Alvernian February 2018

February/March 2018

what’s in THIS ISSUE

Volume 57 Issue 1

Underdogs Dethrone the Dynasty Photo Courtesy of Justin Herforth

Justin Herforth Contributing Editor

Lady Wolves Ready to Pounce

The Philadelphia Eagles as Underdogs shock the world as they defeat the New England Patriots 41-33.

Breakfast in Berks

Supplemental Instruction: A Grade Boosting Tool

Alvernia’s Student Debt Dilemma?

Kiersten Ingram Contributing Editor Mady Johnston Managing Editor

Late last year, an article by pennlive.com went viral by listing the top 50 schools in Pennsylvania by highest average student debt.

Alvernia University was listed as #1, though there is debate about the quality of the data Pennlive cited.

According to the Pennlive article, Alvernia enrolls about 3,000 students with the average student debt per borrower being $51,958. The percent of Alvernia graduates with student debt is 84%. Per the Pennlive data, Alvernia nationally ranks fourth in overall student debt.

Although students at Alvernia are aware of how much debt they have or will have, the numbers and article standings took many students by surprise.

“I wasn’t surprised in the instance that private universities are typically higher in tuition, but at the same time Alvernia is a small school so it’s surprising tuition is so high,” Megan Bruno, a sophomore sports management major, said.

What is the university doing to try to help students

with their debt? As it turns out, quite a lot. “[Alvernia University] cares a lot about student loan debt,” Rebecca Finn Kinney, Dean of Admissions and Student Financial Planning, said.

While there are doubts surrounding the recency of and collective contribution of students to the data listed in the Pennlive article, Alvernia’s Office of Student Financial Planning assures students that they care about lessening the burden of student debt.

“The university spent over $6 million in financial aid this

year, more than double what we spent 5 years ago,” Kinney said.

The Financial Planning Office helps students and their families navigate their award options. According to Christine Saadi, Director of Student Financial Planning, “We want to be able to help [students] understand what [their] options are, not just for freshman year but [for every year] because they may change as you go along.”

Students’ first instincts are typically to take out large loans. However, there

Continued on page 5

Photo courtesy of Kiersten Ingram

Full-Time vs Part-Time Coaches: Fair?

For the first time in 57 years, the Philadelphia Eagles are world champions! The Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in one of the most dramatic games in NFL history. The championship is the first for the Eagles in the modern day NFL. The Eagles shocked the world as they have throughout the entire postseason as the team was a four-point underdog. The Eagles have been riding the underdog status since

A student pensively considers their financial aid package in a Alvernia residence hall.

potential MVP, quarterback Carson Wentz, went down with a torn ACL on December 10. It has been the nextman-up mentality for the team all season as numerous key players were lost to injury along the way, like Pro Bowlers Jason Peters and Darren Sproles, as well as important players like special teams’ captain Chris Maragos, and middle linebacker Jordan Hicks.

Polling 150 people before the game, a whopping 76% selected the Eagles to bring home the trophy. Heading into the big game, the vast majority felt confident in the

Continued on page 3

Motivated for Graduation Yashira Onque Contributing Editor You are so close to the end, you could almost taste it. Four years of hard work, sweat, and tears has boiled down to one final semester, so how do you stay motivated?

“Senioritis” can afflict anyone, but how do you avoid giving in to idleness or procrastination? There are plenty of opportunities to help you achieve your goal of getting your degree, starting your career, and help keep you motivated. It also helps to hear from your fellow seniors.

“I didn’t realize what senioritis was until it hit me really hard,” Mady Johnston, a senior communication major, said.

And yet others are not on the same boat. “There’s still a lot to do and there’s still a lot that I want to get done before I leave here, so I’ve never thought that motivation was a problem for me,” Blaise Kabbeko, a senior English Continued on page 3

2

flynn files

February/March 2018

Managing Editor Mady Johnston Layout Andrew Dotter Cheyenne Ettinger Justin Herforth Mady Johnston Section Editors Shannon Bell Andrew Dotter Thomas Godin Justin Herforth Courtney High Kiersten Ingram Spencer Matthews Sam Mirarchi Kieth Noonan Yashira Onque Contributing Writers Jillian Baker Cheyenne Ettinger Ethan Francis Mikayla Pettis Anjelica Riccobono 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.

© 2018 The Alvernian

Holleran Center Celebrates 10 Years It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since the naming of the Holleran Center, following the transformational gift of Carolyn and Jerry Holleran.

Now known as the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement, the Center has evolved to include global as well as local initiatives and many other elements of what I like to call the “Alvernia Advantage,” those special characteristics and opportunities that make our students’ experience distinctive and memorable.

The seeds of the HC were planted years before I announced the launch of a Center for Community Engagement at my inauguration in April 2006.

Alvernia already had a strong tradition of community service, dating back decades to when it had been made a graduation requirement. We had also adopted “To Learn To Love To Serve” as our collegiate motto.

Several faculty were pioneering service learning courses; faculty, staff, alums, and trustees were active in community organizations.

Our Franciscan Sisters had a longstanding commitment to “serve the underserved,” whether children of immigrant families, other first generation students, working women, or professionals seeking education for career advancement.

And most notably, students were volunteering in countless service projects on and beyond the campus.

As former and current trustees, the Hollerans were very familiar with Alvernia’s tradition of service. And they were no strangers to this work: they had established a similar Holleran Center at Connecticut College, Carolyn’s alma mater, a decade earlier.

With community engagement identified as one of Alvernia’ s top priorities in the new strategic plan, the launch of the Holleran Center in 2008 brought enhanced visibility and sharp focus to Alvernia’s many community activities.

The Center has today become the university’s highly visible “front door” for the countless requests for assistance from nonprofit organizations and has led our embrace of the local community as an essential

part of our curriculum, a multifaceted learning laboratory for students and faculty alike.

Over the last decade, it has been in the vanguard of Alvernia’s institutional commitment to civic leadership. When combined with the O’Pake Institute’s community-centered leadership programs, the Holleran Center’s initiatives have ensured Alvernia is consistently recognized as a national model of civic engagement by the Corporation for National & Community Service and the prestigious Carnegie Foundation.

From the launch in 2008 of its first and oldest signature project, the highly acclaimed South Reading Youth Initiative (SRYI) that today works with 110 young people each week, the Center has served hundreds of students of all ages and countless families and community nonprofit organizations.

Several community partners helped make the dream of the SRYI a reality; the late Senator Mike O’Pake and former Congressman Jim Gerlach, secured invaluable bi-partisan financial support.

