The Clarion Call, 11/29/2012

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THE

Clarion Call CLARION UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

VOL. 99 ED. 10

APSCUF postpones strike consideration Alizah Thornton NEWS EDITOR

CLARION, Pa. - The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties President Steve Hicks announced a strike consideration from the union’s leadership will be postponed until the spring semester, according to a Nov. 27 press release from the organization.

The release, structured as a letter addressed to

the students at the 14 state-owned universities, including Clarion University, explained to students the circumstances surrounding the contract negotiations between APSCUF and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and how the faculty feels about going on strike.

“Faculty know you are worried that your professors will go on strike. We know you are concerned about the impact a strike

would have on your classes, your finals and your tuition dollars,” Hicks said in the release. “After thoughtful deliberation and consideration about how a strike at this time would affect our students, we have decided to postpone consideration of a strike for the rest of this semester.”

On Oct. 20, the APSCUF leadership met in State College, Pa. and unanimously approved a strike authorization vote to occur at the 14 universities.

The authorization vote

is a multi-step process.

Once the leadership approves a strike authorization vote, the authorization vote is then passed on the APSCUF faculty members at the 14 stateowned universities.

The faculty members have to vote to authorize the leadership to call a strike. During the week of Nov. 12 – 16, faculty members from the PASSHE universities voted.

Eighty-six percent of the APSCUF’s total fac-

ulty membership voted; 95 percent of the faculty who voted granted APSUCF leadership the authority to call a strike as they deem necessary, according to a Nov. 15 press release.

PASSHE responded to the announced vote results in a Nov. 16 press release.

“We remain committed to achieving an agreement with our faculty union that is fair to everyone, especially our students and their families who provide almost 75 per-

cent of the revenue necessary to operate our universities through tuition and fees.

We have a fair offer on the table and hope to reach a settlement with APSCUF very soon,” the release said.

The faculty members have been working without a contract for more than two years.

Negotiations between APSCUF and PASSHE are scheduled to continue on Dec. 11.

See the full letter sent to students on page 4.

Faculty member speaks on leadership Rachel Farkas STAFF WRITER

Alizah Thornton / The Clarion Call

Justin Jones-Fosu speaks to students at Clarion University about how to achieve authentic success.

Motivational speaker addresses students on achieving success Alizah Thornton NEWS EDITOR

CLARION, PA. - Inspirational and motivational speaker Justin JonesFosu gave a presentation based off his book “Finding Your Glasses: Revealing and Achieving Authentic Success” on Tuesday, Nov. 27 to a group of Clarion University students.

Through an interactive and energy-filled presentation, Jones explained the importance of focusing on an individual’s values and how to transform those values into actions that lead to achieving personal goals.

“I feel like my life’s mission is to help people receive authentic success,” Jones said.

Throughout the presentation, Jones explained to the students how to achieve authentic success whether it is for personal, professional or organizational reasons.

He challenged the audience to find their vision, or goal in life, and encouraged them to take

the necessary steps to achieve that goal.

The foundation of achieving a goal is dependent on a person’s values, he said.

Jones listed three types of values: espoused, self-examinations of the goals people would like to achieve; expressed, the values that are told to others; and enacted, the values people actually live by.

Jones said in order for individuals to achieve authentic success, they should strive to achieve R.E.A.L. goals—reachable, explicit, attractive and length conscious.

According to Jones, the goals need to be achievable with the desired outcome clearly stated, appeal to the individual who wants to achieve the goals and be able to fit into a time frame for achievement.

He encouraged the audience to go after what they want, and not what others around them are going after or what others are going.

“Don’t be just like anyone, be better than everyone by being the only you,” Jones said.

He encouraged the students to engage themselves in something they are passionate about and challenged them not to settle for mediocrity.

“If you don’t fight for your vision, who will?” he said. Visions require short and long term goals based on reflective thinking, according to Jones.

Jones said he believes a change in attitude is also an important factor to achieving authentic success because having a negative attitude can deter people from their goals.

“There are people who would love to have your bad days,” Jones said while explaining to students not to take what happens in their lives for granted.

“My situation never changed, just my perspective,” he said.

Through his own business, Jones travels and gives 50-55 presentations a year to various universities, high schools and corporations on a variety of topics.

The presentation was sponsored by Clarion University’s Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils.

CLARION, Pa . - Jamie Phillips, professor of philosophy, spoke about leadership and virtue ethics on Tuesday evening for the Mary Walter Leadership Series.

The Mary Walter Leadership Series “brings together leaders from the Golden Eagle community in open dialogue about leadership development topics,” according to the university website.

Phillips, chapter adviser to the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, began his talk by saying his experience in the military and as a professor have given him many opportunities to lead, but he wasn’t a natural leader.

However, he said a person doesn’t need to be a natural to be a good leadership.

“I’m not an expert on leadership, but I am an expert on ethics,” he said.

“If you want to be a good leader, you have to be a good person.”

Using his background in history and philosophy, Phillips laid out seven theories about what it takes for a person to be a good leader.

As he explained each theory, he also explained the issues with each.

Jonathan Hyatt / The Clarion Call

Clarion University Professor Jamie Phillips speaks to students during the final fall presentation as a part of the Mary Walter Leadership Series.

A person doesn’t have to be a born leader or be able to motivate everyone around them in order to be a great leader, Phillips said.

A person simply has to “live a virtuous life,” he said.

“A good leader is a person who is simultaneously courageous, loyal, dependable, conscientious, honest, kind, generous and humble,” Phillips said in a handout that was passed out at the beginning of the presentation.

He said not to worry

THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Inside

INDEX

Finals week from freshmen perspectives.

FEATURES PAGE 5

“Cast of Characters” art exhibit preview.

ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 8

Aaron Johnson transfers from Princeton.

SPORTS PAGE 10

News Opinion Features Classifieds Puzzles & Comics Arts & Entertainment Sports Standings

about what other people think or what they do because every person has free will.

But if you are a good person and exemplify the behavior you want to see in others, people will take notice, Phillips said.

“Fix yourself on the inside,” he said.

The Mary Walter Leadership Series will continue in the spring semester with more speakers from the university leadership community.

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NEWS

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WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Pittsburgh transit receives funds from RAD AP Exchange PI T T S B U R G H — T h e Pittsburgh-area’s transit agency is getting $3 million in county sale tax revenues from a fund that normally supports only “regional assets” like libraries, museums and sports stadiums.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County says that Regional Asset District money, coupled with $1.5 million in drink-tax revenue earmarked for transit, will be used to leverage $30 million in state aid that will sustain the agency through this fiscal year.

The Port Authority is still working with Gov.

Tom Corbett on a longterm revenue solution, but the one-time funding fix will prevent a 35 percent cut in bus and light-rail service and 500 layoffs that would have been needed to close a projected budget deficit.

The RAD board says, however, that it cannot afford to contribute money annually for transit.

No Child Left Behind waiver sought in Pa. AP Exchange PITTSBURGH — Pennsylvania’s secretary of education says he wants a waiver from the No Child Left Behind law.

The exemption would free the state from a federal mandate that all students achieve proficiency in math and reading by 2014.

According to the Pitts-

burgh Post-Gazette, Secretary Ronald Tomalis had hoped Congress would revise the law, thus negating the need for a waiver.

He now says revisions are unlikely anytime soon. Many educators say the proficiency goal is unrealistic.

This year, about 76 percent of Pennsylvania students scored

proficient in math, and about 72 percent hit the mark reading.

The U.S. Education Department began granting waivers in February to states that promised to improve how they prepare and evaluate students and their teachers.

Nearly three dozen states have received such exemptions.

Medical device firm expands to Western Pa., brings in jobs AP Exchange CRANBERRY, Pa.— A Virgini a company that m ake s parts for medical devices and surgical i nstruments plan s to expand wit h an assemb ly room i n western Pennsylvania that will employ about 60 pe ople.

Officials at Staunton,

Va.-based Cadence Inc. say the “clean-room ” assembly area will be built in space it w il l lease in the Cra nberry Business Pa rk, about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Cadence makes parts for medical device companies in other parts of the country, but anticipates landing contracts to

November 29, 2012

provide parts to a growing number of Pittsburgh-area medical device makers.

Cadence also has assembly facilities in Rhode Island and Virginia.

Company president Alan Connor tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Cadence has already hired four employees and will open the facility early next year.

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POLICIES

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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.

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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

Amerigo Allegretto

Nathan Conway

Alizah Thornton

Copy Editor

Business Manager

News Editor

Michael Friend

Stacey Roy

Chris Brown

Features Editor

Graphics Editor

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Justin Gmoser

Dr. Laurie Miller

Photography Editor

Adviser

STAFF

News: Rachel Farkas, Jen Schwartz, Amelia Eiger, Amanda Jackson, Justin Costa Sports: Eddie McDonald, Jacob Oberdorf, Jazzmonde James, Matt Catrillo, Traesha Pritchard, Justin Costa, Lauren Zezenski Features: Marissa Katz, Kyra Ammon, Emily Miller, Sarah Meier, John Burba

Photography: Lamont Sinclair, Johnathan Hyatt, Jamie Smith, Brittany Harger, Kelsey Waros, Joe Bucci, Nicole Caratelli Columnists: Michael Friend, Alizah Thornton, Matt Knoedler Copy: Shirley Sproule

Entertainment: Jen Schwartz, Amelia EIger. Jia McMillian-Shipley, Eric Stevens, Samuel Nolan

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Hanger declares bid for Pa. Governor for 2014 Peter Jackson AP EXCHANGE

HARRISBURG, Pa.— Former state environmental protection chief John Hanger on Wednesday became the first declared candidate for governor in an election nearly two years away, vowing to boost spending for education and to tax natural-gas production.

