n i e n v g E
MARCH 10, 2017 VOL 45, NO.4
Cre
Cal U’s Department of Theatre and Dance performances, page 12 & 13.
of
y t i ativ
o in g fo r W h a t a re y o u d Send us S p r in g B r e a k ? p ti o n s to p h o to s & d e s c ri th e b e fe a tu r e d in th e T im e s ! f o n io it d e t x e n
NEWS
Page 2 March 10, 2017
Student Affairs
Did You Know?
S.P.S.A. Screen Printing Student Association
T-shir ts, Sweatpants, Hoodies and more!
I n November 2016, President Jones approved the name change of the former O ffice of Veterans Affairs – it is now the O ffice of M ilitar y & Veterans Affairs. The O ffice of M ilitar y & Veterans Affairs is the primar y resource center for all Ser vice members, Veterans, Reser vists, and Dependents of a Veteran of Ser vice member, and is responsible for processing all Depar tment of Veteran’s Affairs Educational benefits such as the G.I. Bill or Dependents Education Assistance Program. The office is located on the third floor of the Manderino Librar y, Rooms 316 & 317, and has a dedicated space for veterans to relax, study and socialize with other veterans and ser vice members attending Cal U. Follow the O ffice of M ilitar y & Veterans Affairs on Twitter @CalUVetsAffairs or Facebook w w w.facebook .com/ CalUVeterans. For more information, email veterans@ calu.edu or call (724) 938-4076.
- With Bee Graphix closed, you can now go to your fellow students for qualit y prints at a drastically less price. Email: BOC5606@calu.edu (Pres.) - Our club consists of students mostly in MAD9509@calu.edu ( V.P) the Graphics and Multimedia major. NGU3832@calu.edu ( Trea) - We are all friendly and willing to work BAR0947@calu.edu (Sec.) with you to get what you want.
STAFF CAL T IM E S . O RG CALTIMES@CALU.EDU 724.938.4321
RACHAEL McKRIGER EDITOR IN CHIEF
DANNY BEECK SPORTS EDITOR
MARI BOYLE OPINIONS EDITOR
JESSICA CROSSON ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
TAYLOR BARTA GRAPHIC DESIGNER
CAL TIMES CONTRIBUTORS: Angel Funk, Cameron King, Jonathan Hershey, April Pfrogner, Elizabeth Pedder, Joshua Proud, Briana Hendrikson, Cynthia Zelmore, Kena Dunn & Eddie KUNTZ
JEFF HELSEL DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS
POLICY: The California TIMES is a publication of the Student Association, Inc. and is distributed throughout the university campus and the Monongahela Valley area most Fridays of the academic year with the exception of holiday breaks. Any member of the university community may submit articles, editorials, cartoons, photographs or drawings for consideration. Deadlines are as follows: All written copy, announcements , e-mail (caltimes@calu.edu) and advertising submissions are due at Noon on the Monday before publication. Exceptions to these deadlines must be arranged with the editor. All submissions are the opinions of their creator(s). The California TIMES reserves the right to edit or refuse a submission as it sees fit without offering justification for content or advertising sections.
NEWS
Page 3 March 10, 2017
A successful English education conference Elizabeth Pedder, Contributor
On March 1, literary scholars from across the area gathered at the Convocation Center at California University of Pennsylvania. Though the rain and thunder roared outside, inside the Convocation Center was a whirlwind of creativity, ideas and collaboration. To start the day off, a healthy fruit and juice bar was provided. Participants could eat and mingle while others browsed vending tables, and registered. Approximately one hundred educators, students, and other professionals gathered to attend this engaging, interactive and lively event. There were two primary keynote speakers. Dr. Laura Robb, the first speaker of the day, discussed Unlocking Complex Texts with Interactive Read Alouds, and Dr. Linda Denstaedt was the afternoon keynote speaker, discussing College-Readiness=Literate Citizenry. Both speakers presented dynamic presentations with handouts, visuals and interactive collaborative sessions. The speakers themselves were professional, knowledgeable, inspirational, and informative regarding their topics and areas of expertise. They provided interactive models of concepts and topics discussed during their presentations. In addition, the resources they created, and those inspirational to their content was available for browsing, or purchasing at the vending tables. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon provided opportunities for attendees to choose from several different workshops. These workshops were facilitated and presented by various education professionals, including several of Cal U professors. The workshops were also educational, informative, interactive and engaging. It was an opportunity to speak with and discuss topics of interest with some of the great scholars, sharing ideas and acquiring new ones. Attendees had opportunity to grow in their disciplines and network with
other educators from the area. The presenters were friendly, encouraging and answered questions, addressing concerns students had. As if these events were not enough, a round table lunch was provided. All those attending was served a buffet style lunch of various sandwiches, salad and desserts. To keep the collaboration alive and interactive during the meal, Dr. Laura Roop and Dr. Krystia Nora provided additional information regarding the National Council of Teachers of English, and various other resources available to professionals in the discipline of English. They also raffled off two National Council of Teachers of English paid memberships, and four books based upon the concepts discussed and presented throughout the day. To finish the day off, two discussion panels were provided, one for educators of high school students, and one for those who educate middle-school students. Attendees were able to discuss concerns and questions about the promotion of education in preparing students for college and life. These panels provided additional food-for-thought, in-light of the challenges and obstacles that young adults face, while seeking to obtain an education. The panels were the culmination of the reality of life issues that educators face daily with their
Photo: Elizabeth Pedder
students. The English Education Collaborative Conference was successfully well organized, informational, educational and inspiring, interspersed with moments of humor and laughter. Educators were able to earn continuing education credits for their teaching credentials for attending. It was an excellent venue to network and make connections with other professionals.
