THE EAGLE R O B E R T
ISSUE
M O R R I S
No 18.05
U N I V E R S I T Y
SUM. I 2014
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS • BENSENVILLE • CHICAGO • DUPAGE • ELGIN • LAKE COUNTY • ORLAND PARK • PEORIA • SCHAUMBURG • SPRINGFIELD
Est. 1996
CONTENTS
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR This quarter I have had the pleasure of taking a class titled Darwinian Revolution. The things we discuss each day always intrigue me and get my mind racing even at eight in the morning. One topic that came up recently was the fact that scientist have discovered that stress can actually effect your DNA, and that negative effect can be passed down to your offspring. I find this a perfect time in my life to be discussing they effects of stress on the human body. I, like many of my fellow RMU students, am nearing the end of my college career. Graduation is June 7th and my last final is July 1st. These next five weeks are sure to be stress filled and exhausting. I once had an English teacher, Mr. Stuck, in high school that used to purposely put his students in his honors class under pressure and a lot of stress. He always preached, "Love stress!" For many years I resented him and thought he was just pure evil, until I reached my later years of college. I now understand that Mr. Stuck knew that there is simply no escaping or avoiding stress. It is part of our day-to-day life. To think you can avoid it entirely is crazy nonsense. Mr. Stuck was trying to teach us that since we can never real-
2 | The Eagle
istically escape stress we must embrace it and attempt to cope in a healthier manner. While these next five weeks press you, whether you are about to graduate or this is your first summer attending classes, remember to take time for yourself. Go to the beach on a nice day. Meditate or work on some kick butt yoga poses. Learn a new instrument or language. Whatever floats your boat and tickles your fancy; indulge in life a little. It is extremely important to both mental and physical health to remember self-care. You will encounter plenty of stress in your life over financial situations, too much work and not enough time, or strain on personal relationships. Whatever the problem may be it is important to take a step back and breathe. Take a little time to forget your worries and your cares! It's the bare necessities.... Ooops. Sorry, but Disney had some good points over the years. Sit back relax and pick up a copy of the Eagle. From summer music to look forward to and a sweet tutorial on how to make instant slushies out of soda, this issue is cram packed with loads of fun for summer me time. And as always remember to 'like' the Eagle on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. We are always updating the page with news happening around the state at Robert Morris University. Now go relax!
Sincerely,
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
IN THIS ISSUE
Eagle News: Pages 3-5 - RMU Clubs:
Oppurtunities for Growth - The ICenter Advantage - Central Illinios Celebrates Graduation Ceremony - Phi Eta President Wins Big
Arts & Entertainment: Page 6 - Album Preview: Linkin Park The Hunting - Album Review: Swans To Be Kind
Food & Drink: Page 7 - Looking for More Lunch Options... - Stay Cool This Summer: Instant Slushie Tutorial
Sports & Health: Pages 8-9 Like us! RMU Eagle News Follow us! @RMUEagle
- Women's Lacrosse Takes Home the 2014 NWLL National Championship - Men's Track & Field Program Finishes 1st Season in School History
Perspective: Pages 10-11 Editor-in-Chief
- He Says/ She Says - The Chicago Walker Exit to the Right: Page 12 - Parting Words... - Comic
THE EAGLE CONTENT TEAM
Blake Whitmore Editor-in-Chief Dan Ciaglia Writer Kevin Morales Writer Mason Riley Writer
DESIGN TEAM
Tyson Bosco Art Director Austin Huette Designer Kyle Ashley Illustrator
CONTRIBUTORS Blake Detherage Jessi Bahena Haley Scheina Kyle Ashley
EAGLE ADVISOR Paul Gaszak
pgaszak@robertmorris.edu
ADVISORY BOARD David Pyle Mick McMahon CAMPUS FACULTY David Belotti - Lake County dbelotti@robertmorris.edu
Beth Gainer - Bensenville
bgainer@robertmorris.edu
Nicole Hager - Springfield
nhager@robertmorris.edu
Gerard Wozek - Dupage
gwozek@robertmorris.edu
Jane Wendorff-Craps - Peoria jwendorff-craps @robertmorris.edu
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RMU Clubs: Opportunities for Growth MASON RILEY
very student at Robert Morris University has the opportunity to start a club or organization and should, according to Angela Jordan, RMU’s Vice President of Student Affairs. She believes deeply in the importance of students pursuing and expanding their interests outside the classroom. “[Clubs] give the students an outlet that lets them stay connected, stay focused…and gives them a greater chance of success. It’s all about feeling connected to the University inside the classroom and outside as well.” There are currently more than 30 clubs and organizations at RMU spanning a wide variety of interests. The clubs range from academic-based honoraries, to social, to purely recreational. For example, Eagle Scholars help first-year students by acting as mentors and tutors, Cooks for a Cause sponsor and support organizations that seek to better society, and Card Fight Club pits its members against one another through card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, and Magic the Gathering. The entire list of clubs and organizations can be found through the Robert Morris University website, under the “Campus Life” tab. Didn’t find something of interest? The process for forming a new club is simple! A proposal must be submitted to the student affairs committee, which then ensures that the club or organization aligns with the mission of the university. Once approved, the club or organi-
