Etownian Issue 1 Fall 2013 by The Etownian

OPINION Strikwerda promotes creating inclusive community | PAGE 7

SPORTS Cross country program finsihes top of XC Challenge | PAGE 10

The Etownian

www.etownian.com

Vol. 110. Issue 1

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Wallett joins senior staff as vice president of administration by KYLER KOONS

his academic year, Elizabethtown College has a new vice president of administration, Robert “Bob” Wallett. The vice president of administration oversees many are as of col lege de velopment, maintenance and planning, including the offices of Campus Security, Dining Services, Facilities Management and Construction,

Human Resources, Campus Services and the College Store. Wallett has more than 35 years of experience in comprehensive facilities management, administration and leadership of large, diverse organizations involved in the delivery of quality services and products to broad customer bases. Service areas included facilities management, engineering, environmental management, operations

and maintenance, transportation, energy management, safety, security and emergency response services. Wallett is a civil engineering graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, with a master of science degree in facilities management from the Air Force Institute of Technology and a master of science graduate in mechanical engineering from Boston University. He is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, having

Founder of Room to Read speaks on global literacy by EMILY VASAS

ohn Wood, founder of the non-profit organization Room to Read, spoke Monday, Sept. 9 on his book, “Creating Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the Battle for Global Literacy,” in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. “Every kid should win the lottery of life,” he said during his speech, introducing the central theme of the organization. “We are too poor to afford education, but until we are educated, we will always be poor,” he continued. This is the vicious cycle that Room to Read is trying to subvert.The College chose Wood’s book as the 2013 Open Book, required reading for first-year students. Wood’s book is a compilation of material on the creation of Room to Read and how it has aided in promoting literacy, gender equality and education all over the world. Inspired by his written words, first-year Samantha Eisdorfer became involved in Room to Read’s mission. Eisdorfer decided to get in contact with several faculty and staff members, including Beth Young, Reka Berenyi and Dr. Brian Newsome, to plan a first-year project — a book drive. The planning process began about two weeks before the start of the fall 2013 semester. Eisdorfer has titled her project Room to React, and said that it is “about taking action for something that’s important.” Her hope was to have her classmates bring one book each along with them to donate on their move-in day. However, processing that

ining services recently added food items to the College’s multiple eateries due to popular demand and local food trends. The Marketplace added the Mongolian station to their food rotation this semester. Director of Dining Services Eric Turzai created the Mongolian station because he wanted something in the Marketplace that was new and culturally creative. This station also provides more options to students who have allergies, who are vegans or vegetarians, or who are health-conscious. Students can also choose to use the Mongolian station when they are looking for a

SEE WALLETT PAGE 2

Campus Security hires Sokoloski as director by KELLY MOORE

lizabethtown College Campus Security is always readily available to help students on campus. However, many students still do not take advantage of their full line of services. Most recently, the College hired Leo Sokoloski as the new director of Campus Security, who is

Photo: Andrew Calnon

Author and founder John Wood discussed his nonprofit organization Room to Read and his novel, “Creating Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the Battle for Global Literacy” to faculty and students in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center on Sept. 9.

a week before moving in would have been extremely difficult. “So, I decided to just take the scope out and make it bigger and more long-term.” Eisdorfer said. Young worked with the High Library to get in contact with

the organization, while Newsome focused on marketing Eisdorfer’s project.

quick, made-to-order meal or when they are looking to be creative. Charles Downs, residential dining chef and production manager, said, “Students and consumers are looking for fresh made-to-order items nowadays, and that’s what the Mongolian station provides.” The Mongolian station operates like the tossed salad and pasta stations. When the section is in use, the dinner option for the night is limited to one or two lines depending on what the chefs choose to put at the Hearth. On the nights that the most popular dinner option is being served, the hot meal will occupy all the lines, and the pasta station will be open to students.

When the Mongolian station is being occupied, the pasta section is closed, because the two stations are similar in food items. In the

“Students and consumers are looking for fresh made-toorder items nowadays, and that’s what the Mongolian station provides.” ~ Charles Downs

SEE GIBBLE PAGE 2

SEE SECURITY PAGE 2

SEE DINING PAGE 3

Gibble Auditorium renovations reach completion

ibble Auditorium, one of three lecture facilities on campus, underwent renovations to meet new academic and performance standards. The auditorium was originally a phase of the Science, Mathematics and Engineering Center (SMEC) project that was delayed because of scheduling and timing. Mark Zimmerman, director of Facilities ManPhoto: Katie Brumbach agement, said it was noted Gibble Auditorium underwent renovations over the 2013 summer to during the programming phase of the SMEC project meet new academic and performance standards.

Director of Campus Security Leo Sokoloski stands next to one of the College’s new patrol vehicles.

that there was a need for an improved lecture and event space. Gibble was originally built in 1965 and is located in Esbenshade Hall, in the wing for the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics and Engineering. Zimmerman said the venue is primarily used as a lecture space but thinks that with the improved sound, lighting, atmosphere and acoustics, the venue will attract and support more event-oriented programs.

upcoming weeks, Dining Services is looking to bring back some of the make-your-own options at the Hearth. These options will rotate on a cycle and will give students the opportunity to try new food items. The Jay’s Nest also implemented some new items in their venue, including a milkshake machine and hydration station. Every semester, the Jay’s Nest employees reevaluate the food items and brainstorm new, fresh ideas to bring to the students. Student Senate requested a milkshake machine in the Jay’s Nest last year, and this year it was provided for students.

by ANDREW CALNON

Photo: Leah Nissley

working to institute new changes to the department. With the arrival of the school year, new policy changes have been implemented by Campus Security. Sokoloski stated, “Campus Security is transforming into a more approachable, communityminded, user-friendly agency, utilizing Community Policing efforts to get to know students, faculty and staff across all areas of campus. We want to build partnerships and embrace positive relationships, empowering students and student groups to reach out to Campus Security with problems, concerns and issues. Through these positive relationships, we can prevent and deter crime and the fears of crime on our campus, making the Elizabethtown College campus one of the safest campuses of our size.” Although not available at this time, Sokoloski and Campus Security are currently working on many projects to enhance the safety of college students in the near future. Some of these projects include door-access controls to campus buildings, residence halls, academic buildings and administrative buildings and video-surveillance enhancement at some entrance and exit points to buildings. Campus Security is also striving toward having an increased presence in residence halls and more crime prevention and education-based programs tailored to addressing student needs and requests. Sokoloski further stressed, “As the Director of Campus Security, my goals are directed at protecting people, students and their property, and overall making the experience here at Elizabethtown a safe and memorable experience across the time they are here. Campus security will embrace new technology in areas of analyzing crime and the elements of crime and address the issues surrounding public safety to prevent and deter problems before they occur.”

SEE FEATURES PAGE 5

Dining Services offers new meal options by ANDREW CALNON

previously served 20 years as a civil engineering officer. His assignments within the Air Force included positions as the Vice Commander of the 554th Civil Engineer Squadron, Heavy Repair, Squadron Commander and Base Civil Engineer at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, and as Director of Environmental Programs at Headquarters USAF, the Pentagon.

News

page 2

September 12, 2013

GIBBLE PAGE 1

Facilities launches state-of-the-art auditorium

Gibble also serves as a venue for movies, lectures and Mad Cow Improv shows. The SMEC project encompassed a three-phase plan that started during the summer of 2012. Phase one of the project included the addition of upper ceiling acoustic clouds, lighting and sound, mechanicals and fire suppression. Zimmerman said that phase one of the project was the most time consuming because scaffolding had to be installed over the entire seating area to access the ceiling of the auditorium mezzanine, and then removed when the phase was complete. Phase one was completed in the fall of 2012, which heralded phase two during the summer of 2013. Phase two involved the demolition and painting of the auditorium. It also

involved the installation of wood paneling, carpet, concrete, seating, railing, the stage, three projection screens and curtains. In addition to those repairs, phase two also included improved LED lighting, video and sound. The entire Facilities Management team was involved in the design process and the renovations. Zimmerman said they utilized a hybrid construction approach which allowed for their electricians, carpenters, painters, student work crews and HVAC technicians to work alongside outside contractors and Information and Technology Services to make improvements. Zimmerman said phase two of the project was completed in August of 2013, and that the final product is very similar to the actual blueprints created

before the start of the renovation. He also added that only minor changes were made during the construction. Phase three of the construction will launch over winter break and will include highlighting and accenting the entranceways on the first and second floors, and adding donor walls and plaques. Overall, the monetary gifts given by generous donors helped reconstruct Gibble Auditorium into a brand new, functional space. Zimmerman said, “We took an institutional space of the 60s and transformed it into a state-of -the-art lecture room that can support many functions and events. The space is now pleasant and inviting to be in, which makes it more conducive for learning.”

E-Media Center: Steinman receives upgrade by KAYLIN RUSSELL

he Department of Communications completed renovations to its new E-Media Center at the beginning of the fall 2013 semester. Students from the Department of Physics and Engineering worked Photo: Katie Brumbach with Facilities Management and Helm Construction to assist in the renovations. Junior Graham Lenker, The E-Media Center allows students from ECTV-40,WWEC FM ECTV-40 Station Manager, and junior Ryan Carson, and the Etownian to collaborate in one central location. WWEC FM Station Manager, were “Steinman helpers.” the new open space and safety features, the Department of They were the go-between communication with construction Communications is positive that the flow and learning enviworkers and helped with anything from moving to working ronment will be more functional and enjoyable. with the electricians. There are new improvements for students who are interestIn the past, the Department was broken up into different ed in video, photography and audio, including new equipment. sections. After these renovations, ECTV-40, WWEC FM and Twenty new iMac computers loaded with Adobe software the Etownian now share an open space in Steinman Center. were added to the lab. There are six new video editing suites, “We’ve taken several small spaces, opened them up and created which include separate rooms for video and audio editing. a space that will prove to be more functional while promot- New video cameras were purchased for the Department, and ing a communal feel, allowing our students to work together the old equipment will be sold to students in the future. Now, within the space,” Director of Broadcasting Andy Williams the student media organizations including ECTV-40, WWEC said. The new open space includes a working area and large FM and the Etownian will be able to work collaboratively in windows, which allow in more light. The lounge was extended a space with many new tools. and decorated with bright furniture, and an open area for the The new area gives students a sense of what their future radio was added. New doors, cabinets, countertops, carpet and employment may be like and allows for them to collaborate ceilings were installed and the area was repainted. “When the with their peers. “I strongly believe what we’ve tried to create program needs were formed, there was a need to have the two is a real world working environment. No longer do people concentrations of the communications major (corporate and look to one source for information. With print, web, televimass) work closely together on ‘multi-media group projects’. sion and radio all working together, it will give our students The design and construction of the space certainly achieved the experience and hopefully an edge when it comes time to this,” said Director of Facilities Management Mark Zimmer- work in the private sector.” Williams said. man. In addition to the openness concept, the electrical and As for now, the Department of Communications is happy lighting systems were upgraded with energy-efficient units with renovations recently made in the E-Media center and and fixtures, and fire suppression was installed for safety. With won’t be making any major changes anytime soon.