Some of the middle school students involved in the early years of the SRYI have become Alvernia students.

The first one graduates in May! Here are some of the many programs now sponsored by the Holleran Center: The Reading Collegiate Scholars Program (RCSP) serves hundreds of future college students annually at Reading High School, preparing them for the college of their choice. Each year, ten receive four-year, full-tuition scholarships to become Alvernia Scholars.

Bog Turtle Creek Farm provides affordable fresh vegetables to those in “food deserts.”

The Berks County Nonprofit Round Table gathers nonprofit executives to discuss ways their organizations can better serve people in need.

The Community Service Program coordinates the nearly 40,000 hours that our students contribute annually, including through our unique four university-wide days of service, and promotes innovative service-learning courses each semester in many fields.

Photo courtesy of Carey Manzolillo

t h e alver nian

Vol. 57 Issue 1

Dr. Thomas Flynn, President of Alvernia University

The Ethics and Leadership Lecture Series features distinguished scholars and authors who address issues of contemporary significance for the campus and the community.

The Alvernia Year of Service Program supports the efforts of recent college grads, including Alvernia alumni, who have collectively given 21 years of community service.

The University’s Interfaith Program includes sponsorship of the acclaimed Common Heart Programs and the Fromm Interfaith Award.

The Fromm Award enables students to implement major interfaith projects, such as the Interfaith Prayer and Reflection Room.

The Berks County Foster Grandparent Program provides a stipend to lowincome seniors to volunteer on educational enrichment programs with very young children.

Global study partnerships now offer opportunities in Australia, China, the Dominican Republic, and Ireland as well as numerous options on several continents.

As we celebrate a decade of contributions and anticipate the decade ahead, we salute current director, Jay Worrall, and all our dedicated professional and student staff--past and present--as well as the many faculty, staff, and community leaders who have come together in an impressive collaborative effort.

With its expanded responsibility to coordinate all of Alvernia’s “Real World Learning” opportunities, and to enhance our career planning services and multicultural initiatives, the Holleran Center will become in the years ahead an even more essential focal point for our students’ growth and development and our university’s civic engagement.

We will feature some of our many award-winning students, salute some special friends, and thank the Hollerans at an afternoon program on March 28 at 2 p.m. in the McGlinn Center.

All are welcome, but space is limited. So please contact the Holleran Center, Ext. 1925 or jay.worrall@alvernia. edu, if you are interested in attending.

And in any case, join me in celebrating some of the people and projects that make all of us proud and grateful to be part of the Alvernia community.

Peace and All Good, Tom Flynn

campus news February/March 2018

3 Vol. 57 Issue 1

Underdogs Dethrone the Dynasty (Cont’d) same feeling heading into the big game.

“I had expected the Patriots offense to be very explosive against Philly,” Andrew Cook, senior, said.

“While the Eagles were good all year, this was Tom Brady we were up against, arguably one of the best to ever play the game. That brings skepticism by itself, making

Photo courtesy of Nick Tropiano / Shutterstock.com

Eagles’ ability to prove many people wrong on the biggest stage in sports. The national perspective was still heavily favoring the Patriots. Even some Eagles fans had the

Eagles football team players celebrate Super Bowl LII NFL world championship atop bus during parade down Broad Street.

this a scary matchup.”

In the Big Game, there was the unlikeliest of heroes for the Eagles, backup quarterback and game MVP, Nick Foles. Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns in a stellar performance.

Foles even orchestrated one of the most memorable plays in NFL history now known as the “Philly Special.”

On the play, Foles caught a touchdown pass from backup tight end Trey Burton following a double reverse, which caught everyone on the planet off guard.

“That was one of the greatest plays I’ve ever seen,” Chris Mundell, freshman, said. “I was super nervous before the snap because it could have easily decided the game.”

“When Foles was pretending to audible, and they snapped it to (Corey) Clement, I thought it was a broken play. But when the ball ended up with Foles in

major, said.

It is a good idea to have a schedule and prioritize! “I’m usually pretty busy, so I have to make lists of everything I need to get done, so I use checklists because I like being able to cross things off,” Bernadette Carey, a senior Healthcare Science major, said. Senior students should maintain a good balance between studies, activities, and social tim e so not to exhaust thems elves, as that can worsen the onset of senioritis. Stay motivated by setting goals, attending career events, and networking!

“I have suggested that they remain focused on their goal of graduating and recognize that there is still more work to be done,” Amanda Funk, Academic Learning Specialist, said. “Just because you’ve done well so far doesn’t necessarily mean you can just coast through to the end.” Seniors become worried and anxious trying to figure out what they will do after graduation, but networking plays an important role! “Get to know your professors, your peers, and form relationships with people. You never know what will come

about just through these relationships,” Funk said.

Formulating relationships is what networking is all about, and they may lead to opportunities because your connections have other connections. You might not have a set plan, but trust and have faith that God’s plan will just happen. “[If] people get to know you and know your strengths, they’re going to be more likely to recommend you for things that they think fit your profile,” Funk said.

If you are uncertain about your career and what your next step should be, the Career Development Office is providing details pertaining to a career fair hosted by LVCCE. The event will be on February 28 in the Lehigh Valley area, but Alvernia C.D. is providing a shuttle. Remember to bring your resumes and dress professional!

In addition to the Career Fair hosted by LVCCE, the Career Development Office is hosting a career fair on March 20th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Center private dining room. Make sure to bring your resume and again, dress professional!

The Career Development Office had a trip to the Lehigh

Courtesy of the Office for Career Developement

Motivated for Graduation (Cont’d)

the end zone I screamed at the top of my lungs and ran around my living room. It was an incredible moment.”

With 2:21 remaining in the game, the Eagles led 38-33, when five-time champion Tom Brady came onto the field. Many viewers thought he would make yet another drive to win his 6th championship in his illustrious career.

The tides were favoring the Patriots until Eagles’ defensive end Brandon Graham made the biggest play of the game forcing a fumble that would all but seal the championship for the Eagles.

“When they won, it was the best feeling in the world,” Ray Miller, senior, said. “Just knowing that the Eagles were finally world champions after all of the heartbreak this fanbase has endured over the years was amazing. It was all like a dream.”

The underdog mentality drove the team to its first championship in 57 years.

Career Fair hosted by Alvernia’s Career Development Office, BH 103. Do not miss out on the opportunity to connect with employers and prepare for your career upon graduation!

