The Rocket 02-21-2014 by SRU Rocket

Take the Plunge Douse for a House has students running and jumping into freezing water for a good cause. Page C-4

Friday, February 21, 2014 • Volume 97, Issue Number 16 • Slippery Rock University's Student Newspaper

the rocket

www.theonlinerocket.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

'Mythbusters' event attracts student crowd

NEWS

ITHINK Program Rethinks Math A professor at SRU has begun a new program that challenges students to justify simple mathematical equations. Page A-2

OPINION

Academic Minor Policy Changes SRU updates the minor policy for students, makes it more challenging for students to earn minors. Page B-1

SPORTS

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET

Basketball To 'White Out' IUP SRU men's and women's basketball look to close out regular season with games against Seton Hill and IUP. Page C-1

CAMPUS LIFE

Celebrate Black History Month The NAACP and Black Action Society celebrate Black History Month with events held all month. Page D-3

Potter's Guild:

Art for Everyone The Potter's Guild teaches the Slippery Rock community and students the art of ceramics with guest artists. Page D-1

Students awaited Mythbusters' Kari Byron and Tory Belleci who came to Slippery Rock University Thursday night. The event was held in the Robert M. Smith Student Center Ballroom and hosted by the University Program Board. Photographs from the event can be found on The Rocket's website and Facebook page.

SRU prepares for PASSHE academic minors policy change By Kevin Squires Assistant News Editor

Students graduating from Slippery Rock University in Fall 2015 or later may need to rethink their minor. The Pa. State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) amended their policy regarding academic minors in Jan. 2012, stating that “the academic minor comprises no more than six credits from the major field of study.” PASSHE also stated that all programs must be in compliance with the policy as of Aug. 1, 2015. Elliot Baker, Slippery Rock University’s Executive Director of Academic Records, Summer School and Graduate Studies, said, “we didn’t want to announce this until we were sure we clearly understood what we thought the policy was trying to say.” He began sending emails last semester to students with declared minors informing them of the changes set to take place in the coming years. “This [new policy] means that a minor requiring 18 credits may include

up to six credits from the student’s major including cognate courses,” said Baker. He explained that there was some question as to what if the policy was including cognate courses or not. It does. According to PASSHE policy, “cognate courses are those that are in a discipline or field of study different from the primary discipline of the major, but are considered essential to the major requirements for the program of study.” Baker said that this could be like a student majoring in biology being required to chemistry courses to earn the degree. So far, Baker said that only two or three departments have vocalized discontent with the new policy, mentioning the geography, geology and environmental science department and the biology department. He said that the sciences are the “minority” group in this situation because their degree programs include so many cognate courses. “This isn’t a problem for a history major, for example,” Baker said. This is because within the history degree

program, all of the required courses are in the history department. Any minor from a student in a program like history chose would be out of a different department and therefore have a large enough amount of credits outside the academic major. According to Baker, an academic minor currently must include at least four credits from outside of a student’s academic major. For example, a minor requiring 18 credits may include up to 14 credits from the student’s major. This current policy will be in effect until the summer of 2015 with the new one applying to all students graduating in the fall of 2015 and later, regardless of when they declared their minor or started their education at Slippery Rock University. He said that he hopes to raise awareness as much as possible to the students the change is affecting and disclosed that he hopes to have the degree audits reflect the changes soon with a disclaimer for students graduating before the policy change to ignore the minor requirements.

Million dollar SRU budget discrepancy questioned By Jonathan Janasik

that the university created affiliated entities or used foundations to take on debt for new construction. In December, the Association of Pa. State College In many cases, the affiliated entities are taking on and University Faculties (ASPCUF) hired an debt to pay for new dormitories and other lavish accounting firm to check the State System of Higher construction,” the APSCUF blog post stated. Education’s (PASSHE) finances within APSCUF president Steve seven schools including SRU and "Our students, their families Hicks also commented on reported that PASSHE’s budgets were the findings of the report and the public deserve to know within the blog post. off by millions of dollars. At the time, Pa. schools had been how their money is being “The universities and announcing plans to cut programs and the State System must be retrench faculty members because of spent." good stewards of the public a large decrease in income. APSCUF - APSCUF President Steve Hicks dollar,” Hicks explained. hired the Boyer and Ritter accounting “Instead, their poor firm in order to organize a report budgetar y decisions are about the status of PASSHE’s finances. forcing students to double pay because universities “There appears to be minimal accountability for are using both their tuition dollars and their fees to budgeting at the University level with the PASSHE pay off debt on buildings. Our students, their families Board of Governors,” the report stated and the public deserve to know how their money is After the report was finished, APSCUF announced actually being spent.” the findings on their website’s blog. “In every case, the accounting firm discovered SEE ADMINISTRATION, PAGE A-2 News Editor

NEWS

A-2 7-DAY FORECAST FOR SLIPPERY ROCK FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

A little rain in the morning

An afternoon shower in places

Periods of sun

A snow shower possible; colder

Mostly cloudy and cold

Mostly cloudy, snow possible

Mostly cloudy and cold

44°

29°

47°

28°

40°

REAL FEAL TEMPERATURE

Fri.

Sat.

Sun. Mon.

Tue.

Wed. Thu.

CITY Akron Allentown Altoona Cleveland Erie Harrisburg Indiana Johnstown Philadelphia Pittsburgh Scranton State College Wheeling Williamsport Youngstown

Friday HI LO W 42 30 pc 49 28 r 48 28 r 40 32 pc 44 32 pc 54 30 r 48 29 r 48 29 r 58 36 r 44 32 r 46 28 r 48 30 r 46 33 r 49 26 r 44 30 sh

Saturday HI LO W 47 27 pc 52 30 pc 53 32 pc 44 26 c 41 26 pc 54 33 pc 50 31 pc 47 31 pc 54 35 pc 52 31 pc 49 31 pc 49 31 pc 52 32 pc 51 30 pc 46 27 pc

29°

13°

14°

28°

UV INDEX

Fri.

Sat.

Monday HI LO W 28 14 c 38 21 pc 32 17 c 25 15 c 22 15 c 40 22 pc 30 16 c 27 13 c 43 24 pc 32 18 c 32 16 pc 30 18 c 32 17 c 36 18 c 27 12 c

Sun. Mon.

Tuesday HI LO W 29 14 c 33 22 c 30 17 c 26 16 c 23 16 sf 37 23 c 29 15 c 25 15 c 34 21 c 30 17 c 30 18 c 30 18 c 32 17 c 33 20 c 26 16 c

14°

Sun

Tue.

Wed. Thu.

The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. 0-2 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 6-7 High; 8-10 Very High; 11+ Extreme.

Sunday HI LO W 39 18 pc 49 27 pc 46 22 pc 33 18 c 32 18 sn 50 29 pc 43 21 pc 40 21 pc 50 30 pc 40 20 pc 46 25 pc 44 22 pc 44 21 pc 46 25 pc 37 16 c

28°

25°

NATIONAL FORECAST FOR THE WEEK TEMPERATURES

9°

Above Near Below Normal Normal Normal

IN THE SKY

™

The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature is an exclusive index of effective temperature based on eight weather factors. Shown are the highest and lowest values for each day.

REGIONAL CITIES

18°

Wednesday HI LO W 26 15 sn 34 19 sn 30 16 sn 25 14 sf 24 14 sn 37 19 sn 31 16 sn 25 15 sn 38 24 sn 29 16 sn 31 17 sn 30 15 sn 29 17 pc 33 18 sn 26 13 sn

Thursday HI LO W 25 12 c 32 15 s 29 11 s 23 14 sf 23 11 sf 33 14 s 29 15 pc 28 10 s 39 17 s 30 13 pc 30 12 pc 26 9 pc 31 15 pc 30 13 pc 23 11 sf

Rise 7:07 a.m. 7:05 a.m. 7:04 a.m. 7:02 a.m. 7:01 a.m. 6:59 a.m. 6:58 a.m. Rise none 1:00 a.m. 2:02 a.m. 3:01 a.m. 3:56 a.m. 4:45 a.m. 5:30 a.m.

Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Moon

Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

MOON PHASES

Set 6:02 p.m. 6:03 p.m. 6:04 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 6:06 p.m. 6:07 p.m. 6:09 p.m. Set 10:26 a.m. 11:12 a.m. 12:04 p.m. 1:03 p.m. 2:09 p.m. 3:20 p.m. 4:33 p.m.

