2012 Media Coverage

Minnesota Academic Accepts Post at University of Tampa

By Jerome Stockfisch
The Tampa Tribune
Dec. 27, 2012

The University of Tampa has selected David Stern, an experienced academic executive from Hamline University in Minnesota, as its new provost and vice president for academic affairs. "I look forward to joining President Vaughn and the faculty and staff of UT in building the academic programs to new heights marked by rigorous standards, a focus on student success, and a growing reputation for excellence," Stern said. Full story on David Stern

A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Times.

Students Get Lesson on 'Cyberbullying'

By Kathy Steele
The Tampa Tribune
Dec. 19, 2012

Students at Roland Park K-8 Magnet School recently took a pledge and slipped blue bracelets on their wrists to show their commitment to an anti-cyberbullying campaign. The campaign was brought to the magnet school by seven University of Tampa students who are majoring in education. "We can bring awareness to them about the consequences of their actions," said UT student Maggie McGowan. Full story on Cyberbullying 

Former ROTC Building Provides Space for UT Classrooms, Offices

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
Dec. 19, 2012

After renovations and expansions, a building that formerly housed the ROTC on the University of Tampa's campus will be used for classroom, office and administrative space. East Walker Hall, 509 UT University Drive, is adding 2,500 square feet of space. That increases the building's size to 11,320 square feet. Previously, East Walker Hall was used solely for the ROTC. Now the building will have general classroom space. Full story on Former ROTC building  

Unbelief is Now the World’s Third-Largest ‘Religion’

By Kimberly Winston
Religion News Service
Dec. 18, 2012

A new report on global religious identity shows that while Christians and Muslims make up the two largest groups, those with no religious affiliation — including atheists and agnostics — are now the third-largest “religious” group in the world. Ryan Cragun, a religion sociologist at The University of Tampa who studies the nonreligious, said, “The real question is whether or not the nonreligious are outpacing the religious when it comes to growth.” Full story on Unbelief  

FirstWaVE Venture Center: Shared Space In Downtown Tampa For Startups

By Chris Kuhn
83 Degrees
Dec. 18, 2012

The forthcoming launch of a new collaborative workspace inside Rivergate Tower will attempt to focus collective energy and resources toward supporting area startups and retaining top talent. "This is vital to the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Tampa Bay region and provides one of our missing links in the path to a stronger economy," says Rebecca J. White, professor of entrepreneurship, distinguished chair and director of the Entrepreneurship Center at The University of Tampa. Full story on FirstWaVe 

Teachers Become Science And Math "Masters" At Training Program

By Lynn Hatter
NPR Education (WFSU)
Dec. 17, 2012
 
The Science Math Masters training program is a partnership between the University of Tampa and about 32 rural districts around the state. Ed Moore, head of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, says the program is different because it on using fresh content to teach old concepts. It helps teachers with things like state certification exams. And Moore says the training program helps fill gaps that exist in staffing rural schools. Full story on Science Math Masters training program  

UT's Fine Art Seniors Get to Showcase Their Talent

By Esther Hammer
The Tampa Tribune
Dec. 12, 2012

As it does every year at this time, Scarfone/Hartley Gallery showcases the talents of the December graduating fine art seniors at The University of Tampa. One of the graduates, Sarah Anne Novio, has lately dabbled in experimental and abstract art, though her forte is as a realistic portraitist who conveys a strong sense of character in her work. Since last year, when she was an "Emerging Artist" in the Gasparilla Art Festival, she has grown in strength and maturity. "I've learned so much in the years at UT," said Novio. "I started out as a nursing major but quickly discovered my passion for painting. I found out that if you wanted to be a serious painter, you had to work in the studio every day." Full story on Showcase

Senior Education Students at UT Display Their Knowledge

By Jerome Stockfisch
The Tampa Tribune
Dec. 6, 2012

Two images stand out when Loren Campbell interprets her teaching prowess. They are double-exposure photographs she took, one a standard octagonal stop sign laid over a textbook and worksheet, the other the same stop sign laid over a student's chair. They represent the philosophy she intends to bring into the classroom when she graduates from The University of Tampa with a degree in elementary education in the spring. "Students should be up, interacting, hands-on," she said. "There's so much more that teachers should know before going into the profession and thinking it's just hand out a book, read this, answer that." Full story on Senior Education Students

Steve Otto: Civic Pride on the Decline

By Steve Otto
The Tampa Tribune
Nov. 30, 2012 

From the podium he was leaning against on the ninth floor of the stunning Vaughn Center, Bob Graham could look out over the heads of the 50 or so students, and from the room-length picture window in front of him, he could see not only the University of Tampa building but beyond and across the river to the gleaming towers of the city. He had come to the university as part of the 2012-2013 Florida Governor's Leadership Forum. Put together by former Mayor Pam Iorio, the program is designed to bring former governors to the campus to talk about civic leadership, involvement and responsibility. Full story on Steve Otto

Ex-Gov. Graham Rolls Out UT Lecture Series

By Keith Morelli
The Tampa Tribune
Nov. 28, 2012

From the outset, it was clear the Tuesday afternoon lecture by former Florida Gov. Bob Graham in the room atop the University of Tampa's Vaughn Center — with spectacular views of the campus and downtown Tampa — was no ordinary, one-sided speech. The folksy and engaging Graham delivered not only a talk about his experiences and insights but chatted with the audience of about 50 students and educators about civic leadership and responsibility. "I don't like to give lectures," he said. "What I like to do is engage in discussions." Graham was the first to take part in UT's Governor's Speaker Series for students. Former Govs. Bob Martinez and Charlie Crist are scheduled for talks in the spring. Full story on Lecture Series  

Reconsider Tax Exemptions for Religious Institutions in 'Fiscal Cliff' Discussions

By Bonnie Erbe
Scripps Howard News Service
Nov. 28, 2012

While we're on the topic of the fiscal cliff (that's what everyone's talking about, isn't it?) let's not forget that there's one hefty sum Congress and the president could raise without too much trouble. In April, a University of Tampa professor, Ryan Cragun, and two students examined U.S. tax laws to estimate the cost of tax exemptions for religious institutions. They came to the conclusion that by denying religious institutions tax exemptions on property donations, business enterprises, capital gains on investments and sales and "parsonage allowances," the Treasury could raise as much as $71 billion a year. Full story on Fiscal Cliff  

UT's Selkridge is SSC Volleyball Player of Year

TBO.com
Nov. 28, 2012

The University of Tampa’s Danielle Selkridge was named the All-Sunshine State Conference Volleyball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, while Spartans coach Chris Catanach was named Coach of the Year. Full story on Danielle Selkridge  

Know Thyself: It's Time to Get Men Back on the Yoga Mat

Nancy Loughlin
News-Press
Nov. 26, 2012

Historically, yoga was primarily a practice for men. So, what happened? John Capouya, a University of Tampa journalism professor and author of the cheekily titled book “Real Men Do Yoga” summed it up. First, he said, men don’t like to do anything they aren’t good at. Second, they don’t want to do anything they aren’t good at in front of a group of women. Capouya published the book in 2003, and he said in a telephone interview he is surprised that the number of male yogis hasn’t really increased given the documented benefits of a regular yoga practice. Full story on Know Thyself

It's Official: President Barack Obama Wins Florida During 2012 Election

By Althea Paul
WTSP
Nov. 10, 2012

Four days after the general election, President Barack Obama has officially won Florida. This comes after Saturday marked the deadline for counties to report their results. Associate political professor at The University of Tampa, Scott Paine, said he wasn't too surprised. "On any given poll, the differences were typically in the margin of error and there were some flukes, some high and low results. But when you look at what was happening, month by month, week by week, in almost every one of these states, the Romney campaign was never winning," said Paine. Video on 2012 Election

At Local Polls, Diversity Guides Obama's Triumph

By Mike Salinero
The Tampa Tribune
Nov. 8, 2012

Demographics appear to be key to Hillsborough's political destiny. Nowhere was that more apparent than in a comparison of vote tallies in New Tampa and the wealthier enclaves of South Tampa. Associate Professor Scott Paine said the difference can be found in New Tampa's younger and more diverse residents. "One of the things that drives New Tampa today is its association with (the University of South Florida) and the medical research complex there," said Paine, a former city council member and New Tampa resident. Full story on Local Polls

National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba Has a Busy Day in Ybor City

By John Fleming
Tampa Bay Times
Nov. 7, 2012

The National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba is nearing the end of its 20-city tour, which started Oct. 16 in Kansas City and has covered nearly 6,000 miles in two buses. While other members of the orchestra toured Ybor City, five members of the Cuban national orchestra spent Tuesday afternoon giving individual master classes in violin, cello, clarinet, French horn and percussion for musicians, mostly from UT and USF. Full story on National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba

A similar story appeared in the Tampa Tribune.

Selling A Better Life

By Donald Frazier
Forbes Asia
Nov. 5, 2012

Malaysia’s Vijay Eswaran has decided to branch into an industry where he feels his direct sales and multilevel marketing company could do well. The best products, he decided, promise a personal transformation–better health, more youthful appearance, even physical and spiritual vitality, the kind of thing that’s best explained and sold person to person. “Aspirational products are some of the biggest sellers in the world of multilevel marketing,” said Ronald Kuntze, a UT scholar who has studied the industry. Kuntze, professor of marketing, explained that products such as this can be highly profitable and are almost never returned. Full story on Selling a Better Life  

Cuba’s Orchestra will Perform During Two-Day Visit

Tampa Bay Business Journal
Nov. 1, 2012

The National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba visits the Tampa Bay area for two days and will perform in Ybor City and at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. The visit is part of a cultural exchange program led by the Florida Orchestra, which visited Havana and gave concerts in the fall of 2011. Members of the orchestra also will teach master classes at the University of Tampa as part of its visit. Full story on Cuba's Orchestra

A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Times.

