourishes on that track, which was awesome and opened the door it seemed to working more collaboratively on the “computer realm.” Which I hate that place, but I’m learning to enjoy.

J: For me it’d be “Chinese new year.” It’s like the perfect pop song I would say. Just in terms of being able to complete the song later, because it sat around for a little bit unfinished. Throughout the writing process, the second part took us a while to do. Then Lauren came back and kind of killed it with the second part of the song, and then I wrote the second part of the guitar and it just resolves.

L: There was just the hook, the “see you at the movies” verse was all that existed for months. And we realized we had to do justice to this hook, we had to do something with it.

When you first started out, what was your vision for SALES?L: I totally didn’t have a vision. I wanted to take a project

seriously and I wanted to take it to the house. But I didn’t know if SALES could do that, I was really skeptical actually. In the first year, we went through a lot personally. And I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to put all my eggs in one basket. That’s very honest.

J: I always felt like we had something going. I’m not going to be cocky and say I knew it was going to happen, but I think I kind of knew it was going to happen. I never thought it would happen so quickly, so that’s been really cool. I knew that we had nice songs, and if you can write good songs that’s all you need. That’s what Tom Windish said [laughs].

L: We went to a panel at South By and it was “what to do if you’re a beginner band.” And Tom Windish was just like “just write good songs.” There’s a little more to it. It’s a whole package. And we’ve found it’s really important to find a few good people who believe in you. So we have a lot of support; shout-out to Joan Lee at The Agency Group, she’s our booking agent. And in every city if there’s one person who cares about you they’ll tell everyone they know about you, and maybe they have a good connection. Like a girl we stayed with in Austin who reached out to us got us a show on top of a building which was awesome.

So what can we expect to hear next from SALES?L: A very beautiful, emotional album. J: Yeah, once we’re back from tour that’s all we’ll be doing

is focusing on recording. We’re going to Europe in October, but we have a good four months before that to really focus on recording. So when we’re not touring we’ll be writing and recording the full-length. More catchy, heartfelt songs.

You can find the SALES EP on iTunes and check out their website (www.wearenotsales.com) for news and upcoming tour dates.

PHOTO BY CARLOS QUINTEROS

13 ENTERTAINMENT

With the conclusion of the 2015 Academy Awards, one is led to reflect upon the greatness of cinema and iconic films. Of course, great films do not necessarily have to be heavily awarded. Here is a compilation of the movies the Honors faculty and students appreciate the most:

DR. LAWHonors Program Director

Monty Python and the Holy GrailUpon being asked what his favorite movies

were, Law immediately responded with this 1975 British comedy, adding that he has seen it more times than any other movie. He described it as “amazingly funny” for its revolutionary humor regarding the Knights of the Round Table.

Sleepless in SeattleInspired by “An Affair to Remember,” this

romantic comedy stars the captivating duo of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Law admires how the movie weaves an intricate romance between two characters who do not even meet until the final scene.

2001: A Space OdysseyDirected by Stanley Kubrick, this 1968

science fiction film depicts encounters between humans and advanced machines built by extraterrestrial species. Its screenplay was inspired by “The Sentinel,” a short story by Arthur C. Clarke. This was the first science fiction movie Law saw when he was young.

DR. MELISSA JOHNSONAssociate Director, Advisor

RushThis 2013 film, starring Chris Hemsworth

and Daniel Brühl with a score by Hans

Zimmer, centers on the rivalry between two 1976 Formula One drivers. Johnson said that she appreciates the faithfulness of “Rush” to its real-life story.

FlashdanceThis ‘80s film received an Academy Award

for its most notable song, “Flashdance... What a Feeling.” Johnson said that since she was a dancer when she was young, she found “Flashdance” to be an inspirational movie with a great soundtrack.

Sydney WhiteJohnson labels this movie as her “favorite

don’t-need-a-lot-of-brain-cells-to-watch-it movie,” adding that she owns it on DVD. This 2007 comedy, which stars Amanda Bynes, tells the story of a college freshman determined to pledge her mother’s sorority.

REGAN GARNERAssociate Director, Advisor

Garner commends films if they pass the Bechdel test, which requires that:

1) There are two named women in it.2) These two women talk to one another.3) They are talking about something

other than a man.

An overwhelmingly large number of movies do not pass this test. To see whether a film passes or not, you can go to bechdeltest.com. Garner went on to recommend the Hippodrome Theater, The Wooly and Video Rodeo as places to watch or rent movies.

CitizenfourDirected by Laura Poitras, this documentary

focuses on the scandal surrounding Edward Snowden. It received widespread positive

reviews and the 2015 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Garner said that she regards this film as “terribly important.”

Dazed and ConfusedThis 1993 coming-of-age film stars Matthew

McConaughey. According to Garner, “Dazed and Confused” is important for college students to see because it features high school seniors at a crucial point of their lives.

KRISTY SPEARAdvisor

Big Fish A Tim Burton film, “Big Fish” is an

adaptation of Daniel Wallace’s novel of the same name. It focuses on the strained relationship between a dying father and his son. Spear said that she enjoyed the story, the visual effects, and the cast. (“Who doesn’t love Ewan McGregor?”).

