sru rocket 11-30-12 by SRU Rocket

Sports

Campus Life

B-1

Rock basketball opens season

C-1

Fighting the cold and flu

The Rocket www.theonlinerocket.com

Friday, November 30, 2012

Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper

Est. 1934

Volume 96, Number 11

Strike authorization vote passed APSCUF hopes to hasten contract negotiations with PASSHE By Jonathan Janasik Rocket News Editor

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) voted to pass the strike authorization vote, which allows the APSCUF leadership to call a strike at will. APSCUF’s last contract with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) expired in June 2011, leaving both parties to negotiate the terms of a new contract. President of the SRU chapter of APSCUF Dr. Patrick Burkhart has stated that little progress has been made

between the two parties within the months of contract negotiations. Because of this, APSCUF recently held a strike authorization vote in order to increase pressure on PASSHE to reach an agreement. “I’ve heard that it has been effective in that regard, and in that both sides have been coming to the table with proposals that seek compromise on the issues,” Burkhart said. According to Burkhart, 86 percent of the entire faculty in APSCUF voted, and 91.4 percent of the faculty from SRU participated in the vote. The results were that 95 percent of the faculty voted that the strike authorization should be passed.

Burkhart reported that APSCUF has agreed that they will not go on strike during the rest of the fall semester. This will allow APSCUF and PASSHE to negotiate for at least two months without giving students any reason to worry about a strike. “Keep in mind that the contract is between PASSHE and APSCUF,” Burkhart explained, “It’s our contract, it’s the administrations contract as well. Everything that is in there was agreed to by both sides, and I believe that both sides benefit from having a clear agreement. It reduces ambiguity, it reduces misunderstanding, and it produces predictably.” Burkhart explained that PASSHE wants the contract

to be decided upon so that they can predict their expenses. This is important because bankers are reluctant to lend money if they do not know how much money their clients will have. If an agreement is not made within the next two months, Burkhart stated that he is planning on holding at least one town hall meeting where students and community members will be able to voice their concerns and ask questions to the SRU faculty members of APSCUF. The two main issues that APSCUF and PASSHE SEE PASSHE, PAGE A-2

Upper campus parking SRU students create 'Gangnam Style' music video lot project put on hold By Erica Kurvach Rocket Staff Reporter

The $800,000 construction project for the Kraus Hall parking lot was to be finished by this past summer, but the project was put on hold last spring due to the cost. The new parking lot would have given Rhoads and North Hall residents and students with classes on upper campus more convenient spaces to park. Former president, Dr. Robert Smith, gave the cons ent to demolish Kraus Hall and build more parking spaces. However, acting president, Charles Curry, stopped the project since it was expensive and the University was changing presidents. Mr. Herbert Carlson, the assistant vice president for Construction, Design and Management, had to send contractors to remove Asbestos out of the building. “Asbestos is gone in the building,” Carlson said. “It is gutted out and has been removed in the bathroom. The building inside is pretty much bare walls.” President Cher yl Nor ton a l l owe d t h e project to stay on hold and wants to study about another option to reduce the cost, according to Carlson. As a result, they have two options to decide from. One way is to take a closer look at how Kraus building might be used. Secondly, they can hire a facility master planning firm to look at all of the buildings to study broader issues of the campus. “We have to consider in tough budget times and consider the best option,” Carlson said. In t h e m e a nt i m e , Norton and Carlson are deciding where they want the University to be in the future.

Currently, the Miller Auditorium is b eing renovated. Projects c om i ng up are t h e modification to McKay Education building and the conversion of the University Union. Carlson is also facing new environmental legal regulations. One of the new major requirements is to have an infiltration system. This system requires Carlson to build parking lots designed in a way that will allow storm water to run off the yard, releasing slowly and giving a chance to percolate into the soil of the property. Before this new regulation, the storm water had to run off the lawn and did not have to saturate into the soil. Last year’s estimated cost for both the Robert M. Smith Student Center and Patterson Hall and K r au s Ha l l p a r k i n g lots were $1.4 million. That price included the realignment of Morrow Way. One may notice the Smith Student Center’s r ai n g ard e n by t he entrance which is another storm water system. Carlson said that the East and West Lake parking lots are good because the water flows down and off the parking lot. The Facilities and Planning Department’s original approach to building this parking lot is to use penetrable pavement that will allow rain water to saturate into it. The Kraus Hall parking lot, located on South Main Street, is still open to campus residents. The building used to be a residence hall and is closed for 2012 to 2013 year, according to Student Consumer Information. The building was constructed in 1966.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEIL SACHS

Jang Roh, a graduate student, heads up the dance team in a music video created by Morgan Lambert as a communication project. Lambert's inspiration for the video came from MIT's video version of 'Gangnam Style', and hopes for the music video to be featured on MTV.

