Pictured Above: The Crow’s Nest published 37 stories between May 11 and Aug. 14.
Courtesy of Cassidy Schuck
By Sophie Ojdanic
In a summer plagued by COVID-19, USF witnessed consolidation, canceled commencements, nationwide and local protests, allegations of sexual misconduct on the Tampa campus and more.
Although campuses closed down, The Crow’s Nest remained active, publishing 37 stories between May 11 and Aug. 14.
Here’s a quick recap of some of the summer’s biggest stories:
** USF consolidation plans were approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, meaning all three USF campuses are now part of what the administration is calling “OneUSF.”
** As Student Government underwent sweeping changes because of consolidation, the St. Petersburg campus inaugurated its first ever governor and lieutenant governor — Andrea Campos and Isaiah Castle.
** USF St. Petersburg students had in-person commencement ceremonies canceled. Twice.
** The nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd reached St. Petersburg, with some students joining marches in the city.
** As the Black Lives Matter movement led to pointed criticism of the university from black students and faculty, President Steve Currall pledged to expand diversity and inclusivity efforts. This included promotions for two black administrators, money for research projects and more outreach to black students.
After his letter, a university police officer on the Tampa campus was fired when officials learned that her Twitter bio read “KKK member.” The ousted officer said a friend had put it in her bio as a joke, according to the Tampa Bay Times. University police did not find any connection between Garcia and the klan.
** The cost of tuition and fees rose for in-state undergraduate students who enrolled at St. Petersburg for the first time this summer. Meanwhile, St. Petersburg saw a welcome increase in summer enrollment of first-time-in-college freshmen but a sharp decrease in the number of new transfer students.
** A sexual misconduct scandal exploded on the Tampa campus as more than 77 current and former female students took to Twitter to share stories of sexual violence. Many of the incidents involved fraternity members and what some victims called a weak response from campus officials.
The allegations, followed by a stinging letter from members of the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, prompted Currall to promise reforms and more vigilance.
In an Aug. 11 update, Currall announced that two more staffers would be hired for the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity and that a training program for members of fraternities and sororities would begin this fall.
USF’s Coordinated Community Response Team will meet “to further examine the resources available for current and future USF students and to offer suggestions to better address issues of sexual violence,” the update said.
** USF St. Petersburg senior Owen Melin was shot and killed in a home invasion six blocks from campus on May 27. Two weeks later, police arrested the alleged trigger man on murder charges. They are still searching for two accomplices.
** Another St. Petersburg student, Bryan Pennington, was killed in a single-car crash in Tampa on June 5.
All reports referenced in this article can be found at crowsneststpete.com. Catherine Hicks contributed to this report.
