Novelist Ottessa Moshfegh Reads and Writes About the Past
By Piper Castillo
Tampa Bay Times
Dec. 28, 2018
Ottessa Moshfegh is making a stop this week at UT, kicking off the school’s Lectores series.
Moshfegh is the author of My Year of Rest and Relaxation as well as the novella McGlue and Eileen, a novel shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Man Booker Prize. Full story
Yes, Hulu Is Showing You That Same Ad Over and Over Again—And Here’s Why It’s Working
By Clayton Schuster
New York Observer
Dec. 26, 2018
The rule of thumb regarding efficient frequency in advertising is guided by an old adage that states that a person needs to see an advertisement more than once for a message to start to sink in. However, new research suggests that the optimal level of advertising exposure is much more. “Our research has found that there’s a huge jump in engagement once someone is exposed to an ad in excess of 10 times,” said Jennifer Burton, UT assistant professor of marketing. Full story
A similar story appeared in adotas.
Person of the Year: The Guardians and the War on Truth
By Karl Vick
Time
Dec. 24, 2018
Time magazine named the staff of the Capital Gazette, among others, as the 2018 Person of the Year. In Annapolis, MD, staff of the Capital press on without the five colleagues gunned down in their newsroom on June 28. “Community journalists are the only ones who are going to go to your kid’s basketball game,” says Selene San Felice, a Capital Gazette features reporter and UT alumnus. “They’re the only ones who are going to cover lifeguard training ... They’re the only ones who are going to cover your local elections and tell you exactly what’s going on.” This passing of valued information is a wholesome essential of self-government. We can’t reason together if we don’t know what we’re talking about. But the information has to be trusted. Full story
Lynbrook Man Delivers Gifts and Cheer for Hospitalized Children
By Rachel Uda
Newsday
Dec. 23, 2018
Ray Mohler, UT junior entrepreneurship major, started the Little Saint Nick Foundation after he was suddenly hospitalized as a child 16 years ago. It began as a simple toy drive around the holidays but is now a year-round operation. Mohler and his team of volunteers provide gift bags to young emergency department patients at three Long Island hospitals. “When I visit the hospitals and I see how even a small gift can completely change their experience — that keeps me going,” Mohler said. Full story
A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Times.
Arts Plus
By Dalia Colon
WEDU
Dec. 13, 2018
This episode of Arts Plus features the UT Scarfone/Hartley Gallery’s exhibition “Fissures and Cracks.” The exhibition is a collection of visual works of and by the homeless of Tampa Bay. UT partnered with The Portico and the Tampa Museum of Art to provide art classes to homeless individuals. “What art therapy has been able to do over its development is start to crack into peoples’ visions to see more about how they are and help them find ways of sharing things they may not be able to share so easily,” said Jocelyn Boigenzahn, director of UT’s Scarfone/Hartley Gallery. Full story
UT Professor on What’s Ahead for Dealmaking in Tampa-St. Pete
By Margie Manning
The St. Pete Catalyst
Dec. 12, 2018
There’s been more than $96 million in venture capital invested in 62 deals in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area so far in 2018, and the year is shaping up as one of the best on record. “When the dust settles 2018 will be the second-best year we’ve had,” ranking only behind 2017, said Speros Margetis, UT professor of finance. “I think dealmaking will continue to be vibrant in 2019.” Full story
Tampa Ranked Second-Best Large College City
By Daniel Figueroa IV
Tampa Bay Times
Dec. 11, 2018
Tampa has been named the second-best large college city, and seventh best overall, according to recently released rankings from personal finance website WalletHub. According to WalletHub, "experts have argued that a school’s geographical location is just as important as a strong curriculum and supportive school environment to a student’s academic success and personal development." Full story
A similar story appeared on WFTS.
Want to Stop Illegal Immigration? Allow More Legal Immigrants
By Michael Coon and Abigail Hall
WiscNews (Madison, WI)
Dec. 11, 2018
This article, written by Michael Coon and Abigail Hall, both assistant professors of economics at UT, suggests solving the U.S. illegal immigration problem by making legal immigration easier to attain. “Allowing (immigrants) through legal ports of entry would prevent them from breaking the law and also allow officials to screen and record their identities.” Full story
The same story appeared in the Columbus Telegram (Columbus, NE), ArcaMax, Montana Standard (Butte, MT), The Courier (Waterloo, IA), Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, SD), Independent Record (Helena, MT) and Santa Maria Times (Santa Maria, CA)
Meet the UT Grad Student Who Won $10,000 for His Wearable Tech
By Lauren Coffey
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Dec. 10, 2018
Team Blitz, headed by Ibrahim Allam, UT graduate entrepreneurship student, won $10,000 at the Synapse Innovation Challenge after designing a band that makes visiting Epperson Crystal Lagoon a seamless experience. "We were the only group that followed all the guidelines and on top of that, we exceeded it," Allam said. "Everyone thought about it for the lagoon; we created a system not only for lagoon but the entire Metro Development. So it connects everything the company does under one system so HR, accounting, marketing — it all falls under one system." Full story
A similar story appeared in the Business Observer and the Pasco Business Digest.
Is a Plastic Bag Fee Better for St. Petersburg?
By Lisa L. Kirchner
Creative Loafing
Dec. 7, 2018
The United States is by far the leader in single-use plastic bag consumption. Estimates show that each year, 500 billion single-use plastic bags are consumed globally. Some estimate that plastic bags kill 100,000 marine animals each year. And yet, here in Florida, we have a ban on restricting plastic bags. St. Petersburg’s City Council is considering implementing a five-cent fee for every single-use bag taken from a store or food carryout. “There’s a disconnect between the reality of corporate interests and what’s best for the environment,” said Dan Huber, UT professor of biology. “We design disposable products with materials that last forever from the perspective of our lifetime.” Full story
People First: Donna Popovich
By Chris Erickson
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Dec. 7, 2018
Donna Popovich, UT executive director of human resources, was featured in the Tampa Bay Business Journal for her work in human resources. In 2018, Popovich implemented a Title IX On Call program to serve as an alternative to cancelling class, act as a supplement to related course material or simply serve as an opportunity to learn something new and share information about Title IX at UT and engage students in a discussion about how to help keep campus safe or where to go in times of need. Full story
U. of Tampa ensures Krupp is the Big Artist on Campus
By Ellen Fischer
Vero News
Dec. 6, 2018
UT began to purchase Barbara Krupp’s abstract paintings specifically for the Graduate and Health Studies building while the structure was still under construction. They eventually acquired 53 works for their collection, comprised of acrylic on canvas paintings from the most recent five years of the artist’s career. Nearly all of Krupp’s works in the building were purchased by UT from her existing oeuvre. However, two – each one 5 feet high and 15 feet wide – were commissioned by the University. Krupp believes that the appeal of her paintings is due in large part to their being abstractions; not only of things, but also of thoughts and emotions. “They make you feel, they make you think. You get to decide what they are about,” said Krupp. Full story
Where Tampa Bay Leads and Lags in Support of Entrepreneurs
By Margie Manning
St. Pete Catalyst
Dec. 5, 2018
Local entrepreneurs give high marks to support organizations in the Tampa Bay area. Entrepreneurial support organizations include UT’s Spartan accelerator and incubator, Tampa Bay Wave, Tampa Bay Innovation Center, the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator and many others. But access to seed capital and entrepreneurship-friendly policies remain challenges, according to a survey of about 160 local entrepreneurs by the UT John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center and Embarc Collective. Full story
UT Volleyball Coach Mellows but Remains Motivated
By Joey Johnston
Tampa Bay Times
Dec. 4, 2018
UT’s volleyball team just captured the program’s third NCAA Division II national championship. In the 35-season tenure of Coach Chris Catanach, the Spartans have done nothing but win — usually in a big way. Catanach (1,073-200) has guided 33 of his teams into the NCAA Tournament. He’s considered volleyball royalty on the national scene, but his low-key, self-effacing manner helps him remain one of the guys around UT’s Martinez Sports Center. Full story
A similar story appeared in The Virgin Islands Daily News.
A SoleMate for Young Girls and Future Runners
By Kelly Parsons
Tampa Bay Times
Dec. 4, 2018
For eight years, Kayte Branch, UT professor of criminology, has been involved with Girls on the Run, a national nonprofit that goes into local elementary and middle schools to teach girls life skills while integrating the sport of running. Through a program called SoleMates, which provides people in the community an opportunity to raise money for Girls on the Run, Branch vowed to get 50 sponsors and raise $2,000 for the program, which offers scholarships to girls who can't afford the fee. The program consists of two seasons, each comprised of 10 weeks of instruction by volunteer coaches followed by a season-ending 5K. "My very favorite thing is seeing the girls' faces when they cross the finish line. … That sense of accomplishment and pride, that they did it. It's really powerful," Branch said. "There are so many things in life that are heavy. I love that this one is joyful." Full story
Area Volleyball Players Help Tampa Claim D-II National Championship
By J.C. Carnahan
Orlando Sentinel
Dec. 2, 2018
UT volleyball claims the NCAA D-II title. The Spartans (33-4) defeated Western Washington (30-4) in five sets the at A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, PA. It’s the first volleyball national title for Tampa since 2014. Full story
Similar stories appeared in NCAA.com, The Virgin Islands Daily News, Tampa Bay Times, WFLA, KSNT (Topeka, KS) and WZGC (Atlanta, GA).
Tampa Students Develop Virtual Reality Games to Increase Physical Therapy's Effectiveness
By Evan Axelbank
WTVT
Nov. 29, 2018
Jonathan Truong, UT senior majoring in entrepreneurship, and his team are changing the game for injury recovery, using virtual reality to ease the mental burden of rehabilitation. He launched Verapy to allow patients to do physical therapy using a virtual reality headset connected to sensors on a patient's hands and feet. Verapy games provide data that can help physical therapists understand a patient's improvement, both for pain level and range of motion. "We are allowing these patients to feel empowered," he said. "They are doing their physical therapy without thinking about it." Full story
Similar stories appeared in the St. Pete Catalyst, EdTech Magazine, WLIO2 (Lima, OH), WGHP (Greensboro – Winston Salem, NC) and WPEC (West Palm Beach, FL).
New Food Arts Studio Construction Underway at the Dunedin Fine Art Center
Tampa Bay Newspapers (Beacon, Leader and Bee)
Nov. 29, 2018
The Dunedin Fine Art Center (DFAC) began construction of its new 1,350-square-foot Food Arts Studio. The Food Arts Studio will teach the art of cooking. In exploring the possibilities, DFAC teamed up with the nonprofit management program at UT’s Sykes College of Business. A business plan developed as a class project in the graduate level program served as a roadmap. The research and the data all pointed in one direction: food arts would be a great addition to DFAC’s already extensive class offerings in a broad array of artistic mediums. Full story
A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Times.
NCAA DII Volleyball Championship: Live Updates, Stats and Highlights from the DII Festival
Yahoo!
Nov. 29, 2018
The Tampa Spartans enter the DII volleyball quarterfinals as the No. 1 seed. The Spartans of course have had quite the run of DII fall festivals in the past, winning the national championship at the 2006 and 2014 fall festivals, and festival losses in 2010 and 2015. Full story
Similar stories appeared in NCAA.com, the Nevada Appeal and the Topeka Capital-Journal.
Connectivity is Key for Tampa Bay Entrepreneurs, UT's 'State of the Ecosystem' Shows
By Lauren Coffey
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Nov. 28, 2018
UT held its third State of Tampa Bay Entrepreneurial Ecosystem report. The report had several focuses: reviewing how the ecosystem economics have changed over the last two years, conducting a "dealmaker" analysis and surveying local entrepreneurs. Connectivity is key. "One of the important reasons we learned that connection is so important is because people want to reduce risk in their deal making, so co-existence is important," said Rebecca White, director of UT’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. "A lot of deal making leads to increased trust, which leads to more success in the entrepreneurial ecosystem." Full story
A similar story appeared in The St. Pete Catalyst.
Tampa Startup Stakes Claim as ‘the Most Inclusive Bra Company in the World’
By Margie Manning
The St. Pete Catalyst
Nov. 26, 2018
Danielle Rushton and Ellery Linder have launched Fruutfull, a Tampa company with a unique design that allows women to personalize their brassiere size. Bra design has changed little over the years, Linder said. There are currently about 165 different combinations of bra sizes, but 80 percent of women are wearing the wrong size, she said. The company joined The University of Tampa’s Spartan Incubator earlier this month. They’ve got a provisional patent on their design and are looking for a manufacturer for their prototype bra. Full story
Cooking Together Tightens Family Bonds and Strengthens Culture for Alvarado Family
By Patreice A. Massey
Michigan Chronicle
Nov. 15, 2018
Cooking together isn’t just about eating tasty food. The tradition of gathering to cook also keeps their culture alive. That concept is nothing new, according to a 2014 study by UT professor of education, Gina M. Almerico, published in June 2014 in the Journal of International Business and Cultural Studies. “Culture is not inherited; it is learned,” Almerico’s study concluded. “Many people affiliate the foods from their culture, their childhood, with warm, good feelings and memories. The food is part of who we are and become. It ties us to our families and holds a special worth to a person.” Full story
Exposición de Pedro Pablo Oliva en la Universidad de Tampa
On Cuba News
Nov. 11, 2018
Work by the prolific contemporary Cuban artist, Pedro Pablo Oliva, is being exhibited at The University of Tampa’s Scarfone/Hartley Gallery. “Pedro Pablo Oliva’s Cuba: Histories” features paintings, sculptures and works on paper by this visionary artist from the 1970s through today. Full story
Similar stories appeared in CentroTampa.com, The Tampa Bay Times, RSS Cuba – Directorio Cubano, Prensa Latina, Cubamanece, CUBASI and Cuba News.