Last

New

First

Full

2/22

3/1

3/8

3/16

February 21, 2014 PRECIPITATION

Above Near Below Normal Normal Normal

National Summary: A few snow showers will spread through the mid-Atlantic Saturday, but overall they will not accumulate. High pressure will dominate the central Plains, allowing for unseasonably cold air. Showers and thunderstorms will be scattered about Florida from a lingering cold front. On Sunday, high pressure will slide off to the east toward the Ohio Valley. A few rain or snow showers will be around the Northeast throughout the day. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to plague the Southeast while it remains dry in the Southwest. A weak disturbance will move through the Plains by Monday and spread light snow across the region. The rest of the nation will remain rather dry.

NATIONAL CITIES

Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday CITY HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W Atlanta 60 38 t 66 47 s 67 48 pc 63 43 pc 62 42 pc 56 36 s 54 38 pc Boston 48 35 r 51 35 pc 50 30 pc 37 20 pc 31 20 pc 31 25 sn 33 15 pc Chicago 36 22 pc 32 17 pc 29 14 pc 25 14 c 27 14 pc 24 6 pc 16 -5 pc Cincinnati 48 34 pc 56 32 c 47 22 pc 38 20 pc 37 22 c 37 22 s 36 16 sn Dallas 68 46 s 74 53 pc 71 39 pc 57 43 pc 62 42 c 51 41 c 57 30 c Denver 56 27 pc 52 22 c 45 23 c 56 25 c 42 22 c 48 24 s 45 15 sn Detroit 38 27 sf 34 21 pc 30 15 pc 25 14 c 28 15 c 26 12 pc 24 11 pc Houston 68 44 s 73 52 pc 74 56 pc 68 51 sh 68 48 sh 62 44 sh 62 47 c Indianapolis 44 32 s 47 27 c 41 18 pc 33 19 c 34 19 c 34 17 s 34 15 sn Kansas City 56 31 pc 44 24 pc 36 17 c 35 20 c 36 18 sn 37 19 s 33 14 sn Los Angeles 80 55 pc 77 54 s 75 55 pc 75 53 pc 73 54 pc 69 54 pc 69 50 pc Miami 81 73 t 82 73 t 84 72 pc 84 70 s 84 69 t 83 69 s 81 63 c Nashville 56 34 s 64 42 s 62 31 pc 50 28 pc 50 30 pc 46 30 s 49 30 pc New Orleans 65 48 s 69 61 pc 76 61 sh 70 54 pc 68 51 c 62 50 r 64 55 c New York City 54 38 r 53 39 pc 50 32 pc 40 26 pc 36 26 pc 34 24 sn 34 17 s Orlando 83 63 t 81 63 t 84 65 pc 82 62 s 81 61 c 78 58 t 73 61 c Phoenix 77 52 pc 78 54 pc 79 54 pc 79 55 s 80 56 pc 79 54 s 79 54 pc San Francisco 62 47 pc 64 46 s 62 46 s 63 46 pc 62 48 pc 60 50 c 60 49 c Seattle 45 33 c 44 35 sn 42 34 r 44 34 r 47 37 c 51 39 c 52 39 r Washington, DC 60 37 r 60 41 pc 60 37 pc 50 28 pc 42 30 c 45 30 sn 41 20 s Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow ﬂurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

Administration points out errors of report P

Stresses communication between PASSHE and APSCUF Continued from Page A-1

SRU president spoke out Catch something exciting happening against the financial report on campus? Want your Insta-photos to in the Council of Trustees meeting shortly after it was be featured in The Rocket? Just follow released. @SRURocket on Instagram and use “ I t r u l y t h i n k i t’s # in the caption for your important to state publicly chance to be featured here every week! that PASSHE and Slippery Rock University found that the report contained errors, some misinterpretations, and should not be construed as a financial audit of our institution,” Norton said. S R U I n t e r i m Vi c e President for Finance and Ad m i n i s t r a t i o n Mo l l y Mercer noticed specific problems that the report had. “I read the report and I have a number of concerns about it,” Mercer said. “The primary concerns I have boil down to two main points. The first was that the report was characterized as an audit, and it was not an audit. There was also a real lack of our budgeting process and that came through in statements and conclusions that were in the report that without having that understanding, were just inaccurate.” Another problem that Mercer had with the report was that she believed that there were statements in the APSCUF blog post that did not come from information Blotter.................A-3 Sports...................C-1 from the report. According to Mercer, Opinion...............B-1 Campus Life.............D-1 B oyer and Ritter only Comics...................B-4 used about 12 consistent

INDEX

documents that they could get consistently from each university, where an audit would follow generally accepted auditing standards meaning that the company doing the audit would have full access to all books, records, processes, and policies within an organization. “They didn’t have any of that, they were essentially reviewing a few documents without all of the context,” Mercer stated. “As a result, they were only able to draw certain conclusions because the only data that they had access to.” Mercer explained that over the course of last year, the university’s administration frequently met with SRU APSCUF members and shared over 80 reports in order to answer questions ab out SRU’s f i nanc i a l situation. Boyer and Ritter c o mp a re d t h e b u d g e t request document to the actual financial results of SRU in a given year, Mercer said. The budget request document is prepared 10 to 12 months before the fiscal year starts, and it is used as a tool to begin to project what circumstances look like. At the point in time where the budget request is written, administration has no idea how many students will be enrolled next year because they don’t usually have the numbers for the

Special education department launches 'ITHINK' program for elementary schools

By Haley Barnes 220 Eisenberg Building Rocket Contributor Slippery Rock University Dr. Jeremy Lynch of Slippery Rock Slippery Rock, PA University’s special education program developed a program called “ITHINK,” 16057 which he hopes to teach to practicing elementary teachers. “'ITHINK' is a problem solving framework students can use to help them organize their thinking and mathematical work while solving problems in groups,” Lynch said. Lynch said the name of the program is an 2012 Mark of Excellence First acronym where each letter stands for a step Place Winner in Region 4 from the Society of Professional in the process. He wants to teach "ITHINK" Journalists. to practicing elementary teachers, with the hopes of incorporating the process into the curriculum of elementary students on a daily basis. Students work through the process of identifying their initial reaction to the problem, identifying what the problem

Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu

current year’s enrollment at that point. “Given the timing where it is prepared, there will naturally be discrepancies,” Mercer said. “It would have been more meaningful if Boyer and Ritter would have taken our actual budget that the Counsel of Trustees approved and compared that to our actual results.” Although the Boyer and Ritter report was not an audit, Mercer explained that SRU is audited often. “ The university go es through an audit ever y single year,” Mercer said. “Our books are audited by an independent accounting f ir m and for decades we’ve had clean audits, no findings, we’ve had no management comments or recommendations to improve accounting practices.”' Mercer stated that SRU administration has taken the budgeting process seriously and have been working hard to prevent given that Pa. schools have received flat funding for the past two years and has been proposed for next year as well. Dr. Patrick Burkhart, President of the SRU chapter of APSCUF stated he had no comment because he had not heard of any criticism of the report. R e pre s e nt at ive s f rom B oyer and Ritter and APSCUF were not available for comment.

is asking, and identifying the methods that could possibly be used to solve the problem, Lynch said. From there, they pick the method they think will work, solve the problem, and justify their answer, Lynch said. Lynch said "ITHINK" encourages students to work in groups, talk about their thinking, and discuss why their answers make sense. “The correct answer is important, but that is not the only aspect of their answer,” Lynch said. Lynch believes that "ITHINK" will be beneficial to elementary students because it teaches students how to work through word problems together. “Students are able to hear others thinking while collaboratively solving a problem,” Lynch said. “They also further develop their communication skills. This framework also teaches students how to organize their thinking during problem solving.”

