Sports B-1 Coach Mihalik points at the Rock fans after the Homecoming win against Edinboro University
The Rocket www.theonlinerocket.com
Friday, October 26, 2012
Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper
Est. 1934
Volume 96, Number 8
Bob Smith returns to 'The Bob'
Professors allowed to commercialize personal research under new law By Erica Kurvach Rocket Staff Reporter
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET Former SRU President Robert Smith and current President Cheryl J. Norton cut the ceremonial ribbon for the dedication of the Robert M. Smith Student Center. The dedication was one of the events that took place on the Saturday of homecoming weekend. For photo highlights of the entire weekend, see A6-A7.
APSCUF prepares for strike authorization vote By Jonathan Janasik Rocket News Editor
The Student Government Association (SGA) rallied in the quad Tuesday afternoon in order to spread awareness of APSCUF’s upcoming strike authorization vote. Immediate past president of the SRU c h ap t e r o f A P S C U F, D r. Jace Condravy explained that a strike authorization ser ves as a war ning to PASSHE that A P S C U F is willing to go on strike if necessar y. The strike authorization is voted on by the leaders of that 14 campus es t he compr is e APSCUF. If t h i s aut h or i z at i on
is passed, it will take a supermajority, or 10, of the 14 APSCUF presidents to agree to go on strike. It also takes 10 of the APSCUF presidents to agree to a contract. Condravy explained that passing a strike authorization is common. She believes it has happened the last three or four contract negotiations, over the last d oz e n ye ars . Although strike authorizations are frequent, Condravy st i l l b el i e ves that they are important. “I d o n’ t believe that we do it lightly, Condravy explained. In other words, I don’t believe that we’re just going through SEE SGA PAGE A-2
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET SGA president David Wolfe addresses the student body about the upcoming APSCUF strike authorization vote during a rally in the quad on Tuesday.
SRU graduates carry heavy student loan debt Pennsylvania second highest debt-bearing state in the nation By Catie Clark Assistant News Editor
The average undergraduate debt load after graduation at Slipper y Rock University is $28,810, the second highest of PASSHE schools, according to a recent study. The study, which was released by the Project on Student Debt at The Institute for College Access and Success in Oakland, Calif., surveyed voluntary responses
SRU professors plan to take advantage of the Commonwealth Higher Education Modernization Act that PASSHE Chancellor John Cavanaugh presented last Thursday at an Entrepreneurial Forum. Last Thursday, Cavanaugh spoke about the new law that will allow PASSHE employees to commercialize intellectual property that is tied to their employment. Ms. Nancy Cruikshank, director of grants and sponsored research, said that the state system didn’t have state patent attorneys before, but now it has a contract with Penn State’s Office of Technology Management to obtain patents, marketing and licensing of intellectual property. “This is originally a teaching university,” Cruikshank said. “Pitt and Carnegie are research institutions. Since our faculty employees are hired by the state, they could get an attorney through it unless they did on their own.” The first step for professors is to fill out the Disclosure Form and that is sent to the Chancellor Office and then to the Penn State office to start the process. If the idea is new, novel and innovative, they may patent it. Cruikshank warns that professors need to take caution because once professors make their idea public knowledge, the “clock starts ticking”. This entrepreneurial phrase means that they have a year from that date to file a patent. Cruikshank suggests that professors need to decide how much information to disclose that might limit their time to file the paper because of competitors. “I think it’s an excellent opportunity for faculty to commercialize because it allows them to go through patent process since it’s no cost to them,” Cruikshank said. “They would be able to collect royalties once the product is commercialized.” The Chancellor said that it is a win-win situation for faculty members. Chemistry Professors Dr. Min Lin, Dr. Jiyoung Jung and a Duquesne professor are researching to find a thin, film monomer unit that will work efficiently to provide an organic lubricity for joints to reduce painful symptoms due to biomedical implants. Lin said that about five to 10 percent of patients treated with biomedical implants experience failure for five to 20 years later because of the wearing of the metal layer and the pressure on the joints. The professors are expecting to patent their product within a year or so while taking advantage of the “Modernization Act” when they come to their findings. Geology Professors Julie Snow and John Livingston worked with Dr. Hongbo (Bernie) Zhou, a computer science professor, to create dataservice software that will allow a non-scientist to utilize this tool to examine how air moves in their SEE SCIENCE, PAGE A-3
Average student loan debt upon graduation in 2011 $35,000 $30,000
from 1,057 public and private nonprofit schools across the nation. According the s t u d y, Pennsylvania was the second highest debt-bearing state in the nation, preceded by only New Hampshire. The PASSHE School with the highest debt after graduation was Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with $32,410 and the lowest was Clarion
University with $3,815 in debt after graduation. Patty Hladio, Director of Financial Aid, said that the results of the study are not completely reliable. “When you’re looking at all these figures that are self-reported by schools, you have to be aware that it is voluntary reporting
$25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 IUP
SEE FINANCIAL, PAGE A-2
SRU
Cal.
Edinboro
Clarion
Information from: The Institute for College Access and Success
News
A-2 7-DAY FORECAST FOR SLIPPERY ROCK
October 26, 2012
FRIDAY
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An afternoon shower in places
Cooler with a few showers
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REGIONAL CITIES CITY Akron Allentown Altoona Cleveland Erie Harrisburg Indiana Johnstown Philadelphia Pittsburgh Scranton State College Wheeling Williamsport Youngstown
Friday HI LO W 66 46 c 68 51 pc 68 52 pc 60 45 sh 66 47 c 68 55 pc 70 54 pc 66 52 pc 72 57 pc 73 52 pc 68 52 pc 67 53 pc 74 50 pc 66 54 pc 66 45 pc
Saturday HI LO W 50 39 sh 68 52 pc 64 46 pc 50 40 sh 51 43 sh 67 52 pc 62 43 c 60 42 c 71 55 pc 55 42 sh 65 47 pc 61 47 pc 54 39 sh 65 47 pc 50 40 sh
Sunday HI LO W 48 37 pc 59 48 c 49 38 c 50 38 pc 49 39 sh 58 45 c 48 35 sh 46 31 sh 62 49 c 48 38 sh 57 45 c 48 39 c 48 35 sh 54 42 c 48 36 sh
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The Latino/Hispanic Culture Series Planning Committee is inviting you to come and practice your salsa and merengue moves on October 26, 2012 from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight in the Robert Smith Student Center Ballroom. Dance the night away to the beats of Pittsburgh’s popular salsa band Azucar. Light refreshments will be available. For more information email Dr. Christine Pease-Hernandez at christine.hernandez@sru.edu or call ext. 2563.
3rd Annual Race to Anyplace The 3rd Annual Race to Anyplace and will take place on Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. This event is a team competition, six hour Stationary Bike Race that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They are looking for participants for the March race. Students can learn more or register at www.racetoanyplace.org/wpa.
The next edition of The Rocket will be Friday, November 9, 2012. There will be no publication next week, Friday November 2, 2012. Members of the staff will be in Chicago for a National Conference.
To submit a Rock Note please send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to Jonathan 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
Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu
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220 Eisenberg Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057
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Dance the Night Away with Azucar
contact us
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Rock Notes...............A-2 Weather map...........A-2 Blotter.................A-3 Opinion...............A-4
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NATIONAL FORECAST FOR THE WEEK TEMPERATURES
Above Near Below Normal Normal Normal
and is probably only as good as the time and effort the school puts into it,” Hladio said. “I would think the numbers wouldn’t be intentionally skewed, but sometimes a school’s software system limits their ability to gather information to the exact specifications of what the common data set would be interested in.” With tuition rates similar across the board at PASSHE schools, the gap between reported undergraduate debt loads were over $28,000 apart. “That has to be inaccurate, period,” Hladio said. “There is no way that a school so similar to the other PASSHE schools could have debt under $4,000. The school probably had an error in the software they were using or misinterpreted the language on what was to be reported.” Hladio suggested that economics across the state could play into the difference in the numbers. “One of the things that come into play are the economics of the area… the Eastern schools have a greater number of individuals coming from out of state, and may have a population with more resources than the demographics of the schools on the western side of the state,” Hladio said. The Financial Aid Office at Slippery Rock offers many outlets for students to learn more about debt,
Above Near Below Normal Normal Normal
National Summary: Sandy will be moving up the Eastern Seaboard Saturday bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds to the coasts of the Carolinas. A cold front will cause a few showers to form in the Northeast, while colder air will be funneled into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. A disturbance in the Pacific Northwest will cause showers and some higher terrain snow. Another storm system will plow into the Pacific Northwest Sunday and Monday causing rain and mountain snow to occur. A cold air mass will settle in over the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley. Sandy will be near the East Coast and will have to be monitored.
