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Penn State Beaver Roar December 2019
News
Impeachment opinions hinge on facts MATYLDA ZAMUDIO Senior Staff Writer
mmz5236@psu.edu
The U.S. House of Representatives began formal impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump in November, and the reaction from people on campus is mixed. Associate Teaching Professor of Philosophy Irene Wolf said she’s not sure if a “quid pro quo” with Ukraine is considered an impeachable offense. “It means what for what, so like buying or selling something for example,” Wolf said. The impeachment charges are based on Trump allegedly withholding U.S. aid to leverage Ukraine to investigate Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, for campaign leverage. Wolf said the allegations are not clear cut. “The problem with President Trump is that they feel he was holding the money back to do some kind
of research to dig up dirt on Biden. But is that impeachable? That would be the question,” she added. Professor of Economics Rajen Mookerjee said “quid pro quo” is a Latin phrase for bribery, which is an impeachable offense under the United States Constitution. “One of the things mentioned (in the Constitution) for impeachment is treason and bribery,” Mookerjee said. “For that alone, the president should be impeached,” he said. Associate Professor of History Robert Szymczak said the Republicans controlling the U.S. Senate majority create obstacles to remove Trump. “A president cannot be dismissed from office without the United States Senate agreeing at least by majority vote,” Szymczak said. “The Republicans have the Senate, so if the Democrats vote to impeach the guy, then that can be overturned in the Senate.”
Junior Shane Cepull said the investigation should have been conducted sooner. “I feel like if they were going to impeach him on something like this, they should have done it earlier. I feel like they waited too long,” Cepull said. Junior Diamond Thomas said the public should get all the facts of the investigation before next year’s election. “If they do find dirt on (Trump) and his background, (or) Joe Biden’s background, maybe that won’t have me vote for them,” Thomas said. Wolf said determining Trump’s guilt in this case depends on the evidence the house Democrats present to the public. “We need both sides involved, not just the House, but also the Senate,” Wolf said. “(Let’s) see all the facts and make the decision based on facts, not speculation.” Senior Nicholas Kanapesky said
it’s also important for the public to get all of the facts because it will expose the true intentions of the Democratic party. “I don’t think that they are revealing any facts that any of the American people are going to look at and go, ‘Oh, wow. I’m really glad this came out before the election because I was going to vote for this guy, but I’m not going to anymore,’ Kanapesky said. “He was fairly elected. They’re trying to impeach him less than a year before our next election, (and) that speaks for itself,” he added. Kanapesky said while he believes Trump’s actions raise questions about a possible “quid pro quo,” he thinks it’s irrelevant because politicians have done it throughout history. “You can look at any president. They’ve done the same thing,” he said. “That’s how it works. It’s politics.” Associate Professor of Chemistry
Michael Hay said the previous call for Trump’s impeachment in the Robert Mueller investigation has raised skepticism. “I’ve been hearing about impeachment since the day after President Trump got elected. It makes it very suspicious,” Hay said. “They had the Mueller report, and I don’t know how many times I heard there was a bombshell that was going to be the end of his presidency.” “But I think it’s the Democratic party that really wants to get rid of him,” Hay added. Senior Bradley Fisher Strecker said the previous impeachment investigation has downplayed the severity of this one and is a waste of taxpayer money. “So many inquiries, and so many millions of dollars spent trying to impeach the president. Homeless people, fixing economies – that money could have been used in other ways,” he said.
PERSON IN THE BISTRO
What do you think will come of the impeachment investigation?
“If it was a legal process, then he would be (found guilty) because of the witness testimonies... But because it’s a political hearing, and most of the people that are deciding this are Republicans that are up for re-election, they don’t want to upset their voters.”
Zelma Daye
Junior
“I don’t think he’s going to get impeached because the election is next year and if he was really doing something that wrong, he would’ve been impeached a long time ago.”
Janelle Hobbs Junior
“They found him doing something illegal, and it’s sticking, I guess. Some of his people are already getting arrested, so he might get impeached at the end of it, but I don’t know.”
Brian Griffin Senior
“I don’t know much but have heard rumors that there has been talk of him getting impeached. I believe nothing will happen because he’s got enough supporters that there will be an uproar of outrage if anything happens to him.”
Vincenzo Croce
Senior
“Personally, I have never liked him. He’s not inclusive, (and) that’s what America is about. I don’t think it’s going to go through, even though I want it to.”
Riley Thomas Sophomore
December 2019
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Penn State Beaver Roar
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‘It will not be the same without her’ After more than 20 years, Bistro Mom Sharon Gross will retire in December NATE SHARIF
Senior Staff Writer nas5758@psu.edu
After two decades of prepping meals for students, faculty and staff, Bistro mom Sharon Gross will hang up her apron for the last time in December, marking the end of 20 years of devoted service. Gross, a food services worker in the campus Bistro since 1998, has served students much more than a buffet of food. Gross gives students a loving touch of a home away from home. “I love her ... She is a Bistro mom,” said sophomore Sydney Fisher. Students across campus share that sentiment, having nothing but praise to say about the impact that Gross has had on their individual lives. Elon Lindsay, a senior from Los Angeles, said he loves starting his day with Gross. “I always go to Sharon first. She asks about my day; we have that relationship.” Gross beams a smile while talking with students as they scurry into the Bistro to order food during breakfast and common hour. “Sharon has a smile that will cheer you up,” said junior Josh Misiuda. “[She’s] absolutely wonderful, always a ray of sunshine.” In addition to food, Gross serves up a daily blend of fresh smiles and warm hugs as she inquires of her kids [students] as to how they are feeling and managing their semester. “Every time I come in the Bistro, she is always asking how I’m doing,” said junior Shane Cepull. Senior Torey Cassidy agrees. “She genuinely cares about you. She always asks how you are.” Gross said she loves talking to the students. “We are a family and the Bistro staff is here for you [the students].” Not surprisingly the compliments don’t stop with Gross. “It’s nothing but love and support
Penn State Beaver Photo
Food services worker Sharon Gross, also known as the Bistro Mom, is retiring in December after 20 years of working in the Penn State Beaver Brodhead Bistro.
“
Sharon has a smile that will cheer you up. She’s absolutely wonderful, always a ray of sunshine.”
from the Bistro staff,” said senior Maddy Shoaf. “You’re not just a number, you’re a name and face.” Kylee Arms, a senior from Johnstown who works at the Bistro, agreed. “The Bistro staff makes it feel like home when you’re far away from your own.” Since joining the Penn State team in 1998, Gross said she has noticed
Josh Misiuda Junior
that love and appreciation has taken a downturn in student’s lives. “They’re searching for their identity,” Gross said. “[Students] want to feel special. They want to have that connection.” Unbeknownst to students, Gross, along with other Housing and Food Service workers, have set the tone for the Bistro.
