Spring 2017 issue13

FEATURES Composer hosts master class | PAGE 5 CAMPUS LIFE How to survive college housing | PAGE 9

The Etownian

www.etownian.com

Vol. 113. Issue 13

Thursday, february 9, 2017

Study Abroad Office changes financial, scholarship policies

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by Emily Seiser Staff Writer

e c e nt ly, E l i z ab e t htow n C ol l e ge changed its study abroad financial policies.

According to the study abroad website, those who want to study abroad will pay the same tuition fee for a semester abroad as they pay at Etown with only two exceptions.

For programs through the American University Washington Semester Program as well as programs through The School for Field Studies, Etown students will have to pay the full cost of the program themselves.

Financial aid from the College will also

transfer in all cases except with those programs.

In addition, students must also now pay a small fee of $500 for affiliated programs and $1,000 for non-affiliated programs.

This allows students to keep any meritbased scholarships they may have and maintain their status as active students while not at Etown.

Students also have the option to contact professors and staff from Etown while abroad.

According to Assist ant D e an for Academic Achievement and Engagement Dr. Kyle Kopko, this decision was made after carefully assessing both Etown’s current policies, as well as the policies at other universities.

B o t h t h e A m e r i c a n Un i v e r s i t y

Washington Semester Program and The School for Field Studies are very expensive programs, and in order to continue to allow students to utilize these programs, the College chose to change its study abroad policies.

Kopko says that if the College would have continued to keep its old policy, “it would significantly affect our ability to offer other high-quality study abroad options.”

The second policy change with the fee will start in the Fall 2017 semester.

While a student is abroad, they not only have student status at their school abroad but at Etown, as well.

According to Kopko, paying this fee will allow students to be able to use the resources Etown has to offer.

These include services like the library dat abas es, Etown’s online network, academic advisors, professors and the staff in the Business and Financial Aid offices.

This fee will let students keep their financial aid package and apply it while abroad.

It will also allow them to keep it when they return to Etown.

The fee can also be waived under certain circumstances.

Kopko said one way this could be possible is for students to apply for a study abroad grant and have a financial need, which is decided by their financial aid package.

SEE ABROAD PAGE 3

College knitting club Alumni Council holds meeting, discusses future plans for College sponsors yarn drive

by Stephanie Miller News Editor

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he Elizabethtown College Alumni Council held its winter meeting this past Saturday, Feb. 4.

The Alumni Council meets four times per year and represents the entire Elizabethtown College Alumni Association (ECAA).

Saturday’s meeting took place in the Susquehanna Room in Myer Residence Hall at 9 a.m. A continental breakfast was available starting at 8:30 a.m.

About two dozen Alumni Council members were in attendance and several more participated over the phone and through social media.

Executive Director of C ollege Engagement Opportunities Mark Clapper started the meeting by wishing one member a happy birthday and welcoming new member and 2013 Etown graduate Kristen Lacaillade to the council.

Lacaillade recalled attending Alumni Council meetings as a Student Senate representative, saying such interactions “allow alums to hear from students in order to be involved with the College and be able to be a part of the College’s evolution.”

Clapper and Associate Professor of Japanese Dr. Mahua Bhattacharya updated the council members on many plans for the future of the College as a whole.

Before the meeting, each member was given a copy of the first draft of the College’s “Envision 2020” Strategic Plan.

Clapper and Bhattacharya explained the different goals outlined in the plan, as well as things like the College’s vision and mission statements, which were organized into different infographics.

One aspect of the Strategic Plan that received attention was the College’s value proposition, which explains what students will gain from an Etown education.

Some council members expressed concerns that the proposition was too vague and would not make Etown stand out among similar colleges.

“It’s a marketing thing. You know something’s working when you don’t have to associate a name with it,” council member Erika Butler, ’06, said. “In terms of the College, we’ll know the value proposition fits when we can take out the word ‘Etown’ and still know what school it means.”

Several members discussed the language used in some of the other goals. Some believed that the things that make Etown unique should be included more prominently.

One of these unique elements the members discussed was the College’s commitment to peace, nonviolence and service.

One member explained that many colleges encourage students to lead lives of service, but not many colleges go as out of their way to do so as Etown. The member suggested that those values be written into the value proposition because of their uniqueness to Etown.

Clapper emphasized how important it was to receive this constructive criticism early in the writing process and reminded those attending that the final draft of the Strategic Plan will most likely be very different from the one the members analyzed.

Council members briefly discussed the College’s recent problems with student recruitment and retention.

The Class of 2020 has a total of 442 students, which is short of the College’s annual goal of having 500 students in each incoming class.

When the similarly small size of the Class of 2018 is taken into account, the potential financial consequences of this drop in enrollment become more serious.

Still, Alumni Council President Ryan Unger, ’01, said that the College is doing a good job of acknowledging the enrollment issue and taking steps to solve it.

Attendees also discussed topics that deal with the Alumni Council itself.

The two-week drive will benefit Stitch2Serve and the local community

Photo: Shane Bahn| Photography Editor

Members of Stitch2Serve placed boxes around campus to collect yarn that will be used in the future service projects.

SEE ALUMNI PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 3

College President responds to recent executive order on immigration

by Katie Weiler Asst. Features Editor

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onday, Jan. 30, the President of Elizabethtown College, Carl J. Strikwerda, sent out a campuswide email in regards to the immigration ban enacted

by President Donald Trump per an executive order on Jan. 27.

The executive order, titled, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry,” mentions the suspension of travel with visas and green cards from seven countries in the Middle East.

The countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are known to have ties to terrorist groups.

However, the executive order is halting travel from citizens of these Middle East countries to revise the scanning process for new visas and other travel documents.

The old programs will be looked over by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, by which they will determine the information needed to help find any ties

with terroristic groups that may have been overlooked in the past.

With the public responding in various ways, Strikwerda joined many other colleges nationwide in commenting on the executive order.

While reaching out to the Etown community in a campus-wide email, Strikwerda wrote, “We believe that global understanding is one of the foundations of learning for our world.”

“We will comply with all regulations regarding immigration and citizenship while upholding the principles of freedom of religious expression and international exchange,” Strikwerda said.

All questions or concerns regarding an individual situation for students and faculty were directed toward the office of Academic Affairs and the office of Human Resources.

The email followed with a question and answer part, to further explain the situation to students.

The executive order was set for a stated 90 days on visa holders and 120 days for delaying refugees and would have been replaced with newer criteria for detecting terroristic links.

The executive order has prompted a response from

all over the United States, most notably from political leaders of all parties and in protests at airports all over the country.

Republican congressional members are speaking out against the order such as Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, who left a joint statement saying, “It is clear from the confusion at our airports across the nation that President Trump’s executive order was not properly vetted.”

The protests occurred at various airports all across the country, airports being the primary location of entry into the United States and where affected persons were contained as a result of the ban.

In a statement after the executive order was released, President Donald Trump commented, “My first priority will always be to protect and serve our country, but as President I will find ways to help all those who are suffering.”

Every aspect of the immigration ban has headlined the news, from the initial executive order to the following adjustments that are continuing to be commented on.

SEE IMMIGRATION PAGE 2

News

page 2

Student Senate

february 9, 2017

Scene on Campus

by Sean Fiedler Student Senator

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eb. 2, our usual weekly meeting began slightly differently as we welcomed a group of new senators to our ranks.

First-year Maggie Fix, sophomores Giovanna Martinez and Cameron Dorr and juniors Matthew Koerber and Tara Murray took the oath of office.

The new senators showed excitement and participated thoroughly throughout the meeting.

Student Senate had the opportunity to review the first draft of the College’s Strategic Plan.

Executive Director of College Engagement Opportunities and longtime friend of Senate Mark Clapper, ’96, came to discuss the plan and field questions.

We raised our concerns, provided comments and gave feedback where we could.

In turn, we hope to be beneficial to the next phase of the plan and look forward to working with the Resources and Strategic Planning Council further.

We then held elections for missing spots in our internal and external committees.

Sophomore Treasurer Josh Baker became the Finance and Student Groups Vice Chair, and Senior Class President Ramon Rios took over as Parliamentarian.

S enate ended the meeting by getting organized, especially in the wake of a spring retreat that was coming up the following Saturday.

Thursday, Feb. 9, Residence Life will be attending our meeting for a blanket discussion on any and all topics.

We look forward to continuing to advocate and make progress for you, Etown.

IMMIGRATION PAGE 1

President speaks on new travel ban In a statement from the White House, the executive order no longer prohibited the traveling of green card holders from the countries listed, but there has been contradicting information on whether or not the executive order applies to green cards as well.