NATIONAL CITIES
Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursda CITY HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W Atlanta 79 59 pc 71 49 s 63 39 s 60 37 s 55 38 s 57 36 c 57 48 Boston 65 52 pc 65 52 pc 58 52 c 60 52 r 56 45 r 54 40 r 53 35 s Chicago 50 34 pc 48 36 c 48 34 pc 48 34 pc 46 34 c 46 33 c 50 37 Cincinnati 62 41 sh 53 36 sh 51 33 pc 48 30 s 46 29 pc 46 27 pc 47 40 p Dallas 58 41 pc 63 42 pc 65 43 pc 68 47 s 71 54 s 70 50 pc 71 56 Denver 38 24 sf 48 28 s 52 36 pc 62 38 pc 65 40 pc 66 37 s 65 27 p Detroit 58 40 r 52 34 sh 48 35 pc 49 30 pc 47 32 c 46 33 sh 50 36 s Houston 73 51 t 69 47 pc 68 46 pc 71 46 pc 76 57 s 80 64 c 77 61 Indianapolis 54 36 r 53 34 sh 50 33 s 49 32 s 46 29 pc 44 30 pc 49 41 Kansas City 50 29 pc 50 33 s 54 33 pc 56 38 s 50 32 c 49 33 pc 50 48 p Los Angeles 86 58 s 89 60 s 89 57 s 84 53 s 80 56 s 76 58 pc 74 55 p Miami 81 71 r 84 66 s 83 64 s 82 57 s 73 56 s 78 60 s 82 65 Nashville 68 45 pc 60 39 sh 56 35 s 56 34 s 54 34 s 54 33 c 53 48 New Orleans 84 56 pc 68 48 pc 64 47 s 67 47 s 64 44 s 71 55 pc 72 62 New York City 68 56 pc 66 56 pc 60 50 c 56 49 r 53 45 r 50 40 r 52 37 s Orlando 81 66 t 78 61 pc 81 56 s 76 46 s 70 44 s 72 53 s 75 57 p Phoenix 84 58 s 85 62 s 86 62 s 87 62 s 86 61 s 86 60 s 85 57 p San Francisco 68 54 s 71 54 s 73 55 pc 71 55 pc 69 56 pc 65 53 r 68 50 Seattle 47 44 r 54 50 r 59 53 r 61 53 r 62 50 r 58 47 r 56 43 p Washington, DC 73 59 pc 69 55 pc 63 48 c 53 42 r 54 38 r 51 38 pc 53 39 s Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
Financial Aid TV: Continued from Page A-1
PRECIPITATION
Financial Aid Office offers new video financial counseling service
how to manage it, and how to avoid it altogether. “We are very fortunate with the implementation of Banner, [students] now have a very concrete way of choosing the amount they want to borrow for the year,” Hladio said. “We have to tell them the maximum they can borrow, but they can choose to borrow less. Instead of waiting for the student to tell us how much money they want, we’re forcing them to make a decision. A state-of-the-art software system for financial such as Banner allows us to concretely know what decisions the students are making.” According to Hladio, the office tries to reach every student at an early age through Freshman Orientation sessions and in FYRST Seminar classes. “We also try to help students manage debt by going into FYRST Seminar classes,” she said. “We do a presentation on budgeting, student loans, credit cards, identity theft, and so with that we are hoping that we can explain to students the importance of borrowing less and being able to have more money in your pocket when you’re in your twenties.” Hladio said that another option students should consider more seriously is economical housing options. “I see students who make very
f inancially cons cious housing decisions because they’re only in school a very short period of time, so they can minimize any financial pitfalls,” she said. “But many students choose housing styles that requires them to borrow more.” The Financial Aid Office is offering a new financial video counseling service this year as well. “It’s called Financial Aid TV, and students can access it from Slippery Rock Financial Aid website,” Hladio said. “Students can find hundreds of 30 second, 60 second, 90 second videos. We have a playlist that deals with financial literacy, and there is a playlist that deals with student loans.” Hladio’s advice for the best way to manage student debt is returning unnecessary monies. “I often times will tell students that every semester once billable charges are paid, if you have excess financial aid and find you’re using you’re using your refund to pay for things that pertain to your degree then it is a wise use of money,” Hladio said. “But if you find that you are using that money for fun, for unnecessary items, that is the point that students should return the money through the Office of Student Accounts. You don’t want to be paying for takeout pizza when you’re 25.”
SGA calls for students to contact APSCUF and PASSHE Emailing both groups could speed up negotiations Continued from Page A-1
“The state system has just put a lot of concessionary proposals on the table and we’re saying that we simply the motions. I believe that most facility take the strike will not agree to them,” Condravy stated. “None of authorization vote very seriously and believe that it carries the other major unions that have settled weight and meaning.” their contracts have had to agree to such Condravy stated that the main concessionary proposals. We believe that reason whey negotiations are taking isn’t any reason that we should.” so long is APSCUF believes that the Students shouldn’t worry about a strike contract offers given so far have been until a strike authorization vote is passed, unfair, and would lower the quality Condravy said. Th e possibility of strike of education in the university. doesn’t exist until the authorization is “I worry a lot about the future passed. She stated that just because an of the state system universities,” authorization may be passed, doesn’t Conravy explained. “When I look necessarily mean that there will be a at the proposals that are out on the strike. table, to me they seem as if they’re “The last time around, we actually had not interested in celebrating and announced very early that if we didn’t promoting the wonderful system have a contract by June 30th, we’re out that we have. They seem intent on Scan the QR code with a smartphone to on strike so everybody knew,” Condravy arranging it in such a way as to view a video about the SGA rally, or visit said. “It was over the summer, so student’s reduce its effectiveness or to reduce www.youtube.com/SRURocket didn’t have very much to worry about its quality. I just don’t understand unless they were taking summer classes.” why neither the legislature nor the SGA president David Wolfe spoke at the rally in order state system itself supports its own universities. I know they claim to, but when I look at the proposals, I don’t see to state that students need to contact both APSCUF and PASSHE to ask for an agreement. the behavior behind their words.” “The message that we are asking is that as students, we Although a lot of students have been actively attending the rallies, Condravy believes that it will take direct contact do not pick a side,” Wolfe said. “We need to ask both sides with PASSHE in order to actually make a difference. She to come to a speedy resolution that helps us as students. believes that it is essential for students and parents to A strike would be detrimental not only to Slippery Rock email Chancellor John Cavanaugh in order to ask for a University, but to the entire state school system.” quick resolution.
October 26, 2012
News
A-3
Police Blotter Campus
Oct. 20 – Christopher Bahr, 19, was cited Oct. 20 – There was a report of harassment with public drunkenness after an officer Oct. 21 – Eugene Farrow, 23, was cited at the Police Station. The individual called observed an individual yelling at cars on with defiant trespassing, and Michael Hult, in so the police were aware of the situation. Kiester Road. 33, was charged with DUI and Careless Driving after a report of a hit and run at the Student Center. The case is under investigation. Oct. 20 – There was a report of harassment Oct. 21 – Barry Tyson, 22, was cited at the Police Station. The individual wanted with simple trespassing after a no trespass police to contact the harasser to have violation at a dance at the Student Center. them stop contacting the individual. The The individual was removed from the Oct. 21 – There was a report of a drug notification was made. dance. violation at North hall. The case is under investigation. Oct. 20 – There was a report of two Oct. 21 – There was a report of an alcohol alcohol violations at the Student Center. violation at Watson Hall. The charges are Citations are pending. pending.
Oct. 22 – There was a traffic stop on Kiester Road that resulted in a DUI. The charges are pending.
Norton giving campus a 'Botox' By Jonathan Janasik News Editor
President Cheryl J. Norton begun “botoxing” the SRU campus. “I define botoxing simply as strategically designed initiatives that don’t require a lot of money but make an immediate and significant impact,” Norton explained. “In other words it’s kind of a face-lift for the institution. It’s like cleaning up your room.” As the amount of high school enrollment decreases, it is becoming more important to attract students to the university, Norton said. With a lower number of college ready students, there is a smaller pool of students for the university to choose from. The quality of education is dependent on the amount of intelligent students enrolled at the school. Norton believes that it is important for SRU to be visually pleasing to attract new students. “We know that people coming to the campus in the first 10 or 15 minutes will make a decision whether they’re interested in the campus or not. Whether it feels right or not, whether it’s a place that they think they can get the quality academic program that they wish.” Norton explained that one of the advantages that SRU has over other universities is the beautiful campus. With that being said, there are some flaws that distract from SRU’s aesthetic appeal. She stated that the welcome center’s bricks are crumbling, the benches are splintering and losing their paint, and the iron railings around campus are rusting. “It does not suggest that we are of the 21st century,” Norton explained. “Here we have a welcome center and we can’t invite people to sit down on the bench because they might get a splinter.”
In order to improve the look of campus, Norton plans to repaint the railings, replace the old benches, and renovate the welcome center to make positive initial impression. She also plans to add new trashcans, plant flower gardens, place new signs, and have maps spread around campus. In addition to those plans, Norton and her husband pick up trash off the streets around the campus and throughout town every morning. She states that she ends up with a plastic bag full of litter daily. By doing this, she hopes to inspire students to also be more courteous about keeping campus clean. Norton stated that making campus clean is an ongoing project that she doesn’t think will ever be completely finished. “I think the reason you never kind of finish botoxing is because you always have wear and tear on an institution, Norton said. “What looks good today might not look good in five years.” With that being said, Norton is not in charge of all of the projects on campus being used to improve the look of campus. For example, there is a campus master plan that Norton does not have control over. The master plan focuses on large scale projects that require a lot of planning and money, such as constructing new buildings or parking lots. In comparison, Norton’s projects are inexpensive and don’t take very much time to complete. The money comes from reserves through budgeting and management of funds, most of which comes from tuition and fees. “I’m happy to take any kind of suggestions people have about botoxing, but it’s really an initiative that is coming out of my office,” explained Norton. “I hope that people feel that it is a responsible initiative because I believe that it is making our campus more inviting.”
