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Penn State Beaver Roar
November 2012
News
Where — no, who — in the world is Jonah Santiago? Dante Massey Staff Writer
dwm5299@psu.edu
With 50,000 views on his YouTube page, freshman Jonah Santiago is having more success than most students at Penn State Beaver. Santiago not only sings but plays various instruments and is believed to be the first musician on campus to get his song onto iTunes. Santiago said his love for music started as a family thing: Both of his parents and older siblings are musicians. His father, Reinzi Santiago, is a pastor for His Disciples Christian Outreach Ministry, where the younger Santiago began singing in church at an early age. “Jonah began singing songs as early as 4 years old. He would sing along with an accompaniment track and was in tune,” his father said. “His first official musical involvement was when he was 7, when he played drums along with young musicians.” Santiago has performed in several shows, without pay, and also plays four instruments. Santiago said it is difficult being a full-time student and musician. “Recently, it has become harder because now that I have had some success with my music, it has given me some momentum, and I don’t want to stop making music,” he said. “But with school I have to split my time between the two.” The success Santiago referred to was the Oct. 7 release of his first original single, titled “Up in Heaven.” Santiago released the song on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and some other music sites. He has also done well with self promotion through the Penn State Beaver Facebook page and on his YouTube page titled “jsant033,” which has led to a student fan base on campus.
The ROAR/Cathy Benscoter
Freshman Jonah Santiago practices on the guitar, one of four instruments he can play, in the WBVR studio in the Student Union Building.
“
It feels fantastic to know that Jonah may make it big someday.
Kaif Aailim-Johnson Freshman
One of Santiago’s friends, freshman Kaif Aailim-Johnson, said, “It feels fantastic to know that Jonah may make it big someday.” He also said that he treats Santiago no differently since he bought his friend’s single. Sophomore DaAndre Wagner said, “It’s really cool that he took the time out to produce a song that
was good enough to sell, and he really has a voice that is made for radio.” Several students who have heard a clip of the song have said they would buy it through one of the websites, and all have agreed that Santiago has a very smooth and sensual voice. Santiago’s parents are really supportive, he said, but they usually don’t know much about his music. For instance, he said his mother, Marilou Santiago, didn’t know he had a single out on iTunes until his cousins from the Philippines told her.
Santiago, of Hopewell Township, doesn’t make a big deal about what he is doing musically because he feels like his parents wouldn’t want him to make a fuss. “We initially heard him sing in our basement, where his studio now is. At the time we couldn’t believe it because we never saw that Jonah had any desire for public performance,” Reinzi Santiago said. He added that his parents honestly had no clue what iTunes was, but he is glad that his son’s music is now reaching people everywhere. Santiago had a bit of advice for musicians like himself: “Work with
what you have,” he said. “If you only have a phone to shoot a video, use that. Or if you can’t afford music software, find free ones. Money doesn’t make a musician.” Santiago’s own promo for the single was shot using only an iPhone and is now on YouTube. He said that with the great reception of his first single, he is already working on writing a second song which will be released in the upcoming months. Until his next release, Santiago also has a wide array of cover songs and videos on YouTube to access, along with contact information.
November 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 3
News
Campus plans for potential renovations B. Keeler
Senior Staff Writer
bak5266@psu.edu
In early October you may have seen some people lurking around campus - particularly around the Michael Baker Building - and wondered what they were doing there. Those people were from an architectural firm, and they were there to conduct a feasibility study to decide whether MBB should be renovated. The feasibility survey examines everything in the building’s systems, from the wiring to the railings on the stairwell. “We look at the academic needs of the building,” said Director of Finance and Business Luke Taiclet. Currently, that list of academic needs includes a new organic chemistry lab, a new engineering lab, a new art studio and a communications lab, Taiclet said. Before drafting plans can begin, the surveyors need to look at secondary systems like the heating ventilation and air conditioning system, the floor and the roof. Accessibility is also key in this renovation. There are plans to add Americans-with-Disabilities-Act-compliant restrooms both upstairs and downstairs, as well as an elevator.
Sophomore Sean Mooney studies in room 111 and 112 of the Michael Baker Building.
Though a decision to move forward with the MBB project hasn’t been made, there are tentative timelines and cost estimates in place. The target for completion is the 2016-17 academic year, with construction expected to begin in the
spring of 2015. The renovations are projected to cost $6 to $7 million, according to Taiclet. The total cost includes any temporary classrooms that may need to be brought in during renovations. Funding for the MBB project
The ROAR/Nick Anderegg
will be secured through the university without using tuition dollars. “It’s one of the most needful buildings in the system, if not the most needful classroom building in the entire university,” said Taiclet. Associate Professor of Chemistry Michael Hay knows only too well
how badly the HVAC system needs to be updated. He had to move his classes and the chemistry labs out of MBB because the fume hoods in the lab were not working at optimal levels. That optimal level for ventilation hoods is 177 particles per minute, and MBB’s was below 88 ppm, according to Hay. Hay said the only way he felt the system could be improved would be to gut the whole building. Even with the renovations, Hay said he has no plans to move his classes from the Laboratory Classroom Building. Senior Nicole Mazine is one of the most experienced Lion Ambassadors on campus and as such is often tasked with selling the campus to prospective students. She admitted it can be hard to present MBB in a good light, but she works around it by emphasizing the building’s good points. “When you compare MBB to the other buildings on campus, it’s old and hard to present in a nice manner,” she said. “It’s really outdated and it needs a lot of love.” Even though Mazine will not be here to see the completed project, she is excited to see the campus grow and become bigger and better.
