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Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
News wellness center Update
Opening delayed Brandon Perino Managing Editor
bjp5053@psu.edu
It’s official: The Wellness Center won’t be open before the end of the semester. But anyone who has recently looked at the ongoing construction of the gym addition won’t be surprised. Director of Business and Finance Luke Taiclet said the contractor has told him the Wellness Center should be finished May 14. Taiclet said the most important thing is that the building is built right. “If we can’t give it to (the students) now, I would like it to be the best possible building we can make it,” he said. Some students, like sophomore Emma Myers who is going to University Park next semester, are upset with the delay. “The school keeps extending the date, and it’s frustrating,” said Myers. “Even though I haven’t been to the gym in my sophomore year, it would have been nice to see it finished and maybe I would have gone up more.” It’s tough for some students who have waited for the new Wellness Center to finish, only having to leave the campus without seeing it finished. But the project has been part of a series of unfortunate events that have caused these delays. Taiclet said that the biggest delays for the project have been caused by fabrication materials, such as the steel and brick, not arriving on time. When the brick did arrive, it turned out to be a slightly different shade from the brick of
Darius Donelson Staff writer
dmd5448@psu.ed
University Relations/Cathy Benscoter
Many windows have been installed and much of the structure is in place but work still needs to be done on the Wellness Center.
the existing gym and did not match. New brick had to be ordered. Taiclet said that the problems causing the delays can all be traced back to the Penn State University spending freeze that occurred in the spring 2011 semester which ended up throwing off the project schedule. Once the project got up and running again, the order and structure of the phases changed,
causing issues like all of the materials being ordered at the same time with rough estimates, Taiclet said. Then some of the measurements were altered or changed, resulting in the need for different order sizes of materials. With all of the delays, the Wellness Center construction should finish sometime in May, and the building will be open for students to use this fall.
Campus receives award from Crisis Center Monica M. Pitcher Staff Writer
mmp5317@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver has been selected as the recipient of Crisis Center North’s 2012 Northern Star Award. Crisis Center North is a nonprofit organization located in Pittsburgh’s North Hills that’s dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence. The Northern Star Award honors those who work on behalf of victims of domestic violence. The campus was awarded for its “outstanding work in removing
Classrooms receive updated equipment
obstacles for victims of domestic violence” over the past 14 years, according to a letter sent by CCN Development Specialist Stacy de las Alas. Alas also mentioned that CCN has benefited from the expertise of many Penn State Beaver faculty. Professor of Communications John Chapin, a member since 1999, has provided assistance in helping evaluate the CCN Preventional Education and Medical Advocacy Programs. Associate Professor of Theater and Women’s Studies Carol Scha-
fer has served as the organization’s board president. Her work has also included being the primary author on CCN’s production of “The Other Side of the River,” which aired on PBS. The late Patrice Clemson, an instructor in Information Sciences and Technology, and Chapin provided assistance with the Western Regional Training Initiative that helped the organization gain additional volunteers for domestic violence and sexual assault centers across southwestern Pennsylvania. Penn State Beaver graduates
Joe Carpenter and Kirk Manson aided in the production of the WRTI video as interns while being supervised by Clemson up until her death. IST graduate Eugene Meidinger worked along with Clemson, then took over the design of the WRTI secure website. Along with the help of Assistant Professor of Administration of Justice Mari Pierce, Chapin and Schafer have each offered training sessions at CCN, and many faculty have assisted with fundraising. The award is presented each May.
Many students may have noticed the recent classroom improvements in the Michael Baker Building. According to Donna Kuga, director of Academic Affairs, the improvements do not stop there. Summer plans and priorities include adding six new technology podiums in select classrooms across campus, replacing existing desks with new tables and chairs, and also replacing blackboards with whiteboards in the majority of the classroom buildings. “The classroom improvements are designed to make us look more modern and make us look like we’re in the 21st century,” Kuga said. Students may have already noticed some improvements in MBB rooms 108 and 109. The classroom improvements in MBB include new tables and chairs, which have replaced the old tablet-style desks. There also have been new high tech podiums installed to make it easier for faculty, students and IT people to give presentations and provide services. Kuga said plans this summer are to focus on improving classroom furniture and technology. Students seem to really enjoy the recent classroom improvements that have been made in MBB. Junior Derrick Brown said the technology podium and tables and chairs are great. “The improvements bring out a better atmosphere for learning and make things a lot more comfortable for learning,” he said.
April 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
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News
Two Beaver faculty members honored Robin Bower, Karen Barr rewarded by university for excellence in teaching Monica M. Pitcher Staff Writer
mmp5317@psu.edu
Each year, Penn State recognizes a select number of its faculty members from all over the system for their hard work, dedication and teaching ability. Two members of Penn State Beaver’s faculty will each be receiving prestigious University-wide teaching awards this spring. Robin Bower, associate professor of Spanish, is the recipient of the 2011-12 Milton S. Eisenhower award for Distinguished Teaching. This award is given to only two faculty members within the Penn State system. This award recognizes excellence in teaching and student support among full-time faculty members with at least five years’ experience
Robin Bower
Karen Barr
teaching undergraduates. Bower has captivated her students within the Spanish language, including those first being exposed to the language to converse in it. “My astonishment is matched only by my gratitude to my stu-
dents and colleagues and to the wonderful staff that supports us,” Bower said. Karen Barr, senior instructor in business, is the recipient of the 2011-12 George W. Atherton award for Excellence in Teaching.
This award is given to six faculty members across the Penn State system. The award, named after Penn State’s seventh president, honors excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. According to Donna Kuga, director of academic affairs, Barr earns high marks on student evaluations, especially with the clarity of her presentations, her passion for teaching and her willingness to help students. “I love teaching, advising and providing service to the campus because I hope it ultimately impacts students in a positive way,” Barr said. “I receive great satisfaction when a student says ‘thanks for helping me.’ Receiving the Atherton Award is a very humbling experience, and I am very proud to represent Penn State Beaver in this
capacity.” Kuga said it’s impressive to have both faculty receive recognition in the same year. “These awards represent excellence in teaching, and both Dr. Bower and Ms. Barr are wonderful examples of faculty who provide high quality instruction,” Kuga said. “I am very proud that our campus received two of the eight awards this year, and it is a significant indicator of the quality of faculty that we have at our campus.” The recognition indicates that Bower and Barr are “among the very best of the teaching faculty across the University,” said Chancellor Gary Keefer. “To have two of our faculty win these awards in the same year is an indication of the overall strength of our campus faculty,” Keefer added.
Students, faculty, staff receive awards at banquet From Staff Reports
Penn State Beaver awarded junior Steve Dusicsko with its highest student honor, the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, at its annual awards banquet held April 15. The award, named in honor of the late Penn State President Eric Walker and his wife, Josephine, recognizes one student at each campus each year for outstanding character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Dusicsko is a business major and is active in numerous organizations on campus. He has been the Student Government Association treasurer for three years, is president of the Business Club, a member of the Blue and White Society and has served for two years on the Facility Fee committee and two years on the BeaverFest committee. In addition, sophomore Darlene
Coulanges was named the Outstanding Student of the Year. Coulanges is a health and human development major and a resident assistant. She’s a member of SGA, serving on the StudentFaculty Relations and Campus Climate and Diversity committees, and is a member of the Thon committee. Numerous other students, faculty and staff were honored. Recipients of student academic awards were: n Seniors Katie Carugati, business; Valerie Cycholl, Information Sciences and Technology design and development; Rachelle Eidenmiller, criminal justice; Roger Garza, IST; Steven Kimmick, administration of justice (AOJ); Sarah Klesser, management/marketing; Julie Leeper, communications. n Juniors Andrew Searight, IST
integration; Megan Sovich, psychology; Christine Walzak, psychology. n Sophomores Ahad Anjum, biology; Garrett Covalt, electrical engineering and mathematics; Abagail Filippi, childhood and early adolescent education; Lydia Moon, communication sciences and disorders; Dalton Petrillo, mechanical engineering; Shawna Shelton, crime, law and justice; Ashley Thompson, advertising/public relations. n Freshman Nicholas Anderegg, computer science. The President’s Freshman Award was presented to Megan Brown, Shelby Carver, Cathleen Gillette, Ashley VallesArmand and Adrijana Vukelic. College Honors Program Certificates were awarded to sophomores Jaimes Coelho, Christine Corriani, Andrew DiPietrantonio, Gretchen
Lecrone, Moon, Petrillo, Zachary Prawucki and Brianna Tolliver. Campus Honors Certificates went to seniors Cycholl, Sean Dickey and Taylor Jaros. Student Life Awards were given to sophomores Darlene Coulanges and Amanda Palombo and juniors Michelle Beckman and Craig Oskin. Garza received the Adult Achievement Award. Coulanges and Moon received USA Today Newspaper Leadership Awards. Seven faculty and staff members were honored for teaching, advising or service. n Advisory Board/Andrews Industrial Controls Inc. Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award: Kevin Bennett, instructor in psychology. n Advisory Board/ESB Bank Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award: Kristin Oberg, lecturer in English.
n Advisory Board/Michael Baker Corporation Faculty Excellence in Research Award: Mari Pierce, assistant professor of administration of justice. n Advisory Board/NOVA Chemicals Inc. Faculty Excellence in Service Award: Pierce. n Advisory Board/C3 Controls Staff Excellence Award: Gretchen Samchuck, Division of Undergraduate Studies Advising Coordinator. n Advisory Board/Value Ambridge Properties Staff Service Award: Denise Turyan, staff assistant, Student Affairs. n Student Government Association Outstanding Organization Adviser: Chris Rizzo, director of student affairs and Student Government Association adviser. n SGA Outstanding Academic Adviser: Cassandra Miller-Butterworth, assistant professor of biology.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
News
Innocent man finds freedom Jamin Jackson
Relationship Problems A female Harmony Hall resident reported to campus police April 4 that her boyfriend threw the contents of her Coach purse from his parked car onto the ground, causing her iPhone to break. The student also said that her boyfriend kept the purse and another iPhone that was in the purse. The police are still investigating the incident.