Oct. 22 – There was a medical call for an individual that consumed pills. The individual was transported to Grove City Medical Center.
Oct.22 – There was a welfare check on an individual in Building F. Contact was made, and the individual was transported to the McLaughlin Health Center.
Compiled by Catie Clark
Science professors plan to utilize Modernization Act Continued from Page A-1
region. The software’s purpose is to identify where the air that a city is breathing in is coming from so that they can identify the sources to the air pollution. The professors are getting $175,000 from the National Science Research Foundation (NSF) to develop a tool that allows someone to look at air pathways over long periods of time such as greater than 30 years. “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wrote the model, but it was complicated,” Snow said. “It is used for scientists but is not simplified for the average user.” Snow and her team are working on a commercialization grant for the I-Corps grant, and NSF is offering grant money. “If they don’t think it is viable, then we’ll take it to the state,” Snow said. Zhou hopes to promote the science department with this project. “The new system simplifies our work and gets support from the PASSHE system,” Zhou said. “Since SRU has many strong programs, I believe there are a lot of opportunities/ chances for cross-discipline/cross-major cooperation on research and commercialization of the research results.” SRU is expected to be involved with the new $100 million Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education Research in the spring which can develop entrepreneurial endeavors. Dr. Jeffrey Lynn, an exercise science professor, is waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of this new law. “It is a great idea because it is fair to the people who generate ideas,” Lynn said. “They get the financial benefits. It can aid the university with both finance and prestige.”
OPINION
The Rocket
A-4
October 26, 2012
The Rocket
Our View
Volume 96, Number 8
220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: (724) 738-4438 Fax: (724) 738-4896 E-mail: rocket.letters@sru.edu
Editorial Board Will DeShong Editor-in-Chief Jon Janasik News Editor Andy Treese Campus Life Editor Madeline Williams Sports Editor Alex Mowrey Photo Editor Stephanie Holsinger Copy Editor James Intile Web Editor Catie Clark Assistant News Editor Courtney Tietje Assistant Campus Life Editor Kristin Karam Assistant Sports Editor Emily Schubert Assistant Photo Editor Erica Kurvach News Reporter Mark Zeltner Faculty Adviser
Advertising Staff Zach Dornisch Advertising Manager 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) 738-2643 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 Editorin-Chief at the address listed here.
GRAPHIC BY EMILY SCHUBERT
Romney can better fix unemployment
Obama’s education policies are in the best interest of college students As the nation seems equally divided in its support for President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney this election, so is the current Rocket staff. A slight edge on our staff went in favor of the current President. Seeing as we’re a diverse staff with diverse interests, the basis for our collaborative endorsement rests solely on how each candidate would affect college students. The staff majority view favors President Obama because he has made education more accessible for Americans, while fear of tax cuts from Republican leadership makes us leary of a Romney victory. Obama has increased funding for education, especially in terms of federal financial aid for college students, during his first term as president. It is a big help
for anyone seeking a higher education, but especially valuable to the students in Pa. that are suffering through an academic career that coincides with Gov. Tom Corbett’s harsh budget cuts on education. Funding is a crucial element to allowing many people to pursue higher education. We can’t take the risk of having any more taken away, and it is a real possibility Romney would do so in trying to balance out his economic plan that would cut taxes for the wealthy and raise military funding. That money would have to come from somewhere , and since Romney won’t tell us anything specific other than mysterious “loopholes,” we can only assume Obama’s increases in education spending may be a target. That can’t happen. Opponents of Obama have an issue with unemployment
- Dissenting Staff Opinion -
rates, a scary figure for soon to be graduates. Unemployment has been an issue throughout the President’s first term in office, but that can be attributed, at least in part, to the economic situation he inherited. As it stands now, unemployment is now dropping and we feel, while not wildly optimistic, a little better about continuing with Obama. Romney’s conservative economic ideology is too similar to that of former President George W. Bush’s, which many feel is the cause of the “great recession.” While there are numerous other issues in the election voters need to focus on, our call to get a staff endorsement rests on the affects on college students. With Obama’s increases to education funding, we feel he is the right man for the job.
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.
Mitt Romney should be the next president because the countr y needs a change. The unemployment rate has not gotten better under Barack Obama’s leadership. It is basically the same as when he took office. As soonto-be graduating college students, the bleak job market leaves us worried, and we don’t have the time or patience to wait for it to be fixed. We need working s olutions now, and we feel Romney gives the country the best opportunity to do that. R om n e y h a s y e ar s of experience in the business field, and that expertise is something that would help get the c ou nt r y ’s e c onom i c turmoil under control.
Obama had his chance to fix the economy and had poor results. Those who support Obama will throw his education funding figures out. Fine, but getting a nice education doesn’t really help if we cannot find a job after we graduate. In that sense, we have little faith in the policies President Obama has put into place. As for how Romney would help education d i r e c t l y, w e f e e l comfortable with the job he did as Governor of Mass. , where the state schools were among the best in the nation, and feel he would make appropriate decisions to help college students succeed across t he country.
This week’s question: Which presidential candidate will you vote for, and why?
Editorial Policy 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.
Jeremiah Klumph Junior creative writing and emerging technology major Hometown: Sharpsville, Pa.
Josh Myers Senior art education major Hometown: Uniontown, Pa.
Kara Patton Senior music therapy major Hometown: Kittanning, Pa.
“I’m going to vote for Barack Obama because unlike the modern conservative party, I live in 2012 not 1920. I respect everyone’s rights and everyone’s desires to be treated equally and and fairly in this country.
“Honestly, I’m not going to vote for either one because I don’t agree with their views. If I had to, I would vote for Obama because of his healthcare plan.”
“I’m going to vote for Romney because he has some type of Biblical foundation and what this country needs is Jesus. I pray that God will work through Romney and Obama no matter what happens.”
Opinion
October 26, 2012
‘The Vagina Monologues’ will help fight the war on women
Carly Masiroff FMLA Has anyone noticed Slippery Rock doesn’t like the word vagina? This is peculiar to me. I guess I didn’t used to like it, until I started saying it. Come on say it with me, v-a-g-i-n-a! Don’t you feel better now? It’s like it’s repressed in our culture here and we need to do something about that. This we ek Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance is holding auditions for Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.” Now, I know I said two bad words in that sentence, feminist and vagina. But, you should be ok with the “F-Word” from my last article, right? Now, some may think that “The Vagina Monologues” is a play that is held once a year where women get on stage and yell about their vagina problems. Wrong! This is not just a comedy and it is not just for women. This show is a beneficial reading of real women’s stories. These women are
from all over the globe. The monologues can be about rape, genital mutilation, incest, empowerment or pleasure. Did you know according to the United Nations, one of every three women on the planet will be physically or sexually abused in her lifetime? That is just crazy to me! In this country alone, one of every five women will be physically or sexually abused in her lifetime. On top of that, for those of you who think this is only a women’s issue, one of every six men will be physically or sexually abused in his lifetime. V- D ay c o l l e g e a n d community activists raise an annual average of over $4 million for local groups such as domestic violence shelters and rape crises centers. Also, ten percent of each event’s proceeds are channeled back to V-Day’s Spotlight Campaign. Last year alone, there were 5,800 V-Day benefit events performed around the globe. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $90 million and reached over 300 million people and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it. This will be my fifth time being a part of this life-changing event. Yes, I was one of those leery,
squeamish people at first when I heard of this show. But, I learned that I can’t be afraid of something just because I don’t know about it. So I became educated on it. I have met the most interesting, i nv it i ng , i nv i gor at i ng people through doing this show. Everyone who auditions has a story to tell, even if they don’t know it when they walk through the doors. It is a topic that brings people together of all “stereotypes.” Everyone is “normal” in our cast. OK, enoug h of my story and statistics. This is where your part comes in. Do you want to put an end to gender violence worldwide, or even just in our small community of Slippery Rock? Even if you don’t want to audition for the show this week, bring your friends to the actual event on February 20, 21 or 22 in Swope Auditorium. So, it’s ok to say the word because the war against vaginas isn’t over. We will continue to put on this production and screaming the word vagina until the violence ends. Carly Masiroff is a graduate student studying student affairs from Erie, Pa. Carly is working as a GA for the Women’s Center, and is also a member of FMLA.