Campus trail for students with disabilities approved By Maria Heintzinger Rocket Contributor

The Slippery Rock University Storm Harbor Equestrian Center is in the process of incorporating a “Sensory Trail” into the trail system on campus. The trail will be open to the university. However, it is being designed mainly for people with disabilities. “[We decided on it because of] a need for more sensory components in our program. We wanted to make it more nature based, so the sensory trail incorporates both elements,” said Gramlich, Equestrian Center facility manager. The majority of the work that is done by the Equestrian Center is centered on assisting those with disabilities, and this new opportunity provides them with even more room to grow in that area. The current trail that they will use is in serious need of renovating, and that is how the $20,000 Alcoa Foundation Grant will help. Once it is completed, the “Sensory Trail” will take on the formal name of the "Alcoa Foundation Transition Trail." The current pathway that will be updated is near the compost piles at the Macoskey Center and is about an eighth of a mile long. The main goal of the trail will be to

stimulate the senses, largely smell and touch, by providing interactive stations at several spots along the way. Many different plants will be used at several of those stations and even the usual sounds of nature will appeal to the senses. “Because the trail is located where it is, sight will also play a role. It gives us a great view of campus and there are many things to look at while walking on it,” Gramlich said. The team has many potential ideas that they hope will tie into the trail once the construction of it is underway. It is expected to take approximately eight months to complete, and although there is not a set date as of now, they hope to get started on it as soon as possible. A project of this size could not have been tackled alone, and Gramlich feels that she had some very productive assistance. “I had some great help from Christine Glenn’s class and a small group of students that did some research for this project. We are hopeful that this group will help to construct it along with other students from Parks and Recreation,” Gramlich said. Glenn, an instructor in the Parks and Recreation Department, has been busy with the updating and renovating of the entire trail system. The “Sensory Trail,” however, was one

of great importance to her. “As an educator, anytime I can give my students a real-life project to work on, it means a lot. I feel that I was very lucky to be involved with such a great design project and to have students that are doing such solid work,” Glenn said. The team consisted of four students who worked on the site analysis, during which they studied the conditions of the current trail site and program recommendations. They designed the trail path, made proposals of where the sensory stations should be, and planned on what could be incorporated into these stations. A couple of those students expressed a strong interest in continuing work on this project during the implementation stage when the time comes. Because Glenn and her students have recently become even more involved with the entire trail system at the university, they understand the positive results that can come from this type of project. “We are really lucky on campus to have green space available and that is why the university is working to protect it and allow us to be able to access it in a sustainable way. It really is a great opportunity for a campus like ours,” Glenn said.

News

A-2 7-DAY FORECAST FOR SLIPPERY ROCK

November 30, 2012

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REGIONAL CITIES CITY Akron Allentown Altoona Cleveland Erie Harrisburg Indiana Johnstown Philadelphia Pittsburgh Scranton State College Wheeling Williamsport Youngstown

Friday HI LO W 50 37 pc 45 30 pc 46 32 pc 48 39 pc 44 38 c 46 32 pc 46 34 pc 46 34 pc 49 38 s 50 35 pc 40 33 c 44 31 c 52 39 pc 42 30 c 48 37 pc

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ROCK NOTES Upcoming Events at Ghost Riders 2 Every Friday night, Ghost Riders 2 holds couples dance lessons from 7 to 8 p.m. and open dance from 8 to 10 p.m. There is a $5.00 cover fee to get in. Every Saturday night, they hold free line dance lessons from 8:30 to 9 p.m. On Saturday Nov. 24, Ghost Riders 2 will be featuring "Tattoos on this Town" Tattoo Contest. On Friday Nov. 30 Chippendale's from Vegas will be performing live from 8 to 10 p.m. There will be a $13 pre sale, and it will cost $18 night of show.

Winter Wobble 5K Joshua Hayes, the Assistant Life Skills Coordinator on campus, is holding the first Winter Wobble 5K on December 8, 2012. The proceeds are going to benefit the Feed My Sheep food cupboard and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (SRU's chapter) service initiatives.

Fall Dance Showcase The SRU Department of Dance presents its annual fall showcase at Swope Recital Hall. Performances take place at 2pm and 5pm on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9. Tickets are $3 students and $5 general and can be purchased at the Smith Center Information Desk or by calling (724) 738-4926. For more information, contact the Department of Dance at (724) 738-2036.

To submit a Rock Note please send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to Jonathan Janasik at jtj9529@sru.edu or to rocket.news@sru.edu. The Rocket does not guarantee that all requests will be published in the paper.

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MOON PHASES

Index Rock Notes...............A-2 Comics.....................A-7 Weather map...........A-2 Sports...................B-1 Blotter.................A-3 Campus Life.............C-1 Opinion...............A-4

Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu

220 Eisenberg Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057

2011 Runner-up Most Outstanding Newspaper Society of Collegiate Journalists

Set 4:53 p.m. 4:52 p.m. 4:52 p.m. 4:52 p.m. 4:52 p.m. 4:52 p.m. 4:52 p.m. Set 8:56 a.m. 9:38 a.m. 10:16 a.m. 10:50 a.m. 11:21 a.m. 11:51 a.m. 12:20 p.m.

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National Summary: A wintry mix of light ice, snow and rain will fall across southern New England Saturday as a warm front pushes through. Breezy and mild weather will occur for most of the Ohio Valley and Southeast, although clouds and showers are likely along the coast. Heavy rain will continue to pound the West and as snow levels drop, heavy snow will develop in the mountains. The storm in the West will continue into the day Sunday with heavy rain remaining over California. The Plains will be windy and mild Sunday while showers greet the Northeast. Mild weather will be in place across much of the eastern half o the nation Monday, but a strong cold front will push through the northern Plains.