“As people come and go, the Bistro will always be the heartbeat of the campus. It will always be a family,” Misiuda said. Gross has been known to bring food to sick students residing in Harmony Hall after her shift, affectively earning her a reputation as a momma bear. Moreover, the word that students shared when describing Gross is in fact, “mom.” “Sharon is a mom, a therapist without getting paid,” said sophomore Michelle Cisco. “Sharon can tell when you’re in a good mood or a bad mood.”
Many of the students entering the Bistro affectionately address Gross as “mom.” “She is momma Sharon,” said Cassidy. Penn State Beaver alumnus Brittany Garza, who graduated last spring, said she still recalls the watchful eyes of Gross caring for the students. Garza recounts seeing Gross and the late Chef Lesli Kelly sitting together on lunch breaks in the Bistro watching the hustle and bustle of students passing by. “Sharon takes her breaks in a hightop chair next to the Bistro stage so she can watch her kids walk by,” Garza said. As a colleague in the Bistro, Arms said she’s grown even closer to Gross. “We have a deeper relationship because we work together.” Arms said that Gross was just a phone call away if she needed her. “We’ve laughed and cried together.” Arms recalled a time when the Bistro did not have her favorite ice cream in stock. “Sharon went out on her personal time and bought me seven pints of my favorite ice cream,” said Arms. Gross is quick to shrug off any fanfare. These heartfelt acts are just simply a part of her everyday routine. “I’m not a counselor, but everybody needs a shoulder to lean on. I have tried, and I hope I have given that shoulder and feeling of comfort,” said Gross. Students are bracing for Gross’s retirement, but say they are glad she can now relax. “Sharon has put a lot of love and time into people’s lives. It will not be the same without her,” said Arms. Sophomore Matt Lewis agrees. “I will miss Sharon very much, but she deserves to retire.” Senior Hunter Spisak said it’s time for Gross to take care of herself instead of the students. “It’s sad, but Sharon has earned it. I’m glad she gets to focus on herself now.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar December 2019
News
Kiefer plans new future in D.C. TONY GOOD Staff Writer
apg5113@psu.edu
Andy Kiefer, one of Penn State Beaver’s two residence life coordinators, will be leaving his position Dec. 31. Kiefer said he will be moving to Washington D.C. to be with his wife, who just recently started a new job there Nov. 1. Kiefer and his wife had previously lived together in Harmony Hall for two years. As a residence life coordinator, Kiefer is responsible for building community within Harmony Hall as well as enforcing university policies. Kiefer oversees the residence life program, which includes selecting and training student resident assistants. “First and foremost, my primary goal is safety and security in the hall,” Kiefer said. Kiefer had extensive previous experience with residence life before coming to Beaver campus. He did similar work at Penn State Harrisburg while he was pursuing his master’s degree. He also held a professional residence life job at the Alabama School of Math and Science, a boarding school at the high school level. Kiefer said he prefers to work in
Andy Kiefer talks to students during a focus group about living on campus in Harmony Hall.
smaller campus settings. “I like the idea of being a generalist at a small campus,” Kiefer said. To be successful in a position like this, exceptional social skills are a requirement, said Amy Gartley, asso-
ciate director of Student Affairs and Kiefer’s supervisor. “Andy’s strength is that he’s a calm and reflective individual,” Gartley said. “That’s what he brings to the team.”
The Roar/Matt Palahunik
Kiefer is also teaching a first-year seminar class for freshman students. Kiefer was a resident assistant when he was in college at Shippensburg University, but as a residence life coordinator he oversees all students
who live in Harmony Hall, more than half of whom come from out of state. Junior Zelma Daye from Texas is one of those out-of-state students. She’s lived in Harmony for three years and is in her second year as a resident assistant. “Andy makes sure we have the answers we need and really utilizes his experiences,” Daye said. “He’s a good person to go to for help.” Daye recalled having to call an ambulance for a student suffering from a health complication during her first week as an RA. This took place in the middle of the night, but she felt comfortable in the situation because of Kiefer’s training. “Andy’s like a dad,” Daye said. “He’s very invested in all of us and genuinely cares about our wellbeing.” As for next steps, Kiefer isn’t quite sure what he will be doing when he moves to Washington D.C. with his wife. “I’ve been telling folks that I’m going boldly into unemployment,” Kiefer said. He said he is focused on doing a good job here until he leaves. “I’ll start looking for a job when I get to D.C.,” Kiefer said.
Penn State laureate shines light on mental health ALEX D’ITRI
Senior Staff Writer avd5623@psu.edu
Photo/Pennsylvania State University
Penn State Laureate William Doan addresses
the important topic of depression and anxiety.
On Nov. 12, the creator of The Anxiety Project, Penn State Laureate William Doan, visited Penn State Beaver to hold a lecture on the topic of depression and anxiety. Doan, a professor of theater in the College of Arts and Architecture, is known for using his water color paintings as a form of expression and a sort of therapy for his own mental illness. He says the project was born out of his desire to help the more than 40 million people who report having some kind of anxiety disorder.
Doan recounted various examples of traumatic events he experienced, from his youth to a recent panic attack that came over him while buying toilet paper at a supermarket. He described his anxiety as intense episodes riddled with depression. “Lots of my art features dark swirling clouds. That’s what it is for me, darkness. But I know there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Doan said. Despite his dark, heavy topic, he managed to lighten the tone of the room periodically with small jokes; there was never more than 10 minutes that went by without a genuine chuckle from the audience of about
40 people, including students from Instructor Douglas Starr’s film music class. Sophomore Brianna Ways went as a part of this class and found the event inspirational. She said she’s dealt with similar issues by expressing her thoughts and feelings though an artistic medium. Ways said she has also used painting as a sort of theory, much like Doan. “It’s interesting to see someone who also uses water color paintings like this. I think the wild nature of that kind of art is just really good for self-expression,” Ways said.
Doan recalled what it was like growing up in a broken home with these issues, detailing the things that helped and hindered him on his journey to recovery. He said he has been going strong lately when it comes to his mental health; he still feels like another episode of panic attacks and depression is on the horizon for him, but is positive nonetheless. He also drove home the point that he starts to feel better after being prescribed an anti-depressant. “It’s slow going, but it works. It doesn’t take all the problems away. It’s no miracle pill, but it is a start.”
December 2019
News
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Lomotey awaits pretrial
JESSE JAMERY
Senior Staff Writer jjj192@psu.edu
A pretrial conference for Richard Lomotey, assistant professor of Information Sciences and Technology, has been set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 27 in Courtroom 321 at the Allegheny County Courthouse, according to Allegheny County court documents. The pretrial conference is a procedural hearing and no decision will be made as to whether Lomotey is innocent or guilty. There has yet to be a trial date set, according to court documents. The charges filed against Lomotey stem from two May 11 incidents
where Lomotey, who was working as an Uber driver, is accused of holding female passengers in his car against their will. On Nov. 6, Lomotey pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him. His lawyer, Joseph Horowitz, said in a previous interview that he is going to use Lomotey’s Uber driving records from the night in question as evidence to prove Lomotey is innocent. Lomotey is free on bond, according to court records. Lomotey remains on leave at Penn State Beaver.
