FMLA Takes Back the Night SRU's Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance hosted Take Back the Night to end sexual violence. Page D-1
Friday, November 8, 2013 • Volume 97, Issue Number 9 • Slippery Rock University's Student Newspaper
the rocket
www.theonlinerocket.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Here’s the rub:
PASSHE Chancellor addresses the future of the state system
NEWS
Spotts Bridge Shut Down The bridge connecting Spotts to the Fieldhouse parking lot was closed indefinitely. Engineers examine the cause. Page A-2
OPINION
SRU Professors Moved Around Provost Way's "third way" plans to transfer professors to different departments. Page B-1
SPORTS
Rock prepares For Semifinals After receiving a first-round bye, the Slippery Rock men's soccer team gets ready to play Millersville University Friday. Page C-2
CAMPUS LIFE
iTunes Music Top 10 Hits Side Notes columnist Harmony Kasper takes a look at some of iTunes' chart-topping hits this week. Page D-1
SRU defeats Cal-U The Slippery Rock University football team claims first place in the PSAC-West with 35-17 win over the California University of Pa. Vulcans. Page C-1
FHOTO BY CASEY SQUIRES
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Frank T. Brogan discusses with the Slippery Rock University community the importance of establishing a strong unified system amongst all 14 PASSHE universities.
By Kevin Squires Assistant News Editor
Frank T. Brogan, Chancellor of t h e Pe n ns y lv an i a St at e System of Higher Education (PASSHE), is traveling all over Pennsylvania with each of the 14 PASSHE universities as stops so he can introduce himself to the universities’ communities. Slippery Rock University was number 10 on Brogan’s crossstate tour after visiting California University of Pa. Tuesday and before visiting Edinboro on Thursday. Slippery Rock held a public forum for the chancellor Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in the
theater of the Robert M. Smith Student Center. “G e tt i n g out t o a l l t h e Universities is not the gracious thing to do, it’s the right thing to do,” Brogan said. “It is important, I think, to at least talk to and listen to some of the representation of the University community.” Brogan commented on the positive things Slippery Rock’s admissions program is doing, especially with regards to social media and recruiting international students. “The more students can rub elbows with students from other parts of the state, other parts of the country, and other parts of
the world, it gives them a more eclectic experience without even leaving the campus,” Brogan said. He felt that this was an important part of a good education. S ome of t he ot her st ate universities are not so fortunate. “Here’s the rub, some of our universities are dealing with some rather significant declining enrollment, in large measure because the areas in which they reside are dealing with declining population generally and therefore declining high school populations generally,” Brogan said. “We’re going through some SEE STATE, PAGE A-2
Vincent Planetarium begins offering free light shows Students create and educate with presentations about universe By Haley Barnes Rocket Contributor
Located in the center of Vincent Science Hall, the Slippery Rock University planetarium is being utilized to a greater extent this fall, providing learning experiences through shows created by SRU students and presented to students from SRU and surrounding school districts. “The Slippery Rock University Planetarium Rocket Room is a theater, OmniMax, and Planetarium all in one,” the planetarium’s Facebook page says. “It is a place to discuss and learn about Space, Technology, Science, Human Advancement, and much more, hidden away in the Vincent Science Center.” Dr. Krishna Mukherjee is an assistant professor in the department of physics and pre-engineering. She is the supervising professor of the planetarium. “The SRU planetarium is different from others because it is run by students,” Mukherjee said. “They come up with ideas for the show. They are also responsible for the music and light effects.” Mukherjee said the star projector has been around since the late 1960s and cost about a half a million dollars to set up. She said there was talk of demolishing it in the 1990s, but the Physics department was dedicated to saving the Planetarium.
“When I started teaching Astronomy and then later Space Science, I had a service learning component built into these two courses.” Mukherjee said. She said students from her astronomy and space science courses do shows for elementary and middle school students and the staff sometimes dresses up in costumes. Daniel Arnett is a computer science major who works as the director of the planetarium. “Recently ever since I have discovered Daniel Arnett, I have made him the student director of the planetarium and now every Thursday he gives shows,” Mukherjee said. “He has recruited a number of other Computer Science and Physics majors.” She said Arnett works wonders with the software and has really transformed the planetarium. “Now we have transitioned to only digital images and this would not have been possible if it wasn't for Dr. [Manuel] Valera of Physics who came up with a brilliant idea of using a cheap spherical mirror and a projector to show full-dome movies,” Mukherjee said. “Dr. Valera then trained Dan [Arnett] and a few others who have graduated.” Mukherjee said the planetarium is planning to do a brand new show next year for the 125 anniversary of SRU and if Comet ISON is bright enough, they will do a show open to the public after Thanksgiving. Regular shows are open to students on Thursdays at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.