NEWS

February 21, 2014

A-3

POLICE BLOTTER Borough

Feb. 5 - Torr Keefer was charged with numerous traffic citations when police responded to a hit Feb. 1 - A car versus pedestrian crash occurred and run crash at the intersection of Franklin in the area of West Cooper Street and Midway Street and Grove City Road. A white Jeep SUV Alley. The driver fled the scene. Charges are struck a landscaping wall at the Slippery Rock Dry pending. Cleaners, damaging the landscaping and disabled the vehicle. Feb. 1 - Devin Wheeler was cited for an open container violation. Feb. 7 – Police responded to a hit and run at McDonald’s on South Main Street. The victim Feb. 2 - Benjamin Kelly and John Ambrose were stated that a red Dodge sedan backed into her car cited for an open container violation along Elm as they were exiting McDonald’s parking lot onto Street. South Main Street. Feb. 2 - Robert Desanzo was cited for underage Feb. 8 - Aimee Albright, Holly Auth, Tyreq consumption/possession and scattering rubbish Black, Andrew Bromt, Dominic Chutz, Eric along East Water Street. Connolly, Evan Connolly, June Corasso, Erin Devore, Madison Foust, Devon Goyak, Jeffrey Feb. 2 – Kolby Ripper was cited for criminal Hirth, Tyler Honaker, Nathaniel Kaib, Aora mischief after he punched and broke a window Kefer, Haley Knotts, Ellen Lalonde, Taylor Little, at Bob’s Subs then knocked over a trashcan on Nicole Longo, Kylie Luke, Lanie Luptack, Heather South Main Street. Maier, Angelo Mazza, Erin McDaniel, Melanie Mcelwaine, Jay McMahill, Logan McNamara,

ROCK NOTES To submit a Rock Note please send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to Jon Janasik at jtj9529@sru.edu or to rocket.news@sru.edu. The Rocket does not guarantee that all requests will be published in the paper.

Jenna Palaski, Kayla Sample, Grace Sartoris, Justice Seeker, Kevin Ubrey, Jenna Ulishney, Cassidy Vinson, Jason West, Coty Weston, Emily Zaborowski and one Juvenile were cited for disorderly house when police were displaced to a large, loud party and found the individuals drinking at 322 East Cooper Street. Feb. 8 - Brittany Camarda was cited for an open container violation along East Cooper Street. Campus Feb. 19 – Shane Beatty, 19, Ryan Colwell, 19, Kevin Jancsar, 19, Lauren Kizak, 18 and Charles Roberts, 19, were issued alcohol citations when police responded to a violation at Building B. Feb. 20 – Police responded to a panic alarm at the resident desk of North Hall. The alarm was tripped accidentally. Compiled by Kevin Squires

Ask the President

Planetarium Shows

If you have any questions for President Cheryl J. Norton, let The Rocket know on Facebook, Twitter, or by email. Emails can be sent to rocket. news@sru.edu. Submit on social media with #AskNorton.

Planetarium shows focusing on astronomy and scientific topics will be shown weekly on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. in Vincent Science Center Planetarium. There is no cost for admission.

Trumpet Recital Stephen Hawk, professor of music, marks his 25th and final year at SRU with a trumpet recital Friday night at Swope Music Hall. The SRU Faculty Jazz Septet. The SRU Alumni Trumpet Ensemble will be special guests.

Self Art Exhibit “Self: An International Juried Exhibit of Women’s Self-Portraiture" art exhibit continues through March 14 at the Martha Gault Art Gallery weekdays noon to 5 p.m. SRU students have access on Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 28.

2 Co-Op at Large Rock Apartment Senator

Ride the Happy Bus to stay out of the cold weather!

Senate February 24th 8:45pm Smith Student Center Theater Co-Op February 20th 12:30pm 322 Smith Student Center

Race to Anyplace The 4 Annual Race To Anyplace is a stationary bike race and an important fundraising event benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. On March 8 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., teams of up to 12 riders will race on spin stationary bikes. Prior to the race, each team must raise $500 ($42.50 per person). Each rider completes at least one 15 minute heat. Follow @LLS_Race_ WPA on Twitter, find Race to Any Place - Slippery Rock on Facebook, or go to wpa.LLSevent. org.

Gravity show times: Friday 4pm & 8pm Saturday 8pm Sunday 8pm

OPINION

Our View

OPINION rocket.letters@sru.edu Volume 96, Number 16

220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: Fax: E-mail:

(724) 738-4438 (724) 738-4896 rocket.letters@sru.edu

EDITORIAL BOARD Catie Clark

Editor-in-Chief

Jon Janasik

News Editor

Rebecca Marcucci

Campus Life Editor

Kristin Karam

Sports Editor

Alex Mowrey

Photo Editor

Todd Hart

Web/Social Media Editor

Mary Leach

Copy Editor

Kevin Squires

Assistant News Editor

Stephanie Cheek

Assist. Campus Life Editor

Matthew Morgan

Assistant Sports Editor

Rebecca Dietrich

Assistant Photo Editor

LaRae Ferguson Mark Zeltner

Multimedia Reporter Faculty Adviser

ADVERTISING STAFF Karleigh Santry

Advertising Manager

ABOUT US The Rocket is published by the students of Slippery Rock University every Friday during the academic semester with the exception of holidays, exam periods and vacations. Total weekly circulation is 3,000. No material appearing in The Rocket may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. The first copy of The Rocket is provided free of charge. Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents each. The Rocket receives approximately five percent of its funding from the SGA General Service fee paid each semester by students. All other income is provided through the sale of advertising. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling (724) 7382643 or by e-mailing rocket.ads@sru.edu.

CORRECTIONS If we make a substantial error, we want to correct it. If you believe an error has been made, call The Rocket newsroom at (724) 738-4438. If a correction is warranted it will be printed in the opinion section.

GRAPHIC BY REBECCA DIETRICH

Academic minor policy change beneficial to students, offers learning opportunities Recently the Pa. State System of Higher Education issued a requirement for all 14 member universities regarding academic minors and the overlapping of coursework. The current policy at SRU is that at least four credits have to be taken outside of major degree requirements to earn a minor. For example, a minor requiring 18 credits may include up to 14 credits from the student’s major. The statewide revision to that policy mandates that only six credits required for a given major can count towards a minor. So in the 18 credit minor program, 12 of those credits would have to be outside a student’s major. This current policy will be in effect until the summer of 2015 with the new one applying to all students graduating in the fall of 2015 and later, regardless of when they declared their minor or started their education at Slippery Rock University. While all this policy change may seem like mumbo-jumbo, it’s important for students to realize that they might not be able to graduate with their

current minor if there are too many overlapping courses. While it may seem disappointing to many students that their blow-off minor might not come to fruition, we think the policy is a good idea. The whole idea behind receiving an academic minor is to advance a skill set or broaden a knowledge base in some fashion, and by only taking one or two classes outside a major, nobody is helping or challenging themselves to learn anything new, really. Minors are a great opportunity for professional advancement. Students may need additional training for a career path that a minor can provide (e.g. accounting). They might also like to improve resume content by taking courses and receiving additional training employers are interested in. One may want to complement certain aspects of their academic training with a different subject that may provide both practical and theoretical knowledge. For example, a business management major minoring

in women’s studies to work in a non-profit that focuses on women’s issues. A minor may also be important for students considering graduate school. Top dogs in academia land look at a minor to see that a student has additional skills and interests, like having a Spanish minor and applying to law school, while also showing a bit about who the student is as a person. While your minor probably won’t make or break your application, it can serve as an additional piece of information to make a student stand out a bit from the rest of the academic crowd. While arguing for and against minors could go back and forth all day, the point is that under the current policy, SRU students’ hard work is almost for naught – it is work they would be doing anyway. With the new policy, students actually have to put time into scheduling other classes outside their major and taking a minor very seriously, which is something we can get behind.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions to The Rocket are available. Subscriptions are $20 per academic semester and $35 for the full academic year. Inquiries should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief at the address listed here.

EDITORIAL POLICY

In the Quad In the Quad is a segment in which random students, faculty and staff are asked for their opinions on a specific topic.

This week’s question: Do you think academic minors are valuable to students?

The Rocket strives to present a diverse range of opinions that are both fair and accurate in its editorials and columns appearing on the Opinion pages. “Our View” is the opinion of the Editorial Board and is written by Rocket editorial board members. It reflects the majority opinion of The Rocket Editorial Board. “Our View” does not necessarily reflect the views of Slippery Rock University, its employees or its student body. Columns and cartoons are drafted by various individuals and only reflect the opinions of the columnists.

