The Digital Bullpen

More students at the University of South Florida are riding the campus bus system than ever before. The Bull Runner began its first route in fall 1997, with 84,579 riders. Since then, there has been an almost 15-fold increase. Last year’s numbers totaled 1,227,682 riders, said Rick Fallin, USF transportation manager, in a Feb. 3 … Continue reading »

The number of feral cats spayed and neutered exceeded those euthanized in Tampa. To some, feral cats are seen as rabies-infested, untamed animals that are unwanted on private property.  To others, they are homeless cats that live in colonies and depend on wild behaviors to survive. Mary Ann O’Donnell, the Feral Cat Manager at the … Continue reading »

Florida is in high demand for nurses in 2012, and even with limited resources, the University of South Florida is trying its best to lower the shortage. A February 2012 report by the research group Florida Center for Nursing found that the state of Florida will need of more than 6,750 registered nurses this year. … Continue reading »

On March 9, after 39 days of increases, the national average price of gasoline was $3.758 per gallon. Sixteen days later, it was $3.894 and climbing. Today, it teeters near $4. Is it possible rising gas prices could actually be a good thing? “What’s good about high gasoline prices is it sets in motion the … Continue reading »

Love the smell of new Apple gadgets? Well that fragrant scent of glue, styrofoam and aluminum has now been bottled in the name of art. That story and more in today’s roundup: Ahh, the scent of a new Apple product. Romney Camp: Yeah, I strapped my dog to the roof of my car, but Obama ate … Continue reading »

Matonya Wieczorek’s body is permanently bent at a 45-degree angle. Wieczorek was born folded in half, her feet tucked behind her head, the result of a rare congenital defect where the lower third of the spine fails to develop in the womb. Doctors, unsure she would survive and confident she would never walk, suggested amputating … Continue reading »

A South Dakota man is suing the hospital where he was circumcised as a baby claiming it robbed him of his sexual prowess. Yes, he really said that. That story and more in today’s roundup: Man only recently became aware that he’d undergone the procedure. Tupac hologram could be coming to an arena near you. And in … Continue reading »

The Big East released the 2012 college football schedule last week and the South Florida Bulls could have quite a few tests next year. Coming off of a disappointing 5-7 season, the Bulls will face a number of elite programs from across the country. Their 12-game schedule includes games against top Big East teams such … Continue reading »

Alex Kessler stopped using LSD approximately three years ago. Due to the effects of the drug, Kessler developed a morphed perception of colors and patterns.Two years ago, it finally went away. He has no regrets. In fact, he claims he would not be where he is today without the substance. “I took it every three … Continue reading »

Tupac performs at Coachella, freaks out thousands of people. That story and more in today’s roundup: New study finds that “supersizing” doesn’t make us feel like big, gross fatties. No, apparently it makes us feel important. The Secretary of Fun: Hillary takes the scrunchie out and let’s her hair down with a beer and a … Continue reading »

The student group Net Impact, a global non-profit organization with over 150 chapters, is trying to promote a more tree-friendly and sustainable campus for the University of South Florida – but the members have one month to raise another $6,000. “Our main focus is to educate members about sustainability,” USF’s chapter president Charles Medina said. Medina, a … Continue reading »

Every year the USF of Business recognizes 25 outstanding undergraduate students under the age of 25 as a part of the 25 Under 25 recognition program; this year, Petr Bambasek is the first advertising student to be selected as one of the 25. Students in the 25 Under 25 program are chosen based on their … Continue reading »

After Courtney Love’s most recent tweeting tirade, Frances Bean Cobain would like Twitter to ban her mom. Haven’t we’ve all wanted to ban our parents from social media at some point? “Twitter should ban my mother.” More people are quitting their jobs – and that’s a good thing. “We forgot the birth control:” the heartwarming … Continue reading »

Donating blood is a quick and usually painless way to give back to the community, and the University of South Florida is playing a major role in the progression of Central Florida Blood Services’ campaign. According to fbsblood.org, 80 percent of all donated blood is collected on bloodmobiles, which are mobile blood donation centers. Debbie … Continue reading »

