VOL 36, NO.9
NEWS: 2
LIFE: 6
DESIGN AFTER DARK
OPINION: 9
OCTOBER 31, 2014
SPORTS: 13
The Halloween graphic design show, held in Vulcan Gallery, featured the darker and creepier side of prints, paintings, and drawings. Studio 224, Cal U’s graphic design club, hosted the gallery opening last Thursday from 6-8 p.m. “Seduction” (below) by Michelle Rowekamp
OrgSync Wants to Help! The MAC Lab will be hosting informational sessions on using OrgSync to help clubs and organizations utilize the website. Pg. 5
Fitness Phil Gets Motivated Social motivation can be a huge part of working out! Find out what you can do to motivate others via your favorite social media accounts! Pg. 6
Accents N’at Why must we define certain people by the way they speak? Being from Pittsburgh does not make you a ‘Yinzer.’ Pg. 9
No Sophomore Slump Jawan Turner did not fall victim to the sophomore slump. Check out how the second-year player is helping the Vulcan defnse in a BIG way. Pg. 15
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
CALTIMES CONTRIBUTORS: PHIL TAFONE, CLAUDIA PEHOWIC, 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.
“CampaignWatch” updates students on gubernatorial race BY CLAUDIA PEHOWIC
Many students of California University of Pa. decry the current voting system of the United States, are not politically informed, or have no desire to become involved. While there are a slew of possible improvements to our voting system, and perhaps the candidates, avoiding the polls in Tom Wolf (D), York the name of civil disobedience doesn’t really “stick it to the man.” Instead, it simply stands as a missed opportunity to allow America to hear your political voice. On Tues., Nov. 4, the date of Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race between “the two Toms,” voter turnout will be as important as ever. The race between Tom Corbett and Tom Wolf was predicted to be a landslide victory in favor of Democratic candidate Wolf; however, insider polls (polls recorded by the partisan campaign, in lieu of an unbiased information source) have recently recorded that as little as a five point difference between candidates. Essentially, the race could be much closer than anticipated, meaning every vote may count. During CampaignWatch, which was held in Manderino Library, Oct. 18., the gubernatorial election was spotlighted. Dr. Blumberg of the Political Science Department lead the discussion, posing insights and questions to the attendees. Fifteen students and six campaign interns were present and included in the round-table discussion. The audience consisted of anthropology, business administration, public relations, political science, and predominately education majors. This display of diversity furthered Dr. Blumberg’s notion that citizens have a variety of reasons for casting their ballot. Of the students, one mentioned health care; one, taxes; one, poverty; one, environment; two, women’s rights; and thirteen, education systems and funding. Education was the predominate worry due to “proxy,” “schools’ shutdowns in Philadelphia,” “job security for teacher,” and “lack of education in urban, poverty-stricken areas causing government dependence.” It seemed as though Governor Corbett’s education cuts were under strong scrutiny. Doctor Blumberg asked the students if they planned to leave after their graduation from California.
Approximately half of the students raised their hands in affirmation. Dr. Blumberg replied, “That’s not what educators want to see, and it’s not what state governors want to see.” She discussed the Tom Corbett (R), Shaler gubernatorial plight to both retain and attract “the best and brightest” citizens to their state. On a similar note, it was mentioned earlier in the meeting that Pennsylvania was ranked seventh of the 50 states in terms of job growth when Governor Corbett was elected to office and has now dropped to 47. To maintain fairness, there are a number of reasons for this statistic, and not all of them can be traced back to Corbett. Students mentioned that they valued qualities of cooperation, leadership, and empathy of the people. Many affirmed when Dr. Blumberg stated that a partisan candidate becomes a governor of all parties and all people when he/she takes office. One of the students described her partisan change of heart by saying, “I was a Republican, but I now identify as a Democrat. The Republicans aren’t helping me; they’re not helping my family.” After the group’s discussion of partisan differences, however, the majority of students agreed that the candidate’s person is more important than party affiliation. Despite a record high number of people submitting “straight party tickets’”, students realize that a candidate’s party will not directly influence every opinion and decision that the candidate will make after taking office. In essence, not every Democrat or every Republican represents the same ideals, and they would not necessarily react similarly to the challenges and questions of public office. The moral in this race, and races nationwide, is that it’s important to know the candidates and their values. The discussion ended with a reminder that every vote counts. Some people have the belief that when one’s party or candidate is in the lead, their vote no longer matters. However, if you value your opinion in the gubernatorial election and have already registered as a voter, submit a ballot. You never know how close the race may be.
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Cal presents ‘PSYCHEDELIA’ ‘Psychedelia’NOV. Nov.10 10-14 CALUUDepartment DEPARTMENT of OF Art ART and AND Design DESIGN PRESENTS - 14 Cal U’s Department of Art and Design presents “Psychedelia: The Art of Intense Ornamentation,” featuring artworks created by students in Advanced Drawing and Advanced Painting classes. The swirling colors and surreal visuals of “Psychedelia” will be on display from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 10-14 in the Vulcan Gallery, on the first floor of Vulcan Hall. Gallery admission is free. An opening reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Vulcan Gallery. The reception is free to the University community and the general public. For more information, contact faculty members Todd Pinkham at pinkham@calu. edu, Maggy Aston at Aston@calu.edu; or Art Club President Shannon Drudy at dru5424@ calu.edu.
PSYCHEDELIA AT CALU
Hayden Hosfelt, a sophomore majoring in political science with minor in fine arts, works on a painting
POLICE REPORTS Wild Party On Oct. 29, California Police filed violations of the Disorderly House Ordinance against three Cal U students for allegedly having a party at their Vulcan Village apartment Petty Theft On Oct. 29, California Borough Police filed retail theft charges against a 20 yr. old male from Erie, Pa. after he placed a 99 cent item of eye care spray in his pocket that, according to police, he “didn’t intend to pay for.”
