Week of Welcome Freshmen students are welcomed to SRU in a weekend long event to build lasting memories and friendships.
Page D-1
Friday, August 30, 2013 • Volume 97, Issue Number 1 • Slippery Rock University's Student Newspaper
the rocket
www.theonlinerocket.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Pep rally brings back a familiar face
Happy Bus evening
Hours eliminated Dr. Watson nationally recognized as the most famous person at Slippery Rock - Ever. Donates Billions. NEWS A-2
Universities spend Almost $1,000,000 Presidential searches are costing PASSHE universities more and more money. Where is it coming from? OPINION B-1
Best mascot In the PSAC Rocky the lion rises to the top in a head-to-head competition against mascots across Pa.
SPORTS C-1
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Slippery Rock University alumnus and Interim Vice President of Student Affairs and Dr. Robert J. Watson spoke about his everlasting pride for the University at the SRU Rock Pride pep rally. He previously served as Vice President of Student Life from 2000 to 2006.
Rock N Yogurt Here to stay Frozen yogurt varieties offer many taste combinations for students at the new eatery on Main Street.
Library renovation expected to be finished in September By Kevin Squires
CAMPUS LIFE D-1
Assistant News Editor
VMA Fashions Stars like Miley Cyrus showcase their talents and wardrobes for adoring fans while stirring up some scandal. Page D-2
This week, Bailey Library reopened its first floor, giving students an introduction to the new research services center. Once it is entirely finished in September, the first floor will feature serpentine seating areas, a new media center, eight new quick print stations, two enclosed research rooms, 70 new computer workstations,and four printers. The laptop rental area has also been relocated to the floor. These additions will contribute to all of the amenities already present in the library and technology learning center. The carpeting has been redone and the room’s bookshelves, periodicals and service desk have all been spatially reorganized. There will also be new accommodations made with the Americans for Disabilities Act in mind, including a more easily accessible quick print station and additional computer stations that will be wheel chair accessible. Lynn Hof f man, assistant professor of library and head of research services, described the new look as “contemporary but somewhat retro.” “It makes a really nice first impression for parents and perspective students…It’s much
Presidential search last fall cost over $117,000 By Jonathan Janasik
more appealing,” Hoffman e x p l ai n e d , “an d it m ore adequately describes what we do down there; we assist students in research.” The new space is aimed to improve access to laptops, centralize printing, and raise awareness of library resources. “The goal is really to improve opportunities for successful learning,” Hoffman stated. “When someone walks in they can be aware of the overall space of the facility they’re in,” Hoffman said looking into the 13,000 square foot room. “We lowered all the bookcases to open up the space.” he explained. Hoffman also pointed out the café style tables in the entrance to the space and conveniently located newspapers nearby. “It’s just so very different from what we had before.” Hoffman said with excitement. Students may have noticed the facility is still a work in progress. There are coming soon signs throughout the space and some computers are not yet set up. “Things aren’t quite completed yet. There’s a little more electrical work to be finished.” Hoffman explained, adding, “We’re looking for the finishing touches to be wrapped up in the coming weeks.” The
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review released an article in July revealing that Pa. universities have spent almost $1 million in presidential searches since 2010, with $117,744 of that total coming from SRU’s presidential search last fall. Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) media relations manager Kenn Marshall unable to confirm the exact amount of money that was spent, but he confirmed that the reported number sounds accurate. According to Marshall, the search process lasts from six to eight months, so that sum of money is spread out over a large period of time. The money is used in a variety of ways. For example, Marshall said that some money was used to hire a consulting company to help with the search and some of it went towards advertising the search in national publications. Some of the money was used for background checks on the candidates and additional funds paid for travel expenses to bring the finalists to campus and to meet with the Board of Governors in Harrisburg. Marshall said some of the money came from SRU and the rest came from PASSHE. Although there have been recent cuts in funding for education in Pa., Marshal did not believe that had much
SEE STUDENT, PAGE A-2
SEE SEARCHES, PAGE A-2
News Editor
NEWS
A-2 7-DAY FORECAST FOR SLIPPERY ROCK FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Partly sunny, warm and humid
Clouds and sun with a t-storm
A couple of thunderstorms
A couple of thunderstorms
Not as warm with some sun
Partly sunny
Mostly cloudy
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84°
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65°
REAL FEAL TEMPERATURE
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CITY Akron Allentown Altoona Cleveland Erie Harrisburg Indiana Johnstown Philadelphia Pittsburgh Scranton State College Wheeling Williamsport Youngstown
Friday HI LO W 86 69 pc 85 63 pc 84 63 pc 86 70 pc 84 71 pc 84 67 pc 84 65 pc 82 65 pc 86 70 pc 87 68 pc 82 64 pc 84 64 pc 86 67 pc 85 65 pc 84 66 pc
Wed. Thu.
Saturday HI LO W 86 69 t 87 65 t 84 65 t 86 70 t 85 71 t 85 69 t 84 66 t 81 65 t 88 72 pc 86 69 t 83 67 t 84 65 t 85 68 t 85 66 t 85 67 t
80°
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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.
Monday HI LO W 81 61 t 85 66 t 83 62 t 80 63 t 81 64 t 87 66 t 81 61 t 78 58 t 86 70 t 83 63 t 84 64 t 82 62 t 81 61 t 84 64 t 81 61 t
Tuesday HI LO W 72 54 pc 79 58 pc 73 54 pc 73 59 pc 72 60 pc 80 59 pc 72 54 pc 70 52 pc 84 64 pc 75 54 pc 78 56 pc 75 55 pc 72 55 pc 79 56 pc 71 52 pc
Wednesday HI LO W 77 56 pc 77 54 s 75 54 pc 76 58 pc 76 59 pc 79 60 s 75 55 pc 71 54 pc 79 60 s 77 56 pc 76 56 pc 75 55 pc 76 56 pc 78 57 pc 74 55 pc
Thursday HI LO W 77 53 pc 78 59 pc 76 48 pc 77 48 pc 74 49 pc 79 48 r 75 55 r 71 48 r 83 53 pc 76 50 pc 78 48 r 74 46 pc 76 52 s 77 49 pc 75 49 pc
ROCK NOTES Registration Assistance
The Office of Academic Records and Summer School, 107 Old Main, will be open until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28, and Thursday and September 5 to assist students with registrations and dropping and adding classes for fall 2013.
National College Colors Day
Slippery Rock University is partnering the NCAA to encourage current and future students, alumni, faculty, staff, and fans to wear green and white to represent SRU.
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.
INDEX Rock Notes...............A-2 Comics................B-7 Blotter.................A-3 Sports...................C-1 Opinion...............B-1 Campus Life.............D-1
CONTACT US 220 Eisenberg Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057
2012 Mark of Excellence First Place Winner in Region 12 from the Society of Professional Journalists.
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IN THE SKY
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Sunday HI LO W 85 69 t 85 66 pc 83 65 t 85 69 t 84 70 t 86 69 pc 85 66 t 81 65 t 86 72 pc 86 69 t 84 67 t 84 65 t 87 68 t 86 66 pc 84 67 t
Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu
52°
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UV INDEX
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
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84° ®
Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Moon
Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Rise 6:45 a.m. 6:46 a.m. 6:47 a.m. 6:48 a.m. 6:49 a.m. 6:50 a.m. 6:51 a.m. Rise 1:20 a.m. 2:12 a.m. 3:06 a.m. 4:03 a.m. 5:01 a.m. 6:01 a.m. 7:01 a.m.
