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Penn State Beaver Roar
News
December 2015
Penn State pays bills for students missing grants State budget problems hold up PHEAA money for thousands ADELE SMITH Staff Writer
aks5753@psu.edu
The Roar/Mackenzie Hartman
Still on schedule to finish construction by fall 2016, the Michael Baker Building will open a chemistry lab in January for spring classes.
MBB will open in spring for organic chemistry lab JULIE WORST
Senior Staff Writer jaw6062@psu.edu
Despite the ongoing construction, part of the Michael Baker Science and Engineering Building will be open to students and faculty come January. “Renovations to the organic chemistry lab, an office space, restrooms on the upper floor, as well as most of the corridors to accommodate access to the lab will be done and those spaces will be open,” said Adam Rathbun, director of finance and business. This was part of the original construction plan in order to accommodate the needs of students taking organic chemistry. Although the classroom will be
open while the organic chemistry lab is taking place, the Michael Baker Building may be closed when the lab is not in session to continue construction. “Everyone can enter the open part of Michael Baker Building, but I encourage everyone to refrain from entering the building unless you need to,” Rathburn said. The $10 million renovation as a whole is on schedule, and the Michael Baker Building will be completely open for the 2016 fall semester. Professor of Chemistry Claudia Tanaskovic will be teaching Organic Chemistry 213, which will be using the lab. She said she is excited to be in the new lab but knows that, as with every new space, there will be an
adjustment period. Lab technician Kim Lawrence said, “The biggest challenge that will arise with getting the lab studentready, will be moving all of the equipment that is currently in storage over to the new lab. I am also concerned that Mother Nature will impact moving.” Lawrence is confident that the lab will be ready for the students in January. Not only are the faculty and staff excited to use the lab, but students also are ready to see and use the building. “The building will be a nice change in lab space, but getting used to the new lab will take time,” said sophomore Tyler Logue. Tyler is excited to be one of the first students to use it.
After waiting nearly three months for their Pennsylvania grants to disburse, eligible students finally got some good news. But it wasn’t the state government that took action. “Penn State has made the decision to front the money students were awarded with PHEAA, and then have PHEAA reimburse the university in return,” said Gail Gray, financial aid coordinator. The funds disbursed the second week of November. This caught some students by surprise because some received refunds that they had forgotten about. For others, it came in the nick of time because they had not been able to schedule classes for spring due to a financial hold on their accounts. Gray said Penn State is taking a “leap of faith” that the state will pass its budget soon and that the PHEAA awards will move forward as expected. The state budget stalemate is now in its fifth month. State leaders recently agreed to the “framework” of a new budget, including an increase in the state sales tax to 7.25 percent, according to various media reports. Details are still being worked out and a vote has yet to be taken. Before Penn State took action to fund the PHEAA grants, some students found themselves in a tough spot financially during most of the first semester. Emily Dietrich, a freshman,
planned to use the refund for books. “The situation was frustrating because it made money tight.” Because the money was not handed out on time, Dietrich had to personally come up with the funds for her books, so she actually went without. “I am so glad to have friends that were so accommodating and let me borrow their books, but it shouldn’t have been necessary,” she said. Courtney Lindstrom, a junior, wanted the money to use for both books and a financial cushion to comfortably participate in sports. Lindstrom described the ordeal as annoying. “There is no state help currently from a state-affiliated school.” The grants not being distributed forced Lindstrom to request larger personal loans that were not part of her original financial plan. Despite these struggles, Lindstrom was very optimistic of her situation, making it clear others were much worse off without the state budget. “Honestly, my life isn’t over because of the PHEAA grant, and I am more upset for those who solely rely on that money, like government workers and lower level schools,” Lindstrom said. Gray explained that the PHEAA grant is a grant for Pennsylvania residents and eligibility is based on the financial need of the student and the cost to attend. The PHEAA grant is able to cover anything related to the cost of attendance, whether it be tuition, books or travel expenses.
December 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
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Sports court causing concerns at night MATTHEW G. PALAHUNIK Staff Writer
mgp5156@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver finished its new sports court this semester, but it has already raised some concerns. The court was built with the intent of supplying students with something to do. Residence Life Coordinator Nate Kelley called it “an all-purpose facility.” Students and athletic teams, such as the hockey club, were considered when building it, Kelley said. Hoops for basketball and boards for hockey were built in consideration of those teams. However, some students have issues with it. Freshman Ryan Baurle plays basketball on the court all the time. However, he said he thinks it’s too small for an actual basketball court or for inline hockey. Sophomore Ryan Pinto, a member of the Fightin Beavs inline hockey team, said it isn’t good for hockey and the walls are “brutal” whenever a player crashes into them. Pinto is also a resident assistant in Harmony Hall and said he loves that people are using the sports court. However, when the court first opened he heard lots of complaints, ranging from the noise level all the way to the brightness of the lights. Fellow resident assistants Kristian Tienda-Langa and Christy Abraham, sophomores, both said it is great for the campus, especially since it’s something to do and pass time with. However, like Pinto, they said it gen-
The Roar/Lade King
Located behind Harmony Hall, the sports court offers a place for students to play basketball or inline hockey until 11 p.m. Issues regarding its construction and noise and light complaints have arisen since it opened in October.
erates complaints. Sophomore Jessica Sigala, a Harmony Hall resident whose room faces the court, said the lights are bothersome and annoying at night when she’s trying to sleep. They shine through her blinds even when they are shut, and she has to face the wall so she won’t be affected. Sophomore Amber Alvarado said she likes it because it gives her something to do on campus. The third-
floor Harmony Hall resident said her only complaint is the noise. It would be nice to have a time schedule on it so at night it would close and people can sleep in quiet, she said. Freshman Lexi Disanti, who lives on the first floor court side, said the construction noise was annoying while they were building it. Now, the noise is not as bothersome, though she can still hear people playing on it. Director of Housing and Food
Services Jeremy Lindner said the sports court was a great idea, but the location was undesirable. The court is great because it gives students something to do on campus, but its close proximity to the dorm is a concern, he said. Lindner said that during the planning process other locations that were brought up for consideration, such as near the gym and Wellness Center or in parking lot A’s lower lot
near the Maintenance Garage. Chris Rizzo, director of Student Affairs, said the decision to locate it close to Harmony Hall was to make it convenient for resident students. He said the current location was the final spot selected by Office of Physical Plant after considering all proposed locations. Rizzo said the lights on the court go on at dusk and are set to go out at 11 p.m. The court was built for all, but Rizzo said the Fightin Beavs hockey team was taken into consideration. “Part of the usage is with the hockey team in mind.” Rizzo said the sports court has given students an outlet for health and exercise. “I really like the idea (of the sports court). I think it has expanded a lot of recreational options for students.” Freshman Keith Painter agreed. “I like it, and I use it a lot.” Painter said it was a great investment made by the campus and he has no complaints. Freshman Natalie Delgadillo, who shoots hoops with friends on the court, actually likes to hear the noise from the court at night when she’s in her room. “The noise helps me sleep,” she said. Her only complaint is the double-rimmed hoops mess up her game. Freshman Ryan Onderko called the court “a quality investment.” He said he finds the noise a form of entertainment, because it’s funny to hear arguments and he likes to hear people having a great time.
POLICE BEAT
Student charged with theft of hat and visors from bookstore Ivan Rodriguez was charged by University Police on Nov. 9 with retail theft for allegedly taking items from the Penn State Bookstore. A bookstore employee notified police at 3:55 p.m. on Oct. 26 that
someone stole some visors and a hat from the store on the lower level of the Student Union Building.
PLAYING WITH FIRE
According to a police report, a
resident assistant in Harmony Hall contacted police at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 to say that someone had lit a name tag on a resident’s door on fire. The RA put the fire out and notified the police.
An officer checked the area and found four more name tags with burn marks on them.
