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Penn State Beaver Roar
News
December 2016
PERSON IN THE BISTRO
How do you feel about the election results?
The Roar/Garrett Troy
Sophomore Zachary Pickrell celebrates Trump’s win in the election by holding Trump’s campaign sign saying ”I’m not surprised at all by the out come of the election.”
“I feel disappointed mostly.”
Nicole Walker
Sophomore
“I feel very good about the outcome.”
Vanessa Jackson
Sophomore
Election causes mixed reactions around Beaver EVAN M. PINCHOT Staff Writer
emp197@psu.edu
Many students and faculty seemed to hang their heads Nov. 9 in what they considered a consequential defeat, while others were walking around with Trump pins and stickers, elated from the news of the presidential election results. Like much of the country, Penn State Beaver is seeing a great divide on campus in its reaction to this historic election. With a decisive win in the Electoral College, 290 electoral votes to 228, Donald Trump will be the 45th president of the United States. This came as a big shock as he was predicted to lose to Hillary Clinton in nearly every poll leading up to the election. “I was honestly surprised by the outcome,” said freshman Chance Siaus. “I remember everybody saying Hillary was going to win by a landslide, but then Donald Trump won.” People around the country
were either shocked or elated after Trump was announced as the victor early Nov. 9. “I’m proud that America made the right choice,” said sophomore Grant Fisher. He said he is excited by Trump’s win and is proud to be moving forward with him. Freshman PJ Mastrangelo said he is “confident” in America’s choice of “somebody different.” While many Americans are happy about this year’s election, there are many others who believe electing Trump was a big mistake for this country. “The white working class bit the hand that feeds them,” said Senior Instructor in Sociology JoAnn Chirico. “It’s so frustrating because it’s all of the college-educated working people that it’s not going to make a difference for.” While many faculty on campus were shocked, it wasn’t a total shock to all of them. “People picked him because they wanted change,” said Associate Professor of History Robert Szymczak.
“Hillary represented something to them that wasn’t change.” While many students on campus celebrated during the days after the election, there were also many who were visibly upset and even angered. “I’m f***ing pissed,” said freshman Cassity Terrill. “I’m upset, and this really sucks.” Terrill and many others expressed outrage in America’s decision, and some even pointed out that Clinton won the popular vote of Americans. “Hillary Clinton actually won the popular vote even though Trump won the Electoral College,” said sophomore Austin Garlitz. “I think this shows just how divided this country was and how they didn’t really like either candidate.” While many students are sad because Clinton lost, there are also students that are sad solely based on Trump’s win. Third party supporters like junior Ben Detrick had mixed feelings. “I was not expecting Trump to win. I think Trump is a maniac, but we will see how it goes.”
“I’m very happy about this outcome”
Brendan Rossi
Sophomore
“I wasn’t really a Trump fan, so I wasn’t happy. But I hope he makes America great again.”
Imani Montgomery Freshman
“I’m proud America made the right choice.”
Grant Fisher Sophomore
“I feel very sad.”
Jordan Militello
Sophomore
December 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
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Beaver holds its version of ‘Shark Tank’ NITA WILLIAMS Staff Writer
new5130@psu.edu
Bring an original, innovative business idea to a panel of judges, make your pitch and compete for $700 to fund your further research. Interested? More than 65 Penn State Beaver students were interested, and a lucky five groups got to pitch their ideas in the campus’ first ever “Shark Tank” style competition. Penn State Beaver hosted the Lion’s Den competition Nov. 15 in which groups of students presented their ideas to a panel of judges and earn the funding for their concept. Students, either individually or in groups of two or three, submitted 33 ideas in October. These 33 were narrowed down to five finalist ideas that were presented to the judges in a live competition. April Johnston-Smith, director of public relations and one of the event’s organizers, said that the number of great ideas was too overwhelming to immediately pick five finalists. Eight semi-finalist groups were given the opportunity to work with an assigned mentor and prove how prepared they were to take their idea to the next step. After deliberation,
The Roar/Ty Cole
Winner of the competition Leighton Markus presents his project proposal to the judges at the Lion’s Den Nov. 15.
the mentors chose which five would move on to the final showdown. Senior Leighton Markus took first place for his idea of a snack-delivering drone that can operate at stadium events. The drone would be operated by an app that allows users to select what type of refreshments they would like and where to bring them. Markus said his idea came from a class project with Ashu Kumar, IST instructor, about emerging technologies and their real-world applications. “This is really overwhelming,” Markus said after being announced the winner. “I wasn’t expecting my idea to go
this far, but all of a sudden I was in the top eight, then I got the email about top five and now this. I’m really happy.” Markus was awarded $400 to further his idea. Coming in at a close second were juniors Alex Mammay, Evan McStay and Garrett Scheffler who came up with the idea for a smart phone app that allows users to find nearby places to go out with friends. The app allows one to choose a location, the type of preferred activity, the number of people in the group and how much money they are willing to spend.
McStay said the idea came to him years back when he and his friends could not decide what to do on a night out. The group walked away with a $200 prize. Winning the audience-choice favorite were sophomores Justin Ruff, Troy Martin and Anthony Patterson with their concept for an app that locates available parking spaces in garages and lots and allows the user to reserve specific spaces. For being crowned the people’s choice, the group earned $100. Also in the top five were sophomores Hailee Atkins and Courtney Lodovico with a personal stylist app
that stands out among its competitors for using one’s own clothes rather than clothes advertised for purchase. Junior Brandon Bonager presented his Green Yellow Red (GYR) licenseplate recognition system to work with existing technology to provide law enforcement with a more efficient way to run plate checks. The five finalists answered questions from five judges: Tom Day, founder of Day Capital Group; Josh Hogenmiller, founder and owner of Totally Baked Powder Coating; Tina Genes, assistant director of education for the Franklin Center in Aliquippa; Lynnette Zanotti, project manager for Health Fidelity; and Kumar himself. Kumar was one of the masterminds behind the project designed to promote entrepreneurship and innovation on campus. He said that the event was a huge success and that he hopes this is the first of many similar events on campus to keep the ball rolling. Gene said she enjoyed judging and thought the students did a great job. “I have to applaud [the students’] passion for their ideas,” said Gene. “You can really see how their education influences their work.”
Campus looks to go green by adding more recycling bins SAVANA C. GRIGGS Senior Staff Writer
scg5198@psu.edu
Recycling bins are scattered throughout the Penn State Beaver campus. Some students, faculty and staff walk pass them as if they weren’t there, and others use them for what they were intended for. Even though these recycling bins are available, they aren’t too easily noticed by students, faculty and staff. Hopefully that is going to change. Penn State Beaver is going to have many more recycling bins in all areas of the campus.