Staff Writer
jmj5228@psu.edu
An innocent man can leave jail, but an innocent man can’t leave a grave. Juan Melendez spent 17 years, eight months and one day on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the state of Florida, Melendez was sentenced to death row even though the state couldn’t find any physical evidence that connected him to the crime. Melendez visited Penn State Beaver March 28 to speak to students against the death penalty that’s practiced in the United States. Melendez spoke about his thoughts of suicide and how his heart was filled with hatred while in prison. He said he was scared to die for a crime he didn’t commit. In prison, Melendez learned how to read, write and speak English. Writing letters to his mother and aunts gave him the strength to continue to have hope and believe in God. Melendez said he still walks around with a letter his mother wrote him while he was in prison saying to keep faith in God because He is the only one more powerful than the penal system. Near the end of Melendez’s
Police Beat
Food Thrown at Dorm Door
The ROAR/ Alexa Shank
Juan Melendez speaks to students about his life spent in jail for 17 years and his pursuit to freedom as he was finally found innocent.
appeals, his attorneys conducted a search through his files and discovered the taped confession made by the murderer. They were also able to locate 20 witnesses. Arguing conflicts of interest in the previous preceding, the attorneys succeeded in having his case re-opened and a new trial moved to Tampa. Melendez was found innocent and released.
Ron Wilkins, a senior administration of justice major, said he believes in the death penalty, but after hearing Melendez’s story, he is going to change the way he processes information by paying more attention to details and looking at the facts. Junior Dana Marquise, also an administration of justice major, said she believed in an eye for an
eye before she heard Melendez’s story. But now, she said, the death penalty may be wrong. Melendez told Penn State students to take action by writing their legislators and joining local groups to stop the death penalty in the U.S. Melendez ended his talk by saying, “I made it out alive only by the grace of God.”
A Harmony Hall residence life coordinator told campus police that someone threw food on a student’s dorm room door on the women’s first floor around 12:15 a.m. on March 26. Police investigated and found powder, jelly and apple sauce on the door. Police said something similar also happened on March 23 and 24, though no one saw anything.
Vandalism at Smoking Hut Police were notified by a campus employee that someone had taken a wood plank of the bench of the smoking hut and placed it on the wall on April 11. No charges have been filed.
New policy for smokers to be enforced over the summer Caitlyn Beatty Staff Writer
ceb5356@psu.edu
Smokers, watch out for the new changes coming to campus. People lighting up right outside of the General Classroom Building doors will have a rude awakening come fall 2012. Penn State policy dictates that anyone smoking must be 30 feet away from the buildings. Campus officials say that come next year, the policy will be vigorously enforced. According to Luke Taiclet, director of finance and business, the ashtrays that are currently at
the entrances to the buildings will be eliminated during the summer. New signs will be posted 30 feet from the doors, with areas in which to throw away cigarettes. Policing this policy may prove challenging. “The students need to inform other students when they are breaking this rule,” Taiclet said. Taiclet said the rule is not one that can be enforced by campus police because smoking cigarettes is not against the law. It is a university policy. The initial enforcement should be from students by filing a report with Student Affairs. According to Amy Gartley, asso-
ciate director of student affairs, after someone files a report, it is her job to call in the student to hear the student’s side of the story, then follow protocol based on the situation. “If students are respectful when asked to move 30 feet, there are normally no problems,” Gartley said. “The minor offense becomes elevated when students have a negative reaction to someone asking them to move from the doors.” Many students say they have no issues with students smoking on campus; they just don’t want to walk through the smoke. “Other students have a right to
smoke,” sophomore Megan Ciccarelli said, “just like I have a right to not have to walk through it when I go into a building.” Many smokers agree with that view. “I hate the 30-foot rule because the ash tray is by the door,” freshman Erin Burnsworth said. “If the rule is 30 feet, then they should have the ash trays that distance, and I am glad to hear that they are changing it.” Smoking practices changed at Harmony Hall when the smoking gazebo was installed to keep students away from the doors and windows.
“It has given people an incentive to smoke away from the building,” sophomore Emma Myers said. “They need to put a garbage can out there and it would be perfect.” Sophomore Jesse Bonincontro said the gazebo has made him and others start smoking away from the building, and it is nice having somewhere to go that is out of the weather. He also said if you are caught smoking too close to the building, you will be written up. The university smoking policy can be found on the Penn State Beaver website at http://www. br.psu.edu/StudentLife/CampusLife/34441.htm.
April 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
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News
New RAs, peer leaders named Brandon Perino Managing Editor
bjp5053@psu.edu
Come the fall, Harmony Hall residents will see some new faces as their resident assistants and peer leaders. New RAs were recently selected and will be trained over the next few months. The new RAs are junior Amanda Palombo; sophomores James Randolph, Verushka Soto, DeAndre Wagner; and freshman Corey Wright. Palombo is the only returning RA, having been selected for a mid-year opening. All other RAs are new. “This specific group of individuals was selected based on their leadership abilities that mesh well with the current climate of the hall environment,” Residence Life Coordinator Parker Goolsby said. Goolsby said that each student brings his or her own unique style to the RA position, giving a diverse set of personalities to the residence life team. Along with the responsibilities of being an RA, Palombo and Wright are also two of the peer leaders for the next academic year. Palombo is a returning peer leader, along with juniors Ryan Hudacsek and Dan Trzianka. Wright is one of the new peer leaders along with fellow freshmen Nick Anderegg and Adrijana Vukelic. The peer leaders are responsible for helping new freshmen transition into college life. They work at the summer FTCAP program and also plan and implement New Student Day.
Vukelic
Palombo
Wright
Wagner
Randolph
Anderegg
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Trzianka
Soto
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Hydrate yourself Fill up your water bottles at the hydration stations in the gym, the LCB, the GCB, the library and the SUB. Get involved with the campus’ green efforts by volunteering to help monitor how many bottles we save. Contact Dr. Matt Grunstra at mbg16@ psu.edu for more information.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
Viewpoint
Managing Editor Brandon Perino bjp5053@psu.edu
art director Amy Green
aig5089@psu.edu
Business Manager Patrick Vaughan plv5009@psu.edu
EDITORIAL Editor Lydia Moon
ljm5207@psu.edu
Page Designers Wendi Barnett
wkb5019@psu.edu
Jennifer Kirby
jmk5907@psu.edu
Alexa Shank
ads279@psu.edu
Olivia Skonieczny ols5006@psu.edu
Dan Trzcianka
dvt5050@psu.edu
Caitlin Vodenichar cav5119@psu.edu
Corey Wright
cjw5372@psu.edu
Enforcing smoking ban is up to all of us Smoking on campus is going through the ringer. First, there was the addition last semester of a smoking gazebo behind Harmony Hall. Now, the campus says a 30-foot smoking ban outside the buildings will be enforced starting next fall. Signs will be posted at the buildings, and the ash trays will be moved away from the doors of the buildings. Anyone who has had to walk through a barrage of smokers lingering just outside the General Classroom Building between classes will appreciate these measures. But the question remains, how will the campus enforce this policy? Campus police cannot help since no one is breaking the law. Student Affairs is taking a step in the right direction by allowing students to file a report against people disobeying the policy. But how many students will take the time to report someone smoking too close to the building? Probably not too many. While it may be unrealistic to expect students to report each other, it will be up to the students to speak up in order help police the campus. It’s as simple as asking someone to move a little
Advisers Terrie Baumgardner tbm2@psu.edu
Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu
farther from the building. Some people may grumble that they should not have to do that; it’s up to the university to enforce the policy. But not everything in life will be done for you. Sometimes, you have to be the one to take action to change the way things are. If you do not want to walk through a cloud of smoke day after day to get to class, it is worth asking just one smoker to move away from the building.
Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu
Fightin’ Beavs is the team in our hearts When you go on the Penn State Beaver athletics website, you will not find the Fightin’ Beavs inline hockey team listed. There will be no roster and no pictures of the team. The results of their games will not be posted on the top stories. And if you want to know when the games will be, you’ll have to look for flyers posted around campus or ask a hockey player, because the schedule won’t be posted online. Because the Fightin’ Beavs are a club sport, they do not get the same support
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.
