LOOK INSIDE Homecoming Day Preview Cal U’s annual parade, football game and other festivities are planned for Saturday, Oct. 11. Pg. 2
OCTOBER 10, 2014
VOL 36, NO.6
CAL U’S 2014 HOMECOMING COURT IT’S FINALLY HERE!
KING AND QUEEN TO BE CROWNED ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
Homecoming weekend has finally arrived. We have all the essential information about events, road closures, and parking. Pg. 2
Honoring Garrick Lackey The Garrick Lackey Memorial Scholarship was endowed by the university through the fund raising efforts of the student body. Pg. 4
Say Cheese! In a world full of selfies, are we becoming too involved with ourselves and forgetting the true beauty of photography? Pg. 11
Traveling Abroad Jeffrey Kyei has brought his talents to Cal U, like all of his teammates. Find out what makes his path to Cal a little Winners of the election for Cal U’s 2014 Homecoming Court were announced on Tuesday in the Gold Rush Dining Hall and will participate in different. Saturday’s annual parade from 9 a.m. to Noon. The King and Queen will be announced during halftime at Saturday’s football game against Pg. 13 Slippery Rock University. Kickoff 3:30 p.m. Pictured left to right: Jesse McQuillan, Morgan Moltz, JaQuan Cornish, Ce’Asia Thorpe, Ryan DJ Tubbs, Jordan Severo, Santina Murin, Demetrius Moye, Sarah Barger, Daniel Zwick. (Coby Detar was unavailable for Tuesday’s photo)
STAFF CALTIMES.ORG CALTIMES@CALU.EDU 724.938.4321 GEO MUZIKA EDITOR IN CHIEF STETSON PROVANCE NEWS EDITOR TAYLOR BROWN OPINION/LIFESTYLE EDITOR JOSE NEGRON SPORTS EDITOR LAUREN GRIFFITH ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR JEFF HELSEL DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS
Everything you need to know for homecoming PARADE DETAILS
PARKING AND ROAD INFORMATION
Pre-parade activities begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 11 on the main campus, where inflatables with a U.S.A. theme will add to the family-friendly fun. Photo novelty booths, mascot appearances, face painting, balloon art and a petting zoo also are planned. The annual Homecoming Parade begins at noon. The lineup of bands, floats and marchers will step off from the Convocation Center courtyard and travel down Third Street. Marchers will turn right at Union Street and return to campus on Second Street. A Vulcan Huddle tailgate party will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Roadman Park, and a Kid Zone near the alumni pavilion will keep the little ones busy starting at 2:30 p.m. At 3:30 p.m. the Cal U football team will host Slippery Rock University in Adamson Stadium. At halftime, winners of the Homecoming Parade float competition will be announced, and the Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned.
There will be many parking changes and road closures during the homecoming events this year. Those attending the homecoming parade can park in Lot 4 or the Vulcan Garage. Garage parking will be free from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. In regards to on-campus parking , Lot 21 will be closed on homecoming and Lot 11 will be used for the Homecoming Queen’s court and parade vehicles only. Lot 2 will be open to permit holders and those attending the President’s Circle Brunch. Road closures for homecoming include Third Street and Hickory Street (from Sixth Street to Third Street) starting at 7 a.m. Also, there will be no parking on Second Street (200 to 500 blocks), Third Street (200 and 400 blocks), and Union Street (200 block) from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Vulcan Flyer will operate at usual until 11:20 a.m. and will resume immediately after the parade to take fans to Adamson Stadium. Shuttle service from Roadman Park to the main campus will continue until 11:00 p.m.
CALTIMES CONTRIBUTORS: PHIL TAFONE, DAN MADER, JANENE DUNBAR, NATE CONNELLY, LINDSEY LEONARD, MATT HAGY, SPORTS INFORMATION
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.
A flashback to Cal U’s Alex Schmier handing out candy along the parade route at the 2012 homecoming parade.
Page 3 Oct. 10, 2014
R U YO
KNOW THE NUMB3RS ALCOHOLʼS EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN
EFFECTS ON FEELING AND BEHAVIOR BAC
VISIBLE SIGNS OF INTOXICATION
3-4 DRINKS self-control judgment
5-6 DRINKS 1-2 DRINKS
senses
reason caution intelligence memory
.01-.04%
Usually no apparent changes in behavior. More relaxed minor impairment of judgment and memory.
.05-.08%
Walking, talking, and hand movements become more clumsy. Present “felling” or mood become more pronounced (sad, happy, angry).
7-8 DRINKS coordination
9 DRINKS 10 OR MORE DRINKS vital centers & central nervous system
.08-.10%
balance
.10-.15%
Students from Options @CalU are here to help you. Options is a peer support initiative made up of student volunteers who have been specifically trained and certified in the Bacchus National Peer Education Model. Conflict resolution, referral to resources, and helping with drug and alcohol issues are just a few of the areas covered in their training. They can be there to listen and help you strategize the best solutions to your concerns.
Judgment, memory, and self-contorl are further affected: irresponsible behavior evident. There is a decrease in the sense of pain. Speeh is slurred.
.15-.20%
Behavior greatly affected. Lack of motor controls; mental confusion.
.20-.30%
Unable to preform tasks. Confused or dazed state. Unconsious may occur. All physical and mental ablities severely impaired.
.30 plus .40-.50%
DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND NEED AN OBJECTIVE PERSON TO TALK TO?
Speech, judgment, balance affected. Blurred vision. Slower reaction time. (.08% is considered drunken driving in all states.)