zation can be eligible for funding depending on need. So far, no proposal has been denied. Interested students are encouraged to stop in the Student Center on the 7th floor at any time. “Ask or inquire; our door is always open,” said Jordan. Part of the appeal of creating a new club or joining an existing club is the discovery of others that may share the same interests and hobbies. “I don’t care what your hobby is, I can guarantee there’s at least one other student that has interest in it too,” said Jordan. Not only does it give the students the chance to meet others with similar tastes, but it also allows those students to share their knowledge with fellow Eagles. By spreading their club or organization to more and more interested parties, the students involved in the group will see the same passion in others they have themselves. With so many students dealing with pressures outside of class be it sports, work, family, or personal, it may seem difficult to find time for a club or organization. These groups are primarily organized and operated by students, and it takes a certain kind of passion and drive to put effort into a RMU club or organization. However, the effort that is put in is rewarded with new connections, new friends, and new hobbies. Angela Jordan passionately believes in these rewards, and she is happy with the involvement the clubs and organizations currently enjoy. But she states that she will only be truly satisfied, “When 100 percent of our students are involved in a RMU activity outside of class.” E
Summer I - Issue 2 2014 | 3
Central Illinois Campuses Hold Their 1st Joint Graduation Ceremony
The ICenter Advantage
Catlyn Walker (right), a member of the Summer 1 ICenter project, with 6th grade students at Pritzker Elementary as they work out the details of their own story titled “Pepe & Francois’ Sticky Situation” MASON RILEY
Center projects: Everyone has heard of them, right? But not everyone grasps the opportunities they provide for the driven student. They can replace CMT 440, an internship class, and a free elective (all with dean approval of course), but it is more than just a replacement class. ICenter projects allow students to act as consultants with real clients seeking quality results. The projects grant a larger degree of responsibility, permit independent decision making, and promote initiative. Students earn the “work experience” that most hiring businesses seek and get the chance to gain valuable lessons (like the benefits of networking) that will serve both in the classroom and in their professions as well. Professor Tricia Lunt is currently facilitating her first ICenter project this quarter (Summer 1) which is tasked with creating a children’s book. The book, which features
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an elephant, is based off of a line of stuffed animals. “It’s demanding in terms of creative output,” Lunt said, referring to the character development phase. She explained that even ideas as simple as the characters’ names required input from her students and the client as well. ICenter projects vary from quarter to quarter and always offer professional tasks requested by professional clients. This quarter will lead to a mock-up of a children’s book, but next quarter may result in a marketing video, or even a design for an office made out of shipping containers! RMU reaches out to businesses and organizations in the Chicagoland area to find clients for the mutually beneficial ICenter projects, and then recruit willing and driven students to take it on. In fact, the current project led by Professor Lunt is an outgrowth of a previous ICenter project that was developing a business plan for the stuffed animals. The children’s book was a conscious decision by that former project that required an entirely separate team to pursue. While the process may
be challenging, it is also giving RMU students the opportunity to experience real-world scenarios that give them a glimpse of project development outside of school. “In a professional setting you’re given a task, and then space to do it, and then you’re expected to have something done by your deadline,” said Lunt. “It’s useful practice for students to have so when they’re in their actual profession, they’ll know how to handle obstacles and timeframes.” Lunt went on to speak to the intangible advantages that arise from ICenter projects. She touched on the productive collaboration that students encounter, and also praised the greater degree of freedom students enjoy as well, saying, “ ICenter projects don’t usually meet formally; there are meetings and tasks still, but a much looser sense of when things get done while still retaining firm deadlines.” This informality gives students the opportunity to expand their horizons and augment their traditional educational experience by tapping into outside interests and hidden talents. It simply gives students a more wellrounded college experience. “The most common complaint I hear from people is that they wish they did more in college, experienced more things, and met different people,” Lunt said. “They didn’t get as much out of college as they could have.” So the real question is: why would students NOT take advantage of the benefits of ICenter projects? Many RMU students are juggling different aspects of life. But at the same time, those who want to be successful in a professional setting must learn to actively seek out enrichment. “Our Mantra is “be creative, positive, and productive,” Lunt stated. “We have a very smart, talented, capable group of people here at RMU. Why wait?” E