Kozimor-King presents simulation research

by SARAH WERTZ

r. Michele Lee Kozimor-King, associate professor of sociology at Elizabethtown College attended The Annual Meeting of American Sociological Association, which was held Aug. 10-13. The first presentation was a peer-reviewed and selected section on “Teaching and Learning in Sociology Paper Session: Interrogating Inequality in the Classroom.” The paper written on this subject, “An Old Tool for New Generation: Using the Star Power simulation to Teach Social Inequality,” presented results of the assessment and evaluation of a simulation called Star Power. Star Power is used in her sociology class, SO 101 – Discovering Society at the College. Data has been collected and analyzed from the past year consisting of a number of sections of the course. The second presentation was at a refereed roundtable session for the Section on Sociological Practice and Public Sociology: Community-Based Research as a Teaching Tool. Results of a current study as well as previous projects were presented. They examined the use of community-based research to teach methods of social research and social statistics in the Sociology and Anthropology Department at the College. A current project being worked on at the College in the SAN330, research methods class is a partnership with LancasterHistory.org. In the past, they had worked with The Winters Heritage House Museum and Student Senate. Kozimor-King, along with Barbara Prince ’12, Michael Shields ’12 and Kristin Peachey ’13, had a workshop proposal accepted on community-based research to be held at the American Sociological Association annual conference in San Francisco in August 2014. There are ongoing assessments of current projects in Discovering Society and Methods of Social Research classes at the College. The

simulations and community-based learning are continued because the feedback from the students is what is being presented at the conference. “Working as part of a faculty research project or community-based research project enables students to experience real-world learning as part of a mentoring relationship. It helps prepare them for the expectations of graduate school or work life by providing tangible skills and experiential learning,” Kozimor-King says. She feels that it is beneficial to learn from their perspective. Kozimor-King stipulates that providing the opportunity to do research with students enables her to develop her mentoring relationships. From a student’s perspective, it is beneficial for them to do such research to develop skills and gain real-world experiences and mentoring. Prince is currently finishing her MA at West Virginia University. Kozimor-King states how well the duo work together and believes it’s because of the high level of passion for the scholarship teaching and learning. “Working together on a project makes it seem less like work. Since I don’t have graduate student assistants here at Elizabethtown, I am extremely lucky to have alumni like Barbara who are willing to stay involved. I think it is because she was my research assistant at the undergraduate level,” says Kozimor-King. Prince is currently assisting Kozimor-King with the Alpha Kappa Delta Pre-Conference Teaching Workshop planning, which will be held at the Eastern Sociological Society Meetings. “In addition, I can share my network of professional contacts with her at conferences when we attend and present together. Our collaborations have led to other professional opportunities for Barbara,” said Kozimor-King. Currently, they are working on two other research projects together. These consist of examining cell phone use in the higher education classroom and equine obesity.

WALLETT PAGE 1

Wallett sets goals for 2013 Action Plan He is also a former administrator of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and served as the Commission’s facilities director until 2009. Wallett recently served as the Director of Facilities at Loyola University Maryland, and his experience with facilities management and construction will be implemented in several projects at the College for the 2013-2014 academic year. As a senior administration staff member, Wallett is involved in a number of Strategic Plan projects as laid out in the 2013-2014 Action Plan. Goal two of this Action Plan is to institute “Real-World Learning” for students, and Wallett is currently responsible for devising plans for updating facility programs for the Center for Sports, Fitness and Wellness. Goal three of the Action Plan is “Stewardship of Resources,” and Wallett is involved in several projects detailed under this goal, including the development of a campus-wide ADA facilities plan, establishing an environmental sustainability group and drafting a sustainability plan, and completing unit reviews as part of the assessment of Institutional Effectiveness. Other upcoming projects include the design and construction of a fabrication laboratory for the engineering department, the design of an archives project for the High Library and the planning and drafting of much-needed renovations to Nicarry Hall. “My objective this year,” Wallett said, “is [to] strengthen, coordinate, and advance the College’s commitment to the values and practices of environmental sustainability through the establishment of a sustainability group which encompasses all stakeholders of the College and institutionalizes the program with a sustainability plan.” Wallett has developed several personal goals for his work at the College this year. A few of these goals include: completing “a thorough analysis of existing revenue streams, budget expenditures, organizational structure and service delivery processes”; striving for “continuous improvement to the College’s service delivery processes”; instilling “principles of accountability, collaboration, efficiency and effectiveness, innovation, objectivity and transparency in all operations”; “strengthening, coordinating and advancing the College’s commitment to the values and practices of environmental sustainability”; and “continuing to progress the Campus Master Plan and capital improvement projects.”

Adult program launches new website by ALLISON ROHLAND

lizabethtown College’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) launched its new website this June. After undergoing a complete graphic redesign, content rework and organizational restructuring, the site is now tailored for a more userfriendly experience. Over ten months, the College’s Office of Marketing and Communications (OMC) and Information and Technology Services (ITS) developed the site entirely in-house. “We’re always looking for interesting projects to do and wanted to give the School a good website for the budget that they had,” said Danilo Yabut, web and new media strategy director. One of the biggest improvements to the site is its responsive design—the ability to display and function on mobile devices, tablets and laptops. Additionally, content was streamlined and the website’s page count went from 250 pages to 129. Work for the project began in August 2012, when SCPS approached the OMC about developing a new website that would fulfill their needs. SCPS’s website had not seen an update since 2006. “At that time [in 2006], it adequately fulfilled our needs. But over the years, as the world of website design advanced, our site started to look outdated,” said Barbara Randazzo, SCPS assistant dean of enrollment. After a brand and marketing review, OMC conducted analytics research to determine the users’ habits as well as the effectiveness of the

site’s architecture and content during the fall 2012 semester. Donna Talarico-Beerman, director of integrated communications, worked closely with the project and said the goals of the new site were, “A more compelling look and feel, better navigational structure, less content but more clarity in messaging—overall, an improved user experience.” Talarcio-Beerman also mentioned an overarching goal to align SCPS with the College’s overall branding. Later, in December 2012 and January 2013, Yabut made this goal a reality when he graphically redesigned the site. “We wanted the site to be part of the Etown family, so we utilized the same photography style, typography and blues and grays seen on the College’s [undergraduate] website,” said Yabut. Throughout the spring 2013 semester, ITS and OMC developed coding for the site. While this was occurring, Talarico-Beerman rewrote the web content so that it would have a more personable tone. “My goal with content is to make it informative and actionable, while also conversational — we’re talking to people through the web,” said Talarico-Beerman. Since its launch in June, the new website has received positive feedback. Randazzo said, “We have had tremendous traffic on the site since it launched in June and measurements such as ‘time on site’ and ‘number of page views’ all show a strong engagement with the site’s content.” Check out the new website at etowndegrees.com.

News

September 12, 2013 –

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DINING PAGE 1

Senators address increasing tuition costs, help reinstall Dining Services favorites, introduce new members, fill committee assignments

Student Senate

Student feedback inspires change in Jay’s Nest

by SETH PREVITY

tudent Senate met on Thursday, Sept. 5 to induct the newly-elected first-year senators. This was the first time that all classes had met and new members were put into committees. To start the meeting, the Senate heard administrative re p o r t s . D a l e B oy e r o f Campus Security mentioned that Security is in the process of coming up with a total card access proposal on campus. During his report, Dale said, “Our locksmith has come up with all the facts and figures and it is now on to the Board of Trustees. If passed, it will be done in several different phases starting with residence halls. We want all buildings to eventually have them and also have cameras on all doors.” D ur ing t he E xe c ut ive Cabinet Reports, President Robert Graham mentioned that he and Treasurer Tyler Kunkle will be meeting with the coordinator of the Office of Student Activities (OSA), Toni Villella, to talk about partially funding an extension of hours in the Body Shop. Vice President Andrew Herm announced that he is accepting

contracts from clubs for tables at the Homecoming Fair to sell items. Elections chair, Robert Russell, announced that there was a jump in the numbers of voters for firstyears compared to classes before them with a total of over 250 votes. The Junior class’ election had a vote count of seven and continues to have an open position. T h e n e x t p ar t of t h e agenda was to fill committee assignments. The committees are as follows: Elections, P&M, Traditions, Legislation, Service, Academic Council, Campus Life, Core, Borough, and the Chamber of Commerce. Each committee was filled through a nomination process in which a senator nominates another senator for a certain committee. The Senate as a whole then votes on the nomination for the position. During the next Senate discussion, the most important item, tuition, will be addressed. Robert Graham had the idea of researching other colleges that have fixed tuitions and campaigning for Elizabethtown to move towards a set price per class.

“The idea we are looking at is having it set for all four years. Each class could have a different tuition, though. Some schools do this. The plan is that each class will get three schools to research and find other schools as well,” Graham stated about his idea. Other concerns brought up at the end of the meeting were from Emily Gockley and Andi Malik. Senator Gockley said, “Students like the Mongolian grill but are not happy about the Hearth not being the Hearth anymore.” She is looking to determine if the Hearth can be utilized better. Senator Malik said, “I would like to bring up the concerns of High Library hours being short. It opens at 12:00 pm on Sundays, which is a bit late.” Malik is a huge advocate for extending hours in both the Library and Body Shop, taking his cause to Twitter with the hash tag #24libandgym. He asked for some support in trying to make this happen. The next Senate meeting will be Sept. 12 at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212. It is an open meeting, so anyone is welcome to sit in and listen.

Photo: Katie Brumbach

Students can now make their own milkshakes at the machine located in the Jay’s Nest as seen in the picture above. Students can choose from a variety of flavors, and milkshakes are prepared in minutes.

Some other food items added to the menu include: flatbread pizza, fried chicken and ranch quesadillas and different kinds of snacks. The Jay’s Nest staff is constantly t r y i n g n e w it e m s for students, and they are open to suggestions and feedback. Joseph Riddle, the Jay’s Nest and Bird Feeder production supervisor, said, “Every semester we always try to keep things fresh and we always add one or two new items.”

The Bird Feeder added g i ant p an c a ke s t o it s menu. Riddle introduced this option last semester as a special and they sold unlike any other special had done before. Riddle then decided to add the giant pancakes to t he permanent menu and incor p orated multiple variations to the option including a s’mores giant p anc a ke. “O ur menus are based off of student feedback and what the students want; without the students we wouldn’t be in

business,” said Riddle. Dining Services provides students with a variety of food options, and they try to meet the needs of every individual student. Its employees are actively listening to the needs and wants of s tu d e nt s , f a c u lt y an d staff on campus to ensure that the consumers are receiving the newest food trends. For more information on the custom dining options, contact Eric Turzai at (717)-361-1245.

SECURITY PAGE 1

Campus Security informs Jays of on-campus safety precautions Campus Security recently purchased several vehicles including three new Ford Escapes and one older model which serves as the Locksmith car and work vehicle. Campus Security designates one car out of the group of cars to be a primary transport vehicle for train station and airport runs, and student transports to Penn State Medical Associates off of Chestnut Street.

“Campus Security is transforming to a more approachable communityminded, user-friendly agency...”