USF, UT Land on Princeton Review's Best Business Schools List
By Lauren Coffey
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Nov. 11, 2018
UT has ranked among the top business schools in the country, according to the Princeton Review. The John H. Sykes College of Business has landed on the list for 13 years straight for Best Business Schools and Best Business Schools in the southeast. Bloomberg Businessweek also named UT a top business program. This is the third year UT's program has been on the list. Full story
On Second Thought with Virginia Prescott
By Virginia Prescott, Elena Rivera, Leighton Rowell, La'Raven Taylor and Amy Kiley
Georgia Public Broadcast
Oct. 31, 2018
Sarah Lauro, UT assistant professor of English, was featured in the Halloween edition of “On Second Thought.” Lauro is the author of The Transatlantic Zombie: Slavery, Rebellion, and Living Death. She discussed zombie evolution in pop culture throughout the years and how zombie imagery changes to reflect society’s fears and discontent. Lauro theorizes that we generally gravitate toward the imagery of the zombie when we feel disempowered. Full story
University of Tampa to Revamp Arts Studio into Maker Space
By Dyllan Furness
83 Degrees
Oct. 30, 2018
UT is updating its arts studios into maker spaces. Among the additions to the University’s renovated Bailey Arts Studios will be laser cutters, 3D printers, large format printers and vinyl cutters. Serving as the centerpiece will be the entrepreneurially focused digital fabrication laboratory (FabLab), where students and faculty will be encouraged to collaborate. “The FabLab is an incubator space where creative minds, inventors, designers, entrepreneurs and artists have access to tools and technologies to turn their ideas and dreams into prototypes and products,” says David Gudelunas, UT dean of the College of Arts and Letters. Full story
Chase Credit Cards
WalletHub
October 2018
Jennifer Burton, UT assistant professor of marketing, offers expert advice on why a major credit card company like Chase won’t offer cards to people with limited or bad credit. “Credit card companies loan out large volumes of money to millions of customers through their credit card products. In doing so, these companies take a big risk that many of the trillions of dollars they lend will not be paid back.” Offering products to people with established and good credit histories increases the likelihood that the loans will be paid back. Full story
Rethinking Our Relationship with the News
By Jeff Neely, UT assistant professor of journalism
Christianity Today
Oct. 25, 2018
Jeff Neely, UT assistant professor of journalism, about how fake news and consequent distrust of the media are nothing new. Politicians and power brokers have for centuries used the press and the gossip grapevine to manipulate the public. “This means, for one thing, that we can’t be consumed by the news, but we can’t run from it either. We should think critically about the information we take in, neither blindly buying nor immediately dismissing it based on whether we agree and being aware of how our own stances affect our neighbors.” Full story
Instructional Design and Technology Skills in Demand in Education and Other Fields
By Katy Smith
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Oct. 18, 2018
Demand from businesses looking for course designers was one of the reasons UT began offering the master’s degree in instructional design and technology in 2014, said Enilda Romero-Hall, UT assistant professor of education. “The program prepares students to navigate the intricacies of designing learning experiences and developing human performance solutions,” Romero-Hall said. Aside from e-learning, degree specializations include curriculum design, human performance technology, information systems management and performance evaluations. Full story
New Sentences: From ‘When Rap Spoke Straight to God’
By Sam Anderson
The New York Times Magazine
Oct. 11, 2018
The New York Times Magazine reviewed Erica Dawson’s recently published book-length poem, When Rap Spoke Straight to God. Dawson is a UT assistant professor of English and writing. The review states that “in a country where power has been persistently defined as white and male, Dawson writes from the perspective of a black woman. She shows us scenes that might otherwise remain unseen." Full story
House District 23 Debate on ABC7 at 7
By Greg LaFountain
WWSB (Sarasota, FL)
Oct. 10, 2018
Florida House District 73 race will be between Democrat Liv Coleman, UT associate professor of political science, and Republican Tommy Gregory. Coleman is running to make Florida public schools number one. Her goal is to have schools fully funded and to have them take a step back from current high-stakes testing. Full story
Similar stories appeared in SRQ Magazine, Florida Politics and the Bradenton Herald.
Major Hurricane Headed to Gulf Coast
By Carl Parker
The Weather Channel
Oct. 9, 2018
UT’s Vaughn Center webcam was featured in The Weather Channel’s live coverage of Hurricane Michael as it made its way through the Gulf of Mexico past the Tampa Bay area.
Hurricane Evacuation: A Beginner's Guide
By David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism
CNN
Oct. 9, 2018
David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism, provides helpful tips to those people who are evacuating ahead of Hurricane Michael. Wheeler advised evacuees to book a hotel as far in advance as possible. He also recommends filling up the gas tank early and often as fuel supplies tend to dwindle as people stock up in preparation for the storm. Full story
Continuing Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Returning Compassion, Connection and Social Presence to Teaching and Learning
By Aimee Whiteside, UT associate professor of English and writing
Educause Review
Oct. 8, 2018
Aimee Whiteside, UT associate professor of English and writing, explains how lessons taken from the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood television series can and should be used in the classroom. She said that remembering Mister Rogers's calm, positive energy and using social presence strategies may help reenergize our learning environments, whether they are face-to-face, blended or online. Whiteside suggests reimagining the classroom spaces as connected neighborhoods and model the importance of inquiry, creativity and compassion. Fred Rogers's legacy should be honored by continuing his neighborhood, challenging ourselves to lead with compassion, celebrating diversity and uniqueness, and integrating social presence into the immediate and continued classroom practice. Full story
Launch’s Whipple Sees Lacrosse Growth in Florida First Hand
By Lee Roggenburg
Florida Lacrosse News
Oct. 7, 2018
Lacrosse is flourishing in Florida and that is due in part to the Whipple family. Conor Whipple, UT grad and assistant coach for UT’s men’s lacrosse team, was one of the first Floridians ever drafted into Major League Lacrosse when he was drafted by the Florida Launch. Rory Whipple, UT men’s lacrosse head coach and Conor Whipple’s father, started successful Division II programs at both Florida Southern College and The University of Tampa, where he remains today as the winningest coach in NCAA Division II. “In a ten-year span, it’s grown,” said Conor Whipple. “There’s over 200 high school programs, and more colleges than before. Each year it is growing more and more.” Full story
Sykes Chapel, Laura Leigh Lanchantin, Grohmann Museum, Nicole Seaton
By Jennifer Robinson
KPBS/arts
Oct. 4, 2018
Visit The University of Tampa, and you’ll discover the Sykes Chapel. Inside this structure, you’ll see something massive…a grand 21st century pipe organ. Dean Emeritus of the College of Arts and Letters, Haig Mardirosian, gives viewers a tour. Full story
UT Enrollment Record
By Stacie Schaible
WFLA
Oct. 1, 2018
For the 22nd straight year, UT has set another record for enrollment. More than 9,000 students currently attend the University. That’s up four percent compared to last year. Enrollment has quadrupled in the last 20 years.
Florida State Rep. District 73: Q&A with Liv Coleman
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Sept. 28, 2018
Liv Coleman, UT associate professor of political science, participated in a Q-and-A with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Coleman said the public needs to fully fund public schools, so that they are no longer funded in the bottom 10 percent of schools nationwide, and so administrators can attract the best professionals to work with the community's children. She also advocates moving away from high-stakes testing, which is burdensome for students, parents and teachers alike. Coleman also supports environmental conservation, infrastructure improvements, expanding access to high-quality health care and common-sense gun-safety reforms. Full story
A New Approach to Medicine: Prevention with Nutrition
By Taylor Collignon, UT Sophomore
in-Training
Sept. 26, 2018
Taylor Collignon, UT sophomore majoring in biochemistry, discusses the affects nutrition has on a person’s health. Nutritional education would help physicians to optimize patient care, their own health and possibly decrease the prevalence of disease and the rising costs of health care. Doctors are problem-solvers who offer evidence-based solutions to assist their patients. If they were aware of the different mechanisms by which certain foods arrest disease progression and promote reversal; perhaps, they would approach patient care with a more holistic perspective. Currently, nutrition is not being adequately covered in medical school curriculum. Full story
Institute Features Tampa’s Smoking Start to Cuban Independence
By Julie Garisto
83 Degrees
Sept. 25, 2018
UT has been awarded a $190,000 grant from the NEH to present a summer institute in 2019 where the focus will be on an often overlooked aspect of Cuba’s War of Independence: the role of immigrants. James López, UT professor of Spanish, and Denis Rey, UT associate professor of political science, coordinated this four-week institute titled “José Martí and the Immigrant Communities of Florida in Cuban Independence and the Dawn of the American Century.” “The cigar workers of Ybor City and West Tampa were pivotal in (José) Martí’s efforts to finance and organize Cuba’s war of Independence,” said López. Full story
Parent Failure to Transmit Faith to Kids Helping Fuel Growth of Religious 'Nones,' Study Suggests
By Leonardo Blair
The Christian Post
Sept. 20, 2018
A new study lends supporting evidence to the theory that a failure of parents to transmit their faith to their children is a factor in the rise of the number of Americans who say they have no particular religious affiliation. The study, "Religious/secular distance: How far apart are teenagers and their parents?" co-authored by Ryan Cragun, UT associate professor of sociology, was published in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. "Given current trends, understanding what nonreligious people are like and why people are leaving religion is going to be of growing importance both in the US and in many other developed and developing countries around the world," said Cragun. Full story
Similar stories appeared in PsyPost, Black Christian News Network One, Long Room, Christian Broadcasting Network, CrossMap, Science Trends, The Daily Caller and The Stream.
Tampa Cruises to Win in RMAC Fall Preview
The Daily Sentinel
Sept. 19, 2018
UT women's golf coach Missey Jones wanted her team to experience more than Florida, and if you're going to travel all the way to western Colorado for a tournament, you might as well make it an adventure. "We have no classes on Friday, and we wanted to get acclimated," Jones said. The Spartans flew to Denver, drove through the mountains, stopped in Vail and went to Glenwood Caverns. Then the Spartans ran away with the team championship by 10 strokes over CSU-Pueblo and Dixie State. Two-time All-American Kiira Riihijarvi, UT junior, shot a course-record 63 on Monday and followed it with a 67 on Tuesday for a 12-under-par 130 and a 16-stroke victory. Full story
A similar story appeared in Desert News.
Perdue's New Packaging Features a Blue Cartoon Chicken. Her Name Is Pearl.
By Zlati Meyer
USA Today
Sept. 17, 2018
Perdue Farms' new packaging includes a blue cartoon chicken named Pearl, named for founder Arthur Perdue’s wife. The new packaging is an attempt to attract millennials to a brand that is, by its own admission, dated. Twenty-seven percent of U.S. shoppers said they're paying more attention to product claims and nutritional information on poultry, and 58 percent were more concerned about the treatment of animals raised for food, according to market research firm Packaged Facts. Hence the brand repositioning, said Mark Lang, UT associate professor of marketing, who predicts Perdue's new package design will speak to consumers, both young and old, who are giving more thought to what they eat. "What's happened in the food business for big companies, like Perdue, is they've been cast as mass-produced industrialized food, completely detached from whole foods and locally sourced," Lang said. "It's meant to be a graphic that suggests an animal being natural. It's eating off the ground, in natural foliage. They’re trying to communicate a bird not in cage, not in an industrial building." Full story
Similar stories appeared in the Indianapolis Star, Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS), Cincinnati Enquirer, Asbury Park Press, KFMB (San Diego, CA), WBIR (Knoxville, TN) and News-Press (Fort Myers – Naples, FL).
A Push to Preserve Latin Culture
By Jennifer Epstein
WTVT
Sept. 13, 2018
Rebecca Ayala, UT senior majoring in economics, is a scholarship recipient of the KSY Education Foundation. “I’ve loved my college experience at UT,” said Ayala. “I am so thankful for the Krewe of Sant’ Yago for helping make my dream come true.” The Krewe works to preserve Latin culture in Tampa Bay for nearly 90 years and has provided over 400 scholarships totaling more than 2 million dollars since 1994.
UT Student Who Started iSpyPens Aims for Bigger E-Commerce Impact
By Margie Manning
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Sept. 12, 2018
Andrew Gilliland, UT senior and founder of iSpyPens, sees plenty of opportunity ahead in e-commerce. iSpyPens, a company that sells video surveillance pens, has $250,000 in revenue, primarily from internet sales. But Gilliland says iSpyPens is a starting point for something bigger and more impactful. About six months ago, he formed Action Holdings LLC, a company focused on vetting business opportunities in the e-commerce space. “What I want to do is essentially be a channel by which businesses can achieve success on the internet,” said Gilliland. “If we can target the right products, we can get the business to the next level. I’m focused on platforms that drive attention to products that deserve to be recognized.” Full story
UT Lands on Numerous U.S. News & World Report Lists
By Kelsey Sunderland
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Sept. 11, 2018
UT has landed on five of U.S. News & World Report's 2019 Best Colleges lists. In the recently released list, UT was named one of the best value schools, one of the most innovative colleges, an A+ school for B students, a school with the most international students and one of the best colleges for veterans. Full story
A similar story appeared on WFLA.