MOON PHASES
Set 7:56 p.m. 7:54 p.m. 7:53 p.m. 7:51 p.m. 7:50 p.m. 7:48 p.m. 7:46 p.m. Set 4:12 p.m. 4:53 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:04 p.m. 6:36 p.m. 7:06 p.m. 7:36 p.m.
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Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2013
August 30, 2013 NATIONAL FORECAST FOR THE WEEK TEMPERATURES
Above Near Below Normal Normal Normal
PRECIPITATION
Above Near Below Normal Normal Normal
National Summary: Showers and thunderstorms will pop up anywhere from Georgia to Michigan Saturday as moisture streams northward. A spotty shower or thunderstorm will also be around New England. It will be dry across much of the Plains, with a few showers or a thunderstorm in the Southwest. A shower or thunderstorm will occur in many places east of the Mississippi Sunday, but will be most numerous across New York and western Pennsylvania. For Labor Day, there will be more showers and thunderstorms across the Northeast as a front sweeps into the region. Places from Detroit to Louisville will dry out as the day progresses. The Plains will be dry while the Rockies will get a spotty thunderstorm.
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 88 73 t 88 74 t 86 72 t 90 72 t 86 67 pc 86 69 s 86 67 s Boston 79 67 pc 83 69 t 83 70 c 82 70 t 81 65 sh 78 62 s 74 50 pc Chicago 90 73 t 87 68 pc 88 66 t 78 61 s 76 58 s 78 61 s 79 59 s Cincinnati 90 71 pc 90 71 t 90 71 pc 85 62 t 78 57 s 81 60 s 83 57 s Dallas 104 80 s 103 79 pc 101 78 s 99 75 s 100 75 s 97 75 s 97 72 s Denver 96 65 pc 93 59 t 85 59 s 89 61 pc 91 63 pc 91 61 s 91 59 c Detroit 88 71 pc 86 69 t 86 69 t 79 59 pc 74 57 s 77 59 s 78 49 s Houston 97 75 s 97 75 s 97 75 s 97 77 pc 97 77 pc 94 75 pc 94 72 s Indianapolis 90 73 pc 90 72 t 90 70 pc 84 61 t 77 58 s 80 61 s 81 53 s Kansas City 98 73 pc 98 74 s 92 66 pc 84 60 s 84 62 s 86 64 s 84 60 s Los Angeles 89 70 pc 87 66 s 83 65 pc 83 66 pc 85 66 pc 84 67 s 84 72 s Miami 90 78 pc 91 79 t 91 80 t 90 78 pc 92 78 t 90 79 pc 90 75 t Nashville 94 74 s 92 73 t 91 73 pc 89 66 t 83 64 s 85 66 s 88 60 s New Orleans 92 75 s 92 75 pc 90 75 pc 91 75 pc 91 75 pc 91 76 pc 90 77 pc New York City 83 70 pc 86 72 pc 85 71 pc 84 69 t 83 64 sh 78 62 s 81 53 pc Orlando 92 76 t 91 75 t 92 74 t 92 74 pc 93 73 t 94 73 t 93 70 t Phoenix 94 85 t 101 85 t 102 82 pc 102 85 s 104 83 pc 105 86 s 109 82 s San Francisco 74 58 pc 70 57 pc 70 59 pc 72 59 pc 72 57 pc 70 55 pc 73 61 s Seattle 73 56 c 80 57 pc 81 58 pc 75 57 pc 73 54 pc 71 55 pc 73 52 s Washington, DC 84 72 pc 88 73 pc 88 74 pc 91 69 t 84 66 pc 83 66 s 82 56 pc Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
Residence life strives for more comfortable dorm living spaces By Kevin Squires Assistant News Editor
Students living on campus were welcomed back with more than just the Weekend of Welcome team. Residence Life has introduced a new wireless internet system, digital cable, digital energy displays, and new laundry systems. Kevin Currie, Director Residence Life, described the many new features added into the on campus living, emphasizing just how important the new wireless internet is to students. “Anyone who’s lived in the residence halls prior to this year knows that bandwidth was an issue, especially at night,” Currie stated about the new wireless system, MyResNet. MyResNet allows students to connect up to five separate devices (computer, laptop, cell phone, tablet, gaming station, etc.) with 10 mb/s of bandwidth for each device at no additional out of pocket cost. Apogee, the company that runs MyResNet, is also responsible for bringing digital cable services to the University. “It was not until literally the week before classes started that we found out it was a true digital signal and that you needed to have one of these newer TVs, 2007 or newer, to receive that digital signal.” Currie explained.
One convenience with the new provider is the support service. Currie explained, “It [support] is twenty-four-seven, 365 and a live person in the United States. You’re actually talking to someone in Austin, Texas that will talk you through the whole thing…you can call them anytime, any day.” Additionally, the bandwidth associated with a student’s account will follow them across campus. “If you’re on campus and you’re on your phone and you have the option to connect to ResNet, you should do it because you’re going to have better, faster service.” Currie said. Only residence hall students and those living in the R.O.C.K. Apartments can access MyResNet. Another addition to the residence halls this summer were digital dashboard displays. The energy efficient displays show energy, water, and gas usage among a variety of other data and information such as the weather. The project has been in the works for two to three years and has been an effort of Scott Albert, director of facilities, and Residence Life. “We can see how much energy we’re using right at this moment compared to other buildings. How much we used this week, this month, this year, this week compared to that week last year.”
Currie explained, adding “You have live, instant information. You can know right that minute.” He noticed that Watson Hall was much higher for energy usage which residence life plans to examine more closely. However, the aim is for students to understand the impact their actions have. Residence Life plans to host friendly competition between buildings such as which building can decrease their energy usage the most over one week in an effort “have some fun with it and raise awareness about energy usage.” Currie said. Caldwell & Gregor y Commerical L aundr y Professionals is the new laundry service provider for the University. The new washing and drying units accept coins as well as credit and debit cards. The laundry facilities at Slippery Rock University previously accepted Rock Dollars before discontinuing the service three years ago. “The cost to keep that program going was more than what was being used,” Currie explained, elaborating that “after talking with students the big thing that they wanted was to use coin and any credit or debit card with the machines.” Within a month, QR codes will allow students to report laundry issues right from their phones.
Searches for vice presidents Student feedback used not as costly as for presidents to improve SRU library Continued from Page A-1
Continued from Page A-1
of an effect on the budget of the search. “Universities need presidents,” Marshal stated. “If there is an opening, it is important to be thorough and exhaustive in order to attract the best candidates in order to get the best possible president for the university. Presidential searches are very important to the university.” Marshall justified the cost by explaining that this is not an annual cost. “Hopefully when a president comes in he or she will stay for a number of years,” Marshall said. “It’s not an expense the university has to put out that often. Most of our presidents stay five to ten years, some stay even longer.” Both the Vice President for Student Life, Dr. Constance Foley and the Vice President for Finance and Administration, Dr. Charles Curry, recently resigned from their positions, which means that two Vice Presidential searches will take place within this school year. “Vice presidential searches are not nearly as costly as presidential searches,” Marshal explained. “Usually vice president searches don’t involve bringing candidates in to speak at public forums. There just isn’t as much involved in a vice presidential search as there is in a presidential search.”
electrical use is limiting the number of computers that can be running for the time being. Kelly Fladden, 21, and a senior education major says she’s probably at the library every day. Not a stranger to the library, Fladden felt the new technology would help solve some issues previously experienced by students in the library. “It seems to be very helpful because everyone was always looking for new computers;” she explained. “it looks like there’s going to be a lot more printing which is good because there was always a line before class.” “It’s definitely a lot more spaced out,” she pointed out, “and it’s definitely more welcoming. It looks more like a college friendly environment.” The renovations to the library were partially based on feedback from students last year from a LibQual survey which a few thousand students participated in. A dedication is planned for the end of September once the work is completed.