Office SpaceSatirizing the white-collar workplace,

Office Space has become a cult classic. Spear connected with the relatable characters. “As someone who works many Sundays a year, I can appreciate this film,” she said.

Run Lola RunThis German film features the story of

a woman who needs to find a significant amount of money in twenty minutes to save her boyfriend’s life. “It makes you think about what might happen differently if you could relive certain events in your life,” she said

DR. JOHN VAN HOOKAssociate University LibrarianHonors course (Spring 2015): Great Novels and the Great War

Twentieth Century Fox

Paramount PicturesFilms Montsouris


The Big SleepReleased in 1946, this film noir stars

Humphrey Bogart as a detective and features a screenplay written by William Faulkner. Van Hook described the movie as “incredibly complex” and as one that must be seen multiple times.

The Red BalloonShot shortly after World War II, “The Red

Balloon” is a mere thirty-four minutes long. Van Hook first saw this film when he was five years old and was struck by how it “teaches you that imagination and love conquer everything in a way you would never expect.”

DR. SYLVIE BLUMAssociate Professor of French and FilmHonors course (Spring 2015): Uncommon Reading: Coco Chanel

Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot Translated as “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” in

the United States, this comedy stars Jacques Tati as a clumsy character. Blum said that she appreciates how the protagonist appears to be a predecessor of Mr. Bean.

Maine-OcéanThis film, directed by Jacques Rozier,

focuses on the interactions between people aboard the “Maine-Ocean,” a train that goes from Paris to the seaside. Blum describes the film as “poetic” in its demonstration of how

people discover another rhythm in life, deviating from the fast-paced, busy rhythm.

DR. MARY-ANN EAVERLYAssociate Professor of ClassicsHonors course (Spring 2015): Women Writers and Classical Mythology

Jason and the ArgonautsReleased in 1963, this film portrayed the

quest of the Greek hero for the Golden Fleece and used stop-motion animation. Eaverly said that she particularly liked its character development and the “fun of the special effects.”

JAMAL WAKEDFreshman, Aerospace Engineering major

InterstellarDirected by Christopher Nolan, this three-

hour long science fiction film portrays an increasingly uninhabitable Earth and a crew of astronauts who travel through space to find a planet that sustains human life. Waked admires the scientific accuracy, soundtrack, and imagery of the film. Interstellar recently received the accolade of Best Visual Effects at the 2015 Academy Awards.

KAMRAN ALISophomore, Environmental Science major

Fantastic Mr. FoxThis stop-motion animated movie depicts

the story of a fox who steals food from wealthy, unkind farmers every night. It is the first animated film directed by Wes Anderson. Kamran enjoys both the cleverness of the plotline and the casting. George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Bill Murray are among the well-known actors whose voices are featured.

ANMOL PATEL Junior, Microbiology and Economics major

A Time to KillSamuel L. Jackson plays a man on trial for

murdering his daughter’s rapists in this 1996 adaptation of John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill,” which is set in Mississippi. Patel touts the significance of the film’s theme of racial injustice, saying that “it’s very important because it enhances the disparities that existed in the South. This movie was created almost twenty years ago, and we saw the same disparities in 2014.”

KATHLEEN O’LEARYSenior, English and History double major

Wizard of OzReleased in 1939, this iconic film adaptation

of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum stars Judy Garland. O’Leary said that she loves the film for its timelessness. “Each time I watch it, it gets better because there’s something new,” she said.

MOVIEShonors goes to the moviesBY ALESSANDRA ROSALES SOPHOMORE, ENGLISH

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

15 ENTERTAINMENT

BY SALLY GREIDERSOPHOMORE, ENGLISH AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

review: A Year in ProvenceBOOKS

When I was in middle school, with grand ideas about the world and my career path, I had a vague long-term plan. I wanted to travel the world, end up in France and become an esteemed food critic. This may sound odd, but it was my dream.

Now in college, my dreams have morphed a bit to make room for the harsh reality that simply becoming a food critic is a highly rare career to land, and traveling takes more money than I could have possibly planned for. However, like a glowing bubble of irrational positivity, my retirement goals of one day settling down in France to eat all the fancy bread, wine and cheese my stomach can handle remains nestled firmly in my brain, undaunted.

In the spirit of nodding to this dream of mine, I present a book review of the delectable, hilarious and heartwarming travel memoir book, “A Year in Provence,” by Peter Mayle. This book, and its two award-winning sequels, “Encore Provence” and “Toujours Provence,” embodies what perhaps was the start of my early gastronomical fantasies.

Although I usually make a point to review newly published books, this review will have to be called the vintage edition, since “A Year in Provence” was written in 1989. However, it’s an oldie but goldie, a book that, despite its popularity when it first was published—Julia Child even said she loved this book, which pretty much puts it on my recommendation list for life— has remained largely unread by the current crowd of college foodies.

Ah, I’ve now brought us to the ‘foodie.’ What an elusive term for something that should be so easy. For quite a while I have longed to be the kind of person who knows which type of cheese is best simply by the smell. I want to be the girl who makes outlandishly delicious dishes for friends everyone is secretly jealous of. I long to go to the local farmers market and chit-chat with all the vendors, my arms full of fresh vegetables and with a sunflower or two in my hair, just because I’m natural and beautiful like that, and duh, food is my ultimate passion. Oh, what a life!