NATIONAL CITIES

Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursda CITY HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W Atlanta 62 48 pc 64 49 pc 68 50 pc 70 52 s 70 47 pc 62 39 c 60 41 p Boston 35 30 pc 40 39 sn 56 49 c 58 46 s 59 40 pc 45 31 sh 44 33 Chicago 50 39 pc 53 49 sh 60 51 pc 61 41 c 45 31 pc 41 31 s 46 31 Cincinnati 58 41 pc 61 50 s 64 54 c 66 52 c 57 32 c 45 30 s 50 38 Dallas 72 60 pc 78 60 pc 78 63 pc 79 57 c 67 52 s 67 47 s 70 47 Denver 61 39 pc 62 36 pc 65 36 pc 57 28 pc 54 35 s 64 32 pc 63 16 Detroit 43 36 c 53 48 pc 58 49 c 63 48 c 54 30 c 40 31 s 46 33 p Houston 76 61 pc 79 63 pc 80 64 pc 81 63 pc 76 56 c 67 51 pc 70 53 p Indianapolis 56 39 pc 58 51 pc 63 56 c 67 50 c 55 31 c 44 32 s 50 38 Kansas City 60 47 s 64 43 pc 68 56 pc 68 41 c 55 34 s 55 35 pc 56 33 Los Angeles 68 56 sh 68 58 pc 68 59 r 70 54 pc 74 57 s 77 56 s 73 55 Miami 78 69 pc 79 70 pc 81 70 pc 81 68 pc 80 65 s 80 64 pc 79 64 s Nashville 62 44 pc 66 49 pc 70 52 pc 72 55 pc 63 37 sh 51 35 pc 57 42 New Orleans 72 58 pc 75 60 pc 75 58 pc 76 59 s 75 56 c 70 51 c 68 56 s New York City 44 36 pc 47 42 c 55 46 c 60 48 s 60 47 pc 52 36 sh 46 40 Orlando 77 56 pc 78 59 pc 80 60 pc 79 58 s 78 57 pc 76 53 pc 72 56 s Phoenix 76 55 s 76 54 pc 75 55 s 76 57 s 79 57 s 78 53 s 77 50 p San Francisco 63 56 r 62 57 r 61 48 r 60 49 pc 62 53 pc 63 51 r 60 48 Seattle 53 45 r 50 41 r 46 42 sh 48 44 c 52 45 r 48 37 r 43 35 Washington, DC 52 37 s 54 45 pc 62 52 c 68 51 s 67 43 pc 51 35 sh 51 41 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow ﬂurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

PASSHE publicly releases details about proposals Continued from Page A-1 are currently debating are distance education and retirement benefits. Currently, professors receive compensation for holding online classes, but PASSHE has proposed that professors should no longer be paid extra for online courses. Burkhart stated that a lot of work is put into creating an online class that is comparable to the quality of a traditional class. Because of this, many professors are upset with the idea of not receiving compensation. Burkhart stated that another problem is that PASSHE seems to want to increase the number of online classes, and PASSHE believes that the quality of online classes does not mach that of a traditional classroom. The other concern that Burkhart has is that without retirement benefits, public universities in Pennsylvania will have a hard time attracting quality professors. “What I don’t want to do is throw away the future,” Burkhart said. “The future of being a college professor. The future of affordable, accessible, college education. This contract negation would go more smoothly and more quickly if I was willing to throw away the future for professors. But current students will get the degrees and credentials and will be tomorrow’s professors. When I’m asked to throw away the employment terms for the next generation. I’m being asked to concede the career opportunities that some of our current students will support themselves with in the future.”

PASSHE released details to the public about these proposals to APSCUF while the strike authorization vote was taking place. “We remain committed to achieving an agreement with our faculty union that is fair to everyone,” stated a blog post on the PASSHE website. “Especially to our students and their families who provide almost 75 percent of the revenue necessary to operate our universities through tuition and fees. We have a fair offer on the table and hope to reach a settlement with APSCUF very soon.” PASSHE states that a 1 percent pay increase will be offered for faculty working in the 2012 to 2013 and the 2013 to 2014 school years. The salary increase would be 2 percent in the 2014 to 2015 school year. PASSHE stated that this offer is comparable to the contracts that the other unions in Pennsylvania agreed to. It also promises a comparable salary between full-time and part time faculty, as well as a pay freeze at current salary levels for part-time and temporary faculty. Another part of the proposal states that PASSHE would like to phase out of incentive payments to faculty that utilize distance education (or online) courses. The incentives were created in 1999 when online learning was a relatively new idea. Now that online courses are more commonplace, PASSHE states that giving incentives for online courses

is no longer necessary. The next part of the proposal was that the PASSHE managed healthcare plan would be modified to be similar to the one offered by the Pennsylvania Employee Benefits Trust Fund (PEBTF), which is a plan that covers over 80,000 other state employees, including about one-third of PASSHE’s employees. PASSHE also stated that they would like to Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program. The press release stated that APSCUF refused to participate in the program when it was originally started, but all other groups in PASSHE took part and saved the State System approximately $10 million. “It is essential that we achieve cost savings in other areas in order to help offset proposed salary increases that are included in the proposed new agreement,” the PASSHE press release said. “A major focus is in the area of healthcare, where we are seeking provisions that will result in savings similar to those that are included in agreements with all of our other labor unions.” On Nov. 14, APSCUF created a blog post in response to PASSHE’s press release. “On Friday, PASSHE put out [a] statement about negotiations,” stated the APSCUF post. “Then they sent it to everyone on campus Monday morning, which so happens to be the first day APSCUF was holding a strike authorization vote. It is clearly mere coincidence

that they chose that timing to put out their first public elucidation of their negotiations offer to APSCUF.” The APSCUF blog post explained that it is important that people get both sides of the stories, because they believe that the PASSHE press release left out a few key points. In response to the pay increases, APSCUF stated that the pay increase is only three steps in four years. They also state that the pay increase will only be for eligible faculty, and approximately 40 percent of the faculty are eligible. APSCUF also states that the link connected to the statement about comparable salary actually says that professors who teach less than 12 hours receive a different pay scale than professors who work at least 12 hours. About the compensation being cut to faculty teaching online classes, APSCUF stated that PASSHE is trying to make teaching online courses mandatory for professors. APSCUF believes that this is because PASSHE is trying to make a shift to mostly online classes. “Faculty don’t decide what tuition is; the Board does,” the APSCUF blog post states. “And an objective look at our price tag – the lowest four-year tuition in the Commonwealth – tells you that our students get value for their buck. They also deserve a strong voice in Harrisburg against the constant assault of budget cuts that lead to those tuition increases. Don’t they deserve that for their thousands in tuition per year?”