Page 4 March 10, 2017
NEWS
Judo club proudly acknowledges steady competition Cynthia Zelmore, Contributor From 1882 to 2017, the Japanese martial art of Judo has grown into an international sensation and one of the most popular Olympic sports. Growing with the sport of Judo is the California University of Pennsylvania Judo and Self Defense Club. First founded in late 2013 by Jonathan Veres, the club has really taken off and they are still looking for new members. The club is affiliated with the United States Judo Association and has two instructors: Sensei Pam Russell—a fourth degree black belt and USJA referee—and Sensei Alan Hill who is a specially recognized sixth degree black belt. Since Veres’ graduation, the club is now lead by senior Hayley Walters who joined the club in early 2014. Walters joined the club due to initial interest in professional UFC fighter Ronda Rousey, but soon found that Judo was much more than she had initially thought. “This sport is more than just a mental and physical release for me. . . growing up I was always referred to as gentle and timid.” said Walters, “Judo is important to me because it really allowed me to exercise my confidence in a variety
Submitted photo from Cynthia Zelmore of ways.” Walters is now a green belt in Judo and, in addition to her, the judo club members are progressing through the ranks and learning more about the sport. Members include two other green belts, an orange belt, and several yellow belts. Judo club is about more than progression through a sport. For many of the members it represents a chance to make lasting friendships and to feel more capable in self-defense. The Judo club is still a young organization as Judo itself is a relatively young sport, but the club has high hopes for the future. Judo gives its practitioners two main creeds, the first of which—roughly translated by Sensei Hill—is “You and me shine together.” This shows one great aspect about the club: the visible strength of the members, not just as empowered individuals, but as a team. The second creed—as told by Sensei Russell—is “Maximum efficiency, minimum effort,” and shows what the club really strives for: making it through college together and succeeding in the world as a whole while doing the best work possible. The club travels to other dojos to compete, train, and learn from
diverse teachers. Judo pushes people to their physical and mental limits making them stronger in body and mind. However, strength alone is not the core of judo. Even the smallest member of the club learns to throw the largest among them using momentum, technique, and maximum efficiency. Students must approach Judo with some level of caution given that it is a martial art and, if done improperly, can be dangerous. That being said, the club stresses safety above all else. Judo is a sport through which anyone can get in shape, build new friendships, and learn a bit about Japanese culture. The club loves new people and will teach all incoming students—no experience necessary—from the ground up, a place all too familiar to judo students. Those interested in joining the club or learning more about their exploits can join them on their ORGSYNC page, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages as well as emailing club board members. Practices are Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 to 10:30 PM in Hamer Dance Studio and Wednesdays from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Herron Hall Raquetball Courts.
NEWS
Page 5 March 10, 2017
Cal U student starts Organic Culture clothing line Rachael McKriger, Editor In Chief
Gain GainYours! Yours!
CalU students Tynisha Taylor Interview Skills (above) and Tyler Lieb (right) Interview Skills wearing Organic Culture apparel.
Business Cards & Materials Business Cards & Materials Photos by Rachael McKriger
May days. I’m releasing both long sleeves as well as short sleeves, hoodies, dad hats, women’s wear and the exciting reveal of my highly anticipated KIDZ line. Every season of your life, I will launch new clothes. Buyers and supporters will not be without new options to select from every season.” All of Greene’s clothes can be found at www. bynepotism.com/ organic.
CAREER ADVANTAGE
Tom Greene is more than just a college student and football player. Greene, a senior, is also an entrepreneur. Greene started the clothing line Organic Culture in 2016. The line releases clothes for men, women and now children. Greene, who is a wide receiver on the California University of Pennsylvania football team, said he came up with the name Organic Culture because it “symbolizes what I represent: culture, local power and success, all while remaining comfortable and happy.” “Initially organic culture is an idea,” Greene said. “An idea invested in local people who, are creative and ambitious to do what is necessary to reach nirvana. I believe one should live comfortable in their own circumstances. This company deals in photography, fashion, blogging as well as any other available form of culture.” Greene finds people around campus to do photos with, whether he takes them or not. Just last weekend, he found two students to do a shoot right off campus. All of the clothes are designed by Greene, which he calls a long, but rewarding, process. Organic Culture is partnered with Bynepotism. Greene said he was discovered for his photography initially, but also stepped into the world of fashion, by their invitation. The company also helps Greene with online orders. Greene said he wanted to design clothes because he wanted to interact with people. “Myself, as well as the world, understands the importance of fashion,” he said. “It is a statement, an identity. It is something that was here as long as we can date back.” Greene said that when each season changes, he will produce more clothes. Recently, he just released Organic Culture’s spring collection. “The spring collection is awesome,” Greene said. “It’s Tokyo inspired, cool fitting clothes with a style of warmth for those iffy chilly
Networking Events Networking Events
GAIN YOURS!
Check out upcoming Check these C out HECK O U Tthese T H Eupcoming SE U P C O M I N G events! J O Bevents! FA I R S
March 15
www.westpacs.org
March 29
www.percjobfair.org
http://www.calu.edu/current-students/career-services/events/index.htm http://www.calu.edu/current-students/career-services/events/index.htm
Job Search Quick Tips at calu.edu/careers under Career Resources
Page 6 March 10, 2017
NEWS
Reviewing the president’s joint address to Congress Cameron King, Staff Writer A standing ovation for a fallen Navy SEAL and his widow, over a dozen Democratic women draped in white, and a new tone lingering throughout the House Chamber of the Capitol Building as the 45th commander-in-chief gestured towards a sign of unity going forward. These are a few, but certainly not all, of the memorable moments from President Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress. Beginning with House Speaker Paul’s Ryan’s official welcoming of the President, the chamber was clearly divided down the center as Democrats withheld their applause and Republicans cheered forth upon Trump’s welcoming. The president began his speech outlining the closing of Black History Month, stating that “we are reminded of our nation’s path towards civil rights and the work that still remains”, later highlighting the recent vandalism at Jewish cemeteries and the recent Kansas City shooting. “While we may be a nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms,” he outlined further. For some, the speech stood out as the renaissance of American spirit among the masses; touching strongly on reestablishment of sovereignty in both our culture and our lands. Others, however, felt that the speech was a softened, more appealing version of the usual rhetoric surrounding his agenda. Regardless of the intent, however, there is no denying that this speech successfully drew lines of compromise — and distinct lines of dissent – between both parties. On the economy, Trump touched on our country’s progress in job negotiation — outlining that many companies including Ford, General Motors, and Intel, to name a few, have announced billions of dollars in investment into the United States, creating tens of thousands of new jobs. Elaboration on the United States’ new regulatory policy was also highlighted, assuring that for every one new regulation created, two will be eliminated to cut red tape and prevent regulatory burden for businesses small and large. The President also touched on several points regarding trade and taxes that he claims will lead to the creation of thousands of jobs and widespread goods production, resonating the very idea of “buy American, hire American” expressed by Trump and his surrogates on several occasions.