walked into RMU with a GED and had been holding down multiple jobs for the past 20 years to provide for my family. Making the decision to go back to school was inspired by despair and desperation. I had a 2 page resume full of experience, but was unable to compete for promotions because I lacked the necessary academic components. This was my only motivation, but that quickly began to change. Attending RMU did not change who I am, it made me better. It changed my approach to life and the decisions I make. It is not about just getting that next big promotion or paycheck. It’s about improving the quality of life I have now and for future purposes.” That was taken from the beginning of Sherri Mack’s graduation speech. Sherri Mack is a non-traditional student from the Peoria, IL campus, and she received her Master’s Degree at this ceremony. The reason this is such a big deal is because this is the first time that the Springfield campus and the Peoria campus have shared a graduation together. In the past they held their own commencement ceremonies separately. When I asked Josh Ramirez, a computer studies student at the Springfield RMU campus, he said, “(the ceremony) was at the Hoogland (center for the arts) last year, and it crowded and hot.” This ceremony, held on May 10, was at the Jack D. Nutt Auditorium at the Lincoln Center in Lincoln, Illinois. There were over 60 students participating in the graduation ceremony, and the keynote speaker was Nicole Farinella, Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management.
The joint ceremony was a success, and all participating graduates and faculty couldn’t agree more. Nicole Farinella had the opportunity to speak with a few graduating students, and here was they had to say: Tamra Abu-Tayeh (Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Management) said she “will miss the people and relationships made and the support of faculty and staff.” She also had this advice to give, “Don’t procrastinate, always have a backup plan, and get involved.” Crystal Marion (Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Management) mentioned that “she really valued the ICenter projects; particularly those that allowed the group to give back to the community such as Red Cross & The Parent Place.” Kristopher Mosdale (Bachelor’s of Business Administration with concentrations in Management and Accounting) said that he “will miss the relationships and friendships made in addition to the support from the faculty.” Kristopher also advised incoming freshmen to “have fun, but be smart and manage your time.” Robert Morris University has certainly shown to be a shining example of exemplary education from their faculty, and more importantly their students. For all of those that have graduated, good luck with your futures and for all of those still attending, know that you are on the path to greatness. Soon you will walk like those that have in the past, and the education that Robert Morris University has given you will provide a solid foundation for the rest of your life. E
Phi Eta President wins big KEVIN MORALES he current president of Phi Eta Sigma, Angela Livingston was recently awarded a scholarship from the honor society’s Founders Scholarship Fund. Livingston, who is also a business administration stu-
dent, has been the president of RMU’s Phi Eta Sigma chapter since her freshman year. Phi Eta Sigma is an honor society designed specifically for first year students in higher institutions. Its goal is to encourage as well as acknowledge such students for their hard work during their freshman year. Upon induction into the honor society, students maintain the achievement for the rest of their lives. Livingston, who is currently a junior, will soon be passing the position of president on to another student come June 6. Soon after, she will be inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society for business students. Despite the upcoming changes, Livingston is
happy with the time and effort she put in with Phi Eta Sigma. “I loved it. I really enjoyed it. Being affiliated with the organization allowed me to meet a lot of different students,” Livingston said. “I found it as a great learning experience.” Livingston recommends that any students who are eligible to join Phi Eta Sigma should do so because of the numerous benefits that come along with the opportunity. “The opportunity is great. It gives incoming students something to strive for, a goal to work for. It makes the task easier and more the worthwhile for getting good grades,” she said. Joining the honor society also provides students with the
chance to further develop their communications and their leadership skills, or in Livingston’s case, create a better working relationship with other students. Students who qualified for joining the honor society should have already received an invitation. Plans are still underway for the upcoming induction for Phi Eta Sigma which is scheduled for sometime in June. E
Current Phi Eta Sigma president Angela Livingston
Photos by Anthony May and courtesy of Urbanworks.
