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Penn State Beaver Roar
News
April 2015
CAA usage on the rise JULIE WORST Staff writer
jaw6062@psu.edu
The Center for Academic Achievement (CAA) has seen a significant increase in student usage compared to last year, according to the center’s coordinator. Jill Tress, the CAA coordinator, said 375 individual students used the center last fall, either for tutoring or as a place to study. That number is roughly half of the overall campus enrollment. The average number of visits for each individual is nearly 11, and the average length of each visit is 74 minutes, Tress said. “The CAA has seen a 63 percent increase in use from this time last spring to this time this spring,” Tress said. Tress said the number has been on a constant rise for the past few years. Tress said she has noticed more
people using the peer tutoring and has attributed some of the increase to the use of the online scheduling system. Students can schedule peer tutoring appointments online via the campus website, making it more convenient for users. Peer tutoring is one of the most popular programs that the CAA provides, Tress said. The peer-tutoring program has 36 tutors that offer help to any student in need of academic assistance. Students can also use the center for a variety of things, from grabbing a cup of coffee to studying between classes or even taking a nap on the couches. Freshman Matthew Tice said he uses the CAA as a place to study or just relax between classes. “The CAA is an easier place to study than at home.” Sophomore Austin Lane is a student worker at the CAA who pro-
motes the benefits the center offers, especially its coordinator. “Jill is the best kept secret in the CAA when it comes to reading papers and even helping with résumés,” Lane said. Peer Tutor Ruhi Patel, a sophomore, said she likes being a peer tutor because it helps her to retain the information that she has learned in the past. “I enjoy the quietness of the CAA.” Tress said the center is always looking for ways to better help students. One way is by recording who uses the center and how often. The center logs all users and shares the data at the end of the year with Director of Academic Affairs Carey McDougall and Interim Chancellor Donna Kuga, Tress said. They take the data into consideration when coming up with the budget for the coming year.
All campus RAs make Dean’s List LYDIA AQUINO
Senior Staff Writer lra137@psu.edu
For the first time in campus history, all five resident assistant’s made the Dean’s List. Of the five, three are returning RAs who served last year: senior Trey Trieschock and juniors Maura Francis and Jessica Findling. New this year is sophomores Claire Wang and Chris Lutz. Making the Dean’s List is not a simple task and adding the responsibility of being an RA makes it even harder. To achieve the Dean’s List, students must have a 3.5 grade-point average or higher. “Let’s celebrate,” said Amy Gartley, associate director of student
affairs, when she found out that all five RAs made Dean’s List. “I am proud of them as a group and their efforts, but it’s not an easy task.” RAs are always on call for duty, whether it be to help a student with an issue or being an information resource who tells students about what is happening on campus. They are tasked with building community in the residence hall, which helps to keep the peace. “We have a really good staff. It’s a good support system between academics and work,” said Findling. Being an RA and being recognized for Dean’s List is an accomplishment for all five students. “Personally, I have to keep a 3.0 for a scholarship, so grades are very important to me,” Francis said. “It’s
hard to live where you work and also have to study.” Having a support system as a backing also helps these RAs. The group effort is an important factor to these five. Without a team-oriented group, making history wouldn’t have been achieved, they said. “It feels good knowing I’m doing the right thing,” said Trieschock. “It speaks a lot about our character and work ethic and reflects positively on the university,” said Lutz Because of this outstanding acheivement, all the RAs got called down to have a little surprise party. They all thought they got called down because they were in trouble. “I am defiantly proud,” said Wang. “It was awesome.”
The Roar/Brooke Doerfler
Mason DePetro and Jose Flores work on a computer in the Center for Academic Achievement. Usage of the center has increased this year.
POLICE BEAT
Student charged with trespassing in dormitory Reports of trespassing in Harmony Hall have been made to University Police. There were four reports of trespassing reported over a month’s time, on March 4, March 16, March 17 and April 2. According to police records, no specific arrests were made in relation to those reports. However, University Police charged sophomore Tashaun Goode of New Brighton March 23 with trespassing. No other details related to the charges were released.
MARIJUANA USE REPORTED IN HARMONY HALL
Resident assistants filed several complaints of smelling smelling the odor of marijuana in Harmony Hall on March 19. University Police are investigating, but so far no arrests have been made.
PHONE MISSING
A phone was reported stolen or lost by a student March 1 between Applebee’s in Center Township and Harmony Hall. Campus police are investigating.
April 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
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Summer classes are too costly for students TYLER THELLMAN Staff Writer
Penn State Beaver
tmt5197@psu.edu
Summer is meant for relaxation and vacations, but what if you are falling behind and may not graduate on time? Many students face the challenge of not having enough credits to graduate on time. One option if you find yourself short on credits is enrolling in summer classes. “I’ve taken a few (summer) classes in the past and plan on taking some more in the upcoming summer,” said freshman Luke Mawhinney. “It’s just something I have to do to graduate on time. The cost of classes is expensive because it’s so much money per credit, which would make it difficult for many students to afford,” Mawhinney added. Sophomore Brad Strecker said he would worry about the cost of summer classes. “I haven’t taken any summer classes yet. The cost it just too much. But if I need to, I guess I’ll have too.” Strecker said summer classes can be inconvenient. “I also work a lot in the summer, so between work and school, I just feel I need a break to relax. Doing
Community College of Beaver County
Beaver Co. undergraduate lower division
$524
$120
Other in-state undergraduate lower division
$524
$240
Out of state undergraduate lower division
$809
$360
Penn State Beaver’s tuition costs are more than four times greater than CCBC’s for Beaver County residents.
“
I haven’t taken any summer classes yet. The cost is just too much.”
Brad Strecker Shophomore
work and school year round can get tiring,” Strecker Said. Gail E. Gray, student aid and veterans coordinator, said it can be difficult to get financial aid in the summer. “A student must be taking at least six credits in order to qualify for most forms of student aid, regardless
of which semester you are attending,” she said. And since the summer semester is at the end of the academic year at Penn State, students must have remaining aid eligibility that they didn’t use up from the previous fall or spring semester in order to qualify for aid in the summer. Since most students use all of their financial aid award if enrolled in the fall and spring, few have anything left to tap into. “The only way to truly know if you qualify for summer aid is to schedule your classes and then, when the forms are turned on on eLion in April, go onto (and complete) the Summer Direct Stafford Loan and/
or the Summer PA State Grant forms under the Financial information on eLion,” Gray said. Per credit tuition remains the same in the summer as it was in the previous fall and spring, and only the Information Technology Fee is charged. “Per credit costs for first-year PA resident students this summer will be $524 per credit,” Gray said. Upper division tuition is slightly more and varies depending on the program of study, Gray said. The IT fee ranges from $86 for anyone taking five or fewer credits to $252 for a full-time student taking at least 12 credits. Campus Registrar Gloria Deschler
said the summer classes Beaver offers are varied. “Classes that are offered in summer are typically general education classes as well as math, science and languages. Students sometimes take general education courses to lessen their credit total for that semester.” Students who may find math and science particularly challenging often benefit from taking summer classes, Deschler said. “Numerous students have shared with us that they take math and science classes in the summer so they can concentrate on one class,” Deschler said. Summer semester may have 200 to 300 students enrolled, compared to an enrollment of 700 to 800 in the fall and spring. This summer’s enrollments are currently down compared to last year, Deschler said. “Summer enrollment, as in the other semesters, fluctuates. It is dependent on so many variables that is it difficult to predict,” Deschler said. “We currently have about 20 percent less enrollments for summer 2015 than we had at this time last summer,” Deschler said.
Students react to investigation of UP frat house CHRIS BEST
Senior Staff Writer ckb5141@psu.edu
As one of the most recognized universities in America, Penn State has found itself in the midst of media attention once again. A frat house at University Park – Kappa Delta Rho – is under investigation as allegations have been made that members of the fraternity posted nude and semi-nude pictures of female students on a private Facebook page.
