December 2014 Roar by Penn State Beaver

Penn State Beaver Roar

News

December 2014

Harmony Hall may be updated B. KEELER

Senior Staff Writer bak5266@psu.edu

Major changes may be coming to Penn State Beaver’s residence hall, including construction of a new lobby and several other notable upgrades. The Harmony Hall project is still being reviewed to see if it is feasible, according to Director of Student Affairs Christopher Rizzo. If approved, it will bring a more attractive, welcoming entrance to the more than 40-year-old dormitory. The biggest and most notable change to Harmony Hall will be the addition of a new lobby oriented to the center of campus, which will replace the small parking lot in the front of the building. The goal is to begin construction during spring break of 2016 and be ready to use in August of that same year. “Right now, there is still no budget for the project, said Director of Housing and Food Services Jeremy Lindner. The new lobby will be a studentfocused space and give Harmony Hall a primary entrance, something the building currently lacks,” Lindner said. “The buildings on campus are constructed in the Brutalist style of architecture, which values function over form,” said Rizzo. “We are trying to take a very old building and create a better environment for students.” Rizzo and Lindner said that, from the outside, the new lobby will look similar to the Wellness Center addition to the gymnasium. In focus groups, students said they preferred that modern style of architecture, and that it will keep with the overall aesthetics of the campus. Inside, the new lobby will feature a fireplace and furniture to break up the space without any televisions. “The goal is to make the space feel more like home than anything else,” Rizzo said. At least one student thinks the residence hall is fine as it is and says it

Courtesy of Renaissance 3 Architects, P.C.

The interior of the proposed addition to Harmony Hall, above, will feature a fireplace and several quiet study areas. The rendering, below, shows what the exterior of the new addition will look like when completed.

really doesn’t need to feel like home. Sophomore Alex Ribeau said that he thinks the hall is good enough to do what he has to do, which is sit and sleep. “It’s really nice compared to the dorms at (the University of Pittsburgh) where my friend goes,” said Ribeau. The new lobby will also feature something students have long cried for in the residence hall: air conditioning. Lindner said that while the lobby will have air conditioning, there are no plans with this project to add airconditioning to the students’ rooms. “We want to focus on the spaces that are used all year round,” Lindner said. “If the budget allows, we may add air conditioning to the rooms. But right now, it is not on the table.” The existing lobby will be subdivided into separate spaces; one side will be a TV area and the other side will feature a kitchenette. Lindner said the kitchenette

will offer students an option when it comes to eating. That way, they can make foods like they would get at home. Other areas that are set to be renovated include the Harmony Hall’s game and laundry rooms. One item that isn’t on the table is adding more sound proofing to the

hall, something that both Ribeau and junior Christopher Bedillion said is very much needed. “The hall is just too loud sometimes,” Bedillion said. “You can hear people having sex, running through the halls and playing music too loud, which is really annoying when you’re

trying to sleep or study.” Currently, there are no plans for additional student rooms. “For us to add more dorm rooms, we would need to have a consistently full hall, which we don’t,” said Lindner. “But you never know what will happen in the future.”

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

News

Students still waiting for swipe system

Harmony Hall adds wireless

Staff Writer

Senior Staff Writer

ELLE GEORGE

erg161@psu.edu

Students have been waiting for the installation of a new card swipe system since the Wellness Center opened in August 2012. It appears that students are going to have to continue to wait, as the card swipe system isn’t expected to be operational any time soon. “The main issue is that when the Wellness Center was built, we planned on putting a swipe card system in,” said Physical Plant Supervisor Dave Hunt. “The construction company installed wiring and ‘inside’ parts for the system. Unfortunately they are having trouble getting the current system to work properly with the innards of the system that was originally installed.” In the wake of the Sandusky scandal, security at all university athletic facilities was beefed up, and students at Beaver have been required to sign a log every time they use the gym. The card swipe, funded by University Park, is expected to make it easier and quicker for students entering the gym. This semester, students have actually been swiping their ID cards at

THE ROAR/Marlee Bandish

Eric McGee swipes his ID card at the Wellness Center’s front desk. The card swipe only registers attendance, though, and isn’t connected to a University security system that limits access to the building.

the reception desk as a way to record who is using the building. But that card swipe isn’t connected to any university system and can only take attendance, not provide security by limiting access to the building. “The reasoning for the hold on the swipe card system does sound complex, but that does not mean it should be taking this long to fix,” said sophomore Madeline Hill. “The real question is that if the university planned on putting a swipe card system in when the wellness center was first built, why didn’t they follow through with it?” Hill asked. Junior Khalia Adams said the university should make this a priority. “The university keeps pushing this back, when they should be doing everything they can to fix it as quickly as possible,” Adams said. Although the swipe card system not being installed yet is a disappointment, when it finally is installed it will bring countless positive effects to the campus. “It has been frustrating that the install has and continues to be delayed. But once in operation, it will be worth it,” said Athletic Director Andy Kirschner.

Michael Baker, SUB renovations move forward CHRIS ROTONDO Staff Writer

ctr5138@psu.edu

Renovation work on the Michael Baker Building and the Student Union Building Lodge will soon be underway, providing major updates to each building and their facilities. The $9.7 million Michael Baker Building project, which is being funded centrally by Penn State, is the latest in Penn State Beaver’s renovations to the campus. “It’s going to completely change the way Michael Baker looks,” said Luke Taiclet, director of finance and business.

Pre-bids by construction companies for the MBB project began in November. Preliminary construction will begin in March or April 2015. Major construction will follow shortly after in May, just one week after finals. The building will be completely closed until December, opening in time for organic chemistry classes to begin in January of 2016. Work on the remainder of the building, however, will not be complete until August of 2016. Taiclet said that this renovation is a big project, but said it will improve class conditions.