While computer hacking is nothing new, there is a recent spike in the trend that takes the illegal act to a whole new (and more terrifying) level: webcam hacking. If you think hacking into a webcam takes a computer science mastermind, simply Google the following: intitle:”WJ-NT104 Main Page”. The very first link takes you to … Continue reading »

Well this is bad for business: A restaurant worker claims she was harassed with “penis dumplings.” She also mentioned something about overcharging Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Mariah Carey being high. That story and more in today’s roundup: What anatomically shaped food products are they allegedly serving at Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant in Manhattan? Finally, the President … Continue reading »

USF employs nearly 3,500 students every semester and this week these students are being recognized. Monday marked the first day of National Student Employment Week, a national event to celebrate the importance and success of student employee programs. “Student employment on campus is a great way for students to connect to campus,” said Ashley Motley, … Continue reading »

If tax day doesn’t depress you enough, a new study says you’re also more likely to die in a fatal accident on or around April 15. You’ve been warned. Woman one-ups the TSA, strips in the airport. UCLA congratulates 900 applicants on getting in – when they didn’t. Woops. Well this is embarrassing: Newt bounces a check … Continue reading »

Mia Lawrie, a USF junior majoring in women’s and gender studies, agreed with Planned Parenthood’s recent decision to not accept $500,000 from the author, Tucker Max. “Max’s donation put them in a bind, Lawrie said. “Though the money could have helped lots of people, it might have sent the wrong message. A lot of this … Continue reading »

Gas prices are just about hitting $4 a gallon, but people aren’t flipping out like they did in 2008, why it that? That story and more in today’s roundup: Why aren’t we in a rage over gas prices this time around? Insta-millionires: Facebook buys Instagram for $1 billion, users not so stoked about it. Beyonce … Continue reading »

TAMPA — Student Government President Matthew Diaz is ready to support change in the University of South Florida’s policy which prohibits carrying concealed weapons in cars on campus. According to the USF System’s Weapons Policy, only police officers and ROTC cadets, under direct supervision, are allowed to carry weapons. “That is the breach of the … Continue reading »

May the trends be ever in your favor. “The Hunger Games” goes hipster in a parody trailer that’s actually worth watching. That story and more in today’s roundup: The Hipster Games video spoof goes viral. Snoop Dogg‘s new book is exactly what you would expect – you can smoke it. Really. In an attempt to … Continue reading »

On Wednesday, the University of South Florida softball team played a non-conference game against the University of Florida. The No. 21 Bulls defeated the No. 4 Gators for the first time in 13 games. Sophomore LHP Sara Nevins led USF to a 4-1 victory by pitching a complete game, earning her 17th win of the … Continue reading »

Sydney Dinelli has seen limited action in her freshman year with USF, but the freshman is making her sporadic opportunities count. Click here for the audio story: 

The Rays finished up their spring training Wednesday afternoon when they played their own minor league squad. Matt Moore pitched for the Future Rays and gave some comments about his performance. Press for audio:

Struggling with injuries, the Tampa Bay Rays will start the season with some key players on the disabled list. Among those injured is center fielder BJ Upton, who will be replaced by Desmond Jennings in his absence. Jennings spoke about the transition and how he prepares at the plate for opposing pitchers. Press for audio:

On March 28th the Rays organization decided that utility man Stephen Vogt would start the year in the minors to gain more experience behind the plate. A few days ago they changed their mind. Vogt spoke with the Digital Bullpen about his call up and the role he will play. Press for audio:

The USF Bulls Football team is getting ready for its first scrimmage of the spring season on Friday. According to players and coaches, all eyes will be on personnel battles as the spring season continues. After practice on Wednesday, Bulls offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said players that haven’t gotten many reps will be a focus … Continue reading »

Spelling, schmelling. Who needs it? Not journalism majors at the University of North Carolina. The UNC J-school has decided to ditch the spelling portion of its spelling and grammar test. Who says good journalism is on the decline? UNC journalism school nixes spelling test. Winslet on Titanic song: I feel like throwing up. I think … Continue reading »

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos scored twice when the Tampa Bay beat the Washington Capitals 4-2 on Monday night. All eyes are on Stamkos in the last three games as he is in pursuit of his 60th goal of the season. Stamkos, who has eight goals in his past six games, says he won’t … Continue reading »