POLICE BEAT The Roar/Kyara Parrish
Sgt. Jennifer Bredemeier assists Campus Nurse Barbara Kugel in learning how to use a tourniquet during the Stop the Bleed training
Beaver learns to stop the bleed
MATTHEW PALAHUNIK Senior Staff Writer
mgp5156@psu.edu
It only takes three minutes for a person to bleed out and most people don’t know how to help. That’s the message delivered from Stop the Bleed, a training program offered for faculty, staff and students Nov. 6. Stop the Bleed is a national program that was created through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shortly after the tragic events of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. New Brighton Patrolman Scott Sullivan facilitated the training. According to Sullivan, 80 percent of the victims of that shooting, mostly children, could have been saved with the proper first aid measures. Stop the Bleed aims to inform the public on how to respond to traumatic events in hopes to reduce the lives lost during those precise moments.
“It is a basic program that came about in order to instruct a lay person to do basic things and save lives,” Sullivan said. Freshman Jasmine Salazar is from Florida and attended a school district that was neighbors with Lakeland School District where 17 people, mostly students, were killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. Salazar said she came to Stop the Bleed because of growing number of school shootings. One new thing she said she learned is how to use a tourniquet. “I just want to teach my little sister some things since she is in high school and I want to watch her,” Salazar said. “I want her to be aware that she can help in more ways than she thinks.” “It is important for my sister to know stuff like this since she wants to go into the medical field and that stuff like this is important to know in high school because of all the
school shootings today,” Salazar added. Sgt. Jennifer Bredemeier of the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office said the aim is to teach people how to help. Before programs like this, the public had very little knowledge on what to do when it came to traumarelated help. “It’s knowledge I wish they had, but it wasn’t available to them,” she said. Kay O’Neill is an emergencymedical technician at Medic Rescue and the Emergency Medical Services director at CCBC. “We want everyone to be prepared for an active shooter situation on how to treat the victims,” O’Neill said. Director of Campus Relations Kristen Doerschner invited Stop the Bleed to campus after people wanted to see more training for emergency situations on campus. “The event went really well. I think it was beneficial for the people who attended,” she said.
Alarm clears building Students and faculty in the Michael Baker Building around 7:10 p.m. Oct. 22 were in for an alarming situation when a siren went off in the building. According to University Police Officer Patrick Smith, a smoke detector in the men’s room was activated, triggering the alarm system that is installed in the Michael Baker Building. Police investigated the building but did not find an offender or any potential source that triggered the alarm. Smith said the alarm system is fairly new and was installed during the renovation of the Michael Baker Building. The alarm included a voice instructing people to congregate at a “designated meeting site,” though those in the building that night did not know where the meeting site was. Smith said that the system referred to a preapproved emergency evacuation plan that was designed for the campus. “It makes sure that everybody is out of the building, out of the way so police can verify everybody is safe, out of danger and accounted for,” he said.
The designated meeting site for people who are in the Michael Baker Building during an emergency is the Student Union Building Lodge, he added.
THEFT IN THE GYM
Someone reported to the police that “unattended personal property” had been stolen from the gymnasium between noon and 5 p.m. Sept. 4. Police could not provide details on the property that had been reported stolen.
HIT-AND-RUN IN PARKING LOT
Police are investigating a hit-andrun that was reported between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in parking lot A, located between Harmony Hall and the Michael Baker Building. Police said someone hit a parked car but provided no additional details.
STUDENTS ALLEGE FRAUD
According to police, a student Oct. 15 and another student Oct. 16 told police they may have been a victim of fraud on campus. Police said they are investigating but refused to provide any information on the alleged fraud.
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Penn State Beaver Roar December 2019
News
Too many tickets may get you booted SGA buys boot for parking offenders KRIS CAULDER Staff Writer
kcc5265@psu.edu
Two months ago, the Student Government Association voted unanimously to pay $95 to buy a boot for the Penn State Beaver police. The boot comes as a response to students either not paying their parking tickets or receiving repeated tickets for the same violation after multiple warnings and fines. SGA President Shane Cepull, SGA bought the boot after receiving a request from a campus police officer. “We saw a repeat in traffic violators and campus police believed this would cut down [on the tickets],” Cepull said. He also said that SGA didn’t have any set expectations for the boot and was simply purchasing the boot on behalf of campus police and it was at there discretion to use. Campus police said they had no set rules or guidelines as these sort of procedures are usually set out by a parking authority, but Penn State Beaver doesn’t have one at this time.
Police show off the new boot in action on the Penn State Beaver police cruiser.
Officer Patrick Smith, who requested that SGA buy the boot because of excessive parking violations last year, said police would be
looking to other Penn State Commonwealth Campuses for guidance on how to administer the boot. However, Smith said that parking
The Roar/Tony Good
violations are down this year. He also said that students can expect official guidelines to come into action next semester and an offi-
cial email detailing the use of the boot and its fee. Smith said the boot has not been used yet. Cepull said he is already feeling optimistic about the boot. “Well, considering we put this in place in a month or two ago, they have seen a decrease in parking violations” and the “word of mouth is already in action.” Smith said that any fees from the boot will be given to SGA just like regular tickets. He also said that students shouldn’t worry about the boot’s fee. “It’s not going to be anything exorbitant.” Cynthia Platz, administrative assistant in the finance office, said that “last year 109 tickets were issued, resulting in $844 in fines to SGA” which is a decent amount. She also said that “when it comes to students actually paying their tickets, most make sure to pay them in a timely fashion.” If a student does not or refuses to pay a ticket, the finance office places a hold on the student’s account, preventing the student being from scheduling classes. At least one student has a problem with the boot. Senior Erica Clark said she feels that this is unneeded “this is an impractical solution to a minor problem.”
Soon 21 could be the new 18 for all tobacco products TAYLOR R. THOMPSON Staff Writer
trt5170@psu.edu
The state Senate passed legislation in late September to raise the legal age from 18 to 21 to purchase cigarettes, vapes and all other nicotine and tobacco products. The bill will now go to the state House for consideration. If approved in the House, the governor would then need to sign or veto it. According to various media reports, senators supported the leg-
islation as an attempt to deter teens from getting addicted to nicotine. If it becomes law, Pennsylvania will join a minority of other states who have already raised the age or are expected to soon. A spokesman for Gov. Tom Wolf has told new outlets that if the legislation reaches his desk, he will to sign it. Student reaction to the pending legislation is mixed. “I believe that if the smoking age does raise, there will both be a posi-
tive and negative reaction from students on our campus,” said sophomore Cora Mankevich. “A lot of students would have time to think about their decisions. However, I think a lot of them (students) would be angry with the change.” Freshman Jessica Beightol said it might have a positive effect. “If they do raise the smoking age to 21, students will have time to reflect and see the harm in it.” Youth vaping has become a hot issue across the nation this fall and
the Centers for Disease Control has called it an epidemic. The public the government to take action. On Oct. 25, a bill was introduced to ban flavored e-cigarettes in Pennsylvania. Many other states such as New Jersey have introduced this in hope to reduce the use of nicotine in teenagers. The new bill would prohibit stores from selling flavored vaping products, with a penalty starting at $500. Sophomore Jeremy Lutz says ban-
ning flavored vapes won’t have much impact, but raising the purchasing age might. “By now, I believe that banning flavored vapes would be useless because so many underage smokers are already addicted to the nicotine itself,” Lutz said. “It could help prevent teenagers that haven’t vaped before from starting, but I think raising the age to 21 would make a bigger impact and decrease the number of teens vaping,” he added.