Valley Mall on February 11. The event was hosted

by J.C. Penny for college students to shop for business attire, at discounted rates, receive a Sephora makeover, and interact with college students from places such as Kutztown University, Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Lafayette College, Northampton Community College, and Albright.

“I enjoyed [the event]. It was pretty much just like shopping on our own, but people were there to help

you, to let you know, I guess, how to dress,” Lucy Orozco, a junior Healthcare Science major, said. “The [discount] was 40%, but some of the stuff already had a discount, so I saved a lot of money.”

For any career counseling or advice, you can schedule an appointment with the Director of the Career Development office, Megan Adukaitis.

Stop by the Career Development Office at BH 103 for any upcoming events and set up an appointment to

have your resume reviewed!

Seniors, there are opportunities and resources available to you. Make sure to take advantage of them and do not be discouraged!

Career Development is here to assist you with all your career-related needs!

health

4 February/March 2018

Vol. 57 Issue 1

Balancing Life and Health

Courtesy of Cheyenne Ettinger

Balancing a healthy life style with college can be challenging. Deadlines, exams, and everything in between can make it difficult to find time to eat a healthy meal and go to the gym.

So how does one find the time to make healthy choices?

As a full time student, with

Eggs are a great source of protein and the perfect way to regain strength after a workout.

a part-time job, as well as an internship, most of my days are spent in class or at work, making it difficult to have time to cook healthy meals every day and go to the gym.

I decided that I didn’t want to constantly eat junk food anymore. I also wanted to save money, rather than spending it on foods that weren’t benefiting my body.

Meal prepping and working out became my main way of staying healthy. Since I am vegetarian, eating plain vegetables everyday became tiring. I discovered healthy, cheap, and easy meals to make at home, that were also very flavorful, on Pinterest.

The best way to meal prep is to buy containers with separate sections. These can be found at places such as Target or Walmart. Each section is portioned so that it is easier to decide how much of a food is needed, making it easier to eat the right amount, rather than too little or too much.

My favorite meal prep food is brown rice mixed with black beans and various veggies. For a side, I usually boil fresh broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Other meals include stir-fry, whole wheat pasta, eggs, avocado toast, and smoothies.

For those who enjoy meat, chicken is the best source of protein. Brown rice mixed with a small portion of chicken and a side of veggies will not only benefit the body, but taste great. For extra taste, I like to add hot sauce or cracked pepper.

“I’m not a huge fan of vegetables, but I love fruit, so I eat fruit every day,” Kirsten Miller, Junior OT major, said.

“I also try to cut down eating fast food to once a week and I go to the gym as often as my schedule allows.”

It is important to keep your body fed throughout the day, rather than not eating.

Snacking between meals is a great way to provide your body with energy. It also

keeps your body from craving extra food during meals so that over eating doesn’t occur.

The best snacks are fruits, vegetables, popcorn, yogurt, hummus, and much more.

“My favorite healthy snack is quinoa sticks,” Nicolette Johnson, sophomore OT major, said.

Working out also plays a big role in remaining healthy, but that too can become stressful to balance with school. Separating time for the gym can become easy once a routine is developed.

“I continue to go to the gym and eat clean because want to take care of my body,” McKenna Achenbach, Marketing major, said. “It feels good taking care of my body. It becomes a habit after a while. The gym is a community. I met some great people from working out at my gym, like-minded people who are passionate about being a better version of themselves. Why wouldn’t I want to be surrounded by

that? I don’t want to wait and start being healthy when I’m older and have no choice. I want to start now so I don’t have to worry about making a huge lifestyle change when it isn’t convenient.”

If the gym isn’t your thing, there are hundreds of at home workouts to do in the comfort of your own place.

YouTube and other social media platforms are filled with health pages that will teach the workouts.

Though eating right and working out are beneficial, it is okay to have a cheat day every now and then as well as days off to let your body rest.

Make sure your body is being replenished with plenty of water during a workout and throughout the day.

Do what works for you and don’t stress it to the point that it feels like a chore.

Working out and eating right should be enjoyable, not miserable!

is that companies don’t have to call it HFCS anymore. The FDA says they can list it as “natural sweetener” in their ingredient labels.

Draxe.com explains how some people think HFCS is a natural sugar since it does indeed come from a vegetable. However, some argue that there’s so much processing done to the corn to alter it into corn syrup that it’s nowhere close to natural.

“It’s odd that the change has happened at the same time we made the sugar change. How we’re being more honest when it comes to how much sugar is in something, but we’re being less honest with corn syrup,” Dr. Corey Harris, associate professor of theology, said.

Some students were surprised by the FDA’s choice in being dishonest. “I knew they were starting to label some things as natural sweeteners but I didn’t know they were replacing HFCS with that. That’s so interesting,” Victoria Noone, sophomore, said.

While other students were not surprised by this information. “I didn’t know that but I’m not surprised because the FDA has a bunch of loopholes,” Daniel

Campion, junior, said.

Wanda Copeland, director of multicultural cultural engagement, was saddened by this news. “I think it’s sad because some of the labels are confusing in itself to read. They should be more specific,” Copeland said.

There are many HFCS dangers, Draxe.com lists a few: Cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, as well as leading to things like fatty liver disease.

An article on Thekitchn. com explains how HFCS and corn syrup are not the same thing. Both products are made from cornstarch, but regular corn syrup is 100 percent glucose, while HFCS has had some of its glucose converted to fructose enzymatically. Since regular corn syrup does not contain fructose, it is not under the microscope.

Draxe.com states that brown sugar has some nutritional value. Molasses is added to brown sugar, and it contains calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium. By contrast, our bodies get no benefit from white sugar and HFCS. There are ways to avoid HFCS. One way to avoid HFCS is to read labels, make sure

the product says “no high fructose corn syrup” and also that the ingredients do not list “natural sweetener”.

The best way to avoid HFCS is to make your own food. Some sweetener alternatives Draxe.com shares are: stevia, raw honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, and

banana puree.

Know What You Consume Courtney High Contributing Writer What is High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), and why is it unhealthy? HFCS is a sweetener derived from corn starch. Corn starch gets processed to convert some of its glucose into fructose.

According to Draxe.com, HFCS has a few things in common with sugar. Both sugar and HFCS begin out in the field; Sugar as sugarcane or the sugar beet, and high fructose corn syrup as corn.

HFCS even has a similar flavor to sugar, but it’s sweeter and cheaper. It is no surprise companies love to put HFCS in their products because it costs them less and appeals to consumers.

Many people know HFCS to be in a variety of processed foods, but it can end up in many things people don’t expect such as salad dressing, ketchup, yogurt, and even bread.