NEWS
August 30, 2013
A-3
POLICE BLOTTER Borough July 22 - A hit and run took place at Sheetz when an unknown older female driving a gold, four door, Ford Focus backed into an occupied vehicle and drove away. No plate number was obtained. July 26 – Kristopher Addison Williams was arrested for disorderly conduct when an officer witnessed Williams strike another male in the back of his head at Ginger Hill Tavern. Aug. 7 - Travis Lee Mateleska was arrested for criminal mischief after witnesses watched him rip a passenger mirror off of a beige jeep parked in Ginger Hill Tavern’s parking lot. Aug. 9 - Two parked vehicles along South Main Street had their mirrors damaged by a passing tractor trailer.
Aug. 11 - Isaiah Billek Sawhney was cited for Disorderly House after being dispatched to his residence for a loud noise complaint. Aug. 12 - Center United Presbyterian Church reported that sometime between Aug. 10 and Aug. 11 someone stole a six foot by four foot lighted sign the church left outside to post messages on. Aug. 12 - The landlord of 522 South Main Street reported that sometime between Aug. 1 and Aug. 11 the Tri-County trash receptacle was stolen from his house. Aug. 20 - A customer of Giant Eagle reported to this department that she accidentally left an envelope of money laying at the bagging area and walked out of the store. She returned almost immediately and found it was gone. Police were able to contact the person that picked it up and the money was returned.
Aug. 20 - Giant Eagle reported a customer had taken a large amount of baked chicken from the store and failed to come back and pay for it. Contact was made with the customer and the chicken was paid for. August 23 - Christian Ricketts, Samuel Fogel and Ryan Vojtash were cited for Disorderly House for the excessive noise when police responded to a noise complaint on Grove City Road. Upon arrival, officers observed approximately 20 people being loud and playing loud music. The party was cleared. August 24 - A customer at Sheetz reported that her iPhone had gone missing after she was in the store on Aug. 23, set her iPhone on the counter by the register, and walked out of the store. August 24 - A resident of Center Street reported that overnight his bicycle had been forcibly from the bike rack finding
the back wheel bent to the point that it was inoperable. Campus Aug. 24 – Joseph Rebel, 19, and Ryan Teorsky, 19, were both issued underage citations after attempting to steal a sign while intoxicated at West Lake Lot. Joseph Rebel was also issued a citation for disorderly conduct. Aug. 26 – Jerrit Young, 20, was cited for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia when campus police responded to a report of drug violation in Building F. Aug. 27 – There was a reported theft of books at North Hall. The case is under investigation. Aug. 27 – There was a reported theft of monies at Old Stone House. The case is under investigation. Compiled by Kevin Squires
SGA announces reduced Happy Bus hours, still up for discussion By Kevin Squires Assistant News Editor
The evening route for the Happy Bus has been discontinued this semester, announced Vice President of Campus Outreach Anthony Plumberg, at the Student Government Association meeting Monday. Plumberg stated that this decision was made due to a lack of funds to support the route and that it is a trial run which is open for discussion from students. Any concerns or questions should be taken to a member of the Student Government Association. Plumberg also explained that this week’s free movie will be “The Great Gatsby,” not “Iron Man 3” as listed in some information outlets given to students. Dr. Robert J. Watson was presented with an official proclamation welcoming him back to Slippery Rock University as the interim Vice President of Student Affairs at the meeting.
Watson told the Senate he was both surprised and a bit embarrassed by the proclamation. “It means a great deal to me so thank you very much for that.” Watson said. He spoke of his excitement to work with the Senate in the upcoming year, stating that they “are the right student leaders at the right time at this university.” Patrick Burkhart, president of the SRU chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) spoke to the Senate regarding Slippery Rock University’s financial future and the fear of retrenchment. In other news, a motion was carried to hire Wendy Leitera as the new Slippery Rock Student Government Association Business Manager starting September 9 after what Student Government Association President Rodgers "Buddy" Clements described as a “rigorous procedure” culminating with an interview that took place this summer. She was unanimously selected by a search committee.
“I was at the point in my career where I wanted to take a leap and try something different," Leitera said, "and this couldn’t be more perfect for me.” She appreciated the opportunity from the Senate commenting, “I really thank you all for accepting me here and giving me the chance to come in and do some good things…I really look forward to getting to be a part of this group and getting to do some good things here.” She was presented with a shirt to welcome her to Slippery Rock. Watson, Building F, and four freshmen Senate spots are vacant. Applications can be obtained in the Student Government Association office in the Student Development Suite of the Robert M. Smith Student Center or online at http:// www.srusga.com. The meeting adjourned at 9:47 p.m. The next meeting will take place Monday, September 29 at 8:45 p.m. in the theater of the Robert M. Smith Student Center.
O
Our View
OPINION
rocket.letters@sru.edu
Volume 96, Number 1 220 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
Madeline Williams
Sports Editor
Alex Mowrey
Photo Editor
Todd Hart
Web/Social Media Editor
Mary Leach
Copy Editor
Kevin Squires
Assistant News Editor
Stephanie Cheek
Assistant Campus Life Editor
Kristin Karam
Assistant Sports Editor
Alyssa Cirincione 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.
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.
GRAPHIC BY ALEX MOWREY
University spent $117,744 on Presidential Search Searching for presidents of Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities costs a pretty penny. Slippery Rock is no exception to this rule. According to Debra Erdley, a Trib Total Media staff writer, records show eight universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education spent a total of $1 million — averaging more than $120,000 — on searches to fill presidential vacancies since 2010. Erdley stated that search costs that ranged from $143,700 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania to $97,700 at Millersville University of Pennsylvania included bills for executive search consultants, travel, catering, advertising and background checks for candidates. Though consulting fees make up the biggest part of the bills, a breakdown of costs for the searches showed travel for consultants, trustees and job candidates, some of whom live as far away as Alaska, came in second in most cases. Erdley said at Indiana, bills for travel, food and room rentals totaled
$46,789. At Edinboro, travel costs were $48,715 Erdley interviewed John Hicks, a retired Slippery Rock University professor, who was a member of the search committee whose work led to the appointment of Cheryl Norton as Slippery Rock president last year. According to Erdley, Hicks was taken aback when he learned how much the searches cost — Slippery Rock’s totaled $117,744. Yet Hicks said the work is intensive, “and every bit of information you can get is valuable.” “I suppose if you didn’t spend the money and didn’t get a good president, you’d think it would be well worthwhile. We ended up with five good candidates we felt we could live with,” Hicks said to Erdley, adding that Norton has proven to be a thoughtful, self-confident leader. But why does the search to fill a single position cost so much? A survey by the American Council on Education suggests college presidents moved through executive offices more frequently in recent
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.
EDITORIAL POLICY
years. The survey of 1,662 colleges and universities found the average tenure of college presidents declined from 8.5 years in 2006 to 7 years in 2011. And it’s not just the state universities that pay six-figure search fees. According to the survey by the American Council on Education, At least four major research institutions — the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, Ohio State University and the University of Michigan — are seeking chief executives. The survey reported that the search costs could run even higher at research schools. Though Pitt, Penn State and Ohio State haven’t released dollar amounts, the University of Michigan recently adopted a $350,000 budget for its search. In light of budget cuts, where are universities finding the money to pay for these searches? Is it money that is being taken away from the students? Or does Slippery Rock have a special budgetary fund for such searches? That’s a mystery that has yet to come to light.
This week’s question: The University spent $117,000 on the presidential search for Dr. Norton even while we have been talking about budget cuts. How do you feel about that?