Hanger announced his candidacy for the 2014 Democratic nomination at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market and then traveled to Harrisburg on a school bus for a

repeat performance at the state Capitol.

He also planned to visit Pittsburgh on Thursday.

The 55-year-old Hanger touted his record as a state utility regulator and the Rendell administration’s secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

He laced his speech with attacks on Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, who plans to seek re-election.

“Tom Corbett’s politics are damaging Pennsylvania’s schools, our economy and our future,” he said. “The governor is sincere in his beliefs, but he must be a one-term gover-

nor for the good of the commonwealth.”

Hanger vowed to make education his top priority for state funding and pledged to restore the more than $1 billion cut from public schools and state-supported universities last year.

He said he opposes school vouchers but supports charter schools so long as they are held accountable to taxpayers.

He vowed to end Pennsylvania’s status as the only major natural gas-producing state that does not tax that production, but warned that gas alone

“will never create prosperity” for the state.

“I will develop all our energy resources, including wind, solar and energy efficiency,” he said.

“Saving energy remains the cheapest and cleanest energy resource available.”

Hanger said he favors legalizing gay marriage and the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

He said he also supports abortion rights and passage of a state gay-rights law banning discrimination in matters such as housing and employment.

Hanger, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was born in Kenya, where his agricul-

turist father worked for the British Foreign Service helping develop coffee and tea farms.

The family moved to Ireland in 1963 and Hanger came to the United States in 1970.

While Hanger is the first declared Democratic candidate, he is likely to face competition in the May 2014 primary.

Businessmen Tom Wolf, of York, and Tom Knox, of Philadelphia, have signaled strong interest in running.

Other prospective candidates have refused to rule out campaigns. Knox, a millionaire who ran for mayor unsuccessfully

in 2007 and aborted a 2010 bid for governor before the primary, said experience has taught him to hold off on any announcement until closer to the election.

“I think it’s way too early,” Knox said of Hanger’s timing. “It’s a waste of time. No one wants to hear from you until it gets later.”

Wolf, who considered running for governor in 2010 but decided against it because it would interfere with running his buildingproducts firm, said two years’ lead time is not unreasonable.

THE CLARION CALL

November 29, 2012

NEWS clarioncallnews.com/news

News 3

ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA

Pa. pension falls Working with legislature short, report says tough, Corbett says Mark Scolforo AP EXCHANGE

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget office indicated Monday that the governor may attempt to reduce the pensions of current public employees, a politically volatile and legally questionable solution to what has become a $41 billion unfunded liability.

In a new report on the state’s two large public-sector pensions, the budget office warned of the potential for higher taxes, program cuts, lower business growth and steeper borrowing costs because of the state’s financial obligations toward the State Employees’ Retirement System and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System.

The financial pressures from the pension systems have loomed over state finances for more than a decade, and Corbett, a Republican, repeatedly has spoken of a desire to make changes to them.

The report says higher taxes “should be off the table,” but reductions in prospective benefits for current employees should be considered.

Case law interpreting the state constitution has prevented curtailing pension benefits for current or retired state employees and teachers, but the new report states, without elaboration, that the state can change components of current employees’ prospective benefits “to conform with prior court determinations regarding deferred compensation.”

Budget office spokesman Jay Pagni said he

could not provide examples of those “prior court determinations,” but said the administration was researching changes enacted in other states.

“We believe there is the ability that we can look at certain aspects of a current employee’s prospective deferred compensation, their retirement,” he said.

The head of Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 45,000 state workers, said any move to reduce a current employee’s right to earn future pension credits would be challenged in court.

“I’m curious myself as far as what they’re looking to do, and I’m hoping before they start off on that path that there will be a meeting of the principals,” said Council 13’s David Fillman.

SERS press secretary Pam Hile said she was unsure what potential changes the administration has in mind.

She said current retirees and others within the pension system should know that no changes have occurred so far.

“It’s hard to say what they are going to do,” Hile said. “I don’t know.”

A spokeswoman for PSERS, the teachers’ union, said they had no information about what was meant by the phrase “prior court determinations regarding deferred compensation.”

Growing pension costs could force spending cuts throughout the state budget, according to the report, a scenario made even worse by projections of higher spending on debt, medical assistance and prisons.

“Like an oncoming tidal wave, pension costs

threaten to overwhelm the general fund budget and the vital programs and services that it funds,” the report says.

The same dynamic is expected for public schools, said the report.

“Increasing pension contributions obligations will claim a greater and greater share of school district budgets, crowding out funding for education, whether it is direct classroom instruction, sports, facilities and maintenance, and ultimately put pressure on districts to increase property taxes,” the budget office said.

The report recounts how the problem began with the 2001 law that granted retroactive pension rate increases to state workers and teachers, including even higher increases for the lawmakers.

That was followed by a cost-of-living increase for retirees, and then by restructuring the state’s contributions that delayed the true cost for another decade.

The pension systems’ investments were badly hammered when the technology and housing bubbles burst, and they have struggled to recover.

A 2010 law made some structural changes, including less generous benefits for new hires.

The state paid nearly $1.1 billion into SERS and PSERS during the fiscal year that ended in June.

That figure is projected to pass $2.2 billion next year and reach $5.1 billion by 2019.

SERS provides $2.7 billion annually in benefits; PSERS pays out $5.3 billion.

About 815,000 people are members, a group that includes active employees, retirees, beneficiaries and others who are vested but inactive.

Marc Levy AP EXCHANGE

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Corbett said Monday that getting his fellow Republicans in the Legislature to agree on something is perhaps one of the most difficult jobs he’s ever had to do.

Corbett made the comments as he heads into his third year as governor and confronts major issues that are pressing on Pennsylvanians, including boosting transportation funding and scaling back public pension costs.

The Republican governor suggested during an appearance on KDKA-AM radio in Pittsburgh that Republican harmony is no small task after conservative show host Marty Griffin told Corbett that the “knock on you” is that Corbett hasn’t advanced key bills despite sharing power with a Republicancontrolled Legislature.

“Just as there is a broad spectrum of Democrats from conservative Democrats to very liberal Democrats, so too does the Republican Party in the House and in the Senate here in Pennsylvania have moderate to liberal Republicans to conservative Republicans, and getting them all on the same page, working in the same direction is

probably the most difficult job I’ve ever had to do,” Corbett said.

Corbett also must make decisions for Pennsylvania under the national health care law that President Barack Obama championed, the Affordable Care Act. Under the law, Corbett must decide soon whether to run an online health insurance exchange and whether to seek an expansion of income eligibility for the poorest Pennsylvanians under the federal-state medical care program called Medicaid.

On Monday, he did not give an idea of which direction he would take, but he redoubled his criticism of the law, saying it will be costly for taxpayers and hurt the economy, business people and the middle class.

“This is the unaffordable health care act,” Corbett said.

A spokesman for House Republicans said House and Senate GOP leaders did a tremendous job of reaching consensus and getting important legislation to the governor’s desk.

“This past legislative session was hugely successful and one of the most accomplished in recent memory, so frankly I’m not certain where that comment would come from,” said the spokes-

man, Steve Miskin.

The 2013-14 legislative session will begin in January, and Corbett will have fewer Republicans to win over: The Senate’s Republican majority is shrinking to 27 to 23, down from 30 to 20 after three victories in races for open seats by Democrats.

In his first two years, a few of his top priorities were achieved with solid Democratic support, including a tax break for a proposed petrochemical refinery in western Pennsylvania that could become the state’s biggest financial incentive ever.

However, most of his priorities that passed did so with little or no support from Democrats, including his first two budgets, refinancing the unemployment compensation debt, tightening rules around school property tax increases, updating state regulation of the booming natural gas drilling industry and requiring photo identification from voters.

A couple of key efforts backed by Corbett failed.

Those included privatizing the statecontrolled liquor store system and making it easier for privately un, publicly funded charter schools to open in Pennsylvania.

Post Sandusky, Pa. child abuse law may face changes Mark Scolforo AP EXCHANGE

Peter Jackson AP EXCHANGE

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania should enact sweeping changes to its child abuse laws, including stronger penalties for failing to report the crime, a legislative commission concluded Tuesday after a year of study prompted

by Jerry Sandusky’s arrest on molestation charges.

The Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection recommended rewriting state law, redefining what constitutes child abuse and expanding the list of people who are required to report suspected abuse.

“We propose a transformation in the way information concerning child abuse is handled and maintained, the way in which crimes against children are investigated in parts of the state, and the way in which those with a responsibility for the well-being of children are trained,” said David Heckler, the Bucks County district attorney who chaired the panel.

The recommendations are nonbinding and will probably require a set of as-yet-unwritten bills for the Legislature to consider

when it convenes for a new two-year session in January.

“Strengthening these laws must be done as soon as possible, but we should recognize that it cannot be done overnight,” Heckler said.

The Republican leader in the state Senate praised the report and said he expected some bills would move to the governor early next year, saying there would be swift action in some cases.

“We are fully prepared to commit the time and effort necessary to make our state safer for children,” said Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi.

Sandusky, a 68-yearold former Penn State assistant football coach, is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence after being convicted this summer of 45 counts of sexual abuse of 10 boys.

He maintains his innocence and is pursuing appeals.

Heckler acknowledged that the Sandusky and Roman Catholic priest molestation scandals provided the impetus for the creation of the task force but said the panel took a wider view.