December 2019
News
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Campus hosts first ever TEDx event ALEXEY STERN
Senior Staff Writer ams8317@psu.edu
Nine students from across Penn State Beaver auditioned, wrote, practiced and polished their speeches for weeks to be part of Penn State Beaver’s first TEDx event Nov. 1. In a dimly lit Student Union Building auditorium with their PowerPoint presentations glowing behind them, the students took to the stage one by one, clicker in hand and a microphone on their lapel. They explained, inspired or persuaded the audience on a smattering of topics, from the potential of Artificial Intelligence, to the power of words, to a lecture on economics using the video game Team Fortress 2. Uber representative Curtis Lloyd kicked off the two-hour program by talking about the future of self-driving cars, but it was the student speakers that the audience seemed anxious to hear. The event was organized and executed entirely by students, led by 26-year-old sophomore Dmitri Gordienko and 24-year-old junior Joshua Graham. Graham said he believes that the event couldn’t have gone any better. “The team that we had worked really well together, and we did a great job standing up to the challenge,” Graham said. “Given the fact
The Roar/Alexey Stern
Dmitri Gordienko discusses artificial intelligence during his TEDx presentation.
Curtis Lloyd, a representative of Uber, speaks about self-driving cars at TEDx.
that this event was entirely run by the students, I am really proud of what we did.” Graham said he most enjoyed working with the people who made it happen. “My favorite part of the event was, hands down, our team; watching all of these students rise to the challenge and working together and being able to be a part of that. It has a lot of
personal value to me,” Graham said. Freshman Kloe Lind watched the TEDx event and said it was interesting, engaging and thought provoking. “I feel that the presenters were genuinely interested in the topics they were speaking about and I really liked that,” Lind said, noting her favorites was the talk about AI and the presentation on health and nutri-
The Roar/Alexey Stern
tion. “Those topics have always interested me. I think the campus should do this event every semester.” Sophomore Nathan Hefler agreed. “It should absolutely happen again next year. I think the TEDx event was a success and the subjects that were covered struck me as informative and interesting.” Hefler said. “As an engineer, I feel like the topics that covered self-driving cars and
the future of AI really stuck out to me because I know that they will be super important to all of us in the future.” Co-organizer Gordienko said what he enjoyed the most about the TEDx event was the positive impact it will have on all the students who participated in it, either as a presenter, an organizer or as both. “My favorite part about the event is that students are getting a lot of value from it; they are getting realworld experience and it will really give them an advantage when they are looking for potential jobs or internships in the future,” he said.
Students present their ideas for businesses and inventions KARL TRUSKOWSKI Senior Staff Writer
kzt5265@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver held its fourth annual Lion’s Den competition Nov. 14. Students were challenged to create new business or product design concepts. Participants presented in front of a panel of judges consisting of Chancellor Jenifer Cushman, Director of Academic Affairs Carey McDougall, Assistant Teaching Professor Tiffany MacQuarrie, Sandy Curry, the com-
munity partnership manager for the Alliance for Non-Profit Resources, and Joel Cilli, director of innovation and strategic partnerships at PA Cyber. In no specific order, three teams won based on the ideas presented. Juniors Nick Mitaras, Ryan Nolan and Spencer Naleppa won for their idea of a biometric nutrition chip. The chip measures nutritional intake and vital statistics. Hy-Genie, a concept created by sophomores Tylai Smith and Anna
Vesho and junior Jade Spratley wonbased on their innovative design for a modernized feminine product dispenser. Lastly, sophomores Johnathan Rowland and Zachary Cardwell and freshman Jaydon Woodward won based on their concept of road condition-sensing tires. The tread on the tires would adjust based on the road conditions. The competition was a collaborative effort between Academic Affairs and the Beaver Valley LaunchBox.
The Roar/Anthony Pappas
From left, Joel Cilli, Tiffany MacQuarrie, Ashu Kumar, Jenifer Cushman and Sandy Curry judge the fourth annual Lion’s Den competition Nov. 14.
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Penn State Beaver Roar December 2019
Viewpoints
MANAGING EDITORS Alexey Stern
ams8317@psu.edu
Gabby Fiffick
gef5101@psu.edu
BUSINESS MANAGER Marissa Bufalini
mmb6032@psu.edu
COPY DESK Alex D’Itri
avd5623@psu.edu
Tony Good
apg5113@psu.edu
Jesse Jamery jjj192@psu.edu
Sophia Kramer srk5268@psu.edu
Matthew Palahunik mgp5156@psu.edu
Nate Sharif
nas5857@psu.edu
Matylda Zamudio mmz5236@psu.edu
Karl Truskowski kzt5265@psu.edu
ADVISERS Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu
Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu
Kristen Doershner kld5739@psu.edu
Let’s talk
Penn State laureate shows the need for more discussion about anxiety, depression, mental health According to a study published in 2016 by the American College Health Association (ACHA), nearly one in six college students has been diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety disorders. That number doesn’t begin to show the true picture. Many more college students suffer from mental disorders but do not seek treatment and thus never get reported. Having anxiety or depression is not just something you can “walk off” or “think away.” You can’t just ignore these problems away. There are serious psychological and physiological factors that are at play, and treatment by professionals is needed. Thanks to more open discussion about mental illness – espe-
cially among people who suffer from it – things are changing, and fast. That’s why the Anxiety Project, created by Penn State Laureate William Doan, is such an important piece of work. The Anxiety Project includes numerous drawings, graphics and a live performance, all of which depict what it’s like to live with anxiety and depression. Doan should know. The professor of theater in the College of Arts and Architecture shared his own struggles with mental health with students, faculty and staff at a presentation on campus Nov. 12. Doan’s work is one example of the momentous shift occurring in which people are treating mental health disorders with the concern deserved. As a result,
more people are being treated and more lives are being saved. Because so many college students suffer from anxiety and depression, it’s important that everyone at Penn State and at colleges across the nation continue the conversation and shed light on this critical problem. College students should also look at themselves (and their friends) for signs that may indicate a mental health problem that needs to be addressed and seek professional help. As Doan encourages us through the Anxiety Project, let’s not continue to brush mental health problems under the rug. Let’s bring them into the light of the day and get people the help they need to live safe, productive lives while managing their mental health.