The “War on Drugs” policy needs to stop Tierney Smithson Black Action Society The War on Drugs policy of drug prohibition and harsh crackdowns has had an extensive effect on minorities in America. Many credit the drug war for enhancing racial disparities between blacks and whites and playing the key agent in the disproportioned incarceration rate of African Americans and Hispanics. Further, the penalties for crimes among convicts usually involve permanent or semi-permanent exclusion from educational opportunities, a revoking of the right to vote, and the creation of criminal records which make employment far more difficult. To understand the drug war in the black community you must first understand the crack epidemic which caused many blacks to be arrested. The crack epidemic refers to the surge of crack cocaine into the major inner cities in the United States between 1984 and 1993. Crack is a cheap, smokable, and highly addictive form of cocaine, and because of its wide availability in the 80s to African Americans, it was widely dispersed in poor black neighborhoods. Crack first came into the scene on a large scale in Los Angeles in 1984. The allocation and use of the drug erupted that same year and by the end of 1986, was accessible in 28 states. The effect of the crack epidemic on the African American community has been shattering. Although two-thirds of crack cocaine users in the United States are either white or Latino, 80 percent of people who are sentenced in federal courts for a crack cocaine offense are African American. Consequently, African Americans are disproportionately affected by severe drug penalties. Following the Iran-Contra Affair, a number of politicians and journalists began arguing that the CIA put crack into the black ghettos. While to exactly what extent the CIA was involved in crack smuggling is not known, on April 17, 1986, the Reagan Administration released a report admitting that there were some Contra and cocaine links in 1984 and 1985. In 1988 Senator John Kerry’s U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations reported on Contra drug smuggling and concluded that members of the U.S. State Department
“who provided support for the Contras are involved in drug trafficking, and elements of the Contras themselves knowingly receive financial and material assistance from drug traffickers.” African Americans, according to the Human Rights Watch, are just as likely as whites to use or sell illegal drugs yet they have a higher rate of arrests. In addition, African-Americans were 13 times more likely to be imprisoned for drug offenses than other races while they only comprised 13 percent of regular drug users. Once convicted, offenders who are black have longer sentences compared to white offenders. The U.S. Sentencing Commission states that in the judicial system black offenders are given sentences that are 10 percent longer than white offenders for the same crimes. According to The Sentencing Project, African Americans are 21 percent more likely to receive mandatory-minimum sentences than whites and are 20 percent more likely to be sentenced to prison. What these statistics show us is that the criminal justice system has not operated solely as a punisher for crime, but as a force that has inflicted upon black communities harsher penalties and in turn more devastation to the socio-economic status than it has on the any other racial community. My analysis on the War on Drugs as a whole is that it is an unsuccessful attempt to control the uncontrollable and needs to be abolished. Compared to the 80s, recent years have seen a significant decrease in drug markets, yet incarceration rates are still rising. However, for the money that is spent on prevention, education, and treatment, one must ask how it is that these aspects of the War on Drugs remain the least effective of the strategies. The drug war has been shown to be an agent of racism in a supposedly post-racial age, with disproportioned arrests, effects, and policies having disparaging consequences for the black and Latino community. My recommendation is for the U.S. to end prohibition and criminalization, and move federally to decriminalize drugs in America.
Tierney Smithson is a political science and philosophy major and the Political Actions Chair for the NAACP Chapter at SRU.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” section are those of the writer(s) alone. The Rocket cannot verify all facts presented in a given letter, but if we are aware of an error or omission, we reserve the right to include an editorial note for accuracy’s sake.
APSCUF seeking a fair deal with PASSHE As expected, Chancellor Cavanaugh turned down APSCUF’s (faculty and coaches union) request for binding arbitration to settle our contract, predictably claiming that PASSHE is unwilling to let a third, neutral party determine the financial future of the System. And APSCUF’s campus delegates met this past weekend and voted unanimously and resolutely to approve Strike Authorization votes on each of the PASSHE campuses. Faculty are preparing themselves to load a gun, to use the metaphor that I introduced in a letter three weeks ago. So what is it that the State System has proposed that has so exercised a faculty that ordinarily prefers to focus its time on students and the teaching/learning process? Imagine that you are a recently hired temporary member of an accounting firm or a technical writer in a computer business. You have been invited back, though still on a temporary contract, for an additional year or two. Your education and your experience are not dissimilar from those of your peers, who are on more permanent contracts, but the firm or business is not quite sure yet that it needs you long-term. Nevertheless, you are paid on the same scale as your colleagues, though at the low end, you like the work, and your reviews have been excellent. The company is financially solid with 800 million dollars in reserve. This year, however, when invited to sign another one-year contract, management tells you that your salary will be cut by thirty-five percent! Yes, thirty-five percent—more than onethird of your previous salary—with no reduction in the hours you are expected to work, with no reduction in your responsibilities. Let me repeat, the company is not in financial trouble, has an excellent bond rating, and is not proposing to reduce its work force, particularly not its administrative staff, which has grown considerably over the
Clarification on Rocket article Dear Editor, I would like to clarify my comments that appeared in a recent article about the SRU weapons policy. “Other professors had different opinions than Strausbaugh about the policy. Dr. David Champion, a criminolog y and criminal justice department professor said that by law anyone can carry a gun except in Philadelphia where a license is required according to the Uniform Firearm Act of Pa.” I stated that under Pa. law (including case law), anyone who is otherwise not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm may open carry it throughout the commonwealth in non-prohibited areas without a license to carry a firearm (LTCF), except in Philadelphia (a city of the first class). Philadelphia legally allows for open carry, but only with a LTCF. I should state that I am not a lawyer. “They are allowed to develop a policy that can be enforced but not make it illegal,” Champion said. “If faculty or students do not follow this policy, they can get expelled.” Students and faculty could potentially face disciplinary action. Faculty don’t
last decade. The management rationale for such a drastic cut to your salary—it’s the fair market value for temporary employees. This kind of reduction is exactly one of the issues about which faculty are outraged. The Chancellor’s team proposes to cut the salaries of faculty who are here on temporary contracts by thirty-five percent. These are individuals who have doctoral degrees and, in some cases, more years of experience teaching than faculty who are here on permanent contracts. As it is, even though faculty on temporary contract are on the same salary scales as tenured faculty, they are almost always hired at the very lowest step--$44,795—and even if rehired on temporary contracts from year to year, rarely budge from that salary. And if the faculty member is both on temporary contract and part-time, s/he receives only partial to no health benefits. A thirty-five percent cut in the salary of a temporary faculty member reduces their pay to $29,000—a salary very difficult on which to raise a family; a salary which encourages the faculty member to take on another part-time job to survive, allowing less time for that faculty member to offer students the quality education that they deserve; a salary which drives a wedge through faculty, labeling 15 – 25% of the faculty as financially worth less than their colleagues, though performing much of the same work with the same educational degrees and years of experience; a salary that particularly hurts women as women make up the majority of faculty on temporary contracts.; a salary lower than the average starting salary of public school teachers nationally and in Pennsylvania. I suspect that you, too, find such a proposal unfair and unwarranted given the solid financial health of PASSHE, and this is just one of the reasons that faculty will vote to approve Strike Authorization. Faculty want a fair contract. If, indeed, you believe that this proposal is unfair, contact Chancellor Cavanaugh at jcavanaugh@ passhe.edu and tell him to be fair. And then ask your parents to do the same.
Dr. Jace Condravy English Professor Past SRU President of APSCUF
get “expelled,” as far as I know. “Violators may not be arrested for having the gun, but will be directed to remove the weapon immediately from university property.” I stated this just a mere possibility. I do not know exactly how the policy would be enforced. Criminology and Criminal Justice Professor Dr. Youngyol Schanz agreed that those who are on university ground should follow the rules. “Obviously students and staff should follow the policy,” Schanz said. “As long as they are doing so legally, it doesn’t bother me in general. Personally, I think students and staff should follow the policies.” Both professors agreed that they don’t want their students to carry a gun in their class, and the policy should be followed. This was actually my quote. To reiterate, I have no problem (outside the context of violating University policy), with legally armed citizens exercising their rights. Thank you for the opportunity for clarification.
David R. Champion, Ph.D. Dept.of Criminology and Criminal Justice Editor’s Note: The article Dr. Champion is writing about was titled “SRU adopted new weapons policy” and appeared in the Oct. 19 edition of The Rocket.
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October 2
(Top to bottom) Junior wide receiver LaQuinn Stephens-Howling cries out in triumph after scoring the winning touchdown in overtime against Edinboro University. Kian Fries, 6, from Meridian, Pa. waves to the crowd as he passes by in SRU’s 2012 Homecoming parade on Saturday morning.
Former SRU Pre
The Slippery Rock University Marching Pride performs their annual halftime show during the Homecoming game against Edinboro University Saturday afternoon.
(Left) Oliver La King and Quee
26, 2012
esident, Dr. Robert Smith pays the campus a special visit to help formally open the Robert M. Smith Student Center.
niear, a Junior Criminology Major and Madeline Williams, a Junior Communication/Journalism major were crowned the 2012 Homecoming en.
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(Top to bottom) President Dr. Cheryl J. Norton pumps up the crowd during the Homecoming Pep Rally. Cheerleaders Christy Christy, Lauren Ziegler, Nick Price, and Candace Corcoran participate in the Homecoming Pep Rally Friday evening.
Photos: Alex Mowrey/Photo Editor and Emily Schubert/Assistant Photo Editor Design: Alex Mowrey/Photo Editor
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October 26, 2012
THIS ELECTION DAY
IF YOU HAVE IT
SHOW IT.
This Election Day under a new law, voters will be asked, but not required, to show a photo ID with a valid expiration date. Registered to vote and don’t have a photo ID for future elections? Get one for free at a PennDOT Driver License Center. Examples of acceptable photo IDs: Those issued by the U.S. Government or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; PA Driver’s License or Non-driver’s License photo ID; PA care facilities, such as long-term, assisted living or personal care; an accredited PA public/private college, university or seminary; U.S. passport; Department of State IDs for voting; U.S. military ID – active duty, retired military and military dependents; employee IDs from Federal, PA, PA County or PA Municipal governments.