Freshman Tannar Belles, who has two classes in MBB, said he is looking forward to the renovation. “I would like to see some improvements to the building.” Meanwhile, a much smaller project will result in renovations to the upper level of the Student Union Building. Construction will primarily take place in the Student Union Building Lodge and the nearby restrooms. Taiclet said that the other half of the building was renovated in 1994, but due to budget restrictions, the project was never finished. The renovation aims to give the Lodge a more contemporary feel,

Taiclet said. The project has been in the works for a while; new windows were installed in the Lodge in 2012 in anticipation of the renovation. Renovation work on the SUB will start in January and is expected to be completed in April. During the work, the entire side of the building – including the hallway outside the Lodge, the building entrance and stairwell to the lower level – will be closed off. The staff in the Student Development Center will be relocated to other offices in the SUB, primarily in the Student Activities Suite and the Admissions Office.

B. KEELER

bak5266@psu.edu

Unlike the majority of campus where you could connect to the internet wirelessly from your laptop, tablet or smartphone, Harmony Hall was a dead zone. That is, until this fall’s addition of Wi-Fi throughout the building. Granted, Harmony Hall did have some areas of wireless connection, but for the most part, if you wanted internet in the dorms, you had to have a hard-wired connection. For some students like junior Christopher Bedillion, the addition of Wi-Fi in the rooms makes life better. “The new Wi-Fi makes it so much easier to connect now. Before, the only hard-wired connection was on my side of the dorm room,” Bedillion said. The physical installment of the Wi-Fi equipment was completed in October, but it took until late October to turn it on and get it running. “Each Penn State Network has to be created by University Park,” said Director of Housing and Food Services Jeremy Lindner. Lindner said he prefers to have work like this done in the summer when students are not around. However, when he was offered the chance to get the Wi-Fi installed this fall, Lindner jumped at the chance. Otherwise, it would have been delayed for another year. “I really hope it wasn’t too disturbing to our students,” Lindner said. According to sophomore Alex Ribeau, installing the wireless equipment didn’t really bother him. He added that Wi-Fi didn’t mean much to him either, because he has his own router creating a hotspot in his room. “Most of the work was done during the day, so I was either in class or out doing something,” Ribeau said.

Penn State Beaver Roar

News

December 2014

Vegetarians frustrated by lack of choice

LADE KING Staff Writer

lak5479@psu.edu

Sophomore Ruhiben Patel describes her visits to the Brodhead Bistro as boring. “Eating the same things over and over again can be really frustrating. That’s why I miss home,” said Patel. This experience is somewhat typical for the vegetarians on campus, such as Patel, who struggle to find a decent variety of vegetarian options. “We have only two healthy options, literarily salads and veggie wraps. Or else French fries or chips,” said freshman Radhika Navdiya. Kelly Marcello, manager of Housing and Food Services, said students who have needs or complaints can contribute their opinions so that more options can be made available. “The Food Advisory Board has been put in place as a platform where PSU Beaver students can effectively air their opinions and offer suggestions about the food and services provided by the Bistro,” Marcello said. Marcello said she shared the concerns expressed by Patel and Navdi-

Vegetarians say the salad bar and veggie wraps are often their only choices in the Bistro.

ya. “The Bistro has made provisions for students with special needs like vegans and vegetarians. However,

provisions don’t seem to be sufficient enough as vegetarians complain that their choices are very limited,” Mar-

Students prepare for Ireland LYDIA AQUINO

Senior Staff Writer

lra137@psu.edu

Coming from an Irish background, senior Colby Hill is beyond thrilled to be traveling with a group of students to Ireland for Spring Break 2015. “I am Irish, so I always wanted to go to Ireland,” Hill said. “When the professors said we are going to Ireland, my eyes lit up in excitement.” Juliette Storr, associate professor of communications, and Jo Ann Chirico, senior instructor in sociology, along with a group of students will be visiting Ireland for a nine-day, fun-filled trip during spring break in March.

The class is social and cultural studies. Students will have the opportunity to experience the Irish culture enriched with music, art, literature and dance as well as the history and politics of Ireland. “I can’t wait to learn more about the culture,” said Hill. “The people over there seem so fun.” The students are required to do an e-portfolio, blog, journal and a final presentation upon return from the trip. This will count as a one-credit course. The trip departs for Dublin on March 7 and returns March 15. Students will visit the Guinness

Tour, the National Gallery, the Abbey Theater and the Malahide Castle. Students will take a coastal tour and visit Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Cashel. “Ireland is very fascinating,” said Storr. “Students will learn a lot from this trip.” Storr has been to Ireland before. “It’s going to be different this time because students will be with us, and students change the dynamics of everything.” Chirico, who has never been to Ireland said, “I expect rainy weather and everything to be very green. “We will experience a lot of history and a warm welcome from the Irish people,” said Chirico.

THE ROAR/Kayla Wagner

cello said. Freshman Arpita Katyal is Indian and said the Indian cuisine that

sometimes comes on the dinner menu is problematic. “It is always contaminated with some kind of meat.” Navdiya explained how the Bistro staff have to change their gloves every time they are making her veggie wrap so that it doesn’t get contaminated by the previous things she had made earlier with the gloves. “Being strictly vegetarian is not easy,” she said. Jeremy Lindner, the direc tor of Housing and Food Services, expressed his concern for the strict vegetarians and asked that they come up to him anytime to complain about issues that bother them. “Stop me wherever you find me. I will listen to you and see what can be done to help the situation, whatever it is,” Lindner said. Katyal said it would help getting to know the Bistro staff better from day one. She added that she thinks students would feel more comfortable when there is a problem if the people who work for Housing and Food Services were a part of Welcome Week.

POLICE BEAT Dorm residents charged with drinking University Police charged three Harmony Hall residents with underage drinking after finding them drinking in a campus parking lot on Nov. 8. University Police said that during a routine patrol, an officer discovered Shane Martin, Hunter Nagy and Brett Pompeani, all of Aliquippa, drinking in Lot A, the large lot below the front of Harmony Hall. The three denied drinking, but police filed the charges Nov. 12. Two other Harmony Hall residents were also charged with underage drinking on Oct. 18. Police said an officer responded

to a call by a resident assistant suspecting alcohol use. Police charged York Langley of Beaver Falls with underage drinking and Kyle Francek of Brownstone, Michigan, with underage drinking and disorderly conduct.