Invasive Reptiles Are Taking Over Florida—and Devouring Its Birds Along the Way
By Chris Sweeney
Audubon
Sept. 5, 2018
To date the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has identified 50 types of non-native lizards, turtles, crocodilians and snakes within state limits, more than anywhere else in the world. For the birds of Florida, this blitz of exotic predators poses an existential-scale threat. It's known that Nile monitors eat Burrowing Owls, but owls aren’t the only birds in monitors’ crosshairs. The lizards hunt cooperatively and are known to team up to lure birds off their nests so they can pillage the eggs, according to a report by Todd Campbell, UT associate professor of biology and a leading expert on Nile monitors. “Many of Florida’s wading birds would be an easy target while foraging in mangroves and along tidal creeks and artificial canals,” said Campbell. “Nile monitors are excellent tree-climbers, so the nests of wading birds are also at risk.” Full story
First Look Inside UT’s New $40-Plus Million Graduate and Health Studies Building, Opening Today
By Alexis Muellner
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Aug. 31, 2018
UT’s newest building is its largest and houses cutting-edge technology for its acclaimed nursing program and a new physician assistant medicine program. It opened with a ceremony and numerous demonstrations of the remarkable training simulation equipment, including an array of manikins and technology that will go a long way in training health care practitioners long before they touch real patients. UT President Ronald Vaughn says the building reflects a long-range vision to address severe shortages of nurse practitioners and physicians assistants. It also continues the University’s role as an economic engine for the city and region. Full story
Similar stories appeared on Bay News 9, WTVT, the Business Observer, WFLA, Tampa Bay Business Journal and Wealth magazine.
Tampa Bay Matchups for U.S. Congress Are Set, Include Several Women
By Evan Donovan
WFLA
Aug. 30, 2018
Candidates for all the congressional districts representing the Tampa Bay area are set. In what is supposed to be the "Year of the Woman," there are several female candidates running to represent Tampa Bay in the U.S. Congress. "I think there are groups that have been working to cultivate women candidates and that seems to be working," said Mary Anderson, UT associate professor of political science. "We're seeing more and more women candidates, generally speaking. Women tend to run more local. They don't tend to get statewide, but we're seeing more of that. And there are several that are going to be on the ballot here in Florida." Full story
University Tampa Wraps Up Capital Campaign, Exceeding Goals
Florida Daily
Aug. 28, 2018
UT announced that it finished its capital campaign, which began in 2007, with more than 15,000 supporters raising more than $160 million. UT exceeded its expectations as original plans called for raising $105 million though the school changed that to $150 million as the university continued to surpass its goals. “UT has grown exponentially in reputation, student selectivity and financial stability,” said Ronald Vaughn, UT president. “This campaign focused on building on our strengths, taking advantage of opportunities and launching new initiatives that will prepare UT students today and in the future to succeed in a complex, technologically advanced global society.” Full story
Well, Has a Single Good Author Ever Owned a Dog?
By Caroline Hovanec, UT assistant professor of English
Slate
Aug. 24, 2018
Caroline Hovanac, UT assistant professor of English, responds to an article published in the New Yorker penned by autobiographer Karl Ove Knausgaard, impugning the honor of dogs. The magazine promoted the piece with the incendiary tweet, “Has a single good author ever owned a dog?” Hovanac says yes, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Zadie Smith and dozens of other good authors have been dog people. Hovanac said it’s unsurprising that an author like Knausgaard, known for self-reflective writing, would take little interest in animals beyond their impact on him personally. But for many other writers, as she found while researching her book Animal Subjects, writing about an animal shows an authorial desire to get outside of the self and imagine otherness—in some ways the opposite of Knausgaard’s introspective style. Full story
The University of Tampa and the Tampa Museum of Art Bridge the Hillsborough River with Lunchtime Art, Performances
By Cathy Salustri
Creative Loafing
Aug. 24, 2018
UT and the Tampa Museum of Art will present noon performances, courtesy of UT's College of Arts and Letters. Every month on the first Wednesday, head to the Tampa Museum of Art at noon for a free performance from either UT students or faculty. Performances will run the gamut, from music to performing arts. “From opera and musical theatre to dance recitals and jazz ensembles, the wide variety is sure to make even the most humdrum hump day that much more festive,” David Gudelunas, UT's dean of the College of Arts and Letters. Full story
Moving Day
WFTS
Aug. 23, 2018
It’s move-in day for thousands of students at UT. They’ll be moving into the 12 residents halls starting at 9 a.m. Classes begin Monday.
A similar story appeared on WFLA.
This Fall, the Films We Want to Watch are Based on True Stories
By Ben Wiley
Creative Loafing
Aug. 23, 2018
UT is a screening partner for the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers and will bringing six films throughout the fall and spring semesters and their directors to UT. The whole purpose of the Southern Circuit is to connect audiences in a communal film viewing experience, so each screening will also provide for audience interaction with Q-and-A. Get out of your cocooned life and experience movies with others, and talk to the director too. Full story
Tutoring App Helps Teachers Earn Extra Money
By Gayle Guyardo
WFLA
Aug. 22, 2018
Nick Villa, UT senior, created an app that makes it easy for students of all ages to get the tutoring help they need and also allows teachers across the Tampa Bay area to earn extra money. Villa is studying to become an entrepreneur and came up with the idea to meet his own needs. "It's been a reoccurring problem with me since I've been in middle school and high school, and now even in college. I need help with a problem, but I don't necessarily need an entire hour of tutoring,” said Villa. So Villa created what he calls the "Uber" of tutoring apps. Tutit offers tutoring assistance in over 80 subjects, including over a dozen languages. Full story
Similar stories appeared on WTVJ (Miami – Fort Lauderdale, FL), WISH (Indianapolis, IN), WINK (Fort Myers – Naples, FL), WJAR (Providence, RI), WPTV (West Palm Beach, FL), WTTA and WFLA.
McRaven for President in 2020
By David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism
CNN
Aug. 22. 2018
David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism, responds to an op-ed in the Washington Post penned by retired Navy Adm. William H. McRaven asking Trump to revoke his security clearance, so he can add his name "to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency." McRaven was commander of US Special Operations Command from 2011-2014, and oversaw the Navy SEAL mission in Pakistan that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Wheeler writes that democrats should consider McRaven as a candidate for the presidency in 2020. “For one thing, he's an actual American hero,” said Wheeler. Full story
Similar stories appeared on KTVK (Phoenix, AZ), KAKE (Wichita, KS) and KITV (Honolulu, HI).
When Sharks Attack
National Geographic
Aug. 18, 2018
Dan Huber, UT professor of biology, appeared in multiple episodes of National Geographic’s series, “When Sharks Attack.” Huber provided expert commentary on shark behavior and physiology in order to shed light on why sharks may sometimes attack humans.
Optimistic About an Anti-Trump Wave, Democrats Face Serious Challenges in Florida
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Aug. 17, 2018
Florida Democrats are optimistic about this election year. Membership in local Democratic parties has swelled and grassroots organizations have formed to mobilize voters. "This is the first election cycle where every door I knock on people are excited to talk to me," said UT senior Casey Bauer, who is working with the progressive voter turnout group NextGen Florida, which has actively politicked for Democrats since 2014. "People are fired up to get out and vote." Full story
Add The University of Tampa to the List of Plastic Straw-Free Places in Hillsborough County
By Cathy Salustri
Creative Loafing
Aug. 16, 2018
The latest organization bellying up to the straw-free bar is UT. Which makes sense — UT sits on the Hillsborough River, which drains directly to the Gulf of Mexico. Especially being in Florida, on the bank of the Hillsborough River, we want to improve the health of our nearby waterways and oceans, and reduce our overall environmental impact,” said Ronald Vaughn, UT president. “Removing plastic straws and other plastic products helps with the much bigger sustainability issue.” UT isn't doing this for praise — it's part of a quarter-century tradition of sustainability-based initiatives, like water fountains that refill water bottles and five (with a sixth one pending) LEED-certified buildings on campus. Full story
Similar stories appeared on Bay News 9 and WTVT.
With Melissa Howard Out, Tommy Gregory, Liv Coleman Go Head-to-Head at Tiger Bay
By Zac Anderson
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Aug. 16, 2018
State House candidates Liv Coleman, UT associate professor of political science, and Tommy Gregory turned their attention to the issues, squaring off for the first time as general election opponents. The matchup between Gregory, a Sarasota Republican, and Coleman, a Bradenton Democrat, presents a stark contrast: A staunchly conservative attorney and a proudly progressive college professor who are emphasizing very different visions. Full story
Can Technology Use Lower Grades in the Classroom?
WFTS
Aug. 12, 2018
Anthony Erben, UT associate professor of education, was interviewed by WFTS regarding possible negative effects of using technology in the classroom. Erben often teaches students about the benefits and downfalls of tech in the classroom. He said technology can be used to really help students, but it can be a distraction for kids. Erben recommends having procedures in place so it doesn’t disrupt the learning.
How to Make Sure Your Kids Stay Safe While Playing Sports in the Heat
By Leigh Spann
WFLA
Aug. 6, 2018
Back to school also means back to sports for lots of students. Florida's summer heat doesn't end when the school year begins. In fact, the first fall dip in humidity doesn't usually occur until October. Adequate hydration is important while playing in the heat, but proper hydration needs to be on the minds of athletes and their parents all day. Players can lose several pounds of weight in sweat along during a long practice if they aren't hydrating enough. The UT coaching staff keeps this in mind while working with kids during summer baseball camp. "We do give water breaks ever 15-20 minutes to make sure they're getting the fluids they need," said Sam Militello, UT assistant baseball coach. Full story
Cardio & Bodybuilding: Do Bodybuilders Need Cardio Training?
By Chad Stan
Spot Me Bro
Aug. 1, 2018
Cardio and bodybuilding aren’t always two words that go together well. It’s purely a love-hate relationship, or maybe even tolerate-hate sort of thing. A 1998 study showed that combining cardio and weight training resulted in fat loss, but also severed strength gains in half. However, UT researchers have presented evidence suggesting that it’s all down to specific cardio types. The best types of cardiovascular training for gains-heads are: cycling, rowing, sprinting and swimming. And cardio duration is what counts for muscle loss. According to the UT team, they saw a minimal loss of muscle and strength when endurance training was kept below a 20-minute threshold per day. Full story
Lunar Eclipse
Daytime
July 17, 2018
Simon Schuler, UT associate professor of physics, was interviewed regarding the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century. Schuler used coffee cups to demonstrate the alignment of the sun, earth and moon that results in a total lunar eclipse. Total lunar eclipses don’t happen often and for this one, the moon will be in the earth’s shadow for one hour and 43 minutes.
Accounting and Finance Majors Find Ready Jobs as Demand Booms
By Katy Smith
Tampa Bay Business Journal
July 30, 2018
Robert Marley, UT associate professor of accounting, is always happy to connect Tampa Bay employers with students to interview for full-time positions. But sometimes lately, he just can’t. “I have to respond to them and say, ‘I’m sorry, everybody I can think of who would be of interest to you already has a job,’” Marley says. Thanks to a financial services boom in the metro area, accounting and finance graduates from The University of Tampa are fielding job offers as soon as they graduate, or even before. Full story
Area University Launches First Doctoral Program
Business Observer
July 25, 2018
The upcoming Fall 2019 semester will see the debut of UT’s first doctoral program, a doctor of nursing practice degree. The program will prepare DNP students to design, implement and evaluate evidence-based disease management care and to coordinate acute and chronic illness care for individuals and populations. It’s targeted at advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) living in Florida. “We understand the busy schedule that actively practicing clinicians have,” says Carol Botwinski, UT associate professor of nursing and director of the program. “Every detail of the DNP student experience has been designed so that the student can focus on completing the degree, not being frustrated by the technology or unnecessary requirements.” Full story
‘Where the Roots Rise’ Reflects Connection of Humanity to Natural Life
University of Mississippi News
July 24, 2018
The distance between humanity and nature is much smaller than we realize, and the exhibit “Where the Roots Rise” by Jaime Aelavanthara, photographer and UT assistant professor of art and design, serves as a reminder of that perception. The photographs are set in natural areas of life, death, growth and decay in the natural landscapes of several Southern states. “Experiences outdoors lend me an awe-filled view on the world, which is a feeling I am interested in the viewer experiencing when they see the exhibition,” she said. “As children, we tend to see the world as a magical place, an outlook that is often lost in adulthood.” Full story
West Tampa Attracts Young Families, Next-Gen Homebuyers
By Marty Clear
83 Degrees
July 24, 2018
West Tampa, one of Tampa’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods, is experiencing a renaissance as a new generation of home buyers are discovering, or re-discovering, the area’s appeal. One West Tampa ex-pat who has returned to the neighborhood is Sam Militello, UT assistant baseball coach. His new West Tampa home is essentially his old West Tampa home. He’s had the home where he grew up torn down and has rebuilt on the same property. “We’re loving it,” he says. “I checked with the rest of my siblings before I tore down the family’s house. I made sure I had their blessing.” Full story
The Music Issue: 30 Under 30
By Ray Roa
Creative Loafing
July 19, 2018
For this article, Creative Loafing focused on Tampa Bay area music makers who represent a slice of the young energy that makes Tampa Bay a great place to catch original music. Woody Bond, UT junior studying contemporary percussion, was one of the artists featured. Bond started drumming at 14 and has toured extensively with multiple bands and eventually found himself at Jobsite Theatre performing for their production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
HSN and The University of Tampa to Host the Third American Dreams Academy and Small Business Symposium In Cincinnati
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
July 17, 2018
HSN and UT’s John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center announced today the next American Dreams Academy, an interactive, educational and hands-on two-day experience for emerging entrepreneurs, will be held in Cincinnati, OH. UT has developed a dynamic, informative curriculum that includes courses across multiple categories designed to support innovators and entrepreneurs with tools, training and networks to help them take a great idea and bring it to life. Full story
Similar stories appeared on KFMB (San Diego, CA), WWBT (Richmond, VA), Benzinga, KLTV (Tyler-Longview, TX), Spoke, WIS-TV (Columbia, SC), Daily Herald (Chicago), Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Buffalo News, KHNL (Honolulu, HI) and WBBH (Fort Myers – Naples, FL).
