Aries (March 21 – April 19)

When blues hit hard, remember to hit up a close friend or mentor. Sometimes you just can’t do it all by yourself. If you think you can, think again. Their listening ear will help you stay on top of things.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Immerse yourself in your surroundings. Then add in your own factor throughout the week in preparation of the weekend. Be fearless. Set aside some down time on Friday. You deserve some “you” time.

Gemini (May 21 – June 21)

Starting late Tuesday or early Wednesday, ideas flow for you, and the stars give you more wiggle room to sort out your world. Plus you’re attractiveness will make it all more fun!

Cancer (June 22 – July 22)

On Friday, you’ve got your chance; energy, imagination and just plain hotness are all yours! Dang, you look good. Put on that outfit you’ve been unsure about and work what you got.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Don’t set anything in stone just yet. Think it all over very very carefully. This is a huge decision and it will take lots of planning on both your part and others. Think before you act.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

You’ll love a small book group, a wild party, a hot date, whatever – and if you’re putting it together, it’ll be a smashing success. Don’t plan too much for Sunday, though; plenty will be happening without your interference.

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Plans may go astray during the weekend; it’s just the stars’ way. As for how you let it affect you, that’s for you to determine. Be spontaneous and have a sense of humor. Things will come together before classes resume Monday.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

Your stellar ability to focus and analyze comes in handy now. Bring both logical and emotional intelligence to a certain situation on Saturday, and you’ll very likely save the day.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

It takes effort to buckle down and tackle work and errands as this week begins, so start small. Take baby steps. One little accomplishment can be a big motivation. If you do, you’ll finish everything before the big weekend.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Change of all kinds is more than likely going to happen on Friday and last through the weekend. The question is whether you will freak out or you will see that this alteration could bring fun and learning. Let your initial reactions evolve!

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

If the week begins with more of a yawn than a bang, you’re just the one to add a little zest to the week. Pick up a new book or a new idea, get out and about instead of being a vegetable inside, and you’ll feel better about yourself.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Those who hesitate might just miss out as the week begins. Don’t wait until later to tell someone how you feel or do something fun! Apply your imagination, which is bountiful, prior to doing anything.

Eating dinner in Nellies never sounded so good; words were spoken from the back of the room as a professional poet graced the Jacksonville University student body with touching words about life.

The man brought to campus, introduced as Cuban, came to the stage Wednesday at 7 p.m. during the dinner hours on campus to do some spoken word for the audience.

Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated verse to express social commentary. Normally it is done from the poet’s point of view.

The person who brought Cuban and his friends here is Kelly Martens, senior and novelty coordinator for Dolphin Productions. She took a month to plan the event and get everything set up. She saw another spoken word poet at a conference for campus programming and went through Jus Wiggin Entertainment to find one for JU, which is where she found Cuban.

“I’ve come to intrude on your dinner,” said Cuban as he walked onto the stage. “If you start to not like it just throw things at me.”

His first performances were a few haikus, very short forms of Japanese poetry. These were much like ice breakers to get the audience comfortable with what was going to happen throughout the show.

Before many people truly warmed up to Cuban he compared the quiet audience to awkward sex. This made everyone start to laugh more. He wanted everyone to feel more at home. He told the audience to snap or clap and even fake it even if they did not like it.

By himself Cuban did three spoken word poems and then was joined by his partner Moses, who was welcomed by a loud applause, and together they recited another spoken word poem. This poem was similar to a duet because they played off each other’s words and said many words in sync to emphasize them to the audience.

“From the second he walked on campus, Cuban was great,” Martens said. “He greeted me unexpectedly with a big hug just like I was family. Their performance was incredible and I think Nellie’s was the perfect venue for the kind of event like spoken word. I hoped it showed everyone how versatile and inspiring poetry can be.”

After this performance Moses introduced Seven Soul Jones to the audience, and together they do another spoken word. This time Cuban took a seat to sit back and watch his friends.

“It was spectacular,” said junior Mandi LaFond. “It was a relief, and their words made you think.”

Cuban introduced the next performer who combined playing the guitar, singing and spoken word into a triple threat. Many of the females in the audience were taken aback by him because of his angelic voice.

“I thought it was great with a lot of creativity, very intelligent and a nice choice of vocabulary,” said junior Abril Peeples.

After his song, Seven Soul Jones came back, and with the help of the guitarist he starts to do the same thing. Soon, Moses joins in with him, and they get the audience clapping along the beat and eventually had the audience echoing the words, “I think I love you.”