Bistro Mom leaves legacy of caring For someone who loves to fuss over her students, Sharon Gross avoids the limelight and would prefer no attention be placed on her and her heart of gold. But it just wouldn’t be right for Sharon to retire from the campus after 20 years of dedicated service without giving her the hero’s goodbye that she deserves. From Bistro cook to champion of the afflicted, Sharon epitomizes the image of having a servant’s heart. It appears that nothing is too much for this Bistro mom to handle. Sharon has gone above and beyond the recipe requirements for what many consider a helping hand.
Sharon has been there for students in their time of need, giving rides to hospitals, airports and Wal-Mart. She brought home-cooked meals to students in Harmony Hall who are missing the comforts of home. She’s received 3 a.m. phone calls from students needing motherly advice or an ear to listen. Sharon has never grown tired of taking time out of her busy day or evening to give love and support to those students seeking insight, lacking appreciation or suffering from abuse. Students who have experienced Sharon’s personal tender loving care never
leave disappointed, hungry or, sometimes, without a few extra dollars in their pocket. Over the past 20 years, students, faculty and staff have considered Sharon a kindred spirit on the campus. Armed with an infectious smile, mama bear hugs and a bubbly personality, Sharon’s devotion for her kids is nothing short of dedication. Enjoy your retirement, Sharon. From the thousands of students whose lives you touched, both on campus now and alums out having their own impact on the world, we say, “Thank you, Bistro Mom. We love you!”
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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.
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Penn State Beaver Roar December 2019
Features
Beaver in the Big Apple
Top left: Matt Lewis, front, takes a selfie in Times Square with, from left, Hunter Spisak, Kylee Arms, Kris Caulder, Jade Spratley and Austin Schroeder. Top right: Nupur Patel and Marney Haddad stand in front of the Vessel at Hudson Yards, a new landmark that opened this year with 154 connected stairs. Bottom left: Patel and Zain Ansari pose on the Brooklyn Bridge. Bottom right: Marissa Bufalini sits on a leaf-covered bridge in Central Park.
Features
Beaver students donate pet food
Submitted photo
Students in Neil Fogarty’s Contemporary Skills for Business Professionals class collected more than 8,000 pet food cans for the Beaver County Humane Society. This is the third year Fogarty, instructor in business, has assigned his students a team-building lab in the form of a pet food can collection project. Fogarty divided his students into eight teams. The teams worked together for less than three weeks before tackling the pet food drive. Fogarty’s students collected 3,500 cans two years ago, 7,902 last year and 8,141 this year. He said the donations will help more than 200 homeless animals.
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Penn State Beaver Roar December 2019
December 2019
Features
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Coffee breaks new ground Designer beans bring luxury to America’s cup NATE SHARIF
Senior Staff Writer nas5758@psu.edu
Recent graduate Nick Pelino said each day after the alarm clock wakes him up, his first order of business – after checking his phone – is to brew a shot of espresso. “The smell wakes me up. The sound of the espresso maker makes me feel happy,” Pelino said. Pelino, who enjoys a finer coffee blend, said one of his favorite roasts of espresso is an Italian blend. The ordinary cup of joe is grinding to a halt, giving way to artistically fashioned caffeinated mixed drinks. In recent years name-brand coffee and caffeinated mixed drinks have gone from being an occasional splurge to becoming a daily indulgence for many people, especially college students. With the diner coffee-era long gone, the second wave of American coffee culture is running at full-steam with mainstream names such as Starbucks at the forefront of this Eurocraft coffee trend. “Coffee is becoming more and more a luxury good and less of a normal good. Coffee has become a status symbol,” said economics professor Rajen Mookerjee. Mookerjee said that instead of being a convenient luxury, sophisticated coffee drinks have become the new designer drug. Starting in the mid ’90s, companies like Dunkin’ Donuts and other traditional American coffee houses adopted a European-approach on how products were made, marketed, portrayed and consumed to embrace the cultural shift. Just by observing the Starbucks menu, conventional coffee shops became high-end cafes that replaced the classic two-choice regular or
Starbucks is the leader in the new world of designer brews that has gripped the current generation of coffee drinkers.
decaf menu with a 40-item specialty coffee selection comprised of exotic caffeine cocktails such as Cold Brew Chai Tea Lattes and Espresso Carmel Macchiatos. Senior Kylee Arms, who loves macchiatos, said Coconut Berry Red Bull is by far her favorite drink to order. “They (macchiatos) have a nice kick at the end when your reach the espresso,” said Arms. Junior Patrick Byers, another lover of macchiatos, said his favorite flavoring for coffee drinks is caramel. “Whenever I get a coffee, I like to get the Iced Caramel Macchiato,” Byers said. Coffee has become so ingrained in college culture that universities nationwide, including Penn State Beaver, have added on-campus coffee shops. Byers, who does not drink coffee for the caffeinated-infused energy, said he only drinks it for the taste.
While many people drink coffee for its designer look and liquid-gold taste, there are some who drink coffee just to survive the day. “I cannot live without coffee,” Computer Assistant Specialist Nick Pentz said. Pentz recounts a word of wisdom his father gave him over 30 years ago. “My dad was brewing coffee over a campfire and he said, “Never start drinking this, son. It’s the worst decision you’ll ever make. You’ll get addicted,’” said Pentz, cracking a smile. Adjunct Biology Instructor Joseph Acierno said healthy amounts of caffeine are actually good for you, minus all the calories, sugar, flavorings and caramel people put in it. “It (caffeine) helps burn fat and raises your metabolism,” said Acierno. Having too much caffeine or coffee can be hard on your liver, says Acierno, because it’s very acidic.
“Excessive use over time can cause kidney stones.” Some students, like Byers, are no longer relying solely on just a cup of coffee or mixed latte for a caffeine fix. Coffee is merely one of many mediums that college students utilize to get their energy boost. The Bistro at Penn State Beaver offers students a variety of caffeinated products to choose from including Five-Hour Energy, caffeinated chewing gum, Red Bull, Pepsi and other name brand soft drinks to give them the edge they require to complete projects and assignments. Byers said if he needs a boost to get him through the day or the night, he will buy a Kickstart Energy Drink. Director of Housing and Food Services Jeremy Lindner, who has been with housing and food service for more than 12 years, said students wanted more coffee options and now Penn State Beaver has a Starbucks
The Roar/Karl Truskowski
coffee island. “Starbucks was the obvious choice since students recognized it from the malls,” said Lindner. The partnership that Penn State has with Starbucks has brought not just coffee options but hot tea flavors, too. Yet with all of these freshly brewed updates being served in the Bistro, there is still a handful of students that would much rather commute off campus to get their coffee fix. Junior Shane Cepull, who advocates giving back to the community, said, “I encourage people to go local for their coffee.” Cepull said people need to get away from chain coffee and seek out independent cafes. Arms agrees with Cepull that there are better places to purchase a coffee. “People are attracted to the name Starbucks. They should support more local coffee shops and they are better than name brands,” said Arms.
