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Clarion Call CLARION UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913
FEBRUARY 7, 2013
VOL. 99 ED. 13
Student injured in shooting; information sought Alizah Thornton NEWS EDITOR
CLARION, Pa. – Clarion Borough police are conducting an investigation into a shooting that injured a Clarion University student early Saturday morning. Shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 Clarion University sophomore Rakeeah Megan Sabazz Merritt, 19, was shot in the leg by a small caliber bullet, police said in a press release.
The incident occurred on Leatherwood Drive near College Park Apartments. The bullet entered her calf and broke her tibia and fibula bones, police said. Merritt was flown to Pittsburgh UPMC Presby from the Clarion Hospital Emergency Room. She suffered moderate injuries, the release said. DeBreea Dunston, a junior speech language pathology major and friend of Merritt, said she is an
“upbeat and enthusiastic” individual. “There [are] very rare moments that you [will] see Kia with anything less than a smile. Kia is especially favorable among her peers: They all love her and enjoy her company,” Dunston said. Police officers were en route to the scene responding to a call about a fight when the shooting occured, according to the release.
Police recovered six shells from a .380 automatic weapon at the scene, the release said. The incident is described as a drive-by shooting. “I feel that this was an unfortunate and rare event for the Clarion community. It deeply saddens me that a student who is loved and appreciated by all has been harmed in this life changing manner,” Dunston said. “I hope that soon jus-
tice will be brought to Kia and her family, but I also hope that in time the sense of safety is instilled back into the community.” Clarion University issued a statement to all students, faculty and staff concerning the incident. “Clarion University is committed, to the extent possible, to the well-being of every student. During troubling times such as this, it is important that each individual feels sup-
ported and connected to the campus community,” Vice President for Student and University Affairs Harry Tripp said in the emailed statement. Counseling services are available for students affect by the incident. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the shooting should contact the Clarion Borough Police Department at 814-226-9140.
APSCUF, PASSHE reach tentative contract agreement Alizah Thornton NEWS EDITOR
CLARION, Pa. - The Association of Pennsylvania State Colleges and University Faculties and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education have reached a tentative contract agreement. The tentative contract is a four-year deal that is similar to the contract of other statewide unions, according to a blog post on APSCUF’s website. The negotiations committee unanimously approved the tentative contract, and now the vote will open up for the full membership. Both parties appear content an agreement is close to being made. “While the contract agreement must still be presented to all faculty members for a ratification vote, it appears a settlement is within reach and there will be no interruption to the spring semester,” PASSHE Vice
Chancellor for Human Resources and Labor Relations Gary Dent said in a statement released to the press. Clarion University APSCUF President Jamie Phillips also expressed his satisfaction with the tentative agreement. “I am delighted and gratified to have a contract that I can finally present to my faculty that I believe is both fair to them and to our students. APSCUF membership will vote on the contract in the next few weeks, and I believe the vote will be positive,” Phillips said. “Consequently, our students will no longer have to worry about the possibility of a job action and our faculty, staff and administrators can focus all their efforts on making Clarion University a great place for them to learn,” Phillips said. APSCUF faculty have been working without a contract for almost two years.
The tentative agreement covers faculty raises over a four-year period, health care benefits and distance education compensation, according to PennLive and the APSCUF blog. “The new framework allows our presidents, their campus teams and faculty members to focus on innovation that will improve the educational experience of our students and help them succeed. Moving forward we have a tremendous opportunity to work with faculty members on how best to meet student needs, foster more student engagement and offer quality experiences. In short, once this agreement is in place, we can get back to the business of offering the best educational experience available,” Dent said. More details will be released once the agreement is ratified by the full membership.
Brittany Harger / The Clarion Call
Associate Provost Susan Turrell speaks during the Faculty Author Seminar Series sponsored by the Faculty Affairs Committee of Faculty Senate and the University Libraries. Turrell gives a presentation titled “Same-sex intimate partner violence: Ready or not, it’s happening.” The Faculty Author Seminar Series aims “to establish a forum for faculty to share their scholarly activities ... [and] to foster collegial relationships among different academic disciplines.” Sergio Madero and Miguel R. Olivas-Lujan are the next speakers in the series. They are scheduled to speak Wednesday, March 6 at 3 p.m. the Level A of the Carlson Library.
New version of D2L opens for students and faculty Jen Schwartz NEWS EDITOR
CLARION, Pa. - A new version of Clarion University’s online learning management program “Desire 2 Learn” has been implemented as of Dec. 15, 2012, accommodating Clarion students with some significant changes to start the spring semester. The 9.4.1 version of D2L was upgraded to version 10 just in time for 2012 Winter Intersession participants, offering familiar yet enhanced tools and functions as well as a brand new home page and navigation system. The CU website lists the new features and changes, providing visual aids of all the alterations for comprehension. Some visual format alterations include the redesigned “MyHome” interface, which is now divided into a narrower two-column spread with content widgets such as Faculty (or Student) announcements, Help, My Courses, and Calendar. These widgets are intended to allow easier viewing and access for all devices. Links to necessary resources such as “D2L Help” and “University” can be accessed in the banner area. Another new feature is the “mini bar.” This menu bar is present at
the top of all pages and allows users to freely move between courses by selecting course names from a dropdown menu, without needing to return to the Home Page in between course viewings. This mini bar also provides item alerts for new items, dropbox and quiz end dates, as well as new discussion board posts. The mini bar features a logout option from a drop-down menu in the top right corner of the page, and has an independent section for messages, updates and chatter alerts which notifies the user with a red dot. Another feature allows students to pin courses under the “course selection” to the preferred order in which all courses are listed. A search menu allows students to quickly locate a particular course for pinning. The course navigation bar has been upgraded, so that tools are now grouped by drop-down menus. Functions of these menus still remain similar to the former versions. “I think the new D2L is more efficient and easier to navigate compared to the old D2L,” said senior public relations major, Kirsten Warholak. “I like the new feature that notifies you when your professor adds an assignment. It is still similar to the old D2L, so I
THIS WEEK’S EDITION
Inside
INDEX
Continuing Education offers Hun-judo courses.
“The Voice” finalist Jamar Rogers shares story.
FEATURES PAGE 5
ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 8
Clarion alumnus succeeds in UFC. SPORTS PAGE 12
News Opinion Features Classifieds Puzzles & Comics Arts & Entertainment Sports Standings
didn’t have much trouble getting accustomed to it.” Enhancements regarding “Dropbox feedback” are another improvement for instructors. These include allowing the option to release feedback to all students simultaneously rather than one-by-one. Despite these improvements, there are still professors who choose not to use D2L altogether, and opt to use other methods to manage their courses. Scott Kuehn of the Department of Communication prefers the open-source community “Moodle” for all his classes. “The D2L server is located in Harrisburg, and it runs not just for Clarion but the other 13 schools as well. It always gets bogged down the last week of classes during finals when the instructors are trying to post grades,” said Kuehn. “Moodle was before Blackboard or D2L or anything; it’s really simple in comparison…You can set everything up yourself and manage it easily…you have more control over it.” For more help on understanding and utilizing the new features of D2L, refer to the visual aids available on the computing services page on the Clarion website or contact the Help Desk.
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THE CLARION CALL
NEWS
February 7, 2013
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POLICIES Alizah Thornton NEWS EDITOR
CLARION, Pa. - Student Senate Business Manager Shelly Wilson announced that the supplemental reserve account remains frozen at more than $40,000. The budgeting process for Recognized Student Organizations and Recognized University Organizations is “rapidly approaching,” Wilson said. The time lines are being developed for RSOs and RUOs to submit their budget requests. Student Senate will announce the date for the RSO and RUO mandatory roundtable at the next meeting. Wilson said the round-trip rate for the bus that transports students from the university to Harrisburg, Pa. and Philadelphia during university breaks will increase $5 from $80 to $85 due to the increase in cost to provide the bus. “We had a successful bus trip to Philadelphia with 45 passengers,” Wilson said, noting that the bus was not filled to
capacity. The university is also in the process of developing a steady means of transportation for students who live in the Pittsburgh area, Wilson said. The university also would like to look into providing cultural trips and activities that the university doesn’t offer, Wilson said. On Saturday there was a shooting which left one university sophomore injured, President Sarah Dickson said. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Clarion Borough or Clarion University police. The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education have reached a tentative agreement on faculty contracts, Dickson said. Parliamentarian Jeff Donor announced that the Clarion University Foundation is behind funding the project that would build a sidewalk from campus to Reinhard Villages. The project is still waiting to be approved by
PennDOT. If approved, the project would begin construction during the summer. The Clarion Student’s Association Board of Directors met Jan. 22 and received the results of a macro-study the university bookstore, Wilson said. The study was conducted to help improve the overall operation of the bookstore. The CSA board will be reviewing the results before any plan for changes will be recommended. Senators unanimously accepted the resignation of Sen. Devin Earney. Two student representatives from Clarion University Students for Life attended the meeting to thank the senate for funding their trip to their National Students for Life conference and to discuss what they learned from the conference. Thomas McConnell said he learned about different activities and speakers that could be brought back to the students at Clarion University. Student Senate meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in room
Clarion students, faculty celebrate MLK Jr. holiday Alizah Thornton
T
HE CLARION CALL is the student-run newspaper of Clarion University of Pennsylvania and the surrounding communities. The Call is published most Thursdays during the academic year. The Call accepts submissions, but reserves the right to edit for libel, grammar, length, punctuation and obscenity; the determination of which is the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief. Submissions must be signed and include contact information. They must be received no later than 5 p.m. Mondays. If the author of a letter wishes to remain anonymous, they must attach a separate letter of
explanation. Information boxes (including PSAs) are published only based on available space and at the discretion of the Executive Board. Publication is not guaranteed. The Clarion Call is funded by advertising revenue and the Clarion Students’ Association. The Call is available on campus and throughout Clarion. One copy is free; additional copies are $1. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writer or speaker, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the newspaper staff, student body, Clarion University or the community.
