September/October 2017
Volume 56 Issue 4
what’s in
Campus Construction
THIS ISSUE
By Kristen Sipling Contributing Editor
Photo Courtesy of Kristen Sipling
New Year, New Freshmen at Alvernia
The new press box is one of the new additions to campus this academic year.
done quickly, but correctly. Pieces of the old roof were made available to students and staff who wanted to have a piece of the campus’ history at the beginning of the fall semester. Now they’ll have a colorful piece to remember this beautiful campus by. “I work in the welcome center in Francis, and they had been collecting some of the old roof tiles. Some of them had broken a little bit so my boss asked if I wanted to keep a piece,” Alvernia student Paige Burkett said. “I said yes because Francis is unique to Alvernia and I thought it was a cool souvenir to keep to remember what
Alvernia University is going through tremendous change! New construction includes renovating the buildings around campus that will better accommodate the students, faculty and guests that visit Alvernia’s campus. The first project is the work on Francis Hall’s roof. The work has been going on all summer and they are almost finished as of September 15. The crew has been hard at work, usually from when the sun rises until early in the evening trying to get the roof
Continued on page 3
What Ever Happened to the Helmeted Crusader?
Worthwhile Internship Opportunities for Alvernia Students
Coaching Up Golden Wolves Football
Music, Drugs and Depression
By Cheyenne Ettinger Contributing Editor Many college students do not realize that networking is just as important as grades when it comes to finding a job after graduation. Alvernia University offers two capstone course choices for English and communications majors. Students can chose between a research seminar class; or an internship. What choice is best for you? The University recommends that students who choose to do the internship program, do so with in either their junior or senior year. There are four levels of for-credit internships. Three credits require 126 hours, six credits need 252 hours, nine credits need 378 hours, and 12 credits require a significant 504 hours. Students should take into consideration their other classes and work in order to avoid conflict. The internship is not an excuse to miss any other classes. Something that students may not realize is how many opportunities they have when choosing an internship. There is no limit to how many internships a student can
do as long as it works with their schedule. The more experience, the better. “You have a story to tell when writing your resume,” supervisor of Alvernia’s internship program, Beth DeMeo said. DeMeo is the chair of the English and communication department, as well as the department’s internship coordinator. There are many positions to choose from when it comes to finding an internship. Choices include, but are not limited to, Washington D.C, Walt Disney World, television and radio stations such as
WFMZ TV, and the Reading Fightin Phils. This summer I had the opportunity to be a game day intern for the Reading Fightin Phils, a local affiliate to MLB team the Philadelphia Phillies. While I didn’t end up taking the internship for course credit, it helped me add on to my resume and build a network of people who are interested in the same field as I am. Networking is important for finding a work after college. The Reading Fightin Phils
By Tommy Godin Contributing Editor
Continued on page 5
Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Ettinger
Alvernia Cross Country Running the Show
Fightins staff participating in a parade, making a gloomy day fun. Pictured left to right: Cheyenne Ettinger, Matthew Funk, Matt Jackson, Ryan Springborn.
It’s no surprise that in the last couple months a lot has been changing at Alvernia University. The announcement of The Plex, a new football team, even the renovated Physical Education Center and turf field. But arguably the biggest change around campus isn’t surrounding construction, but rather the name of our mascot. Since the 1970’s, Alvernia’s sports teams had been referred to as the Crusaders, back when it was a small college. Now, the school has transformed into a thriving private institution, priding itself on being a distinctive Franciscan university. With that growth has come a new mascot to carry Alvernia into the future. The leadership team of the University’s sponsors, as well
Continued on page 3
flynn files
2 September/October 2017
Managing Editor Mady Johnston Layout Justin Herforth Section Editors Cheyenne Ettinger Juan Palacios Kristen Sipling Nick Sokolovich Tommy Godin Contributing Writers Alison DeLia Zachary Grill Tim Toney Faculty Advisor Dr. Ryan Lange
The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University. To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.
Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu. The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.
The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.