Stop Worshipping Guys Like Elon Musk
By David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism
CNN
July 16, 2018
David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism, responds to Elon Musk’s actions and reactions related to the Thai soccer team that was trapped in a cave for 18 days. “When Musk missed out on what he believed was his rightful opportunity to be portrayed as the worldwide protagonist in the cliffhanger drama, he pouted like a preschooler, and searched for the worst accusation he could imagine to call the rescuer: pedophile.” Wheeler goes on to say that Silicon Valley's most well-known bros have allowed arrogance to damage their own reputations — and sometimes society as a whole. He says that before society gives carte blanche to the tech billionaires who want to rewrite the way the world works – including in the areas they know nothing about – it might be worth reading about the undue influence of the robber barons, and the backlash that resulted from their exploitation of both people and markets. Full story
Similar stories appeared on the BBC, KTVK (Phoenix, AZ), KAKE (Wichita, KS) and KITV (Honolulu, HI).
Can Marijuana Smoking Cause Lung Cancer?
By Amy Sherman
PolitiFact Florida
July 13, 2018
To implement Florida’s new medical marijuana law, the Legislature passed a provision that defines medical use to exclude smoking marijuana. Attorney John Morgan filed a lawsuit asking the court to declare the Legislature’s provision unenforceable. In the lawsuit, Morgan made some claims about the benefits of marijuana. "Despite decades of marijuana being used for smoking in the United States, there have been no reported medical cases of lung cancer or emphysema attributed to marijuana," said Morgan. A 2016 literature review written by Mary Martinasek, UT associate professor of public health, showed that while some studies indicated an increased risk of lung cancer, others found no such link or a lower risk for lung cancer. "There is little evidence to support statistical associations either for or against cannabis and lung cancer," she said. "We need more research to confirm or deny an association." Full story
Here’s Our Mount Rushmore of Tampa Bay College Sports
By Joey Knight
TBO
July 13, 2018
If there was to be a Mount Rushmore of Tampa Bay college sports, it would surely depict UT’s Freddie Solomon. Solomon was UT's option quarterback, the greatest player in Spartans football history and UT's all-time rushing leader (3,299 yards). Solomon, who finished 12th in the 1974 Heisman voting and earned two Super Bowl rings with the 49ers, was arguably two decades ahead of his time. Which is to say, he was a template for the next generation's dual-threat quarterbacks. Full story
Here’s What UT Is Looking for in Entrepreneur Candidates for its Spartan Incubator
By Margie Manning
Tampa Bay Business Journal
July 11, 2018
UT’s Spartan Incubator is gearing up to host the class of 2019. The incubator, open to entrepreneurs with fledgling businesses in the Tampa Bay region, is taking applications now for a cohort of 16 companies that will spend the next several months learning from experts and from each other about how to grow their businesses. Located in the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center in the Sykes College of Business, the Spartan Incubator is one of a growing number of local facilities where startups and early-stage firms can get business advice, fine tune their products and connect with potential partners and investors. Full story
Science in the Courts!
The Analytical Scientist
July 2018
Presenting, often complex, scientific concepts to a jury comprised of laypeople is tough enough – but expert witnesses also have to keep their cool during intense cross examination by hostile lawyers. Kenyon Evans-Nguyen, UT associate professor of chemistry, has been on the stand many times, back when he was a practitioner. “I train students on how to take the stand, and I warn them beforehand that it’s going to be weird and uncomfortable, and it’s probably going to make them angry,” said Evans-Nguyen. He said the experience is intense, but if you can keep your cool and present the facts, you can really make a difference to a case. Full story
Protestors Rally Against 'Immoral Acts,' Family Separation in Downtown Sarasota
By Ryan Callihan
Bradenton Herald
June 30, 2018
Incensed by a policy of family separation, protestors held their candles, glow sticks and cellphone flashlights up high in honor of thousands of recently detained immigrants. The tribute came as part of the Families Belong Together protest at Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota. Liv Coleman, UT associate professor of political science, said she has studied the issue and underscored the psychological trauma that children go through when families are torn apart. "I teach a course called 'Politics of the Family,' have done extensive research into how to sustain and support families, and I know that all available research suggests the importance of keeping loving families together for children's development and well-being," said Coleman. Full story
UT Lacrosse Player Earns Freddie Solomon Community Service Award
By Joey Johnston
Tampa Bay Times
June 28, 2018
Women’s lacrosse player Megan Sanchez, UT senior and allied health major, received UT’s Freddie Solomon Community Service Award, given by the school since 2013. "Being a volunteer always brightens my day,’’ said Sanchez. The award is named for Freddie Solomon, the former UT quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers. A plaque is displayed in UT’s Martinez Center that quotes Solomon as saying he wanted people to remember him first as a giving and charitable person, not an award-winning athlete. "I read up on Freddie Solomon after getting the award, and it’s an honor to be (associated) with someone like that,’’ Sanchez said. Full story
News Channel 8 on Facebook Live
WFLA
June 11, 2018
Liv Coleman, UT associate professor of political science, appeared on News Channel 8 to discuss the possible implication of the upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. “We haven’t had a high-level summit between these two leaders at all. This is a historic summit with great possibility,” said Coleman. She went on say that it’s a highly unpredictable summit and also unusual in that the negotiables have not been worked out ahead of time. Full story
In Their Words: Florida House Candidates Talk About the Issues Important to Them
By Hannah Morse
Bradenton Herald
June 28, 2018
Liv Coleman, UT associate professor of political science, is a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives District 73. She was featured in a candidate Q-and-A session in the Bradenton Herald. Full story
What to Do About Drones: A Symposium
By Carl Close
Independent Institute
June 20, 2018
Once known only as military weapons or hobby toys, drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles—UAVs) are predicted to play increasingly visible roles in a broad range of industries, including fire control, industrial inspections, crop dusting, real estate listings and retail delivery. Abigail Hall Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics, examined what she calls “the drone paradox”: the possibility that military drone strikes to combat terrorists may actually provoke non-state terrorism. Reports show that militant groups have taken advantage of U.S. drone strikes for propaganda and recruitment purposes. Full story
A similar story appeared in Before It’s News.
Latest Transformation in UT Building Frenzy Will Deliver a New Riverside Center
Tampa Bay Times
June 20, 2018
In her nearly 40 years at the University of Tampa, Linda Devine, UT vice president of operations and planning, has seen plenty of buildings eventually outgrow their usefulness. And now, it’s the Riverside Center, built in 1962. "It pulls at my heartstrings to see these old buildings go. But it’s time to reform these buildings to meet this university’s needs for 2018 and beyond," said Devine. The renovation project, which began in May, will add nearly 20,000 square feet of space for a total of 54,000 square feet. Once completed in the fall, it will be home to the Career Services office, classrooms, language labs, conference rooms and a new, modern post office. Full story
Total Bellas
E! Entertainment Television
June 17, 2018
Brie and Nikki Bella encourage their mom to conquer her fears and finish her stint as a guest weather forecaster with The University of Tampa’s UTTV television station.
Similar stories appeared on Pro Wrestling, Tampa Bay Times and Wrestle Zone.
What Is the Highest Credit Score? Max Score, Tips & More
By John S. Kiernan
WalletHub
June 15, 2018
The highest credit score you can have is 850. However, anyone with a credit score of 800+ (about 15 percent of us) has essentially perfect credit for the simple reason that lenders don’t price products for the top 1 percent of people. “I don’t think there is any point in trying to achieve a perfect credit score. An excellent score of 750+ is all you need to get optimal credit terms, and good credit scores of around 720 or more often qualify for preferred terms as well,” said Bachman Fulmer, UT assistant professor of accounting. “Just focus on making good credit decisions in your day-to-day life and the scores should follow.” Full story
Graduates Earn 1,993 degrees, Certificates from The University of Tampa
Florida Business Daily
June 11, 2018
About 38.4 percent of the 1,993 degrees and certificates handed out by The University of Tampa in 2016-2017 were to students in business, management, marketing and related support services programs, making them the most popular programs that year, according to the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education. The agency's National Center for Education Statistics shows the private nonprofit institution in Tampa conferred 464 bachelor's degrees and 290 master's degrees in business, management, marketing and related support services programs. Full story
Firefighter’s Daughter is a Beacon of Hope as She Awaits Liver Transplant
By Jill Dion
Milford Mirror (Milford, CN)
June 11, 2018
Madison Ricci, UT first-year student, plans to be a physician assistant someday. But first she has to get a new liver. At the age of 12, Ricci was diagnosed with lupus and in January of 2017 she was added to the liver transplant list. Ricci has remained positive throughout this long ordeal. “Her attitude,” said her father, Todd Ricci, a Milford firefighter, “has been ‘get this thing out of me so I can move on’.” Ricci’s family has organized community events to help find a living donor as well as raise money for liver transplant expenses. Full story
Don’t Buy the Pentagon’s Statements on Afghanistan
By Jerrod A. Laber
Real Clear Defense
June 8, 2018
“When it comes to discussing the success or failure of any given intervention, officials are confronted with two choices when it fails,” says Abigail Hall Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics. “On the one hand, they can withdraw—effectively admitting that they failed, while on the other hand, they can employ a ‘double down’ strategy.” There is no incentive to admit that things are going poorly, at least not while people are interested in keeping their current jobs or advancing to higher positions. However, there is a strong incentive to continually justify and expand your operating budget. Instead of admitting failure, officials will either overstate their accomplishments or state that they would be more successful if they had more time, funding, troops, so on and so forth. Full story
Friendly Rivals Named Lacrosse All-Americans
By Shawn Soper
The Dispatch (Ocean City, MD)
June 7, 2018
Ross Dickerson, UT junior, and Dryden Brous, Lynn University student, have shared a friendly rivalry that began as young boys and continued through high school and now college lacrosse careers. Both were named All-Americans and ranked second and third in the nation in faceoff percentage for Division II. When the Division II men’s lacrosse All-American awards were handed out, Dickerson was named to the first team, while Brous was named to the third team. Brous ranked second in the nation in faceoff percentage, while Dickerson ranked third. Brous was also first in the Sunshine State Conference in ground balls per game, while Dickerson was second. Full story
How Failure Drove This 22-Year-Old to Launch a Successful Marketing Agency
By Kelly Anne Smith
The Penny Hoarder
June 6, 2018
UT grad, Alicia Waldner started her own company at age 22, ADventure Marketing, LLC, with UT senior, Zach Gresham. The company is not only profitable but also boasts 14 clients and a mighty team of seven full-time employees and contractors. ADventure Marketing is housed in UT’s Sykes College of Business’ Lowth Entrepreneurship Center and are part of the university’s accelerator program. Today, their clients include The University of Tampa’s College of Business and Armature Works, a trendy eatery and market in Tampa, among others. Full story
50 Best Outdoor Colleges
Best Value Schools
June 2018
The University of Tampa has been named one of the 50 Best Outdoor Colleges. The ranking looked at schools that offer great outdoor programs and activities in addition to the number of yearly days of sunshine, outdoor activities and clubs at the school. UT received this recognition in part because of programs offered by Campus Recreation such as classes, fitness certification for students, intramural sports teams and off-campus excursions to go paddleboarding, camping, and paintballing. Full story
House Hopefuls Draw on Trump’s Refusal to Reveal Tax Returns
By Ahmed Namatalla
Associated Press
May 29, 2018
President Donald Trump’s unwillingness to release his tax returns is helping renew a debate on whether the practice should be expected of elected federal office holders ahead of this year’s midterms. Although there’s no constitutional requirement for candidates or elected officials to make their returns public, Trump has broken with more than four decades of tradition set by previous presidents. At issue are people’s right to privacy and the potential usefulness of information obtained from tax returns, said Abigail Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics. “If someone’s business dealings indicate they’re more inclined to engage in cronyism, that’s important for people to know,” said Blanco, “But if someone is making a half a million dollars from a legitimate business, then having people digging into their tax returns isn’t very productive or indicative of whether or not they’re qualified to do their job on a national level.”
Similar stories appeared in many outlets, including the Daily Herald (Seattle-Tacoma, WA), Post-Star (Albany, NY), St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Tulsa World Online, Lancaster Online (Harrisburg, PA), Billings Gazette (Billings, MT) and Washington Times.
Business School Sold on Sales Education
Business Observer
May 25, 2018
UT’s Sykes College of Business will be home to a new academic initiative dubbed the Institute for Sales Excellence. It will offer a curriculum focused on methodologies and techniques that will prepare students for careers in professional, business-to-business sales. The institute will also serve local businesses as a staffing resource by facilitating connections between students and potential employers. Stacey Schetzsle, UT associate professor of marketing and director of the institute, says the curriculum will be more practical than theoretical. “I don’t think you can learn sales from a textbook,” said Schetzsle. Full story
The Case of: Caylee Anthony
Oxygen
May 19, 2018
The documentary, The Case of: Caylee Anthony, examined the criminal investigation and trial of Casey Anthony. Casey Anthony was charged with murder, manslaughter and child abuse in connection with the death of her daughter, Caylee, and was acquitted of those charges. As part of the documentary’s investigation they came to UT to talk to Kenyon Evans-Nguyen, UT associate professor of chemistry, and test to see if it’s possible to manufacture chloroform at home. “People have tried it from time to time, and it’s never worked right,” said Evans-Nguyen.