EDITORIAL BOARD Samuel Dixon
Blayne Sheaffer
John Owens
Editor-in-chief
Entertainment Editor
Advertising Sales Manager
Mark Emch
Michael Waterloo
Paul Sherer
Managing Editor
Sports Editor
Online Editor
Shirley Sproule
Nathan Conway
Alizah Thornton
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Business Manager
News Editor
Amerigo Allegretto
Stacey Roy
Chris Brown
Features Editor
Graphics Editor
Circulation Manager
Justin Gmoser
Dr. Laurie Miller
Photography Editor
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STAFF News: Rachel Farkas, Jen Schwartz, Sports: Eddie McDonald, Jacob Oberdorf, Jazzmonde James, Matt Catrillo, Traesha Pritchard, Michael Decker
Photography: Lamont Sinclair, Johnathan Hyatt, Jamie Smith, Brittany Harger, Kelsey Waros, Joe Bucci, Nicole Caratelli Columnists: Alizah Thornton, Matt Knoedler, John Owens
Features: Marissa Katz, Kyra Ammon, Emily Miller, Sarah Meier, John Burba Entertainment: Jen Schwartz, Amelia EIger. Jia McMillian-Shipley, Eric Stevens, Samuel Nolan
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NEWS EDITOR
For more information, contact the Editor-In-Chief at chief@clarioncallnews.com CLARION, Pa. - More than 100 students and faculty celebrated the 17th annual Community Celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday on Thursday, Jan. 31. The evening consisted of performances and readings from university students and student organizations. The Rev. Lora AdamsKing, (no relation) was the keynote speaker for the event. Adams-King, the superintendent of Farrell Area School District and pastor for the Erie Street Church of God in Franklin, Pa., delivered a speech titled “A New Generation of Equality.” “Equity has meant something different to every generation,” Adams-King said. In her speech, AdamsKing addressed the changes of equality that each generation becomes more accepting as time passes. This generation has seen changes in the acceptance of same-sex and interracial marriages, women rising above the glass ceiling in the workplace and the second inauguration of the first black president, Adams-King said. The generation of her grandparents saw changes in equality with the integration of segregated schools and the civil rights movement actitivies.
Alizah Thornton / The Clarion Call
The Rev. Lora Adams-King speaks to Clarion students and faculty during the 17th annual Community Celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday ceremony. “For my generation, equality means more and better,” Adams-Kings said. She shared three ideas the new generation should do to ensure the continuation of equality for everyone. First, the new generation must care about the plight of others. “Justice for all or no justice at all. Care for everyone,” Adams-King said. Second, the playing field must be leveled for the less fortunate, disenfranchised, poor, needy and marginalized. “We have to stop enabling and start empowerment,” she said also noting that education is the key to helping the in-
dividuals in that category. The final thing AdamsKing said is to keep the dream of MLK alive. “Though the dreamer sleep, the dreamer must dream on,” she said. The event sponsored by Clarion University Student Chapter of NAACP, Clarion University African American Caucus, Clarion University Office of Minority Student Services, Clarion University Foundation, Clarion University Office of the Provost, Clarion University Office of Vice President for Finance and Administration, Clarion Area Chamber of Labor and Industry and the Martin Luther
THE CLARION CALL
February 7, 2013
News 3
Professor publishes book analyzing ‘Twilight’ gender roles Rachel Farkas STAFF WRITER
CLARION, Pa. - A Clarion professor is giving her take on the popular and polarizing “Twilight” series. Donna Ashcraft, professor of psychology, recently published a book, “Deconstructing Twilight: Psychological and Feminist Perspectives on the Series,” which analyzes the vampire werewolf saga in a new light. Using both research findings and survey responses from fans and detractors, the book analyzes the fantasy series through a feminist and psychological lens. The book seeks to answer questions like whether the series is feminist or feminine, what feminism is, whether the characters and their relationships are healthy or maladjusted and
whether the behavior of Edward and Jacob is abusive toward Bella. Ashcraft used social learning theory to describe possible messages readers may learn from reading the series and social psychology concepts to explain the “discrepant views of fans and anti-fans,” and concepts such as the motherhood mystique, the work-family dichotomy, and benevolent sexism. Ashcraft said she had no intention of writing a book, but developed the idea after her daughters began reading the “Twilight” series one summer. “Since I normally like vampire and werewolf stories I thought it would be fun to also read them and share their enjoyment,” she said. “But as I started reading the series, I was struck by the tradi-
Contributed Photo
Professor of Psychology Donna Ashcraft publishes a book titled “Deconstructing Twilight: Psychological and Feminist Perspectives on the Series.” tional gender roles and concerned about the messages that my girls could be learning by reading such stories.”
After noticing how many fans blindly enjoyed the series and with encouragement from her husband, Ashcraft said
she began brainstorming ideas for the book. Through her research, Ashcraft said she noticed that while there are many fans of the series, there was also a “large population of anti-fans” who object to the traditional gender role depiction. “I found research findings that indicate that those readers who like the series either do not notice the traditional gender roles or do not care about them,” she said. “Those who dislike the series cannot get past the traditional gender role depiction enough to enjoy the rest of the story.” When the topic of “Twilight” and her book comes up with students, Ashcraft said much of the discussion is about whether the books are sexist or feminist, and little discussion on whether the relationships are
healthy or not. This follows wit h much of what has been written about the series already, but she said “Deconstructing Twilight” brings a new element to the discussion. “While there has been a lot written about the series being feminist or antifeminist, very little has been written about the series from a psychological perspective,” she said. Although there are many people on both sides of the fence regarding “Twilight,” Ashcraft said she would never recommend censorship for controversial material. “I would never have told my daughters that they could not finish reading the ‘Twilight’ series, after I started it and became concerned about it,” she said. “Instead, we discussed my concerns.”
NEWS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA Corbett to examine Transportation services to receive Pa. pension system Peter Jackson AP EXCHANGE
HARRISBURG, Pa.— Gov. Tom Corbett laid out a strategy Tuesday for reining in pension costs for Pennsylvania state and school employees that would reduce future benefits for current workers and require new hires to participate in a definedcontribution plan. In his annual budget speech, the Republican told lawmakers that resolving problems that have saddled the two major pension funds with a combined $41 billion unfunded liability would be “the single most important thing we do for decades to come.” “The entire system of state pensions has become a mountain of debt, and the avalanche could bury our economic growth, swallow up benefits for our elderly, education for our children, and transportation for our economy,” Corbett said. But speedy approval appeared unlikely, with legislators from both parties questioning the constitutionality of a central part of the governor’s plan and unions vowing to fight in court if it is approved. “He’s asking the General Assembly to pass unconstitutional changes to public employee pensions as a fundamental part of his budget, which is just bad policy. You can’t spend money you don’t have and may never be able to get,” said Wythe Keever of the state’s largest teacher union, the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Corbett proposed three changes to the Public School Employees’ Retirement System and the State Employees’ Retirement System, which together include more than 800,000 active and retired members. Benefits for people who are already retired would not be affected.
One proposal would immediately cut future benefits for current employees by reducing the “multiplier,” a percentage applied to an employee’s years of service and final average salary to calculate pensions, typically from 2.5 percent to 2 percent. For example, someone with 20 years of service and a multiplier of 2 percent is eligible for a pension equal to 40 percent of his or her final average salary. Under Corbett’s proposal, employees could retain the higher multiplier by paying higher contributions. Unions contend that such changes amount to an unconstitutional limit on employees’ right to earn future pension credits, based on prior court rulings. “Definitely we’re going to go to court on that,” if the proposal is approved, said David Fillman, executive director of AFSCME Council 13, the largest state-employee union. For new hires, Corbett wants mandatory enrollment in a 401(a) defined-contribution retirement savings plan. They would have to contribute at least 6.25 percent of their salary and employers would make a 4 percent contribution. The state budget office could not estimate the projected savings from the proposed reduction in benefit and creation of the definedcontribution plan. Calculations were incomplete Tuesday, spokesman Jay Pagni said. Corbett’s third proposal would limit annual increases in the employers’ — taxpayers’ — share of funding the pension funds to 2.25 percent of payroll, instead of the 4.5 percent that is scheduled to take effect next year. For SERS members, for example, that means this year’s rate of 11.5 per-
cent would increase to 13.75 percent instead of 16 percent. In subsequent years, the annual increase would be limited to 0.5 percent until it reaches 4.5 percent or the annual required contribution rate, according to the budget office. The $175 million that the proposal is expected to save next year has already been subtracted from agencies’ proposed budgets for next year, officials said. Over five years, that proposal is expected to save the state nearly $2 billion and save school districts and local education agencies more than $1 billion. Critics said it amounted to deferring costs that ultimately must be paid. State Treasurer Rob McCord, a Democrat, criticized Corbett’s reliance on savings from pension changes that haven’t happened yet as a “fiscal steroid.” McCord, who is considered a potential challenger to Corbett’s 2014 re-election bid, said he would negotiate a deal with labor unions and lawmakers that is financially and legally sound. He said he would consider issuing a pension bond that would deal with the unfunded liability at a low interest rate. Senate Republican leaders did not immediately embrace Corbett’s proposal. “We’re just at the beginning of the process. But it’s too early to say which proposal we will be trying to move forward,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware. “I think there’s consensus that we need to have a very serious conversation about whether or not our current pension system is sustainable without change. And there’s substantial question about whether or not it is.”
billions in Pa. budget Mark Scolforo AP EXCHANGE
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday proposed raising gasoline tax revenues to generate more than $5 billion over five years to build and repair roads, fix thousands of broken bridges and get mass transit systems onto sounder financial footing. In the coming year alone, Corbett wants to spend the new money on an array of projects that include building additional lanes on existing highways, performing safety improvements and shoring up dangerous bridges. Highway maintenance funds would be spread through all 67 counties through a “needs-based formula.” In his budget address, Corbett called transportation “the bloodstream of our economy. If it fails, our economy fails.” State lawmakers who have been clamoring for increased spending on transportation infrastructure and the state’s cash-
strapped mass transit systems will comb over the proposal in the coming months. After the speech, Senate Transportation Chairman John Rafferty, R-Montgomery, said the plan did not go far enough, and he expected to push for increased total spending, to a figure closer to $3 billion a year. PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch said the amount was a starting point for talks and not etched in concrete. “We’ll have a dialogue with the Legislature,” Schoch said. “The governor has made a proposal.” Most of the new money Corbett proposes would come from an increase in revenues from the oil company franchise tax, a wholesale levy at the gas station level. The governor wants to phase in the increase in three parts. The Pennsylvania Highway Information Association, a trade group, has said that the move would translate to about 28.5 cents per gallon at current prices.