It’s the lunch rush. Noon to be exact. Students who probably skipped breakfast eagerly await the making of their lunches. It’s a typical sunny day on campus — above ground. But down here, the students are in a different world: studying, eating, hanging out, all while underground. They are dining at the College of Business Café. This … Continue reading »

Have you ever waited two hours for the dishwasher to end, only to pull them out and they look as if they were covered in Elmer’s Glue? Showered and had dry itchy skin? Pulled clothes out of the dryer, only to find that they are stiff, hard and itchy? For most students, the former may … Continue reading »

You knew it would only be a matter of time: Facebook may soon be able to tell you which one of your friends has an STI. That story and more in today’s roundup: Facebook: the next tool in fighting sexually transmitted diseases? British guy bought an Andy Warhol painting at a garage sale for $5. Eating your … Continue reading »

The USF Tampa campus officially implemented a new smoking policy that restricts smokers to designated areas on March 20. While this isn’t as restrictive as the widely rumored campus-wide ban, smokers are still adjusting to the new policy. Carol-Anne Horesky, a junior majoring in elementary education who transferred to USF this semester, is getting acclimated to USF’s … Continue reading »

Lara Logan has reported from war zones around the world, and she is visiting the University of South Florida tonight. CBS News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent attracted world-wide attention in May 2011 when she described in detail the sexual assault she experienced in Cairo’s Tahrir Square during the anti-Mubarak uprisings. She will be speaking as … Continue reading »

American Sign Language courses are increasing in demand at the University of South Florida. USF offers an undergraduate program in the Department of Communications Science and Disorders, which has two concentrations in either interpreter training or speech-language-hearing science. The school also offers a minor in American Sign Language. At the undergraduate level, there are 20-24 … Continue reading »

The Tampa Bay Lightning did not have ideal results this season but a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals still fueled the sold out Tampa Bay Times Forum on Monday night. The Lightning, who will miss the playoffs this season, still managed to post impressive numbers on home ice this season, winning a franchise-tying 25 … Continue reading »

A new study finds that skin cancer rates among young adults have risen dramatically. I, for one, blame “The Jersey Shore.” Skin cancer way up in young women and men. Too manly for yoga? Introducing, “Broga.” Ashton Kutcher to play Steve Jobs in his rise from hippie to Apple co-founder. Legit news source plays an … Continue reading »

At the end of a dirt road, tucked behind several large oak trees, stands a large cinder block house surrounded by a cluttered yard, a home to 19 men. “That over there on the couch is Jimmy. He just got his one year. He used to be strung out on coke and vodka. And that … Continue reading »

The University of South Florida is doing its part to help protect the environment by creating the Student Green Energy Fund, which is used to pay for environmental projects and reduce energy costs around the Tampa campus. To counter the threat of climate change, public universities nationwide are making environmental needs a priority by building … Continue reading »

An Orthodox Jewish high school in Brooklyn has given it’s students an ultimatum.  Delete their Facebook page and pay a $100 fine or find a new school. Can they even do that? That story and more in today’s roundup: School: Facebook is the wrong place for a Jewish girl to be. Shocker: Megan Fox says wouldn’t trade places with … Continue reading »

A new survey finds that people aren’t their happiest until around age 33. Also, only 6 percent said they were content during their college years. Interesting… That story and more in today’s roundup: Something to look forward to: 33 is the happiest number. Video outrage:  Surveillance video of George Zimmerman shows none of the injuries … Continue reading »

  Danielle Mills has never known a world without tennis. Mills has been holding a racket and tennis ball since the age of three, which may also explain how she was able to start playing in some of the most competitive, professional tournaments around the world at the age of 14. “I love tennis because … Continue reading »

Trayvon Martin’s death has dominated the headlines for weeks now, so why is it that the similarly hate-based killing of California mother and muslim Shaima Al Awadi has gotten very little press?  That story and more in today’s roundup: Where are the protests for Shaima? Talk about bad timing: 20th Century Fox pulls ads for … Continue reading »

The University of South Florida’s new designated smoking area policy has been in effect for about a week, but many students are unaware of the resources offered by USF Student Health Services for smokers looking to quit. “We offer the patches, the gum and it’s all included- it’s free,” said Katrina Perez of USF’s Student … Continue reading »