© 2017 The Alvernian
Flynn Files - October 2017 Dear Students, Alvernia students of all ages study throughout the entire year, pursuing undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degrees. And summertime on campus is always filled with activity between construction projects, Connection Days, and almost daily visits of potential future students. Still, there’s always magic in Move-In Day and all the events that launch the new academic year. This year was no exception. The University Life team, aided by staff and faculty from across campus--and hordes of wonderful student leaders--helped make the arrival of our new students memorable for them and their families. (Countless parents thanked me for the generous assistance of those working “under the Big Tent” or unloading the cars, vans, and even four-wheelers conveying beloved sons and daughters (and, sometimes, half a household of stuff!). Led by the Holleran Center team, over 450 first-year students, OWLs, faculty, and staff made an enormous positive impact again this year on the Orientation Day of Service, as they dispersed throughout 19 schools in the Reading School District to help ready the classrooms and grounds for the opening of school. As always, hearing our students describe their experiences in the closing reflection session and then greeting them at the annual barbecue, were highlights for me. And like many, I found our opening Mass even more beautiful than usual, capped off by Fr. Ron’s gift to the University of a statue of a wolf and the unveiling of the new “Golden Wolves.” With a magnificent new roof appearing atop Francis Hall, the impressive renovations of the PEC, and the continued rising of our
new stadium, the campus is showing well! With the banners and lights guiding visitors as they wind their way through Angelica Park, and the headquarters of Berks Nature at the entrance, we have an approach to campus worthy of a thriving university. But as always, beautiful as is our campus, it is the people that show best at Alvernia. And the opening of each academic year brings out the best in our people: Impressive new faculty, from occupational and physical therapists to biologists and mathematicians to professors of rhetoric and Chinese, are appreciative of their opportunity. We welcome Professors Claire Child (PT), Robyne Eisenhauer (NUR), Alison Foura (OT), Wenzhu Li, (Chinese), James O’Donohue (PT), Sujan Pant (MATH), Danielle Saad (COMM/ENGL), Michelle Serapiglia (COMM/ ENGL), Staci Silar (PT), Robin Zappin (PT) A high-energy staff of football coaches are leading 50 young men--recruited by Coaches Clark and Wood-- through drills and conditioning, starting at 5:45 a.m. Dean Roth, Vice President DeMarco, and the fine arts faculty hosted a spectacular, sold-out “Broadway” revue, featuring an alumna (and former trustee) and a current doctoral student. The Holleran Center’s new AmeriCorps*VISTA workers—Melody Dillee, Briana Pearson (’16) and Daisy Porazzo (’17) have begun community outreach programs: An afterschool program at Millmont Elementary School for first and second graders; an outreach program at TysonSchoener Elementary School; and the creation of a moresustainable food system in the City of Reading. A new Post Graduate
Photo courtesy of Carey Manzolillo
t h e alver n ian
Vol. 56 Issue 4
Dr. Thomas Flynn, President of Alvernia University
Year of Service project, led by Mikaileigh Baker (’17), focuses on environmental education in Reading. Josh Harmes (OT) and Eric Moran (History) are piloting a new partnership program with the Highlands at Wyomissing retirement community this year. They will live full-time on the Highlands’ innovative campus and will work with residents 12-16 hours each week. This type of program has shown early success in Europe but is quite rare in the United States. The Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement is accepting early applications, submitted on its web page, for 201718 Real World Experience Awards until October 31st, with a second call for applications later in the semester. Last year 45 students earned Real World Experience Awards of up to $2,000 to help fund study away opportunities, alternative breaks, internships, research and other exceptional and life-changing learning
Today’s Mission Moment:
experiences. It’s A Date Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to attend the annual Founders Day Lecture, on Monday, Sept. 25, at which Dr. David Couturier will discuss “Franciscan Values in a Healthy World Economy: What Is Ours to Do?” Regina Calcaterra will deliver the annual First Year Seminar Lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Calcaterra’s memoir “Etched in Sand” tells her difficult yet inspiring tale of a childhood filled with abuse, foster care and homelessness in the city of New York. The book appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers list for an impressive 16 weeks. Barely a week later on Nov. 8, another well-known speaker, Richard Florida, will be on hand as this year’s O’Pake Lecturer to discuss what he calls the new urban crisis. Have a great year! Peace and All Good, President Flynn
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi
campus news September/October 2017
3 Vol. 56 Issue 4
The new two-toned gym floor is ready for use in the PEC.