LEAVING A MARK
A campus employee notified police
on Nov. 12 that graffiti was found on a landscape stone outside of the Ross Administration Building. Police determined the graffiti had been made between 8 a.m. and 2:50 p.m. that day.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
News
December 2015
WBVR changes its name NITA WILLIAMS Staff Writer
new5130@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver’s Radio Club experienced some technical difficulties this semester with legal issues over its name. Juliette Storr, associate professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and Radio Club advisor, explained that the designating call letters WBVR were claimed by another radio station under legal registration. Penn State Beaver was required to abandon the label that the campus station has been using for decades and find a new one. The WBVR call letters belong to Beaver 96.7, a country radio station in Kentucky. When the Radio Club was alerted to its ownership, it immediately took action. “We’re trying to rebrand the Radio Club as Beaver Radio, or The Beav,” said senior club member Paul “Dan” Kovalesky. The need for a name change has put a number of setbacks on the club and its members. Storr said that new webcasting service software needed to be
Beaver Radio Air Times “Uncharted” hosted by Colin and Stephanie Paich Monday: 11 a.m.-Noon Tuesday: Noon-1 p.m. Friday: Noon-1 p.m. “Ella Vanilla” hosted by Ella Bose Sunday: 7-8 p.m. Monday: 6-7 p.m. Thursday: 10-11 a.m. “The Duke and Dennis Show” hosted by Duke Griffith and Jason Dixon Monday: Noon-1 p.m. “Lex @ 11” hosted by Alexa Dipietriantonio Tuesday: 11 a.m.-Noon “Vitamin D” hosted by Dan Kovalesky and Dan Plummer Wednesday: 11 a.m.-Noon
Junior Colin Paich explores the new equipment in the radio room.
installed, a large portion of the hardware was replaced or updated, and the insurance liability coverage had to be passed through officials at University Park. The process took nearly eight weeks and put off broadcasting until late October. “The club had to meet the strict FCC regulations, and that’s why we
were set back,” added Peri Coleman, a freshman member of Radio Club. The changes to facilities have benefitted more than just the new trademark of the station. “The improvements have actually boosted student attraction. They have a bunch of new toys to play with,” Storr said. Students interested in audio
The Roar/Tyler Thellman
broadcasting have jumped on board with the program and begun airing their own shows, she added. The group aims to get more people listening to the broadcast. The club airs online at http://clubs.psu. edu/br/wbvr. Student shows include anything from discussions on science to indie rock beats.
“Electric Ice” hosted by Dan Kovalesky Wednesday: 7-8 p.m. “Kokoro Beats” hosted by Ashley White Tuesday: 1-2 p.m. Thursday: 1-2 p.m. “Foxy’s Favs” hosted by Peri Coleman Friday: 3-4 p.m. “Chris FM” hosted by Chris Bedillion Tuesday: 5-6 p.m. Thursday: 5-6 p.m.
The new Angel provides a blank Canvas for classes SAVANA C. GRIGGS Staff Writer
scg5198@psu.edu
Angel, the course management system that students and faculty have used for nearly two decades, will no longer exist after December 2017. A new course management system, called Canvas, is being used by some faculty members to positive reviews. Director of Academic Affairs Carey McDougall is very enthusiastic about the benefits that Canvas offers. “I know the students are going to love it,” she said. According to McDougall, Canvas is a better system that is much more up-to-date. Unlike Angel, Canvas will be able to give students and
Screenshot courtesy of Alexa DiPietrantonio
Canvas allows student to customize their names and contact information.
faculty the chance to update itself, much like any other app on smart phones or tablets. By the summer of 2016, all of the
faculty will be able to transfer their information from Angel to Canvas. “I can’t see them having a difficult time learning how to adjust to Can-
vas,” said McDougall. About a dozen faculty members are currently participating in a pilot of Canvas, including Sonya Kitsko, lecturer in education, and Tiffany MacQuarrie, instructor in English. Kitsko said she is excited for the new management system and its benefits. “I think it’s going to be much more user friendly, not just for professors, but also for students,” said Kitsko. “You as a student can actually go into Canvas and put in the contact information you prefer, so if I as a teacher want to send you a reminder about a quiz, [Canvas] can send you a text message, or whatever preferred
method of communication you want.” MacQuarrie said she loves that Canvas is so responsive. “It’s going to give teachers the opportunity to contact the mass of our students.” Sophomore Alexa DiPietrantonio, a Roar staffer, was floored by the news about the arrival of Canvas. She is a transfer student from Bowling Green State University where Canvas was their course management system. “Yes, I’m excited about Canvas. It’s a lot easier to manage and Angel is old-fashioned,” said DiPietrantonio. “Teachers should definitely use it,” she said. “The overall design is a lot easier.”
December 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
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New SGA leadership changes focus MARIA ROGERS Staff Writer
mrr5425@psu.edu
The campus Student Government Association has shifted its focus and is putting more time toward community service and on campus activities. This shift in focus reflects the actions of the SGA members and not the written constitution of the club, said SGA President Brianna D’Itri, who is also a member of The Roar staff. “Nothing has changed in our constitution except that now we are becoming more active as a club,” D’Itri, a junior, said. Christopher Rizzo, director of student affairs and SGA advisor, said the change in focus is not uncommon. “In terms of student government, there is always a change of perspective and motivation as the leadership
The Roar/Maria Rogers
SGA hosted its annual Red Cross “Bleed Blue” Blood Drive in November and collected 24 pints of blood.
changes within the government,” Rizzo said. Community service is quickly becoming a main focus of SGA. “We are really trying to re-brand ourselves as more of a service-oriented organization in comparison to previ-
ous years,” said Vice President Paul “Dan” Kovalesky, a senior. In the past the SGA did not sponsor as many events as they have this semester. “We’re going to be more of an active club on the campus and do a lot of volunteerism and service
learning,” D’Itri said. “We have a monthly service day when we go out into the community and do whatever is needed.” One new program SGA is organizing is a diversity summit, which will be a series of events from Nov. 30
through Dec. 4. “The summit’s goal is to bring relevant social issues to light for students,” D’Itri said. Each day of the summit will be a little different. For the first event, students will talk about race relations and participate in activities about racial privilege. The next day will be a conversation about rape culture. Another day will include a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex allegiance-centered event, talking about the definition of gender and understanding different aspects of the topic. A representative from Planned Parenthood will be also be on campus one day to give a talk on Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. For the last event, SGA will hold a voter registration workshop.
Noise in the library: nuisance or necessity? MARIA ROGERS Staff Writer
mrr5425@psu.edu
It’s getting louder in the Penn State Beaver library this semester, and not all students are OK with that. “It’s bullshit,” said senior Jon Walton about the level of noise in the library. It’s not always possible to keep a busy college library quiet, said Head Librarian Amy Deuink. “The ideal atmosphere for this library would be a place conducive to learning and would offer a variety of learning atmospheres,” Deuink said. That task can be challenging in itself without the architectural limitations that the library poses. “The construction of this building, being one open room, makes it difficult to offer all those atmospheres at one time. It’s not easily something
The Roar/Brianna D’Itri
Senior Jon Walton takes advantage of a “quiet study area.”