If you thought the formalities involved in taking the SAT were rigorous before, they were just warming up. Thanks to a cheating scandal involving dozens of Long Island high school students, the SAT and ACT will now require students to upload pictures of themselves when they sign up for officials to check their photo identification … Continue reading »

Two women in their twenties puffed long Black Lucky Strike cigarettes beneath some trees on the business administration building lawn. Their books and empty Starbucks cups pilled on a bench just outside a designated smoking area on the USF Tampa Bay campus. On March 20, officials at the campus implemented the “Change is in the Air” … Continue reading »

According to HART Public Information Officer Marcia Mejia, within the last fiscal year, HART has seen a 5 percent increase in their U-pass program. However, budget cuts may or may not effect its services offered to USF students. With the U-pass program USF students ride the HART, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, bus system for … Continue reading »

The stray cat population has brought the Florida animal overpopulation issue to the University of South Florida. There are approximately 200,000 feral or stray cats in the Tampa area, according to Linda Hamilton, executive director of the Animal Coalition of Tampa. No exact figures for the cat population on campus exist, but they are noticeable. … Continue reading »

Walking in to Japanese class on Halloween day, Aiko Sasaki was surprised to see students dressed in costumes. In Japan, students attend class dressed in their best clothes, and in the United States, students are more informal, Sasaki said. Because she has been in Florida for six months, she is used to seeing students in … Continue reading »

Change is in the air at the University of South Florida where a new policy that began March 20 banned smoking across the majority of the Tampa campus. USF complies with the Florida Indoor Clean Air Act, which prohibits smoking indoors at workplaces and educational facilities. The new Limited Tobacco Use Policy will further prohibit … Continue reading »

They are bearded, rugged mountain men and tough-as-nails mountain women. They are cliff-climbing, wave-crashing adventure seekers. They are wilderness bound survivalists responsible for lives. At least, they’re learning to be. The student employees working for USF Outdoor Recreation have one of the most unusual jobs on campus. Each year they lead novice adventurers on a … Continue reading »

Over the last week, the Greek community hosted three visiting sororities, each offering a presentation on why they should become the ninth Panhellenic (traditionally female) sorority on campus. One of these three sororities will be chosen to begin recruitment in the fall, and the selection of the organization will be announced before the last week … Continue reading »

Registration: one of the most stressful times of the semester, second maybe only to finals week, began today for fall and summer classes. And so did students’ complaints. For many students, registration appointment times are something to either agonize or rejoice over; the coveted spot – 7:55 a.m. today. “Appointment time rewards people who excel … Continue reading »

One last thing about The Hunger Games and then we’ll lay off for a little bit, okay? That story and more in today’s edition of the roundup: The Hunger Games breaks all kinds of records. No surprise there. Santorum: “If you haven’t cursed out a NYT reporter, you’re not really a Republican.” Where Natty Ice … Continue reading »

Japeth Roe, a USF senior majoring in fine arts with a focus in drawing, has experimented with acrylics and gels to create a new material to achieve an original look and style for his work. “I wanted to use encaustic in my drawings to add layers to my work,” Roe said. “It’s really good for … Continue reading »

Corporate Mentor Program Coordinator J.R. Haworth has been a judge for the College of Business‘ elevator competition for the past two years and hosted it last year. Only business students who attended a specified workshop can compete in the preliminaries to be held Tuesday, March 26 from 2 p.m. to  6 p.m. in BSN 221. “It says … Continue reading »

Hey, you’re not alone. It turns out millions of Americans don’t understand their student loans. That’s comforting, right? That story and more in today’s roundup: Student loan revelation: handing tens of thousands of dollars to mere teenagers – not a great idea. Latest Axe ad reveals the secret to a perfect relationship: shower gel. Obama: … Continue reading »

In the eyes of fellow students, Michael Schiano is an average person, but the 20-year-old junior has been through more in the last four years than most of his fellow students can comprehend. Schiano has chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML, which is a rare form of leukemia that grows in the bone marrow and causes … Continue reading »

The Tampa Bay Lightning currently sit in the 13th spot in the Eastern Conference and nine points out of a playoff spot. With a roster that has been injured throughout the season, its goals of getting to the playoffs are looking bleak. However, the players currently on the roster, although almost half are from the … Continue reading »