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Features
Beanery brewing up your next cup SOPHIA KRAMER Senior Staff Writer
srk5268@psu.edu
It’s not very common to hear about someone who has stayed with a company since her first-ever job, but for Marisa Kronk of Beaver, this has been the case. Thirteen years ago during high school, Kronk started working at the locally-owned Coffee Beanery. Back then, the Coffee Beanery was then located in the Beaver Valley Mall. Coffee Beanery is a family-owned chain based out of Fenton, Mich. There are more than 100 locations in the U.S. and 20 internationally. The Monaca Coffee Beanery is the only location within a 100-mile-radius of Penn State Beaver. When the time came for her to go to college, Kronk remained a loyal
Barista Bethany Brooks makes a hot caramel latte.
employee and went home to work on weekends. Her time away only seemed to bolster her passion for the company.
The Roar/Emily Bonzo
It was during her sophomore year in 2013 that she bought the franchise from her boss who had owned it since the 1970s and was ready to
retire. In July 2018, Kronk moved the business from the mall to a new location at 1466 Old Brodhead Road in Center Township, in the strip plaza near the Fairfield Inn hotel, between D&G Pizza and the Wine & Spirit store. The updated space is close by for Beaver students and has a welcoming atmosphere with charming decor and both table and living-room-style couch seating. “I go there to hang out and work on my laptop in between classes sometimes,” said senior Bobby Thompson. Kronk offers a 15 percent student discount at her location and has previously donated Coffee Beanery gift cards and gift baskets for Penn State Beaver events. She welcomes students to reach
out. Event catering and DoorDash delivery are also available. The menu offers a variety of specialty coffee and tea drinks as well as picturesque food and bakery items. Senior Jonalyn Gormley is a frequent customer of Coffee Beanery. “I like their coffee more than Starbucks to be honest,” Gormley said. Kronk said she takes pride in the shop’s offerings. “Everything is made here. All of our food and drinks are fresh,” Kronk said. Information on future events, discounts, menu features and more can be found on the Coffee Beanery’s Facebook and Instagram: @CoffeeBeaneryMonaca. The business is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
December 2019
Sports
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Volleyball loses at nationals, falls in PSUAC tournament MATYLDA ZAMUDIO Senior Staff Writer
mmz5236@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions volleyball team had a shot at two championship titles this fall but came up short in both the Penn State University Athletic Conference and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments. Beaver fell to the defending PSUAC champion Penn State Fayette on Oct. 29. The team then earned a spot in the USCAA National Tournament for the first time in program history but was eliminated by Penn State Greater Allegheny in game two of the National Championship Pool Play on Nov. 8. The Lady Lions tied for eighth place in the USCAA standings with an overall record of 19-12. Beaver was second in the PSUAC standings with an 8-4 conference record. After a 3-2 loss to the University of Cincinnati Clermont in round one of the USCAA tournament on Nov. 7, the Lady Lions faced elimination if they didn’t defeat Penn State Greater Allegheny. But the chance at a national title began fading as Beaver lost 25-18 in the first set and 25-17 in the second. Greater Allegheny then closed it the third, 25-16, to earn 3-0 victory and end the Lady Lions’ 2019 season. “This game was definitely one where we demonstrated the inconsistency (that) we’ve tried so hard to overcome,” interim Coach Jen Edwards said. “Greater Allegheny came to play, and they did so pretty flawlessly.” Senior Alexis Albrecht said the trip to nationals alone was what they wanted most this season. A spot in the national tournament meant an opportunity to reunite with their former coach, BJ Bertges, who took a job running tournaments for the USCAA.
Courtesy of Andy Kirschner
Penn State Beaver’s Lady Lions volleyball team takes a picture in Rec Hall after the PSUAC tournament Oct. 29. Beaver took second place, losing to two-time PSUAC champs Penn State Fayette.
“One thing we told her when she left is, ‘we will see you at again at nationals,’” she said. Even though that’s never happened in Penn State Beaver volleyball history, this was our year, and we got bid in,” she said. “Just to even get there, we’re not only making our goal to see BJ again, but we’re also making history for the school,” Albrecht added. The team lost the PSUAC championship a week earlier at University Park. The stage was set at Rec Hall for the highly anticipated rematch of last year’s PSUAC championship against Fayette, which Albrecht said the team envisioned all along. The rivals were neck-in-neck in set one, but Fayette made a 9-1 run to put Beaver behind 13-5. Fayette then
built a 21-9 lead, but Beaver battled back and closed the gap to only 5 points (21-16). However, Fayette scored in the next four rallies to hand Beaver a 25-17 loss. Sophomore Maria Slater said the team started stronger in the second set. “That (set) was really competitive,” Slater said. “Everybody was playing really hard that game offensively and defensively, and our communication was increasing.” Beaver made an early 3-0 run, but Fayette went up 13-9 shortly after. Senior Amanda Mike then scored three kills on three assists by sophomore Kelsie Hallum to give Beaver a 13-12 lead. While Beaver pulled ahead 21-20, Fayette scored 4 unanswered points
in the final rallies (25-21). “They started intensifying how they were playing, and we were just trying to read how they were playing,” Slater said. Down 2-0, things took a turn for the worse in the third, as Beaver picked up a 25-3 loss in the final set, falling 3-0 in the championship rematch. Edwards said consistency affected the team in set three. “Thinking (momentum) would carry us into the third … everything just broke down,” Edwards said. “If we lose our consistency, attitudes become affected by that naturally, and that easily influences everyone on the court.” Beaver’s strong performance this season didn’t go unnoticed, as three players received PSUAC All-Con-
ference honors for the 2019 season. Hallum and Bowman made AllConference 1st Team, while Mike received All-Conference Honorable Mention. Bowman also earned the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award for outstanding sportsmanship. Bowman and Mike also earned USCAA Volleyball All-American honors. Bowman made 1st Team AllAmerican, while Mike made 2nd Team. Bowman said she was grateful to receive the John Fritz sportsmanship award and the All-American award. “I’ve worked really hard throughout the season, and it means a lot to be recognized by not only my teammates but throughout the conference,” she said.
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Fightin’ Beavs go winless in fall season KARL TRUSKOWSKI Senior Staff Writer
kzt5265@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver Fightin’ Beavs lost its final game of the fall semester against Robert Morris University 10-6 on Nov. 13. The Fightin’ Beavs ended the semester winless with an overall record of 0-8. “It seemed like we would find anyway to lose,” said Head Coach Matt Welch. Although the team has not had the season players had hoped for, Welch said that he is still happy with how far the team has come since its 10-2 loss against Clarion University on Sept. 25. The Fightin’ Beavs’ bench had a lot of young players on it this semester, said Club Hockey Advisor Justin Vorbach. Vorbach said the team recruited seven freshmen, many of whom had never played in a regulated game before. “This is a very young team,” said Vorbach. “These players are learning how to play the game while being in the game.” Coach Dominic Rossi said that from a coaching perspective, the team had to step back to learn the fundamentals of the game. He said that the challenge was that the Fightin’ Beavs are a team of most who have never played hockey competing against teams that have been playing their whole lives. During the final game, assistant captain Jackson Glenn, a junior, stepped up as a leader in captain Landon Hanna’s absence. Hanna, a
The Roar/Karl Truskowski
Goalie Chris Carnot, above, makes a last-second save against Robert Morris University Nov. 13. Below, Zachary Thomas advances past a Robert Morris University defenseman to make a shot at the net.
junior, had been injured with a concussion earlier in the season. After the first period, RMU was leading 3-0. Glenn skated back to the bench and began to rally his team. “We sucked that period,” Glenn said, “We need to do better. We can do better.” Throughout the game, Glenn could be heard coaching his younger teammates after various key mistakes. After RMU scored its sixth goal, Glenn skated back to his bench with freshman Lev Azarkhin explaining to him how to stick lift his opponent.