~ Leo Sokoloski

Although Sokoloski is new to the Elizabethtown community, he is most especially looking forward to “meeting with students, student groups and organizations in an effort to build a stronger rapport between students and Campus Security.” He believes that the campus-at-large is a safe place to live, learn, work and play. “You can enhance your safety and the safety of others by recognizing and taking some minor steps to prevent something bad from happening to you. Campus Safety is everyone’s business.” Assistant Director of Campus Security and teacher for the RAD women’s self-

defense program, Dale Boyer, wants the Elizabethtown College campus community to know that “contrary to popular belief, there is no magic bubble around Etown College. We have the same problems here as anywhere else, but perhaps not to the same degree that you see at campuses such as Penn State, Temple, Pitt, or UCLA. 99 percent of the time, if you use common sense and take common-sense precautions, you will avoid problems.” Boyer further stressed, “Do not leave stuff lying around, especially in hallways or lounges while in class. If walking after dark, or walking from the Brown Lot after parking the car, try to have a friend come along or make use of the Campus Security escort program. Be aware of what’s going on around you. Make certain not to be solely focused on [your] phone and oblivious to your surroundings.” Sokoloski strongly wants to remind students to “be proactive: don’t be a victim; lock your dorm room; take a picture of your valuables, your bicycle and laptop; record the serial numbers; call Campus Security whenever necessary — use the escort services, be smart and report any suspicious activity to campus security.” Additionally, Boyer added as an important reminder, “The Emergency phone number is (717) 361-1111. Believe it or not, Campus Security is here to help make your time here at Etown safer and a positive experience. Take a little time to get to know our officers. You may need one of us someday.”

Features

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September 12, 2013

Joy Ike performs Folk-inspired piano pop music at Soul Café by NOEL ABASTILLAS

ittsburgh musician Joy Ike performed a set of her latest folk-inspired piano pop songs for Soul Café in the Blue Bean on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Ike had also performed multiple times at Folklore Coffee & Co. in town. It was her second time playing for the Chaplain’s Office. Ike recently released her third album, “All or Nothing,” and its heavier dramatic tones reverberated across the Brossman Commons walls. Her return prompted a change in tone since her last performance. She said that she performed at a later point in the semester the last time she was in Elizabethtown. “I noticed that there are fewer people listening, and they’re still connecting with their friends since the semester’s new. So I think I expected that,” Ike said. “But next time maybe I’ll come and do something that’s more listening room type.” Her piano pop melodies are akin to songbirds Regina Spektor and Corinne Bailey Rae, but now she carries a more dynamic sound. An overall sense of sadness fills her stories of love gone awry. Her thematic range switches to the power of resilience during existential crises in “How She Floats.” The song narrates the pain of learning how to live again when the cushions once relied upon fail. Her stories unveil life at its most fragile, but teaches us that it is a place where we become stronger. Her vocals articulate the melodrama of a picture perfect life crashing on the ground, but finding the persistence to still reach down and pick up the pieces. The elements that create such a powerful sound are in what she describes as “soulfolk.” She said that this name originated from her love of folk music and the fact that

Photo: Leah Nissley

Joy Ike returned to Elizabethtown College on Sept. 4 to perform at the Soul Café for the second time in her career. She recently released her third album, “All or Nothing,” which features folk-inspired piano pop music.

she usually performs with an upright bass player and a cellist, which gives her music that folky sound. “I also have a soulful voice,” she said, “so I think that those two things together are why I gave it that name.” The idea for her most recent album sprouted from writing about the highs and lows that have guided her life over the past year. She recorded her journey in a blog titled, “365 Days of All or Nothing.” In the blog, she’s captured the thoughts that float around her mind, like the idea of living whole-heartedly, the theme that manifests

the whole album. She explained her process begins with instrumentation. Then, lets lingering themes build up until she can write a concrete song topic. Finally, she works in taglines or choruses and then plays around with chord progressions that compliment what she’s feeling. Ike also provided advice for aspiring artists. “I highly recommend do what you love to do while you’re working so when you decide to leave your job, you’ll have an infrastructure to soften the blow.”

SVMC celebrates anniversary, Darling displays artwork at offers ministerial training annual Harrisburg Gallery Walk to local community Not restricted to just the circular has also done mosaic three-dimenby LINDSAY RIES

by KAITLIN GIBBONEY

his upcoming year, the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is celebrating 20 years of service to the local community. SVMC was established in 1993 and has since been housed in the basement of Alpha Hall. The organization holds a partnership with the Atlantic Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Middle Pennsylvania, Southern Pennsylvania and Western Pennsylvania Districts of the Church of the Brethren as well as the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and the Bethany Theological Seminary. Leading SVMC were two district executives, Allen Hansel of the Atlantic Northeast District and Warren Eshbach of Southern Pennsylvania. The two saw a need for local ministering training to both men and women for those who could not afford to travel to a seminary for classes. Donna Rhodes, executive director of SVMC, is thankful to the College for the space in Alpha Hall. “We are grateful to Elizabethtown College for allowing us to rent this space as a home base for our ministry which extends well beyond the boundaries of Elizabethtown.” Rhodes graduated from Juniata College, completed the ministry center’s TRIM program, studied at Bethany Theological Seminary and graduated the Spiritual Direction program through Oasis Ministries. She previously held the position of Pastor of Nurture at the Stone Church of the Brethren, located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. SVMC serves about 75 students each year and offers a range of programs suited to each student’s needs and interests. They offer three main types of courses for each student: graduate, TRIM and ACTS. Graduate courses are offered through Bethany

Theological Seminary and provide a Brethren context for theological education, both online and at other accredited seminaries. The Training in Ministry (TRIM) program is sponsored by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and also ties in education from Bethany Theological Seminary. The Academy Certified Training System (ACTS), the largest program offered through SVMC, is a four year program offered to licensed ministers seeking to complete requirements for ordination, lay persons seeking leadership training and ordained minsters seeking to broaden their continuing education. “Students work alongside experienced ministers in a supervised setting to experience ministry firsthand,” said Rhodes. “Many of our students have received a call to ministry later in life and are trying to balance work, family and church responsibilities. Our local training allows the students to receive good ministerial preparation while continuing daily responsibilities.” SVMC provides classes for students as well as annual continuing education events. Students receive a certificate and credit for each event program completed. These events and classes take place in several districts to ensure the students have accessibility to these courses. What makes SVMC unique is their emphasis on Brethren values. Rhodes states unique Brethren values as “simplicity, peacemaking and social justice. Training within the Church of the Brethren provides the context of conveying the values which are core to the beliefs, heritage and practices of our denomination.” Rhodes adds, “To borrow the tag line of the Church of the Brethren – willingness to continue the work of Jesus. Peacefully, simply, together.”

“M

y favorite color varies from week to week,” said Susan Darling, a lifelong artist who just happens to be the manager of mail services at Elizabethtown College. Darling’s artwork was featured in the annual Harrisburg Gallery Walk on Sunday, Sept. 8. This is the second time that her art group, Mixed Media Art Group, has had exhibitions in the Harrisburg Gallery Walk. She had one piece featured in Sunday’s gallery named “Mandala.” This type of circular art design is a spiritual symbol in Buddhism and Hinduism that is meant to embody balance. Darling has made many of these circular art pieces, as she loves to find meditation within the art-making process and the finished product.

art, Darling works with various colors, textures, and dimensions to make collages. Unlike many traditional artists, she tries to find beauty in everyday objects, such as ripped up letters and maps of different cities and states that symbolize “our journey in life.” This use of recycled materials is very “green” or environmently-friendly. Watercolors, magazine clippings and other repurposed items create her collages. Instead of paints and pastels, she creates rare pieces for her and others’ enjoyment. Her supply list includes: door knobs, broken plates, rings, scrap paper, beads and marbles that were found in her backyard. Even her office door is completely covered with art show advertisements that are laid out in a tile format, welcoming those who step into her office. Other than framed pieces made mainly from paper and pictures, she

sional pieces, some of which are in the Marietta Art House in Marietta, Pa. In addition to traditional pieces of art, she wears self-made jewelry and pins. Darling also keeps track of busy weeks with her planner from OfficeMax that, with some redesigning and personalization, is now a unique and colorful notebook. This member of the Etown community studied graphic design at Millersville University and received a bachelor’s degree in commercial art. Today, she practices a very unique type of art, much different from graphic design, during her free time. Darling’s individual take on art has led her to become a very involved artist with many galleries. So, next time you check your mailbox, make sure to stop by and check in on this particular staff member and don’t forget to ask her what her favorite color is this week!

Photo: Katie Brumbach

Susan Darling displays one of her circular art pieces at the annual Harrisburg Gallery Walk for the second time in her career. She enjoys using everyday objects in her artwork including door knobs, broken plates, rings, beads and other items that she has found in her own backyard.

Features

September 12, 2013

page 5

Traditional first-year walk undergoes changes, marks end of orientation by ADAM LANDES

very school has its traditions. Those moments that all students and faculty members wait for. The chance to see another generation branded with the same seal of honor that makes them part of the unwritten brotherhood. Whether it’s the fresh golden shine illuminating off the fighting Irish football helmets every Saturday or the bloody Texas A&M war hymn screamed from the lungs of thousands on game day, traditions are more than just rituals. They serve as symbols and pay tribute to something bigger than one student, or one member of the staff. They allow the chance for people from all walks of life to forget about their differences, and bond under one united force. The first-year walk at Elizabethtown College serves this purpose. It is one of the traditions that every first-year student goes through and is the final step in transforming a high school student into a Blue Jay. The walk was created with the intention to allow students to familiarize themselves with each other and get a feel for the surrounding community. What makes the walk unusual is the intermittent trivia questions thrown in by upper

classmen, which usually end in hilarious stunts. These questions are designed to help students remember other peers’ basic information and to either advance or move back in line. Although the first-year walk is always a highlight for incoming first-years, the rules were changed a bit this year. The tradition itself still upholds, but to keep traditions alive it is important to adapt them to changing generations. This year, instead of just making the standard loop around town and back to the College, the students were taken into town and given free reign. “This year was very different,” explained senior peer mentor Nathan Blunk. “In previous years, local businesses would have specific areas to stand along the first-years’ route, but now they are able to advertise directly in front of their store which allows students to get a sense of alignment and familiarity with the community”. This eliminates the problem of location and not knowing where all the different attractions are. The newly-allotted freedom gave students a glimpse into the hands on, adventurous world of college. Allowing the students to walk individually with new friends in an unfamiliar territory is what college is all about. “Leaving all the comforts

of a group and exploring new areas is the perfect jump start into college life,” said Blunk. However, with these added benefits also came some losses. One of the most spirited aspects of the walk was slightly changed with the different course. “Because the students stayed in town and came back whenever they wanted, the walk was essentially cut in half,” said sophomore Kathleen Wilkinson. This meant that the time sophomore and junior peer mentors had to drive around in brightly painted cars, screaming and honking to draw in as much attention as possible, was also cut in half. “We still drove around and encouraged everyone, we just had to be more creative with the limited time we had,” Wilkinson said. Etown’s first-year walk is similar to that of Gettysburg College. There, students walk around the town of Gettysburg and listen to the reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address once they reach the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. But location of the walk is irrelevant. Whether the walk is done through the streets of Etown, Notre Dame, Gettysburg or any other college town, they all serve the same purpose: to uphold the sense of tradition and create a memorable journey as students embark on a new chapter in their lives. The freedom involved in this year’s

Photo: Danilo Yabut

This semester’s first-year walk gave students more freedom than in past years. After walking through campus as a group, the class of 2017 was able to walk through the town on their own and explore the local businesses.

walk allowed Etown students to follow Ralph Waldo Emerson’s advice when he said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is

no path and leave a trail.” The class of 2017 has created a new path through uncharted territory for students of future generations to walk down.