Hunger Games mania is upon us, and if you still seriously feel left in the dark as to what all the hype is about, well, we’ve got you covered. Hunger Games explainer. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush endorses Romney. Guess that rules him out for a last minute run. Dating websites are going to really try … Continue reading »

When Sasha Bernard tore her ACL in a postseason game against Pittsburgh, the Bulls lost a key defensive asset. Click here for the audio story: 

University of Massachusetts pitcher Sara Plourde was one out away from hurling a complete game shutout of the red hot Lady Bulls on Monday night in Tampa. Freshman second baseman D’Anna Devine had other ideas as her two out walk began a rally that would eventually lift USF to a come-from-behind 2-1 win in extra … Continue reading »

The Tampa Bay Rays made more cuts on Sunday evening, as the team gets closer and closer to having their opening day roster. Cassandra Khan has the story from Port Charlotte where she spoke with coach Joe Maddon and minor league catcher Stephen Vogt. Press to hear audio:

After a walk off homerun on Sunday vs. Florida State, the USF Bulls softball team re-lived and savored that moment just 24 hours later as the squad scratched and clawed its way to yet another walk off tater, this time off the bat of junior Kenshyra Jackson. The Bulls left fielder drove a liner out … Continue reading »

Despite all the hoopla for the USF softball victories that have run their record to (25-5), head coach Ken Ericksen points out that a major part of his team’s success in 2012 has been through the outstanding stalwarts he has pitching, led by freshman Sam Greiner and sophomore Sara Nevins. Without his ‘groundball machine’ Greiner … Continue reading »

Starting today, smoking at USF will be restricted to designated smoking areas. And on that note we’ve found a collection of antismoking tobacco warnings from around the world. Cigarette warnings gone global. The International PIzza Expo has named the world’s best pizza – and it involves tequila, of course. Trayvon Martin case draws attention to … Continue reading »

Florida’s employment figures have recently started to increase, bringing new job opportunities for college students. Drema Howard, the director of USF’s Career Center, believes this is an excellent time for students to find work since employers are looking to fill a wide variety of positions. “In the last two semesters, the economy has shifted for … Continue reading »

Spring break is over, real life has resumed and an article by the New York Times is suggesting that your vacation may not have been all that disorderly, thanks to social media. Makes sense. Did social media tame your spring break? Good run: USF’s NCAA run ends with loss to Ohio. Are journalism robots coming for … Continue reading »

USF women’s hoops took down FIU 77-61 on Saturday night to advance to the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), but head coach , Jose Fernandez, eyes improvement as the Bulls chase their second WNIT title. Click here for the audio story: 

Sweat drips from every pore. Your nails broke hours ago. The skin on your hands feels raw, your toes are curled like claws in your shoes, and your body is battered from falling. Enter the world of rock climbing. The physical and mental challenges are only some of the benefits. The cost effectiveness is also … Continue reading »

Funky Friday is here, and we’re all headed out for a week of spring break (shown above in vintage movie style), which, depending on whom you talk to is either a visit to the beach or eight straight days on the couch trying to beat the new release of Mass Effect 3. Today’s news roundup: … Continue reading »

Unless you’ve sworn off all forms of internet and social media for the past few days, you’ve probably seen #kony2012 or #stopkony in your feed. Still not sure what it’s all about? We’ve got you covered. That story and more in today’s roundup: Internet campaign aims to bring Ugandan warlord’s crimes to light. The new … Continue reading »

Neg Kreyol, an organization at the University of South Florida that empowers Haitian men, was almost deactivated as an official club due to the new minimum member policy. The Center for Student Involvement has added the new policy “10 to Start, 10 to Maintain” beginning in the spring of 2012 that states all clubs must … Continue reading »

A very small number of the 16, 201 male students on the Tampa campus are participating in Group Fitness, a program provided by Campus Recreation. The program had 10,182 participants last fall, of which only 9.23 percent were male. According to data provided by Susan Hamilton, the Group Fitness coordinator, 2,842 females attended sessions in October … Continue reading »

The Tampa Bay Lightning have won four of its last five games, putting them four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With only a month of the regular season remaining, the Lightning have been fighting to keep their post season hopes alive. The Florida Panthers, the Winnipeg Jets, … Continue reading »