This past weekend, a federal judge from Seattle, Washington, halted the enforcement of this executive order and allowed for visa and green card holders to enter the country for the time being.

The overturning of his executive order brought Trump to issue a series of tweets relating to the judge’s decision.

“The executive order on the travel ban will be an important test for the judicial system and the democracy,” associate professor of political science Dr. Dan Chen said.

“While the process of executing/resisting the ban is contentious, it may also be an opportunity to reflect on the core values of this nation and the proper measures needed to ensure national security,” Chen said.

Photo: Shane Bahn| Photography Editor

2016 - 2017

Global Film Festival Gibble Auditorium

All films are free and open to the public.

Shakespeare Around the Globe OCTOBER 13 at 7 p.m.

OMKARA (OTHELLO) INDIA

NOVEMBER 13 at 5 p.m.

TWELFTH NIGHT UNITED KINGDOM

“The executive order on the travel ban will be an important test for the judicial system and the democracy.”

-Dan Chen

NOVEMBER 16 at 7 p.m.

THRONE OF BLOOD (MACBETH) JAPAN

DECEMBER 4 at 3 p.m.

CORIOLANUS UNITED KINGDOM

JANUARY 19 at 7 p.m.

PRINCE OF THE HIMALAYAS (HAMLET) CHINA

FEBRUARY 16 at 7 p.m.

MARCH 16 at 7 p.m.

RAN (KING LEAR) JAPAN

Learn more about the inspiration behind this year’s film selection at www.etown.edu/library/firstfolio

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Films are presented in their respective languages, with subtitles in English. Sponsored by the Office of International Student Services and High Library. For additional information, contact Kristi Syrdahl at 717-361-1594 or syrdahlk@etown.edu

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“The executive order has been suspended due to a court order,” Strikwerda commented over email after the executive order was overturned this past weekend.

Until that suspension is lifted, the order withdrawn, or another administrative, legislative or judicial action replaces it, the College is continuing to monitor the situation carefully.

Strikwerda also commented that the College has no international students from the countries concerned.

If any students plan on traveling to any of the affected countries, they are advised to speak with Student Life for advice.

CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (HENRY IV AND OTHER PLAYS) SPAIN

News

february 9, 2017

page 3

Melica competes against regional Stitch2Serve holds schools in ICCA Quarterfinal at Drexel campus yarn drive Members of the all-female a capella group said competing against other schools helped foster a greater sense of unity, support and sisterhood

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The collected supplies will be used in future service projects

by Amanda Jobes Copy Chief

he Elizabethtown College women’s a cappella group, Melica, went to the International Championship of C ollegiate A capp ella (ICCA) Quarterfinals Saturday, Jan. 28 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

This year’s ICCA took place at Philadelphia’s Drexel University in its main auditorium where Melica competed against eight other college a cappella groups from around the midAtlantic region of the United States.

Melica sang a medley of four different songs for their performance this year.

These songs were “Castle” by Halsey, “River” by Bishop Briggs, “Lie to Me”

by Sara Bareilles and “Bird Set Free”

by Sia. Each section of the set featured a solo by one of the group members.

The first solo was performed by sophomore Christina Dark, followed by solos from seniors Corey Falcone, Audrey Barrett and Alivia Schaffer in the other three sections.

O t h e r a c app e l l a g roup s t h at performed at the event included Echoes and Off the Record from Lehigh University, High Street Harmonix from West Chester University, Soulfege from Lafayette College, the Cleftomaniacs a n d Tr e b l e Ma k e r s f r o m D r e x e l University, the Villanova Supernovas from Villanova University and Under A Rest from West Chester University.

At the end of the competition, the judges announced the third, second and first-place scores on stage.

While they handed out the complete scoresheets to the competitors after the announcement, they only gave specific placing up to fourth.

Therefore, groups that did not place fourth or higher did not receive official placement.

This year Melica did not place at the event, but according to senior member and music director Kathryn Griffith, they most likely ended up somewhere in the middle of the board based on the group’s overall scores.

The group that finished off in first place was the Villanova Supernovas, with Under A Rest following close behind in second-place and Soulfege in third.

The groups in first- and second-

by Megan Kane Campus Life Editor

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Photo courtesy of Maudie Sherrill

Each section of Melica’s ICCA Quarterfinal performance, which included four different songs, showcased one of the group’s members as a featured soloist.

place will later move on to the ICCA mid-Atlantic Semi-Final.

Griffith said that although she is somewhat disappointed that they did not place for the Semi-Final this year, she still has a positive attitude about the situation due to the subjectivity of judges in competitions.

She has also indicated that receiving a high placement in the competition is not what means the most to the group, and that “the most important thing was how much fun we had leading up to that night.”

Melica Vice President senior Rachel Brubaker said that while this year was her third time going to the ICCA Quarterfinal, it was an excellent experience because each time has been so unique.

“O u r g ro up t h i s y e a r i s v e r y supportive of each other, so we were able to have a lot of fun,” she said.

The group also had plenty of its fans, friends and family visit Drexel to support the performance, and Brubaker said that was the best part and made the whole experience worth it.

On the other hand, Dark had a different perspective for this year’s show, as it was her first time taking part

in the ICCA competition.

As the first singer with a solo in her group’s performance, she was anxious to sing well and be confident on stage in order to get her teammates off to a good start.

She said that while being on stage in front of the audience was quite a rush for her, waiting at the end for scores was a long and nerve-wracking process.

However, Dark said that her time with Melica has been rewarding and that she is proud to be a part of such a close group.

“Sometimes if the day is hard, practicing with Melica is the highlight of my whole day,” she said.

Both Griffith and Brubaker agree that being a part of Melica has made their years at Etown more fulfilling and that it brightens their days.

“You don’t really understand the meaning of sisterhood until you’re part of something like Melica,” Griffith said. “I’m so grateful for this group, the skills I’ve developed through leading rehearsals and especially the relationships I have now because of it.”

While Melica did not place in the ICCA Quarterfinal, the group will be back for a spring show in April at Etown.

ABROAD PAGE 1

Study Abroad Office implements new financial aid policies, requires students to pay extra fee

Students now have to pay the same amount they would for a semester at Etown plus a fee to keep their merit-based scholarships while abroad He believes that “these policy changes are necessary so that the College can continue to maintain a wide range of high-quality study abroad programs for all students.”

Kopko and the staff in the Financial Aid office are willing to meet with any students who have questions about these policies or want additional information about financing their study abroad trip.

“[The new study abroad policy was] a good idea in theory, but the implementation was way too fast.”

-Sarah Pomerantz

Students can also visit the Study Abroad Office in BSC 247 for more information on the study abroad program.

Sophomore Sara Kroboth is an international business major who will be studying abroad in the fall.

She believes that paying the extra fee is ridiculous because she has already put “two years of time and work into the establishment” and does not think she should have

to pay extra money to “keep a place in [her] class which [she has], at this point, clearly earned.”

She also does not think that she should have to pay to continue to receive her merit-based aid, due to the fact that she has already earned it.

Sophomore Sarah Pomerantz will also be studying abroad in the fall.

She is an international business major with a Spanish minor, and she will be going to Barcelona with BCA Study Abroad.

Pomerantz believes that the policy is “a good idea in theory, but the implementation was way too fast.”

Due to the scholarships she receives at Etown, paying the price she pays at Etown without considering the price of the flight is less than she would have to pay if she were to have to fund the full study abroad price.

This financial situation also allowed her to look at many different programs in the same area regardless of the differences in the original price while she was deciding where to travel.

Sophomore Josie Stommel is traveling to Granada with SOL Education Abroad.

She believes that it is important for the College to keep the students informed during the process of the changing policies and hopes that, with the changes, “everyone’s needs can be accommodated.”

he Elizabethtown College Stitch2Serve Club invites students, faculty and staff to participate in their winter yarn drive.

The club will accept donations until Monday, Feb. 13.

All donations will go toward club projects that will help those in need.

Donation boxes can be found in the academic buildings, the BSC and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Locust St. The yarn drive is the first in a series of events the club has planned for the upcoming semester.

Their next big project involves crocheting teddy bears to give to first responders.

Fire stations, EMTs and policemen often give soft toys to comfort children in shock. By creating these cuddly crocheted teddy bears, Stitch2Serve hopes to supply for this community need.

During each Stitch2Serve meeting, members will learn the techniques necessary in order to create these bears.

All outside donations are welcome. Patterns for the bears are available in the club’s public folder.

