SRU Rocket 10-21-11

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Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper

Friday, October 21, 2011

LEXI KOVSKI/THE ROCKET

Parliamentarian Zach Dornisch, Senator Oliver Laniear, and Senator Justina Cerra express concern about President Jordan Bailley's sudden decision to change the homecoming process.

Est. 1934

Volume 94, Number 7

LEXI KOVSKI/ROCKET

Executive board members Carmen Fortunato, Jim Henry and Jordan Bailley address concerns about the homecoming process at the SGA meeting on Thursday, October 13th.

Sudden decision causes controversy within SGA By Courtney Nickle Editor-In-Chief And

Steph Holsinger Assistant News Editor

Slippery Rock University Student Government Association (SGA) President Jordan Bailley made an executive decision on Friday, Oct. 7 to disband the original

homecoming court and allow all 37 applicants the chance to campaign and be included on the ballot.

Bailley announced at the senate meeting Thursday, Oct. 13 that he had formed an ad hoc committee to investigate the constitutionality of his decision.

S G A Pa r l i a m e nt a r i a n Zachariah Dornisch and Commuter Senator Corey Street will chair the committee.

Bailley will not be involved with

Homecoming brawl ends in tased student

the committee.

Bailley appointed Dornisch as parliamentarian at the senate meeting Oct. 13.

“Being appointed and sworn into the position of parliamentarian during the same meeting in which the homecoming decision was being discussed was stressful,” Dornisch said.

SGA’s executive board is currently working to appoint the members of the committee

to review the homecoming decision, which will most likely consist of members of the student body and faculty, according to Dornisch. “[Street] and I have met to discuss the committee and will be meeting later this week to further discuss the committee and work on setting an agenda,” Dornisch said.

Article II, section six of SGA’s constitution found at srusga. com states “the senate shall

have final decision making authority for the SRUSGA unless otherwise stipulated herein.”

According to Jim Henry, vice president of student affairs, this means the senate would’ve had to pass Bailley’s decision by a two-thirds vote.

“There’s nothing in the constitution outside of that that can change that or make it right for an executive decision to be made by [Bailley],” he said.

Bailley sent out an email to all students on Friday, Oct. 7 detailing his decision to open up the homecoming ballot to the 37 original applicants.

Prior to that decision, Bailley had met Thursday, Oct. 6 with Dr. Constance Foley and Brad Kovaleski, faculty advisors for SGA, Dr. Jessamine Montero, senior officer for diversity and inclusion, and a student who SEE BAILLEY, PAGE A-2

SRU 2011 grads have five percent unemployment

By Brian Brodeur

By Will Deshong

A song incited a brawl Saturday night at the Black Action Society’s annual homecoming party, according to Black Action Society (BAS) President, 20-yearold accounting major, Mariah Banks.

“A fight broke out and then there was just chaos,” Banks said.

Banks said the last song of the night was to blame, "Knuck if you buck" by Crime Mob, and that opinion was reinforced

by Jeff Brady, a 22-year-old senior criminology major and military police officer in the Navy.

“It was because of a hyper song,” Brady said. “I guess it amped something, and then someone bumped into someone else and it just escalated from there.”

Elford Jarret, a 21-year-old health and public safety major, blamed the song for inciting things.

“The song that was playing just made it a hostile environment,” Jarret said. “The song that played was a fight song and gets everybody’s blood flowing.”

During the altercation, several officers were assaulted and suffered minor injuries, according to Slippery Rock University Chief of Police Michael Simmons. Four people will be charged due to the fights, only two of which are SRU students.

One student was tased by a police officer from a responding agency that was called in after several fights broke out.

The national unemployment rate for individuals with a bachelor’s degree was 4.6 percent this past August, as reported on in part one of this series.

While much lower than the 9.1 percent overall national average, it is more than twice as high as it was before the current economic recession hit.

With the nation slumping in gloomy economic times, students at Slippery Rock University need to be aware that they’re in the same boat as the rest of the country.

According to the u n i v e r s i t y ’s O f f i c e of C are e r Services’ 2011 annual executive report, the unemployment rate for Slipper y Rock University graduates with a bachelor’s degree in 2011 was five percent. While percentage points are higher than the national average this past June, this report was released in June 2011 when the national average was also around five percent.

Like the national average that dropped over the past year, SRU’s unemployment rate for recent graduates fell from seven percent in 2010, but is still more than twice as high as the two percent mark from 2007, prior to the recession.

As a result of the weakening job market, Slippery Rock grads are following the national trend in an increase in students advancing their education beyond a bachelor’s degree. The number of graduates continuing their education has increased

News Editor

SEE USE, PAGE A-2

Rocket Staff Reporter

LIANA PITTMAN/THE ROCKET

Zachary Cabaday, 21-year-old sophomore criminal justice major, bikes for breast cancer awareness.

"Tour de Pink" raises $2,500

By Will Deshong Rocket Staff Reporter

The fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha raised $2,500 riding stationary bikes last week for breast cancer awareness and is still receiving donations.

The “Tour de Pink” was a three-day long event that began on Oct. 12 in which participants alternated in riding a stationary bicycle located outside Bailey Library.

“We wanted to do something philanthropic,” Pi Kappa Alpha President Patrick Cole, 21, said. “We do one or two events every year and thought of this because it’s October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so they went handin-hand.”

The fundraiser was a success as the fraternity sold all of the

t-shirts and bracelets they had for sale, in addition to collecting straight donations.

“We got in touch with the Susan G. Komen foundation and they donated 300 bracelets for us to sell,” Cole said. “We sold those for $2 a piece and we also had shirts made, which sold out in two hours, at $10 a piece.”

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation is the largest breast cancer organization in the country.

The total donation tally has yet to be determined as donations for the event are still coming in a week after its conclusion.

“We had donation forms sent to our families and they’re still coming in,” Cole said. “So not all checks are accounted for because we’re still getting

checks. More people are still ordering shirts, too.”

The fraternity hoped to ride the stationary bike for 74 total hours from last Wednesday up till the parade on Saturday, but had a setback.

“We intended to ride for 74 hours, but on Friday a big gust of wind took our tent out,” Cole said. “We ended up riding about 62 hours, but we still finished on the float.”

With the success of the fundraiser, Cole looks forward to similar events in the future.

“It was our first year doing this,” he said. “Hopefully there are many more to come.”

The “Tour de Pink” closely preceded the fifth annual “In the Pink: Stride for a Cure” breast cancer awareness walk sponsored by the ARC and the Women’s Center.

SEE STUDENTS, PAGE A-2

News

A-2

Rock Notes

PASSHE proposes 2012-2013 budget

By Kaitlyn Yeager Rocket Contributor

Study Abroad Informational Meetings

Interested in traveling to new places, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures? Study Abroad is a great opportunity to do all of these things! To find out more information about Study Abroad come to an Informational Meeting, held weekly on Tuesdays 12:30pm – 1:30pm or Wednesdays 1:00pm – 2:00pm, Carruth Rizza Hall, Room 212.

Act now, the Application Deadlines will soon be fast approaching! Questions? Contact International Services Graduate Assistant Tess Crispin at tmc0451@sru.edu.

Student Teaching Pre-Registration

Students planning on teaching during the Summer/Fall 2012 semester should pre-register for student teaching by November 1, 2011. Please see your advisor for more information.

Students must take all Praxis exams prior to student teaching.

Hispanic/Latino Culture Series Dinner

Slippery Rock University’s Hispanic-Latino Cultures Series Annual Dinner will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011 at El Compadre’s Mexican Restaurant, 1809 S. Center St. Ext, Grove City, from 7:00 pm—8:30 pm. Admission is $6.00 per pre-sale ticket.

No tickets are to be sold at the door; only 75 tickets are available.

Contact Dr. Itzi Meztli at x4933 for further information and/or to purchase pre-sale tickets. Featured Speaker is Wendy Bolivar, and her presentation is entitled: “The increasing relevancy of Hispanics in the United States."

"Kick for a Cure"

The fit club will be sponsoring a kickball tournament on Saturday, October 22nd at 9 a.m. at the MAC fields. The cost will be $30 for a team of 10. All proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation of Pittsburgh. Questions? Contact Liz Bright at eab@sru.edu

37th Annual International Dinner

Tickets are now on sale for the 37th Annual International Dinner, scheduled for Saturday November 12, 7 PM in the UU-MPR. Food and entertainment from around the globe are the highlight of the evening. Tickets must be purchased in advance: $12 for SRU students, $22 for general public, $8 for children under age 12, and available at the University Union Information Desk or on the SRU Website link for Events/Tickets/Calendars. Other questions can be directed to the International Services Office, ext. 2057. This yummy event sells out ever year, so don’t miss you chance to get tickets now!

University Union Room Requests

On November 1, 2011 the University Union will begin processing requests for recurring meetings for spring semester 2012. Organizations may request meeting rooms on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or similar recurring pattern. Union Reservation Request Forms may be obtained at the Union Information Desk or online at http://www.sru.edu/studentlife/union/Pages/scheduling.aspx.

Completed forms should be submitted to the Union Information Desk beginning at 8:00am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011.

Forms may also be faxed to 724-738-2116 or sent via electronic mail to Sharyn.McGallis@sru.edu<mailto:Sharyn.McGallis@sru. edu>. Requests will recurring meetings in spring semester 2012 received prior to 8:00am on November 1, 2011 will be denied. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Cole, Director of the University Union, at 724-738-2718 or Christopher.Cole@sru.edu

To submit a Rock Note to be considered for publication, please send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to: rocket.news@sru.edu Submissions are not guaranteed to be published.

October 21, 2011

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) announced their proposed budget for the 20122013 academic year, which includes an increase of 2.1 percent on October 6.

Kenn Marshall, media relations manager of PASSHE, plans to maintain the level of quality education that students in the state system have received in the past, regardless of the state’s financial problems.

“We are fully committed to providing an affordable education for students, even during this difficult time—this is our first priority,” Marshall said.

Next year’s budget plan for the 14 PASSHE universities will consist of $421.4 million,

which was asked for by the appropriations request that took place on October 6. This is $8.6 million more than the state schools were granted for the 2011-2012 school year.

Board Chair Guido M. Pichini believes that this is an important step for PASSHE, as Pennsylvania has faced many recent economic struggles. “[The additional funding] reflects not only the recession management procedures adopted by the state system to address today’s challenging economic times, but also the need to preserve academic quality and the ability to continuously respond to the changing needs of our students,” Pichini said.

Employees of PASSHE should be expecting an increase in benefits, focusing on health care and retirement contributions,

and those affected by these benefits should expect an increase by 8.6 percent if the proposed budget is passed.