The ROAR/ Dan Trzcianka
Several students smoking at the new smokers gazebo.
Jenn Zuratovic jrz5049@psu.edu
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
as a varsity team. But that did not stop them from racking up a 9-5 record this season and taking their game all the way to the conference championship. The Fightin’ Beavs’ season started Oct. 12 and, after 14 regular-season games and two playoff games, it ended April 12. At the final playoff game, the fan section made its presence known with air horn blows and “We Are Penn State” chants. Handmade signs lined the glass and the Nittany Lion mascot stood in the stands and cheered.
As the final seconds counted down on the scoreboard, the fan section tensed as the daunting one-goal lead that Slippery Rock University held promised to solidify a loss for the Fightin’ Beavs. In the minutes following the final buzzer, the fans trickled out of the stands and made their way over to congratulate the team. Despite the loss, the Fightin’ Beavs still brought pride and recognition to the campus and its students. Thanks for the great season, team. We can’t wait until next year.
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: roarbusiness@psu. edu by the 20th of each month.
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Opinion
Fantastic women journalists risking their lives for stories
N.L. Paoletti Staff Writer
nlp5099@psu.edu
This past February in several newspapers across the country, a story ran about a journalist killed in Syria. When I read the story, I was surprised to learn that the journalist was a woman. Even though I know women have come a long way in journalism, I hadn’t thought about a woman going into the heart of dangerous territory. That’s why women have struggled so hard to come up through the ranks of journalism. Editors have traditionally seen men as the hard news journalists and assigned women to writing columns about food or gardening. I discovered that the journalist in Syria, Marie Colvin, had often put her life on the line to get a story. She had lost her sight in one eye from a rocket-propelled
grenade while covering conflict in Sri Lanka. I thought about this and wondered how many other women have put their lives on the line for a story. While I don’t usually pay much attention to bylines, I have recently been giving a little “yeah!” each time I read a woman’s name. Yes, we women have come a long way, but the struggle for equal rights in the workplace continues to be a goal for which we strive. One of the first female print journalists was Elizabeth Jane Cochran, whose first job as a journalist was with the Pittsburgh Dispatch, where she was initially refused a job because she was a woman. Cochran’s editor gave her the pen-name Nellie Bly because it was the custom for women writers, and Cochran was relegated to the domestic desk covering stories about gardens, cooking and social
activities. Cochran went on to become a foreign correspondent in Mexico for the Dispatch and, after moving to New York, wrote an exposé for the New York World on insane asylums of the 1880s by pretending to be a patient. I have to admire these women, both Cochran and Colvin. They put their lives on the line to get the story. I also started paying closer attention to broadcast journalism, where women have made tremendous strides as well. Barbara Walters is an outstanding example of a someone who has made substantial advances in broadcast journalism for women. Originally hired as a storywriter and researcher, Walters started on NBC’s Today Show in 1961. She would later become one of the “Today Girls.” Not happy with being a “tea pourer,” Walters moved into a co-
host position on the show. But she wasn’t allowed to ask questions of a guest until her male counterpart finished his questions. In that time it was believed no one would take a woman seriously reporting the “hard news.” Walters moved to the ABC Evening News in 1976 and coanchored with Harry Reasoner, working with him for two years before becoming a co-host for ABC’s 20/20. Over the years, Walters has interviewed world leaders including Boris Yeltsin, Margaret Thatcher, Fidel Castro and Indira Gandhi. She has interviewed celebrities like Katherine Hepburn, Lawrence Olivier and Michael Jackson. Because of her strong television presence, Walters paved the way for female journalists like Katie Couric, who became the first woman to anchor a network news program, and Diane Sawyer.
I wish more female journalists were more like Walters, because she looks like a real person, not an actress playing a part. Many people can’t get past the perky and pretty face of an anchor like Couric. As a result, even though she has the ability to be a great newswoman, Couric isn’t taken seriously. But Sawyer is a lovely woman too, so how is it that she is taken seriously while Couric isn’t? It has a lot to do with presentation and perception. All this suggests that for women to get equal standing in the newsroom and other arenas, the worldview needs to change. But we are making some progress as we continue to ask the hard questions and write the hard news stories. Editor’s note: N.L. Paoletti is studying communications with a journalism option. She wrote this column as part of an honor’s option for COMM 260W.
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Features
Job hunt is on for graduates Reina Chedid Staff Writer
rmc5314@psu.edu
Finding a job right out of college, especially in a specific career field, can be a struggle for some soon-to-be graduates. According to Penn State Beaver Career Counselor Larissa Ciuca, the jobs are out there, but students need the initiative to go out and get them. Jobs won’t automatically come to students, despite what some may think. “Students need to be willing to work and put themselves out there, even prior to graduating,” Ciuca said. “Their academic path should be running parallel to their career path to help build their resume.” Students are encouraged to overapply for jobs in order to improve the chance of getting one, Ciuca said. They also need to be open to doing almost anything. Senior Amy Green, a corporate communications major and Roar staffer, isn’t worried about having to find a job after graduation this spring. “I have a full-time job at Toys R Us as the human resources department manager,” Green said. “And I will have this job when I graduate, so no worries there.” Not every graduate is as lucky. Beaver held a job fair on campus March 20 that brought 43 different employers to the school. According to Ciuca, only about
Photos courtesy of University Relations
Lucas Morack, right, and other spring 2011 graduates file into the auditorium for their commencement ceremonies.
30 students attended the fair to look for work. “To be honest, it is hard for me to say why there weren’t many students who attended,” Ciuca said.
Ciuca said she’s increased the number of career events offered, noting that two events in the fall were tied to class or internship credit, which motivated students
to attend. “As far as the Spring Expo, many things could have contributed to the lack of job seekers, but my fear for our students’ future is
that it was predominantly apathy,” Ciuca said. Students responsible See Page 9
Some employers ask for social media log-in information Reina Chedid Staff Writer
rmc5314@psu.edu
Recently some employers have reportedly been asking for an applicant’s username and password to their Facebook and other social networking accounts, a move that some consider unethical, which-
Facebook has denounced as a violation of its privacy policy. “Students who are applying to jobs that ask for that kind of information need to question whether or not that company is someone they would want to work for,” Career Counselor Larissa Ciuca said.
“Students also need to realize that anything they put on their public profile can be held against them.” Some students have even been known to temporarily close their accounts to those sites until after they are hired, so the content cannot be used against them.
“I don’t think someone should be judged or hired based on what’s on their Facebook or any other site that they use,” senior David Moore said, “but I do believe that asking for their username and password is definitely crossing a line.” Freshman Angelique Matthews isn’t opposed to employers looking
at a job candidate’s Facebook page. “I think asking them for their password is a little much,” Matthews said. “But I think it also depends on the company, because under some jobs, I don’t think it would be sketchy, like if you were doing a job with the government.”
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Features
Facebook: The little known dangers Elizabeth A. Hain Staff Writer
eah5150@psu.edu
Facebook users everywhere could be just one click away from putting themselves in a dangerous and sometimes deadly position when creating and updating their profiles, according to a Penn State Beaver faculty member. LaVarr McBride, instructor in Administration of Justice, said many Facebook users believe that by setting their profile to private they are blocking those who are not their friends from seeing their updates, information and especially their photos. They are sadly wrong. McBride stressed that the concern is not only watching what you post on Facebook, it is getting the Facebook audience to be aware of these issues and to take them seriously because not enough do. Freshman Gayatri “Shiny” Moghe said she does not see a problem with safety on Facebook because users can set their profiles to private and that she does not mind what other people post. She does not think that posting your cell phone number is a good idea. But many users do not realize
that privacy settings can be manipulated through software that allows someone to bypass Facebook privacy settings, McBride said, and that this software can be downloaded by anyone. He also added that women should be even more aware of social media hazards than men because of the threat from sexual predators. McBride has studied sexual predators and spoken with victims of these predators. The details that he came across when dealing with social networking sites are both shocking and twisted, proving that not every person on Facebook is someone’s “friend.” McBride said pedophiles like seductive photos or any photo that can be considered sexy. When a photo is uploaded to Facebook, pedophiles use these types of photos for their convenience. A well-known example of this was the “Beaver County Hoez” Facebook page that was created in 2011. The pictures on this page were taken from girls’ Facebook profiles without their permission. Pedophiles and hackers commonly find female images to use
for Photoshop purposes to post onto different pages and websites, in some cases even onto another female’s naked body. Senior Tony Houghton said Twitter users have set specific days to upload certain photographsfor instance, “Titty Tuesdays” and “Thong Thursdays,” in which women post pictures of themselves pertaining to the theme of the day. “It gets out of control sometimes,” Houghton said. Senior Julian Taylor said women who put themselves out there may attract the wrong type of guy and could potentially be putting themselves in very dangerous situations. Aside from sexually explicit photos, McBride said that he gets really concerned with photographs being uploaded from smart phones because there are GPS coordinates on those pictures. Depending on whether certain settings are turned on inside the user’s mobile device, wherever that photo is taken — whether it is the user’s home or another location — the user can be tracked to that address. How big of a concern is this vulnerability?