Storm damages GCB roof Brandon Perino Editor Emeritus
bjp5053@psu.edu
Though Hurricane Sandy lost most of its punch by the time it reached Penn State Beaver on Oct. 30, it still caused damage. When the storm’s 45-mph winds and 2 to 4 inches of rain hit southern Beaver County, it knocked down trees and power lines, causing some roads to close overnight, according to Lee Hendricks of the National Weather Service in Moon Township.
On campus, Sandy caused damage to the aging roof of the General Classroom Building, said Luke Taiclet, director of business and finance. Leaks in the roof above both stairwells caused water damage to ceiling tiles. Taiclet said that the GCB has suffered leaks before but this was worse. “The stairwells are a mess. Old roof, lots of wind and rain. Bad combo,” he said. Taiclet has not yet spoken to the supervisor of the Office of Physical
Plant at University Park about the damage to find out when or how it will be fixed. Taiclet said the roof is original to the 45-year-old building, “well past the expected life of a roof system.” He hopes the GCB roof can be replaced in the summer of 2014, but replacing the roof will cost between $350,000 and $400,000. Taiclet said, “Unfortunately, while our roof is bad, there are many in the PSU system that are far worse.”
The ROAR/Dan Trzcianka
Ceiling tiles are damaged in the General Classroom Building.
November 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 5
News
Faculty take Turkish soda taste test Lindsay Bangor Staff Writer
lmb5793@psu.edu
What does your soft drink of choice say about you? According to Tahla Harcar, it can say a lot. Harcar, associate professor of Business Administration, recently conducted a study to show how ethnocentrism – the belief that one’s ethnic group or country is superior – plays into the perception and purchasing of products from other countries. Harcar said he believes there are preconceived notions as to how people judge products coming out of different nations. “The perception of different countries is very diverse,” explained Harcar. “Especially in the U.S., we think undeveloped countries have subpar products.” Harcar said there are certain products countries are known for, and regardless of where it is from – a developed or undeveloped nation – the consumer will want it. “For example, people think Swiss chocolate is best. It is known for the chocolate, that is the perception of the country,” Harcar
Spanier, others face charges Former Penn State President Graham Spanier now faces charges for his alleged knowledge in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse case. On Nov. 1, nearly a year after the scandal errupted, the state Attorney General’s office filed criminal conspiracy, perjury and obstruction of justice charges against Spanier. Former top administrators Gary Schultz and Tim Curley, already charged with perjury and failure to report, now face additional charges of endangering the welfare of children, criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
The ROAR/Dan Trzcianka
Talha Harcar displays a variety of soda cans for his study.
“
The questions were really about buying American [products] to keep American jobs stable”
John Chapin
Professor of Communications
said. “People tend to rate the product higher when they know the country is known for the product.” To measure ethnocentrism there is a set scale, which is stan-
dard throughout nations, where the consumer answers 17 questions. If they answer closer to strongly agree (high) or strongly disagree (low), it rates them on a scale of ethnocentrism. According to Harcar’s study, the more someone agrees with the questions, the more ethnocentric that person is. Professor of Communications John Chapin questioned the validity of the ethnocentrism scale during the presentation. “The questions were really about
buying American [products] to keep American jobs stable,” said Chapin. “If my research class were running right now it would have made for an interesting discussion about construct validity – does a research scale really measure what it is supposed to?” he said. “Turns out, the questions I was looking at were only part of one of three subscales.” Harcar used two groups to conduct his research. “One group was blindfolded and tasted the product, and the other group saw the product and knew it was the Turkish soda Uludag,” Harcar said. “I then asked questions, such as, ‘how do you like the product?’ and ‘what would be your intention to buy the product?’” Harcar said. The expectation going into the experiment was if the group knew the soda was Turkish, they would rate the product lower. The two main factors that led to the rating of the product were knowing the country of origin and whether the subject was high or low on the ethnocentrism scale. “While I appreciated exploring a respected colleagues’ research, I
have to say I didn’t enjoy the Turkish soda. It had an odd after-taste,” said Chapin. Overall, the country of origin makes a big difference in rating. “If they do not know the label, they rate it higher,” explained Harcar. “So essentially if they have high ethnocentrism, they will rate the imported product lower.” According to Harcar, brand image is a new concept that could make people reconsider their preconceived notions on products from other countries, and that could replace the country-of-origin impact. “An example would be Coke,” explained Harcar. “A person would generally drink Coke anywhere, whether it be in the United States or Korea, because the consumer feels safe with the brand.” He continued, “They forget that the water making Coke in Korea is different than the water that is used to make Coke in the United States. They just look at the brand and feel safe.” “Perceptions can and will change,” Harcar added, “but like everything, it will take time.”