To end the show Cuban, Moses and Seven Soul Jones did a spoken word together. Throughout the song they had the audience shout out, “I don’t need no mic.”

“Their performance was pretty unexpected because they were really creative and had great energy,” said junior Kelsie Celis. “When I think of a poet I don’t get hyped up, but they gave me chills throughout their performance.”

Photo courtesy of Mark Alarbi

A trip to a dentist’s office is usually accompanied with fear, thoughts of pain, wishes of no plaque and most importantly gentle hands. The dentists at Jacksonville University offer caring hands and the experience and touch of true professionals, all headed by Mark Alarbi, Ph.D., the program director and chair of the JU school of orthodontics.

Dr. Alarbi was born and raised in Syria where he received his dental degree. He obtained his postgraduate degree in orthodontics from Marce, France. He originally came to JU as an assistant professor in 2003 and, in 2009, got his National Board of Orthodontics certification.

For Alarbi teaching is something that came naturally. He began tutoring in Syria and found he had a real liking for it. He even gave language lessons during his residency in the south of France. After getting into the orthodontics field, he found it quite exciting to correlate real world experience and clinical concepts to his lectures.

“I guess part of me has always been very passionate about the teaching of the young,” he said. “The momentum and dynamic[s] that [are] created with this type of format is so exciting because you don’t just go into the classroom and do a PowerPoint or give an assignment. You are actually going, discussing and exchanging ideas being challenged by doctors who are almost your peers.”

Alarbi said it is a process, and toward the end it is always something that makes him better. Another joy he receives from teaching is seeing his students “blossoming and growing.”

“We have had around seven classes graduate, and they are all doing really well in practices,” Alarbi said. “The feedback you get, the recognition, the gratitude is very fulfilling, and I think all of us here as teachers, that’s why we do it.”

In order to become true professionals in the field of dentistry, Alrabi feels there is more than just a good education that comes into play. One of his personal characteristics is honesty about learning. He said that in the medical field this translates into ethics.

“We are good at teaching concepts, explaining concepts and training people, but the nuance of teaching is also being honest with yourself and with your patients, because you are dealing with the public,” he said. “It is not just about being a health professional and making it just another job.”

He sees honesty as a step toward evolving into a sophisticated doctor that can present options to the patients and be what he calls an ethical doctor.

When Dr. Alarbi is not working, he is being active elsewhere. He is a swimmer and owns a road bike, of which he is a big fan.

“Unfortunately, I am too passionate about it,” he said. “I had an accident two years ago and broke my wrist.”

Coming from a multicultural background has also influenced his love for culture, traveling and world politics. Alarbi, a Syrian native, described how the recent conflicts affect his life in the U.S.

His parents still live in Syria, and their level of stress is something that easily translates to Alarbi.

“Emotionally, it does affect you and gives you anxiety,” he said. “In a way I feel that, yes, it’s unfortunate that this is all happening, and I use it here to inspire students and tell them not to take freedoms and educational opportunities for granted.”

Alarbi sees the fight for democracy as a mixed blessing and hopes the region turns out for the better. He even reads up on philosophy because he sees it as a way to improve his teaching skills.

It is clear that Alarbi wants to see his students being held to the highest standards of the profession. He provides them with a perspective from around the world to motivate them and make them more than just professional dentists by explaining how there is always a lesson toward the end.

“We can always teach people the technical stuff but the reasoning, the art of communicating with patients, is something we really think we are proud of.”

Photo Courtesy of Courtney Jimenez

“Welcome to Moe’s!”

The Moe’s Southwest Grill on Atlantic Blvd. saw a large crowd of Jacksonville University students arrive in waves on Wednesday. JU students from many different organizations and affiliations ate at Moe’s to help support and raise money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. For every customer that said they were buying their meal in support of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, 10 percent of the price was donated to EGPAF.

“I planned this event specifically for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation,” said junior Sara DeBellis. “It’s one of our philanthropies. I chose Moe’s because I know a lot of people in AEPhi and at JU like Moe’s so I thought what better place since we could all socialize. I think about like a couple hundred showed up in support.”

AEPhi supports EGPAF because they have a personal connection with the foundation.

“EGPAF is very special to us because Elizabeth Glaser was a member of our sorority at the University of Wisconsin,” DeBellis said. “After she contracted aids through a blood transfusion, she unknowingly passed it on to her children during childbirth. Because of this, she created the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation to help in the fight against pediatric aids.”

“It’s a start of a new beginning with kids who don’t have a chance to survive on their own,” said freshman Rachel Kaslow, an AEPhi. “It also doesn’t only help kids in the United States but all over the world.”

