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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
News
Video project examines aging KATIE WORK Staff Writer
kmw6010@psu.edu
Look in the mirror and tell yourself what you look like in that moment. Tell yourself who you are and what you are doing. Then tell yourself exactly what you will look like in 10 years. Tell yourself exactly who you will be and exactly what you will be doing. Suddenly, the feeling is oddly foreign. “The future of us is a stranger,” says Penn State Laureate Andrew Belser, professor of theatre. “We know who we were and who we are, but not who we will be.” This thought is echoed in Belser’s award-winning video program, FaceAge. The FaceAge video project was on display at Penn State Beaver in the Student Union Building Lodge Nov. 7 to 10 as part of Belser’s yearlong tour around the state. The FaceAge experience immerses its audience into the lives and minds of a mixture of young adults and aging individuals through a 56-minute video loop made up of six chapters, each displayed on three screens. After a long time interest in older generations, Belser said that he began
The Roar/Adam Espinoza
Penn State Laureate Andrew Belser answers students questions while presenting his award-winning video program FaceAge. The 56-minute documentary examines aging through both young and elderly subjects.
to notice a lack of generations connecting. Younger generations are not mixing with older generations like they once have. “I think old people are ignored. They forget you,” said an older individual in Belser’s video. Throughout
the chapters of the video, this feeling of neglect was found in the tones of all the older individuals. On the other end, the younger individuals in the video all felt uncertain and misunderstood. “It is like I know what I want, I am just not
sure how to get there,” said a young individual. This misfortune caused Belser to set out to break down cross-generation assumptions and build acceptance across generations. “A single art piece can be a spark, a connective
tissue,” Belser said. “Powerful,” said Robin Bower, associate professor of Spanish, describing the video. Bower agreed that the video also portrayed a certain degree of nostalgia among the older and younger generations. There was a mutual longing for who the individuals once were and who they will eventually be, she said. Through self-analysis and questioning of perceptions, Belser said his intentions were to soften the audience. “Older individuals should be feeling a sense of eldership while younger individuals should be feeling a sense of themselves,” Belser said. Maddy Shoaf, sophomore, described the experience as “enlightening.” She said that it broadened her thoughts. “We are often told that what is on the inside is what really counts, but watching this video project really reinforced the idea that personality will carry you farther than how you look will,” Shoaf said. “There was a feeling of tenderness in the room,” said freshman Stefan Romaniuk. “It makes you realize that you should take time to appreciate yourself and the others around you.”
Storr’s documentary debuts as a success ISABELLE LORI COOK Staff Writer
izc5052@psu.edu
Associate Professor of Communications Juliette Storr debuted her first film, “So You Think You is Women, Hey,” Oct. 23 at the Tull Family Theater in Sewickley to an audience that included many faculty, staff and students. Storr’s film is a documentary about her research into gender equality in the Bahamas. In it, she talks with locals as well as many prominent Bahamians involved in the gen-
der equality movement. It was clear to see that Storr was proud and excited to show her film. “The response from the community, colleges and students was very good,” Storr said after the premier. Jordan Davis, a junior corporate communications major and Roar staffer, attended the premier to support her professor since she had heard Storr talk about this project so much in class. Davis said she knew the film was going to talk about feminism and how similar ideas impact such a dif-
ferent area. Davis says she is very passionate about this topic and was blown away by Storr’s findings. “I had no idea what to expect, and to see how women are treated in the Bahamas was incredible. I could have never guessed that it would be that bad,” says Davis. In addition to being captivated by the film, Davis said that the question-and-answer portion of the night was very interesting, and that Storr was able to have very good conversations with those who asked ques-
tions. One of the many faculty members that came to support Storr was Robin Bower. Bower, associate professor of Spanish, said she highly enjoyed the film because it shed a light on such an important issue, and the film was such an amazing accomplishment for Storr. “The film is about women and feminism,” Bower said. “It doesn’t have to address more than the Bahamas to address more than the Bahamas.” Bower said that the film con-
nected to so many people and issues, not just in the Bahamas, where Storr is from. During the discussion after the viewing, Bower questioned how locals felt about the issue, since it seemed like lots of professionals were interviewed. Storr said that some locals were interviewed, and most felt just as passionately about the topic as the professionals did. “So You Think You Is Woman, Hey” now has its own Internet Movie Database (IMDb) entry.
November 2017
News
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Lion’s Den rewards top student ideas EMILY R. DIETRICH Senior Staff Writer
erd5208@psu.edu
Ideas to develop a new website to scheduling tutoring or find study partners as well as to develop a collaborative multimedia workstation took top honors at this year’s Lion’s Den idea competition Nov. 14. Penn State Beaver students were asked to propose ways to improve campus life in the annual competition. The ideas had to stick to a $1,000 or less budget. Six student groups presented their ideas, from developing a campus virtual tour to attract more out--oftown students to erecting a small wind turbine near the softball field. A panel of judges – all faculty and staff from the campus – listened to the students’ pitches, asked questions and ultimately selected the winners. As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Lion’s Den competition seeks to encourage the advancement of innovation at Penn State, as well as building the bridge from things learned in the classroom to real-world occurrences. During last year’s event, students were asked to formulate ideas for a new device or business. This year, however, Ashu Kumar, Lion’s Den
The Roar/Cathy Benscoter
A panel of campus judges deliberate on the winners of the Lion’s Den idea competition Nov. 14. An improved web site for students to schedule tutoring and developing a collaborative multimedia station won top honors.
coordinator and instructor in information sciences and technology, asked students to focus on how to improve everyday life on campus, which he hoped would encourage even more students to participate.
“This year, we wanted to attract a larger audience,” Kumar said. “Relating the competition to campus helps to connect everyone.” Kumar also adds that he wished he had more time. “The plan was for the students
to have their ideas and mentor them for the competition. But the holidays are coming up shortly, so we just let them come the way they were.” This year’s competition was full of great ideas, but only two were chosen
by the judges to be implemented on campus. Sophomores Stephen McCutchen, Jane Wilson, Christine Pusatere and Ivan Fabyanic proposed an easier way to find tutoring on campus through the Center for Academic Achievement. They also suggested the same approach could be used to help students find study partners. “It’s going to be on the website for the CAA,” Wilson said. “I think this is great because it is already something that people use.” Pusatere agreed. “I think it’s going to help tremendously because it reaches out to everyone,” she said. Along with tutoring, the judges also saw potential in junior Zach Buerkle and senior Chris Henschel’s idea for a new multimedia work station. “This wasn’t our original plan,” Buerkle admitted. “We wanted to do a TV screening room for multimedia projects and streaming. When Kumar said one already existed on campus, he helped guide us into creation, rather than consumption, of multimedia.” Buerkle also said that he is hoping to provide another place for students to get together and help make visions come to life.