“In the strategic plan for the campus, it is noted in there to purchase more trash and recycling receptacles. So the timing is right, and the funding was made available,” said Director of Finance and Business Adam Rathbun. Rathbun has received feedback from students about the difficulty with the recycling bins. “A lot of feedback we had was that the students want to recycle, but it’s easier for them to just throw it out because there’s a trash can there, and they don’t know where to go and find a recycling container,” said Rathbun. Improvements are going to be
implemented by Rathbun himself and the student environmental club, the Green Team. “Last year [the Green Team] constructed a compost. The compost is next to the athletic parking lot. One of the immediate things that we are going to do is get recycling containers for every classroom, because right now there are very few containers in classrooms and even in the hallways,” said Rathbun. Instructor in Mathematics Angela Fishman confirmed that she, Rathbun and the Green Team are going to do more than just provide recycling bins for the students.
“We’re also going to post laminated signs behind them so people know what to put in them,” said Fishman. Junior Jen Kirby agreed that there is a lack of recycling bins in different rooms around campus. “There should be one in the game room because we go through bottles every day. I just take anything of mine that can be recycled home with me to recycle there,” said Kirby. Sophomore Peri Coleman also agreed. “We don’t have enough cans. They should put ones by the vending machines because that’s where all the bottles are,” said Coleman. Sophomore Katie Stanley has
voiced some concerns and improvements about the recycling. “It’s hard for people who aren’t familiar with what types of plastics can be recycled in general, and maybe it would be useful to have a little sign next to the bin,” Stanley said. “Education comes with curiosity,” Stanley added. “So if people go up to a trash can and then the trash can read ’Land Fill’ instead of ’Garbage,’ that is a powerful thing that I would like to see because once you use the words ’Land Fill’ as opposed to ’Garbage,’ it gives it a negative connotation.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar
News
December 2016
Residents fed up with damages KATELYNN CROWE Staff Writer
kcc5226@psu.edu
The alarm goes off. The clock says 7:00 a.m. You finish getting ready for class only to walk out of your dorm room to find trash scattered all over the halls. As you wade through the trash, you can’t help but notice that unbearable smell. Finally you walk out of the building knowing that the horrors of Harmony Hall wait for you upon your return. Vandalism, littering and even public urination seem to be plaguing residents of Harmony Hall this semester, far worse than in past years, according to housing officials and the students who live there. “I wish I lived closer so I could just commute,” said first-floor junior Eric Gallupe. “Someone urinated in a Reese’s Puff cereal box and it was left there for three days; everything smelled horrible.” Things have been happening in Harmony Hall since the beginning of the semester, but it’s random. “Sometimes it happens over
The Roar/Brooke Doerfler
Documented charges posted by Housing and Food Services on the residence life office window in Harmony Hall.
the weekend, sometimes I find things during the week,” said Gallupe. “Every year there’s been different challenges; they’re more like practical jokes. However this year is more of a challenge than past years,” said
Jeremy Lindner, director of Housing and Food Service. “We maintain a clean environment and anything out of the day-to-day clean-up we would charge extra for. It’s $30 an hour for clean-up and extra for each bag of
trash we collect.” Lindner said he’s not sure exactly how much in extra charges have been added this semester. “Since we do not know who is doing it, the whole floor is charged. Since we are room and board, that’s where the extra fees are added.” Residence Life Coordinator Nathan Kelley said, “The problems aren’t just popping up in one area of the building. The urinating in bottles is on first-floor guys’ side, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s them.” Jermal Bell, senior resident of Harmony Hall, said the problems have been popping up throughout the building. “I’ve heard stuff happening on the third floor, too. There’s a list of charges posted to each floor. I think the most charges were to the second floor.” Urinating and trash everywhere haven’t been the only things happening in Harmony Hall. There have also been reports of vandalism. “The bulletin boards were removed from the first floor and papers were then taped to the walls. But someone kept taking them down and then taping them to the ceiling
or ripping them up,” said Gallupe. Bell added, “Someone burned the activities poster and our name tags.” While some acts result in financial charges, others can result in police charges. “The consequences of these offenses do depend on the situation, but the vandalism of the bulletin boards and posters involve the police,” said Kelley. Campus police Chief Anthony Budris said that the officers are called over because of the vandalism of the bulletin boards. “The bulletin boards were destroyed and it looked like someone had lit the corner of the paper with a lighter,” Budris said. “We are over there just to do rounds and see how everything is going with RAs. As far as the extra calls go they are higher than past semesters, but not by much,” Burdris said. To Gallupe, the problems in Harmony Hall are happening far more often than ever before. “It’s more of a surprise to me to come back to nothing (in Harmony Hall) than coming back and finding something disgusting in the hall.”
New pavilion goes up behind Harmony Hall MATTHEW PALAHUNIK Staff Writer
mgp5156@psu.edu
A brand new pavilion behind Harmony Hall is finally finished for students to use and it comes with many accessories. The new pavilion is the final addition to the sport court area and is located between the sports court and the fire pit. This pavilion was planned in the original project for the area serval years ago, but wasn’t built last year due to a shortage of funds, according to Adam Rathbun, director of Business and Finance. “The original plans went beyond the budget,” Rathbun said.
The Roar/Leanne Kunneke
A new pavilion was built for student use behind Harmony Hall.
The funds to finish the project were approved when the Student
Facility Committee voted on it. The pavilion cost around $45,000, Rath-
bun said. The whole project, including the sports court, storage shed and pavilion, cost around $375,000. The 26-foot-by-35-foot pavilion is rather large with many amenities. The pavilion is fully wired with an electrical system that allows it to have bright lights attached to the ceiling for the place to be lit up at night. It also has many outlets that would allow events to use equipment and for students to use for various means. The pavilion has a concrete floor that is connected to the concrete walkway that surrounds the court and the ramp and steps that are directly behind Harmony Hall. Chris Rizzo, director of Student Affairs, is excited to see it up. Rizzo
described the pavilion as having two purposes: formal and informal. The area is designed to provide students a shaded lounging space outside and a place for sports court users to rest. The space is also planned to hold formal events such bands, speakers and programming space. The pavilion will allow a shaded and dry spot for events to happen. Junior Taja Finley, a resident assistant, is excited to see the pavilion done and plans to use it for events soon. “It will be fun during bonfires,” said Finley, saying that it’s too cold now for most events but will start using it next semester when spring comes.
December 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
5
Shell construction impacts everyone KATE SERNA Staff Writer
kys5434@psu.edu
After taking the Monaca-Shippingport exit on Interstate 376, commuters to Penn State Beaver are generally able to reach the campus in a matter of minutes. However, recent construction on the site of the Royal Dutch Shell ethane cracker plant as well as the 376 interchange and Route 18 surrounding the site has interfered with the time it takes students and staff members to get here. “I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never experienced traffic like this. It’s pretty inconvenient and confusing,” said sophomore Jordan DeVault. “The route of the exit seems to change on a daily basis.” Although her commute to school isn’t affected, DeVault takes Interstate 376 to reach her grandparents’ house. A number of commuting students and staff members have reported that they allot more time to get to and from campus since construction began. Part-time French Instructor Denise Howell-Longello even ended her class early in the expectation of traffic on her way to an appointment in Chippewa Township. Although the cracker plant has introduced unfavorable traffic to
The Roar/Brianna D’Itri
Work on the nearby Shell cracker plant site can impact the commute to Penn State Beaver off of I- 376.