Katryn Durenleau, junior, was surprised to see HFCS turn up in bread. “That’s really disturbing,” Durenleau said. “I read labels a lot. I look for whole grain bread rather than enriched wheat. That’s misleading.”

The disappointing thing

Courtesy of Courtney High

Cheyenne Ettinger Contributing Editor

Annie’s Fruit Snacks are an example of brand that does not use High Fructose Corn Syrup

issues

5

February/March 2018

Vol. 57 Issue 1

are many financial aid opportunities still available that students may not think about.

Students, both new and returning, are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. Doing so will help students determine what aid they are eligible for during each academic year, as well as their merit-based and needbased aid options.

Many emails are sent out to students informing them of scholarship opportunities that they should apply for.

Jordan Perry, sophomore, recently received a $2,000 scholarship for being a female accounting major that she learned about via email.

“I was really happy I got it,” Perry said. “I think there’s a lot of scholarship opportunities as it is, but there should be more specific emails sent out tailored to people who are more qualified for it like mine was, so that students feel better

about their chances of getting it.”

Another option for students to pay tuition is through work-study opportunities. There are between 400 and 450 students in work study positions on campus. The Office of Student Financial planning promotes outside scholarship opportunities as well.

Along with awards, Alvernia offers several payment plan options for students to lighten the month-to-month financial burden.

However, it is important for students to remember that they are in control of their financial futures.

“We’re not certified financial planners,” Saadi said. “We don’t want to tell a family or individual what may be in their best interest based upon their situation.

When they start to ask those questions, we really recommend that they seek

outside guidance to learn the tax implications and things like that.”

Along with how to pay tuition, students’ other concern is how their tuition is used in campus operations.

In 2017, Alvernia’s budget was composed of 80% student tuition and 20% donations and grants. Of that 80%, 55-60% is put towards faculty and staff payment and health coverage.

The remaining funds from tuition are put toward campus sustainment and operations.

Tuition is never put into expansion or renovation projects. Such funding comes from federal and private grants, as well as capital gains on the university’s investments and donations from community members.

Ethan Francis Contributing Writer

On the other hand, many people argued that repealing net neutrality could affect issues regarding free speech and freedom of press down the line if major companies are able to throttle access speeds for favored content.

Leading the charge in the fight against a net neutrality repeal is the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit organization that has been around since the Stone Age of the internet in 1990.

The EFF states that they believe internet providers must treat all data shared over the web equally, and that we must protect this belief so the future of the open internet is safe.

On December 14, 2017, the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality despite numerous protests and much backlash online. Twitter acted as a major proponent in the fight against repealing net neutrality, spreading the word to people not normally engaged in internet governance like college students.

“I’m against repealing net neutrality because the internet should be free, and I don’t want to have to pay a bill every month to use

everyday services like social media,” Vincent Pinto, senior, said.

What most students don’t realize is that repealing net neutrality could also drastically affect the university.

Numerous complaints were filed to the FCC against a repeal by organizations like The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

These organizations are taking it upon themselves to inform and educate college students on the possible negative consequences of the net neutrality repeal.

As campuses nationwide transition and become more and more paperless, it is imperative that each campus has fast and free internet.

With the repeal, colleges may be de-prioritized by internet service providers in favor of more lucrative customers.

Students could eventually see a rise in tuition costs if internet providers start charging for various services, or worse, students could have slowed-down internet speeds for websites that are necessary to their learning.

Courtesy of Mady Johnston

Alvernia’s Student Debt Dilemma? (cont’d)

No, the PLEX is not being paid for by your tuition dollars.

What You Need to Know About Net Neutrality Net neutrality has been one of the hottest topics in the news for a couple of months now, but what exactly is net neutrality and how does it affect us as students?

Net neutrality prevents internet providers from regulating and adjusting what kind of content their viewers can see, essentially keeping the internet an equal playing field.

Some major internet providers, i.e. Verizon, pushed to repeal net neutrality, citing it could be beneficial to the user because revenue gained from this could mean cheaper data plans, or faster internet speeds if consumers would be willing to pay a premium.

In a 2014 lawsuit, Verizon challenged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow them to make deals with websites in order to provide internet users with another faster option for accessing the internet.

This option became known as “fast lanes,” which is an idea that could ultimately benefit people, but requires a lot of trust in these providers that they will have the consumer in mind.

Although the repeal of net neutrality may not seem like an issue now, it will be in the future.

sports

6 February/March 2018

Vol. 57 Issue 1

Lady Wolves Ready to Pounce With the spring sports season rapidly approaching, the Alvernia women’s golf team is looking forward to being a competitive force in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

The team had a very impressive fall season by finishing in the top 3 in every single event they participated in, including two wins in eight tournaments.

Key returners for the Lady Wolves are junior Emily Gilbert, junior Jordan Kissner and senior Cayla McCarty.

Along with the talented trio include a pair of first year students, Briana Hocker and Faith Hughes, who will round out a very strong wolf pack.

Last season, the Lady Wolves finished third in the conference behind Eastern and Stevenson. However, Emily Gilbert and Cayla McCarty both earned AllConference honors, posting a

two-day total of 161 and 187, respectively.

The 161 that Gilbert posted was good enough to earn her Middle Atlantic Conference Player of the Year honors, handedly winning the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship by 18 strokes.

“Emily absolutely ran the table in April, earning three straight MAC Golfer of the Week honors,” Alvernia head coach Tom O’Connell said.

“The big prize was the going after the Player of the Year Award and medalist awards at the Conference Championship at Hershey.

Emily has a strong history at Hershey East playing some big AJGA events prior to college. She’s very comfortable there and this weekend put on autopilot.”

After day one, Gilbert opened an eight-stroke lead over Stevenson’s Morgan Wirtz and never looked back.

“She just left the field behind,” O’Connell said. “She

was in the zone. She kept the ball in play and in good positions to score the entire tournament. She left the field behind early in the final round and gained more separation with each hole which made the difficult home holes a stress-free experience.”

Gilbert and the gang are looking forward to improve on their third place finish.

“This season is all about the grind, embracing the grind, and learning together, as a team,” Emily Gilbert said.

“We have great expectations for this upcoming spring. Stevenson will probably be our toughest competition, but we’re confident the work put in by everyone this season will be enough to compete for a team championship.”

The Lady Wolves kick off their season on March 20, taking on Jefferson University at the Ace Club in Philadelphia. A majority of their schedule has them

squaring off against Division II teams, so they will face high level competition before the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships April 21 and 22 at Hershey Country Club.