Stitch2Serve also hosted their first knit-in of the semester Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The event at the High Library drew students, faculty and staff from the College, as well as members of the surrounding community. This knit-in is the first of the monthly meetings that will bring Etown students and community members together.

For the first time this year, Stitch2Serve will travel to the Elizabethtown Public Library one Saturday each month.

By doing so, they hope to convene with the Etown Library Knitters, a community knitting group.

Members of this community group often come up to the College each month for the Knit-In and often contribute yarn and knitted creations.

By reversing the journey, club officers believe they will bring the two groups closer together.

Sophomore Becca Coder joined the club during her first year at Etown and loves how it combines one of her favorite hobbies with her passion for service.

“I learned the value of knitting in OT,” Coder said. “Being a part of the club allows me to take time out of my everyday life so I can relax.”

Coder participated in the club’s last service project by knitting a scarf for a Harrisburg women’s shelter.

Last semester, the group also worked together to create a large afghan. They plan to donate it to Elizabethtown Community Housing and Outreach Services (ECHOS) this semester.

Other past projects include hats, scarves and boot cuffs. The club also sells some of their products at a booth at the Homecoming Activities Fair.

With the yarn accumulated from the ongoing drive, club members hope create even more to serve the close-knit Etown community.

To learn more about Stitch2Serve, email stitch2serve@etown.edu.

Photo: Shane Bahn| Photography Editor

In the past, Stitch2Serve has made and donated hats, scar ves and a blanket, among other projects, to local charities and organizations.

page 4

News

february 9, 2017

ALUMNI PAGE 1

Alumni Council meets, discusses first draft of new Strategic Plan Other topics on the agenda included the College’s recent problems with student enrollment, an update on the BE Inspired campaign and ways to recruit and retain more members to the Alumni Council itself All members were given a quiz that asked them everything from who can nominate candidates for membership, to the minimum number of members required to hold a meeting.

The main topic the members discussed was the council’s own recruitment and retention situation.

Several members are leaving the council because their terms are expiring or because they are stepping down. Many expressed concerns about the council possibly not having enough members to fill all of the committee positions and discussed possible ways to recruit new members to replace those who choose not to continue.

One suggestion was holding an open enrollment period for the remainder of this year.

Alumni Council Vice President Patti Hivner, ’86, then challenged each present member to recruit one fellow classmate to apply for membership.

Clapper and Director of Major Gifts Marty Thomas-Brummé gave an update on the College’s BE Inspired campaign, which was launched in April 2016.

The campaign is designed to raise money to benefit all aspects of life for Etown students and is organized around certain goals.

With well over $34 million donated or pledged to be donated to the campaign so far, the College is more than halfway to its goal of

raising $50 million by 2020. Of this total, over $30 million comes from cash and pledged donations.

Clapper mentioned that the campaign’s goals include the construction of the C ollege’s Sports, Fitness and Wellness Center (SFWC).

The College’s Board of Trustees voted to proceed with designing the center at its fall meeting in October.

According to C l app er and Thomas-Brummé, the College has raised over $11 million of the $15 million goal toward funding the design and building of the SFWC, with an additional $270,000 donated since the Trustees’ decision.

The College plans to break ground for the SFWC later this year, and the building is tentatively set to open in the fall of 2018.

Members also discussed the College’s other donation-centered projects. The ECAA is in charge of the Elizabethtown College Fund (ECF), which is used to improve many asp e c ts of t he campus Photo courtesy of Office of Alumni Relations community.

Clapper mentioned the ECAA’s Members of the College’s Alumni Council reviewed the first draft of the “Envision 2020” Strategic goal of having ever y council Plan, which outlines future goals for the College, and suggested ways to make its language more clear. member contribute to the fund and Council members were encouraged from the College. say that since Day One the College encouraged them to do so.

S enior Tyler L atshaw, who has made me a better person,” M e m b e r s t h e n r e c e i v e d to participate.

Each of the Alumni Council’s a t t e n d e d t h e m e e t i n g a s a Latshaw said. “It’s nice to hear the information about Power of One standing committees provided representative of Student Senate, same sentiments expressed from Day, an annual 24-hour event s ai d he e nj oye d he ar i ng t he people who knew Etown before I did designed to raise as much money for updates.

During the meeting, the council alumni use words like “support,” because it means that in that aspect, the College as possible in one day.

Etown hasn’t changed.”

This year’s Power of One Day members were asked to think of one “community” and “opportunity.”

“Looking back as a senior, I can is Tuesday, Mar. 14, and Alumni word to describe what they received

Features

February 9, 2017

page 5

Fine and Performing Arts offers master class, students perform Music students were able to sing and get feedback from renowned composer Lori Laitman

by Amity Radcliff Staff Writer

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eb. 5, the Fine and Performing Arts Department held a master class by composer Lori Laitman. Described by “Fanfare Magazine” as “one of the most talented and intriguing of living composers,” Laitman has composed multiple operas, choral works and over 250 songs, setting texts by classical and contemporary poets.

“It was interesting to hear the aspect of the composer commenting on her own songs.” ~ Sam Wasson

During the master class, Elizabethtown College students performed four of Laitman’s earlier works. After they sang through the songs one time, Laitman joined the students on stage and coached them on how to improve their performance.

The first song was called “Little Elegy,” with text by Elinor Wylie. Junior Celia Grove was the singer with pianist Rachel Suter. The poem was about how the narrator

really enjoys a person’s company and how they were lonely when the person wasn’t around. “‘Little Elegy’ was written in memory of a friend’s son,” Laitman said.

This background gave more meaning to the song as the audience listened intently to the words.

“I found the experience to be really rewarding,” Grove said. “While I was up on stage, it was a great experience listening to her expertise. [Laitman] is very down to earth, and I really enjoyed that about her. Listening to her talk about her composition technique was also very informational.”

The next song was “Song,” with text by Christina Rossetti. The singer was Meredith Groff with pianist Lucas Finet. This poem was about reassurance to loved ones after the narrator’s death, a remembrance of joy.

The third song was “Plums: 2 This Is Just to Say,” with text by William Carlos Williams, sung by Abigail Marchione with pianist and associate professor of music Dr. Justin Badgerow. This poem is about stealing plums from someone and leaving a little note behind.

The last song performed was “They Might Not Need Me” by Emily Dickinson, sung by Sarah Kreider with Badgerow as pianist. This song was very tango-like and had an upbeat feeling.

“The piano part needed to be more difficult for the original pianist,” Laitman said.

Laitman got her inspiration from her college roommate, Lauren Wagner. Wagner was Laitman’s first singer as she wrote all these different pieces. Coming from a family of musicians, she considers herself very competitive. The

first song Laitman ever wrote, “The Metropolitan Tower,” received a review of magnificent.

One of her favorite works is “Vedem,” a Holocaust composition. “Vedem,” which means “in the lead,” was intended to be an educational work, presenting listeners with information regarding the Holocaust.

Another work she created was, “The Scarlet Letter.”

The world premiere of this composition was in May 2016.

The date was pushed back due to difficulties, so Laitman ended up adding and rewriting a lot of the pieces that were featured like the song, “Hester’s Lullaby.”

“It was interesting to hear the aspect of the composer commenting on her own songs,” senior Sam Wasson said.

Laitman has received numerous prestigious commissions from Opera America, Opera Colorado, Washington Master Chorale, Wolfgang Holzmair and Music of Remembrance.

Along with writing operas based on poems, she has also written for some films. She enjoys writing her operas more then film writing, though. She uses poems as inspiration for her operas; these help ground her lyrics.

Using the poems really brings out the lyrics more for the singers and gives them a way to better understand what they are singing about. This gives students a way to also access the acting part behind the song, the emotion, the need to get the audience into it.

Her latest commission is from the Howard Institute for American Music at the Eastman School of Music and the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership, for a chamber work celebrating the 100th anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote in New York State. The premiere is scheduled for Mar. 5, 2017.

Faculty lecture connects communications, business success strategies

by Shaye DiPasquale Staff Writer

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lizabethtown College’s Spring 2017 Faculty Scholarship Lecture on business communication strategies was held Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Susquehanna Room of Myer Hall. Led by Dr. Tamara Gillis, professor of communicat ions, “ The Evolut ion of Business Communication: Managing Corporate Communication Assets” fostered a scholarly discussion regarding the challenges of consulting on and analyzing corporate use of communication assets.

The idea to host faculty lectures on campus rather than simply bringing in outside speakers came to fruition with President Carl Strikwerda’s inauguration in 2011-2012.