PASSHE’s 2012-13 budget plan is still underway as many issues have not yet been solved.

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Facilities (APSCUF) still remains under negotiations, as the wage components ended last summer.

As the budget agreements come to a close, PASSHE strives for an ending result that will satisfy the universities of the system. Nearly 120,000 students are attending PASSHE universities, while about 500,000 alumni are currently working in Pennsylvania as a result of graduating from the system.

Chancellor Dr. John C. Cavanaugh hopes to give

Use of taser causes concern Continued from Page a-1

Among the responding agencies were the Butler County Sherriff ’s Office, Middlesex Township Police, Slippery Rock Borough Police, Evans City Police, Butler City Police and Cranberry Township Police, according to Simmons.

The student who was tased and arrested was Barry Tyson, a 21-year-old senior criminal justice major at SRU. “I was trying to break up a fight and then I got hit in the back and tased twice,” Tyson said.

According to Tyson, he received no prior instruction to stop what he was doing from police officers, and the first action taken against him was being tased in the back twice.

He said the tasing was unnecessary because at the time, he posed no threat to the police officer.

“I couldn’t have been doing any harm because my back was turned when I got tased,” Tyson said.

Simmons said in a statement that the tasing was justified, but the fact that Tyson was tased twice was still very concerning to Brady because tasers are a potential deadly weapon.

“What if he had a pacemaker or metal rods in his back,” Brady said. “Because I know that at least one of the members of BAS who were there has scoliosis, so he has metal rods in his back and if he was

the one who was tased twice, he could’ve died.”

The incident almost escalated further when a K9 unit on the scene threatened to let his dog go, according to Brady.

“He was adamant about letting his dog go,” Brady said. “But campus police told him to keep his dog on his leash and that it wasn’t worth it.”

The Black Action Society’s homecoming party is one of their biggest fundraisers, but has been ending with problems in recent years, Brady said.

“Something like this happens every year towards the end of the party,” Brady said.

One possible solution people are talking about is cancelling all on-campus parties at the union like the homecoming event, something that Jarrett is strongly opposed to.

“Having a union party provides so much more safety than having an offcampus party,” Jarrett said. “If you have a house party, people could have weapons— someone could get shot or stabbed, and there’s no police presence at a house party.”

Other ideas that Brady talked about to make parties potentially safer is to turn the lights on 15 minutes early, and have people sign in, instead of just showing their IDs. According to Banks, the BAS is working with campus police to handle the fallout of the situation and the two sides have meetings scheduled in the coming weeks.

Students need to be flexible, open-minded for jobs Continued from Page a-1

or stayed the same each year since 2007. Over that time, the rate has grown from 15 percent in 2007 to 23 percent in 2011.

As a result of the down market, John Rindy, the director of the Office of Career Services, urges students to be more open-minded to their career choices.

“Students need to be more flexible, they can’t be as selective in what they do in their first occupation anymore,” Rindy said.

“Students have to open themselves to different possibilities.”

Rindy’s advice stems from perhaps a more telling statistic of the gloomy economy than unemployment rates. According to the aforementioned report, the fulltime employment percentage for individuals in their field of choice in 2011 was 41 percent, 12 points below the mark in 2007, and a far

cry from the 61 percent mark in 2000.

The number of individuals employed part time in their field of choice has increased from seven percent in 2007 to 12 percent in 2011, while employment in fields

not related to a graduate’s field of study is relatively the same in both years.

Along with being more flexible and open-minded in their career

Index

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tract, students also need to do proper career preparation while still in school, according to Rindy.

“Ultimately the responsibility is on the students to come in,” Rindy said. “And you can’t come in your last week before graduation.

Students need to partition time and look at career building.”

Wh i l e it is up to the students to prepare to set themselves apart in the job market, the Office of Career Services is continuing to explore more ways to help them along the way. The best way the office feels it can do this for the entire student body is to offer

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assistance to a larger number of students in a variety of ways.

“We have three professional staff and four graduate assistants with limited service,” Rindy said. “We’d love to meet one-on-one with every student, but it’s simply not feasible.”

As a result, Career Services is attempting to create programs that address students in mass rather than in person. Having representatives speak in seminars, job fairs, campus events and new virtual tools – such as a new online mock interviewing tool set to debut later this year – are just a few measures the office is taking to reach out to the student body.

But Rindy also sees parents as an obvious go-to source to help students prepare.

“We’re trying to harness the power of home,” Rindy said. “Parents want to be part of their students’ life, so we need to figure out how can we get them more involved.”

students the best opportunities possible in PASSHE when looking ahead to 2012-2013.

“Our university presidents and their leadership teams are focused on finding the right balance in managing expenditures to preserve the core academic programs on our campuses and to invest in the new areas of study requested by our students, whether it is a single class needed to enhance their career development or an advanced degree,” Cavanaugh said.

Marshall stated that the budget for next school year should be finalized by June 30, 2011, but there are many questions that remain.

“At this point we cannot project or predict what the budget will look like, but we’re definitely going to face some challenges,” Marshall said.

Bailley stands behind homecoming court decision Continued from Page a-1

had concerns about the homecoming process.

According to Henry, SGA received several complaints about the process, one of which was a concern about a lack of diversity on the homecoming court.

Bailley said he was asked at the meeting to decide what course of action he wanted to take.

“Dr. Foley asked for a decision, but I chose to decline and reached out to the executive board and senate for their input,” Bailley said.

Bailley called a meeting of the SGA executive board on Oct. 6 to get their thoughts on the situation.

An informal senate meeting was also held that night to further discuss the concerns.

At the senate meeting Oct. 13, Bailley said the majority of the senate and executive board were against the idea to open up the ballot.

On Friday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m., Bailley revealed his decision to open the homecoming ballot back up to all of the original 37 applicants.

T h e appl i c ant s c ou l d t h e n choose to either campaign to make homecoming court, or decline.

Twenty applicants chose to run for homecoming, while the other 17 dropped out of the race.

Street, a commuter senator for SGA, was an original member of the homecoming court.

“I disagree with the decision that was made because it was unethical to the original court,” Street said during the SGA meeting Oct. 13. “It put all of us who were on court in a bad position and I don’t feel that it was appropriate at all.”

Bailley said he feels this was the best decision for SGA and the student body as a whole, and said he still feels that way.

“I think I made the best decision for our students,” Bailley said. “I knew it would be unpopular and surprising, and knew it would upset many people that I called a friend.”

“I didn’t go looking for controversy, but I did look for the best decision knowing it wouldn’t be perfect,” he said. “I am sorry it upset many people and caused some undesirable stress, but I stand behind my decision.”

Contact us Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896

220 Eisenberg Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu

2011 Runner-up most Outstading Newspaper, Society of Collegiate Journalists.

News

October 21, 2011

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Police Blotter Magistrate Oct. 10 - Jason Patrick Williams, 37, of Slippery Rock, was seen for simple assault and harassment.

Oct. 12 - Jason S. Miller, 25, of Knoxville, Pa., was seen for unlawful contact with a minor and sexual offenses.

Oct. 7 - David Stonage, 22, and Jennifer Minster, 21, were cited for disorderly house.

Oct. 12 - Christopher Todd Chase, 24, of Prospect, Pa., was seen for burglary, criminal trespassing, theft and criminal mischief.

Oct. 12 - Landon C. Noullet, 35, of Ellwood City, was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance.

Oct. 9 - Ashley A. Bair, 22, was cited for criminal mischief and disorderly house.

Oct. 12 - Jaclyn Joy Boice, 20, of Grove City, was seen for criminal trespassing, loitering and prowling at night time, and criminal mischief.

Oct. 12 - George Evert McGary IV, 37, of Butler, was seen for two counts of arson.

Oct. 12 - Andrew Paul Walker, 28, of Grove City, was seen for criminal trespassing, loitering and prowling at night time, and criminal mischief.

Oct. 12 - Stephen Andrew May, 29, of Grove City, was seen for two counts of DUI, an accident involving death/ injury and driving without a license.

Oct. 12 - David Matthew Craft, 22, of Slippery Rock, was seen for theft and trespassing. He was released on his own recognizance.

Oct. 12 - Michael Christopher Cannuli, 34, of Butler, was seen for burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

Oct. 12 - Jonathan Andrew Lubinsky, 28, of Butler, was seen for criminal trespassing and loitering, and prowling at night time.

Oct. 12 - James Alan Cunning ham, 46, of Pleasantville, Pa., was seen for theft and receiving stolen property.

Oct. 12 - Michael Patrick Conroy, 21, of Slippery Rock, was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance.

Borough Oct. 6 - Taylor Schlitzer, 19; Yancey Seyle, 19; Megan McIntire, 20; Jordan Sheckalt, 19; Maria Bailey, 18; Erin Pearson, 19; Cailyn Parkin, 20; Nicole Zaliznock, 21, and Alycia Reed, 20, were cited for disorderly house.

O c t. 19 - Monica Kauffman, 25, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Oct. 19 - John Whalen, 20, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Campus

Oct. 9 - Joshua C. Robbins, 22, was cited for disorderly house.

Oct. 1 - Matthew Farward, 21, was cited for a DUI after a traffic stop on Main Street.

Oct. 15 - Matthew Tyler Cumberledge, 24, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Oct. 1 - Ciera Spencer, 20, was cited for a DUI after a traffic stop on Main Street.

Oct. 15 - Corey A. Stowitzky, 24, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Oct. 6 - There was a report of a parked vehicle hit by another vehicle at the Boozel Loading Dock. The case is still under investigation.

Oct. 15 - Lawrence James Klein, 28, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Oct. 15 - Jacob L. Overdorff, 25, was cited for disorderly house.

Oct. 16 - Martin J. Kern, 23, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Oct. 16 - Wayne C. Henchar, 23, was cited for public drunkenness.

Oct. 19 - Thomas Clark, 19, was cited for criminal trespassing.

Oct. 6 - Alexander Gaudino, 20, was cited for possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop on the East Central Loop.

Oct. 7 - John Coulter, 18; Evan Holler, 19, and Joshua Williams, 18, were cited for underage consumption of alcohol after a traffic stop on Kiester Road.

Oct. 7 - There was a report of a parked vehicle hit by another vehicle in the Alumni Commuter Lot. The case is still under investigation.

Oct. 7 - There was a report of a parked vehicle hit by another vehicle in the Union Commuter Lot. The case is still under investigation.

Oct. 9 - Kayla Craig, 18, and Ryan Gossett, 20, were cited for underage consumption of alcohol after a traffic stop on Kiester Road.

Oct. 12 - There was a report of theft from a vehicle in the Lower Stadium Lot. The case is still under investigation.

