The Eagle - Spring 2015 - Issue 1

THE EAGLE R O B E R T

ISSUE

M O R R I S

U N I V E R S I T Y

No 18.06

Spring 2015

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS • BENSENVILLE • CHICAGO • DUPAGE • ELGIN • LAKE COUNTY • ORLAND PARK • PEORIA • SCHAUMBURG • SPRINGFIELD

Est. 1996

RMU Plans to Introduce New BS in General Science RAY BOLTON

JOHANNA JOENSSON

NICK KROSS

REBECCA MARCHI obert Morris University intends to bolster its degree opportunities by providing a new BS in General Science beginning in the fall quarter of 2017.

RMU has been expanding its range of available majors since it opened its doors in 1913. A

BS in General Science was the move RMU took because, “Locally, kids want to get into the sciences,” said Dr. Shashank Atre, RMU Science Professor and Science Curriculum Chair.

RMU’s administration had been noticing how many prospective students were lost to surrounding schools because they offered a program that RMU did not, and when examined closer it was found that a large area of potential students wanted a science degree.

This new degree entails three main areas of science; biology, chemistry, and physics. These three areas contain the vast majority of other, more specific sciences. That was one of the reasons RMU picked this degree instead of a more specific area of science; it has the potential to appeal to a broader number of students and the flexibility to transfer skills into a more spe-

RMU Hosts Its First Dean’s List Luncheon

MICHAEL DENG TAYLOR DIGNAN BRETT LEPPEK STEPHANIE PUGA DEREK SHAO n January 14, 2015, Kathleen Suhajada, RMU’s Vice President of Academic Administration, hosted the first Dean’s List Luncheon in order to recognize students for high academic achievement.

The event was held in the 8th floor Culinary Arts dining room on the Chicago campus for students who have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher. A RMU Maroon hoodie with “Dean’s List” printed on the arm was distributed to every Dean’s List recipient, along with a certificate signed by RMU’s President Michael Viollt.

Kathleen Suhajada said that the luncheon was put on to congratulate the attendees on

cific science study.

At the moment, RMU will only provide a BS in General Science.

However, a graduate program may be offered at a future date.

“Once you put in the time and contribution, you can expand on a Master’s program,” says Dr. Atre.

The plan given by the school so far is to offer the major at the start of the Fall quarter of 2017.

The Provost at Robert Morris University, Mablene Krueger, explained the reason for the wait. At the moment, RMU facilitates two science labs, but with the introduction of a scitheir successful quarter, and to show that the faculty cared for the success of their students.

She added that the food and gifts would act as a “slight morale booster for the students.”

Judith Conrad, a faculty member of Robert Morris, said that the event was meant as a “stress reliever for the students.”

While the gesture was appreciated by most students, a select few stated that it could have been run better.

Mike Porter, a recipient and attendee of the luncheon, said “A speech would have made this feel more honorable.”

Another student, Lexi Rodriguez, said, “They should have renamed it into the Dean’s List Social”.

Suhajada’s response to the ideas was that “[she] tried [to implement a speech] last year, but received a bad response from the students. I mix things up every year and try new things.”

Suhajada hopes that the next Dean’s List Event will be better than this year’s. Planning will not start until later towards the next year. E

ence degree this will have to be increased to three or four labs, depending on space restrictions.

Also, these new labs will have to be close to the eighth floor to allow for efficient ventilation.

Getting approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is another reason for the wait. Whenever the University wants to add a new program, they must first get approval from this organization. “We would love to start building the new labs now and offer the new degree as early as possible, but this approval process can take anywhere from four months to

a year,” says Ms. Krueger.

Once the new degree passes this approval it will immediately be sent off to an accrediting agency. Accreditation for a new major takes about the same amount of time as does approval from the IBHE. The new BS in General Science will start solely at the Chicago campus. This is due to the fact that Chicago provides the University the most potential for partnerships with surrounding science organizations. However, this major may be expanded to other RMU campuses if enough interest is shown.

Current student Jackie Mann thinks that this new program with further the university for the better. ”Expanding the educational experience at RMU, in the long run, will create a larger campus experience,” she says.

Current students who wish to know more about this new major may contact their academic advisors for more information, while any student, prospective or current, may contact Dr. Atre at satre@robertmorris.edu. E

Pinning Ceremony at RMU for Graduating Nursing Students RAY BOLTON

NICK KROSS

JOHANNA JOENSSON

REBECCA MARCHI

n Thursday January 29, 2015, graduating nursing students at Robert Morris University were presented with their official pins at the Chicago campus location. This formal event was for the graduating nursing students and the honoring of six nursing students who are part of the Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society.

The nine women who are graduating from the Robert Morris University each received a pin.

The pin itself is a symbol of the nurses welcome into the profession field of nursing. Ms. Koster, the guest speaker for the night, said that these selected women are a part of the few that have the courage and the ability to save lives.

Ms. Koster said to the students, “This is not the end. It is the start of something new, something big.”

These nursing students have

Nursing, continued on Page 1

Greetings From the Eagle Staff

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR My fellow Eagles, If you’re reading this, I am no longer with you… No, the bell has not tolled for me just yet; I am no longer with you in the sense that my time as a student at Robert Morris is officially finished, and I have completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. I’ve thought about that statement a lot these last few weeks and it has yet to fully resonate with me, but I’m sure it won’t take long to accept. Is this where I stop my studies? I don’t have the answer to that question just yet, but I know my time here is complete and has been special beyond belief.

Let me tell you why. In my first letter from the editor, I mentioned that it has been a long road to get here. In 2012, I was basically a college dropout. I left the University of Iowa during my junior year, and the time I was out of school was spent searching Google for the highest paying jobs available without having a college degree.

I’d stay up late, often depressed and wondering why I let myself slip to this point. I was always strong academically, but my first go at college became more about parties and other things than it did grades and studies.

A long road, though, does not mean there is no finish line. I straightened up, and now I am no longer nearing one finish line, but instead have reached another starting line, but now for the rest of my life. As this will be my last letter from the editor, I would like to take the opportu-

nity to thank several people that have made my time here special and helped me along my road.

The first person on my list is Billy Coen, one of my longest and closest friendships. Billy was a senior here at RMU when I left Iowa; he convinced me to visit the campus after several weeks of me slowly giving up on school. 3 months later, I visited the campus once more, but this time for new student orientation. Without your convincing, Billy, I don’t know if I’d be where I am right now. I’m not sure if you’ll ever see this, but I owe you one.

To all my Accounting professors, especially Dr. Knutsen, Mrs. B, Mark Taylor, Ms. Jepsen, Mr. Bednarcik, and to all the other professors I’ve had the pleasure of learning from throughout my time here.

Many thanks to you for helping all my peers and me stay focused and bring out the best in all of us. I’ve sat in lecture halls with 500+ students where the professor couldn’t guess names if they tried their hardest. Although a slightly smaller setting, you still made each experience personal no matter how many faces you came across, and it truly does make a difference.

To Mrs. Fuller, who wouldn’t allow me to contemplate skipping Excel and PowerPoint certification exams because she saw the potential I had to be successful. I’m still working on that Excel one, but thank you for driving me to test my limits and for reassuring the fact that you’ll never forget a student’s name.

To Mick McMahon, the first professor I had here and one of the easiest going guys I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I’ve truly never seen more energy in the front of a classroom, and it became second nature to expect a “Hey Dan, how is everything going?” no matter where we ran into each other.

To Liz Wheeler, who went well out of her way to make a personal connection with me and my life outside of this building. Your constant support and friendship has meant a lot, and I couldn’t have been as successful without you. Thank you, and congratulations to you and Stephen!

To Sue Dutler. Although my

time working in the Library was unfortunately brief, it was still an enjoyable experience, and I especially loved finding out that I had someone to go talk to about our Hawkeyes!

To the UCC Staff downstairs.

