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Penn State Beaver Roar
August 2012
News
Scandal brings big changes J. DURBIN
Senior Staff Writer jad500@psu.edu
The opening of the new state-ofthe-art Wellness Center on campus brings the first visible signs of change on the Penn State Beaver campus in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal. A new university-wide administrative policy was announced in a press release July 11 stating that all athletic facilities will only be accessible by university athletes, authorized athletic personnel and individuals with a valid Penn State identification card – including students, faculty and administration. The facilities may only be accessed during normal hours of operation. University ID cardholders will only be allowed to bring one related guest at a time with them to use any recreational facilities, including Penn State Beaver’s Wellness Center. The policy, of course, does not pertain to authorized events designated for public attendance at sporting and recreational spaces, such as a varsity basketball or volleyball game in the gym. It’s just part of the new culture you will experience at Penn State campuses. The culture change is due in part to the findings in the July 12 Freeh Report, a scathing report from former FBI director Louis Freeh commissioned by the Penn State Board of Trustees, which found that three top Penn State administrators, along with Coach Joe Paterno, had concealed allegations of child sexual abuse made against Sandusky, the long-time defensive coordinator for the football team. In June, Sandusky was convicted by a Center County court of 45 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years. On July 23 – a week after the Freeh report was released – the NCAA followed with sanctions on Penn State’s football program that include a $60 million fine, a fouryear postseason ban, the loss of 20 scholarships over four years and the invalidation of all 112 wins since 1998, the year Penn State first
FOR THE ROAR/Sami Hulings
Workers at Penn State University Park prepare to remove the controversial Joe Paterno statue in July, just one day before the NCAA announced unprecedented sanctions against Penn State. The late Paterno and former adminstrators Graham Spanier, Gary Schultz and Tim Curley have been implicated in a coverup of child sexual abuse by former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The scandal has cost the university millions to date, including a $60 million fine by the NCAA, and has resulted in numerous policy changes affecting all Penn State campuses, including Beaver.
heard allegations against Sandusky. In reference to the new policy, Steve Shelow, assistant vice president for University Park Police and Public Safety, stated in a press release that “The University’s new facilities policy is an important part of an overall plan to provide the safest environment possible to our constituents, and also re-emphasizes our commitment to offer athletic and recreational space for the use of our students, faculty, staff and their guests.” Any exceptions to the policy must be in writing and approved by the appropriate facilities office. Penn State Beaver’s Athletic Director Andy Kirschner said that things are reactionary right now, but that the new policy addresses things that definitely needed to be changed and that the campus was already taking care of it.
“A lot of time was put into coming up with our own policies and procedures for the Wellness Center,” Kirschner said, “and once the new policies were announced, we really didn’t have to change much, except for the guest policy and the alumni policy.” “We were planning on tightening things up before this all came out,” he added. Barbara Jean Bertges, women’s volleyball coach and coordinator of athletic programs, said the campus was building for a culture change to begin with. “We knew that we wanted the facility usage to change before any of this even made a minute of news,” she said. Kirschner said that before the change, there was just a little desk and a couple of people monitoring the entrance to the gym, which he admitted was hard to monitor.
“Now we have a very focal point of entry,” he said. Eventually there will be a swipe system at the main door to help make access more manageable for students and monitoring access easier for the front desk staff. But for now, students will need to show their ID card and sign in and out at the front desk. Unfortunately, what that also means is that the alumni that who graduated and have been watching this facility develop can’t use it. Neither can Campus Advisory Board members and community members who have had roles in its development. “We’re hoping for change, but at the same time we understand why the policies are changing,” Bertges said. “We expected some backlash, but really haven’t had any,”
Kirschner said. Junior men’s basketball player Nick Miller said the new access policy was a change. “It was a little harsh in the beginning because we weren’t used to it.” He said it would be better in the long run because there really weren’t any rules or policies before. “Anybody could be in and out of our gym at any time. At any time, doors weren’t locked,” Miller said. Something else noticeable when in the Wellness Center or around campus are yellow “We Care” lanyards that several coaches, students and administration are sporting. They are also evidence of change. “The biggest effect and the most immediate effect was with our New administration policies See Page 3
August 2012 Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 3
News
Wellness Center opening receives positive feedback DAN TRZCIANKA Managing Editor
dvt5050@psu.edu
After numerous delays, the longawaited Wellness Center addition to the gymnasium opened on July 24, officially allowing the Penn State Beaver community to access the facility. Athletic Director Andy Kirschner said that the project was an overall success. “I knew it was going to be nice, but I didn’t think it’d be this nice,” Kirschner said. “It’s more than ample size for what we used to have as our wellness room.” The nearly 5,000 square-foot facility, with a price tag of $3.3 million, provides a new main entrance to the gym, a small studio, a large space for $100,000 in weight and wellness equipment plus a mezzanine for more equipment. Twenty-four-foot windows provide a great view of the campus to those using the facility. Kirschner said that the Wellness Center has received positive feedback, and he’s hoping that will continue. Chris Rizzo, director of Student Affairs, said that students had significant input into the design of the Wellness Center. “I was impressed with the student engagement in the design
ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT/B.J. Bertges
Senior Tony Houghton spotted by sophomore Quentin Burton on the bench press.
Wellness Center Hours n Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. n Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. n Sunday: 2p – 8p Times subject to change.
process, as well as the discussion,” Rizzo said. “If there is any indication from the students I have been working with over the summer, it’s that the students will be really pleased with the end result.” “I really, really, really like the
new Wellness Center,” sophomore Adrijana Vukelic said. “There are more machines and its way bigger than before. Everything is clean and shiny and new.” Residence Life/Activities Coordinator Robin Schreck, a regular user, said she is very satisfied with how the Wellness Center turned out. “I like the new weight machines, but there’s also air conditioning finally, as well as more treadmills than before,” Schreck said. “I just wish that there were ceiling fans to blow the air around,” she added.