Corbett described the additional taxes as coming from lifting a cap on the tax — addressing the politically sensitive issue of taxes for the first-term Republican, who ran on a platform of not raising taxes. The tax is linked to the wholesale price of gas and is presently assessed only up to $1.25 per gallon. Corbett proposes eventually applying it to the full value. “This is not a new tax, nor am I proposing to increase the rate of the existing tax,” he said. “I am simply saying the time has come to apply it to the full value of what the company is selling. It is time for oil and gas companies to pay their fair share of the cost of infrastructure supporting their industry.” Sen. John Eichelberger, a Blair County Republican who is among those who have pledged not to raise taxes, said he was “concerned” about Corbett’s plan and that his support will hinge on where the money gets spent.
4 Opinion
THE CLARION CALL
OPINION
February 7, 2013
“Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
clarioncallnews.com/opinion
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR chief@clarioncallnews.com The Call welcomes letters from our readers, but reserves the right to edit for libel, grammar, length, punctuation and obscenity; the determination of which is the responsibility of the Editor-in-chief. Submissions must be signed and received no later than 5 p.m. the Monday before publication.
COLUMN
What to expect in Obama’s new term
Matt Knoedler STAFF WRITER
With President Obama’s second term under way, it’s time to look at what we can expect in the next four years. The president laid out another ambitious agenda during his inaugural speech last month, and some believe that the plan is even more liberal and left-wing than that of his first term. From the mention of immigration to the compelling plea for gun control since the Sandy Hook shootings in December 2012, Obama looks to tackle many facets of the political world by 2016. He surprised many people during the speech, however, with the constant reference of global warming and climate change.
Although Obama discussed the importance of global warming and climate change on the campaign trail, he took to the airwaves with such a message. In fact, several sources say he never ran one advertisement during the general election campaign. To me, global warming legislation is something Obama has wanted to pursue for some time, but such a proposition wouldn’t have passed the Republican-led House during the final two years of his first term, nor would it have been popular policy in the first term due to re-election. Now, however, is the time for President Obama can push for this legislation without repercussions. Immigration is another area President Obama looks to reform during his second term. He attempted to do so in late 2010 through the DREAM Act, but the legislation failed. The next four years, particularly 2013, looks promising for such reform. Bipartisan support has already been shown in
this regard, and it’s likely that Congress and President Obama will reach an agreement on this issue. This next issue looks much less promising. Since the massacre at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School nearly two months ago, gun control has been the hot topic in America’s political discourse. To some, our society is at a tipping point. Gun sales have increased exponentially since the shooting, and the National Rifle Association had approximately 250,000 new members within the first month of the Connecticut tragedy. Both Republicans and Democrats have released statements on gun control and, with such a strong opposition from gun owners, gun control may be the most difficult piece of legislation to pass in the next four years. The president’s cards are stacked against him in some areas. But, now that he’s in his second term, President Obama can go all-in on others.
OPINION
Another year, another budget, another failure
John Owens ADVERTISING MANAGER
Early February has become synonymous in Pennsylvania with budget time. The $28.4 billion spending plan revealed earlier this week by Governor Tom Corbett once again jabbed a dagger deeper into the backs of middle class taxpayers while kowtowing to big busines. Corbett, who has become more affectionately known as One Term Tom by pundits across the state, has shown Pennsylvanians the past two years that he is more loyal to Grover Norquist than the average citizen. His brag that he hasn’t raised taxes is a bold faced lie. Through his budget cuts across the state over the past two years all he has done is
lead to property tax hikes at the county and local level. And, by virtue of his refusal to impose a tax on Marcellus Shale drilling, millions of dollars in potential state revenue is being ignored. This year, however, has lead to a political change of heart from the man with approval ratings at historic lows. He wants us to think he’s looking out for the middle class. If the governor really cared about the middle class, he’d be championing property tax reform, not removing a cap on the gas tax that will make it more expensive for middle class families to get to work. If the governor really cared about the middle class, he’d be making sure that big business paid their fair share, instead of giving them big time tax cuts. If the governor really cared about the middle class, Pennsylvania would put more money into higher education than it does in corrections. Apparently
convicts are more important than classmates. If the governor really cared about the middle class, he outsourcing our lottery overseas when it posted record profits. And he wouldn’t allow his liquor store privatization plan allow for tons of small businesses to shut down across the state. Corbett’s budgets have continually hurt middleclass Pennsylvanians and moved this state backward. This week’s example has been more of the same. If you, like me, are a Pennsylvanian who is disgusted with what this governor has continually done, there is always option for you. Take a piece of advice from the man himself, if you don’t like to see how bad things are getting, remember, “You just have to close your eyes,” and watch the state go down the crapper. Let’s hope that our legislators don’t allow this crusade on the middle class to continue. Is it November 2014 yet?
OPINION
Orientation should not matter in Scouting
Chris Brown CIRCULATION MANAGER
Wednesday the Boy Scouts of America delayed making a decision on the controversial issue of whether to allow gays and lesbians to participate in the organization. This has been a controversial topic for many years. The decision has been delayed until May. Being an Eagle Scout and a past scoutmaster, I have been around scouting for the majority of my life. My father is still highly active in scouting, and if I was able to dedicate time, I still would be involved. The organization’s decision not to allow gays and lesbians into the organization has been attributed to many reasons that range from protecting
the children from predators to denying the children access to a different lifestyle to saying that their values conflict with the Scout Oath. There are many excuses that people can come up with to stop this decision, but I don’t see why they need to fight this battle. I can’t see any reason why gays or lesbians should be discriminated against and not permitted to participate in scouting. It’s sexual orientation, and to discriminate against someone because of sexual orientation is wrong. I cannot find any reason that scouting could not benefit from the admittance of more people wanting to be active in its organization. When I was in Cub Scouts, we had around 60 kids in my troop ranging from Tiger Cubs to Webelos II. When I transitioned from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, that number had dropped significantly. There was just not the same amount of interest as there was in the past. My troop got smaller
and smaller until we were around 15 active members. All over the area troops were shutting down because of lack of interest. There are a large amount of people interested in the organization. Why then are they not allowing them to join? The real reason is tradition and a fear of change. I have worked with many older generation scout leaders who believe something because it is tradition and for only tradition. I think that society has changed its values and opinions, and the scouts should change with the times. Scouting has helped me achieve much in my life; I have had jobs because Eagle Scout was on my resume. A gay or lesbian is not privy to this benefit. Scouts recognize other scouts. As I wrote this article, a fellow scout and I acknowledge each other and shared stories. I have an unfair advantage because I am not gay, something that we as a society have been working a long time to change.
THE CLARION CALL
February 7, 2013
Features 5
FEATURES clarioncallnews.com/features
World champion judo master trains students for 51st year Alex Krach STAFF WRITER
Under the careful tutelage of Dr. Andor Paposi-Jobb, Sensei, the Hun-Judo class at Clarion University enters its 51st year. Jobb, who was born in Hungary and is a retired professor from Clarion University, started the program as a club in fall 1963. Because Jobb attended Kent State and taught classes in Ohio before moving to Clarion, the club held its first tournament that same fall in Harvey Hall against teams from Ohio. In the early 1970s, the club graduated to the status of a varsity program with 70 active members, including Dr. James Gemmell, former Clarion University president. However, because of the financial burden associated with the oil crisis in the 1970s, the judo group was forced back into a club program and, eventually, into a continuing education program, where it has remained at Clarion University. Clarion University Venango
campus also offers the class and has included it as part of its Criminal Defense course. Jobb, a ninth degree black belt in Jiu-jitsu and a seventh degree black belt in judo, has each student begin practice by bowing to Dr. Kan Jigor, who founded Judo in 1882 at 22 years old. This is one of the many ways Jobb teaches his students respect. “Our sensei has taught us self-respect,” Barry McGinnis, a student at Clarion, said “Respect for others. To give back to the community. Mutual benefit is something very big with Judo, and that’s beyond a personal level. judo brings a mutual benefit to our community. That’s why I am trying to reach out and start judo into a club.” After the students bow, they are free to talk until Jobb calls the students before him to discuss various matters of business. The students then warm up and break into pairs to practice with one another. As the HunJudo-Dojo has four black belts, excluding Jobb, the more experienced par-
ticipants are granted the honor of teaching the less experienced, highlighting the philosophy of mutual respect and cooperation. This also aids in the progress of the newer members. “Usually, if a freshman comes to join, that person could in two or three years achieve black belt,” Jobb said. Over the years, Jobb has promoted a dozen participants to black belts, with some making it as far as fourth, out of 10, degree black belt. All ages are encouraged to join. “Anybody, [any] shape, size, children, men, women, [people] of all ages can do this sport,” McGinnis stated, “You can learn it at any age and start it at any age.” Participants have the opportunity to get involved with various tournaments, including state and national collegiate championships, which are recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. Participants who are not ready to compete are still encouraged to attend tournaments to support their team. This is another way the members show respect and mutual benefit.
Daniel Rainville/The Clarion Call
Students learn self-defense moves at Hun-Judo class.
Daniel Rainville/The Clarion Call
Dr. Andor Paposi-Jobb, Sensei teaches Hun-Judo to students at Tippin Gymnasium. “I’m really proud to be part of a group, all working together,” said Darcee Winget of Oil City, “being able to be there for my teammates when they compete. It makes me feel honorable.” Being able to work together is central to the sport. As workouts last two and a half hours, encouragement is heard often. Whenever a member does well, the group cheers the person on and when some falter, he or she is encouraged to get back up and try again. “We are the best friends, worldwide, those who compete in judo,” Jobb said. Besides the benefits judo has on health and the companionship that it builds, Jobb attributes his success in the job market to his years of training in judo. “I personally found in my life that by knowing judo and having a black belt level, anywhere I went for a job it always gave me an inside for the position – judo opens doors.”