Police Beat
Three students cited with underage drinking Residence Life coordinators contacted University Police in regards to underage drinking on two separate days. At 1:04 a.m. Oct. 9, police cited sophomore residents Nicole Day of Washington, Brittany Grzejka of McMurray, and Mahmoud Helal of Cairo, Egypt, for underage drinking. A coordinator also contacted police at 10 p.m. Oct. 25 when resident freshman Jessica Findling of Hickory was found drunk at the Halloween dance. Police cited Findling for underage drinking.
Vandalism in the gym
A gymnasium employee reported to campus police Oct. 17 that the toilet in the handicap stall of the men’s upstairs bathroom had been vandalized. Police found the back porcelain was cracked completely off the mount along with some tile. The police report indicated that someone may have stepped on the front of the toilet. No charges have been filed.
Fire extinguished near the Maintenance Building
Physical Plant worker Mark
Williams reported to police that a lot of smoke was coming from a mulch pile by the maintenance building at 11:25 a.m. Oct. 5. When police arrived, another Physical Plant worker, Nathan Bickerstaff, had already put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. Police have no information on how the fire started.
Car window smashed
On Oct. 8 a commuter student contacted police saying that the rear window of his vehicle was smashed. Police arrived to investigate but
found nothing in or around the car that could have been used to smash the window. Officer Bryan Cattivera said police do not know how the window was smashed.
Charged with Possession
Police charged freshman resident Nathaniel Jewell of Cranberry Township Oct. 21 with possession of drug paraphernalia related to an incident in September. According to a report, police found Jewell in possession of the drug paraphernalia on Sept. 21 after an officer performed a consented search of Jewell’s room.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
November 2012
Viewpoint LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Managing Editor Dan Trzcianka
dvt5050@psu.edu
Editor emeritus Brandon Perino bjp5053@psu.edu
Copy Editor Jennifer Durbin jad500@psu.edu
Photo editor Corey Wright
cjw5372@psu.edu
Business Manager Steven Dusicsko sjd5181@psu.edu
EDITORIAL Editor Nancy Paoletti
nlp5099@psu.edu
Page Designers Nick Anderegg
naa5179@psu.edu
Caitlin Vodenichar cav5119@psu.edu
senior staff writers Ben Keeler
bak5266@psu.edu
Monica Pitcher
mmp5317@psu.edu
Zak Taylor
zwt100@psu.edu
Advisers Terrie Baumgardner tbm2@psu.edu
Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu
Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu
Help THON help kids THON! Probably the most fun you can have volunteering hard work, passion and dedication to raise money and awareness in order to conquer pediatric cancer. What exactly is THON? More than 15,000 students across the state participate in Penn State’s Dance MaraTHON, a year-round fundraising campaign that ends with a two-day dance marathon. Thon is the largest studentrun philanthropic organization in the world. Thon is the embodiment of what it means to be a Penn Stater, to have Penn State pride. And it’s an excellent example of the extraordinary things that Penn State
students can accomplish. It started almost 40 years ago when 39 student couples at University Park got together one February weekend and danced for 30 hours to raise $2,000. Today, students dance for 46 hours, the longest dance marathon in the country. And along with other yearround fundraising activities, their dancing has raised more than $89 million “For the Kids” since 1977. In 2012 alone, Penn State students raised more than $10.6 million for the Four Diamonds Fund to support the fight against pediatric cancer. The fund fills in the gaps when insurance doesn’t quite cover all the services. Thon thus allows families to focus on caring for
their children rather than worrying about the bills. Thon is one of the stars of Penn State culture. It’s no wonder students look forward to it each year. Last February, two students from the Beaver campus, former student Angelique Matthews and junior J.J. Figas, who is now at University Park, participated in the dance competition and helped the campus to raise $7,131.30 How can you help? Get involved and volunteer. You can contact THON chair Erica DeLuca at eqd5072@psu.edu or Parker Goolsby, residence life coordinator, at jpg19@ psu.edu for more information.
Domestic violence can’t be ignored
Although October was National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, domestic and sexual violence is an issue that continues year round. No one is immune to domestic or sexual violence. It doesn’t matter what your gender is, what your color is or whether you are rich or poor. Anyone can become a victim. Domestic and sexual violence can happen in any relationship. It can involve a spouse, someone you are dating, a close friend, a co-worker, a parent or a sibling. Domestic violence is a behavior that is abusive but not always physical. It can be mental, emotional or verbal. It might also include treats or coercion. Sexual violence doesn’t always mean
a physical attack. It can take the form of stalking, threats, unwanted text messages, emails or even gifts. Please don’t think that just because you don’t see something physical that domestic violence isn’t happening. If you suspect something is wrong, say something. Domestic violence cannot and should not be ignored or treated like it is a private matter that is none of your business. If someone is being abused, it is your business. What can you do to stop domestic or sexual violence? Don’t be afraid to let someone know you are concerned for their wellbeing. Acknowledge the fact that it is a dif-
ficult, scary and potentially dangerous situation. At the same time, remember that some people don’t realize they are in a violent relationship. Always be supportive; don’t be judgmental. It is often difficult for people to talk about domestic abuse. And for some people, it is difficult to even acknowledge that there is a problem. Encourage victims to speak to people who can give them guidance in what to do — people like those in a local support group, a local agency that helps violence victims or perhaps the church they belong to. For more information about domestic and sexual abuse, go to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website at www.ncadv.org.