Airports are not having a good week. Last week a man drove his Jeep onto the tarmac, today a blogger posted a video showing how to get anything through the TSA scanners undetected. That story and more in today’s roundup: Blogger exposes vulnerability in TSA body scanners. Mitt takes Ohio but fails to shake off Santorum. … Continue reading »

The USF men’s basketball team hasn’t qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 1992, but this year the Bulls ended their lengthy drought. The Bulls head into the Big East Tournament Wednesday, Mar. 9, at 9 p.m. They’ll face the winner of the Rutgers vs. Villanova Monday night game. Carson Ingle, who covers NCAA sports for … Continue reading »

Well, it’s Super Tuesday. So, what better excuse to take a look at some crazy-accurate doppelgängers for the big names in this years election. That and more in today’s roundup: Casting the 2012 election. You thought Tina Fey’s impersonation was good? Check these out. Much to Joe Biden’s chagrin, Latin America may be well on … Continue reading »

With her feet slipped out of her black ballet flats Danielle Kurant stretches her legs out on the bars below the green picnic table. Her long brown hair is swept to the side and her nails are adorned with intricate designs of apples and pears. This, she later tells me, is actually a study tactic. … Continue reading »

The Florida High School Athletic Association tells coaches to abide by the motto “when in doubt, sit them out!” if one of their players shows signs of a concussion. According to the Sports Concussion Institute, soccer is one of the five leading sports that reports the most concussions and five percent of soccer players will … Continue reading »

As she lingers at the front of the room grasping her paperback text and pointing to pictures, Rong Xue speaks confidently, selecting students by name to read the next sentence and asking them questions about the entire paragraph for comprehension  to keep them in anticipation. In the 12-student class on the third floor of Cooper … Continue reading »

Jared Debusk lies on a bed in the middle of a stage at USF, using every bit of his 5-foot-8-inch frame to pretend to be the big bad wolf impersonating Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother. Little Red Riding Hood says to him, “But Grandma, your eyes look so big…” He responds with his mouth shut and … Continue reading »

TAMPA— As college tuition increases nationwide, more students find financial and social benefits in education abroad. “Studying abroad was cheaper than studying at the University of South Florida,” wrote Emanuel Moshouris in a February 10 email. Moshouris studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea for a semester. Including tuition, room and board, and all other expenses, … Continue reading »

Yellow light from the fluorescent bulbs glows hazily through the glass doors of the Holly M building, warming the chilly February air of the USF Tampa campus. A security guard strolls the sidewalk a few hundred feet from me. Campus is silent. It’s 12:02 a.m. Melanie Wiesen smiles widely as the door of Holly M … Continue reading »

All in all, Lindsay Lohans fourth time hosting SNL was pretty terrible. But it did give us this gem: The Real Housewives of Disney. Check out the clip and more in today’s roundup: Super-respectful and well mannered Don Imus castigates Rush Limbaugh for his “vile, personal attack” on Sarah Fluke. Who said it: Mr. Burns … Continue reading »

Freshman right-hander Devin Smith made just his second appearance in a Bulls uniform on Friday afternoon – and it came against the New York Yankees. The Bulls had a unique chance to square off against their big-league counterparts in a Spring Training exhibition at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Smith shared his thoughts on the outing, … Continue reading »

USF Baseball head coach Lelo Prado elected to make a key defensive change, moving freshman Kyle Teaf in as the starting shortstop in place of a struggling Chad Taylor. Taylor had committed six errors in the Bulls’ first eight games, and moves back to his natural position of center field. Click here for the audio … Continue reading »

On Friday, the University of South Florida baseball team played an exhibition game against the New York Yankees. The game was a unique opportunity for the Bulls to face a Major League Baseball team. The Yankees defeated the Bulls 11-0. The experience, though, will never be forgotten by the USF players and head coach Lelo … Continue reading »

Due to the Sun Dome’s renovations, USF’s women’s volleyball club and other sport clubs lack sufficient time and space for practice sessions at the Campus Recreation Center, according to Sports Clubs Graduate Assistant Joshua Gianitsis. This scheduling conflict has resulted in decreased membership and limited interest in many of the school’s sport clubs, said Volleyball Club President … Continue reading »