Similar stories appeared on Bravo, Fox News, MSN and Press From.
College Admissions: Show Your Best Side on Social Media
By Pete Musto
Voice of America
May 18, 2018
Social media has found its way into almost every part of everyday life. It has even affected college and university admissions. Many colleges and universities in the U.S. are now using social media to share information with applicants, says George DaPonte, UT director of international admissions. Using social media brings the information directly to students, instead of making them find it themselves. And, DaPonte says, it is not just how schools communicate that is changing. School officials are also looking at what applicants’ post. Almost 400 admissions officials were questioned. About 70 percent said it was fair for them to consider an applicant’s social media messages and pictures when making their decisions. Full story
A similar story appeared in Jakarta News.
AJC Digging Deeper Boy Scouts of America; Atlanta-Area Mormons Weigh Church's Split with Boy Scouts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
May 17, 2018
The alliance between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Boy Scouts goes back more than a century and was based on shared values. Now, the church, one of the biggest sponsors of Boy Scout troops in the U.S., said it plans to end its chartering relationships with BSA in December of 2019. "My sense is that the LDS Church has felt in recent years that the Boy Scouts were assimilating to broader shifts in values more quickly than the LDS Church has," said Ryan Cragun, UT associate professor of sociology. "As a result, there is a misalignment between LDS Church values and those of the Boy Scouts. This, of course, was a major issue when the Scouts allowed gay and lesbian leaders and gay and lesbian Scouts. The church dropped some involvement with Scouting shortly after that (which was very much a harbinger of things to come). With the latest change, which puts males and females on equal footing, that's a 'bridge too far' so to speak."
With Sales in the Future of Many Students, University of Tampa Launches Institute for Sales Excellence
By Richard Danielson
Tampa Bay Times
May 8, 2018
UT is creating an institute to prepare interested students for careers in sales and educate them in sales methodologies, no matter what their major. Based in the Sykes College of Business, the new Institute for Sales Excellence will encourage networking between students and businesses, serve as a staffing resource for regional, national and global firms, and provide learning resources for local and regional businesses. "Top sales program graduates have an average job placement rate of 92 percent, and more than 50 percent of college graduates will hold their initial job in sales," Stacey Schetzsle, UT associate professor of marketing and director of the institute. Full story
Making the Tampa Connection at the Henry B. Plant Museum
By Cathy Salustri
Creative Loafing
May 8, 2018
There's a new exhibit at the Henry B. Plant Museum, Red Cross Nursing and the War of 1898: The Tampa Connection, travels with the women who came to Tampa from New York — and then headed to Cuba — as the first American Red Cross nurses in a time of war. Charles McGraw Groh, UT associate professor of history, did the bulk of the research, but his students curated the work for exhibit. The students researched different ways of curating history for the public. They also worked with local museum pros, especially Plant Museum curators Susan Carter and Heather Trubee Brown, who worked with students through every stage of planning this exhibit. Full story
University of Tampa Plans Big Renovation, Expansion of Riverside Center
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
May 7, 2018
UT is about to kick off a major campus construction project. The Riverside Center, built in 1962 on the Hillsborough River, will be renovated and expanded by 20,000 square feet. It will add 5,000 square feet to the university's career services department and 4,500 square feet of new classrooms and conference spaces. The post office will be completely redesigned to accommodate an upswing in package delivery. “The new Riverside Building will benefit the UT community in many ways,” said UT President Ronald Vaughn. “I believe students will especially benefit from the expansion of career services and the addition of classrooms and study spaces, and I think they will particularly enjoy a modernized, functional post office.” It will be complete for the spring 2019 semester, though some elements will be ready by this fall. Full story
Similar stories appeared in the Business Observer and GlobeSt.com.
Drinking, Drugs Are Most Dangerous Things College Students Face
By Amanda Ciavarri
WFLA
May 4, 2018
UT senior, Anna Pollard, spoke to WFLA about her problems with alcohol addiction and how she was able to get help. Pollard, now a year sober, wants to help others that may be in a similar position. “I think it is important for college kids to see this is a problem now. It can also be a problem after college. It doesn't just stop after college,” Pollard said. Full story
A similar story appeared on KAMR (Amarillo, TX).
What Is a Credit Score? Credit Score Definition & More
By Odysseas Papadimitriou
WalletHub
May 2018 (updated)
A credit score is your credit history expressed as a number. You can also think of it as a grade for how responsibly you’ve managed loans, lines of credit and other financial obligations over the years. Kevin Lee, UT assistant professor of finance, does not believe that people check their credit scores often enough. “In today’s day and age of identity theft, people must be vigilant. Many banks and credit cards providers offer a free FICO score tracker. There are also some online services that provide free credit score monitoring. It is helpful to check these scores frequently as they may warn you of unauthorized activity,” said Lee. Full story
Wharton Alum Drew Ehrhard Playing Like a Veteran for University of Tampa Baseball
By Joey Johnston
Tampa Bay Times
May 1, 2018
University of Tampa freshman second baseman Drew Ehrhard has made a rapid adjustment to college baseball, leading the Spartans in batting at .360 and establishing himself as a key contributor for a team with designs on winning an NCAA Division II national championship. "You really don’t see many freshmen making this kind of impact on our program — ever," Spartans coach Joe Urso said. Ehrhard said it’s a thrill to be producing, but particularly because it’s at UT, a program he always followed. Ehrhard’s father, Rodney, played two seasons at UT before spending some time as a catcher in the Yankees’ minor-league organization. Full story
Book Excerpt: BEAUT by Don Morrill of Tampa
By Don Morrill
83 Degrees
May 1, 2018
An excerpt for Don Morrill’s recent work, BEAUT, was featured in 83 Degrees. Morrill, Dana Professor of English at UT, won the 2017 Lee Smith Novel prize for BEAUT. The novel’s protagonist, Jill Lundgrove, is secluded in a cheap apartment on a ring road of Des Moines after a fire has destroyed her house -- a blaze “the Monster,” her drug-addicted, adult son might have caused -- she confronts her precarious circumstances. Full story
A Tampa Artist Made Portraits of All 17 Parkland Shooting Victims
By Maggie Duffy
Tampa Bay Times
May 1, 2018
Symone Hall, UT senior drawing major, presented her senior project that focuses on the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Hall created a charcoal portrait for each victim; 14 students and a teacher, a football coach and an athletic director. Each person has a piece of tape over the mouth. "The purpose of the tape was to make the portrait speak louder," Hall explained. "The point was to show how they were silenced." Splattered inkwash gives the illusion of blood. Hall also included a haunting 18th piece, blank except for the splatter. "I wanted my portraits to say something more. I want viewers to stop and think about the person, or that they could have potentially lived," Hall said. "Although they’ve died, I want people to remember them long after the tragedy." Full story
A similar story appeared on Bay News 9.
Technology, Generation Z and Solving a Labor Shortage
Business Observer
April 27, 2018
While many employers focus on millennials for hiring, there’s another generation of employees to watch out for: Generation Z. The first wave of Gen Z are in college and close to entering the workforce. Monnie Wertz, UT assistant vice president for operations and planning, says some of the influences that shape Generation Z include: widely-publicized violence, total saturation of the smart phone, pragmatism, diversity and growing up even more slowly. She added that Generation Z is less likely to tolerate bigotry and less likely to desire homogenous environments. Full story
Dear Abby: #MeToo
By Jessica Weisberg
New York Times
April 26, 2018
The most concrete goal of the “Me Too” movement has been to reform workplace culture. But the movement has also accomplished something broader, and more nebulous: It has given women the ability to talk about some of the hardest moments of their lives with less shame, stigma or fear of repercussions. It has, in other words, created room for the sort of discussions that once were restricted to, essentially, just one type of public space: advice columns. If advice columns were a kind of predecessor to the ”Me Too” movement that fostered an honest discussion about womanhood, they were different in that they typically did not seek to dismantle the strictures their readers faced. According to a study by David Gudelunas, UT dean for the College of Arts and Letters, when Esther Lederer started her column under the pen name Ann Landers, 91 percent of letters included a question intended for her; by the 1990s, only 34 percent did. Readers didn’t appear to be looking for advice: they were looking to participate, to get things off their chest. Full story
A similar story appeared in CetUSNews.com.
Most Americans Believe in a Higher Power, But Not Always in the God of the Bible
By Yonat Shimron
The Washington Post
April 25, 2018
A new survey finds that one-third of Americans — both those who say they believe in God and those who say they don’t — trust in a higher power or spiritual force. Among the so-called “nones” — a broad category of atheists, agnostics and those who answer “none of the above” on questions about religion —72 percent believe in a higher power of some kind. Ryan Cragun, UT associate professor of sociology, said some people may say they believe in a higher power to avoid the social stigma and even discrimination atheists face. He pointed to studies suggesting that white heterosexual men are the most likely to say they’re atheist because they have a certain social privilege that others don’t, and therefore may feel less at risk in making such a statement. Full story
Similar stories appeared in the Religion News Service, National Catholic Reporter, Huffington Post, The Presbyterian Outlook, Salt Lake Tribune, Morning Sun (Flint, MI) and Oakland Press (Detroit, MI).
Can Guns and Trump Turn Out Florida’s Youth Vote? So Far, Not So Much
By Steve Contorno
Tampa Bay Times
April 18, 2018
Gun violence and a polarizing president may have spurred more activism among millennials, but so far it isn’t generating new voters in Florida. Across six of the seven largest counties, there were 4,500 fewer registrations among 16- to 25-year-olds compared to the same point in 2014. UT student Ryan Johnson said the president’s behavior and executive actions have sparked much more dialogue and interest in national politics in the classroom and on social media. “Awareness is so much more prevalent, and so you see it everywhere,” Johnson said. Full story
Holocaust Survivor Reacts to Study Showing 2/3 of Millennials Don't Know What Auschwitz Is
By Michael Paluska
WTVT
April 18, 2018
Holocaust survivor Marie Silverman spoke to students at UT a day before Israel’s 70th Independence Day. “Very emotional for me… my grandparents' aunts and uncles were all executed by the Nazis,” Silverman said. Her memories are just as vivid as they were all those years ago. She will never stop telling people, especially the younger generation, the pain and suffering she endured when she was just nine years old. Full story
Do the Math: UT’s Vanina Iordanova Aces on the Court
By Joey Johnston
TBO
April 18, 2018
For Vanina Iordanova, UT sophomore majoring in finance, life inside the rectangle has come full circle. Iordanova, the former Wharton High School standout, has returned home to play tennis for the Spartans after spending one season at another university. She has always enjoyed the competition, particularly the thoughtful construction of a point. Her style — a baseliner who looks to charge the net at opportune moments — translates well to hard and clay courts. "I would hold Vanina up as an example of the perfect student-athlete," Spartans coach Al DuFaux said. "She’s a wonderful person. She does what you ask. She’s brilliant in the classroom. And she wins tennis matches. I’m so happy that she’s maximizing her experience." Full story
Criminal Justice Reform: University of Tampa Hosts Panel
By Emerald Morrow
WTSP
April 18, 2018
UT students Larry Washington and Melissa Font were interviewed as a preview to the criminal justice and immigration panel discussion at UT. The topic covered, criminal justice reform, included a range of issues, such as mandatory minimum sentencing, immigration and bail reform. Full story
UT Growing, Showcasing New and Innovative Businesses in Downtown Tampa
By Cheryl Rogers
83 Degrees
April 17, 2018
83 Degrees profiled several of the 54 UT students and alumni who participated in the 2018 New Venture Expo that took place at UT’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. Some with business ideas were earning a grade; others were obviously engaging in trade. “The philosophy that basically drives all academic programs here at the University of Tampa is learning by doing, the philosophy of experiential education,” said Dean Koutroumanis, UT associate professor of management. “We want to see Tampa Bay on the map when people think ‘where am i going to start my business’.” Full story
3 Key Takeaways from the Zuckerberg Hearings
By Jonathan Lewallen, UT assistant professor of political science
The Washington Post
April 12, 2018
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg testified before House and Senate committees after revelations that political research firm Cambridge Analytica gained access to 87 million Facebook users’ data during the 2016 election season. Jonathan Lewallen, UT assistant professor of political science, provided three takeaways, including how Congress examines privacy concerns. Congress has rarely focused on privacy issues related to technology and cybersecurity even though breaches have become an increasingly widespread public problem. Full story
Seminole High School GSA Honors Pulse Victim, SHS Grad
By Tiffany Razzano
Tampa Bay Newspapers (Beacon, Leader and Bee)
April 11, 2018
Nearly two years ago, Christopher Andrew Leinonen was one of 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. The Gay-Straight Alliance, a group Leinonen founded, held a dedication of a memorial sculpture created in his honor. The bronze sculpture of two clasped hands was created by Kendra Frorup, UT associate professor of art and design. Full story
WHS Graduate Presents Paper at International Conference
By Donna Harris
The Daily Tribune News
April 10, 2018
UT senior Noah Oakley was one of only 23 students from the United States and Canada accepted to present works at the American Comparative Literature Association's 2018 Annual Meeting at UCLA. Oakley presented his paper, "So Queer Ya Can't See Straight: Hemingway, the Double and Digital Archives." Oakley's research on Ernest Hemingway began last fall in course taught by Sarah Lauro, assistant professor of English. "My paper dealt with digital archives and how that changes the way we engage with literary texts… The conclusion the paper focuses on is that Hemingway might not have been the ideal macho man we create him to be and that there is a lot more about gender and sexuality in his texts than we previously give." Full story
'Unhappy Hour' Marks Equal Pay Day in St. Pete
WTVT
April 10, 2018
April 10 is National Equal Pay Day. Businesses and professional women in St. Petersburg organized an event to shine a light on the wage gap between men and women. “We shouldn’t stop looking at and addressing those particular problems. But one thing that is important for us to keep in mind is to really examine what progress has looked like,” said Abigail Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics. Blanco says there is plenty of room to grow as a society. Full story
UT Students Racing Across Europe With No Phones and Only Red Bull as Currency
TBO
April 9, 2018
A trio of University of Tampa students known as the Young Dreamerz will attempt to make their way across Europe with nothing more than cans of Red Bull to use for bartering. Narenzo Kershaw, Jomely Breton and Tyler Santos submitted a video entry and were selected as one of 100 college teams from around the world that are finalists in the Can You Make It contest. With no phones and no cash, they rely on their ability to negotiate rides, shelter and whatever else they’ll need in order to get from Madrid to Amsterdam. Full story
Best Credit Card Rates
WalletHub
April 9, 2018
WalletHub produced an analysis on which credit cards have the best rates for purchases. Jennifer Burton, UT assistant professor of marketing, provided additional insight into credit card rates. “The first thing you should do with a zero percent introductory rate is transfer any balances you have from your highest interest credit cards to the new card with the zero percent interest rate.” Burton also said that another great way to use a zero percent interest rate credit card is for large, and perhaps unexpected, purchases that you need a couple of months to pay off. Full story
How Does Union Strength Affect Economic Development in Latin America?