MEET BOB! Robert Mehalik is the Alcohol and Other Drug Education/Prevention Specialist at California University of Pennsylvania. He is the advisor for OPTIONS @ CalU.
Unconscious. Death possible. The breathing process may stop functioning.
OPTIONS OPTIONS is made up of student volunteers who are passionate about helping their fellow students. They work towards helping their peers make responsible choices with regard to alcohol and other drugs as well as other issues. Contact us by emailing options@calu.eduor calling 724-938-5507.
Page 4 Oct. 10, 2014
Memorial scholarship and Frisbee tournament held for Lackey
The Cal U Ultimate Frisbee team had 30 current students and alumni play on two separate teams for Saturday’s memorial tournament. Cal U ended with a 3-5 record. BY LAUREN GRIFFITH, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
$227 has never meant so much. Melissa Dunn, Director of Student Activities and Leadership at the California University of Pennsylvania, deposited the last $227 into the bank account reserved for the Garrick Lackey Memorial Scholarship on Sept. 10. In 10 months, students, professors, and members of the California community raised $10,000 for the scholarship. “There was no big donor, all funds were raised through students and student planned events,” Dunn said. Lackey, who was vice president of student government and a member Garrick Lackey on the Ultimate Frisbee team, passed away last November, Lackey was majoring in political science, philosophy, creative writing, and liberal studies. He was also a member of the Student Activities Board. An active member on campus, he was a familiar and friendly face to many students. “It was a positive thing to focus on when times seemed their hardest. Planning events and raising money was a great distraction. It is a huge
accomplishment and honor to have been a part of endowing this scholarship,” Dunn said. The scholarship is a collaborative effort by Dunn, the Lackey Family, and Lindsey Leonard, a close friend of Garrick’s. The scholarship will be awarded yearly to a student in one of his four areas of study. “Garrick would most likely shake his head over the title of his scholarship. He didn’t approve of recognition for anything,” Leonard said. “However, this is something special. I think he would be patting everyone on the back who made this happen, while saying ‘good job guys.’” The decision to endow the scholarship was made prior to the fundraising efforts. The endowment of a scholarship ensures the award will be funded each year and will be awarded to a deserving applicant. While the endowment is complete, funds are still being collected to earn the principal on the endowment. Funds for the scholarship were raised through a variety of different sporting events, including a hockey game, a women’s rugby game, and an Ultimate Frisbee showcase and tournament, Other events included ‘Coffee for Garrick,’ a banquet, and sales of ‘Do it for Garrick’ green silicone
bracelets. The first Ultimate Frisbee showcase was held last year at Saint Vincent College on April 11. The game raised $139 for the scholarship. Last year’s event helped to make this year’s tournament, which was hosted Oct. 4 at Cal U, a huge success. Planning for the tournament started in June. Andy Mclynch, president of the ultimate Frisbee club, and Joe Terrana, treasurer, had to reserve the fields and recruit teams from other universities. Both Mclynch and Terrana were friends of Lackey’s. A total of eight universities and 11 teams participated in the tournament. Each team paid $125 to participate. A portion of the proceeds will go to the scholarship. Cal U had 30 players on two different teams and ended the tournament with a 3-5 record. Many of the players on the team are first year students and are learning to play from older members like Mclynch and Terrana. Many of the players from Cal U sported green jerseys with #6 on the right sleeve, which was Lackey’s number. Terrana and Mclynch designed the jerseys to commemorate Lackey. “Garrick was the biggest advocate for the game and our team. He was always mentoring new players, always had a positive attitude, and was always trying to better himself as a player,” said Mclynch. The entire Cal U community is working together to make sure Lackey’s legacy remains, and that he is not forgotten neither on campus or on the field.
Jeremy Rosinger tosses a pass to Kim Wilson during the game at Cal U on Oct. 4. Ultimate Frisbee photos by: Lauren Griffith
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Registration opens on Oct. 6, 2014! Winter College classes are delivered 100% online. The five-week classes begin Dec. 15, 2014, so they can be taken from your home over the winter break! FOR MORE INFORMATION E-MAIL WINTER@CALU.EDU OR CALL 724-938-5962. WWW.CALU.EDU WANTED: College or graduate school students are needed to work with elementary school children in an after school program in the South Hills. Students must be able to work flexible hours and have their own transportation to and from the program. Pay ranges between $10 and $11 per hour. If interested, e-mail resumé or letter of interest to jhroberts66@comcast.net.
Advertise With Us Contact the Cal Times 724-938-4321 caltimes@calu.edu
Cal U is participating in Pennsylvania American Water’s UTAP Challenge, and the college that receives the most votes on Facebook wins a water bottle filling station! We need your help! Facebook followers can vote once every 24 hours. So, VOTE TODAY (and every day through Oct. 31) at https://www.facebook.com/ pennsylvaniaamwater.
