Cal U Journal - April 6, 2015

California University

Volume 17, Number 6 APrIl 6, 2015 Read the JouRnal online: www.calu.edu/news/the-journal

Vulcans Win National Championship A season of both heartbreak and resilience ended in triumph as the women’s basketball team clinched the 2014-2015 NCAA Division II National Championship.

About 800 Vulcans fans watching a live broadcast in the Convocation Center erupted in cheers as the championship game ended with an 86-69 victory over California Baptist at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. “I’m so proud of our women’s basketball team,” said interim University President Geraldine M. Jones, who was in the stands for the Elite Eight Tournament in South Dakota.

“They are an impressive and amazing group of young women. Coach Jess (Strom) and the other coaches did a marvelous job working, coaching and mentoring the team through a challenging year. And their hard work, determination, and commitment earned them the national championship.”

Cal U’s remarkable run produced the program’s second NCAA Division II national title. This year’s team joins the 2004 women’s basketball and 1997 and 1998 softball teams as the only varsity athletic teams in school history to win NCAA Division II national championships.

The Vulcans rallied after the loss of senior Shanice Clark to finish the season with a 32-4 overall record. Clark died on

The Cal U women’s basketball team celebrates moments after defeating California Baptist 86-69 to win the NCAA Division II National Championship on March 27 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Jan. 18 from complications of sickle cell trait, a blood disorder. Her teammates wore her No. 44 jersey during warmups throughout the season and raised their fingers to signal “44” after every win.

“We always say she’s with us, and it made us closer,”said Strom, fourth-year

head coach. “We probably shouldn’t have won some of the games we did, but somehow, some way, she helped us out.

“I’m so proud of how these ladies fight. Throughout the playoffs they had a refuse-to-lose attitude.”

This is just the third time that Cal U

women’s basketball has finished the season with 30 or more victories. The only other PSAC women’s basketball team to reach the national finals was runner-up Shippensburg, in 1996.

This was the program’s 12th NCAA — Continued on page 2

Research and Creativity Focus of Spark Conference

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Nine members of the California Singers are being used as featured extras for a scene in ‘Love the Coopers,’ the tentative title for the CBS Films production set to open this November.

Movie Cues Cal U Carolers

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he Christmas caroling season stretched into spring for nine members of the California Singers, who expect to be part of a motion picture scheduled to premiere in November.

The Cal U students performed as featured extras for a scene in “Love the Coopers” the tentative title for the CBS Films production.

Filmed in Pittsburgh, the romantic comedy follows the exasperated members of an extended family as they attempt to gather for their annual holiday celebration.

Students Justin DiPerna, Charles Heiser, Allison Killen, Hannah Kovscek, Laura Moeller,

Matt Shorraw, Kate Sickels, Eric Streshenkoff and Mia Zazac were part of a scene shot at The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon.

Dressed Dickensian-style costumes, they sang the holiday tunes “Carol of the Bells” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

“Being an extra in a movie has been on my ‘bucket list’ for years, so it was great that this opportunity practically fell in my lap,” said Kovscek, a freshman honors student with a dual major in elementary education preK-4 and special education.

Hollywood came knocking at the carolers’ — Continued on page 3

conference on “research, scholarship, creative activity and application” will highlight the efforts of Cal U’s academic community.

The Strike a Spark Conference, “Innovation: From Peer to Public,” will take place from 9 a.m. -4 p.m. April 14 at the Convocation Center. This year’s theme focuses attention on the unique, creative and entrepreneurial aspects of teaching, research, creative expression and application practiced across campus.

The conference will include presentations and posters prepared by faculty, by students or by faculty-student teams showcasing their engagement in research, scholarship and creative activity.

Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones urges the campus community to invite alumni and University friends, members of the local business community, teachers and students from area schools, and others who might be interested in Cal U’s academic mission.

“I know they will be impressed with the depth and breadth of the research, scholarship and creativity on display,” President Jones said.

“At various events such as faculty-staff, and student convocations, I have spoken about the pressing need for all members of the campus community to become actively engaged in the life of our University. The inaugural Cal U conference on research, scholarship and creative activity provides an opportunity to do just that.”

Light refreshments will be provided throughout the conference. For more information, contact Dr. Gregg Gould at gould@calu.edu.

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APrIl 6, 2015

Vulcans Win NCAA National Championship — Continued from page 1 Tournament appearance in the past 14 years.