On the threat of terror, Trump proclaimed that “we are also taking strong measures to protect our nation from Radical Islamic Terrorism,” outlining that he “directed the Department of Defense to develop a plan to demolish and destroy ISIS — a network of lawless savages that have slaughtered Muslims and Christians, and men, women, and children of all faiths and beliefs.” Drawing selective applause from his crowd, he moved to close on this significant point. “We will work with our allies, including our friends and allies in the Muslim world, to extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.” Aside from addressing general progress, however, President Trump moved on to recognize several key influences and honorable individuals that were present, including the wife of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Maureen Scalia — whose recognition drew an emotional response from all within the Chamber, including a spread of applause from our current Supreme Court justices; a rare sight during a Presidential Address. Other guests included four individuals who all, alike, had a close family member slain by an illegal immigrant, a Pompe Disease sufferer who has had pinnacle health recovery thanks to swift and free pharmaceutical development, a confident student, the first in her family to graduate both high school and college, after meeting face with a school choice mechanism allowing her to purse a private institution using tax credits, and perhaps the most notable of the evening, the widow of recently killed Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, whose legacy Trump decried was “etched into eternity”, as the Chamber erupted in applause and cheers for well over two minutes. Outside of the content and context of the speech, the two parties responded in their expected manners as it went forward. Much like the response to Trump’s entrance,
Photo: Wikimedia Commons most Democrats sat on their hands for the majority of the President’s address, only standing to applaud on a few rare occasions. Many Democratic women were also quite distinctive during the event, wearing all white to celebrate March as “Women’s History Month”. Though reception of the President’s speech varied, it wasn’t until the announcement of a new office entitled VOICE (Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement), that some Democrats and their guests were seen booing. “We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests.” Trump outlined about the office. This was the only example of vocal dissent from the Democrats, most claim. Following the Joint Address, many have stated how thoroughly impressed they were by the tone of the speech and how its rhythm was much more unifying than other orations delivered by President Trump. Its contents possessed a quality that many found both appealing and inspiring, especially in a time where many are indeed fiercely divided. Perhaps some can extract great wisdom and understanding from this address to our union and its response, further embracing the pride we possess as Americans, perhaps even looking to one of Trump’s most flourishing quotes of Tuesday night: “Each American generation passes the torch of truth, liberty and justice — in an unbroken chain all the way down to the present. That torch is now in our hands, and we will use it to light up the world.”
CAL LIFE
Page 7 March 10, 2017
A Twist on Funny Freaking Friday Kena Dunn, Contributor
Photo: Cal U Housing Twitter This past Friday was full of energy and laughter as Casino Night, sponsored by university housing, kicked off with the Student Activities Board’s Funny Freaking Friday performance by comedian, Aarona Lopez. Lopez has previously been seen on season seven of MTV’s Wild ‘N Out and is the creator and host of the musical and comedy show, Velvet Circus. “It was really nice to be able to team up with housing to put on an awesome event like this one was,” explained
the Student Activities Board’s Evenings Chair, Jessica Crosson. “I think everyone really enjoyed being able to hang out and play a variety of casino games with no real risks involved. Hopefully they [housing] were able to get some renewals out of the event as well.” Lopez concluded her show with some original parody songs to leave the audience on a high note. She included the audience by having them dance and chant along as she sang about shopping at Ross and wearing granny panties. Just when everyone thought things couldn’t get any more interesting, community assistant Jana Barnhart’s finance, Ryan Brooks, stole the show. He showed-off some eccentric dance moves causing the crowd and even Lopez to cheer him on. “I wasn’t too surprised when he started dancing because he does it all the time,” shared Barnhart. “I saw him slowly back up to start and I knew that was the end of it. He loves to dance even if it means making a fool of himself. He loves to make people laugh and I guess dancing is his favorite way of doing that.”
With close to 200 people in attendance, the show began at 7pm in the performance center and ended an hour later officially kicking off the casino part of the night. This event was created to encourage students to renew their housing contracts for the next academic year. A large assortment of food and beverages were provided and free for anyone in attendance; what more could you ask for? Prizes were given out periodically throughout the night for anyone who signed-up to renew their housing at either Vulcan Village or the residence halls. 4K Televisions, an apple watch, a Keurig, and an iHome were among the many amazing giveaways that evening. There were also an assortment of gift cards given away at the end of the night for those who cashed in their chips for raffle tickets. There was plenty to do between the food, music, and casino games including; blackjack, let-it-ride, slotmachines, roulette and poker. Casino Night ended later that night leaving many students with full stomachs, awesome prizes, and a great start to the weekend!
CAL LIFE
Page 8 March 10, 2017
DJ SOfro aka Jared sofranko Heard every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. as the host of The Alternative Option, DJ Sofro has been a member of WCAL since his first semester at Cal U. Never planning to join a radio station, Jared unknowingly sparked a conversation with a friend of a friend about sports and starting training for a sports talk show soon after. Now a senior DJ Sofro will be graduating this spring with a degree in business administrations with concentrations in accounting and finance and a minor in economics. He has previously held several executive board positions including secretary and business director, which he currently holds. One of his favorite station memories involves accidentally sent out a “Sofro Selfie� to DJ Long Island Iced Steve while he was on air talking about the selfie DJ Sofro is known for doing. Outside of WCAL, DJ Sofro enjoys movies from watching to analyzing, hockey, music, and helping out with the University Honors Program. He is one of six DJs participating in the Locked In For A Cause event benefiting The Epilepsy Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and is facilitating the event.
CONNECT WITH US:
FB.com/91.9WCAL
Twitter: @919WCAL
Website: https://www.facebook .com/91.9WCAL/
@919WCAL
iPhone App: 91.9 WCAL
Requests: 724-938-3000
CAL LIFE
Page 9 March 10, 2017
Book Review: “The Secret Life of Bees” Elizabeth Pedder, Contributor
The Secret Life of Bees was published in the year 2002, and written by Sue Monk Kidd. The author, Kidd is known for religious connotations in her writings. She has written several novels and won numerous awards. The Secret Life of Bees was on the New York Times Bestseller list for almost three years. Kidd presents The Secret Life of Bees beautifully. She uses the life of a bee as an analogy with the struggles of human life. Describing the similarity between the two in her book, she examines the task and toil of bees, with the task and toil
“The Secret Life of Bees is a great story of becoming...” of human life. At the beginning of each chapter, Kidd presents a brief quote about the life of bees. This quote about a bee’s life, makes a connection to the character’s, and their events found within the chapter. Considering Kidd’s background, with the inclusion of the spiritual in her writings, it is no surprise that she uses a Biblical principle, found in the book of Proverbs. This principle is based upon the idea that, we as humans can learn a great deal by studying the insect world. Through her analogy, Kidd makes her connection between bees and humans. The story, The Secret Life of Bees, revolves around a young girl’s struggle
to be loved, and the quest for truth. The setting is South Carolina, during the early to mid-nineteen-sixties, at the time of the Civil Rights movement. Lily, the primary character, is troubled by a life altering event which occurred when she