“Stop trying to whack at the blade. Get underneath their stick and lift it up,” said Glenn. Welch said that while the team has been losing, there has been tremendous growth. He said that many of the players have improved and he is optimistic that they can turn it around next semester. “This team wants to get better,” Welch said. “They practice on their own time and they come to our Saturday practices focused.” Welch said that the overall chemistry in the locker room has been one of his biggest takeaways this semester. He said in the past, the Beavs had various small groups, but this year he sees an overall cohesive group that seems like the players are genuine friends. Rossi added that the team’s growth will be a result of that. Junior Shane Cepull said that he is a big fan of the Beavs and has attended every game since his freshman year. “I love attending the games, but we definitely need some work,” said Cepull. Cepull said that regardless of the team’s record, he looks forward to next semester. Although the Beavs ended the semester at a low point, the coaches said they are proud of their team. “We have come a long way from game one,” said Rossi. Welch agreed. “This group has motivation to come back next semester and be a winning team.” The Fightin’ Beavs will resume its season in January.
December 2019
Sports
Penn State Beaver Roar
Lady Lions basketball starts season 2-1 KRISTINA F. HOGUE Staff Writer
kph5425@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver women’s basketball team started the season with an 80-76 loss at Villa Maria College, but won its next two games, bringing its record to 2-1. The Lady Lions trailed Villa Maria Nov. 10 through most of the game, but a second-half surge narrowed the gap and two back-to-back foul shots by junior Diamond Thomas brought Beaver within 4 points of the win. Thomas led the team in scoring with 20 points, followed by sophomore Alexis Cross with 16. Sophomore Jimya Chambers finished with a double-double with 14 points. Beaver won its second game 88-46 Nov. 19 at Penn State New Kensington in its Penn State University Athletic Conference opener. Beaver scored the first 11 points and led throughout the game. Its pressure defense created problems for New Kensington, which turned over the ball 49 times. New Kensington kept pace with Beaver in the third quarter, with each team scoring 12 points. But New Kensington could never overcome Beaver’s early lead, scoring just 7 points in the fourth. Once again, Thomas led the team for Beaver with 16 points and 10 steals. Chambers scored 13, sophomore Emily Keener 11 and Cross 10, while senior Cheyenne Lopez scored 9 with eight rebounds. Beaver defeated Bethany College 58-49 at home Nov. 20. Beaver trailed in the first, but took
The Roar/Matylda Zamudio
Diamond Thomas, No. 4, takes a 2-point shot against Bethany College in the home opener Nov. 20.
the lead in the second after sophomore Mikayla Womer hit a layup followed by a steal from Keener who hit a layup plus a free throw after
being fouled. Bethany surged with 14 unanswered points and led going into the half. Beaver surged in the third and took the lead in the fourth.
Thomas led the team in scoring with 18 points, eight steals, two rebounds and two assists. Fifteen women – including six
freshmen and a new transfer student – make a strong roster, said Coach Tim Moore. Last year’s team under former Coach Sean Strickland had just nine players. Moore said that the freshman and new athletes are like sponges and are learning very quickly. Lopez agreed. “My new teammates are exceeding expectations and they are looking good based on practices.” Cross said she has high hopes for the team. “I think we are going to be really good; we have everyone back from last year and we have a couple good freshmen that can help.” Moore said he’s expecting his team to face strong competition this year, having added two NCAA DII games against Bluefield State College of West Virginia. December is going to be important for the team as every game that month is a PSUAC conference game. The team is also playing Geneva and Westminster colleges, both of which are competitive teams that play in the tough PAC conference. Moore said he is excited to start the season with the team. “I told (this group) that I’ve been coaching for 18 years or so and they’re my favorite group that I’ve worked with so far.” Moore said he is hopeful of bringing home the championship and the whole team is trying to do it for Lopez. “Our goal is to win a conference championship for Cheyenne for her senior year; with her being the only senior,” said Moore.
Tim Moore returns as Lady Lions head coach KRISTINA F. HOGUE Staff Writer
kph5425@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver women’s basketball team has a new coach this year who is a familiar face. Tim Moore has returned to coach the Lady Lions after leaving two years ago to coach at Carlow University.
Athletic Director Andy Kirschner said Moore was the best candidate for the job because he had previously coached for six years at Penn State Beaver and had also recruited the current juniors that are on the team. A big part of why Moore was chosen was because of his impact on the teams he coaches.
“He does a great job developing the girls and preparing them for life,” Kirschner said. Moore said he is excited to be back on campus because of the family atmosphere. “The family atmosphere is probably the most important thing; it just feels like home.”
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Senior captain Cheyenne Lopez said she is excited to have her old coach back and expects success from his coaching style. Lopez played her freshman year under Moore’s leadership. “Coach Moore loves to play against teams that are going to challenge us,” Lopez said.
Coach Tim Moore
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Penn State Beaver Roar December 2019
Sports
Men’s soccer falls in two championships
KEON BUTLER Staff Writer
ktb5239@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver’s men’s soccer team ended its season after a 3-2 win against Berkeley College, N.J., in the USCAA Division II National Soccer Tournament Nov. 10. After having lost in the Penn State University Athletic Conference championship game 3-2 to Penn State Brandywine Oct. 30, the team traveled to Virginia Beach to battle for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national title. Beaver fell 3-1 in its first national match against Johnson & Wales University Charlotte, Beaver’s second loss to that team this season. The first half of the game went back and forth amid cold temperatures and windy conditions, with Johnson & Wales on the board with 1 at half-time. The second half started equally as tight, but Johnson & Wales scored its second goal at :80, followed by Beaver’s only goal, a penalty kick from sophomore Danylo
Penn State Beaver Athletics
Williams Cruz, Darrion Gilmore and Cory Mueller accept a runner up trophy at the PSUAC tournament Oct. 30 at Penn State University Park.