Monaca, it promises jobs and economic growth. The plant, once fully operational, will employ an estimated 500 to 600 workers. In preparation, the Business Bureau of Beaver County has begun to welcome several amenities and accommodations to the area. Restaurants, gas stations and various stores are likely to set up shop within the next three years. Hotels such as Fairfield Inn and My Place have recently settled into the hilly landscape of Brodhead Road.
Like the businesses, Penn State Beaver has shown an interest and is taking advantage of the cracker plant and its local influence. “I’m really excited about the cracker plant because I’m a petroleum and gas engineering student,” sophomore Paul Varner said. “I wish they would have started construction a few years earlier so I could apply for an internship.” Varner is in the 2+2 engineering program and will finish his degree at University Park. He, like other aspir-
ing engineers, thinks that the close proximity of the plant to campus will benefit the students. DeVault is also an engineering student. “It could be a good educational experience for our students, a possible field trip. It’s definitely a potential influence for our students who are interested in natural gas development.” The campus’ Continuing Education department (CE) has developed a relationship with Shell in regards to the education and training of current
laborers and future employees. Located in the Ross Administration Building, CE provides services such as upskilling, license maintenance and leadership training. Its programs are open enrollment, generally take place at night and can be provided both on and off campus. In regards to the cracker plant, CE has already provided on-site HAZWOPER training, a program that helps with the compliance for hazardous material safety. In addition, the department has trained a number of the plant’s contractors and engineers at a PennDOT location in Bridgeville. Debra Roach, director of Continuing Education, sat on a panel of experts for the Pittsburgh Business Times, for which Shell did an interview. She said that CE is excited about the cracker plant and the opportunities that it presents for Penn State Beaver. According to Roach, the campus is equipped to accommodate Shell’s educational and training needs. The department is anticipating a need for the education and training of manufacturers, engineers and robotics and safety specialists. “We are very responsive to what they need from us right now and in the near future. We’re anxiously waiting,” Roach said.
Police respond to reports of drugs, bad behavior in dorm University Police were called to Harmony Hall several times over the past months for various problems. A resident assistant reported Oct. 20 that someone damaged a bulletin board. Police are investigating. Police are also investigating two incidents of drug paraphernalia in Harmony Hall. A resident assistant told police drug paraphernalia was found in the hall Oct. 24. Two days later, an employee reported that a student had drug paraphernalia.
Police found some marijuana as well, but no charges have been filed in either case. Also Oct. 26, an employee reported an odor of marijuana in the building. Police investigated and the case is closed. A resident assistant reported that two telephones were damaged in on Oct. 29. Police are investigating.
RESIDENT CHARGED
Police charged sophomore Ivan
Rodriguez of Seagoville, Texas, with disorderly conduct and underage drinking after an employee reported disruptive behavior in Harmony Hall Oct. 29.
NON-STUDENT CHARGED
Jesse Holic of 821 Speyer Ave., Monaca, was charged with simple assault Nov. 3 after an altercation with his girlfriend on campus Oct. 31. Police said they received a report from a student that someone had
come into the Student Union Building and appeared to be upset. Police said that a student, who is not being identified, reported that her boyfriend pulled her by the arm and pushed her. She also said that he broke her phone.
DAMAGE, THEFT REPORTS
Police were notified of a damaged ceiling tile in the gymnasium Oct. 20. Police found that the damage was intentional, according to the report,
but no one was charged and the case is now closed. A resident assistant reported to the police that a student stole a granola bar and container of milk from her on Oct. 20. The incident occurred in the Brodhead Bistro. Police are investigating. Students twice reported money was stolen from cars parked in Lot A (between Harmony Hall and the maintenance garage) on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Police are investigating.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Viewpoints
December 2016
THE ELECTION IS OVER...
Give Trump a chance MANAGING EDITOR Brooke Doerfler
bmd5296@psu.edu
BUSINESS MANAGER Marlee Bandish mgb5265@psu.edu
PAGE DESIGNERS Ty Cole
wtc5037@psu.edu
Alexa DiPietrantonio and151@psu.edu
Chris Rotondo
ctr5138@psu.edu
Kate Serna
kys5434@psu.edu
Zach Ulrich
zau5001@psu.edu
ADVISERS Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu
Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu
America needs a change; do your part to make it happen Well, the United States did it. We elected a man that – according to Pew Research’s findings – was shown to not even have a chance at winning the election. But President-Elect Donald Trump beat out Sec. Hillary Clinton by gaining an unforeseen 58 electoral votes. If it is hard for you to find a silver lining in this election, remember that an unaccounted-for group of people can make a difference by casting their vote. There is something to be said for finding power in making the unexpected happen. The reality is that Trump will be our president for the next four years. We won’t tell you that you
can’t disagree with Trump or criticize him, but we need to give him a chance. The choice is yours. We can either become more divided or start to take steps towards healing as a nation. We hope you opt for the latter of those options. Here’s some advice as you being the healing process: Make your voice heard. Share your opinions, but be respectful of others. Share your culture. Understand that not everyone is like you and that’s what makes America great. Be open to other ways of life. Cast your votes. Every vote counts and you can’t complain if
you don’t choose to vote in elections. Learn about a religion. Do a Google search to learn about people with different beliefs than you. Form an educated opinion. Catch the news and read articles so that you understand the issues and topics that are current. Write letters to your congressman and senators. Their job is to represent you. Do anything you can to be the best American possible. The future of this country is your responsibility. While this may be a scary time for some, remember that we will always be a stronger country when we stand together.
Harmony Hall residents need to grow up Constant messes in the hall are making it hard to live on campus
Broken phones, pee in cereal boxes and carvings of penises in bulletin boards are among the recent vandalism incidents that residents are sick of seeing – and smelling – in their living space. And Harmony Hall is supposed to be just that: a living space. After a million-dollar renovation this summer, there is no reason Harmony Hall should be in the condition that it is right now. Thanks to the renovations, it is more home-like than ever, making local, national and international res-
idents feel right at home in Beaver county. We need to keep that in mind and respect ourselves and our neighbors. While this destruction might be hard on the eyes, it’s even harder on the wallet. Thanks to recently posted charges on the Residence Life’s office window in Harmony Hall, after some math you will notice that there is already more than $600 in charges that will be divided up and applied to student bills of residents. In a population that overwhelmingly supports keeping college
tuition low, why are we upping the cost of attendance for ourselves? It’s inexcusable and the residents of Harmony Hall are paying the price. If you see someone vandalizing the hall, report it right away by calling an on-duty resident assistant phone number, University Police or by writing an email to a residence life coordinator. Don’t make paying for college harder than it has to be, and don’t let people wreck your home-awayfrom-home.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: bmd5296@ psu.edu. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number.