Oct. 14 - Rantz Mahaffey, 19; Joshua McCormick, 18; Nathan Osokow, 19, and Linzy Silberg, 18, were cited for underage consumption of alcohol after a violation was reported at Building B. Oct. 14 - Gregor y Glowaski, 21, was cited for disorderly conduct, and Dana Saunders, 19, was cited with underage consumption of alcohol after violations were reported at Building D. Oct. 14 - Travis Heiser, 19, was cited for underage consumption of alcohol after report of a violation at the Union.

Oct. 14 - Jeffery Smallwood, 21, was charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness after report of domestic violence at Building B. The case was transferred to Butler County Police.

Oct. 15 - Evan Hollinger, 18, was cited for underage consumption of alcohol after report of an alcohol violation at Building A. Oct. 15 - Maurice Holland, 20, was cited for a DUI after a traffic stop on Stadium Drive.

Oct. 16 - Mihaela Duic, 21, Bernadette Jones, 21, and Sarah Wheeler, 21, were cited for public drunkenness after report of intoxicated individuals at Building B. Oct. 16 - Bobbie Haines, 20; Lucas Perrine, 18; Brandon Weaver, 18, and Justin Wolfe, 18, were cited for underage consumption of alcohol after report of alcohol violations at Building B. Oct. 19 - There was a report of harassment at the Rock Apartments. The case is still under investigation.

Compiled by Stephanie Holsinger

Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites opens after costly delays, employees back to work after short layoff

By Catie Clark Rocket Contributor

A new Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites opened Friday, Oct. 14, shortly after a five-day employee layoff due to issues with receiving an occupancy permit.

The hotel officially received its occupancy permit on Oct. 4, but had laid off all but two employees five days prior because they couldn’t afford to keep the hotel staffed until it was fully operational, according to Tammy Schaum, the general manager at the Marriott Fairfield Inn. In total, 15 employees were affected, including Slipper y Rock University students.

The employees were laid off Friday, Sept. 30 because it was the end of the hotel’s pay period.

Schaum said that it was sad she had to lay off employees, especially when there were jobs available.

“They weren’t even laid off for a whole week, it was only a few days,” Schaum said. “We didn’t know how long the lay off was going to be, but it was definitely better than we had expected.”

The hotel officially opened its doors Oct. 14, and is now fully operational.

According to Schaum, there were two reasons the occupancy permit was being held from them in the first place.

The first was that the new traffic signal at Franklin Street and Grove City Road had to be operational before a permit could be granted, due to a Department of Transportation traffic study.

The other reason the permit was on hold was because the entire development was submitted as one land application, but there are two different owners for two parcels of land that the hotel sits on.

While the 75-room hotel broke ground in November 2007, it was not given a building permit until 2010, and had planned to open that February.

Owner Jeff Schmitz, of Detroit, said he was hoping for a Sept. 7 opening date at a council meeting in August, according to Schaum.

At another council meeting in September, Schmitz requested a temporary occupancy permit to allow the hotel to open before the traffic light was activated. The council did not grant it.

The hotel, owned by Slippery Rock Hotel Properties LP and managed by GCH Global Management of Rochester Hills, Mich., is now ready for business.

“We are pleased to introduce Fairfield Inn hotels in the Slippery Rock area,” said Brian King, senior vice president of Select Service and Extended Stay Brand Management, Marriott International. “ This hotel offers business and leisure travelers convenient, quality accommodations at an affordable price.

We look forward to welcoming guests and providing the friendly service that sets Fairfield Inn apart.”

All rooms offer a flat-panel HDTV, an iHome stereo, and the sleeping area features plush mattresses, down blankets and crisp linens.

Additional in-room amenities include a mini fridge, microwave, complimentary Wi-Fi and high-speed internet access (HSIA), and a spacious work area with an ergonomic desk chair.

Rates begin at $129 per night.

A complimentary hot breakfast is available each morning in the lobby area.

Other hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool with whirlpool spa, fitness center, guest laundry, complimentary WiFi and HSIA social hub, business center, and 24/7 market featuring light snacks, beverages, easy-to-prepare meals and sundries.

The hotel also offers 598 square feet of meeting space to accommodate small meetings and functions of up to 40 people.

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October 21, 2011

COMICS

The Rocket

A-5

October 21, 2011

(Th)ink

By Keith Knight

Blundergrads

Life in Hell

By Matt Groening

By Phil Flickinger

That Monkey Tune

Welcome to Falling Rock National Park

To d a y ' s Birthday (10/21/11). Discipline with commitments provides more time to play, ultimately.

Let this be the year to really explore creative selfexpression in a variety of arenas. Fulfill your own wishes while contributing to the common good. You can have it all.

To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- It's springtime in Melbourne, and love is in the air ... even in the Northern Hemisphere, for Aries. Your caring nature today makes you attractive.

Share your heart boldly.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Some channels want to close today, but gentle pressure maintains the flow. Keep busy at home, and don't avoid other responsibilities. Receive gifts with thanks and a smile.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Finish up old business while you invent

new opportunities for the future. Don't put it off. Stick to your budget. Find beauty in acts of ritual and routine.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- You're on the upswing financially.

Consider your next move carefully. What are the potential repercussions and consequences? Complete the old job first.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -Today is a 9 -- There's room for misunderstanding in your interactions with loved ones, but you can handle it with ease, as long as you're respectful.

Provide motivation.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Focusing may require special attention now. Take a few minutes of peace and quiet to increase your productivity. Resist the urge to run away. Soon, it will be complete.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Your social life keeps growing.

Face to face discussion avoids misunderstandings, especially when it comes to romance. Shades of meaning get lost in email.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Take care of your community, and allow

By Michael A. Kandalafti

Horoscopes

Tribune Media Services (MCT)

By Josh Shalek

Sudoku

By Nancy Black

them to take care of you.

Organize a neighborhood event that brings people together, or simply get to know a neighbor. Smile.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Find a way to experience new adventures without breaking the rules (although they may require some bending).

Practice flexibility, and stay in communication for best results.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Avoid morning travel and major dialogues. Quiet, steady work gets you farther. Let a partner take the lead. They see the way to go. Evening creativity inspires.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Work could get in the way of romance.

Pass the reins to a colleague temporarily, and postpone travel. Streamline your work routine, and time opens up for fun.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Talk it over with someone you love first.

They see your blind spots.

Don't get persuaded against trying. Use their view to guide yourself. Then practice. It just might work.

Solution

By Michael Mepham

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October 21, 2011

OPINION

The Rocket

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October 21, 2011

The Rocket

Our View

Volume 94, Number 7 220 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 Courtney Nickle

Editor-in-Chief Brian Brodeur

News Editor Andy Treese

Campus Life Editor Tim Durr

Sports Editor Lexi Kovski

Photo Editor Stephanie Martincsek

Copy Editor James Intile

Web Editor Stephanie Holsinger Assistant News Editor James Meyer Assistant Campus Life Editor Madeline Williams Assistant Sports Editor Liana Pittman

Assistant Photo Editor Will Deshong

News Reporter Mark Zeltner

Faculty Adviser

Advertising Staff Emily Hunter 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.

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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 LIANA PITTMAN

Bailley’s homecoming decision was too rushed Slippery Rock University’s Homecoming 2011 will never be forgotten, that’s for sure.

We’re sure some of you will always remember it because of some party or some crazy thing you did last weekend.

Others because of the 17-3 football win Saturday over rival California University of Pennsylvania.

But let’s get to the real controversy of this year homecoming court.

In case you weren’t aware, the applications for homecoming court were turned in, interviews were done, the court was announced and plans were being made, when suddenly everything was turned upside down.

S R U ’s Student Government Association (SGA), who is essentially in charge of the homecoming

court and the application process, sent out an email to all students Friday, Oct. 7 stating that the homecoming court already decided upon would be thrown out, and all 37 applicants would have the chance to campaign.

Naturally, much of the campus community was up in arms upon hearing the news, especially those ten students who were selected as the original homecoming court.

B ut i n ord e r t o fully understand the circumstances behind this decision, you need to know the why.

Ac c ord i ng to Ji m Henry, vice president of student affairs, SGA received several complaints about the homecoming application process, one of which was a concern about a lack of diversity on the homecoming court.

SGA President Jordan Bailley was called to a meeting with Dr. Constance Foley and Brad Kovaleski, both faculty advisors for SGA, Dr. Jessamine Montero, senior officer for diversity and inclusion, and a student with concerns about the process on Thursday, Oct. 6. He was asked to do something, to make a decision with only one week before homecoming, and with fall break thrown into the mix.

No pressure.

After convening with his executive board and the senate of SGA, Bailley said he wanted to sleep on it before he made a final decision. On Oct. 7, he woke up and made the decision to open the homecoming ballot to all of the applicants.

While we sympathize with the circumstances Bailley was working under,

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.

as well as the concerns of the students who came forward, we can’t bring ourselves to agree with his decision.

We do agree that some changes need to be made to the homecoming court application process. It should be fair and absolutely everyone should be granted to same opportunities.

But by Oct. 7, when the decision was made by Bailley, it was cutting it too close. The students on the original homecoming court had campaigned for a full week already and had probably already made plans for homecoming weekend.

Something needed to be done, yes. But this shouldn’t have been a snap decision.

The homecoming application and the process for court needs to be closely reviewed, not only by SGA,

but also by students and faculty removed from the situation. We need fresh eyes and clear minds, with no emotional connection, to fix the process before next year’s homecoming.

Now, an SGA committee has been formed to investigate whether Bailley’s decision was constitutional or not.

If his decision is found unconstitutional, Bailley could face impeachment.

That decision is completely up to the members of SGA, and should be left that way.

But when everything is said and done, and we’ve moved on from the controversy of Homecoming 2011, we hope that the necessary changes will be made to the application process.

That way, perhaps Homecoming 2012 can go off without a hitch.

This week’s question: Do you agree or disagree with SGA’s decision to change the homecoming process? 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 Fall 2010 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.

Erica Ramos Junior accounting major Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Shaune Johnson Senior communication major Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.

“I disagree because I feel it was unfair to the original ten. It was like taking candy from a baby. One minute you were on the court and the next you were having to run again.”

“I think certain people were guaranteed interviews and certain people were not given the chance to progress in the selection process. I think it was right of them to open it up to all of the applicants.”

Megan Baughman Sophomore public relations major Hometown: York, Pa. “I disagree. The people who were already selected in were for a reason and opening it up to all of the applicants made it unfair for the people selected.”

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October

ROCK AROUND

Clockwise from top left: President Robert Smith tosses candy to the crowd at SRU’s 2011 Homecoming Parade on Main Street Saturday morning.

The band and color guard perform their halftime routine during the Homecoming game against California University of Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon.