NAME WRITTEN IN CONCRETE

A faculty member reported to police that a student had written initials in the fresh concrete near the center of campus on Nov. 11. The concrete was part of a sidewalk replacement and improvement project. Police said they are still investigating the incident.

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

News

Former students share experiences at Behrend CHRIS ROTONDO Staff Writer

ctr5138@psu.edu

It was a homecoming for a few former Penn State Beaver students when they returned to Beaver on Oct. 21 to give a presentation about engineering at Penn State Behrend. James Randolph, Russell Diehl, Matt Haig and Zack Rozmus are seniors who started their Penn State education at the Beaver campus. But when it came time to switch to another campus to finish their major, Behrend was their choice. “There’s no better place to be,” said Randolph, who will graduate in May. “We’re at Behrend, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.” In the presentation, the four students spoke to engineering students at Beaver about why they chose Behrend over University Park or other campuses. They explained that, other than University Park, Behrend has the biggest engineering program in Penn State. Currently, a $15.6 million facility is being built for engineering classes called the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Center. They also said that the classes at Behrend are smaller than at University Park, offering a more intimate and hands-on approach. They added that University Park may be too easy and lenient for engineering students. “The tests (at University Park) are easier than at Beaver,” Haig joked. As former students at Beaver, the four men feel a close connection to the school and their old professors, whom they keep in contact with. “It’s refreshing to have those kind of students around,” said James Hendrickson, instructor of engineering at Penn State Beaver. Hendrickson was one of their professors in their two years at the Beaver campus. Hendrickson added that the idea of doing a presentation to Beaver students was actually the Behrend students’ idea, not his. The students also reassured their

Penn State Beaver/Cathy Benscoter

From left to right, Penn State Behrend engineering students Zack Rozmus, Russ Diehl, James Randolph and Matt Haig start a Stirling engine in Michael Baker 101. The engine, built while they were students at Beaver, converts ice and heat into energy to turn the wheel.

audience that mediocre grades do not mean failure. They explained that engineering is supposed to be hard and urged students to keep going when it gets tough. “You don’t have to be a 4.0 student to be an engineer,” Hendrickson added. The students have had unique opportunities in their major, including internships with companies such as Honda. They also worked on analyzing an original Henry Ford engine for a class project. Haig said, “An internship is like a running interview.” The presentation was well-attend-

ed by both first-year and second-year engineering students. Randolph told the Beaver students to “take advantage of what is offered here.” Many engineering students were pleased with the presentation. “It’s great to hear this from students like us rather than someone who is getting paid,” said sophomore Caulin Bloom. As for any future visits, Hendrickson would approve of annual visits from his former students. “It would be a nice tradition to start.” Randolph and Rozmus will graduate from Penn State in May, while Diehl and Haig will graduate this month.

Penn State Beaver/Cathy Benscoter

Anthony Suchanec (right) and Preston Cummins listen to the visiting seniors’ presentation.

Penn State Beaver Roar

Viewpoints

MANAGING EDITOR OF CONTENT Julianne Bosley jeb474@psu.edu

MANAGING EDITOR OF PRODUCTION Dante Massey

dwm5299@psu.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER Taylor Braxton

tmb5242@psu.edu

PAGE DESIGNERS Andy Germani

arg5226@psu.edu

Ben Keeler

bak5266@psu.edu

Kayla Wagner

krw5239@psu.edu

ADVISORS Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu

Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu

The content and opinions of this publication reside solely with the authors and not with the Pennsylvania State University or the Penn State Beaver Student Activity Fee Committee.

December 2014

Hookup apps ruin the dating scene In a world where technology rules our generation, it has now made the move in to our dating lives. Dating sites such as Match.com have existed for years, but now a new free app, Tinder, is jumping into the dating scene and making it a bit easier for us to just hook up. Tinder allows users to choose a person based on looks and a small bio; it’s as easy as swiping right on their picture. Almost every student knows at least one person that uses the app. But the real question is, is this app dangerous? Few love stories have come from using Tinder and the app has taken the work out of actually looking for someone to hook up with. “Easy” has equaled “lazy” in our generation. This has led to people who lack the ability to interact socially. We can turn on these faces for people online that we aren’t and there are people who fall in love with our false identities.

Not only do we have to worry about people creating false identities or “Cat fishing” as it’s commonly referred to, we also have to worry about those people who may commit a sexual assault against us. To put it bluntly, we are willing to have sex with total strangers and it is terrifying. To combat the unknown hookup atmosphere of Tinder comes an app known as Good2Go. Good2Go was created to decrease sexual assaults by obtaining consent before sex. It works as a contract of sorts. A man walks in to a bar and sees a girl, the night progresses and he whips out his phone to allow Good2Go to get her consent. Will that really work? Would a guy, or girl, even do that if he or she was after sex? Odds are, if you’re hoping to have sex, you’re not thinking about your cell phone. No one is actually going to make the

situation awkward by pulling out a phone and saying, “One moment, can you take this quiz really quick?” Truthfully, the app has great intentions, but it’s just not a valuable tool to prevent sexual assault. More valuable would be to educate individuals on sexual assault and the fact that NO means NO. If a guy wants to force himself on a girl, there’s no smart phone app that’s really going to stop him. Not to mention that there are all kind of legal questions about the validity of the consent obtained by Good2Go that have yet to be addressed by the courts. The moral of the story is that you can’t rely on technology to find a mate, and you can’t rely on an app to prevent sexual assault. College students have to get out of their dorm rooms and put in the work to find love. And be sure to respect others when they say NO!

May the search continue Selecting the correct candidate to be Penn State Beaver’s next chancellor is so important that it might be in our best interest if neither of the two people who have interviewed for the position is chosen. Two candidates interviewed on campus, meeting with the administration, faculty, staff and students. They also interviewed with the big wigs in Old Main at University Park. While each candidate clearly met the qualifications, neither appeared to have the leadership skills or innovative mind set that we need in the next Penn State Beaver chancellor. The first candidate, Donna Imhoff, president of the Community College of Allegheny County’s Allegheny Campus on Pittsburgh’s North Side, told stories

and boasted of her accomplishments, but failed to impress. She appeared ill prepared and her presentation seemed all over the place. The second candidate, John Williams who is dean of the business school at the University of New Orleans, was a little too prepared. He talked at the audience for his entire 45 minute time limit, and his Power Point presentation attempted to tell us what our problems are and how we need to solve them before he ever spent a day on the job. Williams also talked way too much about Hurricane Katrina and how, after about a month on the job, he was instrumental in reopening his college after this tragic event and getting students back on track.