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Spank Horton brings the house down at comedy show BY DAN MADER
For fans of comedy, last Friday brought a ton of laughs for Cal U students in the form of “Spank” Horton, a well-known comedian. Held in the Vulcan Theater, over 150 students packed the venue for a night of laughs. “Spank”, whose real name is Will, has been doing comedy for over 10 years since his days growing up in Philadelphia. He said he got his start at his local comedy club during an open mic night and never looked back. “Back in 2001, I went down there and signed up for an open mic night and got on stage and have been doing it ever since” said Horton. Horton currently opens for Kevin Hart, one of the industry’s top performers who has sold out shows all over the world and has appeared in a plethora of hit movies, including one based off some of his performances, “Let Me Explain”, which has grossed over $30 million. Horton says he kind of grew up with Kevin and watched his career rise. “We used to play basketball, our neighborhoods were right next to each other and our friendship grew from there. He moved out and started comedy and then I did the same thing and he’d call me and go “Hey man I hear you’re doing it so I’m here to always help you out whenever I’ve got the chance.” said Horton. For a comedian that opens for a world-renowned comedian, one might think that the pressure would be too much to handle. Spank does not think that at all. “Pressure? Not at all! I look at as they’re not here
to see me, they’re here to see Kevin. Whatever I do is just extra honestly. Due to not being known as well, no one really claps or anything and my opening line is like ‘F*** you too! I don’t know y’all either! I came here to get my check!’ and from there I have them” Horton said. Horton mentioned that the House of Blues was his favorite venue to perform at and that Miami was his favorite city to perform in as well. As Horton saw Kevin Hart rise through his career and venture into movies, he sees that next step as essential for himself. “I did an independent film last year called Sucker for Love which I believe is going to Netflix. I had the lead role in that. I just got an acting coach to work with me up until January and I’ll be auditioning for shows up through that time. Kev recommended an acting coach as I kept auditioning with little success. I thought I was natural at acting but no, I needed a coach. Spank also mentioned that he had a few inspirations growing up and some comedic role models stood out. “I was always known as the funny guy and class clown and stuff like that growing up. I really knew I was funny when I was in high school, and people that weren’t in my class would say, “Hey I heard you were saying this or that” and when it started traveling around like that, I knew. Bernie Mac really stood out as a comedian for me. He’s my number one guy. I’d also say Kevin Hart too because I saw him rise as he grew up from day one till now. I saw his grind and what he does every single day to get where he is
today. I haven’t applied myself to that grind yet but I’m comfortable where I’m at. I don’t want to be the number one guy but I want to be further ahead than where I’m at now.”
Spank Horton performed on Oct. 3 in The Vulcan Theatre.
Students find success producing ‘One Act’ plays at Cal U BY LAUREN GRIFFITH, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
When Lucy in the Sky was performed at California University of Pennsylvania’s campus this past weekend, The Beatles were not tagging along. The play by Tony Layton accompanied 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, by Don Zolidis, at An Evening of One Acts. The One Act plays are student-directed and use students to play the roles of the characters. This semester’s acts were directed by Adam Sutch and Maddie Dudley. Sutch is a grad student in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and Dudley is a graduating senior. The event, held in The Blaney Theatre, gave both laughs and scares. 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse was the first show of the evening, and
featured 13 different Cal U students as actors. Lucy in the Sky followed, and a more serious tone set in England and four student actors who mimicked the accents. “ There was a one act [play] I was in a couple of years ago that really reflected a strong female presence, so I thought of that and looked for a piece that I could give some of the female actors in the department that same chance that I got,” said Dudley. Once the piece is chosen by the student director, it gets submitted to faculty in the department to be approved for length, content, and script. The process takes up to two weeks. After the decision is made, scripts are read through, and then blocking and rehearsal began. Rehearsals for Lucy in the Sky were held five days a week, four hours a day for the two weeks leading up to the performances.
“Each of the characters can be painted as both a victim and a villain, making it so they aren’t completely right in their scenarios. There is a lot of gray in the area,” said Dudley. The audience was host to students and parents at the four different shows in the blackbox theatre. Tickets to the show were $12, but with a valid Calcard the price dropped to $.50. “I wasn’t sure what to expect but I think that the two plays complemented each other in a way that the comedy of the first play made the second play’s drama more captivating,” said Donald Prentice, a junior radio/TV communications major. Prentice went to the showing on Oct. 4, at 8 p.m. “The acting was compelling and the story took turns I wasn’t expecting,” said Prentice.
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Internship Corner
Intern Spotlight of the Week
Matt Ruttledge, Fisheries and Wildlife Major, interned with the Bald Head Island Conservancy.
The Internship Center is one of the most important resources on campus for students, providing students with guidance through the process of applying, accepting, and receiving credit for internships. When beginning the internship process, knowing where to start can be frightening to a first timer. However, preparing for an internship does not have to be like wandering through Harry Potter’s Forbidden Forest. The first step in starting the internship process is deciding which term (fall, spring, summer, etc.) will fit best for you. After that, start brainstorming. Think about what employers you may want experience working with and where geographically you may want to intern. After a little bit of Nancy Drew-style investigation, head over to the Internship Center located on the second floor of Eberly Hall in room 230 any time Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fitness Corner with Phil Tafone
For the time being, I feel the need to address power/ energy bars. They are not all created equally. SInce most of the students I have encountered on campus have a limited supply of fresh foods, it is important to select the right packaged foods. All too often I hear from clients that they ate a few eggs or drank a protein shake just before a workout. The reality is that protein is the macronutrient that recovers and rebuilds tissue. It is the least efficient fuel (compared with carbs or fats) and is roughly the equivalent of writing your name with lipstick - you just skipped over the pen and sharpie. The most important thing to ask yourself, whenever you are eating, is “what did I just do, and what am I going to do?”. If you are going to workout, have a carb-based granola or energy bar an hour before exercise. Fruit or raw veggies are preferable, but again, I’m discussing the options available at Rite Aid, the student center, or stores like Wal-Mart that many students frequent to stock their dorms. Generally speaking, a power bar should not be much higher than 200 calories. If it is, it is probably full of protein. For the sake of fueling a workout, or even staying awake during a 9:00 a.m. lecture, it is not necessary to have much more than 10 grams of protein in your energy bar. In fact, there can be zero protein in your energy bar. Seek oats, fiber, and vitamins that you may be lacking from a diet of sandwiches. In the case of having just worked out, a protein-rich bar is perfect. Keep in mind the intensity of your workout will dictate how much protein you need. If your workout does not fall under either description, which is fine, consider a bar with 15 grams or less. Realistically, if you just performed cardio, you may be able to get away with a few gulps of juice to replenish blood sugar, or even just hydrating at the water fountain until you can shower up and have your next meal. There is infinite information regarding how much protein a person needs, and the research is ongoing. In adherence with what I can legally recommend, the best advice I can give is to be aware of your daily caloric intake. If you are not working out, or primarily performing cardio workouts, be sure that protein makes up only 20 or 25 percent of the calories you consume. If you are weight training in any way, that number can go as high as 33 to 40 percent. I believe strongly that we all have different bodies and need to log what works for us and what does not. In the case of protein, always consider how much you are ingesting and why you are ingesting it, Doing so will allow you to get the most out of your diet and workout plans.