McConahy no longer teaching IST at Penn State
CHRIS ROTONDO Senior Staff Writer
ctr5138@psu.edu
Amber McConahy, instructor in Information Science and Technology, abruptly left her position from Penn State Beaver Oct. 30, midway through the semester. McConahy, who had been with the university since fall 2014, taught three IST classes this semester, including a web design class. Director of Academic Affairs Carey McDougall confirmed that McConahy is no longer with the university, but declined to explain why.
McConahy
Some students expressed displeasure with the way she taught her classes.
Matt Welch, a senior IST major, said that he did not like McConahy as a professor. “You could tell that she showed genius at times,” Welch said, “but she was extremely lazy for the most part.” Welch had McConahy for several classes, including this semester’s web design and diagraming courses. He said students discovered that McConahy had been “putting her name on older PowerPoints that can be found on Google.” “The creation dates for most of these PowerPoints were between
2001 and 2003,” Welch said. “It’s blatant plagiarism.” Welch said the students in his class were never told why McConahy was no longer teaching. Welch said that within the last three to four weeks of her teaching, some administrators sat in on her classes. “[McConahy] was trying her best at that point, but I think she saw the writing on the wall,” he said. McDougall said that it is commonplace for her to sit in on classes throughout the year. “My sitting in the class is a way
for me to understand how classes are generally going,” McDougall said. She said other Penn State faculty quickly stepped up to fill in McConahy’s spot in her classes. IST Instructor Ashu Kumar and Assistant Professor of IST Richard Lomotey, as well as Lecturer Fred Terwilliger of Penn State Dubois, are filling in for the remainder of McConahy’s classes this semester. “It was amazing to see our faculty step forward to pick up the load,” McDougall said. “It’s really a testament to how much our faculty care about our students.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
News
If walls could talk Students disturbed at all hours by loud sex in Harmony Hall TY COLE
Senior Staff Writer wtc5037@psu.edu
Imagine this: It’s 2 a.m. on a school night and you’re woken up by loud banging above you and the faint sound of a woman moaning. According to multiple residents in Harmony Hall, the disturbance of sex noises is a daily reality. “Sometimes it can be really loud, and other times it’s rather soft,” said sophomore Glycerine Bauman. Bauman said she can relate the disturbance to exact times almost everyday. “I can hear it around 2 a.m., 12 p.m. and dinner.” Student Activities/Residence Life Coordinator Sherrika Mitchell said she’s aware of the complaint and is keeping an eye on it. “We don’t monitor the sex lives of our students, but we are proactive about the situation,” she said. “We’ve made bulletin boards around Harmony Hall showing students what can happen if they aren’t practicing safe sex,” explained Mitchell. Junior Taylor Myers described her daily experience as inconsiderate. “This is a daily occurrence at all hours of the day,” Myers said. “I understand everyone has their needs, but please be considerate of others who are studying or sleeping,” she said. “The disturbance is above me and it’s more the furniture than the actual noises. Since the walls are so thin, everything is amplified,” Myers added. Senior Brian Griffin said he hears the noise mostly on the men’s side,
“
I understand everyone has their needs, but please be considerate of others who are studying or sleeping.”
Taylor Myers
Resident of Harmony Hall
but that he is used to it. “I’ve been here four years, and it really depends what side of the dorms you’re on,” Griffin said. “It’s not a huge bother to me, but I can understand how people get annoyed,” he said. Residence Life Coordinator Andy Kiefer said safe sex is no joke, encouraging students to take the proper precautions. “We want to encourage people to ‘play’ safely. Diseases are very real, so we want you to protect yourself. “When you live in such a close proximity place like Harmony Hall, this stuff is going to happen,” said Kiefer. Penn State Beaver actively promotes “Get Yourself Tested,” an event that tests you for sexually transmitted diseases. Adagio Health regularly comes to campus to provide health screenings and will answer any questions regarding sexual health. The Health Center in the Ross Administration Building also offers free condoms and information on safe sex. Both Mitchell and Kiefer said if residents hear noises during quiet hours, they should call the resident assistant on duty and file a noise complaint.
Garbage overflows in the first floor men’s bathroom garbage can on Nov. 15.
The Roar/Adam Espinoza
Trash and worse fill Harmony ADAM ESPINOZA Senior Staff Writer
ate5052@psu.edu
Sanitation has become an issue in Harmony Hall. There have been reports of feces in the showers and sinks of the thirdfloor men’s bathroom, semen found in second and third floor shower stalls, and an overabundance of trash in every bathroom. “My sincere hope is that people will realize this is wrong and stop. I hope, at least for the sanitation side,” said Andrew Kiefer, residence life coordinator. Senior Eric Gallupe said the problem is disgusting. “I couldn’t believe someone would be so immature,” Gallupe said of the feces in the shower. “You could smell it from outside the bathroom doors. When I walked
in, there was caution tape put up and of course it was in the shower stall I always use.” Semen in the showers was reported to residence life coordinators but hasn’t been confirmed, Kiefer said. The reports have involved both individuals and couples. “Maybe they are sharing showers to help clean their backs,” Kiefer joked. Some students say they are fed up trying to even use the bathrooms at all anymore. “I can’t even get to the stalls anymore because the trash is overflowing into them,” said sophomore Andrew Maleta. “The culprit needs to be caught or come forward because I know I do not want to be charged for something that I did not cause,” he added. Residence Life has handed out
newsletters to every room explaining all the incidents. Per the residence hall contract that students must agree to, students can be charged to clean up such messes, according to Jeremy Lindner, director of Housing and Food Services. If the perpetrator is identified, he or she will receive the charges. If the person responsible remains unknown, everyone who lives on the side of the floor will be assessed a portion of those charges. “John Ward and Paula Brown Carlin are working with Jeremy Lindner to bill people,” Kiefer said. “If they can identify the person directly the bill will go to him or her. If not, it is a shard bill among all the residents of that wing,” Kiefer said. Anyone with information has been asked to come forward and tell a residence life coordinator.
November 2017
News
Penn State Beaver Roar
U.S, N. Korea tensions worry some students MATTHEW PALAHUNIK Staff Writer
mgp5156@psu.edu
Freshman Liam Zhang is from a northeastern province of China. He lives two hours away from the North Korean border. The relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, otherwise known as North Korea, was friendly in the past, but not anymore, Zhang said. While many students and faculty are watching the media for the ongoing war of words and shows of strength between North Korea and the U.S., Zhang is one of the few students watching with a personal stake in the escalating tension. The Korean Peninsula is in the global spotlight due to the heated tensions between the United States
and North Korea. Threats of war have been made from both sides due to the North Korean ballistic missile testing and the United States conducting military drills with Japan and South Korea. Zhang said he believes war will not break out and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un needs to calm down. Zhang said that the conflict “doesn’t scare” him nor his community back home. North Korea’s only friend is Russia, according to Zhang, and the surrounding nations are trying everything to calm down the mayhem. The two governments’ responses are a mixture of rationality and craziness, said Zhang. “[North Korea] is not strong enough to face off against the other nations” and there is no need to stress about the conflict, he said. He
and many other international students from China are “not stressed at all,” he added. Freshman Qi Jiang is from China and she said she does not care about the escalating tensions. Jiang said that China does not really cover the conflict a lot in its state-run media. Jiang said she knows a bit about the conflict and said that she “[does] not think North Korea is justified” and that “the U.S. is justified.” “I don’t think there will be a war. They aren’t that strong,” said Jiang. She also mentioned how the North Korean society as a whole “is a mess [and that] the only people North Korea threatens is their own people.” Freshman Boyan Zhang of Beijing also does not care much for the conflict. She does believe that China is trying everything to encourage an end to the conflict.