SRU biology professor receives $50,000 grant By Erica Kurvach

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The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. 0-2 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 6-7 High; 8-10 Very High; 11+ Extreme.

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NATIONAL FORECAST FOR THE WEEK

Rocket Staff Reporter

A SRU biology professor and University of Pittsburgh collaborators received a $50, 000 three-year research grant from the National Institute of Health to better understand the cause of health problems including Alzheimer’s disease and cystic fibrosis. When Dr. Stacy Hrizo, a SRU biology professor, found out that her mother-in-law was diagnosed with dementia, she became interested in neurodegenerative research. According to the Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention, at least 5 million people in the U.S. have age-related dementias. After Hrizo applied, she found Dr. Michael Palladino, a University of Pittsburgh pharmacology and chemical biology professor who accepted her as a post-doctoral researcher and developed this project, formally called, “Protein Quality Control Mechanisms of Novel Soluble Substrates,” with her. Hrizo and Palladino are specifically studying how sugar metabolism causes neurodegeneration, a disease that links to disorders like dementia. “There’s still a lot that we don’t understand about the brain and about how it functions,” Hrizo said. “But the majority of the drugs that the industry uses target the process of the brain.” Hrizo and researchers are studying the factors that affect this glycolytic disorder

with fruit flies, a genetic model system called first year and will receive a total of $48,406 drosophila melanogaster, so they can study by the last year. She is working on most of the flies from birth to death within about her study in the Pitt’s School of Medicine lab two months. (Dementia occurs at later stages over the summer, and some is conducted from birth). at SRU. Hrizo’s goal is to screen 600 to 800 “When you are studying mutations in a different genes within the next two years and mouse or a human, it takes years before you then confirm their findings in the third year. see anything happening in the brain,” Hrizo Hrizo and collaborators’ project is a type of said. cell biology research which is under the same Fruit flies are commonly category as, Robert Lefkowitz and used for biology research in Brian Kobilka, the 2012 Nobel Prize genetics. winners in chemistry. They won the Dr. Andrew VanDemark, $1 million prize for identifying a an assistant structural biology class of receptors in the brain and professor at Pitt, is another understanding how they work. collaborator. He is creating The National Institute of Health crystals of the proteins to is funding the researchers to look at Scan QR code to see Hrizo help the researchers study share about her research how cells are destroying enzymes that the structure changes in study, or see the video online are functioning and folded properly at youtube.com/SRUrocket the mutations. Doctors in sugar metabolism. This disease, have not found any certain treatment for called TPI deficiency, starts to take a negative neurodegenerative disorders. effect on the brain. Hrizo’s experiment is “We don’t have very effective medicines on fruit flies because she can control the against it,” Hrizo said. “But we do know that lighting, temperature, how much and when there are certain factors that affect your risk or to feed them in the lab. Palladino is putting probability of developing a neurodegenerative the mutations in the fruit flies to compare disorder where your brain cells die and get how different mutations cause diseases. He these symptoms.” will look at the progression of each disease in Some of these factors include diet and a population of genetically identical fruit flies exercise. Doctors recommend dementia which lasts in a course of about two months. patients to maintain a healthy diet and exercise In 2001, Hrizo completed a Bachelor of enough to slow the process of the symptoms. Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Hrizo has been awarded $9, 718 for the West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

News

November 30, 2012

A-3

Police Blotter Magistrate

of drug paraphernalia. He was released on his own recognizance.

Nov. 28 – Chelsey Werner, 20, of Greensville, Pa., was seen for manufacture, delivery of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; possession of a controlled substance by a person not regulated, and use/possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on her own recognizance.

Nov. 28 – David Gall Jr., 38, of Harmony, Pa., was seen for receiving stolen property and conspiracy – receiving stolen property. He was released on his own recognizance. Campus

Nov. 18 – Jaquan Cornish, 19, was cited with underage consumption of alcohol after an officer observed an intoxicated individual at the Smith Student Center.

home from the bar on Harmony Road. The campus police and Slippery Rock Borough Police searched with negative results. The incident was referred to the Pennsylvania State Police. The individual was later found.

Nov. 18 – Ryan Zamboni, 18, was cited with public drunkenness after a report of an intoxicated and disorderly individual at Boozel Dining Hall.

Nov. 25 – An officer confirmed a stolen firearm. The firearm was confiscated. The incident was referred to the West Virginia State Police.

Nov. 28 – Thomas Libitzer, 22, of Leechburg, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI, disregard of traffic lane and careless driving. She was released on her own recognizance.

Nov. 15 – There was a report of a vehicle window being painted in the Lower Stadium Lot. There was no damage. The case is under investigation.

Nov. 19 – There was a report of a damaged vehicle at the McKay Staff parking lot. The case is under investigation.

Nov. 28 – Marshall Martin, 18, of Grove City, was seen for marijuana – small amount for personal use and four counts of use/possession

Nov. 15 – There was a report of theft of monies at Aebersold Recreational Center. The case is under investigation.