By Giacomo Mattei, UT senior
Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Policy and Society
April 7, 2018
Giacomo Mattei, UT senior majoring in history and government and world affairs, published a case study analyzing the effect of union strength on economic development in Argentina, Mexico and Peru. He tested whether union strength has a diminishing returns effect on various economic development indicators such as wages, productivity, equality, employment and social well-being. Full story
When the Line Between Police and Military Blurs, You Get the Stephon Clark Tragedy
By Christopher Coyne and Abigail Hall, UT assistant professor of economics
USA Today
April 5, 2018
Abigail Hall, UT assistant professor of economics, discusses in this article how police have come to use aggressive military tactics. The recent and tragic death of Stephon Clark raises serious concerns about aggressive police tactics. While many factors converged to create the current atmosphere of policing, there is one cause that is often overlooked: How America’s foreign policy helped create some of the very domestic controversies, such as militarization of the police, of the last few years. Military innovations are often imported back and used domestically, within the United States, including in domestic policing activities. When this happens the distinction between the traditional peacekeeping function of police and the more aggressive approach of the military begins to blur. Full story
Similar stories appeared in the Clarion Ledger (Jackson, MS), Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY) and Daily Times (Salisbury, MD).
Union to Bay Area Teachers: Don't Even Think About Striking
By Eric Glasser
WTSP
April 5, 2018
The state union that represents Florida teachers has a warning for Tampa Bay educators who might be looking to what’s going on in Oklahoma and Kentucky, West Virginia, etc. Don’t even think about it. A walkout or teachers strike in Florida, they say, would have severe consequences. If they walk off the job, they could lose their job, their pension and more. “Nothing would happen if they just keep doing their job as it is. I mean, how are they going to show that it’s something that’s really important to them?” said Bruna Ferreira, UT first-year student. Full story
Here's Why a Trucking Safety Tool Could Cost You Money
By Eric Glasser
WTSP
April 3, 2018
Just about everything we use, eat or have delivered these days gets to us by truck. And now, the cost of that trucking trip from point A to point B is likely to get more expensive. Truckers now have to use EDLs (electronic logging devices) to ensure they don’t drive more than 11 hours a day. It monitors, logs and records how long engines are running, and that info can be read by law enforcement. James Lee, UT associate professor of marketing, says ELDs are designed to keep all of us safer by making sure that the person driving that semi next you is awake and alert. “I think we are going to see higher prices simply because of this,” said Lee. Well, there’s already a shortage of qualified truck drivers, and strictly enforcing their hours is driving their driving rates higher. “Someone is going to have to pay,” said Lee. “And the shipping companies are going to take less in profits. So, they are going to pass it on down the line to the consumer.” Full story
Holy Hazelnut Mocha! California Has Gone Off the Deep End
By David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism
CNN
March 31, 2018
David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism, satirically reviews the State of California’s decision to post warning labels on coffee because it may increase risk for cancer. “…the unintended consequences could be enormous. We already have a crisis of confidence in our governments, institutions and scientists. Maybe this is my second soy latte talking, but why risk incurring the wrath of the nation to prove a nanoscale point? Why cast the country into even more confusion by overreacting about a beverage consumed by Americans on the order of 2.1 cups per day per person? We need to be restoring the public's trust, building confidence, taking measured steps to real science-based threats, not causing hysteria over an extreme unlikelihood.” Full story
Similar stories appeared on KITV (Honolulu, HI), KAKE (Wichita, KS) and Erie News Now (Erie, PA).
An American Dream in the Making
By Kelley Lash
College Media Matters
March 29, 2018
Alejandro Romero, UT senior, wanted to do a documentary on how public transportation could benefit UT students, but thanks to an uninformed security officer, Romero is informing students, and other journalists, of their rights. While pursuing the class assignment, Romero and his classmates were approached by security and told they needed permission to record at the bus station because it's private property. The students returned to campus and to a dismayed professor who “was outraged” students were being treated this way. The students went back twice more and were again turned away. This encouraged them to change the focus of their documentary. “With this change in documentary, we plan to explore where are we legally able to stand and be at to film on public property, and if a location is private property, how can we legally get the footage we need without trespassing,” Romero said. Full story
The Anti-Liberty Boomerang of U.S. Militarism
By Jerrod A. Laber
Taking on Issues
March 28, 2018
This article discusses the new book by Abigail Hall-Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics, Tyranny Comes Home: The Domestic Fate of U.S. Militarism. The book states that, “coercive foreign intervention creates opportunities to develop and refine methods and technologies of social control.” It explains how eventually, interventions end, the interveners come home, and the practices employed on foreign soil are imported for use against the domestic population. Full story
When Sharks Attack
National Geographic
March 27, 2018
UT associate professor of biology and shark expert, Dan Huber, was featured in National Geographic’s When Sharks Attack documentary. “The rogue shark theory was developed in the 1930s, and the basic idea is that one shark would develop a taste for humans and then be responsible for a cluster of shark attacks in one area,” said Huber. He said that recent history has provided evidence that sharks can become habituated to people and associate people with food. This can potentially lead to attacks.
Star Wars Universe is Second Home for UT Coach
WTVT
March 22, 2018
Mark Johnson, head coach of UT’s JV baseball team, is in his eighteenth year coaching the Spartans. He is also a member of the 501st Legion, the largest costuming organization in the world for Star Wars, where he builds replica costumes and animated droids. “I like being able to create and build things and put things together,” said Johnson. “You have to have a lot of patience, which is tied into baseball, and there’s a lot of thought that has to go into it.” Full story
Similar stories appeared in Journal Courier (Jacksonville, FL) and Middletown Press (New Haven, CT).
SUU Brings Universities Together with Experiential Leadership Retreat
The Spectrum
March 24, 2018
Southern Utah University experts recently hosted the Experiential Learning Leadership Institute (ELLI) for experiential education leaders from several universities to share ideas on helping students through hands-on learning. Stephanie Thomason, UT associate director of the TECO Energy Center for Leadership, said her university’s mission centers on experiential learning and is continually looking for ways to enhance teaching effectiveness. “My teaching philosophy is focused on continuous improvement, so I’ve always tried to find ways to improve my delivery and assure student learning,” she said. Full story
Rising National Debt Threatens Future Generations
By Rajul Mehta
Tampa Bay Reporter
March 23, 2018
Rajul Mehta '18 wrote a guest column about the effects of rising national debt. “According to the Congressional Budget Office, if we fail to address our rising national debt, a family of four could see its income decrease by an estimated average of $16,000 per year by 2047. Imagine losing a material part of the income in an economic situation where the federal debt and the interest payments for it are crowding essential investments like healthcare, social security benefits and education. This would decrease our growth and our savings. A country saddled with debt will have less to invest in its own future, which in this case would be the millennials and the younger generation. The growth in our community that we see today will be heavily impacted by the national debt.” Full story
Japanese Politician Fights for Gender Equality
By Sarah Foster
Medill Reports (Chicago)
March 23, 2018
In Japan, women represent just 10 percent of members of prefectural assemblies, 15 percent of city and ward assemblies, and 10 percent of town and village assemblies. The same study found no women in 32 percent of Japan’s town and village assemblies. These figures represent many sociocultural barriers that women face when hoping to make it into Japanese politics, said Liv Coleman, UT associate professor of political science. “You have a lot of Japanese citizens saying in public opinion polls they would be happy voting for women candidates, similar to what you find the in the United States,” she said. “But because of a lot of pressures for women in Japan, balancing work and family responsibilities makes it challenging to build the resume for leaping into a career in politics. It’s harder for women to get their foot in the door.” Full story
PM Tampa Bay: UT Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Abby Blanco
By Ryan Gorman
970WFLA
March 23, 2018
Ryan Gorman and Abby Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics, discuss the recent volatility in the market, how the latest tariffs being pushed by the Trump administration could affect you, the change this week in interest rates and a new study on income and race. Full story
DreamIt Ventures is Expanding in Florida
By Joseph N. DiStefano
The Inquirer (Philadelphia)
March 20, 2018
DreamIt Ventures, a tech company “accelerator,” has helped 300 software and health tech companies since it was founded in Philadelphia 10 years ago. It expanded to New York in 2011 and now is setting up a third base in Tampa, thanks to a $12 million investment from Jeff Vinik. “This is something we need in Tampa to up our game,” said Vinik. Vinik noted that UT helps to make the region a university center for entrepreneurship, management and other tech-ready graduates. He and his partners believe that DreamIt will help with the much needed tech “eco-system” so start-ups can take root locally.
No One Knows the Importance of the Mental Game Better Than UT’s Makaleigh Dooley
By Joey Johnston
Tampa Bay Times
March 19, 2018
At random unexplainable moments, UT junior Makaleigh Dooley became a pitcher who couldn’t throw a strike. She has consulted with mental coaches. She has learned techniques to control her mind and the strike-throwing issues haven’t surfaced this season. "It’s not a fun thing," said softball head coach Leslie Kanter. "It’s a scary thing to think about. But Makaleigh was determined to do whatever it took to be successful." Dooley’s the ace for UT, and she already has been a first-team all-Sunshine State Conference honoree. She has pitched a no-hitter and also provides some offensive pop. "You can have all the physical skills in the world, but this is a mental game. To be successful, you have to be in control of your own mind and your own self," said Dooley. Full story
Erin Hanson named Community Hero of Tomorrow
TampaBayLightning.com
March 17, 2018
The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Erin Hanson, first-year student at UT, as the 36th Lightning Community Hero this season. Hanson, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will donate half of the funds to the Positive Coaching Alliance Student-Athlete Mentor Program, while the other half will go towards a scholarship for her own education. Erin has a diverse volunteering background and has also been involved in sports. But as she got older she was told that sports were for boys. Through her transition from middle school to high school, she saw the number of girls trying out for sports teams drop dramatically. Because of this, she decided to take part in the PCA Student-Athlete Mentor Program that teaches young women about the importance of athletics, health and fitness. Full story
A similar story appeared on Bay News 9.
Sports Club showcases bond between Tampa and its teams
By Joe Henderson
TBO
March 15, 2018
The Sports Club of Tampa Bay has been around since 1960, when it was known as the Tampa Sports Club. The founders were relentless advocates for sports of all kinds. Their highlight event is the Hall of Fame dinner. At this year’s event the club’s newest Hall of Fame members, including Joe Urso, will be honored. Urso, head baseball coach at UT, has won more than 700 games and four Division II national championships. Full story
Synapse Innovation Summit Looks to Cultivate Tech and Startup Connections
By Richard Danielson
Tampa Bay Times
March 15, 2018
Now in its second year, the Synapse Innovation Summit at Amalie Arena aims to gather together the Tampa Bay area’s entire innovation ecosystem. Why do this? A 2016 University of Tampa study by the Ewing Marion Kaufman Foundation concluded that the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem needed stronger leadership, less duplication of effort, startup-savvy investors and a specific brand for the bay area. In a five-county area, it found 64 entrepreneurial support organizations, but they were lightly connected, uncoordinated and, too often, all but invisible. Full story
University of Tampa Introduces New Beach Volleyball Program
By Jeff Tewksbury
Fox 13
March 15, 2018
The UT beach volleyball complex is an oasis in the middle of campus. The school added a brand new program to play on one of the coolest venues in the area. UT has won two national titles in indoor volleyball, so expanding to the outdoor game as well was a natural fit. But instead of six players per side, there are only two players to cover the court. "It's a lot of trust," said Katie McKiel, UT sophomore. "A lot of responsibility and preparation. You have to really communicate with your partner and make sure the whole court is taken care of." UT head coach Jeff Lamm grew up playing beach volleyball. "The ground moves, first of all. That's completely foreign to them, and then you add the wind and sun in here. The ball just reacts differently." Full story
We Tell Kids to Stay in School. They're Learning More Outside It.