The fraternity has been suspended for at least a year, and a University committee, as well as the fraternity’s national chapter, is investigating. This is one of several incidents this semester across the nation that has involved college fraternities. Although Greek Life doesn’t exist at Beaver, these recent events have left many students wondering why fraternities think they can get away with this. “I personally think that the frat allegations are serious,” said sopho-
more Joie-Ann Williams. “If frats are exposing nude pictures of people unwillingly, they need to be punished. Fraternities think they can get away with anything, but this is getting a little out of hand.” As seen in movies like the classic “Animal House,” frats are portrayed as groups of good looking, popular guys who have endless parties, play loud music and indulge in environments where drugs, alcohol and sex are at the reach of your fingertips. “The frat situation will blow over
soon enough,” said sophomore Louis Rodriguez. “This is not the first time something like this happened. Frat houses are infamous for this type of stuff. Pretty soon it will become a lost issue in the media and will be settled with some type of money settlement.” But what does this say for Penn State’s image? “It affects me,” said freshman Taja Finley. “Regardless of what campus I go to, I am still a Penn State student. What happens there effects the insti-
tution as a whole, and it’s not fair that people are ruining the school’s reputation due to immature acts.” At least one Beaver student said enough is enough. “Hazing problems have been going on for a while now,” said senior Brittney Bradley. “When are frats going to realize that there’s a limit to the madness? At the end of the day we are all humans and should be treated with the same amount of respect. “
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Penn State Beaver Roar
News
April 2015
Therapy lizard in Harmony Hall helps student cope with Asperger’s
KHALIA ADAMS Staff Writer
ksa5120@psu.edu
Harmony Hall is known for giving students a place of residence on the Penn State Beaver campus, but this year they’ve allowed a particular reptile to enter the students’ living environment. Freshman Ella Bose is living at Harmony Hall with a lizard by the name of Delilah. It’s not just any regular lizard; it’s a therapy animal to help with Bose’s Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and restricted and repetitive behavior. Bose said her condition is specifically Asperger’s Disorder. Individuals with Asperger’s Disorder usually
The Roar/ Khalia Adams
Ella Bose, left, shows Marissa Patmon how calming the lizard can be.
want to fit in and have interaction with others, but often don’t know how to do it. They may be socially awkward, not understand social rules or show a lack of sympathy. They
may have limited eye contact, seem unengaged in a conversation and not understand the use of gestures or sarcasm. Having a service animal when
you’re diagnosed with Autism can be vital. The animal provides unconditional, non-judgmental love and companionship. Bose said she has faced many challenges growing up with this disorder. “This disorder I have makes me very demanding and it’s hard to make friends, but I don’t pay that any mind because I have Delilah and she makes me happy.” Many parents are surprised to see the connection between their autistic child and animals. Children may act playful, happier and more focused when around a friendly pet. Residence Life Coordinator Parker Goolsby said, “I’m fine with supporting a student regardless of the situation.” Freshman Ashley White is Bose’s roommate. “I’ve seen how Ella reacts to Delilah and she really calms her
down and relaxes her,” White said. “It doesn’t freak me out that I’m living in the same room as a lizard. I actually feel pretty cool.” Freshman Tiara Gordon, who lives next door to Ella, said she doesn’t mind her reptilian neighbor. “I think it’s cool Ella has a lizard to be her friend and show her the skills she need to move on in life.” Delilah doesn’t really interact with students because she’s only here to help and protect Bose. Whenever Ella is feeling sad and blue, she can always count on her pet to make her happy. Junior Cassandra Flowers said she’s glad Bose has Delilah to rely on. “I’ve met Delilah and she’s so calm and cute. I have no problem with living under the same roof as a lizard, especially if she’s here to help one of my peers out with any problems.”
April 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
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Beaver takes steps toward going green KELLY GRANER Staff Writer
kkg5133@psu.edu
Throughout Penn State Beaver campus, efforts have been made to “be green.” The campus takes part in a GESP, or Guaranteed Energy Savings Program. This program includes the automatic shutoff lights and low-flow toilets in Harmony Hall. “This program has reduced utility consumption between one-fourth to one-sixth,” said Luke Taiclet, director of finance and business. “Looking outside, 100 trees have been planted on campus in the last 15 years compared to the 25 that have been taken out,” Taiclet said. There is also a waste-water system in place that reduces the amount of storm water from going into creeks, Taiclet added. Waste water on campus is captured in tanks and is percolated into the soil, reducing the amount of sediment going into the soil. A variety of planting beds are located between buildings on campus. River Birch trees and the tall
grasses that are planted on campus can handle a wide spectrum of weather factors, Taiclet said. Buildings on campus are becoming more sustainable, too. Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, also known as LEED, is an environmental certification for buildings being constructed or renovated. “We want the Michael Baker Building to be LEED-certified, but in order to do so, we have to take certain measures during the renovation process,” Taiclet said. Students have noticed these changes, as well as changes in the Brodhead Bistro and Harmony Hall. Sophmores Omar Al-Rahmani and Mark Sylvester both said they find it easy to recycle, especially in the Bistro. In fall of 2011, an external company was hired to provide a co-mingling waste system in the Bistro. “We chose this process because Beaver did not have the space for several separate trash cans,” Director of Housing and Food Services Jeremy Lindner said. The kitchen uses green chemicals,
The Roar/ Brooke Doerfler
Sidney Bates returns a Green2Go container to the Bistro return box.
and the university as a whole recycles fryer grease, Lindner added. After the grease is used, it is re-made into biodiesel fuel. In the last four years, water bottle filling stations have been installed throughout campus. These stations reduce the amount of plastic being taken to the landfill. Freshman Alyssa Maylan said she recycles on campus and finds it easy to do so because there are recycling bins located in every building across campus. While recycling is important, it’s not everything, Taiclet said. “Recycling is just skimming the surface. Sustainability is about being cost effective with our resources over time.” Students interested in making Penn State Beaver more sustainable can look to join the campus Green Team. Made up of faculty members and students, the Green Team works to make the community more aware of sustainability issues. Students interested in this group can contact faculty advisor Angela Fishman, instructor in mathematics.
Beaver students prepare for transfer to University Park
LADE KING Staff Writer
lak5479@psu.edu
Whether they wish to fulfill their academic goals or change their environment, Penn State Beaver students seem to regard “Happy Valley” as a desired destination. A common reason why students transfer to University Park is to complete their major. Penn State offers more than 160 baccalaureate majors, but only five majors can be completed at Penn State Beaver. “I love Penn State Beaver, but I can’t complete my major here,” said junior Brent Coleman-Mitchell. He said that he believes University Park has more opportunities for him, such as connecting with professors, find-
ing the right internship in his field and experiencing a bigger campus. Apart from the many things students look forward to at University Park, there are some things they will miss from Beaver campus. “I can’t believe I’ll have to start paying for parking and the gym,” said sophomore Claire Wang. Coleman-Mitchell compared Beaver campus to a private school when he said, “The class sizes here at Beaver are small and this really helps to connect with my professors.” According to the Penn State website, approximately 60 percent of students begin their Penn State journey at a branch campus. The Penn State 2+2 Program makes the transfer easier by allowing
branch campus students from across Pennsylvania to transition to University Park for the remaining two years to complete their programs. “The transition varies, depending on the entrance to major criteria for a student’s major,” said Gretchen Samchuck, the advising program coordinator at Beaver. She also said that students should go through the entrance-to-major process during the second semester of their sophomore year, but they should apply for University Park housing during the first semester of their sophomore year. Last semester, Wang started working on getting housing at University Park. “I’m glad I started looking for housing early. I was able to get an apartment and pick out my room-
mates.” Wang said she is looking forward to the experience of having her own place and cooking her own food. Wang recalled her experience when she first began the change of campus process, and her advice to other students who wish to transfer to University Park is that they talk to their advisors often and make sure they are on track every semester until they reach the requirements for their major before transferring. Coleman-Mitchell said he had to be on track with his classes to maintain the GPA requirements for his biology major. “A lot of students don’t realize that their request to change campus can be denied, depending on a stu-
dent’s major or GPA or not having the correct courses as outlined on the entrance-to-major,” said Samchuck. There are other reasons why students look forward to changing campus. “I can’t wait to transfer to UP. The weekends up there are so much fun!” said freshman Najaya Allen. “Students go based on their academic need, not personal preference. All students that follow their major and entrance-to-major criteria and are successful will have the option to change their campus for their junior year,” said Samchuck. If you are interested in beginning the process to transfer to Penn State University Park, contact Gretchen Samchuck at gjw2@psu.edu.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Viewpoints
MANAGING EDITOR Julianne Bosley jeb474@psu.edu
PHOTO CHIEF Kayla Wagner
krw5239@psu.edu
BUSINESS MANAGER Andy Germani
arg5226@psu.edu
PAGE DESIGNERS Brooke Doerfler
bmd5296@psu.edu
Lade King
lak5479@psu.edu
Matt Sweikowski mrs5822@psu.edu
Rob Trhlin
ryt5088@psu.edu
Jessica Zurow jlz5138@psu.edu
ADVISERS Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu
Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu
April 2015
Penn State should lower summer tuition For many students, thoughts of summer include not only sun and sandy beaches, but also a break from tests, projects and homework assignments. However, Penn State Beaver students who sign up for summer classes often find the idea undesirable for reasons other than sacrificing a college-free vacation. One of those reasons is the exorbitant cost of summer classes. And it’s a problem the university can fix simply by making summer classes more affordable. According to tuition.psu.edu, an undergraduate freshman or sophomore who enrolls in a Penn State Beaver course this summer will pay $524 per credit. Juniors and seniors will pay about $50 more, and those prices are for residents of Pennsylvania. Freshmen and sophomores who are from out-of-state will pay $809, and juniors and seniors will pay approximately $70 more. Furthermore, students must take at least six credits during the summer in order to receive any kind of financial aid. But that might be a pipe dream, as students must have unused aid eligibility left from the previous fall or spring to qualify for summer aid, and few students don’t use all of their aid. For Penn State Beaver students who don’t meet these requirements and simply cannot afford such high out-of-pocket expenses, graduation dates are pushed back. Re-taking failed classes becomes difficult and hopes of getting ahead are dashed. It’s an issue that new Penn State
