Fifty Shades of Grey Receives Mixed Reviews "The Film Buff" reviews 'Fifty Shades,' and highlights the audience's favorite moments, and those that fizzled in comparison to the Page D-2 book.
Friday February 27, 2015 • Volume 98, Issue Number 17 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper
www.theonlinerocket.com
Delays utilized only when necessary, E-team says
Two-Hour Delay & Cancellation of Evening Classes
Cancellation of Evening Classes
Two-Hour Delay
GRAPHIC BY KARLEIGH SANTRY/THE ROCKET
The daily low temperatures between Feb. 16 and Feb. 20 at Slippery Rock are depicted above with the wind chill factored in. During that week, the SRU E-team delayed classes twice and cancelled evening classes twice.
By Haley Barnes News Editor
The temperatures at Slippery Rock have been dropping below zero degrees resulting in two two-hour delays and two cancellations of evening classes for students and faculty. SRU students expressed mixed emotions through social media, such as Yik Yak and Twitter, about how delays and cancellations are handled at SRU. On Feb. 16, there was confusion among students on whether the university was on a two-hour delay schedule or not because there was a message left on the university emergency hotline saying for Feb. 18,
Active Minds Explains Body Image The organization invites a guest speaker and a panel to discuss body dysmorphia. Page D-3
the university was on a two hour delay schedule. “I can only apologize for that,” Rita Abent, Executive Director for SRU Public Relations and member of SRU’s emergency team (E-team) said. “There was an equipment error and it is being worked on by IT.” Abent said students shouldn’t rely on just the emergency hotline because notifications for delays and closings will always be sent via E2Campus text alerts, SRU email, featured on the university’s homepage, television and the radio. “When a decision is made, we communicate it immediately,” Abent added. “If you don’t hear from us, the university is running on a normal
schedule.” Abent also clarified that a low temperature does not automatically dictate a closing. “On the Thursday [Feb. 19] and Friday [Feb. 20] we had a delay, those were the result of the facilities staff not having the equipment to be able to insure that the campus would be cleared and safe by 8 a.m.,” Abent said. “While we did have severe temperatures this week, the campus was safe. We have an expectation that our students will dress appropriately for conditions.” SEE WHOLE, PAGE A-2
SGA votes to move forward with sand courts renovations By Amber Cannon Assistant News Editor
The Slipper y Rock Student Government Association voted to begin the process of renovating the sand tennis courts after discussing the initiative at their informal meeting Monday night. Matthew Hauze, senior physics major and a member of the club tennis, 22, spoke at the SGA meeting last Monday in regards to the rehabilitation of the sand tennis courts. Hauze said the first time the club tennis team brought the issue up was the fall of 2013. When the team tried to go to SGA the first time, it was shut down, Hauze said. Soon after, the president picked the issue back up and Hauze led the way. At the SGA meeting last Monday, Hauze spoke about an initiative the club tennis team discussed in the hopes that it would get granted. “We’re hoping that if the entire thing goes through that it would just be between $150,000 and $170,000 and that would be broken up between the three departments, athletics for the teams, education for the classes and then SGA because of the fact that the community and the club sports use them,” Hauze said. “However, Coach Meredith and I have discussed a way to make it a two-step process where we would only put the asphalt down and we would put our own lines down and we would deal with
taking the second part to finish it off at a later time. If we did that, we would only need about $100,000.” One of the reasons why the courts need renovated is because they serve as a safety hazard to students, Hauze said. He said there have been multiple floodings, especially over the past few years. Hauze said mold has started to grow on the courts and if you walk down the street and look at the edges, you can actually see it. Hauze said the courts being renovated would not only benefit the club tennis team, but the whole university as well. He also said at last week’s SGA meeting if the courts don’t get done, there might not be a club tennis team. “The courts right now are used every day. Usually we have to try and tell people that they can’t come to them, which is why we wanted more courts,” Hauze said. “The girl’s team and the community uses them all the time. Some of us are dedicated enough that we play six to seven hours per day if we have time after schoolwork. Every single time I go do there, there’s at least one group of people playing every time.” At their informal meeting on Monday, SGA voted on whether they were going to grant the tennis team the money for the courts or fail the motion.
North Hall To Be Updated Soon
Oscars Serve To Discuss Injustice
Rock Women Make Playoffs
SRU Maintenance and Residence Life staff discuss upcoming renovation plans. Page A-3
Read what students think about the Oscars from the speeches to the red carpet. Page B-2
The women's basketball team earns playoff berth for the first time since 2005-2006. Page C-1
SEE SENATE, PAGE A-3
'Spring Harvest's' Audience Decides The theatre department involves the audience in discussing consent in their new play. Page D-1