By Sady Doyle
Elle
March 15, 2018
The University of Tampa was featured in this article about Wednesday’s student walk out, where almost a million students walked out of school for 17 minutes to demand gun control legislation. The article described how these kids have gotten ahead of the curriculum. They've effectively marshaled and led a political protest that's gained national press attention—a feat that many intelligent adults still haven't achieved. Full story
A similar story appeared on WTVT.
How Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Could Affect Tampa Bay
By Ryan Gorman
WFLA
March 10, 2018
Michael Coon, UT assistant professor of economics, was interviewed about the new tariffs on steel and aluminum and how it could affect the average household. Coon expects that there will be an increase in steel manufacturing jobs in the Midwest and Pennsylvania. "But you're going to see a much larger decline in jobs that are related to steel, because they're going to start incurring higher costs," said Coon. "All of the economic estimates that I've seen so far say there's going to be a net loss nationwide of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of jobs." Full story
Bitcoin 101
Good Day Tampa Bay
WTVT
March 9, 2018
Tim Smith, UT assistant professor of information and technology management, was interviewed by Good Day Tampa Bay about bitcoin. He briefly covered the history, trends and function of the cryptocurrency.
Spartan Swimmers and Baseball Players Featured in the Toronto Observer
By Jessica Koffie, Braden Jones, Jennifer Redenbach and Fares Kaff
Toronto Observer
March 8-12, 2018
The Toronto Observer's sports journalism post-graduate program recently spent time in Florida covering Spring Training. In addition to covering Major League Baseball, the Observer staff wrote feature stories about UT swimmers Marc-Oliver Caron, Brett Saunders, McKenzie Street, Hana van Loock and Megan Waddell and UT baseball players Cole Perry, Drew Ehrhard, Brandon Gali and David Drysdale.
UT Center Scores Coolest Office Spaces Readers' Pick Award
By Jo-Lynn Brown
Tampa Bay Business Journal
March 7, 2018
The John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at The University of Tampa's Sykes College of Business received the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Readers' Pick award for Coolest Office Spaces 2018. More than 5,000 votes were cast by Tampa Bay Business Journal readers with UT's Entrepreneurship Center receiving 24 percent of the vote. Full story
Kevin Pimentel Gives University of Tampa Baseball Another Stellar Arm
By Joey Johnston
TBO
March 5, 2018
UT junior right-hander Kevin Pimentel has rediscovered his confidence - and that's bad news for Spartan opponents. Coming off a broken arm, he was seeking a fresh beginning. "It's like we've acquired another No. 1 pitcher," said Joe Urso, UT baseball coach. Overall, Pimentel has a 2.96 ERA with just five walks and 19 strikeouts in his 27 1/3 innings, to go along with his 5-0 record. "I wanted to show that I was still good enough," said Pimentel. "I feel like I'm back to being the pitcher I used to be." Full story
Tampa Bay Wave: Diversity Highlights Latest Tech Cohort
By Cheryl Rogers
83 Degrees
March 5, 2018
Jonathan Truong, UT senior entrepreneurship major, has parlayed a painful lesson into an innovative new business. After he was injured playing tennis, Truong frequently skipped physical therapy because he found it boring and repetitive. Because of the missed sessions, his injury took two years to heal instead of eight months. Now Truong is at the helm of a company to help other patients get it right. "We utilize virtual reality to create immersive games for physical therapy," said Truong, CEO of Verapy. "Our goal is to make therapy a lot more fun and engaging for patients." Full story
Cameron Newton: The Swimmer
SwimSwam
March 4, 2018
When you think of the name Cameron (Cam) Newton, you think of the Heisman winner MVP Quarterback, but there is another successful Cam Newton at The University of Tampa in the sport of swimming. Newton recently broke one of UT's oldest school records in the 200 free posting a 1:37.5 time, shaving a few tenths of a second of his personal best. Newton has qualified for Division II Nationals. "He's actually been a really really great addition for the team. He's one of the hardest workers I've ever seen in the pool," said head men's swim coach Jimi Kiner. Full story
Coaches Chow Down on Meat Pies for Cancer Charity
By Beth Weber
WTVT
March 1, 2018
Athletic coaches from UT and USF participated in a pie-eating contest to raise money for Children's Cancer Center in Tampa. "I'm a cancer survivor, I have squamous cell carcinoma, so this is dear to my heart," said Keith Fulk, UT's assistant soccer coach. "I haven't eaten for three days so I'm really ready to fill up my belly." Walkabout Bakery supplied the meat pies and says a percentage of meat pie sales for the month of March will be donated to the Children's Cancer Center in Tampa. Full story
FHS Grad Finds the Perfect Match
By Juri Love
The Foxboro Reporter
March 1, 2018
Lianne McCarthy, UT assistant directory of enrollment evaluation, had been given a new lease on life after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare blood cancer with a 25 percent survival rate. After a long recovery, McCarthy was able to meet the stranger who generously donated the bone marrow that helped her beat the odds. "Meeting the person who saved you is unlike any other emotion you can experience. When I hugged him it made me realize that my life for the past year and a half, and every day in the future, is only possible because of this man," said McCarthy. Full story
Review: University of Tampa Exhibit Examines Human Response to Natural Disasters
By Maggie Duffy
Tampa Bay Times
March 1, 2018
Hurricane Irma was an eye opener of human response in the face of a natural disaster. The notions of preparation, exodus and refuge are explored in Julie Heffernan's exhibition, "When the Water Rises," on display at UT's Scarfone/Hartley Gallery. Inspired by Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey-based Heffernan's large-scale paintings depict a planet where things have gone very wrong, though the environments are deceptively beautiful. The narratives portray a great flood, and the masses who had to flee for safety, but the only way to survive is retreat up to the trees, or to build floating fortresses. Heffernan makes no bones about her views on climate change and carves the names of people she sees as perpetrators against the environment in the trees of her lush landscapes. Full story
Bobby Bones Inspires First-Year Research on Collegiate Happiness
The Bobby Bones Show
Q104.1
Feb. 28, 2018
Jennifer Wortham, UT associate professor of health sciences and human performance, assigned her first-year students to read Bobby Bone's book - Bare Bones: I'm Not Lonely If You're Reading This Book - then do a research project based on the glass-half-full mentality that every day can be a good day. "We wanted to take a look at what makes college students have a good day. Once we started gathering the data, we realized it could lead to higher retention rates. If students are having a good day or more students are having a good day, the higher your retention rate would be," said Jason Behnke '19. Full story
Jessie Tobin, Former MassLive Swimmer of the Year, Competing in NCAA Division II Championships for University of Tampa
By Meredith Perri
MassLive
Feb. 27, 2018
Jessie Tobin will compete in the NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships after a successful freshman campaign at UT. Tobin earned a second-place finish during the 2018 Sunshine State Conference Championships earlier this week, finishing the 1,650 free in a time of 17:02.58. Tobin has qualified for four events during the meet. She is the No. 20 seed in the 1,000-free, the No. 76 seed in the 200-free, the No. 44 seed in the 500-free and is the No. 17 seed in the 1,650-free. Full story
Florida Legislature Has Options When It Comes to Strengthening Gun Laws
By Evan Donovan
WFLA
Feb. 21, 2018
The Florida legislature is considering a bill that would raise the age to purchase military-style assault weapons from 18 to 21 and extend the waiting period to three days. Those measures are currently required for buying handguns in the state of Florida. The efforts are the first movements in the direction of reforming gun laws since last week's massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 14 students and three teachers were shot to death. Mary Anderson, UT associate professor of political science, said there are a number of measures that the legislature can take. "There's broad public support for different types of bans on assault rifles," said Anderson. She said there is a lot of public support for gun control measures but there has to be a political will to make those changes. Full story
UT's Softball Sisters Create Family-Like Atmosphere for Entire Team
By Marissa Lynn
WTVT
Feb. 19, 2018
They're two UT softball players who have spent most of their lives playing on the same teams. Maddie Farrell, the Spartans' catcher, and second baseman Taylor Farrell. These two sisters have played on the same team through high school, travel ball and now college. Just by watching them practice, you can tell, the sisters are each other's biggest supporters. "It's nice having someone, like, not only your sister, but like a friend that's always there for you and someone you can rely on," said Taylor. Full story
Is Your Kid Cheating in School with Technology, Social Media?
By Ryan Hughes
WFLA
Feb. 19, 2018
"Having technology so easily accessible makes it really easy to cheat. And I've seen it all throughout my life almost, with technology so prevalent," said UT freshman Eve Flett. Phones. Computers. Tablets. Watches. Getting it right is getting easier-and-easier. "There's opportunities," said Patricia O'Grady, UT associate professor of education. "And students are now able to use those tools." While that opportunity exists, O'Grady believes it can be wiped out. "I think in the digital age, you can take precautions. If students don't have access, obviously, to cell phones and watches during testing time, that would eliminate it," O'Grady said. Full story
A similar story appeared on KRON (San Francisco, CA).
Why the Zombie Craze Still Has Our Undying Affection
By Neda Ulaby
NPR
Feb. 17, 2018
Disney has a new original movie-musical Zombies, where a high school is integrated with zombie students. Why are we still so obsessed with zombies? Sarah Lauro, UT assistant professor of English, relates the popularity to the overwhelming terror we see every day on the news. "Every day is a new and terrible terror coming at you from the news, and it's just nonstop," she says. "I think people are feeling overwhelmed. And that's a great metaphor for a zombie invasion. Like, that is the iconic scene for a zombie invasion, a horde coming to overwhelm a town or a mall or a handful of survivors." Full story
Similar stories appeared on KXJZ (Sacramento, CA), OPB (Portland, OR), WHRO (Norfolk, VA), WBGO (New York, NY), WUWM (Milwaukee, WI), Texas Public Radio (San Antonio, TX) and NHPR (Boston).
Having it All?: Ashes to Ashes
By Kacy Tillman, UT associate professor of English
Creative Loafing
Feb. 15, 2018
Kacy Tillman, UT associate professor of English, writes about the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. She noted that the tragedy occurred on Ash Wednesday, a day that is intended to remind people of their mortality, and wonders how much time she has left with her son. Full story
Going Vintage in Tampa, FL
House Hunters
HGTV
Feb. 15, 2018
Chris Gurrie, UT assistant professor of speech, was featured on House Hunters. Gurrie was on the hunt for a vintage bungalow with a pool in Tampa. He hopes to find a place in close proximity to his job, and he'd like storage for his ski boat. Full story
Light, Bright, Airy and Modern: See Tampa Bay's Coolest Office Spaces Finalists of 2018
By Jo-Lynn Brown
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Feb. 14, 2018
The John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at UT's Sykes College of Business is one of the 25 finalists for the Tampa Bay Business Journal's 2018 Coolest Office Spaces. Each year the TBBJ puts out a call for submissions for the coolest office designs in town. The Coolest Office Spaces awards produce new inspiration for companies looking to update or create new workspaces for their employees. Full story
A Toxic Friendship Turns Deadly in The Radicals
By Erin Vanderhoof
Vanity Fair
Feb. 14, 2018
How does someone become so devoted to a cause they would kill for it? That idea was in the back of Ryan McIlvain's mind when he started his second novel. The Radicals tells the story of grad students overcome by pessimism who derail their lives in the name of socialism and commit acts they can never recover from. McIlvain, UT assistant professor of English and writing, gives a rapturous look at how committing to an idea could be your undoing. Full story
A similar story appeared in the Tampa Bay Times.
Media Embrace Liberal Push to Forgive Nearly $1.4 Trillion Student Debt
By Aly Nielsen
MRC NewsBusters
Feb. 14, 2018
As good as free college may sound, it is an economic fantasy. But that did not stop media outlets from embracing two recent studies arguing for loan forgiveness. A study from the left-leaning Brookings Institution calling for increased federal regulation on for-profit colleges was lauded by media. Another study from Soros-funded Bard College also called for student debt forgiveness. Instead of identifying the liberal biases of both Brookings and Bard College, media outlets like New York Magazine promoted their findings without question, proclaiming "We Must Cancel Everyone's Student Debt, for the Economy's Sake." However, critics like Abigail Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics, said the economics behind student debt forgiveness "is fallacious." Furthermore, forgiveness "would likely increase college tuitions" by "creating perverse incentives for both schools and students." Full story
College vs. University in the U.S.: What's the Difference?
By Kelly Mae Ross
U.S. News and World Report
Feb. 14, 2018
The word "college" doesn't have the same meaning in every country, which can create confusion for prospective international students interested in studying in the U.S. "In Spanish, 'colegio' means high school," says George DaPonte, UT director of international admissions. "'Collège' in French is high school," he adds, citing another example. For this and other reasons, some prospective students may pass over U.S. schools that have "college" instead of "university" in their name, admissions experts say. By doing so, students could miss out on a school that may have been a good fit. While some four-year postsecondary institutions in the U.S. have "college" in their name and others have "university," both types grant undergraduate degrees. Full story
Center Molly Franson's Value to UT is Easily Quantifiable
By Joey Johnston
Tampa Bay Times
Feb. 13, 2018
Coaches often point to "intangibles" – the subtle positive qualities that usually don't show up in the boxscore - when praising their key players. But UT women's basketball coach Tom Jessee has a different definition when describing the value of center Molly Franson. "She's a very, very tangible kid for us," Jessee said. "I think it's pretty cut-and-dried. We need her. It's easily quantifiable." Before Wednesday's game at Palm Beach Atlantic, the Spartans were 16-2 with Franson in the lineup - and 0-5 when she was out with injury. Franson, a 6-foot-2 senior who averages 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds, is a team-first performer who can pick up her offensive game when needed. Most often, though, she gives the Spartans a defensive presence and is a player who contributes in all areas. Full story
Vintage St. Pete Postcard Sparks New Exhibit
By Virginia Johnson
Bay News 9
Feb. 13, 2018
An entire exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg started all because of one vintage post card. Sunshine City, by artist and UT associate professor or film, animation and new media Gregg Perkins, was inspired by an E.G. Barnhill postcard of the St. Petersburg landscape circa 1930, with the now demolished Hotel Soreno near the middle. Barnhill shot the black and white photograph on film, and then hand painted it with color. "So I basically found the vantage point for that photograph," said Perkins, who saw a new city through his lens. "This is kind of a hybrid in that it's still shot on film to be true to the original but then it was painted with digital tools - Adobe Photoshop and illustrator," said Perkins, "using contemporary tools to achieve similar outcomes." Full story
Similar stories appeared on News 13 (Orlando) and Creative Loafing.