Project Seeks to Map Music's Magic

By Jeremy Campbell
WTVT-FOX
Oct. 31, 2012

In the near future, when you want to hear a certain song or style of music, you may not ask a friend or even a DJ for advice. Instead, your computer will find what you like and maybe even perform for you. Music and technology have merged. A computer can listen to music, too and even catalog it in to groups in a way not so different than a record store. It can even look deeper in a way science has uncovered the secrets to human life. It's a process called the Music Genome Project. "I think it's very democratizing because now you can have people's interests be valued in their own personal level. Whereas before they may have been lumped into a larger statistical category, for example people under the age of 30 who are female. But now you can have more targeted interests which I think is a good thing," said University of Tampa Music Chair Bradford Blackburn. Full story on Map Music's Magic  

11 Amendments on This Year's Ballot Confusing Voters

By Adrienne Pedersen
News Channel 8
Oct. 31, 2012

First-year government students at UT were asked their opinions on this year’s ballot and the long list of amendments, all citing confusion and a concern about making uninformed guesses when they go to vote. For voters who haven’t reviewed the ballot before voting, their voting times might cause lines to be a lot longer than in years past. Full video on 11 Amendments  

Gator or Nole, Bull or Spartan, Your Alma Mater Can Help You Land a Job

By Matt McGlashen
ABC Action News
Oct. 24, 2012

University of Tampa graduate Thomas Meachum thinks where he went to college matters. “Yes, absolutely. Lots of employers understand the value of a UT degree," said Meachum, a Palm Harbor resident. "Plus, there are many other UT graduates that like to hire other UT grads.” Meachum, a certified financial planner with Merrill Lynch, says the university's name did come up and was helpful in the hiring process. “They were very interested in all of my qualifications," he said. "Having the business degrees and practical work experience certainly helped me obtain my current position.” Full story on Landing a Job  

NBC's 'Today' Talks with Crist about Florida Politics

TBO.com
Oct. 21, 2012

The "Today" show with Lester Holt, is broadcasting today from Plant Hall's East Verandah University at the Tampa campus in a special show on the impact of Florida on national politics. Holt's interviews included former Gov. Charlie Crist and humor columnist and author Dave Barry. Holt also thanked the University of Tampa Spartan Marching Band, which played after one of the commercials. Full story on Florida Politics

Similar stories appeared in the Tampa Tribune, Creative Loafing and MSNBC.

Lots of Cash Adds Lots of Ads to Airwaves

By Nicole Debevec
United Press International
Oct. 21, 2012

From now until the U.S. presidential vote on Election Day, millions upon millions upon millions of dollars will be poured into advertising in states considered must-win for both President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Many viewers say they have had enough. There's a name for that reaction, said Erika Matulich, a marketing professor at The University of Tampa. "There is a concept called 'ad wearout,' which means that when our brain is saturated with a particular ad or even type of ad, we simply tune it out," Matulich said. "And if the ads are so plentiful that they are hard to tune out, the attitude toward the advertiser goes down because we get irritated or angry at being bombarded with the ads." Full story on Lots of Cash

A similar story appeared in Businessweek.

University of Tampa Spartans Revisit Football Glory Days

By Erik Erlendsson
The Tampa Tribune
Oct. 19, 2012

Before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before the Tampa Bay Bandits and long before the South Florida Bulls arrived in town, Tampa was Spartans territory. From 1933 to 1974, the University of Tampa football program was the team the town followed, the talk of Saturdays. The UT football program ended after the 1974 season, but this weekend, as UT celebrates homecoming, many members of perhaps the best team in Spartans football history will gather to reminisce and celebrate their 40th anniversary. Full story on Football Glory Days

NBC to Broadcast Sunday from University of Tampa

Tampa Bay Times
Oct. 18, 2012

NBC will feature the University of Tampa on Sunday as part of its presidential coverage. Anchor Lester Holt of the Today show will broadcast live between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. while NBC's Nightly News will broadcast between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., school officials announced. Both will take place from the Plant Hall East Verandah. Full story on NBC Broadcast

Gaither, Steinbrenner Graduates Spark UT’s Ascension

By Kyle LoJacono
Community News Publications
Oct. 17, 2012

The University of Tampa (UT) women’s soccer team can boast an 11-3-1 record and the No. 24 national ranking while being tied for first place of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). The Spartans have outscored opponents 49-9 this season, thanks in large part to the production of two young ladies who once fought for high school supremacy on fields in North Hillsborough County. Sophomore midfielder Lauren Moore and freshman forward Cici Gonzalez, who graduated from Gaither and Steinbrenner, respectively, played against each other three times in high school. The two attended Martinez Middle and had mutual respect for one another; but because they were never on the same team at any level, they were like strangers in UT’s early practices. They had no idea what kind of a scoring duo they would become.

University of Tampa Community Orchestra Debuts

TBO.com
Oct. 17, 2012

Some are students and some aren't, but they all share a love of music. On Tuesday, they were all the same — members of the University of Tampa Community Orchestra. Conductor and faculty member Kira Horel joined UT this fall, bringing with her the goal of starting an orchestra that would combine students and experienced musicians. On Tuesday, the orchestra gave its first concert of the semester at David Falk Theatre. Full story on Community Orchestra  

Couponing Has Changed Over the Past Several Years

By Rod Carter
News Channel 8
Oct. 16, 2012

Couponing has become so popular there is even a television show highlighting the biggest savers. But Associate Professor Jim Lee said manufacturers are distributing fewer coupons now and reducing the amount they are worth. What manufacturers are realizing, said Lee, “is that they aren’t always as effective in terms of being a marketing driver that they were hoping.” Redemption percentages are up however more people are switching to non-branded products to save more money as well. Video on Couponing

Refugee and USF, UT Alum Opens School in Niger

By Keeley Sheehan
Tampa Bay Times
Oct. 14, 2012

With help from fundraising, Dodé Ackey ’12 opened the International Academy of Niamey in Niger, for middle and high school students, in June 2011. "I thought, if I'm able to get an education over here, what I want to do is take the same concept, the same opportunities to people there," he said. Full story on School Opening in Niger  

Community Survey Results Both Substantiate and Surprise

By Melody Jameson
The Observer News
Oct. 11, 2012

Results of an impartial, comprehensive community-wide survey, provided by consultant Erika Matulich, a UT marketing professor, were disclosed during a Sun City Center town hall meeting. Ed Barnes, CA president, called the Matulich survey “a good investment” providing insights into “lots of issues” plus pointing the way for operation of the association in the future. Full story on Community Survey  

Tampa Announces Kelly Gallagher as First Women’s Lacrosse Coach

Inside Florida Lacrosse
Oct. 9, 2012

The University of Tampa has announced that Kelly Gallagher has been hired as its first women’s lacrosse head coach. Gallagher will begin the duties of starting the program immediately as the team will begin competition in the spring of 2014. “She has an exceptional lacrosse background along with the energy and positive attitude that is needed to lead us to success. She is also a high character person who will serve as a role model and mentor to our student athletes,” said athletic director Larry Marfise. Full story on Kelly Gallagher

A similar story appeared on LAXPower.

University of Tampa Lacrosse Field Nears Completion

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
Oct. 2, 2012

Soon drivers and walkers along Kennedy Boulevard will be able to turn their heads and see lacrosse at a new stadium at the University of Tampa. Thanks to a seven-figure donation from Tampa Bay Rays founding partner Vince Naimoli, the university is building an athletics and intramural stadium on the north side of Kennedy. "This will give us probably the best facility in Division II," men's Coach Rory Whipple said. The university's men's and women's lacrosse teams will use the field, as will intramural groups and the ROTC. The women's team begins play in 2013-14. Full story on Lacrosse Field

Bill Aims to Repel Home Invaders

By Chuck Biedka
TribLIVE
Oct. 7, 2012

Efforts to make home invasion a state crime with separate penalties beyond robbery, trespassing or assault are getting a mixed review. Chris Capsambelis, University of Tampa criminology associate professor, said additional penalties won’t do much to deter criminals who accept prison time as a cost of doing business. Full story on Bill  

New, Renovated Buildings Open at University of Tampa

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
Sept. 28, 2012

The classrooms are finished, faculty offices are in use, weight rooms are stocked. It was time to celebrate Thursday at The University of Tampa, where school officials dedicated the Health Sciences and Human Performance building and rededicated the adjacent athletics center. Following construction and major renovations, the center's locker and weight rooms have doubled in size, and there is more than twice as much space in the training room. Full story on New, Renovated Buildings  

University of Tampa Unveils Improved Athletics Center

Tampa Bay Business Journal
Sept. 27, 2012
 
University of Tampa will unveil a renovated and spacious athletic center with new locker rooms, weight rooms and training space all of which are twice the size of those in the previous center said Larry Marfise, UT's director of athletics. The center will be re-dedicated today after the school added 34,000 square feet. Full story on Athletics Center  

$1M Grant Bolsters Tampa Bay Startups, 245 New Jobs

By Kimberly Patterson
83 Degrees
Sept. 25, 2012

A $1 million dollar federal grant has been awarded to USF and its regional partners as part of the U.S. Commerce Department’s i6 challenge. USF along with Tampa Bay WaVE, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, the University of Tampa and other private companies have come together in a partnership to support local tech entrepreneurs in their efforts to get their ideas and products to market. Full story on Grant  

University of Tampa Students Help Out Nonprofits Around the City

By Shelley Rossetter
Tampa Bay Times
Sept. 23, 2012

Volunteering for the University's annual service day, dubbed Into the Streets, about 150 students and staff fanned out across the city to lend a hand at various nonprofits Saturday. "It's a really great opportunity for students to get involved and give back," said Heather Ptak, a student coordinator for the PEACE Volunteer Center, which organized the event. Full story on Students Helping Out Nonprofits  

Percentage of ‘Religious’ Americans Drops

By Kimberly Winston
Religion News Service
Sept. 21, 2012

Religiosity is on the decline in the U.S. and atheism is on the rise, according to The Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism. “The obvious implication is that this is a manifestation of the New Atheism movement,” said Ryan Cragun, a University of Tampa sociologist of religion. Cragun does not believe the poll shows more people are becoming atheists, but that more people are willing to identify as atheists. “What this suggests is … people are feeling less inclined to identify as religious to comply with what it means to be a good person in the U.S.” Full story on "Religious" Americans

Similar stories appeared in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and the Christian Century.  

McCain Criticizes Obama Mideast Policy During Tampa Visit

By Jerome Stockfisch
The Tampa Tribune
Sept. 19, 2012

Arizona Sen. John McCain appeared at The University of Tampa prior to appearances in Orlando and Jacksonville on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The Tampa event was organized as an opportunity for UT students, particularly veterans and members of the school's Reserve Officer Training Corps, to engage with the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Full story on Tampa Visit 

Similar stories appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, Miami Herald, WTSP-Channel 10, ABC Action News and Creative Loafing.

Tampa's Economy Looking Up

By Sarah Curran
WUSF News
Sept. 18, 2012

The Brookings Institute has ranked Tampa 30th out of 100 U.S. metro areas in how much its economy has improved in the last quarter. University of Tampa Economics Professor Lee Hoke says the report is a double-edged sword. That's because the area's economy has a lot of ground to make up. "If you fall harder, you've got further to get up. And that is what has happened, both in terms of losses in employment and increasing unemployment," Hoke said. "And so what it means is we're catching up." Full story on Tampa's Economy  

Sen. McCain to visit Tampa on Tuesday

WTVT-FOX
Sept. 17, 2012

U.S. Senator and former Republican presidential nominee John McCain will be making a stop in the Tampa Bay area Tuesday. He will kick off a Veterans for Romney bus tour at 10:15 a.m. at The University of Tampa, with the tour eventually making stops in Orlando and Jacksonville. Full story on McCain's Visit to Tampa

Similar stories appeared in the Tampa Bay Times and First Coast News.