“What we did here is not a knee-jerk reaction to anything. It is a seizing of the opportunity to look at the whole system”

and gather advice from experts, he said.

One of its proposals, to increase the use of investigative teams from various fields for child abuse cases, may have prevented additional victims after Sandusky’s acts drew the attention of police and child welfare workers more than a decade before his arrest, Heckler said.

“I firmly believe if there had been a multidisciplinary team in Centre County in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, that you would have heard about Jerry Sandusky then,” he said.

Dr. Cindy W. Christian, a child-abuse pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, said the proposed expansion of the definition of child abuse in Pennsylvania is central to the recommendations.

The present definition “is so narrowly defined that what is child abuse in every other state in this country is not necessarily child abuse in Pennsylvania,” said Christian, a task force member.

Under current law, children have to show they experienced severe pain in order to substantiate abuse claims.

4 Opinion

THE CLARION CALL

OPINION

November 29, 2012

“Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

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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’s on your mind: End of the semester

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

APSCUF pens letter to students Dear Students, Faculty know you are worried that your professors will go on strike. We know you are concerned about the impact a strike would have on your classes, your finals, and your tuition dollars. After thoughtful deliberation and consideration about how a strike at this time would affect our students, we have decided to postpone consideration of a strike for the rest of this semester.

APSCUF (Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties) and PASSHE (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) leaders have negotiations sessions scheduled for December. However, there is still a gulf between your faculty and the chancellor. He still wants a separate pay scale for some temporary faculty. He is still proposing increases in payments for reduced health care benefits. He wants to cut our retirement health care and stop offering those benefits to new faculty. He wants to stop payments for distance education, but has not addressed our concerns about growing class sizes.

The chancellor continues to demand more concessions from your faculty than the governor asked from our campuses’ hardworking secretaries, groundskeepers and custodians. These

negotiations remain about simple fairness.

All of the outstanding issues have a direct effect on the quality of education we provide, as all will impact who is in the classroom and the type of classes that are offered. We know that you understand that the conditions under which faculty work are the conditions under which you learn. We know that you want your university to continue to attract and retain the quality faculty you deserve.

We have done our best to try to avoid a strike. We waited over a year and a half before even uttering the word. We gave the chancellor several opportunities to settle a fair contract, including a two-year extension proposal and the offer of binding arbitration. We offered to pay more for health care and suggested ways for chancellor to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care costs.

He rejected them all.

We do not want to go on strike. We want to educate our students. However, the core meaning of “union” is one, and we cannot accept the chancellor’s unsubtle attempts to divide and exploit segments of our faculty union.

The interests of our students are always on our minds. It is why we have waited and hoped that with time we could convince the

chancellor to be fair. With higher education comes the understanding that there are times when people must stand up for themselves. If the only way we can convince the chancellor to be fair is to go on strike, then we must stand up for ourselves. It is what we would expect of you in the pursuit of fairness.

But know that your faculty will only strike as a last resort. You can count on us to continue do all we can to reach a fair agreement.

The last two years, faculty and students worked together to turn back Tom Corbett’s historic budget cuts for our universities.

We held rallies and met with legislators who know the value of public higher education. We have stood together for quality education. We can now use your help to avert a strike.

Please write to the chancellor at jcavanaugh@ passhe.edu and tell him to settle a fair contract with the faculty. You do not have to argue our side. Just tell him to be fair. The more he hears from you, the more likely he is to change the proposals even he knows APSCUF cannot in wisdom accept. We appreciate your support.

Steve Hicks APSCUF president To receive updates about faculty negotiations and a potential strike, text APSCUF to 68398.

COLUMN

2016? Who cares?

Matt Knoedler STAFF WRITER

I find it a little annoying that we just got done with the 2012 presidential election, and now we’re focusing on the what-ifs and imaginewhens for the 2016 presidential race. Folks, that’s four years away, four years.

Hillary Clinton versus Jeb Bush? Martin O’Malley versus Chris Christie?

Who cares? It’s not important.

Don’t get me wrong, I love speculating about who’s going to run in a presidential race…but not right now. It’s far too early to even consider who will represent the Republicans and Democrats in the next election. Speculating who will run in 2016 right now is like using preseason games

to determine who will win the Super Bowl – it’s useless because you don’t have all of the facts and some of the players may not be around come game time.

What people need to do is focus on the important issues at hand, such as the Fiscal Cliff, rather than the hypotheticals, such as the 2016 presidential race. I believe that people delving into the unknown takes away from the importance of the matters at hand.

This also creates more divisiveness, partisanship and polarization in the country because people tend to treat the next presidential race like a game. They hope that their favorite player, or their candidate, in this case, will win. In the process, however, they forget about the “MVP” at the time – the president.

Love him or hate him, President Obama is our MVP right now, and the majority of Americans who voted three weeks ago made that

clear. We the people, and our elected officials, need to come together to work with him and understand that some of the problems facing America aren’t his fault. Something else to understand: no president is a savior, and they won’t make every little thing better unless those in Congress work with him or her.

Therefore, focusing on the 2016 race right now in 2012 is futile and quite honestly, it’s stupid. Let’s work with President Obama and the incoming Congress now before the problems facing this nation become worse.

Otherwise, Obama’s successor is likely to be in for a bigger economic nightmare than he endured.

The writer is a communication major and member of The Clarion Call.

Alizah Thornton NEWS EDITOR

The end is near. That’s right, the semester is winding down to the last two weeks of classes before finals week. The semester’s end is so close, yet so far away.

Although there may only be a few days left of classes, the workload has certainly not decreased. Now is not the time to approach professors about what you can do to make sure you pass their class; unfortunately, for most, it may be too late.

Professors are not responsible for giving out grades, students earn them.

I’m not saying all professors will have no way a student can bring a grade up in these last two weeks; however, if you are already failing a course due to multiple missed assignments or attendance, it is unfair to put the responsibility on the professor to guide you to a passing grade.

Because of many final projects, presentations and finals, there are still opportunities for grades to rise and drop. Don’t let this scare you. Don’t be afraid to ask your professor your status in the class if you are unaware if you want to make sure you are where you believe you are. Despite the fact professors may have

assigned projects and created tests, they still have a responsibility also: grading. Professors are given a specific date where grades have to be turned in. For a professor teaching three to four classes, grading papers, projects and tests for each can be time consuming. So students, don’t worry, you are not alone in these semichaotic last few weeks of the semester. We’re all in this together believe it or not.

“We might not have it all together, but together we have it all.” -Unknown

The writer is a communication major and member of The Clarion Call.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why everyone in the United States must be taxed and possibly raise taxes for the good of the country My mother and father told me many times there are only two things in life, that are definite in my life and they are death and taxes. We are all going to die someday and that for all of us to be free and protect our communities and protect the country, we are going to be taxed.

Without the protection of our local policeman, state police, National Guard and our armed forces around the world, we would not be free and be able to be positive members and live and work in our society.

For the Republican Party, to have someone in their party hold almost all Republican Party leaders hostage and make them sign a pledge that they cannot raise taxes under any cost, even though that may be the best thing to do for our country and the American people is very unAmerican and should not be allowed because anyone cannot have two masters.

On one hand, the people

in this country determine who will be our leaders by their vote in elections every two or four years.

On the other hand, one person, Grover Norquist is basically running our country, we will continue to have gridlock in Washington D.C. The Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich because they want them to pay their fair share to protect our country and do the right thing for the United States, so that we can have more money to protect our country against any terrorist group and have our country move forward and recover from the recession.

The Republicans, on the other side, do not want to raise taxes at all costs, even though it may be the right thing to do to protect our country and bring our economy and unemployment out of the present recession.

I believe that no one can have two masters: Master 1-The American peo-

ple who elect our Democratic and Republican candidates.

Master 2-Grover Norquist who prevents or strongly discourages many Republican candidates and elected officials from voting their conscience because as a Republican, if I raise taxes on anyone even though it might be the best thing for our country, Grover Norquist will do everything in his power to make sure that I will not be elected again by the Republican party again because I have gone against his contract and promised not to raise taxes. I believe this is wrong and that anyone who signs a contract to not raise taxes should be held accountable for their actions.

-Norbert Baschnagel

THE CLARION CALL

November 29, 2012

Features 5

FEATURES clarioncallnews.com/features

University freshmen prepare for first collegiate finals week Kyra Ammon STAFF WRITER

Finals week is approaching, and the students of Clarion University are getting busy preparing to achieve good grades on the semester’s concluding assessments. In two weeks, everyone will be taking their finals during designated time slots.

Assessments include everything from the standard exams to large project presentations that were organized prior to the testing date. In anticipation of the testing, students will be reviewing their course work from the whole semester, and possibly even forming study groups to help get more done.

For many students, finals can be a make-or-break factor in their overall grade in their class, and for others, they are simply an opportunity for a grade booster, depending on the course instructor’s decision. Study habits can differ greatly between students, some of which are more effective than others.

Junior Melanie Lahr knows the importance of preparation rather than last-minute cramming. To anyone who hasn’t taken a final before, or tends to

freeze up when doing so, she suggests starting study sessions early on, so as to avoid unnecessary stress and gain an advantage.

“And drinking lots of cof-

fee,” she adds with a laugh.