“[North Korea] is trying to protect themselves,” Boyan Zhang said, adding, “They are scared.” She said she believes that North Korea is justifiable in their actions, but they are not taking the appropriate actions for the tense situation in order to calm it down. Senior Jessica Sigala is from Los Angeles and is slightly on edge about the whole conflict. Sigala does not believe that her home is under any serious threat, but Kim Jong-un “is unstable enough” to make it so. Sigala said that if Kim Jong-un has the weapons to target major cities in the United States, he would. Sigala’s home is one of the largest U.S. cities and shares the same ocean with North Korea. This could make it a potential first target. Sigala’s whole family lives in that region. “My family isn’t really exposed to
the political realm and we are devote Catholics, so if something happens, it is part of God’s plan,” Sigala said. Sigala said that the U.S. government is justified because no nation should threaten its people, but that the U.S. should have “a better way of getting its point across.” Freshman Benjamin Chen is a first generation American whose family is from China. Chen has a huge family back in China and stays in contact with them. Chen said “tensions are high in China” and could escalate into war. Chen said the war of words between Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump are not helping the conflict. “Trump has points even though I don’t like him,” said Chen. He said the same of Kim Jong-un, calling him “dramatic.”
POLICE BEAT STOLEN BISTRO ITEMS
An employee reported that students stole items from the Brodhead Bistro on Oct. 20. University Police investigated and three unnamed students later admitted to stealing. No charges were filed.
BISTRO EMPLOYEE HARASSED
A Brodhead Bistro employee reported being harassed via telephone on Oct. 18. Police are investigating.
MARIJUANA FOUND IN ROOM
A resident assistant reported detecting an odor of marijuana coming from a room in Harmony Hall Oct. 29. Police investigated and found marijuana residue in the room. No charges have been filed yet.
STUDENT SAYS MONEY TAKEN
A student reported that money was taken from his wallet Nov. 10 in the Laboratory Classroom Building. Police are investigating.
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
News
McBride’s side job takes him to Cuba TYLER MCCARTY-COGIS Staff Writer
tgm18@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver will partner with the University of Split in Split, Croatia, (pictured above) with a chemistry class during the spring 2018 semester. Claudia Tanaskovic will travel to Split with students over spring break.
Chancellor targets Croatia, France for collaborations WILLIAM DERRY Staff Writer
wfd5070@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver Chancellor Jenifer Cushman traveled to France in mid-October in search of partnerships with French Universities as well as to gain a better understanding of the country’s higher education system. Cushman went to France through the Fulbright International Education Administrators Program, part of the Fulbright Scholar Program that was founded in 1945. While overseas, Cushman visited Toulouse, Paris and Brussels where she learned about higher education in Europe amid a compact schedule. “They kept us really busy. I think we visited two institutions of higher ed every day,” said Cushman. “They would give presentations about the higher ed system in France which is really interesting.” Cushman said she was able to connect with four potential partners who are interested in working with
Penn State Beaver: the University of Toulouse-Sciences Po Toulouse, Paris Nanterre University, the University of Paris Cergy-Pontoise and Catholic University of Lille. Cushman worked with Catholic University when she was the dean of international education at Juniata College. “I visited Lille while I was there and they are excited to partner with us,” she said. “I accomplished what I hoped.” Last year Penn State Beaver went through a strategic visioning process and launched various initiatives as a result. One of the initiatives to surface from the strategic visioning process was global learning, more specifically a program called EDGE (Experiential Digital Global Engagement). With EDGE, Beaver is connecting students in classrooms on campus with students around the world through technology. “The pilot program for EDGE will be this spring,” said Cushman. “[Instructor of Chemistry] Claudia Tanaskovic’s chemistry class will be
connected with a chemistry class at the University of Split in Croatia.” Three faculty members from the University of Split came to Beaver last June to tour the campus, visit local manufacturers and took part in a Pittsburgh campus-wide faculty workshop on EDGE. “We spent a week with them. They toured my class and lab,” said Tanaskovic. “Then Instructor Ashu Kumar, Dr. Cushman and I went to Croatia at the end of June. We experienced both campuses together. They came here for a week and we went there for a week.” Students enrolled in Tanaskovic’s Organic Chemistry class in the spring will have the opportunity to sign up for Chem 199 and travel with her to collaborate with students at the University of Split. “It’s going to be a 1-credit course that involves the manufacturing of soap and organic chemistry techniques that the students have learned, such as extractions and distillations,” said Tanaskovic.
On Nov. 13, Instructor in Administration of Justice LaVarr McBride got out of bed at the same time he would on any morning. On an average morning, he wakes up in his home in Beaver. But this Monday was not an average day. MCBRIDE This day, he woke up in a communist country that, until recently, the average American was never allowed to enter. This day, he woke up in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was neither a prisoner nor a soldier, who make up the bulk of the population on the U.S. Military. McBride’s role is as a mediator between victims of acts of terrorism and the attorneys who defend the perpetrators, making the process as painless as possible for the victims. This was one of many visits McBride has made to Guantanamo since 2013. Although these trips are stressful and emotionally draining, he said he still feels the work he does is important. On the military base, McBride is escorted by military personnel to a courtroom that is unlike any civilian courtroom that can be seen in the United States. This courtroom is surrounded by a fence covered in tarp in order to hide the building inside. Once he gets through the fence, he goes through a series of searches conducted by several military police. He then sits in a courtroom viewing area that is sectioned off by a glass wall. In this room, he can see the proceedings and hear them on a 45-second delay. This delay is necessary to make sure the viewers in this room do not hear any classified information that
may suddenly come up during a case. The separated viewing area is only the beginning of what makes this courtroom interesting. The average civilian courtroom would feature a single desk for the prosecution and a single desk for the defense. But this courtroom holds several desks for each side of the case. This is for the several lawyers each side has to focus on their own specific parts of the cases. To make this courtroom more interesting, there are at least two military personnel with the rank of general in this room at almost all times, one representing each side of the case. When his time in court has concluded for the day, McBride’s work is done and he gets to relax – as much as one can on a military base in Cuba. He often searches for beach glass or catch a movie in the outdoor theater on base. For one to two weeks, McBride will live on this schedule until the case proceedings have concluded. Once these have ended, McBride will do his duties as mediator. He will take any question the victims ask, no matter how brutal the answer is and take it to the defense and return with an answer. It may be hard but it makes the process easier for victims. It can be a difficult process, as the victims go through so much pain, and the perpetrators likely feel no remorse. Although McBride travels across the country to be a mediator, this opportunity for him to travel to Guantanamo Bay is certainly unique. This trip is one he does not plan on experiencing forever, but it is one that he will always remember and enjoy mentioning in his classes. McBride’s son, Nick, 19, said he’s considering following in his dad’s footsteps. “He thinks it’s great that he as an opportunity to be part of that court process,” Nick said.