Page 9 Oct. 10, 2014
Cal U’s Meteorology Club kicks off Fall Colloquia Series The in’s and out’s of storm chasing
BY KATE SHELDON
On Thursday, Oct. 2, Cal U’s Meteorology Club had their first speaker of the semester, who was also the first part of their Fall Colloquia Series, Dr. P. Grady Dixon. Dixon came to California University of Pennsylvania from Fort Hays State University in western Kansas and is their chair of the Department of Geosciences. This was a returning visit for Dixon, who last visited the university 15 years ago. Dixon lived the first 11 years of his childhood in a mobile home in Mississippi, though he was lucky enough to never have been hit with any tornados during that time. His entire childhood of terrifying weather is what inspired him to want to pursue storm chasing since he gained a healthy respect for the weather after many of the tense nights spent living in severe storms. He opened the presentation and talk with the title, “Hail and Deer… and Several Other Answers to Your Questions about Storm Chasing,” and explained that the title correlated with some of the dangers of storm chasing that he got to later on in the presentation, literally being hail and deer. Some of his main goals for presenting his knowledge and experiences with storm chasing were not only to boost interest in the act itself but also to educate students and individuals on the different types of
storms all over the country. He attempted to teach students what they need to know about storms, give them new perspectives on storms (and their surroundings in general), and open their eyes to the amazing and peculiar things that can be seen around the country, weather related or not. Storm chasing takes a lot of traveling and driving, sometimes hitting the 500 mile mark per day in the vans that are used for storm chasing. Dixon said that one of the perks of being a professor and a storm chaser is that the timing always works out perfectly, since the best time to storm chase is at the end of each spring semester during the summer. He also said that there are some frustrations that come along with storm chasing, one of them being that they always have to “hurry to wait,” and get to the location before the storm actually hits so that they have time to prepare. Dixon also said that the way the weather is acting that day may completely change the outcome of what you see, no matter how far away or close you are from the storm. Though it might seem like a good idea to be closer to the storm to be able to see everything clearer, Dixon states that it is better to stay further away in order to see the actual structure of the storm and to be able to observe its behavior. “Being there when the storm starts may not be
enough,” Dixon said. “You have to know how the storm behaves in order to view what’s there. I myself, as well as other people I know, have been within a mile of a tornado and not been able to see anything.” He has been storm chasing since 1998 and says he remembers almost every detail of his best chase days. “Perhaps my most memorable day was May 22, 2011,” Dixon said. “We were targeting southeastern Kansas. At the start of that day, I told the students that we would likely have to leave a very good storm once it reached the hills and trees of southwestern Missouri or northwestern Arkansas because it would be unsafe to chase in that tree cover and terrain. That came true near Baxter Springs, Kansas...about 15 miles west of Joplin, Missouri. The next radar scan that we saw after losing sight of the storm base showed the tell-tale sign of a tornado causing damage in the city of Joplin. We saw two tornadoes later that day, but those are after thoughts to that one moment staring at the radar.” Dixon continues to storm chase and teach his students about his experiences, along with affording them the opportunity to chase their own storms.