Dursun-Ozkanca hosts ‘Syria - What to Do?’ lecture to inform campus community, spark international response by KAITLIN GIBBONEY

n Sept. 5, pews were packed with students, faculty and staff alike, ready to hear about the mounting concerns facing Syria in the College’s Bucher Meetinghouse. On Aug. 31. President Obama addressed the Aug. 21 attack on Syria’s capital, Damascus, emphasizing the need for action. “The world watched in horror as men, women and children were massacred […] in the worst chemical attack of the 21st century,” Obama said. “Well over 1,000 people were murdered. Several hundred of them were children — young girls and boys gassed to death by their own government.” He proposed to take limited action against Assad regime targets, but will not go forward without approval from Congress.

“I will seek authorization for the use of force from the American people’s representatives in Congress,” Obama said. “This would not be an open-ended intervention. We would not put boots on the ground. Instead, our action would be designed to be limited in duration and scope. But I’m confident we can hold the Assad regime accountable for their use of chemical weapons, deter this kind of behavior and degrade their capacity to carry it out.” In his closing statements in the White House Rose Garden, Obama made a plea of action. “I’m ready to act in the face of this outrage. Today I’m asking Congress to send a message to the world that we are ready to move forward together as one nation.” Dr. Oya Dursun-Ozkanca, associate professor of political science and director of the international studies minor, addressed the crowd in

the lecture, “Syria – What to Do?.” Ozkanca provided an overview of the situation in Syria, leaving the second half open for comments and questions.

“We have not learned our lesson in terms of protecting innocent lives and protecting civilians that are being killed.” ~ Oya Dursun-Ozkanca

Dursun-Ozkanca described the start of the Syrian conflict as being sectarian, meaning the nation has been divided between different parties. Not only has Syria been divided since the initial conflict two years ago, but the global response had also been equally split. “The international community’s response was similarly disappointing to both of these humanitarian tragedies,” Dursun-Ozkanca said. They have not done much “besides sitting on the sidelines and watching different parties killing each other and observing bloodshed. We have not learned our lesson in terms of protecting

innocent lives and protecting civilians that are being killed” in the wake of this violence. According to Geneva Convention guidelines, countries like Syria were prohibited from using chemical weapons. Dursun-Ozkanca stated that before the recent Damascus attack, it was unclear whether the Geneva Convention guideline had been violated before. Dursun-Ozkanca stated three main reasons for intervention in Syria. One reason is America’s responsibility to protect the civilians in Syria. Another reason is to counter terrorism to prevent Syria from becoming a “failed state” where the government no longer has control of certain areas because terrorists have taken control. The third reason is to protect the countries surrounding Syria. Though there are a few reasons to intervene with Syria, Dursun-Ozkanca said there are an equal number of reasons to abstain from the conflict. The targets to attack are very unclear and also lead to another issue. “If the goal is to bomb chemical weapon sites, it will be very dangerous,” Dursun-Ozkanca said. With Obama’s claim of a limited operation, Dursun-Ozkanca braught up the question of what exactly is a limited operation and what does it entail? Would the U.S. be in Syria for longer than planned? If the Assad regime fell, would it benefit the U.S. in any way? Would Syria become a failed state? Due to the regime’s current power, Dursun-Ozkanca predicted that the U.S. would most likely not take down the Assad regime.

ROOM TO READ PAGE 1

Wood visits campus, discusses Room to Read Foundation The books collected by students will be donated to Better World Books, Room to Read’s sister company. They will in turn donate the money they make from selling and recycling the books to Room to Read. Students will be asked to bring books back to campus with them after fall break. Boxes for donation dropoffs will be located in the BSC from Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. until Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 11 p.m. On the morning of Oct. 10, Eisdorfer will send the books to Better World Books. Eisdorfer’s hope is to meet a quota of 1,000 books, or two books from each member of the first-year class. “One of the biggest themes in the book is ‘go big or go home,’ so I thought that one book is not enough and we could totally do better than that,” she said. She has faith that the book drive will bring in even more than that. The focus of the project is on the class of 2017,

but upperclassmen are more than welcome to donate as well. “This book is really one that you can’t read without feeling like you want to help out and do something about what you’re reading about,” Eisdorfer said. She felt that this book drive was a way to bring the class of 2017 together and to make it known to the community that they take the College’s motto, “Educate for Service,” very seriously. “The message is good,” said Eisdorfer. “It makes you realize how fortunate we are that we can come to Elizabethtown. All the stories in it are so inspirational that you can’t help but want to do something.” Her main goal is to aid Room to Read by getting books and education to kids around the world. “Everything that this organization is about, that’s what this project is about,” she said.

Features

September 12, 2013

Psychology professor joins International Society for Science and Religion by SARAH KENNEDY

his summer, Professor of Psychology Dr. John Teske was invited to join the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR), an elite scholarly society with fewer than 200 members. Teske’s recent presentations and articles in the Zygon Journal of Religion and Science, connections to international professionals in the field and former position as president of the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS) all contributed to the offer of membership. The ISSR, founded in 2002, has been “gradually accumulating members … just the best,” according to Teske. As a member of the ISSR, Teske is most looking forward to “being recognized as part of the elite group.” He plans to help with fundraising for the ISSR, use his membership to establish further connections in the field, and attend relevant meetings and events, including a conference on “New Challenges in Science and Religion” in Baltimore, Md. this November. Teske was also reelected to another three-year term as vice president for conferences for the IRAS. He served as

president of this organization from 2005 to 2008, held the position of immediate past president, and now serves as vice president for conferences. In this position, Teske manages long-range conference planning and serves as a member of the IRAS council. In 2009, Teske ran an IRAS conference entitled “The Mythic Reality of the Autonomous Individual” and edited the March 2011 issue of Zygon which included papers from this conference, including his own work. Teske cited his editing of this issue and his paper included in the issue as one of his favorite pieces of his own work. Most recently, Teske and colleague Whitney Bauman, of Florida International University, presented a workshop about “Navigating Worldviews” at the 59th annual conference of the IRAS in Silver Bay, N.Y. Teske intends to bring his work with science and religion back to Elizabethtown College, both around campus and in his psychology courses. Teske plans to give a talk on “diversity, not dissention” with Professor of Religion and Asian Studies Dr. Jeffery Long and others on campus in the spring. The proposed talk will be about world religions, but will also include discussion about various nonreli-

Photo: Katie Brumbach

Professor of Psychology Dr. John Teske intertwines his passion for religion and science in courses he teaches at the College.

gious perspectives. “It’s important to acknowledge that that there are worldviews that aren’t necessarily religious ones,” Teske said. Teske has devoted much of his career to the study of mythology and is especially interested in mythological worldviews. Teske said his accomplishments in the science and religion field are extremely interconnected with the material he teaches in his psychology courses. “There’s a total overlap with everything— there has to be,” he said. As a social psychologist, Teske sees study of worldviews and mythology as hugely important in understanding identity formation. “Myths are ways to code repeated things that happen over and over. We construct lives of meaning out of connecting our lives to myth,” Teske said. He said humans model themselves on the stories they are exposed to and noted that this connects to his study of film and its role in culture. Teske also tied his study of mythology to his course on personality, the last third of which focuses on narrative identity. He cited former course offerings, such as a psychology course on brain, mind and spirit and an honors course about emotional psychology, as direct connections to his current work with science and religion. “You like to think your life hasn’t peaked yet,” Teske said of his accomplishments so far. He remains proud of several articles he wrote in the 90s, including “The Haunting of the Human Spirit,” which he considers his most accessible work. He has been interested in mythology throughout most of his professional career and sees his 2006 article “Neuromythology: Brains and Stories” as still central to his work. Teske plans to focus his current research on humans’ emotional lives and creation of stories. In addition to his academic work this summer, Teske went skydiving to face a personal phobia of “not having anything under [his] feet.” Teske decided to pursue his fear in an extreme way as a personal experiment with flooding, a type of behavior therapy that involves exposing someone to the object of his or her phobia to help him or her realize the irrationality of his or her fear. According to Teske, the flooding worked, and he no longer has that fear. This semester he plans to relate this experience to his Emotion class.

Liu art exhibit opens in Lyet Gallery; features Chinese, American style work by KAITLIN GIBBONY

n Tu e s d a y, S e p t . 1 0 , E l i z a b e t ht o w n C o l l e g e’s Ly e t G a l l e r y i n L e f f l e r C h ap e l a n d Performance Center opened its doors to the painter JunCheng Liu and his works. Liu is an associate professor in the department of art and art history at Franklin & Marshall College. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degree of fine art in China, and then received another master’s of fine art degree from East Texas State University. Dr. Milton Friedly, professor of art in the department of fine and performing arts, described Liu’s artwork. “In terms of style, in my mind, it’s a form of trompe l’œil painting, which is to fool the eye. And so, you’re going to see elements of realism. You’ll see some interesting arrangements in his work and of course composition, with any artwork, is going to be critical.” Since Liu has studied in both China and the United States, these two different styles come together

prominently in his works. “I sort of explored both east and west,” Liu said. Hi s c u r re nt s t y l e of artwork has been deeply affected by his Chinese roots. “Looking back at the Chinese tradition, pure color and pattern has led me to the current composition,” he said. “Hopefully that will give the audience some sense of the path that has led me.” Liu described his works as a part of himself. “I can feel the texture of my life,” he explained. “I came from China and it was very challenging, particularly in the very beginning, to find that inner connection.” He describes elements of his work as being effortless, accurate, very simple and promoting a sense of purity and op e n ne ss . “R ob e r t Rouschenberg’s exhibition in 1986 in Beijing really prompted me to come out and study in the U.S. I went to Beijing to look at the show, and I couldn’t understand it. He would bring worn out tires and fishing wires, like pop art. I paint painstakingly with all of the details and the techniques and training. I wasn’t really bothered,

Artwork by Jun-Cheng Liu

Jun-Cheng Liu’s artwork is now on display in the College’s Lyet Gallery in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. He uses the photorealistic style of trompe l’oeil to capture real life images with a dream-like quality.

because he was a worldclass artist. So I returned the second day, and I still could not understand it. So I went back a third day. Then I recognized that my thinking wasn’t right. That individual point of view never occurred to me. That prompted me

to come here and study. I needed to open up.” Liu’s works will be on display in the Lyet Gallery i n L e f f l e r C h ap e l a n d Performance Center from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

page 6

Sabina Post begins work as director of study abroad office

Photo: Katie Brumbach

Sabina Post, the College’s new director of study abroad, hopes to improve the program as a whole and to encourage students to take advantage of the benefits of studying internationally.

by ADAM LANDES

nother year at Elizabethtown College started just a few weeks ago, bringing with it new ideas, relationships and a collection of unfamiliar faces. One of those new faces is Sabina Post, an ‘08 grad and alum of Etown. She decided to come back to Etown and take charge of the study abroad program, one of the more popular programs among upperclassmen students. During her time at Etown, Post majored in

because tuition costs cover a majority of expenses. All students are responsible for is basically the plane ticket.” Post als o encourages students to overcome the ne r ve s ass o c i ate d w it h studying abroad because of the rewarding benefits. “Most students pick one country they really want to visit and are ver y enthused to experience a new place and culture,” Post explained. “When you travel to another part of the world it allows you to

“Because this is my first year, I am using this time to do a needs assessment. I am talking to key players in the department and figuring what strengths and weaknesses the program currently has.”