ADS FOR CLUBS Free advertising space is offered to any universityrecognized organization or club to promote upcoming events. The space is limited to one eighthpage ad per club per edition. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: mgb5265@ 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 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
New and reinstated courses to be offered in the spring WILLIAM DERRY Staff Writer
wfd5070@psu.edu
It has been quite some time since Penn State Beaver last offered an honors science course, but that will all change next semester. The new science course is one of three new courses that have been added to the spring semester catalog at Penn State Beaver. SC 200 Honors, Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy, will be taught by Associate Professor of Biology Cassandra Miller-Butterworth and Instructor in Biology Stephanie Cabarcas-Petroski. It is a three-credit course that will focus on being critical of the science that makes the news, according to a campus press release. The class is designed to debunk scientific myths and teach students about how scientific research,
in addition to important findings, affects the world around us. This topic in particular is of strong interest for Miller-Butterworth, who is a native of South Africa, because of an incident involving inaccurate scientific information that ultimately impacted access to health care in her home country. “South Africa lost years of time when they could have been implementing antiretrovirals and education,” Miller-Butterworth said. “Instead they were told to eat garlic and bathe with green soap.” Antiretrovirals would have prevented the growth of a virus. Carey McDougall, director of Academic Affairs, said she encourages faculty to propose new ideas for courses, as it is not only beneficial for students but also for the instructors teaching the class. “Faculty get to learn the content as
well, since the courses tend to adapt based off of the field of study,” said McDougall. INART 100 Honors, The Art of Transgression, will also debut next semester. This general arts course will be taught by Associate Professor of Spanish Robin Bower and will offer students the opportunity to explore various representations of how going against what is common practice is beneficial, according to a flyer posted in the library. Sophomore Jesse Osborne, who has enrolled in Bower’s new course, is looking forward to learning about this particular topic. “I know from experience that if Professor Bower is involved, it is going to be awesome,” he said. Another course has been developed based off of an activity that some students participated in this fall during New Student Week.
This past August, Penn State Beaver students traveled to nearby Aliquippa for a day of service, where they cleaned up and added color to a few city blocks along with community members and artists. In conjunction with the university-wide “We Listen” storytelling project, a course on this initiative with Aliquippa will be offered this spring. The one-credit special topics course, COMM 297, will be taught by Daniel Rossi-Keen, founder of Aliquippa-based eQuip Books, and will use principles of the “We Listen” project to learn more about the city of Aliquippa and the residents that live there. COMM 297 is an example of a course that uses a present-day issue as its central topic, which is one factor in creating a new course, McDougall said. “A combination of student interest, faculty interest and contem-
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porary issues all go into creating a new course.” In addition to the three new courses, three other English courses that haven’t been offered recently have been added to the schedule next semester. ENGL 263, Reading Poetry, ENGL 268, Reading Drama and ENGL 444, Shakespeare in World Literature, will all be taught by Associate Professor of English Kristen Olson. Reading Poetry, which was taught during the fall semester in past years, will investigate different types of poems from a variety of time periods and styles, while Reading Drama will explore many types of plays from a range of time periods and styles. Shakespeare in World Literature will seek to figure out what makes Shakespeare a timeless author, according to a flyer posted in the Laboratory Classroom Building.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
December 2016
Chefs serve more than just food to RYAN LOCKHART Staff Writer
rnl5086@psu.edu
On a typical morning at Penn State Beaver, Chef Lesli Kelly enters the Brodhead Bistro kitchen via the rear loading dock doors and starts to prepare for the day by turning on equipment and starting to make food for the students here at Beaver. Kelly begins her day by making breakfast foods such as pancakes, bacon, sausage and more before preparing lunch. Kelly has been a chef at Penn State Beaver for 25 years, since she graduated from culinary school in 1988. Taking a moment from her work, Kelly says her favorite part of working with Penn State is that it’s a small place and everyone is close. “We are pretty much family,” says Kelly. Around noon, Chef Chris Geary arrives and starts to focus on dinner. Geary has been part of that family since 2009 when he was first hired as a Housing and Food Services worker. Geary, who has 34-years cooking experience, was promoted to chef in October. As Geary prepared steaks and mushrooms for dinner, he also revealed that he liked working on all different kinds of foods like pastas and sauces, but his favorite would be anything that was new and challenging to make. Geary said the best part of working here was working with great people and great student workers. “I love working for Penn State. This is the best job I’ve ever had,” said Geary. “This is a great place to work. It’s like one big family.” Geary and Kelly said with big smiles that at least once a day a student will come back and thank them for the great food and hard work. The two have been known to be like parents to the students, and make it a point to know everyone’s name. They will even help students whenever they need something, since they care for the students here so much.
Geary wiped the sweat from his face and said that the hardest part about working at Penn State is whenever the Bistro runs out of food and must inform students that they are out of what they want. Preparing the right amount of food can be quite a challenge, because while you don’t want to run out, you also don’t want a ton of leftovers, either. If there are leftovers from dinner, such as steak or chicken, Geary said the Bistro will serve that food the next day as part of a chicken or steak salad. Anything left after that gets thrown out. “Getting food isn’t simple” says Jeremy Lindner, the director of Housing and Food Services. “The
most important thing is to stay organized.” The Bistro tries to keep up with student needs by using a computer system called Food Pro which keeps track of what students order and how much of that product is sold so that the Bistro can be prepared for the next time they have that item. Every time you make a purchase at the cash register, Lindner said, it keeps a record of the purchase. It is important to pay attention to the inventory being sold and how much. “Food Pro uses button pushes on our machines to show what the sales are,” says Lindner. Lindner explained that Penn State Beaver gets much of its food from
a warehouse at University Park, though produce comes locally from Beaver County Fruit Market. The Bistro orders food two weeks away from when they need it so that it can be sure to have it on time. The menu in the Bistro repeats every four weeks. Students can find Kelly in the kitchen from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., as she focuses on breakfast and lunch. Geary is in the kitchen from noon to 9:30 p.m., but will be switching to a 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift soon. Once all the work is done and dinner is served, Geary makes sure that all the equipment is cleaned, checks on the student workers, makes sure everything is turned off and goes home.
Above: Chef Lesli Kelly prepares raw vegetables for the salad line, a popular lunch option in the Brodhead Bistro. She has worked as a chef at Penn State Beaver for 25 years. Right: Chef Chris Geary steams baby carrots in preparation for dinner on campus. Geary was recently promoted as a chef in October. He says that it is the best job he has ever had.
December 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
their Bistro ‘family’
9
Use your fingertips to order your finger foods
Brooke Doerfler/The Roar
Workers, such as Tiarra Gordon, will soon utilize touchscreen ordering.