we can get around,” Deuink said. Walton, however, isn’t buying it. “In a library it is common knowl-
edge that the atmosphere should be quiet. My high school library was quieter and better regulated on noise
than Penn State Beaver’s,” Walton said. Not everyone on campus views the noise as a bad thing. “I think the library needs to offer an area for collaboration,” said senior Ashley Cutrona. “When you have big group projects, the library has everything you need to make that group work easier,” said Cutrona. Collaboration is encouraged in the library, which has designated spots for collaborative work. “I believe there is an expectation of students for group work in courses, and there will be an expectation in the workplace for communication and collaboration,” Deuink said. “I believe collaboration is part of the learning environment.” Walton disagreed. “The library should not be used for group work. There are other plac-
es on campus for that, like the Student Activities Suite.” Sophomore Amanda Hackinson agrees with Walton. “I feel like the library should be a silent study area and not used so much for collaboration. There are other rooms to use for that,” Hackinson said. Deuink’s advice to students who take issue with the noise is to use the silent study room in the downstairs portion of the library. “The silent study room is a place sectioned off from the rest of the library to ensure there is always a quiet place to study,” she said. Hackinson likes the idea of the study room. “I think the silent study room is a good thing. I’m glad there is somewhere to go that’s quite,” said Hackinson.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Viewpoints
December 2015
BEAVER PREPARES FOR ACTIVE SHOOTER WITH ON-CAMPUS DRILL
MANAGING EDITOR OF CONTENT Lade King
lak5479@psu.edu
MANAGING EDITOR OF PRODUCTION Brooke Doerfler
bmd5296@psu.edu
BUSINESS MANAGER Elle George
erg161@psu.edu
PAGE DESIGNERS Brianna D’Itri
bbd5033@psu.edu
Adam Espinoza ate5052@psu.edu
Andy Germani
arg5226@psu.edu
Chris Rotondo
ctr5138@psu.edu
Zach Ulrich
zau5001@psu.edu
ADVISERS Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu
Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu
Colleges must prepare for worst, hope for best On Oct. 1, Chris Harper-Mercer walked onto the campus of Umpqua Community College in Oregon where he was enrolled in English and theatre classes. The 26-year-old, brandishing a gun, walked into his English class in the science building, told his professor that he’d “been waiting to do this for years,” and shot and killed the teacher at point-blank range. According to an account from one of the students in the room, the students in the class fell to the floor after the man arrive. The shooter then asked anyone who was a Christian to stand up. As they stood, he told them they were “going to see God in about a second” and shot them. Nine victims died that day, and the shooter took his own life. The Umpqua community is very small and quiet; one would hardly believe that
such a tragedy could happen there. Shootings like this on college campuses have become more common place. According to Time magazine, there have been 23 shootings on campuses across the United States so far in 2015. From those, 18 people have died and 27 were injured. If Oregon seems far away, it shouldn’t. The Community College of Beaver County was one of the colleges listed by Time for a shooting incident. On April 2, student Dave Bondy accidentally shot himself as he was trying to clean his weapon in the parking lot of the college. Whether it be a fatal active shooter or a minor accidental discharge, the reality is that anything can happen and every college in America needs to be prepared in the event of a shooting incident. That’s why the drill on Nov. 16 here at Penn State Beaver was so valuable. No
matter how much we think it’s not going to happen here, one can never know for sure. The training was helpful for the law enforcement to practice what they would do if an incident occurred here. Three different scenarios were acted out during the drill, including a hostage situation. While the scenarios were hypothetical, the training was made to seem as real as possible. So-called victims had theatrical makeup applied to appear as if they had been wounded. Police and emergency responders carried unloaded weapons and equipment, too, just as if it were a real emergency. Nobody knows if it will happen. Nor is anyone expecting or hoping that it does. But it’s good to know that no one at Penn State Beaver will be ignorant about what to do if we find ourselves in the heat of a situation.
Penn State does the right thing by funding missing PHEAA grants Thank you, Penn State, for providing for your students in a way that the state has been unable. The budget impasse in Harrisburg is in its fifth month, and as a result the Pennsylvnia Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has been unable to fund any of it’s grant awards. The lack of state financial aid has been on students’ last nerves. Being a Commonwealth Campus, Penn State Beaver exists to provide an afforable education to Pennsylvania students. Many of its students rely heavily on financial aid. Missing PHEAA grants have left some Beaver campus students without the ability to schedule for the upcoming semester due to financial holds on their accounts.
For others, it meant no refund money with which to buy books. Some even increased their student loans to cover for the missing grant money. Without the grant, financial security has diminished for many at-need students. However, Penn State Beaver has always been an advocate for student financial support. In fact, this year the campus had so many scholarship recipients that the Student Union Building Lodge could not accommodate parents being included in the scholarship reception this past October. Another example is the extra budgetary support the campus puts toward hiring more student workers. Federal and state
work-study programs are only available to a small number of students. Former Chancellor Gary B. Keefer allocated extra funds years ago to hire more students, and the practice continues to this day. So, thank you, Penn State for taking the financial risk to help students who, if they had recieved their PHEAA grants, would not have had to spend their fall semester worrying if they would be able to come back in the spring. Harrisburg, the ball is now in your court to return that promise of kindness to Penn State. Gov. Tom Wolf and all state represenratives, students are already stressed and in debt. Please pass a budget soon so you don’t exaserbate our problems.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: lak5479@psu. edu. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number.
ADS FOR CLUBS Free advertising space is offered to any universityrecognized organization or club to promote upcoming events. The space is limited to one eighthpage ad per club per edition. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: erg161@ psu.edu.
The content and opinions of this publication reside solely with the authors and not with the Pennsylvania State University or the Penn State Beaver Student Activity Fee Committee.
News
December 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar
End-of-term stress leads to colds and flu ADELE SMITH Staff Writer
aks5753@psu.edu
To our health
Students Joe Cornell and Sidney Bates smile as they get facials from a team of cosmetology students at the annual Health, Wellness and Fitness Fair on Nov. 18. Right, Coco the clown was the center of attention as she spent her day making creative hats for students to wear. The Roar/Matt Sweikowski
The most crucial time of the semester, from midterms to finals, can create a cycle of stress and illness for students. Instructor in Biology Stephanie Cabarcas-Petroski said stress is a risk factor for college students to become ill. “The end of the semester, with midterms, projects and finals, causes stress on students, which leads to a decrease in the immune system’s performance, making you more susceptible to illness,” said Petroski. Campus Nurse Barbara Kugel said students are particularly susceptible to picking up a virus. “(It’s) mostly viral conditions that involve the upper respiratory system, such as the common cold and the flu,” Kugel said. Freshman Alayne Held said she has already gotten sick over the past month and a half. Held was sick with pneumonia for three days and had a stomach bug for a week. “I missed a lot of school, so the lecture classes are hard to catch up on,” Held said. Held said missing so many classes because of her illness increased her stress levels. “I have had some very understanding teachers,” Held said. Senior Joshua Davis has been sick for a little over a month. “Missing school has made all of my classes extremely hard, but my teachers have been super understanding,” Davis said.
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Davis said his grades have not been severely affected, but there has still been a drop. “Even though I haven’t missed a ton of assignments, being sick has affected my studying. It makes it harder to concentrate when you are sick,” Davis said. Davis knows not to stress out about classes too much, because it really just aggravates the symptoms. “Eating right, drinking plenty of fluids and using disposable things such as paper towels instead washcloths are also important factors in infection protection,” Kugel said. Although protection from germs is important, being proactive with killing good bacteria and even viruses can cause more harm than good. “Hand sanitizer and antibacterial soaps kill all bacteria, but not all bacteria are bad,” Petroski said. “Our bodies are hosts of bacteria, but some have their uses such as aiding in digestion.” Petroski also made it clear that students need an actual confirmed case of bacterial infection before taking an antibiotic. “Repeated and unnecessary use of antibiotics for viruses such as the common cold can make you more likely to pick up not only other infections but bacteria as well,” Petroski said. Kugel agreed. “All the antibiotics in the world can’t heal an infection that is viral,” she said. The key, according to Kugel and Petroski, is treating symptoms as they come around to improve how you feel until the illness passes.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
December 2015
Freshmen reflect on their first semester in college SAVANA C. GRIGGS Staff Writer
scg5198@psu.edu
First-semester freshman Scott Battles, a mechanical engineering major, is one of the many students who commute to campus every day. The Central Valley High School graduate lives with his family just 10 minutes from campus. “I’m going here because it is fairly close to my home and I didn’t really want to go away to a bigger university or to another place where I knew I wouldn’t be comfortable,” Battles said. Battles is one of 210 new freshmen to enroll at Penn State Beaver this fall, and one of 20.2 million students across the nation to attend a new college or university, according to the National Center for Education. New college students must adapt to life after high school and transition to the rigors and demands of college life if they are to be successful. Battles and other students say they like Penn State Beaver because it’s making that transition easier. “College life is different from what I expected,” he said. “I thought I would be working 24/7, which is pretty much the case, but other than that, I have a lot of more free than I thought I would.” Like most other Penn State students, Battles is on the 2+2 plan. However, after his first two years at Beaver, he plans to finish his degree at Penn State Behrend. Battles said the engineering classes at Beaver are tough. “The engineering and design class made me consider changing my major. It’s just really hard. It’s different from anything that I’ve ever done. The learning curve is very, very steep, and it’s not very forgiving.” Battles said he’s content living with his parents. “I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to
The Roar/Kate Serna (left), Morgan Zelkovic (top), Hayley Goonen (bottom)
Left: Natalie Delgadillo enjoys luch with a friend in the Brodhead Bistro. Top: Manae Young smiles as she completes her artwork, “The Great Wave.” Bottom: Kalyn Marksteiner, a biology major, catches up with some statistics during her free time in the Student Union Building.
eat for dinner. My mom helps with that.” While Battles lives just minutes from campus, freshman computer science major Manae Young’s home is six hours away in Princeton, New Jersey.