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.
John Jackson Senior Communication Majorr Hometown: Philidelphia, Pa. “They must have spent quality money to get a quality candidate. I’m not mad that they did that.”
Taylor Saulsbery Freshman Therapeutic Rec Major Hometown: Hartstown, Pa. “I think that’s really bad. Why pay that much money when it’s taking things away that we need here, like faculty.”
Jaymee Merchant Freshman Psychology Major Hometown: Moon Township, Pa. “It doesn’t make sense. I just really don’t understand why they spent so much money on that when budget cuts are serious.”
August 30, 2013
Miley Cyrus a ‘hot mess’ at the VMA’s
LaRae Ferguson Commentary LaRae is a junior emerging technology major from Pittsburgh, Pa. She also does PR for Sister to Sister, an oncampus female empowerment organization.
On Sunday August 25, 2013 VH1 premiered their annual Video Music Awards. At the beginning of the awards Miley Cyrus made an attention grabbing entrance. Her attire on the red carpet was a “hot mess” as most would say. She wore a black crop top and high waist leggings that looked as if they were bejeweled by a five-year-old. Her hair resembled something of a child’s work as well. Miley’s performance at the VMAs was extremely over the top and inappropriate. I understand that she is trying to break away from her child star image, but I believe there are more appropriate ways to do it. Not only did she look raunchy, but she was also gyrating (twerking) on a man old enough to be her father. The performance was so far-fetched that some people questioned whether or not she was on drugs during the show. Miley has child fans and needs to find a classier way to transition her career from child star to an adult artist.
Fitness Trends,
I Can’t Olive Reid “I Can’t” Olive Reid is a senior at Slippery Rock.
Whilst viewing my Twitter feed or skimming through my Facebook newsfeed, I just want to see funny jokes, embarrassing pictures, and the poor life choices of my peers. Unfortunately, this has been made nearly impossible due to the surge in fitness fanatics clogging up my newsfeed with pictures of their healthy dinners, fitspirations, post workout bodies, and statues about going to the gym/ Zumba class/ on a run. Enough is enough. Nobody cares about how much you can lift or how far you run or what weird concoction you claim is a delicious smoothie (no one is buying it, people who say kale tastes amazing). Saying you’d rather sweat now than be covered up at the beach just makes you sound self conscious. And saying that people are just jealous of your motivation makes you sound pretentious and egotistical, and that’s way worse. Working out is great! The more you do it, the more cookies you can eat, it’s science. But like everything else in life, balance it out. Also, it’s a little know fact that if you workout/ ‘eat clean’ (what does that even mean?), and don’t plaster it all over social media, it still counts. I enjoy watching TV, but I don’t announce every time I change the channel or finish a pizza. Just be happy with yourself the way you are, and more importantly, keep it to yourself.
OPINION
B-2
Starting Freshman year the right way
Jon Janasik Commentary Jon Janasik is a senior professional writing major and the News Editor of The Rocket.
Every school year begins with a large amount of online articles published about what freshmen should do to make their first year of school a successful one. When I was a freshman, I didn’t read any of them because I thought that I was too cool to take advice from anybody. But looking back on these last three years of studying at Slippery Rock, I’ve realized that I’ve made plenty of mistakes. The more I’ve thought about it, the more it all goes back to one character flaw that I’ve carried with me throughout my college career. So I’m going to tell you a quick story and then give you a single piece of advice. To begin, let me tell you an embarrassing fact about myself. When I first came to Slippery Rock, I was a virgin. Not in the traditional Oxford Dictionary definition of the word, but rather in the weird theater kid definition of the word. I was a virgin in the sense that I had never seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show before. For those of you who have not lost your Rocky Horror Virginity Card, this doesn’t sound that bad. If you go to a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and admit that you’ve never seen it before, they write a “V” on your forehead with marker, so everybody who looks at you will know and silently judge you. Of course, I was stupid enough to admit that I haven’t seen it before. So there I was, a little freshman on my first date in college with a large sharpied “V” on my forehead. Luckily, nobody seemed to notice. Until after the movie was over, that is. People started filing out of the theater
and my date and I were waiting for our turn to exit the aisle. That’s when it happened. Somebody called out to me in a voice that was erotically feminine but with a hint of masculinity. “Hey, big boy,” she said. “How about you and your girlfriend come on over to my place tonight?” I turned back to see who was talking to me, and for some reason, I didn’t just turn around and look at her face. Instead, my field of vision started at her feet and slowly moved up to the face. The image is burned into my retinas. Sometimes I still see it when I close my eyes. I’ll share it with you for your own reading pleasure. She was wearing sparkly bright red high heels. Her feet were about the same size as mine. Legs were long and muscley, and seemed to be recently shaven. It should also be noted that she was ridiculously pale. So pale that I wondered if she had ever been outside in sunlight before. There was no Adam’s apple on the neck. Her face was too covered with makeup to know for sure what was being hid. The hair was long and blond, but seemingly wig-like from my point of view. I’m no fool. I’ve seen women before and I’ve also seen men. At this point in my life I thought I was good at differentiating between the two. But there I was, standing completely dumbfounded. I couldn’t tell if this was a real woman or a man dressing up like a woman. Before I could even answer the person, my date laughed and pulled me away without even saying a word. I never saw that person again. I have so many questions that I’ll never have answered. For example, was that a man or a woman? If that was a man, then why did he have such a voluptuous chest? Why did she/he want us to come over? Were we going to play Monopoly? During your time at college, you’re going to have questions that you’ll want to ask. You’ll have things that you want to learn. Your time at college is the best time to learn and ask questions. There might be people that pull you away from your quest from knowledge. Don’t let that happen to yourself. You’ll end up like me. You’ll be bitter, full of unanswered questions and, you’ll wish that you could just dance through some sort of timewarp and relive those experiences again the right way.
August 30, 2013
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Best in Show
By Phil Juliano
COMICS
Horoscopes
Brewster Rockit: Space Guy
By Tim Rickard
By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency (MCT) Today’s Birthday (08/30/13). Launch this year into a romantic whirlwind of fun and activity. Networking with inspiring experts and friends expands dreams. Strut your stuff when the light shines on you. Water your garden, sharing and preserving the harvest. Your community appreciates your leadership. Step it up a level. 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 5 -Thinking outside the box provides great ideas. Playing with the box is a lot of fun, too. Balance playtime with work time. Your family has important things to contribute. Give them the credit they deserve.
Bliss
By Harry Bliss
Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Spread the good around, and it comes back to you, possibly even tenfold. Don’t judge too harshly -- not yourself, or others. New hope blossoms. Remind everybody of the rules and the budget. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- A new assignment brings in more revenue, but don’t go wasting it. It would be easy to blow, but it’s important to conserve resources. Your discipline is admirable. You’re in visionary mode ... you can see the big picture. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Watch out, world! You have the confidence to handle anything. Follow your dreams, but don’t spend what you haven’t got. You’re getting more sensitive. It’s a good time to express love. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Today and tomorrow get introspective. You may want to hide from the world. However, you can be very persuasive now. Think it over. Choose your battles wisely and assume responsibility for the results. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- This week is good for travel. Believe you can prosper, and do so. Go for what you believe in, pretend you’re good at it, and it’s easier to accomplish. Ask people with more experience to teach you. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Get back to work, and bring home the bacon. If you’ve done the homework, you’ll get more respect, and you’ll be able to pay down debts. Study the situation. A blissful moment entrances. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Upgrade your image. Surf the web for ideas, and then shop locally. Call ahead to avoid running all over town. Family vibes are positive. Beat the deadline, and then go out for an adventure. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Do the paperwork and pay the bills. Let your partner help. Enjoy the company of elders. There’s plenty to learn. You provide the imagination and the sense of humor.