NATALY M. VIGNOLINI Staff Writer
nmv5135@psu.edu
Imagine standing in line at Sheetz, ordering your favorite food. It’s a short wait due to the convenience of touchscreen ordering. You know that your order will be exactly the way you want it, and that there will be no line jumping. It’s an experience that Penn State Beaver’s Brodhead Bistro hopes to bring to students soon. The Bistro plans on installing touchscreen ordering in the Bistro after Thanksgiving break. The touchscreens are already on a stand between the cash registers and the dish room and will most likely remain there. Director of Housing and Food Services Jeremy Lindner said that though the touchscreen ordering can be started at any time, doing it after students come back from Thanksgiving break would be less confusing. “We might decide to only demo it on the weekends, to work out the kinks, before fully installing it in January.” The touchscreen ordering will only be available for the grill and fryer, for now. Plans for including other areas of the Bistro, like Starbucks, may emerge over time, he said. The system is simple to understand and easy to use. Lindner compared it
to Sheetz’s touchscreen ordering, referencing the options for customization. Students will enter their order, customizations will be prompted on the screen which students can select and, once finished, the order will pop up on a screen above the grill for the Bistro workers to see. Sophomore Alauna Gipson, a Bistro worker, is excited to get the system up and running. She said that it is a great way to “diffuse lines and get people’s orders just the way they want.” She’s not wrong, but Lindner says it’ll help solve one problem specifically. “Bistro workers at the grill can’t hear student’s orders,” Lindner said. Not only is there a thick piece of glass separating them, but the noises from the kitchen and fans make it almost impossible to hear. With touchscreen ordering, Bistro workers won’t need to hear; the orders will be right there for them to see, he said. Freshman Alana McCollin likes the idea of touchscreen ordering. “It’s an effective way to make sure orders are produced more efficiently and the right people receive those orders.” McCollin isn’t the only student anxious for the new system. Freshman Sarath Santhoshkumar said he can’t wait to use it. “It’ll help Bistro workers remember your order.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
December 2016
Penn State Beaver welcomes babies this semester CHRIS ROTONDO Senior Staff Writer
ctr5138@psu.edu
A silent awe filled the Admissions Office Nov. 15 when Rachel Zughaib, assistant director of admissions, and her husband, Gus, introduced the office to the newest member of their family. Micah Zughaib, born Oct. 6, is one of the latest additions to the extended Penn State Beaver family. Over the past few months, there have been a few faculty and staff members who have had children of their own. Zughaib, who grew up in New Castle, met her husband in French class while attending the University Park campus. Gus was raised in Allentown, so when they were married in State College in 2011, they had a perfect halfway point for both families. “We wanted to enjoy married life first,” Zughaib said. “Now that we’re parents, we’re not getting much sleep, but the baby cuddles make up for it.” Nick Pentz, computer system specialist, and his wife, Sarah, recently had their third child, Elijah Pentz. The couple grew up as childhood friends until Sarah’s family moved. It wasn’t until they were in college when Nick, who graduated from Slippery Rock University, reconnected with Sarah, who graduated from Thiel College. The couple married in May 2008 and had their first child, Evan, in 2011, the same year Pentz was hired
The admissions staff gathers in the office lobby to greet Micah Zughaib during his recent visit to campus. From left are Gus Zughaib, Micah’s dad; Debra Seidenstricker, admissions counselor; Dan Pinchot, director of enrollment; and Rachel Zughaib, Micah’s mom and assistant director of enrollment. Other babies born recently are (top) Elijah Pentz, son of Nick Pentz and (bottom) Stetson Lawrence, son of Kim Lawrence.
at Penn State Beaver. They had their second child, Emmelin, a year later in 2012. “I’ve always wanted more than one child,” Pentz said. “Now that we have three children, I think we’re good.” Pentz said that he has noticed “a lot of people my age that are having children,” and not just among staff and faculty members. “I’ve noticed a boom within our church, too,” Pentz said. “It’s really not very surprising, though.”
Zughaib has also noticed the increase in children among staff and faculty members and their significant others. “The campus makeup has changed quite a bit,” Zughaib said. “There are now more young adults than before.” Kim Lawrence, laboratory preparation technician, and her husband, Eric, gave birth to their first child, Stetson Lawrence, in November. Lawrence and her husband, who were married on June 28, 2014, met
back when they were in college. “We were good friends in college, but we didn’t start dating until we reconnected years later,” Lawrence said. The Lawrences live on a farm in Mercer. “If you don’t count my two horses and my dog, this is our first child,” Lawrence joked. Lawrence and her husband wanted to wait until Stetson was born to find out whether he would be a boy or a girl.
“We wanted to be surprised,” Lawrence said. “There aren’t many good surprises in life.” Her family is overjoyed by the latest addition to their family. “It’s surreal because it’s the first time I’m an aunt, but it’s very exciting,” said Julie Worst, Lawrence’s sister and a former Penn State Beaver student. “It’s a little hard since I’m at [University Park], but I have a lot to look forward to when I go home.”
Storytelling has the potential to influence campus and community relationships ALEXIS SHEFFIELD Staff Writer
azs269@psu.edu
A program called We Listen, in which students can share their Penn State experiences, has been introduced to classes this semester. The overall goal of We Listen is to create a space where members of the Penn State community share and listen to each other’s experiences in
hopes of building connections. The process is very simple as students record their stories then upload them to the We Listen website at welisten.psu.edu, where people can view other stories to find similarities. Junior Shay Barchie found We Listen to be beneficial. She participated in the project and took listeners on her journey at Beaver campus. She spoke on her transition from
another college to Beaver and also her job at David’s Bridal. “It’s a good idea and was helpful to learn how much I have in common with other students,” said Barchie. Juliette Storr, associate professor of communications, serves as campus coordinator for We Listen. Storr said that she saw a need for this program on campus as it would be a tool to develop, grow, interact and learn
about one another. “We are sharing who we are individually and collectively. Voices are being heard with purpose,” said Storr. Other professors are on board as well. Professor of Communications John Chapin, Senior Instructor in Sociology JoAnn Chirico, Lecturer in Communications Hillary O’Toole, Senior Instructor in Philosophy Irene Wolf and Instructor in Math-
ematics Angela Fishman have all incorporated We Listen into their classes this semester. In addition to students, faculty and staff can share their stories. Storr said she intends for We Listen to expand to the community. The goal is to get neighboring towns such as Aliquippa involved with the project to build bridges between Penn State and the area.
December 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
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Beaver alum brings new attraction to Center Twp. EMILY R. DIETRICH
Operation: Escape Room
Staff Writer
n Where: 3419 Brodhead Road, Monaca. n Price: $25 per person n Social media: You can find Operation: Escape Room on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TripAdvisor. n To book a reservation, go to www. operation-escape.com or call (878) 313-3393.
erd5208@psu.edu
While exploring an abandoned hospital for the insane, you and your friends walk inside a patient’s room only to hear the door slam shut behind you. To escape, you must solve a variety of puzzles that require teamwork and critical thinking. “Dixmonte” is inspired by the lore of Dixmont State Hospital, a now-razed insane asylum that was located near Pittsburgh believed to have been haunted. “Dixmonte” is the first of many themed rooms that Dana Sklack, a Penn State Beaver alumnus, and her family have opened in Beaver County’s first live-action escape room game located in Center Township. For those who have never experienced an escape room before, groups of four to eight people are locked inside a room and must solve several puzzles in 60 minutes in order to escape. The rooms are average sized and contain hidden items which correspond to the scenario that will be played out. In case of an emergency, every door is equipped with an exit button which allows anyone to leave the room. However, once a player steps out of the room, they are disqualified from the game. There are also cameras and microphones in the room which allow the Game Master to monitor all activity and lend helpful hints if necessary.