our school was like when I first came here.” However, Francis Hall is not the only building on campus going through renovations. The Physical Education Center (PEC) is also going through major changes! The gym floor was redone and given a fresh look because of its two-tone flooring. It has an open spot center court where we are all patiently waiting for our new Golden Wolf logo to be put in. It will add the final touch to the gym floor in the near
future! Most of the first floor of the PEC was also redone. Included in the work was a new and expanded athletic training room where the laundry room and closet used to be, allowing for the accommodation of more student athletes due to football. Also on that floor are new locker rooms and bathrooms. Both our home teams and visiting teams have access to the new facilities and they have been viewed positively since students have
been allowed to use them. “The new bathrooms and the locker rooms are really nice and are a great addition to the PEC,” Alvernia student Samantha Homan said. Moving outside, an entrance plaza, a gate, new bleachers and press box are being put in for Alvernia student, staff and any spectators to utilize for the outdoor sports games. The bleachers are completed and allow for more seating during games that the hill didn’t used to allow. They also provide
Photo courtesy of Kristen Sipling
Campus Construction (Cont’d Page 1) more storage space for sports equipment underneath them. Then, one side of the seating area will include a fully functioning press box for media coverage and Alvernia workers, the other side is a multi-purpose space being used for meeting, hospitality, gathering and reception space (ex: for a visiting radio station). On top of the new stadium, a filming tower is going to be added. This will allow for easier filming of athletic game footage and also make filming live-stream webcasts a lot easier. Turf access will be by walking down the bleachers or on a soon-to-be-added path that will run directly next to the PEC. It will lead down to the Annex building, which will house three locker rooms, storage space, an ice machine and athletic taping table for the athletic training staff to utilize. Overall, the whole project is looking to be completed by
the beginning of November. The summer rain storms made it difficult to stay on track over the summer, but they workers are doing a great job making up the time now. By Homecoming Weekend, athletics is looking to begin giving tours of the new additions behind the PEC. “I am most looking forward to the flexibility that the new spaces now allow us in terms of being able to support our existing programs is what excites me the most. Teams like women’s volleyball and men’s lacrosse now have locker rooms they can use, which in previous years they did not have,” Director of Athletics Bill Styles said.
Dr. Flynn also cited at least ten other schools that have changed their names from the Crusaders to something else and said that he respects the decision from every institution whether they change their mascots or not. The timing of the change could not have been any
better for the University amidst many changes. The logo has been released and sports teams are expected to adopt it by the spring season on all of their uniforms.
Photo courtesy of Jon King
What Ever Happened To The Helmeted Crusader? (Cont’d Page 1)
President Flynn announces the nickname change at the special announcement ceremony in October.
as the Bernardine sisters, unanimously supported the mascot change. The Sisters brought a name change to a board of University officials including President Thomas Flynn, Athletic Director William Stiles, and many more influential voices not only in athletics, but also across all aspects of the school. Several students in leadership positions sat in on the meetings and chimed in during the lengthy debate
period. After two and a half months of deliberation the committee chose the Golden Wolves. The university described many reasons for using the Golden Wolves as their mascot, referencing the story of Saint Francis and the wolf, when Francis tamed the wolf that had been terrorizing the city of Gubbio. As for the Golden part, this could represent the color gold for commonly being associated
with glory and holiness (as in a halo.) A fan favorite theory for the gold in the name is that Alvernia’s initials are AU (Alvernia University), and AU is also the anatomic symbol for gold. Which one (if not both) is true is up for speculation, but many students prefer the latter theory. Yet students around campus are split on whether they like the mascot change to Golden Wolves. Some students like the change, while others had felt that the old mascot was fine the way he was. In a press release from the school dated March 2, 2017, President Flynn repeatedly cites the Franciscan core values that are held in high esteem by this school. “Our patron, St. Francis, changed his life course and spiritual journey when he turned away from the Crusades and pursued a path of peacemaking—including his famous trip to meet the Sultan, Malik al Kamil. This name change is in fidelity to our Franciscan mission and is congruent with the spirit of peace, harmony and inclusiveness that we, as Franciscans, strive for and that Pope Francis upholds.”
