Senior copes with tragedy
USF was able to upset No. 25 Syracuse on Saturday despite missing one of its senior’leaders, Melissa Dalembert, a native of Haiti.
Dalembert has missing family members in the wake of a massive earthquake that struck the country last week.
‘I have spoken with Melissa every day,’ said USF head coach Jose Fernandez. ‘She is doing better.’
Dalembert’s father is in Haiti now helping with the relief efforts, and her mom will be traveling there soon.
‘We have a lot of student athletes of Haitian descent at USF, and this is a time we all need to band together,’ Fernandez said. ‘We are all family here.’
Dalembert, who is averaging 8.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this season, returned to the team Monday.
‘Tragedy is something very difficult to deal with,’ said senior center Jessica Lawson. ‘We all really miss (Dalembert) and can’t wait to get her back.’
– Joel Leventhal
More Stories
SG presidential election results released following run-off election
Juniors Sebastian Solano and Jessica Malanga now have a platform to serve the student body through their T.H.R.I.V.E. campaign following the announcement Thursday morning that the ticket won the 2023 Student Government (SG) presidential run-off election. A total of 2,087 votes were cast across all three campuses, in which Solano and Malanga won 1,076. Esmeraldi […]
On-campus political groups respond to bill targeting diversity initiatives
Student-led political groups on campus have presented differing opinions and action plans regarding House Bill 999, which targets diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory (CRT) initiatives at the state’s public universities, as the bill works its way up in the Florida Legislature. House Bill 999, which passed through the Florida state house […]
Trans+ Student Union holds Gender Affirming Clothing Swap
Among hundreds of clothing items separated by tops, bottoms and accessories displayed on top of several chairs in rows, the Trans+ Student Union (TSU) aimed to provide a safe space for over 45 students to explore their gender expressions through fabric. The Gender Affirming Clothing Swap event was held at the Marshall Student Center from […]
Student-led art exhibit showcases multidimensional change
Standing in front of a group of 20 attendees in the dimly lit Marshall Student Center Centre Gallery, freshman interdisciplinary social sciences major Carolina Gutfruend shared the significance of honoring sexual assault awareness through her art. Recounting her own experiences with guilt and shame as a survivor of sexual assault, Gutfruend said she wanted her […]
Students, faculty rally against state legislation targeting diversity initiatives
At a Tuesday rally intended to create student awareness for preserving academic rights, history professor Alex Levine read aloud two emails he received earlier this week from prospective employees and graduate students expressing fear for their future at USF. One of the emails was from a trans philosophy graduate student who messaged him about her […]
BOT approves new collective bargaining agreement, hears public comments regarding state legislation
At Tuesday morning’s meeting, the Board of Trustees (BOT) voted to accept a 3-year bargaining agreement (CBA) with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and listened to public comments from students and professors regarding House Bill (H.B.) 999. During the 9:30 a.m. hour-long meeting in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom, the […]