Learn more. Visit votesPA.com | 1-877 VotesPA (868-3772) @VotesPA |
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COMICS
The Rocket
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October 26, 2012
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Horoscopes By Nancy Black Tribune Media Services (MCT) To d ay ' s Bi r t h d ay (10/26/12). This is a great year to build up your nest egg. Career opportunities arise; flexibility and willingness to try something new propel you forward. Expect changes. Adaptability can be fun. Keep it all grounded with love. To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (Mar. 21-April 19) -- Today is a 5 -- Speak from the heart. You can get whatever you stand for, even if romantic issues challenge. You're stronger for the next two days. Make plans that generate income. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 6 -- It's a time of introspection. Have your partner represent you. It's hard to decide what to buy, and what to put on hold for later. Focus on long-range goals, and don't stress. Not worth it. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 6 -- You can easily do two things at once, but watch out for toes you don't want to step on (especially those of a loved
one). Moderate a clash between normally gentle souls. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Make sure you know what's required to get the job done. Consult a female expert, and listen to new ideas. Stand outside the controversy as much as possible for the next two days. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -Today is a 5 -- You're full of wild and crazy ideas, and some of them might work, but when it comes to romance, not right this second. Present your thoughts with compassion. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- You may hit a bump in the tunnel of love. Don't worry, you've got the words. Compromise is required. There's room for financial improvement, too. Keep in action. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Postpone a romantic moment, for just a little bit. Let somebody else take care of you for the next two days. Learn to take risks from interesting people. Music enhances mental focus. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Make time for love, despite possible confrontations. Listening
with special attention pays dividends. You're entering a very busy phase. Bath or shower meditations generate brilliance. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Make up a wish list for the perfect romance and watch love blossom, with some help from your friends. You may as well pop the question, today or tomorrow. Share feelings. Capricorn (Dec. 22Jan. 19) -- Today is a 6 -Opposites attract, even now. The action is behind the scenes. It's a good day to file away papers and get the household in order. Enjoy the results. Aquarius (Jan. 20Feb. 18) -- Today is a 5 -- You're very attractive now, and extra brilliant. Others ask your advice. Invest in communications infrastructure. Add some relaxation to the equation. Write, record and get it down. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Make money while you can, but don't lose your passion in that focus. There are so many other things to celebrate and experience. Doing what you love increases interest and money.
Solution
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October 26, 2012
SPORTS
October 26, 2012
The Rocket
B-1
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Junior running back Jimmy Zubik rushes into the end zone to get a two-point conversion against Edinboro University last Saturday during the Homecoming Game. The conversion allowed Slippery Rock to regain the lead and the momentum to go on and win the game in overtime, 38-31.
Rock defeats Edinboro in overtime By DJ Vasil Rocket Contributor
It was a chilly and windy homecoming game at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, and four quarters wasn’t enough in deciding the winner between Slippery Rock and Edinboro. The Rock (4-4, 3-2) needed just three plays in overtime, as junior quarterback Nigel Barksdale hooked up with junior receiver LaQuinn StephensHowling for what would be the game winning score, as the Rock defeated the Fighting Scots, 38-31. “That play was so exciting,” Barksdale said. “I dropped back and I already knew what we had going on. I looked off the defense, then came back to LaQuinn and he tripped, then I stepped back and he shook the backer and he just had to catch it.” The Rock defense tightened up and stopped the Fighting Scots on four plays on Edinboro's only possession of overtime. Barksdale finished the game 15-30 for 239 yards and three touchdowns and three interceptions. He also
ran for a game high 96 yards on 30 carries and one touchdown. Stephens-Howling also scored a 42-yard touchdown on the opening possession to finish the game with just the two catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Despite giving up 403 yards of offense, the Rock defense sacked Edinboro quarterback junior Cody Harris nine times. SRU senior defensive end Jeff Thompson recorded three sacks and also had 11 tackles. “That was our main focus coming into this game,” Thompson said. “It was to attack the quarterback. Harris is a tough player and a great competitor. Our goal was to keep getting up and coming after him. You have to respect him.”
En route to the Rock victory, there were four lead changes in the game. SRU got out to a 9-0 lead before Edinboro took the lead for the first time in the third quarter 17-16. It was a sloppy game played by both teams as they combined for 26 penalties. SRU was penalized 12 times for 110 yards. Edinboro was penalized 14 times for 114 yards. The Rock offense also was a perfect 4-4 inside the red zone while Edinboro went 4-8. "We give credit to our defense,” Rock head coach George Mihalik said. “That’s been our situation, teams get in our red zone, but we keep them from getting points. Also, give credit to our offense, when you get down there, you have to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Sports
B-2
October 26, 2012
SRU prepares for Cal-U rematch By DJ Vasil Rocket Contributor
Slipper y Rock University football is on a two-game winning streak, their first winning streak of the year. Continuing that winning streak, however, will be a tough task as they hit the road to take on the No. 13 Vulcans of California University of Pennsylvania at Adamson Stadium. The Rock (4-4, 3-2) defeated Cal-U (7-1, 5-0) last year 17-3 en route to winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-West Division title. But, it was the latter that wound up in the Division II National Playoffs. The Rock defense will be faced with the tough task of shutting down a high powered passing attack. Cal-U averages 451.9 yards per game, 314.2 of those yards coming through the air. Cal-U features the second ranked passer in the PSAC in senior Peter Lalich. Lalich has completed 154 passes on 244 attempts for 2,143 yards, and 17 touchdowns. “It’s extremely important that we have to get pressure on them,” Rock head coach George Mihalik said. “It will be difficult though because their offensive line is very good and four out of the five starts are seniors. They are real solid up front. It will be a tough challenge for our defensive line.” Cal-U’s receiving core is led by junior receiver Mike Williams who has 53 catches for 762 yards and six touchdowns. He is complimented by junior receiver Trey Johnson who has been just as effective in catching the ball, with 39 catches for 522
yards and five touchdowns. D e f e n s i v e l y, C a l - U h a s recorded 23 sacks. Junior defensive lineman BJ Stevens and Darnell Hardings have combined for 13.5 out of the 23 sacks. “Hardings and Stevens are excellent edge players,” Mihalik said. “You have to mix up offensive schemes to keep them off balance. If they get us in a passing situation, it will be tough to keep them out of our backfield.” Freshman offensive lineman Joe LoSchiavo will have the tough task of trying to block Stevens. “He’s mostly a speed rusher guy,” LoSchiavo said. “I’m just working on foot work. I go against Jeff Thompson every day in pass pro, so he gives me the best look in one on ones. I’m not too concerned about the defensive ends because I’ve adapted to all the defensive ends I’ve gone against this year. I just have to play my game.” Cal-U safety Rontez Miles is the reigning PSAC-West defensive player of the year and was a first team All-American performer last year. He leads the team 60 tackles and is tied for the conference lead in interceptions with four. “He covers the entire field from the safety position,” Mihalik said. “He is a physical player. Against Cal, you have to be concerned about passes over the middle because of the range that Miles has. The deep ball, especially, because he can get from one sideline to the middle in a hurry.” Junior quarterback Nigel Barksdale has become the playmaker on offense for the Green and White with his ability to run and pass.
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Junior wide receiver LaQuinn Stephens-Howling completes a 42-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Nigel Barksdale at the Homecoming Game against Edinboro University last Saturday. Stephens-Howling completed two touchdowns against Edinboro, including the game winning touchdown in overtime.
Barksdale will need to continue to play at a high level in order to take down the nationally ranked Vulcans. “After these two wins my confidence is building up and I feel like our team is well prepared
to play Cal this Saturday,” Barksdale said. “Any big key element on the defensive football field really doesn’t affect me that much because I’m a running quarterback. Most people bypass that I can throw the ball well and
I think they will have their hands full this Saturday.” The Rock will return home next Saturday to finish PSACWest play against Lock Haven University (0-8, 0-5). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Get Involved! Next Senate Meeting November 5, 2012 @ 8:45pm
We have an open position for...
In The Robert M. Smith Student Center Theater
Next Board of Cooperative Activities Meeting November 1 during common hour in room 322
-Building F Senator
… Apply to be a senator today! This week’s movie…
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@SRSGA Saturday October 27th Butler Shopping Trip Bus picks up at the Student Center at 2:00 - 4:00 - 6:00
Friday at 4pm & 8pm Sunday at 8pm In the Student Center Theater
Bus picks up at Weisenfluh Dining Hall at 1:55 - 3:55 - 5:55
October 26, 2012
Sports
B-3
Men's XC takes fourth Rock men's soccer beats East Stroudsburg with 59 points, followed by Lock Haven with 88 points, the Rock with 94 points, and Shippensburg with 162 points. Head coach John Papa was pleased with his team’s effort in the race, as they were in competition for a spot on the podium with East Stroudsburg and Lock Haven for the entire race. Papa believes there is a lot of reason for optimism, after missing third by a mere six points. “In my opinion, this was by far our best race of the year,” said Papa, “A 13 second spread between our first and fifth place finishers is really impressive.” When asked about the possibilities of reaching nationals, Papa said there was a very strong chance. To reach nationals, Slippery Rock must finish in the top three at Regionals next weekend. The squad was led by all-PSAC performances from sophomore Chris Grooms and junior Michael Beegle. Grooms took 14th, finishing the 8,000 meter course in 26:17. Beegle finished in 26:22, claiming 17th. “I finally had a good race, so I'm really excited to see what I can do next weekend,” Beegle said about his effort on Saturday. Coming in 21st, and just missing an allPSAC honor was junior Travis Arrigoni, who crossed the finish line in 26:27. Finishing directly behind Arrigoni were seniors Eric Geddis and Alex Koksal who finished the course in 26:29 and 26:30, good for 22nd and 23rd, respectively. MIKE SCHNELLE/SPORTS INFORMATION “It was my best performance,” said Geddis, Junior Michael Beegle sprints to the finish line at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference “But for what our team goals are, all of us are Championships last Saturday at Cooper's Lake going to have to what we did at PSACs, but Campground. better. We saw what we need to do and it's in reach, we just need to go take it.” By Cody Gray To prepare for the regional meet, the Rock Rocket Contributor is planning on keeping the same routine that The Slippery Rock men’s cross country team got them to this point, according to Beegle. took fourth place in the Pennsylvania State The NCAA Atlantic Regional meet Athletic Conference Championships this will be held at Lock Haven University on past Saturday at Cooper’s Lake Campground, November 3. missing third by only six points. The top three teams in the standings Edinboro took first place at the PSAC meet, will earn a ticket to the NCAA Division II finishing with 34 points. Taking second was National Championships in Joplin, Mo.