Attorney offers look at law career Attorney A. Tereasa Rerko provides an inside look at the law as a career when she speaks Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. in Eberly Hall, Room 110 at an event sponsored by the American Democracy Project at Cal U. Rerko, a Cal U graduate, is a partner at the firm of Quatrini Rafferty, Attorneys at Law, in Greensburg, Pa. Her practice concentrates on the areas of workers’ compensation and Social Security disability, exclusively representing injured workers and disabled claimants. Rerko has practiced law since 1984. She is a former
member of the American bar association and a current member of NOSSCR, the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives. She has been listed in “Who’s Who in American Lawyers” annually since 1997. For more information, contact Dr. Melanie Blumberg, a professor in Cal U’s Department of History and Political Science and campus director of the American Democracy Project, at blumberg@calu.edu. Her talk is free and open to the public. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.
Page 4 Oct. 31, 2014
Veterans service members honored at Cal U
November events at Cal U include patriotic banner display, professional wrestling, Veterans Dinner and more
Nov. 1-30 — Banners displayed on the Cal U campus honor military veterans for their service. The Veterans Banner Project invites community members to purchase banners honoring family members, colleagues and friends. A map of the 42 banner locations is available online, and the public may tour the campus daily from dawn to dusk. Details: www.calu.edu/veterans.
Nov. 10 — California University welcomes the public to its 41st annual Veterans Dinner, 6-8 p.m. in the Cal U Convocation Center’s south wing. The annual event honors veterans on campus and throughout the region and recognizes the recipient of this year’s Col. Art Bakewell Scholarship. Ticket price is $15; Cal U students are admitted free, along with service members and veterans. Registration is required; visit www.calu.edu and check the EVENTS carousel on the homepage.
Nov. 9 — Renegade Wrestling Alliance presents “Salute to the Troops II,” a professional wrestling event at the Cal U Convocation Center. Doors open at 3:45 p.m.; bell time is 5 p.m. A portion of net proceeds supports the Post-9/11 Scholarship Fund at the Foundation for California University. Admission is free for veterans and service members with military identification; for others, cost is $20 for assigned
Nov. 11 — Cal U’s Office of Veterans Affairs hosts an off-campus VetTogether from 5-7 p.m. at Lagerheads in Coal Center, Pa. The monthly gathering gives veterans and service members an opportunity to socialize and build camaraderie. For details: vettogethers.org/find or Capt. Robert Prah, director of Veterans Affairs, prah@calu.edu.
A series of events next month at California University of Pennsylvania will honor service members and veterans.
seating, $15 for general admission, $6 for children and students with school ID. For tickets: veterans@calu.edu or 724-938-4076.
Internship Corner
Intern Spotlight of the Week There are dozens of wonderful opportunities available to find your choice internship; to help, here are some recently listed: ID# ID# ID# ID# ID# ID#
3737: 3738: 3733: 3653: 3740: 3734:
PA House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program PA House of Representatives Archival Internship Program Design Intern at U.S. Coruggated Marketing Intern for Harrisburg City Islanders Application Development Intern at CentiMark Corp Book Store Manager Intern at BARC
To find out more information about the previously-listed internships, go to InternLink - www.myinterfase.com/cup/student - and search for the ID number of the desired internship. If none of these internships fit your interests, there are still dozens of internships you can search for on Internlink. Happy Hunting! (Photo) Tanner Jesso, Secondary Education and Social Studies Major, interned at the Washington Center in Washington D.C.
STUDENTS! Do you have questions or concerns that desire immediate answers? Do you want a general update about your campus? If so, make sure to attend the Campus Talk!
“Campus Talk” with Cal U Interim President Geraldine M. Jones FOR ALL STUDENTS Thursday, Nov. 6, 11 a.m. Convocation Center South Wing
Page 5 Oct. 31, 2014
Cal U holds OrgSync workshops
University hopes to teach students how to use the new system BY MELANIE BOOP
The Multimedia Access Center (MAC) is hosting “Get up to speed with OrgSync” training workshops this fall. The workshops are scheduled every other Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in the MAC Lab. The sessions last one hour, and they give students a walkthrough of OrgSync. The sessions began on Oct. 7 and will continue until Dec. 9. The sessions show students how to use personal tools or tools for clubs and organizations. Eight computers are available in the MAC Lab, or students can bring their own laptop or tablet to the sessions. Students do not need to RSVP to the sessions; however, space is limited to 16 participants. Clubs and organizations can speak with Pam DelVerne, director of technology services, to schedule a presentation for their group. Clubs can choose a general overview presentation, an administrator specific presentation, or both. Groups must complete a request form on OrgSync at least one week prior to the presentation date. A two-week notice must be given if a computer lab is needed for the group’s presentation. Every incoming student receives an OrgSync account prior to new student orientation.
OrgSync helps students find clubs to join, volunteer service projects, and campus events. As of Oct. 17, there were 747 upcoming events on the OrgSync calendar and 211 active portals that include Greek life, departments, service partners, honors program, clubs, and residence halls. The OrgSync workshops are designed to teach students how to navigate the website. Kaitlyn Strosnider, senior and president of Alpha Lambda Delta, a Collegiate National Honor Society, admits OrgSync can be hard to use at first; however, with a little help you will be able to easily navigate the website. “OrgSync is easy to use once you become comfortable. However, once you attend a training or just play around with it, you will find that anything club and organization related can be found right there on OrgSync,” Strosnider, said. Clubs can use OrgSync to share files, manage websites, record attendance, and provide information to the membership. As an officer, Strosnider uses OrgSync to relay information to the club members quickly.“OrgSync is beneficial. It provides a central place for all clubs to utilize and work together to provide information to CAL U club members faster and easier,” Strosnider said.