Spaghett Kat
By Jack Johnehsick It is Monday. I arbitrarily dislike Mondays.
ZZZzzz
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -The next two days are good for negotiations and compromise. Things get easier with your partner’s help. Give and take without consequence. Your discipline is admirable. Give yourself the deserved credit. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Read any news or fresh reports and make an important connection. You’re entering two days of steady work effort. It seems like everybody wants you. Keep giving everything you’ve got to provide full satisfaction. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -Streamline your routine and your nerves will become less frazzled. Use what you can get for free. Your partner is in agreement. Love blossoms over the next few days to take you by surprise. (c)2013 bY NANCY BLACK DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Spaghett Kat is a high-brow critique of the twenty-first century middle-class suburban lifestyle. As such, a companion comic has been attached for your benefit. Refer to it if you need help understanding the many themes that Spaghett Kat explores. In the first pannel the cat is sleeping. Sleeping cats are cute!
Ooooh, he‛s waking up. I wonder what will happen next!
This part is funny because the cat dislikes Mondays and cats have no reason to dislike Mondays because they do not go to work or school! HA HA!
August 30, 2013
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INSIDE SPORTS
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R y k c Bes
Men's Cross Country
Women's Soccer
The Green and White is picked to finish third in the conference this season.
SRU was voted to finish second in the PSAC in the preseason coaches polls and 17th in all of Division II.
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: s r a o
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PSA
C ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Slippery Rock mascot Rocky works the crowd at a men's basketball game last season. Rocky was recently voted the best mascot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for this year.
Rocky is voted best mascot in the PSAC By Madeline Williams Sports Editor
Rocky, the pride of Slippery Rock University Athletics, was voted as the best mascot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference last week in a Twitter contest hosted by the conference office. Rocky collected a total of 406 votes, narrowly beating Bloomsburg University’s mascot, Roongo, and had 100 votes over Indiana University of Pa.'s mascot, Norm. More than 1,200 votes were sent in via Twitter during the weeklong contest. “The outpouring of support we received from our fans on Twitter not only proved great for Rocky, but truly showed that Slippery Rock University has one of the best followings and fan bases in the PSAC,” said Jonathan Holtz, SRU Assistant Sports Information Director.
The Twitter competition gave fans from each of the 18 PSAC schools a chance to showcase their school spirit as the fall sport season approaches. For winning the contest, the PSAC account will change it’s avatar on Twitter to an image of Rocky starting on opening day, Sept. 5. Nate Merhaut, an exercise science student who graduated in May, was the man beneath the furry costume all last school year. “I was honored to help Rocky be voted the best mascot in the PSAC and I knew the rock solid fans would pull through,” Merhaut said. “Slippery Rock has the best fans a mascot could as for. The fans were my inspiration and I’ll always call Slippery Rock my home.” To keep the school spirit going, Rock Athletics is also asking students, faculty, alumni, and fans to wear green and white today for National Wear Your College Colors Day that takes place on college campuses all over the United States. Twitter users can send pictures of them wearing their school colors to the Rock Athletics t w itte r w it h t h e h a s ht ag #RockNation to be entered into random drawings throughout the day to win Rock Athletics gear and gift cards from the SRU Bookstore.
SRU football ranked third in PSAC poll By Kristin Karam Assistant Sports Editor
The Slipper y Rock Un i v e r s it y f o ot b a l l team looks to bring a fast, athletic and competitive team to their Pennsylvania State Athletic C onference competition this season. The preseason coach’s p olls predicted the Rock to finish third in the PSAC West, behind Indiana University of Pa. and Mercyhurst University. Head coach George Mihalik feels the placement fairly represents how the team finished last season and the potential they have for this season. Mihalik noted that t h i s te am , ove r a l l, will not be the largest team in terms of size, but they will be highly competitive. Their athleticism and
competitive drive can be seen by observing SRU’s journey toward selecting a starter for one of the most important positions on the field, the quarterback. Redshirt junior Jared Buck and senior Nigel Barksdale will battle for the starting quarterback position in the season opener against Northwood University on Saturday. “A decision hasn’t been made yet,” Mihalik said. “They both started last year and they both won games. They each offer different strengths to the offense and the team.” Injuries plagued the position last year, allowing both athletes to start in games and produce wins for the Rock. Buck finished the 2012 season completing 84 of 137 passes for
In 2012, Barksdale finished completing 9 5 of 1 6 8 p a s s e s , throwing fourteen t o u c h d ow n s , s e v e n rushing touchdowns, and t hrowing nine interceptions. New changes for the 2013 season include a decision for a later start from the National C o l l e g i at e At h l e t i c Association and the addition of linebacker coach Eric Thatcher. The regular season will start a week later than usual for all of D iv i s i on I I , w h i ch shortened the time for preseason camps. S e n i or l i n e b a cke r Quindell Dean doesn’t feel that the adjusted schedule will have any effect on the team’s performance. “Most of us have been up at SRU working out SEE SRU, PAGE C-2
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SRU mourns loss of former players Continued from Page C 1
anyway,” Dean said. “If anything, it’s helped us get focused faster.” Mihalik isn’t concerned about the later start either. As a coach, he said he’d love to have had more twoa-day practices but they will still have the same number of practices before the first game as every other year. The schedule change is a move by the NCAA to give their fall athletes a longer summer break. SRU’s other adjustment, the addition of Thatcher to their coaching staff, fits right in according to Mihalik. “He’ll fit in really well with the staff and has a great rapport with his position players, as well as the rest of the team,” Mihalik said. Thatcher was an assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills before joining the Rock’s staff. Slippery Rock will lean on its veteran players to lead them through the season. “All the defensive seniors have had a really strong camp and the returning players have done really well, same with the offense and special teams,” Mihalik said. “You expect your seniors to have the best season of their careers and I think they all will.” The seniors, as well as several underclassmen,
experienced the loss of former teammate Zach Sheridan in August. The loss of Sheridan this past summer and Derek Durand the summer before has weighed heavily on the hearts of the players and coaches. “It’s definitely been an emotional and trying time,” Mihalik said. “The players have, in their own way, dedicated their seasons to these guys.” Last season, no one wore Durand’s number, 86, and this season no one will wear Sheridan’s number, 4. Barksdale had previously worn number 4 but will wear number 1 for his senior year. “I’m sure he would’ve liked to finish out his career here in the same number, but he completely understood and supported the decision,” Mihalik said. The loss of Sheridan and Durand has brought the team closer than they’ve ever been, Dean said. “The loss of our two brothers has had a really big effect on our veterans,” Dean said. “As brothers, Sheridan and Derek will never leave us and will always be remembered.” The Green and White will travel to Michigan September 7 to face the Nor t hwo o d Unive rs it y Timberwolves for their first game of the season.
