Mardi Gras is a big holiday in New Orleans with music, parades, floats, great food, and an exciting good time. Mardi Gras is enjoyed every year, starting one month before Ash Wednesday, and building up until the night of Feb. 21 this year (Fat Tuesday). Businesses and roads are practically shut down, and people are in crazy costumes attending parties almost every night.
Saint Leo faculty and students, from the psychology department, attended the Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) Conference in New Orleans on Feb. 15 – 18. Professor Shannon Farris and Professor Tammy Zacchilli and their students presented poster sessions on cyberbullying. The conference took place at the Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street overlooking downtown New Orleans during the Mardi Gras celebration.
The Student Government Union (SGU), has lowered the academic excellence of this school by allowing a prestigious honor to fall by the wayside. Yes, Saint Leo University is now allowing B- average students to speak at commencement, an honor that has traditionally been reserved for the student that exhibits not only academic excellence but exemplifies the Core Values that Saint Leo University holds dear. Yet, with the passing and acceptance of Senate Resolution 2, the Commencement Committee, begrudgingly, has lowered the required speaker GPA to encompass those students who have a 3.0 or higher.
At 12:20 a.m. on Feb. 11, a report was called in to Campus Security stating damage to a curb, lamppost and government owned ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) van on campus. There is no surveillance covering the incident itself, according to Mike D’Ambrosio, Operation Manager of Campus Security. Although “there is no physical witness,” D’Ambrosio said they have gathered enough evidence to involve Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Working with the Sheriff’s office, Campus Security has gathered that the vehicle, heading west, miss-navigated the east turn, hit the curb, and went air born before taking out a lamppost, blowing a tire, and causing extensive damage to the driver’s side of the 10-passenger ROTC van.
Saint Leo is a university that is striving to become more known throughout the state of Florida, the United States, and even the world itself. With the Donald R. Tapia School of business building going up last semester, the University really showed that it could finish construction projects expediently. With the new dormitory building going up right now in rapid fashion to attract more students, along with the new school of business, the parking problem has yet to be resolved. For a number of years now, parking has been a big and growing problem for the Saint Leo’s faculty, on-campus students, and most notably, commuter students.
The first Saint Leo women’s lacrosse Division II game was played Saturday, Feb. 11, but with a disappointing result: a 23-7 loss to nationally-ranked Rollins. Sophomore Stephanie Marran, also of the Lions soccer squad, recorded a hat trick, including the first-ever goal in school history, and freshman Christina Minneci scored two goals in the Lions’ debut.
January 20, 2012, saw the national release of the new Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock movie Extremely Close & Incredibly Loud. Since its release, this movie has enjoyed a modest box office return, strong critical acclaim for the entire cast, and two Oscar Nominations for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for veteran actor Max Von Sydow.
Mark Wahlberg delivers an action-packed performance playing a warm-hearted and well-meaning ex-smuggler who intended to stay on the straight path, until he is pulled into one last heist. Chris Farraday (Makr Wahlberg), a home security salesman who is married to Kate (Kate Beckinsale), a hair salon manager.
Georgia-based indie band, Of Montreal, has just recently released their newest album, Paralytic Stalks; a very modern, poetic, and original work of art. According to several magazines and websites, it has been given quite a bit of critical acclaim, so now, after listening to it, I’m here to give it a little more.
Following the exploits of average teens Andrew (Dane DeHaan), Steve (Michael B. Jordan), and Matt (Alex Russell), Chronicle begins when the friends encounter a mysterious entity that – after afflicting them with days of bloody noses – results in the trio developing advanced telekinetic abilities. The boys quickly discover that their newfound superpowers can be manipulated, honed, and strengthened which results in the ability to control larger objects, as well as mimic other traditional enhanced “abilities,” such as flight and invulnerability. However, as their powers increase, so does their potential to unintentionally (or intentionally) cause harm to others. Ultimately, the friends agree to keep their abilities in check, but it’s a delicate balance that one member of the group – the proverbial loner who has suffered physical and emotional abuse at home and at school – isn’t as ready to accept.