custody of the authorities. As runaway’s, Lily and Rosaleen venture to Tiburon, South Carolina, a place that Lily discovered through some remnants left of her mother’s. One specific item, a black Madonna sticker, glued to a block of wood is the cornerstone of Lily’s new adventure. Tiburon becomes the place where Lily finds the truth, love, and acceptance that she has been searching and longing for her entire life. She uncovers the mysteries of her mother’s connection with Tiburon, and learns more about the divine intervention that lead her there. As Lily is growing spiritually, intellectually, and maturing into a young woman; T. Ray still looms in the back of her mind, and his eminent return into her life to retrieve her. The day does come when T. Ray returns, but Lily is changed, loved, and independent. She is not the person T. Ray expected to encounter. At T. Ray’s visit to Tiburon to retrieve Lily, he must also face the truth about himself, and his past with Lily’s mother. The Secret Life of Bees is a great story of becoming; becoming of age, becoming spiritually aware, becoming independent, and becoming part of something bigger. It is an adventure and quest for truth, love, and acceptance. It written as an analogy between human life and the life of bees. It follows the struggle of a young girl trying to rise above her cruel circumstances to create a life for herself, while honoring was a young child. She must live with the her mother’s memory. It is filled with consequences of her actions as a four-yearencouragement, and inspiration. old. Lily, is being raised by her emotionally The Secret Life of Bees novel also has a and physically abusive father, and the black companion movie. The movie is not as nanny, Rosaleen, whom her father pulled in-depth as the novel, but most movies from the fields of his peach orchard to help aren’t. However, it does touch upon the raise her. Through a series of events, Lily main points of the novel creating a truly finds herself a runaway and law breaker, inspirational show. after helping Rosaleen escape from
CAL LIFE
Page 10 March 10, 2017
Lemonade Wars Spark for a Good Cause Jessica Crosson, Entertainment Editor On March 2, the second annual ‘Lemonade Wars’ were held in the Performance Center of the Natali Student Union. The ‘Lemonade Wars’ benefits the charitable organization, Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Greek life and many other student organizations participated by setting up different stands that all offer a different lemonade beverage and table theme. All students are able to attend this event a gain an hour of volunteering by being there. When students swiped their CalCard before entering the Performance Center, they were given three tickets to put into the jars for their favorite lemonade. Students were also able to purchase raffle tickets for chances to win different prize packs filled with Cal U apparel, various gift cards, Kate Spade items and much more.Last year was the first year that the ‘Lemonade Wars’ were held at Cal U and it was a big hit among the students. “The Lemonade Wars are a fun way for organization’s to come together and do something for a good cause.” junior Makenzie Langer said. One large change to the wars this year was that the
awards were awarded by judges instead of just having those who participated put tickets into their favorite organization’s jar. There also was no award for “Best Theme” this year. “We wanted an award that both students and judges has a say for the final outcome. Best Theme is a hard award to give since everyone is encouraged to make Lemonade. The theme is essentially supporting Alex’s Lemonade Stand.” stated the Lemonade Wars adviser, Diane Hasbrouck. There were various table themes including Stars Wars, “99 problems but a peach ain’t one” and a Hawaiian themed table. However, at the end of the night, Student Government’s winter themed table featuring a sour Kool-Aid beverage took home the “Best Overall” award. Honorable mention was given to Sigma Tau Gamma’s “Urine for a Surprise” beverage and Alpha Sigma Alpha was awarded the “Judge’s Choice” award for their lemonade. As the ‘Lemonade Wars’ popularity on campus continues to grow Habrouck explained what should be expected in the upcoming years, “I would love to see Lemonade Wars be an annual event. Anytime a program that is new to campus that has the
support and backing from the University community, will always be looked as a success, and efforts will be made to continue it year-to-year. By collaborating with Underground Cafe, we help to establish the cause to raise more donations, expand partnerships with local and regional businesses, and spread the word and mission of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.” A nice plus to the wars this year was that it was featured at Underground Cafe, providing live music for those in attendance. “I think it was very successful. We had around 250 students there and some people performed that had never even played at Underground before. The lemonades were all great and I love how everyone really took the time and cared a lot about what they did for their tables. Overall it was an excellent event. Thank you to everyone who participated.” Underground Cafe’s president, Emma Rawlings, shared. After another successful year of the ‘Lemonade Wars’ students can hopefully look forward to seeing this event happen again
H ats O ff T o D r . S euss ! Dr. Bruce Barn hart, p and vice presid rovost ent for My academic affa irs, celebrates “I Can Read with the birthday o Eyes Shut” f children’s book author D r. Seuss Children gathered for a special event sponsored by the Cal U Student Bookstore on March 6, 2017.
Children and staff members from The Childhood Education Center and The Village Early Learning and Language Center Preschool Progra m, Communication Disorders Department, participated in the event.
Photo by: Jeff Helsel
CAL LIFE
Page 11 March 10, 2017
And The Oscar Goes To.... Joshua Proud, Staff Writer
The Oscars began with a performance by Justin Timberlake singing, “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” Timberlake began his performance in the lobby while he made his way to the stage to warm up the audience for a night of awards and performances. The 89th Oscars took place at the Dolby theatre live from Hollywood and was sponsored by Amazon and many others. The host, Jimmy Kimmel, began the night with a statement that the country is divided, and he encouraged people to have good conversations regardless of their political party. La La Land broke the record for most nominations with a total of 14, winning six awards later that night. The award for best actor in a supporting role was awarded to Mahershala Ali for his role in Moonlight. Ali gave a heart-warming speech thanking his teachers, directors, family, and crew while crying in thanks for his first Oscar nomination. Makeup Artist, Alessandro Bertolazzi, from Suicide Squad, dedicated his Oscar to all the immigrants of the country and said he has waited 50 years to speak on this topic. Katherine Johnson from NASA, one of the inspirations
Six Word Stories Wr itten By Students for your Enter tainment
behind the movie Hidden Figures, was wheeled out in her wheel chair, to be honored as one of the hidden figures who helped men get to the moon. One memorable moment from the 89th Oscars was when little bags of red vines and junior mints flew down from the sky by the grace of Jimmy Kimmel stating that it was un-American to not eat candy during the movies. Kimmel later joked that the audience could add avocado to their candy for a price of $2. Viola Davis took home the Oscar for best actress of a supporting role, which was very predicted. Her speech told the audience that she wanted to tell stories of people who dreamed big, or fell in love and lost. Davis stated that being an artist is the only profession in the world that shows what it means to live a life. Davis was previously nominated for three Oscars, but snagged her fist win this year. Kimmel announced that a Hollywood Starline Tour would surprise its guests with a prank. Kimmel explained that the tour guest have no idea that they would be waking into the live Oscars. The guests were told that they were going into the theatre to see gowns of Oscars past. The tour guests were extremely surprised and this
6ws
gave great laugh to both the tour members and the audience. Many of the stars in the audience gave the tour members their sunglasses, snacks, and basically anything that was on their person. Although during most of the night it seemed like a ceremony to speak on politics and Donald Trump, it seemed as if all of the deserving artists won their Oscars. One of the most memorable events of the night was when the envelopes for best picture got switched up. The award was originally given to La La Land, but then was appropriately given to Moonlight. A true Steve Harvey moment. Other memorable moments from the night are: •La La Land’s academy award for best production design •Zootopia’s academy award for best animated feature •Jimmy Kimmel giving President Donald Trump a shoutout on Twitter live from the Oscars audience •Emma Stone’s academy award for actress in a lead role •Moonlight’s academy award for best picture and the amount of black excellence at the awards. Especially compared to last years Academy Awards, when the Oscars were criticized for their lack of AfricanAmerican winners.