Schreck said that the new front desk makes the Wellness Center look more welcoming and professional. “I like it. It’s really good,” junior Chris Weathers said. “The equipment and the structure is quality.” Weathers, a member of the men’s basketball team, said he is excited and ready for the school year to start to take advantage of the equipment. “I’m glad that our varsity athletes can be more competitive now and make use of all this equipment,” sophomore Brian Nuckols, a soccer player, said. Senior Tony Houghton, a student worker in the gym, said he hopes that it stays that way. “We, the student workers at the Wellness Center, have to clean up the place if it gets dirty,” he said. “If the students who use it can keep it clean, it’ll stay looking good longer.” Sophomore Tim Smith, on the other hand, was a little more vocal about the previous fitness rooms. “The Wellness Center is a drastic improvement over the ‘wellness shed.’ It didn’t even really merit being called the wellness room before,” Smith said. With the opening of the Wellness Center come new rules about access.
Only students, faculty and staff accompanied by no more than one related guest can use the facility, and all users must show their Penn State ID card and sign in and out. “We wanted to create a welcoming, family, and collegiate environment for the Wellness Center,” Kirschner said. “The rules and policies we have in place are dictated by the university.” The athletic department, including its student workers, is responsible for enforcing the rules. Students don’t have much to criticize in regards to the gym. “There isn’t a pool, unfortunately,” Vukelic said, “but that’s why we have that deal with the YMCA.” “There’s no music right now, but they should have a stereo system coming soon,” Houghton said. Houghton also said that as of right now, alumni can’t use the Wellness Center. He hopes that an alumni usage policy will come sooner as opposed to later. Rizzo said he hopes the new facility encourages better wellness habits among students. “Overall, we’re looking forward to bring new opportunities to the students,” Rizzo said. “We want to facilitate wellness and have our students develop good wellness habits through the rest of their lives.”
New administrative policies influence a new campus culture Continued from Page 2
summer camps with having outside people on our campus,” Bertges said. “Obviously that’s the big area of focus right now.” Anybody working on campus with kids under age 18, including students helping with youth summer camps, has to go through a background check and mandated reporter training. The badges are a visible sign that the person has attended the training, which is a 90-minute program created by the university that goes over child-abuse statistics, what to look for and the processes to
be followed should child abuse be noticed or suspected. “This training makes us aware of what we should be looking for in terms of child abuse,” Bertges added. “It’s nice to be able to say to a kid at camp, ‘If something’s going wrong, look for this person with the yellow badge. They will help you.’” Junior Chris Weathers would like to see the We Care program implemented everywhere, at all schools. “I just know there’s going to be a positive out of that scandal,” he said. Recognizing child abuse and learning how to stop it is that positive, he said.
The training is not currently mandatory for all employees, but it is something Burtges could see becoming mandatory and thinks it’s a good thing because not enough people are aware of the signs of abuse. “I think the university is doing a really good job of handling this,” Burtges said, “helping their employees make sense of it, and keeping the students positive about it.” Incoming freshman Teddy Wilson committed to attending Penn State Beaver back in May to play basketball. Wilson said he “was not con-
cerned about the scandal,” or about playing sports at Penn State and never considered not coming here. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for others. According to Daniel Pinchot, director of enrollment, there has been a decline in admissions. “We are experiencing fewer new admits than we had last year,” he said. The numbers are down about 15 percent, but Pinchot was quick to add that there has been no direct evidence that the numbers are down based solely on what’s been in the news. “I have not heard from a single applicant that they changed their mind because of the
scandal,” Pinchot said. Fears about rising costs and declining state support could also be impacting admissions, he said, despite the university announcing a record-low tuition increase in July. Burtges expressed how amazing the support for the university has been. She has run into alumni that are just torn up about everything. “That says so much about the university,” she said. “There is so much pride in this school,” Burtges said, “this may crush another school, and it’s kind of crushing us right now, but I could see us rising up above to where we were prior to this.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar
August 2012
News
Tuition increase lowest since 1967 J. DURBIN
Senior Staff Writer jad500@psu.edu
On July 13, the Penn State Board of Trustees approved a 1.9 percent tuition increase for all Pennsylvania resident and non-resident students at Penn State Commonwealth Campuses for the 2012-13 school year. Daniel Pinchot, director of enrollment, called the nominal increase good news for students and their families. “We had known all along that the university was going to work very hard at keeping any tuition increase to a minimum.” The increase, which is the lowest since 1967, represents a $116 increase in tuition and is one of the lowest among public universities. Pinchot said that part of the reason for the record-low increase was because the state legislature passed a budget that maintained the state appropriation for Penn State and the state-related universities at last year’s level. Last year, however, the state cut Penn State’s funding by about 20 percent. According to a July 13 press release, tuition for non-resident students at University Park will increase by 2.4 percent, and resident students will see an increase of 2.9 percent. There will also be a $4 increase in the Information Technology Fee per semester for full-time undergraduate students, as well as a $3 Student Activity Fee increase and a $4 Facilities Fee increase for most full-time undergraduate students. For a complete listing of Penn State’s tuition rate schedules and fees, go to http://www. tuition.psu.edu.
PSU accreditation threatened FROM STAFF REPORTS The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has placed Penn State’s accreditation on a warning status. According to a release on Penn State Live, Middle States notified Penn State President Rodney Erickson Aug. 8 that it has issued an accreditation warning based on information contained in the Freeh Report and the binding consent decree with the NCAA. The commission stressed that Penn State’s accreditation remains intact. “We must be clear about what this warning means so there are no misunderstandings,” Blannie Bowen, vice provost for academic affairs and Penn State’s accrediting liaison officer, said in the release.