According to Search Engine Journal, a leading internet marketing publication, more than 250 million photos are uploaded daily and 450 million users are mobile users. Not only can the photos be tracked, but they can be seen by every user on Facebook. Facebook has recently updated its network with a feature called Timeline, which changes the look and settings on the user’s entire Facebook page, including the ability to backtrack years into the past when the user first began the page. Steve Pearson, account services associate for Markowitz Communications, said with the new Timeline feature that Facebook created, users can go deep into people’s history of their pages, retrieving whatever information they want. Pearson was on campus April 3 facilitating a social media workshop for Communications Day 2012. “Social media causes issues with different things nowadays,” Pearson said, adding that companies have ways of getting around privacy settings as well. “Do not post anything you wouldn’t want a stranger to have or
see,” he said. Sophomore Natasha Terenski agreed with Pearson and added that there is a fine line between giving away too much contact information and making yourself contactable. Junior Abby LeGore also said that users should be cautious with using the “Check-In” feature. “Check-In” allows users to connect their name, and any other person with them who also has a Facebook account, to their current location. It then updates that location on the newsfeed so friends can see where they are. However, as one of the largest social media outlets, Facebook has caused social hazards as well. According to McBride people are forgetting how to communicate because technology is replacing face-to-face communication and Facebook is one of the main culprits. Although this popular social media network may be a leading cause of social change in communication, it does not stand alone. “Technology in general is leading dangerous lives,” McBride said. “It is becoming addicting.”
Students responsible for finding work opportunities Continued from Page 8
Ciuca said networking, searching and interviewing for jobs “are just a small piece of the large puzzle called ‘success after college.’” Ciuca warned that although the jobs are there, the competition for those jobs is steep. “Since there are many more educated people with college degrees today, current students and recent graduates need to do something to stand out from others on their resume and in interviews,” Ciuca said. She said it’s not enough for students to graduate with a 4.0 gradepoint average in order to get the job they want.
Their resumes and attitudes will affect their getting jobs, too, and they also need to have certain qualities that will get an employer’s attention. Junior Amy Luseni goes to Penn State University Park but attended Beaver during her freshman year. She is double-majoring in advertising and global and international studies, with a minor in Spanish, and will be graduating in May 2013. This summer, she will be interning with General Motors at its headquarters in the sales and marketing department of Chevrolet. “Part of the reason I’m doing this internship this summer is to
see if corporate is really for me,” Luseni said. “I love working with people, so I knew the College of Communications was for me, and advertising is very close to marketing, so I thought it was the perfect fit,” Luseni added. Luseni knows that it can be very nerve-wracking waiting to hear back from someone after applying for a job, but the overall process is pretty easy. “It wasn’t too difficult finding my internship. I actually found out about it through Penn State’s fall job fair,” Luseni said. “As long as you start early, are persistent, do some basic research on your top companies and smile,
you’ll be fine.” Lucas Morack graduated from the Beaver campus in 2011 with a business management/marketing degree and now works as a guest services representative for Marriott. “Finding a job right out of college, especially in your career field, can be quite the challenge,” Morack said, “but students should never give up and should always keep looking.” Morack has always liked working with people and working in customer-service-oriented jobs. “Finding a job while still in college can be easy,” Morack said. “There are a lot of part-time job opportunities out there, especially right on campus.”
“I had the opportunity to work in the Admissions Office and loved every second of it,” he said. Morack has always enjoyed traveling and staying in hotels, and when he saw that the Marriott was hiring, he felt like that would be a perfect fit for him. Morack noted that the job market isn’t as easy as it used to be, but Dan Smith, instructor in business administration, said people are getting hired. “Right now, the job market seems pretty strong,” Smith said. “We are seeing that business students who diligently search for a job find meaningful work opportunities.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
Features
To date or not to date? ‘Constant cohabitation can open a can of worms that some people aren’t ready for’ Lydia Moon
Senior Staff Writer ljm5207@psu.edu
Having a relationship while living on campus can be a balancing act. Whether you are in a relationship with someone in Harmony Hall or with someone off campus, relationships in college can be difficult to maintain. “If you can balance school and a relationship, being in a relationship with someone else in Harmony Hall can work,” sophomore Emma Myers said. Myers is in a relationship with someone she actually met at Harmony Hall last year. Although he does not live in Pennsylvania anymore, their relationship has still continued. “I think it’s possible for a relationship to work because I’ve seen it happen,” sophomore Natasha Terensky said. “It really depends on if you’re mature enough for the relationship because you’ll be seeing a lot of that person.” Not everyone agrees that dating in Harmony Hall can work. “It can be overwhelming because if you need a break or want to get away for a little bit, it’s hard since they live right down the hall,” sophomore Collin Carletti said. Last year, Carletti started dating Terensky, whom he met in Harmony Hall. After a year, they broke up this semester. “Constant cohabitation can open a can of worms that some people aren’t ready for,” Personal Counselor Larissa Ciuca said. “In the scenarios I’ve seen over the years, it can develop strain on the relationship and codependence on each other if you’re not ready for it.” “If I wasn’t in a working relationship with someone in Harmony Hall, I would say they didn’t work. I say this just because of the number of couples I have seen get together and break up over the past
THE ROAR/Dan Trzcianka
Brittney Lee and Dante Massey, who have been in a relationship for two years, take a walk on campus.
“
Rumors affect relationships if the couple lets them,” Sammi Walasik Freshman
three years,” junior Michelle Beckman said. Beckman came to Harmony Hall already dating fellow junior Steven Dusicsko. They have remained in the relationship for the past three years. “I think the key is being in the relationship before you come because it seems easier if you have that solid bond already formed when you arrive,” she said. This has been true for freshman Brittney Lee and sophomore Dante Massey, who have been dating for almost two years. “Living together at Harmony Hall helps you work out the kinks if you plan on taking it further,” Massey said. But there are downsides to living together. “Whenever we weren’t in Har-
mony Hall, we were always just happy to even see each other,” Lee said. “Now since we see each other all the time, fights do occur more often and there is more work involved.” Sophomore Stephanie Malone presented a speech this semester about how cohabitating before marriage can ruin a relationship. “I think that college students do not need the added stress of living together,” Malone said. “I guess I am old fashioned, although I lived my life backward, which may be part of the reason I reverted back to the old fashioned thoughts. If a student is concentrating more on trying to uphold a relationship, how much time and devotion are they giving to their studies?” Malone, a nontraditional student, had children before getting married. “If both of the people in the relationship live in the hall, they hear all the rumors about each other,” Residence Life Coordinator
Robin Schreck said. “Rumors can affect the relationship more dramatically than if they did not live in the hall. It’s like Jersey Shore. It definitely tests a relationship.” “Rumors really do negatively impact relationships because the hall is so small and rumors spread quickly,” sophomore Taisha Palmer said. “Secrets always come out.” Not everyone agrees. “Rumors affect relationships if the couple lets them,” freshman Sammi Walasik said. “If one hears a rumor, they should talk to their partner about it and believe them over what everyone else says.” But if the relationship ends up going sour, there are consequences. “It’s harder to create distance to heal and allow closure for the relationship,” Ciuca said. “Often times you find that people will act on their bitterness and resentment. They make poor choices and exhibit inappropriate behaviors.” “If you have a lot of mutual friends, things can get messy,”
Terensky said. “Most break ups are a little messy, but if you’ve just broken up, seeing that person everywhere doesn’t help.” “I have no words to describe how awful it is to live with someone after you’ve broken up,” sophomore Chelsea Ostop said. Ostop was in a relationship last year with someone she met in Harmony Hall. The relationship ended after four months. “You have nowhere to escape, nowhere to run when it goes bad. You’re stuck.” “You try to stay clear of that person as much as possible,” freshman Mary Carew said. “Because you live together, you spent a lot of time with that person. When you break up, there is a void.” Carew dated someone she met in Harmony Hall for four months. Being in a relationship with someone who does not live under the same roof as you can be more advantageous. “Not living under the same roof was easier in some cases because it gave us space to air out problems that arose,” Massey said. “At first it was convenient dating someone in Harmony Hall because he was always right down the hall,” Terensky said. “But dating someone who lives off campus is fun too because when you do get to see that person, it’s more of a treat.” “It is different living in the dorms together rather than living apart,” freshman Joe Kellogg admitted. Kellogg and his girlfriend of one year began living in Harmony Hall together this semester when she transferred from Robert Morris University. In the end, it all boils down to one thing. “This is college. People are learning what they like and don’t like,” freshman Desja Ashmore said. “Everything is trial and error.”