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Summer I - Issue 2 2014 | 5
ALBUM (P)REVIEWS LINKIN PARK
SWANS TO BE KIND
THE
HUNTING PARTY KYLE ASHLEY
inkin Park’s forthcoming album, The Hunting Party is set to release on June 17th. With the new effort comes a new sound as is accustomed to the bands multifaceted style. This time around they offer a heavier sound than seen from their last two albums. This came from criticism by producer Rick Rubin, when his critique of band member Mike Shinoda’s demos appealed to a pop music aspect. This bothered Shinoda given the band’s roots. Alongside this, Shinoda read up on an article that mentioned how society is believed to become more passive over time with changes in technology. Shinoda grasped this idea into comparison of the rock music scene of current standards. With this, he rectified to create work that was more aggressive, more initiative and carnivorous instead of herbivorous; hence the album title, The Hunting Party as well as the ‘Carnivores Tour’ with 30 Seconds to Mars.
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The idea behind the album was to prioritize the use of strong and heavy guitars as well as fast paced drums. This is evident through the first single, Guilty All The Same. At first listen, the title is almost unrecognizable as a Linkin Park song. The song starts with a muffled garage punk band sound of distorted guitar punches alongside rhythmic drumming. The track clarifies as symbol crashes push the song forth and suddenly come to a break for a piano progression, while instruments fade themselves in and return back to the established riff. Then enters the voice of lead vocalist, Chester Bennington as guitars fade out and vocals and drum pacing take the predominant role. As the first chorus draws, sound fades away again and vocals along with a stylized guitar lead. From there the song brings the full extent of each element. The bridge of the song removes the band’s standard use of Shinoda’s raps believing it to be too expected, and replaced the vocals with the feature of Rap artist Rakim. The lyrics imply a rally against the one percent of the United States income holders, a political style reminiscent of work from the band’s third album, Minutes to Midnight. The song ends in
a guitar solo by band member Brad Delson that distorts and bends until it drops out to the song’s final halt. Another single released from the album, Until It’s Gone, works as a contrast to the previous. It takes a much more traditional Linkin Park song method with moody alternative tones as it is meant to be the softer of the album’s tracks. Drum work by Rob Bourdon is still very strong throughout the song, however, it takes a synth and electronic opening then balances between guitar elements through the entirety of the song, with a progressing solo within the bridge. This is until the final chorus, which hits hard with the accumulated elements and Bennington’s range as he switches from melodies and harmonies to an iconic final scream. The album’s track list includes a variety of artists, including Page Hamilton, Daron Malkian, and Tom Morello. Heavier guitars, fast paced drums, and a garage punk heavy sound may renew faith in estranged fans how have been turned away by 2010’s A Thousand Suns, and the 2013 single, A Light That Never Comes feat. Steve Aoki, as well as those left unsure by 2012’s Living Things. E
HALEY SCHEINA wans is an experimental rock band from New York City, led by Michael Gira, and composed of Christoph Hanh, Thor Harris, Chris Pravdica, Phil Puleo, Norman Westberg, and many other guest musicians, including St. Vincent (Annie Clark). Swans had originally started in 1982 and ended in 1997. However, in 2010, Swans made a come-back with their release of My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky and have since been gaining a cult-like following with the young, nowave scene. With To Be Kind, Swans have grown from their sludge-metal comforts into a very eerie, almost indescribable sound. Their tracks are big, booming, and demand to be heard. Last year, Swans released a live album titled Not Here, Not Now, where most of the songs from To Be Kind were previewed, including the album opener, Screen Shot. On Screen Shot, Gira sings of transcendent mutilation and humiliation, with gloomy lyrics such as “No touch, no loss, no hand, no sense. No wound, no waste, no lust, no fear. No thought, no hurt, no hands to reach. No knife, no word, no lie, no cure.” Screen Shot forces listeners to experience the lack of freedom that humanity forces upon itself through simple, yet striking lyrics, droning guitars, and rhythmic drumming.