President Eric Barron has talked about over his first year in office – access and affordability – and he says he wants students to graduate in four years and to take on less student loan debt. The average graduating Penn State student now assumes more than $35,000 in student loans. But until Barron and other university leaders take a close look at the cost of summer classes and do something to change it, students are going to continue to take longer than four years to graduate, and they’re going to continue to go in hock with student loans. In fact, for some students, Penn State’s high cost of summer tuition pushes them to enroll at cheaper competitive institutions, like the Community College of Beaver County, to earn the needed credits. Although CCBC classes may not be a Penn State student’s first choice, the difference in credit cost is considerable. According to CCBC’s website, Beaver County residents pay just $120 a credit. That’s less than onequarter of Penn State’s cost. Not a Beaver County resident? Pennsylvania residents who enroll at CCBC in the summer will pay $240 per credit and out-of-state students pay $360 per credit, both still significantly less than Penn State. And most Pennsylvania students have community colleges in their home counties near where they live that offer cheap tuition like CCBC does. The fact that Penn State Beaver and CCBC campuses are within 10 minutes of each other doesn’t help
Penn State, either. However, taking classes at a community college is not as simple a solution to the summer credit problem as it would seem. A huge problem with taking credits outside of Penn State is the issue of whether or not they will transfer as the class a student needs. Oftentimes, classes may transfer to Penn State as general credits, so that nutrition class that you took to fill your gym requirement may end up becoming yet another elective. Some students might also be concerned because Penn State will accept the credits, but the grade doesn’t transfer. This may not appear to be a major concern, but grades become more important as some students choose to enter graduate school. Although the student will have less credits to take when he or she returns to Penn State Beaver to finish a degree, the GPA will not be boosted even if the student received straight As at the community college, and graduate schools often consider GPAs. A final problem posed by taking community college credits is the fact that students will have fewer choices in available classes, times and professors. Despite the struggle students are faced with over summer classes, one thing is clear: Penn State needs to make its summer classes more affordable. By dropping credit costs and making student aid easier to obtain for summer classes, Penn State students will be able to afford taking classes at home.
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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.
April 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
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App lets students post anonymously ZACH ULRICH Staff Writer
zau5001@psu.edu
Want an app that you can say whatever you want, whenever you want and no one will know who you are? Yik-Yak is the app for you. Yik-Yak is an app for your smart phone that people can use to communicate in either a good or bad way. Everything posted in the app is anonymous and no one can find out who you are. Some posts are funny; some can be very mean or offensive. Students at Penn State Beaver use it as both a means to communicate positively, as well as to anonymously comment on others. For example, one recent campus post said, “I want you in the worst way girl.” Another comment commended the student athletes. “Good job baseball team you represented Penn State well.” The comments that people say are called “yaks.” Each yak is covered within a certain radius of where you are located. People can confess things anony-
Screenshots of the Yik-Yak app show students anonymously posting thoughts for their peers to see. The app shows posts from people in the local area of the user.
mously and no one can see. “It’s easier for people to say things behind a phone screen,” said Kevin Bennett, senior instructor of psychology. Students at Penn State Beaver use
the app to see what is happening and talk to each other about anything. Topics like classes, news on campus or anything else that’s up to date. One recent yak was from someone who obviously missed a class. “Any-
one in Social Psych, was there an exam today?” Students at Penn State Beaver have mixed feeling about the app. “What I don’t like about the app is that it’s uncensored,” said Ray
Demmel. Demmel also said that he liked it because you can see what’s going on around campus. Some people think that this app can promote bullying because of the offensive posts on the timeline. People read this and can’t find who said it and they can take it in a very bad way. “Even though there’s no names, it can still hurt people’s feelings,” said freshman Amanda Hackinson. Even though this app may promote bullying, there also can be some positives as well. “The app allows people to rate the posts and too many down votes can get the comment deleted,” said Bennett. Most of the comments are meant to be funny or just to have fun. With the app allowing the user to rate the posts, it gives users some control on what’s going on. “Comments that aren’t hurtful are usually funny and entertaining to me,” said Amber Alvarado. Users of the app can use it directed to a specific person or club, such as the recent yak, “To the girl who came into American Eagle wearing white Vans and an Arctic Monkeys shirt: you’re (sic) very attractive.”
Visiting poet inspires students in Harmony Hall JEREMY BROWN Staff Writer
jjb5772@psu.edu
Katie Wirsing approached a lone microphone on a dimly lit, makeshift stage in Penn State Beaver’s Harmony Hall lobby on March 25. Wirsing, 27, began reciting her speech to only a handful of students in attendance, but within an hour she was speaking to a full-house of Penn State students. As a spoken-word poet and Colorado native, Wirsing talked about her personal views on sorrow, love and sexuality by sharing some of the
poems she has written. The speech had a mellow vibe in which she interacted with the audience asking various questions such as, “Has anyone ever had a hard-time?” or “Has anyone here ever been in love?” The sheer amount of ambiance that had crept through the lobby made it feel as if the audience was sitting through a comedic therapy session. Wirsing had captured the audience’s attention with her witty remarks and calm charisma.“From age 13 to 17, I wanted to warp right
out of high school,” said Wirsing. While in high school, Wirsing was the only openly gay student out of her entire student population of 3,000. “This was very meaningful,” said junior Chris Bedillion. “Katie’s wisdom and poetry is inspiring to say the least.” Wirsing’s family had an impact on her life. She referred to her 85-yearold grandmother as her motivator and she was in full support of Katie’s sexuality. Wirsing recited a poem that was intended for her grandmother and a
separate poem for her late grandfather. Nearing 10 p.m., the lobby had become full with room for standing space only. Wirsing ended the night by reading her final poems in which she asked freshman Tyler Suehr to play a soft melody on an acoustic guitar while she recited her poetry. Applause soon erupted and roared across the hall. “She was reading some deep stuff and seemed in control of her emotion. It was fun, and I guess I was in the right place at the right time,” said Suehr.
KATIE WIRSING
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
April 2015
Ferrell’s overacting kills movie’s humor CANDACE ORELLANA Staff Writer
3 out of 5 stars
Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart star in “Get Hard.”
Warner Bros. Pictures
cpo5061@psu.edu
This juror’s verdict is that the movie “Get Hard” is found guilty of being bad. James King (Will Ferrell) is a big time stockbroker with everything he could ever want: hot fiancé, nice car, big house with a newer one waiting to be built, and a job as the boss. So privilege is the only way of life that he knows. When numbers begin to not add up correctly in the company, King finds himself sentenced to 10 years in San Quinten Maximum Security Prison. With 30 days to get his affairs in order, he turns to Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart), an entrepreneur who owns the car wash that King frequents, to help him “Get
Hard” for prison. Why Darnell Lewis? Because he comes from an underprivileged part of town, he is African American and King assumes he went to prison. Sometimes assumptions are wrong, but with the promise of a large sum of money from King, Lewis whips together a training program that will not only get King ready for prison, but keep the audience asking how much more of this will there be. Directed by Etan Cohen of “Tropic Thunder” and “Men in Black 3,” this movie fell short of where it needed to be all because of acting. Hart’s performance was exactly what I expected from him. He kept me laughing throughout, just like his comedy sketches, and kept the movie interesting enough
for me to finish watching it. While Hart was on point with his facial expressions, reactions and use of humor, Ferrell seemed to take it over the top and this caused the banter and the humor to seem fake. This is not something I expected of Ferrell, especially after such movies as “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and “Step Brothers.” His over acting in many scenes and his poor delivery of lines unfortunately killed the movie’s humor. By the end of it, no amount of good acting and comedy from Hart could save the movie from being convicted of being bad. I rate this 3 out of 5 and that, I think, is being generous. This is definitely a “wait till it comes out on DVD” movie
Dreamworks animation brings it ‘Home’
MADI BECKER Staff Writer
4.5 out of 5 stars
mrb5814@psu.edu
Admittedly, I wasn’t all that enthusiastic to go see yet another animated film about an oddly adorable creature and a human teaming up to save the universe. But I will say I was pleasantly surprised with DreamWorks Animation’s “Home.” This movie follows a squishy little alien called Oh (voiced by Jim Parsons). We find out Oh is a walking disaster when compared to the rest of his cowardly, hive-minded Boov race, and Gratuity “Tip” Tucci (voiced by Rihanna) who’s a young preteen that managed to escape relocation and is now searching for her freshly abducted mother. And we can’t forget about Tip’s
adorable little cat named Pig, who is arguably my favorite character. Our two heroes, one a wanted criminal and the other a girl bereft of her mother, meet up and agree to help each other while under the immediate pressure of being discovered by Boov authorities. Luckily they manage to escape unnoticed in Tip’s new slushy-powered flying car. And thus begins their quest to reunite Tip with her mom as the Boov have invaded Earth and relocated the human population into candycolored ghettos in their efforts to run away from the evil (and triangular) Gorg. Throughout their journey to find, as Oh repeatedly and charmingly says, “my mom,”. Both Tip and Oh learn how to cooperate with and understand each other, much like we saw in Disney’s
“Lilo & Stitch” (2002). “Home” has a cutesy theme with many moral lessons subtly packaged into one movie that’s entertaining for any age. And to make it even more pleasant, I did not notice a single obvious pop-culture reference! The humor of the film was light and funny (and kid appropriate, no Spongebob-esque humor here my friends) and it maintained a nice balance to the moral lessons of conquering fears, understanding outsiders and knowing oneself. So if you’re looking for a 90-minute, fluffy film that is equally as entertaining as it is pleasantly didactic. I would most definitely recommend you take your friends, your siblings your half-crazy aunt with the twitchy eye, and go and see Dreamworks “Home.”