If Penn State Beaver is at high risk of experiencing a devastating hurricane, then Williams is our man. Both candidates boasted of their skills and experiences, but failed to clearly show us what they could bring to our campus. From our position, we recommend that the administration not select either candidate and continue the search to find the right person to lead Penn State Beaver into the future. In the meantime, we hope that Interim Chancellor Donna Kuga will continue to postpone her own retirement to provide the much-needed leadership that she’s been giving us for nearly six months. It may take a while to find the right person, but it’s worth the time and effort. And in the meantime, Kuga is doing a great job.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: roareditor@psu.edu by the 20th day of each month. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number.

ADS FOR CLUBS Free advertising space is offered to any university-recognized organization or club to promote upcoming events. The space is limited to one eighth-page ad per club per edition. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: roarbusiness@psu. edu.

The content and opinions of this publication reside solely with the authors and not with the Pennsylvania State University or the Penn State Beaver Student Activity Fee Committee.

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

Live healthy, be active, fight the flu MATT SWEIKOWSKI

Staff Writer

mrs5822@psu.edu

THE ROAR/Kayla Wagner

Becca Dischman, left, and Jensen Cousins work on knitting projects during a recent meeting of the knitting/ crocheting club. The club meets at 6 p.m. Thursdays in the Bistro.

Knitting club makes its debut BRANDEE ROBINSON Staff Writer

blr5321@psu.edu

Multicolored strings of yarn fly through the fingers of Jensen Cousins as she lounges on the couch in the relaxing atmosphere of the Brodhead Bistro with fellow knitters. The knitting/crochet club, organized by Cousins and held in the Bistro at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, was created to provide stress relief for students and teach those involved a new skill. The club is sponsored by Angela

Fishman, instructor in mathematics, and is believed to be the first knitting/crochet club at Beaver. Cousins, a freshman, started the club at the beginning of the semester. “I had a knitting club in high school,” said Cousins. Her previous knitting club donated to women’s shelters in Pittsburgh, and she is planning similar projects in the future. “I hoped it would be just as successful here,” she said. Recruitment for the club was fairly easy as many of Cousins’ close

friends decided to help her start it up and joined. Freshman Cameron Pack learned about the club from Cousins and the flyers placed around campus. “I wanted to experience more at college,” said Pack. The idea that the club is only for girls is false. So far, the club has recruited three guys who participate almost every week. Fishman said knitting can be good for students. “It’s a great stress reliever for students, and there are also some analytical skills involved,” she said.

With school work and activities pushing students to the edge, the last thing you want while striving to become successful and scholarly is to get sick. While everyone across the country is obsessing with Ebola, flu season is just around the corner, and students should take precautions in order to stay healthy. “The best way to stay healthy is to maintain a proper diet, get enough sleep every night and keep your hands and face clean,” said Dr. Mitchell Pfeiffer, the campus doctor. Living in Harmony Hall with the constant sounds of slamming doors and noisy neighbors, might make getting enough sleep a challenge. But an easy way to stay healthy is to take care of your body and be aware of what you’re eating. “Live healthy, be active and eat right,” said campus nurse Barb Kugel. In addition, keep yourself clean and take personal hygiene seriously. “The No. 1 way to avoid getting sick is to wash your hands regularly throughout the day,” said Kugel. What should students do if they become sick and are looking for a speedy recovery? One option is a medicine called Tamiflu. “It has to be taken within 48 hours of the first symptom, or else it’s useless,” said Pfeiffer. “Other than that, the only things that will help is to rest and stay hydrated. Medicine will only help with the symptoms. Your body has to work out the virus on its own,” Pfeiffer added.

Senior Britney Clemente said if you’re sick, stay away. “When a student gets sick, they should stay in their rooms and not come to class. Students should use hand sanitizer and Chapstick in order to keep germs away,” Clemente said. Should students be worried about Ebola? According to Pfeiffer, the answer is no. “The Ebola virus would never spread in the U.S. because of the overall hygiene of Americans. The reason that it spreads so easily in Africa is because most Africans refuse to accept vaccinations and choose to live with the virus,” said Pfeiffer. Freshman Lade King is from Nigeria and is often questioned by students about returning home for the holidays. Some fear she might bring Ebola back with her. “I’m not afraid to go home,” King, a Roar staffer, said. In fact, as of Oct. 20, The World Health Organization has declared Nigeria Ebola-free, and no new cases have shown up in the previous 42 days. “There is no reason to panic about Ebola. We should be more concerned about the flu,” said Cathy Regiec, from the Community Health Center in Center Township. “The flu virus will kill more people in the U.S. this year than Ebola will,” said Pfeiffer. Regiec said college students shouldn’t be over-concerned about getting the flu, either. “The flu is not even a big threat to college students. Normally your bodies can fight it off. The flu is more of a concern with the elderly and small children who have weakened immune systems,” said Regiec.

Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

December 2014

Students rave over new iPhone models ELLE GEORGE Staff Writer

erg161@psu.edu Brad Verlihay, a junior, eagerly anticipated the arrival of the new iPhone 6. To avoid long lines and crowded stores Verlihay preordered his device and had it delivered to his house the day it was released. “Apple technology is very userfriendly,” Verlihay said. “When I heard the 6 was coming out, I simply had to have it and finally get rid of my iPhone 4.” Apple launched its latest iPhone model in September in two variations. The standard iPhone 6 sports a 4.7-inch display, while the iPhone 6 Plus comes with a massive 5.5inch screen. Not only did Verlihay luck out by preordering the 6 to avoid the wait, he also only paid $27 for the new phone by using the AT&T Next plan. Without any plans involved, the new iPhone ranges from $199 to $499. “I chose the iPhone 6 because the 5.5-inch screen is entirely too big for me,” said sophomore Ana Garcia. “The 4.7-inch screen fits perfectly in my hand, which is one major thing I love about the new model.” Garcia did not preorder her

The new iPhone 6 Plus, left, is a larger size than the regular iPhone 6. Both of the new models have been hot sellers for Apple.

phone, nor did she wait in a ridiculously long line to purchase her iPhone 6. “I bought the new iPhone because I had an upgrade and needed a new phone, so I figured I might as well get the newest model,” said Garcia. People enjoy the bigger screen

and also like how much faster the 6 and 6 Plus are compared to any other model. The recent hype about the new iPhone model is that the iPhone 6 Plus is so large, it is actually bending when put in a pocket. A sales associate at the Verizon Wireless store in the Beaver Val-

ley Mall called it an “overblown rumor.” “Apple actually performed tests on it to prove that it was untrue,” said sales associate Ryan Pryce. Verlihay said the new phone is mostly good. “A major pro for the new iPhone is the camera. It is amazingly clear.

THE ROAR/Elle George

My biggest con would be that the battery life isn’t as good as I had anticipated it to be,” said Verlihay. Garcia, meanwhile, said she likes her new phone, but isn’t getting too pumped up over it. “The new iPhone is nothing extraordinary compared to the iPhone 5, but I do like it,” Garcia said.

Don’t fear just because finals week is here BRANDEE ROBINSON Staff Writer

blr5321@psu.edu

Worried about finals? Not sure how you’re going to cram for all those classes for one week of testing? You’re not alone. Sophomore Asia Borders is struggling with studying and hopes her hard work will pay off. As a first-year chemistry student, Borders noticed that she was strug-

gling early on. “I realized after my first exam I wasn’t doing good, and I think the reason is because I don’t prepare for the tests as much as I should,” said Borders. Borders has taken action since then by getting a tutor and talking to her professor. “I am definitely preparing for finals this time,” she said. Those who struggle with any subject should take the advice of Stephanie Petroski, instructor in biology.

She said, “I recommend going to get a tutor, see your professor during office hours and/or study in groups.” The task of reviewing multiple subjects can be daunting, but there are ways to make studying not as difficult as it seems. Jill Tress, Learning Center and Disabilities Services coordinator, hosts an All-Nighter the week before finals to help students study together and help them herself.

“There is a good atmosphere for students and it’s better than studying alone,” said Tress. The All-Nighter week started last spring and was very successful. Borders said she likes the concept. She said, “Working with study groups helps a lot.” Some of the biggest concerns the faculty has for students during finals week is the pressure of multiple exams.

Petroski said she is concerned that there are too many tests at a time. “This is the last exam and there’s not enough time to prepare for all of the classes,” said Petroski. “It’s good we have finals on a separate week,” said Tress. If you do have multiple exams on the same day, you can talk to your professors and rearrange your finals if needed.

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

Penny wins the hearts of students LADE KING Staff Writer

lak5479@psu.edu

Penny, a 55-pound spaniel and border collie mix dog, sat attentively on the Student Union Building auditorium stage next to her partner, Nick Skitko, patiently waiting her turn. Penny, who was on campus Oct. 17 as part of a program on domestic violence, waited patiently for her chance to come down off the stage to meet and greet – and gets petted by – Penn State Beaver students. With her black-and-white fur and big, brown eyes, Penny is a kind dog who seems to love students, as evidenced by the many kisses she gave. But Penny isn’t the typical, lovable pet.

Penn State Beaver/Cathy Benscoter

Wyatt Herschell gives a hug to therapy dog Penny at Crisis Center North. Wyatt helps desensitize Penny to excitable children so she can work more effectively with victims of domestic abuse.

What makes her special is her job. Penny is a court dog. Skitko of Crisis Center North spoke about the important role Penny plays helping children through tough experiences. Penny helps with therapy sessions, especially for children, Skitko said. “Penny’s presence in the room during a therapy session reduces anxiety, especially for children who have been through domestic violence or any form of abuse,” he said. John Chapin, professor of communications, is Penny’s owner and caretaker. “I had always heard that dogs have great instincts, but I did not fully understand that until we got Penny.” Skitko and others spoke on Penny’s ability to comfort victims of

domestic violence, especially children. “Penny now goes to court with the kids,” said Grace Coleman-Chapin, the coordinator of Crisis Center North and Chapin’s wife. Penny works three days in a week, she said, and the rest of the week she spends at home with the Chapins. Students asked about ways of getting their dogs to become therapy dogs. “There are two things to do,” Skitko said. “First, your dog has to go through a training program for good citizenship.” Skitko said the training requires the dogs to be tested, after which they have to volunteer for community service.

Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

December 2014

“I HAVE A PASSION FOR PEOPLE AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEY REACT TO SITUATIONS, WHAT INSPIRES THEM AND WHAT INFLUENCES THEIR DECISIONS.”

Lade King, left, hands out care packages to children in the impoverished Makoko neighborhood of Lagos, Nigeria.

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

No boundaries Student’s foundation changes lives of Nigerian children

ERIK MCCLAIN Staff Writer

ezm5306@psu.edu

Even here in the small-town world of Penn State Beaver, some students are trying to make big-picture changes. Last March, Lade King, a junior international student from Nigeria, started the Lade King Foundation, a non-governmental organization aimed toward improving the lives of Nigerian youths. King, who still carries a strong Nigerian accent, said that her motivation for taking action arose on her 21st birthday this year. “For my birthday I had gotten a dress, and the dress cost $300. And on that day, that made me realize how much money that is in Nigeria, and how much that amount of money can do in Nigeria.” King transferred to Penn State Beaver this fall after having attended a community college in California. Since founding the non-profit, she has since managed to arrange an aid program and a successful aid event through her foundation. The program, called “No Boundaries No Limits,” was created with King’s personal interests in mind. “I have a passion for people and an understanding of how they react to situations, what inspires them and what influences their decisions. NBNL has the goal of helping individuals identify their life’s purpose and help them work toward achieving it.” In August, King coordinated an event through this program in the impoverished neighborhood of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria. The event, called “#myfriend Makoko,” grew attention through

Photos courtesy of Lade King

Nearly 1,000 children showed up to the Lade King Foundation’s #myfriend Makoko No Boundaries No Limits program in Lagos, Nigeria, in August. The foundation, created by Penn State Beaver junior Lade King (pictured below in her trademark headwrap), seeks to help people identify their life’s purpose.