How to Retire in a Low-Interest-Rate World

By Offain Gunasekara
Bankrate.com
Sept. 12, 2012

Marcus Ingram, chair and associate professor of finance at UT, says today's low-interest rates mean yesterday's calculations may no longer make sense. It's much more difficult now to get even a modest 5 percent return annually on your investments, so the ideal amount needed for a secure retirement has become "a moving target," he says. Full story on How to Retire 

A similar story appeared on Fox Business.

Gonzalez notches first goal, Moore sets program record

By Kyle LoJacono
Lutz News
Sept. 12, 2012

University of Tampa (UT) woman’s soccer player and Steinbrenner High graduate Cici Gonzalez recorded her first career college goal on Aug. 31 in a 3-1 win against Anderson University. Gonzalez scored a pair of goals and recorded two assists in UT’s 13-0 win at home on Sept. 4 against Florida Memorial University, the most goals in a game in program history. Teammate Lauren Moore, a Gaither High graduate, scored a program record five goals in the lopsided victory, all coming in the first half.  

University of Tampa Orchestra Offers Notable Opportunity

By Donna Koehn
The Tampa Tribune
Sept. 8, 2012

For the first time, UT has opened its orchestra not just to students but to anyone in the community skilled enough to pass an audition with conductor and faculty member Kira Horel. She joined UT this fall knowing her first goal would be to start an orchestra that would allow students to play alongside experienced musicians. "There are hidden musicians everywhere," she said. Full story on Orchestra  

Tips From Tampa for Handling A National Convention

By Michael Tomsic
WFAE
Aug. 31, 2012

Linda Devine, vice president for operations and planning, said there are things you can prepare for and things you can’t when it comes to hosting a national convention. She and about 10 other staff members spent the week in a campus dorm room so they’d be readily available if something happened. She said everything went smoothly, but there was one big surprise on campus. "I was coming back from lunch with a colleague, and we crossed the river and we looked over the side of the bridge and we saw a 6-foot alligator," Devine said. She said the waterline around campus was higher because of then-Tropical Storm Isaac, and that must’ve encouraged the gator to come check it out. Full story on Handling a National Convention  

Republicans Cater To Young Voters

Here & Now
Aug. 30, 2012

UT’s Marco Tarentino, chair of the College Republicans, and Mary Lee Gibson, vice president of College Conservatives, were asked about what issues are of importance to young voters. “Often times young voters aren’t keen on economic issues so often tend to associate themselves with social issues,” said Tarentino, who said his top three issues of concern are immigration, education and then the economy. Gibson said pro-life issues are key for her. Full story Republicans Catering to Young Voters  

'You should embrace it,' UT Student Says of RNC

By Kathy Steele
The Tampa Tribune
Aug. 30, 2012

Many students view the Republican National Convention as exciting. Many said they were registered or planned to register to vote. Some had not decided whether to vote for Mitt Romney or President Obama and hoped to learn more about them. "Not many people will be part of another convention, but even if you don't like it you should embrace it," said 18-year-old Amanda West. "It's a part of history. I've never been a part of anything like this." Full story on Amanda West

A touch of Irony: Kennedy a Gateway to RNC

By Alcides Segui
WTVT-FOX
Aug. 30, 2012

A special connection between Tampa and the 35th president, democrat John Fitzgerald Kennedy, is just a twist of irony as Tampa has welcomed thousands of Republican leaders for the 2012 RNC. Art Bagley, reference librarian at UT, said Kennedy visited the Bay area on Nov. 18, 1963. Four days after cruising up and down Tampa roads, he was assassinated in Dallas. "A year after Kennedy was assassinated the city's fathers saw fit to rename Lafayette Boulevard to Kennedy," said Bagley. Today, Kennedy Boulevard is a gateway into the Republican National Convention. Video on A Touch of Irony  

UT Students Go Online for RNC 101

By Alcides Segui
WTVT-FOX
Aug. 30, 2012

This year's UT freshman orientation included a 20-hour RNC 101. The online course will teach freshman students convention history, the delegate selection, security issues and the nominating process. "We use a course management system called Blackboard, and that allows faculty to post things online. Students can access it anytime of the day 24-7," said Joseph Sclafani, interim dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education. Through the web-based class, students take quizzes, participate in chat rooms or they can use it as a launch to various research websites. Full story on RNC 101

US Presidential Candidates Court Youth Vote

By Greg Flakus
Voice of America
Aug. 30, 2012

At the University of Tampa this week, students like Patrick Creedon registered to vote for the first time. Creedon says he likes the Democrats because of their positions on social issues like gay marriage and because of Republican plans to change programs like Medicare, which provides health care for seniors. Student body President Matt Rutkovitz says issues like Medicare are not a concern for most of his contemporaries. "Students aren't necessarily worried about when they are 50, 60, 70 years old, and I just think that Medicare and Medicaid are not important topics for students right now," he said. Full story on Presidential Candidates

Meet the 22-Year-Old Beck Fan

By Madeleine Morgenstern
The Blaze
Aug. 30, 2012

Roland Egenolf isn’t your typical Republican National Convention volunteer. The 22-year-old student came all the way from Germany to lend a hand in Tampa, FL, this week. But aside from the unmistakeable accent in his voice, Egenolf’s politics are right in line with thousands of others gathered at the RNC. “The only party who still really stands for America and is willing to preserve it and the values for which the country stands is the Republican Party and that’s why I’m here,” Egenolf said. Full story on Beck Fan

RNC Provides Unique Opportunity for Students

Elections 
By Crystal L. Lauderdale
Lutz Patch
Aug. 29, 2012

Marketing major Bryce Thomas is one of about 20 interns from the University of Tampa and the University of South Florida recruited by Time Magazine to help promote their RNC and DNC Foursquare badges and their Floor Pass app for the duration of the convention. “It’s another way to interact with different people from different areas … and hear their wisdom,” says Thomas, who has made some connections within her field of study and also met some political influencers like Herman Cain and Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Full story on Unique Opportunity  

University Of Tampa At The Huffington Post's 'What Is Working' Jobs And Solutions Expo

Huffington Post
LiveBlog
Aug. 29, 2012

The Huffington Post hosted a lunch and panel discussion on Wednesday on the issue of jobs and solutions to boost employment. HuffPost College invited two student journalists from The University of Tampa to tweet their impressions as members of a generation with nearly 50 percent unemployment after graduation. Joshua Napier and Chelsea Daubar, the editor in chief and managing editor of The Minaret respectively, take to their smartphones to power the liveblog. Full story on Expo  

Spartan Band Plays 'Don't Stop Believin'

Fox News
Aug. 29, 2012

University of Tampa’s Spartan Band performed live on Fox News as part of the Republican National Convention festivities. Video on Spartan Band

The Reluctant Republican

By Joyce Jones
BET.com
Aug. 28, 2012

Bryce Thomas ’13, a marketing major at UT, is interning this week with CNN/Time magazine. Inspired by an aunt who worked in local government, she views politics as a way to help others. On Nov. 6, Thomas will cast her first vote and is both excited and anguished. "It's a privilege. Women haven't been voting that long and it really inspires me to make sure I make the right [choice] and that it counts as much as possible," she said. "And it's nerve-racking; I feel like my vote holds so much weight." Full story on The Reluctant Republican  

Enthusiasm for Ann Romney

Hardball with Chris Matthews
MSNBC
Aug. 28, 2012

Three UT students were interviewed on Hardball with Chris Matthews regarding their feelings on Ann Romney. Video on Ann Romney

Tampa Announces Hiring Burdick as Assistant Lacrosse Coach

LAX Power
Aug. 28, 2012

UT head lacrosse coach Rory Whipple has announced the addition of Chris Burdick as assistant coach for the 2012-2013 season. Burdick comes to Tampa with extensive coaching experience, most recently at Division I Providence, where he was the head coach for the past 14 seasons. "Chris is one of the top coaches in collegiate lacrosse. His years of experience and accomplishments as a head coach at the Division I level make him an extremely valuable addition to our coaching staff here at Tampa," said Whipple. Full story on Assistant Lacrosse Coach 

Republicans Can Find Religion in Not-So-Religious Tampa

By Lauren Markoe
National Catholic Reporter
Aug. 27, 2012

For those attending the Republican National Convention who need a little contemplative time, Tampa Tribune religion writer Michelle Bearden recommends a short walk to UT’s Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values. "Visit the contemplation rooms, take in the art glass and sculptures, and take a break in one of the two meditation gardens," Bearden said. “If you're lucky, an organist will be playing the chapel's centerpiece: a one-of-a-kind pipe organ, standing 55 feet tall with 3,184 pipes ... it took nearly two years to build and is considered one of the premier instruments in the country." Full story on Not-So Religious Tampa

Students at UT and USF St. Pete Move in as Bay Area Braces for Possible Hurricane, RNC

By Alexandra Zayas and John Woodrow Cox
Tampa Bay Times
Aug. 26, 2012

On both sides of the bay, cars squeezed along cramped curbs filled with duffel bags and cork boards, plastic drawers and Target bags. College students and their parents braced for crowded elevators and goodbyes. The scene looked no different from move-in weekends across the country. Except for that tropical storm a few days away, gaining intensity and moving closer. And that flood of people arriving this weekend, some to attend the Republican National Convention and some to wreak havoc around it. Full story on Possible Hurricane, RNC

Colleges Seek More Ways to Help Students Stay in School

WTVT-Fox
Aug. 22, 2012

More than half the college students in America drop out before graduating. The problem is becoming such an epidemic that schools like UT hired Lorie Kittendorf to be its director of student success. "It's actually a great new position that the University created a little over a year ago to have a point person on campus to focus on persistence initiatives and to help students get to graduation," Kittendorf said. Full story on Helping Students Stay in School  

A View from the Minarets

By Edesa Scarborough
Huffington Post
Aug. 21, 2012

University of Tampa faculty Edesa Scarborough is blogging for the Huffington Post, providing an insider’s view of the 2012 Republican National Convention. Scarborough plans to cull the reflections of UT students, faculty and staff for a daily blog post throughout the convention. Full story on Minarets  

Military Satire Site Manages to Fool Some People

By Howard Altman
Tampa Tribune
Aug. 20, 2012

University of Tampa senior and former Marine Sgt. Paul Szoldra has created a satire site called The Duffel Blog, full of fake news about the military. The site is so popular it's now getting a million page views a month, Szoldra said. But every so often, someone is duped by the site, which dubs itself as "The American Military's Most Trusted News Source." Full story on Military Satire Site 

Similar stories appeared on the Columbia Journalism Review,  ArmyTimes, Stars and Stripes, MarineCorpsTimes and NavyTimes. 