LETTERS POLICY The Rocket welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee their publication. The Rocket retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Submitted material becomes the property of The Rocket and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affiliation, if any. Please limit letters to a maximum of 400 words. Submit all material by noon Wednesday to: The Rocket, 220 ECB, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057. Or send it via e-mail to: rocket.letters@sru.edu.

Latefah Bennett Senior CPAD Adapted Physical Activity Major Pittsburgh, Pa.

Ryan Hreckosiej Junior Public Relations Major Pittsburgh, Pa.

Rachel Turner Sophomore Dance Major Maryland

“No because at Slippery Rock I can take two classes and graduate with a minor. That’s not beneficial.“

“Yes, because it challenges you more and it forces you outside of your comfort zone.”

“Yes because it good to have something else under your belt.”

OPINION

February 21, 2014

B-2

QUESTION OF

Billy Killmeyer @TallGuyBill

THE WEEK

@SRURocket @SRUPB I would absolutely love to see Kendrick Lamar perform. He’d bring a killer energy along with a vibe that can’t be killed

The Rocket @SRURocket @SRUPB is announcing the the Spring Concert artist next week. Who would you like to see and why? Tweet us for a chance to be in the paper! #opinion

Brittany @BargerBritt @SRURocket @SRUPB Thomas Rhett!! Or any other country artists. Country shows are the best!

Olivia Danylko @OliviaDanylko @SRURocket @SRUPB Josh Turner will put on a great show! Country all the way!

Rob @40student

@SRURocket @SRUPB Steam Powered Giraffe http://steampoweredgiraffe.com/

@SRURocket Brian Deakin @bdeakin62

Need your voice to be heard? Want to be featured on The Rocket’s opinion pages? Tweet the @SRURocket and use #opinion for your chance to be featured weekly.

@SRURocket @SRUPB someone people will enjoy... not all time low.

Sexual Assault on College Campuses:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Let your Opinions be Heard

Casey Young Casey’s Corner, Consider This Casey Young is a sophomore Communication-Journalism major from Orchard Park, NY.

Back in January, the President launched the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault to address sexual assault on college campuses. The White House reports that one in five women are forced to have sex without their consent during their lifetime and one in five wom e n are s e x u a l ly assaulted at college. R e c e nt ly, Pre s i d e nt Obama said during his Weekly Address, the task force will work to help schools do a better job of preventing and responding to sexual assault crimes, the government will work to strengthen the criminal ju s t i c e s y s t e m , an d everyone should work to educate males and females about sexual assault. As a woman on a college campus, I am very aware of this epidemic. I am not immune to the stories of such atrocities and am happy the White House sees fit to introduce the new task force. Now, the task force is looking for college students’ help. Since its introduction, the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault has been holding virtual,

public listening sessions. It has asked us, college students, and many other groups to participate and add to the conversation. On the United States Department of Justice website, the OVW BLOG will host a session specifically for students and survivors on Feb. 25 from 5 to 6 p.m. This would be a great way for anyone on the Slippery Rock campus to get their opinions heard. There will also be an open forum session on Feb. 26 from 3 to 4 p.m. Ma ny t i m e s a s a undergraduate student I feel that I am at school to learn and am not able to let my opinions be heard. With an issue that is directly related to my age group, this opportunity is once in a lifetime. Those who choose to participate may help mold future p olic y and facilitate change. As a community, we need to break down the taboo and uncomfortable tension that surrounds the mere mention of sexual assault. College females are not the only people that can contribute to change. Anyone can help: college males, professors, law enforcement, parents, etc. Every person deserves to feel safe, especially on a college campus. With the new task force, there are steps being made to decrease sexual assaults on campuses and increase the safety of students. There are moments when a person has to decide whether to sit aside and let what is common continue or be brave and speak about what is uncomfortable. I hope you are brave.

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” section are those of the writer(s) alone. The Rocket cannot verify all facts presented in a given letter, but if we are aware of an error or omission, we reserve the right to include an editorial note for accuracy’s sake.

Remembering the 90’s way to cherish childhood memories Dear Anti-90’s Kid,

note – R.I.P. Uncle Backstreet B oys or Phil) and Boy Meets Blink 182 over the R e m e m b e r w h e n World. majority of what is out the biggest concern in today anyway. your life was dressing Granted they get to Oh yeah and did I up your Barbie doll to watch reruns but it’s mention that ‘ Trix’ the nines or trying to not the same. Those cereal actually used to get the limited-edition shows taught us lessons be fruit shaped and not holographic Pokemon about how to cherish just colored circles? card before your friend our friends, family and Ugh. did? those that support us. T h e on ly t h i ng s Yeah, me too. If you want to tell I really want to stay Now that we’re in me that the shows kids in the 90’s are jelly college, we have to be are watching today do sandals, scrunchies, concerned with student this as good or better, rat-tails and toe rings. loans, career goals and you’re lying through I don’t feel that we’re figuring out how to pay your teeth. abnormal for loving for alcohol. I’m going to be brief t he 9 0 ’s , t h i n k i ng For those of you that with the movies and others are missing out don’t drink, insert juice music part of this rant. or wanting to go back boxes or whatever you Disney’s latest hit to those simpler times spend your free time Frozen is a great movie, every now and again. consuming for the last but if you want to try My p are nt s t a l k one. and tell me that it’s about how their style of Last week, in an better than The Lion music, favorite movies opinion column by a King, I’m going to and shows were great fellow SRU student, we laugh at you until you too. Are they “oversized were told that if we’re uncomfortably walk toddlers”? No. “stuck in the 90’s” we away. So please let me essentially want to The Lion King was enjoy my childhood grow up as “oversized based on Shakespeare’s memories. toddlers”. Hamlet and that alone We are entitled to To be completely just blows my mind. our own opinions and honest, we all end Many people today in my opinion, I will up being oversized can’t read through a always love the 90’s and toddlers anyway. Once verse of Shakespeare I’m proud of it. we get old enough w i t h o u t getting we have to eat mushy confused and as kids food, some have to we were able to grasp Sincerely, wear diapers and it gets the general concept hard to walk. of one of his greatest That’s the depressing works. “Princess Consuela truth about life, in my T h a t ’s a f e a t Banana Hammock” opinion. t h a t d o e s n’t g e t It is a shame that accomplished all that kids growing up now often. P.S. If you don’t get the don’t get to grow As far as music is reference, you deserve up with shows like c on c e r n e d, I l ove to get “slimed” and are F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Fresh today’s music but I’ll a “blue barracuda”. Prince of Bel-Air (side take listening to the

February 21, 2014

B-3

classifieds For Rent

For Rent

2 BEDROOM APARTMENT - Close to campus/McKay for 2 renters; clean; large living area; Reserved parking spaces. $400/ month (each) Plus utilities. Not in large apt complex. 724-794-2200.

APARTMENT HOTLINE

For Rent APARTMENTS FOR RENT $250.00 per month per tenant. Newly remodeled, 2 and 3 bedroom units, washer and dryer included, walking distance to campus, one year lease starts June 1st. Call for more details (724) 496-3323

888-232-3304 Storage SLIPPERY ROCK STORAGE Close to campus. Special summer rates. 724-794-1020

Advertise with us! Email rocket.ads@sru.edu

COMICS

Horoscopes By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency (MCT) Today's Birthday (02/21/14). Areas that receive your golden energy flower this year. Focus it to priorities like the burst of creativity that engulfs you through August, propelling career to new heights, and your busy home life. Weed out distractions. Increase organizational structures to support balancing work and family. Build team partnership. Summer and autumn get especially romantic. Choose love and happiness.

Mr. Pasta Cat Please don‛t hurt me, sir. I did nothing wrong. I‛m just passing through.

Oh dear! Oh my! I do believe that is a spider!

By Jack Johnehsick

COMICS

I will never like you, but that does not mean that I need to kill you. What would that do for me? Give me a momentary feeling of power? No, I accept our differences. You may live.

Mr. Pasta Cat is a comic about moral ambiguity, and Italian cuisine based on the grossly successful Pasteh Kat series. Read the commentary for philosophical input from a real reader. Wait a second. Mr. Pasta Cat looks very similar to Pasteh Kat. I don‛t like this guy.

That spider‛s going to die.

What just happened?

I feel it.

