Former VCC Employee Remains in Jail

Marcelo Augusto Alves, remains in the Orange County jail on five counts of sexual battery with deadly weapon and physical force, for his alleged attack on a 20-year-old woman, who remains unknown, on March 16.

Alves, 38, is accused of luring the young girl into a vacant home on Kilgore Road in the Dr. Phillips area. Alves was arrested the following day at 8:43 p.m. and the pre-trial will take place on Dec. 16.

Alves, born June 9, 1970, was a contract network administrator for the International Technology department on the Valencia's West Campus.

Bob Seal, director of technology support services at the West Campus. He said Alves worked for Valencia for "about a year," and is no longer on leave. "In that event, he was terminated by SunGard Higher Eduction," said Seal.

Alves’ attorney, Timothy A. Berry, spoke to The Valencia Voice on behalf of Alves. “He’s very unhappy,” said Berry. “He’s been in there a long time. He hasn’t been able to see his kids. He’s devastated by this.”

The questioned asked by most is why Alves’ stay in jail has been elongated from March until now, additionally, without bond. “Based on the allegations, that are very serious,” said Berry, “The judge determined it. It may change. We’re in motion to get a bond. We need certain things from the state witnesses first.”

The lawyer confirmed that was “an arrangement” between the accused and the victim. “It’s interesting that she drove from Tampa to Orlando to meet him,” he said.

Alves’ now ex-wife, Anna, filed for divorce for their 16-year marriage on April 1. It is unknown whether or not Alves will have some custody or even visiting rights with his kids if he is released.

In a phone conversation dated March 19 with Anna, Alves stated the online conversations between him and the victim on Yahoo! Messenger will be able to clear everything up for him. According to his attorney, the evidence has been confiscated and is in the process of being analyzed, but no information has been released yet.

“We’re waiting for the computer information from the government and so far we haven’t received that,” said Berry. “It takes a long time and they are doing a lot of other cases. I think it will help greatly in his defense.”

The defense is currently unknown on Alves’ part. Moreover, Berry explained he did not know why Alves claimed the knife was for “self-protection,” in which Alves stated in a past phone conversation with his ex-wife.

The victim is still in anonymity and it is unknown where she currently is and whether or not she will attend the pre-trial. Berry said he requested her presence, but was denied.

If found guilty, Alves could potentially face a “number of years in state prison,” said Berry. Alves is an American citizen, but it is unknown whether he will return to Brazil, if proven innocent.

Talent Tuesday 11/3

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The second showcase of Talent Tuesday was held on Nov. 3 on the Student Services Building patio. For this round the judges were Student Government senators: Valentine Particina, Jamie Whalen, and back again from last week, Jamar Bibbs.

There were six contestants, but only three made it to the final round. The finalists were Julia Parmer, Joseph Easley, and a rock group consisting of cousins Frederick and Xavier Quarterman.

Parmer, 19, is a psychology student who rapped and danced to a song by music group Salt 'n' Pepa. Parmer has been rapping and dancing since she was two years old and said she thinks she was a rapper in her last life. "I used to stay up late at night to watch VH1's 'Behind the Music' with Michael Jackson," said Parmer. "That's where I learned my moves basically."

During her performance Parmer said she is perhaps judged because she doesn't fit the typical rapper persona. "I really didn't expect to win," said Parmer. "It was kind of a last minute thing; people ditched me, but I still came here anyways. I figured most people would think it's funny. I guess it's cool people liked it and didn't make fun of me."

Parmer's fellow contestant and dancer, Joseph Pasley said he also gets his moves from Michael Jackson. "It was a tie between breakdancing up here or doing Michael Jackson," said Pasley, 20, "but I love doing Michael Jackson dances. If I come back for the second round, I'm definitely doing Michael Jackson." Pasley has been dancing for three years and attends Valencia for a degree in engineering.

The Quarterman cousins played songs "Prom Queen" by rapper Dwayne "Lil' Wayne" Michael Carter, Jr. and "Eye of the Tiger" by band Survivor.

Xavier, 14, played the drums. "I feel pretty confident," said Xavier on being a finalist. Frederick Quarterman, 18, said his cousin is "amazing," and said, "As good as he is, fourteen." Frederick Quarterman, unlike his cousin, does attend Valencia and majors in architecture and has been playing guitar for six years.

Stephanie Bodie attended in the audience and said she was looking for "excitement" in the show, but said she only got it "to an extend." Bodie, 18, said, "I just feel like some of our performers could've been a little more organized." She also said she did not have a favorite. "I think they're all talented in their own way." Bodie attended last week's showcase as well, viewing Talent Tuesday for the second time, and attends Valencia for a major in hospitality.