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Sophomore wide receiver Andrew Bridgeforth leaps to make a catch against a Kutztown University defender at last season's September 29 game. Bridgeforth recorded fifteen receptions for 179 yards and two
Men's and women's Rock sets sights XC teams ready to run on improvement By Cody Gray Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock men’s and women’s cross country will kick off their season on September 13 when they host the Mack Cooper Classic at Cooper’s Lake Campground. Head coach John Papa, who is in his 27th year as head coach of the Rock, will lead both the men’s and women’s team once again. Papa has five seniors on his men’s team and eight on his women’s team to help lead a much younger Rock squad. The men’s team was picked to finish third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in the preseason coaches poll after SRU took fourth place in the conference last year. They are also ranked third in the Atlantic Region. The Rock missed competing at nationals by two points and lost the conference championship by five and a half points. The squad expects to complete both goals this season. The expected top runners for Papa’s squad are seniors Alex Koksal, Travis Arrigoni, Michael Beegle and Morgan Elliott, as well as junior Chris Grooms. “We have great depth with our squad,” Papa said, “If one of our top runners go down with an injury, we have other guys who can step up and fill their spot." Last season’s finish left a sour taste in the team’s mouths, according to Koksal. “I believe it has helped to refocus this team,” Koksal said, “We only have one person to replace and we have a ton of depth. With our experience and the young talent we have there is no reason we can’t compete.” Arrigoni felt he finished last year in a disappointing fashion as the team narrowly missed nationals, but he is
By Brian Hepfinger poised to have a major bounce-back season this year. “Our main goal is to finally qualify for nationals and I fully believe we can do it,” Arrigoni said, “As long as we stay focused and train smart, the sky is the limit!” Edinboro, the reigning conference champion, is projected to win the conference while Lock Haven is expected to take second. The women’s cross country team was picked to finished seventh out of eighteen teams in the PSAC behind Shippensburg, Edinboro, IUP and Kutztown. The team took a huge blow after the graduation of their top runner, Stephanie Case, who qualified for nationals last season. The squad did get a big gain however, when senior Kara Styles was granted an extra season of eligibility. Styles earned both All-PSAC and AII-Region honors last season. Styles has battled several injuries throughout her career, which caused the NCAA to grant her extra season of eligibility. She is expected to fully healthy when they kick off the season. Papa expects Styles and junior Janine Powis to be his two difference making front runners this season. “We have a lot of question marks on this team,” Papa said, “but if we can stay healthy, by year’s end we can be one of the top ten teams in the region. Junior Shannon Byerly, along with sophomores Karly Knetchel, Jenny Picot, and Brittany Fagan were all solid contributors to the squad last season and expect to take a larger role this year. Slippery Rock will kick off their 20th season with a home game on September 4 at 4pm on the James Egli Field.
Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock University men’s soccer team is ready to make another run at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship title after falling short last season. The Green and White have been picked to finish fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Head coach Michael Bonelli said that the rankings do not mean too much to himself or his team. “We don’t put too much stock in the rankings,” Bonelli said. “The PSAC is a great conference and we’re going for a championship this season.” As a coach, Bonelli stands firm with his goals and expectations for the team. “The goals are very high,” Bonelli said. “We want to win the PSAC. The table’s set for us to do that, but we have a lot of hard work to put in.” The Rock lost four games last season with an overall record of 114-6. Their season ended with a loss in the PSAC championship game. The 2013 roster includes 19 returning players from last season and nine new players. Seven of last year’s top eight scorers for the men are back for another season. SRU’s leading scorer, junior forward Stephen Donnelly, had six goals and two assists last season. Bonelli said that the team's chemistry is coming together nicely with the help of the veteran players. “We have such a strong culture that the new players are acclimated right away,” Bonelli said. The team’s mentoring system has also proven to be beneficial towards improving the team’s chemistry,
Bonelli said. “There are peer mentors on the team that reach out to the new players right away after they commit so that they come into preseason camp knowing and feeling comfortable with the team,” Bonelli said. Senior defender Josh Gray will be leading the way on the back line once again this season. Gray is confident in himself and his team for this upcoming season. “As captain I am looking to lead our team to a PSAC title,” Gray said. “I know our team is one of the best at the Division-II level, and we are looking great in pre-season. “ Bonelli said that while the team lost to Wright State 1-0 and tied Robert Morris 2-2 in the preseason, he was impressed with the team’s performance. Rock midfielders will face the most competition for time this season. Starters at midfielder include juniors Anthony Jack and Brandon Chiu, sophomore Ryan Lutke and senior Mike Roopchandsingh. There are eight other players competing for the position. Senior forward Michael Ramirez said that the team is ready to play well and that they expect to be one of the top teams in the conference. Ramirez scored four goals and had two assists last season. "We are a very tightly knit team and that’s what makes us, I think, one of the best teams in the PSAC,” Ramirez said. The team will start the season on the road for their first three games. They face Lake Erie College on September 5 for their first game and return home Septermber 17 to face West Virginia Wesleyan.
August 30, 2013
SPORTS
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Rock looks to defend PSAC title
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Senior defender Izabel Scott takes the ball away from an IUP player at last season's home game. Scott started in every game last season, scored one goal, and earned two assists.
By Matthew Morgan Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock women's soccer team will look to defend their 2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship title this fall. Last year's title-winning team also appeared in the third
round of the NCAA Division II tournament. The 2013 season marks the 20th year of the women's soccer program at SRU. The 2012 season resulted in a 14-6-3 record and the Green and White being voted the 17th best team in Division II. SRU was also voted to
finish second in the PSAC in preseason polls. Fellow PSAC member, Westchester University, was voted fourth in all of Division II, following their 1-0 victory over the Rock in the round of 16 at the NCAA tournament and the Golden Rams brief appearance in the
quarterfinals. West Chester was also the team voted to finish ahead of SRU in the PSAC division. Entering her 19th season as head coach of the women’s soccer team, Noreen Herlihy is coming off a season where she was voted PSAC and Atlantic Region Coach of the Year by her fellow coaches. Following the 2012 season, Herlihy looks forward to the young talent and veteran experience that will come together on the field this season. “We always have youth in this program,” Herlihy said. “With 20 out of 27 players being underclassmen and already showing their talent, the future remains bright. Winning last year gave the freshman a great taste of what winning is like. Coming back this year they will be out to get it again.” In addition to commemorating twenty seasons at SRU, the Green and White will welcome Seton Hill University and the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown to the PSAC. With 16 teams now making up the PSAC women’s soccer conference, the top eight teams will be eligible to compete in the PSAC playoffs. Out of the 27 members of the women’s squad, three players will be returning as seniors. Dana O’Neill will be on the field as goalkeeper, and Izabel Scott and Lauren Impey as defenders. As a redshirt senior, this will be O’Neill’s fifth year on
the squad. “I think our hope and expectation for this upcoming season is to just take every game one at a time.” O’Neill said on the teams outlook. In addition to O’Neill returning to the squad, junior Leslie Henny will be rejoining the squad at the midfielder position. With her experience from last year on the team, she knows what the team needs to do differently on the field. “Last year we had a slow start to our season and it took much longer for our team to come together.” Henny said. “I think things are looking much better for the start of this season.” With only one of the 17 regular-season games being an out of conference game against Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia, SRU will be pushed to find their stride immediately to guarantee their chances of making the playoffs. Coach Herlihy was pleased with the team's initial preseason ranking but is more concerned with the results the season will produce. “I think it’s a nice way to get our name out there. We are definitely a top team in the nation,“ Herlihy said. “It's a lovely honor for the program, but it only really matters at the end of the year.” Slippery Rock will kick off their 20th season with a home game on September 4 at 4pm on the James Egli Field.
SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY
10% OFF ALL SRU MERCHANDISE FRIDAY AUGUST 30
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August 30, 2013
Next senate meeting Monday, September 16th At 8:45pm in the Student Center Theatre
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C Campus Life
INSIDE CAMPUS LIFE Rock N Treats With the beginning of another semester, new local businesses are drawing in students. Rock N Yogurt is a new featured eatery in town that has students talking. See Page D-2
Pizza Wars
VMA Style
Check out our website for exclusive and interactive footage on the winner of the first annual Battle of the Pizzas event. Who will reign supreme slice.