Dreamworks
Tip and Oh find Earth, a new planet to call home, in Dreamworks’ new film.
April 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
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Public relations class learns what it takes MARLEE BANDISH Staff Writer
mgb5265@psu.edu
Senior Stephanie Clark stood on the stage of the Student Union Building auditorium March 26 and welcomed dozens of high school students from schools all around the area as they gathered to create an app that will help them with the challenges they may face when preparing for their future. Associate Professor of Communications Juliette Storr’s Public Relations class put together the event much like they do each year; however, this year she challenged her students to come up with an idea that was more engaging and interactive. The event they came up with was the “Penn State Challenge.” For the high school students who attended, the goal was to get them thinking about their future plans by creating an app that would help them explore their options. The goal was to practice public relations by creating and planning an event that has an impact on students who may one day come through the program themselves. Storr said she was quite pleased with the idea. “It was a perfect way to tie it into the goals and objectives of the
Photo courtesy of Marcus Smith
Co-managers Lade King and Stephanie Clark address high school students at the Penn State Challenge.
University,” Storr said. “All of the goals and objectives of Penn State were folded into the event.”The high school students had to create an app that they would use to help them choose a college or career path . They were split among four computer labs on campus and separated
into groups. Unfortunately, with the amount of people utilizing the computers at the same time, there were some unforeseen technological issues that arose. “Overcoming the technology problems was difficult at first, “ said senior Chris Best.
“We had a contingency plan, but none of us expected for the technology to stop working in the way it did.” Clark, who was also the project manager of the event, said the class did a run through of the event many times but believes that too many people trying to use the program at once
may have slowed it down. When the app was complete, they then gathered to present it in front of their peers, teachers and the Penn State students and faculty. The difficulties faced were minor compared to the amount of work that went into planning the event. The PR students have been working for two semesters, putting together a plan to reach out to the target audience by keeping the focus on the high school students and their problems. “I would say the event taught me the ins and outs of what it takes to make a successful event,” said Best. “I learned how to utilize all my communication skills effectively to get something done and how effective working in a team can be.” The feedback they have received from both the high school students and teachers who participated in the event was overall positive. Based on the survey results, over 80 percent of them had a “wonderful experience.” Central Valley student Alana Delostrino expressed her appreciation of the event saying, “It was nice meeting other people from other schools and creating something that could help us on the path to our future.”
‘Insurgent’ becomes the next cult favorite SOPHIA LOZA Staff Writer
3 out of 5 stars
sll5373@psu.edu
“Insurgent,” the second film in the “Divergent” series, connects to the hearts of all young adults who are trying to find themselves and answer the question “Where do I belong?” The “Divergent” series presents a society where people are categorized to fit into one of five factions. Members are considered a threat if they fit into multiple factions. “Insurgent” focuses on protagonist Tris Prior’s internal battle of finding
herself and acceptance. Tris’ fear of not fitting in becomes an ironic, twisted message from the founders outside the wall. Director Robert Schwentke impresses the viewers with dazzling cinematic effect scenes, mainly when Tris undergoes the dangerous task of opening the box. However, as a viewer I felt some of the effects were over indulgent and only used due to the film’s big budget. With a revolution approaching, Tris finds herself in unexpected alliances, and with a betrayal that goes
to the heart. Another key point to focus on is the introduction of new character Evelyn. Evelyn is the mother of Four, played by Naomi Watts. Secrets of the past are coming into play in the present. And although Evelyn had a small role in “Insurgent,” she will definitely be a force to reckon with, as it was demonstrated in the final seconds of the movie. Fans of the “Hunger Games” and the “Twilight” saga flock to the “Divergent” series because of its simi-
larities in the genre. However, like many second installments, the rhythm moved at a sluggish pace, serving as a precursor to the final conclusion. Yet one thing that makes “Insurgent” stand out is its focus on character development, especially of the fun loving-yet-hard-headed character, Tris. Advice to the viewers is to go see this movie, as it is a trend for today’s youth. However, don’t forget a large popcorn and an Icee to help with the experience.
Summit Entertainment
“Insurgent” seems to pride itself on defying reality.
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Students spend spring break abroad in Ireland KAYLA WAGNER
Senior Staff Writer krw5239@psu.edu
College is the prime time for learning, experiencing new things, finding yourself and going on adventures. It is full of experiences that can change our lives forever. This spring break, nine of us had a life changing experience when we went to Ireland as part of a spring break international study trip. Seniors Colby Hill and I, junior Jennifer Medarac, sophomores Katherine Loza, Rachel Gillin, Maurissa Bergandy and Roy Rowland, and freshman Bryce Hodge and I had the opportunity to go to Dublin, Ireland, for a week over spring break. Associate Professor of Communication Juliette Storr and Senior Instructor of Sociology JoAnn Chirico accompanied us on the trip. We were also joined by a large group of Penn State DuBois students. Being in a foreign country was something none of us had experienced. We were able to see historic landmarks and get a taste of the social life in Ireland. Monday, our first full day, was full of excitement as we went to see the beautiful Cliffs of Moher. Located in the famous County Clare and near Galway, the Cliffs’ highest point is 702 feet and they stretch for five miles along the Atlantic Coast. “The scenery was breathtaking,” said Colby Hill, “truly unlike anything I have ever seen.” At the Cliffs, they had free Wi-Fi. The students took advantage of that to FaceTime friends and family. The following day, we attended Professor Colum Kenny’s discussion class at Dublin City University. We discussed spiritual music and the fall-
ing out of the Catholic religion in Ireland. Upon arriving, Kenny told the group in Gaelic, “Welcome. We welcome you a hundred thousand times.” “When he said that to us, it literally gave me goose bumps because it seriously felt like I was being welcomed back to my homeland,” Gillin said. As it turned out, all but a few on the trip have Irish ancestors. “If you have Irish blood, I welcome you home,” Kenny said. “That meant so much to me,” said Katherine Loza, who has a strong Irish background. “It was so nice to see where our ancestors were from.” Hodge said he felt truly reconnected with his family when the group visited Northern Ireland and Belfast on the fourth day. Hodge’s grandfather spent his childhood ringing the Albert Clock in Belfast. “It was so cool seeing where my grandfather grew up,” he said. “He walked around there, just like I did.” While in Northern Ireland, the group signed the Peace Wall in Belfast and visited the Dundrum Castle, the place where the Titanic was built. “The view from the castle was amazing,” said Rowland. Loza had a personal tie to the Titanic museum, which made the day exciting for her. “My ancestors came over on the Titanic sister ship, so that was really cool to see.” The scenery in Northern Ireland was nothing short of amazing. “It was awesome to be up so high in the mountains we could see Scotland,” said Hill. “It sucks that the pictures don’t even do it justice.” What you can’t see in the states
are the beautiful Irish castles. The students spent an entire morning and afternoon touring the famous Malahide Castle where the Talbot family lived. The favorite castle of the group was the Blarney Castle, where the students were given the chance to kiss the Blarney Stone for good luck, although not everyone was brave enough to do so. On our sixth day, the group went to St. Patrick’s grave and visited the Rock of Cashel. “Seeing where St. Patrick was actually buried gave me goose bumps,” said Hill. One of the best parts of the trip was mingling with the locals. Everyone learned a lot about the culture from talking to young people who actually live there. Some students are still in touch with people they met. One thing that the group didn’t expect to see in Ireland was a connection to Penn State. “We found Penn State pretzels over there,” said Loza. “It was awesome.” The group even found the sayings “We are” and “I Love Penn State” written on bathroom stalls in downtown Dublin. Before the trip, only a few students knew one another. But the friendship bonds made over the course of that week are some of the strongest, the students said. “All the friendships we made are so cool,” said Loza. Hill agreed. “It was nice not knowing everyone and becoming friends and getting to experience this all together.” “Now we are the best friends ever,” Rowland joked.