“
This action has nothing to do with the quality of education our students receive. ” Blannie Bowen
Vice provost for academic affiars
“This action has nothing to do with the quality of education our students receive. Middle States is focusing on governance, integrity and financial issues related to information in the Freeh report and other items related to our current situation.” The commission is requiring Penn State to submit a monitoring report by Sept. 30. The report will address concerns
related to university leadership, governance and financial stability that have followed the conviction of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on child sex-abuse charges. “The commission wants us to document that steps we have already taken and are planning to take will ensure our full compliance with its requirements,” Erickson said in the release. Judith Eaton, president of the Commission on Higher Learning, told the Associated Press that it’s highly unlikely Penn State will end up on probation or lose its accreditation. If it does, students would lose access to federal funds such as Pell grants and Stafford loans. Bowen said that once the report
is submitted, the commission will send a team to investigate and follow up with its own report, including recommended actions. Those actions could include lifting the warning, placing the university on probation or losing accreditation. “It is critical to emphasize that Middle States does not issue a warning unless the commission believes that an institution has the capacity to make appropriate improvements within a reasonable period and then sustain itself to stay in compliance,” Bowen said in the release. “This certainly is true for Penn State. We’re confident that our monitoring report and the site visit will confirm this to the commission.”
Don’t throw this newspaper away! Recycle The Roar and all of the other paper you don’t need any more. Put office paper, magazines, catalogs and newspapers in one of the paper recycling bins on campus or in the Paper Retriever bin in the parking lot near the Wellness Center.
HELP MAKE PENN STATE BEAVER GREENER
August 2012 Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 5
News
University keeping ANGEL course system DAN TRZCIANKA Managing Editor
dvt5050@psu.edu
Penn State’s course management system, ANGEL, is staying in place after all. According to an Aug. 2 press release on Penn State Live, keeping ANGEL is the most cost-effective option for the university and will provide the least disruption to its students and faculty. Penn State officials had been searching for online course management options since Blackboard purchased ANGEL in 2009. At the time, Blackboard had said it would eventually stop supporting ANGEL, forcing users like Penn State to seek an alternative.
But in March, Blackboard reversed its decision and said support of ANGEL would be ongoing. “When the option of retaining ANGEL again became available, the committee reevaluated the product options and found it in the best interest of the Penn State community to continue support for ANGEL,” Penn State Live’s report said. David Paoletti, assistant professor of computer science, said that he has experience with both ANGEL and Blackboard. “Granted, it’s been about seven years between using Blackboard, but it was very complicated back then,” Paoletti said. Paoletti worked for Sinclaire Commu-
nity College in Ohio, where the college used Blackboard until the switch to ANGEL. “On Blackboard, if I wanted to upload a PowerPoint,” Paoletti said, “I would have to upload the PowerPoint, and then give it a link to the file. On ANGEL, you just have to upload the file and give it a name. The process [on Blackboard] was a lot longer and just more complicated.” Junior Tommy Klemens and sophomore Paul Toma both agreed that they prefer ANGEL to Blackboard. “I mean, I don’t have experience with Blackboard, but I don’t mind ANGEL,” Klemens said. “I just think it’d be a lot better if my professors would use it more actively. ANGEL
makes it really easy to view the class syllabus or view your grades.” “I used Blackboard in high school and I hated it,” Toma said. “ANGEL is just easier to use.” Toma agreed that if his professors would use ANGEL more frequently, it would be more convenient to see the grades at the end of the week as opposed to Early Progress Reports. The report also said that Penn State’s Information Technology Services will work to reduce the daily maintenance needs of ANGEL and address accessibility concerns. ITS will also work with Blackboard to explore mobile options for ANGEL.
BE A LION AMBASSADOR
It’s not too late to show your pride in Penn State Beaver. Sign up this fall for CN ED 297. Want to know more? Contact Mr. Dan Pinchot at (724) 773-3800 or email dpinchot@psu.edu.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
August 2012
Viewpoint ADVICE FOR FRESHMEN
MANAGING EDITOR Dan Trzcianka
dvt5050@psu.edu
EDITORIAL EDITOR N. L. Paoletti
nlp5624@psu.edu
STAFF Wendi Barnett
wkb5019@psu.edu
J. Durbin
jad500@psu.edu
Amanda Palombo amp5831@psu.edu
Zakary Taylor
zwt100@psu.edu
Corey Wright
cjw5372@psu.edu
ADVISERS Terrie Baumgardner tbm2@psu.edu
Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu
Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu
Go to class, join a group, ask for help The first year of college can be overwhelming, nerve-racking and downright scary at times; but it is also an exciting and fun experience. College is about learning and getting a degree in a chosen field, but there is more to college than just learning. Play hard. If you enjoy sports as an athlete or an observer, get involved in one of eight varsity sports, join in an intramural sport or simply attend games to cheer on the team. Join a club. The campus offers a bunch, including Blue and White Society, Business Club, Game Room Club and the Campus Crusade for Christ. Be a leader. If you have an interest, you can also get involved with the Student Government Association, The Roar newspaper, WBVR radio or Dance MaraTHON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Don’t let excuses come in the way of your involvement. It’s easy to say “I don’t know what there is to do” or “I
don’t know how to join.” To find out more about the clubs and organizations available, email Activities Coordinator Robin Schreck at ras62@psu.edu or attend the Club Fair at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 5. And it’s OK that you might not know anyone else involved in what you want to join. Once you get involved, you’ll make friends. That’s the point. Be present. The college experience doesn’t end with classes and clubs or sports. There will be many out-of-class events each semester, including trips, speakers, comedians, music and more. Attend as many events as you can and make your presence known. How do you know what’s happening? The digital bulletin boards found around campus, as well as the Stall Stories, highlight up-coming events. Hang out on campus. Many of the activities will be held at the Brodhead Bistro, a perfect place to catch a Starbucks coffee or bite to eat and hang out
with friends – or make new friends. Ask for help when you need it. College can be a lot of fun but there ‘s also a lot of work. Some classes are a little rougher than others. Fortunately, there is help for all those tough problems; you just have to ask for it. The professors are friendly, open and willing to help. Stop by their office during office hours or email them your questions. If a professor isn’t available or you need extra help, go to the Center for Academic Achievement located in the Ross Administration Building. Free tutoring is available for just about any class offered. Don’t let stress over classes, adjusting to college life or other anxieties get out of hand. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, contact Larissa Ciuca, student personal and career counselor, at lbm12@psu.edu for help. Enjoy college and let it be a fun and exciting experience while you work toward your Penn State degree.