Members of Alpha Lambda Delta and various other organizations rely on OrgSync to find service opportunities, and the officers use it to track a member’s service hours. Karen Amrhein, advisor of Alpha Lambda Delta, encourages the members to look on OrgSync to find service opportunities. “Because we require service it is a convenient place to see everything offered through Volunteer Programs and Service Learning. It is a one stop shop,” Amrhein said. DelVerne is excited about the opportunity to teach students how to better use Orgsync. Moving forward, DelVerne hopes students can take time from their busy schedules to attend workshops, although she understands the timing of the workshops is less than ideal. “I would have love to have the lab full of people, but Tuesday at common hour is a busy time,” DelVerne said.
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Fitness Corner With Phil Tafone
Working out is physically difficult by design, but mentally, it can be so challenging that we may skip it altogether. Even the regular fitness enthusiast has had his or her share of “I’ll go in an hour” every hour until the day is written off as a “rest day.” Most of the clients or students I ask about social media tell me they follow someone, if not many people, within the fitness industry. For some odd reason, a relentless barrage of female body builder videos and images of mango smoothies compel us to change into our sneakers and “kill it.” Of course, we may not always “kill it.” More often than not, we jog on a human hamster wheel and then use that to justify indulging in pizza or frozen yogurt. This is not me being a wise ass, but the truth I get from a majority of people that I actually sit and speak to. The reality is that hanging a picture of a Lamborghini, Paris, or a tropical island does not simply translate to earning enough money for an exotic car or a trip to a distant land. I do not condone this, but you could throw caution to the wind, steal the Lambo, and then flee America to live a nomadic life in Europe or on Central America’s beaches. Chances are you will not do this, which is a good thing. My
point is that sometimes a picture is just something nice to look at. Before you unfollow a few hundred physique models (or more likely, call me a grumpy jerk), allow me to share the most powerful use of social media, for anyone seeking motivation. It can frightening, but like all rewarding things in life, it comes with risks, and with the risk, like most good ideas, is not as large as it is intimidating. My advice to all seeking motivation through social media is to stop being a follower and start be a leader. Make a 30-day goal and announce it to the world. Maybe you want to lose five pounds. Do not tell me that it’s nothing; tell everyone you know that you are doing something. In the same post, state that you will work out X amount of times per week and will be posting it daily. Now you are accountable. An astonishing amount (up to 75% by my account) of people state that they hire personal trainers just for the accountability of an appointment with one. As mentioned earlier, we should all reprogram our minds to view social media as a way of outreach rather than input. Five years ago, before my fitness career, my music was not on my phone, but rather an iPod. Since my
gym had no reception, there was no point in bringing my phone when I worked out. My apartment was a few blocks from the gym and I would jog there. Before doing so I would write on Facebook that I would not be available by cell, because I was at the gym. Little did I know, I became known as a “workout guy.” My friends (who were mostly drunks and drug addicts) and my family (who are large, ItalianAmericans) became fascinated with the idea that I was working out. If I could join a gym, that meant they could too. In reality, my posting about the gym was so that people would not be offended by an hour-plus of not answering texts. By happenstance, I developed a reputation for working out and had to uphold it. If you do not believe in the power of sharing, start now and see what happens. I would bet that by the end of the year, someone will privately reach out to you asking for advice. You will become someone’s motivation and that is more motivating than all the anorexics in sports bras you could ever follow through cyberspace. Do not underestimate your own efforts; you might just reboot your whole 73227 life.
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Page 7 Oct. 31, 2014
Let Everything That Hath Breath
Praise the Lord
November 1 @ 7:00pm Steele Hall
Admission is FREE
Page 8 Oct. 31, 2014
Design After Dark design show perfect for Halloween BY DEVEN BOURQUIN The picture is “Mona Lisa in White” and she’s surrounded by a multitude of other paintings, but there’s something different. Her cheeks are sunken in and there’s visible muscle and bone. Her skin is pale and rotting. Some students just could not wait and started celebrating Halloween a week early at California University of Pennsylvania. Vulcan Hall looked less like an art gallery and more like a haunted house because of Studio 224’s art show that was Halloween themed and held on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event also attracted some real characters. Kiki, a young witch from Studio Ghibli’s “Kiki’s Delivery Service” portrayed by Ashyln Neiffer, a senior, 21 and a graphic design major, had some pieces displayed during the event. Her pieces are titled “Victorian Sugar Skull” and were created by first using digital images and then working with print on scrapbook paper. For Neiffer, the gallery provided her with an opportunity she usually wouldn’t have. “I usually work with computer graphics, but I finally had a chance to work hands on,” said Neiffer, referring to the print method she used. “I just took it as a chance to do whatever I want.” Neiffer is also president of Studio 224 and said the gallery provides a place beyond the classroom that allows for individual creative expression. “It gives you an opportunity to work on your own outside of class,” said Neiffer. Kiki did glance around a few times as if looking for someone. “I wanted to bring Gigi [Kiki’s cat], but I was afraid people would have allergies to him,” said Neiffer on the lack of her companion’s presence. The club tries to have at least one gallery each semester specifically that it hosts, though many of the members participate in a number of the art galleries. The theme is decided about a month and a half in advance, so everyone has ample time to work on material. The officers get together and examine the strengths, weaknesses and interests of the current membership, said Neiffer on the choosing process. The club has around 40 to 50 members, but about 25 of the members are active constantly and participating, according to Neiffer. The gallery is not exclusive to club members, as anyone was allowed to submit. Han Solo from the “Starwars” universe, a.k.a. Steven Krenn, 21, who was present as a viewer,
told on how he ended up at the gallery. “I was smuggling some Tauntauns into Tatooine whenever I met some raiders in the Kashyyyk galaxy, and I had to bail off here to drop of my smuggled goods,” said Krenn. Han Solo mingled with the other gallery goers, moving from group to group. “I enjoy these events because the dark side of the force has no bounty hunters in this quadrant,” said Krenn. Han Solo motioned towards a few of the paintings. “I want to add a few to the Millenium Falcon’s ship deck,” said Krenn. Emily Conti, 20, a junior graphic design and public relations major was dressed as Esmerelda from Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Esmerelda said she admired Princess Leia’s renditions of American Horror Story’s promotional art of all four of the show’s seasons. She’s referring to the interpretive pieces done by