Unfortunately, being an honest-to-goodness classic foodie in college is hard if you don’t have the resources, time or energy to dedicate to picking out sunflower seeds varieties or learning the finer complexities of olive oil. However, Peter Mayle invites one into a world where everyone, even the reader, is a die-hard foodie, well versed enough in matters of both food and life to live in France, the cuisine capital of the world, and fit right in.

He manages this with crisp storytelling, dry wit and descriptions of ripe stuffed peppers, warm bread and pink champagne detailed enough to make you salivate buckets. Get your napkins out and your cheese board ready,

because not having something (preferably gourmet) to munch on while you read this book will risk getting you ready for Thanksgiving-size feasting eight months early.

“A Year in Provence” follows exactly what the title implies; England native Peter Mayle and his wife, along with their two trusty dogs, decide to fulfill a long-coveted dream and move into a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in Luberon, Provence, an area of France famous for its beautiful, remote countryside. The book takes us through the first year of living in Provence; all the ups, downs and delicious meals that come with moving to a new country with a daring new menu and robust new culture. The stories Mayle shares over his first 12 months run a delightful gamut from enduring the frosty January Mistral wind, which plunges Provence into the likeness of a freezing wasteland every winter, to learning how to secure the freshest baguette available in a competitive and cutthroat French marketplace.

Richly appreciative of French culture and cuisine, and with a wit sharp enough to cut at times, (such as when describing the unpleasantness of being overburdened with unannounced houseguests too eager to explore the countryside) Mayle paints an engaging picture of quiet Provençal life, at once both amusing and deeply insightful.

To be completely honest, it made me want to drop everything and move to France, but I find myself thinking that quite often, so perhaps I am biased.

What really makes Mayle’s book special, even more than an authentic glimpse into a gritty nuts-and-bolts depiction of Provençal culture or the scrumptious food, is the timelessness it manages to capture in its descriptive, sharply crafted sentences. Reading the book in 2015, it’s obvious that Provence has probably changed in the last 30 years. However, the golden snapshots of experience in Mayle’s novel and its sequels will last forever, a warm and wholesome reminder of life at some of its most relatable, enticing and uncomplicated terms: Good food, good friends and good memories.

For a student in college gearing up to soon brave the haze of final exams sustained mostly by coffee and stress, that sounds like a pretty wonderful read to me. From the wannabe foodie to the world traveler, “A Year in Provence” has a flavor for everyone who dreams of trying something new.

We-All-Secretly-Want-To-Be-Foodies issue

the


Come this Easter weekend, it will have been exactly four years ago that I was lying on the beach at night, back home in Sarasota, with my best friend talking about how we couldn’t believe freshman year was almost over. Even more so, we couldn’t believe that in three years, we’d be right back there talking about how fast all of college went. But as graduation gets closer, that’s becoming a lot easier to believe.

Whether you’ve been counting down the days, or hiding the calendar in denial, you simply can’t graduate and leave Gainesville without saying you’ve had the true UF experience, even in the most unconventional ways.

1. Experience the Gainesville pizzaYes, Blaze is the perfect transformation of Chipotle into pizza,

and Piesano’s is a “parent-worthy” pizzeria, but nothing tops Gainesville originals – or sitting in a van eating your pizza.

2. Run stadiumsIf for nothing more, then at least to say you’ve done it.

3. Stay for an entire football gameIt’s tempting to follow the herd making a mass exodus after you

fulfill the obligation to stay for the “We Are the Boys of Old Florida” song, but be a trooper and stick it out – just once.

4. Visit First MagnitudeTo drink or not to drink (soda, of course) is not the question –

the question is who will win at a game of life-sized Jenga. Plus, the owner is the honors-beloved John Denny.

5. Resist (or give into) temptation at Saturday morning puppy adoptions

If you’re a frequent visitor on Archer Road, then you know exactly what those white tents outside of PetSmart mean every Saturday morning – adoption time. Whether you’re looking to adopt or just squeal for an hour or two over the irresistible cuteness, you have to make a visit here before looking at puppies no longer constitutes a productive morning.

6. Take your Halloween to the corn mazeUnfortunately, this one is seasonal, but carpooling out to Roger’s

Farm to pretend you’re a little kid again going through the haunted corn maze (actually, some of them are pretty scary) is a must for a Halloween in Gainesville.

7. Frequent Dunkin Happy Hour for $1 coffeeFits the college budget, but yes, you can do this anywhere.

However, visiting the outdoors Dunkin on University Ave so often with your dog that everyone knows his name (but not yours, of course) is a bit more on the college-side

8. Take advantage of the great Mother’s deals

No, I’m not talking about your mother offering to your laundry – although, if she’s offering, I suggest saying yes. I’m referring to Mother’s (on University) offering $0.40 wings every Monday night and $3 burgers every Wednesday night. Not much more says “college” than fighting over a table at a bar to get absolutely delicious yet unhealthy food with the few bucks you have in your pocket.