April 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 11
Features
Research fair provides opportunities for current students Danielle Fullwood Staff Writer
dgf5053@psu.edu
Junior Tim Crusan and sophomore Katie Jezewski explained that there are less than 450 African painted dogs left in the wild but around 2,000 in captivity between North American and European zoos. This was just one of the many facts presented at the Eleventh Annual Undergraduate Research Fair April 4. The fair gives students the opportunity to practice research methods and share their findings with others. The research fair has been happening every year, thanks to Senior Instructor of Philosophy Irene Wolf. Wolf has been a part of the committee organizing the fair since its inception. “We started the research fair in order to highlight a student’s research on campus,” Wolf said. “It gives them an opportunity to
shine.” And shine they did. Sophomores Nicholas Cosky and David Rorick won first place in the oral presentation category on the usability testing of a newly designed website to replace an existing one for the jogger. Kay Wijekumar, associate professor of Information Sciences and Technology, served as the faculty mentor on the project.They weren’t the only winners at the fair. Crusan and Jezewski won first place for their poster presentation on the genetic diversity of captive African painted dogs in North American zoos. Cassandra Miller-Butterworth, assistant professor of biology, was the faculty mentor. This was Crusan’s first time participating in the fair. “Just being a part of the experience was benefit enough,” Crusan said. Sophomore Ahad Anjum agreed. His research contributed to
teaching South African youth the importance of bats and biomes. “This was my first time doing the research fair and I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Anjum said. Not only do the students contribute to making the research fair a success, but so do many people on campus. Some of the prize money is donated by Academic Affairs and the Student Government Association. Committee members like Associate Professor of Mathematics Zhongyuan Che and the faculty mentors work hard to try to benefit the students. In the end all participants in the fair get something out of it. “The fair opens doors for students seeking graduate schools,” Wolf said. “Everyone gets a participation certificate and the winners get invited to an awards banquet along with their prize money.”
THE ROAR/Cathy Benscoter
Valerie Stannard presents her research project, “What A Bundle of Laughs,” at the 2012 research fair.
Don’t throw this newspaper away! Recycle The Roar and all of the other paper you don’t need any more. Put office paper, magazines, catalogs and newspapers in one of the paper recycling bins on campus or in the Paper Retriever bin in the lower parking lot near the gym.
HELP MAKE PENN STATE BEAVER GREENER
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Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
Features
Beaver students take Manhattan
On April 14 Penn State Beaver students traveled to New York City for a day of sightseeing and relaxation. The students arrived in the city around 9:30 a.m. when they were dropped off less than a block away from the building site of the World Trade Center Memorial. Some of the popular sites that the students went to were the World Trade Center Memorial, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and Wall Street. Even though they were only there for roughly 12 hours, the students managed to fit a lot in during their adventures in the city. The New York trip was sponsored by the Business Club. A similar trip to Chicago, sponsored by Student Activities, was planned for April 21.
Above, Sergio Simmions looks at the Hudson River. Behind him is a view of the construction of the new World Trade Center. At l eft, the Naked Cowboy performs and poses for pictures with tourists in Times Square. THE ROAR/ Corey Wright
THE ROAR/Corey Wright
Top, Nick Anderegg, Cameron Xavier, Tariq Almani, FJ Young, Brittney Lee, Sergio Simmions and Dante Massey visit the Beats by Dre Headquaters in downtown Manhattan. Above, Penn State students take a walk through Central Park.
April 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 13
Features
Students soak up unusually warm spring J. Durbin Staff Writer
jad500@psu.edu
On Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. He could not have been more wrong. This year has brought about one of the earliest and warmest springs on record for much of the east coast, with temperatures already averaging 10- to 30-degrees above normal, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. More than 15,000 warm-temperature records were broken during the month of March. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, that makes it the warmest March in the U.S. since 1895. The unseasonably warm temperatures and early spring may have many benefits, but unfortunately it also means an early start to allergy season and more concerns about global warming. With current pollen counts already at the moderate level and official recordings not even beginning until April, allergy sufferers are paying the price for the nice weather, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. Also not good news for allergy sufferers is the dry weather. Rain helps to wash away the pollen from the air, but according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 58 percent of the continental U.S. is dry or in drought. Is global warming to blame? Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Matthew Grunstra said it’s not an easy question to answer. “I believe Earth’s warming temperatures can’t be discounted and do have some influence, but at the same time, no, it isn’t directly responsible.” Grunstra said that a “La Nina weather pattern over the Pacific equator region” is responsible. That means the frigid winter air does not extend as far into the middle of North America, keeping much of the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains warmer than normal, accord-
THE ROAR/Wendi Barnett
Myranda Raymond, Greace Baez, Reggie Boykin, Collin Carletti and Justin Shearer relaxing in the sun behind Harmony Hall.
THE ROAR/Corey Wright
The trees near Harmony Hall are blossoming with white flowers, causing allergy issues for some.
ing to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. “Many climatologists have suggested a warming atmosphere would cause us to go through El Nino and La Nina more frequently
and with greater effects. So a rising temperature cannot be ignored,” Grunstra said. The early spring and mild winter can also be credited for people taking advantage of the good weather
and getting active earlier than in past years. That’s good news to the coaches and athletes of spring sports, like baseball and softball. Ashley Watkins, a senior soft-
ball player, said, “Normally spring break is the first time we touch the field, but this year we did it in February.” Andy Kirschner, athletic director and softball coach, said, “This is the first time in my 11 years that we ever got on the field before we left for our (spring break) trip.” Kirschner added that the team has not had a game rained out yet. “That has only happened one other year,” he said. Kirschner also noted that they have had to cut the grass on both fields twice already, when it is normally only cut once during the season. The early spring and good weather has deceived people into thinking that they’re going to have an early and hot summer. But just like Punxsutawney Phil, they would be wrong. Grunstra said he has seen forecasters predicting that La Nina will weaken and get us back to a more normal weather pattern. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, April and May will be cooler and rainier than normal, and the summer cooler and drier than normal. The hottest periods are expected in early- to mid-June and early July.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
Features
Beware: Helicopter parents are here! Zakary W. Taylor Staff Writer
zwt100@psu.edu
For many students at Penn State Beaver, college is a place where young men and women can flex their independence, learn valuable skills and, of course, experiment with the occasional not-so-curricular activity. For some the burden of responsibility is liberating and empowering, while for others it can be a bit overwhelming. There is no shame in seeking guidance from a parent when a problem becomes too heavy for students to shoulder on their own. But what happens when a parent oversteps their bounds? Students may not be familiar with the term “helicopter parent,” but it suggests a subject that could hit far too close to home. Helicopter parent is the label given to an overbearing parent who hovers over his or her children, monitoring their every move and solving every problem. As the spring semester crawls to an end, many students will soon find themselves packing their bags and moving back home to live under the watchful eye of a helicopter parent. Director of Enrollment Daniel Pinchot frequently meets with parents and, according to him, the distinction between supportive and smothering is apparent. “You can clearly tell which parents deserve to be called helicopter parents. They answer questions for the student, call about a problem or come in,” he said. “I’ve heard of parents calling employers asking why their kid didn’t get a job.” Senior Instructor of Sociology JoAnn Chirico has also encountered her share of obtrusive parents. “I have had several parents of advisees call me to talk over their offspring’s grades. Of course, I can’t discuss anything with them. Some have a hard time with this. Others will take the extra steps to have their child sign a waiver that I can discuss their records. They will take notes during the discussion, as their children should and often
ROAR Photo Illustration/Dan Trzcianka
Helicopter parent: an overbearing parent who hovers over his child, monitoring his every move and solving every problem.
don’t,” she said. “Some come in to clarify a process such as registering at University Park, all things that their adult child should be able to do on their own. I’ve never had a parent come to class and take notes. That may be next.” Chirico admitted she hasn’t studied the subject in depth, but she does have a theory as to what drives a helicopter parent to act this way. “It may be that this generation of parents is having fewer children than prior generations so they have more time and energy to invest. Parents also seem to have more personal investment in their child’s success. Perhaps they see it as their success or failure,” Chirico said. “Some, particularly fathers, are trying to be more hands-on and involved than their parents were. Parents seem more protective than prior generations who let you sink or swim and then told you, when you failed or succeeded, ‘It’s your
own fault’ or, of course, ‘It’s your own accomplishment’.” Students like sophomore Ashley Thompson have felt the scorn of helicopter parents. “My ex-boyfriend’s mom wouldn’t allow him to be alone with me. She controlled what he wore and what he ate.” Thompson has also witnessed the backlash that this type of behavior can cause. “He rebelled. He would take the car and leave. He would come to my house, and his mom would get angry at me,” she said. It’s not just the parents’ behavior that must change. Students with pushy families can still find ways to assert themselves but often don’t. When a student allows a parent too much control over his or her personal life, the student can become complacent. “Some students are happy to wash their hands of (their own responsibility). It’s one less thing to worry about,” Pinchot said. “It makes them lazy.”
The impact helicopter parents can have on their children can be felt well into the future. Junior Jessica Onoffery said students might struggle later in life if they don’t take responsibility for themselves now. “If they are placed in a tough situation they won’t know how to respond,” she said. “They need to branch out and socialize. You have got to experience things in order to learn.” A 2010 study conducted by Neil Montgomery of Keene State College in New Hampshire appears to reinforce Onoffrey’s views. Researchers surveyed 300 college freshmen and found that 10 percent had parents they would consider helicopter parents. The study also claims that students with helicopter parents showed a tendency towards being dependent, neurotic and socially withdrawn. That doesn’t mean it’s too late for students with helicopter parents to take control of their lives.