Eric Robinson’s piece “Mona Lisa in White” was one of many pieces on display at the gallery PHOTO CREDIT: LAUREN GRIFFITH
Laura Shirley, a junior at Cal U. However, the Halloween gallery wasn’t just about people having a good time in a creative environment. Many of the artists encountered challenges and grew from the experience. Jigsaw of the “Saw” movie series also made an appearance, spiral check blush and all. Jigsaw, a.k.a. Michelle Rowekamp, 21, a senior and graphic design major, thought that having the Halloween theme provided an exercise for her as an artist. “It limits your choices but expands your creativity. There’s a desire and push to find something different from what everyone else is producing,” said Rowekamp. Another artist talked about his experience with the theme of the gallery. “I wanted something that combined with horror, but not over the top. I still wanted it to be family friendly,” said Eric Robinson 21, a graphic design major. Robinson described his work as Burton-esque. It’s dark and twisted, but there’s always a deeper underlying message present in his work of some kind, said Robinson. Robinson said he felt his work was pretty well received and viewers enjoyed his work. Robinson had four pieces at the event. Two were interpretations with a horror twist of other artists’ creations: “Margaret, the Artist’s Wife, Is a Demon,” by Jan van Eyck; “Mona Lisa in White,” by Leonardo da Vinci. And, the other two were personal creations: “Home Movies” by Eric Robinson and “Tortured Sisters.” Maleficent was also sighted at the gallery for a spell. Throughout the entire event, students seemed to be enjoying themselves. “The food is great, the artists are so entertaining. The second we’re in the gallery it makes it all worthwhile,” said Rowekamp. Esmerelda, shared a similar thought. “I have friends in the show, but it’s also nice to see everyone while not being in a class environment. It’s nice to see everyone out,” said Conti. “We’re not forced to come here, everyone has a genuine interest.” Jigsaw explained why the gallery is important for the campus to have as an artist. “The art show pushes my limits. It forces me to not have a closed mind, which is so easy to do when going the same thing over and over again. As an artists, we all have our strong suit, but it’s good to have other experiences too,” said Rowekamp.
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Pittsburghese: Having a Pittsburgh heritage does not make you a Yinzer
EMILY GEYER There has been an assumption for many, many years that if you are from Pittsburgh or the surrounding area, you are a Yinzer. A Yinzer, for those of you who do not know, is a person who talks something that is referred to as Pittsburghese; which, incudes phrases like “yinz,” “dahtawn,” “sammich,” “Stillers,” and many more. Now I’m not saying that being a Yinzer is a bad thing; however, I am saying that just because I’m from near the Pittsburgh area, do not assume I speak this way. Yes, sometimes I am guilty of using Yinzer speak, but it shouldn’t define mine or anyone from Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas’ characters. It is truly sad whenever people hear you or someone else say “yinz” whenever you’re in a different area of Pennsylvania, or even a different state and they say, “Oh, you’re from Pittsburgh aren’t you?” with a disgusted look on their faces. Excuse me, yes I am from one of the most livable cities in America, with some of the best health care facilities in the country, winning sports teams (for the most part), and some of the nicest people you will meet. The big problem here, is that outsiders cannot see past how we talk. I grew up in a Yinzer family, my father is from the Arlington part of Pittsburgh, and many of his family members are still living there and in the downtown area. One of my aunt and uncles; however, live almost three and a half hours away from the city, and have lived this far for over twenty some years, and still speak Pittsburghese. It’s part of their heritage, and therefore they are continuing to
@caltimes
How do you feel about Pittsburgh being voted as the city with the ugliest accent?
BY
@LexiFeiller @caltimes not being from here, everytime I hear the word “yinz” it makes me cringe. It’s absolutely god awful. #caluopinion
@DanMader @caltimes Yinz don’t know what you’re talking abaht.
@sreese93 @caltimes ugliest accent? come on now. Have you even HEARD what those miscreants from Philly sound like? Surely they are the true enemy here.
TWITTER QUESTION OF THE WEEK #CALUOPINION keep it alive. They, along with the rest of that particular side of my family, do not let their use of Yinzer speak to define them as individuals. This goes past my family members too, because I have a lot of friends who are from Pittsburgh who do not use Yinzer speak on a regular basis. It could very well have something to do with our generation, we appreciate the slang, but we are educated in manner not to use it. This could also go back to the negative connotation that people give to it; however, it seems hypocritical seeing as we do not judge those with other accents. At least I do not judge those people, but I cannot speak for everyone. Why then is there this negative connotation associated with Pittsburghese or Yinzer speak? Is it because
PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
sometimes Pittsburgh fans get a little too rowdy at sporting events and use terms like “jagoff” instead of other derogatory words? Or maybe it is because we do things differently in our Pittsburgh culture, and people just do not understand it? For any of these questions I cannot give the answer, just an idea that maybe we should not judge people on how they speak, or even beyond that how they look, because you do not know them as a person or what they are going through. Also, I believe something could be said for all of the great and unique things that have come out of Pittsburgh. Like Primanti Brother’s for example, a sandwich shop that started in the Strip District of Pittsburgh and now has branched throughout the city, surrounding area, and even to other states. It has become a part of Pittsburgh’s heritage, much like Pittsburghese, and has brought a lot of people from other areas into our culture. I have a friend who is a student here at Cal U who is from Brooklyn, New York, and he used to joke about our Primanti’s sandwiches, until he tried one. He loved it, and to this day, he asks when we were are going back again. Now he is just one example of someone who judged part of our culture, and ended up appreciating it, but he is an example none the less. To end this rant, I encourage those of you here at Cal U who are outsiders to the Pittsburgh culture, to see past the Yinzer speak, and get to know us on a deeper level. There is more to us than how we speak and act, and as the phrase goes, never judge a book by its cover. I have a Pittsburgh heritage, but I do not consider myself a Yinzer; and, I am sure there are more people like me out there too.