~ Sabina Post

i nt e r n at i o n a l b u s i n e s s a n d Sp a n i s h a n d l at e r had the oppor tunity to study abroad in Spain and France. During graduate school at the School for Int e r n at i on a l Tr a i n i n g (SIT) in Vermont, Post was given two internships that provided hands-on work in the international field. She just recently moved back to Etown from Florence, Italy, where she was working at Lorenzo de’ Medici as the international student advisor. Post is not afraid of the u n k n ow n , or t r ave l i ng to foreign countries with different languages and cultures. But not everyone shares this pioneer mentality. “I think one of the main fears students share when considering to study abroad is that the language barrier will be to overwhelming,” Post said. “Another issue is the price. But students should not be concerned about this,

change your perspective and learn unexpected things both in and out of the classroom.” However, study abroad does not only offer personal gain. It als o allows for s i g n i f i c ant i ntel l e c tu a l improvement in the classroom. “Because this is my first year, I am using this time to do a needs assessment,” she said. “I am talking to key players in the department and figuring what strengths and weaknesses the program currently has. Then I can figure out what direction it needs to go in.” To learn more about the program and how to get involved, visit the study abroad fair this Monday, Sept.16 at the BSC from 11-3 p.m. There will be prizes given away, including money towards a plane ticket for one lucky student. With Ms. Post leading the way, it’s sure to be a fun event.

Opinion standing together for a stronger community

September 12, 2013

by CARL STRIKWERDA Photo: clutchmagonline.com

by CARL STRIKWERDA

ne of the most important lessons that all of us have to learn in life is how to get out of our own self-centeredness and realize that we are members of a larger community, one that depends on respect for other people and people taking responsibility for their own actions. We must treat others as we would like to be treated. Nowhere is that more true than at a college. We are here to learn, to help others learn and to protect everyone’s right to develop their talents. Learning cannot happen in a place where people are subjected to discrimination, lack of respect or bullying. All of us thrive as members of a community. Tearing down others or dismissing them simply because of their skin color, ethnic background, religion, gender or sexual orientation destroys community. We can thrive in a community, however, if we stand together and speak out against bigotry when we see it and embrace the diversity of our community as one of its strengths. Elizabethtown College has demonstrated thousands of examples of service to the world. Our alumni are active as peacemakers, creators of businesses and non-profit organizations, teachers, engineers, scientists, artists and people in a hundred other walks of life who make a difference in the world. Here, they learned what they needed to live lives of service. We who teach, learn and carry on the myriad other tasks that make a college flourish have to build on that tradition. We can only do so if we dedicate ourselves to treating others as fellow members of a community. We must treat everyone with respect. We must speak up when we see or hear anything that hurts or bullies or harasses others. I trust that the entire College community will be a part of a renewed effort this year to embrace our diverse backgrounds and stand up for inclusion, not divisiveness. Last spring, our bonds of community were damaged because a few individuals, both students and non-students, most of them anonymous, wrote or spoke words of hate. I ask everyone on campus to do what they can to help ensure that these kinds of incidents do not happen again. I also want the College community as a whole to know that many people on campus have been working to ensure this. Thank you to everyone who has spoken out, attended a workshop, offered their support for those who have been hurt or taken other positive steps. Below are

the

Sound Off “I think it’s really cool to have it, because it is a taste of a different culture. It’s fun to diversify your menu beyond the typical burger and fries.” Alivia Schaeffer ’17

some of the actions that the College has taken. Additional efforts will be made to ensure our community continues to thrive and embrace our collective differences. Please support Campus Diversity Advocates and others working for positive solutions, speak up and speak out against any incidents of hate or bias and live your lives here on campus as examples of respect and community. • Senior Staff has committed to making inclusive excellence a top priority for its work this year and to monitor progress regularly at Senior Staff meetings. • The Human Resources office has identified a new staff person who will have diversity recruitment as a major part of her responsibilities. • An Anti-Defamation League “Campus of Difference” workshop was offered in August for 50 faculty and staff; a second workshop is scheduled for Oct. 7. • A campus-wide conference on inclusive excellence is planned for January 2014 during Martin Luther King, Jr. Week. Currently, we hope to have a special workshop on promoting inclusive excellence for student leaders as part of the conference. • More opportunity for dialogue about bias and college values was added to new student orientation. • The College is working to introduce an 800 number hotline for incident reporting. • A “bias-related” category was added to our online incident report form. • Residence Life has expanded its programs to promote a welcoming campus for all. • The US Dept. of Justice and the PA Human Relations Commission are scheduled to offer training this fall involving Police–Minority Community Relations. • Campus Security is upgrading its ability to investigate incidents promptly and thoroughly. • Athletics is working with staff members in Student Life to provide training to recognize and combat bias for all of our student athletes. • I am encouraged by the progress that we have made to recognize and combat bias on campus and to promote inclusive excellence. Thank you to everyone who makes this a strong and supportive campus community. Let us all dedicate ourselves anew to the ideals that this College has stood for. We can thrive in a community if we all stand together.

What do you think of the Marketplace’s Mongolian Grill?

“It’s good. It adds some variety. I’m okay with it switching off with the pasta bar. I wish they had fried egg, though.” Owen Howson ’14 with Andrew Cappelli ’14

Compiled by KATIE BRUMBACH

“I like it in the fact that it’s a different and healthy option. It’s kind of like Chinese food, so that’s great!” Martha Klingbeil ’15

page 7

Facebook: ‘like’ it or leave it by ABIGAIL PISKEL

hat once started as a social media site just for college students, the Facebook demographic has changed drastically since its beginning. Now, anyone in the world has access to this website without having to lie about their age or occupation to become a member. There are no restrictions or limitations; it is a free-for-all. From sharing personal information like gender and birthdays to status updates and pictures, Facebook was made as a place for people to connect with one another. I think it is pretty safe to say that most of us have or have had a Facebook account, but what we choose to do with that account varies from person to person. Some people choose to use Facebook just to post pictures, ranging from the ever-famous “selfies” to what trip they just went on. Others are status-happy and feel the need to post about every move they make because they think the world needs to know exactly what they’re doing. Some of us just log on to our accounts so we can scroll through our newsfeed and “creep” on whatever person we feel like stalking. We have all done it, so there is no reason to be ashamed; sometimes it just happens unintentionally. Since pictures and statuses are the main functions of Facebook, people take advantage of the tools provided. We all have that one friend who takes the “What’s on your mind?” question way too seriously. They go off on tangents and start some unnecessary problems with their friends that they probably do not even really know in real life, and we all sit back, relax and watch the Internet arguments occur. While I personally find fighting over the Internet a huge waste of time, that does not mean people do not do it. Then, we all have that friend that posts every picture they have ever taken in their lifetime. We have all seen pictures of parties we did not attend, trips we were not on and the endless amounts of self-shots. I would not necessarily say that one function is used more than the other, because it really is up to the user. Of course, there is always that one friend who decides to use both tools to the maximum, which can get irritating really fast, but, regardless, I don’t feel that one function is used more favorably. While Facebook is widely known, there are other social media sites that are used just as much. I believe these other sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Vine are becoming more popular than Facebook. Each site allows you to perform almost all of the same functions as Facebook. However, the person who always Tweets, Vines or posts a new Instagram picture tends to not get as annoying as the person that is always updating their Facebook. Another huge factor that I think plays a part in the rise of these other social media sites is the smartphone. I personally feel like it is easier to take a quick scroll through the tweets and pictures than it is to log in to your Facebook and go through that newsfeed. These other sites are also made for the purpose of a smartphone, so it is more convenient for the user. The Internet is all about fast and easy. If there is one thing I think we can always count on, it is the fact that technology and social media will always be evolving. I am sure we all remember when we had an AOL screen name and spent our nights chatting to our friends on AIM. Next, there was the Myspace phase that we all went through. However, just because these newer sites are just as popular, I do not think that Facebook is going anywhere any time soon. It has been holding its own through the years and is constantly changing to stay up to date. I think there will come a time when the world will be saying “Do you remember Facebook?” just like they did when Myspace and AOL were coming to an end, but I do not see that happening any time soon. Even if we don’t go on Facebook a thousand times a day, we still check it at least once or twice a week. We are addicted to the Internet like it is going out of style. We share our lives on the web even though we know it is not always the smartest or safest decision to make. It is how our generation is, and it will continue through the generations to come. Facebook may not be forever, but I think it will be here to stay longer than we think.

Opinion

page 8

September 12, 2013

First steps: first-year students explore their surroundings and I switched sides so our other hands might dry out for a while. I admit the entire first-year parade through heers to all the peer mentors who resolutely the town seemed Pied Piper-ish at first; somesprinted and squealed with enthusiasm one in front had the water bottles, and therefore during the First-Year Walk. You can hold me the control over us thirsty, confused first-years. responsible for any intense suffering in the heat But before I dismissed this experience as one of that day, and I especially apologize to my fellow little value, I saw that we had already entered first-years for bringing beach-necessary weather the town. to a place devoid of beaches; driving to PennSuddenly, it was an array of romantic brick sylvania from Florida, I didn’t really believe that buildings, shops and flowers that held my the 80-degree weather would follow me. undivided attention, and neither heat nor disAt first, orientation seemed disorienting in a comfort was occupying my thoughts. Why had way; countless activities left me in an unsteady I never processed all this beauty here before? yet happy flurry of excitement. I was curious It reminded me of where I grew up in upstate about the seemingly calm idea of a First-Year New York, and it just felt like home. Most of Walk, especially since the corners of my peer us had been looking through the car windows mentors’ mouths playfully curved into smiles at at our new town as we arrived for move-in, but any mention of the event. Did they know somecars still act as a barrier between a person and thing they weren’t revealing to us? I thought the experience of creation and culture beyond perhaps this tradition was more than just a time the machine. Being on the first-year walk gave to lazily walk into town and window-shop, that me an opportunity to engage in the town, its people and my fellow students rather than passively watching it through a window. That walk allowed my new classmates and I to experience the personal charm of E lizab et htow n by each step and in detail; regardless of how much I had seen through my car’s windows as I arrived for orientation, I discovered that there are always more delightful scenes from a pedestrian’s perspective. In spite of my original, “Oh this is silly,” type of attitude about holding hands and marching in line Photo: Danilo Yabut through the town, I The first-year walk takes the class of 2017 through the town, a tradition that brings the group into the smiled and couldn’t help but laugh when campus community. Businesses offered special deals to all of the first-years on the walk.

by TIANA FERRANTE

a nice little walk was too out of place with the liveliness of other orientation events. I wanted to know exactly what this tradition was before we continued its history. Unfortunately, my peer mentors were not vulnerable to my attempt at a puppy dog face, so I impatiently waited until all the other peer groups congregated outside to discover why the First-Year Walk was so important. Then we were put into rows like in Madeline, and instructed to hold hands with someone of the opposite sex next to us. I have come to the absolute conclusion that nothing really chips away at barriers to friendship like hand holding for 15 minutes and mumbling about “how awkward this is.” After apologizing to my fellow first-years for the perspiration that caused our hands to slip around in each other’s grasp, I heard brave students whispering about how happy they’ll be when they’re independent sophomores. “Yes!” I initially agreed, as the girl on the other side of my hand holding partner

the Turntable: “Art Pop” by Lady Gaga

PUT YOUR RECORDS ON

Rating: Where does art cross the line into exploitation? Fasten your seatbelts, because we’re about to find out.