November 2017
Features
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Start your day sunny-side up SAVANA C. GRIGGS Senior Staff Writer
scg5198@psu.edu
There’s no better way to start a Monday morning than having homemade Nutella Stuffed French Toast? You can find this Nutella-filled delicacy —as well as several other savory dishes – at Freedom Square Diner on 101 Wagner Road in Center Township. The easy-to-miss breakfast-andlunch restaurant is in the strip plaza between Michael’s and the Cinemark movie theater. Ever since it first opened its doors two-years-ago, the restaurant has received full attention from the locals in neighboring areas. When people go into Freedom Square Diner, they are greeted with an extremely comfortable and cozy atmosphere. Kitchen Manager Jeremy Grimm says that when atmosphere is concerned, the restaurant wants to be a quintessential casual diner. “What we’re trying to offer is the best value that you can get for the dollar amount that you are paying, and still stick to what diners traditionally are: sit down, eat, get up and go. Or at the same time, be comfortable and take as much time as you want,” said Grimm. Nonetheless, the highest priority is
Customers enjoy homemade breakfasts at the Freedom Square Diner in Center Township.
the food. Ninety-eight percent of the food at Freedom Square Diner is made from scratch, and it’s all homemade, said Grimm. The creativity that goes into the one-of-a-kind dishes is also a top priority.
“Some of my signature dishes include The Scrambler, and it’s like your breakfast in a pile, but it has cheese melted on top of it. So everything is all scrambled together, like scrambled eggs,” said Grimm. The restaurant is also well known for its French toasts that are stuffed.
The Roar/Savana Griggs
That includes a Strawberry Stuffed French Toast, Stuffed Peanut Butter French Toast and the Nutella Stuffed French Toast to name a few, said Grimm. Even though they have plenty of breakfast items, they still offer many options when it comes to lunch and
dinner as well. However, the older generations aren’t the only ones coming to Freedom Square Diner. Grimm says that Freedom Square Diner is also a great place for college students to come and enjoy themselves. “We all know that college kids like to stay out late at night, so sometimes if you have to get up in the morning and you want to have breakfast before class but you don’t really feel like making it, you can come here,” said Grimm. “Our tables here are humongous. You guys can study in here while you eat breakfast. You can sit in here for as long as you like and never ever feel rushed,” said Grimm. Sophomore Siu-Len Navarro has been to Freedom Square Diner this fall semester. Navarro had the Crab Benedict for breakfast and really liked it. “The atmosphere was really nice and comfortable. It was really good,” said Navarro. Freedom Square Diner’s doors are open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday There are two other locations in Verona and in Cranberry Township with another opening soon in Natrona Heights.
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
Viewpoints
Penn State speaks up Budget passes thanks to Penn State supporters
MANAGING EDITOR Chris Rotondo crt5138@psu.edu
PHOTO EDITOR Adam Espinoza ate5052@psu.edu
BUSINESS MANAGER Nick Pelino
nap5311@psu.edu
COPY DESK Ty Cole
wtc5037@psu.edu
Jordan Davis jed53@psu.edu
Alexa Di Pietrantonio and151@psu.edu
Tiarra Gordon
tag5361@psu.edu
Savana Griggs
Rejoice and be glad because your voices have been heard! Penn State’s appropriation bill has officially been passed. What does that mean for Penn State Beaver students? Simply put, it means that Penn State’s tuition won’t need to be increased for the 2018 spring semester. “Penn State will receive 318.2 million for the 2017-2018 fiscal year,” Penn State President Eric Barron said in an email thanking all Penn Staters for their vocal support. “This funding offsets the cost of tuition for Pennsylvania resident students and supplements our efforts to address access and affordability in our quest to attract the best and brightest students.” Nearly 10,000 Penn State supporters contacted their legislators addressing their concern about the delay of passing a budget that funds
Penn State and the other state-related universities. And because of this, WE ARE thankful. If it hadn’t been for the thousands of students, alumni, family and supporters who took the initiative to contact their legislators, Pennsylvania resident students may all have been asking for only one thing for Christmas this year – $7,000 more for tuition. The fear of a possible $7,000 tuition increase was very real and very scary. Kudos to the Penn State community for speaking up and demanding action. But beware, this issue is not going to go away. While we are safe from a tuition increase for this academic year, something like this could, and may possibly happen again. Pennsylvania’s government con-
tinues to spend more than it takes in. Without a massive tax hike or a miraculous revenue windfall, the state legislature and governor are nearly guaranteed to have problems balancing the 2018 budget. Penn State could find its state allocation on the chopping block again. We must remain vigilant and vocal – because now is not the time to get silent. Penn State is known for having one of the largest alumni networks, and the need for passionate and outspoken alumni who care about current and future Penn Staters has never been greater. So thank you to everyone who took the time to contact their legislators. You have made a difference. But remember, we can’t stop now. Our work is only beginning. WE ARE Penn State. WE ARE a family. WE ARE in this together.
scg5196@psu.edu
Brittany Jackson brj5080@psu.edu
ADVISERS Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu
Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu
Do students need potty trained? There’s an old adage: You don’t shit where you eat. What it means is that you should take care of the place where you live and treat it (and everyone around you) with respect. Some residents in Harmony Hall appear to need a lesson on exactly where one is supposed to shit. Urinals? No. Shower stalls? No. Anywhere other than a toilet? Absolutely not! Over the past 12 weeks, there have been incidents of defecating in showers, in the halls, as well as
urinating in bottles. Not all, but some Harmony Hall residents need to grow up. Where is the right place for defecating and urinating? (Like we really need to ask this question!?) It sure isn’t in the shower or in the middle of the hallway. For those of you who apparently don’t know, toilets are the obvious answer, the only place where you should be relieving yourself. And yes, urinals are to be used for urinating only. There’s no excuse for people pooping all over Harmony Hall.
Students have plenty more important things to deal with other than immature residents defecating and urinating throughout the residence hall. Just grow up, people. If you or someone you know has the sudden urge to speak out about the residents who may need direction of where to use the restroom, please contact your resident assistants or residence life coordinators. The immaturity in Harmony Hall needs to end. It is time to flush these issues down the toilet.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: ctr5138@ psu.edu. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number.