Alertness is, of course, also essential when taking a final. Coffee, or even juice can give a test taker the amount of energy need-

ed to take on the day. Good nutrition in general is important. Being well-hydrated as well as eating breakfast before arriving at the first finals session of the

day will improve thought process and help testing go more smoothly. Foods such as apples, granola bars, eggs and the like will help students gain a good start for the day ahead. Lunch and dinner are both important for replenishment. Students should try to get an adequate amount of sleep as well, and take the time to relax between tests. Stress can build up easily, but it can be beneficial to take small steps to avoid it.

Maddy Gordon, a freshman majoring in anthropology, has her plan for her finals preparations all worked out. She intends to make a study schedule while making time to relax, and to remember the importance of sleep. She has prior experience with taking finals exams, having taken them in high school as well. “I think if I sit down and do just little study sessions for each class, it’s not going to be as stressful,” she said. Her idea is to avoid procrastination, which can increase the already weighty pressure for being finals-ready.

Campus student group House panel promises more aggressive VA oversight to hold fundraising volleyball tournament Kevin Freking AP EXCHANGE

Marissa Katz STAFF WRITER

Students can expect a fun and active evening with friends on Dec. 4 at the Bacchus Gamma volleyball tournament. The volleyball tournament will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Student Rec Center.

Students are encouraged to form a team and show their support for the Bacchus Gamma club by participating in the fundraising event. Teams must have at least six-players and must also be coed by at least one team member.

The entry fee of $2 per person will be contributed to the Bacchus Gamma club in order for the club to be able to continue hosting events and bringing speakers to the Clarion campus.

Bacchus Gamma is a club supported by Clarion University’s Greek life, and the club’s goal is to bring awareness of alcohol use to Clarion students. Bacchus Gamma spreads the message of negative effects of drinking by having speakers inform students. The club is

most known for its annual Mix-Off event which is held every spring and promotes how to have a good time without alcohol.

A student member of Bacchus Gamma, Kaitlyn Coyle, emphasizes the positive image the club promotes and urges the importance of attending events like the volleyball tournament to help support the club.

“The tournament should be a fun and active way for the club to raise some money for the programs they put on for the university. It will be fun and interactive for everyone that participates in it” Coyle said.

Students can show their appreciation for Bacchus Gamma by supporting the club and participating in the volleyball tournament.

If some students aren’t as confident in their volleyball technique, students are still encouraged to come and show their support for their friends.

“I hope to some volleyball playing techniques and some good exercise.

I also hope to have a fun, enjoyable evening with friends,” Coyle said.

Science classroom explosion injures seven Pa. students AP EXCHANGE

CARLISLE, Pa. — Authorities say a small explosion and fire in a central Pennsylvania eighth-grade science classroom required hospital treatment for seven students and a teacher.

Cumberland County spokeswoman Meg Silverstrim said two of the children injured late Wednesday morning were taken by helicopter from Wilson Middle School in Carlisle to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

A Carlisle Regional Medical

Center spokeswoman said five students and a teacher were treated for what she described as minor injuries.

Silverstrim said the cause is under investigation. Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly, and the school continued with its regular day.

School district officials have not returned messages seeking information about the accident.

Officials at Johns Hopkins said they can’t provide information without the patients’ names, which have not been disclosed.

WASHINGTON — The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee warned the VA Wednesday to expect much more aggressive oversight in the coming months as lawmakers review the department’s conference and travel spending.

“The truce is over,” said Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida, the committee’s Republican chairman, at the conclusion of an often contentious hearing on spending at employee training conferences.

Miller called the hearing in response to an inspector general’s report from Oct. 1 that described some $762,000 in expenses from two Orlando, Fla., conferences that were deemed as wasteful or unnecessary, such as a $50,000 video featuring a parody of former Gen. George S. Patton.

W. Scott Gould, a deputy secretary at the VA, told lawmakers that the department had taken several steps in response to the inspector general’s report, including ethics training for all VA personnel involved in planning and overseeing the conferences. He also noted that one employee, an assistant secretary, resigned.

Miller’s committee has sought more detailed information from the VA about the department’s overall training and travel budgets. He said dozens of queries appear to have been ignored, while Gould said that the sheer amount of information sought as well as the need to ensure accuracy required time.

The committee chairman said that while he could get little information from the VA, social media websites used by VA workers hinted at some ex-

travagance. He noted one Facebook page comment on a trip to Italy, but it was not clear that the pictures were part of an official trip or an employee’s vacation. One viewer responded to the pictures by saying tough trip, prompting a response from the VA’s Canteen Service stating: “Research is tough, but someone has to do it.”

“Is this a boondoggle or not a boondoggle?” Miller said.

Gould said that the VA is working to improve its health care at every turn and that can include leaving the country on occasion to hear from leaders in various health fields.

At one point, Gould said he was not aware of the pictures that the committee reviewed and posted as part of a slideshow. However near the end, he told lawmakers he had subsequently learned that the pictures

came from a personal vacation.

While the pictures should not have been made part of the department’s social media outlets, he wanted lawmakers to know the VA did not fund the trip. He also took some exception to the committee making an issue of the pictures.

“I think that we need to think carefully when we talk about culture, that there are 320,000 hard-working employees at VA that don’t like having their reputation damaged and sullied by this kind of activity,” Gould said.

The remarks prompted an explosion from Miller.

“I have not one time slapped at any of the 300,000 VA employees. I have slapped at the leadership,” Miller said. “And your responses in the last 15 minutes have just raised what we call ‘the hackles’ on the back of my neck again.”

Obama, Romney to meet at White House today Julie Pace AP EXCHANGE

Steve Peoples AP EXCHANGE

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will host his former political rival Mitt Romney for a private lunch at the White House Thursday, their first meeting since the election.

Obama promised in his victory speech earlier this month to engage with Romney following their bitter campaign and consider the Republican’s ideas.

“In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Gov. Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward,” Obama said at the time.

Obama aides said they reached out to Romney’s team shortly before Thanksgiving to start working on a date for the meeting. The two men will meet in the White House’s private dining room, with no press coverage expected.

In the days after his loss, Romney told top donors that the president was re-elected because of the “gifts” Obama provided to blacks, Hispanics and young voters, all of which are core

Obama constituencies.

“The president’s campaign, if you will, focused on giving targeted groups a big gift,” Romney said.

Many Republican officials, eager to move on quickly after the loss, disputed Romney’s comments and urged the party to focus on being more inclusive.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama was looking forward to having a “useful discussion” with his former competitor. But he said there was no formal agenda for the lunch.

While in Washington, Romney will also meet with his former running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, according to a Romney cam-

paign aide. Ryan is back on Capitol Hill, where he’s involved in negotiations to avert a series of automatic tax increases and deep spending cuts that have come to be known as the “fiscal cliff.”

Much of that debate centers on expiring tax cuts first passed by George W. Bush.

Obama and Romney differed sharply during the campaign over what to do with the cuts, with the Republican pushing for them to be extended for all income earners and the president running on a pledge to let the cuts expire for families making more than $250,000 a year.

The White House sees

Obama’s victory as a signal that Americans support his tax proposals.

Obama and Romney’s sitdown Thursday will likely be their most extensive private meeting ever. The two men had only a handful of brief exchanges before the 2012 election.

Even after their political fates became intertwined, their interactions were largely confined to the three presidential debates.

Romney has virtually disappeared from politics following his loss in the Nov. 6 election.

He’s spent the last three weeks largely in seclusion at his family’s southern California home.

He has made no public appearances, drawing media attention only after being photographed at Disneyland in addition to stops at the movies and the gym with his wife, Ann. Former aides confirm that Romney is expected to move into an office at the Bostonarea venture capital firm Solamere Capital. The firm was founded by his oldest son, Tagg Romney, and Spencer Zwick, who served as his presidential campaign’s national finance chairman.

It’s unclear what role, if any, Romney will play at the firm. Former aides said Romney was subletting office space from Solamere.

6 Features

THE CLARION CALL

November 29, 2012

Top 10 Things to do with the $550 million Powerball jackpot Michael Friend FEATURES EDITOR

With the Powerball jackpot at a record $550 million, we at The Call contemplated what we would do with the winnings. Here are some of our favorites:

1) PAY OFF STUDENT LOANS FROM COLLEGE As college students, the first thing that came to mind was to pay off the student loans that we have accrued in our time at Clarion, because who wants the bank chasing after you.

2) PUT IT ALL IN THE BANK AND LET IT GAIN INTEREST Another idea what to do with the money from circulation manager Chris Brown was to put it in a bank and let the money gain interest. A quick calculation was at 5 percent interest, so money would gain roughly $15 million per year.

3) BUY AN ISLAND This idea came from several people on staff, but owning an island would definitely make everybody you know jealous.

4) BUY A EUROPEAN NATION With the financial kerfuffle that is the European Union, editor-in-chief Sam Dixon had the idea to buy a European nation if he won the jackpot. Some suggestions include, Greece, Italy or other struggling nations.

5) BUY AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER Copy editor Amerigo Allegretto had the idea to save the lottery money until he could buy himself an aircraft carrier and sail it under the flag of The United States of Amerigo in international waters.

6) JOIN THE 1 PERCENT One suggestion tossed around the office, was to take the fortune and leave the land of those pesky “99 percent-er” and move on up to the “1 percent-ers.”

7) BUY YOUR PARENTS A HOUSE As not only the eldest member of the editorial staff, but the most generous, sports editor Mike Waterloo suggested that the lottery money would be best spent on a new house for parents, or at least an upgrade of the current house.

8) BUY A BABY SNOW LEOPARD In one of the most eccentric uses for the money, news editor Alizah Thornton said the money would best be spent on a baby snow leopard as a pet.