Track two of To Be Kind, Just A Little Boy, which happens to be favored among the Swans fan base, expresses imagery of an unborn child, “sleep[ing] in the belly of woman.” Gira repeatedly demands to be loved, shouting “I need loooooooooooove!,” only for his warmth to be met with laughter, embarrassment, and the claim that he is not human. In an interview with Gira, conducted by FADER TV, about last year’s release, The Seer, Gira explained that his longest song ever written, The Seer, a 32-minute drone masterpiece, was an honest accident. Gira had never intended to write a 32 minute song, but while recording, they just continued playing. The song was such a hit that on To Be Kind, they upped their game and released a 34 minute song, Bring the Sun / Toussaint L’Ouverture. Like most Swans releases, To Be Kind is a dramatic account of finding inner peace and understanding spirituality. These songs are heavy, repetitive, complex, and powerful. Swans, especially with their later releases, feels very much like a religious experience - just listening to a few of their tracks gives the mind and body the impression of being on another plane of existence. With this in mind, it is a great starter album for anyone looking to get into Swans, because this could be their most beautiful and refined piece of work yet. E
Looking For More Lunch Options Other Than Fast Food? JESSI BAHENA ometimes the food choices around campus can get a bit boring, especially if you eat there quite frequently. Granted they are convenient and quick, sometimes you just need a change of pace. If you find yourself battling with lunch decisions, try taking a stroll to Clark Street between Madison and Monroe. Around lunch time, you can usually find food trucks parked there with lunch time frenzy. Just keep in mind, the trucks that are parked there are on limited time, seeing as they travel throughout Chicagoland. If you want to know when and where a specific truck will be, there are various food truck trackers
available online. Some of the trucks you may find include Jerk, Husky Hog Barbeque, Gangster Cupcakes, Pierogi Wagon, SoupsInTheLoop, Bridgeport Pastry, Taquero Fusion, 3 JJJ’s, and many others. Some trucks accept debit cards, but there a few that are cash only, so bring some cash just in case! Most of the prices are fairly reasonable, and portions are on spot. A woman standing at the Pierogi Wagon line stated “I love their pierogies, and I love that I can mix and match the flavors and the toppings are free, I’d suggest trying the cheese and potatoes and beef. Beware about the spicy onions; they weren’t lying when they said spicy!” Pierogi Wagon offers a lunch special of six pierogies of your choosing and comes with free sides, such as spicy onions,
bacon, and sour cream. Alex Fullford, an RMU employee and alumni has tried 3 JJJ’s which serves Jamaican food. Prices vary depending on what you order, but they’re decently priced and well worth considering their portions. Fullord said “It’s very good food. The sauce that they provide on the side is very spicy, but that’s just me! But it’s a great portions size for only $8. The food was so good, nothing bad about it at all.” So the next time your find yourself in a rut, and can’t figure out what to do about lunch. Take a stroll down to Clark Street and try one of the food trucks. It definitely is a good food experience. E
Stay Cool This Summer JESSI BAHENA
ow that Chicago is finally getting its summer weather, staying cool with nice cold treats is also in affect. Ice cream men, or ladies, are out and about and
many seasonal ice cream shops have opened their doors once again. Gas stations and convenient stores provide a plethora of treats, and they also sell slushies for cheap. If you find yourself having to trek outside quite frequently, try this nifty trick at home: next time you find yourself grocery shopping, buy a 20 oz. bottle of your favorite soda or sports drink. When you’re
ready to prepare your slushie(s), shake the bottle of soda as much as you can while it is at room temperature; you want as much pressure in the bottle as possible. Place it in the freezer for about 3.5 hours. When you go to get them out, don’t be alarmed if it isn’t frozen because they’re supposed to stay in liquid form. Turn the bottle upside down and you should have yourself a slushy. E
Summer I - Issue 2 2014 | 7
Women's Lacrosse Takes Home the 2014 NWLL National Championship DAN CIAGLIA
The RMU women's lacrosse team celebrates their victory at the National Championship on April 19. f you have a fancy for the dramatic and thrilling storybook endings to a season that are typically found in movies, then you will certainly find this right up your alley. The 2014 Women's Lacrosse season had all the elements you need: the storybook season which saw the team utterly dominate just about any opponent that lined up against them, a perfect 8-0 regional conference record, nail biting victories that carried the team to the National Women's Lacrosse League championship, and one of the most thrilling victories in the single game that mattered most - the NWLL National Championship. The culmination of this past season came on April 19th, when the 3rd-ranked Eagles squared off against two-time defending NWLL champs and #1 overall seed Savannah College. The road to this point was mostly smooth sailing as the Eagles were seldom tested after getting
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off to a shaky 2-3 start. In fact, after the first 5 contests, the Eagles would only lose 1 more game the rest of the season and outscored their opponents by an average of 16-4 in their final 10 victories. Head Coach Jake Truty said that "everyone was on the same page, and we limited our mistakes and started to read the game much better. By the time we reached the NWLL National Tournament, it was clear to see this team had a legitimate chance of winning it all, which was only a hope at the beginning of the season." The Eagles wrapped up the regular season with a 14-4 victory over Missouri Baptist, a win that guaranteed a bid to the NWLL tournament and earned the team the top seed in the West Regionals. The first matchup against Oklahoma Baptist was an easy 20-4 victory, and the Eagles carried the momentum from their dominating performance into the West Regional Championship,