9. Waste away your day in Wauburg-villeIf you choose to go for the Jimmy Buffet style, that’s up to you.

Gainesville might be all farmland, but you can’t leave without taking advantage of the one not-so-Gainesville-like experience: Lake Wauburg. There’s nothing like wasting away a day soaking up the sun in between cycles of midterms.

10. Visit The Swamp RestaurantWhether you’re there from 9-11 on a Friday night or just there for

an average lunch, nothing represents the Gator spirit (sometimes with spirits) more than the restaurant named after the home to us all.

BY LEXY KHELLASENIOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE

things every

gator should do before they graduate

10

17 CAMPUS LIFE

BY DYLAN WANGSOPHOMORE, BIOLOGY

It seems like nowadays, every other student is on the premedical track. With 120 credits on their plates, clubs and research on the side and a heaping stack of volunteering hours to do, aspiring student doctors often face stress and want to slow down the pace of their lives. Others want to take time off and discover what field they truly want to pursue.

Rachel Damiani, another premedical biology major but with minors in classics and English, graduated last year and is currently taking a gap year between college and medical school. As an undergraduate, Damiani did research in the biology department, first with biology professor Dr. Jamie Gillooly as a sophomore and then with Dr. Todd Palmer, another biology professor, on plant mutualism. She traveled to Kenya to be research assistant and then TA for Todd’s class. She was involved in a recycling project and the Science for Life research club.

After applying for and getting accepted by many science programs in her senior year, Damiani said, “It didn’t feel right, it wasn’t the right path.” “A lot of the programs I applied to require a multiple year commitment with a heavy focus on the sciences and biology.” After spending four years studying for her biology classes, Daminai realized she wanted to pursue a different path and have some time to stop and think about what she really wanted.

Gap year activities can stem from things that a student did earlier in their college career. Since she was an ambassador for the Science for Life (SFL) program, Damiani talked with SFL Co-Director Dr. Ben Dunn and the SFL organization to help coordinate the 2015 CASE event. CASE, Creativity in the Arts and Sciences, aims to connect art to with science. Damiani participated in this event as an undergraduate and wanted help art students work together and to increase collaboration and spread

awareness of the event. After her last week working with Science for Life, Damiani accepted an offer to work with CPET, the Center for Pre-collegiate Education and Training. There she will work as a coordinator for science outreach for high school students. This summer the program will add arts to their outreach initiatives.

“As a CASE assistant I learned a lot on a personal level,” she said. “As a student I was focused mostly on school and was sometimes too serious…I didn’t have enough time to develop as a person.”

Now that she has more free time, Damiani feels like her daily routine is “More enjoyable, not as governed by student rules like exams.” “I have more time to read, hike and get to do long trail runs,” she said.

Looking at medical school as a gap year student, Damiani feels a new sense of drive. When asked about whether she would recommend students should take

a gap year or not, Damiani said, “It depends on context, if you’re ready and feel developed on a personal level, then take the next step for your profession. Others have more figuring out to do and want explore more in the world.”

Lida Esfandiary, a recent premedical biology graduate, took a gap year in France, where

she spent eight months doing medical research as an undergraduate. Esfandiary enjoyed playing club tennis, volunteering at Shands and doing research under the UF Howard Hughes Medical Institution program. She worked in a research lab at the college of Veterinary Medicine studying Sjögren’s syndrome. When asked about recommending gap years for others, Esfandiary talked about her positive experience. “Staying in France for eight months and working in a research lab made me realize I wanted to continue research. There is nothing to lose! You’ll only gain experience. It’s a good time period to do something you love and are passionate about and an even greater time to learn and live amongst different cultures.”

g a p y e a rTake a Nontraditional Approach: Take a Year Off.

“I didn’t have enough time to develop as a

- Rachel Damiani

person”

FreehandGaleforceKauffman


Tucked away beneath a canopy of trees on the southwest portion of campus, the Entomology department buzzes with activity.

About 40 undergraduate students at UF are currently majoring in Entomology, the study of insects. UF’s Entomology department, one of the largest in the nation, also includes around 140 graduate students and about 25 students minoring in Entomology. Like many of the more specialized departments at UF, the Entomology department fosters a strong sense of community.

“My favorite part is the close-knit nature of the department,” says sophomore Johnalyn Gordon. “Everyone is very friendly and everyone seems to know everyone. I feel that in Entomology, you are not just a face in the crowd.”

Many students first become involved in Entomology to fulfill general education requirements. Once within the Entomology program, students take a variety of different paths.

“I was first exposed to entomology by taking Bugs and People,” explains Gordon. “That class is what sparked my interest, especially the section dealing with Integrated Pest Management.”

Gordon, a Wildlife Ecology and Conservation major, is minoring in Entomology. For Entomology majors, the department offers six major degree specializations, including pre-professional studies, basic sciences, biosecurity, urban pest management, plant protection, and ecotourism.

“It’s really customizable,” says Dr. Rebecca Baldwin, Undergraduate Coordinator for Entomology.