Nov. 19 – A request was made for officers to search for an individual who had not returned

Nov. 26 – Dominic Faieta, 18, was cited with burglary, criminal mischief, and harassment after a previous report of harassment and criminal mischief at Watson Hall on Nov. 12. Compiled by Catie Clark

SGA changes constitution, adds four new positions Co-Op freezes budget By Catie Clark By Catie Clark Assistant News Editor

The Student Government Association approved constitutional changes last Monday that would allow senators to maintain their position while student teaching, studying abroad or taking an internship. SGA held an open forum before formal senate to discuss the constitutional amendments. Previously, senators had not been allowed to hold such positions while being a member of SGA. Senator Anthony Plumberg said that allowing senators to student teach or take on an internship during the semester could be beneficial to the senate as well as the student. “It makes it easier for people with lighter course loads to pick up internships and other valuable experiences,” Plumberg said. “They can then bring those experiences back and apply them to work with SGA.” Other amendments included the addition of four freshman senators and the fixing of several mistakes or ‘typos’ in the constitution. According to Parliamentarian Angelina Hernley, the fix of the ‘typos’ would not be changing policy; just clarifying positions in a segment of the constitution that didn’t clarify which positions were being referred to.

SGA also elected new commuter senator Zach Hall. Hall, a junior, ran for President of SGA during the 2011 – 2012 academic year. Hall is involved on the men’s soccer team and the student athlete advisor committee. According to Hall, as a commuter senator he wants to reach out more to commuters outside of large apartment complexes. He believes student government is a team that uplifts and provides for student body and surrounding community. Two new organizations, the Toms Campus Club and SRU G.R.O.W., were approved by SGA as well. The Toms Campus Club, according to Tesin Gnalian, student representative of the club, plans to take part of the global movement and incorporate into our community, to our campus. “We plan to focus on service and creating a chain reaction of service,” Gnalian said. “The Toms Company has created clubs on campuses around the nation. They have them at Pitt and Penn State as well.” Gnalian said one of the main events supported by the club is the Day Without Shoes event and the Paint Your Soles event, as well as awareness days and fliers. Other plans include working with shelters and the homeless. SRU G.R.O.W. was the second organization that was approved by SGA. G.R.O.W. stands for “gaining respect for

ourselves in this world”. Christie Gribschaw, the founder of the organization, said she was inspired by Scott Lang lectures, which gave her the idea for the club. Gribschaw said plans for the club include a lecture series speaking to different topics for students as a way to get information to students in a nonjudgmental atmosphere. According to Gribschaw, tolerance and communication would be examples of topics for the lectures. She hopes to take time between now and winter break to solidify topics for spring sessions. SGA also approved the appointment of Christian ‘Blake’ McChesney as the election commissioner for next semester. A proclamation was also made by SGA and President Dave Wolfe to end bullying and participate in anti-bullying day by showing the documentary “Bully” Friday. Wolfe said the proclamation included the designation of Nov. 30 as an effort of antibullying day at Slippery Rock University and the goals of the day are to bring awareness through the efforts of showing the documentary “Bully”. “Through our efforts we will give the audience educational information in regards to bullying at a collegiate level and… we will be providing information and outlets for students to use in the event he or she witness or are affected personally by bullying,” Wolfe said.

Assistant News Editor

The Board of Cooperative Activities announced Thursday that the budget for next year will not be increased for any student organizations. Co-Op approved a zero percent budget increase for 2013 – 2014 academic year. According to Ben Motyl, Vice President of Financial Affairs, organizations and clubs can seek more funding in their budget in other ways. “We don’t want to increase the base budget, but possibly will look into incentive worksheets so organizations can seek up to a three percent increase for next year,” Motyl said. Cathy George, SGA Business Manager, said that the worksheet is more or less a form of performance funding.“We will create a rubric and look at how well organizations follow the rules and spend their money,” George said. Co-Op also approved the transfer of over $36,000 between University Program Board accounts. The line item transfer for UPB accounts from Art & Entertainment to Speaker artist fees in the amount of $21,360 was approved. Motyl said the Art & Entertainment position in UPB is currently vacant, so they are moving the money to artist fees inside the speaker budget for use

this year. Another line item transfer for UPB from Arts & Entertainment to Concerts artist fees in the amount of $15,605 was also approved. Motyl said this was also because of the vacant position this academic year. Brad Kovaleski, SGA and CoOp Advisor, said that UPB is going through a board restructuring because of the vacancies this academic year, so money won’t have to be moved in future years. Co-Op also approved that all stipends through the Board of Cooperative Activities be frozen at the current dollar value. Motyl said that stipends are currently calculated by a percentage of tuition, and with this motion they would be help at their current level until further notice. The funding of the Leadership Scholarship from the vending contract, $10,000 from the bookstore, and from the interest from the general service fee was approved by Co-Op Thursday as well. According to Motyl, it was suggested by the Finance Committee that those monies be used for the scholarship. Motyl said the budgetary reserves were currently at $165,806.20.