We are STILL Penn State With the release of the Freeh report in July, the sanctions laid out by the NCAA a week later and now a threat to the university’s accreditation, Penn Staters have had to accept some harsh realities. It’s been a rough year, and a lot has been learned about Dear Old State. One of the lessons learned is that the reputation of Penn State is not derived from just one man, no matter how many wins he may have. Another lesson is that Penn State’s reputation does not come just from the football program, no matter how popular it is with alumni and donors. Like many other universities, Penn State has been recognized more for its sports successes than for being an outstanding learning institution.
While each year a few college athletes step onto a career path in professional sports, most graduating student athletes do not. Most end up with other careers, filled with the happy memories of their college glory days on the field, on the court, etc. It is time for Penn State, along with other universities, to stop relying on its sports brand and focus on the quality of the education it provides to its students. So if it isn’t just about football, what is Penn State? Penn State is one of the top learning institutions in the world, offering more than 160 undergraduate majors and more than 150 graduate degrees. Penn State is its graduates, who are among the best prepared for the job market, according to a 2010 Wall
Street Journal survey of job recruiters. Penn State is Dance MaraTHON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world that has raised more than $88 million since 1977 in the fight against pediatric cancer. Penn State is students and faculty who have been recognized for many outstanding research projects over the years. Penn State is the alumni who make up the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world and who continue to support the university long after they have graduated. Simply, WE are Penn State. And despite how this scandal has tarnished Penn State’s reputation, it’s important that Penn Staters remember that ... we are STILL Penn State!
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Roar is published several times each semester. Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: roar-editor@ psu.edu by the 20th day of each month. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published.
FREE ADS FOR CLUBS Because The Roar receives funding from the Student Activity Fee, free advertising space is offered to any university-recognized organization or club to promote upcoming events. The space is limited to one advertisement, one-eighth of a page in size, per organization or club per month. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: roarbusiness@psu. edu by the 20th of each month.
August 2012 Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 7
Features
‘It’s just easier to cheat’
Pressure leads some students to cheat in college
DANIELLE FULLWOOD Staff Writer
dgf5053@psu.edu
Students are constantly under pressure to live up to academic standards. As a result, some go to extremes to achieve a passing grade. Cramming to get the work done is always an option, but cheating is a consideration as well. Many students rely on cheating because it is a faster way to get things done and it ensures a good grade in the end. “When I’m struggling and need help, it’s just easier to cheat,” said a student, now a junior, who asked not to be identified. The student said she has texted people while she’s in class to get answers on a test, admitting she’s never gotten caught. Another freshman, who also asked not to be identified, agreed. “When I don’t study enough, cheating is always the other option,” the student said. This student said she feels pressure to cheat because she is a business major trying to get into the Smeal College of Business. Depending on what their major is, students may have to maintain a very high grade-point average. For instance, the bar is set really high for students majoring in business and engineering. These pressures are reasons that lead them to cheat. Even though many students cheat on campus, most cases haven’t been officially documented. According to Donna Kuga, director of academic affairs, not many cheating cases have been bought to her attention. When faculty members suspect that students are cheating, they are supposed to fill out an academic integrity form. “When the form is filled out, the student and professor share their case with me,” Kuga said. “I give advice to the professor and the forms go to Judicial Affairs.”
ROAR ILLUSTRATION/File
Some students turn to cheating as a shortcut to good grades. Academic pressures are often the cause.
The Academic Integrity Committee plays a role in deciding what happens to students. The committee consists of two faculty, two students and a chairperson. David Paoletti, assistant professor of computer science, took over as chairperson this past spring. “The cheating case is presented in front of the committee only if the student denies that cheating has occurred,” Paoletti said. If a student is caught cheating or the committee finds the student guilty, there are consequences. “The student can receive a zero for the assignment or lose a letter grade in the course,” Paoletti said. “They can also fail the course, with an X on their transcript which shows they’ve cheated.” For cheating on numerous occasions, a student will get dismissed or expelled, though that hasn’t happened at Beaver, Kuga and Paoletti said. These consequences are the exact reasons why honest students don’t cheat in college. “I’m more afraid of getting caught than getting a good grade,”
said Salewa Akintilo, a junior now at University Park. Sophomore Danielle Joyner and Gayatri Moghe agreed that they don’t cheat in college because the consequences are worse. It could go on their permanent record. Non-cheaters earn grades by actually studying, so it seems unfair when others don’t do the same. “I feel disappointed because I tried my best and didn’t get the good grade I desired,” Moghe said. “But cheaters always get a good grade. They always win.” Most professors share Moghe’s disappointment about cheaters. Senior Instructor in Philosophy Irene Wolf said that cheating is unethical. Cheaters have an unfair advantage over honest students. Wolf has caught several students in the past trying to plagiarize essays for her class. “If I suspect cheating, I’ll confront the student about it directly,” Wolf said. “However, I’ve only written two students up on academic integrity forms.” Matthew Grunstra, assistant professor of environmental science,
has had the same issues with cheating in his classroom. He watches students closely and stays in the room when tests are given to prevent students from cheating. “If I catch a student cheating, they get a zero for the grade,” Grunstra said. “If they do the crime, they should do the time.” Senior Instructor in Sociology JoAnn Chirico said she has no tolerance for cheaters. She has taken tests away from students who were cheating, and they automatically fail. Many students will turn in journals that were clearly written by someone else. “I think cheaters are lazy. It’s the easy way out, so that’s why they do it,” Chirico said. Rajen Mookerjee, associate professor of economics, summed it up. “Some students cheat because they’re lazy, while others are under academic pressure. On the other hand many students are just continuing what they did in high school.” Editor’s Note: This story was originally written for Communications 260W in the Spring 2012 semester.