Chuck, Panorea, and Hetal you were all great to work for because it never seemed like we were working for you, but rather with you. Supervisor or Director felt like just a title, and the way you were able to connect with us made it enjoyable to come to work. To Dorothy and Karen, some of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever met, I’d just like to say I was incredibly unhappy when my desk kept getting reassigned and I didn’t get to sit next to either of you anymore.

When I next find myself near the campus, I’ll be sure to stop in and say hi!

To Paul Gaszak, who only liked me as a writer because I was the only one on the newspaper staff willing to write about sports.

The Eagle has been my longest tenured work at RMU, and in my 2.5 years climbing up to the Editor-in-Chief position I’ve greatly admired your drive to make this newspaper the best it could be for everyone here. I knew meetings would always be a good time with the loads of sarcasm and jokes you had ready to go for any situation. To Paul and all staff members past and present, thank you for your dedication to this newspaper and I can’t wait to see where it goes in the future.

To Kevin Morales, who I am proud to announce will be my successor as the Editor-in-Chief.

I wish you the best of luck taking over, and thank you for being such a dedicated and passionate staff member. You were someone I could always count on to bring your A-game, and I know you’ll carry this newspaper farther than it has ever been.

Finally, to Tyson Bosco, my right hand man on the newspaper, down in UCC, and a great friend. Honestly, I only saved you for last because I want to know how far you got editing this before you wondered if I was going to give you a shout out. I’m really glad I got to know you better than most people here, and I know we’ll stay in touch as long as we’re both in Chicago. I’ll let you know whenever I need lunch and a drink up north.

My favorite quote of all-time comes from legendary college hoops coach Jim Valvano’s ESPY speech. Dying of cancer, he used a simple statement made up of 7 words to define a lifetime: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” Before I am finished, that is the last message I’d like to send to all of you. Life gets hard at times, and hardship comes in many forms. School,

family, extracurricular activities, friendships, love, careers…

None of it comes easy. Everything takes work, and even when it seems as if nothing will go right, don’t give up. I’ve felt down for the count before, but coming to Robert Morris University changed my life in such a way that no letter from the editor could sufficiently describe.

I was given a second chance even when I felt I didn’t deserve it. Reality, though, is that every single one of us deserves a second chance. Whether this is your first, second, third, or whatever chance at school, know that everyone here is pulling for you to succeed. I never thought I’d be a success after I quit school the first time, and I’m thankful every day for the opportunities provided to me here. Last, but not least, thank you to my fellow Eagles. I’m glad I was able to grow with you, and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Stay focused. Stay positive.

Relax. And above all else, don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.

Ciaglia, out.

Sincerely,

Editor-In-Chief

MISSION STATEMENT

The Eagle is the student-centered news source of Robert Morris University (IL) and does not necessarily represent the views of Robert Morris Univeristy administrators, faculty, or students. The Eagle provides a venue for the exchange of ideas and information pertinent to the students of RMU. Visit our publication page at robertmorris.edu/ publications/eagle

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RMU Eagle News

CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE

RMU News: Pages 1 - 6 - RMU Plans to Introduce New BS in General Science - RMU Hosts Its First Dean’s List Luncheon - Pinning Ceremony at RMU for Graduating Nursing Students -RMU's Career Fair Set for April 16 - Morris Men Make A Comeback - Warriors to Scholars Helps Veterans Adapt to Professional Life at Home - RMU Hall of Fame Inductees - Student Center Celebrates Martin Luther King Day - Sigma Beta Delta Helping to Keep Students Looking Fresh - RMU Students Teach Young Students Through JA Program Arts & Culture: Page 7 - Next on Netflix: The Secret Circle - Students Visit Greektown with Passport Chicago - Jazz Café Series Plays in the State Street Gallery Eat & Drink: Page 8 - The Hungry Eagle Presents: Good Stuff Eatery - Culinary Students Participate in Food Pantry Cook Off Sports & Health: Page 9 - What Is Eating You - eSports Program Enjoys a Dominant Inaugural Season Perspective: Pages 10 & 11 - He Says/ She Says - The Chicago Walker - Mistakes Build Bridges Exit to the Right: Page 12 - Sudoku - Comic

THE EAGLE CONTENT TEAM

Follow us! @RMUEagle

Dan Ciaglia Editor-in-Chief Kevin Morales Writer Alex Ramirez Writer

DESIGN TEAM

Tyson Bosco Art Director AN OBVIOUSLY SMALLER LETTER FROM THE ART DIRECTOR Hello to everyone, As it is pretty plain to see, I was told in advance to make this letter short. It is not a matter of my opinion being lesser, which is most likely true, but more that my good friend, Dan Ciaglia,

2 | The Eagle

the current Editor-In-Chief, has graduated from RMU. He will surely be missed, as these Sports articles are not going to write themselves, but joking aside, working with Dan has been pretty great. As Editor-in-Chief, he definitely knew how to lead.

When I first started our as a possible designer, I remember Dan being one of the first staff

members I talked to. After interrogating him as to his reasons for being on the paper and this-and-that, he was the first to make me feel included. I will never forget that.

I wish him the best of luck, but also look towards the future for the Eagle as well. Whether on our own or together, we all shall grow.

CONTRIBUTORS Jesus Rodriguez Rena Petty Stacy Zamskaya

EAGLE ADVISOR Paul Gaszak

pgaszak@robertmorris.edu

ADVISORY BOARD David Pyle Mick McMahon

RMU’s Career Fair Set for April 16 KEVIN MORALES

obert Morris University’s Career Services department will be hosting their annual Spring Career Fair on Thursday, April 16 from 10:00am-1:00pm. The Fair, which already has nearly 30 companies ranging from Uber to Liberty Mutual and even Six Flags, will be held at the Chicago Hilton located just a few blocks south of the Chicago Campus at 720 S. Michigan Avenue.

The fair, according to Career Advisor Brenda Brumfield, is important for all students past and present to be a part of. “It’s a big benefit for everyone be-

cause it allows them to make a connection with companies that could lead to interviews and job offers,” said Brumfield.

“Much of the job search is being at the right place at the right time, and the companies will have needs that anyone could fit.” Brumfield also added that the Career Fair is tailored to reflect the needs of all the programs that RMU students are a part of. Each advisor has a specific group of students they cater to, and the companies that are asked to attend are decided upon based off of these groups.

One of the most important factors for students to remember leading up to the fair is to not be deceived by company names.

“The best strategy for students attending is to approach every company there. For example, a company could have ‘Legal Services’ in their title, but that

doesn’t necessarily mean only Paralegal students should network with them; they will still need a sales department, accountants, IT personnel, and so on. Every emerging company will always have a full scope of needs to fill, and anyone with the right skill set could fill those needs,” said Brumfield.

All seniors are most encouraged to attend, but the businesses in attendance are not just hiring seniors getting ready to graduate; the Career Services Department encourages all students to attend because some companies will also be looking for part-time positions and internship programs. As Brenda indicated, you may just be the right fit for the right place. She also added that “even if you aren’t looking for full-time employment, this will still be a great opportunity to polish up

Morris Men Make A Comeback

RMU students get a rare opportunity to network to dozens of companies in a matter of a couple hours. your networking skills to put yourself in a better position for the future.” The Department will also be holding some preFair events, such as a Resume Building Clinic, to help anyone that needs it get ready during Week 4 (3/16) of this quarter.

If you’re interested in attending the Career Fair, there are three ways you could register: send an email to careerser-

vices@robertmorris.edu, use Career Connect by searching ‘Career Events’, and of course feel free to visit the Career Services Center on the Lower Level.

For more information regarding the Career Fair and the Career Services Department, visit their revamped Facebook page at facebook.com/rmucareerservicesil. E

Warriors to Scholars Helps Veterans Adapt to Professional Life at Home

While meeting with MMG officers, they provided me with the following:

JESUS RODRIGUEZ

awrence Washington, Hersey Richardson III, Robert Edwards, and Javarie Davis, are, as they unanimously stated, “Here to stay, build a legacy and move forward”. These highly motivated, organized, and influential students are actively resurrecting Morris Men Group.