For the 22nd year, students, faculty, staff and the Nittany Lion gathered to enjoy freebies and prizes at the Health Fair.
The Roar/Brooke Doerfler
Sophomore Vanessa Jackson and junior Jess Sigala work to enter a combination to reveal the next clue at Operation: Escape Room in Center Twp.
Sklack and her family are finding ways to create other festive, fun rooms that they hope users will enjoy. “Our next themed room is going to be called ‘The List’ and should be available when students get back from Thanksgiving break,” Sklack said. Sklack gave six Penn State Beaver students the chance to experience the Dixmonte-themed room Oct. 29 as
part of a beta test. “To be honest, I had a slightly different idea of what an escape room was before participating,” sophomore Kevin Dilts said. “But out of anything to do in the general area of our school, it’s the most fun and interesting thing I’ve seen.” That uniqueness is what Sklack and her family were going for. “We wanted to introduce something to Beaver County that’s never
been there before,” Sklack said. “Everyone at Penn State Beaver is always trying to find something to do, and now you don’t have to go all the way to the city to participate in something like this.” The cost to participate in the escape room is $25 per person, but according to sophomore Vanessa Jackson, the price is worth the experience. “If you get a big enough group, you get to do something you
don’t normally get to do. It’s expensive, but it’s a lot of fun.” Sklack and her family completed an escape room in Pittsburgh’s South Side in June and began the beta testing for their escape room in Center Township in October. “My family loves puzzles,” Sklack said. “After going to an escape room in the city, we joked about opening one in Beaver County. It wasn’t until a few months later that I realized ‘Hey, we’re actually doing this.’” The room is great for a team bonding experience as well as a fun night out with a group of friends. It took the Penn State Beaver students roughly 55 minutes to solve the six Dixmonte puzzles, and the students said they definitely had to work together. “Everyone’s effort is what made us succeed,” said sophomore Dillon Duval. “It was a lot of fun and I’d definitely recommend it to other students.” Left: Kathy Osterrieder of The Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) tells sophomore Sarah Henderson the story of her late husband’s organ donation following his death. Osterrieder and her husband are both Penn State grads. Right: CoCo the Clown dazzles the crowd with her glittering ensemble and intricate balloon masterpieces. This year students raved about a balloon-fish combo. CoCo is a longtime student favorite at the fair. The Roar/Brianna D’Itri
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
December 2016
Bennett talks killer clowns on radio shows ALEXEY STERN Staff Writer
ams8317@psu.edu
Did you know that a Penn State Beaver instructor is considered a world-renowned expert on killer clowns? Kevin Bennett, senior instructor of psychology, has recently received a lot of media attention as an expert for radio stations around the world about the growing number of killer clown sightings. Bennett said that the media explosion all started when “New York Post” writer Amanda Bell saw his recent “Psychology Today” column on the widespread panic about the “killer clown craze.” Bell interviewed Bennett in early October. “I agreed to do it because I think it is important to connect the work that I do with real issues,” Bennett said. “And although there are no immediate measurable benefits, I think Penn State Beaver gaining attention from media interviews, over time, lifts up the reputation of the campus. Everyone, students included, benefits from that.” Bennett said he believes the serial killer clown epidemic is due to a psychological term called “behavioral contagion,” a type of social influence when one person sparks an entire
The Roar/Zach Ulrich
Kevin Bennett lectures to his PSYCH 100 class. Bennett became a media sensation in October with various interviews on international radio stations about the killer clown craze.
crowd to copy an action. In his “Psychology Today” column, he points out that the real danger is finding out who the serial killers are and who are just copycats. “Eight days after the initial clown sighting, there was a group of other reports not too far away. Events like these tend to pop up in clusters,” Bennett said in the article. “Clown sightings are reported on social media and later covered by mainstream media. Copycats and fakers join in, and very quickly it becomes difficult to discern real clown threats from jokers and pranksters who intend no harm.”
Bennett’s media exposure didn’t end with the “New York Post.” After Bell’s article, he was a guest on two different radio talk shows from outside the United States. He was interviewed on “The Scott Radley Show” broadcast from Ontario, Canada, and “The Unexplained,” in London. Bennett said the media attention blew up because of the timing of the newspaper article. “The ‘New York Post’ has a fairly large readership,” Bennett said. “As we got closer to Halloween and the clown sightings spread to other continents, there was an increase in the number of people interested in this
unusual topic.” He was impressed by the legitimacy of the whole process, noting how Howard Hughes, the host of “The Unexplained” radio show, was a “real pro.” “He had a deep, commanding radio voice. The interview was somewhat intimidating because he is affiliated with the BBC,” Bennett said. “But despite being the most intimidating person I talked to, he was also the easiest to get along with. I really enjoyed that aspect of the process.” Director of Academic Affairs Carey McDougall said she is glad to see Bennett get the media attention.
“Faculty members conduct research to make the world a better place. So we want our faculty’s research to have an effect on the broader side of the world. I full heartedly support it,” McDougall said. “This type of exposure affirms that the research the faculty is producing is relevant and useful. This publicity is great for the campus, and it validates the excellence of Penn State academics.” Students have also been taking an interest in the recent media blitz. Emily Halling, a freshman psychology major enrolled in one of Bennett’s classes, said that it makes her feel better about having him as a teacher. “It makes me feel great to be studying under him since he has shown how much he really knows,” Halling said. “I always thought he has been knowledgeable, and this just confirms how I feel.” Bennett said the entire thing took him by surprise, but embraced it because he knew it was good. “It would have been fun even if it was just local radio, but it was New York, Toronto and London. I’m a little amazed myself. But now that Halloween is over, I really think the clown sightings will disappear and so will the general public’s interest in the topic,” Bennett said. “That’s how it goes with stories like these.”