FORECAST BY: THE SAMARAS AND YOUNG WEATHER CENTER
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Athletes should do what makes them happy BY STETSON PROVANCE, NEWS EDITOR
Suffice it to say, I echo Jose’s sentiment that both Sidney Crosby and Andrew McCutchen remain in Pittsburgh their entire careers (in Crosby’s case, the long term contract extension he signed a few summers ago all but guarantees he retires a Penguin). I, like almost any Pittsburgher, have became a huge fan of McCutchen and Crosby. Unlike most star athletes, Sid and Cutch are valuable human beings on and off the playing field. Crosby and McCutchen have become engrained in the greater Pittsburgh community through charity work, and both serve as the faces of their respective franchises. If Crosby is ever traded away by the Penguins or McCutchen decides to leave the Pirates in a couple years when he is eligible for free agency, the city of Pittsburgh will be heartbroken. However, I would hope that, especially in the case of McCutchen, Pittsburgh sports fans would understand his decision to leave and harbor no ill will towards him. Why? Because, unlike vilified superstars like LeBron James, McCutchen wouldn’t be abandoning the city because the grass is greener elsewhere. He would only leave if the Pirates don’t pay him what he’s worth. And, make no mistake, if McCutchen can continue to play anywhere close to the MVP level he has the past three baseball seasons, the Pirates won’t be able to give him the 5 year/150 million dollar contract he would be able to command elsewhere. Therein lies the crux when one becomes attached to a star ball player. In a sport like baseball where there is no salary cap and teams with multi millionaire owners like the Dodgers, Yankees, etc. can have payrolls of 200 or 300 million dollars, it is inevitable that smaller markets like Pittsburgh will have no choice but to stand idly by as
their star players walk out the door once they hit free agency. It isn’t anyone’s fault, it’s just business. Reasonable people should be able to understand that. However, if the past is any sort precedent, McCutchen could very well be booed if he ever steps up to the plate at PNC Park in another team’s jersey. Anyone who thinks that sounds crazy must have never heard Jaromir Jagr get bombarded with boos every time he touched the puck at Mellon Arena when he was a member of the Washington Capitals or New York Rangers. Don’t get me wrong, I am well aware that Jagr and McCutchen aren’t one in the same. Unlike McCutchen, Jagr didn’t present himself in a way that would cause him to be adored by fans. Also unlike McCutchen, who always praises the direction the Pirates are heading, Jagr made it known he wasn’t pleased with the direction the Penguins were heading back in the early 2000s (can you really blame him for being upset that he was a part of a bankrupt organization that was slowly but surely becoming bereft of talent?). However, just like I won’t be able to understand someone‘s motives for booing McCutchen, I never understood the way Penguin fans treated Jagr after he was traded to the Capitals, largely for financial reasons, back in 2001. Much like McCutchen is a sort of “savior“ of the Pirates organization for carrying the team to two straight winning seasons and two straight playoff appearances, Jagr was the last savior for the Penguins before the Sidney Crosby era. One of my fondest early childhood memories was watching Jagr score the game tying and game winning goals in the first round of 1999 playoffs against the New Jersey Devils. The Penguins were down 3-2 in that series, and despite a badly
For more information contact: The Career & Professional Development Center 724-938-4413 / careers@calu.edu
injured groin, Jagr decided to tough it out and play to help the Penguins stave off elimination. It must also be noted that Jagr’s performance meant so much more to the city of Pittsburgh than just forcing a game 7 in that playoff series. Rumors ran wild during the early part of 1999 that the Penguins might leave Pittsburgh sooner rather than later. Naturally, that made the city’s hockey fans extremely nervous. In fact, some fans even feared that game 6 in 1999 would be the last meaningful home game the Penguins played in Pittsburgh. Jagr’s goals served as the ultimate sedative, the supreme reprieve. They, along with the two Stanley Cups he played a major role in bringing to the city of Pittsburgh, should have resulted in Jagr being a sacred figure in the city, but they didn’t. Professional sports have always been and will continue to be a big business. Organizations will try to maximize profits, and athletes will either try to maximize their salaries or maximize their chances to win. For athletes like Andrew McCutchen (and Jaromir Jagr years before him), the desire for professional and financial success may lead them out of Pittsburgh, whether we like it or not. That’s why when you have a truly talented player on your favorite team, you should cherish every moment you get to watch them play. And, if you really understand the beauty of what you are watching, you won’t dare hate the player if and when they decide to leave. Instead, you’ll appreciate all they did for the team and the city while they were there.
Page 11 Oct. 10, 2014
TWITTER QUESTION OF THE WEEK @caltimes
Have selfies taken the original purpose out of photography?
@brexclaw @caltimes Not at all! People started taking selfies well before the term “selfie” was created. They just didn’t have front facing cameras. #caluopinion
@sonyajean26 @caltimes No, selfies are just another form of photography if you ask me. “original” photography can still exist despite selfies. #caluopinion
@Jess_Reddington @caltimes Photography’s purpose is to capture moments. Selfies are just another way to do that. So, no. #caluopinion
#CALUOPINION
‘But first, Let Me Take A Selfie’ BY STETSON PROVANCE,NEWS EDITOR
The practice of having your likeness showcased in pictures is nothing new. According to “The Public Domain Review,” amateur chemist and photography enthusiast Robert Cornelius set up a camera in the back of his family’s store one fateful day in 1839. Cornelius took the lens off the camera, ran into the frame, and sat down with his arms folded. The result was the first documented photograph. By association, the picture of Cornelius is also considered to be the first ever “selfie.” It is important to note that, in the grand scheme of things, Cornelius’s appearance in the picture is quite insignificant. Instead, it is his discovery that gives the picture meaning. Today, my concern is that the association between Cornelius’s selfie and many modern selfies is solely that both are pictures. For every selfie that depicts a person “discovering” a new place or documenting an important event, there seems to be five that serve no real purpose (except maybe gaining the photographer “likes” on social media). Photography, at its core, is a means of telling stories. It allows us to take people, places, or objects and give them meaning based on their context. It lets people learn things about someone that they may have not known otherwise. The selfie has the potential to do that. For example, in late 2012, Yahoo! Sports