A group of fraternities march down Main Street in the Homecoming Parade.

Chrissy Wojnarwsky cheers at the Homecoming pep rally, holding up the first half of the “Go Rock” sign.

Brad Kovaleski gets a bucket full of pudding poured on his head at the Homecoming Pep Rally in support of the Memorial Scholarship fund in honor Tyler Stufflebeam.

Homecoming Queen Hollie Carlson and King Brian Rice smile for the cameras after receiving the news that they had won the honor.

Choze, who performed as part of Sean Kingston’s opening act, raps in front of the 1,052 people who filled the MPR for the concert.

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r 21, 2011

D THE WORLD

HOMECOMING 2011

PHOTOS: ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET and LEXI KOVSKI/PHOTO EDITOR DESIGN: LEXI KOVSKI/PHOTO EDITOR

Opinion

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Internet of the past has taught patience

Jake Olson Introspection It’s no secret, even to freshmen by now, that the internet on campus is often bogged down.

However, we do need to take a step back and look at what we’ve become used to.

Not too long ago, perhaps a decade, at best, the internet was accessed mostly by dial-up connections. I had dial-up well through middle school and only in high school did I get introduced to high-speed internet. Before that, I overlooked the speed aspect as trivial because I could still access information.

However, once YouTube and internet games began making a rise, it was immediately apparent that I was being left behind in technology. At school, I could watch videos instantly, as well as play the games that weren’t blocked. At home, I would have to pull up multiple things that I needed, then go to dinner or do something until they loaded completely. This instantly became frustrating once I had experienced using internet that was consistently faster and more reliable.

However, there is a silver lining out of all this because not everyone has had the opportunity to experience this. I know what slow internet is, and as such, I’m less bothered by various speed issues around campus. Having instantaneous access to an infinite source of information has become easier, faster and more convenient on every level. Even if it takes longer than ten seconds to load, it is exponentially more impressive timing than it could be.

This feeling of instant gratification has slowly become society’s bearing. Everything is geared to be faster, cheaper or more convenient,

often enhancing laziness. Internet speed has become something we take for granted alongside the idea of On-Demand movies, fast food restaurants, credit cards and online stores. When these services bog down, we frequently become frustrated with the delay, despite it being relatively inconsequential for the outcome of our day. I have become that way recently, despite knowing what I do about the progress we’ve made. It then dawns on me that it’s incredibly fruitless to be so frustrated over something like this.

We can praise the services we have when they work how we want them to, but the second they don’t, we criticize them relentlessly.

Technology doubles every two years, and as such, even those that are entering school right now have access to much more than we did at their age. Our parents didn’t have internet, we had dial-up to begin with and have experienced a crossover into high speeds. Each generation will have different values based on what has become available or what they utilize every day. Frankly, I feel that we were lucky enough to be able to experience both worlds, and to know both sides of the spectrum. Not everything was instant when we were growing up, which meant that everything wasn’t easily available or convenient. The generation below us has access to everything that we do, and at a much earlier age. The things we have seen develop, have been “guinea pigs” for and are currently helping design will all be something that they get to use as an integrated part of society.

Working at the Grove City Outlets, I have seen some children that are still in strollers who are able to play games on smart phones and tablets. This is all evidence that we are truly moving toward Marshall McLuhan’s idea of a global village, with more diversity than ever beginning to connect at a moment’s notice. In this exponential progressive movement, let’s try to remember where it all came from and that we have had a chance to learn patience through everyday lessons.

Jake Olson is a junior secondary education English major from Grove City, Pa.

Words can hurt, so think before you speak

Jeannene Jones FMLA Throughout time, there have always been popular sayings and slogans that people insert into their language, and over time, what’s popular to say comes and goes.

Many of us have found ourselves saying expressions such as “winning” and “that’s hot.”

While these expressions are the popular thing to say, how many of us sit down and think about if we may be offending someone by saying them?

As a feminist, I hold the beliefs that everyone should be given the same respect, opportunities, rights and freedoms, regardless of their abilities, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, gender, social status, etc. I believe that people are human and everything else is irrelevant. Therefore, everyone should be treated as you would like to be treated.

But it never occurred to me how many popular things to say in our language are offensive to so many people until I took the Inclusive Leisure class with Dr. Colleen Cooke.

In this class, we learned many examples of offensive popular slogans and how to use person-first language, instead.

Person-first language is used when you essentially put the fact that someone is a person before anything else about them. For example, instead of saying “physically disabled person,” you would say “person with a physical disability.” By using person-first terminology,

you’re giving that person more respect.

There have been many times in my life when I’ve heard someone refer to something or someone as “retarded.”

The individual was describing something as being either unfair, stupid or someone acting in a stupid manner. By our culture saying this so much, we have transformed the understood meaning of mental retardation to labeling something as stupid, when, in reality, it truly means that someone has different intellectual abilities than would be expected of a person their age.

It is inappropriate and it can offend so many people by labeling something that you don’t like or think is stupid as “retarded.”

Another popular phrase to label something as unfair or stupid is saying, “that’s so gay.”

This remark can be even more offensive to people around you without you even realizing it.

Many people with intellectual disabilities bear physical cues in their appearance (ex: children with Down syndrome), but someone who is gay or lesbian does not necessarily have any visual cues to their sexual orientation.

Therefore, by saying a popular phrase such as “that’s so gay,” you could be offending many people around you without you realizing it. And since when is being gay stupid or considered something wrong with an individual?

Another phrase that could offend many people around you is the rampant use of the word rape. Many people, after taking a test which they may have failed, use the expression “that test raped me,” as if you’re putting your failing a test on the same playing field as the traumatic experience of being raped.

I have also heard the opposite, when someone has done well

on a test claiming that they “raped that test,” which is then putting rape in the “that’s a great thing” category. Rape is not a good thing or something that should be made out to be less traumatic than it really is.

According to studies conducted by Roger Williams University, one in four women and one in six men will experience some type of sexual assault in their lifetime.

Therefore, when making an expression about rape, think about how many people you’re offending.

I used to hear these phrases and be offended, but not say anything because I didn’t want to cause a scene and because I realize that, most likely, the person is not meaning to be hurtful. But after taking Dr. Cooke’s class and learning more about person-first language, I realize that not only as a feminist, but also as a human on this planet, I should speak up with my disgust. Dr. Cooke taught me a valuable lesson that “people only know what they know until they know something different.” After hearing that, I began to realize that many people may not know that they are offending people with what they say.

So that is why I am writing this article, to make people more aware that with their words, they are offending and disrespecting many people that they know or even don’t know.

Not using this terminology isn’t about being politically correct. It is about giving respect to everyone because they are human and deserve it. Language and these popular phrases evolve over time, and just keep in mind that the next popular phrase could be something that offends you.

Jeannene Jones is a junior parks and recreation major from San Diego, Ca. She is also the public relations chair for FMLA.

October 21, 2011

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.

Happy Bus should be a safe haven I am absolutely thrilled to say that our second child is now enrolled as a freshman at SRU. Our oldest child graduated in 2009 with an amazing education and a college experience second to none. My husband and I are proud to be Slippery Rock parents and constantly tout the university to our friends and family members when they are beginning to consider college choices for their own children.

While I am well aware that the legal drinking age has not been lowered and remains steadfastly at 21, I am not willing to bury my head in the sand and pretend that underage drinking does not occur on college campuses across the country, including Slippery Rock University. And, while I certainly do not condone underage drinking, I also do not condone the recently reported, yet unconfirmed, strategies to discourage and squash such behavior.

Though I am not usually prone to believing rumors and innuendo, it is my sincere hope that the stories swirling regarding the Gestapo-like tactics on the Happy Bus last weekend are not true. These stories report that the Happy Bus was stopped solely for the purpose of rounding up and citing underage drinkers. As a parent, this

is a very disconcerting policy because, rather than curtailing the alcohol violations, it is instead forcing these young people into cars or dangerous late night walks across campus, while inebriated.

Having raised two teenagers, I am well aware of the problems associated with alcohol consumption by young people under the legal age; however, it occurs, and nothing that any law enforcement agency anywhere can do will bring it to a halt. Many have tried, none have succeeded.

Instead, the university and its law enforcement agency should be proactive in protecting the safety of the students by offering them non-judgmental alternatives to transportation rather than attempting to enforce a law that will never be heeded, there or anywhere else. This effort, in conjunction with more non-alcohol related campus events, will go further in the elimination of this behavior than will coordinated weekend round-ups of underage violators.

By no means am I suggesting that the university should encourage underage consumption of alcoholic beverages. Instead, I am asking that the campus police provide for the safety of their students, under any circumstances, rather than creating a larger problem than needs to exist.

Kim Abato

National Pan-Hellenic Council apology O n b e h a l f of t h e National Pan-Hellenic Council: We wou l d l i ke to apologize for the negative actions that were portrayed by various visiting fraternities on October 15, 2011, at the Black Action Society Ho m e c o m i n g P a r t y.

NPHC plans to take all necessar y precautions to rebuild the Slippery Rock community and to ensure these events do not transpire in the future.

The National PanHellenic Council (NPHC) is the governing body of the nine historically African American Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. Composed of five fraternities and four sororities, NPHC was established in 1930, to unite the organizations through service to the community.

We owe it to the Slippery R o ck c om mu n it y to protect our reputation as a university and to provide a safe environment for events to be held.

The National PanHellenic Council Slippery Rock University Chapter

Political comparisons to Hitler, Nazi party are uninformed, illegitimate

Spencer Cadden Silent Majority I abhor the media. I sit at home and have the displeasure of watching a few minutes of MSNBC or FOXNEWS or one of the many political channels, and I get sick. I tell myself to watch cartoons or just forget about it, but it’s impossible.

The biggest thing I cannot stand is when these political mouthpieces use celebrities or pseudo-celebrities to argue political points. It makes absolutely no sense.

There is one thing famous people do in particular which consistently makes me foam at the mouth, and that is the comparison of someone to Hitler or the Nazi’s. It’s as if everyone wants to use this metaphor and it is flat out wrong.

I had a high school teacher tell me that George Bush was the equivalent of Hitler and that if he got assassinated, the country would have been better off. As ludicrous as it sounds, I heard a student on this campus who is training to be a teacher say Obama was the antichrist and needed to be “taken out.”

It is called a fallacy of association. More popularly, this mistake is known as Godwin’s law. The basic idea is

that if you are ignorant enough to make the comparison of your enemy to Hitler or the Nazis, then you have proven yourself incapable of reasonable thought or argument to counter them.

You should not listen to these people speak about politics. If they open their mouths to talk about anything other than their profession, you are probably better off changing the channel.