Interested in writing for the Alvernian?
Contact Dr. Ryan Lange at ryan.lange@alvernia.edu for more information, or check us out on PAX!
campus news
4 September/October 2017
Vol. 56 Issue 4
By Alison DeLia Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Alison DeLia
Each year at Alvernia, first year and transfer students arrive to start their college career. These students begin a new journey and make new acquaintances. Each new student will learn the Franciscan core values that will officially make them an Alvernian. Yet, every firstyear student has a different
experience and routine, due to different schedules and backgrounds. Dejhanee McNeal of Cape May, New Jersey is a first-year communications major. She is a forward on the women’s basketball team and a resident of Veronica Hall. “It’s all about time management,” McNeal said. “Since I’m on the basketball team I have to delegate my time wisely.”
Dejhanee McNeal’s stylish Veronica Hall dorm room. String lights and tapestries are a popular and effective way to create a homey feel.
McNeal showed concern over the new college workload. “It’s definitely more writing than high school, it’s just something I have to get used to.” Logan McGinley, a psychology major from Allentown Pennsylvania, expressed his first impression of Alvernia. “It’s a small knit school where everyone knows each other, it’s a nice community to be a part of,” McGinley said. “The classes are easy to get to since the campus is so small, it’s not too difficult overall.” McGinley told what techniques are used to be successful in college. “Time management is very important. As long as I stay organized and get accustomed to the work I should be fine” McGinley said. His goal for this semester is to achieve at least a 3.5 GPA. Psychology major Lia Kuder commutes from Boyertown every day. She shared her overall first
Logan McGinley’s dorm room he shares with four other boys. They bunked their beds to create more space.
experiences. “I’m adjusting slowly to everything,” Kuder said. “It can be tough being a commuter because we feel separate from the residents and that there is so little parking. I do like how there is the Kestrel Café where us commuters can go to get work done and hang out.” Kuder had to adjust to how professors at Alvernia differed from her high school teachers. “It was exciting to get an idea of what college classes would be like. Most of my
professors enforce the syllabus very strongly which can be overwhelming,” Kuder said. Her goal this semester is to do well academically and get more involved by joining clubs and making new friends. With the first month of school finished and midterms coming up, firstyears are mostly adjusted to college life. Their journey will lead them to new acquaintances, experiences, and accomplishments.
Weather is very unpredictable. Some days it is sunny and warm, while on other days it may be rainy and wet. When the weather gets dangerous, that is where weather safety comes into play. Weather events like snowstorms and hurricanes, should not be taken lightly. People new to Berks County should know how to be better prepared if or when nature takes a turn for the worse. If impending weather is coming, make sure to stay tuned to your local news stations. They may not be the most accurate, but they are on top of the story, especially when it comes to resident safety. It is a wise idea to stock up on food and or get supplies when a snowstorm is approaching, just in case you are unable to get to the store after the storm hits. Stocking up on non-perishables is a good idea just in case power is lost. Having a snow blower is an efficient way to clear away snow from your sidewalks and driveways. There are several types of snow blowers
so there are many options. Ariens makes two different models of snow blowers, the compact 24 and the deluxe 28. Also, Berco makes a riding snow blower for bigger amounts of snow. Snow blowers also help to uncover ice patches that you may have missed. It is important to be mindful of ice as injuries could occur if you are not careful. Ice scrapers are a handy tool for removing ice when it freezes outside. They can be relatively cheap so it’s a good idea to buy a couple ahead of time. It is also very important to if you do not have snow blowers or other helpful equipment, to take breaks from cleaning snow periodically. Trying to do too much shoveling in one sitting is bad for your body and may lead to dehydration and other injuries. It may be cold outside but your body still needs to be hydrated to function. If it continues to snow, you may need to shovel multiple times in a day to keep the amount of snow to clear at a manageable level. You should be mindful that you change clothes after you have been working for
a couple hours in extreme conditions. Your clothes absorb the sweat produced by your body thus making your clothes wet. This is not good especially if you are trying to stay warm. Students who are living on campus who have cars should always be sure to move their cars according to the snow emergency routes so that snowplows can plow the roads. Following these tips, we can be ready for Mother Nature when she decides to throw us a curve ball.