ADS FOR CLUBS Free advertising space is offered to any university-recognized organization or club to promote upcoming events. The space is limited to one eighthpage ad per club per edition. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: nap5311@ 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.
November 2017
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
Features
Students collect 3,551 cans for Humane Society
Submitted by Claire Whaples Sam Sharpless, Brenna Cepull, Brittany Zahn, Taylor Myers and Keith Painter, members of Neil Fogarty’s Contemporary Skills for Business Professionals class, fill Painter’s truck bed with cans of cat and dog food. When Neil Fogarty challenged the students in his Contempory Skills for Business Professionals class to collect donations for the Beaver County Humane Society as a team-building exercise, he didn’t realize how successful the effort would be. More than 3,500 cans of cat and dog food later, he’s blown away. “It was so cool seeing how these students got so engaged in this and really wanted to help the homeless dogs and cats,” he said. The class was divided into eight teams and challenged to collect as many cans as possible. They couldn’t use their own money, so they had to ask friends and family for donations. Oh, and they had less than two weeks. The class as a whole collected 3,551 cans of pet food. The winning team collected 1,511 cans alone. The entire class came together Nov. 7 to fill their cars with all the cans and take them to the Humane Society together.
November 2017
Features
Penn State Beaver Roar
Tough entrance-to-major requirements can cause students to transfer out of Penn State BRANDON LOOS Staff Writer
bml5502@psu.edu
Some Beaver students are planning on leaving the university soon, mostly because of entrance-to-major requirements that are tough to meet and a desire to be closer to home. Cruz Gallarza, sophomore in engineering, says he is transferring to either the University of California, San Diego or San Diego State University. He also plans to change his major to biology. He wants to transfer because it is closer to his home in California. Gallarza says that the football games and Penn State experience were awesome, though the campus at
UCSD or SDSU will be bigger than Penn State Beaver, and says he would enjoy going to school with friends. Another student that plans to transfer is Seth Zellhart, a sophomore in chemical engineering. Zellhart says he is transferring to West Virginia University where he will continue to major in chemical engineering. Zellhart said that the main reason for wanting to transfer is so he can actually get into his major, as the GPA requirement at WVU is much lower than Penn State’s 3.2 entranceto-major GPA. Zellhart says he enjoys Penn State and the events, especially sports. Although he enjoys Penn State, he enjoys the town, night life and peo-
ple at WVU more. He said he thinks that the education at WVU will be different as it is a much bigger campus with much bigger class sizes. Debra Seidenstricker, admissions counselor for adult and transfer students, says that the biggest struggle transferring students face is the fact that some credits don’t transfer. She warned that students should review the credits another institution is willing to transfer before making the move. If a lot of credits don’t transfer, then it could take longer for a transfer student to graduate and end up costing more money. Gretchen Samchuck, advising program coordinator, agreed.
Samchuck said that students transfer because they are not satisfied with Penn State Beaver. The issue students face with transferring is not just will credits transfer, but also determining if any of the courses apply toward the student’s major, so that they are on track for graduation, she said. Zack Krial, a sophomore in mechanical engineering, says he is considering transferring to Pitt Johnstown and staying a mechanical engineering major. Krial says he is interested in transferring because of the high 3.2 entrance-to-major GPA requirement at Penn State, as well as wanting to attend a school closer to home. Krial states that he enjoys Penn
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State for the school pride and sporting events, such as football games at Beaver Stadium. He says that being closer to home would be a good decision due to his close relationships to family and friends. Krial says he expects the classes to be similar at a branch campus of Pitt. Bryce Roscoe, a sophomore in premed, says he is considering transferring to Florida State University to study pre-med. Roscoe, of Washington, Pa., says he has no problem with moving away from home and is not trying to escape requirements. He would like to transfer because of the warmer weather, night life and more appealing Greek life at FSU.
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
Features
Anything can happen in a New York minute
Top: Malaysia Wallace stands in front of the Hope sign near Time Square. Below: Deborah McGinnis, Maddy Shoaf, Nick Pelino, Marissa Buffalini, Jordan Davis, Alexis Sheffield and Brenna Cepull pose in Time Square. Top: Maddy Shoaf (front), Dominic Nocera (rear left) and Brenna Cepull take a selfie minutes after getting off the eight-hour bus ride to New York City Nov. 11. Bottom left: Deborah McGinnis points to the holiday tree, harvested from State College, Pa., being unloaded in Rockerfellar Center. Bottom right: Malaysia Wallace poses with Paparazzi Dogman and Rabbitgirl bronze statues along Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan.
November 2017
Features
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Students find interesting internships MOLLY VERONE Staff Writer
mev5149@psu.edu
While most Penn State Beaver students are rushing to make it to their 8 a.m. class on time, Senior Ty Cole starts his day off by commuting to Pittsburgh for his internship with the back-to-back champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Cole is a community relations intern for the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, and just one of the many Penn State Beaver students that are spreading their wings this semester and balancing both classes and internships. A typical day for Cole begins by waking up at 6:30 a.m. to make sure he has enough time to drive 40 minutes downtown to start his work day. The first thing that Cole says he does when he gets to the office is he makes sure that he says good morning to everyone. Even if the president of the foundation is in a meeting with someone important, Cole still says “good morning.” A typical day consists of running the foundation’s social media account, listening to voicemails, interviewing people and helping out with other projects. His favorite thing to do is work game nights. As any Pens fan would understand, Cole says he loves to interact with the players at different events. “Sid is really cool,” Cole said with a smile of legendary Pens captain Sidney Crosby. Some of his favorite foundation events that he has been a part of so far are the annual Summer Stick Golf Classic and the Penguins and Paws Charity pet calendar shoot. “This is what I want to do for my future,” said Cole. He hopes to land a job with a professional sports team doing community relations and affairs. On top of interning 15 to 20 hours a week, Cole is a senior staff writer for The Roar, the president of the Student Government Association and a Lion Ambassador.
Nick Pelino anxiously awaits his internship at Disney.
Ty Cole answers the phone at his job with the Penguins Foundation.
The Roar/Molly Verone
Evan McStay, left, and Matt Welch pose at the FedEx sign during their internship.
Cole is not the only student with a crazy schedule this year because of an internship. Senior IST student Evan McStay has a similar start to his day. McStay is an associate software engineer intern for FedEx. McStay starts his day at 5 a.m. to make sure he is out the door by 6 a.m. to arrive at the FedEx office in Robinson Township by 6:30a.m. Once he is at the office, he said he swipes in, makes his tea and goes to his cubical to review the work that was done the previous day. Once his other coworkers arrive at the office, they have their daily morning meeting. In the meeting, they discuss what they need to fix from the previous day and what they will be doing today. “I feel very much a part of the company. At FedEx, they treat interns just like they do employees,” said McStay. At his internship, McStay modernizes the current legacy systems that internal employees use by designing and developing responsive web app interfaces as well as tailoring the user experience for each app. McStay started his internship with FedEx this past summer before the start of his senior year of college. At the end of the summer, he received a life-changing phone call from his manager at FedEx. His manager asked him to continue his internship through the school year and offered him a full-time job after he graduates from Penn State Beaver next spring.