ran a story on a selfie posted by Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen that he took in while in his hometown. In the picture, McCutchen was seen looking at the old trailer he lived in as a kid. The caption of the Instagram picture read: “I’ve come a long way since growing up here.” That picture spoke a thousand words about the type of person McCutchen is. It told anyone who viewed it a major part of his life story. It meant something. The only meaning I can get out of the millions of “duck face mirror selfies” posted on Facebook or Instagram each year is that people do not seem to appreciate the art of photography. Instead, they use this medium of self-expression in a selfish and vain way. On rare occasions, selfies do not only subject people to judgment from the average Joe like me. A new trend of taking selfies in controversial locations has put people on blast on the national level. Breanna Mitchell, a teenager from Alabama, took a selfie of her smiling at Auschwitz concentration camp. The picture was retweeted over 3,300 times in the first few days it was visible on social media, and responses to the picture were highly negative. The New York Post, New York Daily News, and US Magazine came across the photo and ran stories about it in their publications. All of a sudden, Mitchell was a national villain. This also happened to
a woman who took a selfie at the Brooklyn Bridge. The woman, who was lucky enough to escape the incident without her name being revealed, took the selfie while police were trying to talk a suicidal man down from the bridge (you could somewhat see the incident in the background). The New York Post got hold of the selfie and posted it on the front page with the headline “Selfie-ish.” Sadly, that headline could be the caption to many photos across social media. As we continue to navigate the digital age, questions concerning human nature will continue to rise. At the forefront is a question of human vanity. Are we all in some way, shape, or form a little vain? And, has social media helped to create a vanity monster? Also important is the place of selfies in the 21st century. Are they an art for, or do they serve the purpose of creating a sort of social construct in which our self worth is determined by how many likes or favorites our photos receive? Most importantly, are we truly the me-first generation some claim us to be? As much as I would like to make myself believe that social media and selfies are not having a negative effect on society, it only takes one scroll through my newsfeed to turn me into a pessimist. Oftentimes, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Page 12 Oct. 10, 2014
A new style and excitement around the Pittsburgh Penguins BY STETSON PROVANCE, NEWS EDITOR
Never again will a NHL head coach use the excuse “we just didn’t get to our game” to explain a loss. Never again will media members use the term “get-along-gang” to describe a team that would not address mistakes or make adjustments to its style of play. Never again will star players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin be subjected to a “chip and chase” system. Never again will Dan Bylsma be behind the bench as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and I could not be happier. As you can already tell, I was never a Bylsma guy. I hated everything about Bylsma’s system, especially the way he utilized his stars. Kris Letang would make half-ice stretch passes instead of carrying the puck out of the zone. Linemates of Crosby and Evgeni Malkin would dump the puck in as opposed to making creative plays in the neutral zone. These strategies were counter-intuitive. I also hated the way Bylsma treated young players like Eric Tangradi, Beau Bennett, and Simon Despres. If a young prospect made a bad play, Bylsma exiled them to the AHL or the press box. He never gave guys an opportunity to develop at the NHL level. Lastly, I hated Bylsma’s philosophy of inserting fast, finesse skaters into the lineup as opposed to bigger, grittier power forwards. Every team in the league knew it could take liberties on Crosby and Malkin without repercussions. It did not take long for all my grievances to manifest themselves. After winning a Stanley Cup in 2009 (with predecessor Michel Therrien’s system, mind you), Byslma led the Penguins to five straight disappointing playoff exits. I called for Bylsma’s dismissal immediately after the 2012-2013 Eastern Conference Finals when the Boston Bruins swept the Penguins even after key additions of even more stars at the trade deadline. If that team could not win a Stanley Cup, no team coached by Bylsma ever would again. The Penguins came to that realization this past offseason after being eliminated by the New York Rangers in the second round of the playoffs. Taking the helm this season is head coach Mike Johnston. When Johnston, who has never coached above the junior hockey level, was hired, many fans complained that his lack of NHL head coaching experience made him the wrong man for the job. I disagree because, based on what
The Pittsburgh Penguins pose with President Obama after their 2009 Stanley Cup victory.
Johnston has said, it appears the Penguins have found a coach with a system that accentuates their strengths. According to Johnston, instead of having talented defensemen like Kris Letang get rid of the puck right away every time they are in the defensive zone, he will give Letang and new addition Christian Erhoff free roam to be creative with the puck and make their own plays. Instead of dumping the puck into the opposing team’s zone and having star players chase it down in the corners, Johnston will try to implement a system that will involve smart, short passes and puck possession. That means Crosby and Malkin will have the puck on their sticks in the neutral zone and have support from all angles when trying to enter the other team’s defensive zone. Instead of giving playing time to finesse players who can skate straight the fastest, Johnston will utilize tough guys like Steve Downie to help protect the Penguins stars from cheap shots. And lastly, instead of benching younger players with raw talent, Johnston will give opportunities to guys like Bennett and Despres. So, in laymen’s terms, the Penguins will be more patient with the puck, have the puck more often, and have
a backbone. As good as that all sounds, there is no way to tell after one game if this strategy and these players will be successful when it matters: the playoffs. Out of all the things that are different with the Pittsburgh Penguins, one constant remains the same. Like Bylsma, Johnston will be judged solely on how his teams perform in the playoffs. Sidney Crosby is 27 years old. Evgeni Malkin is 28. These next couple years will be considered the prime of their careers. If the Penguins cannot win at least one more Stanley Cup, Johnston’s tenure will be a failure. Fair or not, this will cause Crosby and Malkin to be viewed as chokers, at least at the NHL level. If they cannot win on the biggest stage, then what will there be to remember? Do I think the Penguins are true cup contenders as it stands right now? No, but it is only October. A lot can change over these next seven or eight months. A lot has changed these past four months. Over the course of the 2014-2015 hockey season, it will be exciting to see how good of a thing change can be.
Page 13 Oct. 10, 2014
Photo Credit: Sports Information
Senior Jeffrey Kyei, a native of Germany, has become a huge weapon offensively for the Men’s soccer team throughout his collegiate career. Kyei has compiled eight points in nine games for the Vulcans this season.
