Inside the renovated Natali Student Center
SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
VOL 42, NO.2
A New Natali Read about the aspects of the new and improved Natali Student Center and what the multi-million dollar renovation entailed. Pg. 8
OPINION Michael Vick to the Steelers Claudia Pehowic and Rachael McKriger debate whether Michael Vick’s animal cruelty charges should follow him to the Steelers. Pg. 10
Athlete of the Week Junior Vulcans wide receiver Garry Brown is featured as this week’s Athlete of the Week. Pg. 16
PHOTO: LAUREN GRIFFITH
Page 2 Sept. 4, 2015
CALU weather
Data by CAL U Weather Center
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
65-90
65-90
63-88
Day : Mostly sunny N i g h t : Pa r t l y c l o u d y
D ay : M o s tl y s u n ny N i g ht: Pa r tl y cl o u d y. C h a n ce o f e ve n i n g th u n d e rs to r m s
D ay : Pa r t ly c lo u d y. Af ter n o o n t h u n d er s to r m s possible N i ght : Pa r t ly c lo u d y. Ch a n ce o f even i n g t h u n d er s to r m s p o s s i b le.
64-90
THIS WEEK
E G ONLILN .OR TIMES at CA
r? Summe Do This e Summer d You What’ s Album of th Best, Says e ’s Cal Tim ong Nation Am w Cal U ie v e nR Princeto
.. .
D ay : Pa r t l y c l o u d y. Ch a n ce o f a f ter n o o n t h u n d er s to r m N i ght : Pa r t l y c l o u d y. Ch a n ce o f even i n g t h u n d er s to r m s
CALU police reports Pastry Problems On Aug. 26 at 3:02 p.m., officers responded to a fire alarm in Smith Hall. Upon arrival, officers found a student had burnt pop tarts.
Situation in the Convocation On Aug. 25 at 1:57 p.m., a student was removed upon arrival at the Convocation Center. The student was said to be acting suspiciously.
Unrest at Vulcan Village Two separate incidents at Vulcan Village resulted in police being called to the area. A large disturbance involving 50 to 60 people occured on Aug. 22, and a noise complaint on Aug. 28 resulted in police performing crowd control.
STAFF CAL T IME S . O RG CALTIMES@CALU.EDU 724.938.4321
JOSE NEGRON EDITOR IN CHIEF
MATT HAGY SPORTS EDITOR
STETSON PROVANCE NEWS EDITOR
LAUREN GRIFFITH LIFESTYLES EDITOR
KATIE DELVERNE CONNOR MARSHMAN OPINION EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER NIKKI BROGNANO ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR/WEBSITE COORDINATOR
CAL TIMES CONTRIBUTORS: Cal U Weather Center, Cody Barnhart, JERRON CORLEY PUBLIC RELATIONS Lindsey Leonard Dan Carmichael JEFF HELSEL DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS
POLICY: The California TIMES is a publication of the Student Association, Inc. and is distributed throughout the university campus and the Monongahela Valley area most Fridays of the academic year with the exception of holiday breaks. Any member of the university community may submit articles, editorials, cartoons, photographs or drawings for consideration. Deadlines are as follows: All written copy, announcements , e-mail (caltimes@calu.edu) and advertising submissions are due at Noon on the Monday before publication. Exceptions to these deadlines must be arranged with the editor. All submissions are the opinions of their creator(s). The California TIMES reserves the right to edit or refuse a submission as it sees fit without offering justification for content or advertising sections.
Page 3 Sept. 4, 2015
good times & great food
Natali
THIS WEEK’S MENU AT THE
STUDENT CENTER
FOOD COURT
features
It’s All Greek! Fresh Made Greek Specialties
It’s Always
Made FRESH in the Food Court!
FRESH FOOD COURT HOURS: Monday to Friday, 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM We Accept: Meal Plans, Dine Dollars, Shop Dollars, Cash & Credit
Enjoy one of these delicious Greek items!
Slow Spit Roasted Gyro Platter $6.59 Chicken Souvlaki Platter $6.09 ...and many other fresh selections!