Keep up with the Lady Wolves this spring on Twitter at @AU_womens_golf.

Photo courtesy of Jon King

Tommy Godin Contributing Editor

Pictured left to right: Middle Atlantic Conference Commissioner Ken Andrews, Emily Gilbert and Head Coach Tom O’Connell presenting Gilbert with MAC POTY Honors

Courtesy of Spencer Matthews

Jon Keller: From Coach to Role Model

Keller overseeing a 6 on 6 drill during practice.

Spencer Matthews Contributing Editor Many things have changed for the Alvernia men’s volleyball team, but one thing has remained constant: Hard work and dedication from the coaching staff.

Assistant Coach Jon Keller is a lanky 6’6” hitter, but strikes many off the court as a rather quiet person. On the court, Keller’s coaching style is blunt but patient, though not infinitely so. Keller has metaphorically ripped the roof off the PEC from

bellowing in frustration on occasion. At the same time, Keller has also earned the loyalty of his team from his determined approach.

For Keller, choosing Alvernia to coach at was an easy decision. “Alvernia presented me with a great opportunity to coach college volleyball in my hometown.

I’m happy I chose to do so.”

Keller started his athletic career with the long jump and high jump in middle school. It was only from the prodding of a close friend that he ended up playing volleyball.

“It was my freshman year in high school when one of my best friends made me come to open gyms instead of track,” Keller said, mentioning he was drawn to volleyball by its athleticism. “You have to be a total athlete to play volleyball. It’s detailoriented.”

Naturally, it helped that Keller looms over many people. “Volleyball is a tall person’s sport,” Keller said.

Keller later got into coaching through his interest in mastering the game, as well as helping younger players on their journeys in life. “I was always a student of the game,” he said. “I like relaying things I learn to younger guys. Coaching is more than volleyball. It’s about helping you guys grow as gentlemen as well.”

Adaptability is something Keller stresses upon himself as a coach and on his players.

Being able to adapt his coaching style to cater to each of his player’s individual needs is paramount for Keller.

First year Outside Hitter Logan McGinley, on Keller: “I think he’s a great coach. He’s not afraid to tell you when you’re wrong. He’s not afraid to put you in your place.” To McGinley, Keller has changed

very much since they first met. “He was very quiet and soft-spoken. [But now] He’s a friend. He’s funny, and you can joke around with him.”

McGinley knows all too well what happens when the team fails to adapt. “It makes him angry when we don’t adapt to certain scenarios.”

Keller is an advocate for volleyball. While the sport is new to Alvernia, he believes the passion in its play will win over the Golden Wolves.

“It’s an exciting sport,” he said. “There’s high energy in the gym during volleyball matches. The power and pace of the game get overlooked, and it’s fun to watch.”

Keller thinks the Golden Wolves will find victory through his focus on teambuilding. While the early days of the team have had some

struggle, he feels the hard work early on is paying off.

“We had a lot of turnover in players...new recruits,” he said. “This year we’re able to compete at a higher level from practice all the way through matches.

Coachability has increased.

My coaching style can go to the next level.”

Keller’s ambitions are no less than a MAC championship and a national ranking, but he also wants to keep the mission of the university front and center. “[I want my players] to continue to grow as young men, to set goals and attain them.”

The Alvernia men’s volleyball team has multiple home matches throughout the next few months.

“When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.”

Paul Brown

sports

7

February/March 2018

Vol. 57 Issue 1

Pressing Questions About New Press Box Change became a theme for Alvernia University in 2017. The university made several important decisions that remain hot topics for students every day. Alvernia added a football team, broke ground on the PLEX, and also added a new press box for the turf field.

The multipurpose and multi floor press building is a major change to the dynamic for many people, especially the employees that work for various sports teams.

The press box provides new camera angles that coaches and video production workers could not previously get, as well as allowing visiting media a comfortable place to work.

The new press building even has an area to eat and enjoy games, while also enjoying multiple televisions and a bar area accompanied by a fridge.

How will this new building be used? Hopes are high for a variety of proposed functions.

The Vern Sports Network (VSN) is excited about the possibilities for covering home games.

Jason Bochnowicz, a producer on VSN, is excited for a chance not to get rained on. “I think it will be a great opportunity for us to go live from a space like that,” Bochnowicz said.

“Sometimes it’s really difficult to broadcast because of weather and many other factors, but now we have an indoor area so I think it will be great for us.”

Jon King, Alvernia’s Sports Information Director, had some insight on how the press box will be used, and how it already has been put to good use for the university’s faculty.

King said the construction has continued on the press box and the surrounding areas as recent as two weeks ago. The project was

supposed to be done by the fall season of athletics.

“They lost 28 days during the summer due to the weather, which set them back,” King said.

There are two large areas in the building, on one side, is the press area, and on the other, is what King referred to as “the Presidential suite.”

The suite is capable of fitting 30 people comfortably, and provides “flexibility of space.”

In terms of early use of the box, people have already been shown and given a nice sneak peek before they all converse there for football contests.

“The suite has actually already been used for entertainment, during the Albright basketball game we had people down there at halftime, so it’s a great way to entertain people,” King said.

As far as the other side, the press area, King thinks there are other great opportunities for the University there as well. “We have the chance, at least locally, to have WFMZ

your coach is more accessible during the day and allows for more flexibility with when those teams can practice,” Mackenzie Quinn, women’s lacrosse, said. Sheila Cook is the Head Women’s Basketball coach, as well as our Fitness Center Coordinator.

“For me personally being full-time means that I am able to dedicate myself to my team and my players 100%.

This team is my sole focus all year round, which I think is a huge benefit,” Sheila Cook, Head Women’s Basketball coach and Fitness Center Coordinator, said.

“It also allows me to run practice whenever makes sense for my players, rather than based around my work schedule. Sometimes we practice at three in the afternoon, other times it’s at eight at night.”

Another perk that full-time employee coaches receive is the ability to make early bus times for away competitions.

This has been seen to be a pressing issue with part-time coaches who are unable to get out of their full-time job to come get on the bus.

Overall, having a full-time coach benefits the players in many ways. “I think it absolutely is more convenient

for teams with full-time coaches,” Nathan Sides, baseball player, said. “A coach isn’t just there to make you a better player, but a better person too. Having that coach available at all times makes that much better,” Sides said.

“In my situation, I am lucky because I have Coach Lutz who helps his players become both better people and players.”