Young lived in Japan for nine years while growing up, returning to the U.S. at age 14. Ironically, it’s at Penn State Beaver where she got to know people from other cultures. “In Japan there are only Japanese people. I never saw people of dif-
ferent races. When I came here, I saw people from other countries, and I got to know their country,” Young said. “There are a lot of international students from India and Europe, so I got to talk to them, too, and I can
never experience that in Japan,” she added. Young is also on the 2+2 program, planning to go to University Park for her junior year. She’s already conContinued on Page 9
December 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar
Features Freshmen are happy with their decision to pick Beaver campus Continued from Page 8
cerned about the size of the campus. “I really like being here, and I will be going to UP in two years. I’m just not ready for the class sizes, and I’m not ready for the larger population,” she said. Young’s decision to come to Penn State was simple. “I was looking at colleges online, and I saw that Penn State is a really good engineering university. In computer science, I have to take engineering courses, so I thought it
Freshman Harlem Gray browses books in the library.
would be better to come here than my local school,” Young said. “My parents didn’t want me to go to UP because they thought it would be better to have smaller classes. Now I have 20 people in one class, and I get to know the professors and I get to know more people. Now I pretty much know a lot of people here and I can say ‘hi’ to anyone.”
The Roar/Kylie Diegmiller
Despite the fact that Young lives hours away, some other students like Harlem Gray and Natalie Delgadillo come from thousands of miles away in the valleys of Los Angeles. The story of how Gray came to Penn State Beaver is kind of funny, he said. “I didn’t know which campus was the main campus, and neither did my counselor, so when we
made this decision she literally told me to close my eyes and I scrolled through the page and clicked on Penn State Beaver.” In coming to western Pennsylvania, the most significant difference is the climate. “We only have two types of tress in the valley: pine trees and palm trees, and this fall is like our winter in California.” Gray said being on his own means it’s time for him to grow up. “Mom or dad can’t be the ones to make you go to school anymore. You have to be the one to force yourself to go now.” Delgadillo is planning on majoring in biochemistry and minoring in forensic science. She said she considered other colleges on the West Coast, such as the University of Southern California, the University of California at Los Angeles and Oregon State University. But she ultimately chose Penn State. “Pennsylvania is known for the great opportunities to study medi-
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cine, and I want to become a doctor, so that’s why I came here,” she said. “Overall, it’s been positive so far, and I like the smaller campus.” Delgadillo is slowly getting used to the colder temperatures and rainy weather, but she is happy with her choice. Freshman Kaylyn Marksteiner is well acquainted with western Pennsylvania’s climate. She is a commuter from Potter Township and is planning on getting her degree in biology with a focus in genetics. “I do like the fact that I am able to commute to campus. The perk about it is that I am able to save so much money before I go up to University Park,” said Marksteiner. Marsteiner’s concern is that the classes are going to get harder. “College was an easier transition for me I think because I took summer classes after high school. I would like to get involved with more clubs, but right now I’m focusing more on my academics,” she said.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
December 2015
High alert
Training helps students, police prepare for an active shooter on campus ROB TRHLIN Staff Writer
ryt5088@psu.edu
As police officers burst into the Penn State Beaver Student Union Building Nov. 16, cries and screams could be heard echoing throughout the halls. “I’m shot!” “Help me!” “He has a gun!” Fortunately for everyone, it was only a drill. Police and paramedics from Penn State Beaver, Center Township, Monaca and surrounding communities conducted an active shooter response training exercise with the help of students from Beaver, Shenango and New Kensington campuses. “It was a great learning experience for the students as well as local law enforcement. We wanted to make it as real as possible to properly educate everyone involved,” said LaVarr McBride, instructor in Administration of Justice, who organized the event for his criminal justice classes at the three campuses. About 65 students were involved. Many played the part of victims, while others were allowed to shadow law enforcement and medical teams to learn what it’s like to be in those jobs during an emergency situation.
“There is no better place to learn than in a safe environment, where mistakes can be made as part of the learning experience,” McBride said. McBride and Carey McDougall, director of Academic Affairs, said they want to make sure the campus and local law enforcement agencies are prepared if a life-threatening situation were to arise on campus. “The demonstration showed that anything can happen anywhere, and we want students along with local law enforcements to know how to respond in such a crisis,” McDougal said. To bring a greater sense of realism to the training exercise, cosmetologist Megan Hardy designed realisticlooking wounds on several of the students using toilet paper and makeup. “The wounds looked like they actually just happened,” said junior Alissa Ketterer, who had a gaping wound across her neck that looked as if her throat had been slit. “They definitely added a sense of realism to the demonstration.” As the event got underway, leg and arm wounds dripped blood made of powdered sugar, cocoa, chocolate syrup and red food coloring. One student, freshman Hayley Totten, looked like she’d been shot in the head.
Sophomore Shawn Shaner sported an abdominal wound that ultimately proved “fatal” for him. “The officers told me that the realistic wounds really added to the experience,” McBride said. “It added another level to an intense training exercise.”
Police and students went through three scenarios. The first involved the officers storming the building to subdue a shooter. It only took a few minutes for the officers to complete their objective and clear the building. Medics then took the “injured” to
waiting ambulances. “It is better to be prepared for something like that because it can happen, and we have seen it happen,” said Shaner. “I now have a better understanding of what to do and how to react in that situation.” The second scenario had the vic-
tims the h breac Th majo “O polic crow
running and screaming down hall toward the exits as officers ched the building. This common behavior can pose or challenges for the officers. Often in these situations what ce officers deal with is a panicked wd trying to escape while they’re
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The Roar/ Brooke Doerfler (left, top) Lade King (middle, bottom)
entering the scene. This scenario is a good way for them to learn how to deal with that,” McBride said. “They’re all screaming. Some of them are hurt and crying out for help. Police have to know what to do in that situation.”
The fleeing students were herded out the door by one group of officers while another continued into the building to deal with the threat. The students were lined up against the exterior of the building and sort Active shooter training See Page 11
Left: Students run down the SUB hall during the Nov. 16 shooter training. Top: Haley Totten lays on a couch in the SUB with a tag on her hand saying she died. Middle: Campus police and emergency responders charge toward the incident. Bottom: Natalie Delgadillo has a flesh wound painted on her leg with theatrical makeup.
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Campus police help students prepare for a dorm shooter CHRIS ROTONDO Staff Writer
ctr5138@psu.edu
A medic treats Shawn Shaner’s abdominal wound. Shaner eventually “died” from his injuries in the simulation.
The Roar/Brooke Doerfler
Active shooter training prepares campus, teaches students about emergency response Continued from Page 12
ed into “injured” and “non-injured” groups. Medics offered treatment to the “injured” students while the others waited to be questioned. “The way the officers handled the situations was very re-assuring,” said freshman Dina Cable. “The officers made everyone feel safe by showing they are prepared for such a situation.” Once the chaos outside settled, the students had an opportunity to watch as law enforcement went in to examine the crime
scene and deal with the victims. Inside the Student Union Building lobby, two students lay “dead” and two others were “seriously wounded.” Their classmates stood in stunned silence as medics reported the injury count over their radios. One “injured” student was carried out of the building in a sling. “It was very realistic, with everything from the fake wounds to the seriousness of the officers and how they handled the situations,” said Cable. In the final scenario, the gunman was holed up in the game room with two hostages while the SWAT team moved into position and hostage negotiators tried to diffuse the
situation. Following the event, Penn State Beaver Police Chief Anthony Budris stressed the need for communication between students and law enforcement. “It was great to have the students take part in the demonstration,” he said. “It helps us better communicate with the students, so they can feel safe knowing we take pride in protecting them.” The students agreed. “I feel safe knowing that even though this was a demonstration, the officers treated it like an actual situation and handled everything in a serious manner,” said freshman Brittany Garza.