Our dining program can accommodate your special dietary requirements. We can also help you choose wisely if allergies are a concern. For more information, contact Dining and Hospitality Services at diningservices@calu.edu or call 724-938-4555
Page 4 Sept. 4, 2015
FIRST UNDERGROUND CAFÉ OF THE SEMESTER FOR GOOD CAUSE BY JOSÉ NEGRON, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Last Thursday night, the Underground Café hosted their first open mic event of the semester. The Underground, which has been a Thursday night staple for quite a few years now, also hosted its first feature performance of the semester. In the past, the Underground has hosted artists such as Austin Renfroe, Mitch Clark, and even Teddy Geiger. However, last week’s performance might have been a little bit more special. Last week’s performers were a band known as the Brazilian 2wins, a group that blends traditional music, contemporary sounds and an exciting environment for their audience. The group is made up of four musicians, however, one of their fellow band mates did not make the trip to Cal U. Wagner Caldes, the twin brother of fellow band member Walter, did not join his friends on the trip. Earlier this summer, Wagner was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as Ewing’s Sarcoma. Wagner began pre-chemotherapy treatment immediately after his diagnosis and began his first round of chemotherapy in the middle of July. According to his band members, Wagner remains optimistic throughout his fight and always seems to have a smile on his face. This did not stop the Underground Café crew from wanting to make a difference. As a group, they decided to help out the band, selling their Underground Café t-shirts for $5 with the proceeds going towards Wagner’s medical expenses. They also determined the night “Ewing’s Sarcoma Awareness Night” and passed out yellow ribbons to those who made donations and bought t-shirts. “Helping with medical expenses was a touching moment because we didn’t know they would appreciate it as much as they did,” said Amber Schmader, Vice President of the Underground Café. “When the Underground Café put together the idea to raise funds, we were not expecting to raise 151 dollars. On a personal note, it made me feel like I accomplished a mini goal in my life.” The Brazilian 2wins also honored their band member by playing an hour set that included a ton of audience participation. Though it may have seemed like just another open mic night with a few special guests, it proved to be a lot more. It was a night that no one involved will ever forget. “Helping others is always a self satisfying thing,” Schmader said. “But to see the surprise on their faces was truly a blessing.” PHOTO BY RACHAEL MCKRIGER
Page 5 Sept. 4, 2015
Page 6 Sept. 4, 2015
CAL TIMES ALBUMS OF THE WEEK: Beach House and The Weeknd BY DAN CARMICHAEL
Depression Cherry – Beach House Beach House, an indie-rock, dream-pop, duo from Baltimore has released their fourth studio album. You may be asking the same question that I found myself asking; “what is dream-pop?” This is one of the first times I have heard of this genre being thrown around, and I came to understand it once I listened to this album. “Depression Cherry” uses an organ, slide guitar, programmed drums, and vocals to create a sound that can only be described as a dream. This 45 minute album provides nine tracks of calming, beautifully crafted music. At times it can get extremely repetitive and almost put your mind into a trance. I had trouble deciphering when one song ended and the next began. I was not a fan of the blended sound between each song. Not to mention, a majority of the songs on this album were over five minutes long. When you listen to a similar sonic melody over and over again, the general idea of the music loses its appeal. I thought this album was a little boring. It was definitely interesting, but I struggled through it the couple of times that I listened to it. If you are someone who enjoys not only listening to music but also collecting it, such as a hard copy like a CD or a vinyl, you may be very excited to hear that the album cover for “Depression Cherry” is made out of a maroon colored felt material. It definitely creates a well-rounded, finished product. To feel this cover reminds me of what each song sounds like. Average Critic Rating: 75/100 My Rating: 63/100
Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd Abel Tesfaye, better known by his stage name “The Weeknd,” has recently released his much anticipated second album. With his first release using a collection of remastered songs from the first three mixtapes he released, it seemed that Tesfaye still had not found himself in the center of the spotlight. After his first full studio album was released, it seemed as though The Weeknd was starting to become a popular name. It is no surprise that “Beauty Behind the Madness,” would be highly anticipated by both his major fans, and even some of his minor fans. This fourteen track album, reaching just over an hour long, should already be a little familiar to most people who have watched the VMA’s or listened to a pop radio station in the last two months. The songs “Often,” “The Hills,” and “Can’t Feel My Face” were three of the fourteen that had already been released prior to the big unveiling of this new album. “Can’t Feel My Face,” specifically, is one of the hottest songs in the U.S. right now, having peaked at number one on numerous music charts. Among the popular songs, The Weeknd also has a few surprise features on this album. Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Ray are featured on one song each as well as a track produced by Kanye West. Tesfaye pulled out all the stops to make this album as good as he possibly could, but I feel that his efforts came up a little short. I can undoubtedly say that I think The Weeknd has an amazing voice and knows who to associate himself with to get more fans and listeners. On the other hand, I think this album is just not as good as it could have been. The instrumentals are typically good but at times get a little dull and leave you expecting more. The lyrics are another thing I was not impressed with. It seems that The Weeknd found a formula for making the most typical r&b/pop song and applied them to every track. I feel like he is capable of much more as a writer. In closing, I think this album will receive a higher reaction than it should but I definitely expect his next work to easily triumph over this album. Average Critic Score: 76/100 My Rating: 70/100
Page 7 Sept. 4. 2015
SEPTEMBER 4-10 JosÊ Negron, Cal Times Editor in Chief, says: I love the newest cast members and the overall cast of the film is top notch. The story revolves around some of the minor members of the Avengers team including Hawkeye and Black Widow, which I like. It’s unconventional and makes you realize that there are more vital contributors to this superstar team than just Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Hulk. Overall, I thought that this film was very good. It provided the excitement that you would expect from a Marvel film and sets up nicely for other singular marvel films, such as Captain America: Civil War, and also the third Avengers film.
Page 8 Sept. 4, 2015
New Year
NEW NATALI
Page 9 Sept. 4. 2015
A larger billiard room is a available to students.
Fresh sushi is now a menu option.
Renov ate d Nat a l i prov i de s enh an ced stu d e nt e x pe ri e n c e s B Y STETSON PR OVA N C E N E W S E D I TO R
As students returned for the fall semester, a fixture on California University of Pennsylvania’s campus was transformed. The Natali Student Center, featuring everything from new food options, to new offices, and even floor tile, grew by more than 31,000 square feet since the beginning of last year. On the first level of the new building, both students living on campus and those commuting have new areas to rest and recharge during breaks between classes. The Heritage Lounge offers students an open area to get together, socialize, and even watch live musical performances. The Energy Zone, labeled by the university as the “home base” for commuter students, is a space students can use to charge their phones or a have a snack. Lockers are also available for students who wish to store their possessions while on campus. For student clubs looking to hold meetings, there are ten shared conference rooms available for reservation. Lastly, multiple pool tables, located in room 109, give
students another avenue for unwinding during their downtime. In order to achieve the university’s goal of making the Natali Student Center the “hub of student life” at Cal U, the office of Student Affairs, the Women’s Center, campus ministries, and the Career and Professional Development Center have moved to the student center. Systems within the student center have also been improved to match the increased usage of the building. Three new elevators have been added to the building. These can be found in the following locations: the hallway housing the media suite, the hallway housing the Women’s Center, and a loading dock elevator. Also, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in the building have been upgraded and improved. The university also aimed to make walking areas more spacious in order to improve walking traffic flow. Food options for students have also been expanded
The enhanced Gold Rush dining hall.
and improved. The Food Court has been expanded, and Flatz convenience store is now three times larger. In terms of food preparation, glass walls let diners watch as chefs prepare meals made with fresh, local ingredients. A wood-smoked oven for pizza and barbecue dishes, a clay-lined tandoor oven for Asian cuisine, and a tortilla machine for quesadillas will add freshness and flavor to every meal. For students looking to get acclimated to the renovated student center, opening week ceremonies are being held from Sept. 7-12, highlighted by a live performance by 2015 “The Voice” runner-up Matt Schuler on Sept. 9 from 5-7 p.m. in the Rotunda. A dedication ceremony is set for Sept. 16 at 2:30 p.m.