Best in Show

By Phil Juliano

To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Develop a routine to make boring, repetitive work more fun. Don't travel just yet. If you must, allow plenty of extra time; there's no need to rush. Express appreciation for your partner, and grow your shared resources. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Take a bow after a solid performance. Meet with important partners. Accept a nice benefit. Share love, not money (a tricky subject today). Pay back a debt. Get the best deal you can when shopping. Listen carefully. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- A bonding moment transforms your relationship. Believe in a partner who believes in success. It's all about great service. Repay a favor. Provide comfort food. Get outside, and play. Exercise and fresh air revive your spirit.

Brewster Rockit: Space Guy

By Tim Rickard

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Increase efficiency at work. Use your experience and skills to go the extra mile. Postpone travel and long distance calls. Get lost in a creative project, adding beauty, art and communication. Expand the fun level. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Invest in real estate or your home. Discipline is required. Keep your opinions to yourself, unless asked. A fascinating conversation opens new doors, but there's plenty still hidden. Let documents simmer overnight. Maintain self-control. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Don't try a new trick yet. You need time to think. Stand up for your idea. Dig out some exotic facts. You impress an elder. Listen carefully to their view. Rest and reconnect with an old friend. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Exceed expectations with a stroke of genius. Artistic coolness and useful functionality could clash. Work from home and increase productivity. Friends help with discipline. Talk and shop, but don't buy yet. Keep asking interesting questions. Follow through. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Ask for a vacation day or get work done early, so you can go play. Talk about money another day. Postpone a shopping trip. Romance is sweet. Take the time to get it right. Relax and enjoy. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Apply your personal magic to dispel old fears. The truth has been revealed. Add an artistic touch. Watch what you say. Set long-range goals, and invest in them. Make sure you're getting the best quality. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Something doesn't compute. Investigate, for an amazing discovery. Improve working conditions. Stick to rules and regulations. Finish up old business, to make room for new. Friends, teammates and partners are your secret ingredient for success. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Provide facts and great service. Bargain for a sweet deal. Don't dip too far into savings. Re-assess your assets. Consider new options. Negotiate with an authority for a rise in status. Offer increased value. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Completion leads to opportunity. Put in a correction. Sign or send a document or application. Get an elder's advice. Call in reinforcements. Route some of your winnings to domestic improvements. Improve your living conditions. (c)2013 bY NANCY BLACK DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Bliss

By Harry Bliss

February 21, 2014

Come help The Grove cheer on

MEN ’S & WOMEN ’S BASKETBALL

WEDNESDAY, FEB 26 @ 6 & 8 PM

vs. Indiana University of PA Crimson Hawks

DON'T FORGET to buy your White Out shirt at the SGA bookstore for only $5!

145 HARMONY RD SLIPPERY ROCK, PA 16057 facebook.com/TheGroveSlipperyRock ||| @TheGroveSR

B-5

S SPORTS

INSIDE SPORTS

Baseball

Softball

Slippery Rock sets sights on regionals for the upcoming 2014 season.

Green and White picked to finish fifth in PSAC-West following 16-20 season in 2013.

See Page C-2

rock aims to white out iup

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET

Redshirt junior guard Antonio Butler leaps beside an Edinboro defender to complete a shot on Feb. 19. Butler ﬁnished with 17 points against the Fighting Scots.

Junior D'Asia Chambers takes an open jump shot between two Edinboro defenders on Feb. 19. Chambers ﬁnished with a game high 23 points and added eight rebounds.

Men's basketball Fighting Scots' high-tempo outlasts Edinboro offense knocks down Rock By Kristin Karam Sports Editor

Strategic substitutions and a fast-paced second half performance allowed the Slippery Rock men’s basketball team (18-8, 9-5 PSAC-West) to shut down Edinboro University (9-16, 2-13 PSACWest) 79-66 Wednesday night. The conference win kept SRU in the tournament’s fourth seed and moves them within one win of securing a home playoff game. The top-four seeds in the conference remained the same after Gannon University (1) defeated Clarion University (8) and Indiana University of Pa. (2) defeated Mercyhurst University (3) Wednesday night. Slippery Rock has the potential to improve their rankings with two conference games remaining in the regular season. “We just need to take care of our business,” head coach Kevin Reynolds said. “18-8 is pretty good but it’s not where we want to be. Seton Hill is good and we only beat them by one point last

time. It’s paramount that we win that game.” The Rock opened the game with a three-point shot from senior guard Josh Martin but the Fighting Scots took the lead for the remainder of the half. The score came within a single point after Martin made a free throw with 10:44 remaining. Edinboro took off on a 12-2 run to get their largest lead (11) of the half. SRU made a few key defensive rebounds and moved players around to bring the score within one point again with 3:11 remaining. Redshirt sophomore guard Maxx Rynd tightened the score to 34-35 with a three-point shot. Edinboro answered immediately with a three of their own from Jonny Marsh. The Fighting Scots held the lead 40-35 heading into the half. “They’re (Edinboro) more athletic than us,” Reynolds said. “They had good coaching moves and it took me longer to adjust. We had to put our best athletes on the court to match their players.” Reynold's relied on sophomore center SEE ROCK, PAGE C-3

By Matthew Morgan Assistant Sports Editor

The first and last place PSAC-West teams faced off at Morrow Field House Wednesday night, with the top team coming out with an 8264 victory. The Slippery Rock women’s basketball team (5-19, 2-12 PSAC-West) entered Wednesday night’s game against the Edinboro Fighting Scots (19-5, 13-1 PSACWest) sitting last in the PSAC-West. Their performance against the Fighting Scots reflected their record. “They (Edinboro) h av e a n at i o n a l

championship caliber team,” SRU head coach Tanya Longo said. “The better team won tonight. We can’t match up with them player to player.” SRU entered the game coming off their fifth win against the season coming against the Mercyhurst Lakers last Wednesday, 70-63. It looked like a different basketball team on the court last week. The Rock converted 45 percent (27 of 60) of their shots on Wednesday night for points with 23 percent (3 of 13) shooting efficiency from behind the arc for three. SRU shot 54 percent (7 of 13) from the free throw line, frequently missing essential first shots in one-and-one

situations, which would have awarded the team another attempt. No surprise that junior D’Asia Chambers, with a game high 23 points and eight rebounds, led SRU against the Fighting Scots. This was Chambers’ sixth game of the season with 23 or more points. “I feel like as a junior I gotta do what I have to for the team,” Chambers said. “I know they would do the same for me. No matter what’s going on I am going to play my hardest for them.” Chambers currently sits fourth overall in the PSAC in points per game with 17.3. S e n i o r Ja z m y n e frost contributed 14 SEE SLOW, PAGE C-3

SPORTS

C-2

February 21, 2014

Baseball picked to Softball set for season finish third in PSAC opening tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina By Ryan Barlow Rocket Contributor

Coming off a 3121 season (13-11 PSAC), Slippery Rock’s baseball, led by head coach Jeff Messer, was picked to finish third in the PSAC-Western D iv i s i on pre s e as on polls. Messer has been pushing his team to work hard during the offseason and has high expectations for the 2014 season. “Across the board, the conference is extremely competitive,” Messer said. “ There is not one breakaway team that will be considered dominate over everyone else. With our returning players and some of the others that we’ve picked up, we should definitely make a run for the conference finals.” The most notable of SRU’s returnees is shortstop and leadoff man Will Kengor, who earned several AllAmerican honors last season and has already been named a firstteam member National C ol l e g i ate B as eb a l l Writers Association Division II Preseason

All-America team for the 2014 season. He put up a .488 batting average last season, with 77 total hits, and 41 runs scored. Kengor has been named team co-captain, along with fellow senior and closing pitcher John Kovalik. B oth captains are excited for the season to begin and each have high expectations. “ Ta l e nt - w i s e t h i s is, hands down, the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Kovalik said. “We have a great group of guys. Everyone’s real close, and there are a lot of hard-workers.” “This team is very capable of making regionals,” Kengor said. “The team hasn’t made it that far since I’ve been here, so that is a big goal of ours.” The Rock will benefit from many returning players who play on the field from last season, such as junior infielder Jake Nogalo, senior outfielder Brandon Myers and senior outfielder Jake We i bl e y. SRU w i l l also be debuting two

transfers from Ashland University in Ohio, junior outfielder Adam Urbania and redshirt sophomore first baseman Kyle Vozar, this season. Although the Rock lost star pitcher Lou Trivino to the MLB draft (Oakland Athletics), Messer is thrilled to have the majority of his pitching staff return. “Jo h n A n d e r s on , Garret Peterson and Kyle Schneider are likely to be our top three starting pitchers,” Messer said. “Anton C onstantino, Geoff S an n e r, an d e v e n freshman Preston Falaschino will all be tr ying to prove their worth when we determine who our fourth regular starter will be, but each man is very capable.“ The Rock’s baseball season will begin on Feb. 22 with a four game, two-day series with Walsh University (Ohio). They will not have their first home series until they play Indiana University of Pa. in a double header on March 23.