“The Faculty Scholarship Lecture Series is intended to highlight the exceptional scholarly activity of our full professors at Elizabethtown College,” Dr. Kristi Kneas, Dean for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development, said.

In academia, a full professor has served six or more years at the rank of assistant professor before being tenured and promoted to the rank of associate professor.

An individual then serves six or more years at the rank of associate professor before being promoted to the rank of full professor. At each stage of a professor’s career, the standards of academic and professional excellence increase.

“Wh e n we re c o g n i z e a f u l l profe s s or, we are acknowledging that the faculty member has clearly established himself or herself as an outstanding teacher, a well-known and highly respected scholar in his or her field and a valuable contributor to the life of the College and the community,” Kneas said.

As a full professor at Etown, Gillis embodies all of these qualities and more. With expertise in the research areas of change management, civic involvement, effective organizational structures and the impact of new media, Gillis currently teaches courses in corporate

communications and research at Etown.

Her most recent works include the second editions of “The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication” and “The Essentials of Employee Communication.”

Prior to teaching, Gillis worked as a corporate consultant, acquiring experience in advocacy, healthcare, employee communication and administration. She led the International Association of Business Communicators Executive Accreditation program at Royal Roads University and currently serves as a fellow for both the International Association of Business Communicators and the Royal Society of Art in London.

“It was interesting to hear about how she took her set of tools and skills to other companies to help them get the word out about what they were all about.” ~ Kelly Simkins In 2014, Gillis was awarded the Earnest R. McDow Award for Excellence in Public Relations by the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society.

With nearly 30 years of professional and academic experiences under her belt, Gillis delivered an informative lecture concerning her personal research in corporate communications to a room full of fellow faculty members, current students and alumni. She established that her lecture, much like her research, would be a combination of textbook and cookbook—it would first inform the audience of why things work and then give examples of

how various organizations that she has worked with have been successful using certain communication strategies.

“Research has always been a part of what I do as a practitioner and as an academic,” said Gillis. “I can’t imagine not having research in my life.”

Sophomore Kelly Simkins found Gillis’ lecture to be particularly intriguing as someone studying both communications and business at Etown.

“It was interesting to hear about how she took her set of tools and skills to other companies to help them get the word out about what they were all about,” Simkins said.

“She was able to supply the help that these companies and organizations needed, even when they thought that they needed something else entirely.”

According to Gillis’ obs er vations, the f ield of communications is all about understanding the other—the receiver of the message. Organizations should always be considerate of who they are trying to communicate with, as the target demographic should drive the selection of a medium of transmission that is appropriate for the specific message an organization wishes to send.

At its best, communication should be an interactive t ransit ion b et we en t wo or more p ar t ies and a l l communication practices should contribute to the success of organizations. Communications is an ever-evolving field and no one quite knows what the next stage of evolution will be.

“140 characters – maybe that’s too many, maybe it’s not enough, maybe it’s all about Facebook video now,” Gillis said. “No one knows, but we’ll keep watching.”

By the end of the lecture, Simkins felt more aware of the deep appreciation that she has for professors on this campus and how meaningful it is that these professors are willing to speak outside of class on their areas of expertise.

“It’s important to highlight professors for all of their hard work and all of the time they take to teach us students about their field of study,” Simkins said. “They do not have to dedicate all of their resources on us students, but they do it to help us go further in our futures.”

Features

page 6

Program hosted to dispel winter-induced depression

by Mikenna Lehane Staff Writer

F

eb. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. the Student Wellness Advocacy Group (SWAG) sponsored Shake the Winter Blues.

The mission of SWAG is to work to support and encourage positive, informed choices, believing that a healthier lifestyle now will promote future well-being.

SWAG provides educational opportunities on current health issues for their peers in the residence halls and in the campus community. This is done through hall programs, outreach programming and collaboration with other campus groups.

Assistant Director of Health Promotion and overseer of SWAG Amanda Cheetham explained her role toward the group.

“I work with the Student Wellness Advocates to plan programs and events on campus to raise awareness for health and wellness topics,” Cheetham said.

Discussing the event further, Cheetham said, “It is an event to raise awareness about SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and to discuss how the winter weather might be affecting your mood and mental health.”

“The activities at the event are a mixture of resources available to students (Counseling Services and Relaxation Station) as well as some fun activities to help improve your mood in the short term (dogs, crafts, etc.),” she said.

At the event, students were welcomed to walk around to the different tables set up with a variety of different activities, all of which were designed to help relieve stress.

These activities included painting out their feelings, making lava lamps, coloring and petting dogs.

There were also tables where students could receive information about counseling services, which are always available for students, and helpful tips about taking care of your emotions.

For example, when you are feeling tired it is best to avoid looking at bright screens for at least one to two hours before bed and to practice deep breathing and muscle relaxation.

When in a good mood, students can pass on the feeling by complimenting a stranger or leaving a nice comment on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

The first table students saw when they walked in was run by the two student leaders who coordinated the event. Sophomore Missy Ziegler and senior Kassandra Valdez both value what it has meant for them to be a part of SWAG. They added that people will often ask what the next event will be.

SWAG hold weekly meetings in order to brainstorm event ideas that will appeal to students.

“We have weekly meetings where everyone gets to voice their own ideas with the focus on people’s lives and stuff that is happening around campus,” Ziegler said.

Junior Ally Killen stated that her favorite aspect of the event is getting to pet the dogs and “doing the crafts in general has really helped to take some of my stress away.”

For junior Carly Foster, it was getting to express her emotions with the painting your emotions table.

“It was so nice to get to express my emotions through using colors for emotional stability,” Foster said.

“We have done this event in the past, and it is just a way to inform students on how winter can affect your emotions due to the reduced level of sunlight during the fall and winter months and ways for them to relieve some stress from classes and homework by enjoying some fun activities,” Valdez stated.

10 REASONS to

Study Abroad this SUMMER

Learn more at: www.BCAStudyAbroad.org/Etown

Experience New Zealand culture as a Kiwi — not a tourist. Apply by March 4, 2017

Apply for a Summer Study Abroad

SCHOLARSHIP BCA Applications Due: March 1, 2017 www.bcastudyabroad.org/students/scholarships-fees/

February 9, 2017

February 9, 2017

Campus Life

page 7

Star Wars prequel delivers one-third of a good movie

by Connor Burke Staff Writer

A

Letter to the Editor: Homer ponders revenues, parking

by Sanjay Paul Associate Professor of Economics

H

omer could hardly believe his eyes. He had just come across the piece on parking in The Etownian. “Finally!” he said to himself.

A diatribe against the campus parking situation was long overdue. Arming himself with a scone from the Blue Bean, Homer settled down to read the article.

Parking on campus had always been a sore point for Homer. One of many, he reminded himself, for sore points seemed to arise almost every day. There was the time, for instance, when a student in his microeconomics class appeared to be rather distractedly engaged with his smartphone, and he was reminded of a colleague at another university who, when faced with a similar situation, had calmly walked up to the student, asked him to hand over his phone, walked back and proceeded to bash the offending instrument repeatedly against the podium.

Another student in the class had captured the episode on video, and there it was for the world to see. Homer was not quite sure about the aftermath—a lawsuit against the professor, perhaps, or counseling for the distraught student?

So there was no dearth of annoyances facing Homer. Why, just the other day, a colleague barged into his office, and ignoring Homer’s attempts at discouraging any conversation, proceeded to talk about the College’s financial situation. Realizing too late that only a locked door would keep out the determined Brian Blueberg, Homer resigned himself to a grim discussion of an impending shortfall in the College’s revenues.

The shortfall was quite severe, and the College had already taken steps to deal with the problem. To cut labor costs, the College

had eliminated a few staff positions. But more needed to be done, and the outlays for health care and retirement benefits for employees offered a tempting target.

Blueberg and Homer wondered whether a break on faculty hiring was warranted. Such a move would mitigate the need for sharp cuts in employee benefits, and give the College another year to reassess its financial situation.

Of course delaying faculty hires would not be painless, especially for the departments that were expecting to place new colleagues in classes that had to be offered in the fall.

But perhaps some of the money saved--not an insubstantial amount--could be used to help the affected departments deal with the shortfall in their faculty lines.

Blueberg and Homer were quite aware that their colleagues might regard all this with a jaundiced eye. After all, they were recommending against hiring more faculty, a transgression that all but assured them of a berth in Dante’s circles of Hell.

So, thought Homer, annoyances on campus abounded. And parking has always been a significant issue: faculty, it has been noted, are a group of entrepreneurs bound by a common grievance over parking. And now, as he read The Etownian, he noted that the sense of grievance extended to students as well.