In a more contemporary example, Ann Coulter, who is always full of lovely information, compared the Occupy Wall Street protestors to a “demonic league.”

Perhaps more importantly, while she described the Occupy Wall Street protestors, she made comparisons to the movement. She claimed “[the] French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and with only slight modification when the Nazis were coming to power...

This is always the beginning of totalitarianism.”

Clearly she was only taking the time out of our busy lives to demonstrate her ignorance.

The French Revolution was very different from the Russian, and both were extraordinarily far removed from the process of the Nazis coming to power.

Hitler and the Nazi party were legally elected to office. There was no coup. Secondly, the French Revolution succeeded in overthrowing an abusive and excessive monarchy, not a participatory republic with a constitution. Finally, the Russian Revolution resulted in the overthrowing of another monarchy for the promise of a communist utopia, which did not turn out exactly as planned.

Regardless, not a single one of

these comparisons warrant an ounce of consideration.

I am a student of history and I understand that all three of those movements ultimately resulted in some form of a violent dictatorship. However, the goals of those three events and the goals of Occupy Wall Street are just not the same.

The Occupy Wall Street focus, since the movement began four months ago, was on reforming the economy and openly discussing the unfair and abusive practices that have been carried out by major corporations. Their aim has been to eliminate the excesses of the top one percent of society, and try and cross the widening poverty gap.

Most of these protestors are young college graduates who could not find a job.

Considering most of us will fall into that category in one way or another fairly soon, I think it’s important to recognize these protests as a legitimate social movement.

These people are not revolutionaries, and they are certainly not Nazis. The practice of calling your enemy a Nazi needs to stop. It shows itself as ignorant and repugnant time and time again.

Whether you are on the left or on the right, this particular comparison is asinine.

It is unfair to the memory of the Holocaust and World War II that celebrities who receive national airtime continue to invoke this erroneous and hurtful label upon their ideological enemies.

Spencer Cadden is a senior history major from Erie, Pa.

SPORTS

The Rocket

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October 21, 2011

Defense shuts down Vulcans

By D.J. Vasil

Rocket Contributor

The Rock’s No. 1 ranked defense gave up 273 yards to a high power No. 12 ranked California University of Pennsylvania offense as the Rock took sole possession of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West with a 17-3 victory.

Cal U. (5-2 overall, 3-1 PSAC) came into Saturday’s contest averaging 460.8 yards per game, 165.7 rushing, and 195.2 passing.

“The defense played tremendous,” head coach George Mihalik said. “Cal U has a great offense on every level and holding them to three points is a great job.”

The defense was led by senior linebacker Zach Sheridan who registered nine tackles, six of them being solo stops. He also had a sack and a fumble recovery.

“I felt comfortable going into this game with the game plan,” Sheridan said.

“Our coaches did a great job putting us in position to make plays. We are the No. 1 defense in the nation and we played like it.”

Junior defensive end Jeff Thompson made several key plays for the defense including a half of a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. He also broke up a pass at the line of scrimmage.

“We like to think of ourselves as the best defensive line in division two,” Thompson said.

“We try to take up all the plays on defense. We like to compete amongst ourselves to see who can make the best plays.”

Offensively, the Rock gained

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Slippery Rock University defense gangs up on California University of Pennsylvania wide receiver Chedrick Cherry. The Rock has the No. 1 ranked defense in most major categories, such as, total defense and scoring defense. SRU is allowing an average of 211 yards per game this season.

236 yards, highlighted by a 97-yard scoring drive at the end of the first half that ended in a two-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Jimmy Zubik from senior quarterback Cody Endres.

“The drive at the end of the first half was huge because of the momentum swing,” Mihalik said.

After the Rock touchdown drive, the defense put together

a goal line stand to keep the Vulcans out of the end zone and take the game into the half at 7-3.

“That final play of the first half was the turning point of the game,” Mihalik said.

Endres finshed the game 22-for-42 for 147 yards with two touchdowns and was intercepted four times.

Overshadowed by the four interceptions was how

season. She also leads the

With the win, SRU

goals, with five.

Ward leads the team as well, with nine assists on the season.

The Rock led the Mountaineers in the first half with a 10-1 advantage in total shots and 4-0 in shots on goal.

Neither team was able to score in the second half, however, the Rock led with an 8-2 advantage in shots and a 2-0 advantage in shots on goal.

SRU finished the game with a 18-3 advantage in total shots and a 6-0 advantage in shots on goal, but Mansfield edged SRU with a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Senior goalie Lisa Rodgers earned the shutout for SRU. Wi t h t h e s h u t o u t , Rodgers has seven total on the season, and has only given up five goals in 11 matches this season.

streak to 721 minutes since allowing a goal.

Junior goalkeeper Dana O'Neill is excited that the team has kept the playoff tradition alive and says they plan on finishing the regular season strong.

"It feels great knowing that we've continued our tradition of consistently making the postseason," O'Neill said. "Our plan is to stay tough throughout the rest of the season to hopefully receive a high seed in the tournament.

We will take each playoff game one at a time and do the simple things."

The Rock will host two c o n s e c u t i v e S at u r d ay g ame s , t h i s we eke nd against Gannon University at 3:30 p.m., and Lock Haven University next weekend at 2:30 p.m. Wins in both of these games would guarantee a top-four seed spot for the Rock in

efficient Endres was in pressure situations. On the 97-yard scoring drive, Endres converted on three third downs and two fourth downs.

“We made plays when we had to,” Endres said. “We were 3/3 on fourth downs and put points on the board when we had to."

The Rock offense was without junior running back and team leading rusher

Akeem Satterfield.

As Satterfield’s replacement, Zubrik filled in and finished the game with 74 yards on 21 carries. He also added 18 yards on eight receptions and caught one touchdown.

“Jimmy gave us a spark in the running game,” Mihalik said. “He also made some key runs to keep some drives alive.”

The Rock offensive line

continued its great play Saturday giving up only one sack.

“The offensive line did a great job,” Mihalik said. “Cal brought a lot of pressure with their front seven and to only give up one sack was a tremendous effort.”

Slippery Rock (5-1, 4-0) will travel to Lock Haven University (0-6, 0-4) Saturday for a 12 p.m. game.

Women's Soccer clinches playoff berth

By Madeline Williams team in game-winning moves its current shutout Assistant Sports Editor

T h e S l ipp e r y R o c k women's s o ccer te am recorded its eighth consecutive shutout of the season and secured a spot in the PSAC playoffs, as they beat Mansfield University, 1-0 on Tuesday.

Their record now stands at 11-3-2 overall and 8-2-2 in the PSAC. With the victory, the Rock currently has 26 points and moved into second place in the PSAC, sharing the spot with California University of Pa. The top eight teams in the league move on into the postseason.

Freshman Lucy Hannon tallied the lone goal for the Rock in the 21st minute of the first half, off an assist from her teammate, junior Shelby Ward.

Hannon leads the team in goals with nine for the

ANDREW LACEY/THE ROCKET

Junior forward Shelby Ward battled a Mansfield University of Pennsylvania defender for a loose ball on Oct. 18. With the win against Mansfield, SRU clinched a playoff spot.

the playoffs and a home game for the opening round.

As a team, the Green and White has outscored its opponents by a margin of 29-6 on the season.

Senior midfielder Alyssa

Barrett is thrilled that her team has already secured a spot in the playoffs .

"It's an amazing feeling to know that we have already locked up a spot in the PSAC," Barrett said.

"Our season started a little

rough so it's nice to see us bounce back so strong and clinch a spot before the regular season is even over.

We are definitely going to keep performing our best in these last two games and into the playoffs."

Sports

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October 21, 2011

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Standings West Slippery Rock California (Pa.) Indiana (Pa.) Edinboro Gannon Mercyhurst Clarion Lock Haven East Bloomsburg C.W. Post Kutztown West Chester Shippensburg Millersville Cheyney East Stroudsburg

Football Conference Next Opp. 4-0 Lock Haven 3-1 Mercyhurst 3-1 Gannon 2-2 Clarion 2-2 Indiana (Pa.) 1-3 California (Pa.) 1-3 Edinboro 0-4 Slippery Rock 4-0 4-0 3-1 3-1 1-3 1-3 0-4 0-4

West Chester Kutztown C.W. Post Bloomsburg Cheyney East Stroudsburg Shippensburg Millersville

AFCA Coaches Poll - Division II Football Rank Name Overall Points 1 Delta State (23) 7-1 710 2 Bloomsburg (4) 7-0 678 3 Washburn (1) 7-0 660 4 Pittsburg State (1) 7-0 630 5 North Alabama 6-1 595 6 Northwest Missouri State 6-1 556 7 Minnesota-Duluth 6-1 532 8 Colorado State-Pueblo 7-0 525 9 Abilene Christian 5-1 514 10 Valdosta State 6-1 441 11 Winston-Salem State 7-0 418 12 Midwestern State (Texas) 6-0 379 13 Nebraska-Kearney 6-1 352 14 St. Cloud State 6-1 339 15 Humboldt State 6-0 311 16 New Haven 6-1 290 17 Wayne State (Mich.)

6-1 289 18 West Virginia Wesleyan 7-0 246 19 Kutztown 6-1 242 20 Bemidji State 6-1 165 21 Mars Hill 6-1 155 22 Slippery Rock 6-1 89 23 Ashland 5-2 54 24 West Texas A&M 4-2 48 25 Albany State 5-2 47 Defensive Rankings Rank Name Overall 1.

Slippery Rock 6-1 2.

Shaw University (N.C.) 2-5 3.

Elizabeth City St. (N.C.) 5-2

Overall 6-1 5-2 4-2 5-2 3-4 3-4 1-6 0-6 7-0 4-3 6-1 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 1-6

Previous 2 3 5 7 1 8 9 11 10 12 13 15 4 16 19 18 6 21 20 23 25 NR NR 17 NR

Total Defense 211.57 250.86 253.71

California (Pa.) Millersville Lock Haven Mercyhurst East Stroudsburg Bloomsburg Shippensburg Gannon Slippery Rock West Chester

Men's Soccer Conference 5-1-1 5-1-0 4-2 4-3 3-3-2 3-4-1 2-3-2 2-4-1 2-5-0 0-4-3

Points 16 15 12 12 11 10 8 7 6 3

Overall 10-1-4 7-4-1 8-6 10-4 4-6-4 5-8-1 7-4-2 6-8-2 5-7-1 4-7-3

ROCK RESULTS Women's Volleyball • After ending a two-game losing streak against Indiana University of Pennsylvania in three sets, the Rock lost 3-1 against California University of Pennsylvania. Its next match will be tonight against Mercyhurst College.