Ice scrapers can be relatively cheap so it’s a good idea to buy a couple ahead of time.
Photo courtesy of Zach Grill
By Zach Grill Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Zach Grill
The Wrath of Mother Nature
Snowblowers are the most efficient way to clear your property of snow in the event of a winter storm.
Photo courtesy of Alison DeLia
New Year, New Freshmen at Alvernia
campus news
5
September/October 2017
Vol. 56 Issue 4
Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Ettinger
Worthwhile Internship Opportunities for Alvernia Students (Cont’d Page 1)
Game day interns (from left to right) Maura Brennan, Cheyenne Ettinger, and Xiomara Toledo, pose for a picture with their favorite boss, Mike Robinson.
provide two options for interns: Game day interns, which only work when there are home games, and full timers who work regular office hours as well as the games just like the front office staff. As a game day intern, I learned a lot about how
much goes into preparing for a baseball game. In fact, we already had the summer of 2018’s schedule out by the end of August. Mirco Giangiulio, a senior at Alvernia, had the opportunity to intern at the stadium for credit this
just being there, you learn so much about people skills and how to come out of your comfort zone.” Not only is networking important for finding a job after college, but it helps to build new experiences and learn things about yourself. I was put out of my comfort zone, but learned how to be confident in front of large groups of people. New interests were discovered, as I enjoyed the “behind the scenes” of a baseball game, leading me to minor in business. I would recommend the Reading Fightin Phils to anyone focused on management, sports, or communication. For more information about internships as a communication major, contact Beth DeMeo at marybeth.demeo@alvernia. edu. For information on interning at the Reading Fightans, call the front office at (610) 375-8469.
summer. “It was a great internship, I’m really happy I did it,” Giangiulio said. One of the first jobs I had was assisting birthday parties. This was one of my most memorable jobs, as I was in charge of keeping all parties satisfied by managing my time in between them and my other duties for the day. The interns I worked with also had positive experiences. “The most rewarding part of my internship experience with the Fightin’s was definitely the memories I made and the people I met while doing so,” Maxine Ardelean, a senior at Kutztown University said. Another Kutztown student said her experience working with different people in the organization was rewarding. “I would definitely recommend it to anyone of any major in school.” Xiomara Toledo said. “I’m not a sports or business major, I’m an early education major, but
Cross Country is the middle child of Alvernia when it comes to publicity. While it tends to operate below the radar of many students, this season is looking especially promising. Returning sophomore Tyler Barrett thinks the team has grown since last year. “I feel we are more united this year as a team,” Barrett said. “Yeah, we may not have that one top 10 conference runner, but the gap between our top guys is a lot closer
and will make for a better season.” Both men and women’s teams have lost some valuable runners either due to transfers, graduation, or taking the semester off for other commitments. At the same time, the remaining runners have gotten much faster and the new faces have shown promise. Alvernia’s first 8k invitational occurred Saturday September 9, with the men’s team being led by Matt Junio (28:33), Matt Wacker (29:53), and Nick Sokolovich (31:09).
Nick Sokolovich is a Golden Wolf with Golden Hair at the Dutchman Invitational.