By Brian Hepﬁnger Rocket Contributor

Coming off a 16-20 record in the 2013 season, the Slippery Rock University softball team was picked to finish fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division during preseason polls. “Just because we’re picked fifth, it doesn’t mean we’ll finish there,” head coach Rebecca Sciacca said. “It’s just lighting fuel to the fire and motivating our girls to work that much harder and prove to everyone that they placed us wrong.” Sciacca enters her third season with the Rock this year. She led the team to a 16-17 record her first year (2012). “My expectations for this year are that we are in the top three of our conference and make it to the playoffs,” Sciacca said. The Rock welcomes back 14 players from last season. Senior first baseman Breanna Tongel, who started 35 games last season, hit .275, and was in the top five in four different statistics for SRU, is looking to feed off of her success from last season. “My personal goals are always to do better than the previous season,” Tongel said. “As a senior, I need to be a leader on the field, and with a young team, it’s important to keep the team focused at all times.” Tongel echoed Sciacca’s thoughts and said making the conference playoffs is the team’s biggest goal

this season. “We have come so close in the past and just haven’t been able to pull it off,” Tongel said. “As a team, we need to focus on winning big games early in the season to eliminate putting that kind of pressure on us at the end of the season.” The Green and White will also look to lean on sophomore infielder Katie Kaiser, who, as a freshman last season, finished second on the team in batting average with .373, first in runs scored with 27, second in hits with 44, and third in RBI’s with 25. The top pitcher for Slippery Rock last season, senior Emily Lobdell, finished with a record of 6-6 and a 3.29 ERA in nine games. In her first game last season, she pitched a no-hitter against Bluefield State College. Sciacca said that the team will not look for any specific player to carry the team and the team goals will be a total team effort. “Everyone on the team has different responsibilities to get us to playoffs this year,” Sciacca said. “I’m looking to all 26 players to get us there.” The Rock will begin its season at the Shaw Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. on Feb. 21. They will face Winston-Salem State University, West Virginia State University, Alderson Broaddus University, Fairmont State University and Concord University during the weekend-long tournament.

Pittsburgh likely to struggle without Burnett in 2014

Steven Bartley "View from the Cheap Seats" Steven Bartley is a senior journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

The 2013 season was a magical one for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They made the playoffs for the first time since 1992, ending a 21-year drought. The team saw success at which seemed so far gone just a couple years ago. In my opinion, 2014 will have a different result. They are sitting on a boatload of money and are doing nothing with it. As the team begins Spr i ng Tr ai n i ng i n Bradenton, Fl., they are without 2013 starter A.J. Burnett, who signed a $15 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates let their top strikeout guy go for no good reason. In 2013, Burnett had his lowest ERA in ten years (3.30) and struck out 209 batters. There is no pitcher on their current lineup that can strike out people like he can. Fans are now upset at Burnett because of his “I’ll

be back with the Pittsburgh Pirates or retire” statement he made following the conclusion of “Buctober”. But can they really blame him? Let’s be honest, he had some rough outings last year, including several shaky performances in St. Louis that led Clint Hurdle to make the decision to start rookie Gerrit Cole over him in Game 5 against the Cardinals. Cole is the only pitcher in the lineup that seemed to have consistency in 2013. He is a guy that throws a 100 mph fastball and mixes up the off speed stuff really well. Although Francisco Liriano had an impressive season last year, he has had injury problems throughout his career. With Burnett around, Liriano didn’t have to be “the guy” all the time and I think that took some pressure off him. Fans have to wonder if he will have the same success this season, especially with him being named the opening day starter and ace of the rotation. There were times last year when many thought Wandy Rodriguez would never pitch again. He was having all kinds of problems with his pitching elbow. Now he is going to be looked at to pitch a significant number of innings as a starter. Jeff Locke absolutely fell off the face of the planet last year after the All-Star Break.

Charlie Morton is coming off Tommy John surgery and even though he was really good at the end of the year, some guys never fully recover after that type of surgery. The only real big free agent the Pirates brought in was Edinson Volquez. The Pirates signed him to $5 million contract. He went 9-12 with an ERA of 5.31. Volquez has consistency issues and is injury prone. I think the Pirates really screwed up by not signing Burnett. Pittsburgh could have some of their best pitchers coming out of the bullpen this year. Jason Grilli and Mark Melancon were one of the best closing duos in the league throughout 2013. Although each struggled at different points, they were dominant most of the year. The Pirates didn’t want to sign Burnett because they allegedly were going to spend money on a right fielder and a first baseman, which they did not do. Because they failed to complete these goals so far, Jose Tabata and Travis Snider will probably split the work in right field and Gaby Sanchez and Andrew Lambo will be at first. Lambo was primarily an outfielder for Pittsburgh last season, but has been getting reps in at the first base spot. After having a breakout season in 2013, the Pirates have a lot of work to do if they hope to achieve the same feat they did last year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

Former Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher A.J. Burnett sets up for a pitch during the 2013 season. Burnett recently signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies .

SPORTS

February 21, 2014

C-3

Rock holds onto fourth seed Slow start costs Green and White PSAC match up

Continued from Page C 1

Cornelius Brown to help intensify the team's play in the second half. “We had to get bigger,” Reynolds said. “We moved Cornelius in at five (center), Maurice to four (power forward) and Tabari to three (small forward). We also had Antonio, Josh and Maxx out there. It was a good group of six guys, they really guarded and came together.” Slippery Rock played a fast second half, scoring 44 points and holding Edinboro to 26 points. “I think it was our intensity that made a difference,” sophomore center Cornelius Brown said. “We were looking to get stops, the bench got into it and the crowd got back into it. That intensity pushed us to get back in it the second half.” Redshirt junior guard Antonio Butler and redshirt senior forward Tabari Perry each scored 17 points. Senior center Maurice Lewis-Briggs with 15 points and Martin with 10. “I know coming into a game that I’m here to play my role,” Brown said. “When coach calls my number, I just need to make sure I’m ready and use those minutes like I was able to do tonight.” Up until Wednesday night, Brown averaged five minutes per game. He played 20 minutes against Edinboro and scored eight points. “It’s not about looking

Continued from Page C 1

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET

Senior guard Josh Martin looks across the court to make a pass against Edinboro Wednesday night. Martin ﬁnished the game with 10 points and ﬁve rebounds.

forward to next game and wondering if I’m going to play more because I played good this game,” Brown said. “I just want to come in, play my role and help the team win.” Slippery Rock went on a 23-7 run to start the second half and took a lead that they would never give back. “We’ve been conditioning

the hell out of them because mental errors have been too much," Reynolds said. "That’s what hurt us in the first half but the second half was great.” SRU travels to Seton Hill University (15-9, 7-7) Saturday for a 3 p.m. game before closing out the regular season against IUP at home Wednesday night at 8 p.m.

points and six rebounds in the loss. Sophomore Erica Aiello scored 10 points for the Rock. The Fighting Scots shot 46 percent (34 of 74) from the field Wednesday night, only slightly superior to SRU. From behind the arc, Edinboro shot 21 percent (3 of 14) and from the free throw line, the ladies in red shot 79 percent (11 of 14). The Fighting Scots held an 18-7 advantage in points off turnovers and an upper hand in rebounding 48-32. The tempo Edinboro played at caught Slippery Rock off guard on defense. “We work on transition offense every day and we have really been focusing on rebounding,” Fighting Scots head coach Stanley Swank said. “If we can rebound, the rest of our game is pretty strong.” Edinboro saw four of their starters score at least 16 points Wednesday. Senior Darche’ Jackson tied the game high 23 point performance of Chambers and added five rebounds. Junior Laurel Lindsay tallied 18 points in the win and sophomore Lauren Hippo added 16 points. Sophomore Aignee Freeland scored 16 points and brought down 13 rebounds for her 11th double double of the season.