Good Day, Tampa Bay
WTVT
Feb. 7, 2018
Katie Schubert, visiting assistant professor of sociology, appeared on Good Day Tampa Bay to discuss how different types of couples can improve their relationships by improving their communication styles.
A Little Twin Power in the Pool Ahead of NCAA Championships for UT
By Joey Johnston
TBO
Feb. 6, 2018
It was always a given that Brittany and Katie Bayes – identical twin sisters and award-winning swimmers from the Philadelphia area – would attend college together. But when their path led to UT, they could hardly contain their glee. "You go from our hometown, where it's gray and bland in the winter, to Tampa, where everything is bright and colorful," said Katie. Brittany (a distance freestyler) and Katie (a sprinter and backstroker) are on track to represent the Spartans at the Division II national championship meet on March 14-17 at Greensboro, NC. "They are two of the nicest kids I've had in almost 50 years of coaching," UT coach Ed Brennan said. "They are just a joy to be around. And let me tell you, they have been tremendous swimmers for us." Full story
Spartans Aim for Title Number Eight
WTVT
Feb. 1, 2018
UT baseball coach Joe Urso is one of the most successful coaches in the country. Urso has spent 18 years as coach and is responsible for four of UT's seven Division II titles. This year he is focused on bring an eighth title home.
Democrat Liv Coleman Files to Run Against Joe Gruters
By Zac Anderson
Sarasota Herlad-Tribune
Jan. 26, 2018
Democrat Liv Coleman, UT associate professor of political science, has filed to run against Republican state Rep. Joe Gruters for the state House District 73 seat. District 73 covers a large portion of eastern Manatee County and part of eastern Sarasota County. "I have a concern about the growing lack of confidence in Democracy today," Coleman said. "I think we need government that works for all of us, and I think that getting that government that works for all of us is worth the fight." Coleman said she realizes she's an underdog but hopes to wage a strong grassroots campaign and "get people reconnected to our system of government and our Democratic process." Full story
Similar stories appeared in the Bradenton Herald, SNN News (Southwestern Florida), TBO, WWSB (Sarasota) and Tampa Bay Times.
There Is No 'Chain Migration' Problem
By Michael Coon and Abigail Hall Blanco, both UT assistant professors of economics
RealClear Policy
Jan. 26, 2018
Controversy continues to swirl around immigration, with some politicians recently opposing any deal that would grant amnesty and a legal path to citizenship for "Dreamers." Some anti-immigration activists claim that continuing DACA and granting amnesty to its recipients could unleash a flood of new immigration applications because Dreamers would be able to sponsor family members for green cards. It is true that under the family-based system, the number of visas issued to immediate family members is not fixed. However, most relatives of DACA recipients who would fall under the family-based preference system probably already have some form of legal status. Those who do not would have a long road to obtaining legal status. Full story
The Health Risks of Getting a Tattoo
By Greg Hall
TONIC
Jan. 26, 2018
Almost half of people between 18 and 35 have tattoos, and almost one in four regrets it. Based on an estimate of about 60 million people in that age group, that would mean that about 7.5 million people have tattoo regret. A study at The University of Tampa confirmed that 86 percent of students believe that having a visible tattoo is a detriment to their business prospects. While a vast majority of people age 51 and above are comfortable with professional athletes having tattoos, the acceptance decreases significantly when doctors, primary school teachers and presidential candidates are included. Full story
A similar story appeared in The Apopka Voice.
NHL's All-Star Skills Competition Undergoes Some Changes
By Kevin Allen
USA TODAY
Jan. 25, 2018
As much as NHL officials like the four-division set-up for their 3-on-3 All-Star Game format, they thought the four divisions added messiness to their All-Star Skills Competition. The league has remedied that. In order to get the format right before adding extra players to mix, the NHL improved technology in all of the events. For example, the four Styrofoam targets in the shooting accuracy competition have been replaced by LED lights. Instead of shooting at any target, players now will see five targets, and have to hit the target that lights up. On Jan. 8, the NHL brought in players from the UT's hockey team to test the new set-up and liked what they saw. Full story
Randi Zuckerberg to Local Entrepreneurs: Get Back Up When You Fail
By Malena Carollo
Tampa Bay Times
Jan. 24, 2018
Randi Zuckerberg's first solo project after leaving Facebook was a failure. "I remember turning to my husband and saying, 'How am I going to recover from this?'" she said. "My first project was a turd on the floor." Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, mentioned the anecdote to a roomful of entrepreneurs at The University of Tampa Wednesday morning as a measure of hope. Zuckerberg was one of several entrepreneurs, business leaders and political figures to speak to participants about making it as a business during a three-day bootcamp called the American Dreams Academy organized by HSN. Full story
UT Student Looking at Big Business with Launch of Spy Pens
By Josh Rojas
Bay News 9
Jan. 24, 2018
Andrew Gilliland '19 started his company, iSpyPens, from his dorm room with $400 and grew that into a six-figure business with the help of his partner, Josh Hackett '18. "I have a team of right now of eight independent contractor employees. All of them are students here at UT," said Gilliland. The iSpyPen Pro that sells for $59.99 has a tiny hidden HD camera above the clip that's activated by the button on the top of the pen. It's also a usable pen. "After collecting a year's worth of data, we found that victims of workplace harassment were purchasing the product," he said. It's also popular with private investigators and detectives as well as technology enthusiasts. Sales have increase from $100 per month to $3,000. Full story
A similar story appeared on Fox 13 and News 13 (Orlando).
CEO Nancy Tower's Goal for Tampa Electric: Renewable Energy
By Malena Carollo
TBO
Jan. 23, 2018
Tampa Electric Co.'s future will be green if new CEO Nancy Tower has anything to say about it. Speaking at a UT panel Tuesday, Tower outlined her plan to move the Tampa-based utility toward a completely renewable energy portfolio. But "that won't happen until we crack the battery storage nut," Tower said. "The sun doesn't always shine, and the wind doesn't always blow." To crack that nut, Tampa Electric is getting help from Tesla Inc. Full story
Trump Makes U.S. a Less Attractive Tourist Destination
By David Wheeler, UT assistant professor of journalism
CNN
Jan. 23, 2018
UT assistant professor of journalism, David Wheeler, discusses the reason behind the decline of U.S. tourism and education dollars. Although definitive numbers have not yet been published, France is expected to remain the most popular tourist destination in the world in 2018, with second place going to Spain, instead of the US. Wheeler states that Donald Trump's rhetoric is scaring people away. "If Trump is going to obsess over dollars flowing into and out of the US, wouldn't he want to keep the tourism dollars flowing? But it's not just tourism. His harsh rhetoric against other countries is also hurting the United States' higher-education sector, another economic area where we've been 'winning,'" said Wheeler. Full story
Similar stories appeared on KTVK (Phoenix), KITV (Honolulu), KXLF (Mutte, MT), Erie News Now and WENY (Horseheads, NY).
Go a Step Beyond Basketball Junkie, and That's UT's Staja Tyghter
By Joey Johnston
Tampa Bay Times
Jan. 23, 2018
She's the leading scorer and rebounder for UT's women's basketball team, so junior Staja Tyghter, a guard/forward, has clearly made an impact during her first season on UT's campus. "You've heard of terms like 'basketball junkie' and 'gym rat,' but they don't do justice to Staja," Spartans coach Tom Jessee said. "There are two kinds of people in this game. You're either a basketball player or somebody who plays basketball. Staja is a basketball player." Tyghter averages 13.0 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Spartans. "I'm into playing basketball, watching it, hearing about it … I guess you could say I'm obsessed with the game," said Tyghter, "But I don't think that's unusual. You always want to do something you truly love, right?" Full story
Wages of Awful Policy: Minimum Wage Hikes Cause Hundreds of Bus Boys to Lose Jobs at Red Robin
By Abigail Hall Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics
The Daily Caller
Jan. 16, 2018
Abigail Hall Blanco, UT assistant professor of economics, discusses how Red Robin, a popular burger chain, will cut jobs at all 570 of its locations because of hikes in the minimum wage. Despite what many people, including policymakers, would argue, this is an altogether painfully predictable response to increased labor costs. It's basic economics. The "first law of demand" teaches us that when the price of a good or service increases, people will tend to buy fewer units. Restaurants like Chili's and McDonald's have taken to installing ordering kiosks to save money, allowing customers to order and pay without ever having to speak to a server. It's easy to vilify restaurants and other companies when they respond to higher costs with layoffs. But in this case, it's bad policy – not incompetence, not corporate greed – that's causing people to lose their jobs. Full story
Similar stories appeared in Western Free Press and 97.1-FM News Talk (St. Louis, MO).
A 3 A.M. Wakeup Call Re-Focuses University of Tampa Guard Mekhi Biffle
By Joey Johnston
Tampa Bay Times
Jan. 9, 2018
UT sophomore and men’s basketball guard, Mekhi Biffle, has a perpetual smile on his face. "I have a great opportunity here," Biffle said. "A great opportunity." Biffle, who’s averaging 8.5 points per game with a high of 26 against Barry University, is a combination guard who can also play small forward. He has displayed versatile skills, burying 3-pointers, hitting mid-range jumpers and driving to the basket. "Of course, I want to continue improving at basketball and I’d love the opportunity to play overseas one day,” said Biffle. "But I know why I’m here primarily. I’m getting my education. I like to think I put in a lot of work over the years and it has paid off. So I’m having the time of my life." Full story
How to Get the Best Out of Exercise
By Nic Fleming
The Guardian
Jan. 7, 2018
Conflicting theories on how to maximize exercise would stretch anyone to their limit. As New Year fitness plans begin in earnest, The Guardian provides a scientific response to some frequently asked questions. In response to the question on whether it’s better to use weights, cardio or both, The Guardian references the results of 21 studies, published by a group at UT, which showed a more nuanced picture. It found that those who focused on weight training gained more lower-body strength than those who did concurrent weights and running, but not weights and cycling. Full story
Working in the Shadows
By Harold Bubil
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Jan. 7, 2018
Herald Bubil has traveled around the state in the past year, photographing interesting examples of architecture for his “Florida Buildings I Love” series. Doing so gave him fresh perspectives on Florida’s built environment. One insight he shared with the Herald-Tribune was how tough it must be to be an architect in the shadows of landmarks. In Tampa those shadows are cast by minaret-topped Plant Hall at UT— one of America’s most distinctive buildings. Full story
Hometown Heroes: Former Knight Shelton Surging for Spartans
By Tommy Scott
Ocala Star Banner
Jan. 4, 2018
Duke Shelton, UT senior, has been the leader for the Spartans basketball team over the last couple of seasons, and this year is no exception. He got the year rolling with a big performance against the Florida Gators a few months ago, and hasn’t looked back since. He averages 33.6 minutes per game, which is good for second-most on the team. Shelton is averaging 13 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks per game. His last two games have been two of his best of the season in terms of percentages and points. Against Hawaii Hilo and Embry Riddle, Shelton scored 20 and 17 points respectively, and shot 80 percent from the field. Full story
These 3 People Have Big (but Totally Achievable) Money Resolutions for 2018
By Kelly Anne Smith
The Penny Hoarder
Jan. 3, 2018
New Year’s is defined by the sound of Champagne bottles popping, glittery dresses, fireworks and midnight kisses. Then, there’s the most complicated tradition of all: New Year’s resolutions. The odds are against us. Around 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. But defining these goals early and frequently assessing their status can lead you to success. Mikaela Herres, a UT senior wants to double her savings account. “That’s mainly money I’ve saved throughout the years, like from high school graduation and small modeling jobs I did along the way,” she said. “But I’m ready to get serious about growing it.” To do so, Herres has started monetizing her Instagram account by getting paid to feature products in her posts and funnel all that money into her savings account and emergency fund. Full story
UT and HSN Launch American Dreams Academy for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
By Al Ruechel
Bay News 9
Jan. 3, 2018
In today’s gig economy, students are doing a lot of freelance work making entrepreneurial skills a top asset to possess. HSN recently partnered with UT to developed a curriculum for their American Dreams Academy and provide faculty to teach courses designed to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into a business. Many beginning entrepreneurs expect to reach rockstar status off the bat. “A lot of people think it’s really easy to be a Mark Zuckerberg or a Bill Gates. A lot of people try this but don’t understand some of the nuances, so our goal is to kind of take that blindfold off and help them be more successful,” said Rebecca White, UT professor of entrepreneurship and director of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center.
ABC Action News at 5:30 PM
WFTS
Jan. 2, 2018
When you think of UT’s basketball program one name comes to mind, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Richard Schmidt. Schmidt is on the cusp of a milestone: 700 wins. This milestone will place him fifth among Division II coaches. Schmidt resurrected UT’s basketball program in 1983 and now finds himself coaching sons of his former players.
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