Students can also participate in the study abroad trips offered by the Entomology department. During the summer of 2015,

students will visit Brazil to examine “urban, medical, and agricultural entomology.” The department organizes other trips as well.

“Every two years, we try to go to Greece,” says Dr. Baldwin. “[We study] medical entomology and experience agriculture.”

The Entomology department conducts specialized research spanning a wide range of areas. Gordon is researching treatments for bedbugs. Meanwhile, sophomore Megan Bernier works on multiple projects. One involves repellents for cockroaches, while her other project studies the traumatic brain injury of termites, ants, and fruit flies.

“[It is] a model for human injury,” explains Bernier.

In addition, internships and job opportunities abound for students with degrees in entomology. Regardless of the degree specialization a student chooses, coursework in entomology provides a thorough preparation for a wide range of professions and for graduate studies.

“[Students have] skills that can get you a job,” explains Dr. Baldwin.

In fact, most students have a job arranged before they graduate. Thus, the abundance of opportunity draws students to this major, though Dr. Baldwin also believes the diversity of students is one of the department’s main strengths.

“They all work so well together,” says Dr. Baldwin.

Students interested in further information about UF’s Entomology department can visit: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu.

Making a study

ENTOMOLOGYBY ANDI CROWELLFRESHMAN, BIOCHEMISTRY

PHOTOS BY

STEPFANIE LAM

huge tinyon a subject:

19 CAMPUS LIFE

A Note from the Photographer: This project entailed asking two people who shared

a relationship (roommates, childhood friends, mentors/mentees, etc.) how they have influenced one another. During the photoshoots, I was given unique insight into how their lives crossed over. There were many laughs, goofy faces, and retakes. I witnessed how much one cared about the other: each was interested in their partner’s activities, excited about their accomplishments, and encouraging towards their goals. This project not only made each reflect on this specific relationship and its meaning, but it also let the other know its significance. In the non-stop chaos that is collegiate life, it can be difficult to pause and appreciate all that friends do for you; I know it is for me. An integral part to a successful and happy life is the people with which you surround yourself. Thus, I hope that the following photos and quotes inspire you to give thanks to the meaningful people in your life.


I N F L U ENC ETHE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES BY CONNOR HARTZELL

FRESHMAN, BIOLOGY

21

Mark and James“You know in cartoons when a character has an angel on one shoulder and a devil

on the other? Mark is the devil on my shoulder. He’s fun to have around, but it’s safe to say that I would be a lot more productive and I would make better decisions if I’d never met him.”

“I bother James a lot. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. At this point, I essentially find it a recreational activity. I bother James so much that in a couple of years bothering James will probably be a pastime for all of America. But I guess you could still consider us friends.”

(previous page, top) Chelsea and Sarah:“Everybody acts like best friends are supposed to be the same person, but that’s not

true for us at all. We love to wear matching skirts and animal shirts and pretend were going “on safari,” but she builds robots and I’m perfectly content crunching numbers for hours at a time. What makes our friendship so unique is that it combines two very different people into one story-telling, Gilmore Girls loving, adventure taking entity. And I couldn’t be happier.”

“Sarah brings out my spontaneity. Whether it’s anything from dropping what we’re doing because we immediately need cookie dough to going on a 2 week road trip to Maine and back, we find adventure in everything. I never used to be like that... I love that we encourage each other’s crazy ideas and just run with them.”

(previous page, bottom left) Alexis and Meggie“From the moment we met, I noticed that she was the kind of person I wanted to be:

goofy yet collected and brilliant but humble. Meggie is the person that makes you want to be a better person. Every day she tells me (in one way or another) that I’m more than I think I am. She taught me how to laugh at myself; something seemingly arbitrary but actually life-changing. Meggie is the friend that I couldn’t live without--the friend that taught me what a friend truly is: always present, always honest and freaking hilarious.”

“Initially, I didn’t like Alexis, but then I realized, how could you not love someone who all in all makes you a better person? Alexis literally brings out the sparkle in me and as cheesy as it is, truly helps me shine. She helps me see my value and worth when I can’t see it myself. She’s fun, passionate, selfless and sometimes a little crazy.”

Marina and Bianca“I have to be careful because I don’t want to use all the material I’ve been saving

for her Maid of Honor speech. Sometimes I don’t think she realizes it, but I attribute most of my successes to her. My big sister inspires me everyday with how effortlessly she accomplishes incredible things. Such as pulling off an entirely cheetah print outfit like it’s still 2010.

“Being the older sister, I always feel like it is my job to influence and inspire Marina. However, I am constantly blown away and learning from her accomplishments... I am lucky everyday to have Marina as a positive influence in my life, even if she likes to drink caramel from the bottle. She claims I’m going to be an old cat lady, but I’m okay with it as long as she lets us stay in her guest house.”

(previous page, bottom right) Sebastian and Tempris“I can’t remember what it was that originally pushed me to be her Mentor, but I was

ready to fight a few people for her during selections. Actually I kind of did. Since then, Tempris has become an inspiration for me within my own leadership roles. She reminds me what integrity looks like and how to stay strong with your own convictions while being flexible enough to effectively work with others. She told me once that “when you look at me, you see all the potential you think I have.” But saying that overshadows the fact that what I see first is the growth she’s already had.