The sorority holds a philanthropy event every semester, but they do not donate each time to EGPAF.

“We have two philanthropies, so we try to do one event each semester for EGPAF and one the next semester for Sharsheret,” DeBellis said. “Last semester we had a carnival, but that was for Sharsheret. I know in the past we’ve done the Assassins game and I think it went to EGPAF, but I’m not 100 percent sure though because I wasn’t philanthropy chair.”

According to its web site, “Sharsheret, Hebrew for ‘chain’, is a national not-for-profit organization supporting young women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer.”

Moe’s, with 11 locations in Jacksonville, has a wide customer base among college students.

“I thought the event was a huge success,” said sophomore Brittany Wyskocil, an AEPhi. “There were a number of people from different organizations on campus that showed their support for AEPhi and our philanthropy as well. It was a lot of fun to see everyone there and help take their trash and refill their drink as a gift of appreciation. Plus, I had a reason to buy their delicious queso.”

Bianca Rodrigues, a freshman AEPhi sister, also thought the event went well.

“It was great to know that the student body, particularly Greek life, cared enough to come out and support our chapter all evening.”

“It was great to get off campus for a bit and change scenery with all my friends,” said freshman Danny O’Connor. “AEPHI did a great job of keeping the food good and atmosphere fun for a good cause.”

Bikinis, beaches, pools and warm sunshine are just a few things people think of when they hear the words spring break. With the 10-day vacation coming up right around the corner, college students are packing their things and making hotel reservations to make the best out of their spring break.

If students are not taking road trips with their friends or just going home, Jacksonville University offers study abroad trips to Costa Rica and Ecuador where students can take a class and help the natives where it is needed, but there is always time for fun on these trips.

Senior Cera Lopez went along for the Ecuador spring break trip in 2011.

“It was the best use of my time for spring break,” she said. “I never had so much fun helping others. I would do it again in a heart beat.”

Although students and teenagers usually think of spring break as all fun and games, there are still things to worry about. More people get abducted or killed during spring break than any other time of the year.

The Dominican Republic is usually a popular destination for spring break mission trips, but it is also attractive to college students looking to have fun. Tourists have become targets of sex-trafficking there, according to the State Department.

In 2007, about 50,000 women were victims of the sex-trafficking industry during spring break in the Dominican Republic, one of the highest numbers in the world. The State Department documented two different incidents where U.S. citizens were abducted and held for ransom.

Since December 2006, the State Department estimates that 34,612 people have been murdered in drug-related crimes in Mexico, a lot of these taking place during spring break.

Companies that are selling tours down to Mexico emphasize that the drinking age is merely 18 years especially around the time spring break rolls around, according to USA Today.

Sean Keener, president of BootsnAll Travel Network in Eugene, Ore., the parent company of StudentSpringBreak.com, says his company offers travel packages that reflect a range of student desires.

“There’s the drunk, drugged-up partiers having sex with everyone they can and [there's] the people who go to Nicaragua and build houses,” Keener said.

Although these statistics show that spring break can be a dangerous time especially for those leaving the country and even those staying here in the U.S., there are still ways to have fun and be safe.

When taking a road trip, buckle up and take turns driving when going for more than three hours. Make sure the person in the front seat stays awake so the driver has company and won’t be tempted to fall asleep himself or herself.

When staying in a hotel, reserve a room above the first floor. First floor rooms are most likely to get broken into, but make sure to stay below the sixth floor. In case of fires, some ladders cannot reach past the sixth floor.

While drinking, pace yourself and know your limits. Don’t put your drink down if you are with people you don’t know too well, and if you do, get a new one. Someone may have slipped something in the drink that could be a danger to you.

Always have at least one friend with you and tell another friend where you are going. Never do anything alone because if something was to happen no one would know where you were going.

Spring break is a time for fun, but staying safe is even more important.

Some students at JU have chosen to stay safe on spring break and are still planning on having a great time.

“I think if you have a strong group of people you trust and they always know where you are then you should be safe,” said sophomore, Jenell Larsen. “And you should always make sure you have someone with you. Never go anywhere alone.”

For those students who are over 21, senior Ronease Thompson shared her advice.

“If you know you are going out drinking, always have a designated driver. Leave your keys at home so you’re not tempted to drive once you start drinking. We all want to come back to JU in one piece.”

International Women’s Day served as the perfect stage for a film viewing and corresponding discussion regarding the negative consequences of modern media’s emphasis on women’s youth, beauty and sexuality over their intellectual and leadership abilities. “Miss Representation,” a 2011 documentary screened by the Jacksonville University Sociology Club, made its northeast Florida debut in Terry Concert Hall on Thursday, March 8.