The Roar is published several times each semester. Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: roar-editor@ psu.edu by the 20th day of each month. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published.
FREE ADS FOR CLUBS Because The Roar receives funding from the Student Activity Fee, free advertising space is offered to any universityrecognized organization or club to promote upcoming events. The space is limited to one advertisement, one-eighth of a page in size, per organization or club per month. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: roar-business@ psu.edu by the 20th of each month.
November 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 7
Commentary
Americans value money too much
THE ROAR/Dante Massey
The Asia Project
Spoken-word poet Asia Samson and his brother-in-law Jollan Aurelio perform before a small audience in the auditorium Oct. 17. Samson’s poetry touched on topics such as love, marriage, death and cancer.
Humans invented money for efficiency, but something is going wrong with money nowadays. Money is no longer for efficiency, but for dominance over humans. Money that humans used to use as a tool for practical use is now using humans. We are living in a society where we are treated as slaves of money. I have often heard from older adults, “Do what you like! This is your life!” I think they should stop bluffing. Could we really have a good life by pursuing what we desire to do? I don’t think so, unless society provides the playgrounds where we can develop our natural talents. American society solely values talents that can make more money. All talents, except the money-making ones, are devalued. Diversity has always been a virtue that this nation has had. Cre-
in my own words
Kyung Min Kim ative ideas, great adventures, and advanced policies have been the products of diversity. But now that great value seems to have disappeared. As people have become slaves of money, they can no longer voice their opinions, but blindly follow where the money is. Money is telling them to be quiet, to just follow, if they want the money. It seems capitalism is causing many negative effects. It is difficult to say whether we need to fix the parts that are not working within the system, or simply change the whole social paradigm. Hasn’t the U.S always been
proud of providing opportunities to work? Where have those great opportunities gone? I can’t believe the news headline saying, “Growth without employment.” I think this is a serious time when we need to think how to change the social system. However, the prospect of my wish for this coming true seems gloomy. I hurried to watch the first presidential debate after my night class. I expected all the Penn State students would be interested in the presidential debate. However, when I got to the dorm lobby, many of the students were watching a movie in the darkness instead of the debate. I lost my words. Looking back to when Bill Clinton became president and remarked, “It’s the economy, stupid!”, I think I need to leave a similar remark: “It’s politics, stupid!”
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Penn State Beaver Roar
November 2012
Features
Canning for THON breaks records Cameron Boggs Staff Writer
cgb5148@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver’s fundraising students had a record-breaking weekend recently, raising more than $4,000 for the campus’ contribution to the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. The campus has raised more than $6,500 to date for THON, fast approaching last year’s total of $7,100, with four months of fundraising left. The students “canned” for donations the weekend of Oct. 19 through 21 at Tropical Fun Zone, Kmart in Rochester, Pittsburgh International Airport and Witch Flavor in Beaver. “The airport was the best place to can because of baggage claim. People that came up to us were mostly dancers before,” junior Amanda Palombo, a THON committee member, said. Palombo was among four dozen students who were canning over the weekend. She worked from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pittsburgh International Airport Friday and raised $425. Palombo said she is excited about the more than $6,500 raised from canning to date, especially since last year’s total canning only brought in about $2,500. The record tally is just one of many improvements that should help Penn State Beaver’s students raise more money for THON this year. Erica DeLuca, chair of the THON committee, said THON has changed drastically since last year. “Last year the way officers were set up was really disorganized. There was a chair, co-chair and multiple chairs and co-chairs of committees,” DeLuca said. “This year, I am the chair and I have one captain for each committee. Also the roles of the committees have changed.” DeLuca said the canning committee hosted two canning weekends which took place on Sep. 28
THE ROAR/Dan Trzcianka
Above, senior Hayley Peters and freshman Paul Duffy try to stay warm while canning at Beaver Fruit and Garden Market in Center Township. Below, freshmen Christina Warren and Maria Gunn-Tucker show their Penn State pride while canning at Witch Flavor in Beaver.
Haircuts at THON to benefit Wigs for Kids At this year’s Dance MaraThon, you can donate not only money, but also your hair. Donations of hair will benefit Wigs for Kids. Anyone interested in donating must have hair at least 12 inches long, with no color, perm or highlights. Interested students can find the Wigs for Kids application at THON.org. The due date to turn in an application is Dec. 30.
through 30 and Oct. 19 through 21. A Mini-THON was held Nov. 2 and 3. Amy Gartley, associated director of Student Affairs, said the final
canning sessions will be held on Nov. 9 through 11 at the airport, Beaver Fruit and Garden Market, Witch Flavor and All Star Restaurant in Robinson.