King’s online campaigning and was able to raise money to pay for 200 care packages. “Eight hundred to a thousand kids showed up. It was really unexpected,” King said. King now plans to arrange a second “#myfriend” event for the neighborhood of Ede, as well as a second program called, “The Head and Not Tail Initiative,” which will focus on helping unsuccessful school students by letting them interact with their more successful peers. While her plans are fully envisioned, King still faces the challenge of funding.

“The biggest problem is getting funding. I hope to speak to the Nigerian government, and I’m still trying to find an avenue to speak to people here. It is in Nigeria now, but I hope that some way, someday it will get international attention.” While that attention has yet to come, King’s actions have been noticed within the Penn State Beaver campus. Juliette Storr, associate professor of communications and one of King’s instructors, is one of the many who have gotten to know King and her foundation. “I think it’s a great cause, and for one to be so young and involved in that work, it will not only give her a great purpose, but motivate her to do more in the future,” she said. John Chapin, professor of communications and King’s adviser, has taken active interest in helping King gain attention for her cause. “I’ve definitely talked strategies with her. I’ve suggested having an event where she’d talk and show pictures, and also establishing a non-profit here in the U.S.” In spite of the challenges, Chapin remains confident in King’s future endeavors. “I have no doubt that whatever she sets her mind to, she will succeed.” Aside from her foundation, King still finds time to stay on top of her homework, communicate with her fiancé and play the saxophone. King encourages anyone interested to approach her about her cause. “Just find the African girl with the headwrap and walk up to me and I am willing to talk about it. We will change the world together.”

Penn State Beaver Roar

December 2014

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

Serve the country, receive an education ZACH ULRICH Staff Writer

zau5001@psu.edu

When in the military, it is hard work defending your country. You work long hours on a base away from family and spend a lot of time on the job. What if you are in the military and trying to receive an education as well? Sophomore Sean Newkirk does just that. Newkirk is a student at Penn State Beaver and is also an Air Force Reservist with the 32nd Aerial Port Squadron in Pittsburgh. Newkirk has to work on base one weekend a month two weeks every year. “Working really doesn’t affect my school work,” Newkirk said. There are several students at Penn State Beaver that are serving their country and getting an education.

Sean Newkirk, an Air Force Reservist, works on a school project during common hour.

Sometimes these students have to go to school one semester, and the next they are back in the military. Some others currently work at a base while being a full-time college student.

“It’s different because you get into a military mode and once you come back to school you have to get back into the swing of things,” said junior Billy Harrington, a Naval reservist. Sophomore Josh Moon, a Marine

THE ROAR/Dante Massey

Corp. reservist, agreed. “Being out in the field is difficult and coming back to school, it’s nice to live a normal life,” said Moon. There are 25 veterans and six reservists on campus, said Gail Gray,

student aid and veterans coordinator. Gray handles the various educational benefit programs for veterans, reservists and dependents of veterans. “Although there is military aid, the school does not provide discounts,” Gray said. Students who receive militaryrelated educational benefits still may qualify for need-based financial aid as well as merit scholarships. “I have the GI Bill and a scholarship for University Park,” Harrington said. Harrington can often be seen wearing fatigues on campus, which can result in total strangers stopping to thank him for his service. “I get stopped all the time. People ask what I do and a lot are veterans and like to share their story as well, so it’s cool to hear that,” Harrington said.

Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

December 2014

Some college students use the Tinder dating app for fun to scope out humourous hook ups, while others find it a high-tech tool for targeting a real-life hook up.

ROAR Illustration/Dante Massey

Swipe right for a hook up

B. KEELER

Senior Staff Writer bak5299@psu.edu

When people think of college, they might think of late night cram sessions, parties and indiscriminate sex. Technology may be making that last part even easier thanks to the new Tinder app. Tinder is a dating app that connects with your Facebook page and allows you to browse possible partners within a certain distance set by the user.

For some students, Tinder provides a form of amusement. For others, it provides a means of finding that special someone. Senior Instructor in Sociology JoAnn Chirico acknowledged that apps such as Tinder are growing in popularity among college students and recent graduates. The reason, she said, is because unlike more established dating sites like match.com, the Tinder app is free, fast and easy to use, like the fast-food of online dating. “It’s hard for young profession-

als to meet people to date,” Chirico said. “You don’t want to date people at work and (some employers) don’t let you.” Senior Elizabeth Pompe didn’t start using Tinder to find someone to date; she started using it because she was bored on her internship in Chicago and alone in a new city. “I met my current boyfriend on Tinder. We knew each other before and it allowed us to reconnect,” Pompe said. “But I never met some random person,” she added.

“It’s weird and people are terrifying, especially in a big city like Chicago. They could be a serial murderer,” Pompe said. Pompe said that most of her friends that are in relationships met on some type of meet-up application. Sophomore Alex Ribeau doesn’t use Tinder to find someone to have sex with, although he admits that his friends do. He uses it mostly for a laugh because people’s profiles are hilarious. “I remember one girl. I don’t remember if she was trying to

improve her looks, but she put up cartoons of herself. Eventually I did find a picture of her and was like, I would get with the cartoon before I would actually get with her,” Ribeau said. While some use Tinder for laughs or to find someone to date, other students question its existence. Sophomore Cheyenne Spencer said she can see how apps increase the hook-up culture among college kids, but she said she doesn’t use them because she was raised in a religious household.

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

Let me know if you’re Good2Go B. KEELER

Senior Staff Writer

bak5299@psu.edu

Imagine you and your date are sitting on a couch getting hot and bothered. As the mood strikes, rather than getting into it, your date suddenly stops, pulls away and whips out his or her smart phone to ask you to fill out some forms before going any further. Kind of spoils the mood, doesn’t it? Well, for some this might be the new reality with the introduction of the Good2Go app in the Google Play Store and the Apple App store on Sept. 29. The original app was pulled on Oct. 2. After being mentioned more than 1,000 times in interviews,

“

It seems awkward to whip out your phone and say, ‘Can you sign off on this app before we bang?’”