Sophomore Gina Richman said she encourages students to be proactive the next time a difficult situation arises. “They should tell their parents to let them take care of it. When they grow up, they won’t have their parents holding their hands and solving their problems.” Pinchot echoed Richman’s advice. He said he believes the best way for students to calm an overzealous parent is by taking accountability and proving how responsible they can be. The biggest concessions, however, must come from the parents themselves. “If we genuinely want our kids to be responsible, when they become legal adults, we need to let them be responsible,” Pinchot said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t guide or suggest things. That role should never end. But it makes a difference who takes on the burden of work.”
April 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 15
Features
Clothes important when looking for a job B. Keeler Staff Writer
bak5266@psu.edu
Freaking out because you have to interview for a job or internship but have nothing to wear? Fear not because in March the Career Services office unveiled a new program called Career Closet. Career Closet was founded by Personal and Career Counselor Larissa Ciuca, and she says that the program is modeled after the various “Dress for Success” programs across the country that provide women with professional business attire for job interviews. Unlike those programs, the Penn State Beaver version has no gender restrictions and is open to all students in need of business attire for job interviews and white-collar type jobs. Freshman Sandra Kowal, Chief Executive Officer of the Ambridge Federal Credit Union, said that in the corporate world knowing how to present yourself is everything. “The best way to present yourself in an interview is to dress pro-
The ROAR/Alexa Shank
The donation box for the career closet is located outside of the Student Activity Suite.
fessionally, but also your overall demeanor needs to be up-beat and outgoing. One of the best ways to make yourself noticed is to research the company you are interviewing
at, know their goals and what they stand for,” Kowal said. In most professional jobs you will be required to interact with the public. Although the day-to-
day dress may be business casual – polo shirts, slacks and good shoes for me, and roughly the same for women – it’s still important to dress up for an interview to let employers know you are serious about the position. The primary reason for Career Closet’s inception, Ciuca said, was that many students feel it is too expensive to purchase professional attire. This program more or less shows students what professional attire is and provides it if they cannot afford to purchase their own. Nothing ever replaces skills when it comes to entering the workforce, but this program breaks down one more barrier for students and allows them to network, whether it is at a career fair or individual interviews, Ciuca said. Sophomore Lydia Moon is one of 10 students to look into the program since it began, although she did not have an interview for which she needed clothing. Moon, who is also a Roar staffer, looked into the program to get a
better understanding of what business attire actually is. “I think it’s a good program. I would defiantly recommend students take advantage of it,” Moon said. Since the program is based around donations, it is truly hit or miss on whether the program has clothing that will fit each applicant. For those the program is unable to provide with clothing, Ciuca said she works hard at locating low-cost alternatives to what the program offers. “I encourage students that if they need the clothes for one interview and you don’t get it, bring them back and pay it forward,” she said. Those interested in making donations to the Career Closet program can stop at the Career Services office to drop off their items. If you are interested in taking advantage of the Career Closet, make an appointment with Ciuca to tell her what you need. Clothes are given on a first come, first served basis.
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Page 16
Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
Features
Going through some changes Beaver students share their thoughts and experiences on transferring to different campuses
“
Alexis Shelton
Going to Beaver for a year really helped me transition to University Park smoothly. I manage my time better than I did freshman year, and I’m more involved now that I’m here.”
Staff Writer
acs5360@psu.edu
Senior Nicole Mazine has done something many Penn State Beaver students haven’t done. She switched campuses to University Park in her junior year, and then decided to switch back. Mazine is a psychology major, and luckily Beaver had her major. That was good news for Mazine because she learned after a year that University Park wasn’t the right place for her. “I lived too far off campus. By the time I got there, people were already split up into cliques because they were there since their freshman year,” Mazine said. “It was hectic because I didn’t even have housing until June. It was very exciting, though, to be in a new environment,” she said. The thought of going to a new campus in the fall has a lot of students at Penn State Beaver anxious for their new experience. “I can’t wait to go to University Park in the fall,” sophomore Kelsea Green said. But just because you’ve spent two years at Beaver doesn’t guarantee that you can change campuses. “To change campuses, students must have at least 60 credits prior to their junior year and have their entrance to major request accepted.
Terri Taylor Student at University Park
Submitted photo
Senior Nicole Mazine spent a year at University Park before transferring back to Beaver.
They must also have a 2.0,” Advising Coordinator Gretchen Samchuck said.
If students are denied their entrance to major, they must stay at their current campus for at least
one more semester and try again the next time the entrance-tomajor session is available. Former Penn State Beaver student Terri Taylor’s transition to University Park was easy. Taylor transferred in the spring of 2011 after spending her first three semesters here. “I got housing on campus easily, mostly because I put my request in early in the semester,” Taylor said. “Going to Beaver for a year really helped me transition to University Park smoothly,” Taylor added. “I manage my time better than I did freshman year, and I’m more involved now that I’m here.” It’s important to get involved at University Park, and every student will tell you that. “There’s an involvement fair at the beginning of the year. It has every club and organization present for students to sign up,” Mazine said. “If you don’t join anything, you’ll have a really hard time making friends here. Almost every per-
son I’ve met here I’ve met from a club or some type of event,” Taylor said. Not every student goes to University Park after their sophomore year. Junior Minnie Evans transferred to Beaver this year from Penn State Altoona. “I pretty much came here because Altoona didn’t have any more housing. It just happened to work out that Beaver has my major as well,” Evans said. “It was worth coming to Beaver because I’ve met a lot of cool people here,” Evans added. Evans is also active on the Beaver campus. She was the manager for the volleyball team and was a cheerleader in the beginning of the year. “If I could recommend anything to student’s changing campuses, it would be to not be afraid to go out and try new things. You’ll never meet any new people if all you do is stay in your room,” Evans said.
Student government skips out on trip to state capitol Alnycea Blackwell Staff Writer
aab5314@psu.edu
To rally support for Penn State’s appropriation, hundreds of Penn State students and alumni from all over the commonwealth joined together April 4 in the State Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg — except for students from Penn State Beaver.
Student Government Association President Iman Abubaker said she advertised the trip by sending emails and even made a Facebook page for the event. The problem was that everyone she invited through Facebook declined her invitation. “The idea is the student leaders show up at Harrisburg to talk with legislators about Penn State,” said
Chris Rizzo, director of student affairs. Capitol Day is organized by the Penn State Alumni Association, the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, the University Park Undergraduate Association and the Graduate Student Association. The event is viewed as critical in the face of historic budget cuts
being proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett. Last year, Corbett proposed a 50 percent cut to Penn State’s state allocation. But the legislature, facing pressure from students and alumni, eventually moderated the cut to about 20 percent. This year, Corbett’s budget proposal would cut Penn State’s fund-
ing by 30 percent. “It ends up having an impact on student tuition. Any type of cut ends up affecting us at the campus,” Rizzo said. Abubaker said she had two people lined up to go, but one cancelled because of the early time needed to wake up for the car ride and dropped out because the student didn’t have a suit to wear.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
Features Community Alternatives prepares high-schoolers in foster care for college Sara Stillwell Staff Writer
sas660@psu.edu
THE ROAR/ALEXA SHANK
With rising student debt, a new car might just be the last thing on a college graduate’s mind.
Deals on wheels for grads B. Keeler Staff Writer
bak5266@psu.edu
Nearing graduation and in need of a car? Dreaming of driving a brand new vehicle? That new vehicle may be within reach because many automakers offer discounts to recent college graduates and current college students on cars you will actually want to drive. For many of these offers you need present proof of graduation or enrollment, as well as proof of steady employment to qualify for your auto loan. The best part is that you can take advantage of these discounts up to two years after graduation. Freshman Levi Berk has been working as a car salesman at Wright Buick-General Motors of
Beaver for two years, and although he has never sold a car under the College Discount Program, Berk said students would be wise to take advantage of these offers as long as they buy something they can actually afford. According to the General Motors College Discount website, GM’s deal works something like this: a brand new 2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT, a conservative and inexpensive sedan, has a sticker price of $24,230, but the price drops to $23,474 with the college discount. In addition, student buyers are still eligible for any other incentives, which currently knock off another $4,000 from the price, bringing the final cost to $19,474. Students say these discounts don’t mean much if you can’t
afford a new car. “If I had the money I would take advantage of these offers. I would, but right now I’m more concerned about paying my way through school,” sophomore J.J. Figas said. GM and Ford are the only domestic automakers offering the college discount. In addition, Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen all offer some type of incentives, and even luxury automakers such as Acura, Audi, Infiniti and Lexus offer discounts. Graduating senior Craig Oskin drives a 2004 Toyota Highlander and plans to trade it in on a new vehicle after graduation. Oskin said he was completely unaware of these programs, but now that he knows about them, he will look into the programs from GM or Ford.