Penn State Beaver Police hosted a program Nov. 3 in Harmony Hall, which informed students on what to do in the event of an active shooter situation on campus. The program, titled “Stay SAFE: Surviving an Active Shooter,” was presented by campus Officer Bryan Cattivera, who went through the steps that students should follow in the event of an active shooter situation. The program took place two weeks before Penn State Beaver’s active shooter demonstration. Cattivera presented four important steps for students to follow, which form the anagram SAFE: Search for an exit; Alert the authorities; Find a place to hide; and End the threat. “An active shooter’s goal is to shoot as many people as possible,” Cattivera said. Escaping the room where the violence is occurring reduces your chance of being attacked, he said. Cattivera told the students to call 911 and not campus police if they find a shooter. He also added that you should be as descriptive as possible when explaining the situation and to stay on the line until the authorities hang up. Next, you must find a place to hide so that the shooter does not find you. Finally, you need to somehow end the threat. “Do whatever you can to stop the action,” Cattivera said, but also noted that this should be a last resort option only, since direct contact with the shooter puts yourself in a dangerous situation. “Your reaction could vary if [an active shooter] situation occurs,” warned Cattivera, further emphasizing the importance of these four steps. Cattivera also told the students that in this type of situation, it is important to listen to whatever the police say. He added that the police might not initially know who the shooter is, so they may have to be forceful towards hostages in order to find the shooter. Finally, Cattivera noted that “every situation is different” and that it is important to pay attention to the events surrounding you. He also urged students to sign up for the Penn State Alert system at psualert.psu.edu to be notified in case of an emergency on campus.
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Students celebrate international holidays ALEXA DIPIETRANTONIO Staff Writer
and151@psu.edu
Some holidays are right around the corner, but who knew there were hundreds of holidays throughout the year? While the most common winter celebrations among Penn State Beaver faculty and students remain Christmas and Hanukah, there are many international students and even some faculty who celebrate differently. While New Year’s is on Jan. 1 in the United States and many other countries, the Chinese New Year will be on Feb. 8 in 2016. The date varies depending on the year, but it is usually sometime in January or February. “New Years is very family-oriented, like many of the Chinese holidays,” said sophomore Vina Liao, international student from China. She explained that she and her family watch different shows on television, consisting of both modern and traditional shows, before ringing a bell at the turn of the New Year. A similar holiday, Diwali, marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and was held this year on Nov. 11. Like the Chinese New Year, Diwali also varies depending on the year. Radhika Navdiya, a sophomore originally from Northeastern India, explained that extended family gets together for dinner and the women prepare the meal – vegetarian food, of course. While some are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day or Easter around the world, Navdiya spoke of another Indian holiday called Holi, which is usually celebrated in the month of March. “It’s like a color run, but no running,” she laughed. “People just throw colors in the streets.” In South Africa, many holidays occur between the months of March and May. Assistant Professor of Biology Cassandra Miller-Butterworth lived in
Submitted photo
Vina Liao, left, poses with some friends during Chinese New Year.
Submitted photo
Radhika Navdiya, right, and her mom, wear traditional Indian attire during the Navratri festival.
South Africa most her life before moving to the United States in 2004. She said Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, Youth Day and Workers Day all fall in the months of March,
April and May, in addition to Easter. Easter is similar in South Africa to the celebration in the United States, except that they eat different foods, that aren’t typical for Americans.
While Americans are enjoying their Labor Day holiday in the beginning of September, the Chinese are looking forward to the Moon Festival, which was on Sept. 27 this year. The Moon Festival occurs in midautumn, which is when the moon is at its roundest and brightest.“Our Moon Festival is similar to the American Thanksgiving,” said Liao. Instead of turkey and stuffing, she and her parents eat moon cakes, which are somewhere in between bread and cookies, Liao explained. Depending on where you are from in China, the fillings for the moon cakes differ from egg yolk, which is what Liao eats, to beans. “It’s really difficult to make, so we just buy them,” Liao laughed.Another holiday in China is their National Day, similar to America’s Independence Day. It is celebrated on Oct. 1 with fireworks and festivals, but they also have school and work off from Oct. 1 to7. “I never feel like a patriot to my country, but I feel very proud of my country on that day,” said Liao. In India, Navdiya’s favorite holiday, Navratri usually occurs in September or October, depending on the year.
“Navratri is a nine-day celebration where people dress up and go to a dance. Well, at least the young people dance,” Navdiya said, laughing. Although Navdiya has lived in the United States for years now, she still believes that it is important to hold on to traditions so that the generations to come will also experience them. As December comes around, many Americans are preparing for Christmas.In South Africa, Christmas is similar, but they do eat different food than Americans traditionally do. “We eat turkey, Christmas pudding, mince pies and fruit cake,” said Miller-Butterworth.Plus another thing that is very different from Christmas in western Pennsylvania is that, because it is summer in South African when Christmas is celebrated, there is only fake snow. Miller-Butterworth and her family now follow American holidays, but they continue the different traditions of South African Christmas. She says it’s important for her children to experience South African holidays as well. “Even though they are American, being South African is part of the family’s heritage, so it’s important,” said Miller-Butterworth.
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Netflix and chill? New slang defines new generation’s communication JULIE WORST
Senior Staff Writer jaw6062@psu.edu
Netflix and chill? Sure, many of us have heard this slang term before, but what exactly are you asking to do? “Netflix and chill” actually refers to two people “hooking up” while a Netflix movie plays in the background, according to Urban Dictionary. It’s just one of a number of new slang terms that has entered popular culture, helped by social media. Merriam-Webster defines slang as “language peculiar to a particular group.” Slang can be as common as the southern term “y’all” or can be as uncommon as “bread,” which meant money in the 1950s. Across the country, slang changes. Pittsburgh is well known for its slang that is used everyday. Social media can help slang become popular. A prime example
is the term “bye Felicia,” used to say goodbye to someone that you don’t really care about. Rapper and actor Ice Cube used the line in the obscure movie “Friday” from 1995. But a recent Vine that went viral introduced the term, which has become popular among college students. Even Penn State Beaver also has its own unique slang, said senior Maura Francis. “Penn State Beaver uses slang every day, like the Brodhead Bistro called the ‘Stro’ or ‘Bistro.’ ” Slang could be anything from a familiar word to which you give a different meaning, to a made-up word that is said the same but spelled completely differently. Francis said she first heard the term “yasssss” (used with as many s’s as you’d like) her freshman year when a classmate from New York used it. Now, it’s become popular on campus.
Although most students use slang everyday, some think that slang has a negative connotation. Often, it does. Take the term “THOT” (pronounced thought). A derogatory term toward women, it’s actually an acronym that Urban Dictionary says it stands for “That Hoe Over There.” “Using slang makes me feel undedicated and lazy,” sophomore Jenifer Pierce said, though she did admit to occasionally using some of the terms. Senior Ryan Zagorski said using slang can make you sound uneducated. “Hearing people using slang terms makes me perceive them differently.” “Context is everything,” said Instructor in English Tiffany MacQuarrie. “Using slang amongst your friends is perfectly fine.” MacQuarrie said she likes to be in the know so that she can relate to her students.
Roar Illistration by Brooke Doerfle
New slang is changing the way younger people communicate with each other.
Beware: Social media can ruin your job prospects MARIA ROGERS Staff Writer
mrr5425@psu.edu
As a college student, using social media the right way could benefit you. However, using it the wrong way could easily ruin your life and future career prospects. According to Brenda Schultz, campus career counselor, students need to be careful what they share on social media. “Students need to be extremely aware of social media and what brand they are projecting,” Schultz said. “By ‘brand’ I mean how people want others to see them. Social
media is a huge part of that, not only what you are posting but what others are posting of you and tagging you in.” Schultz says some mistakes students make on social media are posting inappropriate photographs and profanity. Also they ignore the fact that “likes” on sites such as Facebook are public and often appear on yours and others profiles. Senior Steven Mangle agrees that oversharing on social media is a mistake students often make. “People posting about personal issues, alcohol problems, family issues and giving away their cur-
rent locations are mistakes I see too much,” Mangle said. Students don’t often realize the consequences that come along with the uses of social media. “A student once posted on Facebook bragging that they had cheated on an exam, or paper,” said Admissions Counselor Justin Vorbach. “A professor or staff member saw this and the student who had posted that status got into big trouble.” Vorbach, who oversees the campus’ social media sites, has advice for students who use social media. “Don’t be that person. Don’t cheat, and really think about what you post
on social media.” Schultz warned that nothing online should is private. “There are many employers out there that will engage in doing a social media search of prospective employees and some that will even go as far as asking you to log into these accounts on their company computer.” Schultz’s advice is for students to do a Google search of themselves before a prospective employer does. “Be aware of what is on your social media, not only what you post, but what you are tagged in.” Students use social media in a lot of different ways.