The Rocket

OPINION

A-4

November 30, 2012

The Rocket

Our View

Volume 96, Number 11 220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: (724) 738-4438 Fax: (724) 738-4896 E-mail: rocket.letters@sru.edu

Editorial Board Will DeShong Editor-in-Chief Jon Janasik News Editor Andy Treese Campus Life Editor Madeline Williams Sports Editor Alex Mowrey Photo Editor Stephanie Holsinger Copy Editor James Intile Web Editor Catie Clark Assistant News Editor Courtney Tietje Assistant Campus Life Editor Kristin Karam Assistant Sports Editor Emily Schubert Assistant Photo Editor Erica Kurvach News Reporter Mark Zeltner Faculty Adviser

Advertising Staff Zach Dornisch Advertising Manager Karleigh Santry Advertising Manager

About Us The Rocket is published by the students of Slippery Rock University every Friday during the academic semester with the exception of holidays, exam periods and vacations. Total weekly circulation is 3,000. No material appearing in The Rocket may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. The first copy of The Rocket is provided free of charge. Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents each. The Rocket receives approximately five percent of its funding from the SGA General Service fee paid each semester by students. All other income is provided through the sale of advertising. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling (724) 738-2643 or by e-mailing rocket.ads@sru.edu.

Corrections If we make a substantial error, we want to correct it. If you believe an error has been made, call The Rocket newsroom at (724) 738-4438. If a correction is warranted it will be printed in the opinion section.

Subscriptions Subscriptions to The Rocket are available. Subscriptions are $20 per academic semester and $35 for the full academic year. Inquiries should be directed to the Editorin-Chief at the address listed here.

GRAPHIC BY EMILY SCHUBERT

Flu shots are key to keeping the campus community healthy Wi nte r i s qu i ck ly approaching and that means we will soon find ourselves in another series of battles against the illnesses that come with it. While the cold weather creates a threat of sickness for ever yone, college s t u d e nt s , e s p e c i a l l y those living in residence halls, are particularly vulnerable to it. That is why it is very important for students to take the necessary pre c aut i ons to st ay healthy. It is important not only for the student personally, but for the students around him or her as well. Sickness spreads

quickly around a college and can be detrimental to a student’s academic performance if it becomes severe enough. One key way to protect oneself against a serious illness is to get an influenza vaccine. This is an important shot for all students to get, but is overlooked by most. Many students group the flu in with the common cold and don’t think much of it. But influenza is a much more serious illness that not only leaves a person fe eling sick longer, but can lead to more serious problems like pneumonia.

Fighting off a cold is hard, but fighting off the flu is even harder. Now, many people are cautious of flu shots, fearing some sort of nasty side affect. But the threat from the flu is far more dangerous than the threats of any side affects. There is little evidence to support that flu shots truly warrant any cause for concern other than that a person’s arm might be a little sore after the injection or that a person might feel a little drained. But that certainly beats running at a higher risk of becoming sick with the flu that will keep you sick for several days, and that will likely spread to make

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.

those around you sick. A final misconception people have about flu shots is how often they should get one. Just because you got a flu shot last winter does not mean you should skip out on this season’s shot. Every year the vaccines are designed to fight different inf luenza viruses. So the shot you got last year isn’t going to protect you against the viruses scientists believe will be causing havoc this winter. While we feel people should cer t ainly b e skeptical of what they put into their bodies, there isn’t much behind

the fears of a flu shot. The benefits for both yourself and the campus community are certainly worth any risks associated with the vaccine. It doesn’t take long to stop and get a shot, and it is not expensive either. The half hour it takes to get one will likely save you a week of sore throat, fever, coughing, runny nose, and fatigue. And it can help those around you avoid that as well. So head down to the health center or a local pharmacy and get a flu shot. It will not only keep you protected this winter but will also help keep SRU a healthier place to live and study.

This week’s question: Will you be getting a seasonal flu shot? Why or why not?

Editorial Policy The Rocket strives to present a diverse range of opinions that are both fair and accurate in its editorials and columns appearing on the Opinion pages. “Our View” is the opinion of the Editorial Board and is written by Rocket editorial board members. It reflects the majority opinion of The Rocket Editorial Board. “Our View” does not necessarily reflect the views of Slippery Rock University, its employees or its student body. Columns and cartoons are drafted by various individuals and only reflect the opinions of the columnists.

Letters Policy The Rocket welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee their publication. The Rocket retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Submitted material becomes the property of The Rocket and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affiliation, if any. Please limit letters to a maximum of 400 words. Submit all material by noon Wednesday to: The Rocket, 220 ECB, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057. Or send it via e-mail to: rocket.letters@sru.edu.

Kelsey Smith Sophomore communicationemerging technology major Hometown: Pittsburgh

Jon Griffin Freshman sport management major Hometown: Boston, Ma.

Matthew Ellis Senior professional studies major Hometown: Honesdale, Pa.

“No, because I never get sick. Seriously, I take vitamins and stuff like that. I drink a lot of orange juice.”

“I plan on getting one so I don’t get sick. I got one two years ago. I don’t remember getting sick that year.”

“No, I don’t feel the need to get one. I don’t find it a big issue. I was taught that it’s for babies and old people because of their immune systems.”

Opinion

November 30, 2012

Fox News columnist’s “War on Men” opinion article is outrageous

Carly Masiroff FMLA I love opening up Google Currents (my online news source) and reading a headline that has to do with me. “Me?” you might ask. Yes me. As you have read in my columns before, I declare myself a feminist. I am not usually one for labels, but that one seems to fit just right. Remember what I have taught you before; we are not man-haters. Well, Fox News is saying that notion is incorrect. Suzanne Venker, a Fox News opinion columnist, wrote a piece this week entitled “The War on Men.” Now as some of you might imagine, I was intrigued. Last time I checked, women were the ones who were lower on the totem pole, but hey, maybe Suzanne knows something I don’t. So, I read the article. It started off as most Fox News pieces start, women want to get married, have kids and just be “women.” Blah, Blah, Suzanne we have heard it all before. Then she shot her first arrow. Suzanne says, “For the first time in history, women have become the majority of the U.S. workforce and they’re also getting most of the college degrees.” Now, because there are more women than men in this country—this might sound accurate, but here is the part she failed to mention, a woman with a college degree will

