News

Palatka man enslaves homeless

Editor’s note: The Flagler chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has been investigating human trafficking offenses in Northeast Florida. This is one of their stories.

Photo by Erica Eding

By Erica Eding | gargoyle@flagler.edu

A Palatka man who enslaved homeless people on his labor camp is scheduled for a re-sentencing on Jan. 26.

Ronald Evans Sr. was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison in 2006. His wife and son were also convicted.


Holiday gift-giving tips for broke students

Eight ways to make your money go further in the face of a receeding ecomomy

By Tara Ricks | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The holidays can be a stressful time for all of us, especially college students. When it comes to money, most of us don’t have a lot to throw around buying presents for everyone.

“I feel guilty because I can’t afford to buy gifts for people I feel deserve them the most,” said Sarah Locke a senior at Flagler College. “In times like these I have to get creative.”


Flagler On Ice raises money for annual fund

Photo by Shaun Devine

By Laura Croft | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The St. Augustine Amphitheater hosted a special ice-skating holiday event for the students, faculty, staff and friends of Flagler College.

One dollar of each skate rental went to benefit the Flagler College Annual Fund.

Jeffrey Davitt, Director of the Annual Fund, explained it as a general fund that the college has to help offset the costs tuition, room and board don’t cover.


Campus group collects Christmas gifts for needy

By Julie Hirshan | gargoyle@flagler.edu

This holiday season, Flagler College students are helping to bring joy to children and families around the world.

Student groups give back to the community all year long, and certainly don’t stop as the end of the semester approaches. Some religious groups on campus are participating in programs especially geared towards Christmastime.


Commencement set for Dec. 13

By Gargoyle Staff | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Flagler College will hold its fall commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 13. Approximately 186 students will receive diplomas.

The commencement speaker will be Roy Dean Cannon, Jr., a member of the Florida House of Representatives, District 35.

Commencement begins at 9 a.m. Guests must have a ticket for admission.


New emergency alert system

By Gargoyle Staff | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Flagler College Security Office will be conducting a test of a new emergency alert system on Dec. 17 at 11 a.m.

This system uses speakers placed on one of the towers of Ponce Hall and the FEC Residence Hall buildings on Malaga Street to issue coded alerts to the campus.


PRSSA takes a STAND against cancer

By Sarah Vaccaro | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Photo by Matthew Boyle

The Flagler College Public Relations Student Society of America took their “STAND” against cancer in the Ringhaver Student Center on Friday Nov. 21.

From 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. PRSSA hosted “STAND,” a fundraiser event to benefit the Flagler Hospital Cancer Center.

“We sold over $500 worth in ticket sales,” PRSSA President Katelin Elliott said.


Wright wins election; Key heads back to work


By Sarah Vaccaro | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Carla Wright, District 5 School Board member will continue to hold her spot now that she won the election over Flagler College Academic Advisor Skeeter Key.

“This is not the right time to change school board members,” Wright, member of the school board for seven years, said.

Wright thinks that Key is a charming guy, nevertheless.

“There was probably one thing on the ballot that we disagreed on this would have been it,” Key said.


Where have all the tourists gone?

By Erica Eding | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Trolley trains with only a few passengers have become a frequent sight in the streets of St. Augustine. The nearly empty trains represent the damage that a struggling economy can do to tourism. The drop in visitors affects local businesses and their student employees.

Flagler senior Katie Curry works at Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille.

“I do see people ordering less. Some people share,” Curry said. “Some people come in and see the menu and say ‘It’s so expensive.'”


Student loans harder to come by

Flagler forgoing approximately $1M in operating revenue this year

By Lindsey Williams | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Universities across the nation have felt the immediate effects of the turn the economy has recently taken.

Even with the $700 billion bailout plan passed by legislators on Oct. 3, private institutions have been hit hard with the recent “fix” for the economy.

This “fix” generally zaps funds that support and finance institutions.

Students at these schools feel the weight of this financial burden no less.

“People are being forced to work two or more jobs just to cover their cost of living,” said Nick Shannon a sophomore at Flagler College.