Freshmen look to improve and change for second semester Kyra Ammon STAFF WRITER
This is the second semester for returning freshmen at Clarion University. After a considerable six-week break, students are now ready to return to their studies, having experienced their first real taste of college life and independence. Many will be working to make improvements from their previous semester based on what they have gone through so far. Of course, most students will be striving to achieve higher grades than before. Strategies for doing so could involve more study time and less procrastination, or resolve to utilize more of the resources provided by the university. While some students plan to take a different route this half of the academic year, others are pleased with the way the fall semester played out and are content to continue with few changes to
their approach, if any. It’s not all academic, however. Some students are inclined to improve upon their health choices for a better overall experience, whether it is along the lines of nutrition, or fitness, or both. “I just kind of got quickly out of shape over time,” says philosophy major Nicholas Smith. “It’ll be a good thing to work on my health along with my grades.” He is an avid gamer as well, and now also realizes the importance of time management. “I learned to stop playing games and just read. If you have the energy to sit and say ‘I can’t,’ you have the energy to get your work done and be successful.” Others have opted to take more time for themselves, as well as center their attention on the people important to them. Heidi Whitton, a second-semester rehab science major, wants
to focus on just that. “I’ve learned that the quality of anything is more important than the quantity… I don’t need a lot of friends, just those few that I’m really close with.” The same goes for her courses. “It isn’t the amount of time I put into my schoolwork, it’s the quality of my study time.” Assistance is available for students who are struggling with a class, who need a research aid, or who just want a second opinion on a project or paper before turning it in. The writing center in Davis Hall encourages writers to come and receive feedback on their work. Another option is the online writing center. In addition to the thousands of books, Carlson Library has access to many online databases full of reliable sources for research papers, or for supplemental material.
Students can also sign up for free tutoring on the university’s website. A simple form is all that is necessary to begin. This semester, now that they are comfortable and have gotten their feet in the water, freshmen and any other returning students are being invited by clubs and extracurricular organizations to join them. Some freshmen may not have known how many different activities they could handle on top of their classes, and now that they are comfortable, would make welcome additions. For many, college is a big transition, but it is also rewarding to those who are willing to learn and develop as they go. There are different ways to go about refining one’s routines between semesters, and they can work for anyone who wants to make improvements.
Jobb said that this is because of the lessons judo teaches and the benefits it brings - such as discipline, mutual respect, peace, cooperation, longevity, and good health - a trained judoka make a good impression on others and at the same time that individual lives a more satisfying life. McGinnis said. “You get all the mutual benefits of all the life les-
sons, the self-defense, the health, the fun, the community, the self-esteem and self-confidence. All these things are a mutual benefit that you gain from judo.” Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the wrestling practice room of Tippin Gymnasium. For more information on how to get involved, email tbeach@ clarion.edu or call 814393-1273.
Student loans cause problems for families with deceased children Amerigo Allegretto FEATURES EDITOR
When a loved one dies, it’s a sad event for family and friends. The parents are left with memories to cherish, but two women and their families are left with more than that, expenses. When people take out federal loans and die before they can be paid off, they are usually forgiven by the federal loaning companies. However, that is not the case with private loans, where someone pays no matter what the circumstance In a phone conference hosted by Change.org, two women, Angela Smith of Chesapeake, Va. and Ella Edwards of Ypsilanti, Mi., told their stories of dealing with private loan companies after their children’s deaths. Smith’s son Dante died in 2008, during which time he had borrowed $20,000 in student loans. His father had also borrowed $5,000 to help out with school expenses. “I can’t explain the pain after losing someone so precious,” said Smith. After Dante’s death, Smith called First Marblehead Corp., a private loan company based in Boston, Ma. “At first they seemed sympathetic. They asked us for our death certificate,” said Smith. Instead of First Marblehead forgiving the loans though, it made Smith’s husband the primary borrower, leav-
ing the family to pay for the loans, which have since increased in interest, making the costs higher. =“They should make their policies clear, so everyone is aware,” said Smith. Edwards faced a similar situation. Her son died in 2009, all while trying to pay off two federal loans and one private loan. While the federal loans were forgiven, the $10,000 private loan from First Marblehead was not. “It’s something I will never get over,” said Edwards. “I had to go back to work to pay for these bills.” Edwards’ bill as of February 2013 is more than $10,000 after interest and late fees. “Please be careful with signing loans,” said Edwards. “They want the money and they don’t care.” Marian Wang explained that while private loans can at first be borrowed from household names like Bank of America, the loans can be put off to companies that aren’t heard of often, like First Marblehead. “Changes have got to be made,” said Edwards. “This is a trap,” said Smith. Both Smith and Edwards believe that eliminating private loan companies are the way to go, or at least setting a fixed interest rate. “The government should set a fixed rate,” said Edwards, who saw her interest rates change with each bill.
6 Features
THE CLARION CALL
February 7, 2013
University group and Helping Hands team up for shoe drive Emily Miller STAFF WRITER
Plastic, cardboard, aluminum cans and glass-all these things have something in common: They can be recycled. This list of traditional materials grew over the past two weeks with the help of Clarion University’s recycling group, the Green Team and the organization Helping Hands. The item added to this list: shoes. Beginning Jan. 28, boxes were placed throughout CU residence halls and the Rec Center for students to donate shoes. Once all of the shoes donated are collected, they will be sent to Helping Hands, who will send the shoes to Haiti for those in need. Making a donation of old shoes will not only help the environment, but the shoes give a helping hand to other people through recycling. While the amount of shoes the Green Team has received isn’t large, the most important thing is to get the message out about recycling. “Even recycling clothes is still recycling,” said Green Team President Jessica Miller.
Justin Gmoser / The Clarion Call
Donation boxes are placed at the residence halls and the Rec. Center for the Green Team’s shoe drive. The Green Team and Miller hope that having programs like the shoe drive on campus will get students involved while promoting both recycling and community. “We were looking
at different ways to implement different recycling programs around campus other than the traditional ones that people think of,” Miller said. “The biggest problem with recycling is
that people think it’s too hard; they aren’t educated about it. Having something like a shoe drive is simple and not the typical type of recycling that students see around campus.
Recycling is one of the easiest things you can do, but people don’t think it is.” For the rest of the semester, projects to help green-up the Clarion campus are in the
works for the Green Team. In addition to another shoe drive, future projects include a recycled T-shirt and headband sale, helping out at the Clarion County recycling drive and cleaning up various areas around Clarion. “Any event that gets people to participate or donate their time is beneficial, especially on campus. It lets people learn how to help other people and it lets the campus grow as a community,” Miller said. Along with smaller projects, the Green Team is also going to tackle a larger project in getting compost bins put on campus to reduce the amount of food waste in dining areas. Students wishing to participate in the Green Team’s ecofriendly efforts but can’t attend meetings are still encouraged to be involved. “We appreciate any help. This is why the Green Team was founded. We wanted to give people the opportunity to care about the Earth through volunteering their time.” Boxes will be available on campus for shoe donations until Friday, Feb. 8. Green Team meetings are Mondays at 7 p.m. in room 123 STC.
University Counseling Services observes Depression Screening John Burba STAFF WRITER
Clarion University Counseling Services provided free-ofcharge depression screenings this past Wednesday, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the lobby of Eagle Commons The screenings consisted of a Depression Screening Form and a five to 10 minute individual interview. The test was comprised of four segments which tested for indications of depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. Each of the four questionnaires used numerical scoring to develop results. Based on the number values the questionnaires determined the degree of risk that a person faces for each disorder. While these results are vital for determining the need for counseling, the counseling services office strongly cautions that these results are not a diagnosis, but rather an indication of symptoms present. The screenings were part of Clarion University’s in-
volvement in National Depression Screening Day, which it has been participating in for more than ten years. With National Depression Screening Day, the university provides depression screenings, as well as information and other resources for other mental disorders. Adam Wilshire, one of the university’s counselors, offers some advice for those looking to prevent depression. “Take care of basic, day-to-day issues. There’s no cover-all for treating depression.” Wilshire suggest that students practice good self-management skills, including proper hygiene, practicing and learning coping skills for depression and maintaining close-knit and positive support efforts from friends and family as well as proper exercise. Wilshire stresses the value of exercise, saying that it is “very important to cover issues” with mental health. If you feel as if you either at risk of or currently suffering from depression or any mental health issue, councselor Preet Mann says that seeking advice, counseling and therapy are the most valuable resources that you can have, and that you shouldn’t be
afraid to seek help. “A lot of people have a stigma about receiving therapy. if you feel that you need it, don’t hold back,” Mann said. Therapy, according to Wilshire, is much more of a personalized experience than many people believe. “Every person is different, so we use intervention as a toolbox.” Wilshire said. Mann said a key step to the quality of mental health is personal awareness and prevention through healthy living. She also encourages that you make a distinction between short-term depressions and longer, more pronounced mental health issues, saying that “a normal response to things in life isn’t always a major problem.” Clarion University Counseling Services will be conducting Eating Disorder Screenings on Feb. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center. The Counseling Services Office is located in 148 Egbert Hall and is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
THE CLARION CALL
February 7, 2013
CLASSIFIEDS
799-7133 for details. 2 bdrm apt 1/2 block from campus. Summer-Fall-Spring. Call 814226-9279.
classifieds.clarioncallnews.com
Classified advertising is free for Clarion students and $0.20 per word for non-students. E-mail addresses, URLs and phone numbers are considered to be one word. Send your classifieds to classifieds@clarioncallnews.com or call 814.393.2380.
