Valencia Community College gets "Eaten Alive"

By Lucy Baugh

ORLANDO, Fla.--Broadway actress Eva Van Dok brought her performance of the critically acclaimed play, "Eaten Alive" to Valencia's West campus Tuesday, in an event arranged and hosted by the Valencia peer educators.

"Eaten Alive" is a 55 minute, one-woman show that directly deals with eating disorders and weight obsession. Van Dok portrays five different women, all at different stages in their lives, and all struggling with serious eating issues.

West campus coordinator for the peer educators, Meagan Dickson, introduced Van Dok's performance and said that she felt it was, "very important for students to be aware of issues like these, particularly at Valencia, where there is no health center."

The play begins with a stressed out working mother, who looks in the mirror and feels disgusted by her reflection. She then vows to dedicate even more time to her already strict regimen of exercise and diet, and attempts to reschedule her already hectic life. After this, the character binges on abnormal amounts of food and tells herself it would be the last time.

Van Dok then moves on to depict the life of a young college student struggling with bulimia. The student talks on the phone to a friend, saying, "gaining weight is worse than dying." According to the character, eating and throwing up is the only way to control weight gain, and in turn her own stress.

The performance moves on to deal with other kinds of disordered eating, including an obese woman struggling to lose weight for her health, and an anorexic girl who's ideal size is "a negative three." The hard hitting performance ultimately returns to the stressed out career woman, who comes to realize that weight obsession has taken over her life. The play ends with the character saying, "Get some help."

After the show, the audience had the opportunity to take part in an informal question and answer session with Van Dok, in which she opened up about her own experiences with anorexia and bulimia. After the death of her father when she was 12, Van Dok saw eating as a way of getting control back into her life. She said, "eating disorders have nothing to do with food. It's all about control."

Also on hand to answer questions was Valencia counsellor Gloria Hines, who told the audience that seeking professional help was the first and most positive step to take in order to recover from an eating disorder.

Valencia student Melissa Davis felt particularly moved by the performance, saying, "It was relevant to my own personal experience. I'm glad I came today." The play was also relevant to student Peter MIrck, who said, "It was inspiring because I know somebody that has been through it."

Van Dok plans to continue her performances and hopes to reach out to many more college students in the USA, and across the world. "Realization that there is a problem needs to come before help can be sought. Raising awareness is something that I am very passionate about."

For more information about eating disorders and how to get help, visit www.nationaleatingdisorderassociation.org

Florida voters pass gay marriage amendment

ORLANDO, Fla.--Amendment two, which at it's core sought to protect the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman only, passed in Florida Tuesday Nov.4 with 63 percent of the vote.

On the ballot, the amendment read: "Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

Opponents argued that the wording of the amendment was unclear and could cause problems for both same-sex and heterosexual couples in domestic partnerships, potentially deeming such relationships invalid.

Dr. John Corvino, one of the nation's leading voices in support of same-sex marriage said Tuesday: "I'm disappointed in the decision, which will not only prevent marriage equality for gays and lesbians but also strip away health insurance and other benefits attached to domestic partnerships." Corvino recently came to Valencia to present his views concerning same-sex marriage. He also said of the decision, "Obviously, there is still much work to be done to show that there's room enough in the world for gay and lesbian love and commitment."

Under Florida law, same-sex marriage is already illegal. However supporters said that the amendment would prevent court rulings allowing same-sex marriage in the state, a situation seen in Massachusetts, California and Connecticut.

Glenn Stanton, who presented the Valencia debate along with Corvino, is a nationally recognized, leading voice in opposition to same-sex marriage. He said of the vote:"This was very much the right decision because it was the citizen's of Florida, my home state, declaring that marriage should be what it has been in all human cultures at all times, a societally valued institution that brings together the two parts of humanity: male and female." Stanton added that: "It doesn't leave this important decision up to a handful of unaccountable judges like we have seen in MA, CA and CT. Amendment two let the people speak and they did."

Supporters of Amendment two gathered for an election watch party Tuesday night at the First Baptist Church of Central Florida. The official "Yes2marriage" campaign advocates stayed well into the night to hear the result they had been waiting for.

Jennifer Lightfoot, co-ordinator of the Orange County official campaign in support of Amendment two, said Tuesday: "We are really excited at this outcome. We fought a long and hard battle." Lightfoot added that the "support was overwhelming" and that over four million Floridians had voted in support of the amendment.