Led by Lawrence Washington, the president of Morris Men Group, these students are recruiting other “like-minded individuals, who are dedicated to working to improve themselves

academically, socially, and professionally”.

Currently, MMG holds a reoccurring social service event called “Warming Up”. MMG members invite others to meet every Thursday in the I-Center at 2:00PM. “Warming up”, is a social service event designed to help inform the large homeless community of the Chicagoland area. “Warming Up” was designed to inform homeless citizens of resources available to them in the immediate areas. In this manner, the “Morris Men strive to use their collective talents to support and uplift the members of the MRU community, and the community-at-large”.

Javarie Davis, a student, MMG member and RMU employee, says, “Dr. Dixon introduced MMG to me as being a unit, a unit that gives back”. E

Why We Exist MMG offers the RMU male community the opportunity to become a part of a group of positive, professional, and motivated leaders.

MMG has developed a lifestyle that embodies the following: -Recruitment of individuals that embody what a Morris Man is and will become.

-Retention of members by giving them the resources they need to succeed academically and professionally.

-Release of Morris Men graduates with high academic marks and track record of positive influence within the school and community.

-Reference for future employment of whatever professional journey members will undertake.

-respect for self and others including opinions and beliefs.

Being a brotherhood means being inclusive of diversity in all forms including race, ethnicity, culture, sexuality, and personality.

JESUS RODRIGUEZ

or the brave men and women that serve our country, one of the more common struggles is adapting to life once they are out of the service.

At Robert Morris University, the Warriors to Scholars club was created in order to fully assist our veterans in getting acclimated to life as both students and professionals in the workplace.

Warriors to Scholars’ mission statement reads: “We offer a welcoming and unique environment for veterans, military, and family members. We provide support by encouraging a broadening of their poten-

tial and facilitating access to resources that will maximize their academic, personal and vocational development. We also wish to create an atmosphere of positive military awareness”.

Noemi Oyola, Veteran Certifying official, invites veterans of the armed forces to take advantage of private resources available only to them. The Warriors to Scholars room is located on the 7th floor, in room 702 of the Chicago campus. There, they hold meetings discussing benefits, pension information, and professional growth. Noemi Oyola said, “There are only 88 students currently receiving benefits at RMU, I know there are more. Come touch base with us.”

If you would like to get in touch with Noemi Oyola, she can be reached at her office, 312-935-4170 or by email at noyola@robertmorris.edu E

Spring - Issue 1 2015 | 3

STACY ZAMSKAYA

RMU Hall of Fame Inductees

Ashley Galante: KemperLesnik ne of the most difficult decisions facing high school graduates is the decision of a career and related educational route.

Having switched her major four times, Ashley Galante came to Robert Morris University with the hopes that she would finally find a path towards pursuing her passions. At the Chicago campus, Galante found the answer she had been searching for. Galante completed her Bachelors of Professional Studies in Applied Health Sciences with a concentration in Fitness in 2012.

Up until this month, she held positions of Marketing and Event Associate, as well as Exercise Specialist, at The Bucking-

ham Athletic Club, a Chicago fitness and social club. Ashley accepted a new job offer as an Administrative Coordinator at KemperLesnik, a sister compa-

ny of The Buckingham Athletic Club, where she now works in areas of public relations, sports marketing, and event management.

The BPS program at RMU gave Galante the necessary skills to help her turn her passions into a career. For example, in her 200 level marketing class, Galante designed a health and wellness plan, through which she gained vital knowledge necessary for her previous role at The Buckingham Athletic Club. Galante also had the opportunity to realize her ability to lead groups through various team projects, with the ultimate accomplishment of this skill showing through her selection as the Commencement Speaker at her graduation.

In her previous position, Galante used the bi-lateral aspects of her degree on a daily basis. She played an active role in promotional outreach marketing for the club, which allowed her to utilize the various business skills she learned at RMU. She also participated in setting up wellness clinics, teaching

Brandon Myles: Miami Heat

asketball has always been an important part of Brandon Myles’ life and he has turned this passion into a career.

Myles attended Robert Morris University at the Springfield campus and graduated with his BBA in Management in 2010.

He went on to receive a Mas-

4 | The Eagle

ter’s Degree in Sports Administration at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2012. After receiving his Master’s Degree, Myles worked as the Assistant Director of Marketing at the University of Miami. In October 2014, he landed a job with the Miami Heat as the Season Ticket Services and Retention Coordinator, marking the begin-

ning of his career in the NBA. While at RMU, Myles was a star athlete and student. He held many roles as Captain of the RMU Basketball team, a participant in the Eagle Scholar program, and a member of the Business Club. Myles finished his degree in two and a half years, which he views as one of his biggest accomplishments and one of the things that gave him the momentum to propel forward. One of his greatest moments at RMU was being the Class Representative Speaker at his Commencement Ceremony.

“RMU gave me the confidence to get an education. The faculty, staff, and fellow students provided both academic and personal support which motivated me every day,” he recalls.

Not only did Myles receive a quality education, but he also gained valuable skills through his RMU experience. The classes and clubs at RMU taught him important team building skills, which make up 70% of his current job. Myles’ experience as an Eagle Scholar improved his leadership skills, as he imparted his confidence on incoming freshmen. “The great thing about RMU programs [is that] they really instill skills like team work, communication, and leadership, so you can apply [them] in the real world. Microsoft Excel is another big skill that I didn’t think that I would need but I use it every day,” explains Myles.

fitness courses, and planning healthy living social events. All these activities require Galante’s expert fitness knowledge, which was enhanced through the fitness classes at RMU. “Having a degree in both health science and management has helped me tremendously in my current position,” she explains.

Prior to attending RMU, Galante not only faced the obstacle of finding a health related major that she enjoyed, but also the personal struggle of defeating her eating disorder. Overcoming the disorder played a vital role in helping her decide to tie healthy living into her career path. Galante has been a volunteer for the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) since 2010. While at RMU, she was an active member of the organization as a NEDA Navigator and became the Chicago Event Manager upon graduating.

Through this position, Galante has helped raise over $60,000 for the organization and has been recognized in local media for her efforts.

In the near future, Galante

plans to expand her education in areas such as public and mental health. She would like to go into the nonprofit sector in a position that would allow her to continue pursuing her passions for health and business.

Galante also plans to become involved with the RMU community through mentoring current students and volunteering at university events.

Ashley Galante’s determination to overcome obstacles has played a vital role in helping her pursue a successful career.

Having come to RMU with only an idea of wanting to enter the health industry field, Galante came out as a strong leader who knew exactly what she wanted to keep doing for the rest of her life. As advice to incoming freshmen, she shares, “It’s okay to not know what you want to do when you are eighteen. Not everyone knows what they want to do. It’s okay to allow yourself to change and discover new interests – ultimately you will end up happier in the long run.” E

Since graduating, Myles has also focused in large part on giving back both to his local and RMU communities. He currently volunteers with Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Springfield and Miami. Every Thanksgiving season, he participates in a Turkey Drive, where he helps deliver turkeys to underprivileged families. He has also been a guest speaker at Springfield Southeast High School and for various Springfield travel basketball teams. At these events, he mentors and inspires students to pursue a higher education by sharing his story. Myles has also been a guest speaker for Professor Harden’s Management 101 class on a couple occasions, where he shared insight on career advice and motivated current RMU students.

Myles has several career goals for the future, although he has already achieved one of his biggest dreams. “My dream was always to play or work within the NBA [and] to get to this point by the age of 25 was a dream come true,” he states. As the current Season Ticket Services and Retention Coordinator for the Miami Heat, Myles hosts events with players and season ticket holders, ranging from autograph sessions to arena tours.

Myles plans to transition from the business side of basketball to operations within the next five years, where he will participate in activities such as scouting, player development, and decision making. His ultimate goal is to be the General Manager of the NBA Franchise.