make less money on average than a man without a high school diploma. But, I gave her the benefit of a doubt and I kept reading. Then, the second arrow hit my heart. “Women aren’t women anymore.” Dah! Suzanne, where are you going with this nonsense? She says that women are just angry all the time because there are just no “marriageable men” out there anymore. “They,” the feminists, have defeated men. This leaves men to just give up. They don’t have to be worshipped anymore, right? If it couldn’t get any better, she brings it home. “It’s all so unfortunate – for women, not men. Feminism serves men very well: they can have sex at hello and even live with their girlfriends with no responsibilities whatsoever.” Oh dear Suzanne, where to start? Where in the definition of feminism does it say we give it out easy and will do all the chores around the house, while working, cooking and taking care of our wonderful men? For those of you reading this, the definition of feminism is easy: one who wants equality for all. Why is that so bad? And how is that going to “war” with men? The thing that I find hilarious is what happens when feminists are — wait for it — male?! Do men wage a war on men? I leave you with this, when watching television, reading news sources, or talking to someone at Rocky’s, please inform them or yourself for that matter, “the” feminists are not the evil in the world. We are just everyday people, doing what we can to help civil rights become norms in our society. Carly Masiroff is a graduate student studying student affairs from Erie, Pa. Carly is working as a GA for the Women’s Center, and is also a member of FMLA.

Video game sequels must stay innovative while maintaining signature styles

Michael Santoro Observation Station In keeping with my theme of sequels, I feel the need to cover another art medium that only recently has been considered as such: video games. While video games don’t have as rich a history as movies or even as long of one, they are rising to become the biggest entertainment releases. This brings me to my first video game series, one of the many that are changing the landscape of digital entertainment: Call of Duty. The Call of Duty series has been around since 2003, and back then the game didn’t bring nearly as much money or recognition in as it does now. How many sequels later, we get the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Just as with the previous game in the series, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, this release was the largest in entertainment history. Why, you ask? There really hasn’t been much change or innovation between the Call of Duty sequels. Each year, another iteration is pumped out with minor alterations, and each year hundreds of thousands of fans rush out to drop $60 on it. I believe that the company knows it has a good thing going; the numbers prove it. Why change anything major in fear that the large fan base will be disapproving and stop playing the games altogether? With such a populated and diverse fan base, you never know if something different you implement could be well received or absolutely deplored. Like the old saying goes: don’t fix it if it isn’t broken.

Other series do the same, but don’t end up with nearly as positive results. A great example would be the Driver series. When the original was released, it won accolades and awards for its innovation in 3D driving. It took what the original Grand Theft Auto did, but without the isometric (top-down) view. Then Driver 2: The Wheelman is Back is released to polarizing results. While some praised it, others derided the atrocious pop-up and the horrible out-ofcar controls. At least it let you get out of your car and take other vehicles, an innovation for a 3D driving game such as itself. Then after multiple delays, Driv3r is released. (pretty lame name, amirite?) It’s a commercial and critical failure, and does next to nothing to update the series. The same complaints leveled at 2 were leveled at 3. Sometimes a lack of innovation can squash your game, even its gameplay performance was well below that of the Call of Duty series. Now since I already mentioned it, might as well comment on it: the Grand Theft Auto series. A truly innovative and expectation-breaking series, every Grand Theft Auto game that’s released does something different to entice and engross the players. With 3, the isometric (top-down) view is gone, and we’re plunged into a fully rendered, living, breathing 3D world. Inhabitants are active, cars are heading to their destination, and our player has himself a “sandbox” to play in. With Vice City, the controls are made more fluent, the camera is now controllable, the new setting is brilliantly indicative of the 80s time period, our character now has a name, a voice, an up-front attitude and personality; the list goes on and on. With San Andreas and IV, even more innovations and updates are accomplished, all the while delivering topnotch gameplay that developer

Rockstar is famous for. Now, let’s move onto a less adult-oriented game series that have given us amazing sequels. Every Mario Kart game has been relatively well received, and has updated itself in one way or another. Mario Kart 64 gave us fully 3D tracks with battle modes and new weapons. Mario Kart: Double Dash gave us the ability to have two riders on one cart, opening up strategy opportunities with weapons. Lastly, Mario Kart Wii let us get turbos through stunts, opened up past and current tracks, and let us use our Miis as characters. One series I believe is falling under the “Call of Duty trap” is Madden NFL. Every year another Madden NFL is released, and more recently they haven’t been so great. Any changes made seem to be purely cosmetic. If they’re involving gameplay, it’s usually very minor, and doesn’t change up the feel much at all. Fans just pick them up every year for an updated roster, and that’s about it. Sequels to video games tend to be better than sequels to movies for a few reasons. With the future comes new ideas that can be implemented with new technology. Instead of retreading the same-old-sameold, like most movie sequels do, video game sequels can be structured like their previous game, but can be updated, fixed and streamlined. New ideas and innovations can become standard, and while movie sequels always try to relive what the original did, video games can accomplish this with ease while not retreading over stale territory. I just hope certain series don’t get caught in a yearly cycle, and if they do, maybe something needs to come along to shake things up a bit. Michael Santoro is a senior public relations major from Pittsburgh and a regular contributor to the Rocket.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” section are those of the writer(s) alone. The Rocket cannot verify all facts presented in a given letter, but if we are aware of an error or omission, we reserve the right to include an editorial note for accuracy’s sake.