where they built as high as a 7-point lead over Missouri Baptist before edging them out in a 13-11 win sending the Eagles to the National Tournament Quarterfinals. The Eagles were re-seeded as the #3 team in the bracket, setting up a meeting with #6 Aquinas College. The two had squared off in the season opener with a 12-10 Robert Morris victory, and history would repeat itself in tournament play as the Eagles would again defeat Aquinas 12-10, led by hat tricks from Taylor O'Gara and Meghan Brady. #2 Davenport University awaited the Eagles in the semi-final game. The Panthers handed Robert Morris 1 of its 4 losses in the season, but the Eagles wouldn't let them off easy this time. Down 3 goals at halftime, the Eagles led a ferocious comeback and stood strong defensively, allowing Davenport to score just 2 goals in the second half on the way to a 10-8 win and a matchup with Savannah College for
the championship. The two powerhouse programs would be deadlocked from the opening faceoff through the final whistle. If Savannah scored, the Eagles would answer not too long after and vice versa. The Bees got a quick lead early, but the Eagles were able to hang with the top ranked team and took a 6-5 lead into the half. The second half was much like the first, as neither team let the other get too comfortable with a lead. Back and forth they went matching each other goal for goal until Savannah erased a 2 goal deficit with 1:57 to play. Truty said "[at this point] we took a timeout to discuss the final minutes. We told them to win the draw and go down and score a goal just like we did all season long. I was expecting a goal and pushing overtime." Despite hopes for overtime, Anna Schaefer and the Eagles had plans of their own. Just 38 seconds after losing the lead, Schaefer put one past the Bees
goalie to tie the game at 12. Exactly 38 seconds after that, Schaefer did it again! With 41 seconds left and a 13-12 lead, the Robert Morris Eagles shut down the Savannah attack and hoisted their first ever National Championship trophy. In addition to the team championship, Eagles Sophomore Meghan Brady was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The honor, of course, came second to Brady saying that "the only honor I was worried about collecting was the honor of holding up the Championship trophy with this team. We made it happen, all of us made it happen. I don't know if anyone believed we could win the championship before that last game got started, but they sure did when that game got going. We were not leaving Belleville without the trophy." E
Men's Track & Field Program Finishes 1st Season in School History
Deion Carter in full stride during a relay at a meet earlier in the inaugural season. DAN CIAGLIA his past year has been quite a historical year for Robert Morris University Athletics with several men's and women's programs earning championships both on the conference and national levels. The Men's Track & Field team made history of a different sort, though, as RMU had never featured this program until January when Athletic Director Megan Smith Eggert announced a team would be formed to compete. Paul Zavala, who also coaches both Men's and Women's Cross Country, took on the challenge of forming a team for the inaugural season. "[It] was a very
proud moment for me as the administration believed in me and my ability to add another program to our already large geo of programs. My goal was to provide an outstanding opportunity for athletes to continue their dreams of competing at the collegiate setting." Getting the right athletes in order to field a competitive track team was a bit more challenging though due to the fact that it's the first ever season and there had not been many male students that chose Robert Morris for Track & Field. Zavala chose to reach out to other athletic programs and was able to recruit athletes from the cross country, football, and bowling teams to come out for track. "Our first season went outstanding since
we have a ton of talented athletes at RMU. We were able to give an opportunity to athletes that were already participating in sports at RMU. Track & Field in high school is an opportunity for many different types of athletes to compete, which is why many of them come from multiple teams," said Zavala. The season kicked off in late January, and although the team struggled for the most part to get 1st-place results, there were many outstanding individual performances throughout the season. Sophomore Alejandro Garcia had many top 2 finishes in the 800 and 1600-meter races and took 1st in the CCAC Conference Championship 800-meters. Senior Mizael Carrera finished 1st in the 1-mile
race at the Chicagoland Championships, and Freshman Deion Carter earned the honor of Men's Outstanding Athlete at the CCAC Championships in addition to many top 2 finishes throughout the season. Regarding the honors, Deion said "I felt so blessed. I could have never achieved this with out God, my mom, my coaches, and my teammates help. They pushed me to challenge myself everyday to become a better man and teammate." Having an outstanding freshman runner like Deion leading the program is a huge asset for Zavala and the team going into the future. Coach Zavala definitely has the team running in the right direction as well. "Next season is all about im-
proving our brand awareness and, of course, being competitive. We are just starting this long process of letting students know of our new track program and getting them excited to be a part of RMU. [Deion] is one of the fastest freshman sprinters in the Midwest area, so we are excited to see how strong he can be in a few years with this program." Deion is ready to accept the challenge of leading the team the next few seasons, saying that "my goal is to be a leader, push the team to do their best, and bring more talented athletes to RMU Track & Field. [We want to] take our coaches to Nationals and leave a mark on this program before I graduate." E
Summer I - Issue 2 2014 | 9
He Says/ She Says Graduate School
TYSON BOSCO
he point after getting a degree in college is the time in one’s life where they decide one of two things; they can either take what they have learned and see what comes out of it, or they can take the path of continuing their educational studies with another degree. Graduate school has been climbing on the rise for quite some time, and as students receive their Bachelor’s degrees, they wonder if they should stop there. As it is with attempting to get
a Bachelor’s after gaining the Associate’s, most of the time it depends on the student and the field of study. When it comes to Health Studies at Robert Morris University, anyone who gets an Associate’s in Medial Assisting or Nursing is pretty much done there. Robert Morris does not offer anything more specified to either field. So for some, an Associate’s degree is all they need. This, however, is not the case for everyone else. Some fields of study actually require a Bachelor’s in order to attain employment in the top companies.