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The Roar / Kayla Wagner
Top, students take in the gorgeous view of the hills of Northern Ireland from atop the Dundrum Castle. Above, students learn how to perfectly pour beer at the Guinness Factory. Left, Kayla Wagner examines a display at the historic Book of Kells. Far left, Colby Hill takes a risk by sitting on the edge at the Cliffs of Moher.
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Fill your belly with local foods Local venues offer a variety of foods from breakfast to pork HALEY GOONEN Staff Writer
heg5073@psu.edu
Sometimes the best food finds are those that are unique, intriguing and make your taste buds jump for joy. Waffles INCaffinated, the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe and PJ’s Bar-B-Q all offer unique food finds, and the best part is that they are all just minutes away. Breakfast foods are a hot hit at two very popular, yet different restaurants. Gourmet waffles are the top prize at the high-end Waffles INCaffinated in Beaver, while diner-style basic breakfast foods are all the rage at the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppes. At Waffles INCaffinated, most dishes start with the basic waffle – which is something we all have grown up with – but then turn into a piece of beauty. Breakfast Magic is one fan favorite, featuring a stuffed waffle loaded with tons of delicious toppings and fillings. First stuffed with crispy bacon and cheddar cheese and then topped with a layer of MORE bacon and shredded cheese – you can’t forget about the yummy over-easy egg – and scallions are added with a side of sour cream. “I like Waffles INCaffinated so much because it’s unique from any other place around here,” sophomore Katherine Loza said. “There is nowhere else to basically make your own waffles.” Breakfast Magic is just one of many unique
waffles the restaurant offers, and you can find it located at 453 Third St. in Beaver, open daily until 2 p.m. For a less upscale, more greasy-spoon approach, there’s breakfast at the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe. Breakfast may not be something you expect from a hot dog place, but with an affordable price it cannot be beat. In addition to basic eggs, bacon and pancakes, the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe offers a southwest omelet that will fulfill a southwestern craving. It is filled with fresh mushrooms, green peppers and onions and topped with salsa. Brighton Hot Dog Shoppes, with 11 locations in the area, also make the list for its lunch/dinner offering, most notably its chili and cheese fries which, according to the company’s website, are the best “in the world.” The fries are a sloppy, meaty chili and cheese delicious mess overflowing in a fry boat. “I know so many people from out of town who can’t visit without eating there,” said junior Kylie Diegmiller. If that doesn’t get your belly growling, PJ’s Bar-B-Q & Steakhouse has one of the best pulled pork sandwiches in the area. This unique sandwich comes with the option of five different homemade sauces which you can choose for ribs and wings. PJ’s Bar-B-Q & Steakhouse is located at 3162 Brodhead Road in Center Township and is open from lunch until 10 p.m.
The Roar/Cathy Benscoter
Waffles INCaffinated’s March special, the Irish Bricfeasta, featured a waffle loaded with corned beef and Muenster cheese and topped with coleslaw, homefries and an egg.
Online classes offer students convience and flexibility ELLE GEORGE Staff Writer
erg161@psu.edu
Sophomore Madeline Hill took her first online class this year. “I enjoyed the online class because it was less strict. It was basically me on my own and just getting my work done for whenever it was due. I liked it much better than a traditional class.”
More students like Hill are faced with taking online Penn State classes. While online classes offer more convenience and flexibility, not everyone believes that they are as good as traditional face-to-face classes. Hill said that she was very anxious about taking an online class at first. She said that she worried she would have problems understanding the information. “I understood the
information just as well as I did in the classroom, I was very pleased.” John Chapin, professor of communications, teaches both traditional classes and online classes. “No matter how good an on-line course is, I can always accomplish more in person. To me, there’s no comparison,” Chapin said. Carol Schafer, associate professor of theatre arts, teaches both tradi-
tional classes and online. “On-line classes work in situations where discussion and interaction are somewhat limited. In an on-line class, each student works individually, and although they may share their work and give and receive feedback from other students, the relationships are more formal,” Schafer said. “In a classroom setting, students may speak freely in discussion
because their words are not recorded, and tone of voice and subtext can be heard,” she added. Sophomore Cameron McKay said that he enjoys both online and traditional classes. “I don’t think I could just pick one or the other. They both offer me different aspects when it comes to learning. I like a mixture of the two,” said McKay.
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Great atmosphere sets Shogun apart Shogun
MACKENZIE HARTMAN Staff Writer
LUNCH
mch5361@psu.edu
With utensils flipping and food and fire flying, you won’t be disappointed with the new Shogun Hibachi Restaurant at the Beaver Valley Mall in Center Township. Shogun has been bringing in hundreds of customers these past few months and has gained a strong reputation in the eyes of many. A lunchtime visit between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. is a great way to enjoy the Japanese hibachi cuisine at a discounted price, though the portions are a bit smaller than those served at dinner. Shyann Davison, who has been the manager at Shogun since it opened in November, said she likes working there. “It is such a diverse atmosphere, and I would say this is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had,” said Davidson. Business has been booming and
n Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
DINNER n Monday through Thursday: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. n Friday through Saturday: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. n Sunday: 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
LOCATION 600 Beaver Valley Mall Monaca, PA 15061 724-773-9898 The Roar/Mackenzie Hartman
Hibachi style tables are a hit for local groups looking to grab dinner and a show.
customers have spoken with Davison about their great experiences and thank her for bringing Shogun to the neighborhood, she said. Although there is competition for
Japanese cuisine in the area, including Sakura in downtown Monaca and Yama in Beaver, Davison said she feels there is no competition and can be sure of it because of how
happy the customers are with their experiences at Shogun. Only five minutes away from Beaver campus, the restaurant offers both formal dining for quicker service and the hibachi setting for a more entertaining experience.
The atmosphere at this location is very upbeat and the decor is not so traditional when it comes to sticking with the Japanese theme. The restaurant plays today’s hit music and likes to keep the meal enjoyable with every aspect, Davison said. The staff is friendly and glad to answer any questions about the meal. The hibachi chefs are also very entertaining and make the experience more than just a sit down meal. Taylor Crossland, a sophomore, enjoyed her Shogun experience and said she would “definitely recommend it to others” if they are looking for a great place to eat. Caulin Bloom, also a sophomore, has visited Shogun several times and said his experience there has been great every time. “I liked the look of the restaurant and the general environment was pleasant,” Bloom said.
Indoor trampoline park provides ‘fun fitness’ to all ages
MATT SWEIKOWSKI Staff Writer
mrs5822@psu.edu
Located on Brickworks Drive in Leetsdale, a warehouse-sized building is where kids of all ages can take to the sky with their friends in a fun and safe environment. Sky Zone is the world’s first trampoline park, where so-called “fun fitness” was invented. Sky Zone is only a half-hour drive from campus and is open in any weather. “Rick Platt created the idea of Sky Zone after watching the show SlamBall on television. His vision was to give kids a fun, safe and new experience that they will always remember,” said General Manager Justin Werth. Although the crowd sometimes is a much younger age than Penn State
The Roar/Matt Sweikowski
Located in Leetsdale, Skyzone offers various group actvities such as dodgeball, slam ball and a foam pit.
Beaver students, Sky Zone offers great group rates and a 16-and-over open jump from 10 to 12 p.m. on
Saturdays. “About 40 percent of our buisness comes from birthday parties,”
said Werth. “ the rest of our buisness comes from ‘walk-ins’.” “It’s super safe for all ages, and
the employees do a very good job of making sure you’re OK and not out of breathe or hurt,” said freshman Amanda Hackinson. Hackinson said the employees are very caring, nice and polite, making the environment a fun place to be. “It’s a lot of fun! They have a large variety of activities such as dodgeball, slam dunking, foam pits and an open jumping area,” said Hackinson. Along with having the only trampoline park in the area and a cool environment for all ages, Sky Zone has private rooms for parties and other gatherings. “I live 10 minutes from here, and I’ve never even heard of it before,” said sophomore Nick Casasanta. Casasanta said the location is slightly hidden and hard to find. “But once you find it, it’s a pretty cool place to be.”