Bodie's peer, Kristin Marulanda, attended for the first time and said she was hoping for "entertainment," and felt she got it. "The dancing, the music, it was amazing," said Marulanda, 19, a general studies honors student. She said the performance she preferred the most was the breakdancing. "Joe was pretty awesome. He did the worm, it was amazing."

Talent Tuesday's grand finale will take place Nov. 10 on the SSB patio at 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.

Talent Tuesday 11/3

ORLANDO, Fla. -— ‘Showcase 1’ of Talent Tuesday took place on Oct. 27 on the Student Services Building patio. Talent Tuesdays are held every Tuesday between 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Hosting the event is Courtney Wilson of student government, who attends the college for event management.

Wilson, 21, has been enrolled in Valencia and has been a part of Talent Tuesday since 2007. “Talent Tuesday is a legacy,” said Wilson. “I won second place and was rewarded $150. Dealing with this new administration, they didn’t really have a guideline of how it was in the past so what I did was I took how I won last time and the way the show went and I pursued it in this current student government organization; their planning method, so it’s the same tactics as 2007, when Rufus Hawkins was president and he encouraged me to join student government.”

Anthony Stephens, attended in the audience. Although not a contestant, during the show would voluntarily dance on stage. “I love to give a shout out,” said Stephens, 19, an anesthesiology student. “I’m a very energetic person. I take any challenge that comes to me, like this is a challenge.”

The three finalists were Raymond Surness, Yves “King Yves” Jeanfils, and Wilbur Bermudez. All contestants and trivia winners receive tickets to Joe’s Krab Shack restaurant.

Bermudez has been singing and dancing for two years, he attends Valencia to obtain a degree in dental hygiene. On being a finalist, Bermudez, 23, said: “I feel great. I was really nervous, but now I feel great.”

Fellow student, Janet Randolph who was a singer in last year’s challenge, but didn’t make it to the next round, said this time was “very entertaining” and “better than last year’s.” Randolph, 19, a political science student, said she preferred this year’s judges. “I like how they actually had a decent amount of judges who chose the right talent,” said Randolph. “Last year, they just chose friends and that’s what the main thing I had to say about that.”

This year’s judges is West Campus’ very own SGA president, Robert Stio, along with Jamar Bibbs and Shayna-Kay Gibbs. Wilson said when choosing the judges, she was looking for "diversity and a variety, whether it was ethnicity or sex."

Wilson said she felt as though it was a “great outcome” and described how she felt when she said: “I’m very happy with the entertainment that was provided and I’m astound with the students that even went out to aim for their goals. They aimed for a goal and they accomplished it. I feel like they accomplished their goals by performing.”

Jeanfils, 20, is enrolled in Valencia for music and sound technology and has been dancing for nearly 8 years. “This was just the appetizer,” said Jeanfils, “The final draft is next.”

‘Showcase 2’ for Talent Tuesday is Nov. 3 and the grand finale will take place Nov. 10 between the hours of 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Governor Crist

ORLANDO, Fla. — A dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Thurs. at 9 a.m. to celebrate West Campus' opening of its new facility, the University Center, or also known as building 11.

At $23 million and 100,000 square feet, the center provides classes offered by both the University of Central Florida and Valencia, with 40 classrooms, a testing center, computer labs, study areas, faculty and staff offices, and a cafe. When opened in August, it welcomed 775 UCF students to the Valencia campus.

The design and consultation of the building was created by the collaboration of the architectural firm C.T. Hsu and Associates, along with the builder PPI Construction Management Inc.

Special guest, Florida's Governor Charles "Charlie" Crist, Jr., came to support the event with the cutting of the ribbon and to speak on education, Florida's school system, Valencia evolving into a four-year degree school, and the new building. Crist has been governing, specifically as a representative of the Republican Party, since 2006.

Crist said he is "proud and privileged" to dedicate the facility because of it's significance, which he said he believes is "to provide world class education for the young people of Florida, so they can have a very bright future."

"I feel great about being able to be here today," Crist said. "This is a great opportunity to celebrate education in Florida. Great things are happening in the state, particularly as it relates to education. I'm so pleased with our community college system. The university is recognized as the best in America. What Valencia and UCF are doing in partnership is great for the future of our state. It's a tremendous honor to be at this school."

President of Valencia, Dr. Sanford C. "Sandy" Shugart, described the opening of the building as "big" for both institutions. "We're thrilled," said Shugart. "80% of Valencia graduates go to UCF."

With of the success of the DirectConnect program, which accommodates for an estimated 27,000 students with guaranteed access from the community college to the university, UCF receives most of its transfer students through Valencia.

Prior to cutting the ribbon, Crist concluded his speech when he said, "God bless you, God bless UCF, and God bless Valencia."