Gannon, clinches playoff spot By Kristin Karam Assistant Sports Editor
The Slippery Rock men’s soccer team upset Gannon University 2-1 Wednesday to clinch a spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs. Heading into the game, the Rock was coming off of a 0-0 double overtime tie against West Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday. The tie kept the team in the running for a playoff spot but did not guarantee them anything. Senior defender Drew Donoghue was extremely proud of the team’s performance and the win over Gannon. “Gannon is a very talented team,” Donoghue said. “To beat them, especially on their senior night, was awesome. They have had a great season and are currently ranked 12th in the nation. To beat a team of this caliber is always an accomplishment.” SRU was the first to find the goal at the 15th minute mark with a shot from freshman midfielder Ryan Lutke. Gannon’s Tyler Hollingsworth found the net in the 31st minute to tie the game 1-1. Sophomore forward Stephen Donnelly said that the Knight’s goal didn’t affect the team’s focus heading into the second half. “We kept the same mentality that we had in the first half,” Donnelly said. “We knew if we stuck to our game plan and kept playing the way we were playing, we would come out on top.” Slippery Rock came out firing in the second half with several shots on goal and a solid performance by the defense. They capitalized on a scoring opportunity in the 68th minute with a goal from sophomore midfielder Brandon Chiu. The game winning goal came off of a long pass across the field from Donnelly, earning him an assist on the play. The score remained 2-1 the rest of the game,
allowing the Green and White to claim a spot in the playoffs. Senior goalkeeper Clayton Master made three saves in goal to earn the win. “It’s unbelievable,” Donnelly said. “I can’t even explain the emotions we were feeling after the game. We knew if we got the result we would secure playoffs. It was an amazing feeling to get the win.” The team has missed playoffs the past two seasons after winning the conference against Millersville University 2-1 in 2009. SRU also made it to the second round of the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Tournament, losing 3-2 to the University of Charleston. Donoghue was a part of the 2009 time and is grateful for the opportunity to be in the playoffs again during his senior year. “It’s so rewarding to make it into the playoffs,” Donoghue said. “That’s always a team goal and we plan to take advantage of this opportunity, win the PSAC and make it to the national tournament. Being an upperclassman and a senior, I couldn’t be more pleased with the team and the effort they put in day in and day out.” Everything is coming together for the team, Donoghue said. “I wish we would’ve been playing this type of soccer from the beginning of the season,” Donoghue said. “Teams should not want to play us and worry about playing Slippery Rock. We’re in the playoffs and that’s all that matters now.” Slippery Rock will close out their regular season with a PSAC match against Lock Haven University Saturday at 12 p.m. Despite already having a playoff spot, Donnelly said the team is not going to play it safe against the Bald Eagles. “We’re going to come out flying against Lock Haven to close out our regular season with a win,” Donnelly said. The PSAC Quarterfinals start on Tuesday. The Rock will find out who they will be playing and where after their match against Lock Haven.
B-4
October 26, 2012
Women's XC places sixth Women's soccer
MIKE SCHNELLE/SPORTS INFORMATION
Senior captain Kara Styles leads a pack up a hill at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships at Cooper's Lake Campground. Styles made All-PSAC team with her 18th place finish.
By Matthew Morgan
fifth, and this past Saturday they placed sixth at the PSAC Championships held at Prior to the start of the Cooper’s Lake Campground. season, the Pennsylvania Both seniors, Stephanie State Athletic Conference Case, finishing 12th, and conducted a coaches poll to Kara Styles, finishing 18th, estimate where the teams claimed a spot on the Allwould finish up the seasons. PSAC team this season, with In that poll, the Slippery their top-20 finishes. Rock women's cross country Not only did Styles earn team was picked to finish a place on the All-PSAC Rocket Contributor
team, but she also received Champion Scholar Award to go with last year's Outdoor Track award. The honor is given to the athlete who holds the highest GPA. Styles has successfully held a 4.0 through all 144 credit hours that she has taken. Senior Abby Michaelian placed 27th, sophomore Janine Powis took 34th, and freshman Karly Knechtel finished in 58th to round out the top five for the Rock. Powis has surged into competition for a top-five finish in nearly every race. “I was happy with my race this past weekend and I am excited for the rest of the season and to start track,” Powis said. “I’m making sure I get enough sleep and eating well, along with getting some good long runs and workouts in to prepare for Regionals next weekend.” Nobody knows better of the potential that these women hold, better than head coach John Papa. “I was pleased with our team’s performance at the PSAC race, but we still did not have the total outstanding race that we are capable of having,” Papa said. “I believe all the runners gave their all the entire season and I am proud of their efforts. I always enjoy coaching our teams regardless of how they finish.” The Rock will be participating in the NCAA D iv i s i on I I R e g i ona l Championships at Lock Haven University on November 3.
earns playoff berth against Edinboro By Nikolas Horniacek Rocket Contributor
After clinching a playoff berth last Saturday afternoon at Edinboro University, the Slipper y Rock University women’s soccer team fell to Gannon University 2-1 on Wednesday evening in another Pe n ns y lv an i a St at e At h l e t i c Conference match-up. Slippery Rock falls to 9-5-2 overall and 6-5-2 in PSAC play. No. 24 Gannon advances to 12-3-1 overall and 9-3-1 in PSAC games. The Rock finished the game with an 11-9 deficit in total shots and a 7-5 deficit in shots on goal, but the Rock appeared dominant at many times, as witnessed by their 7-1 corner kick advantage. Slipper y Rock had multiple chances and maintained solid possession. “It wasn’t the result we were looking for,” junior goalkeeper Dana O’Neill said. “In the end we have to put our opportunities away. We can’t win without putting some goals in the back of the net.” Gannon opened up the scoring in the 23rd minute, with a goal by Amanda Gallant, which would last until halftime. The Golden Knights would tack another point on the scoreboard in the 79th minute, with a goal by Michelle Genetin, which would become the game winner. Junior midfielder Lauren Impey answered immediately two minutes later, off of senior captain Emer Flatley’s assist. O’Neill finished the game with four saves in goal.
L ast Saturd ay at Edinb oro University, Slippery Rock clinched a playoff berth in the PSAC with a 1-1 double overtime draw. The Rock appeared to have locked up the win in the 90th minute, when freshmen midfielder Crysta Ganter hammered the ball across the goal line as the horn sounded, but the referees would call it back. “Yes, the call was controversial,” O’Neill said, “but we need to score more so the game doesn’t come down to one final opportunity.” Impey tallied the opening goal of the game in the 28th minute off of junior midfielder Stephanie Buckenheimer. The lead would stand until the 69th minute, when Edinboro's Liz Debo notched the tying goal, her 12th on the year. Both teams had chances to claim the lead in overtime, but both goalies rose to the occasion. O’Neill came up clutch when she stopped a breakaway in the 106th minute. She finished the game with seven saves in goal for the Rock. Edinboro had advantages of 16-7 in total shots, 8-4 in shots on goal, and 3-2 in corner kicks. Slippery Rock will close the regular season tomorrow with a 2:30 p.m. match at Lock Haven University. With the loss on Wednesday, the Green and White will face an opening round road game in the PSAC playoffs next Wednesday. The Rock are likely candidates for the No. 7, seed which would see them traveling to No. 2 California University of Pa. The final seedings will be set after Saturday’s matches.
October 26, 2012
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COMMITTEE MEETINGS UPCOMING EVENTS Events Committee: Tuesdays @8pm Plan Homecoming events, carnivals, plus many more events Speakers Committee: Thursdays @7pm Schedule speakers, lectures or debates for students to attend oncampus Marketing Committee: Thursdays @7:30pm Help advertise and promote all upcoming UPB events Concerts Committee: Thursdays @8:30pm Plan the concerts that happen on-campus. Past concerts include Wiz Khalifa, Drake, and T.I.
For more information, go to http://www.srupb.com/
November 13th: Sports Symposium **See sports personalities Linda Cohn, Adam Schefter, and Desmond Howard discuss sports Topics December 9th: Mac Miller Concert **Stay tuned to our social media pages and website for more info
@SRUPB
Slippery Rock University Program Board
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October 26, 2012
The Rocket
CAMPUS LIFE C-1 October 26, 2012
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Players involved in Humans vs. Zombies, a game intended to imitate a zombie invasion, run through the quad with Nerf guns as weaponry. SRU will host its first Humans vs. Zombies invitational involving other colleges in the tri-state area tomorrow.