But the article was not an unending lament about unavailable spaces. No, to be quite fair, the article quoted some students and others who believed the problem was not inadequate parking, but that not all of it was in proximity to the academic buildings and residence halls.

Homer agreed with this s entiment wholeheartedly. In an effort to build up an appetite for scones, he had taken to parking in the farthest reaches of the Brown parking lot, followed by a brisk walk to Hoover. He never had difficulty finding a spot at any time of the day.

t this time last year, I was still thinking about “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Heck even now, more than a year after its initial release, I still find myself thinking about it and asking a lot of questions.

Is Finn okay? Who is Supreme Leader Snoke? How does Kylo Ren not know that Darth Vader eventually helped the Jedi? Who are Rey’s parents? (Spoiler: I’m pretty sure she’s related to Obi-Wan Kenobi somehow) And how did Poe Dameron get so cool?

These questions continue to stick with me because the characters and the story were interesting, compelling and fun.

Unfortunately, the only questions I have about “Rogue One” at this point are “Who was that character again?” and “Can I just watch the last 20 minutes on repeat?”

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” tells the story of a band of rebels that steals plans for The Death Star, the ones that were used by Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars film. Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) leads the rebellion alongside rebel captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna).

Other characters include the blind Force follower Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen) and his best friend Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen), rebelling Imperial Pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) and sassy former Imperial Droid K-2S0 (the always-incredible Alan Tudyk).

While this is occurring, Jynn’s father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) is constructing the Death Star for Darth Vader (still voiced by James Earl Jones) and Grand Moff Tarkin (a digitally recreated Peter Cushing) with a certain exhaust port being built in so that his daughter and her ragtag bunch can overthrow the Imperial Empire.

The film’s characters may be its weak point. I’ll admit, right after seeing it, I completely forgot everyone’s names except for Jyn Erso, Galen Erso and K-2S0, alongside the already established Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.

In fact, right after seeing the film, I discussed it with a friend. As we listed our likes and dislikes, Saw Gererra, an extreme Rebel played by Forest Whitaker, came into the conversation, and we both forgot his name, except for the fact that his name kind of sounded like “Saul Goodman.”

So for the next half hour or so, we kept calling characters “Saul Goodman,” “that blind one,” “the blind one’s best friend with the cool gun” and whatnot. The three names of the heroes we had perfectly were just Jyn, Galen and K-2S0.

The characters are bland and forgettable, with the performances being nothing special, but just serviceable enough to not bring the movie down. One particular character that is bothersome, however, is Grand Moff Tarkin.

The issue with him is not in the actual performance. The fact that Guy Henry’s physical performance has Peter Cushing’s face digitally superimposed on top is a little uncomfortable, due to the fact that Cushing passed away in 1994.

So now, the character’s CGI face alternates between looking pretty good to looking like a creepy “Polar Express” character trying to emote. It’s an odd choice to attempt and resurrect an actor, and, frankly, it drew me way out of the film.

One of the biggest issues with “Rogue One” is that instead of a naturally occurring movie, it feels like a product. The characters and worlds have vague, skipped over backstories that feel almost incomplete.

That is, until you walk into a Barnes & Noble and see the mountain of spinoff novels proclaiming they contain “The UNTOLD Story of the Rebellion,” or see an advertisement for the “Star Wars: Rebels” TV series bragging about how they have Saw Gererra’s past adventures in an upcoming episode.

“One of the biggest issues with ‘Rogue One’ is that instead of a naturally occuring movie, it feels like a product.”

The entire film just feels like it is there to make money instead of to entertain or actually expand upon the world of Star Wars. An example of this is when Jyn meets Saw, and he talks to her about her past.

During this, he mentions that she was the best in his army when she was only 16, but Saw abandoned her.

While that story sounded incredibly interesting, it is never shown in the film, so it feels like a wasted opportunity, while simultaneously trying to plant seeds for spin-offs and potential sequels. While it does introduce us to a large variety of new planets and characters, the planets are introduced for two seconds, and the characters just feel marketable more than memorable.

With all of those complaints, however, there is one fantastic part of the film: the third act. Without giving too much away, the third act delivers on the pitch that the film was “going to put the WAR in Star Wars.”

Director Gareth Edwards does a fantastic job shooting a different style of Star Wars film, going with a quasi-realistic, shaky, gritty feel for the ground battles, and a sweeping, epic style for the in-space dogfights.

The last third is non-stop action, with everything you could ask for in a Star Wars movie. Blaster fights, AT-ATs, spaceships working together and blowing up, impressive uses of The Force and, in the best sequence of the film, Darth Vader reminding the world why he was such a threat in the original trilogy.

If the prequel movies made you think Darth Vader was a whiny jerk, then his final sequence in “Rogue One” will absolutely change your mind. It’s an odd feeling to be cheering for the bad guy, but I was about to audibly begin laughing and cheering during his final scene.

Overall, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is really only for big fans of Star Wars, and even then it may disappoint. Fine cinematography, acting and a stellar third act can only do so much to raise a product with a predictable plot, weak, forgettable characters and a creepy CGI resurrection of a dead actor.

However, that final Darth Vader sequence tries its best to make a good movie.

Campus Life

page 8

Student poll examines pros, cons of six different campus housing options

First-year collects residence life critiques from fellow students

E

by Jennifer Beihoff Staff Writer

lizabethtown College has several different housing options available for students who choose to live on campus. The College has six traditional residence halls, as well as apartments and townhouses (“the Quads”). Each on-campus residence adds its own unique charm to the Etown community.

Students from each on-campus residence were interviewed regarding their housing experiences thus far in their time at the College. These students were asked to share their feelings about the residence hall in which they live and how they felt about all the on-campus housing options available to them.

Every student who was asked about living in the apartments generally had very positive things to say about them. Most students enjoyed the fact that the apartments had private bathrooms and an easily accessible kitchen. They also liked the fact that the laundry facilities and the printer are located within the same building. Senior Megan DeMichele commented about how she especially likes the apartments’ proximity to the turf field, as it makes her walk to practice each day much easier.

What draws people to Brinser is its prime location on campus. “It is close to everything and everyone,” junior Rachel Reed said.

The students who live in Founders had more varied reasons as to why they like living there. Firstyear Emily Fishkind likes how the bathroom-to-student ratio is small and that, in addition to the main lounge in Towers B and C, each floor has two lounges.

First-year Ash Burdyn said that

their favorite aspect of living in Founders is the Gender Inclusive Floor because it creates a space where those who do not identify with a gender can feel free to express themselves.

“The housing options have a good amount of diversity.”

-Rebecca Brady Residents of Myer felt that some of the best things about living in Myer were the spacious closets and drawers and the close-knit community of people.

One student even said that she loves her dorm room in Myer because of the beautiful view that she has of the Dell, since her room is directly facing the Dell and the foot path from Myer to Schlosser.

One improvement for the residence hall that was unanimously agreed upon by all interviewees was the need for more updated bathrooms.

All students interviewed who reside in Ober agree that the dorm’s location on campus is what makes it so desirable to so many students.

Senior Allie McLamb and junior Katie Thompson added that the building also has great all-around appeal, such as a nice lobby, clean bathrooms and a lot of kind people.

One common complaint about Ober was the distance to and from the laundry room and the kitchen.

The students living in Royer especially like that the rooms are big in comparison to other dorms. “It

is right by the Dell, and when it is nice out, it is nice to do homework out there or play Frisbee,” first-year Sarah Helt said.

Many people living in Royer also agreed that Royer has a nice sense of community, since it is the smallest residence hall. When asked what could be improved in Royer, a majority of students felt that the bathrooms needed some updates.

The students who live in Schlosser like that it is very updated and is a close walk to the academic buildings.

“The Honors LLC has allowed me to become close friends with other honors students that are very like me in terms of goals and personality,” first-year Dylan Warner said.

First-year Lianne Uroda focused on how spacious the rooms are, as well as the convenience of being able to adjust the heating and air conditioning in each room.

Students who live in the Quads feel that the Quads are a great option for those who want more space than a regular residence hall. Many like the fact that the Quads have a kitchen and have an upstairs and a downstairs.

“Having a kitchen makes preparing healthier meals a lot easier,” senior Mattie Joyner said. One disadvantage to living in the Quads is the far walk to academic buildings.

Overall, it was very difficult to come to a consensus as to which residence hall or on-campus housing unit was most preferred. When asked, most people seemed to prefer their residence hall/on-campus housing situation. “ The housing options have a good amount of diversity,” first-year Rebecca Brady said. “The Quads and the apartments seem like a great option for those seeking a little more independence.”

