Embracing the "V" With FMLA SRU Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) brings annual Vagina Monologues performance in celebration of feminism. Page D-1
Friday April 25, 2014 • Volume 97, Issue Number 23 • Slippery Rock University's Student Newspaper
the rocket
www.theonlinerocket.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
NEWS
Veterans Earn New Lounge President Norton thanks veterans by opening a new student lounge in the Smith Student Center. Page A-2
OPINION
Rocky Showdown Rocket Editors share their thoughts on which mascot is the best. Tweet us with #rockyshowdown to weigh in. Page B-1
SPORTS
Softball Splits With Salem The SRU softball team split a low-scoring doubleheader with Salem International Monday. Page C-2
CAMPUS LIFE
SRU Relay Fights Cancer SRU brings its annual Relay for Life event with prizes, games, and the hope to save lives. Page D-1
Baseball beats Golden Eagles The Slippery Rock baseball team swept Clarion for the second time this season on Monday. Page C-1
ROCK PRIDE? 90s Political movement leaves SRU hero's career in ruins By Jonathan Janasik News Editor
Rub the rock, say hello to everyone you pass, and sing the alma mater as loud as you can. These classic traditions are still embraced by the SRU community, other traditions have since fallen out of popularity. Perhaps most notably, the original Rocky mascot has disappeared without a trace. Throughout the '50s and '60s SRU sports teams were known as the Slippery Rock Rockets, Vice President of Student Affairs Bob Watson explained. For about 15 years, the Rockets were personified as a mascot known as Rocket Man. Eventually Rocket Man faded away. In the late '60s, Slippery Rock sports ditched the name “the Rockets” and replaced it with “the Rock.” SRU student Bob Jones asked his mother, Francesse Jones, to sew him a costume so that he could become a new mascot. She created large cotton round ball with mesh eyes, and a knit hat with the name ‘Rocky” on it. When Jones put on the costume, he would wear socks on his hands, and sneakers on his feet. Watson stated that people commonly referred to Rocky as being an old sweat
” sock. Rocky costume continued until basically retired. re Koveleski stated that SGA’s “He really ally the late '90s. That was when Kovelesk didn’t look ok then Vice President of Student original idea id was to replace like a rock,” ck,” Government Association, Rocky with wit a character from Brad Kovaleski helped lead the the movie “Galaxy Quest” who Watson said. aid. was a bold bolder that transformed search for new mascot. “The great eat into a person. “At the time there was no thing about it ut perso The costume was mascot on campus, He didn’t shot down because it would was that it was come to games,” have cost $$15,000. amorphous.. Its According to Koveleski, SGA’s Kovaleski character was Accordin backup plan said “So the lack of shape hape pl was to replace Rocky with a Weimaraner dog. although and character. ” ter. “I don’t know if it was my people Part of what t a l k e d idea [to replace the rock], made Rocky cky so about how or if it was exciting is that wa because I was an impressionable young 20 year much they nobody knew about ew impression ” Koveleski said. love this old at the time, him until hee began to t Watson objected to the idea mascot, I go to sporting events. ng of having a dog as the mascot had been “I don’t think n’t and suggested a lion. on campus students said ‘hey we id sugges At the time, for three need a mascot, cot,’” Watson tim the phrase ‘Rock years at this Pride’ was embraced by the explained. “He just kind Rock students and point and Slippery R of showed up. It was in sports teams. I had never the borderline between great, ine team “We kep kept talking about our once seen ridiculous, and pathetic, but it students as the pride of Slippery this supposed so much fun. ” n. ” Watson said. m a s c o t Rock University, Watson said Rocky showed Univ up at the right ght place at the right b e c a u s e “They had coined this phrase Pride’ and we referred time. Students nts embraced their it was ‘Rock Prid students as the pride of new mascot, t, partially because to the stud Rock. We then, in Jones portrayed ayed him so well. Slippery R conversations with students, “If you asked someone conversati visiting campus mpus what that is, focused of the term ‘pride’. A no one would uld have any idea,” pride is a ggroup or community Watson said. d. “Everybody on of lions.” was held, and campus knew new that it was An election elec Rocky the Rock.” Rocky the Lion was chosen. When Jones ones graduated “It was actually announced homecoming pep rally,” in 1983, the he Rocky costume at the hom stayed on campus and was PHOTO COURTESY OF SRU BAILEY LIBRARY ARCHIVES passed on to another student. SEE ROCKY, PAGE A-3 The tradition of passing the
SGA eliminates Co-Op Accident involving three cars By Kevin Squires Assistant News Editor
The Board of Cooperative Activities will no longer be a component of the Student Government Association after a passed motion Monday night. The motion changed the constitution allowing the Board of Co-Operative Activities to become integrated into the Financial Affairs Committee and gave the president of SGA and the vice president for financial affairs voting rights on the Board of Directors. While the motion passed, some senators did not feel comfortable making the decision. “I don’t think we should make this vote at all this year. I kind of think that it got over some people who really don’t care as much about it,” Senator Oliver Lanier said. “I don’t feel like we are informed about it where we are still asking basic questions. I just feel like people aren’t totally there in understanding exactly what this board is going to do. It’s past if you agree or disagree with it. It’s if you’re informed on what you’re voting on.” President Buddy Clements reminded Lanier that there were two open forums held discussing the changes. “We had more attendance at the first SEE ARGUMENT, PAGE A-2
sends a driver to the hospital
ALEX MOWERY/THE ROCKET
A car accident was caused by a black Ford Focus hatchback on Thursday afternoon when the driver of the Focus hit the front of a green Dodge Grand Caravan. According to a State Trooper on scene, the Focus was turning onto campus from Keister Road by South Rock Apartments. The Focus spun 180 degrees after hitting the Grand Caravan causing the Focus to strike a third car that was stopped at a stop sign. The driver of the Focus was sent to the hospital with minor injuries, while the other drivers were not harmed.