Texting, internet help cheaters
Students no longer cheat the old fashioned way by writing the answers on a tiny sheet of paper or somewhere on their hands. Many students now use technology like smart phones to cheat their way through college. One anonymous student admitted to texting friends in class numerous times for answers on a test from her Android phone that she keeps on her lap. She literally phoned a friend for help. “When I was taking a statistics exam I forgot a formula to solve the problem,” she said. “I ended up texting another student who took the test before me and she told me the answer.” Another student who also asked not to be identified admitted to using his iPhone in a microeconomics class. “I did not know the difference between a monopoly and oligopoly market structure, so I looked it up on Google,” he said. “I clicked on the first link that came up and there was the answer.” Both students have never gotten caught for their actions. Matthew Grunstra, assistant professor of environmental science, suspects that his students have used the Internet to find answers. “I think maybe technology plays a role for my class when students go to the Internet to look up answers for homework or papers,” Grunstra said. “Sometimes I think they just copy things directly from the Internet, which is plagiarism.” — By Danielle Fullwood
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Penn State Beaver Roar
August 2012
Features
Writing counts in college Professors express concern about students who lack writing, grammar skills N. L. PAOLETTI Staff Writer
nlp5099@psu.edu
Even though she struggles with grammar rules and spelling, sophomore Taylor Braxton is considering a degree in corporate communications. “I like to write, especially fiction, and I know that writing is very important to get this degree,” Braxton said. “I’m not good with grammar, and I have a hard time with spelling and punctuation.” Braxton is not alone. Incoming freshmen to Penn State Beaver will learn that knowing how to write well and with proper grammar is going to be required by all their professors and eventually by their careers. The writing skills of students are leaving some instructors and professors frustrated. “They don’t know how to form paragraphs,” Irene Wolf, senior instructor in philosophy, said. “Many of my students are not prepared for writing, or even a topic sentence.” “A lot of my students don’t even realize how much writing is involved in psychology,” Kevin Bennett, instructor in psychology said. “Students do not have the skills for writing in the 200-level classes and these jobs are very writing intensive.” So why are freshmen grammar skills so bad? “There is an assumption in the high schools,” Tiffany MacQuarrie, professor in English, said, “that at some point students just know good grammar skills.” MacQuarrie also taught a Penn State dual enrollment English 15 class at South Side High School. “I was told to take grammar and punctuation off the syllabus the first year because of that assumption,” she said. MacQuarrie has since put grammar and punctuation back on the syllabus.
ROAR ILLUSTRATION
Writing style and grammar skills are noticeably absent in many students due to flawed high school curriculum.
“
High schools aren’t teaching grammar skills, and colleges get the backlash.”
Kay Wijekumar
Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology
Many professors have said they feel that something gets lost at the high school level. “(Incoming students) haven’t been taught to rewrite on their own,” said Leo Takahashi, assistant professor of physics, who has taught at Penn State Beaver for more than 40 years. “Writing skills have deteriorated over the years, and some students don’t even take advantage of the spell-check and grammar-check tools that are built into word processing programs.” “I don’t think these students were challenged enough in high
school with using proper grammar,” Wolf said. “Now they have to play catch up to keep up with college-level courses.” “Their writing doesn’t reflect what they know, and they just don’t understand that,” JoAnn Chirico, senior instructor in sociology, said. “About 10 percent of my students have very good writing skills. However, more than 50 percent of them have poor writing skills.” “One of my biggest concerns is that poor writing skills would leave these students with a lack of credibility when it is time for them to join the work force,” Kay Wijekumar, associate professor of information sciences and technology, said. “The writings lack depth. It’s superficial and it’s poorly organized,” Wijekumar said. “High schools aren’t teaching grammar skills, and colleges get the backlash.”
“Knowing the difference between sound-alike words is a problem for many of the students,” Jill Tress, learning center and disabilities service coordinator said. “I write poetry and inspirational writings,” sophomore Dora Tweneboah said. “But for me English is a second language, so sometimes I struggle with some of the grammar rules.” “I go to the C.A.A. for help with my papers,” said Iman Abubaker, who graduated in spring 2012 with a little help from the Center for Academic Achievement. “I know writing may be important for a long-term career in administration of justice, but I don’t enjoy it.” Junior Crystal Johnson, who is now at University Park, said comma splices give her the most issues. “It seems that every time I write a paper, I have a bunch of sen-
tences with comma splices. That’s my biggest problem.” At a small campus in the Penn State system, many professors don’t see the work of upper-level students. But MacQuarrie, who also teaches upper-level students, said, “By the time students reach junior and senior level, they have improved a lot. And many are very good.” “There is a broad range of skills with students because of the variability between the high schools,” Karen Barr, instructor in business administration, said. “High school students are taught according to what they are going to be tested on.” Barr said that by the time they reach the upper levels, she thinks it’s more a matter of students being lazy or lacking motivation to try harder. “I think one of the biggest problems is that students rely too heavily on technology to fix their problem,” Wijekumar said. “Students at all levels see the words are spelled correctly but don’t proofread to see if they have used the correct word.” “If English 15 and English 4 instructors spend class time reviewing grammar and punctuation, there should be improvement,” MacQuarrie said. “Additionally, English instructors need to partner with C.A.A. to find ways to better encourage students to take advantage of their services.” “I think everyone should require and grade writing in all the courses,” Tress said. “Reading also helps. Mostly they need to write. I would suggest that students keep a journal and write daily to practice.” Editor’s Note: This story was originally written as a final project for Communications 260W in the Spring 2012 semester.