FOR RENT
Available JAN. SPRING 2013 and FALL/SPRING 2013/14. Cute small home in Clarion with sundeck and small yard 1 bedroom, 1 bath, office, washer/dryer. Very reasonable rates with garbage included. Evening calls only 226-5651. FOR RENT FALL/SPRING 2013/14. 3 bedroom, 2 full bath, washer dryer, dishwasher, huge deck. $1250 per person per sem @ 3 tenants, some utilities included! Evening calls only 226-5651. FOR RENT FALL/SPRING 2013/14. 3 bedroom,1 bath, washer dryer, huge deck. $950 per person per sem @ 3 tenants, some utilities included! Evening calls only 226-5651. Charming Cape in great neighborhood near all schools. 3-4 bedrooms, 3-baths, and 2-stall with finished attached office. Clarion. 814-2234649. $179,900. www. forsalebyowner.com. Now renting one person apartment for Spring 2013 semester and two & three person apartments for Fall 2013/Spring 2014 semesters. Located on Greenville Avenue. Call 814-229-9212. FREE place to live for a Serious Student - Do you like horses? We offer free room and board in our home for occasional chores and house sitting, 7 miles from campus. Call:
814-379-3759. Email: gwwills@ pennswoods.net. Next to campus, various houses and apartments. Accomodates 1-4 students or groups of 3-4. Some utilities included. Rent starts at $1200 per semester. Visit us online at www.aceyrental.com or call brian at 814-227-1238. 2013/2014. 3 bedroom duplex. $360/month per student, plus utilities. No smoking, no pets. 3 students. 724-799-7133. 2013/2014. 2 bedroom duplex. $360/month per student, plus utilities. No smoking, no pets. 2 students. 724-799-7133. 3 female students looking for 2 female students to share a 5 bedroom house near CUP for Spring 2013. Each student has own bedroom. $1,200 per semester inc. utilities. Call 814 227 8340. 3-bedroom apartment for rent for 3 students for Spring/ Fall 2013, 1 mile from Clarion Campus. $360/month each plus security deposit. Includes utilities. Call 814-745-2215 or 814-764-3754. Nice, large 2 bdrm apt 15 min walk to campus. Bus every 30min. Best deal in town. $500 a month for a 12 month lease, $600 for a 9 month lease. Fallonly leases, Aug 1 thru Dec 31 $850/month 814-226-7092. 3 Bedroom apartment on Wilson Ave. Catty-corner from Gemmell. Remodeled/ Furnished. 2 to 4 students. No Pets. 814-389-3000.
Housing available for between 1-8 students for Spring 2013. Call Brian at 814-2278028. LAKEN APARTMENTS: Houses and apartments available for Fall 2013/Spring 2014 and Summer 2013. Fully furnished, utilities included. Apartment 1 and 2 bedroom, 1-3 person occupancy, houses 2-8. www.lakenapartments. com; www.lakenapartments. webs.com.814-745-3121 or 814-229-1682. ROLL OUT OF BED TO GO TO CLASS! Houses and apartments next to campus. See them at www. grayandcompany.net or call FREE Gray and Co. 887-5621020.
Houses for rent within two blocks of campus to accommodate up to 8 people. Private bedrooms, starting at $1500 / semester, some include utilities. Call 814229-1182 or email 4chris@ venustel.com. Nice apartment for 1-2 students. 2013/2014. 814319-3811. Student housing. Fall 2013/ Spring 2014. 1/2/3/4 bedroom apartments/houses. 1-2 blocks from campus. Furnished. Some include utilities. Off-street parking. 814-227-2568. FOR RENT, 2, 3 & 4 BEDROOM APARTMENTS CLOSE TO CAMPUS ALL UITILITES INCLUDED PETS WELCOME ORGANIZATIONS WELCOME CALL OR TEXT TO 914-8046681. CALL NOW BEFORE ALL APTS. ARE TAKEN!
A house for 2 or 3 and a house for 4. Nice, private, campus close. Students. 814-2266867. 2 and 4 bedroom apts. Available, close to campus, some utilities included, pets welcome. Call Scott at 434566-5795. Student housing within one block of campus for groups of 2-4. Landlord pays all utilities. Call Jim 814-229-4582. Four bedroom apartment for 2012/ 2013 school year. Call 814-226-6106 or 814- 2299812. Contact a.s.a.p. Time is running out to rent for the coming school year! For rent 2 bedroom duplex & 3 bedroom duplex @ 91 & 93 S 5th Avenue. Call 724-
PUZZLES & COMICS
Like drawing comics? We are seeking talented cartoonists to draw comic strips. If interested, send submissions to
admin@clarioncallnews.com
Quote of the Week “I mean that they (students) should not play life, or study it merely, while the community supports them at this expensive game, but earnestly live it from beginning to end. How could youths better learn to live than by at once trying the experiment of living? Methinks this would exercise their minds as much as mathematics.” ~Henry David Thoreau, “Walden”
Classifieds, Puzzles & Comics 7 1221 Leatherwood Dr. w/ 2 bedrooms, full kitchen & bath. Some Utilities included.
for Fall & 3-2 students from Spring semesters. Inquire 724-799-7133.
108 Greenville Ave. efficiency for 1. $2k/semester w/ all utilities - Fall 2012. 814-2298735.
Available for Fall 2013/Spring 2014. Two well-maintained 5-bedroom houses on South 5th Avenue for 4 or more people. Call Barb at (814) 379-9721 or (814) 229-9288. silverspringsrentalsonline. com.
108 Greenville Ave. Apt. 1B for 1 or 2. $600/month w/ all utilities - Spring 2013. Please call Brian Fox for availability 814-229-8735. Summer apartments available. Close to campus. 1-4 people. 814-379-9721 www. silverspringsrentalsonline. com. Houses and apartments available for fall 2013-spring 2014 semesters. www. silverspringsrentalsonline. com. Call 814 379 9721 or 814 229 9288 (cell). 3 bedroom duplex on S. 5th Ave. for rent 2013-2014 and 2 bedroom duplex on S. 5th Ave. for rent 2013-2014. Would rent to students doing internships. Need 3-2 students
FOR SUBLET SPRING 2012-13, Reinhard Villages, 4 bedroom unit , f emale,$550.00/month negotiable. 3 female students looking for 2 to share 5 bedroom house near CUP for Spring 2013 and/or for Fall 2013. Each student has own bedroom. 1,200.00 per semester. inc. utilities. Call 814-227-8340.
PERSONAL Check out local punk rock band The Unreals on Facebook, or email theunrealsmusic@ gmail.com for information on future show dates.
WORD SEARCHAmerican Rivers by Mark Emch
8 Arts & Entertainment
THE CLARION CALL
February 7, 2013
Preview: Art dept. readies ‘13 exhibitions
pieces for their set within the gallery. The students then select what work they will include, how the work will be framed, how they will display it and
considered what mediums to include in the gallery. It is difficult to know what pieces will be selected for the gallery till the last minute, said Clark. It is a possibility Clark, as well as English professor Phillip Terman and political science professor, Kevan Yenerall will bring filmmaker, Tony Buba to Clarion University sometime this semester. Buba has made short films as well as documentaries covering the Pittsburgh suburb of Braddock, Pa. The Braddock documentaries focus on the economic and physical depression of the city and a portrayal of local characters. Buba’s work reflects a political consciousness and technical intricacy of the working class of Braddock, according to The New York Times. Buba will be showing one of his documentaries of the city while speaking at Clarion. The art department’s events are designed for students to come appreciate work from fellow Clarion students, enjoy a hands-on experience with the VizArtz club, as well as learn from a cinema experience.
cist. Dabbling with different types of beats, thanks in large part to a much bigger budget, Rocky shows why he is the standout member of the A$AP Mob. To start things off, Rocky wastes no time on the title track saying, “I said I’d probably die in prison/Expensive taste in women/Ain’t had no pot to piss in/now my kitchen full of dishes.” The Hit-Boy assisted “Goldie” starts off with the chopped and screwed sound that is used throughout the album. Rocky continues his braggadocios onslaught as he boasts, “Cristal go by the cases/Wait hold up that was racist/I would prefer the Aces/Ain’t no difference when you taste it.” Rocky continues with “It feel good waking up to money in the bank,” as he makes it known he received a huge multi-million-dollar deal that hasn’t been seen since 50 Cent received one more than a decade ago. As any artist and repertoire knows, for a rap album to succeed, you have to have the radio friendly hit and the song for females. The (closest) radio friendly song on the album is the aptly title “F**kin’ Problems” features guest appearances by Drake, 2 Chainz and the previously mentioned Lamar. While the hook is one of the corniest you will ever hear, Rocky, Drake and Lamar deliver impressive verses as they are seemingly trying to one-up one another. As is the case in most of his features, Lamar outshines everyone once again. “She got a lot of Prada/ That Dolce & Gabbana/I can’t forget Escada and that Balenciaga,” Rocky raps in similar fashion to fellow
Harlem rapper Cam’rom, as the track “Fashion Killa” combines his love for women and fashion. The 24-year-old’s biggest experiment comes over the Skillrex produced track “Wild for the Night.” Over a spacey, reggae beat, laced with Skrillex’s signature dubstep synthesizer, Rocky raps about how he and his A$AP crew party during the weekend. In similar fashion to the Wu-Tang Clan, Rocky enlisted a bevy of artists on the “1-Train” posse cut. The song, which pays homage to the classic subway line of New York, features the young stars of hip-hop. Despite a great showing by Rocky, he finds himself once again outshined by Lamar and Alabama rapper Yelawolf. While Rocky shows his versatility on “Phoenix,” there’s no doubt that he’s at his best on “Suddenly” to end the album. On the selfproduced track, Rocky goes back to his rough childhood in Harlem. On the track, Rocky touches on the conditions around him (“Roaches on the wall/Roaches on the dresser”), to his parents doing what it takes to support him (“Mommy watching Oprah/Daddy in the kitchen whipping soda”) and the violence, including his brother’s death by driveby shooting (“And fish fries and shootouts/Like one Sig with two round”). Rocky’s debut isn’t up there with Lamar’s, but it’s an impressive album that shows the makings of a future star in the rap industry. Rocky knows he’s worth the money that Sony Records ponied up. The mainstream will soon agree.