“We didn’t defend as we should have,” Chambers said. “That’s what it boils down to. You can’t give up 50 points in the first half. It was tough but we don’t like doing anything easy. We are a come from behind team.” SRU held the lead for the first two minutes of play, but after the Fighting Scots took an 8-6 lead, they never looked back. The Rock trailed 27-50 at the end of the first half. Edinboro was outscored by the Rock in the second half 32-37, but the second effort was far too little too late to give Slippery Rock a chance at making a comeback. “We changed our defense in the second half but with Edinboro it’s really about picking your poison,” coach Longo said. “They really are complete.” With only two games remaining in the season, SRU looks to end their season on a positive streak. The Ro ck travels to Greensburg, Pa. on Saturday to face off against the Griffins of Seton Hill University (12-12, 4-10) with tip-off at 1 p.m. The final game of the season comes Wednesday night at home against the Crimson Hawks of Indiana University of Pa. (16-8, 7-7 PSAC) with tip off at 6 p.m.

c-4

February 21, 2014

Top Left: Shane Whitacre, dressed as Uncle Sam, braces himself to go further into the freezing water. Top Right: Brady Grosch, Theta Xi President, runs through the icy water. Middle: Two event particpates take the plunge off the South Shore of Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park.

Slippery Rock alum, Dan Snyder, hands fellow alum, Chad Fette, a towel after his final plunge into the water. PR students, Courtney Moats and Micaela Famiglietti, get interviewed after their plunge.

Photos by: Rebecca Dietrich/Assisant Photo Editor Graphic by: Karleigh Santry/ Advertising Manager

INSIDE CAMPUS LIFE

Iconic Fashions Check out this week's Rock 'N Fashion where columnist Katie Ellis takes a look at fashion iconics that are still inspiring trends today.

CAMPUS LIFE

See Page D-2

Ask Andi Andi takes questions and offers advice about friends, relationships, and difficult questions that are hard to ask with a true alias. See Page D-2

Students take the plunge By Stephanie Cheek Assistant Campus Life Editor

Imagine standing in the cold in the middle of Moraine State Park preparing to make the leap, run, or walk into freezing water. This is exactly what six members of SRU Rock PRoductions, SRU’s on campus PR firm, did at this years Douse for a House: Polar Plunge. “This year I was the liaison between Slippery Rock’s Rock PRoduction and Sheree Cunningham, the executive director of Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity,” Lauren Jacobs, 21, a junior Public Relations major and secretary of Rock PRoductions, said. Douse for a House, according to Jacobs, is where volunteer either donate as an individual or as a team to Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity to take the plunge. On the day of the plunge all members and teams gather at Moraine State Park and prepare to run out as far as they can into the water. “This is my second year doing the plunge, and this year was freezing since their was snow on the ground,” Jacobs said. “It was so cold in the water that I didn’t realize that I lost my flip-flops.” While the majority of the plunge takes place outside, The National Guard supplies heated tents to help ease the cold that everyone experiences. Also food such as hot dogs are provided to ease any plunger’s hunger as well. All of these elements create an experience that Jacobs describes as like no other. Another student that got involved with the plunge was Courtney Moats, 22, a senior Public Relations major and President of Rock PRoductions. “Douse for a House is one of our clients and we as an organization are trying to get more involved in the community and this seemed like a good opportunity,” Moats said. As the President of the organization, Moats felt that she needed to get involved and be pushed as a person and a leader. “I can’t ask members to take the plunge if I weren’t willing to plunge also,” Moats said. Moats described that when she arrived at Moraine State Park everyone was breaking up the ice so that everyone can jump in. But the moment didn’t become surreal until they started playing the National Anthem and she felt like she was doing something good.

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET SRU alumni Dan Snyder stands with a towel waiting for friend and SRU alumni Chad Fette after he SEE STUDENTS, PAGE D-2 submerges from the frigid cold in Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park at the Polar Bear Plunge for charity.

Potter's Guild teaches Slippery Rock community the art of ceramics By Rebecca Marcucci Campus Life Editor

Down a dimly lit alley on SRU’s campus, secluded from the rest of the sights and sounds is a place where some art students go to escape it all. Few have ventured there alone. Some say there is a lot of pot… tery! While SRU’s Art Ceramics Building might not be among one of the campus’s prime locations, members of the SRU Potter’s Guild are tirelessly at work inside and they’re hoping to share their craft with the Slippery Rock population. Once you’ve entered the studio adjacent to Morrow Field House, a giant red octagon with ‘STOP’ written backwards lets you know you’ve arrived at the right place. It says ‘POTS’, and that’s only the beginning of what the potters are sculpting. “Come down to clay world!” Junior bachelor of fine arts major and public relations for the Potter’s Guild Paula Lockwood, 21, said eagerly with eyebrows raised and arms lifted. The coffee in her hand signified she was familiar with the long hours associated with working in the studio. “Every studio has a coffee pot,” she laughed. “We’re always making Sheetz runs because we’re here all night. We have a microwave too, which I guess we shouldn’t have because of the fumes or something, but we have it anyway! We eat here all the time and we’re still alive.” The group has become mentors for SRU students as well as faculty, staff, and community members. “Everyone is welcome to come and everything is

EMILY FORLOINES/THE ROCKET

Featured artist SRU Alumni Rachelle Scherer, demonstrated to students, faculty and community members how to properly form clay into ceramic creations.

free,” Lockwood said. The club’s budget allows them to provide the tools needed to sculpt free of charge for those looking to make their own pottery creations, Lockwood said. The club loves getting their hands dirty to help

someone learn, Lockwood said. “It can be frustrating to learn and it takes time,” SEE POTTER'S, PAGE D-3

CAMPUS LIFE

D-2

February 21, 2014

Retro designers still influencing today’s generation

Katie Ellis "ROCK'n Fashion" Katie Ellis is a junior journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

Women’s fashion would not be the phenomenon that it is without the influence of iconic designers of the past. These designers have helped to create the foundation for timeless pieces that women are still fond of today. Diane von Furstenberg, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Coco Chanel made dresses and jeans recognizable staples in the closets of women across the country, which are still regarded as important items in popular culture. Without their vision, the modern woman wouldn’t be nearly as welldressed without their contributions to fashion. Diane von Furstenberg’s fairytale career in fashion began after her engagement to Prince Egon of Furstenberg in 1970. After they were married, she wanted to have an identity aside from being a princess, so she honed her dressmaking skills with friend Angelo Ferretti, and left for New York City without looking back. Four years later, she created the wrap dress, which has since become one of the single most iconic pieces of clothing ever to be produced. The dress’s style is what sets it apart, with its simple slip-on silhouette and tie at the hip closure, that has made getting dressed in the morning easier for women for 40 years. DVF herself modeled the wrap dress on the cover of Newsweek in 1976 to celebrate the unprecedented success of her line, then in its second year of production. She experimented with colors and patterns, with the chain-link pattern becoming the most recognizable feature. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

This faux wrap dress is a modern-day inspiration of Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap dress from the '70s and Coco Chanel's 1920s creation of the traditional standby for many women today, the little black dress.

dress that changed fashion, an anniversary that has gotten a boost thanks to the wardrobe featured in the Oscar nominated film, American Hustle. Just a month ago, DVF and her famous friends gathered to celebrate the “Journey of a

Students "bear" the cold at Moraine Continued from Page D 1

Moats even volunteered to escort one of the many dogs, Brutus, into the water also. “I only went as deep as he would go, and me being five foot nine, the water only came to my waist,” Moats explained. Another favorite moment of the day that Moats explained was right before she ran into the water she and her team all linked arms. “It felt good, because they are all my friends and part of the same organizations, Rock

PRoduction,” Moats said. This year’s Douse for a House was a success for the organizations, but there is a lw ay s ro om for g rowt h, explained Jacobs. “We would love to get more students and organizations involved,” Jacobs said. In the end, taking the plunge always takes a lot of courage, but it is a unique experience. “It takes drive and definitely forces you out of your comfort zone,” Moats said.

Ask Andi Andi is a senior at SRU giving advice to those who seek it and occassionally to those who don't.