“Never settle if there is something you really want to do.

An acronym that I use to live my life by is PADS – Passion, Attitude, Discipline, Sacrifice,” states Myles in regards to his motivation in life. He is grateful for the support that his family has provided throughout his life that has pushed him in his career.

The time both in and out of school has taught Myles that he has a lot more patience than what he expected to have, “I have realized that life is not always the way you want it. You just have got to work until you see results, and then keep working some more. I interviewed with Miami Heat three times.

Patience and persistence is key.

I was very disappointed the second time I was rejected for the position, but [I just had] to keep pushing because this was my dream and I was not giving up on it.”

Brandon Myles has turned his love for basketball into a lifelong career in the NBA through his hard work and determination. RMU was a pivotal player in his journey to the top and he shares the following wisdom with current and aspiring students, “You can see that my time at RMU has really paid off for me and I would recommend going to RMU to anyone. It was an amazing experience.” E

Kari Kostner: Benchmark Psychiatric eciding on a career path is not an easy task and often involves turning around in order to find the best route to success. Such was the story for Kari Kostner, a Robert Morris University alumna. Kostner majored in Business and Accounting at Governors State University, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in 1987.

She decided to return to school to follow her passion of Nursing at the RMU Chicago campus and completed her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing in July of 2009. Kostner went on to complete her Master of Science in Nursing at Rush University in 2014. Currently, she holds a position of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Benchmark Psychiatric.

Kostner always wanted to be

a nurse. When she realized that she could not find happiness in the business world, Kostner decided to leave her BBA degree behind and pursue her real passion. Being a mother of four meant that a traditional university was not an option for her nursing education. Kostner chose RMU for its flexible and accelerated programs. “RMU

made it possible for me to do what I always wanted to do – while having kids in junior high and high school,” she reflects.

The lack of breaks was often tough on Kostner, but instead of giving up, she kept pushing herself to make progress.

After completing her education at RMU, Kostner decided to keep learning about her industry and career. She decided to continue her studies as a nurse, which she viewed as a much more holistic process than being a doctor. The challenging course work of the RMU nursing curriculum fully prepared her to apply and be selected as one of the students at Rush. Completing her MSN in the highly competitive program at Rush is seen

by Kostner as one of her biggest accomplishments. “RMU really helped me to improve my self-confidence and enabled me to apply at Rush even though that was such a highly selective school,“ explains Kostner.

In her current position, Kostner

has the ability to make a real impact on people’s lives. She travels to all types of locations, such as nursing home facilities, family counseling services, and outpatient mental health facilities.

Not only does Kostner provide care for her patients, but her job duties also allow her to educate others on patients’ rights. Kostner did not plan on becoming a mental healthcare professional, but a unique opportunity changed her career path. “Be open to all kinds of possibilities.

When I was in nursing school if you would have asked me if I was going into mental health nursing, I probably would have said no. But I received an opportunity to go work for a community mental health agency and I thought – I will give it a shot. As it turns out, I really love working with this population. If I were to be close-minded, I would not have learned this about myself,” she states.

Giving back to her patients is only the beginning to Kostner’s kind nature. Outside of work, she helps out at the Father of Christ Lutheran Church in Plainfield, where she plays piano every Sunday. She also provided gifts for a family in need through the Giving Tree organization. After graduating RMU, Kostner has continued to give back to her alma mater

Jorge Barrera: Cisco Systems, Inc. n a world of ever-changing technology, becoming a computer expert is no easy task. One must always keep up with the latest processes and systems in order to bring the necessary knowledge to tech work, which is a task that Robert Morris University alumnus, Jorge Barrera, has mastered.

Barrera attended the Orland Park campus, where he completed his AAS in Computer Networking in 1999 and his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Networking in 2009. He went on to complete his Master of Science in Information Systems degree at Northwestern University. Currently, Barrera works as a Network Consultant Engineer at Cisco Systems, Inc. where he provides consulting services for enterprise and service-provider cus-

tomers in the phases of design, implementation, and optimization of large-scale networks.

Barrera’s journey towards a successful career in computer networking began at RMU, where the challenging classes paired with certification opportunities allowed him to gain valuable skills. The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) program at RMU opened many doors for Barrera.

The CCNA prepares students to become network engineers by expanding foundational network knowledge. “When I first went to RMU, I was a general tech…Little by little, I started taking on new opportunities and learning as much as I could. I was able to learn new things at RMU, which opened many doors towards bettering my career,” reflects Barrera.

In order to be a successful

network engineer, it is necessary to complete numerous certifications. Through the completion of his studies at RMU, Barrera has gained various certifications, including CCIE R&S-Voice, CCNP Voice, CCVP, and VMware VCP. He is also a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Checkpoint Certified Systems Engineer (CCSA/CCSE), Compaq/HP Accredited Systems Engineer (ASE), and Convergence Technology Professional (CTP). Barrera views the completion of dual Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certifications as his greatest

professional accomplishment, as only 3,000 people worldwide have achieved this task.

In the near future, Barrera plans on continuing his work at Cisco Systems, Inc., where he has been working for the past four years. He also plans on sharing his knowledge to others through teaching, “I am very interested in the educational experience. I love being around people who are passionate about the industry and I would like to be able to make a difference in someone else’s life.”

Outside of his work as a network consultant engineer, Barrera is very active in the local

by teaching courses and volunteering as a guest speaker in classrooms. She has also assisted with the accreditation process of the Nursing Program at RMU, and has been a member of both the student and faculty panels. This January, Kostner will be the Keynote Speaker at the Nursing Pinning Ceremony.

Kostner has many plans for the future. She would like to go on for a doctorate degree, either a PhD or a DNP. She would also like to be certified in functional medicine. Her interests in how lifestyle, exercise, and nutrition affect mental health fuel her desire to have a voice in the research conducted to treat mental illness. Kostner also plans to continue teaching within her field of study.

Kari Kostner’s journey towards becoming a nursing professional is a great example of how being happy with one’s career involves following a passion. Even though she gave up one career for another, this pivotal change has helped her become her real self. She shares the following advice to aspiring and current nursing professionals striving to the top: “Keep learning. Advocate for your profession. Let our voices be heard and educate yourself to educate others.”

E

community. This winter, he will be a volunteer at the Second Harvest Food Bank, accepting donations and organizing food packages to those in need.

Barrera is also an active mentor to those within his community interested in his field and career path. As a way of giving back to his educational institutions, Barrera has been both a guest speaker in RMU networking classes and a Teaching Assistant for online networking courses at Northwestern University.

Jorge Barrera has made a successful career through his passion for computer networking and mastering certifications necessary in the industry. Even though the job may sometimes be stressful and demanding, Barrera is constantly determined to be the best at what he does and continues learning about his industry every day.

Advising students pursuing a career in computer networking, he states, “Fall in love with your profession because there is no end. Passing a class does not mean you are done. Be ready to move on to the next level. You are always changing, growing, and learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Read the small print. Know your knowledge and capabilities.” E

Spring - Issue 1 2015 | 5

Nursing, continued from Page 1 many options to them now that they graduated. Some may choose to go on to further schooling to earn a higher degree. Others who decide to start working in their field immediately have a good chance of finding the right job.

Not many universities or colleges still give their nursing students official pins when they graduate. The pin presented to the nursing students will help distinguish them from other applicants who may have similar résumés and qualifications.

Nursing Professor Ms. Jonell Benson-Cobbs personally named each of her former students to come up and receive their pin awarded to them.

Concluding the receiving of the pins, all students gathered center stage and read off the five paragraph nurses pledge. In this pledge it states “I will do all in my power to make and maintain the highest standards and practices of my profession.”

To end the pinning ceremony, RMU’s Provost Ms. Mablene Krueger quoted Maya Angelou who said, “They may forget your name but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Concluding the 30 minute ceremony, all the students and guests were invited down to the Jazz Cafe in the State Street Gallery.