“It was a weight lifted off my shoulders. I was so excited,” said McStay. McStay is very passionate about technology. “Now that I have a job after graduation, I am ready to start working.” Another Penn State Beaver student that is making a big change is junior Nick Pelino. In January, Pelino will pack his bags and say good-bye to Penn State Beaver for a semester to chase his dreams at Walt Disney World in Florida with the Disney College Program. Pelino was rejected the first time that he applied to the program, but he did not give up. He applied again for the spring semester and got accepted just three weeks later. Pelino has always had a love for Disney. Growing up, he said that all of his birthdays were Disney themed and that he has seen every Disney movie. The Disney College Program has three parts: living, learning and working, Pelino said. He will be living in Florida with other colleges students from all over the world. He will be learning by taking online classes and by going to seminars given by well-known Disney professionals. He will be working as a vacation planner for Disney while he is there. Pelino said he is ecstatic to work as a vacation planner. During his interview with Disney, he used his Penn State experiences to sell himself. “I related my previous work experience with Lion Ambassador because I was selling our campus while giving tours, and there I will be selling Disney.” “I’m most excited to meet new people, and be around people that share the same love for Disney as I do,” said Pelino. Pelino said he hopes this opportunity can open many doors for him and that he can land a full-time job with Disney after he graduates in 2019.
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
Features
Stress less and study more
Staying healthy and planning ahead are the best ways to prepare for finals MALAYSIA WALLACE Staff Writer
mmw5793@psu.edu
Final exams are approaching quickly, and many new students don’t know what to expect that week. Penn State students, especially freshmen, are encouraged by faculty and staff to tackle their testing week in a healthy way and to make sure they are prepared. Penn State Beaver Counselor Brenda Schultz says that stressing for finals week can, in a way, be healthy. She explains that there is a level of stress among students that pushes them to do better and to take things more seriously. However, if stress is causing you to not focus as efficiently, “seek additional help,” Shultz suggested, “whether it’s through counseling or seeing your doctor.” Center for Academic Achievement Director Jill Tress highly recommends using the valuable resources on campus when students are struggling with their classes around the final days of the semester. In addition to Schultz and Counselor Tony Paglia, Tress said students can turn to their instructors. “Any faculty member has been through it. We can assist you.” Both Tress and Schultz suggest that students come for help now and not wait until the last minute. Studying at least two weeks prior to your exam is adequate to make sure that you are not cramming information into your head for shortterm memory, but also to make sure you are retaining the information. “Beyond here [the CAA], the library is there to help,” Tress said. “They have study skills and resources for you.” Keeping yourself healthy altogether is essential to doing the best that you possibly can. Nicole Smith, a sophomore is a prime exaple. Smith was a Beaver
Even the Nittany Lion gets worried about taking final exams, but he knows that starting early is the best way to go.
soccer player this fall. She originally dealt with her first year of final exams while attending Penn State Behrend. “Sports was my escape,” she said. “Exercising was helpful for me. I was really stressed because my biggest fear was failing and that’s the last thing I wanted to do.” Smith’s sports involvement helped her with her anxiety and dealing with the stress of her classes and exams. “Exercising, eating healthy, get-
ting out and taking a walk along with using the Wellness Center can help a student cope,” Schultz said. Sophomore Kevin Louis-Charles is another one of many students who take advantage of campus resources such as the Wellness Center. Louis-Charles, a basketball player, is not new to the final exam routine either as he has been through the process twice already during his freshman year at Penn State Beaver. “Overall, playing basketball is my
stress reliever,” Louis-Charles said. Balancing the life of basketball and studies doesn’t seem to be a stressful concept for him to tackle. “It’s pretty easy. Get your work done and don’t fall behind.” he said. “Just study.” Both Tress and Schultz side with developing strategic study methods when preparing for testing. “I encourage students to study in groups, not just for finals but for all of your classes,” Tress said. “It also
Roar photo illustration/Adam Espinoza
helps when you get a group and connect with people’s study habits.” Tress recommends students take breaks when studying. “Work for 20 minutes and take a two to three-minute break. It’s like hitting the reset button on your attention span,” she said. The CAA’s computer lab and study rooms are available for students to use to practice presentations and have a quiet work space. Finals are Dec. 11 through 15.
November 2017
Features
Penn State Beaver Roar
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THON says goodbye to canning ASHLEY TAYLOR Staff Writer
aft5151@psu.edu
This year fundraising for THON will be a little different now that Penn State recently decided to end one of its biggest and most popular forms of fundraising: canning. “This semester alone we have brought in over $2,000 with canning,” said junior Katelynn Crowe, a THON member. Last year, THON organizers announced that canning would be phased out due to declining proceeds and safety concerns for students who can in busy intersections. After student volunteer Tally Sepot died in a one-car accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on her way home from a THON canning trip, university administrators recommended that THON phase out canning, which the committee agreed to do by 2019. With canning ended, THON student volunteers like juniors Nick Pelino and Taylor Myers, Beaver’s THON co-chairs, are struggling to come up with alternatives. “We have been sending out THONvelopes to local businesses
Roar photo/Jordan Davis
Dominic Nocera, Maddy Shoaf and Jordan Davis can for THON Sept. 23 at the Pittsburgh International Airport.
asking them to donate,” Pelino said. “We are also setting out little donation boxes in local businesses that people can use to donate as if they were giving tips,” Myers added.
Penn State Beaver’s goal is to have dancers at this upcoming THON to be held Feb. 16-18 in the Bryce Jordan Center at the University Park campus.
“If each campus is able to donate between $7,500 and $10,000, we will be able to have dancers from our campus participate,” Crowe said. Myers said that raising the money
does not automatically guarantee dancers, though. “Once we raise the set amount of money, our campus is put into a raffle and from there we will find out if our campus is eligible to dance,” Myers said. Beaver hasn’t been able to send dancers the past two years. Each of the members said that they are hopeful to have dancers at this upcoming THON, but it is really dependent on how much money Beaver’s THON committee raises. “We do hope to have dancers this year, and I am optimistic that we can reach that,” Pelino said. Last year, THON raised more than $10 million dedicated to its fight against pediatric cancer. Since its inception in 1973, THON has donated more than $146 million to the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children’s Hospital. Beaver will host a winter homecoming dance at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Student Union Building Lodge that will raise money for THON. Pelino said in total, Beaver has raised roughly $2,500 so far this year and hopes to see that number continue to climb.