From Germany to America: The Story of Cal U’s Jeffrey Kyei BY NATE CONNELLY, FOR THE CAL TIMES
When walking down the street, you might see Jeffrey Kyei and think he is just an ordinary college student here at Cal U, but there is much more to this one man than what meets the eye. Jeffrey Kyei is a senior soccer player here at Cal from a town called Tubingen in Germany. I was very interested to find out how someone from Germany found their way to southwestern Pennsylvania. This is a story anyone would get a laugh out of. “I wanted to study abroad to experience new cultures and languages,” said Kyei. “The only places in America that I had heard of were the big ones such as California and New York. I began to apply to Cal U because I actually thought it
was for California the state, but the coaches and recruiters made me learn to love Cal and they gave me a great feeling about it here.” I initially wanted to find out how Jeffrey got started in the game of soccer. “Everyone back home was playing soccer, my dad, brother, and friends were all involved in the game. My first toy as a kid was a soccer ball, so I just grew up playing the game.” Transitioning from Germany to America had to be tough task, not only when it comes to the game of soccer, but life in general. “The toughest part was communicating, I was just learning the new language and it was tough to communicate with my teammates and coaches, but it was not very hard
to adjust because I have always played and loved the game,” he said. “The game is a little more physical here in America while it is more technical and faster back home. I am more of a technical and fast player, but I love it here.” The senior forward wants nothing more than to have his last season be a successful one, something that would mean a lot to the senior star. “it is very important to me, I put all my focus and energy into this season, the last two seasons were great and we are improving in time.” He continued with “There are still some new players that are adjusting to the style of play and our goal every year is to win the title and I want to win that title for Cal.” Kyei had a phenomenal 2013 season putting up nine goals and 24 points. With the season he is having this year, the expectations remain high that a replication of the 2013 campaign can be possible. “Definitely, I have personally been improving all year long and I have improved with each season, I am still adjusting to the game here, but I always want to score more goals and get more points to help the team”. In 2013, Kyei was named to the Daktronics Third-Team All-American, named NSCAA Third-Team All-Region and was selected to the All-PSAC First-Team. He currently has three goals and eight points in nine games played and is ready to turn this season around for the team. Kyei is a very team first kind of guy, so much that his favorite colors are “red and black”. Now that is the mentality of a player who truly loves his team and his school. The expectations for Kyei remain high, but the expectations for the team may remain even higher for this player with that team first mentality. “I have very high expectations for the team this year, we have a really good team with a lot of talent, but we are still finding that team chemistry that will make us a great team,” said Kyei. “We plan on beating each team one game at a time and making a run for the title.” Though the soccer success has continued for Kyei the past couple of years, being a senior and graduating from college does bring up the topic of what is next. “Hopefully continue to play soccer, I would like to travel and see more parts of the world and play soccer like I did here in the states,” said Kyei. Moving is hard in itself, but moving to a whole new country would be terrifying. Meeting new people, adjusting to a new style of play, going to college, and even learning a new language are all challenges Kyei had to overcome. It is hard to stand with the weight of the world on your shoulders, but Jeffrey Kyei has stood tall. The Cal men’s soccer team currently has a 3-6-1 (2-3) record and they are looking to turn the season around with a game against Davis & Elkins on October 12th and make a solid run for a winning season and a title.
Page 14 Oct. 10, 2014
Photo Credit: Sports Information
Junior midfielder Marissa Neifert has had big time success this season after being named junior captain of the women’s soccer team prior to this year. Neifert has one assist this season and has started all eight of the Lady Vulcans games
Neifert, Lady Vulcans look to bounce back from shaky start to season BY MATT HAGEY
The midway point of the 2014 season for the Cal U women’s soccer brings a squad that is at a cross roads. The Vulcans once again find themselves battling at the top of the PSAC West looking to get back into hosting the PSAC playoffs as they have done the past three seasons. With the vast talent in the starting lineup, the Vulcans have played competitively in every single game not letting up at any points during the games. “We still have most of the core girls from last season’s team even with losing some of the talented seniors in that graduating class,” said Marissa Neifert, a junior midfielder. “We definitely have struggled a bit and it has been frustrating for sure but I have seen improvement in the girls which gives everyone confidence on the team.”
Neifert was named the junior team captain for this season which she helped gain from her standout play as a sophomore from the 2013 squad that won the PSAC Championship. In her first two seasons, Neifert has tallied at least one goal in each of those seasons along with appearing in over 20 games in both seasons as well. In 23 games last season, Neifert tallied one goal and four assists, one of which came in assisting the game-winning goal in the PSAC championship game against West Chester. “One of the main goals as a team captain is to get the freshman acclimated in the first season in playing NCAA soccer,” Neifert said. “With more stress on giving freshman more opportunities to step up, we were needed to
show to the freshman as upperclassmen that they are apart of this team and we really care about them. We also had team bonding activities to help them get to know us better early in the season and made it easier for them to bond with us.” This season through nine games, Neifert has tallied one assist which came in an opening day win in Shippensburg. Even without Neifert having gaudy offensive numbers, she has helped control the field of play for her teammates and has helped shut down some of the top offenses in the PSAC, most notably shutting down the previously ranked and unbeaten IUP Crimson Hawks squad by a 2-0 score on September 16th. Along with the steady play from Neifert, senior Chelsea Crockett leads the team with five goals and is followed by three goals each from senior Haley Henderson and junior Janelle McCann. The biggest change for the team came in the offseason when Glenn Francis replaced Gene Smith as the team’s head coach. Francis served as Smith’s assistant last season and when Smith was hired at Davis & Elkins in January, Francis was promoted to head coach. “The change of coaching really did not affect us much since Glenn knew the team already from last season,” Neifert said. “Glenn puts in more substitutions than Gene did and gives the freshman more of a chance to play as well. Other than changing our formations to two different formations we never played before, Glenn uses ideas that worked in the past to help us be successful.” Even with the coaching staff changes, one thing that has stayed the same is the consistency of winning that finds the Vulcans in control of a playoff spot and tied for fourth place in the entire PSAC conference. As the Vulcans look ahead to the grind of the second half of the season, the confidence is high that this 2014 edition can make a run that could lead to a successful defense of the PSAC championship. The Vulcans close out the season by facing two teams that are just ahead of them in the standings in West Chester and East Stroudsburg. This will be a test to see if this squad has what it takes to replicate what previous championship teams have done to rule the PSAC. “Obviously we want to host the PSAC playoffs again,” Neifert said. “We have hosted it both seasons I have been on the team and it has given us that home-field advantage by playing on the field we are most accustomed to in Philipsburg and to sleep in our own beds, cook our own breakfast, just little things like that to help us be most successful. I know from seeing us grow as a team from August that we have what it takes to win out and host again.”
