Third annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony shines bright
One of the patrons wore a Santa hat adorned with Christmas lights.

Third annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony shines bright

The holiday spirit drifted through the hearts and streets of downtown Sarasota as patrons awaited the lighting of the Christmas tree in Five Points Park on Thursday, Dec. 29. This year, the third annual lighting ceremony planned by the Sarasota Downtown Merchants Association was well-attended…

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Wrangling with Thanksgiving’s problematic history
Photo courtesy of Elaine Thompson Ruth Sims, a Navajo/Oglala Sioux, holds a sign during a demonstration for Indigenous Peoples Day in Seattle.

Wrangling with Thanksgiving’s problematic history

So goes the popular tale of Thanksgiving: the Pilgrims and the Native Americans came together for a “peaceful meal” to give thanks for their bountiful harvest, friendship and survival. Recognition of the indigenous struggle is a step toward understanding the complexities of history beyond this…

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First Comedy Friends improv show of the year: coming soon
Corinne Leavengood, Olivia Siegel, Charlie Leavengood and Erin Everdale (left to right) had a dance off.

First Comedy Friends improv show of the year: coming soon

There’s no conglomeration of students more rowdy on campus than the Comedy Friends, or, according to third-year Olivia Siegel, the Comedy ‘FREAKS!’ The Comedy Friends is an ever-evolving group of students who get together weekly to play improv games. Their goal: to laugh, to play…

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Outdoor photography exhibit “The FENCE” comes to Sarasota
A wide shot of "The FENCE" at Nathan Benderson Park.

Outdoor photography exhibit “The FENCE” comes to Sarasota

All photos Cait Matthews/Catalyst. As November comes into full swing in Sarasota, so does “The FENCE,” an annual photography exhibit that is open to submissions from anyone. This year, the self-proclaimed largest outdoor traveling exhibit in North America inhabits a stretch of fence at the…

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Expression and empowerment found through dance classes
photo courtesy of Chip Litherland Students dance outside of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library.

Expression and empowerment found through dance classes

Engaging in dance academically can be thought of as an elite or intimidating experience. However, the options at New College—which have multiplied over the years—allow for approaches to movement that are far different from the stereotype of intense competition. Whether you’re looking for a fun…

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Students scramble to find funds to pay for study abroad after scholarships are retracted
this is the image the website upload when the author didn't send a photo in with their story.

Students scramble to find funds to pay for study abroad after scholarships are retracted

Students preparing to study abroad in the coming semesters were blindsided this fall by a change to the school’s study abroad funding policy: students are no longer able use their New College scholarships to offset study abroad costs. “They previously told me I could use…

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Beach bacteria briefly breach acceptable levels
photo courtesy of pexels.com

Beach bacteria briefly breach acceptable levels

While several no-swim advisories were lifted for Sarasota beaches in the past couple of months, one was reinstated this past Thursday, Sept. 20, at Longboat Key Beach. County health officials revealed that enterococcus bacteria was above an acceptable limit in the waters, likely from natural…

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Hurricane Florence aftermath
photo courtesy of U.S. Army U.S. Army Soldiers help evacuate residents affected by Hurricane Florence with the use of a High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheel Vehicle.

Hurricane Florence aftermath

Hurricane Florence first touched down near Wrightsville Beach, N.C., with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph and movement at a rate of 6 mph. While Florence had dropped to a Category 1 storm by the time it reached landfall on Sept. 14, its slow-moving nature…

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Currency crisis: annual Turkish inflation rises
photo courtesy of flickr.com

Currency crisis: annual Turkish inflation rises

Historically, the Turkish economy has faced extreme issues with chronic inflation and depreciation of currency, with the most notable peaks in inflation rates occurring between the late 1970s and the early 2000s. Turkey’s currency, the lira, has fallen 42 percent in relation to the United…

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