Women's Soccer

Kutztown California (Pa.) Slippery Rock Indiana (Pa.) Edinboro West Chester Bloomsburg Gannon Shippensburg Mercyhurst East Stroudsburg Millersville Lock Haven Clarion Mansfield

Women's Soccer Conference Points 9-2 27 8-0-2 26 8-2-2 26 8-3-2 26 8-3 24 5-2-4 19 6-4-1 19 5-3-4 19 3-7-2 11 3-6-1 10 3-8-1 10 3-8-1 10 2-6-2 8 2-8-2 8 0-11 0

West Gannon California (Pa.) Edinboro Clarion Slippery Rock Mercyhurst Indiana (Pa.)

Women's Volleyball Conference 12-1 12-2 10-3 9-4 8-5 5-8 3-11

Overall 17-6 22-4 18-5 13-9 19-6 12-13 9-17

West Shippensburg Indiana (Pa.) Slippery Rock Mercyhurst Mansfield Seton Hill

Field Hockey Conference 8-0 6-2 4-4 3-5 2-6 1-7

Overall 14-2 9-5 5-11 7-9 4-12 3-12

Overall 11-3 11-0-2 11-3-2 10-3-2 11-3 8-2-4 8-5-1 8-3-4 5-8-3 6-7-1 6-8-1 5-9-1 4-7-2 4-9-2 1-12

• The Green and White clinched a playoff spot this past week with a victory against Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. The Rock has two games remaining on the schedule before the playoffs start and are 11-3-2 on the season.

Men's Soccer • After dropping two-straight, the Rock rebounded against Pittsburgh-Johnstown with a 4-0 victory and then defeated Wheeling-Jesuit University to move to 6-7-1 on the season.

Field Hockey • Field Hockey is 5-12 on the season and rank third in the PSAC with a 4-5 conference record. The Rock will play its final match of the season tomorrow against Indiana University of Pennsylvnaia.

Football • With the No. 1 ranked defense in all of Division-II football, the Rock defeated California University of Pennsylvania, 17-3 to move to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the PSAC. Cross Country • Men's and women's cross country prepare for the PSAC Championships tomorrow at Lock Haven University. After the PSAC Championshisps, SRU will host the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships on Nov. 5.

Women's Tennis • Women's Tennis finished the fall portion of play with a 5-0 record and will resume play in February against St. Bonaventure University.

No. 22 Rock takes top ranked defense to Lock Haven

By D.J. Vasil

Rocket Contributor

Slippery Rock University will take its No. 1 ranked defense to Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania tomorrow and look to re m ai n u n d e fe ate d i n Pennsylvania State Athletic C on fe re nc e We st pl ay against the Bald Eagles.

The Rock has gained national attention in the American Football Coaches Association poll after their win against C alifornia University of Pennsylvania.

The Rock is now ranked No. 22.

He a d c o a c h G e or g e Mihalik is excited about the ranking, but is not looking past the goal, which is winning.

“I’m happy for the players and the staff,” Mihalik said.

“Their hard work has been recognized, but we have to keep winning so we can stay in the national polls.”

Despite the Bald Eagles' w i n l e ss re c ord, c o a ch Mihalik knows he must keep the team focused and not overlook this week’s game.

“We are approaching this game just like it’s another PSAC West game,” Mihalik said. “Our goal every week is to add another win to our conference record.

It’s another opponent that wants to take away our goals and dreams. We can’t let that happen, we have to be ready to play.”

The Rock continues to

play like the No. 1 defense in the nation and will face a Lock Haven offense that averages 10.2 points a game, averages 204 yards per game, 59 rushing and 145 passing.

Lock Haven’s offense is led by running back Brandon Brader, who has rushed for 561 yards this season.

“Brader can be a productive back,” Mihalik said. “When he gets an opportunity to gain yards, he has produced.”

Rock senior linebacker Zach Sheridan remains the leader of the defense and knows the importance of not overlooking this week’s game.

“We can’t look past any team,” Sheridan said. “We will prepare for this game like we do every team.

Coach Mihalik always says preparation makes perfect.”

Sheridan is also pleased with the No. 22 ranking.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment since 2007,” Sheridan said. “Since I was a freshman, I’ve wanted to be nationally ranked and be nationally known and get this Slippery Rock name out there.”

The Bald Eagles passing game is led by quarterback Jarryd Burkett.

Burkett has thrown only four touchdowns on the year but takes care of the ball, as he’s only thrown four interceptions, as well.

“You got to look at the fact that Burkett hasn’t turned

ALEX MOWREY /THE ROCKET

Redshirt junior defensive end Jeff Thompson signals that the stop against California University of Pennsylvania, as he and junior defensive lineman Jeff Charles celebrate after a big stop against the Vulcans.

the ball over a lot,” Mihalik said. “He protects the ball.”

The Rock, offensively, will again be without starting running back, redshirt junior Akeem Satterfield who is still bothered by a knee injur y. Sophomore running back Jimmy Zubik will continue to shoulder the workload with help from sophomore running

back LaQuinn StephensHowling.

Defensively, the Bald Eagles give up 42.8 points per game and average 244.5 yards rushing and 173 yards passing.

“Their interior defensive players are strong and have good size,” Mihalik said. “ Their safety R aymond Mosby and lineb acker

Ibrahim Smith are active players. Offensively, we have to do a better job of reducing our turnovers and protecting the ball.”

Senior receiver Devin Goda continues to produce numbers in the passing game and looks to continue his strong play this week.

“I feel like I can physically dominate this game,” Goda

said. “I am personally excited about this game. I think it can be a big game for me.”

After facing the Bald E agles, the Ro ck (6-1 overall, 4-0 PSAC) will host the Mercyhurst College Lakers (3-4 overall, 1-3 PSAC) on October 29 at 1 p.m. at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Sports

October 21, 2011

B-3

Senior linebacker, leader on defense

By D.J. Vasil

Rocket Contributor

Slippery Rock University has the No. 1 ranked football in Division II and a large part of that success can be given to the Rock’s leading tackler, Zach Sheridan.

Coming into the 2011 season, Sheridan was named to the preseason all-American team by the Consensus Draft Services and leads the Rock defense with 55 total tackles on the season.

Sheridan had his best season at SRU last year when he recorded 102 tackles and posted his best career game this season with 15 total tackles against Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Sheridan attended Seton La Salle High School where he was a three-year letterman in football. He was selected second team all-conference his junior year at linebacker. His senior year, he was selected first team all-conference at tight end. He also played and started in the east and west all-star game.

Sheridan has played football since he was six years old and his favorite memory comes from his high school days at Seton La Salle.

“My favorite football moment was my whole sophomore year,” Sheridan said. “We went to WPIALs and won. We got to play on Heinz Field three times that year, winning all three games. We went to the

second round of states, but we lost to Tyron.”

His favorite football moment of the 2011 season has been the recent addition of the black jerseys, which were recently used this past week in the homecoming victory against Cal U. Some of Sheridan’s hobbies include cooking, playing video games and lifting weights. He also likes to go out to eat at nice restaurants.

Sheridan’s plans after getting his degree at SRU in safety are to be in the real estate business.

“I want to buy houses, then fix them and sell them,” Sheridan said. “I want to run my own business and be a contractor. I’d also like to play football for a couple more years after college.”

One thing most people don’t know about Sheridan is he is more of a humble guy.

He is more of an internal person emotionally.

The Rock is currently in sole possession of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division. This is something that Sheridan would like to keep as the season winds down.

“Some goals I have for the rest of the year is to end the season with the No. 1 ranked defense nationally in division II,” Sheridan said. “I also want to win the PSAC outright and get a ring. I want to make it to the playoffs and win the national championship."

ANDREW LACEY/ THE ROCKET

Senior forward Kenneth Fultz battles an East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania on Oct. 1. Fultz has three goals and one assist on the season, which adds up to seven points, and is second overall on the team.

Men's Soccer keeps playoff hopes alive

By Kristin Karam Rocket Contributor

As the final games of the regular season approach, the Slippery Rock men’s soccer team is looking to pull back above .500 by the end of the regular season.

The Rock has fallen short of reaching some of its expectations the team is under .500 at 6-7-1 on the season.

“It hasn’t been the most successful season, but we’re going to continue to work hard to make the playoffs,” head coach Michael Bonelli said. “If not, we’ll play with pride for the rest of the season and try to finish strong.”

Wi t h t h r e e g a m e s remaining in the season, the Green and White have to win at least two games to finish the season above .500 and still have a small chance to make it into the playoffs.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, the Rock defeated PittJohnstown, 4-0.

The shutout was a huge boost for the team after losing two straight games to get back on path after losing tough games.

Keeping the ball rolling, the Green and White defeated the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals by a final score of 2-1.

The Cardinals were able to get on the scoreboard first thanks to a goal from Hilario Gimon at the 1:22

minute mark of the game.

Slippery Rock stayed fo c u s e d an d appl i e d constant pressure on their opponent, opening up an opportunity for freshman forward, Austin Pierce, to find a goal at the 13:34 minute mark.

The game-winning goal came from junior midfielder, Cody Clark, a little over a minute later.

Clark leads the Rock with three goals and three assists for a total on nine points this season.

The score remained unchanged through the rest of the half.

During the second half, junior goalkeeper Clayton Master recorded four saves to help the Green and White

secure the victory.

Bonelli said that he feels the team has grown throughout the season and are starting to understand more about what it is to play for the Green and White.

“I think our younger players got a glimpse of what Rock soccer is about,” Bonelli said.

On Saturday, the Rock faces Gannon University, who is ranked just above them in the current PSAC standings and SRU still currently has a chance to make it into the playoffs.

The Rock's final three games of the season are all home games, and victories in all three games will give the Rock a chance to make the playoffs.

A-8

October 21, 2011

The Rocket

CAMPUS LIFE C-1 October 21, 2011

The show must go on

ALEX MOWREY/ the rocket Sean Kingston entertains the crowd at a sold out concert Friday night in honor of Slippery Rock University's homecoming game. At the close of his performance, Kingston brought a total of 13 female students from the audience to dance onstage while he rapped his final song of the night.

Sean Kingston concert goes on after morning power outages on campus

By Courtney Tietje Rocket Contributor

Imagine a room almost too full with people, all facing a stage, their expressions clearly marked by enthusiasm and excitement.

Though it’s hot and crowded, some SRU students wouldn’t have dreamt of being anywhere else last Friday night than the homecoming concert hosted by the University Program Board (UPB).

For this year’s homecoming, UPB’s Concert Committee was able to boast that pop artist Sean Kingston would

be performing at Slippery Rock. What junior sports management major and UPB vice president of concerts, Dave Wolfe, 20, had expected was simply a nice show. “[I want] an enjoyable concert where hopefully everyone in attendance feels like the ticket they bought was a bargain that they couldn’t get anywhere else,” Wolfe said before the performance.