“We thought it completely necessary to spread the ‘Miss Representation’ movement, not just to JU, but to the Jacksonville community,” said Ally Ulrey, vice president of the Sociology Club, as she and club president Cera Lopez introduced the film.

Following the screening, an open discussion allowed audience members to share personal experiences, highlight recent examples of sexism in the media, and comment on why women must support other women.

“We as women are our own enemies, and we need to take a stand,” said senior April Pringo. “[Otherwise], we’re going to continue seeing the same thing over and over again.”

“Those of us who work and teach at a university have a very important role to play,” said Lois Becker, Ph.D., senior vice president of academic affairs.

“We may think something is just a casual conversation, when for the student, it’s extremely meaningful,” said Dr. Becker, who moderated the discussion. “At the same time, it’s really important for young women to seek out mentors, because that’s how things get done.”

Audience members also spoke about the importance of developing media literacy at an early age, especially as digitally manipulated images become the norm in advertising.

“We need to teach kids to be kids and not worry about what the media’s going to say,” said sophomore sociology major Sarah Willson.

While media outlets frequently produce distorted images of women, they have also been responsible for neglecting women entirely. Senior and sociology major Zack Schacter commented on this symbolic eradication during the discussion.

“I really enjoyed the movie tonight. One really important thing it pointed out is the systematic annihilation of gender,” Schacter said. “Sometimes women are completely excluded.”

“Miss Representation” provoked strong emotional responses from the audience. During the screening, viewers laughed at commentators’ ironic jokes, gasped at offensive sound bites, and whispered to their neighbors about statistics they could hardly believe.

“I never saw it this way before, how women are portrayed as sexual objects,” said freshman Ibis Ballester. “I really didn’t think of that.”

Sophomore Olivia Patton appreciated how the film represented the varied victims of inequality.

“[It’s] not just women, but minority women as well,” she said. “I like how they got Condolezza Rice to speak on that issue. Why haven’t we had a female president yet, but you’ve got 67 other countries that have had a woman lead?”

Jeremy Stalker, Ph.D., assistant professor of marine science, enjoyed the film but said that he would have liked to see more discussion of one very important issue.

“Honestly, they talked for like two minutes on how we train little boys what to think is sexy,” Stalker said. “That would be a whole movie in itself.”

Through the website MissRepresentation.org, the minds behind the film encourage viewers to think critically about, and speak out against, reductive portrayals of women. Representatives from about nine nonprofit organizations, including Hubbard House and the PACE Center for Girls, were present at the screening with information about how to get involved.

Awareness of sexism, the film’s commentators agreed, is an important first step to change. Katie Couric is reported to have said, “The media can be an instrument of change. It can maintain the status quo and reflect the views of the society or it can, hopefully, awaken people and change minds. I think it depends on who’s piloting the plane.”

Photo by Brett Durda

Since it’s inception the Jacksonville University Student Alliance’s aim has been to get more students involved and active with campus events.

Currently the student government’s main goal is to unite the campus and create an atmosphere where students can feel and be free to express their support for Jacksonville University. Over the years it has achieved this aim through the different on and off campus activities, even though student participation is not always guaranteed, it continues to be a beacon of hope that school spirit still exists current students and alumni.

JU is not a large university; therefore, getting students to participate in campus activities and show off school spirit if often difficult. However, as a student body JUSA is always finding new ways to inspire students and keep university spirit alive.

JUSA’s latest endeavor is Finatic Fridays. This idea came from freshman Yasmeen Stogden, JUSA press secretary. Her reasoning behind this idea was that she wanted to start a trend where students could have freedom of expression to show their support for the university they attend.

According to the JUSA president, Brandon Krouppa, Finatic Fridays is all about building school spirit and showing love towards JU. As the president, he aims to create a campus where students will feel pride in saying “I am a Dolphin” or “I go to Jacksonville University.” He believes that most students shy away from showing school support because they are not motivated.

“Individuals are more inclined to jump into school spirit when a group is rallying for a cause,” Krouppa said.

Finatic Fridays is simple enough for everyone to take part. Every Friday, students are encouraged to show school spirit particularly through their clothing. Students can wear any JU apparel, paint their faces and/or body in any way they feel best expresses their school spirit. If they want to take part, they are encouraged to dress this way for the whole day as it shows dedication and encourages other students to join the movement.

“I like Finatic Fridays because it gives us students a chance to show our school spirit in whatever way suits us,” said sophomore Capri Kee. “It’s nice to see that a day has been set aside strictly for showing JU pride.”