Other initiatives the THON committee is developing include selling T-shirts this year for the first time and hosting the annual date auction in February. The Morale Committee is doing more this year, too. “They are going to try to get the campus
involved by advertising and putting up a thermometer of progress in the Bistro. And THONvelopes will be trying to get corporate sponsors in addition to friends and family,” DeLuca said. This year’s THON theme is “Inspire Tomorrow’s Miracles” and was chosen by the Overall Committee earlier this school year. THON has taken place at University Park since 1977 and has raised more than $89 million for the Four Diamonds fund, located at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. The 46-hour event will take place at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center Feb. 15 through 17. Students dance the entire time and are not permitted to sleep or sit down. Palombo said Beaver’s dancers should be announced at the beginning of December, but she promises she won’t be one of them.
November 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 9
Features
‘Poor college student’ takes on new meaning Zak Taylor
Senior Staff Writer zwt100@psu.edu
Freshman Jessica Leslie was desperate. The cupboards were empty and her gas tank dry. Her child was hungry, but there was no way to make it to the store. She was broke. Everything was spinning out of control. That’s life in JoAnne Chirico’s poverty simulation. On Oct. 22, more than 60 students gathered inside the Penn State Beaver Student Union Building Lodge to take part in the poverty simulation experience. Participants were split into groups of four and asked to spend time in the shoes of a low-income family. They were tasked with buying food, finding transportation and caring for their children, all
“
After the first week, we ran out of money.”
Jessica Leslie Freshman
while keeping a meager budget. “It was stressful,” described Leslie. “There just wasn’t enough money and everything was important, but you had to figure out what was most important.” Leslie and her temporary family often found it difficult to make ends meet. “We did bad. At first we were like ‘Oh it’s going to be okay, we got this.’ Then after the first week we ran out of money. We ran out of transportation cards. We didn’t feed our kid for three weeks because we couldn’t get there.”
Senior Ryan Hudacsek said his group didn’t fare much better. “It was chaotic and we never really accomplished anything. We just did a little worse every week,” he said. As times got tough, many students found themselves at the ends of their ropes. They were soon forced to take drastic measures in order to survive. “We stole transportation cards from some people,” Leslie admitted. “My husband was selling drugs.” Chirico, senior instructor in sociology, said she was surprised at how engaged students became in the activity. “Many students became very intense very quickly – getting very upset at losing a child to child welfare, being burglarized or robbed, having police do noth-
ing after taking their reports of burglaries.” While their collective blood pressure may have been on the rise, students appeared to walk away from the simulation with a new appreciation for the struggles of low-income families. “I told [Chirico] to do it again. I think it’s a good thing,” said Leslie. “We were stressed for an hour but these people are stressed for years.” Giving students a new perspective on the hardships of poverty was precisely what Chirico had in mind. “I wanted students to appreciate the difficulty of living on low income salaries – that even people who work full time can struggle,” she said. “Real wages have declined since 1973, and this poses difficulties.” While Chirico says she would
consider holding the simulation again, coordinating the event was no small undertaking. “It takes a considerable amount of preparation and participation from the community. About 16 people from outside of campus participated,” she said. “It was popular because instructors supported it by allowing it to count as class assignments. I am really appreciative of Dr. (Ana) Fontes, Dr. (Clare) Conry-Murray, Dr. (Irene) Wolf and Dr. (Mari) Pierce’s cooperation in that regard.” Pierce, assistant professor of Administration of Justice, and Campus Nurse Barbara Kugel took a hands-on approach to the simulation. Pierce moonlighted as neighborhood thief, while Kugel played “a terrific social worker,” according to Chirico.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
November 2012
Features
Dance club busts a move on campus Monica M. Pitcher Senior Staff Writer
Mmp5317@psu.edu
It is neither “Flashdance” nor “Footloose,” but some students have taken it upon themselves to bring dance to Penn State Beaver. On Oct. 24, the dance team was born through the sheer determination and yearning to dance of junior Dante Massey, sophomore Sergio Simmons and freshman Kaif Aalim-Johnson. Massey and Simmons share the presidency, while Johnson is lead choreographer. “We came up with the idea for the team by just talking about our love of dance and how it would be awesome to have a dance team on campus,” said Massey. Massey, who is also a Roar staffer, said students don’t have to be the best dancers in order to be part of the team because it’s more about “creating a family through the bond of dance.” The team is a casual club but is interested
THE ROAR/Dante Massey
Marc Hilaire practices tutting during the dance club’s first offical rehearsal Oct. 30.
in becoming competitive. “What we would like to do is start off with a solid foundation and then expand to be able to compete and
possibly travel,” said Simmons. “For the time being, the team is strictly used for promotion and entertainment, but
we open to anything” added Massey. The team’s first performance is yet to be announced, but Robin Schreck, coordinator of residence life, is hopeful. “I would like to see the team perform at halftime for games and even have shows of their own,” said Schreck. The team welcomes all forms of dance and incorporates them into its own choreography. The team also throws in some new mainstream dances such as Gangam style. When it comes to evolving into a flash mob, the team is still unsure. “I can’t really disclose that because if I did it wouldn’t be a flash mob. But I won’t deny it either,” said Massey. There are 25 members on the dance team, but the team is still looking for more. There is no tryout process to earn a spot on the team because all students are welcome. Students who are interested in joining can contact Massey at dwm5299@psu.edu.