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‘Party on the Plaza’ featured at Beaverfest BEN CLARK Staff Writer
brc5210@psu.edu
It is late in the semester and students are getting agitated. All the assignments and due dates are beginning to stack up. Things are stressful, but Penn State Beaver’s Student Government Association (SGA) is planning to alleviate this maelstrom of anxiety with its annual Beaverfest, which takes place April 25 through May 1. Jennifer Toof, student activities and residence life coordinator, has worked with SGA to arrange a week of free activities and events for Penn State Beaver students. The events are supported and put on by various student organizations. “I encourage students to attend,” Toof said. “This is their experience ... if they’re here for two years, it’s
only a couple of times they get to experience this. Some campuses have spring weekend. We have Beaverfest.” Toof has been a part of Beaverfest’s planning team for the past two years, but is happy to report that students have been heavily involved in the planning. “The students are a lot more involved this year in planning than in my first year,” Toof said. SGA President Joshua Nussbaum, a senior, is excited for this year’s Beaverfest. “The way I see it, we prepare for our finals all semester long,” Nussbaum said. “You don’t see athletes who play basketball every single day of the year, so why should college students be the same? Beaverfest is our offseason, a chance to let our minds and our focus run free for a bit before we
make that final sprint to the finish line,” he added. Following the tradition of having a theme to go along with the festival, Beaverfest’s theme this year is “Destress for Success.” Events are set to begin on Saturday, April 25, in the newly renovated Student Union Building Lodge. “Sip-n-Say”, a conversation with students on youth engagement in the community, will be held by Penn State Beaver student leaders in coordination with the Franklin Center of Aliquippa, with sponsorship from the Gay-Straight Alliance and the Blue and White Society. Monday, April 27 in the Brodhead Bistro, “Party on the Plaza” will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will have access to free Penn State Creamery ice cream. Returning again to Beaverfest will be DJ Chuck
Webb to provide entertainment and karaoke. Later in the evening will be a movie on the lawn. If the weather is clear, students can see “The Wedding Singer” at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 in SUB Room 16, the Psychology Club will host “Stuff a Plush.” Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. students have a chance to create a customized plush doll. Beginning at 9 p.m. in the Harmony Hall lobby, the Residence Hall Advisory Council (RHAC) will have free food and floor games when it hosts “Tacos and Twister.” On Wednesday, April 29, events will begin at 10 a.m. with a health fair -complete with massage tables in the gymnasium. A Hawaiian luau will begin in the Bistro at 11 a.m. and caricature artist Sam Thong will be in attendance to provide his ser-
vices, with luau activities at noon when the Music Club will host hula hoop dancing. Thursday, April 30 at 9 p.m., students have the opportunity to strut their mental prowess with a trivia tournament in Harmony Hall hosted by RHAC. On Friday, May 1, Beaverfest will begin the final day of fun at 1 p.m. when the Administration of Justice Club will hold a Corn hole tournament at the Harmony Hall parking lot. Sign-ups are $5 for individuals and $10 for teams. At 3 p.m. on the softball field, students, staff and faculty will compete in kickball. The game is sponsored by the Fightin’ Beavs inline hockey club. Week-long festivities will wrap up with a bang at the second annual Block Party in front of Harmony Hall.
New bat houses to be used for Earth Day celebration ERIK MCCLAIN Staff Writer
ezm5306@psu.edu
On April 22, Penn State Beaver will offer students an opportunity to get involved with maintaining not just a healthy campus, but a healthy planet. Earth Day will be celebrated on campus through several events organized by the campus Green Team, including an educational session on bats, a showing of the documentary “Plastics Paradise” and preliminary discussions on installing a campuswide walking trail. Angela Fishman, instructor of mathematics and chair of the campus
Green Team, oversaw the organization of the events. “We’re doing a few things,” she said. “The Green Team has set up a mini-event s cheduled for noon out on the lawn. Stephanie Petroski and Cassandra Butterworth will have their class’ presentation on their bat houses, and we have the trig class doing the designs for walking trails around the campus.” The potential walking trails are to be designed throughout the month and are due for discussion on Earth Day. “The campus has a lot of unused land,” Fishman said, “so we’d like to see people take an interest in explor-
ing ways we could use it. We were actually also thinking about bringing up the possibility of building a cob house somewhere for any students who might want to live in it, like a Hobbit house.” Fishman also said that the Earth Day event will hold sign-ups for volunteers who would like to be involved with the campus’ planned community gardens over the summer, as well as a free showing of “Plastics Paradise” at 4 p.m. in 121 Laboratory Classroom Building. “It’s a new documentary about plastic pollution and how it impacts us. And it’s free and open to the public,” she said.
One of the main events on Earth Day will be the educational session on bats, which has been planned since Butterworth, assistant professor of biology, and Petroski,instructor in biology, arranged their special-topics biology class for this semester. “Everything is still going as planned. The goal is to have a house ready for the event and it looks like that’s what’s happening,” said Butterworth. Installation of the first of four planned bat houses is scheduled to begin on April 20 and end on Earth Day in time for the educational session. “We hope to see as many students
as we can come together and take an interest in this, and learn about how important the bats are,” Petroski added. The remaining bat houses will be installed at some point afterwards, intended for attracting bats to use as shelter for their summer roosts. If everything planned for this Earth Day goes well, the Green Team hopes to see the influence of environmentalism expand into classrooms next year. “We hope to see as many community members get involved with these projects as possible, even if they’re not interested in joining clubs,” Fishman said.
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Goolsby’s contract comes to an end CHRIS ROTONDO Staff Writer
ctr5138@psu.edu
One of Penn State Beaver’s more recent staff members is wrapping up his time at the school. J. Parker Goolsby, who serves as one of Penn State Beaver’s two residence life coordinators, will complete his four-year contract at the end of the spring 2015 semester. Goolsby originates from the Nashville, Tenn. area. He studied as an undergraduate at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. and as a graduate student at Slippery Rock University. “[Slippery Rock is] how I became acquainted with western Pennsylvania,” Goolsby said. Goolsby started his tenure at Penn State Beaver in August 2011. Having previously served as a resident director at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, he was looking to relocate to western Pennsylvania when he was hired at Beaver. “When I saw the job, I was like, ‘sweet, I know that place,’” Goolsby said on finding his position at Beaver. Goolsby works alongside Jennifer Toof, the other residence life coordinator. His focus is entirely on resi-
Parker Goolsby works with Maura Francis, Ruhi Patel and Claire Wang in Harmony Hall.
dence life, while Toof also focuses on planning student activities. Goolsby is in charge of student conduct, roommate mediations and primary supervision and training of the residence assistant (RA) staff. “With Parker, we always get our
stuff done and we always stay on topic, but we always have fun,” said sophomore RA Chris Lutz. “[I like] his bounds between professionalism and fun.” Goolsby said it is important to be professional, but also fun and under-
The Roar/Kayla Wagner
standing. “Students need to realize that I’m authority, [but] I’m someone that they can go to,” he said. “I’m light hearted, laid back and I’m open to hearing anyone’s life experience.” “Parker sort of has two sides,” said
Amy Gartley, associate director of student affairs and Goolsby’s supervisor. “He has his strengths in both and he’s created a balance.” Goolsby also advises the local THON committee and the Residence Hall Advisory Council (RHAC). But it is his work with the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and with LGBT students that he is most proud of. “That’s one thing I want to be remembered by (is) my dedication to that student population,” Goolsby said. He also said that he wants LGBT students to know “this is a safe place for them and that there are resources available for them.” Before he leaves, the RHAC will be hosting a party for Goolsby. “Pizza, Pajamas and Parker” will take place in Harmony Hall on Monday, April 20 from 8 to 11 p.m. As for his next career move, Goolsby is unsure, though he is considering working in education consulting. “I definitely want to stay in western Pennsylvania,” Goolsby said, adding that he will go “wherever the wind takes me.”
Admissions hires counselor to recruit adult students CHRISTIAN JAMES Staff Writer
caj5316@psu.edu
DEBRA SEIDENSTRICKER
Penn state Beaver has a new admissions counselor to recruit adult and transfer students to the campus. Debra Seidenstricker of Cranberry Township, originally from Akron, Ohio, was hired in February to fill the position left vacant when Marcess Williams left admissions for a fulltime coaching position at Clarion University. Seidenstricker worked at the Pittsburgh Job Corp for five years, where she helped lower-income students get
enrolled in community colleges in order to earn their associate’s degrees. Her job here is to help new adults and transfer students enroll, and to also help students who are not traditionally right out of high school. “I like the small campus and the nice relationships that the faculty has with students. It’s easier to create bonds and know each other,” said Seidenstricker. “I love working with people and helping the transfer and adult learners learn their way,” she added. Seidenstricker said she has enjoyed working with the whole admissions
team, especially her supervisor Daniel Pinchot, director of enrollment, “because of his positivity.” Debbie Hormel, the staff assistant in admissions and student aid, said it’s been great working with Seidenstricker. “(She is) very friendly and outgoing and has a willingness to learn,” Hormel said. “She serves a unique population so it’s good to have someone who devotes their time to those certain people.” Pinchot said Seidenstricker is working out great. “She is enthusias-
tic with such a positive attitude. She cares deeply about students to reach their potential and capitalize on their education.” Pinchot said Seidenstricker’s personal story stood out in her interview. “She herself was a non-traditional college student, so she has walked in the shoes of adult learners. She was the best fit plus she has experience at community colleges to help students come to Beaver to finish their degrees. She is an excellent person that brings many positives to our campus.”