From Miley Cyrus to Lady Gaga bearing it all, the music performed was not the only thing showcased. Who left fans shellshocked with their fashion?
www.theonlinerocket.com
See Page D-2
Freshmen say, "WOW!"
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET Freshmen cheer at the Weekend of Welcome Pep Rally held this year in the Mihalk-Thompson Stadium. Play Fair was a new addition to the weekend long festivities held annually before the start of a new school year.
First year students experience Summer journeys Slippery Rock WOW tradition enrichBystudents Rebecca By Janelle Wilson Campus Life Contributor
Slippery Rock University welcomed incoming freshman and transfer students to the university’s annual “Weekend of Welcome” spanning from Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25. Students were welcome to attend a variety of activities before classes started on Monday, August 26. WOW was steered in a modern direction, making social media an integral part of this year’s events. On Slippery Rock’s student page, participants in WOW were encouraged to use the hashtag #sruWOW on their Instagram photos. The hashtag gathered over 100 posts from students capturing events from move-in day, the pep rally, the “Welcome to SRU” party and the bonfire. The posts also included flashbacks to past WOWs, as well as scenic shots of the campus. Instagram users also utilized the site’s video service to post 15-second clips of the pep rally and the barbeque. The Weekend of Welcome began on
Friday, and after settling into their dorms and attending meetings in their residence halls, students reported to the football stadium at 8 p.m. to attend the SRU Pride Rock Rally. The rally (sponsored by Association of Resident Hall Students and the SRU Green and White Society) opened with the SRU marching band and cheerleaders performing and singing along to “Hey Baby” by Alabama. Students were lined up on the football field in rows and joined hands as they ran through the rows in reverse. Then they were organized into groups based on their birthdates and after getting familiar with each other, they participated in activities centralized on getting to know one another. SRU also welcomed students that came from different states and countries. SRU greeted freshman from all parts of the country as well as students outside of the United States. Students were asked to stand if they had come to Slippery Rock from anywhere other than the U.S. and upon standing were greeted with a round of applause. International students
came from Canada, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Japan, Australia and various locations in Africa. A f te r t he r a l ly, freshmen such as public health major Adam Engler, 18, originally from Philadelphia, discussed their expectations for the year ahead. “WOW weekend made it easier to get adjusted to college life,” Engler said. “The pep rally really has me excited for the year ahead.” Among many other reasons, Engler also said he was drawn to Slippery Rock University because of its beautiful campus. Freshman criminology major Savannah Walker, 18, from New Bethlehem, PA, said she was torn between Slippery Rock and IUP when it came to picking which school she wanted to attend. In the end the ARC determined her choice. “Slippery Rock has a beautiful rec center, and that’s something that IUP didn’t have. When I visited Slippery Rock, it just felt like home to me, and so I ended up coming here.” Walker’s friend from orientation, freshman
Marcucci
Tyler Coleman, 18, a forensic chemistry major from Annapolis, MD., said he really enjoyed the campus as well. “I chose Slippery Rock because I wanted to get as far away from home as possible,” he joked, “but so far, Welcome Weekend has been very… welcoming!” On Saturday, students were invited to attend WOW workshops and the book rush at the bookstore. A barbeque picnic was also offered in the quad for students. In the evening, the WOW “Welcome to SRU” party was held in the ARC and offered various activities such as bungee jumping, basketball, cornhole and bingo. Freshmen then closed out their day by making s’mores at the Welcome Bonfire that was held at the fire pit behind Building F. Freshman chemistry major Caityln Beltz, 18, originally from Avon, OH said the turn out to the bonfire was great. “There were lots of people there,” Beltz said. “When you go to college, you expect to be thrown into school
While most SRU students spent their summer soaking up rays or putting in time at seasonal jobs, many students brushed up their professional skills and leadership opportunities. Senior secondary education English major and women’s studies minor, Brandy Geist, 21, said she had an incredible week long experience in August at the PASSHE Undergraduate Women’s Leadership Conference held at the McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Sandy Lake, PA. Geist was invited and recommended to attend the conference by director of the Women Center, Jodiann Solito. Five female students from SRU were in attendance at the retreat and 30 women total were represented from across the state. “You were surrounded by powerful women,” Geist said. “There were workshops held each day on how to lead your campus, a presentation on the history of feminism, and team-building activities.” Geist and other students resided in a bunk house during their stay and enjoyed nature walks around the McKeever’s woods. “It was very positive and encouraging,” Geist said. “There will be a women’s conference in September at Mansfield University as well. We’re hoping to have a reunion and see what people are doing with their projects.” The conference pays students $100 dollars to start projects at their universities while meeting routinely to make sure students are keeping up with their proposals. Geist enjoyed getting to know other positive women from across the nation, she said. Her experience was filled with memorable experiences, she said “We taught a Korean girl how to twerk,” Geist said. “It was awesome!” Junior psychology and philosophy major,
SEE WOW, PAGE D-3
SEE STUDENT, PAGE D-3
Campus Life Editor
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CAMPUS LIFE
August 30, 2013
VMA celebrity fashion shocks audience and fans
Katie Ellis "ROCK'n Fashion" Katie Ellis is a junior journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
Music’s brightest and most influential stars flocked to Brooklyn to celebrate the achievements of their peers in categories ranging from Best Video with a Social Message to Best Song of the Summer on Sunday night. This year’s show was far from controversy-free, thanks to Miley Cyrus’ raunchy performance with Robin Thicke, Lady Gaga’s jaw-dropping performance of “Applause”, and even an out of character Fbomb slip from Taylor Swift. Actions aside, there were a number of red carpet hits, and a handful of catastrophes that were as headline-making as the night’s most tweeted about events. Selena Gomez has been having an exciting few weeks ever since her latest album “Stars Dance” landed at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and Sunday night she won her first Moonman for Best Pop Video for her hit single “Come
and Get It”, off her chart-topping album. Gomez arrived at the show dressed to impress in a long-sleeved navy gown by Atelier Versace. It featured a jeweled seam line that accented the exposed corset and thigh-high slit that showed off her enviable pins and trendy clear pumps with metallic toe. She finished off her look with emerald chandelier earrings, smoky eye makeup and sleek, long locks. She is known to wear outrageous outfits wherever she goes but Lady Gaga broke tradition and opted to wear a chic black Prabal Gurung gown for her walk down the VMA red carpet, much to the surprise of her adoring fans. The fashion icon looked radiant underneath the Brooklyn lights in her deep V-neck gown that was accented by a shiny bow that tied at the waist, and a long, sparkling train that trailed behind her as she made her way into the Barclays Center. Despite the number of well-dressed stars that attended the Sunday night telecast, there were a number of stars that showed up to the event wearing ensembles that had even the most liberal fashion fans doing double takes. “Roar” singer Katy Perry’s outfit had a feline theme to reflect the ferocious title of her latest hit. Dressed in a long-sleeved
Emanuel Ungaro dress with knee-skimming hemline, all eyes were on her loud cheetah print dress that was adorned with golden butterflies. Perry accessorized her look with black and gold strappy sandals, diamond studs, and the latest celebrity craze, a grill. There were so many aspects of her ensemble that didn’t work together, in particular, the butterflies and the animal print. It has never been and never will be acceptable to pair such drastically different elements together. Twerking her way down the red carpet was Miley Cyrus dressed in head-totoe Dolce and Gabbana. It’s rare for her to make an appearance without baring her midriff and true to form she wore an offthe shoulder crop top with jeweled sleeves that matched her jewel encrusted leggings. Last but certainly not least, she styled her grown-in pixie haircut into two top knots that had everyone talking. Cyrus’ most eyecatching look of the night was the outfit she wore while performing a mash-up of “We Can’t Stop” and “Blurred Lines”. Her nude bikini left nothing to the imagination as she danced her way across the stage, foam finger prop in hand, much to the discomfort of the audience. The night was full of memorable per-
PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS
formances, exciting reunions, and of course fashion hits and misses. There is no doubt that Lady Gaga was the best dressed woman of the night in her stunning Prabal Gurung gown that let her natural beauty shine through, without
being overshadowed by her usual gimmicks. Without a doubt, Miley Cyrus was the worst dressed celebrity of the night. Her jewel encrusted crop top and leggings ensemble can be forgiven, unlike her
risky performance outfit. Although the VMAs are an event known for wild moments and even crazier looks, Cyrus should’ve saved the nude bikini for another night and left the twerking to someone else.