t s u .J
h t u r t e l h e t k t ' n n a e W er e i w t a u o K Y " " . s e li
6ws
Page 12 March 10, 2017
CAL LIFE
An ‘Evening of Creativity’ Behind Closed Doors Briana Hendriksen, Staff Writer Blaney Theatre kicked off its first show of the semester this past weekend with An Evening of Creativity. The show consisted of two dance pieces, “Finding your Way” and “Behind Closed Doors”, and a one act entitled, Post-It’s (Notes on a Marriage), a homage to A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters. This unique production showcased the whirlwind that is life. The dance piece “Finding Your Way”, which was choreographed by the Cal U Dance Ensemble (Marisa Badura, Laura Cook, Taylor Frost, Meagan Goben and Mackenzie Moore), addressed the issue of getting caught up in the insanity of the world, but being able to take a step back and find yourself again. “For ‘Finding Your Way’, the Ensemble members hoped that the audience was able to see that each dancer by the end of the piece ultimately was able to find who they were as a person and move forward in a positive direction,” said choreographer Diane Buffington. Post-It’s (Notes on a Marriage), which was directed by graduate student Emily Cutwright, was a one act in which the actor, Michael Mastandrea, and actress, Jessica Crosson, read the Post-It notes between a couple that spans the duration of their lives together. This piece explored the up’s and down’s that any relationship faces through the aspect of hand-written notes. “The reason I chose this show was because it was presented in an abnormal way (actors read off of post it’s),” Cutwright explained. “It explored the ups and downs of a long-term relationship in which we all experience at one time or another. It was very relate-able for adults.” The final dance piece, which was choreographed by Buffington entitled, “Behind Closed Doors”, explored the struggles an individual endures when no one is watching, such as anxiety, depression, illness, addiction, etc. This piece addressed the fact that despite these struggles, we all need people who are going to be empathetic and understanding of our situations. “Behind closed doors” was a personal performance by the Cal U Dance Ensemble that represented different life events a person may endure when out of the public eye. “My overall intentions were to make each audience member question their own behavior and contribution
Members of th Cal U Dance Ensemble left to right: Meagan Goben, Taylor Frost, Laura Cook, Marisa Badura and Mackenzie Moore. to others in their lives,” Buffington said. “The piece was meant to be intense and uncomfortable at times to make all of its viewers sit back and think about how we as a society treat each other.” An Evening of Creativity was a show unlike any other that the Cal U Theatre Department has put on in the past from both a dance and acting perspective. “This show was different because I had the smallest cast I’ve ever worked with,” Cutwright said. “It was a great, intimate experience.” On the other hand, Buffington expressed how this show was different from a dance perspective; “This piece was the first dance choreographed specifically for a black box setting and with live dialogue to really connect with the audience,” Buffington said. “When the performer is that close to the audience members the use of live dialogue is a powerful element of connection.” The effective lighting, the silhouettes of the dancers, subtle costume changes, and the fluidity of movement in each of the dance pieces, made connecting and interpreting the show on a deeper level more effortless. “The silhouettes in my piece were a very important aspect of the entire meaning. Even though there were only five dancers it made it appear as if there were more in the performance area,” Buffington said. “This was
important since the piece conveyed that we need to all be supportive and be there for each other when we are suffering.” Interpretation of any show is up to the audience themselves. However, Cutwright addressed what she hoped the audience took away after the performers took their final bow. “This particular one act just meant to me exactly what I wanted the audience to take away. We do not have as much time as we think we do with our loved ones,” Cutwright said. “I was hoping the audience would rethink the way they treat their loved ones.” An Evening of Creativity made the audience realize that despite being consumed with our own day-today lives, we need to take a step back, change our perspective, and be present in the lives of others. “We are so quick to step on each other’s backs to get ahead in life. This mentality is unhealthy and holds us back as a society,” Buffington said. “Too many of us have lost true empathy and sympathy for what other people endure.” In the words of the dance ensemble throughout the final piece, “Be there. Be selfless. Stand tall” and make sure that you are taking the time to “Listen to understand instead of listening to respond.”
CAL LIFE
Page 13 March 10, 2017
Actress, Jessica Crosson, performs in ‘Post-it’s: Notes on Marriage’
Members of the Cal U Dance Ensemble perform their original choreography.
Behind Closed Doors at Blaney Theatre “Be there. Be selfless. Stand tall.” vening
“Listen to understand instead of listening to respond.”
f
reativity
Mackenzie Moore speaks out during the dance ensemble’s final piece of the night.
Crosson and Mastandrea share a moment on stage.
Actor, Michael Mastandrea, reflects during ‘Post It’s: Notes on a Marriage”
All photos taken by Kelly Tunney.
Page 14 March 10, 2017
Albums of the
Week By Eddie Kuntz
CAL LIFE Sick Scenes by Los Campesinos! United Kingdom natives and indie powerhouse, Los Campesinos!, don’t hold anything back on their sixth full length album Sick Scenes. The album opens with one of the strongest tracks on the release, “Renato Dall’Ara”, which stretches from moments of group vocals and controlling bass lines, to in your face choruses and lyrics that immediately make you realize that this band created something great. The album’s best song, “I Broke Up in Amarante”, comes in shortly after controlled by guitar and a synth all throughout and seems to be the band’s attempt at a faster punk song, and they pull it off flawlessly. Sick Scenes takes to a slower direction for a bit after with the relaxing acoustic song “The Fall of Home”, and builds back up with its next big stand out “5 Flucloxacillin”, driven by the slow build of the clap along choruses into vocalist Gareth David’s screaming repetition of “well I guess we’ll never know”. The album finds itself slowing down after “5 Flucloxacillin”, but never shows signs of weakness. Los Campesinos! close Sick Scenes with the sound they’ve come to be known for in “Hung Empty”, a fast synth driven closer that cuts out with the perfect way to end the album on the line “what if this is how we die?”
Rating: 8.7 out of 10
Vulcan Theater March 24March 30 Natali Student Center
M-F: 11 a.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. S&S: 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m.
Sweet Movie Reviews with Jonathan Hershey! A melancholy, yet inspiring and beautiful ending to La La Land captures the feeling of a true love story. The film features Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as the main actors and the tenacity of their roles are shown. The movie takes the audience through their relationship by tasteful visualization and well written songs and choreography. If you have not seen this film then I highly suggest going to see this move that won 6 Oscars and nominated for a total of 14.
I rate this film 91/100.