August 2012 Penn State Beaver Roar
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Features
Don’t let depression call the shots LIZ HAIN
Staff Writer
eah5150@psu.edu
A growing issue among college students is the need to learn how to manage psychological problems with the stress that college can bring. “In my last four years of teaching, I have never witnessed such an increase of students who are stressed and especially depressed,” Juliette Storr, associate professor of communication arts and sciences, said. “I have realized that a lot of the time it is not the fact that students are not caring about their grades. It is the combination between dealing with their emotions and academics at the same time,” Storr added. “I have no motivation sometimes because of my depression,” sophomore Alicia Prestia said, citing the challenges she faced her freshman year at Beaver campus. “I have missed class and work because of my diagnosis before, because it is not only psychologi-
cal: it’s physical as well.” Prestia explained that her depression physically hurts her. She described it as being similar to body aches that prevent her from wanting to even get out of bed in the morning. “Bipolar is a form of depression and that’s what I was diagnosed with,” she said. “I balance it with medication, but there was a time in the beginning of this semester that my levels were off and I broke down.” Luckily, Prestia was referred to Larissa Cuica, personal and career counselor, where she was able to get help. Cuica said there are more people who have been coming to her with pre-diagnosed stages of depression and that the majority of them were diagnosed in high school. But it is the students who have not been pre-diagnosed that Cuica keeps a close eye on because those are the ones who are unaware of their true symptoms. “Those who haven’t sought support with
the transition to college - whether it be from high school, a different college campus or even adults coming back to school - sometimes need help with coping skills,” Cuica said. And coping is one of the biggest concerns, she added, because it is linked with the ability to also deal with the stress that college brings. “I would definitely recommend to others getting help or support,” Prestia said. “Getting the personal and academic help before things spiral out of control is the best decision. Because once you are down, it is so hard to come back up.” Storr said there should be greater attention to depression in college students because it has become clear that this is a hidden issue that needs to be addressed. Cuica agreed. “We are in the process of contracting a consulting physician to work with existing counseling services on campus,” she said. “These services will help address
psychological needs and concerns with medication management, long-term psychiatric care and diagnosis crisis care.” Prestia said no one should feel scared or ashamed of the thought that they might have depression or any other psychological problem. “I found comfort in being able to relate with so many other students and friends on campus who I found out also had depression,” she added. “It is nothing to be ashamed of.” She said that freshmen who have psychological needs need to surround themselves with supportive friends. “You have to be friends with the right people who motivate you to do well and stay on track,” she said. “Because when you have their support, it helps so much.” Editor’s Note: This story was originally written as a final project for Communications 260W in the Spring 2012 semester.
Get a job. Get an internship. Volunteer. AUG
29
On- and Off-Campus Part-time Job Fair
11:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M., STUDENT UNION BUILDING LOWER LOBBY AREA
Our Part-time Job Fair is a great opportunity to talk with employers from various campus departments and area businesses to find part-time, temporary and seasonal positions. SEPT
7
Reach Out Community Service Fair
11 A.M. TO 2 P.M., STUDENT UNION BUILDING LODGE
Penn State Beaver Reach Out works with nonprofit groups and agencies to connect students with volunteer service-learning projects. The real-world experiences that local agencies provide for students help them apply their skills and knowledge in a variety of situations. Students also come to understand their responsibilities as citizens in building communities.
OCT
10
Fall Internship & Networking Fair
11:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M., STUDENT UNION BUILDING LOWER LOBBY AREA
At this event, you will have the opportunity to meet local employers seeking qualified students for a variety of internship opportunities. Meet potential employers; find out what internships they have available; and gather information about careers directly from employers. MAR
20
Career & Business Expo: PSU Beaver Career Days STUDENT UNION BUILDING LODGE
Connect with employers who are hiring for full- and parttime positions and paid and unpaid internships. Explore volunteer opportunities and find out about graduate degree programs.
Career Services Larissa Ciuca
CareerServicesBeaver@psu.edu
beaver.psu.edu/careers
724-773-3961
Page 10
Penn State Beaver Roar
August 2012
Sports
Teams hopeful about 2012 season ZAKARY TAYLOR
disappointed,” he said. While his time at Penn State Beaver has been short, Van Kirk says he has already received a ton of support. “The school is great. It’s a nice campus. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from (former) Coach (Dan) Grant. Anything I’ve needed, I’ve gotten,” he said.
Senior Staff Writer
zwt100@psu.edu
Three Penn State Beaver sports teams are looking to bounce back from disappointing seasons this fall. The addition of two new faces and the return of a familiar one has players and coaches optimistic about their chances.