10 | The Eagle
The question falls as to whether Graduate school is as worth it as the cost. Think of graduate school as a gamble after already gambling once; it can go either way. There are a few things to consider when breaking it down so much. One of the major advantages of going for a Master’s degree is the fact that you cannot obtain that degree without first learning an extensive amount of information about the Business world. This is not in terms of most of the teachings at the University; getting a Master’s requires almost double the dedication as getting a Bachelor’s degree. The main reason for this is rather simple; Graduate school was made to test the very limits for what a student can do. Therefore, gaining this degree is not the same as just getting a degree in your field, it is more along the lines of pouring out your soul for the degree. The main advantage of a Master’s is rather obvious; you leave the school with a Master’s degree. Besides having an advantage over other competition that have Bachelor’s degrees just out of the shear fact that it is a higher in comparison, it is also heavily known that it took more work, time, money, and sacrifice to achieve the degree. What people seem to forget is a degree is not an acknowledgement that this person should be labeled according to his degree title, it is a testament to prove the initiative to the student that received it. Anyone who obtains a Master’s degree will know what it took to obtain it,
which is something Associate’s and Bachelor’s programs will not teach. Therefore, in getting the degree, a student is exposed to more of the best and worst case scenarios of the working world. Buildings are created out of a structured floor plan, which then gets more support when the walls and other bits are added. Knowing what kind of building you want is essential to figuring out how much support you will need to keep the structure standing. The point here is that when one leaves college, the student expects their degree to work for them. The truth is that that is never going to be the case. Working towards a degree is one thing; getting a job out of the degree is quite a different thing. Although it may take more time to build the structure that has a larger base, the stability of the base should keep the building stronger when the rest of the elements are added.
sign for even more loans for more school!? Students in the United States are playing with fire, but it is not their fault. College is not a necessity to a successful life in many careers paths. Society has told us the only way to be happy is through success and the only way to success is through a college education. I appreciate my college education for what it is, a privilege. It is expensive and nice, but it is in no way a necessity. On top of that, in the traditional set up we are asking kids, approximately ages 16 to 19, to choose their career path for the rest of their life. Even financial aid supports this ludicrous notion to go to college immediately. More scholarships are offered to students that are coming directly from high school. Despite all of society's ridiculous expectations, my sister took a year off after high school, and she got a lot of flack for it from my extended family. Even my father would speak to me about my sister and express his concern that “she [was] going no where in life and [needed] direction.” My mother on the other hand was very supportive. That summer I found out
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BLAKE WHITMORE raduation is just around the corner for many RMU undergraduate students, or it may have already come and gone for others. The next step in the educational ladder is graduate school. After signing for far too many loans for undergraduate degrees, how can students be expected to
that my mother also took a year off after high school before she began studying at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. My mother is know a successful professor at the University of
Michigan, and yes, that took a graduate degree, two actually, but I want to make the point that always following society's “traditional” path of immediately jumping from one level of school to the next is not necessarily the best decision. My sister is now studying psychology at the Florida Institute of Technology and she plans to go to graduate school, but she has done extensive research on her field and it is required if she wants to obtain the job she is currently working so hard to achieve. I am about to graduate with my BAS in Graphic Design and my BPS in Organizational Writing. I was pretty set on going to graduate school, but then I began to question it. I don’t like the idea of taking out more and more money that I don’t have for an education I might not need. I am 21 years old, and not entirely sure what I want to do with the degrees I am about to finish up. Why get more? I love school and if money was no object I would go to graduate school for the rest of my life, constantly learning and growing. Unfortunately, society and the banks say I need to get a job and pay back my loans. I am still bouncing around whether or not I personally will go to graduate school. I will most likely take some time to work and figure out what I want to do first. I know I am supposed to be arguing against going to graduate school, but it is not that simple. There are a lot of factors to consider first: major of study, career aspiration, financial situations, and a variety of other things individual to each person. If you are feeling burnt out come the end of your undergraduate degree, I urge you to do the research and/or take the time to work and experience the world. DO NOT simply go to graduate school immediately after undergrad because society says more education equals a better job. That is mostly definitely not the case. E