9) BUY A PROFESSIONAL TEAM A dream of sports fans everywhere, one idea that was tossed around was to buy a professional sports team. The question then becomes, “Which team to buy?”

10) BUY HOSTESS To again quote Sam Dixon, “Just think about it, you’d own Twinkies. TWINKIES.” This probably wouldn’t be a bad investment. America loves Twinkies.

This week in history Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 Michael Friend FEATURES EDITOR

Nov. 29

On this day in 2011, Dr. Conrad Murray is convicted of involuntary manslaughter after administering a lethal dose of a sleeping aid to pop legend Michael Jackson in 2009. The singer suffered cardiac arrest in his California home.

Nov. 30 On Nov. 30, 2004 the winningest contestant in

“Jeopardy” history loses.

After compiling a 74-game winning streak and winning more than $2.5 million, Utah native Ken Jennings finally ends his stay on the popular game show.

Dec. 1 Golfing legend Lee Trevino was born on this day in 1939. The Texas native was known for winning 29 titles, including six major championships during his career. Most people, however, remember Trevino for his sense of humor and love

of practical jokes during his time on the PGA tour.

Dec. 2

College football history was made on this day in 1975, as Ohio State running back Archie Griffin wins his second consecutive Heisman memorial trophy.

Tandy. The show ran for more than 800 performances and was made into a movie of the same name.

Dec. 4 President George H.W. Bush ordered American troops into the war torn African nation of Somalia on this day in 1992.

Dec. 3 Dec. 5

On this day in 1947, “A Street Car Named Desire,” opens on Broadway. The Tennessee Williams’ play starred Marlon Brando and Jessica

Americans rejoiced on this day in 1933, as prohibition officially ends as the 21st Amendment is officially ratified.

THE CLARION CALL

November 29, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS 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 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. 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 814-7452215 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.

ATTENTION STUDENTS available JAN. SPRING 2013, 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.

ATTENTION STUDENTS available JAN. SPRING 2013, 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.

Housing available for between 1-8 students for Spring 2013. Call Brian at 814-2278028.

Eagle Park Apartments - Fully furnished, includes utilities, 3 blocks from campus. Leasing for Spring, Summer and Fall.

Safe, clean and beautiful.

814-226-4300. www.eaglepark.net, 301 Grand Avenue, Clarion, PA 16214.

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.

A house for 2 or 3 and a house for 4. Nice, private, campus close. Students.

814-2266867.

3 bedroom, 1 1/2 baths, washer & dryer, located S. 4th Ave. Accommodates 2 or 3 tenants. $950 per person with 3 tenants, garbage pickup included. Afternoon & evening calls only 226-5651.

apt 1/2 block from campus.

Summer-Fall-Spring. Call 814226-9279.

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.

1221 Leatherwood Dr. w/ 2

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 724799-7133 for details. 2 bdrm

PUZZLES & COMICS

Like drawing comics?

We are seeking talented cartoonists to draw comic strips. If interested, send submissions to

admin@clarioncallnews.com That Monkey Tune

Quote of the Week “Writing is a very strenuous thing; it’s like banging your head against a wall. At the end of the day, acting is better, just because nobody ever asked me if I wanted a Pellagrino in the writer’s room.” ~Donald Glover, a.k.a. Childish Gambino

Classifieds, Puzzles & Comics 7 bedrooms, full kitchen & bath.

Some Utilities included.

Spring semesters.

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.

PERSONAL 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 Fall & 3-2 students from

LOOKING FOR ROOMMATE: In need of a roommate for Spring 2013. Two bedroom, one bath, and one kitchen apt. at 44 Greenville Ave. Right across from campus. Rent $2100 per semester utilities included. Contact Kelsey Tillery @ 570-529-3650.

Do you like music? Of course you do.

Check out local punk rock band The Unreals on Facebook, and inquire about future show dates at theunrealsmusic@gmail.com.

To place ad, call 814-393-2380

WORD SEARCHThe Many Types

by Mark Emch

Inquire

of Facial Hair

8 Arts & Entertainment

JOSH HERZOG The Evens are an indie rock duo hailing from Washington, D.C., comprised of guitarist and vocalist Ian MacKaye, and drummer and vocalist Amy Farina. MacKaye had achieved success prior to The Evens with the band Fugazi in the late eighties, but has been part of The Evens since Fugazi’s indefinite hiatus in 2003. Farina has also been in a few bands, but none as notable as any of MacKaye’s. Music isn’t the only thing these two have created together. In 2008, the two welcomed their first child, Carmine Francis Farina MacKaye.

“The Odds,” The Evens’ third LP, consists of 13

AMERIGO ALLEGRETTO The Evens have some clever puns for their album titles; their last one, released six years ago was named “Get Even,” and their latest one is named “The Odds.” Six years in music time is a long time between album releases, and the members of The Evens, Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat) and Amy Farina (The Warmers) are not getting any younger. The content on this album, shows they’ve gotten softer over the years.

While the band’s aim for “The Odds” was minimalism, there comes a certain point when it becomes repetitive and boring. Most of the

THE CLARION CALL

tracks, and is the only one that I’ve ever listened to. The first track I found particularly noteworthy was the third on the LP, “I Do Myself.” With a simple, slow rhythm paving the way for this slightly creepy song and the repetition of “When I run out of things to do, I do myself,” “I Do Myself” sounds like a todo list for a very, very lonely person. However, the lyrics could also allude to the sad song of someone who puts others before themselves. Subject matter aside, I liked the overall sound and gloomy mood this song creates. If you’re due for a contemplative walk in some bad weather, this song could be for you.

The next track that sparked my interest was “Wonder Why.” This is the only track on the LP without any lyrics, but it’s definitely not lacking because of it. “Wonder Why” starts off with some light-hearted guitar and rolling drums, then picks up with some heavier riffs, crescendos, and transitions. Its sound

could be compared to that of Led Zeppelin, Wolfmother and Jeff Buckley.

Not all of the songs on the album can be compared to such greats though. “Competing With The Till” is a song about a bar-owner who is rushing the band to be performance-ready so that he can get his money from the band’s patrons waiting outside, and he doesn’t care about the quality of the show. Maybe it’s to reinforce the song’s bar-scene imagery, but at first, MacKaye enunciates about as well as Sting after a couple kegstands. Although the song is one of the shortest on the LP, I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I just couldn’t get past the static, boring delivery of the lyrics.

As a whole, “The Odds” fully exceeded my expectations of being just another indie rock album. MacKaye’s great picking, Farina’s punk-infused drum fills, and the entrancing harmony of their voices give this album the kind of punch that rock fans don’t stumble across very often.

songs have the same formula: verse, another verse, quiet part, chanting outro. The only good thing about that in this case is that a majority of these songs are less than three minutes in length, so they’re not dragged out.

There are a few high points, however. The shared vocals between MacKaye and Farina make for interesting variation in sound.

“Wanted Criminals” mixes the two’s vocals in a “call and response” formula that’s used well. Also, the song is one of few on the LP that remotely resembles Fugazi, both in the harsh vocal sound, courtesy of MacKaye, and the rebellious lyrical content about fugitives on the run and the law chasing them.

“Wonder Why” is the most interesting track on the album in that it’s one of two instrumental songs. MacKaye’s baritone guitar plays melodies that are rich in arpeggios, while Fari-

na’s drums are featured through solos and fills.

It’s as if the roles between guitar and drums have been switched, with the guitar keeping rhythm and the drums playing above it.

“Architects Sleep” sounds like the right mix between Fugazi and The Warmers. Farina’s drums are more frenzied than on previous tracks, and Mackaye pays homage to his past by sounding like his younger, more angry self, and playing a straightforward guitar rhythm.

Now don’t get me wrong, I like The Evens, and “The Odds” is not too bad of an album.

However, their formula for songwriting here is repetitive and most of the songs, seem to never peak, making them sound unfinished or leaving for something more. I wouldn’t download the whole album for my media library, but I would pick and choose certain songs to my liking.

ERIC STEVENS Washington D.C.’s indie/post-hardcore duo The Evens released a new album “The Odds” capacitating a compromised version of Ian MacKaye’s minimalist songwriting with Amy Farina’s singing and drumming style.

There are some similarities and differences between Mackaye’s previous band, Fugazi and his most recent endeavor, The Evens. Only consisting of two members, MacKaye playing baritone guitar and Farina playing drums, The Evens still remain to be a powerful force musically as well as politically (not

BLAYNE SHEAFFER Music these days; it’s all the same noise repeated anymore. D.C. punk band The Evens’ new album “The Odds” is no exception. Having listened to their past albums with great interest, I was originally excited for this corny, yet cleverly titled album’s release. That’s not to say that the album’s awful; it’s just nothing different.

As The Evens shouted in the track “Sooner Or Later,” it’s “not good enough.”

If you own a coffee shop and want something that sounds edgy among an array of loud blenders and machines that would make it near impossible to hear every other word, “The Odds” is right up your alley.

With monotonous songs like the opening track “King Of

The Music Box is back again this week discussing The Evens’ new album, “The Odds.” The Music Box Podcast can be heard Friday mornings on 91.7 WCUC-FM at 10:30 a.m. If you have any music related questions, email us at entertainment@clarion callnews.com, @tweet us at twitter.com/call_ae.

November 29, 2012

surprising if you know MacKaye’s track record and significant influence on American underground music since the 1980s.)