Now hiring fun, energetic peoåple to join our team!
November 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 11
Features
Fresh faces welcomed in admissions Zakary Taylor Senior Staff Writer
zwt100@psu.edu
When Director of Enrollment Daniel Pinchot set out to fill voids in the Penn State Beaver Admissions Office left by the departure of former counselors Rebecca DeSalvo and Julie Osekowski, he had a throng of candidates to choose from. But it was Rachel Zughaib and Justin Vorbach who stood out among the pack. Zughaib and Vorbach, Penn State Beaver’s newly appointed admissions counselors, are proud graduates of Penn State University, a fact Pinchot believes could serve the campus well. “It’s nice to see such talented and skilled young professionals, and the fact that they are both Penn State alums is just a winning combination,” he said. “I think they’re going to bring a lot of energy, personality, creativity and Penn State pride to the job.” For Zughaib, working at Penn State has been a personal goal since graduating from University Park in 2009. “I’m super happy to be here.
Rachel Zughaib
Justin Vorbach
Penn State is the end game. I always wanted this to be the end game,” she said. “I came from the Penn State system. I had a great experience as a student. And now I’m having a great experience as a professional.” According to Pinchot, Zughaib has been nothing short of a perfect fit. “Oh, I couldn’t be more pleased with our hire,” he said. “She is an incredibly talented young professional. She has great experience. She is an incredibly quick study. And the fact that she’s a Penn State alum gives her a builtin advantage alone.”
Zughaib was working as an international and exchange student supervisor at Robert Morris University when she heard about the opening in the Beaver Admissions Office. She said she immediately jumped at the opportunity and never looked back. “I love it. I love the tight-knit group of faculty and students, also the Penn State spirit. That’s something I wanted to get back.” Vorbach’s story hits even closer to home. Vorbach graduated in 2011 from Penn State Beaver, where he majored in business mar-
keting and management. Vorbach is still remembered well around campus, and those who know him best can’t seem to run out of good things to say about him. “He’s outgoing and gets along with everybody. He’s very enthusiastic. When he has a goal he is determined to get it accomplished,” said senior Nicole Mazine. Vorbach is also a “pure leader,” according to senior Steve Duscisko. “I think they made the right decision.” Vorbach said he first realized he wanted to pursue a career at Penn State while working as an intern. “Ever since I interned at Penn State Beaver as an admissions counselor during my undergrad, I really had an interest in making it a career. Penn State is an amazing university with so many great opportunities and experiences for students, faculty and staff alike. I couldn’t imagine doing this job at any other college or university,” he said. The experience went a long way towards making a good impression on the selection committee.
“It’s not often that you get to hire somebody who you’ve already sort of tested in the work place,” Pinchot said. “We knew what he’s capable of doing and what he can really bring to the team, and so I thought we were really fortunate there.” Vorbach has been working for the past year as an admissions counselor at Penn State’s New Kensington campus. Pinchot said one of Vorbach’s most outstanding characteristics is that he’s creative. “He has a great outgoing personality and just has really unique ways to connect with and engage prospective students.” Students can expect to see a lot of Vorbach and Zughaib around campus. With their engaging personalities and incredible school spirit, they shouldn’t be hard to miss. “Both of them are going to be individuals who you’re going to see on campus. They’re going to be involved in things because that’s their personalities and that’s what they want. And I think that makes them all the better,” said Pinchot.
Laureate visits campus Dante Massey Staff Writer
dwm5299@psu.edu
Penn State Laureate Chris Staley visited Beaver campus Nov. 1 to deliver his presentation, “Art & Life: Where they Intersect” in the Student Union Building auditorium. A laureate is a person who is honored with an award for outstanding achievement in his or her field. Staley, a professor of art, is a ceramicist who teaches in the School of Visual Art. He joined the Penn State faculty in 1990. He was named a Penn State Distinguished Professor in 2008.
The Ceramics Graduate Program that Staley leads has been ranked No. 10 in the nation. He also received Penn State’s Graduate Faculty Teaching Award in 2007. Staley’s presentation included many photos of his work, as well as the many places around the world to which he’s traveled. Staley said he believes life and art are intertwined, and he showcased many of his pieces to illustrate that point. Staley has traveled to many places to explore art and its relation to people. He said that anything you see can be a work of art. Staley focused on the parts of creativity and how it can open your
eyes to a world of opportunity. In order to understand the outside world, Staley said people have to look on the inside. This can work with pottery as well as people, he said. Many potters will actually cut their pots down the middle to see what they look like inside. Staley’s ceramic pieces are featured at the International Museum of Ceramic Art in China, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. For more information about Staley, go to his YouTube page, ArtsandArch.