Yakymov, a minute later. Johnson & Wales scored one more time before the end of the game. “We couldn’t overcome the few mistakes we made against Johnson & Wales and fell short of the win,” said Coach Jim VanKirk. “But we
played extremely well against a team that is back-to-back runners up at nationals.” That loss did not end the season for Beaver soccer as the team had a chance to play another game in pool play with the hopes of making it to
the championship match. Beaver trailed Berkley 2-0 heading into halftime. But Beaver rallied in the second half, with Yakymov scoring Beaver’s first point on a penalty kick. Yakymov scored the second goal, followed by senior Romaine Thompson. Despite the win, Beaver was tied with Johnson & Wales and Berkley at 1-1 in pool play and did not qualify for the championship match based on goal differential. “We dug down deep to come back from a 2-0 difference at half time,” VanKirk said. “To score three straight goals against such a talented side was a great effort from our entire team.” Thompson agreed, saying he was pleased with the way the men played. “We did not come out with a win, but we did the best we could and that was enough for us.” In the PSUAC championship run, Beaver had decisive wins in the quarterfinal match Oct. 20 against Wilkes-Barre and the semifinal match Oct. 26 against New Kensington. Beaver defeated Wilkes-Barre 10-1
and New Kensington 9-1. But the 3-2 championship match Oct. 30 with No. 1 seed Brandywine was tight throughout. Brandywine handed Beaver it’s only conference loss, 1-0, earlier in October. The teams were evenly matched early in the game, ending the half scoreless. Brandywine scored the first goal in the second half. Senior John Valiga answered with Beaver’s first goal off an assist by Yakymov, followed by an unassisted goal from Yakymov that pushed Beaver to take a 2-1 lead. Brandywine scored twice more to take home the championship. “We had a great season and had high expectations to win the conference and fell short to a very good Brandywine team,” VanKirk said. VanKirk said he’s already started looking ahead to next season. “We are taking steps towards next season by filling the voids going to be left by talented players we will be losing,” he said. “I have started the recruitment process trying to bring in more talented players.”
Beaver loses basketball opener, wins first PSUAC game JESSE JAMERY
Senior Staff Writer jjj192@psu.edu
A 14-point halftime deficit proved to be too much for the Penn State Beaver men’s basketball team to overcome as the team began its season with a 93-72 loss on the road to Chatham University. Beaver fell behind in scoring in the opening minutes of the game and trailed Chatham throughout. Despite improved scoring in the second half of the game, Beaver couldn’t close the gap. Senior John Foster led the team in scoring with a 29-point double-double. Sophomore Jeremey Redwine followed with 25 points. “I give a lot of credit to the other team,” Coach Brian Bibey said of the loss. “They made 19 three-pointers, which is an unheard-of amount.
They played really well and they deserved to win.” “Not having Keon, I think, was a big part of us losing that game,” Foster said. “Not having him, that game took a toll on us,” he said. Junior starting point guard Keon Butler missed the game against Chatham due to illness but watched from his house. “We got to focus in on defense,” Butler said. “We can’t let teams score 19 threes on us. The defense is going to have to be the anchor.” Despite losing the first game of the season, Bibey still thinks this season offers a lot of promise. “This is a group that really has no limit. We’re talented,” Bibey said. “We’re not without things we can get better at, but we’re good at a lot of different things. I would expect us
to compete and do really well,” Bibey added. Foster agreed. “The sky is the limit for us. I think we could win a national championship if we put all the pieces together,” Foster said. “It’s all about how much we grow as a team.” Butler says the team has chemistry off the court but needs to build more on-court chemistry by playing more games together. “We all like each other, we’re all good. But we’ve got to grow as a team and develop some more on the floor,” Butler said. Beaver kicked off Penn State University Athletic Conference play on Nov. 19 with a 64-51 win at Penn State New Kensington. After trading baskets in the opening minutes, Beaver went on a 14-0 run to open up a 21-5 lead. Beaver led by 14 points at
The Roar/Matylda Zamudio
Keja’hn Taylor throws the ball during a pre-season scrimmage game.
halftime and never relinquished the double-digit lead in the second half. Redwine led the way for Beaver and recorded his first double-double
of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Butler scored 17 points and Foster had 15 points and nine rebounds.
December 2019
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Lady Lions end season with 3-2 win SPENCER MYERS Staff Writer
sam6517@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver’s women’s soccer team ends its 2019 season with a 4-7 overall record, 2-4 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference. With their last conference game on Oct. 12 against Penn State Brandywine, they ended with a 2-4 conference standing, landing them in fifth place. The Lady lions pulled together for a season record with 11 games, 109 shots, and 15 goals scored. Coming off a three-game losing streak, the Lady Lions ended the season with a 3-2 clutch win against Mercyhurst Northeast University Oct. 22 at home. The Lady Lions scored the winning goal against Mercyhurst in the last 30 seconds of the game. Freshman Veronica Andujar scored all three goals assisted by freshman Iliyah Peterson and junior Brianna Sanford. “We were happy with our performance and ability to work as a team this season,” freshman Megan Bartley said. The three prior losses were to Penn State Mont Alto Oct. 7 5-0, Penn State Brandywine Oct. 12 4-0 and Thiel College Oct. 16 6-0. Sophomore Stephanie Sosa-Bravo said the Lady Lions trained more than half
The Roar/Matylda Zamudio
Forward Veronica Andujar kicks the ball against Mercyhurst Northeast University. Andujar scored all three goals in the 3-2 victory Oct. 22.
of their team as brand-new soccer players. “It was nice to see the new players learn,” sophomore captain Marissa King said. “It was interesting to play with them. They all worked really hard and had good team chemistry.” Coach Rand Warsaw said despite the recent conference losses, he’s not disappointed in his team. “One of the team’s biggest rivals
was Penn State Brandywine. The game ended in a 4-0 loss, yet the team and I are happy with the outcome,” Warsaw said. King agreed. “Losing to Mont Alto was unexpected but gave us inspiration to give it our all against Penn State Brandywine leading to a very well fought game,” states King. Throughout the season, goals were scored by players such as Sosa-Bravo,
Andujar and freshman Rachel Gaiser. Assists were made by freshman Ashley Jones, King, Sanford and Peterson. Goalies Bartley and freshmen Samantha Freed and Karyme Martinez collectively blocked 130 goals this season. King and Bartley agreed that one of the biggest challenges for the team was working with many first-year students.
At the beginning of the season, the team only had eight women. SosaBravo said that the team recruited to a roster of 20 student-athletes. “Working with new and unexperienced yet willing-to-learn teammates, the team quickly had to figure out how to cooperate as a team,” said King. Bartley said despite the mixed results, the season was fun. “I enjoyed the season. We had a rough time getting started,” Bartley said. “It was challenging learning everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, but other than that it was really fun.” Bartley said working the new coach, Warsaw, was great and he played to each athlete’s strengths. Sosa-Bravo said that with the new team, she doesn’t think the season could have gone better. She says it was tense and fast paced, but the team really connected and played well with each other. “The Lady Lions plan to recruit a few more prospective athletes in the off season,” says Warsaw. “We hope to go into next year with a stronger, more synergized team of players.” Andujar received PSUAC and USCAA All-Conference Honorable Mention, and King received the PSUAC’s John Fritz Award for outstanding sportsmanship.
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Penn State Beaver Roar December 2019