MEN’S SOCCER
VOLLEYBALL Coach B.J. Bertges has taken the reins of the women’s volleyball program. Bertges was hired after the team endured consecutive losing seasons. She hopes to restore the program to where it was a few years ago but realizes she must be patient. “We can’t measure this season in wins,” Bertges said. “Winning is a goal, but you do it in little pieces.” While she doesn’t expect to rebuild overnight, Bertges believes the team has a solid foundation in place. “We have a great group of girls. They have a great attitude and are willing to come together to work. They have a lot of skill,” she said. According to captain Daina Owens-Townsend, players were immediately drawn to their new coach’s enthusiasm. “She’s a very exciting person,” she said. “She wants to make the program as big as it was in the past.” In order to do this, Bertges has made a few changes. “I’m implementing some new things to the team,” she said. “I want to give everyone the opportunity to play and get their hands on the ball.” Players quickly embraced the coaching philosophy. The team now emphasizes hard work and chemistry over individual statistics. “We work more as a team now, which is a good thing. Rather than talking about stats, we’re more hands on,” said junior Gina Richman. Richman, who plays an important role as the team’s setter, believes Bertges has already prov-
ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT FILE PHOTOS
Mark Shaheen, 16, above, dribbles the ball during a men’s soccer match. Below, volleyball player Natalie Gamble, 8, spikes the ball.
en herself to be a valuable asset. “Coaching is our biggest strength. We need someone to guide us, and she really gets involved.”
WOMEN’S SOCCER For Coach Jim Van Kirk, success will be measured by his ability to rebuild the women’s soccer program. The move to install Van Kirk as head coach was made after the team failed to register a win in the last two years. Van Kirk plans to put a strong emphasis on ball possession and defensive responsibility. He also brings with him an infectious enthusiasm for the game. “That motivates me, the passion for the game. I love the sport. It feeds my competitive nature,” he said. Despite the team’s recent struggles, Van Kirk said he feels confident he can guide his squad in the right direction. “My goal is to build up the program to where it can be competitive. Within five years we should be competing to take the team to the next level. If we fall short, I will be
The men’s soccer team will receive a boost this fall when captain and 2011 United States Collegiate Athletic Association AllAmerican Tyler Blake returns to the pitch. Blake rejoins the team after missing the 2011-12 season with mononucleosis. Without Blake in the lineup, the team stumbled to a disappointing 2-16 record. “This year he’s fit and ready to rock and roll,” said Grant, who has also served as the men’s soccer coach for two years. “Getting him back is a big boost to the team. We’re looking forward to his return.” When asked how he felt coming into the season, Blake flashed a grin. “Excellent,” he said. That could be bad news for the Penn State University Athletic Conference. Goalkeeper Matt Fetch will also be back from an injury he sustained over the spring. Much like Blake, Fetch will play a crucial role in the success of the team. “Matt is a great goalkeeper, and having a good goalkeeper is the key to a strong team,” said Grant. Midfielder Mike Biskup and defender Brian Nuckols are also expected to have strong seasons. Although the team is coming off of a down year, Grant says expectation remain high. “Our expectations every season are to win the PSUAC.” That’s a goal the coach and players clearly agree on. “We have a lot of talent that returned. We expect to win the conference,” said Blake. “This is the most talent we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
August 2012 Penn State Beaver Roar
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Sports
Lady Lions first in PSUAC COREY WRIGHT Staff Writer
cjw5372@psu.edu
ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Korey Freyermuth pitches a winning game in the PSUAC tournament.
The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions softball team captured the Penn State University Athletic Conference championship in May. The team finished the 201112 season with an overall record of 26-18 and an outstanding Penn State University Athletic Conference record of 17-1. In addition to the PSUAC championship, the team earned a bid to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament, where it finished fifth in the nation. Beaver swept the PSUAC tournament, defeating Penn State Hazelton 2-1 in the first round and Penn State Mont Alto in back-toback wins, 2-0 and 2-1. “We actually proved everyone wrong when we won PSUAC,” pitcher Kori Freyermuth said. “It’s the best feeling to win something that people thought we
couldn’t even do.” Freyermuth continued, “We all have our differences, but at the end of the day we are family and we had each other’s back on the field.” The PSUAC championship win also gave Coach Andy Kirschner his 200th career win. With the PSUAC championship in hand, the only other goal the team had left was the USCAA national championship. But this pursuit was cut short when the Lady Lions suffered early-round losses to Lindenwood-Belleville in Illinois and Briarcliffe College in New York. The Lady Lions ended their season on a 4-3 win over Lindenwood-Belleville, finishing fifth in the USCAA tournament. Despite the struggles they faced at nationals, the team accomplished a lot during their season. Lauren Pier and Freyermuth were named USCAA AllAmerican and Freyermuth also was named PSUAC Co-Pitcher of the
Year. Lindsey Scialdone was named PSUAC Player of the Year, while Myranda Raymond and Ashley Watkins were named USCAA Honorable Mentions. Sophomore Wendi Barnett was named USCAA All-Academic. To add to that long list of honors, Scialdone, Freyermuth, Watkins and Pier were selected by the PSUAC for First-Team AllConference. Raymond and Nicole Bowersox were Second-Team AllConference. In addition, Watkins was also named to the USCAA AllTournament Team and named Beaver’s Student Athlete of the Year. Pier led the team in home runs with seven. Raymond led runs-batted-in with 46, while Scialdone led in hits with 56, a .424 batting average and an on-base percentage of .466. As the only pitcher on the team, Freyermuth led in all categories and had an earned-run average of 2.65.