Sophomore Jared Boggs says social media helps his small business. “I only have a social media account with Facebook. I use Facebook for my business in drone marketing photography.” Freshman Dennis Pietrandrea said he uses different platforms for different purposes.. “I use Facebook because most games require a Facebook login,” Pietrandrea said. “I use Twitter for information and to keep up to date, believe it or not. (I use) Instagram to store memories in photos, and Tumblr and Vine for entertainment purposes.”
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Student goes to national ag conference BRIANNA RICE Staff Writer
bmr5418@psu.edu
Sophomore Julie Worst was filled with excitement and a tinge of pride as she stepped off a plane Nov. 5 in Kansas City, Mo. Earlier this semester, Worst received an email from University Park offering her a chance to attend an agricultural conference in Kansas City. She sent in the application for the conference, hopeful but without any real expectations. Worst soon received a second email congratulating her on the fact that she now was one of eight students Penn State chose to attend the 2015 Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leadership Conference. In addition, Worst had received a sponsorship from the AFA Partners to help pay for the trip, one of 150 students in the country to receive it. Worst said the conference gave her a great opportunity to do some networking and to talk to different companies that she could potentially work for. She learned of their missions, their goals and how their goals align with her own. The conference was also filled with intriguing speakers who talked about managing money, using appropriate body language, dealing with stress and developing a sense of leadership,
Submitted by Julie Worst
Agriculture Future of America delegates package food for outreach at the Leadership Conference in November. Penn State Beaver’s Julie Worst was among the students from across the country to attend.
Worst said. Worst, who is an agriculture science major with a specialty in agriculture communications and leadership development, said it was a great opportunity to get out of her comfort
zone and reflect on what her values are. “This conference rejuvenated my passion for the agriculture industry and made me realize why I want to do what I am doing,” Worst said.
“It also gave me a whole new sense of direction in my life and a whole new scope of the agriculture industry,” Worst added. Michael Hay, associate professor of chemistry and Worst’s academic
advisor, said Worst has strong leadership abilities. She successfully organized a group of students and took them on a trip to University Park for an agricultural job fair. “I think Julie is the perfect candidate for this conference,” Hay said. “She has natural leadership skills and is very influential. I believe that this conference will help her to further hone those skills.” Kim Lawrence, laboratory preparation technician as well as Worst’s sister, said that not only does Worst have good leadership skills, but she is also very good at presenting herself. “Julie is very outgoing and very easy to talk to. And because of this, I think that she will be a good representation of agricultural students here at Penn State Beaver,” Lawrence said.Lawrence also said that Worst, who already has experience in agriculture, will benefit from this conference. She hopes that Worst came back with increased knowledge in the field as well as ideas that will help future farmers in the area. Worst has displayed her leadership skills on Penn State Beaver campus as she is a Lion Ambassador, a senior staff writer for The Roar, secretary of the Residence Hall Advisory Council, president of the Campus Activities Team and a member of the Green Team.
Beaver’s Mini THON will help determine dancers BRIANNA RICE Staff Writer
bmr5418@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver will be hosting a Mini THON on Dec. 4 and 5 in support of the fight against pediatric cancer. Amy Gartley, associate director of student affairs, said Mini THON is a replication of Penn State University Park’s THON, though on a much smaller scale. Sophomore Sumanth Sriramoju, Penn State Beaver’s THON activities
captain, said that this event will start off with a bonfire early in the evening followed by a 12-hour dance marathon in the Student Union Building Lodge. The night will be backed with music from Penn State Beaver’s radio station as well as live music from a student band featuring sophomores Tyler Logue, Harsha Guttikonda, Guido Palombo and Sriramoju. In addition, karaoke will be available, food will be provided, and the game room will be open for all who just
want to chill, Sriramoju said. Sophomore Randy Meskow, chairman of Penn State Beaver’s Mini THON, said that the event is open to all students who are interested in coming, either to dance or to cheer the dancers on. A student can even invite their family to join them. Gartley said that anyone who wants to participate in University Park’s THON, which is a 46-hour dance marathon, must dance in Beaver’s Mini THON – a trial run to determine whether or not the dancer
will be able to handle 46 hours. In addition, the student must pair up with another to raise a minimum of $2,800, which will get them into a lottery drawing. If the pair is picked from this lottery, they will be eligible to dance in University Park’s THON, Gartley said. THON will be held at the Bryce Jordan Center on Feb.19 and 20. Sophomore Ami Baghat, who attended last year’s Mini THON, said that it was an experience she very much enjoyed.
“I would love to go again and would definitely encourage other students to go,” Baghat said. Baghat said that the food was very good, the games were fun and the band was very talented. “It really felt good to be a part of Mini THON and to cheer these dancers who, in turn, could cheer on a child with cancer,” Baghat added. Meskow agreed. “THON is a huge part of Penn State,” he said. “You have to do it.”
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RESTAURANT FEATURE
Vesuvio’s offers quality homestyle Italian food TY COLE
Staff Writer wtc5037@psu.edu
When asked one word to describe his restaurant, Vesuvio’s owner Tony Chirico marveled for a second. Then the word “family” came to his mind. Vesuvio’s is an Italian restaurant that specializes in its pizza and various other Italian foods. It all started almost 30 years ago when Chirico’s family in Toronto, Canada, started the restaurant. Then in 1984, Vesuvio’s opened up in Center Township in the shopping plaza behind Penn State Beaver. “To this day we still use the recipes that were used in Toronto,” said Chirico. When Walmart opened in 1992, Vesuvio’s benefitted for its prime location. As retail development took off in other parts of Center Township, Vesuvio’s moved to its current location across from Target and in the same plaza as Panera Bread. Some of the best sellers are gnoc-
The Roar/Cathy Benscoter
The spinach calzone is one of the popular items at Vesuvio’s Restaurant in Monaca. The family-owned restaurant features a variety of homemade Italian foods, including pizzas, housemade pasta and hand-rolled meatballs.
chi, old fashioned-style pizza and chicken marsala. Also on the menu
are homemade meatballs. “My mother is 84, and she is still
back there cooking meatballs,” Chirico said.
Freshman Nicholas Pelino said he loves the food. “I had the fish, and it was just delicious.” Pelino also said that Vesuvio’s is “one of my favorite places to eat in Monaca. Their pizza sauce is spectacular.” Freshman Mollie Rafferty said she thinks Vesuvio’s is “very tasty.” “I had the eggplant parmesan, which was very good. The texture was perfect and the service was great.” Vesuvio’s offers a 10 percent discount for Penn State Beaver students. The restaurant has a reasonably priced menu as well. A medium eight-slice pizza costs $11.95, while a large is $14.15. Chirico said the restaurant has a very classic appeal to the public. Vesuvio’s is a home-style restaurant. You can conveinently walk in, be seated and order your food. Vesuvio’s also has a bar located on the far left side of the restaurant. If you don’t feel like going out, they also have a home delivery service, so you can enjoy their food at home.