Page 10 Sept. 4, 2015
PROS OF MICHAEL VICK SIGNING WITH STEELERS Some are in favor of the addition of the former Falcons star
BY RACHAEL MCKRIGER Cal Times Contributor
When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed quarterback Michael Vick on August 25, the entire city of Pittsburgh either burst into happiness or “riot.” Michael Vick, who previously played for the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons, caused quite an uproar in Pittsburgh. Most people were not happy about the signing, but a slim number of people were. I can, without regret, say that I am one of the few people happy with the Michael Vick signing. How many of the people who are upset with the Steelers for the Vick signing are looking at it from an emotional standpoint? Michael Vick was suspected of dog fighting during his time in Atlanta. He was charged, convicted, and spent two years in jail for the crime. After his time spent in prison, he went to the Philadelphia Eagles organization where he would stay until his release in 2013. Many people were astounded that the Eagles gave Vick a second chance in the NFL. However, Vick made the most of his opportunities by helping send the Eagles to the playoffs twice, in both 2009 and 2010. Now the people of Pittsburgh are not quite pleased with the hometown team giving another chance to Vick. The comments on social media are pretty much the same. “I’m selling my season tickets,” or “Rather have NO QB than to have VICK,” or my personal favorite, “You have lost the respect of this country, Pittsburgh Steelers.” What people are not seeing is the tactical view of the Michael Vick signing. Michael Vick’s signing to the Steelers proves that the organization is trying to better their squad. With Bruce Gradkowski out with injury, the only other backup is Landry Jones, who has not fared well in the preseason. Gradkowski’s injury also means the loss of a second veteran quarterback and leader, something that every team needs. Michael Vick, who turned 35-years old in January and has been in the league since being drafted in
Following his release from prison, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Vick where he played from 2009-2013 2001, knows the hardships of the NFL inside and out. There is no one else I could imagine to take charge and make sure the young players stay focused and stay out of trouble. Vick experienced hardships throughout his career and can use what he has learned to help others. Michael Vick is a solid quarterback. He has taken the backup role before and has performed well in it. In 2009, Vick started out with the Eagles as a backup for Kevin Kolb, who has since retired. However, when Kolb went down, Vick came in. That same season, Vick led the Eagles to a playoff berth with a 10-6 record. In New York, Vick struggled a bit under Rex Ryan’s new offense after being named the starter in week seven of last season. Vick was behind Geno Smith on the depth chart, but after seven straight losses, Ryan put Vick in for the struggling Smith. Now I am most certainly not condoning Vick’s past crimes, but there is the key word”past”. Michael Vick did his time in prison and certainly came out a better man. Everyone certainly makes mistakes, but what’s important
is that we learn from those mistakes. It is clear to see that Michael Vick has learned from his mistakes and bettered himself to be a productive and law abiding citizen. One thing that astounds me about the Vick situation is when people say “I’m not going to be a fan of the Steelers anymore now that Vick is here.” First off, Vick is a backup. It’s not like Vick will be starting any games unless Ben Roethlisberger falls to injury. Secondly, if Roethlisberger would fall to injury, Vick would be in, but when he does come in, what should happen if Vick starts winning game after game for the Steelers? Everyone will love him again and you will definitely hear, “I was a Vick fan right when they signed him!” from those same people that jeered when he was signed. I have never liked any fair weather fan, no matter what the sport is. Being a dedicated fan means that you stick with your team through the good and the bad. The Vick situation really is not that bad, people! Michael Vick’s signing proves that the team is heading in the right direction and wants to be a winning team. If Roethlisberger does come off the field injured, and think about this, would you rather have Landry Jones who threw an interception on his first pass of the a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, or would you rather have a seasoned veteran in Michael Vick who still is fully functional at age 35? It is not rocket science, and it’s quite an obvious answer. Vick did his time, has volunteered numerous with animal charities and shelters, and has really changed himself. While other NFL players are abusing their spouses, using drugs, and doing all sorts of illegal things and not changing their ways, Vick has done the opposite. This guy deserves another chance, and I’m proud that my football team has made the decision to accept him into the organization. We all deserve second chances, so why is Michael Vick any different?