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April 2015
Students benefit from on-campus research KATE SERNA
ment is to create a pure substance. This is tried by adding powdered elements such as titanium and iron to the POSS. The group performs different reactions each week and analyzes their results with a technology called infrared spectrum (IR). IR can be compared to an x-ray. It is utilized in order to see what is in the product of a reaction.
Staff Writer
kys5434@psu.edu
Freshman Tyler Logue accessorizes himself with protective gloves and goggles before handling below-freezing liquid nitrogen. White smoke spills into the room as the chemistry major pours the substance into a steel sink of water. This is one of many chemical reactions that occur in a chemistry lablab at Penn State Beaver. Logue and his two lab partners, freshman Taylor Carlin and sophomore Aliah Adams, conduct oncampus research on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon with Associate Professor of Chemistry Michael Hay. Logue is just one of the many students on campus who are involved with undergraduate research. Students who choose to perform research benefit not only from the hands-on learning experience, but also by building relationships with the faculty for whom they conduct the research. Hay selects and works with two or three students each semester based off of their academic performance as well as their interest in research and organic chemistry. The students gain the experience of working in a lab as well as a single credit towards their
The results are also analyzed by an outsourced chemical company in order to back up the group’s data and verify the purity of the product. The pure substance can be used as a conductor of electricity such as the lithium battery found in a cell phone. “I know it’s hard to understand and explain, but chemistry is fun. It’s great,” says Logue. The Roar/Kate Serna
Tyler Logue does undergraduate research with chemicals, supervised by Associate Professor Michael Hay.
degree audit. “I look at it as an internship. It’s a way to see if chemistry or working in a lab is for me, and so far it is.” says Logue. Director of Academic Affairs Carey McDougall says research is important to the faculty and students can benefit from it. “It is important for tenured and
tenure-track faculty to be active in research so that they may stay current and active in their field, and so that they can bring the impact they have made and knowledge they have gained through their research into the classroom for our students to benefit from,” McDougall said. “It also often gives faculty opportunities to work with students on their
research, helping students get a foot in the door on researching, presenting and even publishing.” The aspiring chemists are experimenting with a POSS (Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsequioxanes) compound called TetraSilanol. In layman’s terms, POSS are long chains of monomers made up of a number of elements. The goal of the experi-
Hay and his students plan to travel to Boston this summer in August to present their research to the American Chemical Society. “It’s a fabulous opportunity for freshmen and sophomores to attend a national meeting. The results that my students have gathered in one semester speak highly of their work,” says Hay. The research will be presented on campus at the research fair April 17.
Instructors favor final projects over final exams JESSICA ZUROW Staff Writer
jlz5138@psu.edu
Students at Penn State Beaver are noticing a trend among many of their professors: not having a final exam. In its place, a final project. “I like projects better because you can prepare better and have more time to do it,” said junior Brent Coleman Mitchell. “Projects can really show a student’s full potential.” “I would rather do a project because I get too nervous when I take
tests,” said senior Stephanie Clark. Administration of Justice Instructor Lavarr McBride says that he often gives out final projects in lieu of final exams. McBride said final projects give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned throughout the semester. He also explained that often students will study material for an exam and then quickly forget it. Instead of an exam one year, McBride said that he had his students lock themselves in their bath-
room for five hours. The bathroom became their “jail cell” and they were not allowed phones, iPads or anything else. They were allowed to bring in a book if they wanted and they were asked to keep a journal to write down all their thoughts and emotions from being in isolation. After the experience the students were asked to summarize their it with an analytical thought paper. “I had a student come up to me once and he told me that he remem-
bers the project more than anything else in college,” said McBride Another creative project that McBride has challenged students with is designing their own prison. “They were asked to design the layout of the prison and also the philosophy of it as well.” “Both exams and projects are difficult,” said senior Morgan Zelkovic. “I don’t like studying for tests but instead of a final, my business ethics class has to write a 10-page paper, so they are both equally difficult.”
Associate Professor of History Robert Szymczak requires students to write a five page book review of a nonfictional book on the course subject matter. “It can help the student’s grade if they do well on it,” said Syzmczak. “You can assess their comprehension level of the subject by how well a student writes.” “I would rather do a project,” said junior Maura Francis. “It shows more of your skills. Some people are just not good test takers.”
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Far left, Natalie Gamble, No. 15, celebrates with teammates after winning the USCAA championship. Left, Tiere Phillips plays in the PSUAC title game in March. Beaver lost to Penn State York. Courtesy of the Penn State Beaver Athletic Department
Seniors reflect on time at Beaver NICK MILLER Staff Writer
nem5168@psu.edu
There is a saying that “every end starts a new beginning.” This is the case for the seniors graduating in May. As the end of their Penn State Beaver careers approach, members of the 2015 class are reflecting on their best times and looking forward to the challenges of the road ahead. Natalie Gamble, a senior psychology major and member of the volleyball and women’s basketball teams, said her favorite moment was winning the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship in Uniontown this past March. “No Penn State team has ever won it before,” Gamble said. “This title
means a lot to us.” Penn State Beaver’s opponent in the championship game, College of St. Joseph from Vermont, was heavily favored. The opposing team featured the reigning coach of the year and player of the year, while Penn State Beaver only presented one all-conference player. “After we won, we cut down the nets and are currently trying to get rings made,” Gamble said. “I’m going to miss playing with my teammates, but I am glad I was able to finish my final game on top.” Gamble plans on becoming a counselor after graduating. Whether it is in the area of education or rehabilitation, she said she enjoys helping others and welcomes the tasks and rewards with open arms.
Tiere Phillips, a senior administration of justice major and member of the men’s basketball team, shared a moment similar to Gamble’s. “My favorite moment was the USCAA National Championship last year,” Phillips said. Penn State Beaver was the last seed to make the tournament and was an extreme long-shot of making it to the title game. Penn State Beaver lost the game to Andrews University, however Philips learned a valuable lesson from the experience. “Never give up. Hard work will pay off eventually,” Phillips said. “I am going to miss the family that I built on the team, hanging out in the Bistro and going to class instead of working from nine to five.” Upon graduating, Phillips plans on seeking a job in corrections or
crime scene investigation. He also said that law school may be an option further down the road. Mark Hoskinson and Zach Shaffer are both senior Information Sciences and Technology majors and work on campus. Hoskinson said he helped program a device-monitoring application for hospital patients. The patients wear a device that measures blood pressure and heart rate, among other things. Bluetooth sends the information to a phone, Cloud server and eventually to the hospital. “My experience taught me to never start something without thinking it through first,” Hoskinson said. “It’s a lesson I will carry with me for the rest of my life.” Shaffer says his most memorable moment has yet to happen.
“I know my most unforgettable moment will come when I am finally handed my diploma. All of the hard work and dedication will have paid off,” Shaffer said. Shaffer says that his work with programming at Penn State Beaver, as well as his minor in Security and Risk Analysis, will help him in the workforce. Both Hoskinson and Shaffer said that they have spoken to multiple recruiters about potential employment and will only attend graduate school if their future employer prefers and finances it. “I am going to miss seeing all of the great friends I met and grew close to everyday,” Shaffer said. “I think all of the graduating seniors would agree that they are.”
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Beaver rallies behind talented team HALEY PAUL Staff Writer
hxp169@psu.edu
After a 2-6 pre-season warm up in sunny Florida playing Division III schools, Penn State Beaver baseball came back to foul Pennsylvania weather and an equally gloomy start against non-conference opponents. The team was forced to cancel four early games against two opponents and lost its first on-the-road double header March 22 against Westminster College 4-3 and 7-2. But its first two home games, Butler County Community College on March 31 and the College of St. Joseph from Vermont on April 1, brought mixed results in each double header. The first game of the BC3 double header was a close call with the final score of 3-2 going to Butler. With Beaver down 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the team was able to come back later in the fifth and sixth innings after freshman Shawn Shaner had a base hit that brought freshman Vinnie Ribar to score the first run. Following Ribar, junior Rob Trhlin scored the second run after a double from sophomore Nick Casasanta. Sadly, it was not enough to catch up to Butler. Senior Stephen Galmarini looked past the loss. “You don’t get better without experience. Learning the
Photo courtesy of Penn State Beaver Athletics
Tyler Thellman swings at an incoming ball as Penn State Beaver attempts to improve its season record.
game comes with time,” he said. In the second game, Beaver made a comeback. Beaver athletes showed that they improved from their time in Florida in the following game. Coach Jack Hilfinger sets nine players on the field for each game. “I put the best nine players out for that game for that time. All the players get the opportunity to show the coaches what progression they made.”