The road to the championship included a 23-4 overall record in the regular season and a 19-3 conference mark. In the PSAC playoffs, Cal U won its fifth conference title with double-digit victories over Gannon, Bloomsburg and West Chester.

The Vulcans hosted the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional tournament, where they defeated Virginia State, West Liberty (W. Va.) and Bloomsburg in overtime to earn the program’s fifth trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.

Senior guard Kaitlynn Fratz, who averaged 16.7 points per game in Sioux Falls, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Championship Tournament.

Senior forward Emma Mahady and sophomore guard Miki Glenn both received Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Honorable Mention honors.

Glenn was named the Most Outstanding Player at both the PSAC and NCAA Regional Tournaments after averaging 20 points or more at both competitions. She broke the PSAC singleseason record for free throws made, with 223, toppling a record (219) that has stood since 1995-1996.

Strom was named the PSAC-West Coach of the Year, and freshman Seairra Barrett, who came off the bench all season, was tabbed the PSAC-West Freshman of the Year.

Glenn and Mahady were first-team all-conference selections. Fratz received second-team all-conference accolades.

Cal U’s two other starters were senior forward Irina Kukolj and junior guard Lana Doran. Other team members were CeCe Dixon, Morgan Jennings, Precious Martin, Brittany Nelson, Shatara Parsons

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The Cal U women’s basketball team honor the memory of Shanice Clark by wearing jerseys with her name and number during pre-game warm-ups.

and Paige Wright.

Strom’s assistant coach is Katie Tetzlaw; Kelly Sabo serves as a volunteer assistant. Faculty member Dr. Shelly DiCesaro is the team’s athletic trainer.

Kelly Blye was the student trainer, and Mercedes Mandich and Cortney Askin were the student managers.

Strom, who was a Vulcan assistant coach for six seasons, already has led Cal U to 85 wins as the team attempts to unwind from its extraordinary season.

“I don’t know a team that deserves it more,” Strom said. “They’ve put work in for seven months now, day in and day out. They set a goal early, and they stayed with it through every single thing that went on this year.

“I think it’s awesome that they get to go out on top.”

Seairra Barrett (left), head coach Jess Strom and Irina Kukolj participate in a news conference during the 2015 NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Women’s Conference Examines Disabilities

magine carrying on a normal conversation. Now refrain from using any words containing the letter “N.” This peculiar situation was used to give people a feel for the challenges faced by individuals with autism. In fact, the 10th annual Audrey-Beth Fitch Women’s Studies Conference focused on “Stepping Inside the Personal, Public and Political Experience of (Dis)Abilities” in a variety of ways.

Rebecca Klaw gave the conference’s keynote address, “Square Pegs in Round Holes: Living with Autism in a Social World.”

“People with autism have a wide range of abilities and disabilities. There isn’t one description for everybody,” said Klaw, who has worked since 1988 as a consultant, trainer and advocate for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.

“Autism touches many, yet it is one of the most misunderstood developmental disorders.”

Jerron Corley, a freshman English major, was one of the audience members who attempted conversing at the March 17 conference without using the sixth most common letter in the English language.

“You really get a sense of what people with autism have to go through,” she said. “It was a bunch of little

“Autism touches many, yet it is one of the most misunderstood developmental disorders.”

— Rebecca Klaw, delivering the keynote address at the 10th annual Audrey-Beth Fitch Women’s Studies Conference

limitations, which made it very challenging.”

Klaw explained that people with autism often cope with a variety of sensory differences, such as the inability to make appropriate eye contact in social situations. These challenges sometimes lead to “meltdowns,” leaving the parents of students with ASD in a constant state of anxiety.

“Who can figure out all these rules and perceptions? (People with ASD) feel like they’re square pegs trying to fit into a round hole,” said Klaw.

“We place the burden of change on the individuals with disabilities, when we may be the ones who need to make the adjustment.”

She said young children with autism tend to focus on specific details and not

the larger picture. Like Mozart, Einstein or Bill Gates, they may have special interests that at first are misunderstood.

“Their special interests should be admired and celebrated, and it breaks my heart when teachers don’t talk about them or use them in class,” Klaw said.

“Seeing the world a little differently is the stuff of creative minds.”

Klaw concluded her presentation by pointing out the importance of helping children or adults with autism manage group interactions. Discussion groups help individuals practice their social skills in a safe environment, she said.