onto my cell phone voice mail mes- keeps her audiences in a suspendedWelcome back Jays another of Put Your Resage. As an aside, thetoonly thingsfabulous motion,installment self-love pop-trance. I was On. “kind of new busy”readers, with in I2009 is the the hardmusic realityI love of theand cords For usually This talk about wereyou playing soccer and taking the music industry. Gaga is not conelcome back, Jays, to another think might like: why would I waste your time with anything SATs, but I digress. sidered a manipulative music giant fabulous installment Putwill be taking a different focus as I ask you to think critically about substandard? Today, however,ofwe If I was so obsessed, what could but a shrewd businesswoman who Your Records On. For new readers, the music industry machine, and whathave it’s happened been cranking out lately. There is no better time to question to lose me as a fan? uses her shape-shifting identity to I usually talk about the music I love yourand society thanmight when you in college: you are inmea that community are in some capacity Gaga reminded the musicof learners enshroudwho her next target audience think you like; whyare would examining and rearranging their understanding of their worldview every day. Before I have to hand out a I waste your time with anything industry is a machine, and she is with the embrace of her “art” in a conductor feeds music substandard? however, syllabus with thisToday, article, I’ll justwe cut to the chase.who Today’s topic:sales Lady order Gaga.to climb ever higher. This is revenue from “outcast” fans into the arguably the goal of all pop music will be taking a different focus as I ask you to think critically about engine that drives pop culture. Yes, sensations if they want to stay visthe music industry machine and that’s a bit dramatic, but stick with ible. What I think Gaga has lost “Born This Way” came in had sightjust of isdropped the reality of life for the her it’s been crankingtoout lately. what I began listening Lady Gagame. in 2008. Her album, Theout Fame, and it was 2011. I was disenchanted with Gaga fans. Flash forward to 2013: enter There no pop-addicted, better time to question genesis ofisthe shock-inducing, platinum-selling years that would follow the avant-garde at this time, still shaking my head Gaga’s “Art Pop.” Art Pop, which is your society than when you singer from New York City. I are wasinhooked. “Just Dance,” “Paparazzi,” “Pokerface”—the whole album college; you are in a community of over the “meat dress” incident of set to drop in November, is billed was learners my favorite. The songs were catchy, the lyrics were absurd, Lady Gaga herself was an enigma and who are in some capacity 2010, but I thought, “Wow, what a to be Gaga’s exploration of music whatever she produced I wanted it. The Famemessage. MonsterSelf-acceptance. debuted the following and height of Gaga beautiful with heryear, friends as the pop-superstars. examining and rearranging their craze was upon us.of“Bad everythat.” a capella ever, “Alejandro” wasGaga played Yes, remixed I can getby behind What group As part of this “exploration,” understanding their Romance” worldview was broke me was that her fans paid for portrays the character of a Muslim every radio day. Before havepart to hand on every stationI and of “Telephone” was recorded onto my cell phone voice mail message. As thisbusy” albumwith withinthe price of their woman andand dons a burqa, men- but out a syllabus with this article, I’ll of an aside, the only things I was “kind 2009 were playing soccer taking the as SAT’s, just cut to the chase. Today’s topic: dignity. Gaga took their need for tioned in the track “Burqa/Aura.” I digress. pop-saturated self-acceptance all In “Burqa/Aura,” Gaga proposiLady Gaga. the way to the bank. tions men to look behind the veil or I began listening to Lady Gaga We see this with television a lot: “aura” of her burqa in what can only in 2008. Her album, The Fame, had just dropped, and it was the shows create characters that are be construed as an attempt to sexu If I was so obsessed, what could have happened to lose me as a fan? Gaga reminded me that the genesis of the pop-addicted, shock- underrepresented in popular media. alize the religious garment for her music industryplatinum-selling is a machine and she isWhen a conductor, whoidentify feeds music people who with sales own revenue purposes.from Again,“outcast” Gaga has fans no inducing, years into that the engine that drives pop culture. Yes,groups that’stune a bitin,dramatic, but stick with me. “Born This Way” those there’s a spike connection to this community, nor would follow the avant-garde the ratings, regardless of the qualdoesmy she head explore the the existing narracame out in 2011. Gaga at this time, still shaking over “meat dress” singer from NewI was Yorkdisenchanted City. I was inwith of the narrative. message. Gaga is smart, tives of Muslim In this way, hooked. “Just Dance,” “Paparazzi,” incident of 2010, but I thought “wow,ity what a beautiful Self-acceptance, yeswomen. I can get behind and she knows this. While I know she is again exploiting an audience. “Pokerface”— the whole album that.” What broke me was that her fans paid for this album with the price of their dignity. Gaga took their was my favorite. The songs were she has created the Born This Way This time she is misappropriating need for pop-saturated self-acceptance all the way to the bank. catchy, the lyrics were absurd, Lady Foundation for anti-bullying and elements of a group’s religious idenGaga herself was an enigma and has done much to bring awareness tity as her own fashion statement or whatever she produced I wanted to the plight of the LGBTQ+ com- link to her sexual identity in order to it. The Fame Monster debuted the munity, she hasn’t done much else garner attention. By sexualizing the We see this with television a lot: shows create characters that are underrepresented in popular following year, and the height of to truly make things better for them. burqa, Gaga attempts to translate media. people groups tuneher in,audience there’s a spike in into the an ratings, regardless Shethose doesn’t empower the garb acceptable form forof the When Gaga craze waswho uponidentify us. “Badwith the quality of was the narrative. anda stand she knows this. While has created to take for themselves or I know massesshe of people who dothe notBorn even Romance” remixed byGaga every is a smart she simply asks them to keepawareness understand behind group ever, “Alejandro” was others, Thiscapella Way Foundation for anti-bullying and has done much to bring to the the significance plight of the LGBTQ being themselves. This is a valid the burqa, continuing to make ignoplayed on every radio station and community, she hasn’t done much else to truly make things better for this. She doesn’t empower her audipart of “Telephone” was recorded message, but ultimately one that rance acceptable.

by ALEXA VISCARDI

ence to take a stand for themselves or others, she simply asks them to keep being themselves. This is a valid message, but ultimately one that keeps her audiences in a suspended-motion self-love pop

“Enthusiasm is contagious. No matter what I felt at the beginning of the walk, I noticed how much others’ zeal amplified mine in the end. ”

~ Tiana Ferrante

felt at the beginning of the walk, I noticed how much others’ zeal amplified mine in the end. These upperclassmen weren’t laughing at us as I had thought in the beginning; they were spending time with us, inviting us to feel welcomed into the Blue Jay community. Without what we initially believed to be a seemingly ridiculous trek through the town, many of us would not have met the hospitable shop owners and porch-sitting people who are our new neighbors. Being at liberty to meander in and out of places like Folklore and Rita’s, we first-years mingled with people outside of our familiar peer groups. Add new friends who were forced to share my company to the equation, and sweaty hand holding actually seems okay. While I am intent on improving my puppy dog face for persuading siblings to watch British romance movies back home, I don’t think I’ll need it very much around here. I’ve learned to trust my peer mentors, and even though I may not want to attend certain events at first, I will have to remind myself that there are yet unrevealed benefits to taking a first step in participation even on the hottest of days.

Forgetting to bring what truly matters

On theTurntable: “Art Pop” by Lady Gaga Rating: Where does art cross the line into exploitation? Fasten your seatbelts, because we’re about to find out.

some first-years were summoned from our troop to squeal and yell happily to us in some peer mentor’s car. It was less of a “walk” and more of a parade, complete with energized people acting as if Blue Jays were something closer to celebrities than mascots. The attention we were given made the uneven brick walkway resemble a red carpet. Enthusiasm is contagious. No matter what I

by MATTHEW WALTERS

e’ve all been there before. You’re unpacking all of your belongings on move-in day, and something seems amiss. Towels? Check. Folders? Check. Your brand new guitar that you wanted to show off at the next Soul Café? Check. You think of all the important things you might have forgotten — things that you absolutely need to survive the semester. Maybe you forgot your trusty flyswatter, slayer of aerial assailants and eight-legged entities within your humble abode. Without it, the creepy-crawlies will go unchecked. That fly buzzing around might distract you from writing your eight-page paper tonight. That moth on the windowsill could flutter dangerously close to your precious laptop. Your room has become a serious danger zone. Maybe you forgot your Family Guy poster. That bare wall in your room? You’ll just have to deal with it. Peter Griffin’s golfballsized eyeballs won’t be looking your way this semester. Can you bring yourself to get another poster to replace it with, or will the wall above your desk remain blank forever? Where’s that good old-fashioned poster on which you used to rely? Maybe you forgot your Playstation controller. Of course you have the game system itself, but not the controller that you need to play the game. You can’t do anything about that massive urge to play FIFA. You’ll have to spend your eventless Thursday evenings doing something else, like socializing or — perish the thought — reading. Someone down the hall had better lend you a spare controller, or the semester might be too much to handle. Maybe you forgot your favorite pen — the one made by the company your uncle works at. He’s your favorite uncle, and you hardly ever see him now that he’s living in California. Every penstroke reminds you of him, and you won’t be able to take notes in class without feeling like you have betrayed him. How could you have forgotten something so important? Or maybe none of that stuff matters at all. We all forget things. We all complain about our first-world problems. It’s easy to get annoyed about the minor annoyances in life, like forgetting that poster or desk lamp. But it’s all so trivial. A trip to the store and a little spending money can remedy your forgetfulness any day. College, like any other adventure, is less about what you bring with you and more about the things you experience and the people you meet. Maybe by asking around for that an extra Playstation controller, you’ll find your greatest rival at FIFA. Maybe by studying out in the lounge for a change, you’ll get to know that girl down the hall that you’ve never talked to. The real essence of college is immaterial. Don’t beat yourself up if you forget something that you think matters—or you might forget what really matters. You’re living out the best four years of your life. Time won’t stop for that missing flyswatter. Neither should you.