ELIZABETH POMPE SENIOR

tweets, and post in all forms of media. The app will not be released again until version 2.0 is completed. Currently, version 2.0 is under development via crowd sourcing. The company is hosting a moderated forum on its website, good2goapp. com, where anyone can post suggestions to improve the app. Good2Go’s primary reason for existing is to help combat the rising number of sexual assaults across college campuses nationwide by show-

ing that both parties consented to having sex. “That’s f***ed up, and it shouldn’t exist,” said senior Elizabeth Pompe. “I mean, rape is a terrible thing that could happen to anyone. But it seems awkward to whip out your phone and say, ‘Can you sign off on this app before we bang?’” The way it works is that before you engage in any sexual activity, you fire up the app and hand the phone over to your potential partner, who is asked different questions to determine if he or she is ready to have sex. The primary screen provides a quick Good2Go option: “we need to talk” or “no, thanks.” The second screen then determines your partner’s sobriety level by asking if he or she is “sober,” “mildly intoxicated,” “intoxicated but Good2Go”

or “pretty wasted.” If the partner answers “pretty wasted,” the app tells both parties that they are not good to go. However, just because the app records consent from both parties doesn’t mean it proves or disproves rape by any means, according to Senior Instructor in Sociology JoAnn Chirico. “Consent changes through the act,” Chirico said. “Someone may be alright making out, but if you move your hands under their blouse on a female or to their crotch on males, if they are not alright with it they would just say so or by moving your hand.” Chirico said that she doubted evidence from the app would hold up in court, but said it would be better if the app was completed before inter-

course was completed. Students have mixed feelings about the app. Some guys said it’s a great way to protect themselves, but some girls just think it spoils the moment. Sophomore Alexander Rebeau said that he thinks it’s a great to have a “safety net.” He said it provides some evidence because some girls will lie just to get guys in trouble or because they don’t want to ruin their reputations. Sophomore Cheyenne Spencer shares Pompe’s feelings about the Good2Go app. “I just think it makes it awkward. Sex is a spontaneous thing; adding technology into the mix makes it seem more like a scheduled event,” Spencer said.

PERSON IN THE BISTRO

What’s your opinion on the Good2Go app?

People always try to claim rape, so I think it’s a good app.

I think it will help some people and that’s good enough to make it useful.

It sounds helpful for people that would get themselves in those situations.

Tiarra Gordon

Fritz Pierre

Christi Abraham

Freshman

Sophomore

It’s a really good idea because it’s something to fall back on if anything happens.

Alex Mammay Freshman

Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

December 2014

All-U Day connects students with PSU

LYDIA AQUINO

Senior Staff Writer lra137@psu.edu

Junior Amy Arnold and freshman Megan Kauth stood on the sidelines of Beaver Stadium Nov. 1, holding a banner with Penn State Beaver’s name and trying to represent the campus in front of about 107,000 Nittany Lion fans. The home football game against new Big Ten rival Maryland marked the university’s All-University Day celebration, which recognizes 23 other campus locations as well as the online World Campus. “It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to represent the Penn State Beaver campus on the field at Beaver Stadium,” Arnold said. “Overall, it was a great day! The staff was very supportive and energized. It was easy to have fun when I saw that they were having fun.” A group of about 30 Penn State Beaver students traveled by bus to attend the game. Even though Penn State lost to Maryland 20-19 in a heart-wrenching game, everyone still said they had a great day. The early morning started out with a 6 a.m. roll call to catch a coach bus for a long four-hour journey to the biggest college campus in the state. The long four-hour drive came to a halt at around 10:30 a.m. as the bus arrived at the site of Beaver Stadium. When the bus arrived, the Beaver students and fans roamed the streets in search of a tailgate before the noon game. “I loved seeing the stadium atmosphere and seeing all of the fans,” said freshman Julie Ann Worst. “You could feel the sense of pride that the community has for the team and the university.” It was the first time Penn State played Maryland since 1993, and the Terps’ first victory over the Nittany Lions since 1961. “The game was fabulous,” Kauth

Penn State Beaver students had a great view from their seats at All-University Day against Maryland Nov. 20.

said. “The weather may have been freezing, but the atmosphere was so full of Penn State spirit. I know I did not mind the numbness in my toes, just as I’m sure the rest of the students didn’t either.” “As a freshman, I was thrilled to have been chosen to hold the PSU Beaver flag on the stadium!” said Kauth. For some Penn State Beaver students, it was their first Penn State football game and first trip to State College. “I had a great time at the All-U Day game,” freshman Sunnie Liggett said. “It was my first time going up to the main campus and it was definitely worth the drive.” Freshman Jared Cirelli agreed. He said, “(It was an) awesome experience. I never experienced an atmosphere like Beaver Stadium before. Great day!”

THE ROAR/Lydia Aquino

Amy Arnold, Megan Kauth and Jessica Findling brave the cool temps and light rain at All-University Day.

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

Sports

Lions’ season gets off to a rough start Team hopes to rebound after losing coach and a leading scorer to Clarion ZACH ULRICH Staff Writer

zau5001@psu.edu

Losing a key player in any sport is tough, losing a coach is even tougher. Penn State Beaver lost both. Earlier this fall, Coach Marcess Williams left Penn State Beaver for Clarion University where he accepted the position of head coach. And one of Williams’ star players is following him. Replacing a coach like Williams can be tough, but Athletic Director Andy Kirschner picked assistant coach Tim Kubis to take over for Williams. “He played four years and he was an assistant under Williams for three years. It was a no brainer for seamless transition to name Coach Kubis interim head coach,” said Kirschner. “Kubis is doing a great job, but losing someone like Williams is a big change for a program. But Kubis has been part of the program for eight years,” said senior captain Tiere Phillips. Kubis was a star player under Williams and right after he graduated from Penn State Beaver he became an assistant coach to Williams for three years. Kubis has a difficult task ahead of him with such a young team and a tough schedule for the season. This year’s team has four seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and nine freshman. “I have been having a good time coaching this group of guys,” said Kubis. One standout player Kubis won’t

Penn State Beaver men’s basketball players practice for the upcoming season.

have on his roster is junior forward Rob Agurs. Agurs is following Williams to Clairon where he will start playing in December. Agurs said he had good reasons to leave. “I wasn’t going to graduate on time and I always wanted to play against higher competition.” Agurs said, noting that Clarion is a NCAA Division II school. Agurs was a career 1,000-point scorer and an All-American all in his two years at Penn State Beaver. Despite the loss of Agurs, the team has a lot of reason to be optimistic.