Humans vs. Zombies: By Alyssa Cirincione Rocket Contributor
A gaming phenomenon that has numerous people on campus talking, Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ) is a game played world-wide consisting of more than just two teams that run around and shoot each other with Nerf guns, according to sophomore political science and creative writing major Aristotle Piso. “We have athletes, fraternity and sorority members, ROTC members and many more that are involved with HvZ,” Piso said. “So it’s not just your stereotypical nerds that are involved, we have a wide variety of people that come together for one purpose and that is to have fun and meet new people.” As one of the moderators for the game and also the vice president of the Urban Gaming Club, Piso, 21, stressed that being a moderator is not only fun, but it’s also very time consuming and hard work. “As a moderator, you can’t play the game, since you write the story lines and come up with missions, you don’t want to be bias to one team or another,” Piso said. “We keep growing each semester, having almost 100
Campus-wide recreational game attracts close to 100 student players with storyline, intense gameplay
players now. We’re expected to have one half as many players next semester. When you have all of these people texting you and asking you questions about the game, it can become very time consuming.” Elaborating more on what the game is all about, John Groom, a sophomore secondary education English and Spanish major, explained that there is a very organized system in place for HvZ. “We have a website that players register on, sruHvZ.co.nr, and they get their own code, and once a human gets tagged by a zombie, they give the zombie their code and they enter it on the website, changing that human into a zombie,” Groom said. “It also feeds the zombies, because after 48 hours, it kills the zombies and they can’t enter that code any longer.” Groom, 19, explained the rules more in depth and the meaning of the missions that are done during the game. “If a human is tagged by a zombie, we know that they turn into a zombie, but if a zombie is tagged by a human, the rules change,” Groom said. “The zombie that is tagged is stunned for a predetermined amount of time. Here, we do
15 minutes, so that way you can stun them and go off to your class. A mission, however, is a story line objective that progresses the game and at the end of the game, the final mission is essentially the combination of the entire story line that determines if the humans win or lose.” Being completely aware of the negative attention that HvZ gets on campus, Groom said it’s nothing to take too seriously. “What some people do in our group, which I’m not an advocate for, is they’ll go back and attack the people who are attacking us, verbally through email, Twitter and Facebook,” Groom sighed. “To me, that’s not the right way to go about it. I think the best way to go about it is to continue the game and keep playing. We’re out to have fun, they’re doing their own things to have fun. Just because they disagree with what we’re doing, doesn’t mean we have to stoop to their level of criticism.” Most of the negative comments and arguments about HvZ mostly take place on social networks, like Twitter and Facebook. Twitter, one of the most commonly used social networks around SRU’s campus, gets most of SEE GAME, PAGE C-3
Old Stone House’s “Spooky Stories” connects community with local history By Courtney Tietje Assistant Campus Life Editor
With Halloween right around the corner, many college students are spending some of their time searching for entertaining and spooky local haunts – one of which being just minutes away from campus. SRU’s Old Stone House, located just south of Slippery Rock along Route 8, hosted its Spooky Stories Program yesterday evening, and is hosting it once again tonight from 6-9 p.m. According to assistant professor of history and curator of the Stone House Dr. Aaron Cowan, visitors will tour the house, stopping in each of the Halloween-themed rooms to experience a different activity.
“We try to emphasize the link between local history and the spookier side of that—some ghost stories that have some local [history],” Cowan said. However, Cowan stressed, “We’re very careful to say this isn’t a haunted house. It’s not gory. It’s very family-friendly. It’s a lot of fun.” Jake Miller, 24, a graduate student studying history and assistant curator of the Old Stone House, listed just some of the many free activities that will be happening tonight, including a costume party for children 10 and under, and storytelling by professional storyteller Scott Pavelle. “We’re going to have story tellers, we’re going to have The Center for Paranormal Study and Investigation (CPSI) doing some
ghost investigating, Phi Alpha Theta, which is a history honorary here on campus, will be doing a historical skit, and they’re also doing a presentation on how early Americans viewed death and mortality,” Miller said. The House’s history proves it a viable location for the Spooky Stories nights. It was built in 1822, and served as an inn along a coach route from Pittsburgh to Erie until the 1870’s. Thereafter, it was loaned out as a farmstead. After years of disuse, it fell into a state of disrepair, according to Cowan. “In 1963, the western Pennsylvania conservancy reconstructed it, and they did, at that time, a pretty thorough reconstruction,” SEE LOCAL, PAGE C-3
SRU’s first-ever HvZ invitational to be held By Alyssa Cirincione Rocket Contributor
When hearing the word invitational, what often comes to mind for most people is an invitational meant for common sporting events, but for SRU, the upcoming invitational to be held tomorrow is one of a different kind. SRU will be hosting its first Human vs. Zombies (HvZ) invitational, where students from all different campuses will come together and play a large-scale version of the game. According to senior political science major Becky Soloman, extensive planning was needed for this invitational to be a success. “It’s a big project,” Soloman said. “We spent all summer on Skype and Facebook planning a story line for the invitational. We had to modify the rules of the game since other schools will be here for safety issues, and also we had to set up housing for them to stay in.” Soloman, 22, is the Urban Gaming Club president. She said her job is to make sure everything runs smoothly, from normal HvZ games, to planning big invitationals like this upcoming one. “It runs all day, 12 hours straight,” Soloman said. “That’s almost two weeks of game play all put into one day.” Ryan Noblet, a junior Emerging Tech and Multimedia major, is also a moderator for the Fall 2012 Invitational. Noblet, 20, elaborated on what goes into planning for the Invitational and what schools are expected to attend. “We planned for three months of summer creating missions, graphic designing for player identification cards and advertisements, and ironing out rules,” Noblet explained. “Even once we returned to school, the moderators had to spend time creating cardboard box props, writing lengthy journal entries and scripts, finding actors to play “Non-Player Characters” and of course, inviting the other schools who are going to participate. Currently, there are three schools confirmed. Slippery Rock, Penn State, and Youngstown State.” Being that this is SRU’s first HvZ Invitational, Noblet said that it is very anticipated by the students that are involved in the organization. “Total player estimates have been between 150 and 300, while our SRU-only games have between 75 and 100 players per semester,” Noblet said. “The Invitational is easily going to be the biggest game of HvZ in campus history, and with what we have planned, it will probably be the best of all of them, too.”
Campus Life
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Tips to make great DIY Halloween costumes
Katie Ellis "ROCK'n Fashion" Halloween is right around the corner, so turn off AMC’s “Fear Fest” and get to work on your costume. If you haven’t decided what you’re going to wear, don’t worry, there is still time to put together a fun costume. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a costume that you’re more than likely going to wear once, here are some costefficient ideas to get you started. Before going out and buying something new, head to your closet for some inspiration. There are a number of characters from film and television with looks that are easy enough to recreate with clothing that you already have. Daisy Duke is an iconic character from “The Dukes of Hazzard,” originally played by Catherine Bach and more recently by Jessica Simpson in the 2005 big screen adaptation. In order to transform into Daisy this Halloween, there are a few key pieces you must have in order to rock her trademark look. First and foremost, is a pair of denim shorts. To stay true to Daisy Duke
fashion, the shorter your shorts, the better. Wear either a cropped t-shirt or a tied plaid oxford with a pair of boots to finish off the look. Get “risky” and show up to your Halloween party as Tom Cruise’s character from the classic movie, “Risky Business.” This is another look that should be simple to recreate with a few items from your closet and one item in particular from your boyfriend’s closet. The most important article of clothing that you need to wear to replicate Cruise’s look is an oversized white oxford. Underneath your white shirt, wear a pair of white shorts to make your look appropriate for a party. Don’t forget to wear a pair of high white socks and black wayfarers while you’re dancing the night away to your favorite songs. Holly Golightly is one of film’s most beloved characters brought to life in the 1961 classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Audrey Hepburn. Every girl should have an LBD, or little black dress, in her closet, and this Halloween is the perfect time to bring it out to play dress up as New York’s favorite society girl. While Holly is known for wearing black kitten heels around the city, most girls today can’t be found in anything but stilettos, so feel free to modernize this part of your look. Next, accessorize your look with pearl earrings, necklaces,
and bracelets to capture her classic elegance. Finalize your look with a chic bun, and slip on a pair of black wayfarers, and there’s no doubt you’ll be the spitting image of one of America’s favorite icons. Ins te a d of putt i ng together a costume from the clothes that you have in your closet, swap last year’s costume for one of your friend’s older costumes. Before heading out, have a costume swapping party with your friends. Doing this before you go out will force you to make a quick decision, so you don’t have time to overthink your choice. Head over to your friend’s dorm room, turn on some music, and let the fun begin. This Halloween, get creative in order to save yourself some money on an outfit that’ll be shoved in the back of your closet by the end of the weekend. Looking to movies and television shows is a great way to find inspiration, but if neither of these mediums leave you feeling inspired, don’t be afraid to dress as your favorite superhero or literary heroine. By wearing clothing that you already have, you will feel more comfortable in what you’re wearing, and you’re likely to have a better time if you feel confident in yourself. Katie Ellis is a sophomore journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
October 26, 2012
Ask Ana
Dear Ana, Is mayonnaise a musical instrument? I Appreciate SpongeBob References
"Ana Graham" Dear Ana, I used to work with a single mom who was a very bad employee. She came back late from breaks, and did absolutely as little as she could possibly get away with. She came into my new job yesterday and asked me if they were hiring. I could get her a job here easily because we are looking and employee suggestions get a first chance, but I don’t want to put my reputation here on the line by supporting a terrible worker. But, she has a kid, so I feel kind of guilty about that. Should I just risk it? Job on the Line Dear Job, You don’t have any obligation to this woman, and if your reputation or anything about your job is at stake, don’t put a word in for her. That said, however, don’t bash her to your employer. Tell him or her the truth if they ask, but otherwise don’t mention it. If she’s hired, she’s hired, but if not then she isn’t and it’s no skin off of your back. She may have a child, but that means she needs to be all the more mature to actually hold a job to take care of that child. Also, it is very likely that she’ll be able to find work elsewhere. Don’t think her livelihood is based only on getting hired at your job.