Those associated with Greek life will often tell you it is really nothing like what is portrayed in “Animal House” or “The House Bunny,” so DB decided to take a look at what Greek life is actually like in this list, top 5 things you might not know about USF’s Greeks. 1. USF’s Greek system … Continue reading »

Body Stories is a play unlike anything the USF students involved have ever experienced. The play was produced together with USF and the Filter Theatre as part of the British International Theatre Program. Unlike most plays, Body Stories was cast before the script was ever written. Over the course of six weeks, Ollie Dimsdale, artistic … Continue reading »

You can’t bring shampoo on a plane, so how in the world did a man get his Jeep on the airport tarmac? And what does a little girl torturing a goldfish have to do with the economy? According to Herman Cain, (remember him?) everything: Herman Cain’s super PAC releases most morbid political ad yet. And that’s saying … Continue reading »

While the Student Government presidential candidates campaign  this week, The Digital Bullpen rounded up each one to participate in its own spin-off of ‘Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?’ and see who knows their current events better than Matt Diaz, the current student body president. Each were asked five questions on the news surrounding USF. Diaz set the bar high by … Continue reading »

What do pandas, Ronald McDonald, Teletubbies and Hello Kitty have in common? Not much, except if you visit Thailand you may find they all bear a resemblance to Hitler. And it’s being widely reported that Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is pregnant. What does a Jersey Shore pregnancy look like? All of those stories and more in … Continue reading »

The University of South Florida’s Sport Club Council’s decision to regulate the definition of a sports club by the end of spring may relieve the funding issues of certain clubs. A student-run Definition Committee at SCC wants to restrict the definition of what qualifies as a sports club for various reasons. “Right now it’s very … Continue reading »

Compared to other Florida schools, the USF campaign season has been downright tame. Political party affiliations, heavy Greek life involvement and grievance complaints are things that typically spark controversy, however, while other student government elections in schools such as the University of Florida and Florida State University, USF tends to shy away from all three. … Continue reading »

The men’s club soccer team is recovering from being deactivated after going broke. According to Vice President Kurt Levin, the former president of the club did not request an annual budget for the fall 2010 and spring 2011 seasons. This disabled the team because there was no cash available for tournaments, equipment and referees. To … Continue reading »

Chances are you probably haven’t even gotten around to getting your iPad 2 yet but Apple is likely to unveil the iPad 3 next week. And how did an ordinary Facebook user become an accidental lube spokesperson? All of those stories and more in your leap-day edition of the roundup: Be careful what you link … Continue reading »

Justin and Edric like coffee. Like many University of South Florida students, they frequent Java City in the business bunker and Starbucks in the library, at least when the line is short. Justin and Edric walk fast; they’ve got places to go. Sometimes they end up in the streets trying to maneuver their way to … Continue reading »

April 17 is a date that some students have to be well aware of, and file their tax return by, or they will face the wrath of the IRS. Mason Chilmonczyk, a sophomore at USF, filed his tax return at the start of February. His filing status is an independent, something most students don’t have … Continue reading »

Low lighting, cushioned armchairs and blue palm-sized stress balls were all Heidi Ison and Lisa Costas needed as they hosted their Relaxation and Stress Reduction Techniques workshop, the first in a series. The hour-long session was held in the Counseling Center, located in the Student Services building (SVC), room 2124. Ison, a licensed clinical social … Continue reading »

We barely even have our heads out of the water from the current financial crisis, and so why are some worried that we’re already planting the seeds for the next recession? All of that and more in today’s roundup: The new financial crisis? “Welcome to life“: Arizona state rep defends tuition bill to students. Can … Continue reading »

Textbook rental programs present a unique opportunity to reduce education expenses as the cost of attending college soars to record heights. College students are already paying unprecedented amounts in tuition, and while many other expenses like room and board climb, it is easy to overlook the rising prices of textbooks. The College Board estimates that … Continue reading »

The University of South Florida Bulls baseball team suffered their first loss of the season 9-1 Wednesday night at the hands of the University of North Florida Osprey. The Bulls pitching staff struggled, giving up 9 runs and 18 hits and the offense mustered just 6 hits against North Florida. The Bulls host Bethune Cookman … Continue reading »