Danielle Ask, one of the graduating students, spoke about the nursing program at Robert Morris University. She mentioned that the program is growing into something great. After her career at Robert Morris, Ms. Ask is going to bring her professional résumé to the nursing boards in hopes to find employment in the nursing field.

“This is the greatest accomplishment so far in my career.

It will motivate me to keep going,” said Ms. Ask. Ms. Koster ended the event by saying to the students, “Go out, make your mark and make it big!” E

Student Center Celebrates Martin Luther King Day MIKAYLA GUERNSEY

ISAIAH BRISTER

PORSHA DAWSON

ITZY HERNANDEZ NATE HOCKENBERRY

ALBERTO DE SANTOS KELSEA REICHARD

MU celebrated the life of Martin Luther King Jr on Tuesday, January 20 in the Chicago Campus Student Center.

The celebration included a movie, “Martin Luther King Jr: The Man, The Myth, The Legend” which undergraduate student Isaiah Brister said “gave me insight about his movement that I didn’t have before”.

A trivia slideshow accompanied the film on the Student Center’s main screen. Dan Martin Jr, the Director of the Student Center, said the slideshow has long pauses between the questions and delayed answers so the students could “really think of what the answers could be.”

The event was not as well attended as hoped. Martin stat-

LA'CHELLE PEARSON ed that “in years past we actually made the trivia a game and had prizes for it, but we didn’t get a lot of turnout.”

RMU student Ashia Mitchell said she “didn’t know there was anything going on [and] more people around, even more staff, would have made the celebration better.”

To help with the issue of turnout, Martin has acquired the help of athletes to get the word out about Student Center events. He wants students to “get the cultural aspects” and “learn outside of the classroom.”

Future dates for Student Center events include a Madri Gras Celebration February 17 at 11:30 am and 5:00 pm, as well as a African American Heritage Celebration February 25 at 11:30 am and 5:00 pm.

For more information on future events, as well as any idea suggestions Dan Martin can be contacted at dmartin@robertmorris.edu. E

ANDRES NEVAREZ

LUZ PEREZ

n January 27, 2015, Sigma Beta Delta, an honor society strictly for business majors, showcased the Career Closet, a resource that Robert Morris provides that goes unnoticed by majority of the student population.

The Career Closet, located in Career Services in the basement of the Chicago campus, is a resource strictly funded by donations that allows students to use and keep various business attire for events such as important class presentations, job interviews, internships, and any other instances where jeans are not preferred or allowed.

The closet is supplied with its

clothing from various sources.

Numerous pieces come from the Hilton Hotels in downtown Chicago. Also, various articles of clothing are donated by both RMU Alumni and current staff.

Silvia Arnold, Senior Career Services Advisor, had this to share on the topic, “Ms. Brodzinski [a Senior Vice President at RMU] is a major contributor to the career closet, donating numerous amounts of various business casual clothing every year. We are very grateful to have her here.”

Student Advisor Pam Westerholm, who works with Sigma Beta Delta, clarified the connection between the student organization and the Career Closet, “Sigma Beta Delta’s mission is to encourage and promote success of individuals within the business industry.”

“Faculty do this because they want to see students succeed in their professions,” said Silvia Arnold, “and in order for [students] to succeed, they need to take advantage of resources like the Career Closet.”

One RMU student who has used the Career Closet had this to share, “I think it’s a wonderful thing for Robert Morris to offer to its students. Not everyone is financially stable enough to afford business attire since a lot of students dorm and don’t have jobs, so it’s a nice option for when they are out looking for those jobs.” E

RMU Students Teach Young Students Tthrough JA Program

AMANDA STRAYER

LEXI RODRIGUEZ

JOEL ALMEIDA

DANIEL ULLENBRAUCK

n Friday, January 23, several RMU students volunteered in the Junior Achievement Program. The Junior Achievement program collects students in college to travel to either an elementary, middle or high school to teach a classroom full of young minds something about the world that they can utilize later on their life,

such as learning how entrepreneurship works, writing a check or even knowing how to pay their bills and taxes. Throughout that Friday morning, students from RMU taught children of different grade levels different topics with colorful articles, interactive activities and games.

Some RMU students who volunteered were asked what they thought about teaching

6 | The Eagle

Sigma Beta Delta Helping to Keep Students Looking Fresh

for the program and what their advice might be from this program. Luke Iehl taught 3rd graders at Spencer Technology Academy.

Luke stated, “It was difficult to teach them because they did not know or understand some of the vocabulary that I used.”

In addition to Luke’s statement, another volunteer, Ray Bolton, said, “It was difficult to explain the material that the kids could understand it, but they were all very fun to teach.” Ray taught 2nd graders at Dixon Elementary.

Though it may be a little difficult for some, volun-

teer, Trey Powell, who said, “Teaching young kids was actually made me slightly nervous but i walked in the room with confidence and it was pretty cool being around them.”

Despite any problems along the way these students found some way to make the experience very enjoyable for both them and the children.

Luke suggested, to anyone who is interested, “Go in with a positive attitude and to remember that as long as the kids are learning something, you are doing a good job.”

Ray’s advice was that, “You should get your head out

of the guidebook. They’re kids so teach them how you would’ve liked to have been taught at that age.”

All the students advice and experience wrapped up would be, stay cool, confident and have a positive attitude; don’t be a strictly to the text kind of teacher, pretend you were the one being taught and lastly as long as the kids are learning something you are doing something right.

For more information about becoming a JA volunteer, check out: www.juniorachievement.org. E

Next on Netflix: The Secret Circle ALEXANDER RAMIREZ

ased on the book series “The Vampire Diaries” by L.J. Smith, comes the TV series “The Secret Circle”. In “The Secret Circle”, shy 16-year old Cassie Blake (played by Brittany Robertson) finds out she comes from a lineage of witches when she moves to a new town. Within this town she forms friendships amongst the children of her family’s friends.

Together they learn more about Cassie’s lineage as well as their own as they are slowly exposed to the world of witches.

With the base of the series being based off a very recognizable book to those who enjoy reading fiction, “The Secret Circle” has a great plot and concept. The series has many ups and downs that drag the viewer with them, both enticing the imagination of a world where magic and creatures of darkness roam free

and being thankful that there is no such place yet to be found.

The TV series, being based on witches, has many times in episodes where magic is used and to a pleasant surprise, there are no overly dramatic scenes that are not necessary when using magic. Along with this, the magic visuals - though nothing compared to fan favorites such as Harry Potter - are pleasing. As the plot builds with an interesting and confusing exposition, the initial incident is never resolved until the climax. This leaves every viewer dumbfounded as they binge watch the series. Furthermore, as the viewer goes through the rising action, more than one crisis throws the protagonist into disarray and heartbreak.

Unfortunately, the dialogue does get dry at times and may make it hard for some to keep watching through the episodes.

Yet, like any good book, there is bound to be a few pages of boring yet important dialogue.

One very disappointing part of the series is that there is not denouement, meaning there is

no story after the climax. The reason for this is that there is no season two. Originally when the creation of the series came to be, the backing was huge, but the amount of time it took for producers to get finances to support the show took too long, and the backing dissipated. Thus the producers set the show up for a second season that never came to be, leaving all the viewers on a cliffhanger yet to be answered. But despite all the disappointments with the cliffhanger ending, this series is definitely worth a spot on Netflix binge watch queue. E

Jazz Café Series Plays in the State Street Gallery

JOEL ALMEIDA

LEXI RODRIGUEZ

n January 15, 2015, the Robert Morris Jazz Band, directed

by Patrick Keelan, performed at the State Street Art Gallery at 5:00 pm as part of their Jazz Cafe series which takes place every other Thursday.

They played a variety of songs including “In the Mood,” “Afro

INDIA HAGLER

DAVID KAPUSCIARZ

CHRIS HALSEY

RENA PETTY

VENIC HATCHER

AMANDA STRAYER

DANIEL ULLENBRAUCK

Students Visit Greektown with Passport Chicago

Blue,” “Cherry Point,” “Second Line,” and “The Woogie.”