Page 15 March 10, 2017
Page 16 March 10, 2017
It’s On Us to Make Cal U Green with Left to Right: Cheyenne Lewis, Kyle Harris, & Kelsey Brutout in Cal U Office for Students w/ Disabilities So, you might be asking what’s up with the green dots? You may have seen green dots displayed in your work-study office, when you went to the University Technology Services, working out in Herron Recreation Center, around campus, or on t-shirts, and asked yourself why are these green dots showing up everywhere? Governor Tom Wolf allocated $1 million in funds from the 20162017 state budget for colleges and universities to apply for $30,000 grants to implement the “It’s On Us PA” campaign to address the issue of sexual assault. Cal U received $29,994 and was one of the 36 colleges and universities across the state to be selected for this grant. The title of our initiative is “It’s On Us to Make Cal U Green with EndV.” It’s On Us PA is a statewide campaign that invites everyone to play a role in ending sexual assault. Building off the momentum of the national It’s On Us movement, It’s On Us PA brings together college and university presidents, administrators, faculty, staff, students, families, and community members to reframe the conversation around sexual violence and pledge to be part of the solution. The End Violence Center’s primary prevention strategy is known as “Green Dot”, a comprehensive model to prevent
Catriona Reynolds & John Stibich in Cal U Office for Students w/ Disabilities choice, word, or attitude that counters a red dot. Safety at California University is everybody’s business. Cal U students, faculty and staff are partners with the University in creating an atmosphere that is safe and conducive to learning. Together we form a powerful team. Therefore, please view the public service announcement https:// youtu.be/q7AABm68_4U and take the pledge at www.governor. pa.gov/its-on-us/.
Joe Rimsky & David Findley in the University Technology Services Office sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking. Based on social change theory, Green Dot targets all community members as potential bystanders. The model seeks to engage community members in proactive behaviors, as well as reactive interventions. “No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something!” A red dot represents an incident of a sexual assault. A green dot is a single moment in time when someone does something that displaces a red dot from happening. A green dot is any behavior,
OPINION
Page 17 March 10, 2017
Restaurant Review: The Fire Side Public House James Rudolph, Staff Writer Pittsburgh’s Bakery Square and East Liberty areas is a neighborhood on the rise as one of the most thriving in the city. Google established their headquarters there, many successful businesses are thriving, and a rise of college students and young adults improved a large amount of the real estate in the area. Amongst numerous businesses are a large variety of restaurants, each offering a unique dining experience. Located on Broad street, next to the Target before East Liberty’s main business section, is the Fire Side Public House. Upon entering the Fire Side Public House, the first thing any customer will see is the large counter in the middle of the room with the open fire grill and kitchen in full view. High top tables sit around the perimeter of the kitchen, which has the most seating at the counter. This is considered their nod to the long cooking traditions in Argentina and Spain, as explained on their menu. Above the counter hangs a craft beer list of over 50 varieties, the majority being local breweries. The food offered is their unique take on traditional style Pub food that is prepared, in full view, in the open kitchen. Their appetizers include the classics such as French fries, onion rings, wings, nachos, chips and dip, mussels, and, of course, pierogis. While offering a variety of salads and entrées, like Kobe hotdogs and their “Pittsburgh” version of a cheesesteak, their burgers and specialty flatbreads are what to be desired. I had their Black and Yellow burger; local beef, dry dusted in their own spice blend, with smoked gouda and caramelized onions on a brioche bun. Another member of my party ordered their pepperoni flatbread, simply pepperoni, mozzarella and marinara, which I sampled. Both dishes were excellent and shows how the Fire Side Public House creates delicious dishes with simple ingredients. Many of their ingredients are products of local purveyors, all listed on their menu with their food. A major factor that draws in customers,
Photo: The Fire Side Public House/Facebook
particularly younger adults without much money, is their affordability. In an area where most restaurants will have an expensive bill at the end, the Fire Side Public House wont shock you with prices, and offer numerous specials. Every Monday is halfoff wing night. Their Taco Tuesdays offer $4 a taco, or 3 for $10 deals, starting at 5 p.m., right along with Happy Hour. Every Thursday between 5 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. they offer two burgers for $10, along with alcohol specials. Receiving praise from Thrillest.com and Pittsburgh Magazine, the Fire Side Public House offers a great Natali, Suite 138 food at an affordable internctr@calu.edu price, a unique
atmosphere in an accessible location and quality service expected in any good restaurant. The Fire Side Public House makes itself stand out in an area with many restaurants that have much to offer.
724-938-1578 www.calu.edu/internships
Page 18 March 10, 2017
OPINION
What is Fake News April Pfrogner, Staff Writer
The term “fake news” has to accuse entire networks become a popular term over like CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC the last year in the political among others of constantly world. It even earned the title pumping out fake news. “word of the year” for 2016 and Newspapers, like The has its own Wikipedia page. New York Times, also find Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook themselves being accused of CEO, is thought to have reproducing fake news. Trump’s coined the phrase during the point is that no matter what 2016 presidential campaign he does, good or bad, the while speaking about falsities media will portray him in a being spread online. Then bad light. presidential candidate, Donald Russia pushed fake news Trump, took it to a historic stories during the election level by using and overusing which democrats claim it to describe stories in the “cost Hillary the election.” Photo: Wik imedia Commons Although, according to a study mainstream media that he believed portrayed him in a false out of Harvard’s Shorenstein light. Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Since October 2016, 6.5 million articles have during his best weeks, the coverage ran 2-to-1 been written on the topic. President Trump likes negative over positive for Trump. In his worst
weeks, the ratio was more than 10-to-1. According to an article in the Huffington Post, only 6 percent of people trust the media. I think it has a lot to do with the polls during the presidential election. When people saw that polls they had trusted for years turned out to be horribly skewed, it put a big question mark in the minds of many. Whether people believe Trump or the news articles he calls fake is all in the mind of the reader. I find that the only news that is completely unbiased is the daily local news, because they just cover the facts. If a person is uneducated on the topic they are reading about, they are more likely to believe whatever it is that is being reported. It’s suggested that the reader always check the sources within a story. If they are anonymous or the news story comes from a site that is not wellknown, it’s worth doing a google search on the topic before coming to a conclusion.
summer college Don’t miss Cal U’s Summer College. With more than 200 credit courses, at the undergraduate and graduate levels you’ll find just the right class that fits your needs. Choose from five-, six- or 10-week classes starting in May. VISIT CALU.EDU/SUMMER-COLLEGE. EMAIL SUMMER@CALU.EDU
•
PHONE 724-938-5962
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY
O F
P E N N S Y L V A N I A
CAL U
OPINION
Page 19 March 10, 2017
Most Anticipated Video Games of 2017 Jon Hershey, Staff Writer 10. Unannounced Call of Duty game makes the list due to the very strong and large fan base that the Call of Duty franchise has. Since 2003 Call of Duty has been the best-selling game 8 times (2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016)! 9. Yooka-Laylee is a lesser known game but still makes a spot on this list due to it being a spiritual successor to the classic games Banjo-Kazooie. Yooka-Laylee is scheduled for a release on all Xbox One, PS4, PC and the Nintendo Switch on April 11th. 8. Injustice 2, the sequel to Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013), releases this coming May 16th and is full of DC characters. This game was developed by NetherRealm Studio who are the makers of Mortal Combat. 7. Halo 6 has not been announced yet to be released in 2017 but should, pending any delays. This game will take place after the events of Halo 5 and Halo Wars 2 (see bottom of article).