The Evens seem to be a perfect medium to put their lyrics and singing in the forefront of the band’s songs since the simplicity of the music hides itself in the background. The vocal melodies through on this album I wish would have been left up to MacKaye in hopes it would be more similar to Fugazi. It seems obvious that a lot of the melodies were compromised with Farina’s singing style. I don’t dislike it entirely, but I think I would like it more if the melodies were overtaken and surrounded by denser music not provided by only a baritone guitar and drums.

I thought the baritone guitar was a great choice of instrument though for

what I think they’re trying to do. It doesn’t get more minimalist than using one instrument that gives you a compromised tone of two instruments. The simplicity is in the spacing of the music though. There are enough quick surprises and turns through accenting in the drums and the guitar strumming alone that keep the listener entertained throughout the album.

I enjoy the haunting sway of “I Do Myself.”

This song best exemplifies the dark and eerie tone of a baritone guitar compared to any other song on this album. The whispery vocals of both MacKaye and Farina indubitably add to the ghostliness of this song.

Even though this album shares a decent amount of characteristics from Fugazi, I would only keep this album on the backburner to some of my favorite Fugazi albums.

Kings,”which is comparable to the chanting of the Hare Krishnas with its repetition, the illusion of cool is easily achieved when played in an environment providing opportunity to listen to anything else but The Evens through the loudspeaker.

Yes, I have a problem with this album. It boggles my mind how such a provocative band like The Evens can produce two beautiful albums in both 2005 and 2006, not produce for six years and then release something so bare minimum in effort. I let the album play for three hours on repeat and only became sadder and sadder with each run-through. I have not been this disappointed with an album since my favorite band Silversun Pickups’ latest release “Neck of the Woods” this May. Both held so much promise, and both failed miserably.

The lyrics are not terrible.

Most songs have poetic and insightful lyrics. It’s the instrumental that is lacking in such a gross way. The entire album is like that song you heard in a movie and thought it sounded cool,

so you downloaded it only to find that the only reason it sounded cool is because the movie was cool, not the song. This is “The Odds” in a nutshell, everyone.

To be positive for a paragraph, the best song on the album has to be “Wanted Criminals.” Ian MacKaye’s loud growl lends a Modest Mouse feel that is fairly satisfying. Now, if they had just carried on with that enthusiasm throughout the album, this wouldn’t be such a grueling review.

Again, however, a band has produced an album that sounds like one big runon sentence in that all the songs sound the same and could be broken down into individual songs, if only they were good. The listener cannot even tell if a song has ended or begun because they are that similar. After checking, it turns out that all the songs are short as well.

Not that I would have been able to tell otherwise.

Maybe the album is called “The Odds” simply because The Evens were feeling off when producing it. Maybe even they knew it wasn’t good.

November 29, 2012

& ENTERTAINMENT THE CLARION CALL

Arts & Entertainment 9

ARTS

“Characters” exhibit relays students’ stories Jen Schwartz STAFF WRITER

A slew of various characters are waiting to be explored in the latest exhibit of the Clarion University Art Gallery, including ceramic heads bearing wigs and hats, photography of little plastic figures performing great feats and oversized knit Onesies stretching from ceiling to floor, each expressing unique traits that offer a story about the artwork.

In the “Cast of Characters” exhibit, each piece of art tells the story of the dramatis personae, otherwise known as a fictional character who expresses his or her story while guiding the viewer to make sense of the world around them.

Curated by Vicky Clark, gallery director, and Cindy Lisica, assistant archivist at the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh, the exhibit features work from several artists and artist groups presented in a wide range of media, including Mark Newport (knit sculptures, Detroit); Glaubitz (Illustration, Tijuano); Rei Sato (Mixed Media, Tokyo); Jeff Schwarz (Ceramic sculpture, Brooklyn); Janet Towbin (Photography, Phoenix); and FriendsWithYou (Experimental art, Miami and Los Angeles).

“I think all the characters are very different from one another, yet they all work really well together,” says senior Geoff Graham, who works the art gallery exhibits. “It wasn’t even on purpose that way, they didn’t choose each individual one and put them to-

Kelsey Waros / The Clarion Call

Artists create their own stories through the “Cast of Characters” exhibit in the university gallery. gether for a specific reason. It just worked.”

Schwarz’s ceramic sculptures heads appear at first glance almost lifelike, if it weren’t for their hollow eyes,

the polka dots growing over one character’s skin and pudgy belly, or the red bird popping out of another’s mouth as casually as if it were its tongue. he modeled one

of his bodiless characters to resemble one of The Ramones.

Artist group FriendsWithYou submitted a different type of bodiless character, made from painted wood that had

been cut into various shapes to create happy, cutesy faces of characters that appear as a blend of Hello Kitty and Transformers. The rainbow hued “Plasma Bright” and the black

and gray toned “The Power Stone” hang from the walls, sharing likeness yet expressing different traits in color between the two characters.

Towbin’s photography of little plastic human figures told a story on their own, as one contemplated life sitting on the strings of a bracelet, children explored the yellow fields of an ear of corn and another character diligently hiked through the rocky terrain of what appeared to be chocolate wafers.

Newport’s Giant Onsie sweaters, including an all pink one, a cowboy and Fantastic Four knit wear suit, which stretched from the ceiling to the floor, depicted his characters through their attire.

Glaubitz’s paintings and series of sketches resembled the unconscious stream of thought, one following a little man dressed in what looks like a blue space suit, the outer edge of his paper reading “Our internal world creates our external idea world.”

A less identifiable character collection was submitted from Sato’s collection, which included scribbly drawings done on random photographs, including the image of a sketched child petting a picture of a dog.

For those who have not yet viewed the wide range of characters currently residing in the gallery, The “Cast of Characters” exhibit runs now through March 25, 2013 in the Art Gallery of Carlson Library, Level A.

Movie Review: “Life of Pi” stor y delivers Amerigo Allegretto COPY EDITOR

Ang Lee is back to direct his first film of the decade, the adventure nature drama “Life of Pi.” The movie stars Suraj Sharma in his debut performance and Irrfan Khan (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “The Amazing Spider-Man”). The film is based on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same name and based on an adapted screenplay by David Magee.

“Life of Pi” is a story within a story. It’s about Piscine “Pi” Molitor Patel, a man named after the famous Paris swimming pool, who tells his life story to a skeptical writer who is looking for his next big story. Pi’s story winds him through his life in school, his religious explo-

rations and to his journey after being shipwrecked with a few animals from his father’s zoo. Pi tells the story in a way that not only encompasses drama, but also includes humor and a little bit of romance.

The messages delivered are hope and perseverance under great duress.

Overall, “Life of Pi” is well done. The storytelling flows like a river-unlike the ocean in the film-and Sharma delivers a superb performance as 16-year old Pi. Also, having an allinternational cast makes the film all the more interesting, leaving no room for generic acting.

Although the actors may be unknown to American audiences, the cast members for the most part are famous in their respective native countries.

However, there are a few criticisms that should be pointed out. An obvious one is that the film drags for an unnecessary amount of time. The film runs at about two hours, and some scenes seem like they last forever. The first 30 minutes are quite boring, almost to the point that you start to question what the trailers were trying to sell you.

Also, the special effects were hit and miss. While some of the animals, like the Bengal tiger, were convincing; others like the fish seemed obvious that they were computer generated.

Some compare the effects in this film to James Cameron’s “Avatar.” Unfortunately, that isn’t the case here. Still, “Life of Pi” is a film worth taking the family to see for the holidays.

10 Sports

THE CLARION CALL

November 29, 2012

Parsons in 24th season at Clarion Lauren Zezenski STAFF WRITER

With every sport, you need to have a good coach.

Whether it is football, volleyball or basketball, the team needs to have a center core that it can look up too and ask guidance from.

A great coach has compassion for players, great communication with the team and the most important quality of all, passion for the sport they are coaching.

A member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for the Western Chapter, a coach for 32 years, 24 of those years spent coaching for Clarion, has promoted the basketball program into national prominence during her time here.

This coach is Margaret “Gie” Parsons.

A native of Monroeville, Pa., Coach Parsons came to Clarion in 1989.

Before Clarion, she was coaching at Thiel College where she turned around the Women’s Basketball team from an underdog to the alpha in the basketball world.

She was 110-73 in eight years at Thiel, which included an amazing 97-46 mark for her final six seasons.

In February 2007, Parsons was inaugurated into the Thiel College Athletic Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as the Women’s bas-

ketball head coach.

Parsons has been recognized as one of the best coaches in the history of Clarion University.

Her remarkable winning record is at 328-305.

If you think that is impressive, Parsons is one of the select coaches from Division II with over 400 career victories, 438-378 to be exact.

She was also named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Coach of the Year four times, two times in a row in 1991 and 1992 and then again in 2005 and 2008.

Parsons was named the District 2 Coach of the Year twice, in 1991 as the Converse District 2 Coach of the Year and again in 2005 as the Russell Athletic Region 2 Coach of the Year.

She has guided the Golden Eagles to six NCAA playoff competitions.

This includes a pair of Elite Eight appearances, one in 1991 and another in 1994.

Parsons has also accomplished 11 PSAC Playoff competitions with three PSAC Titles in 1991, 1993 and again in 1994.

Another great accomplishment was winning five PSAC West crowns in a row from 1991 to 1995.

Parsons led Clarion from 1991 to 1995 with a streak 117-33 overall and 50-10 in the PSAC West.

She is also a long-time

member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association.

She served on the WBCA Board of Directors from 2004 to 2010 and has been a conference captain since 2004.

Parsons also served as chair of the conference captains in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010, and then presided over the national Division II business meeting in 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Before serving on the Board of Directors, Parsons spent seven years on the national rules committee.