Page 10 Oct. 31, 2014
Modern literature becoming nonexistant BY
JERRON CORLEY
Being in high school, most of you all probably remember reading a surplus of classic literature; I know I do. From Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and The Diary of Anne Frank to the existential work of Albert Camus’ The Stranger and Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye; I have read them all. I can’t help but notice that to this day, all of these classic novels and even more are hailed as masterpieces. What about the modern novels we grew up on? I can see it now: many men and women of our generation showcasing novels like Life of Pi, The Fault in our Stars, or even The Help to their children and grandchildren. These novels alone have been met with critical and commercial success within the pages and on the big screen. So why exactly aren’t such successful novels being discussed in your everyday English Literature courses? Here at Cal U, and virtually at every college and university, English literature courses usually cover everything as early as the sixth century and as late at the mid-twentieth century. Students would be lucky if their professors even decided on covering something from the late twentieth century up to today. What’s wrong with a little modern literature? Although I do read classic novels in my leisure time like Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot series (as you can see, I love detectives), there are modern literary masterpieces just waiting to be discovered and praised in an everyday college class. If you don’t take my word for it, than take Deven Bourquin’s word. With him having a
history of taking English literature courses, he has a strong understanding of the problem and what the solution could be. “There is a point where I understand the perspective of the university and its professors. I do, however, agree that focusing too much on classic literature hinders the intellectual growth of students. While it makes sense to look to the past to learn from successes and failures, these same successes and failures can be observed today as well. There is quality writing being produced by people in our society today that many of us can relate to a lot more. I can’t remember how many times I’ve been in a classroom where students have read the material but they don’t know nearly enough background information to uphold a discussion about it.” The thing about the literary community is that it is always changing and adjusting to the factors and trends of today’s society. I’m pretty sure a lot of students can relate and reminisce to their middle school days when picking up a book from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, or those who have been affected by disease and illness can relate to the bond shared between two teenagers in The Fault in Our Stars. Bourquin even acknowledges this. “Why do we have to read Benjamin Franklin when we can study John Green, or why read Dracula when we can read The Vampire Chronicles? The literary world has a hard time evolving because of tradition which I think is ridiculous.” What do all of you think? Should modern literature
Are you afraid of becoming one of the herd?
We’ll help you stand out - CPDC
have a greater level of acknowledgement in colleges and universities, or should we stick to the classics, teaching us age-old lessons and morals? Can modern literature have the same effect on us that classics have? CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
WINTER COLLEGE
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
Career & Professional Development Center 230 Eberly Hall 724-938-4413 careers@calu.edu www.calu.edu/careers Office Hours: Mon. – 8 am to 6 pm Tues. – 8 am to 5 pm Wed. – Fri. – 8 am to 4 pm
Walk-in Hours Tues. – 11 am to 1 pm Wed. – 9 am to 3 pm Thurs. – 11 am to 1 pm
Page 11 Oct. 31, 2014
The Pitfalls of American Politics
Republican Tom Corbett and Democrat Tom Wolfe shake hands after a gubernatorial debate held on Sept. 22 BY
STETSON PROVANCE
NEWS EDITOR
Consider this for a moment. In the 2012 general election, Barack Obama won the battleground state of Pennsylvania in pretty convincing fashion. Voters in PA (and nationwide) thought it would only be fair to give Obama four more years to fix the mess left behind by President George W. Bush. Voters also viewed the 2012 election as a chance to vote against the so-called “one-percenters.” After all, Republican Mitt Romney was a businessman who cut jobs and only had to pay around 10 percent of his income in taxes. Because of Romney’s background, voters also decided that Obama would be the man they could trust to keep taxes for the middle class low. By and large, the narrative in 2012 was that a vote for Obama was a vote for the common man. Now fast-forward to the 2014 gubernatorial race in Pennsylvania. On one side, you have incumbent Republican Tom Corbett. When Corbett took over in 2010 Pennsylvania was facing a budget deficit (Corbett’s cabinet at the time argued the deficit was over 4 billion dollars; experts claim that number was closer to 1 or 2 billion). Ed Rendell (Corbett’s predecessor) and PA’s Congress constantly
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Rourke, Associated Press
struggled to pass a budget. In fact, according to CNN, in 2009, state workers encountered threats of pay freezes because a budget could not be passed. Things were no rose garden. Opposing Corbett is democrat Tom Wolf, a successful businessman whose family owned a building materials company. When Wolf was in business, his personal tax rate hovered around 10 percent. This fact, along with records from Wolf’s time as Rendell’s secretary of the treasury, has allowed the Corbett campaign to paint Wolf as an out of touch tax raiser. You would assume this kind of aggressive narrative would be hurting Wolf in the polls, much like it did Romney. However, Wolf’s campaign has the ammunition to push an even more aggressive narrative that Corbett doesn’t care about the one thing that is vital to our nation’s continued success: education. Unlike some of Obama’s shortcomings that people pinned on Bush, Corbett’s decision to cut education spending isn’t being attributed to the failures of his predecessor, namely the budget and spending failures that plagued the latter part of Rendell’s term.. The standards are different. As
