Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Full Issues
  • Staffing
The Crow's Nest

The Crow's Nest

at USF St. Petersburg

  • Home
  • News
  • Arts & Life
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
  • RHO Updates

Author: Julia Birdsall

  • Home
  • Julia Birdsall
News

Ahead of St. Pete mayoral primary, candidates talk resilience, Historic Gas Plant District, affordability  

April 30, 2026April 30, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Paul Congemi was a seventh candidate for the mayoral race, but dropped out on April 21, citing “serious health issues.” In his resignation, he wrote that Welch has his vote.  Photos courtesy of City

Read More
Feature

USFSP commuter students talk campus inclusion and resources 

April 23, 2026April 28, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Located in office 1707 in the Judy Genshaft Student Life Center, Kaylee Ayres is available to speak with and assist commuter students throughout the week.  Photo by Jasmin Parrado | The Crow’s Nest 

Read More
Arts and Life

Florida Studies Program’s book festival inspires the future with lessons from the past 

April 21, 2026April 28, 2026 Julia Birdsall

“There is recognition of a crying need for a place to cultivate the study of Florida,” co-founder and former director of the Florida Studies Program, Gary Mormino, said in a 2003 press release

Read More
Feature

What’s next? Graduating seniors reflect on how their time at USFSP has prepared them for the future 

April 15, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Students are having a flurry of reactions to stepping out into the real world. Some shake with nerves, some are buzzing with excitement. All are counting down the days until

Read More
News

Photos: Left vs. Right Debate: Part 2 

April 14, 2026April 15, 2026 Julia Birdsall

“In college, I feel like that’s a huge thing that you should be able to do is just really get involved and understand what you believe and also understand other

Read More
News

Limayem addresses staff and faculty concerns at USFSP town hall 

April 14, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Additional staff concerns included issues such as broken elevators, AI in the classroom and student resources on campus — like the therapy dog program and mental health services.  Photo by Makenna

Read More
Arts and Life

Graphic arts seniors impress at annual showcase  

April 13, 2026April 28, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Senior graphic arts major with a concentration in graphic design Montana Smith presented her piece, “Print is Alive,” at the senior showcase.  Photo by María José Solís | The Crow’s Nest 

Read More
News

What does the future hold for Bayboro Harbor? USFSP students propose and implement restoration efforts  

April 1, 2026April 1, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Bayboro Harbor was first dredged in 1907, chasing away much of the area’s native wildlife and destroying the salt marshes, mudflats, and bayous that existed.  Photo by Makenna Wozniak | The

Read More
Feature

LSO spring break trip helps students step out of the classroom and into community volunteering 

March 11, 2026March 11, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Students have volunteered in locations like New Orleans and Savannah, Ga. On every trip they do something different so that students can gain varied experience.   Photo courtesy of USF  By

Read More
Feature

The truth of true crime: USFSP looks past the caution tape

March 9, 2026March 9, 2026 Julia Birdsall

True crime has a tendency to paint cases as black and white and homogenize them. In reality there is a lot of gray area and cases have their own unique

Read More

Posts pagination

1 2 … 4 Next

Recent Posts

  • USFSP Marine Science Laboratory totaled after two-alarm fire 
  • USF alums create opportunities for students 
  • USF Women’s Sailing places second in SAISA Championship, secures National Championship bid 
  • Ahead of St. Pete mayoral primary, candidates talk resilience, Historic Gas Plant District, affordability  
  • USFSP students reflect on this spring’s rising temperatures  

usfcrowsnest

The race for the next St. Petersburg mayor is a pa The race for the next St. Petersburg mayor is a packed one, with six candidates in the running, including the sitting mayor, Kenneth T. Welch and former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who was the latest to file as of April 27. 

Other candidates include long-serving public administrator Maria Scruggs, District 2 Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard, retired St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large and former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf. 

The Crow’s Nest spoke to four of the seven candidates, who expanded on their campaign ideals and spoke of what they want the future of the city to look like. 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Julia Birdsall and Alisha Durosier

#usfsp #stpetemayor #stpeteelection
Fire crews are actively responding to a fire at th Fire crews are actively responding to a fire at the Marine Science Laboratory (MSL). 

While the cause is unclear, The Crow’s Nest received reports of either a chemical fire or a lightning strike as the cause.