Page 11 Sept. 4, 2015
CONS OF MICHAEL VICK SIGNING WITH STEELERS Many have shown displeasure with addition of Vick
BY CLAUDIA PEHOWIC Cal Times Contributor
The city of Pittsburgh is relatively clean and safe when compared to other American cities. Residents are helpful and kind, and its college is well renowned. Its Cathedral of Learning provides tourists with a sense of direction. Students from Duquesne, DeVry, and Pitt bustle from class to class. While tourists enjoy Pittsburgh’s three rivers and countless bridges, the city’s current media attention stems from something far less attractive. Pittsburgh’s world-famous football team has enlisted an embarrassing ex-convict. Professional football has seen its fair share of drug and alcohol-related offenders, but Michael Vick’s criminal record bears a different name - animal abuse. Bringing in millions of dollars in 2007, Vick could have easily afforded a beautiful house, luxury car, and any pedigree of household pet. However, instead of raising animals with love and compassion, Vick was caught enjoying the festivities of dog fighting. It has often been said that a canine’s temperament reflects that of its owner. While some dogs are warm and others are strictly obedient, the dogs that Vick interacted with were dangerous, bloody, and trained to fight to their death. It is true that, perhaps lead by his public relations staff, Vick has volunteered for animal shelters and even donated funds to animal protection programs. As Vick is so obviously centered in the limelight of celebrity, it is natural to wonder whether these good deeds stemmed from a newly acquired
“Pittsburgh’s world-famous football team has enlisted an embarrassing ex-convict”
sense of animal sympathy or if they were the product of a soiled reputation. Volunteering time and money has been a longstanding method of garnering fans’ forgiveness and support. Vick now stands alongside Michael
In 2007, Vick served 21 months in prison followed by 2 months of home confinement for promoting, funding and fascilitating an illegal dog fighting operation PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Phelps and Tiger Woods. All three have publically atoned for their sins in order to regain the status and wages that accompanies professional athleticism. Compared to the four million dollars that Vick received in 2014 from the New York Jets and the $970,000 he received from the Pittsburgh Steelers, an attempt at animal empathy seems a small price to pay. Fans will continue to cheer on their favorite team, regardless of Vick’s presence. Yet, his signing sends a dim message to sports fans everywhere. Even the
worst behavior seems to have little consequence in the National Football League. Tuning in to ESPN, buying game tickets, and ordering food at home game concession stands will now indirectly support Michael Vick. It will be difficult for some Steeler’s fans to sport their game day t-shirts given the team’s recent decision to enlist an ex-dog fighter on their team. It is difficult for this university student to forgive, forget, and support Michael Vick and his $970,000 salary.
Page 12 Sept. 4, 2015
Why Trump should not be in the White House BY ZACH FILTZ Cal Times Contributor
As millennial college students, a number of you may be familiar with the fact we will be getting a new president next year. The American media have essentially made it their current life mission to cover the path to the next president. So, basically there are a bunch of politicians fighting their way around each other with the exception of one man. He is Donald Trump. He is not a politician, and he needs to stay away from any sort of politics. Why am I taking this position? First of all, he has demonstrated this summer that he has no ability to be professional. He has talked down to women, spoken downright demeaning and misogynist remarks toward them (specifically, his interviewer Megyn Kelly from Fox News). Like a Hollywood celebrity, he loses his patience during other interviews. Second of all, he is a businessman. Other than considering a run for president in 2012, he literally has held no public office and has no other major political experience. In other words, why is someone with no experience in govern-
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has caused quite the stir throughout the primary election cycle. Trump announced his candidacy in June Photos: Wikimedia Commons
ment or politics qualified to be the Commander in Chief? A number of American presidents were lawyers, senators, governors and the like before being elected to office. Trump has been a businessman and manager of the several companies he owns. But that is it. So, he is unprofessional and he has no political resume. So what? Well, do you want someone who does not realize how ruthless American politics can be as a frontrunner when he has not even dipped his toes in the shallow part of the political waters? That’s what I thought. Thirdly, he also went broke. He declared bankruptcy at least once a number of years ago. Trump basically trusts people who are really good at managing his fortune, and his assets passed his costs. Yes, he recovered, and yes he is very rich now, but my question to Trump is this: if you went broke already, what is stopping you from pushing Congress to pass a crazy budget that makes no sense? How is he going to afford this “Mexican wall�
he wants to build against our neighboring country? Although polls show that Republican voters may be in favor of Donald Trump, are his ideals actually in line with the Republican Party? According to his political track record, he has appeared to switch parties at least three times. He almost treated it like it was a fad of the day. In the 1990s, he started off as a Republican. Then, he bailed on that and danced between the Democratic Party and calling himself an Independent through the 2000s. In the last four years, he started associating himself with the Republicans again. Talk about a man who had a hard time making up his mind. Do you know what I see? I see another red flag with that. As you can see, my opinion is that Trump does not have a lot going for him. While he may be ringing in first through the online polls, I think he has some serious issues that must be resolved before anybody can take him seriously as a candidate for the Republican nomination.