“They provide a sense of belonging and community. Children with autism are not being bad or noncompliant.

They’re being autistic. We need to be there for them.”

The conference included a showing of “The Family Next Door,” a film about a Pittsburgh-area family that is coping with autism. Other panel presentations and insightful discussions explored disability issues — a growing area of interest within women’s studies.

“We are looking for issues and topics that impact people,” said conference coordinator Dr. Marta McClintock-Comeaux, director of the women’s studies program at Cal U. “We were very excited this year to take an in-depth look at people with disabilities and those around them.”

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California Singers Carol for Movie — Continued from page 1

The Rev. Earle Fisher, a doctoral student at Rhodes College, makes a point at a panel discussion March 27 during Cal U’s 10th annual Hip-hop Conference.

Activism is Hip-hop Topic

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al U’s 10th annual Hip-hop Conference explored “The Role of Hip-hop and Social/Political Activism.”

Held March 26-28, the conference offered a series of panel discussions, which opened with pioneering hip-hop emcee Rakim, socio-political hip-hop icons Dead Prez and foster care supervisor Anika Tillery exploring the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act 50 years later through the lens of hiphop.

The following day students from Propel Schools in Pittsburgh visited the campus for a panel discussion exploring reactions to the shooting death of Michael Brown, a young black man who was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. Panelists were Dr. Stefan Bradley, director of African American Studies at St. Louis University; Dr. Vernon Mitchell, a St. Louis native and a visiting scholar at Princeton University; Alicia Sange, a student at St. Louis University; Dr. David Canton, professor of history at

Connecticut College; and the Rev. Earle Fisher, a doctoral student at Rhodes College.

Both Bradley and Sange took part in protests in Ferguson.

The panel focused on positive outcomes from the event, which made national headlines.

Brown praised the nonviolent protestors, especially those, like Sange, who represented a younger generation.

“I saw young people think outside of themselves and together as ‘we,’ which was inspiring,” he said. “The media portrayed many of the protesters as thugs, but I looked at them as patriots because they rescued democracy by hollering when they saw their rights were violated.

“More than craziness, you saw hopelessness with the reaction in Ferguson.”

Sange told the roomful of high school and college students to use their power and privilege as students.

“If you see something going on that’s wrong, we are the ones we’ve been waiting on,” she said. “You can’t

wait and not act. We are the ones that need to speak.”

The panelists had strong views about news clips that were shown before the discussion, including one of American rapper Young Thug (Jeffrey Williams) declining to comment about the Ferguson incident.

“I viewed what he said — or, rather, didn’t say — as both frustrating and inspiring,” said Fisher. “With the emergence of the Internet, social media and all the available information, people no longer have the luxury to say nothing.“ Event coordinator Dr. Kelton Edmonds engaged questions from the Propel students and thanked them for spending the day on campus.

“While we want all of you to consider continuing your education by coming to Cal U, the most important thing is that you further your education,” he said.

The conference concluded with a “Hip-hop Day of Service” on March 28 at the Kingsley Center in East Liberty.

Art Department Seeks ‘SPACE’

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In addition to providing food and al U’s Department of Art and live music for the opening, the student Design is accepting submissions organization has developed cooperative from students, faculty, alumni programs with amateur and collegiate and staff for “SPACE,” an exhibition art groups in Washington, Fayette and April 16-23 in the Vulcan Gallery.

Allegheny counties.

Artworks in spatial dimensions The reception is free to the from microcosm to macrocosm will be University community and the general considered. Two entries per person are public. After the opening, “SPACE” allowed. Proposals for readings, will be on display from 8 a.m-4 p.m. performances or musical events also weekdays. are invited.

Dozens of small drawings, Artworks (framed or matted and watercolors, paintings and prints wired to hang), written works and depicting campus views from the abstracts for performance or musical The Department of Art and Design is windows Old Main and Vulcan Hall pieces should be brought to the Vulcan accepting submissions for ‘SPACE,’ an will be offered for sale, along with Painting Studio, located on the second exhibition April 16-23 in the Vulcan architectural views of Old Main. floor of Vulcan Hall, at noon April Gallery.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 10 -13. memory of Robert Potter, a former Students from Advanced Drawing and Painting courses will install and curate the show. Faculty Cal U student who died in a skiing accident in February. Proceeds from the sale of many of the artworks on members will judge the submissions, and exhibited works display will be donated to his family. will be eligible for prizes and purchase awards.