As soon as the second game started, Beaver scored two runs, one from Trhlin and the other from freshman Jake Debo. In the second inning, freshman Ashton McGinnis scored. By the third inning Beaver was three runs up, but Butler came back scoring two runs in the fourth. It was a back-to-back derby when junior Jordan Price and freshmen Duncan Miklos and Matt Capo
brought it back in the fifth inning with three more runs to make the score 6-2. In the following inning, Butler did score, but it was unable to catch up to Beaver. “Definitely today we matured, it’s all about teamwork and you can’t be successful without it,” said freshman William Snyder. After coming off the victory from Butler Community College, Beaver split a double header with St. Joseph.
In the first game, Beaver fell 8-0 with St. Joseph scoring two runs in the first inning, two in the third, one in the fourth and three in the sixth. Sophomore Blaise McCarty connected three out of his three at-bats, contributing to Beaver’s five hits, but the team wasn’t able to capitalize on any. In the second game, St. Joseph once again came out strong by scoring two runs in the first inning and leading 3-1 by the seventh. But that’s when things changed as Beaver scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, winning the game. Capo, Miklos and Snyder all had doubles. Hilfinger said he is optimistic about this season with his 27 players. “My goals have never changed. This is my sixth year here at Penn State, and the first goal is to make the playoffs. If we make the playoffs, that means you’ve had a successful season. The second goal is to win the playoffs and the third goal is to go to the World Series,” said Hilfinger. “I’m optimistic, I always will be. We are young, but we do have talent here.” So far Beaver is 4-10, but Galmarini is already looking towards showing how much potential the team has for the outcome of the current season. “We have confidence in ourselves. Our record doesn’t show our potential, but we will get better,” he said.
Penn State Beaver softball faces challenging start CHRIS BEST
Senior Staff Writer
ckb5141@psu.edu
With an overall record of 0-4, the Penn State Beaver Lady Lions Softball team has found themselves in a tough situation at the season’s start. However, progress is all that Coach Andy Kirschner seems to worry about as the team continues through the season. “Getting better, getting better!” said Kirschner. “My only goal is for us to keep getting better so we can
get a spot in the tournament.” The Lady Lions have faced two non-conference foes so far, both in double headers, with what could only be called a resounding defeat in each contest. Beaver lost to Chatham University March 22, 12-3 and 17-3. The following week, Beaver faced Community College of Allegheny County South March 29 for losses of 10-0 and 23-4. The weather has also taken its toll on the schedule. Planned double headers with St.
Vincent College, Grove City College and Bowie State University were canceled. With just 13 active players on the roster, Beaver has been forced to recruit within the school community. Players from other sports such as basketball and volleyball have shown support in helping the Lady Lions’ efforts this season. Sophomore Mason Dipetro said, “Since basketball season was over, I thought it would be fun to spend some of my time being competitive
in another sport. Even though I may not be as skilled in softball, I’m ready to bring my competitive spirit over so we can get some wins.” Senior Rachel Borrell leads the season for the Lady Lions with an overall batting average of .636 accumulating five RBI’s in four games. Dipetro and sophomore Asia Borders both trail her with two RBI’s a piece. Despite the lackluster start, Beaver has yet to face its first Penn State University Athletic Conference
opponent. Beaver will start PSUAC conference play April 11 at home with a double header against Penn State Hazelton, followed by a double header against Penn State Worthington Scranton April 12. “We played some pretty good outof-conference teams in Chatham and CCAC South, but the games that matter are the conference ones,” said Borders. “We just need to get into the playoffs, then anything is possible.”
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Fightin’ Beavs shoot for championship spot ROB TRHLIN Staff Writer
ryt5088@psu.edu
It is a season to remember for the Penn State Beaver Fightin’ Beavs as they ended the club hockey regular season with a 12-2 overall record and now hold the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. After a big 7-5 win over No. 2-ranked Robert Morris University, 10-4, on March 20, the Fightin’ Beavs were full of excitement as they prepared for a championship run. “We have worked hard all year and it is great to finally see it all pay off,” said sophomore Captain Chris Lutz after the win over RMU. The Fightin’ Beavs have been cruising through their opponents as they put up dominating numbers both offensively and defensively with every member of the team contribut-
The Roar/Kayla Wagner
The Fightin’ Beavs defend against Clarion University offensemen. Clarion was defeated three times this season.
ing in their own way. This unselfish play is the key component to any successful team. It all comes down to knowing your role as a teammate and how each player can help the team win.
Junior Josh Kelly has led the way for the defense with his aggressive style of play, sending a message with every play. Never shying away from contact, Kelly has made a name for himself throughout the league.
Junior Devin Baker also had a great year as he sliced and diced his way across the offensive floor putting fear into the opponents’ goalies with his smooth style of play. Baker has scored a team-high eight points over
11 games played. The Fightin’ Beavs now go into the playoffs with the target on their back. “We know we have a target on our back being the No. 1 seed, but I really feel like this team has something special and we are ready for any opponent,” said Baker. The puck will drop in the first playoff game at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9 at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. The team will play the winner of the April 8 matchup between fourth-place Clarion University and fifth-place Grove City College. If Beaver wins the April 9 game, it will send the team to the best-ofthree championship. The first and second games will be April 15 and 16. If needed, game three will be held April 22. All times will be determined as the season advances.
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Lady Lions clinch USCAA title MARCUS SMITH Staff Writer
mas6432@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver women’s basketball team won the 2015 United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship in March at Penn State Fayette, easily defeating top-ranked College of St. Joseph from Vermont 74-59. For the second time in three years, the Penn State Beaver Lady Lions reached the USCAA Division II championship. In 2013, they fell short to Albany College of Pharmacy. In the USCAA championship game, both teams were energized. Both teams did their chants towards each other before the game started. The gymnasium was filled with energy. Beaver came out on fire, making the score 13-4 before closing out the first half 36-21. Beaver kept up the pressure and held onto the lead throughout the second half. “This is the best way to go out as a senior,” senior Brittany Mineard said. Freshman Brittany Jackson led the team in scoring with 18 points, followed by junior Casandra Flowers with 17 points and 10 rebounds, including her second double-double of the tournament. Also tallying a double-double was junior Morgan Kurtz who had 11 points and 13 rebounds. Beaver set a rebound record with 73 in the championship game. In the first round of the conference playoffs, Beaver took on past USCAA rival Berkley College of New York, defeating the team 81-55. Last year, Berkley knocked Beaver out in the first round. “Last year we let ourselves down, losing first round. We promised ourselves it wouldn’t happen again,” senior Kalynn Hill said. Beaver had five players who scored in double digits. Flowers had 18 points, followed by junior Khalia Adams with 14, Kurtz and sophomore Asia Borders with 12 and Jackson with 10. In the USCAA semifinal game, Beaver took on conference foe Penn
Photo Courtesy of Penn State Beaver Athletics
Penn State Beaver’s women’s basketball team and staff pause for a photo after winning the USCAA championship against College of St. Joseph.
State Lehigh Valley, shutting them down 70-54. Beaver defeated Lehigh Valley once in the regular season, then in the Penn State University Athletic Conference Final Four before Beaver ultimately won the PSUAC title. In the beginning of the game, it looked to be a close one. But Beaver closed the game out in the second half, outscoring Lehigh Valley. “It’s hard to beat a team three times in a row,” Hill added. Kurtz led the way scoring 15 points while Mineard added 13 and Borders 12. Kurtz received All-Conference honors for the PSUAC and AllAmerican honors for the USCAA. Kurtz and Mineard won the Hot Shot competition. The competition, held the day before the playoffs begin, consists of making the most shots in one minute. Junior Cassandra Flowers was
selected for the All-Tournament Team. Flowers averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds. Kurtz was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds throughout the tournament. Beaver will be losing three seniors this year: Mineard, Hill and Gamble. “Each girl brought something to the court. Our seniors will be missed,” Coach Tim Moore said. “We will miss their ability on the court of course, (but) also their leadership,” Moore said. “They are a family and they accept their roles.” Kurtz is already looking ahead to next season. “This experience is unbelievable,” she said. “I want to win everything again next year.” Beaver ended the season 21-8, finishing on a six-game winning streak. Penn State Beaver’s Lady Lions was the first team in the PSUAC to win a National Championship.
Photo Courtesy of Penn State Beaver Athletics
Morgan Kurtz attempts to sink a ball in College of St. Joseph’s net.