Page 13 Sept. 4, 2015
By vying for $15 minimum wage, workers face murky fu ture BY STETSON PROVANCE, NEWS EDITOR
If you think $7.25 an hour (Pennsylvania’s minimum wage) is sufficient for a person to live on, you couldn’t be more wrong. According to a study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, nowhere in the United States can a person making minimum wage afford a twobedroom apartment. As the cost of living increases, there is no question minimum wage should follow suit. However, there is a huge difference between making the minimum wage a living wage and raising it to $15 an hour. Contrary to others who hold this opinion, I’m not going to argue that a significant minimum wage increase will result in inflation. I’m not going to belittle the skills and character of those who work minimum wage jobs. Instead, I’m going to keep the best interests of those people making minimum wage at the forefront. And, although it may seem illogical when giving the situation a cursory glance, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour doesn’t benefit those working minimum wage jobs. Why? Because, as anyone who has an understanding of business knows, anytime a good or service becomes expensive and expendable, a business will have no qualms about cutting it. As cruel as it is, continued technological development means the day is fast approaching
when minimum wage workers are treated as just another item on a budget that needs cut. If you don’t believe that will ever happen, I regret to inform you the process is already beginning in the fast food industry. According to the Washington Post, major restaurant chains, citing the threat of a drastic increase in minimum wage along with stagnated worker productivity, are already looking at expanding kiosk and tabletbased ordering that makes cashiers obsolete. Some companies even believe innovations like “drone ordering,” could make it to where patrons don’t even have to step foot in restaurants. Long story short, innovations aimed at increasing owners’ bottom lines have been and will continue to be pushed to the forefront of an industry that provides many Americans with their sole source of income. In fact, according to Robert Bleu, a business consultant and restaurant owner in Chicago, an industry that currently employs “2.4 million wait staffers, nearly 3 million cooks and food preparers and many of the nation’s 3.3 million cashiers” could eventually see its employee base cut in half. And, for those employees that remain, their job descriptions will likely change. Instead of holding a hospitality role, employees will likely have to know how to fix and operate the technology that powers restaurants. Eventually, who’s to
say fast food companies, in order to save time and resources, don’t start requiring prerequisite training or even some postsecondary education in computer science in order to obtain a job? As you can see, this slippery slope is leading to a world where the people who currently want $15 an hour to do a job will no longer be able to find or meet the requirements for a job. That sucks for workers. That sucks for their families. Heck, it even sucks for patrons. As many will agree, there is something special about the human touch in the service industry. After all, a machine can’t customize your order or be reassuring in the same way a person can. Some companies are making it a point to tiptoe their way to innovation just so customers can continue to have that face-to-face experience. If minimum wage were only raised to, say, $10.50 an hour, maybe companies would bite the bullet and acknowledge the true value of a good worker. However, no matter how much Mitt Romney tries to convince you otherwise, corporations aren’t people with hearts. Instead, they are entities with one goal: making a profit. A $15 an hour minimum wage will do nothing but hurt a company’s bottom line and in turn, force them to make what some would consider cruel personnel cuts. Nothing personal.
The Internship Center and the Career and Professional Development Center are excited to host a Block Party for all Cal U students to celebrate our new offices in the Natali Student Center. Have you wondered what services are offered? Please come and meet us! The Block Party is Thursday, September 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the front parking lot of Natali. There will be food, games, and t-shirts! Hope to see you all there!