February 9, 2017

Q&A How to Survive Housing

by Jamie Verrekia Staff Writer

For first-year students, the idea of living in a dorm can be both exciting and stressful. Some students may not be used to sharing their room with another person back home. Sophomore Mika Thomas and other students weighed in to provide a few tips for common issues students face when living in dorms.

What are the most important things to bring to college?

“Make sure you have enough clothes to wear throughout the semester,” Thomas said. “Don’t bring too many, because you will buy some when you get there.” Other college students feel that hangers and shower caddies are important to help organize clothes and toiletries.

What do you do if you’re having problems within your dorm?

“If it is a problem with another student, talk to them personally,” Thomas said. “If it is a maintenance problem, like a broken window, then email work orders.” At Etown, work orders are requests sent through JayWeb or called in at (717) 361-1408.

Other students feel talking to your Residential Adviser can help resolve any issues. Although, if it is something that could put you in danger, call Campus Security at (717) 361-1264.

What do you do if you’re having problems with your roommate?

“Talk to each other,” Thomas said. ”If you are still trying to get to know your roommate, try talking with their friends.” At Etown, there is a roommate agreement that is filled out by each pair of roommates at the beginning of the semester. Thomas also suggested using the roommate agreement as a guide to work out any existing issues. Other students feel that giving your roommate some space can help to relieve tension.“It happens naturally,” Thomas said about bonding with your roommate.

What are ways to decorate your dorm room to make it feel more individualized?

The Etownian Awards 2013 Apple Awards Best Newspaper <5,000 Student Division 2012 ASPA - Most Outstanding College Newspaper in the U.S. 2016 ASPA - First Place 2009 SCJ Excellence in Collegiate Journalism 2011 Keystone Press Award Second Place for online content

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief | Kelly Bergh Managing Editor | Emily Drinks News Editor | Stephanie Miller Features Editor | Aileen Ida Campus Life Editor | Megan Kane Sports Editor | Brian Lukacsy Copy Chief | Amanda Jobes Photography Editor | Shane Bahn Webmaster | Joshua Hughes Asst. Features Editor | Katie Weiler Asst. Campus Life Editor | Kayleigh Kuykendall Asst. Sports Editor | Megan Piercy Asst. Photography Editor | Jacob Hopkins Photographers | Alisha Curreri, Taylor Miles, Megan White, Michael Wong Copy Editors | Maria Giamba, Samuel Jarvis, Cassandra Rochelle, Melissa Spencer, Kristen Wade, Megan White Business Manager | Emily Seratch Advertising Manager | Ashley Reeb Editorial Consultant | David C. Downing Faculty Advisor | Erica Dolson

Editorial Policy The Etownian is the student newspaper of Elizabethtown College.

All editorial decisions are made by the student editors. With the exception of editorials, opinions presented here are those of quoted sources or signed authors, not of the Etownian or the College. For questions, comments or concerns about a particular section, please contact editor@ etown.edu.

If you have a story idea, suggestion, or if you would like to submit a letter to the editor, please email editor@etown.edu.

“Hanging things on your wall,” Thomas said.“I hang posters, tapestry and letters from home on my wall.” She added that having an organizational system for your school stuff, clothes, electronics and appliances is another way to individualize your dorm space. Other students feel bringing pictures of friends and family from back home makes your dorm more comfortable to live in.

What’s the worst and best part of dorm life?

“One of the worst parts is knowing everybody’s business,” Thomas said. “One of the best parts is being around others all the time.” Other students feel that not having enough space is the worst part and getting to know people around you is the best part.

Everyone’s experience living in a dorm is different, but when living in a dorm, it is important to remember to communicate with those around you, decorate your wall with things that show your interests and remind you of home and keep your space organized.

February 9, 2017

Campus Life

page 9

snow day-themed crossword puzzle lopenmciaodk Across 1. Keeps your neck warm from the winter chill 3. Beverage you drink when it snows.

4. More slick and dangerous than regular ice 6. Office to call at Etown if assistance is needed during a blizzard 8. Winter hobby involving chairlifts and slopes 10. Tool used to clear walkways 11. Rolling Stones song inspired by the coldest season 13. Name of last year’s Snowmageddon storm 14. Popular sled substitute at the College 15. Best place to go sledding on campus 17. Flightless Arctic bird 19. Rubbery, slip-resistant shoes 20. Do you want to build a ____ Down 2. The two areas on campus that won’t close when everything else will (3 words, 4-3-8) 5. Snowiest city in the US this year 7. A boot with a blade attached to the bottom 9. Name of the team clearing College roads and walkways by 4 a.m. in the morning 10. Physical game involving flying snow

Senior considers Valentine’s Day “just another Tuesday” Editor identifies Valentine’s Day as a somewhat overrated, albeit well-intentioned, holiday

by Kelly Bergh Editor-in-Chief

H

ere’s the thing: I am not looking forward to Valentine’s Day. I’m not not looking forward to it, either, though.

For me, a wildly single senior in college, it’s just a Tuesday.

A day which I will start by waking up in my own bed. A day during which I will go to class, meet my friend for our usual 5 p.m. dinner. I’ll probably check my mail (on my way back to my own bed), but I won’t expect to find any roses or cheap chocolates there.

Everything from Buzzfeed’s “29 Lovely Ways To Spend Valentine’s Day If You’re Single” listicle, published this week, to Vogue’s “5 Single Girl Secrets for 2017” Wednesday morning Snapchat Story seems to be trying their best to convince me I’ll survive February 14.

I mean, yeah.

I will.

I know that.

But thanks for suggesting my dog as a substitute for an eligible bachelor.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t really mean much to me. I appreciate that others are so in love (pun intended) with the day and its celebration of such calculated romance and its steady supply of sweets and cardstock validations of affection.

The thing is, I just think love should be expressed at that ridiculous magnitude spontaneously throughout the year.

Everyone makes such a big deal out of this day when it really doesn’t have to be, alienating those of us who don’t feel compelled to spend $1 on the single roses available in the BSC but would much prefer a bouquet of out-of-season lilies that someone actually makes an effort to acquire on a Saturday in March.

I feel like celebrating the love you feel for someone who makes you really happy does not have to be confined to this particular day. Valentine’s Day can make us feel pressure to find someone to feel something for in an unrealistic time span, or feel bad about ourselves when we can’t.

Sometimes you’re lucky enough to have mutual love.

Sometimes the person you love doesn’t love you back. And sometimes your person does love you back, but the timing isn’t right.

My point is, we’re not always in control of our romantic situations, and Valentine’s Day is a very humbling reminder of that. And humbling is fine. Insulting is not.

I shouldn’t have to feel bad that I don’t have anything special to do this Valentine’s Day, and I don’t. I wish magazine editors and my classmates would stop judging the varying perceptions of the day’s significance. It’s really not that dramatic.

What bothers me most is how the holiday is forced down our throats from kindergarten onward. Sure, at first it’s just

a cute excuse for a class party, during which you give stickers to your friends and then go home and survey your lollipop collection.

But in college, the “cute” factor is removed by our recognition of the blatant commercialism convoluting our sense of actual kindness.

If a six-year-old gave me a Valentine today I’d be flattered.

If a 20-something gave me one I’d be flattered, as well. But we as a society need to understand that this is not a necessity by any means, just something to be appreciated when it does happen, at any age, at any time.

Celebrate the holiday if you want to take advantage of easily

attainable chocolate and cheaply made pink teddy bears, or just do your homework.

No matter your plans (or your lack thereof), treat everyone with respect and love every day. Remind your friends they’re valued, fill a vase with a flower that makes you happy, cuddle and watch television with a boy you think is cute who you kinda hope brings you ice cream but won’t be upset with if he doesn’t.

Just please don’t put more stress on this day than you have the time or energy for.

Because it really is just another Tuesday.

Sports

page 10

February 9, 2017

Men’s basketball head coach, Bob Schlosser, announces retirement at the end of this season

in Etown athletics...

The men’s basketball team dropped a Landmark Conference game against Moravian College Saturday, Feb. 4, 79-63. The Blue Jays traveled to Juniata College last night for another conference game.

The women’s basketball team could not get past Moravian College in a battle of two Landmark Conference playoff hopefuls. The Blue Jays are looking to secure the final playoff spot with four games left in the regular season.

The men’s wrestling team fell to King’s (Pa.) College Friday, Feb. 3, 30-16. The Monarchs earned four pins and six wins overall in the match.