a result, Wolf, according to most polls, is leading Corbett by double digits. Now, before we go any further, let me say I’m not here to tell you what narratives to believe and which ones to discard. That’s up to you. However, what I am here to say is that it is important to realize that most of what the mass media feeds the general public concerning elections should be looked at as just that, narrative. In today’s society, our political discourse is severely lacking substance. There are many factors you could point to as reasons for this. For one, especially when it comes to midterm elections, people are genuinely disinterested in the political process. According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, only 15 percent of the voting-age public cast ballots in the 2010 midterm elections. Some research suggests that number will be as low if not lower in 2014. Some claim that disinterest stems from the fact people are too busy in their personal lives to get involved in the political process. Maybe that’s the case. However, I think a case could be made that the negative nature of politics also plays a key role. In our society today, voters can’t go two commercial breaks without seeing a negative political ad. Candidates rarely take the time to extol the values they stand for because it is more effective to take that time and bash their opponent. Voters are almost forced to do their own research if they hope to learn the truth about candidates and issues and make informed decisions. That kind of environment feeds into many of the pitfalls of the two-party system. Instead of picking the person who best mirrors their views, voters often choose the “popular” candidate, or they just don’t vote at all. This environment makes politics trivial. It makes the question “why should I even care?” seem like a valid one. However, during this critical time in our state’s future, I implore everyone to take a few minutes of your time, do some research on Wolf and Corbett’s policies, and vote (EVERYONE SHOULD VOTE) for the candidate that gives Pennsylvania the best chance for success. Your future after graduation could very well depend on it. So, too, could your children’s futures.
Page 12 Oct. 31, 2014
Ditch the phone and see a new world A phone-free life can open new opportunities
BY
CLAUDIA PEHOWIC
As the semester continues on, many students are finding themselves truly immersed in their academics. With all the extra-curricular and cocurricular involvement, employment, and outside responsibilities, students are falling victim to the time famine. Unfortunately, though clocks hands do seem to spin faster than ever, there is little to do about our impression of time. On the other hand, there are plenty of actions that students can take to achieve a temporary cure for their crippling time famine. Although we render many of our distractions completely necessary, this feeling is caused by societal pressure, not reality. After reading MIT professor Shelly Turkle’s book, “Alone Together”, I was provided with new insight as to how I spend my time, and how much of it I really do spend ineffectively. Turkle interviewed many students at both high school and college levels about their involvement with their cell phone and unwelcome distractions. Like a traditional psychotherapist, Turkle was able to allow students to come to their own conclusions after their discussions, often conclusions that they had been trying to avoid. All of the students mentioned in the book
seemed to express some disdain for their mobile devices. They discussed the social stigma to hastily reply (often within five minutes) to their friends’ text messages, despite the consistent lack of important content in these messages. Similarly, worried parents often burdened their children with check-ins in regard to academics and safety. The overall message seemed to entail that students do not like to answer their phones, yet they do. There are plenty of reasons that rise to the defense of cell phone use: safety, emergency, and social interaction. Many people feel as though their cell phone is their safety net. Though this may be true, there are very few safety concerns that can be addressed with a simple call of message. For example, if one suffers an excruciating medical emergency, that person is unlikely to be able to make a call him- or herself. Other professed “safety hazards” in “Alone Together” included bad grades and, even worse, breakups. Although support is needed to make us feel safer, this is best received face-to-face, rather than desperately immediate cell-phone contact. Like our safety, cell phones are helpful to acknowledge the safety
of the ones we love. Once again, this excuse is easily refuted with the notion that learning of a family emergency is least harmful when a family member is physically present for support and conversation. Think about it: would you rather learn of a family emergency immediately within in a hostile environment or eventually within the comforts of your home? Lastly, social interaction is the final excuse that young adults often use to defend their attachment to their phones. Simply, a message to your friends passes on the knowledge that you are temporarily unavailable. You can meet them in person or even call them later in the day, finally spending unrestricted time together. Through the last week, I have been able to process more information, meet more people, and form more meaningful relationships than I ever could with my cell phone. Without being constantly on call, I can enjoy reality at its finest. I feel safer, more confident, and more personable without my phone. This everyday battle is not all-or-nothing; Shelly Turkle and I both urge you to defy the norm and venture to the real world without being tethered to the phone, even if it is only for a moment.
A look into the ‘hook-up’ culture Is it really any of our business to judge?
SUBMITTED BY ANON
A hook-up. Kissing? Touching? Going all the way? While a hook-up means different things to different people, for the purpose of this article, it means sex. Hook-up culture is something that exists primarily on college campuses. Everyone talks about it, and it seems like people are either totally for it, or are absolutely against it. The stereotype is that males are the ones who participate in hook-up culture most often, yet it is just that—a stereotype. Females participate willingly, too. They even initiate it. You hear people rag on each other for sleeping around, or for going home with another after
another Bucket Night at J. Coles. The one night stand and the walk of shame have largely become jokes, and even Halloween costumes. But why? If both parties are consenting to a no-strings-attached night with each other and protection is used, then I don’t see the harm. While this type of behavior is obviously not for everyone, it shouldn’t be shamed more than any other sexual habit. Each person’s sexual habits are their own, and serve their own purposes. People who abstain from sex are shamed, too, because of their lack of experience. So what’s the point? Some people don’t experience sexual attraction.