Career Closet explores partnership with clothing company ZELMA J. DAYE Staff Writer
zxd5082@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver’s Career Closet may be expecting some changes within the next year thanks to a partnership with Professional Outfitters. Professional Outfitters is a program with the Franklin Center in Beaver County. They have two locations, New Brighton and Aliquippa. Brenda Schultz, Beaver’s career and personal counselor, is at the head of operations with the Career Closet. Schultz says that not only is the closet limited on space but also on sizes, which is why the partnership will be of great benefit for the campus. “It will allow for students to have
The Roar/Jeremy Brown
Students can borrow professional clothing for job interviews from the campus’ Career Closet.
a larger variety while maintaining a low budget,” Schultz said. The partnership is not finished yet. Once finalized, students will
be able to schedule an appointment with Professional Outfitters through Schultz to receive clothing. “The partnership will really come
in handy during events such as professional headshots in April and the business etiquette dinner,” Schultz said. Clothing is not only provided for business students but for all students who may need some form of business attire for an interview or professional event. Sophomore Elon Lindsay said he has used the Career Closet. Lindsay was waiting to get his professional headshot taken when he realized that he “didn’t have proper attire and no time to go back.” “It’s a less expensive way to get clothing students may only wear once or twice,” Lindsay said. For access to the Career Closet,
students can contact Schultz and arrange an appointment. A borrowing system is used so that clothing will continuously be available for students. More information about the Career Closet can be found on the Penn State Beaver website at beaver. psu.edu/career-closet. Donating is encouraged by Schultz. “Appropriate business attire is accepted from students, faculty and community members.” Collaborations with organizations on campus are also encouraged. “Hearing about the Career Closet and seeing items are more relatable when to is from student to student,” Schultz said.
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
Sports
New coach looks to continue winning ways WILLIAM DERRY
Senior Staff Writer
wfd5070@psu.edu
Sean Strickland, former University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg men’s basketball coach, was hired recently to replace longtime Penn State Beaver women’s basketball coach Tim Moore who resigned at the start of semester to take a head coaching job at Carlow University. Strickland, a Penn State alumnus and former Penn State Beaver men’s basketball player, first found out about the job opening from Moore. “I have known Coach Moore for a long time so I knew that he had been offered the other position,” said Strickland. “I’m a Penn State grad and I played here before, so once I found out about the position, I put in for it.” For the nearly two months that Penn State Beaver looked for a new coach, the Lady Lions were without one so Athletic Director Andy Kirschner filled in. “By the time I started, it was actually three or four days into the season, so Coach Kirschner took the team for the first three days of practice,” said Strickland. “It was kind of tough on the team because they want to get the season started but they lost their coach and then they don’t actually start their season with their new coach,” Strickland added. “So I appreciate Coach Kirsch filling in that gap.” Before Strickland agreed to coach the Lady Lions, he spoke with his family as he already owns a basketball business called Strick Hoops, LLC, runs the local Central Valley youth basketball organization and just took over the Ohio River girls’ basketball league. “I talked to my family. I didn’t know if I was going to coach college basketball anymore but this position opened up and it was a great opportunity to go back home,” said Strickland. “One of the things that’s tough being a college coach is it takes you away from family a lot so I asked my
kids if it was okay and they were all for it.” Despite coming up short against Villa Maria, 80-68, in his Penn State Beaver coaching debut Nov. 7, Strickland was pleased with the Lady Lions’ effort. “I thought it went pretty good for the first time. We were missing one of our key players [junior transfer Ally Rudolph]. She’s our best shooter so I think if we had her the outcome would’ve been different,” said Strickland. “But for starting late with the team, I thought they handled everything really well and competed hard.” With hopes of winning the Penn State University Athletic Conference championship and qualifying for nationals, senior Brittany Jackson
said she has high expectations for the Lady Lions this season. “I hope that we can improve on our history on the court as well as be able to set the tempo of the game but also have fun,” said Jackson. “My goal for the season is to get better and to play hard to get to our conference championship and win.” Strickland has similar goals for this season but also wants to continue the tradition that Moore built during his time at Penn State Beaver. “I’d like to continue what he built here and how well he did here,” said Strickland. “We want to continue the tradition here of caring about our players, making it a family and being successful on the court.”
Above, Diamond
Thomas, No. 11, drives to the basket against Villa Maria College on Nov. 7. Right,
Coach Sean Strickland oversees a practice of the women’s basketball team on Nov. 16. Strickland took over the coaching position at the beginning of the season after Tim Moore left for a position at Carlow University. The Roar/Chris Rotondo
November 2017
Sports
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Men look to rebound from last year AUSTIN YOUNG Staff Writer
ajy5202@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver men’s basketball Coach Brian Bibey and his players hope to rebound from last season’s weak 6-16 record, and the team is off to a good start Nov. 11 defeating Kent State-Tuscarawas 105-72. “Last year was a bad season for us,” said Bibey. “We have had voluntary conditioning and open gyms two hours a day, five to six times a week, and have been developing skills needed to be successful,” Bibey added. Bibey’s players share his confidence. “We are going to perform way better than previous years,” said sophomore Kevin Charles. “We were just an overall young team with no experience,” Charles said of last year’s poor performance. “The team is working hard for this season. All 14 of the players are preparing by lifting weights and practicing skills in the off season, says,” sophomore Frank Kyumba. Kyumba said one of the team’s goals is to beat crosstown rival Penn State Greater Allegheny, to whom Beaver lost last year. To beat them, Kyumba said the team needs to work on defense, box out, cooperate and communicate. Charles said the comradery among players is good. “We all are friends and we have a good relationship with each other.” Kyumba agreed. “We all hang out and are good friends.” Some key players returning this season include seniors DJ Austin and Eric Gallupe, as well as sophomores Markel Sayles, and Dominique Stevenson. “I have an honest two-way street relationship with my players,” Bibey said. “It is unique. We need to have an understanding between each other. When that exists, there is a dynamic to success.” After every season, Bibey said he re-evaluates himself and the team and makes changes to improve the team’s record.
At the end of the day, Bibey said, “I am the person who has this job. I show up every day and do the best to make sure players have a great experience, have fun and made memories. And if we are able to win some games, it is that extra cherry on top.” After several non-conference games against regional colleges, Beaver will open up Penn State University Athletic Conference play at home at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28 against rival Greater Allegheny. Beaver will follow with three more conference matches on the road at Hazelton Dec. 1, Schuylkill Dec. 2 and DuBois Dec. 5, followed by a match against Fayette campus at home at 8 p.m. Dec. 8.
Above, Dominque Stevenson dunks the ball against Kent State - Tuscarawas Nov. 11. Beaver won 105-72. Right, DJ Austin goes up for a layup, while he attempts to draw the foul against Kent. State. The Roar/Adam Espinoza
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017
Sports
SOCCER
Men make playoffs, women go winless AUSTIN YOUNG Staff Writer
ajy5202@psu.edu
The Roar/Chris Rotondo
Jenna Petrucci spikes the ball against Penn State DuBois on Senior Night Oct. 24. Beaver won 3-1.