Dear References, No Patrick, mayonnaise is not an instrument. Horseradish is not an instrument either. Dear Ana, My friend recently gave birth and the baby daddy is disputing the paternity. She used to be the quiet nerdy type, but since high school has become the loud duck-faced internet-speaking complainer with awful grammar everyone typically ignores or blocks on Facebook. She had an argument with the baby daddy by private message and then posted every single one of their messages on Facebook for everyone to see. They were very intimate and offensive and I’m a horrible person to say this, but very hilarious. I couldn’t stop reading and laughing at it because it was so ridiculous. Anyway, I don’t know if I should tell her that it is not very smart to be broadcasting her dirty laundry on the internet. Maybe she needs this wisdom, or maybe she’ll get mad at me for telling her what to do. That Facebook Friend Dear Friend, Given your description of this girl, I’ve got to ask the obvious question - why are you still her friend? People like this tend to find advice very hostile and she will probably not take it very well if you critique her choice in what she posts online. But don’t laugh at what she’s going through and don’t use her posts for entertainment. That makes
you a total jerk. Simply de-friend her online. As much as you wish to, you have no right to tell her what she shouldn’t post. You definitely don’t have the right to make fun of her either – the only acceptable thing you can possibly make fun of her for is making a duck face because that is just hilariously bad. Dear Ana, Everyone loves pumpkin smelling and tasting stuff this time of year, but I hate it. I know that it is a marketing ploy by evil pumpkin farmers because pumpkins are gross and useless and this is the only way they can make money, by making people think that it is good in lattes, cakes, and candles. Why are people such pathetic sheep who follow this trend? Hater Dear Hater, Next you’re going to tell me that The Great Pumpkin isn’t real. Such sacrilege! You are an awful person because pumpkins are absolutely delightful. People go crazy over pumpkin everything during this season because it is the only time of year that they can indulge in it. Pumpkin spice lattes are a blessing, not a curse. Freshly roasted and salted pumpkin seeds taken directly from a future jack o’ lantern to the oven create a smell from my childhood memories that I will never forget. You not liking pumpkins makes me certain that you must have never had a childhood. To submit a question, search for Ask Ana on Facebook, or send an email to askanagraham@ymail.com. "Ana Graham" is a senior public relations major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
Campus Life
October 26, 2012
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Military veterans struggle with lasting effects of PTSD By Rebecca Marcucci Rocket Contributor
Temperatures of desert heat, wind blowing and dust kicking up, American soldiers have made their way into Iraqi territory. Nationalism is ideal, fear is the reality. Bravery is sought after while trying not to miss home, until trauma settles in. Psychology professor Dr. Jennifer Sanftner explained varying degrees of trauma and how they can affect soldiers through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “PTSD is someone’s reaction to trauma outside of rational thinking,” Sanftner said. “Many times the disorder appears as flashbacks, dreams, or memories.” Some individuals think it is best to suppress their thoughts associated with war, according to Sanftner. “In order to stifle the images in their minds, some turn to substance abuse,” Sanftner said. “Others feel
personal shame and find it hard to sleep most nights.” “It doesn’t make for polite conversation. People usually change the subject when you tell them the kinds of things you’ve seen,” Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) enrollment officer Captain Bryan W. Morgan, 32, said. Censoring his thoughts is something he feels he has to do sometimes, Morgan said, but he still remembers. “The first time I saw a dead body, I saw the doctors carrying a guy on a stretcher. I thought he looked pretty limp. But I realized what had happened,” Morgan said. In 2005, Morgan, a 24 year-old infantry officer, was deployed for 31 months, 16 months in Ramadi, near central Iraq and 15 months in Baghdad. The lasting effects, he said, are something he tries to deal with. “I try to keep a level head,” Morgan
said. “And I’d like to think I’ve gotten my PTSD more under control. I just need to remind myself sometimes not to overreact.” Controlling ‘combat mode’ can sometimes be difficult to deal with, but Morgan said he is able to take a deep breath and keep a level head. “It is my job as an ROTC officer whether I am wearing my uniform or not to carry myself with a sense of professionalism and to help serve,” Morgan said. Sophomore computer science major Jordan McKee, 26, said most days he would rather not think about his lasting effects with PTSD. After basic military training in Ft. Knox, Ky., McKee was sent to Freiburg, Germany for further training until he was sent to Iraq in 2005 as a cavalry scout where he also escorted explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts. McKee was on call 24/7, he said,
and most days he did not get much sleep. He remembers a specific day when the Humvees were on a convoy and he had been fighting sleep, and after blinking once he could not believe his eyes. “I hear this noise and I see the cabin of the Humvee filled with smoke,” McKee said. “It was like time had just stopped and everything was in slow motion. We start rolling and I hit my head off of the roof. That was the last thing I remember.” Everyone in the convoy survived and there were no serious injuries, McKee said. But he remembered seeing the vehicle after the attack and his initial reaction. “I started laughing hysterically and all I thought was, ‘Let’s do that again!’ I still can’t explain why I thought that,” he said. “We were lucky.” McKee said he remembers seeing a trash bag on the side of the road
one day and thought maybe he’d kick it. “There was a pipe bomb inside,” McKee said. “We followed the command wires to the end where we saw a card with Sadaam Hussein’s face engraved on it in gold leaf, I doubt it was anything meant to be too friendly.” Fortunately, the EOD squad was able to neutralize the bomb, McKee said. During his tour, after McKee witnessed the remains of many Iraqi civilians and witnessing the aftereffects of fellow American soldiers who had stepped on landmines, he knew he had seen too much, he said. “Before I made my way to Slippery Rock, I was a drifter,” McKee said. “Do you know those transparent overlays on a map? Imagine yourself walking and seeing nothing but the landscape of the Middle East, I couldn’t escape it.”
Local landmark entertains, educates for Halloween Game players negatively labeled Continued from Page C-1
he said. “Any parts of the building that were still standing, they numbered the stones and put them right back where they had been before and used other materials to kind of construct the house along the lines of what they knew about the design.” Cowan also mentioned that there are many strange, if vague, stories that have filled the Old Stone House. One such story that Miller described is known as the Wigton Massacre, the first capital punishment case to take place in Butler, Pa. The story, according to Miller, follows Sam Mohawk, a Native American from the Seneca tribe. Mohawk allegedly had intended to stay overnight at the Stone House but, while intoxicated, wound up in a fight with the inn keeper and was kicked out of the house. Mohawk traveled two miles north to where the Wigton family lived.
Mr. Wigton had left early that morning for his father’s house, and so Mrs. Wigton and her five children were alone when Mohawk entered the house and killed them all. “He essentially confessed to [the murder] but plead not guilty at the trial for reasons of insanity,” Miller said. “They found him guilty, and he was hung and buried in Butler.” Cowan said that the skit being performed by Phi Alpha Zeta will depict Mohawk’s trial. Many of the stories connected with the house, according to Cowan, are only partly based on fact, and many are based solely on lore. “[The House] got this sort of unsavory reputation by the mid-19th century. It was a place where criminals hung out, and there was a gang that used it as their location, sort of their headquarters where they slept,” he said. “But some of [the stories are] a bit vague if you read all the histories. They say
many strange occurrences happened at the Stone House, and so it seemed that there was local lore and some of that we think now may have been the criminals that stayed at the Stone House making up stories about that house to keep people from going there because they didn’t want to be discovered.” Whether you choose to believe the stories or not is up to you, said Miller, but he stressed the main reason for events like the Spooky Stories Program. “The Old Stone House exists primarily to teach about history,” Miller said. “We want people to see that it’s not just a bunch of facts and a list of things to remember, but if you go to the Old Stone House, you can actually see the thing set up and get an idea for how people lived and hopefully that’s something that people will be interested in. A lot of people are. Just having the Stone House there is a way to teach people about history in a new and interesting way.”
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the attention from people who disagree with the game. One of the accounts on Twitter that openly bashes the people involved in HvZ is @SRUproblems. One of their tweets, for example, said, “Breaking news: Zombie being held hostage in Starbucks broom closet, humans are asking for a social life.” Some other students have very strong negative opinions about the game as well, and at times choose to display it on social media. Piso, 21, said he thinks it’s funny that people sit around and talk negatively about HvZ on social networks, but he does understand why people do laugh at the game. “I just brush the negativity off, but I do realize that we make ourselves a target, since we’re running around campus with a Nerf blaster,” Piso said. “We all understand that it looks silly, but adults play on flag football leagues and softball leagues. We’re just playing a different kind of game that not everyone is used to, so they shut it down. I find it interesting that some people are against it, then they go home and play Call of Duty and other video games. It’s not that much different from Call of Duty, except we’re actually being active. Instead of going to the ARC and running on a machine, we’re running outside and having fun with our friends, and that’s what it’s all about.”
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October 26, 2012