The Jazz Café offers students the opportunity to see and hear jazz music played by their peers.

When asked how he thought the jazz band performed, Director Patrick Keelan stated “It was a good performance. We only had two rehearsals due to traveling problems so we were a little rusty coming into the concert.”

Band member Joel Almeida also stated, “Even with the little time we had to rehearse, I feel like the performance was a good turn out.”

Many students enjoy watching and listening to the Jazz Café performances. Student Gardenia Ceron said, “I enjoy going to the Jazz Band Café performances because I am open to a whole new variety of music.”

The Jazz Café is an event that takes place every other Thursday night. If you would like more information on the Jazz Band or to see a schedule of upcoming performances you can find out at the Robert Morris University website, www. rmueagles.com. E

n Friday, January 23, 2015, Robert Morris University students visited Greektown with Passport Chicago, an program at Robert Morris that allows students to participate in events around Chicago for free.

Greektown is a neighborhood located in the Near West Side area of Chicago, just a short ride on the Blue Line from the Chicago campus. The area has many restaurants and businesses that highlight the Greek heritage and culture.

The first place that was visited was The National Hellenic Museum, located on 333 Halsted Street in Chicago. The museum is the second oldest American institution that has the sole purpose of displaying the cultural contributions of Greeks. “Connecting generations through Greek history, culture, and art” is the new mission statement of the National Hellenic Museum.

They attempt to accomplish this mission by providing visi-

tors with knowledge of Greek history.

The visit to the National Hellenic Museum began with Dimitra Georgouses, Education Coordinator, giving the students a personal tour of the museum.

Ms. Georgouses showed students different exhibits such as the Monster collection which featured different creatures from Greek Mythology like Medusa and Sirens.

After the museum visit, the participants were able to enjoy lunch at a Greek restaurant called Santorini, located on 800 West Adams. Santorini is a restaurant that has been around for twenty-one years and provides a dining place for people to enjoy authentic Greek food.

The menu includes a variety of appetizers including calamari and many dishes such as pasta, lamb and seafood with prices ranging from $12-$40. Since the Greektown visit was hosted by Passport Chicago, students were able to eat lunch at Santorini for free and were also able to attend the Museum for no charge.

For more information on the National Hellenic Museum, visit http://www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org. For information on Santorini, visit http://www. santorinichicago.com. E

Spring - Issue 1 2015 | 7

The Hungry Eagle Presents: KEVIN MORALES

intertime can somet i m e s prove to be a bit challenging when you want to go out for a bite between or after classes. If it isn’t the mounds of snow on the ground or the biting cold wind in your face, winter weather will throw whatever it has at you to try and stop you from enjoying the meal you deserve.

But if you’re daring enough to venture outside the Chicago campus in these conditions, there’s a new spot that might be worth your visit.

Located at 22 South Wabash Ave, Good Stuff Eatery is the newest restaurant to bring its specialty burgers to the tables of Chicago. Originally opening its door back in 2008 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Good Stuff Eatery aims to bring people the classic taste of burgers, hand cut fries, and homemade shakes to its customers. Since then the family-ran business has opened locations in Crystal City, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and now here in Chicago which opened on January 28th.

Now what about the burgers?

Good Stuff Eatery

The menu offers 13 different burgers to choose from, three handcrafted and ten originals.

Handcrafted burgers include a simple burger, cheeseburger, and a bacon cheeseburger all served with a selection of toppings. On the original side you will find choices like Spike’s Sunnyside a burger made with fresh cheese, Applewood bacon, a fried egg, and Good Stuff Sauce. Another option is the Steakhouse burger made with roasted mushrooms, onion straws, Swiss cheese, and tangy steakhouse mayo. And of course there is the Prez Obama Burger which is named after none other than Barrack Obama

himself.

But burgers are not the only thing you can chow down on.

There are also four “wedge” salads to choose from, sides that include four varieties of hand cut fries and a house made chili.

Then there are the beverages which include Oreo Cookie, Red Velvet, Black & White shakes, Coke or Root Beer floats, and a selection of Cold Draft beers like 312 and Goose Island.

Most burger items start in the $6 range, salads are each $7.49, and beverages range between $3 to $6. Since the location is less than a month old do expect the staff to still be getting into the rhythm of things. There are

KEVIN MORALES

8 | The Eagle

Overall I feel this experience somewhat missed the mark for me. Granted the location is still new and perhaps this initial visit has caught them at a point where they just haven’t quite reached the quality Good Stuff Eatery is known for. Regardless, there are still other items on the menu I would like to try and perhaps by then things will be different from this first visit. That being said I still would recommend giving this new burger hot spot a try. We never know how things are until we try them. For more info about Good Stuff Eatery and their menu, visit their website at www.goodstuffeatery.com! E

Good Stuff Eatery attends to the busy lunch crowd waiting to get a taste of the burger newcomers.

Culinary Students Participate in Food Pantry Cook Off

On January 26, eighteen culinary students met at the Orland Park campus to participate in the Food Pantry Cook Off in collaboration with the Together We Cope organization.

This was the second time culinary students from Robert Morris participated in this event hosted by Together We Cope.

However, there were some differences this time around. Unlike last year where a large number of students formed as many recipes as they could, this year a limited number of students was selected to prepare for the competition in a 10 week I-Center course. These students were then divided into six teams.

On the day of the event students were given four hours to prepare their meals at the Orland Park campus before

even signs scattered throughout the space kindly reminding customers to be patient with trainees.

I decided to try out the handcrafted bacon cheeseburger with a side of original fries seasoned with sea salt. I’m sure I’m not the only one who goes to a burger spot going in mind with a certain expectation of how the burgers should taste. Needless to say, the burger was ok. It wasn’t horrible nor was it anything out of the ballpark. For those who enjoy a greasy burger you will fit in right here. These burgers can be a tad messy. A fellow classmate agreed after having a Steakhouse burger and was eager to try another just for hunger’s sake.

The winning team of the cook off: Travis Lewis, Synobia Boyd, and Bianca Teague. judging began. In the meantime, judges, members from Together We Cope, and even people from the public came in to watch the students at work.

Students had to prepare meals for six different categories: international, special ingredient, kid-friendly, 30 minutes or less, leftovers, and chef’s specialty.

Once the meals were completed, they were presented to two panels of judges. The first panel included various professionals from the culinary field such as the executive chef from Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse and sous chef from the Harvest Room Restaurant. The second panel was formed by mem-

Good Stuff Eatery’s take on a bacon cheeseburger with sea salt fries.

bers from Together We Cope.

After all dishes were tasted and the judges made their decision, Bachelor students Travis Lewis, Synobia Boyd, and Bianca Teague were announced the winners of the cook off.

Professor Mark Wroczynski, who worked closely with the students, saw a lot of benefits by turning the competition into an actual course.

“I really wanted them to get class credit for it because they’re working closely with the client which is the purpose of any ICenter, but they could also use the ten weeks to really sit down and think about their recipes and really develop them,” Wroczynski said.

Wroczynski was very pleased with how all of his students managed to stay on top of things throughout the whole course by constantly staying in communication with him as well as collaborating well among themselves.

He enjoyed seeing the creativity students demonstrated especially when it came to finding ways to incorporate unusual ingredients into one of their dishes.

“We really listened to the client and tried to do things that would be beneficial to them. And I think it really taught them how to develop recipes and food for a specific market,” Wroczynski said.

Wroczynski also said the course really helped the students to focus on what was necessary and bring them back to basics.

“There are people out there who need good simple food and sometimes you watch these culinary shows using crazy ingredients and crazy techniques.

You forget there are people who don’t have those opportunities or don’t have that palate,” Wroczynski said. “For me it was really great to see them brought back to reality and back to that basic idea of putting something on the table for the whole family which was really cool to see coming from them.”