In response to the opposition's argument that the amendment was unnecessary, Lightfoot said: "We are not here to take away benefits, only to define marriage as between one man and one woman."

Florida voters were not the only ones deciding whether to put a marriage clause into their constitution Tuesday. Voters in California and Arizona had to decide similar questions, and early results showed that in both state's same-sex marriage looked set to be totally banned.

As it stands, more than 40 states have laws defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. A total of 27 define marriage in their constitutions.

Rising golf star looks to the future

By Lucy Baugh 

ORLANDO, Fla.-- Pro-golfer Sarah-Jane Kenyon spoke at a Valencia college press conference Monday of her future plans, both personal and professional, as she looks ahead to the LPGA 2009 tour. 

Kenyon, of Queensland, Australia, just had the best season since her 2005 Duramed FUTURES tour win, and as a result she gained one of the five 2009 LPGA tour cards, and full status next season. 

As far as her day to day life is concerned, for now Kenyon says there have been no major changes aside from preparation for the 2009 season. She explained, "We stayed on longer this year than we normally would have because I've been working with my coach to try and get ready for next year." 

Kenyon started seeing renowned golf coach Phil Ritson in July 2007, and she describes him as being a "big help" toward her success this year. Before meeting Ritson, she said her golf was "terrible", but everything started to come together following the coach's presence. 

Speaking of her decision to play golf in the United States as opposed to Europe, Kenyon said "I felt it was a better learning experience to play golf in the place that I wanted to end up." She went on to say that she felt the USA was the best place in the world to play golf, with "the best players" coming here to pursue the sport professionally. 

When asked about her long term career plans, Kenyon said she really just wants to "get set up" for now, but mentioned that the 2016 Olympics "could be something to try and play for." She also spoke about her plans to ultimately raise a family, saying that "alot of players have been able to play and have a family at the same time." 

Kenyon is set to fly back to Australia with her fiance on Nov.25 for a well deserved christmas break. 2009 looks to be a huge year for the golfer, and she anticipates only taking "a couple of days" off from the LPGA tour for her wedding in Australia. She also said she would be taking a "mini-moon" to celebrate her marriage to fiance Duane Smith. 

Kenyon's first LPGA tournament will be the SBS open, taking place in Hawaii early 2009. 

International students focus on election

ORLANDO, Fla.-- Members of Valencia's West campus international student association offered some insight into their feeling's about the presidential election Thursday, at the final meeting before the historic election takes place Tuesday Nov.4.

While it is the responsibility of U.S. citizens to elect a new president, the choice made will ultimately impact those who have legally entered the USA. In order to study in the USA, prospective students must obtain an F-1 visa, which allows them to remain in the country legally for the duration of their studies. Valencia's international student community therefore have been watching the elections closely, as a new president could mean potential changes to the immigration process.

Hardeley Butler has been a student at Valencia for just over ten motnhs, after moving to the U.S. from the Bahamas. Butler currently serves as president of Valencia's West campus international student club, and said that he has been closely focused on the presidential race. Butler explained, "I think there could be an effect on international students with a new president, because there might be changes to immigration laws." He later said, "I honestly don't know what will happen, but I hope there are no changes to policy which may be negative for international students."

Vice president of the international student association, Casthra Demosthene, moved to the U.S. from Haiti as a young child. Demosthene however holds U.S. citizenship, and will be voting in Tuesday's election. "After 9/11, immigration laws were tightened so it became more difficult for students from other countries to come here," she said. "I hope that could change with a new president because international students bring great diversity to the college," Demonsthene went on to say.

According to the Open Doors report, a survey that reports on enrollment trends for international students at U.S. college and universities, the number of international students in the country has been steadily increasing after sharp declines following Sept. 11 2001. It is estimated that international students contribute some $14.5 billion dollars to the U.S. economy through tuition and living expenses.

Allan E. Goodman, president and CEO of the Institute of International Education said in a 2007 press statement that, "America needs to continue it's proactive steps to insure that our academic doors remain wide open, and that students around the world understand that they will be warmly welcomed."

Valencia student Alia Malik, who came to the U.S. 11 months ago from London, says she has been very interested in the presidential election, "I'm not really into politics and all but I think Obama is a great candidate for the presidency." She added, "Of course I think it will effect me, maybe there will be better opportunities for students like me."

Whatever happens Nov.4, Valencia's international community will certainly be watching very closely. Hopefully the U.S. will continue to welcome these students and allow the diversity they bring to many colleges to continue.