“What made [Sebastian] so great was that he cared about my involvement and school work. He assisted me with different opportunities and always cared how they went. Even a whole year later, I feel the genuine mentorship.”

(next page, bottom left) Maya and Kalyani“Maya is not just my mentor but also my sister, my confidante, and my best friend.

Her belief in me is unparalleled and she constantly motivates me to be the best that I can be... Frankly, it is extremely difficult for me to describe in words my relationship with Maya to an unknown reader. Our friendship goes beyond a short, reflective paragraph and a pretty, “candid” photograph. All I can say is that I hope everyone is lucky enough to have a Maya in their lives – Someone who loves unconditionally, protects fiercely and inspires deeply.”

“I met Kalyani in her first year when I was assigned to be her mentor. I always assumed I would be the one to teach her everything I know, expecting little in return. Yet, in many ways Kalyani has played the mentor role in our relationship. She advises me, encourages and challenges me, and forces me to think about what I do and why I do it.”


Yolanda and Yesenia“Yolanda has always taught me to laugh. And I mean that

literally, but also spiritually. She has taught me to take life a little lighter.”

“[Yesenia] has taught me that with hard work and dedication anything is achievable. Through her I have seen that true and real friendship really does exist and that people will have your best interest at heart.”

Taylor and Rhina“Her strong, beautiful soul has been a source of comfort,

warmth and love. Taylor is the embodiment of resilience. Like a phoenix, she continually defies all odds and is reborn into an even more inspiring individual... She knows everything about me and makes me feel important, like it’s not irrational that the rain makes me sad or that I stress about my future. She is always there to listen and to hold me when I can’t hold myself together. Taylor has introduced me to a kind of unconditional love and support that I only ever expected to feel from my family.”

“When [Rhina] hurts, I hurt, and when she’s happy, I’m happy. I talk about her constantly like she’s my boyfriend (really, it’s kind of annoying), worry about her like she’s my daughter and love her like she’s my sister. A connection like that makes you believe in something deeper, like maybe certain people were supposed to find each other in this life.”

Nardin and Matt“Even though [Matt] is only a year older, he seems so

wise. I really appreciate that he has always kept it real with me, something a lot of people don’t really do. He tells me to do what makes me happy and that’s probably the best advice a person could give.”

“She jokes every once in a while that she’s a robot, and while this may still be up for debate, she is also one of the most caring and warm hearted people I know. Nardin is always ready to go on adventures, make cheesy jokes, and offer “real talk”. It’s been incredible to watch her grow and make waves everywhere she goes.”

In the spring of 1999, my parents and I flew from our home in Argentina to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Immediately upon arrival, we took notice of the overwhelming differences within this new world we had chosen to immerse ourselves in. The foreign sights and sounds we experienced once we left the airport fueled the nervous, yet delightful anxiety we felt for the future. Possibly the most immediate observation made was that a vastly different language, foreign from our own Spanish language, enveloped us in a flurry of voices and signs. Although my parents knew the basics of the English language, they certainly did not know enough to participate in a lengthy, intellectual conversation. The feeling of isolation that resulted from this liminal state only drove their desire to learn the language as quickly and efficiently as possible.

After only a few years, we refined our English and almost perfected our communication skills. Since I learned the language at a young age, I have no trace of an accent when speaking. My parents, however, are not as lucky. Even after 16 years of living in the United States, they are still ridiculed or looked down upon for their accents, regardless of their ability to communicate. Many Americans who frown on a person’s accent or broken English simply do not consider the numerous advantages that come with being bilingual or multilingual, as well as the amount of intellectual effort that speaking two or more languages requires.

It seems practical that to strive in an increasingly globalized world, one should speak multiple languages. And this is very true; a person has a much greater chance of closing an international business deal or finding a new employer in another country when they are able to communicate with the native speakers. In terms of travel, being bi- or multi-lingual makes visiting another country much more enjoyable. Being able to communicate with the locals of a certain area and understand what they are communicating back is a fantastic feeling. A person feels much more connected with a culture and its people when they grasp the language that is so significant to their backgrounds and traditions. When I traveled to Europe, my ability to speak Spanish allowed for a valuable experience that was definitely enhanced by being able to communicate with most of the residents. Even when I reached countries that did not speak a similar language, such as France, it was still easier for me to learn the fundamentals of the language since I already had experience with two others, thus making learning the basics of another language much simpler in my mind.

Unfortunately, there is a general belief that learning another language is pointless if one does not seem to immediately benefit from it at that specific time. For instance, Abbey Burke, a freshman zoology major, expressed her frustration in high school Spanish class: “I would sit in class and think, ‘when will I ever use this?’ I wasn’t planning on going to a country that speaks Spanish anytime soon!” In reality, no one has his or her future completely planned out. One may never know whether their future plans do involve going to or coming in contact with someone from a country that speaks this specific language. Also, what people fail to realize is that, as I previously mentioned, learning a second language allows for an easier introduction into the fundamentals of a third, fourth, and even fifth language. Many people wonder how another person can know how to speak a ridiculous number of languages while they themselves can barely pass their 10th grade French class. The reason is that, once one becomes aware of and begins to appreciate how vocabulary and grammar is structured, these refined abilities can be applied to other languages,

causing a greater ability to learn this language in half of the time it took to learn their second language. This not only benefits travel, but also creates a potentially useful asset for employment. There is no doubt that various businesses specifically seek out those who speak at least two languages, therefore putting a multilingual individual at a much greater advantage compared to their competition.