Question:

Answer:

Dear Andi, My boyfriend's best friend is a girl and she is very flirty with him when I am not around. I trust him, but not her. I'm not comfortable with them hanging out alone together, but I don't want to come across as jealous or a "crazy girlfriend". What should I do? -- Concerned Girlfriend

Dear Concerned, I understand why you feel the way you feel, however, you said yourself that you trust your boyfriend. As long as you feel that you can trust him, I don't think you have anything to worry about. If things change and you are no longer comfortable, I would have a blunt conversation with your boyfriend.

Dress” exhibition in Los Angeles, where guests gathered to commemorate DVF’s career, and toast to continued success in the industry. Another woman that got her start in the 1970’s was Gloria Vanderbilt, who became famous for her line of jeans. Women during that time couldn’t get enough of the slim-fitting jeans that hugged their curves and made them stand out in a sea of blue. Her jeans stood out because of the gold swan and her signature that were embellished onto their pockets. There was hardly a woman in America that wasn’t walking around in Vanderbilt’s highly coveted denim, a fad that lasted for many years. She paved the way for famous denim brands to take center stage, like the way Calvin Klein did in the 1980s, with the help of Brooke Shields. Believe it or not, Vanderbilt’s jeans are still in production almost 40 years later, as they are now sold in Kohl’s stores nationwide. The signature swan embroidery is still a prominent feature, which is something that the girls who grew up on Vanderbilt denim will now appreciate in adulthood. The little black dress is another timeless piece that is still popular today, and is one that can’t be mentioned without crediting Coco Chanel. Chanel is unarguably one of the greatest designers to have ever become part of the fashion industry, and her contributions to fashion have been making waves since 1926, whenever Vogue published a picture of the first little black dress. The iconic illustration showcased a simple long-sleeved dress with a knee-skimming hemline that was accessorized with pearls and black pumps. In 2014, the little black dress is still a wardrobe staple for all women and likely always will be, thanks to Chanel’s ingenuity and the willingness of American women at that time to try something new. While the original little black dress from 1926 may be a bit more conservative than women of today are used to, the modern woman has learned to embrace this timeless trend and transform it to suit their individual style. Without von Furstenberg, Vanderbilt, and Chanel, and their contributions to fashion, the industry wouldn’t be the thriving business that it is today. These women created clothing that has stood the test of time, and will continue to be popular decades into the future.

CAMPUS LIFE

February 21, 2014

D-3

Black Action Society and NAACP celebrate African American history during Black History Month By Janelle Wilson Rocket Contributor

Black History Month came to SRU under the theme “Remembering our History; Building Our Future” and was celebrated with a variety of educational events, including those hosted by the SRU chapters of the Black Action Society (BAS) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). SRU’s BAS chapter president, senior exercise science and philosophy major Donald Robinson, 22, has been actively involved in BAS since his sophomore year. He was inspired to evolve and change the club and was elected president his junior year. Robinson said it’s important for people to embrace and learn about all cultures. “We should celebrate Black History Month because it is American history and part of what made this country what it is,” Robinson said. SRU’s NAACP chapter president, junior social work major Raekelsha Moss, 21, emphasized that SRU should celebrate Black History Month because black history is everyone’s history, she said. “As a campus we should celebrate and learn more about the different histories and cultures that make up the population on SRU’s campus,” Moss said. “And that’s not limited to just ‘white’ or ‘black’ history.” Moss was first interested in becoming a member of NAACP during her freshman year, she said. “When I saw their passion and how the minority population came together, especially during the Trayvon Martin demonstration, I knew this organization was about educating, advocating, and taking a stand,” Moss said. Moss explained that coming from different backgrounds can be hard, but the group tries their best to come together. “The biggest struggle for black students at Slippery Rock is that most of them come from booming cities like Philly, Pittsburgh, or Erie,” Robinson said. “We make up less than five percent of the population here, and on top of that are thrown into an extremely rural area. It can be quite the culture shock.” Robinson said that celebrating Black History Month is important because most students aren’t involved in it before coming to the university. “Everyone knows the basics, like the issue of slavery and Martin Luther King Jr., but here they’re shown that there’s much more to it and you can celebrate your culture in so many ways,” she said. This year BAS introduced the events “Politics of Hair” and “Ready for Love: Open Mic Night.” Robinson’s said his favorite event was Politics of Hair. “The topic inspired great discussion and got everybody talking,” he said. At the event people talked about a revival of embracing natural hair in the black community and what caused this movement in the past few years. Robinson said “Ready for Love: Open Mic Night” was a huge success and that the event was extremely well planned out and put together. “We had a lot of talented artists, poets, and singers come, he said. “The turnout was great. Even if you aren’t black, you can still come and learn something. It’s for everybody.” Robinson explained there is a diversity among the crowds in attendance at events and discussion is involved. NAACP hosted “Open Your Mind” which focused on the “firsts” of the NAACP. This included things that the NAACP did to get black students into all white schools, including secondary education and graduate programs. They also hosted “Black? Fits the Description” and discussed famous instances of racial profiling and police brutality including those of Amadou Diallo, Emmett Till, and Rodney King. NAACP also had tables that focused on the importance of safe sex. Once someone signed the safe sex pledge, they received a free condom and information on becoming a member if they were interested. NAACP will also set up the table during common hour on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the student center. “We try to make sure that our events and programs are interesting and educational,” Moss said. “Our first meeting is Monday, February 24 at 5pm in room 323 of the Student Center. Make sure you stop by! Everyone is welcome!” Future events are listed on SRU’s website. Black History Month will conclude with the Ebony Ball, which will be held at 6pm February 27 in the Student Center theater. From Feb. 28 to March 2 students will also go on the Cultural Immersion Trip to New York City. Robinson said he was especially excited to visit Harlem.

1838-Frederick Douglass escaped slavery.

1849- Harriet Tubman escaped slavery 1850-Led slaves to freedom Edwin Nathaniel Harleston 1910-started the "Pittsburgh Courier". 1920- George Washington Carver attended The United peanut Associations of America and exhibited 145 peanut products.

Rosa Parks Deceember 1, 1955-refused to give up her seat, took a stand against segregation.

Martin Luther King Jr. 1963- delivered "I Have a Dream" speech.

1965- Malcolm X met with Martin Luther King Jr. to discuss the Civil Rights bill. Langston Hughes dies in 1967. He was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, columnist and created jazz poetry.

Maya Angelou 1969 wrote "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings".

Aretha Franklin in the early 1970s recorded her gospel album Amazing Grace which sold over 2 million copies. Oprah Winfrey 1983 moved to Chicago to start her television career. In 1986 she finally got her own show, "The Oprah Winfrey Show".

Potter's Guild welcomes artists Continued from Page D 1

Lockwood said. “But we’re not very serious. We want to have fun.” The club in collaboration with art studio classes contributes 500 ceramic bowls every year to the Empty Bowls event which raises money to feed the homeless. Sometimes bowls are left behind and donated to the charity, but anyone can take home what they make, Lockwood said. President of the Potter’s Guild for two years, senior bachelor of fine arts major Justin Steffler, 23, is proud of the work they do for the community and is hoping to start some new projects along the way. “We would love to have a student show,” Steffler said. “Students could make pots they want to sell and earn a commission from it. The other half of the money would go toward fundraising for the club. But that’s

just an idea for now.” The club is happy to work alongside visiting artists each semester that help teach the art of ceramics. “We have two visiting artists a semester,” Steffler said. “We also have a mini-mini mud, which is a one day artist that will come in and teach and we have a mini mud that will be here for two days, usually a weekend leading demonstrations. That’s usually more hands-on.” The wheels are always turning, Steffler said. The Potter’s Guild will be welcoming artist David McDonald on March 7 and 8 in addition to anyone looking to test their skills, or lack thereof every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Art Ceramics Building. “It looks scary from the outside, but it’s a lot of fun,” Steffler said.

Bill Cosby September 1984 he debuted the hit sitcom, "The Cosby Show".

Michael Jackson 1989 he was dubbed the "King of Pop" by Elizabeth Taylor when she presented him with the Soul Train Heritage Award.

President Barack Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States of America in 2009 becoming the first African American President. KARLEIGH SANTRY/THE ROCKET

February 21, 2014

D-4