UT Plans for Coexistence with Nearby Republican National Convention

Tampa Bay Times
Aug. 14, 2012

Just a mile away from downtown — where tens of thousands of visitors, delegates and journalists will set the area abuzz with the Republican National Convention — it'll be business as usual for the first week of the University of Tampa's fall semester. While UT is sticking to its planned academic schedule, with classes beginning on Aug. 27, university officials are by no means turning a blind eye to the massive event. For more than a year, committees of faculty, staff and administrators have been working on an RNC plan for the university. Full story on Coexisting with RNC  

Poll Shows Atheism on the Rise in the U.S.

By Kimberly Winston
The Washington Post
Aug. 13, 2012

Religiosity is on the decline in the U.S. and atheism is on the rise, according to a new worldwide poll called The Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism. “The obvious implication is that this is a manifestation of the New Atheism movement,” said Ryan Cragun, a University of Tampa sociologist of religion who studies American and global atheism. Full story on Atheism  

A similar story appeared in the Christian Science Monitor.

Insight: Mormon Church Made Wealthy by Donations

By Peter Henderson
Reuters
Aug. 12, 2012

If the Mormon church were a business, wealthy adherents like Mitt Romney would count as its dominant revenue stream. Its investment strategy would be viewed as risk-averse. It would also likely attract corporate gadflies protesting a lack of transparency. Those are a few of the conclusions that can be drawn from an analysis of the church's finances by Reuters and University of Tampa sociologist Ryan Cragun. Full story on Mormon Church

Similar stories appeared in the Huffington Post,  Yahoo! News, Yahoo! News Canada, MSNBC, The Daily Mail, The Baltimore Sun and Orlando Sentinel.

RNC Offers a Learning Experience for Local College Students

By Kim Wilmath
Tampa Bay Times
Aug. 10, 2012

For many local students, the RNC is offering quite an experiential opportunity. For UT’s Joshua Napier, the editor of the student newspaper, the Minaret, it means media credentials during the convention and a special RNC edition of the Minaret leading up to the RNC. "This is the biggest opportunity I've been given as a student journalist," Napier said. "Definitely great resume material." Full story on Learning Experience 

A similar story appeared in the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

An Unconventional Guide to Charlotte and Tampa

By Henry Alford
New York Times
July 27, 2012

Andy Solomon, a UT professor of English and writing, weighs in on working and relaxing in Tampa during the Republican National Convention. “If you walk over the Hillsborough Bridge to the University of Tampa campus on Aug. 28, you’ll find fraternities all vying to show incoming freshmen that their fraternity is the best. If you close your eyes you may suspect you are inside the Capitol.” Full story on Unconventional Guide

Regent Audit Shows Loss in First Year of Community Center's Operation

By Stephanie Wang
Tampa Bay Times
July 26, 2012

The nonprofit event center Regent spent more than it made in 2011. The Regent has long faced criticism over its misuse of some of the nearly $7 million it received in public money. Experts say an operational loss isn't unusual for an opening year. But audits are just a snapshot. "They're not forecasts," said Maureen Butler, assistant professor of accounting at The University of Tampa. "It could be completely different next year." Full story on Regent Audit  

Connie Mack IV campaign continues tirade against reporter

By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
July 25, 2012

For the third time this year and the second this month the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV has leveled a blistering attack on Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam Smith. But while candidates often find one or more particular journalists they disdain, continuous public attacks are rare. “Maybe it’s a combination of setting the stage and grinding an ax,” said UT political scientist Mary Anderson. “It drives the base but it doesn’t do much for those swing voters,” Anderson said. Full story on Connie Mack IV Campaign

University of Tampa's Profile, Enrollment Rising

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
July 19, 2012

Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the Washington-based American Council on Education, said UT is a “hot” school. In the past decade, enrollment at private, nonprofit, four-year colleges has increased about 30 percent, said Hartle. UT's has increased about 62 percent. "It's a popular institution, and frankly it's popular for the right reasons," he said. "It's got great leadership, and it's building a better university." Full story on Enrollment Rising 

A similar story appeared on NPR.

How the Mormons Make Money

By Caroline Winter
Businessweek
July 18, 2012

There is a spirit of enterprise that animates modern-day Mormonism, in what has become a sprawling church-owned corporate empire that the Mormon leadership says is helping spread its message, increasing economic self-reliance, and building the Kingdom of God on earth. “There are religious groups that own radio stations, but they don’t also own cattle ranches. There are religious groups that own retreats, but they don’t also own insurance companies,” says Ryan Cragun, a sociology assistant professor at UT. “Given their array of corporate interests, it would probably make more sense to refer to them as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Holdings Inc.” Full story on Mormons Making Money

Businessweek’s Mormon Caricature Cover Draws Fire

By Dan Merica
CNN
July 13, 2012

Assistant Professor Ryan Cragun’s study was mentioned in this CNN article on the business side of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His data was cited as saying the church receives around $8 billion in tithing from members each year and is worth around $40 billion. Full story on Mormon Caricature  

Sun City Center Seniors Tackle Survey to Define Their Future Community

By Melody Jameson
The Observer News 
July 5, 2012

A six to eight-month study is being conducted on life in Sun City Center by Erika Matulich, a marketing research professor at The University of Tampa and a business consultant with some 20 years of experience, including with other active retirement communities. She recently wrapped up an assignment in Kings Point. Full story on Sun City Center Seniors

A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Times.  

App Designed to Enhance Children's Museum Tours

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
July 4, 2012

Jeffrey Skowronek and Stephen Blessing, UT psychology professors, are designing an interactive iPad application for use at the Glazer Children’s Museum. "We're building off the idea that when kids get interactive, they'll learn more," Skowronek said. An interactive story on the app involving a parrot will lead children through four exhibits within the downtown Tampa museum. Full story on App for Children's Museum  

This YouTube Video Scored An Entrepreneur $40,000

By Samantha Cortez
Business Insider
July 3, 2012

Nick Chmura '12 was featured by Business Insider for his entrepreneurial skills and the business he created, BetterBoo.com. He caught the attention of investors with his startup pitch which was posted in a YouTube video and story posted by the University of Tampa. Since then his business has grown and he was even featured in Inc. Magazine as one of “America’s Coolest College Start-ups” for 2012. Full story on Entrepreneur

Romney, Guarded about his Mormonism, Faces the Lieberman Challenge

By Ron Kampeas
The Chicago Jewish News
June 29, 2012

Mitt Romney, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, seems to prefer silence in handling his Mormonism in public. However, he should be prepared to accept even greater scrutiny than previous candidates like Joe Lieberman, who is Jewish, because Mormonism is less well known and much younger than Judaism, said Ryan Cragun, an expert in the sociology of religion at the University of Tampa and a former Mormon. “Judaism has been around for thousands of years, many people have been familiar with it,” he said. “The same cannot be said of Mormonism. It's a young religion, it has a number of quirks and oddities, and people want to know more of that.” Full story on Romney's Mormonism

Vet-Targeted Website to be Turned Over to Feds

By Bruce Schreiner
Charlotte Observer
June 27, 2012

A California-based company accused of preying on veterans for their education benefits agreed Wednesday to pay $2.5 million to 20 states and turn over its website - GIBill.com - to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "Definitely a good day for the good guys," said Paul Szoldra ’12, a Marine Corps veteran who has created his own website (www.collegeveteran.com) to help better guide veterans through the minefield of searching for a school and re-entering civilian life. 

This was an Associated Press story that appeared in several publications like the Seattle Times, WMCTV and the News Tribune.  

Let New Technology Enhance Your College Visit

By Kelly Queijo
USA Today College
June 25, 2012

More colleges are going mobile by offering apps that will help keep you informed about campus tours and events while making it easy to navigate the campus by providing interactive, GPS-centric maps. The University of Tampa offers a mobile version of their website which conveniently features information on admissions and campus visits located on the home screen. Full story on New Technology

Worry Over Entrepreneurial Stall Sparks Plan to Attract Startup Talent, Capital

By Robert Trigaux
St. Petersburg Times
June 20, 2012

A new “6/20 Plan,” to help coordinate and encourage business startup and entrepreneurial groups, has been endorsed broadly by the entrepreneurship programs at USF St. Petersburg and the University of Tampa, plus BarCamp Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Technology Forum and more than a dozen other startup, chamber and economic development groups. "Success breeds success,” said Rebecca White, head of entrepreneurship programs at UT. “We've had successes but we need to keep startups here," referring to both companies and talented entrepreneurs who end up leaving the area. Full story on Entrepreneurial Stall

A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Business Journal. 

As Social Networks Rise, Cities Face New Challenges Creating Community

By Peter Baumann
Laramie Boomerang
June 16, 2012

UT Associate Professor Scott Paine told those attending the Wyoming Association of Municipalities 2012 Convention that social networking platforms like Facebook are reshaping how people think about community, and if cities aren’t proactive, the new communities of the 21st century could leave them behind, both in participation and in the ability to provide services. “With the advent of social networking, that old theme has left,” he said. “You don’t have to be living near them, and you don’t have to see them in physical reality, and people are spending more and more time networking, socializing, doing community of some kind with people that they don’t live near.” Full story on Creating Community Challenges  

Republican National Convention Course Required for University of Tampa's First-Year Students

By Erin Mershon
The Huffington Post
June 19, 2012

In late August when nearly 50,000 people descend upon Tampa for the RNC, UT will require its nearly 1,600 first-year students to take RNC 101, an introductory course designed to teach students the history of political conventions and keep them updated on the daily happenings at the event. "This is really about just getting students to understand why it is we're having this disruption, what the importance of a presidential convention is," said Joe Sclafani, interim dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education. Full story on RNC Course  

Atheists Challenge the Tax Exemption for Religious Groups

By Kimberly Winston
The Washington Post
June 14, 2012

Ryan Cragun, an assistant professor of sociology, and UT students Stephanie Yeager and Desmond Vega, examined U.S. tax laws to estimate the total cost of tax exemptions for religious. Their article appears in the current issue of Free Inquiry magazine, published by the Council for Secular Humanism. “It makes little sense for a group like the Red Cross to pay taxes because what they are doing is truly a benefit to all society,” Cragun said. “But if we took religious organizations away, would the government say ‘We really need religious-based charity, so we are going to step in.’ I don’t think they would.” Full story on Tax Exemption

Similar stories appeared in the Tampa Tribune, USA Today, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the National Catholic Reporter and the Tuscon Citizen. 