Community Alternatives is a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing college mentors to high school juniors and seniors in foster care. Senior Amanda Hradil is the only student from Beaver who serves as a mentor for the company. She has been matched in the program since February and is very fond of it. Hradil said her role in the program is similar to that of a “Big” in Big Brothers Big Sisters, except the focus is on foster children who are a little older. “Not only am I meant to serve as a role model for these children, but I am meant to help keep them on track to graduate,” Hradil said. Hradil said she will do whatever is necessary to help her match succeed, such as attending school with them, tutoring and helping with school work. However, being a mentor is not all work all the time. Going to football games, dinners or other fun activities are a part of the program as well. Hradil said she enjoys doing things her match likes. Any college junior or senior can be a mentor. However, mentors must be able to commit to at least one academic school year with the foster child. The goal is to instill the idea that education is very important, said Community Alternatives Program Manager Christina Sheleheda. This program can be very beneficial to college students needing to complete community service or independent study hours.
There are a few requirements for those students wishing to be a mentor, Sheleheda said. Aside from providing academic and personal guidance, mentors may assist with providing advice on financial aid, guidance with senior papers or resources for college. FBI and criminal back ground checks are required, along with Act 33 and 34 clearances. Due to the sensitivity a foster child may need, mentors must go through a specialized training program. Sheleheda, a Penn State Beaver alumnus, said she wanted to see students at her alma mater involved in this unique program. Hradil said many of the children are moved from home to home, a condition which can make scheduling difficult. “It is rewarding to know that you are able to make a difference in another person’s life,” Hradil said, adding that the children look up to their mentors. “You are rewarded by their accomplishments.” Community Alternatives has programs in Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Washington, Lawrence, Crawford and Venango counties, but it is brand new to Beaver county. It just started here in September. “It is hard to get new things up and running,” Sheleheda said. The organization already has three matches. In addition to Hradil, two mentors come from Geneva College. “Whatever major you are, strongly consider doing this program. Anything you can offer will help them,” Sheleheda said. “Everyone who does this will have their lives changed, mentors and students.” For more information, contact Sheleheda at (724) 630-8492.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
Features
Siblings comfort or compete Alexa Shank Staff Writer
ads279@psu.edu
What’s it like to go to college with your brother or sister? Ask Trey and Tyler Trieshock. Or Zach and Joe Benscoter. Or Olivia and Brenda Skonieczy. These are just a few of the pairs of siblings at Penn State Beaver that have gone from sharing toys or a room to sharing the college experience. Beaver’s siblings might not always have the same major, but sometimes they share the same classes. One might not notice they are related right away, but their presence alone maintains the hope that the campus could not only become a close community, but a family itself. Sharing a school with your brother or sister when you also share the same DNA adds a new facet to the college experience. Twin freshmen Trey and Tyler Trieschock live together in Harmony Hall, but things are not always harmonious when they’ve always been forced to share everything, even their college. The twins share their laptop and class books from different semesters, but not the same bedtime. Tyler goes to bed at 10 p.m., and wakes up at 6:30 a.m. Trey doesn’t go to bed at a specific time. “He stays up late playing Xbox. I’m ready to kill him. I just want to get some shut-eye! And he always takes the laptop,” Tyler said. Tyler is a business major, while Trey is majoring in Administration of Justice. The identical twins aren’t in any of the same classes except yoga, so they don’t get treated like a “package deal.” It’s easier for each brother to be an individual in college than in high school. The Trieschocks have encountered the old double-take scenarios that come with being a twin: “Everyone mistakes him for me,” said Tyler. “For the first few months they thought I was coming
The ROAR / Alexa Shank
Twin brothers Tyler and Trey Trieschock tell the ups and downs of going to school together, from competing for better grades to the drama of being a twin.
into the Bistro six or more times to eat a day.” The brothers share some of the same influences, but they don’t tell each other what classes to take. They chose their colleges separately, but they both ended up at Beaver for their own reasons. One thing that stays constant is their sibling rivalry. “I got nothing but 4.0s in high school. We were competitive, we’ve always been competitive,” Tyler said. Trey responded, “I took honors classes. He took regular classes.” Brothers Joe and Zach Benscoter both decided to go to Beaver because it made sense financially. Their mother, Cathy Benscoter, is the campus marketing and Web
specialist and a lecturer in communications. She’s also a Roar adviser. Her presence on campus can draw attention to her sons. “The association with one another is always there,” said Zach. “It’s a small campus,” added Joe. Joe, 18, is a first-year sophomore, and older brother Zach is a 21-year-old sophomore. Joe is double majoring in IST and business. Zach is majoring in business. “He’s ambitious,” Zach said of Joe’s double major. The brothers say that they have the same majors for entirely different reasons. Joe picked his major first, and Zach took a year off before he returned and decided on business. As with the Trieschocks, when-
ever siblings compared, the word “competition” comes up. But Zach said the only competition between them is who will be the first to move out. As commuters, the advantages can include carpooling. For the first few weeks of the semester they shared a ride on the days they have classes at the same time. But now Zach doesn’t get up early enough for class, and Joe refuses to wait for him. “I’m not his mother,” Joe said. “I’m not going to tell him to get up. That’s his own problem.” Zach says a disadvantage of going to school with his brother is that he has to see him every day. “I don’t know what I did to you,” Joe responded.
The element of competition isn’t always the main focus for some siblings. For sisters Olivia and Brenda Skonieczy, who come from a family with nine children, that was never an issue. Brenda is a 24-yearold senior majoring in business, and Olivia is 22, a senior, and majoring in corporate communications. “I’ve always had her to look up to,” said Olivia, who is a page designer for The Roar. “She’s someone to talk to. We meet on breaks and grab lunch. “I would rather hang out with her than anyone else. We’ve always been close.” Going to college See Page 21
April 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 21
Features
BeaverFest can chase away finals blues Sara Stillwell Staff Writer
sas660@psu.edu
A week of fun-filled, free activities is coming to Penn State Beaver. BeaverFest is a weeklong end-ofsemester set of activities designed to help students release some stress as they prepare for finals. The student-organized event, which begins Monday, April 23, is what other campuses might call spring fling, said Residence Life and Activities Coordinator Robin Schreck. There is an event planned for each day of the week, including cookouts and tattoos. Members of the BeaverFest committee said they hope this year’s
events will draw in more students than in past years. “There is something for everyone,” Schreck said. “You can show you are interested by showing up.” Junior Michelle Beckman said she did a lot of planning of events in last year’s BeaverFest and it was pretty successful. Beckman said freshmen were involved in planning this year’s events and they came up with some good ideas. “I look forward to participating, and I hope everyone can make it out to join in on the free fun,” Beckman said. Monday’s agenda consists of a luau and character drawings in the Brodhead Bistro.
Later in the day students can enjoy a kickball game and a bonfire behind Harmony Hall at dusk. Tuesday there will be karaoke and air brush tattoos in the Bistro. BeaverFest is also encouraging students to attend the varsity softball and baseball games this day. Wednesday will start with inflatables in the middle of campus, including laser tag, twister and a big butt battle that allows students to knock their friends around using their booty. Next will be a hockey game and cookout in the student parking lot. Following this, there is bowling that night at Monaca Turners bowling lanes across the street from the campus.
Thursday will feature a studentand-faculty volleyball game behind Harmony Hall. Later that night there will be a movie on the lawn. The movie has not yet been decided. Friday rounds out the fun with the band Paradox Please performing in the auditorium. Schreck hopes to put together a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game outing as well for the weekend after BeaverFest. BeaverFest T-shirts will be sold for $5. The events are subject to change, and some outside events may be moved to the gym depending on the weather. “The events will be relaxing,
fun and a nice bonding experience for commuters and residents,” said sophomore Salewa Akintilo, a member of the BeaverFest committee. “For those of us going up to University Park, this will be a nice good bye celebration.” In addition to BeaverFest, there will be something new this year. For the first time, Beaver is going to try some relaxation events the first few days of finals. Monday of finals week will offer bubble blowing and kite flying. On Tuesday, massages and meditation will be available. Wednesday will include coloring, Zen gardens and stress ball making.
Going to college with a brother or sister Continued from Page 20
The rest of the Skonieczy family went into professions in the military or nursing, but no one went to a local college. The fact that Penn State Beaver could provide Brenda and Olivia with a good education while they remain economically stable helped them choose the campus over other schools in the area. “This year our schedules are different, but for a year or two we had close schedules,” said Olivia. “We’ve had some of the same classes and professors.” She can’t think of any difficulties of going to college with her sister. “I would much rather have a sibling on campus, and I’m trying to get my younger sister to come here, too.” Personal and Career Counselor Larissa Ciuca knows how siblings interact at the same school — partially because she went to the same college as her older brother, Eric. They both attended Duquesne University and graduated at the same time. His degree was in business, hers was in liberal arts. She went on to get a master’s degree in
PANORAMA Photo Courtesy of Lauren Hall
Sisters Olivia and Brenda Skonieczy enjoy their time together at Penn State Beaver.