The Lions have a reputation of working very hard and that’s why they have been so successful. This season, the team is very young and a lot of the younger guys have to step up. “The young guys have already stepped up to fill the big roles from last year and they have exceeded my expectations so far,” said Kubis. This Lions are coming off of a great season, finishing second in both the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).

“We lost a lot of players that knew our style of play,” said Phillips. “So right now, we are in the process of re-teaching.” The Lions started this season with a loss against Point Park University Nov. 10 on the road. Freshman Christian James led with 27 points, followed by junior Lamont Wright with 18, senior Marcus Smith with 16 and freshman Willie James with 13. The team had two more losses in the Westminster College Tip-Off tournament Nov. 15 and 16. The Lions lost their first game against

THE ROAR/Colby Hill

Thiel College 82-74 with junior Lamont Wright contributing 23 points and senior Marcus Smith and freshman Christian James adding 17 each. The Lions then played host Westminster and came out with a loss 83-71. Wright scored 26 and Smith added 15. The Lions continue the season Monday, Nov. 24 at home with a rematch against Point Park. PSUAC conference play begins at home Wednesday, Dec. 3 against Penn State Fayette.

Penn State Beaver Roar

Sports

December 2014

Lady Lions look to repeat as PSUAC champs CHRIS BEST

Senior Staff Writer ckb5141@psu.edu

“Let’s go, ladies. Let’s go,” screamed junior forward Cassandra Flowers as she stood in the middle of the huddle surrounded by her teammates during the annual Penn State Beaver Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 15. “Repeat on three. One, two, three,” she said. “REPEAT!” her teammates screamed in response. Repeat seems to be the theme for the champions of the 2013-14 Penn State University Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament. The team’s desire to win showed as the Lady Lions took to the court in its annual tip-off tournament Nov. 15 and 16. “We definitely have high hopes

THE ROAR/Andy Germani

Brittany Mineard attempts a shot against Penn State DuBois Nov. 16.

of winning another championship,” said sophomore guard Mason DePetro. “It’s literally all we talk about among each other. We’re just a group of girls who really want to win.” Despite their current 1-1 record,

the Lady Lions seemed unbothered losing the first game of the season 81-72 to Apprentice University in Virginia Nov. 15. Fortunately, they bounced back the next day as Penn State Beaver defeated conference foe Penn State DuBois 64-53.

Despite their low shooting efforts over the weekend, Beaver was led by strong play from Flowers, who scored a total of 16 points and 23 rebounds in the loss to Apprentice. Junior guard Morgan Kurtz scored 14 points and junior guard Brittany Mineard chipped in 13. Kurtz continued her strong play in the next game against DuBois as she went for 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. “Obviously, its never a good feeling losing a game, but we took it as a learning experience,” said Kurtz. “Apprentice was really good competition for us. Playing them gave us an opportunity to get better in out-ofconference play since these are the types of teams we’re going to see in nationals.” The Lady Lions looked to overcome adversity early as they encoun-

tered two players ineligible at the start of the season. The loss of key players junior Khalia Adams and sophomore Kelsey Brooks means the roster will look a bit different from last year’s championship-winning team. Coach Tim Moore said the goal is still the same. “Our goals are definitely to win another conference championship,” said Moore. “If so, this would be our third in a row. All we have to do is stay focused, stay eligible, play hard and stay within our boundaries.” The team will kick off conference play with three consecutive home games at 6 p.m. Dec. 3 against Penn State Fayette, at 3 p.m. Dec. 6 against Penn State Lehigh Valley and at 2 p.m. Dec. 7 against Penn State Hazelton.

December 2014 Penn State Beaver Roar

Sports

Wrestling: New roster, same results MATT SWEIKOWSKI Staff Writer

mrs5822@psu.edu

As winter quickly approaches, so does the wrestling season. Coach Jeff Winkle and manager Dylan Winkle are very excited about the upcoming season. “I think our wrestlers are going to do very well this season. We should match up very well with the competition,” said Jeff Winkle. So far, the team has gotten off to a rocky start, losing its first three matches. This season, the Penn State Beaver wrestling team has 17 wrestlers on the roster compared to only nine last season. “With only three returning wrestlers, the number of good quality freshman wrestlers is what helps this

Dustin Winkle takes down a teammate in practice.

group come together,” Jeff Winkle said. “They are a tight-knit group of friends and know how to work hard together.”

Dylan Winkle, Jeff’s son, agrees. “A lot of the freshmen on this team have come together and really know how to push each other,” Dylan Winkle said.

THE ROAR/Matt Sweikowski

The wrestling team is looking to outperform its record last year with only two wins on the season. “This is a young program that is on an uprising. With the talent that

came in this year, we are excited to see what can come out of it,” said Jeff Winkle. “Leadership will be the key to this wrestling team progressing throughout the season.” Dylan Winkle gives the spotlight to the wrestlers he thinks will make a difference this season. “(Sophomore) Wendell Rudright and (freshman) Jim Helbley always make the other team work and keep the pace moving at practice,” said Dylan Winkle. Freshman Seth Schiever said the team has the attitude to win. “The attitude is what will help us succeed. We don’t give up, no matter how many times we get taken down. We will get back up,” he said. Next up for the wrestling team are two conference matchups at home: Dec. 10 against Penn State Greater Allegheny and Penn State Dubois.

Penn State Beaver Roar

December 2014