December graduates may have job advantage VASIL J. KRONSTEIN Staff Writer
vkk5041@psu.edu
It is well known in today’s world that, even with a college degree, finding a job that is well-paying and satisfying is very difficult. That difficulty is greatly multiplied when millions of other young people are entering the nation’s workforce at the same time. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 3.7 million students graduate college every year with at least an associate’s degree, most of them in May. Many young adults would love to get an opportunity to gain an edge
over their competition. Graduating in December may be the advantage that people are looking for. “I must have turned in about 70 applications to every company that is looking for someone with a degree in IST,” said senior Britney Clemente. “So far I have only heard back from Google and Huntington Bank, and they both want to do an interview with me. They are both huge companies, though, so I’m probably still up against a lot of people.” Moving on from college in the winter means that December graduates avoid the hordes of job seekers that are let loose in May. In addition, many people agree
that January and February are months where companies love to go on hiring sprees. Scott Testa, chief operating officer of Mindbridge Software, is one of these people. “The big months for hiring are January and February and late September and October,” Testa said in a career-advice column on Monster. com. “Job seekers who make contact right at the start of these cycles have the best chance of being hired.” Countless other sources from business websites agree. Consensus shows that companies hire the most towards the end of
summer and soon after large holidays. These trends work in favor of December graduates searching for jobs. Brenda Schultz, Penn State Beaver’s career counselor, agrees that fewer December graduates means not as much competition as traditional May graduates. But she pointed to another factor that could help, too. Many companies may hold off on filling a job in the fourth quarter to save money, opting to hire in January. “[December graduates] can be positioned for the jobs that open in the first quarter,” she said. But the caveat is that December
grads have to start applying for those jobs long before graduation if they want to be considered. “They may be waiting too long,” she said. Still, graduating in the winter is no guarantee that students will quickly find a job. “There definitely is less competition, but it’s still tough,” Clemente says. Schultz said the best advice, whether you graduate in December or May, is to start early and prepare to work at it. “Finding a job is a full-time job,” she said. “And you’ve only got six months until the student loan payments kick in.”
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Beaver students visit the Big Apple
Becci Dischman (left), Matt Palahunik (center), Albert Araiza (right)
Business Club organized a New York City trip Nov. 14 for Penn State Beaver students. Left: Becci Dischman takes a selfie in the NYC Subway with friends, from left, Allison Crouse, Chris Rotondo, Dan Vanderslice, Ryan Pinto, Albert Araiza, Devin Baker, Isabelle Cook, Alex Ribeau, Brandee Robinson and Matt Palahunik. Center: Students visited the memorial at One World Trade Center. Right: Albert Araiza poses in Central Park.
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Big me, little team Wrestling team’s record held back by small roster
NITA WILLIAMS Staff Writer
new5130@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver wrestling team came ready to kick off its winter season with its first meet, Conference Duals, on Nov. 15 at Penn State Fayette. Other Penn State campuses competing were Dubois, Mont Alto, New Kensington and Schuylkill. Sophomore James Helbley, wrestling 197 pound weight class, went 2-2. Sophomore Dustin Winkle, wrestling 174, went 3-2. Freshman Ivan Rodriguez, wrestling 235, went 4-1. Sophomore Nicholas VanDyke, wrestling 157, went 2-3. Sophomore Donnie Kerr, wrestling 165, went 3-2. There are only five members that make up the Penn State Beaver team. Despite its relatively small numbers, team members say they are ready to tackle their opponents.
Winkle explained that a full team is around 10 athletes, and although wrestling is a one-on-one sport, the small roster affects the team’s overall score. For every weight class that is not covered, the opposing team wins by forfeit and receives the full points for a pin. “We’ll pull through with what we have,” Helbley said. “We have less people but we’re more experienced.” First year Coach Carl Yanek expressed his confidence in his team. “These guys are working hard and showing up to practice, and when they’re here, they’re practicing a lot.” Practice began in the middle of October and has continued regularly in the weeks since. Practice for the team entails two players facing off in a mock-match and working their skills to dictate their opponent and earn points. The team and coaches alike show a lot
of focus making adjustments and encouraging one another to make improvements. Winkle and Helbley both said they like Yanek. “He’s a pretty decent coach. He pushes us more, but it works,” said Winkle, whose father, Jeff Winkle, coached the team from its inception in 2011 through last season. Yanek, who had coached wrestling in high schools previously, was hired slightly later than ideal and could not scout new members for the upcoming freshman class. He said that he plans to recruit in the upcoming years and build the team up. He encouraged anyone interested in joining the team to contact him. The first meet hosted at Penn State Beaver will be Jan. 14 against the University of Akron, the University of Pittsburgh and John Carroll College.
Volleyball season ends, but the team’s future remains bright ZACH ULRICH
Senior Staff Writer zau5001@psu.edu
After a strong start in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) playoffs, the Penn State Beaver Lady Lions volleyball team fell short in the semifinals at Rec Hall Oct. 24, losing to Penn State Brandywine. The Lady Lions had home court advantage in the first-round of the PSUAC playoffs Oct. 21 when they defeated Penn State New Kensington easily in all three matches by scores of 25-11, 25-10 and 24-14. Freshman Morgan Cannister led the team with 10 kills, followed
by sophomore Ryanne “Roxy” Kie with eight. Cannister also led with nine digs, while senior Miranda Pfeiffer and freshman Brenda Martiz had a combined 14. But when Beaver faced off against Brandywine in the semifinals, the Lady Lions fell 3-0, losing 25-13, 25-20 and 25-13. Cannister again led the team with five kills, followed by sophomore Jenna Petrucci with four. The Lady Lions ended the season with a 17-11 overall record, 13-3 in PSUAC play, and finished third in the conference. Four players received PSUAC
All-Conference honors. Freshmen Morgan Cannister and Brenda Martinez and sophomore Jenna Petrucci all earned first team All-Conference, and sophomore Julianna Kon earned second team All-Conference. Petrucci also earned a USCAA Honorable Mention. Coach BJ Bertges said the Lady Lions are looking to the future after a good season. “We have some young players with a lot of athletic ability that are coming back,” Bertges said. Petrucci, a team captian, agreed. “Everyone returns next year but a couple. We should make it far, if not farther, next season,” she said.
The Roar/ Nick Casasanta
The Fightin Beavs are on the attack as Dominic Rossi looks up to find his teammates.
Fightin’ Beavs build team chemistry MATTHEW G. PALAHUNIK Staff Writer
mgp5156@psu.edu
After starting the season with three wins, the Penn State Beaver Fightin’ Beavs inline hockey team dropped two games then came back strong in their sixth game. But the team’s most recent matchup against Carnegie Mellon Univesity Nov. 18 resulted in a 9-4 defeat, bringing its record to 4-3. In their third win Oct. 14, the Fightin’ Beavs crushed Carnegie Mellon 10-2. CMU threw in the towel before the game was over in the third period. The team’s winning streak came to an end Oct. 21 when it lost to Slippery Rock University 6-3. The following week, the team lost 9-4 to Duquesne University, despite beating the team 7-3 earlier in the season. Captain Dominic Rossi, junior, said the Fightin’ Beavs weren’t playing as a team. The chemistry between the players was absent and a lot of little mistakes lead to the losses, he said. As captain, Rossi thought it would be good to get the team together. They hung out together to create a closer bond between them. “We did stuff that would make us closer,”
Rossi said. Rossi’s plan apparently paid off because the Fightin’ Beavs beat California University of Pennsylvania 9-4 on Nov. 11. Coach Steve Turyan said the team’s bond is getting stronger and deeper. Only a few players didn’t return this year, he said, and this team is pretty comparable to last year’s, which won the Western Pennsylvania College Roller Hockey League championship. Turyan is especially pleased with the team considering that many of the new players have never played inline hockey before. With all this new talent, the team is strong and determined, according to junior Nick Goodbread. The team works well together and their resolve to win hasn’t been diminished, he said. Goalie Ryan Pinto said he can see the entire team in action. Pinto said that the team’s chemistry is awesome this year and the new guys fit in as if they have been part of the team before. Team Manager Lauren Hundall said the team started well off even though a lot of players were new. She said the team is struggling when it comes to finding a good time to practice and the players are dealing with the weight of the semester.
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Defending champions off to slow start ALEXA DIPIETRANTONIO Staff Writer
and151@psu.edu
The national championship-winning Penn State Beaver Lady Lions basketball team got a rocky start to their new season with three consecutive losses all at home. In the season opener Nov. 10, the team lost 102-71 to Point Park University. Always been a tough opponent, Point Park was particularly challenging with several of Beaver’s players injured. Only eight of the Lady Lions played in the season opener. Senior Morgan Kurtz led Penn State Beaver with 18 points, followed by senior Khalia Adams with 17 and freshman Mia Mattes with 15. In the Park Inn Tip-off Tournament hosted at Beaver, the Lady Lions fell to University of Main Fort Kent 109-89 on Nov. 14, followed by an over-time loss to Apprentice School 82-78 on Nov. 15. Adams said the team is determined to make history by winning the Penn State University Athletic Conference championship for the fourth year in a row.