Photo courtesy of Tom Drac Williams
By Nick Sokolovich Contributing Editor
“My goal is to hopefully get under 27 minutes. Zach’s training is great and I’m getting better every day,” junior Matt Junio said. The women’s team raced a 5k led by Alyssa Alberghini (21:20), Meg Hanrahan (23:30), and Alanna Blessington (23:53). The team hopes to finish 8th in the conference this year, better than their 10th place out of 16 finish last year. Eric Bennett coaches the teams, alongside assistant coaches Joe McCool and first year coach Zach Barker. The team meets every day of the week at 6:30 a.m. On average, the men are running over 50 miles a week, with the women running over 35 miles. Runs vary from trails, to parks, to roads, to the track. Each run can combine easy runs, long runs, and workouts. The team does strength and conditioning training lead by head coach, Eric Bennett three days a week. A challenge with every cross country season is training hard while keeping everyone healthy. Unfortunately this year, injury has sidelined three runners with injuries such as stress fractures.
Photo courtesy of Zach Barker
Alvernia Cross Country Running the Show
Alanna Blessington (left) Marissa Bennici (Middle) Alyssa Alberghini (Right) at the Ramapo 5k.
“I’m looking forward to this season. We have the potential to be a real decent team,” assistant coach Zach Barker said. There are 5 races left this season with Middle Atlantic Conference happening on October 28 and the season culminates with the NCAA Mideast Regional meet November 11.
If you are interested in joining, contact Eric Bennett at Eric.Bennett@alvernia.edu.
@VernAthletics
football
6 September/October 2017
Vol. 56 Issue 4
Since the announcement of the football program last October, there has been a lot of excitement and unknowns about the program. Coach Ralph Clark was named Head Football coach as well as defensive coordinator back in January, giving the program an identity. However, new Offensive Coordinator Mike Wood will also have an enduring legacy on the program. Coach Wood is a man that takes great pride in his work, on and off the field. He not only wants his players to succeed during games, but he wants to help them grow into men and prepare them for the real world. Wood tries to instill values of being accountable for your actions, being able to learn from your mistakes and giving 100 percent effort in everything you do, not just football.
By Tim Toney Contributing Writer
the coach that he is today. “Anthony is a guy that I have always been able to bounce ideas off of. I have known him since I worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Wood said. “He offered to help me with learning different schemes on our off days. Being around guys of that stature helps you to grow as a coach. You learn so much from just talking to those guys.” Coach Wood has had experiences coaching in both college and professional football. His most recent collegiate coaching experience was at Millersville where he coached alongside Alvernia Head Coach, Ralph Clark as the Offensive Coordinator. Coach Wood has had a strong relationship with Coach Clark for a long time. “Coach Clark and I have known each other for a while. We met when we faced each other, he coached for North Eastern University and I coached for UMass at the
a roster of over 40 young men from across the north-east region ready to put Alvernia football on the map. The MAC conference is a football powerhouse with teams such as cross-town rival Albright University and nationally ranked Delaware Valley leading the way. In order to compete with these top-notch programs, Alvernia will have to put some talented players out on the field. One of the players that will help build the Alvernia football program is lead running back Todd Turner out of Delaware Military Academy. Turner led Delaware Military Academy to a top 20 ranking throughout the state
and plans on bringing that same success to the Alvernia Golden Wolves. “I want us to strive and get better every day,” Turner said. “I think that we will prosper in the years to come due to our hard work in practice, and we will look great when we actually get to play next season.” Alvernia does not get the chance to suit up against other opponents this year, but the Golden Wolves will participate in two more intrasquad scrimmages on October 28 and November 11. “Although we do not get to face the competition in our conference, we are looking forward to putting on a show for the Alvernia community when we get the chance this year,” Turner said. “We want people to come out and support our scrimmages so that they can see how good we are going to be, then hopefully they will come watch our games next year.” The Alvernia football team practices at 6 a.m. so these scrimmages will be many people’s first opportunity to see these players showcase their talents. “You’ll see a lot of touchdowns and a lot of incredible plays being made,” Turner said.