6. Untitled Battlefront Sequel is set to launch around November per EA Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen. The game is confirmed to have a campaign and span multiple eras unlike the previous Battlefront (2015). 5. Mass Effect Andromeda, releases this March on the 21st. This game is 4th in the Mass Effect franchise and is set in the Andromeda Galaxy in the 22nd century. 4. The Last of Us 2, despite the fact many believed The Last of Us would not have a sequel, PlayStation revealed there will be one on December 3rd. 3. Untitled Destiny Sequel is slated for a 2017 release. Die-hard fans are hopeful that this will right the wrongs of Destiny (2014) but time will tell. 2. Middle Earth: Shadow of War is set to release
Photo: G amespur
on August 22nd. It follows the story of Talion and Celebrimbor who were merged together. This is a sequel to the Game of the Year in 2014, Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor. 1. Red Dead Redemption 2 is schedule for a 2017 release. This game is a sequel to Red Dead Redemption which was released back in 2010.
Page 20 March 10, 2017
SPORTS Miki Glenn: Leader, Captain, Warrior
Page 21 March 10, 2017
Rachael McKriger, Editor-In-Chief There was a reason to why Miki Glenn was picked up in the middle of the basketball court against Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Senior Day. Glenn, a point-guard for the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans, had scored her 2,000th point. It was a feat that Glenn said she aimed for the entire season, but she didn’t solely want her season to focus on the accomplishment. When the milestone came to fruition, there was no chance of erasing the smile on her face. “I just played my game and did my best,” Glenn said. “To reach that amazing feat on senior night felt really special. My teammates have probably been more excited than I have been. It’s just a tribute to the confidence my coaches and my teammates have in me to go out and score. My teammates tell me to go out and take over the game and that’s what I did, I played my role.” That’s what Glenn has done for the past four years in a Vulcans uniform. This season, Glenn has scored 547 points, bringing her final total to 2,007 points. Glenn has started every game she has appeared in this past season, totaling 1,040 minutes in her senior season. In addition, Glenn was recently named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year, an accomplishment she also earned last season. Still, what was most important to Glenn was winning her final regular season game in the Convocation Center on senior night. The Vulcans came back from a 38-24 halftime deficit to win the game 80-64. “We did not play as well as we would have liked in the first half,” Glenn said. “At halftime we talked about bringing more energy and playing better overall. When we went out Coach Jess [Strom] said that I just needed to play my game and get to the rim and make things happen. We came out in attack mode and never looked back. Our defense picked up and they couldn’t score. I would have liked to play that well the whole game, but we made it interesting and we pulled out the win.” Glenn particularly wanted to win on Senior
Day due to a surprise person in the audience for her: her brother. Glenn had no idea that he was coming to the game, and was also escorted by her sister and father. She took in every moment with her fellow seniors, Precious Martin, Lana Doran and Brittany Nelson. “Coming in as a freshman, Presh and I were in a class of six,” Glenn said. “Now we are the only two left from that class and I couldn’t be more proud of how far we have come. Having her with me all these years has given me strength that I did not know I could get from someone else.” “She’s such a great person and she puts everyone before herself,” Glenn continued about Martin. “We have been there for each other for a long time and its such a special relationship because we have been through a lot together. I’m so glad that she stuck around with me. She has been able to work hard and improve to be the great player she is today.” She also showed respect to her teammates Doran and Nelson, who both battled back from ACL injuries to compete this season. Both have been Glenn’s teammates for two years, since they transferred into Cal U. “They have been a blessing that was needed,” Glenn said. “They were here for that championship year and their experience has been everything to this team. They both are amazingly positive and can give you a pep talk whenever needed. They are two very special human beings. I’ve been lucky to be around them and to learn from them. They are two of the hardest workers I have been around in my life. To see them comeback from injury has inspired me.” Glenn also proclaimed her fondness for head coach Jess Strom, who recruited Glenn and has coached her for the past four years. Glenn was part of the first group that Strom recruited as head coach of Cal U. “She is such an amazing coach and to be around her and to talk to her about the game and learn everything I possibly can is amazing,” Glenn said. “I can say without a doubt that she is the best coach in the country. Having said that, it’s the personal relationship with all of the
Senior Guard Mik i Glenn players that strikes me about her. I know I can just sit in her office and talk to her. She genuinely cares about every player on the team. She does anything and everything she can to help anyone. She is such a great coach and an even better person.” Glenn, who is battling an injury, will wait with the rest of her teammates to find out their Regional Tournament ranking and placement. The Vulcans recently lost the PSAC Tournament final against IUP, and are now waiting on the NCAA. Glenn, who hopes to play professional basketball after she graduates in May with a degree in chemistry, said that she wants to win another NCAA trophy, but also thanked the many faithful that have watched her last fouryear journey at Cal U. “That feeling is the most amazing and indescribable thing in the world,” Glenn said, referring to the NCAA Tournament. “I have spent and will continue to spend my time chasing that feeling again. The people that I was with worked incredibly hard and made that run even more special.”
Page 22 March 10, 2017
SPORTS
Kent McBride: Next year will be a “growth” season Rachael McKriger, Editor-In-Chief
Kent McBride called the most recent season for the California University of Pennsylvania Men’s Basketball Team a trial season. It was their first year with McBride, who replaced retired coach Bill Brown in the summer, and only six players from the 2015-16 season returned in uniform for the team this year. They learned a completely new system from McBride, while also learning about each other- on and off the court. However, as McBride noted, plenty of times has passed since then. The team has chemistry, and in McBride’s words has “progressed.” “We had some suffering moments, but we really progressed as a program and as a group of men,” McBride said. “Not necessarily result based, but I thought our progress was really, really good.” McBride even made a switch himself, as he switched from Concord University to Cal U. He spent his college days at Concord, and coached there for the past five seasons. McBride called it changing his comfort zone. “It was stressful,” McBride admitted. “Being up here in a new league, new school and new players was out of my comfort zone. It made me grow, and it made me do things I might not have done in years’ past. It wasn’t necessarily a tough transition, but it was a learning transition. I’ve done this before when I got the Concord job, because I hadn’t had a head coaching job.” However, the transition went better than McBride, or any of the players and fans, thought. The Vulcans were a playoff-contending team, finishing in the seventh position in the PSAC West with a record of 10-18. “Our players were just tired of the stigma of no expectations and they really did a great job in believing what we were saying,” McBride said. “We never changed our message. We knew we weren’t going to be the finished product until February. We didn’t worry about the results. We knew that if we did our job, the results would follow.” “The IUP game, we had been in that scenario all season,” McBride said. “We’ve been down, fought our way back and had opportunities to win the game. I thought our guys really battled. I hope it motivated our guys, because we had 11 games that we were close in. I hope that carries to the next six weeks of workouts.”