Page 14 Sept. 4, 2015
NEW START, NEW SEASON FOR WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM BY RACHAEL MCKRIGER Cal Times Contributor
Meghan Jayes wants every single game she plays for the California University of Pennsylvania women’s soccer team to be a shutout. That’s not just her personal mindset going into the season, it is every other goalie’s mindset too. She knows that with being a goalie there are only two labels: the hero or the goat. Jayes, who is in her third year with the team, started in 20 games for the Vulcans and posted six shut outs last season. Jayes is striving to have that number to go up this season. “As a goalie, you have to be of the mindset that every game should be a shutout,” Jayes said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a preseason scrimmage or the PSAC final, the result is still important. Earning a shutout is pretty vital.” Jayes, who is backed up by sophomore Michaela Colon, said that one of the biggest obstacles for this year’s team is to adjust to the loss of last year’s seniors. “We have to adjust to that. We know we have the talent and the drive, what needs to happen is people stepping up to fill the vacancies and figure out how to work with different people.” Even with last year’s seniors gone, the team is excited about their new players. Freshman Aly Greenstein, who was heavily recruited by Cal U, is one of those new players. “I looked at many schools for soccer in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and Delaware,” Greenstein said. “Before I committed I was uncertain if I even wanted to play but visiting Cal & talking to Coach Francis made me sure of my decision.” Greenstein, a midfielder from Baltimore, is expected to make an impact right away in her first year as a college soccer player. One player that Greenstein will be looking up to and taking notes on is senior midfielder Marissa Neifert. Neifert, who was named to the Capital One Academic All-District team during her junior year, finished last year with two assists, but zero goals. However, with her position, assists are more common.
“Obviously everyone wants to score goals because it helps the team, but if I can have tons of assists that helps the team just as much because there’s obviously a goal behind every one,” Neifert said. She also said that her personal goal this season is to be a better leader, but wasn’t thinking small when talking about team goals. “We’ve never made it past the Sweet Sixteen while I’ve been here so that’d be an awesome accomplishment.” Second year coach, Glenn Francis, echoed Neifert’s future goals for the team.
“Our goal coming into this season is very simple: do better than we did the previous year. So winning the conference is great and would be a huge accomplishment but that is not all for us, we want to go one step further.” The team will kick off their road to success for this season on September 3 against Shippensburg University at home. The game kicks off 4:30 p.m. and will be held at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility. Two days later, the team will travel to Mansfield University for a 1:30 p.m. match.
After posting a 10-3-6 record with six shutouts last season, junior goalkeeper Meghan Jayes looks to improve her record and number of shutouts in 2015 PHOTO: SPORTS INFORMATION
Page 15 Sept. 4, 2015
Vulcan Football begins season aaginst familar foe By Matt Hagy Sports editor
After months of preparation and long hours of weightlifting and practice out on the Adamson Stadium turf, the time has finally come for the California Vulcans Football team to return to action and begin a brand new season. Vulcans fans calendars have been marked for September 5th since the 2015 schedule was released in the spring and the opponent the Vulcans are opening against will seem familiar to everyone. For the second straight year, Cal will go against the Virginia State Trojans to kick off the season. This time the venue will shift as the Vulcans will now travel down to Petersburg, Virginia to complete the home and home series. Cal won last year’s game 33-24 but had to go through many obstacles to earn the opening day win one of those included Mother Nature. The contest featured two half hour lightning delays that extended the time of the game and provided a challenge for both teams as they looked to not lose their rhythms. The other main storyline from last year’s matchup was the exciting offense that was put on display especially in the first half. The two teams combined for 48 first half points which included four touchdown passes of 30 yards or more. For California it was grand start to the season for quarterback James Harris who was beginning his first full season as a starter as he threw two touchdown passes and also set at the time a new career high in passing yards with 280. Virginia State had nothing short of
Hagy’s Big Ten Game Penn State @ Temple Wisconsin @ Alabama Louisville @ Auburn Virginia @ UCLA Youngstown State @ Pitt BYU @ Nebraska
Winner Penn State Alabama Auburn UCLA Pitt Nebraska
Quarterback James Harris lit up the Trojan defense last season with 280 yards plus
two touchdown passes
PHOTO: SPORTS INFORMATION