Penn State Beaver Athletics
Penn State Beaver players huddle around coach Tim Moore during a timeout in their 82-78 overtime loss against Apprentice. The loss was the Lady Lions’ third straight to open the season.
“Winning another championship is the only thing on my mind. With this being my last year, it’s important that we are the first to win it four years straight,” said Adams. “We are determined to make history!” The women’s unofficial season
began with an exhibition game where they beat the alumni 76-44, during Penn State Beaver’s Palooza on Oct. 24. “The alumni game was pretty awesome. We had fun beating up the old players,” said Adams.
After the alumni game, the team returned to practicing every day to prepare for its season. Despite the early losses, coach Tim Moore remains positive. “I truly think that we have the potential to win a fourth straight conference
championship. Our motto for the year is ‘Stay humble. Stay hungry.’ ” Having only lost three seniors from last year, the team is as strong, if not stronger, than last year because it gained four talented freshmen, Moore said. “Mia Mattes and London Thompson-Wade will be able to add strength and quickness to our guard spots,” he said, “while Miranda Davis will add size, strength and athleticism to our forward spot.” Moore said Nisa Owen will help out with both guard and forward positions throughout the season. With the conference continuing to get better each year, the Lady Lions will continue to play against tough competition. Moore said that Penn State Brandywine, Fayette and Lehigh Valley should be strong competitors this year, but Penn State Beaver cannot worry about other teams because it really depends on the Lady Lions as a team, not their competitors. “As long as we stay healthy and work together as we always do, we should be able to make another great run at a couple championships this season,” said Moore.
Veteran players buying in to new coach’s philosophy VASIL J. KRONSTEIN Staff Writer
vkk5041@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver’s men’s basketball team kicked off the season at home Nov. 9 with a 94-90 victory over the Community College of Allegheny County, but followed it with a tough loss to NCAA DivisionII Ohio Valley University Nov. 13. In the win over CCAC, Beaver was able to establish an early lead and hold on behind a great shooting performance by sophomore Eric Gallupe, who had 23 points. The next game was played at Ohio Valley, where Penn State Beaver suf-
fered a 103-65 loss. Now, the team will try to get the ball rolling with a few victories. Last year Penn State Beaver finished with a 13-13 record, but with multiple wins by double-digits last year, this team seems to have the potential to be better than most. First-year coach Brian Bibey is trying his best to tap into that potential. “This is my first year here, so we are starting from scratch,” said Bibey. “Our goal here is to get better every day, every single practice. The guys have to get better in the classroom, in the gym, everywhere.” Bibey is adamant in his philoso-
phy that there should not be a single team leader. “There shouldn’t be one guy that the others look towards,” said Bibey, “It’s everybody’s responsibility to make everybody around them better. There has to be an effort from everyone.” Veteran players could have a hard time adjusting to a new coach during their last season, but for senior guards Sidney Bates and Marcus Smith, it has been no problem. “Coach Bibey is like a hard-working father. He has the same goals as all of us, and he’s there to help us achieve those goals,” Bates said.
“He definitely is a sort of oldschool coach,” Smith added. “He lets us know that we can always do things to improve as a team, and he always pushes us to get better.” Despite the big loss against Ohio Valley, players are buying into the attitude that Bibey is selling. Bates explained that Bibey brings a great mentality to the locker room and that he strives to make his teammates not just better players, but better people, too. The head coach praised his fellow coaches. “I know the newspaper people love to talk about the head coach,
and I get that, but the other coaches do an amazing job, too,” said Bibey. “Coaches Chris Visgitis, Dan Johnson and Frank Ferraro all have a ton of experience and are just as important as me.” This year’s team is relatively young but it seems as if the rookie head coach has his team on the right track. Six sophomores have made the roster in contrast to only three seniors. The team hopes to improve on its record with its next two games. They have a conference game against Penn State Dubois at home Dec. 1, followed by another home game against Ohio Valley on Dec. 3.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Sports
December 2015
They did what? Women’s soccer wins PSUACs TY COLE
Staff Writer wtc5037@psu.edu
Winning? That’s a word the Penn State Beaver women’s soccer team is not used to. Championship? That’s a word that no one would’ve even dreamed to speak of. Coming into this year, who would’ve thought the team with a 2-65 record in the past five seasons would produce eight wins – quadrupling the amount in the past five seasons – and an overtime, victory at the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference championships? The Lady Lions did what was once unimaginable, winning the PSUAC title in a shootout with goals scored by freshmen Sadie Stillwagon and Cortney Harden. “Magical” was the word junior captain Jessica Spina used to describe the year. “As a team, we grew and grew, and the end result showed a championship.” The Lady Lions battled their way into the playoffs, winning their
The Roar/Marcus Smith
The Lady Lions huddle prior to their win at the PSUAC championship against Penn State Brandywine. The teams were tied 1-1 after two overtime periods and Penn State Beaver won 2-0 in penalty kicks.
semifinal match against Penn State Schuylkill 3-1 to set up a classic matchup against rival Penn State Brandywine. Ninety minutes of soccer wasn’t enough for the two squads, so the
match was sent to overtime, then a second overtime, and then penalty kicks. Beaver won in penalty 2-0, capturing the championship. “When the announcers finally announced that we were the
champs, it hit us. This is it. We won the championship. It was a great moment,” Harden explained. “Coming from practices when we would only have six people show up to a championship was amazing.”
Stillwagon, a captain, agreed. “Winning a championship with the year we had was great. We grew together as a team when no one thought we could win anything.” Stillwagon recorded Newcomer of the Year for the PSUAC as well as first-team All–Conference, while receiving second-team All-Amerian honors from the USCAA. Spina, who also earned first-team All-Conference, received All-American Honorable Mention honors. “From last year’s 0-13 season, we’ve made a lot of progress,” said Coach Shaun Schetka. “We’re putting players on the field that know what they’re doing and are confident in what they’re doing.” “This year was interesting (with) a lot of ups and downs. Going on the run we had was very interesting,” he said. Looking forward to next year, Schetka said there’s much work to be done. “We need to work on our depth and keep making strides to become a better program.”
Men’s soccer wins PSUACs, loses at nationals TY COLE
Staff Writer wtc5037@psu.edu
The Roar/Taja Finley
Sophomore Anthony Voss dribbles the ball up the field during the PSUAC championship game. Voss later scored the game-winning goal.
The Penn State Beaver men’s soccer team won the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference championship in November and then won the first round of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament. The team won the PSUAC championship by beating Penn State Greater Allegheny 2-1, securing a bid to the USCAA tournament. “Winning the championship was such a great feeling,” freshman Andrew De Uriarte said. “It was by far the best moment of the year for me.” Through the first half of the PSUAC championship game Nov. 1,
both teams were scoreless. Five minutes into the second half, freshman Jesus Illiano scored on a free kick to take the lead. Greater Allegheny later tied the game 1-1. With eight minutes left, sophomore Anthony Voss scored the gamewinning goal to win the championship. A few days later, the team traveled to Asheville, N.C., for the USCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed. “Missing a week of school to play soccer was awesome. We had a lot of great memories on that trip,” freshman Sam Sharpless said. The team won the first match 5-1 against New Hampshire Technical Institute, the win marked the first time the men’s team has ever won at nationals.
They lost the next game 6-0 against the University of Maine Fort Kent, the eventual tournament winner, ending Beaver’s chance at the national title. The season ended on a high note as Beaver beat Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 2-1 in a consolation match. Sophomore Logan Ridgely described the tournament as an “amazing experience.” “Going that far and accomplishing what we accomplished in the end it was all worth it,” he said. Junior Marcus Smith had a year to remember. Smith recorded 25 goals and 12 assists and earned second-team USCAA All-American Honors for his efforts. Illiano was named Honorable
Mention in the USCAA All-American category as well. Smith was also named PSUAC player of the year along with firstteam All-Conference. Illiano earned first-team All-Conference and Newcomer of the Year for the PSUAC. “This year was almost surreal,” Smith said. “We had the pieces and we put them all together at the end for a championship. Now it’s time to change a regular soccer team into an actual soccer program.” The team ended the season with a 14-5-1 overall record, 8-2 in conference play. “We had a terrific year. I think we turned a lot of heads at the national level,” said coach Jim Van Kirk.