Competitive $29,500 tuition & generous scholarships available
The Chicago Walker In Between Worlds
ometimes it feels like a certain time of the year is destined to create changes, and at this time in the morning, change is the only thing I can think about. For the most part, it is all around me as it is. At the same time every morning, all the powered lights of the city recede, and light from the sun pours out from the landscape of the earth. With this as my setting, I wonder about what changes my future will entail as well as the futures of everyone else. Now is the time that students are graduating from Robert Morris University as well as from all the other colleges. With the end of this quarter, students will be leaving this school with a degree and entering a world of the unexpected. Will your degree be meaningful and allow you to pursue something that furthers your studies, or will these last few years be the equivalent to a piece of paper you never even get around to framing? It is bleak what can happen after graduation; just remember that this new stage should not carry too many expectations. Getting into a career is an immensely difficult task. Any student should know this, as chances are you have been studying 1-8 years about this one field of study. To most, it is good to have a somewhat good understanding about many things rather than focus on just one. Well, there became a time where you were then told to do exactly that; put all of your eggs in one (unless you double majored) basket.
This itself becomes one of the ultimate gambles in life. The truth is, though, that although it is a game of luck choosing what you want to do, there is an endless amount of possibilities as to where you can go from what you choose. People get too wrapped up in this “making the right choice�; is there even really such a thing? Because we are born to think about how everything affects us it makes us feel a sort of superiority towards others. It is not a personal thing, it is just every action a person makes affects them more than anyone else. Therefore, we feel an extra sort of responsibility when choosing our futures. The truth is, this time is the same as it is for everyone else as well. You are not alone in feeling uncertain. What separates the successful from the others is that they throw out as many lines as they can when they do not know what else to do. The only way you are going to get what you want is by communicating your eagerness to work for as much as you can. Changes are a difficult thing to get used to. Sometimes, though, what currently is cannot always be. There must be something for it to form into because otherwise, what is the point to continuing traveling the path? Unless what you do now can sustain you, think about your current situation as a wait at the train station. It is not comfortable to hang out at the train station because that place was not meant to be a destination. As that is, the same goes for this point in our lives. It may feel burdensome, it may be a difficult path, but walking it is the equivalent to all the other tough obstacles that pays off in the end. Remember one thing and one thing only, stick to whatever path you choose.
Indiana Tech Law School’s fresh academic curriculum includes teachings relevant to everyday legal practice and will provide me with the preparation to be a successful attorney. - Kyle Noone Charter Class member
855.TECH.LAW Law.IndianaTech.edu
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Summer I - Issue 2 2014 | 11
Parting Words...
On May 19th students that were nominated by professors, deans, or academic advisors auditioned to be the student speaker at graduation on June 7th. According to Provost Mablene Krueger, "We had 5 speakers audition; all were quite good and had worthwhile content. However, since we only select one, the other speeches never see the light of day." The Eagle wanted to share with you some parting thoughts before graduation from the nominated speakers.
In refernece to the women's lacrosee team at the national championship:
There were days when we wanted to give up, or the workload seemed too overwhelming to handle. But after contemplating the benifits of the ending reward, it all seems worthwhile. - Heather Alexander
Those last two minutes of insecurity, excitement, and coming together as an RMU team, is what made the journey so much more rewarding. - Quintina Mengyan It’s no walk in the park to receive a college education, no matter the concentration of study. There are a lot of sleepless nights. There are a lot of 'I can’t sorry I’ve got a paper due' moments. But there are also a lot of really great relationships built with professors and many unforgettable lessons learned that make this adventure worthwhile. - Kelsey Neville
No Class by Kyle Ashley Hey. How’s it going? So, can I drop by? Umm... Okay. What?! No! What are you up to?
Just kind of trying to take care of business here.
12 | The Eagle
Hey, I have to let you go. Some idiot in the next stall keeps answering me.