Photo: Rachael McKriger
His team will fully be intact when the workouts continue. The Vulcans aren’t losing any players to graduation, due to no seniors being on the team. The squad has seven juniors that will be the senior leaders next year. “They need to establish a culture of how we operate on a day-to-day basis,” McBride said. “We need to show how Cal U basketball represents themselves. Back in September nobody knew what that was and we were all trying to get pointed in the same direction. Now, six months later, we better be pointed in the same direction. That’s what you expect from your returners. When the other guys walk in, coach [Justin] Caldwell and I don’t have to do this. They need to direct them.” Out of the seven returners that will be seniors, four have been at Cal U for all four years (Nick Miller, Tony Richardson, Daniel Sapp and Cordell Smith). However, there’s no differentiating them and the other three members that were transfers (Luka Andjusic, Robel Teckle and Rashawn Browne). “They’ve still been playing college basketball,” McBride said. “That’s not how you establish the pecking order. That’s naturally evolved without coaches and their say-so. You just expect those guys to set the bar so high for how we work and how we
prepare for the younger guys. That’s what you want to establish, and that’s what we have to work really hard on establishing in the next six weeks.” In reference to younger players, McBride also expects newcomers Jordan Gessner, Ramon Creighton and Jacob Thibodeau to have a bigger impact that they did in their first Vulcan basketball season. “Those guys came in late, so they didn’t even really get to do fall workouts,” McBride said. “They came straight into practice, and I never have to talk to them about working hard. That’s just what they do. When they show up and it’s practice time, they get after it, so they don’t have a choice to get better. We just have to give them direction on what to do. They’ll handle the rest themselves.” With that said, the Vulcans will now continue their offseason workouts in preparation for the 2017-18 season. That is a season that McBride has dubbed the group’s “growth season.” “It’s time for us to really put our footprint down on how we want the program ran,” McBride said. “It was hard in the fall for us to establish our identity because guys were so unsure. Now, we all see eye-to-eye, where we want to go and what’s going on. It’s got to be done without Coach Caldwell and I. It has to be done with those seniors and returners.”
SPORTS NFL Combine: Big winners and bigger losers
Page 23 March 10, 2017
Danny Beeck, Sports Editor
The best athletes from college football converged at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN last week, for the 35th annual NFL Combine. The nations best showed up this year as well, with a record-breaking 40-yard dash, along with lots of strength on display in the bench press workout. Normally, athletes in skill positions tend to perform the same in specific categories (RB’s showing speed in the 40-yard dash). This year though, Samaje Perine from Oklahoma University ranked in the top-10 for bench press, with 30 reps at 225. Perine is coming off a season in which he registered 1,060 yards, along with 12 touchdowns. The stand-out running back was also a top performer in the 60-yard dash, showing off his speed even more. Yet another athlete who strutted their skills in front of the scouts was OL Aviante Collins from TCU who topped the charts on not only the bench press (34 reps), but also ran the fastest 40-yard dash of all linemen with a 4.81 time. The bloodline for Collins helped him out just a bit, with the likes of his father and brother both being sprinters for Texas Christian. The speed of Collins showed the scouts his worth to an NFL team, as they attempt to counter the faster defensive ends that are popping up all across the nation. Speaking of DE’s, Haason Reddick from Temple University soared down the sideline and registered a 4.52 40-yard dash, leading all defensive linemen in the drill. Reddick’s 6’1”, 237 lb. frame gives him the perfect numbers to make a splash as a defensive linemen in the NFL, accentuating his abilities in front of the NFL hopefuls. Reddick was also a running back/safety in high school, giving him an edge when it comes to shedding the opposition. Sticking with the theme of speed, I would be ignorant if I left out the record-breaking 40-yard dash from Washington wide receiver John Ross who sped past the finish line with a 4.22 40-yard dash. To even fathom the pure speed of this young man is dizzying. With his ability to streak all across the field, you could almost bet that the lucky team who grabs him in the draft would use his talents like Devin Hester of the Seattle
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Seahawks. An athlete that many would have let go if it wasn’t for his outstanding performance, is Obi Melifonwu, a safety from Connecticut. A team normally overlooked in the sport of football, will be on watch for the next few years, as Melifonwu jumped to the top of draft boards, with a 11’9” broad jump, along with a 44” vertical and a 4.40 40-yard dash. Numbers like that for a 6’4”, 224 lb. safety will match up well against the much taller wide outs that are entering the league in the upcoming years. Christian McCaffrey, a Heisman candidate runner-up just a few years ago had a great run at the Combine, with a 4.48 40-yard dash, a number that solidifies his running ability. Yet another drill in which McCaffrey shined in, was the 3 cone drill, where he clocked in at 6.57 seconds. This drill hones in on the athletes ability to switch directions at high speeds, exhibiting their skills to make cuts up the field. The drill showed how explosive the Stanford running back’s cuts are, and his chances at the next level when it comes to creating space for himself. Shelton Gibson, a speedy wide out from West Virginia shined in the 40 and 60 yard shuttles,
displaying the ability of Gibson to fly past defenders and match the open catch for his squad. Although Gibson lacks height, his speed could be the deciding factor between which round he is taken in. Analysts across the league have been comparing West Virginia’s own to DeSean Jackson amd Corey Coleman, two NFL stars that he would mind replicating. As for those who were slightly under the bar of expectations, the let down does not necessarily mean they will not be take in the draft, but they might drop a few spots. One of the first under-performers of the weekend-long event was DeShone Kizer, the former Notre Dame quarterback, who hit a slight plateau from the 15-16 season. NFL analysts report sporadic throws and unsteady footwork from the 21-year old from Toledo, Ohio. While his arm strength shined among the other skilled QB’s in attendance, Kizer’s ability to make adjustments on the fly did not meet the marks of the others who went before him. Hailing from Western Michigan, Corey Davis also took a hit when it comes to his draft stock, when he was forced to miss all combine drills when he recovers from an ankle surgery.
SPORTS
Page 24 March 10, 2017
Cal Times
At h l e t e S p ot l i g h t David
Marcus
Class: Redshirt-Senior Major: Psychology
Hometown: Whitby, Ontario High School: Father Leo J. Austin A weekend in which the Vulcans hosted the Senators of Davis & Elkins, David Marcus notched five hits in ten at bats, along with a monster home-run to help his team split both double-headers. Marcus is also leading the team in RBI’s thus far.
Photo: Jeff Helsel, SAI
PURCHASE A MTN. DEW WHITE LABEL FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A SNOWBOARD Contestants must purchase 1 Mountain Dew White Label at Vulcan Express or Chick-fil-A to enter. Entry slips are available with the cashiers at Vulcan Express or Chick-fil-A for a limited time only.