It is relatively easy to think of practical reasons to learn another language. But there are also numerous studies that indicate scientific advantages to being bilingual. For many years, people believed that knowing more than one language actually hindered an individual’s cognitive ability and considered this second language to be an interference within the brain. This idea is not incorrect: even when a person is speaking one language, the other is still present in the brain and may actually obstruct the other. This is why so many bilingual individuals will find themselves speaking a mixture of both, such as “Spanglish.” However, this is not a negative occurrence. In fact, it is proven to make an individual smarter. When one language system attempts to overpower the other, the brain is compelled to resolve internal conflict, thus strengthening cognitive function and problem-solving abilities. In 2004, psychologists Ellen Bialystok and Michelle Martin-Rhee studied bilingual and monolingual preschoolers and their ability to solve problems and puzzles. They concluded that the bilingual preschoolers were able to solve the given problems much better and more efficiently than monolingual students. This study, along with several others, suggests that being bilingual enhances the command system of the brain that directs our attention when we perform certain mentally demanding tasks. These include staying focused and ignoring distractions, multitasking, and remembering information such as the arrangements of directions while driving. This can be extremely helpful, especially in a working environment that is prone to distractions and loud noises. Furthermore, bilingualism continues to have cognitive advantages even in old age: it has been shown that the ability to speak more than one language can shield a person against Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. So, being bilingual not only has profound social effects that can improve a person’s future, but it also strengthens the brain and essentially makes a person smarter compared to someone who is simply monolingual.

The list of reasons to learn a second language can almost go on forever. There truly are very little, if any, disadvantages to being bilingual or multilingual. People often complain about the limitations of time and how their hectic lives cannot bear the challenging demands of having to learn another language. But, as Kayla Sanchez, an English major with a minor in Spanish, eloquently puts it: “If you have time to watch television for four hours when you get home from work, you can dedicate 45 minutes a day to a language that can do wonders for your future.” The benefits that one holds from being bilingual help make up for the time that it takes to learn and study it. It isn’t too hard to plan how you will learn it: take a class, buy a language software, befriend someone who speaks this language, or, probably the fastest way to learn, take a trip to a country where it is the native tongue. No matter the avenue you choose to pursue, once you learn the language and practice it constantly, there will be no regret whatsoever. Never underestimate the power of language and communication – they will open your world to endless possibilities that are just waiting to be explored.

Bilingual¿CÓMO ESTÁS?

BY MILI GODIOFRESHMAN, ENGLISH

¡HOLA! BEING

23 KITCHEN SINK

Spring semester means spring break, midterms (like always), and studying. With all that work, who has time to make their own food or even eat healthy food in general? Others worry about the expense of fresh fruit of vegetables. However, eating foods in season is less expensive, while the food is fresher. If Publix does not fit your budget, there are other more affordable local options. You can visit the Farmer’s Market on Wednesday afternoons downtown or Ward’s Supermarket on 23rd Ave. It is not hard to find healthy, simple, and fast snacks to keep the brain churning during those late night study sessions.

Strawberries February marks the beginning of the strawberry season in Florida. Strawberries are a delicious snack, or

even dessert. To turn regular strawberries into a delectable dessert, sprinkle sliced strawberries with granulated sugar or dip the whole berries in melted baking chocolate for a special treat.

Oranges Though most oranges in Florida are used to make orange juice, the remaining oranges can be found

in different produce markets. Florida oranges are much smaller than the California navel oranges sold at supermarkets. They are just as sweet and delicious, though, with the benefit of being locally grown. You can eat these cut up as a snack, or squeeze out the juice for a sweet drink. You do not even need to add sugar!

Fresh GuacamoleAvocado is an extremely healthy food, containing healthy omega-3 fatty acid and more potassium than

bananas. For healthy guacamole, mash up a fresh Haas avocado and spices. I prefer guacamole with only salt and pepper, but you can also buy guacamole spice mix at any supermarket (or make a fresh mix at home!).

Ants on a LogThis one is a tried-and-true snack from elementary school. Celery with peanut butter and raisins packs a

powerful punch of protein and will help you keep up your energy while studying for long amounts of time. Take a break from studying for that orgo exam to relive your elementary school glory days.

Simple saladMy mom’s dinner salad always features romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, and goat cheese. Even a simple

salad of lettuce and tomatoes is extremely healthy and fast for a quick break from studying. My favorite dressing for this salad is Italian vinaigrette, but you should experiment with different dressings. You can even make your own with a combination of oil and your favorite spices or herbs.

SSS

Snazzy pringtime

nack uggestions

Bon Appétit!

BY RACHEL GORDONFRESHMAN, FOOD SCIENCE

PHOTO BY LLOYD JUSTO


Monarch

100 million butterflies. One site. Five University of Florida students. What are the odds?