Although the Athletic Department makes great strides to help the few part-time coaches Alvernia does have, they cannot fix all problems that arise with part time coaches. Coaching is a job for them, but most part-time coaches have other responsi-bilities to address during the working day.

Part-time coaches are usually unable to get out of work to meet recruits, which could make a poor first impression of the school and program. Depending on their full-time jobs, some coaches are unreachable during the day, so communication suffers.

“If I need to ask my coach a question, she’s not located on campus that I can stop by her office to get an immediate answer from her,” Kristen Sipling, women’s volleyball,

and other stations to cover our sports from that box,” King said.

“It provides us space where the visitors can bring people to cover the games, and it also provides an opportunity for us to put a putting green in, and also a cool meeting place for faculty.”

There are obviously a lot that went into the planning,

construction, and thoughts on how to use this space, and it will certainly be interesting who will be in the press box for the inaugural football game.

The press box will certainly be a great way to entertain guests, and is great for faculty and staff who work the games on a consistent basis.

Photo courtesy of Keith Noonan

Keith Noonan Contributing Editor

The interior of the Press Box

Full-Time vs. Part-Time: Is This Fair?

The US Women’s National Soccer team’s “Equal Pay for Equal Play” campaign after their World Cup victory in 2015 saw a renewed interest in gender equality in sports. Is Alvernia part of the solution, or part of the problem?

Many Alvernia sports teams have full-time coaches, while some have parttime coaches. Whether or not a team has a full-time coach affects the entire player experience starting from being recruited until graduating from the sport.

“I believe having a fulltime coach benefits the student-athletes because

Coach Christopher Wilson embraces senior Madelyn Harris on Senior Night for women’s soccer.

Photo courtesy of Alvernia Athletic Department

Jillian Baker Contributing Writer

said. “Plus, sometimes she does not or is not able to answer her email or text messages right away, so I wouldn’t get a response in a timely manner.”

A lot of part-time coaches rely on their captains to maintain a functioning and cohesive team. One of these responsibilities includes assisting when recruits are on campus. Some studentathletes believe that the amount and quality of the players coming into the program are based on the amount of time their coach can dedicate to recruiting.

Full-time coaches can devote more time than part-time coaches can.

“It takes a lot of teamwork in order for our program to function and succeed,” Kelly Nicodemus, Head Women’s Volleyball coach, said. “I am not on campus a majority of the time. I rely heavily on my captains and the players themselves to meet with recruits or to organize prepractice duties. I also rely on the athletic department to take conference calls, vote for the appropriate issues during meetings, and to be a liaison for me. The athletic department atAlvernia is so

quick to help me when I ask and to be flexible with my schedule.”

The football team has fulltime coaches, which causes some people to question why other coaches didn’t get the opportunity to become fulltime.

“I do not think that it is necessarily fair that almost all other teams on campus are staffed with full-time coaches, especially new teams when there are still some preexisting teams that do not have full-time staff,” Anne Rose, women’s soccer, said.

Along with staffing differences, not all sports at Alvernia receive the same perks. For most teams, if your sport’s season is in that semester, you are eligible to register the night before all other students in your class. Early registration is not available for the dance and cheer teams.

All in all, we need to take a step back and look at Alvernia Athletics. We need to ask ourselves, is it fair that some coaches have advantages over others? Are these differences fair and equal?

8

local

February/March 2018

Vol. 57 Issue 1

Breakfast in Berks Since childhood, we have been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Luckily for Alvernia students, there are great places to eat that are only a few miles from campus.

If you are tired of cafeteria breakfast, here are two great places to enjoy your first meal of the day.

The Tomcat Café is a hidden treasure on the always-busy Penn Avenue.

It is about six miles from campus and is the best place to go for an excellent breakfast or early lunch.

The Rock & Roll theme is carried throughout the café, from the pictures of Elvis on the walls to the menu in which all dishes are named after famous rock songs.

Not only is the atmosphere fun, but the menu is something to experience. The Tomcat’s menu is easily five pages long, and every entree

is the owner/chef’s creation.

If you are in the mood for something sweet, there are over thirty different kinds of French toast, from Oreo cheesecake filled to chocolate ganache.

If you are craving a more savory fare, the sandwiches, omelets and bread bowls are flavorful. The Flyin’ Hawaiian omelet is filled with Jamaican Jerk ham, bell peppers, cheddar jack, and pineapple.

Many of the dishes on the Tomcat’s menu include flavors that one may not think go together, but often customers are pleasantly surprised at the combination of spices and sauces.

Although the price is on the higher side for breakfast, their portion sizes are large, guaranteeing leftovers. Also sharing a dish is never a bad idea at The Tomcat Café, especially if you are getting one of the pancake towers which spill over the plate.

Because of its popularity, the Tomcat is always busy

so be prepared to wait, especially if it is a Saturday.

The Tomcat is recommended to those seeking a great breakfast or lunch and enjoy trying new things!

Another breakfast gem is Benchwarmers Coffee and Doughnuts, located at 400 Penn Avenue.

This coffee shop is only three miles from Alvernia and is the perfect spot to meet up with friends or to study. Although small on the inside, Benchwarmers has a cozy, rustic feel that makes customers feel welcomed.

Benchwarmers is great for quick bite or to relax and stay awhile.

Benchwarmers’ menu is an array of breakfast sandwiches and coffee, but it is best known for its doughnuts.

You can try one of their creations or customize your own large doughnut for only two dollars.

One of their “fan favorites” is “You’re Kill’n Me Smalls” which is a s’mores doughnut

topped with roasted marsh mellow and graham cracker. These freshly made pastries pair well with a cup Benchwarmers coffee.

are looking for!

Founded in 1983, GBFB was started by a local group of religious leaders. “[The religious leaders] saw a need for food because there were so many people suffering from food insecurity,” Liza Gallen, Marking and Development Assistant of GBFB, said.

Although there were only 12 members by the end of the first year, GBFB was able to distribute 500,000 pounds of food.

Two years later, GBFB relocated to Neversink Street in Reading, Pennsylvania, and the amount of food distributed surpassed one million pounds.

In 1990, GBFB had expanded to contain 45 member agencies and these agencies provided 125,000 emergency food assistance bags and meals to people in need.

By 1996, GBFB’s annual food distribution hit two million pounds. To keep up with the increasing amount of food that is donated each year, GBFB purchased and renovated a larger facility in Spring Township, Pennsylvania in 2014.

In 2015, shelters received 1,063,000 meals and snacks and soup kitchens received 551,000 meals and snacks.

In 1997, GBFB started the Kids Cafe after-school meal program in Reading.