“I personally would like to see Finatic Fridays become a tradition,” Krouppa said. “JUSA will not stop working at uniting the campus.”

It is always inspiring to see a fellow student show such dedication to JU. JUSA wants to ensure that if Finatic Fridays were to discontinue the school spirit will not die with it but continue to blossom until the whole campus is united under one voice, the JU Dolphins.

For the future JUSA plans to find new and inspiring ways to get students involved in the university they attend, and not just be passing through until they graduate. Currently, JUSA has acquired the River House over by the sand volleyball courts. They plan to utilize this building and create a venue for students and not just more offices. President Krouppa believes the space holds a lot of potential to become a popular student hangout. JUSA is always aiming to create a better living and learning community and encourages students to be active members of this community.

Photo by Brett Durda

The death of a family member can be tough for anyone in many situations, but turning that tragedy into an opportunity to speak and relate to young people is exactly what Erica Upshaw has decided to do with her life.

Students across the Jacksonville University campus had the opportunity to hear a unique presentation about alcohol and drug awareness in Terry Concert Hall at two times, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., on March 12.

Upshaw’s past experiences have caused her to start her non-profit organization, Keep Friendship Alive, in 2006, according to keepfriendshipalive.org. She is the founder and executive director of the organization. She knew she had a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of young people.

“A professional speaker is the last thing I thought I would do with my life,” Upshaw said.

According to the website, the mission of Keep Friendship Alive is to prevent senseless deaths by educating students on how to party smart, identify and approach a friend with a problem, and respond to an emergency situation.

After hearing Upshaw at Southeast Panhellenic Conference, senior Cera Lopez and junior Katherine Thomas talked to Kaiti Chambers, assistant director of campus activities and Student Commons, and worked to get her to speak to the student population at JU about safer methods of drinking. It took two months of planning to confirm everything. An effort was given to try to have local high schools participate in the event as well.

“I thought she was great,” Lopez said. “She speaks in a way not to demean drinking and make you feel bad about your choices, but tries to teach you to do it better and safer.”

The story she shared with her audiences is moving and impactful.

She opened with a video presentation showing people who died by drug and alcohol abuse ending with Joey Upshaw. He was her brother and hero. Joey died in his fraternity’s house at Ohio State University. The siblings were friends with the same groups and partook in the same social actions.

“Since we worked hard, we could party as hard as we wanted,” Upshaw said in relation to being successful in the academic atmosphere of college.

She saw her brother that night; they exchanged a hug and he told her he would see her for lunch the next day. At this time in 2000, a popular drug was going around called GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid). After a night of drinking at the bar Joey decided once he got to the house to take a large gulp of GHB, and within a two-hour period he passed away. Upshaw doesn’t blame her brother’s friends with his death and is now motivated to inform people of what to do in similar situations.

“It was nice hearing from someone who wasn’t there to lecture us, but who’s been in our shoes and can relate to real situtations,” said junior Katherine Ramsey.

Upshaw made sure to tell the JU audience that before they start drinking they each need to know their personal limit, eat, avoid the tricky stuff, stick to one drink per hour, have a water, and chill and use the buddy system.

She wishes someone had said something to her brother like she was called out after one of her nights of excessive drinking. At one of her conferences with student athletes, 96 percent of the people who participated wanted someone to tell them to check themselves.

“I’ve been to numerous alcohol abuse seminars. This has been the most touching one yet,” said junior Alex Bulgin. “It was really powerful.”

“I think the speaker gave a wake up call to a lot of students at JU,” said junior Steven Shotola. “In college we all like to have a good time, but in life we need to understand that one bad decision could be our last. Many JU students are going on spring break and it couldn’t have been a better time to hear her story.”

To conclude her presentation she informed the audience about the Good Samaritan Policy, which allows people to make responsible decisions while at the same time shielding them from punishment.

Erica Upshaw’s story was really eye opening, especially before spring break,” said senior Kelly Martens. “We tend to think we’re invincible when we drink, but she made the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse a reality for us.”

“I felt that she was really inspiring and didn’t hold back the truth,” said junior Andrea Laursen. “A lot of alcohol speakers will just tell you, ‘don’t do it,’ but she just told us how to be safe and to take a stand. It opened my eyes to a lot of situations.”

She also informed the audience of a new program she is taking on, UP, a modern and unconventional substance abuse prevention program for middle schools, which would be led by college students. Upshaw is offering an internship in Laguna Beach to help launch the program over the summer.

“It’s all about engaging on positive peer pressure.”