Some people don’t have sex. Some people have sex. Some people have sex, a lot. Some people have sex with their significant others. Some people have sex with strangers. It happens, and it all happens here. Each is completely normal. You don’t have to participate. You don’t have to approve. You don’t have to agree. You don’t have to support it. But you should at least respect each individual’s choice to do what they want, so long as they are being safe along the way.
Page 13 Oct. 31, 2014
Men’s Soccer team posts shutout win over Gannon BY SPORTS INFORMATION
Freshman Nathan Delgado (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) scored his third goal of the season shortly after halftime, as the Vulcans recorded a 1-0 win at Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play on Saturday night. With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men’s soccer team improves to 5-9-1 overall and 4-5-0 in PSAC action with two games remaining in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights fall to 5-9-1 this season behind a 4-5-1 mark in league play. Cal U had a great scoring chance late in the first half when senior Kevin Helbig (Carnegie, Pa./ Chartiers Valley) had his header hit the right post before being saved by Gannon goalkeeper Manuel Mangu. After a scoreless first half, Delgado struck for the only goal of the game just 11 seconds into the second half off an assist from fellow freshman Djordje Babic (Datteln, Germany/Comenius Gymnasium). The Vulcans had multiple chances to break the game open. Sophomore Cory Kuzilla (Harborcreek,
Pa./Harbor Creek) nearly added to the lead at the 60:25-mark after he redirected a crossing pass from point-blank range and was denied by Mangu. Kuzilla was again stopped by Mangu on a one-on-one eight minutes later. Cal U survived two late second half scoring chances from Gannon senior Robbie Bennett. With goalkeeper Shane Donovan (Pipersville, Pa./ Central Bucks) out of the goal, Bennett’s shot attempt was headed out by a defender at the 81:30mark and Bennett nearly forced overtime with less than a minute to play in regulation, when Donovan made a save on his header. Donovan recorded two saves to earn his sixth career shutout. Mangu suffered the loss while making four saves in all 90 minutes. Gannon finished the game with a slight 8-7 advantage in shots after managing only one shot in the first half, while Cal U posted a 3-2 edge in corner kicks. The Vulcans return to action on Friday, Oct. 31, they travel to West Chester at 2:30 p.m.
Freshman Nathan Delgado picked up his third goal of the season in the Vulcans shutout win over Gannon last Saturday. PHOTO CREDIT: SPORTS INFO
CalTimes NFL Picks of the Week Geo Muzika
Stetson Provance
Jose Negron
Bucs over Browns Cowboys over Cardinals Eagles over Texans Chiefs over Jets Chargers over Dolphins Redskins over Vikings 49ers over Rams Patriots over Broncos Seahawks over Raiders Steelers over Ravens Giants over Colts
Browns over Bucs Cardinals over Cowboys Eagles over Texans Chiefs over Jets Dolphins over Chargers Redskins over Vikings 49ers over Rams Broncos over Patriots Seahawks over Raiders Steelers over Ravens Colts over Giants
Browns over Bucs Cardinals over Cowboys Eagles over Texans Chiefs over Jets Dolphins over Chargers Redskins over Vikings 49ers over Rams Broncos over Patriots Seahawks over Raiders Steelers over Ravens Colts over Giants
Page 14 Oct. 31, 2014
Volleyball team cruises past IUP, 3-0 BY SPORTS INFORMATION
Posting one of its best hitting performances of the season, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team earned a 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-17, 25-20) against IUP on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action. With the win, the Vulcans improve to 21-7 overall with a 13-4 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks lost their fourth-straight match to fall to 9-15 this season behind a 5-12 record in conference play. Senior Laurel Miller (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and junior Mary Lavery (La Plata, Md./La Plata) both finished with a match-high nine kills. Miller, who also collected four service aces, posted a .304 hitting percentage and Lavery hit at an impressive .381 clip in the victory. Freshman Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./ North Allegheny) added eight kills on a .316 hitting percentage and junior Miranda Fouzie (Kingston, Ontario/Sydenham) finished with five kills on a .625 clip. Sophomore Kristen Scurpa (Sharpsville, Pa./ Sharpsville) posted an assist/dig double-double for a consecutive day, totaling 25 assists and 13 digs. Junior Samantha Rudy (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) led all players with 14 digs and Miller collected 10 digs. Sophomore Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./ McDowell) and Lavery both registered a match-best
four blocks, while Fouzie added three blocks. The teams traded the opening five points of the match before Cal U won five-straight points to take a 7-3 lead on a service ace by Miller. The Crimson Hawks later claimed four of six points to trim the deficit to 10-8 before the Vulcans went on a 9-2 rally, forcing IUP to call a timeout after a kill by Leto stretched the lead to 19-10. The teams traded the next three points before Cal U won four-straight points before finishing with a 25-14 victory on a kill by Leto. The Vulcans posted a .375 hitting percentage in the second set, taking the only lead change of the set after the Crimson Hawks won the opening point. The teams traded points in the opening half of the set before Cal U won four of five points to take a 13-9 lead on a kill by Lavery. The Vulcans later claimed threestraight points to take a 17-10 lead after a block assist by sophomore Destiny Tucker (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) and Lavery. IUP countered by later winning five of seven points to trim the deficit to 21-17 before Cal U responded by claiming four-straight points to post a 25-17 win on a kill by Miller. In the third set, IUP opened play on a 6-2 run before Cal U countered with a 9-2 rally to take an 11-8 lead on a block assist by Hayes and redshirt freshman Rachel Snyder (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley). The Crimson Hawks won back-to-back points
Junior Mary Lavery posted an impressive .381 hitting percentage against the Crimson Hawks. PHOTO CREDIT: SPORTS INFO
before the Vulcans claimed five-straight points to take a 16-10 lead on a kill by Miller. IUP earned five of the next six points to trim the deficit to 17-15 before Cal U won four of five points to take a 21-16 lead on a block assist by Fouzie and Lavery. The Vulcans later won three-straight points to take a 24-17 lead on a kill by Miller before the Crimson Hawks staved off match point for three-straight points. Cal U closed the match victory with a 25-20 win in the third set on a kill by Lavery.