For more information, contact faculty members Maggy Aston The Associated Artists of California will host an opening (aston@calu.edu) or Todd Pinkham (pinkham@calu.edu), or Art reception for the exhibition from 6-9 p.m. April 16 at the Club president Shannon Drudy (DRU5424@calu.edu). gallery.

door in the form of Nancy Mosser, a Pittsburgh-based member of the Casting Society of America. She contacted her longtime friend Dr. Yugo Ikach, chair of the Music Department, with a request for skilled carolers.

The California Singers perform 20-30 caroling “gigs” over the holidays, so Ikach was happy to recommend the group.

“There were a lot of phone calls, emails, coordinating and back-and-forth communicating, but what a wonderful experience for our students!” he said.

“You talk about experiential things you do in college that are not necessarily always tied to a class, but (instead) with some of the clubs and activities you’re involved with. Hopefully this will add to their fond memories of Cal U.” The carolers witnessed the meticulous movie-making process while spending two days on a scene that may last for less than a minute on-screen.

After a costume fitting, the group was unable to get onto the set because the production was behind schedule. It took another full day to capture their performance on camera.

“It’s just amazing the amount of work that goes into such a short amount of film time,” said Shorraw, a senior commercial music technology major and president of the University Choir.

“It makes sense to us now why it takes so long to film a movie.”

Shorraw said the mall remained open for business, although it was decorated for Christmas and a live Santa was on hand. The carolers sang while standing in front of a store and around the fountain in the lobby.

“We got some weird stares from people walking past us and seeing us in our puffy Dickensian caroling costumes, skirts and all that,” Shorraw said. “Those people who missed seeing the notices (posted about the filming) certainly looked confused.”

Kovscek said she was impressed with the movie-making process.

“As an education major, what stood out is how they incorporated so many different people of all age groups. Even during our experience, which will be a small part in a scene, you see how much time is invested in things like the costumes, the hair, the makeup, the multiple shots.

“I don’t think people realize how much goes into the making of a movie. “ The cast of “Love the Coopers” includes John Goodman and Academy Award winners Diane Keaton, Marisa Tomei and Alan Arkin.

Kovscek said Tomei was close to her at one point during the filming.

“It was definitely cool to see someone who has been in the business awhile and who’s won an Oscar,” she said, crediting Cal U with offering her a chance to perform.

“I honestly could not see being at any other school,” she added. “I ‘m just really excited to see how my years here will progress and the opportunities that might open up through this experience.”

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Swimmer Tops Her Own Records

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wimmer Jade Arganbright joined some elite Cal U company with a record-setting performance at the 2015 NCAA Division II and PSAC championships, both held earlier this spring.

At the NCAA Division II National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., Arganbright earned All-American honors in both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events, finishing second and sixth, respectively.

In the 100-yard breaststroke she beat her own school record in the finals with a time of 1:02.35. Her second-place finish was the highest national showing by a Vulcan swimmer since Melissa Gates ’12 won three NCAA national titles.

Arganbright also topped her school record in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:15.54 in the preliminaries, before clocking 2:16.16 in the finals.

She also competed in the 200-yard individual medley at the NCAA meet, finishing 21st.

Arganbright became the fifth swimmer in school history to earn All-America status multiple times at the same NCAA Championship.

“Her performance at the national meet was beyond anything I had anticipated, and it was totally thrilling to watch,” said Ed Denny, now in his 14th year as head swim coach at Cal U. “Afterward we talked and she realized there were little things with her technique that she needs to improve on, which

Swimmer Jade Arganbright wins the 200-yard individual medley at the PSAC championships en route to being named the conference meet’s most valuable player.

shows she can even do better.”

Three weeks before Nationals, Arganbright excelled at the PSAC Championship, held at the YMCA Aquatic Club in her hometown of York, Pa. The sophomore won the same three individual events she competed in at Nationals, and conference coaches voted

her the meet’s most valuable player.

“Jade totally dominated the field, with a capital D, in those three events,” Denny said.

“I thought she could do well, but I did not expect her to accomplish what she did.”

Arganbright joins Gates as the only Vulcan swimmer to win three events and

the MVP title at the conference meet.

Gates won the 2011 NCAA Division II national title in the 50-yard freestyle. As a senior in 2012, she recaptured that title and also won the 100-yard freestyle.

Denny believes Arganbright can enjoy similar success.