The men’s and women’s track teams split up and competed at two separate events over the weekend. On Saturday, the Blue Jays competed at the Frank Colden Invitational at Ursinus College. On Sunday, the teams competed at the 2017 DeSchriver Invitational at East Stroudsburg University.

in the NCAA...

The 14th release of the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll came out on Monday morning. The Gonzaga University Bulldogs, the last undefeated team in Division I college basketball, remains secure in the top spot in the rankings. Villanova University, which had fallen to five a few weeks back, jumped up to second in the rankings.

In a matchup between last week’s number two and three teams in the rankings, the Kansas University Jayhawks defeated the Baylor University Bears, which dropped Baylor in this week’s poll to sixth.

Kansas stayed put at number three in the rankings. The University of Louisville and Oregon University round out this week’s top five.

Duke University and North Carolina University will renew their Tobacco Road rivalry tonight as the two meet up at Cameron Indoor Stadium on the campus at Duke.

Photo courtesy of Athletic Department

After 27 seasons as head coach of the Elizabethtown College men’s basketball team, Bob Schlosser has decided to retire at the end of this season. Schlosser is the longest-tenured and winningest coach in the program’s history.

T

by Brian Lukacsy Sports Editor

he men’s basketball program has not seen a change at the top for 27 seasons. With last Tuesday’s announcement of head coach Bob Schlosser retiring, an era that included over 360 victories and 15 postseason appearances will come to a close.

Those who know Schlosser best

know it has never been about the wins and championships, but instead it’s about the relationships he’s been able to develop through the game.

“It has been an honor, privilege and blessing to work at Elizabethtown College over the last 27 years,” Schlosser said. “I’ve been able to develop many relationships with students and studentathletes, but it’s also the relationships I’ve made with faculty, staff and everyone associated with the College that will

stay with me for the rest of my days.”

His greatest accomplishment during his time at Etown was leading the 200102 team to the NCAA Division III Final Four championship game where the Blue Jays finished runner-up.

Schlosser will coach his final game on the sidelines when the Blue Jays host Susquehanna University Saturday, Feb. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Thompson Gymnasium.

in the pros...

The 2016-17 National Football League (NFL) season came to an end Sunday, Feb. 5, with the New England Patriots winning the Super Bowl in dramatic fashion. In one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played, the Patriots came back from 28-3 to defeat the Atlanta Falcons and earn future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady his fifth championship ring.

Brady was nothing short of unbelievable as he threw 62 times for 466 yards and two touchdowns in the championship game. He was named Most Valuable Player for his efforts. The game was the first Super Bowl in history to reach overtime after both teams were tied at 28 at the end of regulation. Patriots running back James White scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime for the win.

Photo courtesy of Athletic Department

The 2016-17 men’s basketball team is the final team head coach Bob Schlosser will lead after announcing his retirement Tuesday, Jan. 1. The Blue Jay’s final game will be at home against Susquehanna University on Feb. 18.

King’s College proves too much for Blue Jays in dual match

T

by Paige Williams Staff Writer

he Elizabethtown College wrestling team faced a disappointing loss to King’s College Friday, Feb. 3. The Monarchs won six of the 10 matches and had four pins for a final score of 30-16, King’s.

In the second match of the day, fifth-year senior Bryan Pflanz earned his 50th career win with a 9-4 decision in his 133-pound match, contributing three points to the Blue Jays. Sophomore Dan Smith, wrestling at 141 pounds, was the only Blue Jay to pin a Monarch. Smith won his match at 2:20, earning the Blue Jays six points. Junior Chris Kummerer followed up with a win of 8-5 in his 157-pound match, just three victories short of 50 career wins. This win by Kummerer gave the Blue Jays the lead at 12-9.

Following two victories by King’s, junior Rocco Hladney, wrestling at 184 pounds, got a 14-5 major decision lead. This brought the Blue Jays within fighting distance of King’s, at 16-18.

Next up was junior Quinn Ruble, at 197 pounds. Ruble fought hard and at one point held the lead at 11-5, six points of which came from back-to-back near-falls. His opponent came back fighting with a reversal and a pin, ending the match at 4:13 and earning King’s another six points. King’s went on to take the final match with a pin at 6:50.

The Blue Jays did not perform as expected, and one of their biggest downfalls was “[Giving] up a lot of bonus points,” Smith said. This match against King’s was “a very winnable match” for the Blue Jays, Pflanz said.

Pflanz is looking to win the next two dual matches and keep improving so that he has “a good confidence booster and momentum leading into the post season.”

Head coach, Eric Walker, has helped the Blue Jays “focus on the areas of improvement [for] each individual,” Pflanz said. Pflanz believes that if each individual focuses on “improving their specific weaknesses, and also fine tuning their strengths,” the team could send a few wrestlers to nationals.

“Everyone is just giving everything they have at practice and it’s starting to show,” Smith said, regarding post-season preparation. “We’re

Photo courtesy of Athletics Department

The men’s wrestling team faced a tough opponent in King’s College Friday, Feb. 3, falling to the Monarchs, 30-16. The Monarchs earned four pins and six wins overall in the 10 bouts to take home the victory over the visiting Blue Jays.

peaking at the right time.”

The following day after the King’s meet, the Blue Jays sent nine wrestlers to compete in the unscored Messiah Open. This meet was an opportunity for wrestlers who do not always get a chance to compete in dual meets.

First-year Josh Paisley, despite starting off with a 14-3 major decision loss, went on to win five matches in a row. He placed third place in his 141-pound weight class. This was Paisley’s first time placing at a tournament in his career.

Paisley said the Messiah open was overall a good experience. It provided some Blue Jays with the opportunity “to compete in a highlevel tournament with some good wrestlers,” he said.

Ruble finished seventh place in the meet. First-year Max Rhoden had an eighth place finish at heavyweight.

The Blue Jays have two more dual meets left before Landmark Championships. The team is up against Messiah College for their Senior Night Friday, Feb. 10, and will face off against Wilkes Universtiy Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Sports

February 9, 2017

page 11

Women’s basketball falls in potential playoff matchup

Moravian Greyhounds race past Blue Jays in battle of Landmark Conference playoff hopefuls

I

by Brian Lukacsy Sports Editor

n a Landmark Conference battle between two playoff hopefuls, the Elizabethtown College women’s basketball team shot below 30 percent from the field for the first time this season while Moravian College hit nearly 50 percent of their shots for the game. Sophomore Julia Craig provided a huge spark off the bench to help the Blue Jays keep pace with the Greyhounds throughout the game. Craig scored a season-high 19 points, but Etown could not grab the lead back from the Greyhounds late, falling 66-61 at home.

Etown struggled offensively over the first 10 minutes of action, shooting just four of 22 in the opening quarter, However, the Blue Jays made good use of the foul line to enter quarter number two tied with Moravian. In the second quarter, the Greyhounds took control of the game as Morgan Calabrese scored nine of her 23 points in the frame. Calabrese stepped up as her teammate Camille McPherson, the Landmark’s leading scorer, was held to just six first-half points.

Moravian took a 27-21 lead into the break

Photo courtesy of David Sinclair

Sophomore Julia Craig (pictured above) went off for a season-high 19 points in the Blue Jays 66-61 loss to Moravian College Saturday, Feb. 4. The women’s basketball team is fighting for the final playoff spot with Susquehanna University.

an eight-point lead early in the second half, but a 12-to-six run helped the Blue Jays tie the game up midway through the third quarter.

Moravian went on a run of their own to end the third quarter to take a six point lead into the final frame.

McPherson began to heat up for the visitors as she scored 10 points in the third and added nine more in the fourth for her game-high 25 points. Craig did her best to keep Etown alive, scoring eight of the team’s first 10 points in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 49 with just over seven minutes left.

The Blue Jays were never able to take the lead in the fourth quarter as Moravian improved to 8-2 in the Landmark Conference, while Etown Photo courtesy of Athletics Department dropped to 5-5. Senior Emily Martin, who was Heading into Wednesday night’s game against Juniata College, the Blue Jays were recognized before the game for scoring her tied for fourth with Susquehanna University. Both teams own a 5-5 record.

1000th point against the University of Scranton

Men’s Basketball

as they outscored the Blue Jays 15-to-nine in the second quarter. The Greyhounds grabbed

back on Jan. 28, scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Junior Emma Hoesman chipped in with 11 points and recorded five steals.

Wednesday night, the Blue Jays hosted Juniata College in a must-win game for Etown.