THE ROAR/Corey Wright
Professor Chris Staley lectures the students and faculty on his works in the field of ceramic art in the Student Union Building.
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Features
Leon Stimel, Joyce Lunz, and Anne Murray talk to students about Amy Homan McGee’s murder and the ways to prevent domestic violence from occuring.
The ROAR/Dante Massey
Speakers stress domestic violence prevention Hailey Pletz Staff Writer
hyp5087@psu.edu
October is domestic violence awareness month, and this year Professor John Chapin invited members of local shelters and agencies to campus to share some insight during a screening of the Penn State documentary “Telling Amy’s Story” Oct. 29 in the Student Union Building auditorium. “Telling Amy’s Story” is a short film that recounts the tragic homicide of Amy Homan McGee, Nov. 1, 2001, due to domestic violence in Penn State’s very own Happy Valley. The film portrayed Homan’s life and the tragic events of abuse rang-
ing from manipulation to emotional abuse to – eventually – the physical abuse that led to her death. On the tragic day of her murder, McGee had finally gained enough strength and self-confidence to leave her husband, Vince McGee, when he brutally murdered her with a gunshot to the head. The story of how McGee was trapped in her own life showed the importance of bringing awareness to an awful subject. At the conclusion of the film, a panel that consisted of Leon Stimel, prevention educator; Joyce Lunz, legal advocate; and Anne Murray, education training coordinator at the Women’s Center of Beaver County, further explained domestic violence and how anyone
can help. Stimel, speaking on behalf of Crisis Center North, goes into middle and high schools to speak with kids about what makes for healthy relationships. He goes to colleges to speak about what kind of dating relationships are healthy and also gives talks to high school students on the social transition from high school to college. Explaining prevention, Stimel said bystanders are very important because a lot of times someone who is so close to the relationship cannot see how harmful it is to them. Stimel’s main focus is to prevent domestic violence from ever occurring.
Joyce Lunz works as a legal advocate at Crisis Center North. Her main focus is on the legal portion of domestic violence: dealing with Protection From Abuse orders (PFAs); offering counseling to child and adult victims of domestic violence; and educating police, judges and magistrates on how to deal with domestic violence disputes. Lunz and Stimel offer a 24-hour hotline for anyone experiencing domestic violence who is in need of help. They both emphasized that all services offered by Crisis Center North are free and that anyone who needs assistance with domestic violence can contact the center at (412) 364-5556. Murray, speaking on behalf of
the Women’s Center of Beaver County, stressed the importance of knowing how to handle a bad relationship and how to seek help. In Amy McGee’s case, the abuse escalated from manipulation and emotional abuse to physical abuse. According to Murray, women say from a very young age that they will never be in a relationship with someone who physically abuses them, but sometimes that’s not how things turn out. The victim always finds a reason to stay in the relationship, and the abuser always finds a way to manipulate the victim into staying by acting sweet and apologizing. The Women’s Center also offers a 24-hour help hotline at (724) 775-0131.
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Sports
Hoops seasons set to start
Women tip off Nov. 9 vs. Montreat; men start Nov. 17 against Washington and Jefferson
The ROAR/Dante Massey
Above, Lamont Wright, No. 11, guards Markes Royster in practice. Right, Elle George, No. 13, and Roi’shay Woods interact with teamates during drills‚ in practice.
JeQa Powe Staff Writer
jdp990@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have been preparing since summer to expand on last year’s success and take it a step further. In his first year as head coach, Tim Moore led the Lady Lions to a 15-10 (.600) overall record with an in-conference record of 12-4 (.750). This gave the Lady Lions a second overall seed in the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs. “The first five practices have been awesome. The girls have been getting after it,” Moore said. “Having more players this year, we can go five-on-five full court, which gives us a more intense practice.” He also said the team is more versatile this year and able to switch different players into different roles if need be. “I feel great about going into this season,” Moore added. “We have more girls, so we can get into
different defenses and put some pressure on the other teams now knowing we have fresh legs to substitute when we need them.” Freshman Roi-shay Woods said Moore is tough on the team in practice, but she knows the hard work will pay off. “Coach Moore is always pushing us to be better,” Woods said. “If we don’t learn plays, we run.” Moore said the team’s outlook is to take the season one game at a time and not get too far ahead of themselves. “There’s a different outlook this year from our returners,” Moore said. “There’s a better attitude this year. There’s more leadership on the team, even from some incoming freshman. If someone sees that someone else isn’t going hard at practice, they will voice it.” The men’s basketball team, led by Coach Marcess Williams, is focused as well. Last season, the Lions went 22-6 (.786) overall, with a 16-2 (.888) in-conference record.