Eric Stevens STAFF WRITER
Clarion University’s art department will be hosting a variety of events this semester including VizArtz events, the BFA gallery set and possibly filmmaker Tony Buba will be speaking on campus. The VizArtz club is planning a spring art show, March 26. The club will be accepting submissions for the show from any Clarion University student till March 12, said VizArtz president, Loren Benton. An “Empty Bowls” event will also be held by the club on April 9. The event allows the opportunity for students to come and make and decorate ceramic bowls, said Benton. The club will also be taking a trip to the Pittsburgh Gallery Crawl April 26. Seniors in the art department will be sending in their work for the BFA gallery set that will be exhibited tentatively in late April or early May at the library art gallery. The pieces must pass through stages to be admitted into the gallery, said art professor Vicky Clark. All seniors in the art department must submit at least one piece
MARK EMCH In a previous issue of The Clarion Call, the Music Box reviewed Meek Mill’s debut rap album, “Dreams and Nightmares.” The album was met with considerable acclaim upon its release, and Mill skyrocketed to the top of the social ladder. To speak more of the tremendous achievement that is“Long.Live.A$AP.,” and less of the shortcomings of Mill’s debut, A$AP Rocky’s newest release blows “Dreams and Nightmares” out of the water. What you’ll find in this album is a juggernaut assembly of tracks both starkly attention grabbing and memorable, most notably the album’s eponymous opening track. Lyrically, the 24-year-old product of Harlem, makes no mistake in swiftly setting a dark tone. Much of the lyrical material on the first track deals in large part with Rocky’s ties to gang violence and extravagant living. Rocky’s easily distinguishable vocals burst onto the scene on the first track with the attention grabbing line, “I thought I’d probably die in prison.” Paired with a head-bob-inducing beat and a dreamily fluent undertone melody both ironically innocent and
Nicole Caratelli / The Clarion Call
Clarion’s art gallery, located in Carlson Library, will host exhibits for the spring 2013 semester. of work by the fifth week of this semester. After the fifth week, the submissions will be reviewed by a panel of three juries consisting of
professors in the department and an outside juror. Having an outsider from the art department community gives a refreshing perspective on the pieces
fittingly psychedelic, the first track proves to be a lasting favorite. The chorus rings with easily memorable lines, such as, “Who said you can’t live forever lied,” and “Forever I’ll Live.” The key to this song, and ultimately the album’s, success lies in Rocky’s ability to present his subject matter in a wellcrafted, unique way. You’ll be hard pressed to find a single track from “Long. Live.A$AP”that screams of overuse and outdatedness as many of the songs from Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares” do. Nowhere is this shift of focus more evident than on “Phoenix.” The song’s haunting melody persists through a flow of lyricism that seems to skip and jump effortlessly to the beat. “Kurt Cobain even died ‘cause you scrutinized,” Rocky croons, exhibiting his willingness to tackle taboo issues. “F***in Problems” is easily the most recognizable track on the album, thanks to its pre-album release on Oct. 18. Rocky assembles an “all-star” cast of characters here, blending topnotch vocal performances by Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar in a track that’s already received considerable dance club exposure. Acclaimed Canadian dub-step artist Skrillex finds his way onto “Wild For The Night,” a track that’s seemingly designed for large-venue play. It’s not difficult to imagine how impressive this song might be, performed in front of a
dazzled crowd of thousands. The track’s infectiously danceable beat proves to be an irresistible hook; you’ll find it hard to rid your mind of this song after having listened to it. “Suddenly” effectively shifts the listener’s attention back to Rocky’s vocalization. Background music slowly builds against lonely vocals until the 2:30 mark, when a beat appears and Rocky’s lyricism quickens. While this track has received minimal attention compared to others on the album, “Suddenly” portrays a level of artistic depth previously unseen in Rocky’s releases of old. The album regains its “in-your-face” facade in “Ghetto Symphonies,” featuring fellow rappers Gunplay and A$AP Ferg. Rocky’s use of alliteration immediately grabs the listener’s attention. The vocals dance around a string melody that feels as if it could fit easily into an early 1990s Notorious B.I.G. album. The mixture of fresh vocalization and vintage background noise works for me. I’ve revisited this track on multiple occasions, and it remains one of my personal favorites. I have little doubt this album will stand the test of time as one of the greatest compilation of rap songs I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. From indelible vocalization, to catchy drum-work, to psychedelic-tinged melody, “Long.Live.A$AP” has everything needed to sate my hunger for rap music for quite some time.
to be judged, said art professor Mark Franchino. Once the panel reviews the submissions, the students will provide artists statements and plan the
MIKE WATERLOO In the past year, the three biggest releases in hip-hop came in the way of debut albums. Meek Mill drastically underachieved (in my opinion) with his “Dreams and Nightmares” debut as he failed to translate his underground success to the mainstream. Compton’s new leader, Kendrick Lamar, released the best debut album since 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Trying” with “good kid m.A.A.d city” in the fall. Then there’s A$AP Rocky. Rocky, who burst onto the scene in 2011 with the critically acclaimed mixtape “Live.Long.A$AP,” finally gave the fans what they have been waiting for. Eighteen months later, Rocky didn’t disappoint with his debut album of a similar title, “Long.Live.A$AP.” Despite his quick ascension to the top of the rap industry, Rocky has made waves over the past yearplus. He made news as he went into the crowd after being hit with a can of beer at the South by Southwest music festival. Rocky also performed with Rihanna at the MTV Video Music Awards and received an invite to open for the R&B singer on her tour. The Harlem born Rocky took his time with the album and it shows with the growth of the young lyri-
February 7, 2013
& ENTERTAINMENT THE CLARION CALL
Arts & Entertainment 9
ARTS
Jamar Rogers speaks on “Voice” experience Laura Tielsch STAFF WRITER
This past Tuesday Jamar Rogers came to speak to Clarion University. As a recovering drug addict, a finalist from “The Voice,” and living with HIV, Jamar motivated students with moving words. Rogers told his story with multiple songs intertwined and answered questions from the audience. Rogers said “People need to know that there’s hope, that there’s redemption, that there’s a second chance.” Rogers was born in
New Orleans under a strict household. He wasn’t the type to follow the crowd as he said, “I’m not ashamed to stand out.” He had many struggles and hurdles to jump while growing up. He never knew his real father, and he said his stepfather was molesting his sister. His family began to fall apart, and so did he. As Rogers grew older he began experimenting with drugs and alcohol. The experimenting turned into a lifestyle that he never thought he’d escape. At the lowest point in his
life, he was doing anything he could do to support his crystal meth addiction. He had lost all of his friends and would resort to prostitution. He began to become really sick, and after figuring out what was wrong, he had come to discover the inevitable. He was HIV positive. Rogers didn’t let this diagnosis slow him down. He moved with his girlfriend to his mom’s house in Milwaukee. He joined a church where he sang and decided to audition for “American Idol.” When “American Idol” rejected him, Rogers faced
depression and felt as if he had lost his chance. Rogers moved to New York City on a fluke where he auditioned for The Voice and went farther than he could imagine. Opening up to the world about his HIV opened his door into The Voice and lifted a weight off his shoulders. People were thanking him on the streets who were also infected with HIV; he had inspired people to no longer be afraid. “This disease is not an ending; it’s a beginning,” Rogers told Clarion University. Rogers inspired Clarion
University students to be aware and respect themselves. After the trials and tribulations he’s been through, he is now an independent artist telling his story nationwide. He said, “You need to love yourself enough to protect yourself, go get tested. Knowledge is power.” Rogers was asked, “How did you learn about forgiveness considering the things you went through?” He said, “It was a process, but practice makes perfect. Forgiveness is saying to yourself ‘They don’t owe
me anymore. It’s OK.’ When you’re ready to let go of that burden it doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you’re strong.” Another audience member asked Rogers, “Did you ever go back and search your thoughts about who you may have infected?” Jamar responded that there was no telling. “It’s a sad thought,” he said. He said that’s why he encourages so many people to get tested, to know you and love themselves. He said nobody is going to take care of your body. It’s your responsibility.
Jonathan Hyatt / The Clarion Call
“The Voice”’s Jamar Rogers speaks on his life experiences before competing on the show.
CUP Theatre Dept. preps for spring semester Jen Schwartz STAFF WRITER
This spring the Clarion University Theatre Department will bring a little bit of history, edge, and thought-provoking comedy to campus in its takes on punk-rock musical, “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” and Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Seascape.” Robert Levy, chair of the theatre department, will direct “Bloody Bloody,” which has already been casted and rehearsed its first read through Monday, Feb. 4. This punkrock take on the seventh
president of the United States is a relatively new show based on the book by Alex Timbers with original music and lyrics by Michael Freidman. “It is a punk-rock musical. The answer I’ve been given after this is, ‘Yeah, right!’” said Levy. “The nature of the musical is felt in its adolescence, in that of a whiny teenager at times.” As expected in most punk-related media, the play focuses on more mature themes, including violence, sex and “a lot of four letter words.” This being said, Levy stressed that the show is not rec-
ommended for children. Above all else, it is a reflection of history and is accurately portraying the story of a U.S. president. “Everything is 100 percent historically accurate, except for the stuff that’s not,” said Levy. “The way that it deals with history may bother the historians of the audience. It has a skewed view on the history while taking it seriously at the same time. You could say it deals with the big picture instead of the footnotes.” To paint a picture of this, Levy compared the style of the history portrayal in “Bloody Bloody”
Nicole Caratelli / The Clarion Call
The theatre department’s Little Theatre will host spring semester shows in 2013.
to the way news is portrayed on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” The dates for “Bloody Bloody” will begin March 6-9 at 8 p.m. and March 10 at 2 p.m. The second production of the year will be “Second Series,” a show produced, directed, performed and most often written by students. “Second Series” is generally low-budget and allows students the opportunity to explore different aspects of theater handson. Students are making submissions for what show they will produce this year. “Outside of the wellknown Shakespeare, we
try not to have repeats and offer a new experience for Clarions’s audience,” said Levy. “Second Series” showings are scheduled for 8 p.m. March 29 and 11 p.m. March 30. The third production of the Theatre Department this semester will be “Seascape” by Edward Albee, which offers a completely different atmosphere than “Bloody Bloody.” In this play, the audience follows the exploration of two couples as they delve deeper into the meanings of life, marriage and the human condition. While comical mo-
ments occur throughout, this play is intended to be highly thought-provoking and inventive. “It’s a funny play, but not a comedy,” says Levy. “At the same time it’s serious and makes you wonder your place in the universe.” Casting for “Seascape” has not yet taken place. The play will be directed by Marilouse “Mel” Michel of the Theatre Department and is scheduled 8 p.m. April 24-27 and at 2 p.m. April 28. Students from all majors may audition for any upcoming production. Audition dates are listed on the Clarion website.