Juniata entered the game with one win in their 10 conference games. The game finished too late for this issue.

The Blue Jays will travel to Goucher College Saturday, Feb. 11, to face the last place Gophers.

Etown defeated Goucher back on Saturday, Jan. 21, 82-37.

With three games remaining on their schedule, each game has huge playoff implications for the Blue Jays. After Goucher, Etown will travel to first-place Catholic University and then finish the season hosting Susquehanna University on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Women’s Basketball

Record

Record

1. Susquehanna University

8-2

1. Catholic University

10-0

University of Scranton

8-2

2. Moravian College

8-2

3. Catholic University

7-3

3. University of Scranton

6-2

Moravian College

7-3

4. Elizabethtown College

5-5 5-5

5. Drew University

5-5

6. Juniata College

3-7

6. Drew University

4-6

7. Elizabethtown College

1-9

7. Juniata College

1-9

8. Goucher College

0-10

Goucher College

1-9

Susquehanna University

*Standings updated as of Feb. 7

Track teams split, compete at two seperate events over weekend

S

by Delaney Dammeyer Staff Writer

a particularly stellar performance by Gamber in the shot put event. Gamber moved up the top 10 list with her performance at Ursinus not for the first time and certainly not for the last. With an 11.61-meter throw, Gamber placed sixth in the invitational and moved into the third spot in the top 10.

As a competitor, Gamber has a ritual to prepare herself for the day. “That day, I listen to music and when I get there, I pray,” Gamber said. She also shared having definite points of improvement. “As far as form goes, I need to concentrate for the next meet and increase my distance,” Gamber said.

The Etown women were also successful in the 4x200-meter

relay. The running team of senior Kelsey Detweiler, junior Lia Chak and first-years Jordan Sobolesky and Kaley Stinson ran a time of 1:52.04. The team placed sixth in the division.

Individually, Detweiler placed ninth in the 200-meter run with a time of 27.42.

The victories on the women’s side kept rolling in as junior Karly Deam vaulted 2.58 meters, moving forward from her ninth in program history placement. Deam has shared the same vault distance as first-year Paiton Kelly.

The teams compete as a whole again Saturday, Feb. 11, at Haverford College for the Seamus McElligott Invitational.

aturday, Feb. 4, Elizabethtown men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the Frank Colden Invitational hosted by Ursinus College. Saturday’s invitational was marked by two impressive individual victories by senior Mike Twist in men’s track and sophomore Leah Gamber in the women’s throwing event. Both competitors were backed up by several team wins and a staggering number of top 10 placers.

Twist has been riding a wave of success since his two consecutive wins in the 800-meter races at Susquehanna University and Bucknell University. At Ursinus on Saturday, Twist pulled ahead in the 400-meter and won with a 51.80 second time. He was the only runner to break 52 seconds.

The win also marked his first individual win in the 400-meter this season.

“The most difficult aspect of preparing for a race is convincing yourself you can win,” Twist said. “It doesn’t matter how many miles you put in if you don’t believe in yourself.”

Twist was also present in the 4x200-meter relay. Along with junior Mitch Schlegel and Brad Vasilik and sophomore Nick Winch, the relay team took ninth place with time of 1:36.80.

Another Etown runner claimed individual victory on Saturday alongside Twist. Senior Andrew Lesko finished the 3000-meter run in 8:57.11. He ran the best in his section and broke his record of nine minutes in the 3000-meter for the first time.

Etown success followed the men onto the field as well. Firstyear Derek Bosworth placed eighth in the triple jump, with a 12.76-meter distance, a new personal record for Bosworth.

Bosworth now places fifth in the top 10 list.

Photo courtesy of Wyatt Eaton Sophomore Jason Bubenchik took ninth in shot put and The men’s and women’s track teams competed in the Frank Colden Invitational at Ursinus College this past also set a personal record with a 9.34-meter throw. weekend. Senior Amanda Porter (pictured above) finished as one of the top throwers at the 2017 DeSchriver For women’s track and field, the invitational was marked by Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 5.

Sports

page 12

February 9, 2017

Men’s basketball falters in second half, looks ahead to Goucher Strong first half not enough to push Blue Jays past Moravian in Landmark Conference action

E

by Megan Piercy Asst. Sports Editor

lizabethtown’s men’s basketball team suffered a disappointing loss at home against Landmark Conference opponent Moravian College last Saturday, Feb. 4.

Senior Josh Eden kicked the game off with a layup which was immediately answered by the Greyhounds.

The Blue Jays and the Greyhounds went back and forth the rest of the half. Etown was never within more than seven points from their opponent and managed to take the lead a few times, making it a close battle as the clock counted down.

Eden and first-year Ethan DuBois both found the last two minutes, allowing Etown to lead Moravian 38-32 going into halftime.

After halftime the momentum of the game changed and Moravian came out energized and ready to win.

Within five minutes, the Blue Jay’s six-point lead had turned into a tie game.

After a series of fouls from the Blue Jays, the Greyhounds began to pull away. With less than 10 minutes left in the game, Etown was trailing Moravian by nine points; the biggest lead of either team thus far.

A series of layups and three-pointers from the Greyhounds allowed them to increase their lead to 16 points with less than three minutes left to play. In the end, the deficit was too much for the Blue Jays to handle.

After a tough battle, the Greyhounds took the win 79-63.

Photo courtesy of Athletic Department

The men’s basketball team fell to Moravian College for a second time this season, 79-63, in a Landmark Conference matchup Saturday, Feb. 4. The Blue Jays traveled to Juniata College last night.

Eden and senior Matt Lapkowicz were stand out players for the Blue Jays, earning 18 points each. Firstyear Connor Moffatt had 11 points and earned a teamhigh eight rebounds. DuBois earned 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.

After a strong first half, Moravian outscored Etown by 22 in the second half. Eden only scored four of his 18 points in the second half.

Moravian senior and game-high scorer, Brandon McGuire, stood out in the second half going 10-for-17, earning 20 points and 14 rebounds. McGuire’s teammates Oneil Holder and Jimmy Murray also stood out, both scoring in the double digits (14 and 12, respectively).

Despite a tough second half, the Blue Jays defense held the Greyhounds to well below their season averages.

Going into the game shooting three-pointers at 38.6 percent, Etown kept Moravian’s three-point percentage down to 20.8 percent (5-for-24).

This win was essential for Moravian in their attempt to secure a spot in the Landmark Conference postseason.

After this loss, Etown dropped to 4-16 overall and 1-9 in the Landmark Conference, officially eliminating them from the postseason.

Etown traveled to Juniata College last night to take on the Eagles for a second time this season. The game finished too late for this issue.

The Blue Jays will travel to Goucher College this Saturday, Feb. 11, at 4 p.m. Etown’s only Landmark Conference win this season came against Goucher back on Saturday, Jan. 21.

The Blue Jays will look to grab their second win in as Photo courtesy of Athletic Department many games against the Gophers and stop their current Senior Peter Harding (pictured above) looks to make a move in a recent home game for the men’s basketball four-game losing streak in conference play. team. The Blue Jays entered Wednesday night’s contest with Juniata with one Landmark win this season.

Athlete of the Week TM

Feb. 10

Feb. 11

Wrestling vs.

Messiah

M/W Track @ Seamus McElligott Invitational M/W @ Goucher

Feb. 12

Feb. 14 Wrestling vs. Wilkes

MICHAEL TWIST

by Brian Lukacsy Sports Editor The senior won the 400-meter race at this weekend’s Frank Colden Invitational at Ursinus College. The win gave Twist his third straight meet with an event championship. Previously, he took home first in the 800-meter race at Susquehanna University and Bucknell University. On Saturday, Twist ran the 400-meter in 51.80 and was the only runner to break the 52 second mark in the meet.

Photo courtesy of Wyatt Eaton

Feb. 13

Feb. 15 Men’s vs.

Catholic Women’s @ Catholic

Major: Electrical Engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Family Business Hometown: Voorhees, New Jersey Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Buffalo chicken sandwich Favorite movie: Wolf of Wallstreet Favorite musician/band: Childish Gambino Favorite place to visit: Disney World In 10 years I want to be... an Olympian.

Hardly anyone knows that...

I had to have surgery over the summer on my leg.

Favorite Etown Memory: Going to Thanksgiving dinner each year with the track team.

Greatest Etown accomplishment: Managing a startup (www.twistedworld.us) while competing in track and going to class.

Greatest track accomplishment: When I was coming around the last turn in the 800 trials at Nationals I managed to pick off the top two runners and make it to the final.

I started competing in track at age...

13.