Efforts Focus on Helping Veterans Find the Right College

By Katy Hopkins
U.S. News and World Report
June 8, 2012

Paul Szoldra ’12, creator of CollegeVeteran.com, offers his advice for veterans looking to earn their college degrees. "I'm not going to sugarcoat this: It's not going be easy," he says. "The one piece of advice I have is to research. If you know what program you want to go into, and you know, at the end of the day, what career you want, you can reverse-engineer the process. Do research and find the institution of higher learning that can best serve you." Full story on Helping Veterans Find the Right College

Szoldra was also quoted in a related story, 6 Tips for Veterans to Succeed in College, which was published by U.S. News and World Report. 

Murder Victim Left Lasting Impact at UT

By Deborah Bowden
WTVT- FOX
May 31, 2012

An arrest was made in the off-campus shooting of Ryan McCall, who has left an impact at the University in terms of increased safety procedures, a partnership with City of Tampa Police to educate the community and a broadened security program at UT. "His legacy, his presence on the track, in the classroom, in our community as a student leader, there isn't a day that goes by that we don't think about Ryan and the impact that he has left on our family," said UT Dean of Students Stephanie Russell Krebs. Full story on Ryan McCall

Similar stories appeared in the Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, WTSP-Channel 10, ABC Action News, Examiner.com, Lakeland Ledger, Miami Herald, Patch.com, WUSF News and Bay News 9.

Tampa Bay Officials are Prepared for a School Shooting Situation

By Fred Shrum, III
Tampa Bay Crime Examiner
May 29, 2012

Schools in the area have action plans should something like a school shooting occur. The University of Tampa takes a multi-pronged perspective and approach with good safety practices and procedures and education. The University utilizes a campus-wide Emergency Operations Team who receives periodic training on active shooters. They also partner with the Tampa Police Department. Full story on Preparing for a School Shooting Situation  

College Word of the Year Contest Contenders

By Dan Reimold, guest blogger
Washington Post
May 29, 2012

Journalism Assistant Professor Dan Reimold has collected words and phrases for what he is calling the “2011-2012 College Word of the Year Contest.” “They offer a unique glimpse at what students participated in, talked about, fretted over, and fought for this past fall and spring,” said Reimold. Several on the list include boomerangers, drunkorexia and FOMO. Full story on College Word of the Year

Similar stories appeared on Study Magazine, WDIV-DET, WCNC-CLT and KPNX-PHX. 

Ruth Eckerd Hall Announces Program for High School, College Students

By Mike Brassfield
Tampa Bay Times
May 26, 2012

Ruth Eckerd Hall and the entertainment production company PRG — known for its work on Super Bowl halftime shows and the Olympics — will conduct four daylong seminars over the next school year for up to 50 students from Tampa Bay, including those from UT. Students will get hands-on teaching about lighting, audio and scenery with the help of industry pros using the newest technology. PRG also will offer paid summer internships for the most promising students. Haig Mardirosian, dean of the University of Tampa's College of Arts and Letters, viewed the initiative as a step forward for regional cooperation: "We may not have high-speed rail, but we've got a causeway and we've got the arts." Full story on Ruth Eckerd Hall Program

Connections: Entrepreneur Clubs Ideate, Create Solutions for the World

By Chris Kuhn
83Degrees
May 22, 2012

The entrepreneurship program and club helps connect aspiring business owners who use each other for inspiration and help. "The highly successful entrepreneurs that I've met have taken time to give me advice and they don't have to do that, but I think they realize they were once in our shoes and were probably helped themselves and want to pay it back," said Paul Szoldra ’12. Full story on Connections  

Dozens of Tampa Bay Area Nonprofits Raise Millions without Incurring Fundraising Expenses

By Jamison Uhler
ABC Action News
May 18, 2012

Every year, nonprofits fill out the IRS's 990 tax form, reporting on every penny they get either through grants, donations and fundraising. But ABC Action News uncovered more than 140 Tampa Bay area charities, in their most recent publicly-available 990, show they raised at least a million dollars or more, but they may not have accurately reported expenditures to raise those funds. “In some cases it could be a mistake. In some cases it could be intentional. And in some cases it could be lack of education,” said Maureen Butler, who teaches the nonprofit certification program at UT. Full story on Nonprofits Raising Millions  

Tampa Bay Water Solution Simple: Charge Heavy Users More

By Robert Beekman and Brian Kench, Special to the Times
Tampa Bay Times
May 17, 2012

Robert Beekman and Brian Kench, business faculty at UT, proposed an alternative solution to the recent water restrictions that have come because of the draught. Rather than restricting water usage, the two suggested increasing the cost of water for higher usage. They suggest the price mechanism will do a sufficient job in allocating resources. Full story on Tampa Bay Water Solution  

Finding Roots in a New Home

By Kristin Wright
WTVT – Fox 13
May 16, 2012

The 100-year-old grand oak tree on The University of Tampa’s campus has been moved 400 feet to its new home, making room for a new athletic complex. Video on Finding Roots in a New Home

Similar stories appeared in the St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune and Bay News 9.

Boozing and Buying

WTVT - FOX
May 16, 2012

Retailers are using consumers’ desire to drink alcohol while they shop in their marketing strategies. "I think everybody knows that when you have a special event and you do serve wine or other alcoholic beverages, people are going to be more likely to shop," said University of Tampa's Marketing Professor Erika Matulich. Full story on Boozing and Buying  

UT Baseball to Host NCAA Regional

By Travis Bell
WTSP – Channel 10
May 14, 2012

The top-ranked University of Tampa baseball team has been awarded the 2012 NCAA Division II South Region Baseball Tournament, which will include a total of eight teams. The double-elimination tournament will begin Thursday, May 17, and end with Monday's regional title games. Full story on NCAA Regional  

As Florida Graduates Hit the Market, Some Tough Pearls of Wisdom

By Robert Trigaux
Tampa Bay Times
May 13, 2012

In a wrap-up of commencement speakers from Florida institutions, The University of Tampa’s speaker, Raymond James Financial chief operating officer Dennis Zank was noted. He offered a 21st century, global competition update to the old "work hard, play hard" mantra. Now it's "work, work, play," he said. "This motto is something deeply embedded into the Raymond James culture and reinforces the absolute necessity of hard work," he said. Full story Tough Pearls of Wisdom

Nonbelievers Flex Their Political Muscles

By Kimberly Winston, Religion News Service
The Washington Post
May 9, 2012

One of the biggest growth areas in political activism around religion is coming from the nonreligious. Ryan Cragun, an assistant professor of sociology at UT, sees the growing political organization among nontheists as a sign of their maturation as a movement. “They are reaching a level of maturity where organization is necessary to maintain structure and keep the movement going,” Cragun said. “But until you are talking about lots of money or lots of voters — and I don’t think they have either of those at this point — I don’t think they are going to be national players.” Full story on Political Muscles

Similar stories appeared in the Huffington Post and Religion News Service. 

UT Moving Grand Oak Tree for Lacrosse Stadium

By Kathy Steele
The Tampa Tribune
May 8, 2012

The feat of digging up, moving and replanting a grand oak tree takes a lot of love and some careful planning. It is no small matter to move about 70 feet of shade from one spot on the campus of The University of Tampa to another spot about 400 feet away. But arborists expect to complete the task by the end of the week. The process is not new to the University which moved two grand oaks in 1999. Full story on Moving Grand Oak Tree

A similar story appeared on WTVT-FOX 13 and ABC Action News.

Weighing the Importance of the GPA

By Josh Cascio
WTVT-FOX 13
May 4, 2012

With options to boost a GPA, like AP, honors and dual-enrollment classes, it begs the question, how high of a grade point average should students aim for? "There's really not a single answer for that," said Dennis Nostrand, the vice president for enrollment at The University of Tampa. Nostrand says it all depends on which schools the student is considering, and their interests. Full story on the Importance of GPA  

UT Professors Get Lesson on Coping with RNC

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
May 2, 2012

UT recently posted some advice on its website to professors with recommendations for coping with the Republican National Convention in August. In addition to planning for traffic delays, UT encouraged professors to invite candidates for local offices to speak on campus during that week. Full story on Coping with RNC  

Janet McNew to Retire as University of Tampa Provost

Tampa Bay Business Journal
April 30, 2012

Janet McNew, provost at the University of Tampa, plans to retire at the end of the next academic year. UT President Ron Vaughan will appoint a committee to conduct a national search for her successor. McNew is starting her seventh year at UT as leader of its academic affairs. Full story on Janet McNew Retirement  

US Veterans Targeted by Marketers in College Selection Process

By Dan Toman
Akron News Now
April 30, 2012

The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers financial support for veterans' education, leading some marketers to target vets with deceptive advertising about college opportunities and President Obama to sign an executive order on Friday to curb those abuses. Paul Szoldra, a senior at UT, will be the first of his family to graduate from college. During his eight years at the United States Marine Corps, Szoldra also obtained a degree from the for-profit University of Phoenix. "We're always marketed to by the for-profits," Szoldra told ABC News. Full story on Veterans Targeted by Marketers

A similar story appeared in Mason County Daily News.

Students Beat Test Stress

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
April 28, 2012

On the last day of classes before final exams begin, University of Tampa sophomore Nick Oliveri figured out a good way to beat the stress. He climbed on the roof of a Kia Sedona and pummeled the van with a sledgehammer. "I really wanted to do some damage," the 20-year-old digital art major said. "I think it might've broken through the roof a little bit." Oliveri's stress reliever was part of an event on campus to benefit UT’s Interfraternity Council. Full story on Students Beating Test Stress  

When Start of School and RNC Converge, UT Will Be Prepared

By Ashley Jeffery
Bay News 9
April 28, 2012

Come August, 150,000 people will make their way to downtown Tampa for the Republican National Convention. Students will be arriving back at school at the same time. Because of the protest activity and traffic issues the City of Tampa is expecting, the UT campus is making changes to make sure students can still get to and from classes safely. Full story on Start of School and RNC  

Risky Education

By Alex Mahadevan
Gulf Coast Business Review
April 27, 2012

Rebecca White, director of UT’s Entrepreneurship Center, said one of the challenges of training the next crop of entrepreneurs is this generation’s natural inclination to avoid risks. To help change the risk-averse tendencies of potential and current students, White has tapped the Tampa Bay business community for help. Full story on Risky Education  

Bartow Officials' Romance Draws Complaint

By Suzie Schottelkotte
Lakeland Ledger
April 25, 2012

A romantic relationship between Bartow City Manager George Long and Karen Hielscher, the city's customer service director, has triggered an anonymous letter to city commissioners asking them to take action. "I think the standard answer on this is the best practice is to limit the opportunity or permissibility of relationships between supervisors and subordinates in any circumstance," said Scott Paine, associate professor at UT. "You don't get involved in romantic liaisons with people you supervise. That's straight-up Management 101." Full story on Bartow Officials' Romance

Jaws: Fact or Fiction?