Baseball team ends second in PSUAC, fifth in nation AMANDA PALOMBO Staff Writer
amp5831@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver baseball team was unable to claim a Penn State University Athletic Conference championship in the 2012 season. The team finished second in the PSUAC, losing to Penn State Mont Alto, 3-2, in the championship game. The ranking was an improvement over last year’s fourth-place finish. The team also received a bid to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament in Springfield, Ill., where Beaver finished fifth in the nation. “Our goal was to make it into the national tournament and leave our mark. We did by winning two games, and that still wasn’t good enough,” said Tyler Schuster, a starting pitcher. “We are still hun-
ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Tommy Lewis makes a third-base play in a PSUAC game.
gry.” The Nittany Lions started out 3-4 coming back from their annual spring trip and moved to 10-11 halfway through the season. “I think the game against UCClermont in April was our turning point in the season,” said freshman pitcher Stephen Galamarini. “It seemed like after that game, every-
thing just clicked for us.” The team finished 26-19 overall, and 18-4 in the PSUAC. Zack DelTurco led the team with a .437 batting average and 34 runs batted in. Alex Filippi had 123 at bats and 25 stolen bases. Cory Wagner also led with three home runs. Schuster led the pitching staff
with 12 appearances, 58-and-athird innings pitched, and a 1.68 earned-run average. “Preparing for my sophomore year, I worked on a lot of stuff in the winter,” said Schuster. “It all paid off, and I earned a spot on the first team PSUAC All-Conference Team.” Along with Schuster, DelTurco and Markus Allen were named to the first team PSUAC All-Conference team, and Mike Karas, Filippi and Wagner were named to the second team All-Conference. Sophomore Andrew DiPietrantonio was also named 2011-12 Student Athlete of the Year and USCAA All-Academic, along with Garrett Covalt and Filippi. During the regular season, the Nittany Lions had 1,017 at bats, nine home runs, 212 RBIs and a 0.308 batting average as a team. “This year’s team had great
chemistry together, and we played like a team should. Every guy on the team stepped up when we needed them to,” said Wagner, a first baseman. “It takes our entire team to play well for us to be successful.” Galamarini said, “It was a lot more than I expected my first season to be. I never thought I would be competing in a national championship with the great group of guys on the team. It was way more than anyone could ask for.” Wagner is already looking ahead to the 2012-13 season. “We lost a few key players from last year that fit in very well with the team,” said Wagner. “It will be tough to replace them.” Wagner remains optimistic, though. “We are bringing more good players into the program. I expect another successful season this year.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar
August 2012
Features
Ford engine takes students to Detroit CATHY BENSCOTER Roar Adviser
How far can $1, a reproduction of an antique engine and months of hard work get you? If you were in Instructor Jim Hendrickson’s Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics course last spring, it got you to Detroit for the chance of a lifetime. Henrickson and his eleven students were invited to display their model of Henry Ford’s first combustion engine at Maker Faire Detroit, an invention fair hosted by the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich., July 28-29. The students won three blue ribbons handed out by museum officials and editors of Make Magazine. “I liked Penn State Beaver’s engine particularly because it’s using a preeminent historical story and reinvestigating that,” said Christian Overland, executive vice president of The Henry Ford. “It’s obviously a piece that works. More importantly, when I talked to the students about it, I could see there’s a real team here.” The engine project, which had a $1 budget, involved researching Henry Ford, creating 3D models and schematics of the engine, and building the replica from parts the students often had to make themselves. “We built a working engine out of scratch,” said sophomore Brennen Koji. “We harnessed explosions and turned them into mechanical energy.” The $1 budget went to a cup of coffee, Koji said. “We shared it to stay awake while we were working on the engine.” Ford’s first combustion engine was never installed in a vehicle. Instead, it served as a proof of concept for his 1896 Quadricycle. “On Christmas Eve 1893, Henry Ford had his wife put down the turkey and come to the kitchen sink to help him start this thing,” said Hendrickson. The engine was plugged into a wall socket, and Ford and his wife regulated the fuel intake by hand.
UNIVERSITY RELATIONS/Cathy Benscoter
Allie Stewart, center, and Valerie Fudurich, left, demonstrate Penn State Beaver’s reproduction of Henry Ford’s first combustion engine at Maker Faire Detroit July 28. The working engine was built by sophomore engineering students during the spring 2012 semester.
UNIVERSITY RELATIONS/Cathy Benscoter
Branden Kraus demonstrates the engine at Maker Faire Detroit.
The museum has the original engine in storage. A replica is on display in the museum’s Greenfield Village, but it has a problem. “The replica they have doesn’t work,” Hendrickson said. “Ours does.” That fact alone drew the attention of Jim Johnson, the museum’s senior manager of creative pro-
grams. “When we found out that the students had a reproduction that actually works, we were very interested,” said Johnson, who invited the students to show their engine in the museum’s booth at Maker Faire alongside a reproduction of the 1896 Quadricycle. “Everyone loved seeing the
engine run and hearing the students talk about it,” Johnson said. One of those people was Clara Deck, the museum’s senior conservator of historical resources. “It brought a tear to my eye,” she said. “It literaly choked me up. We have the original, but I’ve never seen it run.” Deck was so moved that she offered to uncrate the original and allow the students to view it in a storage area of the museum. “We thought the original had been thrown away,” Hendrickson said. “That was a rare opportunity. These students will never forget it.” Sophomore Christina Coriani certainly won’t. “To find out that it not only exists, but that we were also able to see it was amazing,” she said. Dalton Petrillo, a sophomore who traveled from his home in Cheyenne, Wyo., found out how big an honor it was when he told one of the Henry Ford Museum workers about it. “He was jealous.
He said they never show it to anyone.” Though the eleven students involved in the project have transitioned to University Park and Behrend campuses, their appearance at Maker Faire may forge a lasting relationship between the campus and the museum. Johnson recently invited Hendrickson and some of his students to display the engine in the museum’s tent at the Old Car Festival Sept. 8-9 at Greenfield Village. “The interest could be tenfold as there are many, many early automobile enthusiasts at the festival,” Johnson said. He issued a standing invitation to Hendrickson to bring more students to future Maker Faires. “This is a great thing for the campus,” Hendrickson said. Roar Adviser Cathy Benscoter, Penn State Beaver’s marketing and web specialist, originally wrote this story for the Office of University Relations.