The program is targeted toward at-risk youths and has served more than 1.3 million meals. Then in 2004, the Weekender Backpack Program was piloted at two sites with the goal of sending more than 1,300 low-income elementary school children home on Fridays with a backpack full of food.

The Produce 4 Kids program was started in 2010. Every school year, more than 25,000 bags filled with fruits, vegetables, and dairy are distributed to elementary students in the Reading area.

The food bank does not just help school children, however. Over 1,300 lowincome senior citizens receive a monthly food tote from GBFB. This year, GBFB has more than 300 food programs and has served over seven million pounds of food to more than 110,000 people in need.

All of this hard work has been made possible with help from volunteers. “Last year alone, we had 1,300 volunteers that completed over 13,000 hours of work.

Without them, it would be impossible to feed the amount of people that need food in our community,” Liza Gallen said.

Volunteers that work with GBFB assist by packing foods in one of their warehouses.

This may include repacking food drive donations, packing monthly senior citizen food totes, distributing the weekly Produce 4 Kids bags, prepping newsletters for mailing, and much more.

Donating to GBFB is

It is always busy at Benchwarmers Coffee and Doughnuts, but never hard to find a cozy table inside or outside on warmer days.

Photo courtesy of Mikayla Pettis

Mikayla Pettis Contributing Writer

Tomcat Café’s “Grandpa Joe” French toast

Volunteer to End Hunger in your Community

Shannon Bell Contributing Editor

Courtesy of The Greater Berks Food Bank Facebook page

Are you searching for a volunteer opportunity so you can fulfill Alvernia’s community service requirement? Do you want to help your local community even though you have already completed your service hours?

If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, the Greater Berks Food Bank (GBFB) is just the place you

Whether you are a student, a family, or a retiree, GBFB accepts volunteers of all ages.

another way to help the community if you still want to help, but are unable to volunteer at the warehouse.

“We have grocery stores that will donate foods that they will sell as long as it meets our expiration requirement, every week a schedule is made up were our trucks and truck drivers will go out to Walmart, to Giant, to different grocery stores and pick up their donations because they always have donations which we’re really thankful for,” Gallen said.

Even individuals can donate food at a food drive or donate money which is used to purchase additional food items.

“Our food bank is really special because we all are striving to meet that goal to end hunger because it is such an issue in our community,” Gallen said.

If you would like more information on donating you can call (610) 926-5802 ext.

212, if you want to volunteer with the GBFB or want more information on volunteering, you can go to their website at http://berksfoodbank.org/ volunteer/.

media February/March 2018

9 Vol. 57 Issue 1

Sam Mirarchi Contributing Editor Have you ever needed to make and print a poster for a class and had no idea where to start? Have you ever needed to make a podcast or video, or just wanted to learn more about technology? The Alvernia University Media Suite has you covered!

The Media Suite is located on the ground floor of Bernardine Hall Room 023, with its door tucked back next to the elevator.

Inside is an array of technologies and services that students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity can use for educational purposes.

And if you want to get into video production, the Media Suite has you covered!

Members of the Alvernia community can check out video cameras, microphone kits, and lights for free.

If you need help using the technology, the workers in the suite can help you learn

how to get started.

Also available is a green screen video room that anyone can use for more complex video compositing.

Once you have your video recorded, you can use the Adobe Creative Suite to polish your presentations. If your video needs a voice over or you have to make a podcast for class, the Media Suite also has a sound dampening audio room.

“In the past, we had individuals come in and record music covers for their YouTube channels,” Graduate Assistant Erik Sandbakken said. “We also have a piano in there!”

The Media Suite also can help students do photo editing or poster creation.

Photoshop will allow you to change and alter your image any way you would like.

Lightroom is a nice for when you want to do some simple color correction and filters over the image.

If you want to make a fresh

poster or promotional flyer, the suite has Illustrator and InDesign. Illustrator lets you create a poster and resize it to any size without losing clarity! InDesign enables you to create formatted documents with ease such as pamphlets, newspapers, magazines, and more!

Regardless of what program or need you have, the Media Suite is here to assist you. The staff is trained on a variety of programs that they offer, and when they do not have the skill required to help you, they provide free training through Lynda.com.

The Media Suite is open this semester Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and now Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for all of your media-related needs!

To get in contact with the Media Suite, call 610-7902955 or email mediacenter@ alvernia.edu.

Photos courtesy of Sam Mirarchi

Having Multimedia Issues? There’s A Place For That.

Top: Audio Recording Room in the Media Suite Bottom: Video recording equipment in the Green Screen Room

classes

10 February/March 2018

Vol. 57 Issue 1

Supplemental Instruction: A Grade Boosting Tool Anjelica Riccobono Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Haley Solan

“Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II,” also known as BIO 107 and BIO 108, are courses that alarm many new health science students. Fortunately, Alvernia offers a unique program geared to help students grasp the content of the challenging courses.

Alvernia offers a Supplemental Instruction (SI) program, which is a peer-run study group that allows a student who has succeeded in the anatomy course before

to help current students with study sessions. The SI leader uses the class content in creative and engaging ways to appeal to students with assorted learning styles.

Each instructor who teaches A&P has an SI leader assigned to them who has been trained in-depth on becoming an SI leader. These leaders learn how to design highly interactive lesson plans and help facilitate the course material. The SI sessions are run for one hour twice a week, and when an exam is approaching, there are “marathon sessions” that

Students of Dr. Recktenwald’s BIO 108 class studying for an upcoming exam.

can run two hours.

The SI leaders work with Megan King, the Academic Learning Specialist for Alvernia University’s Academic Success Center. King observes and provides constructive feedback to SI leaders to help them improve their content mastery.

King takes pride in the success of the SI program.

“There is true learning going on in a safe and comfortable environment,” King said.

In 2014, Megan King went to the University of Missouri, Kansas City to be trained on the SI model to bring the SI program to Alvernia. The first SI program started in Spring of 2014. Since 2014, Supplemental Instruction has been taught for chemistry, anatomy, and math. This semester, the SI program has expanded to run sessions at the Reading School of Health Sciences. The Reading School of Health Science program is currently offering SI for

Microbiology.

Most SI sessions involve reviewing the course material that has been taught and then creating an interactive way to help students learn it better.

“I love to observe the SI sessions because it is great to see the creative ways the SI leaders bring out the content to create student engagement,” King said.

Kaitlin Didinger, a junior nursing major, was an SI leader for two semesters, and now takes on the role of the SI mentor.

“The best part about being an SI leader was forming connections with the students in the class I was leading.