Parsons attended Gateway High where she was a player and a coach in her senior year. Parsons attended Slippery Rock University and played for two seasons.

After college, she taught and coached at Lakeview High.

She then traveled to Australia and coached at Doveton Technical School.

She also spent three years teaching and coaching in New Zealand.

Playing internationally those six years, she was a starter for the New Zealand Club Championship teams from 1977-1979.

Parsons is focused on the here and now with her squad at Clarion.

With no plans of hanging it up anytime soon, Parsons will look to lead the Lady Eagles back to prominence, and find her name in the Clarion University Sports of Hall of Fame.

Career nights by Patterson, Kromka lead to Clarion’s first win Traesha Pritchard STAFF WRITER

The Clarion Golden Eagles men’s basketball teams have never started a home season 0-3 at Tippin Gym and were not looking for that to happen any time soon.

The team took on the Houghton College Highlanders on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m.

Going into Tuesday’s game, the Golden Eagles had two heartbreaking final buzzer beating home game losses, both of which were to Division III schools.

The game started with Clarion controlling the tipoff, but that did not intimidate the Highlanders.

With the Highlanders and Golden Eagles playing evenly in the first half, the Golden Eagles took the lead.

The Golden Eagles’ 18-10 lead was cut as the Highlanders scored six straight points.

Houghton successfully pulled within two and trailed by just one and kept a fight going against the Golden Eagles.

Late in the first half, the Golden Eagles had a power run with seven points going into the second media timeout.

“We played in spurts last night,” said Head Coach

Ron Righter.

Key players for the Golden Eagles were Leonard Patterson and Mike Kromka, who both had amazing career games.

“Len Patterson and Mike Kromka had gutsy performances,” said Righter.

Patterson had a careerhigh of 21 points.

Kromka had a powerful game, with 19 points and a career-best 16 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds.

Clarion led Houghton 3029 at halftime.

The Golden Eagles hung to a 41-37 lead with 14:46 on the clock, then used a powerful 10-1 run to push lead to 13.

With 13 minutes to go in the game, the Golden Eagles hit their highlight lead against the Highlanders with the score of 49-38.

The Highlanders, then down by eight with just under 10 minutes remaining, used an 11-2 run to take a 60-59 lead.

Clarion fought back to regain their lead.

With the score at 69-62, the Golden Eagles looked not to have a close lost like their first two games.

With 1:10 left in the game, Patterson was fouled by Highlanders Mark O’Brien and went to the line.

Patterson made 1-2 of

the shots, and the score goes to 70-62.

With the clock a 00:18 Kromka was fouled and hit both free throws making the score 76-67.

Then Ralph Naples Jr. made the last free throw of the night with five seconds left in the game to make the score 77-67.

The Golden Eagles had a highlight of 12 free throws in the game’s final three minutes to claim the win.

“I saw improvement in some key areas, shot selection and rebounding. However our foul shooting is dismal. Close games are won or lost on the charity stripe,” said Righter.

Marques Jones added 11 points and Evan Battle added eight points to the scoreboard for the Golden Eagles.

“Evan Battle gave us some nice productive minutes off the bench,” said Righter.

Clarion receives its first win of the season with a 7767 score and they improve to a 1-2 record.

The Golden Eagles will take on Shippensburg at home for the PSAC opener at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1.

“Shipp brings in a big team with a lot of young talent. We need to bring our “A” game on Saturday for 40 minutes to beat them,” said Righter.

You call it

NFL is full of suspense and surprises again Matt Catrillo STAFF WRITER

The Houston Texans have continued to make strides, and are now the top team in the AFC at 10-1, but went to overtime against the Jaguars and Lions.

However, the Texans have a great defense despite their injuries, and of course, a great running attack.

Speaking of defensive injuries, the Baltimore Ravens have overcome a ton, and hold a three game lead in the AFC North over the struggling Steelers, who have now let the Bengals back in the playoff race.

The Atlanta Falcons continue to be an impressive team in the regular season, remaining the NFL’s only undefeated team until week eight.

Their offense is high flying, and their defense has been solid.

But, can they turn it up in the playoffs?

The San Francisco 49ers remain a top team in the NFC, at 8-2-1.

That “1” is from a tie with the division rival Rams at home, the first tie in the NFL since 2008.

Now head Coach John Harbaugh has created himself a quarterback controversy when there should be none.

Alex Smith should be their guy after all that he’s done, and the improvements he’s made, although Collin Kaepernick did a nice job filling in.

Peyton Manning is back, and is 8-3 with his new team in Denver.

And oh by the way, the Colts are doing just fine with Andrew Luck.

The Patriots, again, continue to light up the scoreboard at 8-3, while the Bears know how to score in all three phases, and the Giants continue to show why they are the defending champs.

It’ll be a wild time in the NFC as five teams battle for virtually one playoff spot, unless the Packers sputter out of the first wild card spot.

And finally, the Eagles and Jets are in total disarray, and the Chiefs, well they’ve been just down right awful, and Chiefs fans have gone hostile.

How will everything unfold?

We’ll soon find out amongst all this suspense that the NFL always brings.

FACE OFF Who is off to the best start in the NBA? Eddie McDonald STAFF WRITER

The NBA season is back and off to a great start.

A ton of questions need to be answered still, but the season is off to a fun start.

There have been some teams who have had incredible starts and teams that have gotten off to poor starts.

In this edition of the Face Off, I’m going to tell you and my counterpart, Jazzmonde James, that the New York Knicks are off to the best start in the league this season.

First off, they started the season 6-0, one game shy of matching the franchise record for best start to a season.

They had two key wins over top tier opponents including the Miami Heat which they manhandled them in New York by 20 points.

Then they came back from being down as much as 20 points in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio.

They erased a 12-point deficit in the final seven minutes of the game to give the Spurs their first home loss of the season.

That win was fueled by Carmelo Anthony, only not as you might think.

He kept his team in the game by simply telling them to relax and let him be the decoy.

The plan worked to perfection as the Knicks stormed back to win.

James is saying that the Heat got off to the best start, but I have to disagree.

The biggest reason that I don’t feel like they got off to the best start is because they are supposed to do this as the reigning, defending NBA Champions.

With the offseason acquisitions they made, they were the clear-cut favorite going into the season.

The Knicks came out firing from behind the arc and have been successful in doing so.

They started off the season hitting 43 three-pointers in the first three games. As a team, they are shooting 41 percent (152270) from the three-point line, which ranks fourth in the NBA. Anthony leads the way with 29 threepointers on 43 percent shooting.

The Knicks are getting strong outside shooting from Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, J.R. Smith and Steve Novak as well.

Kidd, mind you, is 39 years old and has been rejuvenated.

Another reason this team has the best start in the league is due to the fact that they are still missing two prominent players from their team in Iman Shumpert and Amar’e Stoudemire.

Shumpert will provide a boost on the defensive end, not that the Knicks are hurting without him, as they allow just 95.5 points per game, which ranks ninth in the league.

There have been rumors about what the Knicks will and should do when Stoudemire comes back, and the one that sticks out most is bringing him off the bench.

Both he and Anthony are too similar of players to be on the court at the same time and that could cause problems.

If you bring him off the bench, I believe the team will be better off.

The Knicks have lost four games, but the teams they lost to were no slouches.

Memphis, Dallas, Houston and Brooklyn are the only teams able to stop New York so far.

Anthony is playing MVP-caliber basketball and if he can keep that up, this team will be in the thick of things come playoff time.

The Knicks, not the Heat, are off to the best start in the NBA.

Jazzmonde James STAFF WRITER

After coming off of a championship winning season, the Miami Heat started the season off as people would expect.

They continued on the momentum that they were on going into the playoffs and then the championship, which helps them start off the season as good as they have done so far.

Their first game was against the Boston Celtics, where they won with their new addition to the team, Ray Allen, who once was a Celtic, which they won 120-107.

The big three, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh had a great game.

Wade led with 29 points.

James had an outstanding game all over the board as he had 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Bosh is one of the big keys to their team.

He is one whom some people might underrate, because the Heat has Wade and James on their team.

They are great players, but Bosh helps them be better players.

He is leading his team with just over one block per game, but also contributes 20.2 points and one assist a game.

These key players have the chemistry on the court, which is not like other teams.

Alongside the big three are great starting players like Shane Battier, who is a big three-point shooter for the team.

He averages two three points made a game alone with Ray Allen when he comes off the bench.

Another big reason why the Heat is off to a great start is because the new players that they got in the offseason and also the bench players.

Rashard Lewis, who is a new player who they picked up from the Washington Wizards, has seven points a game so far.

Another good player off the bench is the power guard Mario Chalmers, who is leading the team in assists so far this season.

Udonis Haslem, who’s been with the team for a couple years, now is a key bench player who most of the time gets in the game and does well.

He has contributed 13 minutes a game.

So far in the 2012-2013 season, the team has averaged 104.8 points per game and 38.8 field goals made a game.

They had 31.1 defense rebounds in the first 13 games and 8.5 offense rebounds.

Then when fouled, they manage to make 75 percent of their foul shots.

This is not bad to start the season off with.

So even though the Heat didn’t start off the season undefeated, they still rallied back to get the wins to have one of the best records so far in the eastern conference and second in the whole National Basketball League, which is 10-3.

This shows that they did have a good start to the season, better than others who have started off undefeated but started losing their momentum and suffer injuries, but don’t have good enough bench players to come in the game and get the win.

Having good chemistry takes time and effort to get, but can have a big advantage for a team because they would know each other would be in sync with one another.