Plans are already in the works to offer this same opportunity again to students for the following year. Together We Cope is even considering using the example set by RMU’s culinary students as a model for other programs across the United States.

Experiences like this are why Wroczynski emphasizes how important ICenter projects like these can be to students due the numerous opportunities they offer like networking or possible job offers, and thinks not enough students recognize that.

Anyone who is interested in staying updated on the work done by RMU culinary students can check out their Instagram page @rmuculinary. E

What Is Eating You A Little One-on-One About Eating Disorders ALEXANDER RAMIREZ

ational Eating Disorder Awareness (NEDA) Week takes place February 22nd-28th. The purpose of NEDA is to help provide facts, debunk myths, and how to notice the signs of eating disorders in someone you may know. NEDA’s theme for 2015 is early recognition. They are pushing out knowledge and advice on how to notice changes within people’s attitudes and symptoms of various eating disorders. By providing these resources, information and ed-

A women holds her stomach as if judging her waistline to be to big to be pretty. ucational work, they hope to increase early intervention and get rid of the stigma between eating disorders and adults.

Often when referring to eating disorders the thought waxes toward the thoughts of teenagers gagging in a restroom stall.

However, eating disorders affect people of all ages. According to

the International Journal of Eating Disorders in their 2012 study, 13% of all women surveyed showed signs of eating disorders, all of which were over the age of 55. However, more than 50% of young females and nearly 33% of young men have admitted to using unhealthy methods to watch their weight.

Eating disorders are classified by three main categories, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder.

Anorexia Nervosa is when a person has the fear of getting overweight. Bulimia Nervosa is the act of binge eating then purging or vomiting. Binge Eating Disorder is when a person eats until uncomfortably full in one sitting. All of these disorders may cause extreme changes in body image, but they are not always easy to spot.

One of the biggest misconceptions about eating disorders is the toll it takes on the body.

Eating Disorders are not only damaging to the body, but to the mind as well. An eating disorder is classified as a mental disorder. Many times eating disorders may be coupled with

eSports Program Enjoys a Dominant Inaugural Season DAN CIAGLIA

hen Program Director Kurt Melcher brought eSports to the forefront of Robert Morris University Athletics, he never imagined it receiving the notoriety it did. News outlets here in Chicago all the way to HBO and ESPN's Outside the Lines wanted in on the latest craze taking over RMU. "I never expected it blow up the way it did," said Melcher.

"It's interesting how much attention it got, and all the players

coming up in the spring, the eSports Program's top team (nicknamed Eagles) earned 1 of the 16 spots available to compete for the North American Collegiate Championship in Los Angeles.

Official dates for the NACC are yet to be determined.

The Eagles, competing out

With the scholarship, we can attract better talent and provide more organization and structure.

love it because we aren't your typical athlete." These atypical athletes certainly did not let the buzz surrounding them get to their heads as the program's inaugural season has been met with a dominating success unlike any other. So much so that

mat with each match consisting of a best-of-3 series. The goal of each team is to destroy the other team’s home base while protecting their own, in a way similar to capture the flag.

After starting with their first victory, the Eagles never looked back and finished the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record. The CSL Playoffs saw no differences from the season, as the Eagles improved to a perfect

Different body types are presented with having life threatening eating disorders. other things going on in the person’s life. Depression, anxiety and OCD have all been linked to eating disorders in some way.

Often times the eating disorder is spawned from a lack of control. This can result from a lack of control over personal issues a person may be facing in their personal life. Eating disorders can also take a toll on how the brain functions. When a person begins to lack nutrition from food, the brain begins

to become dehydrated and the brain may show signs of wear and tear. This will not improve until the person is back to a sustainable weight and good health conditions. Other things that can be affected by such disorders are muscle loss, electrolyte imbalance, osteoporosis, irregular heartbeats and high blood pressure. When someone shows signs of an eating disorder it is best to act right away and contact someone right away. E

11-0 and continued to dominate opponents with 2-0 victories over UIC, University of Illinois, and finally the University of Michigan to claim the Division 1 North Conference Championship and an automatic berth to the NACC. Melcher believes that the opportunity for players to earn a scholarship here give the program a clear advantage over others across the country. "With the scholarship, we can attract better talent and provide more organization and structure.

Some schools may play out of libraries or dorms, but with our iBUYPOWER arena we can hold structured practices and have time to study our opponent's past game mods."

In addition to the Eagles, the program consists of 5 other teams. The Division 2 team Dyami (the Native American translation of Eagle) also dominated competition on the way to a 10-0-1 record and the CSL Division 2 Championship over Kansas State University. That team, along with the others, will be playing for an opportunity to join the Eagles in the 16team field when they compete at the TeSPA Tournament and Well Played Tournament in the coming weeks. "The success we

have had, especially against bigger schools, legitimizes our program and will give us a chance to bring in better athletes in the future to grow our program," said Melcher.

Beyond recruiting better athletes, the program will also be growing beyond League of Legends; beginning in the 2015-16 season, teams will be formed to compete in Dota 2 and Hearthstone. Those two games were chosen based on outside inquiries into the program's potential growth. Melcher also hopes to continue to grow the sponsorships the eSports teams currently have. Gaming equipment companies SteelSeries and Cooler Master currently provide the keyboards, mice, and headphones; Asus provides all the monitors; Pwnit Wear provides the team with fresh apparel to wear, and everything is housed in the eSports arena on the 3rd floor was given naming rights by iBUYPOWER. "As we continue to be more successful with the program, more sponsorships will come with it. It's a great opportunity for us because sponsorships are something unique to eSports that most other athletic programs may not have," said Melcher. E

of the Collegiate Star League North (IL) division for League of Legends, began competition on October 18 with a 2-0 victory over the University of Kentucky. For those of us unfamiliar with League of Legends, the game is played in a 5-on-5 for-

Spring - Issue 1 2015 | 9

College: The Never Ending Juggling Act RENA PETTY

t times it can be hard to juggle a school life with a personal life. You may sometimes find it difficult to be academically successful while also having fun. As college students, it can be even more stressful trying to balance different areas of your lives. One part of you may want to succeed in school and stay focused only on objectives such as making the dean’s list while another part of you may want to experience other college traditions like going to parties and staying up all night with friends. It is possible to stay focused on academics and also do things that may be more fun.

My first year of college did not

go as well as it should have. A major factor that contributed to my unsuccessfulness was my inability to schedule myself. I spent too much time trying to enjoy my freedom as a college student and not enough time focusing on my academic priorities. When you don’t properly schedule yourself, you forget important things containing your school work. Making a schedule goes a long way with trying to stay on top of educational priorities. I would suggest getting a calendar and marking the days you want to set aside for personal time and the days you want to set aside for academics.

Another suggestion I would make for balancing a personal life with an academic one would be to do fun school activities.

Every week there is a Passport Chicago event. These events are more constructive ways to have fun. Not to mention they're free.

Joining a school sport or extracurricular activity is another way to have fun while also fo-

cusing on school work. Statistics show that students who partake in athletic and social clubs within the school do the best in their classes. So, joining an extracurricular can help you have fun in your personal life all while helping you maintain a good standing in your school life.

As college students, we all have various priorities that make it difficult to balance a school life with a personal life.

We either spend way too much time focusing on academics and not enough time on fun and relaxation, or we do the opposite by only focusing on our personal lives instead of our school lives. Creating an equal balance between both personal and academic parts of your lives can be accomplished. If you make affective schedules, learn how to prioritize and give yourself enough time for school as well as time to have fun, you can do well academically all while having an active personal life. E

JESUS RODRIGUEZ

s I continue to build relationships and expand my network at RMU, it becomes apparent that students balance more than just a work schedule and school. For Lawrence Washington, Robert Edwards, Hersey Richardson III, and Javarie Davis, their balancing act includes extra-curricular activities, community service, and family.

These students, also members of Morris Men, take on extra responsibilities on top of their full schedule to give back to the community. While interviewing them, their passion for family and community service was apparent. This is an admirable display of a balancing act.