Headshot of new Offensive Coordinator Mike Wood after he was officially hired on March 3, 2017.
time,” Wood said. “We then both ended up at Millersville, I coached the offense and he coached the defense. It was a no-brainer for me to come here when I was offered the job.” Back in March after Wood’s hiring, Head Coach Ralph Clark spoke about his hiring and what he brings to the Golden Wolves coaching staff. “Mike is a man of great character, values and principles. He has a great mind for the game and a track record of success at the collegiate level.”
Countdown to Kickoff
Photo courtesy of Jon King
Scrimmages are just around the corner as the Alvernia football team holds their second intra-squad scrimmages on October 14. If you haven’t had a chance to go watch the Alvernia Golden Wolves football team yet, this is your opportunity. This fall, Alvernia welcomed in the first football team in University history. The buzz around campus is as high as it’s ever been for a sport. Coach Ralph Clark worked hard all summer to ensure that he was bringing in the best possible recruits for this program. He brings in
An example of Coach Wood helping a student athlete reach his full potential as a man was when he coached at the University of Massachusetts. He coached a tight end, Rob Blanchflower, who was talented but struggled to reach his potential in the classroom and team meetings. Wood recognized that Blanchflower needed to be hands on in the team meetings and walk through the schemes for the week. This adjustment paid huge dividends for him, eventually being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2014 NFL Draft. Wood has developed a lot of connections throughout his coaching career. He likes to bounce ideas off of other coaches to keep on learning and growing as a coach. Wood’s number one resource is Anthony Lynn, who is the Head Coach for the Los Angeles Chargers. Lynn has helped Wood grow into
Golden Wolves team huddling up just following the first practice in program history on September 5, 2017.
Photo courtesy of Jon King
By Justin Herforth Managing Editor
Photo courtesy of Jon King
Coaching Up Golden Wolves Football
“More importantly, Mike has a history of building lasting bonds with student athletes while getting them to perform up to, and in some cases beyond their potential,” Coach Ralph Clark said. With the hiring of Coach Mike Wood, the Golden Wolves football program is getting a veteran coach who has been around lots of different programs in his time around the game. Bringing great character, principles and values to the table is just the tip of the iceberg for Coach Wood.
Head Coach Ralph Clark at his introductory press conference on January 5, 2017.
“We’re extremely talented on both sides of the ball and I know that we will surprise a lot of people on September 30.” Coach Ralph Clark also listed Neeko Scurlock, Jordan Caraballo, Jordan Bowie, Kyle Rowden, Elijah Smith and Cordell Cotto as players to look out for in the upcoming seasons. Each of these players will bring a different dynamic to the football team while also being leaders on and off the field. The football team participates in team study halls throughout the week to
make sure that their grades are in good shape and that they are adjusting to the Alvernia community well. “It’s a small campus so I believe everyone is adjusting well.” Turner said. “You pretty much get to see everyone throughout the day going back and forth from class so we have all made a lot of friends already.” The buzz around the football team continues to grow as scrimmages and real Alvernia football are within sight. The Alvernia community is ready for Saturday afternoon kickoffs!
health September/October 2017
7 Vol. 56 Issue 4
By Juan Palacios Contributing Editor
Photo courtesy of Juan Palacios
Although there is not a specific motive for a rock star to commit suicide, investigations highlight that fame could generate in these people a level of self-conscience that works as a catalyzer to a variety of mental disorders. They are talented and have the admiration of thousands of crowds; probably have millions of dollars and anything that any average citizen would ever be able to desire. So, the question is: why do rock stars commit suicide? That is the question that many fans ask whenever one of their idols decides to cut their lives short and leave this world so soon. The most recent case is the lead singer of the band Linkin Park, Chester Bennington, who hung himself in his house on July 20, 2017. Soundgarden’s lead singer Chris Cornell would have turned 53 years old that day if he would not have committed suicide weeks prior, also by hanging. There are many reasons for which a person could decide to commit suicide, and it also depends on many different and determining factors. For this reason, it is challenging to establish a determining pattern among all rock stars who have ended their lives; however, recent studies have provided more insights into this controversial topic.