GCB improvements are planned, says chancellor ALEXANDER D’ITRI Staff Writer
avd6523@psu.edu
Chancellor Jenifer Cushman told students that she’d like to see improvements to the General Classroom Building that would bring it in line with the newly renovated Michael Baker Building. Cushman, who took the campus’ top job in July, made the comment during her first open meeting with students called Chocolate with the Chancellor on Nov. 7. She said that while university
officials have approved a renovation project to take place on the GCB, they do not yet know when that will take place and are still looking for student input on the improvements. She asks students with input to submit it through the recently released “Strategic Planning Surveys.” Students should receive an email to complete the survey soon. Cushman said there were no firm plans on improvements to the GCB, but that she is seeking input from students so the campus could start the planning process. She also asked
for suggestions on how the campus library could be improved. Students at the meeting had few suggestions on how to improve these buildings, but did provide suggestions for other aspects of the campus. Senior Stacy Wallis suggested contacting the Beaver County Transportation Authority to try to establish a bus stop at the campus so students can get on and off there instead of the nearby Walmart that students who travel by bus currently use. Cushman said she would look into it but doubted it would be successful
as there was a bus stop on campus in the past that few students used. Sophomore Joe Cornell brought up the new CNC router which students cannot currently use in the Michael Baker Building. He said he would want to see Instructor in Engineering James Hendrickson work with students to have the policies that are preventing students from using the tool be changed. Cushman said the faculty was aware of the situation with the router and other equipment in the new engineering workshop and they hope
to have it resolved by next semester. Sophomore Sara Henderson said she would like to have the PSUAlert system become more timely in letting students know when classes are canceled to prevent commuter students with early classes from making the trip to the campus when it is not necessary. Cushman said she understood the issue and explained it is a difficult situation to deal with but will make efforts to see that notices are sent out as soon as possible when these situations arise.
December 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
Sports
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Women’s soccer ends season on dramatic note ALEXA DIPIETRANTONIO Senior Staff Writer
and151@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver women’s soccer team was unable to pull off back-to-back Penn State University Athletic Conference championships after losing in the first round playoff game to Penn State Schuylkill Oct. 29. The team finished the season with an 8-9 overall record, 6-4 in conference play. This landed the women’s team in third place in the PSUAC standings. The women and Coach Jim Van Kirk, women’s interim soccer coach, had higher expectations for the women this year because of last year’s winning season. Last year was the first time the Lady Lions had a winning season. Senior captain Jessica Spina said that there was “a rough start due to the lack of commitment and dedication, but overall the team worked hard.” The team barely had enough women at the beginning of the season to have a full roster. Van Kirk said that the team definitely battled through the struggles during the first couple of weeks because of the lack of players. While Spina was still hopeful of making it to the championship this year, she knew that the odds were against them because of sharing a coach and knowing teams like Penn State Brandywine would be stronger, making it harder for them to reach playoffs. “I think they played better and better each week,” said Van Kirk. But he also acknowledged that later in the season there was a lot of drama within the team, which lead to two strong players quitting. That drama involved sophomores Morgan Stillwagon and Cortney Harden getting harassed for miss-
ing games due to medical reasons and personal family issues, as well as some players making comments about them behind their backs. Sophomore Bukuru Edisa, who admitted that she considered quitting the team midseason because of the issues, said the drama cost the team two of its best players. Edisa said she respects the decision Stillwagon and Harden made to leave the team. The team finished in third place in the PSUAC regular season after defeating Penn State Greater Allegheny to secure the final playoff spot. The Lady Lions traveled to Schuylkill for the first round playoff game, but scoring two goals during the second half wasn’t enough for Beaver, losing 3-2. Even though the team would have had a better chance during playoffs with Stillwagon and Harden, Van Kirk said that they felt it was the best decision. Some players understood their decision to leave the team. “I don’t think it’s a team,” said Edisa. “Nobody is going to want to go play with a team talking crap.” Stillwagon was still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury when the season began, so she played fewer than five games before quitting. From feeling unwelcome to comments made behind her back to even threats, Stillwagon is still happy with her decision to leave the team. “I wanted to win again, but I didn’t want to be around them anymore,” said Stillwagon. “I felt victimized.” Van Kirk said that while the women’s team may need more help than the men’s, recruiting has already begun for next year. He admits that there are key players like Spina that the team will have a hard time replacing.
The Roar/Khalia Adams
Freshman guard Rachael Cummings, right, plays defense in a preseason scrimmage game against Chatham University.
New players, new assistant coach join women’s basketball program ZACH ULRICH
Senior Staff Writer zau5001@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver women’s basketball team knows all about winning. Coming off its fourth straight Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) title, the Lady Lions look to start off the 2016-17 campaign on the right foot. The Lady Lions have a new look on the court this year bringing in seven freshman and a transfer student from Penn State Behrend. “I’m very impressed with how we have come together,” said Coach Tim Moore, who is in his ninth season with the Lady Lions. The Lady Lions also have a new coach to assist Moore. Andrew Kurzawski, who was an assistant
coach at Carlow University last season, will be an assistant at Penn State Beaver. “He has been a good addition. He came from a program where he was the lead recruiter. We see a good future with him here,” Moore said. The Lady Lions come into this season with the loss of their two leading scorers from last year: Khalia Adams and Morgan Kurtz. Kurtz graduated and Adams has run out of eligibility. The Lady Lions have three seniors this season – Cassandra Flowers, Mason Depetro and Asia Borders – and they look to lead this team to promising places. “We want to go back to the PSUAC championship and nation-
als,” Depetro said. The Lady Lions started their season Nov. 13 losing to Point Park University 85-44. Sophomore guard Mia Mattes led the way for the Lady Lions with 12 points and Depetro and freshman Jazmyne Boyd followed with 8. The Lady Lions will kick off conference play on the road with a 6 p.m. match up Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Penn State Greater Allegheny. The Lady Lions will welcome conference rivals to Beaver four times before winter break: 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 against Penn State Hazelton; 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, against Penn State Schuylkill; 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 against Penn State DuBois; and 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 against Penn State Fayette.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Sports
December 2016
Men look to bounce back
“
ZACH ULRICH
I don’t look at age, I look at who’s ready to commit to the values we preach as a coaching staff.”
Senior Staff Writer zau5001@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver men’s basketball team looks to bounce back after a difficult season in 2015-16. The Lions finished last season at 7-9 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) and a 9-15 overall record. The Lions have a new look in the team this year with the addition of 11 freshman. The team also returns juniors Eric Gallupe and DJ Austin and seniors Ignacio Alleyne and Luis Rodriguez. Coach Brian Bibey said he isn’t concerned about the age of the team. “I don’t look at age, I look at who’s ready to commit to the values we preach as a coaching staff,” Bibey said. Bibey, entering his second season at the helm of Beaver, said he looks forward to the season. “We are hungry, motivated and committed,” Bibey said. Beaver has just two seniors on the roster this year, Alleyne and Rodriguez. “We are very talented, willing to work and push each other every day,”
Brian Bibey
Men’s basketball coach
The Roar/Khalia Adams
Dominique Stevenson dribbles against a defender in a pre-season scrimmage on Nov. 8 against Franciscan University of Stuebenville.
said Alleyne. Alleyne also said the team is going to try to win every game, play their
hardest and get back to the PSUAC playoffs and hope to make it to United States Collegiate Athletic Associa-
tion national championship. The Lions opened up their season Nov. 12 against Kent State Tuscara-
was, winning 92-45. The Lions were led by freshman Markel Sayles with 15 points and Gallupe who contributed 13 points. Freshman Dimetres Moore had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Beaver will enter conference play on Tuesday, Nov. 29 when the team faces off against Penn State Greater Allegheny on the road at 8 p.m. Beaver’s first home conference match up is slated for Friday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. against Penn State Hazelton, followed by a 3 p.m. home game Saturday, Dec. 3 against Penn State Schuylkill. Two more conference match ups will occur at home before the winter break when Beaver meets Penn State DuBois Tuesday, Dec. 6, followed by Penn State Fayette on Friday, Dec. 9. Both games begin at 8 p.m.