big offense as well in the game as quarterback Tarian Ayers threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns one of which went to his favorite receiver, Jaivon Smallwood, who led both teams with 116 yards receiving. Both Ayers and Smallwood are returning starters and will be the key players to watch for when the Trojans are on the offensive side of the ball. After this bizarre opening day game, last year both teams went on different paths as the rest of the season went along. The Vulcans lost the next week at Bloomsburg but reeled off six straight wins to position themselves for their first PSAC Championship game appearance since 2009. Unfortunately for Cal, the month of November was not so kind as the Vulcans defense was decimated by the Merychurst Lakers which prevented Cal from winning the
PSAC West title and a berth in the NCAA playoffs. After the loss, the Trojans went a perfect 8-0 in the CIAA regular season and upset the Winston Salem State Rams 21-17 and clinched a berth in the NCAA playoffs. The remarkable bounce back season for the Trojans continued with a first round playoff win over America East champion LIU Post but ended a week later with a second round loss to Bloomsburg. Both teams return a decent amount of starters from last year’s squads which should provide the fans in attendance Saturday a similar game from last season just hopefully without lightning involved. While returning Harris at quarterback, his two top targets at receiver return as well in senior Kowan Scott and junior Garry Brown. On defense Cal returns junior Jawan Turner who led the team in sacks last season and also fellow classmate Jordan Bowman who along with Brown were named D2football.com second team pre-season all-Americans. Along with the firepower returning on offense for the Trojans, they had a change at the head coaching position over the off-season with the hiring of Byron Thweatt. Opening day of the college football season is one of the more exciting days at Cal U and fans have a reason to be excited about the 2015 edition of Cal Vulcans football. With a high-powered offense and playmakers on defense, Cal looks to once again take dead aim at the PSAC West division title and take care of unfinished business.
NCAA: Week 1 Game Arizona St @ Texas A&M Georgia Southern @ WVU Ohio State @ Virginia Tech UPSET: Texas @ Notre Dame
Winner Texas A&M WVU Ohio State Texas
If you want to compete against Matt Hagy, the Sports Editor, submit your picks to caltimes@calu.edu by that Saturday Morning at 11 a.m. If you beat Matt, your picks and name will be in next week’s paper. Good luck fellow pickers!
Page 16 Sept. 4, 2015
Cal Times Athlete Spotlight Garry Brown, Wide Receiver
Class: Junior Major: Liberal Studies Hometown: Columbus, Ohio High School: Westerville South
Last season, Garry Brown broke out in a huge way in his first season as a starter. Brown compiled 1,143 yards receiving in his sophomore season on 62 catches and eight touchdowns. His total receiving yards led the entire PSAC and ranked in the top ten in receptions and receptions per game. Brown’s finest hour came in Erie where he annihilated the Mercyhurst defense with California school record 282 receiving yards and three touchdowns on eight catches. Brown’s season gained him Don Hansen First-Team All-American honors along with being voted to Daktronics First-Team All-Region and All-PSAC First-Team. D2football.com recently named Brown a preseason Second-Team All-American.
PHOTO: SPORTS INFORMATION
75004
OUR FUNDS HAVE A RECORD LIKE A BROKEN RECORD. 1
Learn more about our unprecedented, award-winning performance at TIAA.org/Perform BUILT TO PERFORM.
5021A0058 C24849B Fall B2C Print BROKEN RECORD_10.1212x4.6_
The Lipper Award is given to the group with the lowest average decile ranking of three years’ Consistent Return for eligible funds over the three-year period ended 11/30/12, 11/30/13, and 11/30/14 respectively. TIAA-CREF was ranked among 36 fund companies in 2012 and 48 fund companies in 2013 and 2014 with at least fi ve equity, fi ve bond, or three mixed-asset portfolios. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For current performance and rankings, please visit the Research and Performance section on tiaa-cref.org. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., and Nuveen Securities, LLC, members FINRA and SIPC, distribute securities products. ©2015 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America–College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. C24849B 1
TIAA-CREF: Lipper’s Best Overall Large Fund Company three years in a row. For the first time ever. How? Our disciplined investment strategy aims to produce competitive risk-adjusted returns that create long-term value for you. Just what you’d expect from a company that’s created to serve and built to perform.
CREATED TO SERVE.
1
The Lipper Awards are based on a review of 36 companies’ 2012 and 48 companies’ 2013 and 2014 risk-adjusted performance.
Consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Go to tiaa-cref.org for product and fund prospectuses that contain this and other information. Read carefully before investing. TIAA-CREF funds are subject to market and other risk factors.