The Heat proved this in their first year after signing James as they fell in the NBA Finals.

After their title run last year, Miami has the cohesiveness, and is poised for another championship run.

Sports 11

THE CLARION CALL

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Our Call

NFL AFC TEAM Houston Baltimore New England Denver Indianapolis Pittsburgh Cincinnati Miami San Diego NY Jets Tennessee Buffalo Cleveland Oakland Jacksonville Kansas City

SPORTS

NFC RECORD 10-1 9-2 8-3 8-3 7-4 6-5 6-5 5-6 4-7 4-7 4-7 4-7 3-8 3-8 2-9 1-10

TEAM Atlanta San Francisco Chicago NY Giants Green Bay Seattle Tampa Bay Minnesota Washington Dallas New Orleans St. Louis Detroit Arizona Carolina Philadelphia

November 29, 2012

RECORD 10-1 8-2-1 8-3 7-4 7-4 6-5 6-5 5-6 5-6 5-6 5-6 4-6-1 4-7 4-7 3-8 3-8

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The Call’s weekly take on the big questions in the wide, wide world of sports WHO WILL BE THE NO. 1 PICK IN THE NFL DRAFT?

HOW FAR CAN THE STEELERS GO WITHOUT BIG BEN?

MIKE WATERLOO

Jarvis Jones

Wildcard Round

Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)

EDDIE MCDONALD

Manti Te’o

Miss Playoffs

Blake Griffin

MIKE DECKER

Jarvis Jones

Wildcard Round

Joakim Noah

LAUREN ZEZENSKI Jarvis Jones

Miss Playoffs

Kendrick Perkins

MATT CATRILLO

Collin Klein

Miss Playoffs

Derrick Williams

Manti Te’o

Wildcard Round

Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)

JACOB OBERDORF

Jarvis Jones

Miss Playoffs

Andrew Bynum

JAZZMONDE JAMES

Matt Barkley

Not Far

Andrew Bynum

TRAESHA PRITCHARD

Geno Smith

Wildcard Round

Russell Westbrook

PANELISTS

WHO IS THE MOST OVERRATED PLAYER IN THE NBA?

NCAA - BCS TOP 25 (NOV. 28) TEAM Notre Dame Alabama Georgia Florida Oregon Kansas State LSU Stanford Texas A&M South Carolina Oklahoma Nebraska Florida State

RECORD 12-0 11-1 11-1 11-1 11-1 10-1 10-2 10-2 10-2 10-2 9-2 10-2 10-2

TEAM Clemson Oregon State UCLA Kent State Texas Michigan Boise State Northern Illinois Northwestern Oklahoma State Utah State San Jose State

RECORD 10-2 8-3 9-3 11-1 8-3 8-4 9-2 11-1 9-3 7-4 10-2 10-2

MARK EMCH

- Athlete’s Tweet “@ArianFoster- I got @jcharles25’s autograph at the pro bowl 2010. We can’t be fans? I switch jerseys with players damn near every game. Y’all trippin’.” Arian Foster on Jamaal Charles catching flack for getting Peyton Manning’s autograph follow their game last week.

12 Sports

THE CLARION CALL

November 29, 2012

SPORTS clarioncallnews.com/sports

Princeton to Clarion: Johnson’s IQ equal on and off court Jacob Oberdorf STAFF WRITER

What is more impressive, starting every varsity basketball game in your four year high school career averaging a double-double, 17.5 and 10 rebounds per game, or finishing your senior year of high school with a 5.0 grade point average and being valedictorian of your class?

Well for Clarion men’s basketball freshman transfer Aaron Johnson, both were realities when he finished high school at Moon Area School District.

Johnson, a 6-foot, 4-inch, 210-pound forward, transferred to Clarion University after spending a year at Princeton University.

Johnson is the all time leading scorer at Moon High School, where he finished his career with 1,626 points and also tallied 940 rebounds in his four-year career.

Even with all these impressive statistics, Johnson is modest when talking about his high school career.

“It was truly a wonderful experience to start every game in high school. It was a goal I have had for some time. I didn’t know I would be able to accomplish something like that. But it was great,” Johnson said.

Atop his three firstteam all section selections and receiving third team all-state selection his sophomore year, Johnson led his Moon Tigers to

Courtesy Photo/ Lucy Schaly

Freshman Aaron Johnson, a transfer student from Princeton University, attends Clarion University for more than just sports. the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Championship his freshman year of high school, only to lose on a buzzer beater to Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

Johnson and his team also made it to the Final Four in the state of Pennsylvania that year.

After his high school

career, Johnson turned his focus to academics and accomplishing his ultimate goal of becoming a neurosurgeon while entertaining the thoughts of attending several academically prestigious schools such as William & Mary University, Duke University, Georgetown University and Princeton University

to name a few.

“I tried to maintain the big picture of what I wanted to accomplish down the road,” Johnson said on making his decision. “I was really impressed what [Princeton] had to offer and the possibility of playing basketball there eventually,” he said.

However, Johnson decided

that Princeton was not the place he wanted to be after all.

“The most important thing in college is having the right fit and being comfortable. I wasn’t completely comfortable there,” he said.

Johnson then made visits to other schools to try to decide where he could continue his education.

After visiting Clarion, Johnson became fond of the school.

“I was impressed with the people, the science building, the facilities, I thought that this could be the place,” he said.

Johnson also became a part of the Golden Eagle basketball team when deciding to come to Clarion.

However, Johnson is not eligible to play for Clarion until Jan. 4 at the earliest due to NCAA rules.

There is still a possibility that he will not get to play this year, but he is staying optimistic, said Johnson.

“I am certainly expecting to play,” he said.

Johnson also says that the change of academic prestige from the Ivy League’s Princeton to Clarion will not be a factor at all.

“I feel that the curriculum will be just fine for what I need and the possibility of minoring in nano technology is something I find attractive,” he said.

Johnson credits his parents, both successful Division I athletes, to helping him through his situation.

Johnson’s father played at the University of Pittsburgh from 1988-1990, and his mother played at Kent State University from 1982-1986 where she was a 1000-point scorer.

After college, Johnson hopes to attend medical school and fulfill his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.

Clarion women drop home opener to Pitt Johnstown; evens record at 2-2 Mike Decker STAFF WRITER

The Clarion University Girl’s basketball team dropped its home opener to the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown on Tuesday, Nov. 27 by a final score of 72-50.

The loss was only the fourth home opener defeat in the 24-year career of head coach Gie Parsons, and it evened up the Eagles’ record at 2-2 on the young season.

Junior guard Raven Jones led Clarion with 12 points, six assists and three rebounds in the competition.

Fellow junior Ann Deibert chipped in 10 points, senior Aleya Miller had eight points and 10 rebounds and freshman Mariah Gador registered eight points while adding seven steals in the loss.

“We have a young team but still have some good, experienced players,” said Jones. “We just weren’t clicking very well last night and need to play better.”

In addition to Gador, Clarion had three other members make their home debuts in the matchup.

Leisha Crawford had three points, three rebounds and three assists; Tania Holmes also had three points.

Pitt-Johnstown’s junior guard Kaitlynn Fratz dropped a game high 21 points with six rebound and four assists.

Teammates Nichole Carmen and Jasmine Harper tallied 13 and 11 points respectively.

The main statistical difference was the shot percentage from behind the arc.

Pitt-Johnstown nailed seven of 21 attempts from three-point territory while Clarion only made one of 12.

A positive stat from the game was that the Eagles went 11 of 15, or 73 percent from the free throw line to the Lady Cats’ nine of 15 for 60 percent.

Clarion will continue its current home stand on Saturday, Dec. 1 when they play host to Shippensburg University.

The Eagles will then take on Millersville University the next day on Sunday, Dec. 2.

Both games will tip off at 1 p.m. in Tippin Gymnasium.

The home stand concludes on Saturday, Dec. 8 against Slippery Rock University at 5:30 p.m.

All three games are Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference matchups.

The Clarion Call/ Daniel Rainville

Junior Raven Jones goes up for a shot in Clarion’s loss.

Amanda Gough Senior S enior Basketball Basketball Player Player INTERVIEW BY Mark Emch

Q A Q A

What was your best sports-related experience at Clarion?

It was the Elite 8 in Louisville, Ky. with the volleyball team of 2010.

How did you manage to play three sports and keep up with classes?

I maintain the same pattern for a practice or game, then study during the allotted time I’m given; eat, sleep, etc. As long as I stay on top of my schedule and don’t procrastinate, then I’m perfectly fine.

Q A

Which of the three sports did you consider your primary sport?

Volleyball would have definitely been my primary sport only because it is what

brought me to Clarion in the first place. Had it not been for Coach Jennifer Mills, I would not have been able to acquire such opportunity that has shaped me into the person I have become today. She has given me hope from which I had none and I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for believing I was the player that she was looking to build.

Q A

How do you feel about the basketball team in the early going?

I’m extremely excited for basketball season to begin. We have a great freshman class that will progress into a strong class throughout the season and their future years at Clarion. We have experience that will lead us to a winning record.

Q

What are your plans after you graduate from Clarion?

A

I am trying to find a graduate assistant position within Clarion so I can transfer the knowledge received from the three coaches I played under to those that will attend and play for Clarion in years ahead. I would put forth my efforts every day in order to see Clarion strive in excellence. I want the sports here to be successful and if I can give back to the school that shaped me into the person I have become, then I will have felt a sense of closure in which would tell me that I have done what I was taught to do.

Courtesy Photo / Sports Information