Page 15 Oct. 10, 2014
Photo Credit: Sports Information
Senior linebacker Spencer Lynn has become an experienced leader on the Vulcans defense, something he gives credit to the leadership and knowledge gained from some former Cal U teammates
Senior linebacker looks to continue bringing stellar leadership in final season BY JOSE NEGRON, SPORTS EDITOR
The California University of Pennsylvania football team has been known to have standout players on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. They’ve been a team that prides themselves on creating depth throughout the entire roster. Plenty of star players have come out of Cal U and senior linebacker Spencer Lynn is no exception. Lynn, a Belle Vernon High School graduate and one of the veteran leaders on this Vulcans defense, is having one of his best collegiate seasons thus far. This season, he has 36 tackles, already matching his season high from last season, through five games. This big, bounce back start to the season is something that Lynn credits to being healthy, getting more playing time on the field and understanding the game better. “Last year, I pulled my hamstring at the end of camp
and I wasn’t involved in pretty much the whole first half of the season and this year I’m healthy so far, so that’s helping a lot,” said Lynn. “I understand our defense and have a much better feel for the game than I ever had before. It really is the mental side of it, watching film, studying your playbook, and knowing your playbook inside and out.” Lynn also contributes a lot to playing with star players who made impacts while playing for Cal U’s football program in the past including safeties Rontez Miles and Dewey McDonald, and offensive lineman Eric Kush. All three of these players moved on to NFL teams with Miles and McDonald playing on the practice squads for the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts respectively. Kush was a sixth round selection in the 2013 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs and remains on the active roster for the team. These players, the success that they had on
the field, and the way they went about their lives off of the field have always been things that Lynn has admired and modeled himself after. “Not only were they amazing football players, but they were all good people off the field,” said Lynn. “They just lived right all the time, they worked hard at football, they worked hard at school, and they just lived their lives right. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned.” Though this is really the first season in which Lynn has gotten the opportunity to play regularly every week, he does have some moments in which he can say are his favorite. During his sophomore season in 2012, he fondly remembers the first game of the season against Hillsdale, in which he got to share a special moment with his teammates including Miles. The game was coming down to the wire with Hillsdale on Cal U’s goal line with a fourth and one opportunity with four seconds left on the last play of the game. Lynn rushed the quarterback out of the pocket and Miles broke up the play in the end zone. It remains a play and a moment Lynn will never forget. “I watch it all the time when I’m in one of those nostalgic moods,” said Lynn. “Now that he plays for the jets, it’s just really cool that I got to share that moment with an NFL football player.” Despite having a major respect factor for players that have come before him, Lynn has now become one of the veteran leaders on the Vulcans defense. Having the respect of his teammates and passing on knowledge to the younger players is something he hopes continues as the season moves forward. “I take pride in being a very cerebral football player. I know the game and I study the game, watch a lot of film and understand our defense,” said Lynn. “I think that’s a big thing. Having knowledge of the defense and we definitely have a lot of guys on this defense who are like that.” Lynn, who has already graduated from Cal U, hopes to continue having football be a part of his life with coaching being a part of his future plans. He plans to help coach his high school team, Belle Vernon, starting next summer and even might have plans to continue playing in the future. Though his football-playing career may seem unclear, one thing is for certain. Lynn’s career at Cal U will definitely be remembered as a respected one. He will finish his collegiate career as a Rontez Miles type player who is respected by his friends and his peers both on and off the field. Lynn and the Vulcans will return to action tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. as they take on Slippery Rock University for the annual homecoming game at Adamson Stadium.
Page 16 Oct. 10, 2014
Cal Times Athlete Spotlight Alex Zanella, distance runner
Class: Senior Major: Special Education (Pre K-4) Hometown: Everett, Pa. High School: Everett High School Senior distance runner Alex Zanella has had success far beyond her time here at California University of Pennsylvania. Zanella was a two time district champion Bedford County all star while attending Everett High School. She was a district champion in the 1600 meter run and besides cross country, Zanella was also a member of the track & field and soccer teams. Last season, Zanella had one of her most successful years of her collegiate cross country career. She took home Capital One Academic All-District laurels, USTFCCCA AllAcademic laurels, and was named USTFCCCA All-Region. She also qualified as an individual for the NCAA National Championships in which she ran a time of 22:35.76 to place 100th overall.
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