CAL TIMES
2014-15 SAI Proposed Allocated Budget Pages 2 and 3
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
APRIL 4, 2014
CALTIMES.ORG
VOL. 35, NO. 7
IN THE
NEWS JOURNALIST VISITS CAL U Tony Norman, accomplished journalist with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, pays a visit to Cal U’s campus
Page 6
OPINION TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?
Sports editor Jose Negron has something to say about the Nation Hockey League’s expanded outdoor game schedule that occured during this year’s regular season.
Page 8
ENTERTAINMENT 724 DINING TOUR
Cal Times foodie Katie DelVerne pays a visit to Brownsville, Pa. pizza place Little Joey’s.
Page 5
SPORTS CAL U BASEBALL ENDS SLUMP Cal U’s baseball team ends a long losing streak this weekend with a win against Pitt Johnstown.
Page 11
photo: Matt Kaminski Robots created by local students take part in the ‘aerial assist’ game at the FIRST robotics competition.
Cal U hosts regional robotics tournament _______________________ BY DAN MADER VWDͿ ZULWHU ____________________________ As California University of Pennsylvania students walked around campus to their classes last Thursday through Saturday, more people were present on the campus than usual. What was unique about these other individuals that were present during the weekend was that they were all a part of the Greater Pittsburgh Regional FIRST Robotics competition. FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology – has been encouraging young people to explore science, technology, engineering and math in a sports-style competition with cooperation since 1989. This year, more than 1,000 students grades 9-12 in 48 teams came to the Cal U Convocation Center to compete in the “Aerial Assist” challenge. ‘Aerial Assist’ is played on a Áat 2 ’ x 4’ Àeld, that’s straddled by a truss suspended about five ft. above the floor. Two “alliances” of three robots each face oͿ and try to move as many
balls as possible into the high and low goals. Cooperative play earns additional points during the fast-paced 30-second (autonomous) and two-minute (remote control) matches. Upon walking into the Convocation Center a comentator could be heard announcing very action that the robots were performing and every team was intently watching the match that was occurring. To the side of the arena were booths where every team entered in the competition showed off their robots and techniques used for their machines. Each team had unique attire for this event and emphasized not only the teambased atmosphere but brought forth the personalities of every team. Among the interesting uniforms that were present at the FIRST Robotics competition were a Storm trooper, lemons, a man with a computer monitor as a head, aluminum foil looking pants, armor reminiscent of medieval times and a dog. Not only were the teams uniquely dressed, their personalities were just the same. While the Steel Dragons team, which hailed from Taylor Allderdice High
F a c e b o o k – C a l T i m e s N ew s p a p e r
School, was not in a match, two of the members of that team were relaxing and performing card tricks. Tye Ralasi, 17, said that getting onto a robotics team was to help his friends out who were on that team and he ended up joining it. “I was just looking to help my friends out and I ended up joining the team,” Ralasi said. Ralasi says that the allure of robotics for him is a mix of hands-on building, electronics, and of course the competition. “To be able to create something like a robot with your own hands alongside your friends and then compete with them is an awesome thing. The other great part is that you become friends with the other teams. Everyone is so friendly regardless of how intense the competition is.” Ralasi’s fellow classmate and teammate, Maximillian Von Hammond-Schrock, 16, says that the love of the robotics for him is the programming alongside the competition. “I love coding and programming and these robots give me a chance to do that on a com-
Twi t t e r – @ C a l T i m e s
petitive level and I love it,” Hammond-Schrock said. “I already program extensively in my free time so this is just second nature to me.” Thursday comprised of first practices and tune-ups, while Friday had qualiÀcation matches throughout the day to set up the Ànal rounds Saturday afternoon. The three regional winners were Team 836 (The Boeing Company/The Patuxent Partnership/BAE Systems/SAIC/National Instruments/Naval Air Systems Command/Booz Allen Hamilton & Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center High School), Team 4 47 (2014 FRC Hardship Grant & Westmont Hilltop High School) and Team 3260 (Microsoft & Sarah Heinz House) Three teams that were the regional winners in the Greater Pittsburgh Region in the Convocation Center are now going to be a part of the FIRST Championship, held April 23 through April 26 in St. Louis, Mo.
More photos on pg. 6