Lawrence Washington suggests to students who juggle multiple responsibilities, “You should have clearly defined goals and an understanding of your needs vs. your wants”. He also warns, “Don’t take quarters off chasing money”. Lawrence, a veteran of the armed forces, is also the president of the Morris Men association.

Robert Edwards cautiously remarks, “It’s about what you do when you have free time”.

Referring to the importance

of time management and how wisely we use it. Mr. Edwards also adds, “It is important to make time for your self. It makes homework less stressful.

Laughter is the best medicine for night school students”. Mr. Edwards, acting as the secretary for Morris Men, also works full time at a Pete’s Market grocery store.

Javarie Davis, who also works at RMU as a receptionist, values the importance of spending time with family. Mr. Davis’ balancing act also involves setting examples for his other siblings and making his mother proud.

Javarie said, “My mom inspires me to bring home good grades.

If she sees me do well in school, she’s happy. If she’s happy, I’m happy” Hersey Richardson III, a father of 2 children and a veteran of the armed forces, suggests, “Space your time out and keep a handheld calendar. Stay organized”. Hersey is the sergeant in arms for the Morris Men group, acting as time keeper and keeping the meetings on task.

Students at Robert Morris continue to demonstrate the ability to multitask and meticulously distribute their passions without risking quality of work.

Not only are students working full-time jobs, we are carryout community service, spending time with family and aspiring to make the Dean’s list. Quite the balancing act, wouldn’t you say? E

The Chicago Walker What Not To Say arents, teachers, councilors, and advisers the world over end lectures and information sessions with the statement that there is no such thing as a dumb question. In the early hours of the morning, I ponder such an idea. Although the idea of a question being dumb is clearly the work of an opinion, is there such a thing as a question that can universally be considered unintelligent?

The answer to that is obvious; of course there is such a thing.

Originally, the idea behind the “no dumb question” rule was to ensure that people did not feel embarrassed about asking questions. It is not a terrible concept; as it is, many are afraid to ask questions if he/she feels to be the only one not grasping certain information. Because such people are fearful of looking foolish to their peers, they keep their mouths shut; this, in turn, causes one to miss out on gaining whatever information was being given at the time.

The problem arises when a person feels compelled to ask questions that have answers so obvious the person answering has to

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secretly smack their own head in frustration. Where does one draw the line though?

To understand what makes a question unintelligent is to understand what makes other questions allowed to be asked without getting angry stares.

All of this comes down to common sense. The problem with this is that many do not quite grasp the idea of common sense; that, or some misinterpret it.

One thing to understand is that common sense is very much decided based on culture, area, and the specific intelligence of the community. That being said, common sense in Texas will be somewhat different to common sense in Alaska. The reason for this is that obvious information in one state will not be exactly the same as that in another. Part of living in a specific area is that one comes to understand the land, nature, customs, and beliefs of that region; eventually sections of information become such that everyone who lives in that area picks up that sort of information and memorizes it without even realizing it.

Issues come up from everyone memorizing a certain field of

information because eventually there will be a point where someone, not from that area, does not know what everyone else knows. That person will be seen as less intelligent, and people of that area will then feel they must simplify information going to that person. In doing so, though, it is generally understood that that person will ask things that are totally obvious to everyone else.

To answer the original question, it is absolutely possible to ask a dumb question. As stated before, most questions are given a “chance” depending on if the person asking is familiar to the community and customs. What can be considered a dumb question is something that’s answer is obvious. This is somewhat opinionated, unless the answer to the question is in view. This would be such as “Where is the nearest bank?” when the person asking you is standing in a bank. If the answer to the question you asked can be found by craning ones head to the left and right, chances are you just asked a dumb question.

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Mistakes Build Bridges RENA PETTY

laws are normal, mistakes are common and failures are expected. In the past, I considered my flaws and mistakes to be objectionable. I believed my failures and imperfections made me inadequate to pursue the things I desired from life. Now I realize a person’s failures can serve a greater purpose.

Like most students, going to college was my primary goal while I was in high school. I anticipated the day I could be on my own and transition into adulthood.

I was eager for such things as: picking my own classes, living in a dorm with friends, and making my own rules. With all of the enthusiasm for the perks of being a college student, I did not consider the other aspects. I did not take the workload into consideration, I did not prepare myself for being homesick, and

I did not come up with a plan to stay on track with my classes. I only focused on the temporary luxuries that came with being a college student. Since I did not fully prepare myself, I made a number of mistakes which led to failure.

My first mistake was deciding to choose a university as far away from home as possible. At the time, I believed that in order for me to get the full college experience, I had to be miles away from my family. I decided to leave Chicago and attend a school approximately eight hours away in Youngstown, Ohio. I thought going to school out of the state would make me feel like I was independent.

Originally I was satisfied with being on my own. I was distracted by how much fun I was having that I hardly missed being at home. Going to frat parties and social lounges fogged my memory of my life back in Chicago.

All I knew is that I was having a great time. However, that all changed within a few weeks.

I soon found myself missing my family and my hometown. Ev-

ery weekend, all of my friends would go back home to visit their families. Since I was the only out-of-state student, it was more difficult for me to visit mine. A Greyhound ticket from Ohio to Chicago was usually over one hundred dollars.

There was no way I could spend that amount of money every weekend. As the school year progressed, I became more and more homesick. I did not expect it to be so difficult to be away from family and to be in a state where I did not know anyone.

Being on my own caused me to become so stressed that I began making other mistakes.

Another mistake I made was the fact that I did not prepare myself for the difficulty of my classes. I presumed college courses would be much easier since I was able to pick them myself. I also came to the conclusion that I would have over enough time to do all of my work since I only had to go to class every other day instead of every day of the week. Thinking I had enough time to do my work, I began procrastinating. After a while, all of

my work began piling up and I found myself falling behind in every class. The workload combined with being on my own in an unfamiliar environment contributed to my lack of success that year. However, when the school year was over, I knew the only thing I could do was try to learn from my failures so that I could do better in the future.

After my first year of college I decided to take a break so that I could come up with a plan for me to fix the mistakes that I made. I realized that everyone has choices and that if someone does not like the situation they are in, they can change it. The first decision I made was to stay in Chicago. Being away from home and in an environment where I did not know anyone was very nerve wrecking so I decided to choose a school close to home.

I chose Robert Morris University because it is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. I saw that there were lot of fun things to do around campus but there were also enough resources provided to help me stay focused on my academics.

Once the school year arrived, I was fully equipped to become a better student. I knew exactly what I needed to do to be better than I was before. I made schedules, talked to my professors after class when I did not un-

derstand certain assignments, I spent a great amount of time in the library, and I made sure to know when I should dedicate my time for school and when I should dedicate my time for fun.

Doing all of those steps caused me to make a radical change in school. During my first quarter at RMU, I received three A’s and one B, I made the Dean’s list and I earned a 3.5 grade point average for the first time in my college career. This is because I learned from my failures and improved myself.

Flaws are normal, mistakes are common and failures are expected. Our flaws, our mistakes, and our failures are what make us human. If we don’t make mistakes, how will we learn how to fix them? Although I was devastated by my lack of success my first year of college, I looked at my failure in a positive perspective. If I had not failed, I would not have pushed myself into being the hard worker that I am today. The lesson I learned from my failures is simple: if you do not want to repeat the same mistakes that led to your failures, you have to move forward and better yourself. Your failures can either break you down, or they can build you up; the choice is yours. E

Spring - Issue 1 2015 | 11

Sudoku INSTRUCTIONS

Fill the grid with numbers so each row, column, and 3x3 block has every number from 1 to 9.

Check out the Eagle on Facebook for this issue's answers!

Hard

Average

"Another Great Award Ceremony" TYSON BOSCO

"And the award for 'Fastest Recorded Plot Twist' goes to..."

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...

"There's actually nothing written on this sheet"