The Monarch Butterfly migration to mountains near Mexico City is one of the natural world’s greatest wonders. That five undergraduates observed it firsthand is even more remarkable . Dr. Emmel, the Director of the Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, taught an honors class this spring and generously invited his students to journey with him on his annual Hollbrok travel trip to observe the monarchs mate en masse at El Rosario and Sierra Chincua .

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUNDThe monarch butterfly is the only butterfly to migrate in this way. Though

there are resident populations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a large portion journeys back every year during winter to mate.

The roots of this pattern began 40,000 years ago. The monarch originated in Mexico. However, after each period of deglaciation and resulting warmer temperatures, the monarch ventured further and further up the continent. To put it simply, they followed the milkweed. As milkweed, a monarch’s favorite food, began to grow in successively warmer climates, the monarch followed suit. However, as these climates experience hotter temperatures, the monarch chooses to migrate to the mountains of Mexico, its ancestral home, in order to survive.

Going to the mountains allows the monarchs to avoid competition for food, as the mountains (which reach 6 degrees below freezing during the winter) are the perfect baseline temperature for the monarch to survive. They lay dormant on the trees during the majority of their time there. However, as the mountains warm in late February, the monarchs “wake up” (fly from the trees where they laid dormant), mate, and fly north again.

The majority fly to the southern part of Texas for the spring milkweeds. They lay eggs there, as well as along the gulf coast. In fact, they come to Gainesville in late March! The generation of monarchs that reach Texas and the gulf coast have a 30 day life cycle (egg to death). They spawn the second generation, parts of which stay where born, but other parts moving north (to Alabama, Georgia, etc). These monarchs, taking care only to lay one egg on any particular plant, mirror their parents, mating and dying in the span of 30 days. Their children in turn go further north in mid-May to early June, reaching as far as South Dakota, Idaho, and parts of Canada.

The fourth generation is the game changer. Dubbed the “Mensusalah generation” by scientists, these particular butterflies live for nine months due to an enzyme which decreases the fraying of their chromosomes and duly slows the aging process (Side note: this enzyme may one day be grafted to human genes!). This life span allows them to make an efficient journey back, always going to the same twelve colonies in the Mexican mountains surrounding Mexico City. These butterflies, guided by a cluster of six genes, have a sun compass that allows them to keep a constant orientation to this area of Mexico. The butterflies also recognize this area due to its status as a magnetic anomaly, allowing these

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAROLINE NICKERSONSOPHPOMORE, HISTORY AND CHINESE

25 KITCHEN SINK

Madness

mountains to respond to the magnetite in the butterfly’s wings. Though they take several different routes depending on their starting location, these butterflies, as they have for tens of thousands of years, nonetheless return in mass to this place.

MIGRATION IN THE MODERN DAYCertain phenomena are too great in size to ignore. For instance, the ancient

Teotihuacanians took notice. Murals along the Avenue of the Dead depict warriors chasing butterflies with spears. In the modern day, much of the media produced regarding the butterflies focuses on advocacy. “Butterfly Trees,” a documentary filmed by a crew traveling with the UF students, attempts to draw attention to the fact that the monarch butterfly migration is in danger of disappearing.

At first, this claim seems to be ludicrous. How could the monarch butterfly population be in danger? Numbers are in the millions! However, the passenger pigeon acts as a cautionary tale. Though incredibly numerous in 1900, they went extinct approximately 10 years later as a result of overhunting and climate change. The monarch migration is also in danger of disappearing. As temperatures become warmer each year, the monarch moves further up the mountain. Eventually, there will not be any further to go. Additionally, the monarch loses more of its food source with each successive year. As a result of more sophisticated pesticides and other chemical components, the amount of milkweed is precipitously low. Monsanto, for instance, produces a crystalline protein in its pesticides fatal to monarchs. Milkweed, which often grows amongst commercial crops, receives a dose of this protein and inadvertently kills the butterflies. Numbers could potentially drop so low in North America that the migration would cease to exist.

Though monarchs can survive in areas other than North America (populations in Hawaii, Fiji, and Australia exist as a result of milkweed spreading during the slave trade), the migration is nonetheless an important phenomenon to observe. The fact that millions of monarchs from different geographic areas intermingle in one place preserves a library of diversity in the monarch important to study. From a genetic perspective, they are fascinating, and the insights taken from study of their genes could radically alter ideas regarding aging and migratory gene coding.

Luckily, the leaders of all three North American nations took action last year. In 2014, President Nieto of Mexico, President Barack Obama of the United States and Prime Minster Stephen Harper of Canada agreed to cooperate in preserving the monarch migration. Obama, in particular, will set aside tracts of land in the Midwest solely for milkweed. However, the success of this effort also rests in the hands of citizen scientists. Researchers annually receive valuable aid from nonprofessionals of all ages who choose to tag and release monarchs. This facilitates more efficient tracking and counting of the monarchs as they complete the migration. With the combined efforts of research scientists, world leaders and everyday citizens, the monarch migration may weather climate change and last beyond this generation.


prism: uf honors magazine spring 2015

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