Education and Community Counseling. For Ciuca, it was a largely positive experience and she doesn’t see it as a barrier to either sibling’s success. “The competition didn’t affect us as much because we were on different tracks,” she said. But competition doesn’t always go away when siblings go to college. It depends on the motivations of the individual. “When someone is here for the wrong reasons, then it might not be the right fit for the individual,”
Ciuca said. “Doing something for someone else’s reasons can only get you so far.” From her professional perspective, it depends on family dynamics and relationships, along with each sibling’s personality. Ciuca doesn’t encounter issues with sibling rivalries in her office. She says that individual development happens through the process of being here, so each brother or sister can grow to be their own person. “More often it’s a support, someone to rely on.”
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Page 22
Penn State Beaver Roar
April 2012
Sports
Fightin’ Beavs finish second Dan Trzcianka
“
Senior Staff Writer
We have a lot of key players leaving this year, but we are hoping for some fresh faces next season.”
dvt5050@psu.edu
Despite being in first place, the Penn State Beaver Fightin’ Beavs fell to the Slippery Rock University White inline hockey team in a three-game championship series in mid-April. In the first game of the series, the Fightin’ Beavs won 4-2. “This is our season, boys,” coach Steve Turyan said from atop the benches. “Let’s show them we want it.” The first three goals were scored by sophomore Shane Reger, with the last Fightin’ Beavs goal being scored by Anthony Mignanelli. The second and third games in the series proved to be more than the Fightin’ Beavs could handle. In the third game, the two teams played a defensive game, each having two goals by the third period. However, Slippery Rock managed to get the puck through veteran goaltender and Penn State Beaver alum Justin Vorbach nearing the end of the third period. Slippery Rock tied the series up with a 3-2 victory. “Don’t worry,” Szemanski said. “We aren’t letting them win.” The third game in the series proved to be the Fightin’ Beavs downfall. In the first period, each team had only one point, playing a primarily defensive game through the second period. Each section of the fan support went wild, using megaphones and horns to distract the opposing team. “This is probably the most fun I’ve had at a hockey game,” junior Steven Dusicsko said. It wasn’t until the four-minute mark in the third period when Vorbach let in the final puck. Slippery Rock proved victorious, but the team holds high hopes for the next season. “We have a lot of key players leaving this year, but we are hoping for some fresh faces next season,” Szemanski said. This was Turyan’s second year as
Jacob Szemanski Junior
The Roar/Dan Trzcianka
Junior Jacob Szemanski lines up to make a goal as Patrick Vaughn, senior, is helping him with defense
coach, and he was quite pleased with how well the team performed. His thoughts reflected the team’s action in the first game of the playoffs against Duquesne University as sophomore Shane Reger scored three goals in the first six minutes, followed by two goals by freshman Brady Sipe. The response from Duquesne was two goals by the end of the first period. Usually, few pucks pass the goalie, Justin Vorbach.
By the end of the game, Duquesne scored five goals, while Penn State scored 10. “Tonight just wasn’t my night,” Vorbach said. As one of the more vocal goaltenders of the league, Vorbach said he likes to have his fun. “I’ll taunt the other goalies, or I’ll sing to the referees when they skate by. They love that kind of stuff,” Vorbach said. Vorbach said that although the referees enjoy his singing of ’80s
TV theme songs, opposing goaltenders get angry over his taunts. While reaching the playoffs took hard work and dedication, the road was met with sacrifices and losses. Junior Dan Vish, who ranked third for most points, transferred to Penn State University Park at the end of the fall 2011 semester. In the semi-finals, Penn State Beaver was matched up against Geneva College. The Fightin’ Beavs thought they had little reason to
worry, having beaten Geneva twice before the post-season. Much to the Fightin’ Beavs’ frustration, Geneva had a different mindset. For each goal the Fightin’ Beavs scored, Geneva answered with a goal of their own. It wasn’t until the third period when the Fightin’ Beavs scored two final times to secure a 7-5 win. Midway through the first period, Reger took a puck to the side, leaving a shapely bruise. At the time of the injury, the bench was full of voices, all saying roughly the same thing: “Reger is injured.” The team was anxious until Reger scored the first goal and put them back on the map. The third period resulted in two more debilitating injuries. Junior Jacob Szemanski went down to prevent Geneva from scoring. However, the puck hit him on the side of the knee in the process. “It’s all about the sacrifices, man,” Turyan said to Szemanski as the clock hit zero. “I’m still alive,” Szemanski said, joking about the injury. Perhaps more serious was the injury sustained to sophomore Billy Harrington. Nearing the end of the third period, Harrington took a high stick to his mouth, chipping one of his teeth. “Alright, let’s play some hockey,” Harrington said after cleaning himself off. Despite his enthusiasm, Harrington was sent to the penalty box to serve a tripping penalty during the high-stick penalty.
April 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 23
Sports
Softball knocks ball out of the park
“
Alexis Shelton
It hurts, I won’t lie. But once the game starts, my adrenaline begins to rush and all the pain goes away.”
Staff Writer
acs5360@psu.edu
After starting out their season 1-12, the Penn State Beaver women’s softball team has improved its record to 14-16. Heading into the month of April, the Lady Lions schedule consists of games mostly in the Penn State University Athletic Conference. The team is currently in third place in the PSUAC. The Lady Lions played Penn State Schuylkill April 15 in a doubleheader and won both games, 4-1 and 13-4. Beaver won game one easily, but a strong fourth inning in the second game edged the Lady Lions over Schuylkill. Sophomore Myranda Raymond picked up her 35th RBI of the season in the game as well. Raymond said the team has gotten better since the beginning of the season. “Yes, our hitting has finally come around. Our defense keeps getting stronger and stronger too.” Beaver went on the road April 11 to play Penn State Fayette in a doubleheader. Sophomore Lauren Pier highlighted the afternoon when she
Korey Freyermuth Junior
The Roar/Alexis Shelton
Freshman Rachel Borrell hits a line drive and scores an RBI during the Penn State New Kensington game Tuesday, April 3.
picked up her fourth home run of the season as Beaver won both games 12-7 and 8-1. Having fewer players doesn’t seem to be affecting the team too much. There are some setbacks however to only having 11 players. “If someone becomes injured, we’re screwed,” Raymond said. Pitcher Korey Freyermuth, the only pitcher on the Lady Lion’s roster, injured her hand during the Fayette game. Freyermuth caught a ball with her bare hand. Despite her injury, she continues to play full games. “It hurts, I won’t lie. But once the game starts, my adrenaline begins to rush and all the pain goes away,” Freyermuth said. The Lady Lions sit in third place in the PSUAC conference with a
7-1 conference record. They are also the leaders in numerous categories. Raymond leads the PSUAC with 35 RBIs, followed by senior Lindsey Scialdone and junior Ashley Watkins with 22 each. Sophomore Nicole Bowersox and Pier lead the conference with 11 stolen bases each, followed by Scialdone and Raymond with eight and Freyermuth with five. Freyermuth also leads the conference in strikeouts, with 126 recorded so far. Beaver appears confident coming down to the last few games of the season. “We’ll finish way over .500 conferencewise,” junior Jocelyn Wensel said. “We should definitely dominate the PSUAC tournament and cruise into the (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) national tournament.” Penn State Beaver is ranked No. 12 in the national by the USCAA Coach’s Poll. The Lady Lions have one doubleheader remaining at home April 28 against Penn State Mont Alto at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The softball team has high hopes for the future and the PSUAC championship.
Baseball team on the way to the PSUACs
From Staff Reports
With only two conference losses on the season, the Penn State Beaver baseball team is ranked No. 2 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference. The team, 16-15 overall and 10-2 in the conference, most recently defeated Penn State York April 15 in a doubleheader at home, 2-1 and 9-2. In the first game, junior Cory Wagner pitched the entire game and gave up one run on two hits while striking out six. Sophomores
The Roar/Dan Trzcianka
Junior Tom Lewis is batting during the Penn State York game Sunday, April15.
Garrett Covalt and Zack DelTurco each had a double with two hits each. Sophomore Mike Karas had an RBI in the third inning when he drove in Covalt. unior Tom Lewis scored in the sixth inning on a Covalt RBI single. In game two, junior Vinny Beatty went all seven innings, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out five. DelTurco, Karas, Wagner and junior Alex Filippi each had two hits. DelTurco, Filippi, Covalt and freshman Billy Harrington each had a double.
Wagner had a two-run homer and finished with three RBIs. A home doubleheader April 14 against Penn State Mont Alto brought two more wins for Beaver, 4-3 and 7-0. At Penn State Beaver, rain fell from the sky throughout the completion of the doubleheader, as Beaver brought home two victories over Penn State Mont Alto by scores of 4-3 and 7-0. In game one, sophomore Tyler Schuster got the win for Beaver going four innings, giving up just two earned runs on five hits and
striking out three. DelTurco followed Schuster with three strong innings of his own, giving up one earned run and earning the save. Filippi, Lewis and Covalt each had a double while Filippi, Covalt, and sophomore Andrew DiPietrantonio each had two hits. RBI’s were gathered by Filippi, Covalt, DiPietrantonio and Lewis. The second game ended after one complete inning of play due to a forfeit after Beaver scored seven runs. The PSUAC playoffs begin April 29. Staff Writer Alexis Shelton contributed to this report.