10 Sports
THE CLARION CALL
February 7, 2013
Clarion swimming and diving posts 2-2 record in finale Jacob Oberdorf STAFF WRITER
With a week remaining until the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships, the Clarion men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams participated in their final dual meets of the season on Saturday, Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 3. Three Golden Eagles came out of their heats victorious, while nine other individuals finished in the top five in their respective heats. The women’s swim team was led by sophomore Emilee Gysegem and freshman Gabby Schaffer. Gysegem won the 200 individual medley, finishing with a time of 2:09.01. Schaffer won the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:08.13. The women’s team fin-
ished the day winning two out of their four matchups, defeating California University of Pennsylvania 188-77 and Grove City College 155121 and losing to Carnegie Mellon University 152-143 and the University of Pittsburgh 230-66. “There was definitely more competition than we are used to, which helped us prepare for the PSACs,” freshman swimmer Emily Ondrizek said. The Clarion women’s team finished the season with a 6-2 dual meet record. “We have all trained really hard this season, and it’s definitely paid off,” Schaffer said. On the men’s side, senior diver Justin Duncan won both the one and three meter events over Pitt’s Division I divers. Junior Heath Calhoun finished third in the one and three meter dives,
while sophomore Nick Larmon finished fourth in the three meter and fifth in the one meter. Four other swimmers completed top five finishes led by junior Derek Nelson, who finished second in the 100 breaststroke, and senior Matt Bojalad, who finished second in the 50 free. The men’s 200 medley relay finished fifth in their event, while the 200 free relay team finished third. The Clarion men’s team finished the season with a 4-3 dual meet record. The Eagles will now put complete focus on the PSAC meet. “We are all now getting focused for our individual events,” said Ondrizek. The Golden Eagles will participate in the PSAC Championships February 14-17 at Cumberland Valley High School.
Clarion splits weekend matches Mike Decker STAFF WRITER
Clarion University wrestling split their weekend bouts against Lock Haven University and Bloomsburg University on Friday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 3. The Golden Eagles traveled to Lock Haven on Friday and came out victorious by the final score of 18-16. Senior James Fleming’s tech fall at 165 and sophomore Ryan Darch’s major decision at 174 were the crucial decisions in the match. Also receiving victories for Clarion were: freshman Tyler Fraley (who was also recognized this week for the Eastern Wrestling League’s “Wrestler of the Week”) at 125; junior Tyler Bedelyon at 157; and senior Justin Ortega at 197. On Sunday, Clarion lost a respective match at home to No. 14 ranked Bloomsburg
by the final of 9-21. “I would obviously love to win every match, especially from here on out,” said Head Coach Troy Letters. “But more importantly, I’d like to take all my guys to the national tournament over that.” Fraley, Fleming and Darch were the only members to win their matches against Bloomsburg, successfully notching weekend sweeps for all three wrestlers. Fraley won his match by the final score of 4-1. Fleming, who is No. 4 ranked in the nation received his 116 career victory in a hardfought battle against No. 11 ranked Frank Hickman. “The more action the better because James is at his best when guys come out to beat him. James and Hickman have wrestled eight times, I believe. He’s a talented wrestler, and definitely came in trying to beat Flem-
ing,” said Letters. Darch, who perhaps had the loudest match over the weekend, won in a stylish one point rideout. “I was so gassed by the end of it,” said Darch. “But coach has been working with us really hard for moments like that. Over break, we were running two practices every day, and I’m really starting to reap the benefits. This season is pretty long, and we are really starting to hit crunch time now. I just want to make it to the NCAAs just like I think every guy on our team can. We just have to keep working hard, and hopefully that happens.” Clarion, whose record is at 3-7 on the season, will host Ohio University on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in Tippin and then travel to Cleveland State on Sunday, Feb. 10.
The Clarion Call / Kelsey Waros
Clarion looks to gain the advantage against Bloomsburg at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium.
Three Golden Eagles qualify for PSACs Mark Emch
MANAGING EDITOR
The Clarion University Women’s Track and Field squad took part in the Mount Union College Invitational on Saturday, an event that saw three Golden Eagle athletes qualify for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Indoor Championship. Freshman jumper/hurdler Kristen Belko continued her streak of success by winning the triple jump competition with a leap of 34-feet, 11-inches. Belko’s third place finish in the long jump qualified her the PSAC tournament. Her jump was measured at 16-feet, 5 and one-fourth inches. Junior Jessica Vitous finished one spot ahead of Belko in the long jump with a 16feet, 7 and three-fourth measurement. “Kristen Belko is the freshman that will have the most success this year,” said head
coach D.J. Bevevino. Senior Kristine Mellor was the second athlete to qualify for PSAC on Saturday. Her high jump of 5-feet, 1 three-fourth landed her in second place for the day. Fellow Golden Eagle high jumper Sarah Loughner finished in third place behind Mellor. Junior thrower Allyson Cress also qualified for PSAC with a shot put toss of 36-feet, 6 and three-fourth inches. Bevevino is pleased that multiple athletes have achieved success in 2013. “I am satisfied that we have an undeclared style of leadership that seems to work well in our situation,” said Bevevino. “Hard work and commitment from team members is recognized by others and admired.” The Golden Eagles will travel to Berea, Ohio next to take part in the Baldwin-Wallace University Invitational. The meet will take place Friday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m. The PSAC Indoor Championship will take place from Feb. 23-24, at Edinboro University.
FACE OFF Who is the biggest NBA All-Star snub? Jazzmonde James STAFF WRITER
All-Star games are around the corner for basketball players. The list of the 2013 roster may come as a surprise to fans who didn’t see some hard working players on the Eastern and Western conference roster. There were a few who people expected to be in Houston for the game. One player that I thought had a good chance of making the roster would have been Stephen Curry. Curry is a point guard for the Golden State Warriors and has been doing an outstanding job so far this first half of the season. He also led his team to a 26-15 record. So far in the season, he has 20.9 points per a game and 6.6 assists with 4.0 rebounds. Curry has been shooting 45.1 percent behind the arc, which is awesome for the 24-year-old. Curry has been playing in the league for four years and has developed into a great player for the Warriors. The Warriors haven’t been one of the best teams in the West in past years, but they have made a come up this year. Curry is the type of player who doesn’t like to sit on the bench and let the rest of the team play in a game when it is struggling or winning. Curry recently had suffered two ankle injuries. He sat out for two games and was back on the court battling through his injuries while still putting up good numbers for his team. Not a lot of players can say they have done that. Ankle injuries are hard to come back from for any player, but Curry did. Curry’s strength and game play has been on point. He has showed that he has learned a lot over four years. He has the coaches on the opposite team wondering how they can find a way to stop him when he is hot. He may even be able to go against the big players in the league. Curry has proved himself to be one of the players to look out for. This is why he should have been on that roster for the All-Star game, but the people choosing the best players so far this season have happened to look over his talent and what he has done so far for his team. Another player who should have made it to the All-Star game was power forward Serge Ibaka, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the season so far he has 14.0 points per game, 2.8 blocks and 8.3 rebounds. He has improved his skills this season on the offensive end. He has always done a good job on the defensive end. One of the big things that he is good at is blocking. Since the loss of James Harden, Ibaka has stepped up for the team. He is shooting 56.4 percent this first half of the season. Ibaka has worked hard to keep with top players on his team and also keep his team in the playoff hopes so far. One of the problems with how the AllStar voting is set up, is it’s entirely up to the fans to pick the starting rosters. It ends up being a popularity contest instead of the most deserved players. Once again, Curry and Ibaka will have to wait at least one more year to make their All-Star game debut.
Traesha Pritchard STAFF WRITER
The biggest part of the NBA season could possibly be the All-Star Game. The All-Star Game is a highly celebrated event that gives players who may not be on the best team a chance to display just how good they are and just have fun. Fans vote for starters, and coaches vote for the remaining reserve players for the roster. Fans can vote for the players names they hear frequently on television. There could be a phenomenal player on a team who does not have a successful franchise who could be looked over. Coaches are busy with their own teams by the time voting for the reserved roster comes around. Most likely they don’t have enough time to survey the entire league to pick the best options for the All-Star Game reserves. There is a large and outrageous amount of star power in the NBA today. This gives justice to why there simply isn’t enough room on a 12-man AllStar roster. The rosters this season for the East and West teams were predictable with standout players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. Even the reserved listed were as expected with players like James Harden and Tony Parker. The low amount of space on the roster causes many snubs to happen. James expressed in a tweet that he feels “there should be 15 on both rosters so there’s no snubs.” There is now much talk on who NBA fans feel the biggest NBA All-Star snubs were. I’m a Boston Celtics fan, and my favorite player is Paul Pierce, so I believe he is one of the biggest All-Star game snubs. I also feel that J.R. Smith, a shooting guard for the New York Knicks, was also snubbed on being picked for the NBA All-Star game. In past years, the Celtics always sent at least three of their players to the AllStar game. This year the Miami Heat dominated that field. After a career of earning the most amounts of All-Star nods based on the respect of coaches rather than the votes of fans, Paul Pierce missed out both ways. This season, although the Celtics were not 100 percent, Pierce has picked up a lot of slack, and he has been playing better than he has in previous seasons. It’s an outrage that the team captain is not on the All-Star roster. Smith not making the All-Star squad is also questionable. Smith has improved his overall game. He has learned how to create off the dribble when not shooting threes or driving the lane for a dunk. I have a strong belief that Smith could be one of the best players on the Knicks this season. With his many buzzer winning shots, he has stepped up and become a notable player this season. Smith has been able to come through in the clutch this season. With Smith playing on the East, fans could see a lot of amazing plays. An argument against Smith not making the team is simply that he doesn’t start. Yes, that is true. However, many fans can attest that Smith’s contributions to the Knicks outweigh a majority of starters in the league. I can say ultimately the fact that Smith comes off the bench probably hurt his chances in making the All-Star team roster, and the Celtics not having a standout season hurt Pierce.