What he got instead was a sold out concert and 1,052 college students shouting out the lyrics to their favorite Kingston songs. Freshman mathematics major Ashley McCoy,

18, was one of the many students who attended the concert.

“I had so much fun,” McCoy said.

“Oh my God, I don’t even know how to explain it. It was just exhilarating!”

It took three months of planning and a total of 80 people to set the concert in motion, according to Wolfe.

He explained the work that goes into the planning and execution for events like this year’s concert.

“After [an artist] gets booked, it’s all about arranging travel, catering, sound, lights, security and barricades, making sure everything is ordered

and ready to be here, and preparing the committee for the jobs they have to do,” he said. “We want to make homecoming an event that is huge.

Personally, I wanted it to be an event that attracts students from other schools because of how awesome it is.”

It seems that Wolfe’s mission was accomplished. Students from colleges such as Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Grove City College, and many more traveled to see the performance.

Freshman early childhood education major Kelsey Phelps, 18,

LGBTQI students show pride during Gay Awareness Week

By Rebecca Marcucci Rocket Contributor

“Born This Way.” “Come out, come out wherever you are!”

Students may have noticed painted cardboard signs with messages like these and many others lining the way through the quad this week. These slogans and phrases are all part of a campus-wide event known as Gay Awareness Week.

Slippery Rock University’s Awareness Week is sponsored by members of RockOUT, a student organization on campus created for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and intersex (LGBTQI) community, as well as its supporters, or allies, comprising of the ‘A’ often times added to the end of the LGBTQI acronym.

National Coming Out Day, yearly scheduled on October 11, has attributed the idea of an Awareness Week to many college campuses where students are provided with awareness and, as RockOUT advocates, a celebration of the LGBTQI community.

Senior creative writing major

and co-president of RockOUT Ashley Ranck, 22, said she believes students make Awareness Week a positive experience overall, but she does not hear all of what students say.

She then reminded herself of past student reactions with Gay Awareness Week. Ranck explained how some students would trample on the signs RockOUT set up or would make snide remarks toward their messages, some of which she personally heard.

“They didn’t realize I was right behind them and that I had put up some of those signs just the night before,” Ranck said. “This is still an injustice we face.”

Ranck related to the cause on a personal level.

“As an out-lesbian on campus, I do not see too much discrimination, but my straight friend tells me she can see and hear it,” she said.

“She tells me that, ‘No one’s a homophobe when someone gay is in the room.’”

Ranck said, continuing to quote her friend, “‘I hear all the things people say about you when you leave the room.’”

SEE MEMBERSHIP, PAGE C-3

traveled from California University of Pennsylvania to see the concert and attend the homecoming game.

For Phelps, the concert was an awesome experience.

But it wasn’t just Kingston that the students loved. Vinnie Vocals, a Pittsburgh-based rap artist, and his friends and fellow performers, Young Midas and Choze, opened the show.

Vocals was ecstatic to perform at Slippery Rock.

“I love [it],” Vocals said. “I have a ton of friends here, and everybody is really friendly.”

SEE OVER, PAGE C-3

Concert held at Rock Falls for homecoming

By James Meyer

Assistant Campus Life Editor

LIANA PITTMAN/THE ROCKET

One of the events held on campus during gay awareness week was Tuesday night's drag show, featuring Danyle Vasquez as one of the main performers.

The festivities were in full swing Saturday afternoon after SRU’s victorious homecoming game. The front patio of Ginger Hill barely contained the crowd, and traffic was heavy throughout Slippery Rock.

Down at Rock Falls Park, homecoming marks the last event of the season, Homecoming at the Falls. The concert kicked off around 5 p.m. The event featured four bands, a bonfire and food.

Todd Heinsberg, owner of Rock Falls Park, and guitarist and singer for Unblued, went to great lengths to make the celebration at the Falls accessible to college students. Heinsberg hired Campbell bus lines to take people to and from the concert, and offered free camping with the price of admission. “[The bus made] three trips to the outlet malls, Applebutter, Evening Star, Ginger Hill,” Heinsberg said. “It went to a bunch of places.”

Heinsberg said that despite his efforts, only three people took advantage of the bus service.

“We’ve got all ages here, but I just SEE ROCK, PAGE C-3

Campus Life

C-2

October 21, 2011

Movies, pop-culture helpful sources for Halloween costume ideas

Katie Ellis "ROCK'n Fashion" With Halloween being only a matter of days away, now is the perfect time to start thinking about costume ideas, if you have not already. Inspiration for a costume can come from a number of places. It can come from one of the many aweinspiring movies of this year, your favorite television show or even your imagination.

If you need some help deciding what kind of costume to wear this year on your way out to the annual Halloween parties that are sure to happen on campus, here are some great ideas.

Movies are a great place to look for inspiration. Whether you look to costumes in a film from this year or one from fifty years ago, you are guaranteed to have a head-turning look.

Take a cue from the most successful franchise of all time, J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. After releasing its eighth and final film this

summer, this Halloween is the perfect time to pay homage to the fantastical film.

There are a few main items that every “Harry Potter” fan needs to create their Hogwarts chic look.

First, you must have a pair of black pants or skirt, a white oxford shirt and a charcoal colored V-neck sweater. These three pieces provide the basis for your look. The next item that you must have is a tie in the colors of your favorite house. Team Gryffindor fans should pick up a gold and maroon tie, Slytherins are advised to choose a silver and green tie, a blue and silver tie is a smart choice for Ravenclaw admirers, and all Hufflepuffs should choose a yellow and black tie. Finally, a black robe is needed to complete your look. With all of these items, you will be able to put together a spellbinding look this Halloween.

Natalie Portman’s Oscarwinning role in “Black Swan” as prima ballerina Nina Sayers is another wonderful choice for a Halloween costume. To dress like black swan “Odile,” the most important items that you’ll need are a black tutu and a strapless black tube top.

To make this look more of your own, you can purchase a tutu of any length.

If you are going for a more

Ask Ana "Ana Graham" Ask Ana for advice via Facebook or email at askanagraham@ymail.com.

Question: Dear Ana, I lost my virginity in the summer to my boyfriend. I’m 21, by the way, but before I wasn’t ready and I think I’m still not.

Even though we always use protection – the pill and condoms, every month I’m always afraid of being pregnant. My boyfriend and friends always try to calm me down, even getting me pregnancy tests, and none have ever tested positive. Yet I can’t stop this anxiety. It’s always on my mind and I can’t focus.

Should I become a celibate hermit?

Bundle of Nerves

Answer: Dear Bundle of Nerves, No, being a celibate hermit would be pretty boring. The “crazy cat lady” title gets a bad rep, but would be a better choice.

However, I don’t think that being alone is your destiny just because of anxiety.

Anxiety is a horrible thing, and, as I’ve discovered by the plethora of anxiety-related questions I’ve received since I’ve begun this column, a common factor in so many problems.

Counseling is always a good idea for anxiety, and I especially suggest it to you because counselors can help you find

ways to focus on other things and to clear your mind. Friends and significant others can be helpful (and yours definitely seem to be), but a professional will be the best person when it comes to understanding your fears.

Also, this may sound a bit taboo considering your age, but maybe you aren’t ready for sex yet, especially if you’re not educated on it. Do your research on legitimate web sites and ask the nurses at the health center for information, and you will find that you really don’t have to worry as much as you do.

Planned Parenthood says that while two percent of women can get pregnant if properly using a condom, less than one percent of women can get pregnant if properly using the pill. Since you’re using both, you don’t have much to fear.

But I highly suggest you do some research on your own.

I assure you, it should relieve your anxiety.

Question: Dear Ana, Why is a meal plan required for dorm life?

Doesn’t Appreciate Boozel

Answer: Dear Doesn’t Appreciate Boozel, To answer your question, I will use a small anecdote.

There once was a college student who, upon reaching the summer before her senior year, decided that she was moving off campus and avoiding meal plans, and even flex, at all cost.

She thought, “Hey, I’ll be fine on my own. It can’t be that hard!”

Then she went back to school in the fall and within a month realized that not only was there no food left in her apartment, but she was too busy with classes and extracurriculars to even shop for more food, let

conservative look, try a longer, fuller look, or if you want all eyes on you at your Halloween party, opt for a shorter tutu.

The black tube top can also be adapted to fit your style. A sparkly or plain black top can be worn with a tutu of any length, but if you’re feeling daring, try adding a few feathers to your top so you can get in touch with your inner swan.

When getting dressed, don’t feel the need to put on white tights, or any tights at all for that matter. Have fun with your look, it is Halloween, after all!

With that being said, your shoe choice should also reflect your personality. If you’re going to be partying the night away, opt for a pair of delicate ballet flats, or if you’re only going to be out for a few hours, go for a fun pair of high heels.

The finishing touches for this look are key. When putting on your makeup, don’t be afraid to put on a lot of black eye shadow and mascara.

Last, but not least, the ballerina bun is a must.

After all, a ballerina wouldn’t be a ballerina without her trademark bun!

A Halloween party would not be complete without a member of the “Jersey Shore” cast. Join “Team Meatball” alone take the time to cook.

This student is now living on remaining crumbs of a box of Count Chocula and increasingly stale bread. This student is me.

Moral of the story - not only is a meal plan convenient, but it also keeps students from starving to death. It would probably not look good for the school if lazy bums like me started dropping like flies.

Question: Dear Ana, What’s the best way to get a girl to notice you without being obvious?

A Birdlike Man Strikes Again

Answer: Dear Birdlike Man, While girls tend to play dumb about boys, they know almost immediately when a guy is into them. As soon as you add that girl from your class that you never talk to on Facebook, and as soon as you start making up reasons to talk to them, they know.

But do not fear! There is nothing necessarily wrong with this.

Being obvious is not a bad thing because the girl will know what you want and it helps avoid the risk of being stuck in the friend zone. The only factor to be cautious about is being too strong with your attempts, as this can scare a girl away.

There’s nothing wrong for a girl to get subliminal messages from a guy reading “I’m really interested in and want to spend more time with you.” There is a problem if your message sounds more like “I’m obsessed and want you like an asthmatic wants his inhaler during allergy season.”

Be forward with the girl, but with some subtlety. If you feel awkward or she looks very awkward, then you know you are doing it wrong.

"Ana Graham" is a senior public relations major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

As Halloween approaches, popular movies and television shows, such as "Harry Potter," "Black Swan" and "Jersey Shore," can provide sources for costume ideas.

by dressing like scene stealer Snooki.

Every “Shore” fan knows that in order to look like your favorite cast member, you must have three important items.