At approximately 5 p.m., USF St. Petersburg students were met with sirens and a scene of smoke billowing from the peninsula of the St. Petersburg campus. University faculty and staff working near the area are being evacuated. 

The MSL is among the oldest buildings on the St. Petersburg campus, where the campus’s first classes were held in 1965. 

It was originally opened in 1939 as a maritime service training station. It currently houses research labs and faculty offices for the Marine Science Program.

This is a developing story.

🎥 Video courtesy of Joe Farías Alencar.

#usf #usfsp
As we approach the close of the Spring Semester of As we approach the close of the Spring Semester of 2026, we would like to recognize and say goodbye to our fellow senior staffers:

Online Editor – Julia Ferrara
News Editor – Jasmin Parrado
Arts & Life Editor – Matthew McGovern
Sports Editor – Dominic Feo
Opinions/Features Editor – Julia Birdsall
Staff Reporter – Irena Mesa
Marketing Manager – Marcella Copeland
Managing Editor - María José Solís

and our 

Editor in Chief – Alisha Durosier 

Congratulations to our seniors and we are wishing them the best as the fly away to a new chapter in their lives. 🐦‍⬛🎓

#usfsp #usf
After 12 years as the Dean of Students at the Univ After 12 years as the Dean of Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Jacob Diaz is resigning. 

Diaz’s last day is on May 15; he will then serve as the inaugural assistant vice president and dean of Students at the University of Maryland. 

 Diaz described his time as dean of students as a “dream come true.” 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Secilia Ruiz 

#usfsp #usf
The thought of an early graduation is a harrowing The thought of an early graduation is a harrowing thought for third year digital communications and multimedia journalism major Sophia Lowrie, who said that she wishes they had more time to assimilate to life on a college campus before being thrust into adult life. 

She is not the only one. 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Julia Birdsall 

#usfsp #usf

Whether the next steps involve graduate school or entering the workforce, many of the seniors at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg are feeling similarly anxious and uncertain in the weeks leading up to their graduation dates.
Nico Gramatica did not grow up playing football. Nico Gramatica did not grow up playing football. 

The sophomore kicker for the University of South Florida played club soccer and only started kicking footballs in his sophomore year of high school. 

“My dad kicked, my uncle kicked and people were asking me, ‘Why don’t you come out, try it for a year and see if you like it. If you don’t like it, you can be done after one year,’” Gramatica said. “I went out, had a great time and got to make some really good friends.” 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📸 Photos by Irena Mesa 

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Irena Mesa 

#usfsp #usf
College campuses are a place where a strong sense College campuses are a place where a strong sense of community can be formed among students, but many commuter students, like junior English major Zoey Earles, feel that they have fewer opportunities to form these connections. 

“Positives [of being a commuter], I have my own apartment,” Earles said. “Negatives, I don’t make as [many] friends, and I don’t necessarily know about all the things that are happening on campus.” 

Events hosted on campus are a great way to meet people and find that sense of community, but sustainability senior Estela Najera said that being aware of events is difficult. 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Julia Birdsall 

#usfsp #usf
In the familiar currents of St. Petersburg, the Un In the familiar currents of St. Petersburg, the University of South Florida Women’s sailing team placed second at the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (SAISA) Women’s Team and Fleet Championship Races on April 12. 

The regatta secured USF a spot in the College Sailing Women’s Fleet National Championship, which USF St. Petersburg will also host from May 15-18. 

Before the competition, USF’s Division A Fleet Race starters Kailey Warrior and Madisen Hamai told The Crow’s Nest about the advantages of sailing in local waters. 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📸 Photos by Kendall Bulkiewicz | USF Athletics 

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Dominic Feo 

#usfsp #usf
USF St. Petersburg Student Government Governor, El USF St. Petersburg Student Government Governor, Elise Prophete, is speaking out after not being able to give the speech she’d initially written for the annual Rocky's Leadership Award Ceremony.

“I am choosing to do what is right for me and provoke the thoughts that I hope are right for this campus. To shift the self-censoring, student-second attitudes back into a space where the stories we have are told and appreciated,” Prophete wrote.

📲 Click the link in our bio to read her entire column and her original speech.

✍️ Column by Elise Prophete.

All Rights Reserved –– The Crow's Nest 2023.
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Fairy by Candid Themes.