Sports 11
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SPORTS
WEST RECORD 7-3-0 6-1-1 6-3-0 5-1-3 6-3-1 6-2-0 5-5-0 4-4-1 4-4-1 4-4-0 4-5-0 4-6-0 3-5-1 3-6-1 2-7-1
RECORD 31-14 31-15 30-19 29-19 28-20 26-21 25-22 24-23 24-26 18-31 17-31 14-34 14-34 12-35 11-36
TEAM San Antonio Oklahoma City LA Clippers Memphis Denver Golden State Utah Houston Portland LA Lakers Dallas Minnesota Phoenix Sacramento New Orleans
February 7, 2013
RECORD 8-0-2 7-2-1 5-2-2 6-1-1 6-3-0 4-2-3 4-3-2 4-4-2 4-4-1 4-4-1 4-5-1 3-3-2 4-5-0 3-6-1 2-3-2
The Call’s weekly take on the big questions in the wide, wide world of sports WHAT IS YOUR DESCRIPTION OF THE MANTI TE’O FIASCO?
PANELISTS
WHO IS THE BIGGEST NBA ALL-STAR SNUB?
WHERE WILL LEBRON JAMES PLAY IN 2014?
MIKE WATERLOO
Sickening
Steph Curry
Miami Heat
EDDIE MCDONALD
Bizarre
Steph Curry
Miami Heat
MIKE DECKER
Annoying
Brook Lopez
Miami Heat
JAZZMONDE JAMES
Weird and crazy
Steph Curry
Miami Heat
Wow!
Rudy Gay
Miami Heat
MARK EMCH
Immature
Steph Curry
Miami Heat
JAKE OBERDORF
Unfortunate
Steph Curry
Cleveland Cavaliers
TRAESHA PRITCHARD
Catfish
Paul Pierce
Miami Heat
WEST RECORD 38-11 36-12 34-16 30-17 31-18 30-18 27-22 27-23 25-23 23-26 20-28 18-27 17-32 17-33 15-33
MATT CATRILLO
- Athlete’s Tweet “@TheRealJRSmith- Wasnt quiet when Kanye tore it down last month! RT @KrisHumpries: Big game tonight! The Garden got really quiet on the way out! #Brooklyn - New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith responds to a tweet from Kris Humpries of the Brooklyn Nets following the Nets win. Kim Kardashian, who was famously married to Humpries for 72 days, is currently dating and pregnant with Kanye West’s baby.
12 Sports
THE CLARION CALL
February 7, 2013
SPORTS clarioncallnews.com/sports
Clarion alum Frankie Edgar takes UFC by storm Michael Waterloo SPORTS EDITOR
Frankie Edgar may not be a household name around Clarion University like Kurt Angle and John Calipari are, but there’s no reason he shouldn’t be. Edgar was a four-time qualifier for Nationals during his time at Clarion in the 141-weight class between 2001 and 2005. Edgar, a New Jersey native, didn’t take the same route as Angle, but instead decided to take his talents in the direction of Mixed Martial Arts. “In the beginning, I didn’t think it was a realistic possibility for me,” Edgar said. “I wrestled, but never fought. They didn’t have a 155 division at first.“ Edgar appeared on the MTV show “True Life: I’m a Mixed Martial Arts Fighter” and appeared on “Ultimate Fighter” on Spike. Despite not getting a contract right away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Edgar knew he wanted to continue chasing his dream. While looking over his options and the different companies, UFC boss Dana White gave Edgar a call to offer him a contract. “I knew I was going to get into the sport, just didn’t know with what company,” Edgar said. “UFC is like the NFL. It’s the best possible outcome for me.” In his time in the UFC,
Courtesy Photo/ Frankie Edgar
A four-time qualifier for Nationals at Clarion, Frankie Edgar attempts a leg strike against an opponent during a UFC match. Edgar quickly made a name for himself and rose through the rankings in the lightweight division; thanks to an unforgettable debut match with Tyson Griffin. Edgar won the UFC lightweight championship and joined his good friend Georges St-Pierre as the second person to ever
beat B.J. Penn twice. “It’s wild. It’s a testament to the hard work and team I have around me,” Edgar said. “If you work hard enough and want bad enough, you can get it.” Edgar looked to make history on Saturday Feb. 2, when he faced the welterweight champion Jose Aldo.
Edgar, or “The Answer” as he’s known as throughout the circuit, looked to become just the third fighter in UFC history to win two titles in two different weight classes. Like a lot of his matches, the decision came down to the judges. This time however, Edgar found himself on the
wrong side of the decision. When asked if it was his biggest match ever, Edgar said his biggest match hasn’t happened yet. “The biggest match is always your next match. That’s my approach,” Edgar said. “For me, I put a lot of significance in my fights. I always want to win the next one.”
As for his time at Clarion, the 31-year-old Edgar said he has to explain to people where he went to school because they had never heard of it before. Despite its small feel, Edgar loved his time here. “I loved the community aspect of it and the small-town feel,” Edgar said. “I come from the Jersey shore, so it’s a nice change.” While Edgar said his best memory of his time at Clarion was winning the EWLs at Tippin Gymnasium, there’s something about Clarion he misses just a little bit more. “I’m really missing those Dew Drop Inn wings,” Edgar said with a laugh. “I could go for some of those.” Edgar said his time on the mats at Clarion taught him a lot and prepared him for the real world. “Competing in wrestling in general teaches you a lot in life that other sports can’t. Being a student athlete, as well, taught me time management,” Edgar said. “The classroom and mats prepared me now with media and the responsibilities that come along with those.” Whether a wrestler or just a student, Edgar said it’s only four years so make sure to live it to the fullest. “Enjoy it and make the most of it. Whether on the mats or in the classroom, have fun,” Edgar said. “Once real life hits, the pressure builds.”
Women Golden Eagles upset No. 21 ranked Fighting Scots Matt Catrillo STAFF WRITER
The Clarion University Golden Eagles women’s basketball team battled there way to a huge 56-55 upset victory over No. 21 Edinboro University Fighting Scots on Saturday, Feb. 2. With Clarion down by two with 1:50 left in the ball game, Aleya Miller tied the game with a jumper in the paint. After getting a defensive stop, the Golden Eagles calmly hit their free throws to pull out the victory. Both teams fought through this game with everything they had. The No. 21 ranked Fighting Scots played tight defense, forcing 10 Clarion turnovers in the first half. The Golden Eagles were able to weather the storm however, to pull to a 26-26 tie at the break. In the second half, Clarion pulled out to its largest lead of the game at 42-36 with 10:45 to go. Edinboro wouldn’t go down without a fight, as it fought back to tie the game and take the lead. The Golden Eagles, took it from there off the clutch go ahead jumper by Miller, playing lock down defense, and hitting free throws down the stretch. Raven Jones and Hannah Heeter also were huge for the Golden Eagles, as Heeter finished with her 10th double-double of the season, with 16 points and 19 rebounds.
It was also Heeter’s 13th game of her career with 15 rebounds or more in a single game. Jones finished with 15 points and a season-high seven assists to go with four rebounds and a steal. This is clearly the biggest win of the season for the Golden Eagles, now at 10-11 overall, and 6-9 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. “We knew it was going to be a battle,” Clarion Head Coach Gie Parsons said. “We were disciplined, we played tenacious defense, we got rebounds, we did everything we’re supposed to do, and that was the big difference in the game.” This win certainly gives Clarion a ton of momentum, but the team is taking it one game at a time the rest of the way. “I’m going to take it game-by-game,” Parsons said. “Our next game is at Slippery Rock University. They’re peaking and playing really well.” With the win, Clarion stands alone in fifth place in the PSAC West, one game ahead of Mercyhurst University. California University (PA), currently in fourth place in the PSAC West, defeated Mercyhurst 61-50 on Saturday. Clarion is four games behind California (14-5 overall, 10-5 PSAC) for the fourth spot in the division, with seven games to go. Whoever wins that fourth seed is awarded a home playoff game for the first round of the PSAC playoffs. Clarion’s only focus now is getting ready to go to Slippery Rock for a 6 p.m. tip-off, Wednesday, Feb. 6.
The Clarion Call/ Lamont Sinclair
Freshman Tania Holmes pushes the tempo against Edinboro.
Clarion’s struggles continue in 67-54 loss to Edinboro Eddie McDonald STAFF WRITER
The expression “when it rains, it pours” could not be more applicable to the Clarion University men’s basketball team. After blowing a 15-point lead against California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion started off well, but that could not be sustained against Edinboro University, falling 67-54. Clarion started off the game on a 5-0 run, only to see Edinboro answer with a 10-2 run of its own. The Golden Eagles regained control after the first media timeout at the 15:48 mark of the first half, going on a run 13-3 run. The turning point of the contest came at the 13:22 mark of the first half. Edinboro Head Coach Greg
Walcavich called a timeout with his team trailing 20-13. Whatever he said in the huddle worked, as Edinboro went on a 15-2 run, before Clarion Head Coach Ron Righter called a timeout of his own just three minutes and 17 seconds later. The timeout proved to be of no avail, as Edinboro extended its run to 19-4, only to continue to control the first half, and finish the initial run at 27-6, making the score heading into the locker rooms 40-26. “We’ve had a big problem a good part of the year not getting off to get starts,” said Assistant Coach Al Modrejewski. The Golden Eagles shot just 11-33 in the first half. The second half started off promising for Clarion as it scored the first four points, but Edinboro once again had an answer, scoring the next five points extend-
ing the lead to 15. Clarion tried fighting back into the ball game just before the midway mark of the second half, as it got the score within 11, 48-37, but that would be as close as it got. Edinboro’s largest lead of the game was 23 late in the game. Clarion went on a 10-0 run to end the game to make the score a little bit more respectable. The Golden Eagle defense did a good job on the Fighting Scots leading scorers in Isaiah Prince and Jay Fletcher, limiting them to just 12 points apiece. Freshman Aaron Johnson was the lone Golden Eagle in double figures with 12 points. Clarion junior Mike Kromka finished the contest with nine points and 12 rebounds. “We have yet to put together a complete game of 40 minutes, especially on defense,” senior guard, Leonard Patterson said.
The Clarion Call/ Jonathan Hyatt
Clarion Junior Mike Kromka battles for a rebound in a 67-54 loss against Edinboro.