Lady Vulcans claim 1-1 tie with Edinboro BY SPORTS INFORMATION
Junior Janelle McCann scored the only goal in the Vulcans 1-1 tie against Edinboro University last Saturday. McCann has nine goals on the season. PHOTO CREDIT: SPORTS INFO
Junior Janelle McCann (Burlington, Vt./Tilton School) scored her fourth goal in the last six games, as the Vulcans earned a 1-1 double-overtime tie on Senior Day against Edinboro in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play at the Phillipsburg Soccer Complex. With the tie, the California University of Pennsylvania women’s soccer team moves to 11-2-3 overall and 10-2-2 in league action. The Vulcans also extended their unbeaten streak to nine games. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots move to 8-6-2 overall behind a 8-5-2 mark in conference play. Edinboro started the scoring when Jansen Hartmann took a feed from Ashley Mutkus inside the box and found the back of the net at the 36:42-mark. The Fighting Scots nearly added to their lead off a corner kick four minutes later when Lauralee Clements had
her header blocked on the goal line by senior Nicole Mayers (Pickering, Ontario/St. Mary Catholic). Cal U tied the game in the 47th minute when McCann raced past a defender and scored her career-high ninth goal of the season off a pass from junior Kara Novotny (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford). Sophomore goalkeeper Meghan Jayes (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) sent the game to doubleovertime after a full-extension diving save with just over 30 seconds remaining in the first overtime. She finished the game with a career-high eight saves. The Vulcans nearly won the game at the 103:27mark when Fighting Scots goalkeeper Meghan Kelly saved a shot attempt from in close by McCann. Cal U held a slim 19-17 advantage in shots with Edinboro holding a 10-8 edge in shots on goal. The Fighting Scots also posted a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Page 15 Oct. 31, 2014
Defensive Lineman Turner putting up big numbers in sophomore campaign Although individual numbers shine, Turner still puts team first
BY JOSE NEGRON, SPORTS EDITOR
One of the main things you might pay attention to when it comes to the California University of Pennsylvania football program is the stellar defense that they have each year. The past couple of seasons, the Vulcans have recruited heavily to gain a bundle of young talent that is expected to have success in the future. It seems, however, in the case of sophomore defensive lineman Jawan Turner, the future is now. Turner, a 2013 graduate of Woodland Hills High School, made a huge impact during his time playing every Friday night at the Wolverena. This impact, the play and leadership that Turner showed on the field for the Wolverines was something his collegiate coach was expecting to see from the start. “We recruited Jawan out of Woodland Hills and Coach Novak said that in all of his years coaching at Woodland
Hills, which is a very prestigious football program, that Jawan was probably the best leader he ever had,” said Vulcans Head Coach Mike Kellar. “Having coached him here for two years I can totally see why he said that. He’s a great leader, he refuses to lose, he works hard everyday, and I’m really happy that he’s on our team.” The success of players that left their mark on the rich history of Woodland Hills football has not only motivated Turner as he continues his collegiate football career, but has given him even more of a focused player. “Every player that plays at Woody High feels some type of pressure to carry on the hardworking tradition when they leave,” said Turner. “Seeing many guys having success before me, it makes me only want to be that much better.” Though the season is still young, Turner is
Sophomore linebacker Jawan Turner (left) has become a huge contributor for the Vulcans defense in only his second season with the team. The Vulcans return to the field tomorrow as they take on Gannon University at Adamson Stadium
already making a huge impact on a stellar Vulcans defense. After playing as a reserve defensive lineman and on special teams as a true freshman last year, Turner has become one of the Vulcans most dominant defensive weapons. In eight games this season, Turner has compiled 35 total tackles, one interception and eight total sacks in his first year as a starter, with 6.5 of those sacks coming in two combined games this season against Edinboro University and IUP. For his efforts in the Vulcans big Coal Bowl win against IUP two weeks ago, Turner was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) defensive player of the week for the third time this season. With the award win, he became the first player since former linebacker Gary Butler to receive the honor multiple times in one season. Though the award is honoring his efforts on the field, Turner gives most of the credit to the hard work of his teammates and the season that they have had thus far.“As a team we compete and push each other to do better everyday,” said Turner. “So when any of us win an award it’s just a great feeling for the team.” Coming off of a victory on the road last weekend against Clarion, the Vulcans have won six consecutive games since their overtime loss to Bloomsburg in September. They also ranked third in the initial NCAA Division II Super Region One Rankings. The Vulcans sit in a prime spot late in the season, but the focus remains on one game at a time. “We have a big challenge in Gannon this week,” said Turner. “We have to stay focused and continue to compete at a high level and finish off the season strong.” Turner and the Vulcans look to continue their winning streak as they take on Gannon University tomorrow afternoon at Adamson Stadium.
Page 16 Oct. 31, 2014
Cal Times Athlete Spotlight Carla Maestre
Class: Sophomore Major: Business Administration Minor: Public Relations Hometown: Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela High School: U.E Colegio Ibero Americano
Before beginning both her academic and golf careers at
California University of Pennsylvania, sophomore Carla Maestre found immediate success playing golf in her native Venezuela.
In 2012, Maestre finished second at the Marbella Open in Chile
and she recently won a qualification to represent her country in Argentina at the Los Andes Cup where only the top three players, male and female, of each country are selected to compete. Last season, Maestre qualified for the NCAA National Championships as an individual and was named PSAC Golfer and freshman of the year.
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