Volleyball season cut short in playoffs BAILEY SOPLINSKI Staff Writer
brs28@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions volleyball team finished their season with a loss against Penn State DuBois in the playoffs. The Lady Lions went 16-11 overall and 12-4 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC). The Lady Lions played Penn State DuBois Oct. 27 in the first round of the PSUAC. The playoff game went off to a great start as the Penn State Beaver took the lead 2-0 in the first two sets. After finishing the first match with a 25-21 win, in the second set they kept up on their strategy and took a 25-13 win. But after a solid start in the third set, it all seemed to fall apart and Beaver ended up losing 20-25, fol-
lowed by losses in both the fourth and fifth sets. Even with the help of 39 assists by senior leader Ryanne “Roxy” Kie and five blocks by freshman Imani Hargrove, the Lady Lions could not pull through. “Everything that was in [the team’s] control, they did not control as well as they could have,” Coach BJ Bertges stated. Ironically, Beaver defeated DuBois with a Senior Night win Oct. 24, just three days before the playoff loss. “That Senior Night was a very emotional time,” senior Jenna Petrucci stated. Petrucci had 11 kills in the game, while Hargrove had 5 blocks in the match. Bertges said, “It is more special when you have a player for four years, when most only stay for two
years.” With two seniors leaving – Kie and Petrucci –Bertges has now devised a solid recruiting plan. Bertges said she is recruiting a new setter to replace Kie. “Finding someone to replace a First-Team AllSection setter is not going to be an easy task.” Regardless, sophomore Brooke Tomasko is still optimistic about next year’s chances. “Next year [the Lady Lions] will still have a solid group of girls with a lot of heart and talent,” she said. The Lady Lions have five players returning for the next season: sophomores Amanda Mike and Alexis Albrecht, freshman Trestena Grant, Hargrove and Tomasko. And with help from a big recruiting class, the Lady Lions look for more success in the future.
The Penn State Beaver men’s soccer team finished the season strong with a final record of 7-91, but lost in the first round of the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs. With several key players hurt, including the team’s first two goalies, Beaver headed to Hazleton Oct. 26 for the first round of the PSUAC playoffs. In the first half, Hazleton took a 2-0 lead on a penalty kick, but Beaver was quick to answer at 42:02 on a goal from junior John Valiga to bring the game within one, 2-1. In the second half, Hazleton added two goals in the first 15 minutes to take a 4-1 lead. With those two goals coming within minutes of each other, Beaver made a goalie change, but then gave up another pair of back-to-back unanswered goals to fall behind 6-1. Beaver kept shooting and eventually found the net for a second time just before the 70-minute mark on a goal by sophomore Shelton Hilliard, ending the game with a score of 6-2. Despite losing in the playoffs, Coach Jim VanKirk said his players performed well. Over the course of 16 games, the players managed to average three goals per game no matter who the competition was. “This has been their worst season since 2013,” said VanKirk. The team finished 6-5 in the PSUAC, with 47 goals over the season. With 29 assists overall and 17 assists in the conference, the team clearly knows how to communicate out on the field, said VanKirk. Although the team worked very hard this year, it struggled with injuries and penalties. Sophomore Zack Petty and freshman Joey Pail
were put out of the season due to concussions. Sophomore William Derry was side-lined due to a dislocated shoulder. Also, junior Sam Sharpless had a sprained ankle. “The six to eight players that were injured definitely affected the season’s results,” VanKirk said. “We were a talented team with a lot of injuries in the last three weeks.” Even after the bad luck the team had at the end of the year, freshman Ashish Subba said he’s optimistic about next year’s chances. “Next year is up in the air.” The soccer team is losing two seniors – Brandon Golonka and Logan Ridgley – and 14 sophomores are expected to change campuses. “We have to recruit a lot of solid players for next season,” said sophomore John Kazmierczyk. VanKirk said he plans on recruiting players from local high schools.
WOMENS’S SOCCER ENDS WINLESS
The Penn State Beaver women’s soccer team ended its season 0-9, having scored only six goals the entire season. The team ended the season Oct. 21 with a 6-2 loss at Penn State Schuylkill. After giving up five goals in the first half, Beaver scores two goals in the last 15 minutes of the game, one from junior Bukuru Edisa and the other from freshman Katie Valiga. The team went scoreless in its two previous losses. Beaver lost 1-0 Oct. 15 at Penn State Hazleton, and 7-0 Oct. 14 at Penn State Brandywine. Last year, the team when 8-9 overall and made it to the first round of the PSUAC playoffs. In 2015, Beaver went 8-7-1 and won the PSUAC championship in a shootout.
November 2017
Sports
Penn State Beaver Roar
Hockey team digs deep for lone win ADAM ESPINOZA Senior Staff Writer
ate5052@psu.edu
The Roar/Karl Truskowski
Dan Raupp breaks out of the defensive zone during the Fightin’ Beavs game against CCAC on Nov. 15. The Beavs lost 13-5.
The Fightin’ Beavs are tanking this year. On Nov. 9, the Beavs took on Duquesne University in another poor showing, losing 10-2. The only bright spots were goals by freshman Jackson Glenn, assisted by senior Matt Welch and junior Brendan Rossi, and senior Dan Raupp, assisted by Rossi. More recently, the Beavs lost 13-5 on Nov. 15 to the Community College of Allegheny County. The Beavs record is 1-6 early into the season. The lone win came Oct. 18 in a 6-4 victory over Slippery Rock University. “Our record is the way it is because of a harder division,” said senior Garrett Troy. “Granted, we
should have won a game or two more, but things didn’t go our way. Bad bounces, unlucky plays. It is what it is and we’ll move on from it.” Other losses this season came Oct. 5 against Duquesne University, 9-1; Oct. 11 against Community College of Allegheny County, 11-3; and Nov. 1 against California University of Pennsylvania, 13-5. With a new coach and leadership, many things have changed since recent years. “The leadership is definitely different than the past years,” said Rossi, the team captain. “Our former captain graduated after last season, so the new regime is still getting used to leading everyone.” The team has many of the same pieces return from its championship team and have shown leadership to keep players spirts up.
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“Everybody really provides fantastic feedback positive and negative. Brendan (Rossi) and (senior) Bryce (Hodge) keep the team’s heads held high,” said Troy. For the rest of the season, improvements will be needed and changes will be done. “We really need to work on our defensive positioning and our competitive level and we can be one of the most dynamic teams in the league,” said Rossi. Even with the tough start, the players are optimistic that they can dig out of the hole and make something of the year. “We’re just going to keep digging deep and working hard on our weaknesses,” Troy said. “Come next half of the season, I think we’ll be a different team. You can believe that.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar November 2017