Williams said he is looking to expand his success from the past with the same goals on his mind since last year – winning the United States Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. “Our goals are to win the division, then the conference, then the national championship,” Williams said. “Not too much has changed as far as our goals.” Williams said he’s feeling good about this year’s team. “We’ve got some vets coming back from last year. We also expect some of our younger guys to step up and contribute more this year,” he said. Junior guard Nick Miller said this year isn’t much different from last year either. Miller was one of three All-American award winners from Penn State Beaver’s men’s basketball program last year. “I’ve just got to stay focused and play my game to help the squad get the W. As long as we play as a team, we can do anything.” Another guard, junior Roger
Rhoden, said the team is in a better position than last year. “Our team is very deep this year, deeper than last year at least. I know we can go far this year. There’s more leadership, and on top of that, everyone here is hungry,” Rhoden said. “We all know what’s at stake here. We all know that last year we underachieved.” Rhoden said he believes there are no barriers to the team. “We had a high ranking last year at the USCAA Tournament, but as long as we stay hungry the whole year and don’t let up, the sky’s the limit. Everyone on the team has a common goal; we aren’t taking anything for granted.”
“What’s helping us improve is guys from last year’s rotation. Young core guys that were freshmen or sophomores are still here, maturing and getting better,” Rhoden added. Williams and the team have been up to a lot of work this off season, putting emphasis on the weight room as well as working as a team. He said the egos this year are much better than those last year, and everyone has a more serious attitude this year. He also sees young leadership. “You don’t need to be a captain to be a leader. Leadership can come from anywhere,” Williams added.
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Sports
Coach: Volleyball record doesn’t reflect team’s heart Nikola Mussi Staff Writer
nhm5031@psu.edu
As the season came to a close for the Penn State Beaver Lady Lions volleyball team, the 8-20 record does not reflect the team’s effort or its heart. Coach BJ Bertges said she is disappointed with the record, but that it is “more important to know the team, not just the numbers.” The team ended the season with a win at home Oct. 21, defeating Penn State DuBois in three straight sets. It was senior Daina OwensTownsend’s final game as a Lady Lion. But its 6-10 Penn State University Athletic Conference record wasn’t strong enough to make postseason play. Bertges said that finding and adapting her coaching style during her first year at Penn State Beaver had the season off to a rough start. The team has grown stronger and closer as time went on, she said, despite the hard adjustments of a rebuilt program. “For practically being thrown into the position, BJ did a fantastic job coaching us this year,” said junior Amanda Palombo, a returning player for next season. “You could tell from day one of conditioning that she had so much
Men’s soccer loses in first round of PSUAC playoffs Dan Trzcianka Managing Editor
dvt5050@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver Athletics
Senior Daina Owens-Townsend spikes the ball against Penn State DuBois Oct. 21 in her last Penn State game.
determination and wanted us to become a better team, on and off the court.” Sophomore Natalie Gamble led the team in kills for the season with 135, and freshman Miranda Pfeiffer led with 137 digs. Junior Gina Richman led the team with 313 assists. In addition, Gamble and sophomore Kayona Ward led the team in blocks. Gamble was voted to 2nd Team All-Conference in the PSUAC and Ward was voted All-Conference Honorable Mention.
“The season could have gone better, but as a first for a practically new team, I think it went pretty well,” said sophomore Christina Murdoch. “We didn’t get the record we wanted, and that’s going to make us hungry for a championship for next season.” As the Lady Lions look forward to next season with hunger and eager anticipation, Bertges will be using the off-season to find recruits to replace the projected five teammates leaving and build up for the 2013 season.
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While the Penn State Beaver men’s soccer team enjoyed some success in its fall season, the same can’t be said of the women’s soccer team. The men secured a spot in the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs, but lost in the first round to Penn State New Kensington. Despite an overall record of 5-14 for the season, the men’s soccer team managed to hold a record of 5-4 in the conference, which allowed them to move into the PSUAC playoffs. For the playoffs, the team went on the road to face New Kensington, which finished with a 7-3 regular season record. Beaver fell 4-1, with junior Capitan Tyler Blake, assisted by freshman Juan Castano, bringing the lone goal. When the two teams faced off in the regular season, Beaver once again fell short of the win, losing to New Kensington 4-3 in overtime. “The men finished strong,” said Athletic Director Andy Kirschner. Kirschner called the team’s
“
(The men’s team had) a solid PSUAC season.”
Andy Kirschner Athletic director
record “a solid PSUAC season.” “Unfortunately, they couldn’t get past the first round (of the PSUAC playoffs),” he said. The Lady Lions, meanwhile, had their third straight season without a win. In the final game against Westmorland County Community College, the Lady Lions fell 11-0, bringing their season to a close. The Lady Lions, though determined for a win, could not manage to improve their 0-11 overall record. Kirschner said he’s optimistic about improved prospects for the team next year. “I’m definitely hoping to see improvement,” he said. “We have a couple of girls coming back next year, and they’ll have another year of experience under their belt. And with Coach (Jim) Van Kirk hitting the road recruiting, I know we can elevate this program.”
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