WFLA’s Daytime
April 25, 2012

With Universal Studios’ digitally restoring Jaws, UT’s Associate Professor Dan Huber weighs in on the movie’s impact on sharks. “After Jaws, lot of people went out and started killing sharks in large quantities, because they felt they had to get revenge against these aggressive animals that were presumably waiting to eat us, but that’s definitely very far from the truth,” said Huber. “There is a one in 12 million chance of being attacked by a shark. The numbers are astonishingly in our favor.”

UT Journalists Go Old School with Campus Newspaper

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
April 25, 2012

Students working for UT’s newspaper went old school this month, removing modern technology while producing a four-page special section for The Minaret. "We went thought a lot of paper and a lot of scraps, a lot of tries and retries," said 18-year-old Chelsea Daubar, the paper's assistant news editor. The Minaret is the second student publication to take part nationwide in the "All on Paper" project. Full story on Campus Newspaper  

Student Loan Interest to Double in July

By Kristin Wright
WTVT-FOX 13
April 24, 2012

Student loan debt in the United States is astronomical and could get worse, if Congress doesn't act by July first when a rate cut is set to expire. UT Financial Aid Director Jackie LaTorella says nearly 60 percent of students at the university receive federal loans. "Students are definitely becoming more realistic about what their ability to pay may be after they graduate," said LaTorella, who hopes Congress acts fast to stop the subsidized Stafford interest rate from doubling. LaTorella says if Congress doesn't intervene, students could be forced to take out alternative loans that are harder to get. Full story on Student Loan Interest  

UT Professor Explains Mormonism, Romney View

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
April 24, 2012

People have many misconceptions about Mormonism and plenty of questions about the presidential candidate's beliefs. But while the religion has its quirks, its practices shouldn't cause people not to vote for the presumptive Republican nominee, said University of Tampa professor Ryan Cragun. Cragun, a former Mormon and current assistant professor of sociology at UT, explains Mormon beliefs in a book he co-authored, "Could I Vote For a Mormon For President? An Election-Year Guide to Mitt Romney's Religion.” Full story on Romney's View on Mormonism  

University of Tampa Student to Lobby Congress This Week

By Chris Hopper
Bay News 9
April 22, 2012

University of Tampa sophomore elementary education major Nicole Cawsey is a far cry from a seasoned Washington, DC lobbyist. But the UT student is getting the chance of a lifetime to stand in front of national lawmakers and fight for something she believes in. “I tend to be outgoing and persuasive, and my parents always said I needed to go into government,” Cawsey said. Cawsey is one of only 94 undergraduates in the nation chosen to lobby for a bill that supports affordable education and improved student housing. Full story on Congress Lobby

New USF Rules Puts Damper on Smoking

By Mary Shedden
The Tampa Tribune
April 22, 2012

A new smoking policy at USF is compared against other university policies in the state, including UT’s. Gina Firth, associate dean of wellness at The University of Tampa, said UT is developing a new policy toward tobacco use. Currently, smoking is banned indoors and within 25 feet of any building or entrance. The student-led "Breathe Easy University of Tampa" effort is critical to acceptance, as about 70 percent of the 7,000 students live on campus, Firth said. "We don't want aggressive behavior," she said. "That's not going to get the message across." 

Lewes resident Kirstin Pollock selected as Miss Florida Spirit 2012

Cape Gazette
April 12, 2012

UT student Kirstin Pollock has been selected to represent the state of Florida as Miss Florida Spirit 2012. She will compete in the national American Spirit Pageant to be held May 31 to June 3 in Orlando, FL. Pollock, 19, is studying communications and recently joined the honors program. She is also a sister of the Delta Beta Chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority. Her personal platform is Be The Match, the national bone marrow donor registry. Full story on Kirstin Pollock  

UT Student's Business Gains National Attention

By Kristy Wolski
Bay News 9
April 11, 2012

UT’s Nick Chmura, Student Government president, has received national attention for his business, BetterBoo.com, which was recently named by Inc. Magazine as one of “2012’s Coolest College Start-ups.” Full story on Student's Business  

Bart Ehrman’s New Portrayal of Jesus is Surprisingly Sympathetic

By Yonat Shimron
Washington Post
April 3, 2012

In “Did Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth,” Bart Ehrman soundly refutes the arguments of his audience—atheists, agnostics and humanists — that early storytellers invented Jesus. Largely missing from the quarrel is an acknowledgment of how far atheists and agnostics have come. “They’re squabbling over the existence of a man, not a messiah or a god,” said Ryan Cragun, a sociologist at The University of Tampa. “No one is saying Jesus was God. If you step back it’s not that cataclysmic.” Full story on New Portrayal of Jesus  

UT Breaks Ground On New Residence Hall

By Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
83 Degrees
April 3, 2012

Ground was broken on the University's seventh residence hall -- tentatively named Residence Hall VII -- on March 22nd on-campus at North A Street between North Boulevard and North Brevard Avenue. At approximately 193,000-square-feet, Residence Hall VII will house 523 rooms total. Each room will be suite-style with a common living room, four single bedrooms and two bathrooms. Full story on New Residence Hall

A similar story appeared in South Tampa Patch.

UT To Build Athletic Facility On Kennedy

By Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
83 Degrees
April 3, 2012

The University of Tampa (UT) plans to build a new student intramural and athletic field and stadium. In the midst of a $38 million residence hall project, the university will begin construction on the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex, a multipurpose field and 1,450-seat stadium located on the west side of campus, on the north side of Kennedy Boulevard. Full story on Athletic Facility

Similar stories appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Tribune and Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Water Taxis May Move UT Students During RNC Convention

By Carson Chambers
ABC Action News
April 2, 2012

When tens of thousands of people flood downtown Tampa for the Republican National Convention, the University plans to tighten security. "We'll want to make sure that we tell by sight who needs to be here," said Vice President of Operations and Planning Linda Devine. Students and faculty will be required to wear neon green or orange lanyard IDs. Those who don't will stand out. It's just one creative way UT will handle challenges of the convention's proximity. Full story on Water Taxis  

Entrepreneurship Conference at UT Highlights the Brightest Ideas

By Kristy Wolski
Bay News 9
March 24, 2012

The University of Tampa welcomed about 200 students from across the country this week for the annual Southeastern Entrepreneurship Conference. “Our goal is to build the Tampa Bay region by educating these young men and women and helping to create prospective entrepreneurs,” said Rebecca White, UT professor of entrepreneurship. “And then keep them here in the Tampa Bay region.” Full story on Entrepreneurship Conference and Video on Entrepreneurship Conference  

A University of Tampa Class on Socioeconomic Class

By Janelle Irwin
WMNF 88.5 FM
March 13, 2012

Paul Hillier said it’s not true that Americans don’t like to talk about class. Hillier is an assistant professor in UT’s Department of Communication and he tells students that examples of socioeconomic class are everywhere, especially in the media. During an honors symposium at UT in February, Hillier said he thinks the way it’s portrayed is all wrong. "If you’re in a particular class, it’s your fault, it’s your problem. It’s not society’s problem. And it masks and erases the notion that it’s something that we can address together; something that we can address socially." Full story on Socioeconomic Class  

Off to a Good Start: The University of Tampa Lacrosse Program

By Paul Driscoll
Tampa Bay Times
March 9, 2012

After several years of being a club sport, the University of Tampa now has a collegiate lacrosse team. The Spartans are in good hands with head coach Rory Whipple, who launched his fourth startup college lacrosse program with UT. "We're trying to challenge for a Deep South Conference Championship and right now we're undefeated (in conference play)," Whipple said. "We're going to take each game one by one and try to win the conference championship. It would be pretty exciting and a great accomplishment for our players and our program." Full story on Lacrosse Program  

University of Tampa Tweaks Schedule for Convention Week

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
March 9, 2012

The Republican National Convention coincides with the beginning of fall semester at The University of Tampa, and the event will cause a major disruption on campus. But the school just across the Hillsborough River from downtown Tampa has decided to continue with its regular academic schedule. The Aug. 27 to 30 convention “presents an unprecedented opportunity for UT students to study our political process," the university's website states. Video and story on Schedule Tweak 

A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Times.

A Day in the Life

By Carol Joseph
Naples Daily News
March 9, 2012

Just like his father before him, David Wistocki, a junior at UT pursuing a dual major in accounting and entrepreneurship, has been working from a young age. He started his own business as a disc jockey when he was 12. Although he does some work in Tampa for University events, the majority of Wistocki's business is in Naples, where he got his start. So almost every Friday afternoon, after his classes end, Wistocki packs his car and drives to Naples where he'll DJ two and sometimes three events before heading back to Tampa on Sunday. "If I work hard now, the reward will pay off later, I'm hoping," said Witsocki. Full story on David Wistocki  

'Shark Tank' Features Brothers' Skin Care Line Nardo's Natural in St. Pete Beach

By Katherine Snow Smith
Tampa Bay Times
March 7, 2012

Nardo's Natural, a skin-care business run by four brothers (including one UT alumnus) in St. Pete Beach, will be on the reality show Shark Tank at 8 p.m. Friday on ABC. The 3-year-old company's four owners presented a business plan to a panel of self-made multimillionaires and billionaires in hopes that they would invest in the business and finance more growth. Though they are Pennsylvania natives, three of the brothers moved here permanently after Danny Mastronardo ’07 graduated from UT. Full story on 'Shark Tank' Feature

A similar story appeared in the Times Herald

University of Tampa Appoints Cole Associate Provost

Tampa Bay Business Journal
March 6, 2012

The University of Tampa has appointed Katharine Cole as associate provost and dean of academic services. Cole currently is the associate dean of undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida. Full story Katharine Cole  

Aspiring Artist in Tampa Follows His Dream

By Chris Hopper
Bay News 9
March 6, 2012

It only took one painting class at The University of Tampa for senior Jeremy Bell to realize painting was his true passion. "I got that feel of being in the studio and working with the materials it was just like falling in love all over again," he said. Bell first went into the military looking for something more realistic rather than becoming what he calls a starving artist. But he had to follow his dream. "I just remember being here in the studio and working with the charcoal and feeling it on my fingers and just seeing the way the materials interacted with each other," said Bell. "It tugged me, it yanked me right back." Full story on Aspiring Artist  