September 12, 2013

Global literacy builds morality, increases knowledge, awareness

Opinion

page 9

by ANDREW HERM

y favorite comedian, Bill Hicks, had a bit that went a little something like this: he’s on tour in the great American South sitting in a diner, drinking coffee and reading a book. The waitress, a middle-aged woman chewing gum and fighting through her drawl asks him, “Whatchu readin’ for?” Not what are you reading, but what are you reading for. Now, I’m secure enough in my bigotry to admit that joke makes me giggle for a number of reasons, but there’s also a sobering aspect that makes this scenario, presented as a depiction of early 90s America, pertinent to today: literacy and, what I feel is even more important, the desire to read. Peruse your nearest CIA-sponsored World Factbook, and you’ll see that we’re using the working criteria of “must be over the age of 15, able to read and write” to deem whether someone is literate or not. There’s no fine print explaining the degree of competency required to be considered literate, which, if you’ve spent a week’s time in a classroom on the college level, you’ll realize would be a nice little footnote they could add in, but you’re paying too much attention, reader. Anyway, by the barebones standards of international literacy, the United States of America comes in at 99 percent. We did it! Now, if you hold that 99 percent up to the list of the top GDPs in the world, you’ll be giddy to see that the USA comes in at our rightful first place atop the countries of the United Nations, and second only to the European Union on the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and CIA Factbook lists. Overall, strong showing for us. This may lead you down the path of correlating literacy and economic success — “Reading means the accruement of knowledge, knowledge is power (says Sir Francis Bacon), and in today’s society, the people with money are powerful. Reading leads to money and power!” And then you remember Greece, with their 96 percent literacy rate, and how happy people are with their economic situation. Maybe these two things are unrelated, and that’s a terrible example, and I’ve lost the argument. That’s okay, because here’s where the propaganda comes in: reading will make you a better — more complete, perhaps not more morally sound — person. Your reaction to a text, fictional or not, will dictate more important information to you than the text itself; through learning about whatever the text is trying to teach or impart to you, you’re learning about you. How you process

Photo: shortfacts.com

Global literacy, the topic of the first-year Common Read, had the College discussing literacy in the United States and abroad. Discussion has centered around the question: is it the job of educated nations to share the wealth?

information, thoughts and ideas, apply them to your life and then ultimately form your own thoughts and opinions is a penultimate occurrence in the two-way street that the learning experience should be. Let’s talk about Tom Sawyer, because he’s kind of a jerk. In Twain’s “Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” the gratuitous usage of the “n-word” makes it one of the more racially-charged novels that’s considered to be worth any sort of merit and is therefore commonplace in American literature canon. Because of aforementioned racial slurs, sometimes even thrown around by young Tom himself, one of the many themes and topics of debate students often tackle is the question of whether the novel as a whole is racist or not — how you react to the presence of bigotry and racism, how you process and justify to yourself the presence and inclusion of those themes and how you formulate an opinion of the novel based on your conclusions has you meeting the reading process in the middle. And it tells you so much more about that topic, theme, argument, yourself and life than any novel ever could. This is what we need. We need people taking texts, working

their way through them and asking, “What does this mean? What does this mean for me?” If, by my definition, the reading process will result in some form of higher self-awareness, and we have folks running around with knowledge based on not only external sources — books, magazines, the Internet, etc. — but internal ones as well, then we’ve got the chance to live in a society, nationally and internationally, that at the very least can promise itself its decisions are steeped in a consciously-aware effort to seek out what it intellectually and morally aligns itself with. To reiterate: knowledge is power. Knowledge is accrued through the processing of information imparted on you by some sort of experience; let’s use the novel idea of that experience being reading. While trying to avoid an “America is the best ever” spin on things, let’s acknowledge that we, via our infinite resources in the form of libraries, archives and the Internet, have all of the information ever accrued by our species at our fingertips. We have a responsibility to share that knowledge, to share that power, through emphasizing the importance of and promoting reading and literacy across the world.

Out-of-class experiences provide learning opportunities by NATHANIEL MARLOWE

any of Elizabethtown College’s first-year students find the transition from high school to college challenging. One of the most stressful aspects is the workload, particularly the requirements for the first-year seminars. All firstyear students should realize that in-class requirements account for three credit hours of the first-year seminar, but out-of-class requirements account for the fourth credit hour. The College requires all firstyear students to attend seven outof-class events and reflect on them in a journal document in order to fulfill the fourth credit hour. Events that students may attend for class

credit include panel discussions, lectures and fine arts events such as plays or concerts on campus. The most popular of these events are the educational sessions on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. It is common for new students to wonder why they have to attend these events. Some believe that they are just a laundry list of things to do. I think it is important for any student to realize that they are thought-provoking experiences. When I was a first-year student, my favorite events to attend were the films shown on campus as part of the College’s Diversity Film Festival, a film series that promotes strong moral values and social justice. One of the films shown was

Sidney Lumet’s 1957 film, “Twelve Angry Men,” one of my favorite movies of all time. Since studying film is a passion of mine, I took advantage of this opportunity to watch the film for class credit. But I watched it solely from a filmmaker’s perspective. I missed the point of why the College was showing the film—to explore the issue of social justice. By reflecting on the film through this new perspective, I gained a deeper appreciation and love for the film beyond how it was made. Dr. Jeffery Long, professor of religion and Asian studies, reflected on his experiences as a college student by saying, “I had wonderful courses in college, but some of my more memorable experiences were

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the talks I went to by outside speakers, or cultural experiences like plays and films; those are equally educational.” In years past, the College required all first-year students to go to the same events. Over the years, the College has improved the first-year experience by allow-

“College isn’t just classes. College is all of the experiences you have.” ~ Jeffery Long

ing students to choose the events they would like to attend. Long believes that “with more flexibility and freedom, you get more valuable experiences.” Long created a list of 18 events for the students in his first-year seminar to choose from. Long’s students can receive credit for attending seven of these approved events. Long supports his idea by saying, “I have picked events that I think are valuable to them. I assign things because they are things that I would be excited about doing, and I would hope that they would also benefit from that.” Perhaps the most stressful aspect for students is reflecting on events to prove that they actually learned outside of the classroom. Sophomore Jaclyn Farrell said, “I enjoyed the OCLEs last year. However, sometimes I felt that during the events, I found myself scrambling down notes and worrying about writing the analysis, to the point where I was unable to enjoy the events as much I had hoped to.” Dr. Michael Swanson, associate professor of theatre and dance, believes that students should focus on the events rather than taking notes. “I know that if I want to

best remember an event that I am attending, I take notes on it,” said Swanson. “I have to remember that in doing so, to not focus on the notes; that is secondary to the event that I am watching. If I sit here all the time with my head bowed down looking at my notepad to take notes on, I’m not watching the event; I’m only hearing it.” Unfortunately, many students only attend these events because the College requires them to do so for first-year seminar credit. Some may also feel that they have nothing to gain by attending these events. Swanson posed the question, “How could you possibly know until you go?” Swanson then explained, “We learn by experiencing things with others. Since this campus provides so many opportunities of ways to learn by doing so, we should subscribe to them.” Perhaps the College should not require students to attend these events for class credit. However, many students might not take advantage of these opportunities if they were optional. Dr. Long believes that students who skip these events “miss out on what could really be an enriching experience. The whole point, especially in the context of the first-year seminar, is to get people excited about college, and college isn’t just classes. College is all of the experiences you have.” Since the College puts so much time and effort into organizing these events to provide students with fulfilling experiences, students should take advantage of them. The four years a student spends in college is a time to develop a deeper interest, understanding and passion for what they are learning. The out-of-class events are excellent outlets for students to develop their interests as well as to gain a much better understanding of the real world.

Men’s soccer falls in double overtime to nationally-ranked team, prepares for F&M by MATTHEW SHANK

in Etown athletics... The fall season began with a bang for many of the teams on campus. Both the men and women’s cross country teams were victorious in their first races of the season at Gettysburg College. Their dominance continued at Shippensburg University the following week. Both teams finished in the top five, with the women taking first place in their division. The volleyball team (6-3) started off the season strong with two early MAC victories over Albright and Lycoming colleges. Both matches were won three sets to one. Men’s soccer began preparation for its final season in the MAC Commonwealth Conference with a tough out-of-conference schedule. The team competed to a 2-2 draw with the tenth-ranked team in the nation — the University of Scranton. The same could not be said for the Blue Jay Classic, as the team dropped two contests against Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Carnegie Mellon University. Women’s soccer continued to turn their season around after dropping their first three contests by rolling off two straight victories over Immaculata University and Franklin & Marshall College. The Blue Jays outscored their opponents 10-0 in the victories.

in the NCAA... College football began with big upsets in its first weekend of play. Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams showed that they could battle with their big brothers in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with multiple victories early in the season. Eastern Washington defeated the then twenty-fifth-ranked team in the nation, the Oregon State Beavers. Top contenders also competed to gain a fast track to the Bowl Championship Series’ championship game. In a Southeastern Conference (SEC) battle, Georgia defeated Jadeveon Clowney and the South Carolina Gamecocks. This victory came just a week after Georgia fell to Clemson in their season opener.

in the pros... The NFL began its regular season with seven teams employing new coaches. The most anticipated of these coaches is Chip Kelly of the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelly left the University of Oregon to bring his highly potent offense to the NFL. Many analysts were skeptical as to whether Kelly’s offense, which had only been attempted in college, would translate to the professional ranks. This question was answered on Monday night as the Eagles defeated the Washington Redskins 33-27. The Eagles finished with over 400 yards of total offense in the victory.

his year marks the Blue Jays’ last season in the MAC Commonwealth Conference before next year’s move to the Landmark Conference. Before meeting their fellow conference teams on the field, they must first battle a few non-conference opponents. The Blue Jays (1-2-1) head to Franklin & Marshall College (4-0-0) on Friday to take on the Diplomats for the thirty-sixth annual Battle of the Boot — a game played every season between Etown and Franklin & Marshall for possession of the Smith-Herr Boot. The Blue Jays will face a definite challenge against the undefeated Diplomats. F&M has won the Boot the past two years and has yet to concede a single goal in 2013. Etown looks to improve on their 26-10-3 alltime series record against F&M, but will need to keep the Diplomat’s senior forward Ben Beaver off the scoresheet. Beaver has had five goals in four games so far this season. Looking further ahead, the Blue Jays have some tough competition. They will take on non-conference opponents Neumann, Misericordia, Susquehanna and Wilkes universities before beginning conference play at Ira R. Herr Field against Albright College on Oct. 5. Etown was ranked third in the MAC Commonwealth Conference men’s soccer preseason poll behind Lebanon Valley College, and arch-rivals, 2012 NCAA Division III National Champions Messiah College. The Blue Jays will face Messiah in the much-hyped and packed-with-tradition Etown-Messiah Game at home on Oct. 11. This game will be the final time the two teams will meet as conference rivals. The Blue Jays started out this season in good form. At a Labor Day tournament in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, the Blue Jays held tenth-ranked, future Landmark Conference rivals University of Scranton to a 2-2 (2OT) draw before edging out King’s College (Pa.) 1-0 the next day. Senior forward Luis Devia was the star of the tournament. He scored Etown’s second goal against Scranton to put the team up 2-1 in the seventysixth minute and scored the lone gamewinning goal for the Blue Jays against King’s. For his efforts, he was named

Photo: Robert Graham

Men’s soccer finished 2-2 against nationally-ranked University of Scranton. Before losing 1-2 to Rochester Institute of Technology and 0-1 to Carnegie Mellon University, the team was victorious against King’s College with a score of 1-0. This brings their current record to 1-2-1.