“I think Jade, overall, is even more talented than Melissa Gates, in that all four of her strokes (freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly) are really solid.

Over the next two years we could even find out she’s talented in another event.

“She’s so versatile.”

A liberal studies major, Arganbright also makes a splash in the classroom. She is a PSAC Scholar-Athlete, a designation that requires maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher.

Last summer she helped the Vulcan swim program earn Scholar All-America Team status for a 12th consecutive year.

The designation is awarded by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.

Denny, who has coached 35 NCAA All-Americans at Cal U, is quick to credit the University for providing quality experiences in both academics and athletics.

“The undergraduate degree you earn at Cal U is as good or better than you’d get anywhere else,” he said.

“As for the swimming program, I always tell recruits that whatever level of success you aspire to in swimming, I’m confident we can get you there.”

Forensic Scientist Speaks

Top Scholars Honored Saturday

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eth Bershok ’84 will deliver the honors address when California University recognizes more than 1,300 of its most accomplished scholars at an Honors Convocation 2 p.m. April 11 in the Convocation Center.

The University recognizes academic excellence on the part of master’s, bachelor’s and associate degree-seeking students by honoring Presidential Scholars at this annual event.

In addition to meeting other requirements, Presidential Scholars carry a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher and graduate students must have a GPA of 3.75 or higher.

Both full- and part-time students are eligible for the award.

The names of qualifying students will be announced, and each student will receive a personal greeting, certificate and a special Presidential Scholar pin.

Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones will preside over the Convocation, and acting provost Dr. Bruce Barnhart will introduce the platform party. Dr. Kimberly Woznack will serve as faculty mace-bearer.

Dr. Mark Aune will be the herald.

Three faculty recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Merit Awards

for Excellence will be recognized at the convocation. Award winners are Dr. Sara Meiss, for excellence in teaching; Dr. Clarissa Confer, for excellence in research; and Dr. Kurt Kearcher, for excellence in service. Each recipient will receive a medallion and an award, plus a scholarship to be awarded in his or her area of study.

The speaker In keeping with tradition, a distinguished graduate will address the scholars.

Bershok has enjoyed a successful career in both radio and marketing since she earned her degree in Speech Communications: Radio and Television in 1984.

Her 26-year career in radio includes serving as co-host and producer of the “Gary & Beth in the Beth Bershok ’84 Morning” show on Lite Rock 92.9 FM from 1990-2008. The Pittsburgh Radio and Television Club honored her as the Best Pittsburgh On-Air Personality in 2005.

From radio, Bershok transitioned into a career in professional services marketing and practice development, taking on the role of marketing director for a boutique law firm.

Currently she is regional marketing director for Herbein + Company Inc., a certified public accounting firm with more than 175 employees and seven offices across Pennsylvania. Bershok oversees the marketing and practice development efforts for the firm’s Pittsburgh, Greensburg and Allison Park offices.

Bershok enjoys living and working in downtown Pittsburgh, where she serves as chair of both the Pittsburgh ATHENA Award Committee and the Public Relations Committee for the Pittsburgh chapter of the Professional Services Marketing Association. She is also a member of the Association of Accounting Marketing, the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Soiree Committee and the Center for Victims’ Golf Committee.

She and her husband, Tom Bakaitus ’83, have endowed the Bakaitus Scholarship at their alma mater.

For more information about Honors Convocation, visit www.calu.edu or e-mail Jodie Rooney at rooney@calu.edu.

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enowned forensic scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee will discuss “Lessons Learned from High-Profile Cases” from 9-11 a.m. April 20 in the Convocation Center.

Chief emeritus of the Connecticut State Police and founder of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven, Lee has investigated thousands of cases over the past 40 years.

He is best known for his work on such well-publicized cases as those involving O.J. Simpson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Vincent Foster, Elizabeth Smart and Laci Peterson.

Lee’s talk is co-sponsored by the Criminal Justice Club and the Forensic Science Club at Cal U. Admission is free and open to the public.

The California Journal is published by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Geraldine M. Jones Interim University President

Christine Kindl Editor

Dr. Bruce Barnhart Acting Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Nancy Pinardi Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

Robert Thorn Vice President for Administration and Finance

Craig Butzine Vice President for Marketing and University Relations

Office of Communications and Public Relations

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Bruce Wald Wendy Mackall Jeff Bender Writers

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wald@calu.edu