UT Runners Sweep 5k Events

By Bill Ward
TBO.com
March 4, 2012

On March 3, Charles Toledo ’13, got to bask in a little sunshine of his own by emerging from a strong field to win the Publix Super Markets 5-kilometer race. Toledo overcame the competition – and temperatures that climbed near 80 degrees by midmorning – to cover the 3.1-mile course in 15 minutes, 35 seconds. Women's 5k winner Jessica Butler also is a member of the UT cross country and track squads. And after suffering two illnesses that nearly wiped her entire 2011 season as a runner for the Spartans, a healthy Butler showed what she could accomplish by winning Saturday's race in 17:45. Full story on UT Runners  

Gonzalez, Crate Win Again in Gasparilla Half Marathon

By Bill Ward
TBO.com
March 4, 2012

University of Tampa's Elias Gonzalez ’04 braved blustery winds and falling temperatures Sunday morning to successfully defend his individual title at the Gasparilla Half Marathon presented by Sports Authority in Tampa. The 35-year-old Gonzalez, a former standout runner for UT now working for the county tax collector’s office, led the field of 4,693 runners from start to finish, covering the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 13 seconds. Full story Gasparilla Half Marathon Win  

Student Newspapers Try New Strategies to Beat Financial Challenges

By Beckie Supiano
The Chronicle of Higher Education
March 4, 2012

Student newspapers face many of the same challenges as their professional counterparts, particularly in finding a way to make money online. Dan Reimold, UT assistant professor who follows news about student papers on his blog, College Media Matters, said the challenges campus papers face haven't necessarily changed much in recent years, he says; they have simply continued, making matters worse over time. "I think finally it's the student papers' turn," he says. Full story on Student Newspaper  

The Owner of Two Businesses, This UT Student is Driven to 'Dominate'

By Chris Hopper
Bay News 9
March 4, 2012

Jared Shlager ’14 not only eats, sleeps and studies in his dorm room, but he also runs two businesses out of it. He started a pet product design company when he was 16 and, in October, started an online business through which he sells healthy pet products. Of course, Shlager would like to be able to bum around the University of Tampa campus, hang out with friends more and enjoy this beautiful Florida weather, but now it's about managing his time. "So you have to learn how to manage your time, and sometimes you have to sacrifice, like, hanging out with friends or sleep even." Full story on Jared Shlager  

America's Coolest College Start-ups 2012

By Nicole Carter
Inc. Magazine
March 4, 2012

BetterBoo, a startup Internet site created by UT Student Government President Nick Chmura, has been named one of the Coolest College Startups by Inc. Magazine for 2012. He is listed as one of 19 startups. Full story on Coolest College Start-ups

Tampa Police PSA Advises College Students of Dangers around RNC

By Ashley Jeffery
Bay News 9
March 3, 2012

The relative serenity of the University of Tampa campus will turn to organized chaos when the Republican National Convention descends on downtown Tampa in August. The University of Tampa Student Government Association recognizes the need for student awareness. When it comes down to it, students said they're glad the city and their school are putting their safety first. Full story on Tampa Police PSA

A similar story appeared on Central Florida News 13.

Emerging Artists Find Their Place at Gasparilla Festival

By Esther Hammer
The Tampa Tribune
March 2, 2012

The 42nd Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is one of the largest outdoor art festivals in the country, consistently delivering top-quality one-of-a-kind creations in a variety of styles and media. The University of Tampa's art department is showcased this weekend in that two of its senior art students will show in the Emerging Artist category. Jeremy Bell and Sara Novio are both figurative painters who have studio space next to each other at UT. Full story on Gasparilla Festival  

Tech Company Site Visit on the Agenda for UT China Trip

Tampa Bay Business Journal
March 1, 2012

A mix of local business leaders and University of Tampa faculty are headed to China. The weeklong trip is part of the UT's Sykes College of Business inaugural Global Access Partnership. The group is slated to visit Beijing and Hong Kong cultural areas, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The trip is designed for the group to experience the nuances of global markets and cultures firsthand as to infuse international competence into the Tampa Bay business community. Full story on UT China Trip

University of Tampa Produces Video Warning of Crime

By Chip Osowski
TBO.com
Feb. 28, 2012

“We don’t ever want the message to be stay in your dorm room,” said Stephanie Russell Holz, dean of students. “The goal is safety. The goal is awareness.” She said students should take a cab and stay with friends, “and really just try to make good safety choices at night.” Video on Warning of Crime

Similar stories ran on ABC Action News and WTVT-FOX 13.

University of Tampa Group Takes Educational Trip to Cuba, Despite Ongoing U.S. Trade Embargo

By Liz McKibbon
WMNF 88.5 FM
Feb. 23, 2012

A group of University of Tampa students and professors traveled to Cuba as part of a cultural studies class. They presented their experiences to a standing-room-only crowd at UT’s Vaughn Center Feb. 22. Seventeen students and three professors made the trip from east to west across Cuba, mirroring the path of many revolutionary movements they studied as part of the course. “All throughout the city at night, there are festivals going on, little parties, people celebrating the music, celebrating the culture, being one with each other and bonding in their communities,” said student Eric Kahler. “And it was just something that as an outsider, I felt welcome, though, to be a part of. I felt brought in by the Cuban people and it was an experience I’ll never forget.” Story, audio and video on Trade Embargo  

Robert Rahway Zakanitch's Patterned Paintings Hint at Our Memories

By Lennie Bennett
St. Petersburg Times
Feb. 23, 2012

Pattern and color are on view big time at Scarfone/Hartley Gallery at The University of Tampa. Robert Rahway Zakanitch, a painter, is a founder of the pattern and decorative movement, which gained momentum in the 1970s. Zakanitch's most famous work is the Big Bungalow Suite, five acrylic-on-canvas panels, each measuring a monumental 11 by 30 feet, and one of them is in this show. Getting the big one is a coup for the area, and we can thank Dorothy Cowden, the gallery's director, who also directs the visiting artist program in the print studio on campus. Full story on Robert Rahway Zakanitch

A similar story appeared on WTVT-FOX 13.

Food, Fuel and Efficiency Key Areas of Industry Growth at Fellows Forum

By Chris Wilkerson
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Feb. 21, 2012

The University of Tampa’s 25th Fellows Forum was buzzing with energy Tuesday morning — in part because two of the three speakers are in the business of fueling things. Dave McCurdy, president and chief executive officer of the American Gas Association, and Jim Prokopanko, president and CEO of the Mosaic Co., both spoke on how their companies see fuel, whether it is for people or machines, as an important national issue. Full story on Industry Growth

'It's a First-World Problem'

By Jeremy Campbell
WTVT-FOX 13
Feb. 17, 2012

Relatively minor problems, like cell phone batteries dying or the ocean being too cold to swim in on a winter day, have been dubbed “First World” problems by those venting on Twitter with the hashtag #FirstWorldPains. "Three billion people, half the world's population, live on less than $2.50 a day. That's how we look at poverty globally," said Joshua Hall, UT assistant professor of economics, putting First World problems in perspective. Full story and video on 'It's a First-World Problem'  

Mindful of History, Mormon Church Reaches out to Minorities

By Hamil R. Harris
Washington Post
Feb. 17, 2012

Since the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began ordaining African American men into the priesthood in 1978, after the church’s then-president said he had a revelation from God, Mormons have reached out to minorities and worked to address the religion’s racially fraught history. The number of blacks embracing the faith is climbing. Ryan Cragun, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Tampa, said there were almost 3.2 million Mormons in the United States in 2008. About 94,700, or 3 percent, were black. Full story on Mormon Church Reaching Out to Minorities

Similar stories appeared in the Charlotte Observer and Daily Herald.

JD Alexander's Influence Wanes

By Craig Patrick
WTVT-FOX 13
Feb. 17, 2012

Term limits are forcing JD Alexander out of the Florida Senate. His plan to cut USF's budget by nearly 60 percent will now be challenged by Will Weatherford, a rising leader in the Florida House. "As people realize that the budget is no longer on his (Alexander's) desk... his influence diminishes dramatically," said Scott Paine, an associate professor of government and world affairs at UT. Full story on JD Alexander

Will Lobbying Effort Defeat USF Cuts?

By Craig Patrick
WTVT-FOX 13
Feb. 15, 2012

Thousands of students and local business leaders are urging state lawmakers to not cut USF's budget by nearly 60-percent. "These things, especially when they come in big numbers, scare legislators," said University of Tampa’s Scott Paine, an associate professor of government and world affairs. Full story on Lobbying Effort

Freddie Solomon, 59, Dies after Nine-Month Battle with Cancer

By Rick Stroud
St. Petersburg Times
Feb. 14, 2012

Freddie Solomon was called by many endearing names during his remarkable football career. As the lightning fast option quarterback at The University of Tampa, he was Fabulous Freddie. As a two-time Super Bowl champion receiver with the San Francisco 49ers, teammates referred to him as Casper the Friendly Ghost. To the young people he mentored for more than two decades, he was Coach Solomon. Solomon died Monday after a nine-month battle with colon and liver cancer. He was 59. Full story on Freddie Solomon

Similar stories appeared in Sports Illustrated, Tampa Tribune, CBS News, MiamiDolphins.com, Tri-City Herald, The Register-Guard and the Huffington Post.