New fro-yo shop offers a variety of flavors and toppings
Stephanie Cheek "Pinch Me, I Must Be Eating " When walking down Main Street in Slippery Rock on a rainy day, you want to stop and find shelter. One of the perfect stops for all students is the new frozen yogurt shop, Rock N Yogurt. Walking through the front doors of the shop, you automatically feel welcomed with a doorbell sound signaling a costumer and a multitude of tables with colorful chairs. The room is surrounded with exposed brick, making you feel like you just entered the Slippery Rock frozen yogurt as-
sembly line. The first step begins towards the back of the shop where you can choose from eight different flavors of yogurt ranging from sweet to fruity. The options change periodically, but the flavors that were being served at the time were the classic chocolate, vanilla, mango sorbet, wild berry, red velvet cake, outrageous orange, cotton candy, and no sugar added mint. They have a flavor for everyone, letting you mix and match what flavors you want to try and taste. From the frozen yogurt station, you head to the toppings station where you can choose between at least 32 different fruit, candy, and chocolate combos. This is the station where you can feel free to fill your cup with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, mango pieces,
pineapples, gummy worms, coconut shavings, Golden Grahams and so many others. Between the yogurt flavors and toppings you can visit Rock N Yogurt multiple times and leave with a different treat each time. During my visit to the froyo shop I purchased red velvet, chocolate, and vanilla yogurt with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup pieces, chocolate cookie dough pieces, and lastly some Dino Sprinkles. When making your one-of-a kind dessert it is hard to not go a little wild with the possibilities. The last step of the frozen yogurt-making process is the weigh and pay station. The yogurt is 45 cents an ounce, which is a great deal compared to other well known frozen yogurt shops like Pinkberry and Menchie’s.
When you finally reach a table to begin the long-awaited process of trying your treat, you can to dig in. The yogurt is creamy and refreshing, making it the perfect consistency to handle the large amount of toppings that I added to my cup. The toppings were a great way to enhance the flavor and texture of your dessert, plus it helped balance between the yogurt flavors. This being my first time at Rock N Yogurt, I not only decided to go all out, but I also decided to stick with the more sweet, chocolate mix, but when I return I plan on mixing it up and trying something different. While Rock N Yogurt is mainly known for its make-your-own yogurt, you can also purchase a fresh made smoothie, root beer floats, milkshakes, and even take home a quart
of their delicious yogurt for four dollars. Also when you are checking out do not forget to ask about getting a punch card because if you buy eight yogurts or smoothies you get your next one for free. Another perk is to join their text message alert system to find out daily deals and sales for all products. Overall Rock N Yo-
gurt is a great new addition to the town of Slippery Rock and I see it quickly becoming the place to be for Slippery Rock University students to spend time and eat some delicious one of a kind desserts. So stop by anytime, any day between the hours of 11 A.M. to 10 P.M. to check out the many flavors and toppings to chose.
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
SRU senior social work major Bryan Michaels and freshman computer software major Reid Campbell try some of the varieties of yogurt flavors available at Rock N Yogurt on Main Street. Rock N Yogurt serves many options for students including no sugar added flavors and various toppings. Their hours are 11 A.M. to 10 P.M. seven days a week.
August 30, 2013
CAMPUS LIFE
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Student summer opportunities build leadership Continued from Page D 1
Melanie Seymour, 20, also in attendance at the conference, said it the best part of her summer. “You walked in and had best friends, there were no reservations,” she said. “It was lifechanging!” Seymour said one of her favorite parts of the conference was the PACE Palette personality test. “We were put into groups based on the color our personality reflected,” Seymour said. “I was a red, it meant that I was outgoing.” Other personality colors included yellow, green, and blue. The colors also correlated to the students’ best style of leadership. “It sounds cheesy, but I will remember this week,” Seymour said. “There’s a network of these powerful women all over the state and we got a chance to work with some of them.” Seymour said she still keeps in touch with many of the women she met at the leadership conference. She pulled out her phone with a group picture of her and the other women in her personality group. “I miss my reds,” she said. Seymour hoped the leadership conference would reflect the work SRU’s group would like to bring to campus for their proposal project. “There are strong women on campus,” Seymour said. “You just have to be willing to reach out.” Other SRU students e nj o y e d t r av e l i n g experiences such as senior music major Sara Litz, 21. “The music department traveled to London to study musical theater with our faculty
WOW continues to spark school spirit
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professor Dr. Utsch,” Litz said, Litz saw many musical performances while she were there including "Lion King", "Singing in the Rain", and "Les Miserable." Litz said she really enjoyed the freedom of roaming around Europe. “We had a lot of free time to tour, “ she said. “Some students went to Ireland our long weekend.” Adjusting to the culture was fun for the most part, Litz said. It was a matter of money that bothered her the most. “I loved everything,” Litz said, “Just not the currency exchange.” Senior journalism major Levi Lewis, 22, decided to chase a dream this summer that he will
remember as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Through connections with his girlfriend, Lewis mentioned to her father that he had always loved the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wished he had an opportunity to work with them. Just like that he was able to hook Lewis up with who would later become his internship mentor. “No dream is too big,” Lewis said. “It sounds cliché, but if you can dream it, you can do it and I was so happy to have had this experience.” Lewis spent his summer on the sidelines of many of the Buccaneer’s practices filming the team’s plays and routines and taking still photos. “I didn’t realize just
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and closed at noon. Volunteers were able to get community service hours and were provided lunch for their service. The activities closed that evening with floor meetings for resident hall students at 7 p.m. which concluded 2013’s WOW weekend. T h o u g h WO W weekend had to come to a close, students like Beltz agreed they were anxious to see what would be in store for them during their academic careers at SRU. “Even though WOW weekend was a blast, I’m ready for school to start,” she said.
COURTESY OF BRANDY GEIST
Slippery Rock students represented the univesity at the McKeever Environmental Learning Center August 3 through the7 through many women's leadership and team building activities.
Follow World War Cheese with the Battle of the Pizzas.
Check out Rock N Yogurt and then head down to Main Street. www.youtube.com/SRUrocket
how much detail went into practices,” he said. “The teams would sit and watch videos of the practices everyday. My mentor commended me on a lot of the videos I made for the team.” As a journalism major, specifically in the field of broadcast, Lewis admits he hasn’t done much onscreen work, but he says his true passion
lies behind the scenes working with cameras. Lewis even traveled for free with the team and filmed many of their games. “It’s like the roles were reversed,” Lewis said. “I was the one down on the field this time. It was awesome!” Lewis said the best part of his experience was getting to meet
Vincent Jackson, who was originally from the University of Northern Colorado, Lewis’s home state. “My dad has a saying,” Lewis said. “If you’re average you’re just as close to the bottom as you are to the top. So just get it! You can do anything you set your mind too. I went for this and I'm glad I did. I would do it
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August 30, 2013