Senior third baseman Jessica Mouse, a defensive lynchpin and one of the experienced leaders of the USF softball team, describes how every pitch is key, while focus and composure are the main ingredients to shutting down the opposition. A former LSU Tiger, Mouse has returned to her hometown where she was a standout at Chamberlain … Continue reading »

The USF softball team looked to carry momentum into the night cap of a twin bill Friday against the Mississippi St. Bulldogs in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater. After a 5 inning throttle vs. Illinois, the Bulls played to a tight 1-0 victory to improve to (8-1). Sophomore lefty Sara Nevins pitched her way … Continue reading »

USF head softball coach Ken Ericksen, who is in his 19th season at the helm, spoke with the Digital Bullpen after a sweep of a Friday night double-header between the University of Illinois and Mississippi St. After two complete game shutouts by the Bulls, Ericksen delved into his coaching philosophy; whether during a blowout or … Continue reading »

The USF Men’s Basketball team needed all forty minutes Sunday afternoon to defeat the Cincinnati Bearcats 46-45 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Bulls’ Freshman Anthony Collins sank two free throws with 3.2 seconds left to give USF the win and their eleventh conference victory of the season. The Bulls are now 18-11 overall and … Continue reading »

The University of South Florida renamed its Athletics Center the “Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center.” A ceremony was held as the new name was unveiled right before the rain fell, last Wednesday night. Many shared their stories of Selmon, including USF President Judy Genshaft. Selmon’s wife and four children were in attendance, as well. Click … Continue reading »

Christopher Cano, a student government presidential candidate, and Roman McCreary, his running mate for vice president, were spotted around campus meeting and greeting students hoping to gain votes for this week’s upcoming election. Their aim is to maximize and enhance the overall student experience and provide opportunities for students to get involved on campus and … Continue reading »

Starting Monday, students will cast ballots for the next student body president and vice president. Brian Goff, a junior majoring in biochemistry, and George Papadeas, a junior majoring in marketing, are one of the six sets of candidates. The Digital Bullpen caught up with Goff and Papadeas last week to learn more about their campaign. … Continue reading »

The only candidates in bow ties and top hats, Alan Ethington and Nicholas Piracci are ready to change the USF Tampa campus and want to do it in style. Inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, the two juniors hope to win the USF Student Government presidential election by lowering the stress level of going to college. Here … Continue reading »

SG elections for president and vice president start today and run through Thursday. See Digital Bullpen coverage on each of the slates in the stories below, in our Featured Stories section.

With student government elections beginning this week, we at the Digital Bullpen decided to get in touch with the new potential leaders of USF. Instead of giving students a full regurgitation of each candidate’s platform, here are five interesting things you didn’t know about Christina Hughes and Muhammad Shakir: 1.) Hughes was not only her … Continue reading »

Student Government is hosting its annual student body election this week and voting will run through March 1. The Digital Bullpen caught up with presidential candidate Omar Rodriguez and his running mate, vice presidential candidate C.J. Abeleda, to learn more about their Run with the Herd campaign and who they are outside of the political … Continue reading »

Sarah Pollei, a junior majoring in biology, and Antonio Morales, a sophomore majoring in criminology, are running for student body president and vice president this spring. They have been campaigning and reaching out to the student body to gain recognition in hopes to be elected this week. Their initiatives include three main pillars: connection, sustainability … Continue reading »

It’s incredibly difficult to find a job these days, right? Think again. On Thursday, in the College of Business Atrium, sat tables with 15 companies waiting to talk to graduate students of the college. All of them had full-time positions to fill. Lindsay Burke, a graduate student earning a master’s of science in marketing, arrived decked … Continue reading »

The second annual Tampa Bay National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Walk has found an unlikely supporter this year in the University of South Florida Inventors Club, which hopes to shed light on a serious issue. The Inventors Club is currently fundraising to donate to the NEDA Walk, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 25 at … Continue reading »

USF is holding its 22nd annual Health Research Day on Friday (Feb. 24). The event showcases the work of USF residents, graduate and postgraduate students. Participants prepare poster presentations in anticipation of further questions from lead researchers who will ultimately decide on the award-worthy entries. Here are the top five reasons to attend tomorrows event being … Continue reading »