UT Joins Lacrosse Boom Among Florida Colleges

By Dan Lucas
TBO.com
Feb. 13, 2012

Lacrosse, a mainstay sport at Northeast colleges, finally has roots in Florida, which has five NCAA Division II programs. UT’s Coach Rory Whipple, the winningest active coach in Division II with 229 wins, hit the Northeast hard and found several athletes interested in coming to the Sunshine State. "We want to be the college that's recruiting the best kids from Florida to come to Tampa," Whipple said. "Also, the local kids - it's booming at the high school level." Full story and video on Lacrosse Boom  

Air Kisses: Same Price, Less Chocolate

By Chris Chmura
WTVT-FOX 13
Feb. 10, 2012

Hershey's new Air Delight brand tastes the same as its predecessors, but infuses select bars and Kisses with an ingredient that's typically free: Air. "It's great value for them, because they can reduce their costs and still sell their chocolate," said University of Tampa marketing professor Erika Matulich, who added that the aerated chocolate business is worth billions worldwide. Story and video Air Kisses

University of Tampa Clears Land on West Kennedy, Plans to Build

By Carson Chambers
ABC Action News
Feb. 10, 2012

What's unfolding on a swath of land just west of the University of Tampa's campus will help transform the downtown Tampa corridor. "I would say that what we're doing on Kennedy is going to be a dramatic improvement for the way you come into or leave downtown," said Daniel Gura, vice president for development and university relations for UT. The University is building a new $38 million residence hall along Kennedy Boulevard, is giving a facelift to the Bob Martinez Athletic Center and this week crews started clearing two additional UT-owned parcels on Kennedy Boulevard. Full story on Plans to Build

UT Art Students Painting for a Cause

By Kathryn Bursch
WTSP – Channel 10
Feb. 7, 2012

Several UT art students have donated a piece to the Florida Holocaust Museum to help the St. Petersburg facility raise funds. "The idea of equality and fighting for human rights, a lot of people don't do that type of stuff nowadays," said Princess Smith about the museum. Said Jeremy Bell, "Spending the time to give back to the community and knowing it's being put towards a positive cause, making a difference, especially towards children, it really means a lot and I'm glad I could be a part of it." Full story and video on Art Student

Kids in Foster Care 3 Times More Likely to Get Dangerous Drugs

By Mike Deeson
WTSP – Channel 10
Feb. 7, 2012

Twelve percent of children in Florida who have been removed from their homes and are in state foster care are prescribed psychotropic drugs. "Very often these children are given drugs that were not intended or tested for children. It's called 'off label use,'" says UT psychology professor Joseph Sclafani. "The problem is sometimes they are overprescribed and we don't know when to stop and we don't know what the long-term effects are going to be down the road, because the child's brain is still developing," he says. Full story and video on Kids in Foster Care  

Florida Nursing Education Programs Post Big Gains

Tampa Bay Business Journal
Feb. 6, 2012

An effort by Florida lawmakers to address the nursing shortage in the state has led to significant increases in student enrollment and graduates. At UT 39 graduates of the Bachelor of Science in nursing program took the test in 2011, compared to 35 exam takers in 2010 and 56 exam takers in 2009. While 100 percent of the UT graduates passed in 2009 and 2010, the passage rate fell to 97 percent in 2011. Full story Nursing Programs

Senior White House Officials Hear from Hispanic Community at Tampa Summit

By Shelley Rossetter
Tampa Bay Times
Feb. 4, 2012

The University of Tampa played host to more than a dozen senior White House officials and policy makers on Feb. 3 as they met with Hispanic leaders and community members in Tampa to discuss issues affecting the area's Latino population. Education, the economy and immigration were at the top of the list for those attending the White House Hispanic Community Action Summit at UT, the 13th summit held by the White House in the past year. Full story on Tampa Summit 

Similar stories appeared on Hispanic Business.com, the Tampa Tribune, Miami Herald, ABC Action News and Central Florida News. 

Tampa Bay Business Journal on ABC Action News

By Sean O'Reilly
ABC Action News
Feb. 3, 2012

Tampa Bay Business Journal editor Alexis Muellner talks with ABC Action News on this week's headline stories. Included in the mix is a report on UT’s expansion efforts. The University is building an 11-story, $38 million residence hall on a site bordering Kennedy Boulevard. Video on Tampa Bay Business Journal

A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Florida Has Highest Rate of U.S. Foreclosed Loans

By Carol Massar
Bloomberg
Feb. 1, 2012

The state of housing in Florida will take years to fix, but Brian Kench, associate professor of economics, said there are signs of improvement. “In 2008 when you drove down a street in Tampa Bay, nearly every home was for sale,” said Kench. “Today, maybe one or two are for sale, so it’s a very different world.” Video on Foreclosed Loans

Alki Arts Hosts 'Neo Soul' by Jeremy Bell

By Rose Egge
KOMO – West Seattle News
Feb. 1, 2012

In honor of Black History Month, Alki Arts will be hosting the Seattle debut of artist and UT senior Jeremy Bell ’12 for the month of February. His evocative work has been aptly referred to as 'Neo Soul' by those eager to collect his art form. Created by layering paint, charcoal and wax, these layers allow him to create depth and levels representing and highlighting the individualistic complexity and beauty of any given person. Full story on 'Neo Soul'

Hillsborough Voters Show Strong Support for Romney

By Mike Salinero and Kevin Wiatrowski
Tbo.com
Jan. 31, 2012

Turnout for the Florida Republican primary was light in Hillsborough County and statewide. The turnout raises questions about how fired up Republican voters will be about defeating President Barack Obama in November. But Scott Paine, a UT associate professor, said in 2008 a measure to lower property taxes also was on the ballot which might have led to greater voter turnout. "Going to the polls to vote to have your taxes cut, that's a pretty strong motivator to a lot of people," Paine said. Full story on Strong Support for Romney

Reid Wilson on the 2012 Primaries

C-SPAN
Jan. 31, 2012

Reid Wilson, editor-in-chief of the National Journal, talked about the Florida Republican primary, upcoming other primaries and the potential battleground states in the general election. Through Skype he answered questions from UT students visiting the C-SPAN Campaign 2012 Bus which stopped at UT on its “Road to the White House” tour. Video on 2012 Primaries  

UT Set to Build Much-Needed Residence Hall

By Josh Poltilove
The Tampa Tribune
Jan. 30, 2012

To fill an ever-increasing demand for student housing, The University of Tampa is about to build its largest-ever residence hall. Slated for completion in August 2013, the $38 million structure will be 11 stories high and accommodate 523 students. Full story on Much-Needed Residence Hall

Similar stories appeared on MSNBC.com, ABC Action News and Bay News 9.

Researcher Receives Grant to Study 'Tiger Eye' in Paso Finos

The Horse magazine
Jan. 29, 2012

Rebecca Bellone, associate professor of biology at The University of Tampa, has received a $3,200 grant from TriLink BioTechnologies to facilitate research on the genetics of the "tiger eye" in pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses. Under the supervision of Bellone, the research is being conducted by a UT undergraduate student, Elizabeth Kowalski. Full story on 'Tiger Eye'

Fuzzy Facts Can Make Crime Rankings Suspect

By Carl Bialik
The Wall Street Journal
Jan. 28, 2012

The unreliability of crime statistics can lead to suspect crime rankings for several reasons, including how different countries interpret and then report homicides. While the number of homicides in the US has declined, experts wonder about the reasons and the truth to the statistic. Associate Professor Anthony LaRose said the reasons might be more related to demographic shifts than societal changes. "The aging population is probably the most important factor in the reduction in homicide rates." Full story on Fuzzy Facts

Bialik wrote more about this in his blog, quoting both LaRose and Associate Professor Sean Maddan.

Mulberry Workers' Meals Contribute To Overspending

By Suzie Schottelkotte
The Lakeland Ledger
Jan. 23, 2012

Scott Paine, associate professor of government at the University of Tampa, speaks on the issue of Mulberry city workers overspending on meals. He said government budgets need to be flexible enough to respond to unforeseen issues. At the same time, the public needs to know its tax money is being spent wisely, he said. "Governmental spending has to make sense to the public," he said. "If there's ambiguity, the public perception is that something is wrong. If it doesn't look appropriate, it should be the concern of any public official to address that." Full story on Mulberry Workers' Meals

Does Scott Get Credit for Jobs?

By Tanya Arja
WTVT-FOX 13
Jan. 20, 2012

While Governor Rick Scott is taking some credit for the state unemployment rate’s three-year low, University of Tampa associate professor Scott Paine said that isn’t completely accurate. "On the one hand, you have a new governor come in, he emphasizes we're going to create jobs. We're going to create a better environment for business," said Paine, adding that it’s not likely any one change from Scott led to job creation. Full story on Credit for Jobs

Tampa Bay Area Cohesion Must Begin with a Bold First Step

By Ernest Hooper
Tampa Bay Times
Jan. 16, 2012

This column mentions that Dean Frank Ghannadian, dean of UT’s Sykes College of Business, says the college will rank among the nation's top 100 business schools by 2017. “I like the ambition,” said the columnist.

Florida Representative John Legg Has Lived Outside of His District for 4 Years

By Mike Deeson
WTSP-Channel 10
Jan. 16, 2012

Scott Paine, associate professor of government and world affairs, was consulted about a controversy regarding a state representative’s residence, which is required to be within his district he represents. Paine said that controversies like these give politicians a bad name. "I think it is less clear whether there is a legal problem rather than an ethical problem,” he said.

Student Athletes Visit Hospital

By Staff
Bay News 9
Jan. 16, 2012

University of Tampa student athletes’ visit to the Children's Medical Center at Tampa General Hospital was covered in this story. The students, representing the basketball, soccer, and baseball teams, brought stuffed animals to the pediatric patients. The visit was part of the UT’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Full Story Student Athletes Visiting Hospital.

This story also appeared on News 13-Orlando.

RNC Punishes Its Host City

By Jeremy Campbell
WTVT-Tampa
Jan. 12, 2012

Scott Paine, associate professor of government and world affairs, was quoted in this story about Florida legislators moving up Florida’s Republican party primary from March to Jan. 31, and the Republican National Committee’s retribution. "If what you care about is Florida's influence on national political trends, national political issues and national political candidates, this was probably the smartest thing they [Florida legislators] could have done," Paine said. 

What to Expect with Upcoming Florida Legislative Session

By Althea Paul
WTSP-Channel 10
Jan. 8, 2012

Scott Paine, associate professor of government and world affairs, was featured in a news story about the Florida legislative session starting on Jan. 10, and the lawmakers’ focus on redistricting. "That's always a political hot potato. It's also a legal hot potato and it will just take time to get that through the session and then through the courts," said Paine.

Mitt Romney Picks Up Key Florida Endorsement from Pam Bondi

By Anthony Miller
WTVT-FOX
Jan. 8, 2012

As presidential candidate Mitt Romney received a key endorsement from Attorney General Pam Bondi, WTVT asked Scott Paine, associate professor of government and world affairs, about the benefits of political endorsements. Paine said that Romney's role as frontrunner mixed with key endorsements can help his campaign.

Tom Jessee to Coach Against His Wife, Nikki, When University of Tampa Plays Saint Leo

By Laura Keeley
Tampa Bay Times
Jan. 4, 2012

This article previewed the UT women’s basketball match against Saint Leo University on Jan. 4 at the Martinez Athletics Center. The Spartans are coached by Tom Jessee. The Saint Leo Lions are coached by Tom’s wife Nikki Jessee, who is Saint Leo’s first-year coach. On the day of the match, both teams had records of 6-5. Full Story on Tom Jessee  

Ace Time, Not Face Time

By Collette Bancroft
Tampa Bay Times
Jan. 1, 2012

UT's new MFA in Creative Writing, and its director Jeff Parker, are featured in this article. The MFA is a low-residency program that has attracted students from around the country and the world – including Beirut and Moscow. The program begins its first semester this spring, and includes a free public reading series, "Lectores," that features renowned authors. Full Story on Ace Time, Not Face Time