Commonwealth Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Week for the first week of the 2013 season. Devia is the first Etown player to receive the honor since junior forward Eric Borkowicz earned the honor in Oct. 2011. The Blue Jays faced off against Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Carnegie Mellon last weekend in the Brothers Pizza Blue Jay/Red Devil Classic at Ira R. Herr Field. In Saturday’s game against RIT, the Tigers struck first in the thirty-fifth minute, and they added a second goal in the fifty-seventh minute to make the score 2-0. The Blue Jays were able to get a goal back in the seventy second minute when first-year Brent Batory played a ball past the Tigers across the goalmouth, and junior Andrew Sandridge was able to slip

the ball just inside the right goalpost for his first goal of the season. Despite controlling the last 30 minutes, the Blue Jays could not find a way in behind the Tigers’ defense, and they fell to RIT by a score of 2-1. Sunday’s game against Carnegie Mellon University did not yield a better result for the Blue Jays, as Etown lost their second straight game, this time by a score of 1-0. Rodrigo Barrera tried his best to keep Etown in the game. The sophomore goalkeeper from São Paulo, Brazil, faced 23 shots and recorded ten saves on the day, but an intercepted pass in the defensive half led to the only goal Carnegie Mellon would need. The Blue Jays’ next home game will take place against Nuemann at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Cross country teams finish strong at alumni challenge Program begins campaign for back-to-back championships, competes against Division II team by AMANDA ROBERTSON Elizabethtown College’s men’s and women’s cross country teams are already off to a great start for their 2013 season. Both teams attended the Galen E. Piper Alumni Open/ XC Challenge at Shippensburg University on Friday Sept. 6. Matt Rever, one of the senior

captains, said the conditions for racing were good, with nice weather and a flat course. Since this meet was at night, they were running under the lights, which was something new and exciting for both teams. Sophomore Matt Shenk led the men’s team, taking first place. Sophomore Zach Trama, junior Dan Gresh and senior Stephen Welsh put out top performances for the Blue Jays as well. The

Photo: David Sinclair

The women’s cross country team gathers prior to the start of the Galen E. Piper Alumni Open/XC Challenge at Shippensburg University. The men’s team finished third, while the women placed first.

men’s team had strong competition, because Shippensburg is a Division II team, but they managed to come in third place with 90 points. The women took first place with 38 points and had five girls in the top 12. The women were led by senior Traci Tempone, who took second place overall at the meet. Following Tempone was senior Eileen Cody who came in seventh, senior Megan Tursi coming in eighth and junior Amelia Tearnan taking ninth. Rever said the men’s team has a large and talented first-year class with a total of 14 new men added to the group. They only lost three seniors from last year, so they have a very solid group of runners this season. Some of the upperclassmen started their seasons with injuries, but the underclassmen have stepped up and haven’t let the injuries get in the way of any team goals. The men’s team started off their season ranked 35th in the nation and sixth in the region. Their goal is to win the MAC Conference for the fifth time in a row and get top four in the region to be able to make it to nationals. Elaina Nellis, a senior captain for the women’s team, said she is very excited to see how this season pans out, especially since there are 13 first-years. Because this is their last year competing in the MAC Conference, a goal for the women’s team is to leave the conference with a seventh straight win. Nellis

said winning the MAC Championship this year would be very special to all the seniors, who would be able to walk away with four MAC Championships. Further goals for the women’s team would be to make it back to Nationals and beat the top 12 place they had when the seniors were first-years. The women’s team started off their season ranked 31st in the nation and fourth in the region. The Blue Jays have set their goals for the season and have a supportive coaching staff to make sure they accomplish them. Head Coach Brian Falk and Assistant Coach Jeremy Matula ‘09 are joined this year by Assistant Coach Jamie McCollum. McCollum graduated from Shippensburg University in 2012, where she ran cross country and track and acquired an astounding “track record.” She competed in the 2011 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships and earned All-American honors on the track. She has a great deal of experience with and knowledge of being a student athlete, and the team is very excited to have her as their new assistant coach. With 13 first-years on the women’s team, 14 first-years on the men’s team and a new assistant coach, there is plenty of new talent among the already strong ECXC family. Follow and show support for these teams as they embark on their last year in the MAC Conference and continue their exciting journey to championships and nationals.

Young team’s victory over Immaculata drives momentum by BRIAN LUKACSY

he Elizabethtown College women’s soccer team entered this year with high expectations to duplicate, as well as improve on, last year’s success. The Blue Jays ended last year with an impressive 10-3-6 record before falling on penalty kicks to Stevenson University in the semifinals of the Commonwealth Conference Championships. This year the Jays enter the season in a second place tie with Stevenson in the preseason conference poll. However, the injury bug has hit the team hard in the early part of the season. “We had high expectations before we had a rash of injuries that

hit us, especially in the defense,” Head Coach Jason Petronis said. With the loss of four starters from last year’s team and the numerous injuries that have hit the Blue Jays, the team is looking for answers to fill those holes. “We are kind of relearning our roles on the team and we’re really thin on defense. Basically what we’re trying to do is solidify the defense and regroup and move forward,” Petronis said. “I think we will be okay, but we will have to go through some growing pains before we get there.” With the loss of a few key players, some of the younger Blue Jays are getting their chance to gain invaluable experience. “[Our first-year class] is a good

Trainer seeks to enhance student athlete experience by MANDY SHECKARD

inston Churchill once said, “To change is to improve.” Bridget Spooner MS, LAT, ATC is bettering the Sports Medicine program with the change she is creating. Spooner joins Elizabethtown College as our new head athletic trainer and has already fit into her role in the short time she has been at the College. Miss Bridget, as many of our athletes call her, is a native of Canton, New York. She studied her undergraduate at Springfield College, earning a bachelor of science degree in athletic training with a minor in business management. She then traveled to Arizona to attend her top choice for graduate school, A.T. Still University. She earned a post-professional master’s degree in athletic training and will also be completing her terminal degree in three years.

“It was incredibly important to me to make the athletic training room more functional for the amount of athletes that are treated at one time.” ~ Bridget Spooner

Spooner came to Etown with extensive professional experience and knowledge. In the past seven years, she has worked several national sporting events, in addition to working at ESPN Wide World of Sports and for an independent professional baseball league. Her experience, across several different sports and handling numerous types of athletic injuries and illnesses, makes her a good candidate for the diversity of athletic offerings here at Etown. Since her arrival in August, Spooner has made many changes. The sports medicine facility has been repainted and rearranged. Spooner believes rearranging the equipment in the main area will increase functionality. “It was incredibly important to me to make the athletic training room more functional for the amount

of the athletes that are treated at one time,” Spooner said. She has also instituted new policies that create a safer and more sanitary environment for all those who use the facilities. Some general rules include showering before using the hot or cold whirlpools, washing hands before getting ice and always remembering to sign in. While these policies seem obvious, they are sometimes hard to remember, especially with the busy lifestyle of a student athlete. “Athletic training rooms are healthcare facilities. Keeping a clean environment when treating over 350 student athletes is imperative to reducing the spread of disease,” said Spooner. Previously, the athletic training room designated specific hours for rehabilitation; Spooner added scheduling rehabilitation times. “Scheduling rehabilitation affords us the opportunity to give personalized attention and care to each patient,” Spooner said. “It also reduces the flow of athletes in the athletic training room at one time.” In fact, these changes have aided in lowering the traffic that is in the athletic training room at one time. Junior and fall athlete Kyle Fowler agreed, stating, “It’s just a lot easier to get taped when you don’t have seven people doing rehab at the same time; it’s a lot more convenient in my mind.” Spooner also sits on the Safety Committee and Campus Wellness Committee, and she has been named as the new advisor to the Student Athlete Mentor (SAM) program. The SAM program was implemented in an effort to aid student athletes and their peers with a point of reference when needing help seeking information or support. SAMs also act as a liaison between the athletes and staff. In addition, the program encourages academic achievement, social responsibility and general life skills awareness amongst students. Jess White, a junior and current SAM, stated, “I’m really excited to work with Bridget; she likes to get involved, and I think she’ll be really helpful with getting done what we want to accomplish this year.” Spooner is currently taking on her first event with the SAMs, FirstYear Athlete Night, which will take place in mid-September.

Sept. 12

Sept. 13 @ Susquehanna vs. Moravian

Men’s soccer @ Franklin and Marshall

class, and they’re getting a lot of playing time,” said Petronis. “Our success isn’t 100 percent relying on their successes on the field, but because of the injuries we have had, we kind of have been put in that position where we are leaning on them a little bit. The better they do, the better we’re going to do.” After coming up on the losing end of their first two games of the season in the Cyclone Kickoff Classic at Centenary College, the Blue Jays looked to bounce back with two games this past week. Last Wednesday, the team hit the road to take on York College in a non-conference match-up. The Blue Jays were never really able to get their offense going the way they wanted to, only registering two shots on goal in the first half of play. York’s Beth Bunn was able to beat Etown goalkeeper, first-year Caitlin Matus, in the 18th minute for the first goal of the game. It was a lead the Spartans would never surrender, and they would go on to win 2-1. Matus made seven saves on the evening of her first start in goal as a Blue Jay. Sophomore Kara Weller subbed in the seventyseventh minute and provided a few big scoring chances for the Jays. Her header in the eighty-third minute forced York’s goalkeeper, Melanie Glessner, to make a save, preserving the shutout for the time being. Etown’s lone goal was scored five minutes later in the eightyninth minute by sophomore Lauren Berry — a transfer from Division I Temple University; it was her second goal as a member of the Blue Jays. Sophomore Deanna Slater assisted Berry’s goal for her first assist of the season. The Jays were finally able to come home after a rough threegame stretch on the road to start

t he s e as on . T he y hosted Immaculata University on Satu rd ay w it h i n t he friendly confines of Ira R. Herr Field. This non-conference match-up quickly turned into an offensive onslaught with Etown registering three first-half goals en route to an 8-0 victory over the Mighty Macs. Berry got the scoring started early with a goal in the eighth minute, but she was far from done. She went on to score two more times in the second half, her fourth and fifth goals of the season. First-year Callie Photo: Robert Graham McClanahan scored Trisha Clark takes a corner kick in the first half twice, her first two of the Blue Jay’s 8-0 victory on Saturday, Sept. 7. goals as a Blue Jay, In order for everything to fall and sophomore Lauren Fredericks scored her second goal of the year. into place for the Blue Jays, the sucSenior Alyssa Koplin and Slater cess will have to start in practice. “[Practices] have definitely been also joined in on the scoring barrage, each scoring their first goals more intense this season, that’s of the 2013 season. Assisting in a for sure,” sophomore midfielder few of the team’s eight goals were Trisha Clark said. “Our work rate senior Alex Topa, sophomore Tri- has been much higher; that’s kind sha Clark and first-year Miriah of what we’re doing this season. Dwyer, all with one each. Sopho- We’re making sure we work hard mores Dana Robidoux and Matus and we think the games will take combined to secure the shutout for care of themselves.” “I think this team could go very the Blue Jays. With four of Etown’s next five far,” Clark said. “I know we had a non-conference games at home, rough start to the season, but with the Jays are looking to hit full the skill we have on this team, I stride before conference play hope we get a chance to play in the [NCAA] tournament.” starts. With the experienced youth and “There are some pretty darn good teams in that four out of five. leadership of this team, the Blue I always think we play the best on Jays are looking to play deep into grass and at home,” Petronis said. the fall.

by ADAM MOORE Senior forward Luis Devia continues to help power the Blue Jays’ offense this season. Recently named Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week, Devia tallied a goal in the Blue Jays’ first two games of the season. Devia is also second on the team, with five shots so far this season.

Photo: Athletic Department

In 10 years, I want to be … Successful and happy Hardly anyone knows that... I’m distantly related to Martin Fevre. Favorite Etown Memory: Deciding to join the soccer team. Greatest Etown accomplishment: Scored twice during my first-year season to win a game. Greatest soccer accomplishment: National championship with NPSL team FC Sonic I started playing soccer at age ...

Major: Biology Hometown: Cali, Colombia Favorite athlete/sports team: FC Barcelona Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Eggjay Favorite movie: Too many to just pick one! Favorite musician/band: Dave Mathews and Jimi Hendrix Favorite place to visit: Colombia

Sept. 14 vs. Delaware Valley @ Bridgewater Alumni Challenge Women’s soccer @ Eastern

Sept. 15 @ Bridgewater

Sept. 16

Sept. 17

Sept. 18 Men’s soccer vs. Neumann berg

vs. Muhlen-

@ Arcadia Women’s soccer vs. Moravian