The number one item that you must have is bronzer. To achieve Snooki’s bronze glow, you’ll need to have a lot of it on hand when you’re getting ready for a night out with friends.

In addition to bronzer,

you’ll need an ample supply of makeup to achieve her smoky eye.

The second item you’ll need is a tight dress in a bold print or a fun color. Wear a bold cheetah print dress styled with a pair of Ugg boots or high heels to accomplish what is known as her signature look.

The final item that you need to look like Snooki is a voluminous hair “poof.”

With this getup, you will be “shore” to get a lot

of compliments at your Halloween party.

This Halloween is the time to come out of your comfort zone and try a new look.

Whether you go the fantastical route or choose one of your own original creations, be sure to have fun with it. That being said, have a safe and happy Halloween!

Katie Ellis is a freshman journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

Campus Life

October 21, 2011

C-3

Over 1,000 in attendance at sold out homecoming concert Continued from Page C-1

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Pittsburgh-based rapper Vinnie Vocals and fellow performer Young Midas opened for Sean Kingston at Slippery Rock University's homecoming concert Friday night.

Vocals said he became interested in performing music largely because of his father, who was a music teacher.

“He got me really involved,” he said. “I just started singing and doing anything I ever could to sing. Any opportunity I had, I took it, and before I knew it, they started playing me on the radio.”

When asked where he hopes to go from here, Vocals said simply, “To the top!”

While Vocals and company took the stage promptly at 9:00 p.m., as advertised, there was a long gap between their performance and Kingston’s that many students felt was unnecessary.

Freshman early childhood education major Jocelyn Kail, 18, suggested a DJ to entertain students between acts.

According to Wolfe, though, a gap between acts is “normal” and simply gives the second performer time to change and warm up.

It wasn’t until 9:47 p.m. that Kingston’s DJ stepped on stage, and a good 11 minutes later that Kingston himself took up the microphone.

Kingston and his cousin Jimmy kicked off the concert with “Me Love,” his second single from his debut album, “Sean Kingston.”

The audience responded with an uproarious chorus of cheers.

As Kingston continued through his playlist, the audience’s enthusiasm only seemed to build. People shouted lyrics, danced, sang along, clapped and fist-pumped to the music.

Halfway through his performance, Kingston took a break to address the crowd.

“I’ve written all of my songs, and that’s big for [being only] 21,” he told the crowd.

He then surprised the audience with a little known fact - the song “Watcha Say,” made popular by Jason Derulo, was a cocollaboration of Kingston’s. He also wrote the song “Replay,” made popular by singer Iyaz.

With the performance coming to a close, Kingston and Jimmy pulled 13 girls from the audience to join them on stage.

As smoothly as the concert went, there was some talk among students that it would be canceled due to a campus-wide power outage the same day, according to Wolfe.

Sophomore emerging tech major Michele Sneddon, 20, was a part of the UPB concert committee.

“I was happy the power came back on for it,” Sneddon said. “We were in contact with Dave throughout the day and he kept saying, ‘It’s still on! It’s still on!’ The whole day we were still planning for it and just kind of praying it came back on.”

With the power back on in time for the concert, things went off without a hitch, according to Wolfe.

What really kept it all together, he said, was the concert committee.

“Without my committee, none of this could have happened,” he said. “The amount of unnoticed work they do is a testament to their commitment to this school and to UPB, and I cannot thank them enough. They are the reason this concert was such a success.”

Rock Falls Park concerts successful despite cold weather Continued from Page C-1

never got the college kids,” Heinsberg said. “Turning the reputation of Rock Falls around has been difficult.”

Heinsberg mentioned that a close friend of his had passed away from cancer that morning, and that celebrating with friends was a good way to help him through the grief.

“I’m a socialite at heart, so having people together and celebrating life is what every one of these shows is about,” Heinsberg said. “Everybody’s having fun, nobody gets hurt, and there’s a lot of smiling faces. I’d like to be making a little bit of money at this, but my time will come.”

The weather cannot be counted on to cooperate with the festivals at Rock Falls Park. The Rock Falls Park Folk & Jam Fest two weeks prior played on in spite of a cold and rainy day. The Homecoming concert was plagued by cold and high winds.

Heinsberg, true to form, was all smiles and undeterred by weather

that would cause some to stay indoors.

“I think it’s great weather,” Heinsberg said. “This is perfect. This is what partying outdoors is like when you’re in school.”

Despite the low turnout of college students, attendees came from miles around, including some SRU alumni.

A large crowd gathered around the bonfire, some audience members danced in front of the stage and the cook was kept busy at the concession stand.

Scott Ishman and Mikaila Laslow, SRU alumni, of Brookville, took shelter under a canopy and stayed warm by sipping cheap wine and enjoying the food provided by Mule Train Smokers concession services.

“I hate the cold, but I like hanging out here,” Ishman said. “I like this atmosphere a lot. It’s very relaxed.

And that last band [Unblued] was really good.”

After Unblued finished their set, Highway 4 took the stage, performing mostly classic rock covers along

with some of their own classic rockinspired original songs. Lead singer of Highway 4, Kelly Brown, of Butler, said that Rock Falls Park is a nice change from the bar venue.

“I love it playing here because everybody’s really high energy and actually does something, as opposed to the bars where people just stand there and you have to work really, really hard to get everybody to move,” Brown said. “Everyone’s hula hooping and dancing. It’s a nice outdoor venue.”

Drummer of Highway 4, Graham Huselton, of Chicora, said that he also enjoys the Rock Falls crowd.

“The people are great,” Huselton said. “I love it. They’re happy, they’re fun.”

Although Heinsberg is already thinking about events to plan for next year, including a Halloween party, this is the last event he has planned for this year. Heinsberg said that after this event, he is looking forward to “rest, relaxation and winterizing.”

CHLOE FINIGAN/THE ROCKET

Todd Heinsberg, Doug Desch and Kim Fawcet perform as part of the band Unblued at Rock Falls Park's "Homecoming at the Falls" concert. The event featured four bands, a bonfire and free camping with the price of admission.

Membership in RockOUT triples Student organization teaches campus

Continued from Page C-1

Awareness Week is full of events, explained English and women’s studies professor and faculty advisor of RockOUT, Cindy LaCom. Some of the events held during the week included “When I Knew,” a documentary of individuals’ personal stories with coming out, a drag show featuring professional and amateur drag queens and kings, comedian Chris Doucette and a candlelight vigil.

RockOUT has sponsored these, along with other events, during past and present years in celebration of Awareness Week.

“We’re lucky to have support from the President’s Commission comprised of faculty, administrative, staff and students in all that we do,” LaCom said.

She also explained how RockOUT is joining in partnership with other organizations.

“We walked with the NAACP in the homecoming parade,” she said. “How cool is that!?”

LaCom explained how membership in RockOUT has tripled, as well as student attendance at sponsored events. She also mentioned that about 500 students were in attendance at the drag show, almost triple the amount of last year.

RockOUT sponsors additional campus activities throughout the academic year. The organization has held a “Lavender Prom” every year in the spring and is open to anyone interested in attending, LaCom explained.

“People in RockOUT were talking about how they either didn’t go to their senior prom because they couldn’t, or they had to go with a partner of the opposite sex,” LaCom said, explaining the origin of Lavender Prom. “So

they didn’t really get a prom. We thought to ourselves, ‘How cool would it be to have that prom on our campus? Let’s fight the discrimination that took prom away from so many people.’”

RockOUT also organizes “Straight Talk” seminars in classrooms and various locations on campus, educating students on the LGBTQI community and social ideals among the university and surrounding areas.

“Campus life in the LGBTQI community has changed a lot in recent years for the good,” LaCom said. “I would say a lot has changed in five years noticeably, remarkably and dramatically.”

LaCom said she doesn’t want RockOUT to be thought of as a “gay club.” She said anyone who is an advocate of human rights and considers themselves an ally of the LGBTQI community is welcome to join.

Senior secondary education English major and co-president of RockOUT Tymesia Brown, 21, said that often times, heterosexuals do not realize how hard it is for others to come out with their sexuality.

“SRU is more open to the LGBTQI community,” Brown said, as she explained how many professors offer extra credit to students who attend RockOUT-sponsored events and seminars. “But it’s not as good as it can be, people still make jokes.”

Brown said weekly RockOUT meetings are held Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. in the LGBTQI Resource Center, in the basement of the University Union by the video games center.

“We joke that our location is ‘in the closet,’” she said. “At RockOUT, we welcome anybody.

If you challenge what we believe, we welcome you. It will enhance our education.”

about different Hispanic, Latino culture

By Benjamin Bergfelt Rocket Contributor

The Slippery Rock University Union lobby was alive Tuesday with the sights, sounds and smells of Hispanic and Latino culture as part of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from September 15 to October 15 every year.

Students played Spanish bingo, ate chips and salsa, and mulled about tables containing information regarding different Spanishspeaking countries during common hour.

The air had a festive quality to it, in part to the Latin style music pumped through the room, but it was the Student Organization of Latino, Hispanics and Allies (SOL) which organized the event.

SOL is an on-campus organization out to educate Slippery Rock about Latino culture.

According to the student organization information section of the SRU website, the club’s mission is, “to provide Latino/ Hispanic students and allies an opportunity to evoke academic excellence, leadership, cultural diversity in a common setting.” The website said SOL is open to all students who are interested in Latino culture, as well.

Senior professional studies major Angel LeGrand, 22, said the organization is about giving the Latino community on campus a voice and raising awareness. LeGrand is the former president of SOL. Many of the ways SOL raises awareness include movie nights, dinners, speakers and salsa dancing classes.

The student body has reacted favorably to

these events, according to LeGrand.

“Especially with the dancing, they love coming out to [events],” he said.

SOL was the name chosen for the new organization that replaced the Latino Student Organization (LSO). LSO had been the organization’s name since 1999 and was changed in 2009.

Since then, involvement has waxed and waned, according to LeGrand. Part of it, he said, is due to the small number of Hispanic students on campus.

Despite this, SOL is doing their best to represent Hispanic culture on campus, according to junior exercise science major and current SOL president Madeleine Saldana.

“It can be a little disappointing when you put a lot of work and effort into an event and no one shows up,” Saldana said. “We want Hispanic culture to be the most talked about on campus.”

According to Saldana, SOL plans to sponsor events that will educate the campus about the various cultures of different Hispanic and Latin countries.

“These events are to make known the independence days and culture of different Latin American Countries,” Saldana said. “We want to be the loudest, proudest organization on campus.”

According to LeGrand, SOL is not just about raising awareness, but teaching interaction, as well.

“College should be preparing you for the real world,” he said. “Part of that is learning the different cultures that you will deal with daily. It’s not just about academics.”

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October 21, 2011