Soccer loses heartbreaker in championship game ALEXA DIPIETRANTONIO Senior Staff Writer
and151@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver men’s soccer team had a strong season with only one loss to Penn State Brandywine during its regular season, earning the team second place in the Penn State University Athletic Conference. But the men fell short of winning back-to-back championships after losing in the semi-finals to Penn State Hazleton on Oct. 31. The team ended the season with a 10-8-1 overall record, 8-1 in conference play. The team had the same goal in mind as last year – to win the sec-
tion. Junior Logan Ridgley said that it was a disappointing season and it wasn’t supposed to end the way it did. Players and Coach Jim Van Kirk said they had higher expectations for the team. Making playoffs was a common occurrence for them, but the championship was still the main goal. This year, the men’s team ended up sharing its lone coach, Van Kirk, with the women’s team after the previous women’s coach resigned just weeks before the start of the season. As a result, some players said they were not satisfied with the amount of time Van Kirk spent with either
team. Van Kirk said he believes that he managed coaching both teams pretty well. “For the most part, everything went smooth, or as smooth as possible,” said Van Kirk. He said that the men’s team was better skilled than last year’s, but didn’t have that “click” like they did previously. Freshman Feranmi Akinpelu agreed that the team wasn’t cohesive. “We just needed to be united,” said Akinpelu. “We needed someone to step up and be an anchor.” Ridgley agreed, to an extent. “We’re like a family, honestly,” he said, adding that senior Jonathan
Pogozelec “has always been a great image for the team.” Despite the lack of leadership, the team finished in second place in the PSUAC regular season, which gave them a bye in the first round of this year’s playoffs. With an aggressive effort from the men’s team during the semifinal game against Penn State Hazleton, the game went back and forth between Hazleton and Beaver, which ended in a double overtime and penalty kicks. Beaver lost 3-0 in penalty kicks. Ridgley said the team had a practice dedicated fully to penalty kicks, but Van Kirk was not there because
of a women’s soccer game and he did not know who did well or poorly in the penalty kick practice. Without discussion, Van Kirk made the decision of which five men would be in his penalty kick line up. Ridgley and Akinpelu said they did not agree with the coach’s decision. “When it came time for penalty kicks, I saw the list (of names) and just turned around and said nothing,” said Akinpelu. “I didn’t even watch.” Van Kirk said that it was a little overwhelming with long days coaching both teams, but he’s willing to take it again. “Both programs are built to win,” he said.
December 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
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The Roar/Penn State Beaver Athletics
Morgan Cannister goes for the ball in a game against Penn State Greater Allegheny Oct. 8. The Roar/Haley Paul
Nick Goodbread prepares to win the faceoff on Oct.13 against rival Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Hockey team looks for redemption
MATTHEW PALAHUNIK Staff Writer
mgp5156@psu.edu
The Penn State Fightin’ Beavs club hockey team so far has been victorious this season with a 5-2 record, at least according to the stats on paper. This is only because two teams they were slated to battle forfeited their games. When it comes to the games that were played, the Fightin’ Beavs won three and lost two. The first game played this season was against Carnegie Mellon University Sept. 29. The Fightin’ Beavs won 6-0. The next game played was against Slippery Rock University, the team’s biggest rival, Oct. 6, in which the Beavs lost 9-3. When The Beavs played CMU again Oct. 20, they once again annihilated them, this time 9-1. The team had a second match up against Slippery Rock Oct. 27, and once again lost 7-4. When the Beavs finally went up
against IUP Nov. 3, they crushed them 9-1. “It’s been fun and interesting,” said Coach Justin Vorbach. He said he can understand why the club teams sometimes have to forfeit games. “It’s hard to organize,” he said, noting that rides, uniforms and school work can all make it difficult. The Fightin’ Beavs have five captains to aid the team. Senior Dom Rossi, head captain, said the goal for this season is “focusing on the championship and having fun.” Rossi said the new captain system is design to improve team performance both on and off the ice with each captain assigned a different task. Junior Bryce Hodge and sophomore Brendan Rossi were chosen to be captains on the ice because of their skill to improve team performance. Junior Dan Raupp and senior Alex Ribeau are in charge of the team’s business side, managing money, mer-
chandise and academics. Senior Matthew Welch is a returning player who played during the 2009-10 season along with Vorbach when he was a student. “I was pleasantly surprised” when he came back to Penn State Beaver and rejoined the team with open arms, Vorbach said. The team continues to struggle with how to beat Slippery Rock. “Slippery Rock is our only worthy opponent,” Rossi said. He compared the rivalry to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Welch said the reason for the losses against Slippery Rock was “less than needed execution.” Slippery Rock was slightly more cunning with speed, stick handling and team cohesion in the game, according to Welch. Slippery Rock was a powerhouse team even back when he first played. Welch said with more practice, the Fightin’ Beavs can beat Slippery Rock and win the championship.
Loss in quarter finals ends volleyball season TY COLE
Senior Staff Writer wtc5037@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions volleyball team ended its season with a loss in the quarter final playoff game against Penn State Lehigh Valley at Cedar Crest College Oct. 29. The Lady Lions finished the season with an overall record of 15-14 and an 11-4 record in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC). Beaver lost all three sets in the playoff game 21-25, 17-25 and 24-26. Sophomore Morgan Cannister led the team in kills with 10, while freshman Brooke Tomasko followed with eight. Junior Julianna Kon recorded 20 digs in the match, followed by junior Ryanne “Roxy” Kye with 17. Cannister was the only Lady Lion to be named First Team AllConference. Kye and Kon were both named Second Team All-Conference. Freshman Amanda Mike received an Honorable Mention. “I’m disappointed and frustrated on how the season ended,” Coach
BJ Bertges said. “I thought we had a lot of unused potential, and I blame myself for not bringing it out in the team.” One of the highlights of the year was playing Carlow University, a United States Collegiate Athletic Association scholarship program. Bertges added “we played together as a team with good energy. It was one of our best sets and games of the year.” In that game, Beaver took a set but ended up losing three games to one. “Carlow was a really good team, and we took a set from them. It was pretty hype,” Mike said. “Throughout the year I thought we played well with the struggle of few players and injuries.” Like Bertges, Tomasko was disappointed in the way the season ended. “Our communication was off some games and we have a lot of talent. But sometimes we would have a lack of communication and didn’t play as a team,” she said. Bertges said gaining experience in high-pressure situations is a top priority for the future.
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December 2016
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