Students Celebrate Homecoming Homecoming weekend was filled with many events for students, staff, family, and alumni to participate in. Pages A-6 - A-7
Friday October 3, 2014 • Volume 98, Issue Number 6 • Slippery Rock University's Student Newspaper
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Study abroad fair educates students Haley Barnes News Editor
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY CASEY SQUIRES
SRU President Cheryl J. Norton (right) embraces Eva Tsuquiashi-Daddesio, Dean of the College of Humanities Fine and Performing Arts, (left) in celebration of the Council of Trustees' approval of the renovations to Miller Auditorium and West Gym Friday
Miller Auditorium and East and West Gym renovations passed by Council of Trustees By Amber Cannon Assistant News Editor
The SRU Council of Trustees v o t e d t o m ov e f or w a rd with a proposed plan for the renovations of Miller Auditorium and East and West Gym during their regular meeting held Friday. The $22.9 million construction plan for the renovations of Miller Auditorium and East and West Gym was developed after the original renovation, planned to begin in August, were reconsidered by the
Football Wins Big at Homecoming Sophomore quarterback Zack Newsock led the football team to a 63-19 win over Seton Hill. Page C-1
council when they decided to find a new plan that would be most cost-effective. Several students, as well as professors of the Theatre and Dance Departments spoke out against the reoccurring issue of whether or not renovations of Miller Auditorium and East and West Gym will take place. Samantha Wesler, a senior dance major expressed to the council how disappointing it is to not have a dance space to call home. According to Wesler, most of her dance practices run late, which means she has to
walk from studio to studio in the dark, which can result in a safety issue. “I transferred here from Ohio State University because I heard that Slippery Rock has a great dance program. Upon transferring here, I didn’t know that we had no signature place to perform,” Wesler said. “I feel as though I’ve been let down by the university in a sense because I feel like we, as dancers, should at least have a place to rehearse without walking from studio to
The SRU International Services Office held a fair for students interested in learning more about the study abroad program in the Smith Student Center Ballroom on Monday. Tables were setup throughout the ballroom representing each country that students can travel to, along with tables on general information and finances. Tess Thrower, adviser for International and Study Abroad Students, was at the fair answering general study abroad questions. “Study abroad is an opportunity for students to go somewhere they’ve never been whether it be for a summer, spring break, a semester, a year, and it gives them a chance to experience the world and still study and stay on course with their academic program,” Thrower said. Thrower explained that usually when students go abroad they do a shorter term trip, but she would like to see more students studying for a whole semester because that is where the full experience comes. She said with a whole semester or whole year trip, students can study at universities in other countries for the price of Slippery Rock tuition. Thrower said it’s hard to give an estimate of the amount of students that study abroad, but spring break trips are the most popular. Added to the list of countries which Slippery Rock partners with were Shanghai, Mexico, and Brussels. Thrower said Australia and Ireland are the most popular places where students choose to study at. Max You, public relations major, is an international student from Shanghai, China and his home University is Shanghai International Studies University. He was representing the Shanghai table at the fair. You is the only student studying abroad from Shanghai at Slippery Rock. He is studying abroad at SRU for one semester. “Our school has a program with Slippery Rock University and Slippery Rock University was the only option. I’m the only one here,” You said. You arrived to the United States in August and he explained how much he has been enjoying
SEE TEARS, PAGE A-2
SEE STUDY, PAGE A-3
ISIS roundtable discusses solutions to crisis By Chris Gordon Rocket Contributor
University professors voiced their opinions on the terrorist organization ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, during a roundtable discussion hosted by the Slippery Rock Amnesty International Club Thursday evening. The event was held in the Spotts auditorium and consisted of a panel of six Slippery Rock professors and one veteran of the Iraq war. Dr. Eric Tuten, history, introduced the topic by explaining the relationship between ISIS and Al Qaeda. ISIS, a Sunni group, first began its terroristic actions by targeting American troops and Shi'a Muslims during the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, Tuten said. ISIS eventually merged with Al Qaeda, he continued, but the merger was short-lived, as Al Qaeda disagreed with ISIS's policy of killing other Muslims. Dr. Kent Schull, assistant professor of history at SUNY Binghamton University, discussed the Kurds, a largely Sunni ethnic group found primarily in northern Iraq, that have taken the largest hit from ISIS's military campaign. He explained that ISIS does not view Iraq and Syria as legitimate states because they were established by the British after imperialism.
"We're the superpower, no one else has the force." -Patrick Callahan, Iraq War Veteran ISIS's leadership does not wish to fight the Kurds, despite their resistance, Schull said, and instead wants them to join the organization. Patrick Callahan, an Iraq war veteran who lived with the Kurds, explained that the Kurds used to control the Iraqi military until it was handed over to Shi'a leadership by the Iraqi prime minister. This caused the Kurds to "give up", as Callahan put it, allowing ISIS to grow and take root within Iraq. Dr. Aksel Casson, anthropology instructor in the Department of Professional Studies, discussed the refugee crisis ISIS has SEE , TURKS PAGE A-2
In STEM Needed
Men's Soccer Avoids Upset
'SRU Crushes' Gets Crushed
"It's Rocket Science" examines the Carnegie Science Centers' genderbased programs. Page B-2
Senior Stephen Donnelly scored a goal with 11 minutes remaining to secure a 2-1 victory. Page C-3
"SRU Crushes'" Twitter account shuts down due to privacy policy violations Page D-2
Gender Equality