When I transferred my role to become an SI mentor, I now can aid the current leaders and help them facilitate the same connections with their students,” Didinger said.

Supplemental Instruction benefits the students, but benefits those leading the sessions. SI also provides benefits such as leadership

skills for the SI leaders.

Haley Solan, a junior occupational therapy major, is currently an SI leader for Anatomy and Physiology II. “SI has increased my leadership skills immensely through the connection with the professors, other SI leaders, and the students attending SI. SI helps me work on time management skills as well as being a better communicator which both aid in becoming a better leader,” Solan said.

Solan said the best part of the SI program in her opinion is, “The students are helping each other learn, whereas the SI leaders are just facilitating their learning and not reaching them.”

Supplemental Instruction sessions are being run for Anatomy and Physiology I and II this semester. For more information on when the sessions are being run, stop by the Academic Success Center.

FRANCO LIBRARY Research Help

Group Study Rooms

Provide excellent study space for both individual and group work

Make research easier by supplying advice and help through librarians and online resources created specifically for your needs Library Hours Mon–Thurs: 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Phone: 610-796-8223 Research: 610-796-5517

movies

11

February/March 2018

Vol. 57 Issue 1

A Truly Marvel-ous Year Ever since Iron Man rocketed onto movie screens all the way back in 2008, Marvel superhero movies have become commonplace in the film industry. Each year a slew of comic book characters, whether they be fan favorites like Captain America or the ambiguous Guardians of the Galaxy, delight millions of filmgoers all over the world. Now a decade into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 2018 looks to be the most promising year yet.

Hot off the heels of the success of 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok and Spider-Man: Homecoming, Marvel’s 2018 lineup is already off to a roaring start with only the first movie. February 16 saw the release of Black Panther, the standalone movie of the comic character of the same name. The Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman, first appeared in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. The film follows T’Challa (Boseman) as he returns to his home of Wakanda to take his place as king of the most technologically advanced nation on Earth. The African nation of Wakanda is famous for its durable metal Vibranium, which is incorporated into the Black Panther’s suit and also serves as the primary weapon for a certain patriotic Captain.

Black Panther definitely has the potential to be one of the most unique films Marvel has ever produced.

“Obviously you’ve never seen a movie like this before, so it’s just cool,” star Chadwick Boseman said.

“For me every project has to be something that’s challenging and cool and that’s a challenge for me. It keeps me interested. So that’s all that really matters. This is definitely one of them.”

The movie’s villain takes the form of Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, who is trying to overthrow T’Challa and become ruler of Wakanda. But to get to the new king, he’ll have to get through the Dora Milaje, the king’s elite female bodyguard team led by Okoye (Danai Gurira).

Also ready to help the newly instated ruler are his scene-stealing 16-year-old

genius sister Shuri, played byLetitia Wright, and old flame Nakia, played by Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o. The film also features Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Winston Duke as M’Baku and a cameo by Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu. Rounding out the cast is Angela Bassett’s Ramonda, the mother of the king and Forest Whitaker’s Zuri, an elder statesman.

With its premiere back in February, Black Panther immediately leapt into the record books with the fifth biggest opening weekend of all time with an estimated $201.8 million. The film sits behind The Avengers ($207m), Jurassic World ($208m), Star Wars: The Last Jedi ($220m) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248m). The film also sports the record for the biggest February opener of all time (beating Deadpool’s $132 million record) as well as the biggest solo superhero launch of all time (via Forbes).

The second film blasts into theaters May 4, and Avengers: Infinity War promises the biggest fight in Marvel’s entire filmography. In the movie, ultra-villain Thanos (Josh Brolin) successfully obtains all six Infinity Stones, the most powerful weapons in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and puts them into the appropriately named Infinity Gauntlet.

“Within the first five minutes of Infinity War, people will understand why Thanos is the biggest and baddest villain in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Marvel Studios co-president Kevin Feige said.

Now in possession of all six Infinity Stones, it’s up to the Avengers (and friends) to stop him. Assisting the super group are SpiderMan, Doctor Strange and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Fans have been in a frenzy since the trailer’s release, with the internet buzzing about which superheroes, if any, will make their final appearance in the film. While some remain hopeful that all of everyone’s favorite superheroes will make it out unscathed, the bitter truth is that you simply can’t have such a massive battle without a few losses.

Next up is Deadpool 2, the sequel to the massively successful 2016 debut of

Ryan Reynold’s superhuman mercenary Wade Wilson. Plot details for this second film are being kept under wraps but the movie will feature Domino (Zazie Beetz) and Cable (Josh Brolin).

While fans theorize about the potential plot, another important aspect of the film came into discussion: its rating. Deadpool marked the first R-rated Marvel superhero movie and this second installment will continue the trend, despite the recent acquisition of 20th Century Fox. “As long as we let the audiences know what’s coming, we think we can manage that fine,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said. Fans will have to wait until May 18 for this second installment of the “Merc with a Mouth.”

Rounding out 2018 is Ant-Man and the Wasp, the sequel to 2015’s surprise hit Ant-Man. This installment, out July 6, finds Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), teaming up with The Wasp, aka Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) to uncover secrets about their past while fighting off dangerous new villain Ghost (Hannah JohnKamen).

Meanwhile, Hope’s father Han Pym (Michael Douglas) will attempt to retrieve his wife Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) from her imprisonment in the Quantum Realm.

Across all four films, one thing is guaranteed: they will all feature cameos by the 93-year-old Marvel legend himself—Stan Lee. Although the 2018 lineup is impressive, many fans are

wondering if it’s going to be too much superhero action.

2018 marks the first time Marvel has released four major films in one calendar year. Black Panther is already off to a roaring start and having three more sequels lined up only generates more excitement among fans as they eagerly await the return of their favorite heroes—and villains!

But having four major blockbusters back to back does come with a downside.

Since Marvel has no films planned for the latter end of 2018, once Ant-Man and the Wasp finishes its run, fans will have to wait nearly eight months until Captain Marvel, starring Academy Award winner Brie Larson as the titular character, debuts on March 6, 2019.

Photo courtesy of Tom Holland

Andrew Dotter Contributing Editor

Avengers: Infinity War teaser poster

12 February/March 2018

Vol. 57 Issue 1

Undergraduate & Graduate Courses

■

On campus, online & blended formats

■

Day & evening classes

■

Financial aid may be available

Registration Open Now!

View summer schedule and register today in self service.

alvernia.edu/summer gradandadult@alvernia.edu | 540 Upland Ave., Reading, PA 19611 | 610-796-5187