Psychologists from the University of Columbia have tried to analyze the behaviors that lead to Nirvana’s vocalist Kurt Cobain to commit suicide. The conclusion was that fame could be the trigger and affect someone in a much more profound way to people who are predisposed to suffer from depression. When an average person listens to their voice in a recording or sees their face from a video, the immediate reaction is “ I look silly,” and all of us can deal with that and move on with our lives. Unfortunately, it is different if the person is famous since the idealization of a rock star goes out of reach due to the high level of self-conscience that these people have about their image. Fame aggravates the mental disorders of “famous people” becoming into a catalyzer for their disorders. In other words, rock stars do not develop mental disorders once they reach fame, but due to fame, these disorders reach new heights. The worst thing that can happen for a rock star who has committed suicide is to see the glorification of their image fitting in the cliché of the “unrecognized musician.” This cliché means that to be talented, the person has to be miserable. Ryan Witman had just bought Linkin Park’s first album three days before Bennington’s death. “It is really unfortunate that Chester did what he did,”
Photo courtesy of Juan Palacios
Music, Drugs and Depression: Why Do Rock Stars Commit Suicide?
A picture from the music studio of the writer (Juan Palacios) where he plays his piano and guitar.
Some pamphlets that our university has to raise awareness about mental disorders and addictions and ways to seek for help.
Witman said. “I don’t think anyone saw it coming. Looking back at the lyrics now, you could tell the depression was there.” It is imperative to understand that depression is a disease and not the ticket to become a celebrity. It is a horrible disorder in the personality that destroys everything like a hurricane when it touches land. Depression is not the person, it is what affects the person, and in many cases when the person feels hopeless, suicide becomes the only way out. Fan of Rock and Roll music, John Stevenson III, wondered if musicians in the genre are more inclined to be depressed. “I believe depression and mental disorders among famous entertainers are overlooked,” he said. “This is mostly because the person who the audience witnesses on stage is the complete antithesis of the person who is in the dressing room after the show is over.” “For entertainers, being on stage is their release and their time to forget all their troubles. Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington are recent examples of this issue.” “Most people cannot understand how an affluent entertainer with a family can commit suicide and leave lives behind. It is because they personally cannot take
the pain of their depression.” “They feel a tremendous burden as well as the notion that they can escape their pain and feeling of hopelessness. However, I personally would like to think there is always an answer other than suicide.” Cobain’s suicide is the most recognized case since Nirvana was at the peak of their career and rock and roll music and fans could see him happy in many pictures with his daughter. However, this is not the only case. Joy Division’s Ian Curtis hanged himself and Sex Pistol’s bass player Sid Vicious died due to an overdose. Other well-documented cases are the Famous 27 Club who has as their members the likes of Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and recently Amy Winehouse. The common factor among all these musicians is that neither one of them was a suicidal rock star formally speaking; on the other hand, the fact that all of them died because of an overdose and knowing that all of them suffered from depression might be a risk factor to a suicidal predisposition. A supporter of both Cornell and Bennington, Steven Best, said, “It is a hit to everybody in the community especially growing up with Chester and Chris.” “The signs were definitely
there, but the problem is that everybody chose not paying attention to them. As a society, it is important to pay attention to each other’s feelings and concerns since we all live in the same world. It is very easy to put on a fake smile, but deep down being in great of pain both mentally and physically. Rock and roll music has been pointed out as the reason that caused the suicide of many of some of their fans. Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest’s music have been targeted due to the content of their lyrics. In both cases, the severity of the allegations had to be settled in court. Osbourne went one step beyond and wrote a song that has been cataloged as a justification for suicide called “Suicide Solution.” On 1984, a Canadian man killed himself while listening to the record which had that song. Can a rock star suffer from depression? Absolutely, and in many cases, the depression has the musician captured in it. They choose to either put that frustration in paper or to turn that against themselves. Nobody teaches people how to deal with pain. While some people learn to channel their suffering into something constructive, others suffer in silence.
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