SRU’s “small steps” program working well Last year, the SRU Energy Conservation Committee rolled out our Energy Action Campaign titled “Small steps. Big payoff.” Since my background includes conducting many building energy audits, I wanted to study a representative SRU Rock Apartments residential unit to see just how much “small steps” – simple changes in occupant behavior that can reduce energy usage and benefit the environment – can, in fact, add up to a big payoff. In addition to evaluating the physical building characteristics that affect energy use, I interviewed the four co-ed residents regarding their energy usage patterns. I found that they had already taken the SRU Energy Pledge and had adopted some energy-saving behaviors, like minimizing their lighting energy use and keeping the thermostat set at 69F in winter. Based on my calculations, the largest energyusing subsystems were (1) space heating at 51% of the total, (2) domestic water heating at 29%, and (3) electrical plug loads at almost 11%. I estimated that they’d already reduced their lighting energy usage by about 40% compared to the energy use normally expected by less energy-conscious residents. Even at that, though, additional no-cost energy conservation measures - such as taking shorter showers and using more efficient cooking techniques - could reduce the apartment energy use by an additional 17% (and save over 15,000 gallons of water each year).

If all 8,850 or so SRU students adopted these energy-conscious behavior patterns, whether they live on campus or off, they could the costs of pumping, heating, and treating 33 million gallons of water and reduce our carbon emissions by over 2,500 metric tons each year - that’s equivalent to preserving about 25 acres of forest, or to not burning 14 railcars of coal – quite a big payoff for a few small steps! In fact, the payoff could actually be significantly greater because many of those students living in off-campus housing are probably living in much less energy-efficient buildings with less efficient appliances than the Rock Apartments, and the less energy efficient a building is, the more impact occupant behavior can have in reducing energy usage and costs. The energy savings calculated for all the recommended energy conservation measures identified in the energy audit amounted to 34% of the apartment’s current level of energy use, and would save about $341 per year with an average 3 year payback period. Roughly half the savings would be due to the residents adopting energy-conscious behavior patterns, and half due to replacing the existing appliances with Energy Star appliances when they reach the end of their useful service lives in the next few years. Want to help save the environment? Go to the SRU Sustainability web page (http://www.sru.edu/president/ Sustainability/Pages/Index.aspx), look for the “individual pledge” icon, and take the SRU Energy Action Pledge – it’s the sure way to reduce our carbon footprint and benefit the environment! Paul Scanlon PE, LEED AP SRU Sustainability Coordinator

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November 30, 2012

The Rocket

COMICS

A-7

November 30, 2012

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By Jay Schiller and Greg Cravens

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By Tim Rickard

Sudoku

By Michael Mepham

Horoscopes By Nancy Black Tribune Media Services (MCT) To d a y ' s B i r t h d a y (11/30/12). Treat yourself to health and wellness this year. Family is your priority, surrounding you with delicious fun. Stay organized, and work and finances will stay balanced. Prepare for a busy summer. Exercis e keeps you grounded. To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21April 19) -- Today is a 9 -- There's a lot of energy available. Your home base is waiting to be inspired. After meditation and reevaluation, fire them up with everything you've got. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Don't push yourself or your good luck too hard. Or do, but accept the risk with all its consequences. Trust your instincts when going for the big prize. Accept the compliments. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 8 -- A clear vision of the future opens up. Access your confident

side. Double-check your work to avoid errors. Hope is triumphant. Focus on finances for a couple of days. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 9 -- For a few days, you're the king of the mountain. Put on your leadership hat and your work gloves, and get in action. You have the resources you need. Figure it out. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -Today is a 9 -- Watch out for surprises. Send somebody else ahead, and let them take the risks for now. You can pay them back later with your creative ideas. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Your friends are your inspiration. Schedule meetings and parties. Accept a challenge if it pays well. Create clear ideas out of the confusion. You're very attractive now. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Career matters most now. Find a relaxing place away from distractions where you can be most productive. Focus on what you believe in and what you're passionate about. You're in love. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -Should you go or should

By Michael A. Kandalafti

you stay? Romance may be challenging, but it's well worth the effort. Dress for a special event. Don't play any con games. Honesty is your best weapon. You gain clarity. Sagittarius (Nov. 22Dec. 21) -- Today is a 8 -- Review your budget, and focus on work. What you discover enlightens. Set team goals, and get into the research. It's getting fun. Capricorn (Dec. 22Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Be more willing to share the load. Look for the pieces that don't fit. Find a need and fill it. Get ready to make your choices. Imagine a brighter future. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Hold on to your cash, and focus on your work for the next couple of days. The best things in life are free. Personal creations elevate your self-esteem. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Do what you can to help the others stay relaxed and calm. Think fast but not recklessly. Stay close to home and replenish stocks. The perfect solution may be an uncomfortable situation.

Solution

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November 30, 2012

The Rocket

SPORTS

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November 30, 2012

Indoor track will open at Youngstown

Rock falls to Lake Erie

By Kristin Karam Assistant Sports Editor

The Slippery Rock men and women’s track teams jump right into their indoor season Saturday at the Youngstown State Invitational. Last year, both indoor teams took second place at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships. The women’s outdoor team came in third at the outdoor PSAC championship and the men’s outdoor team took second place again. The teams also received PSAC recognition with the top team GPA award. Senior distance runner Kara Styles feels confident that the team is ready to make a run at the top spot in the conference. “My goal for this season is to improve upon last year,” Styles said. “We’re looking to win this season and I feel like we have a team capable of doing that.” The team is led by head coach John Papa, who is entering his 26th season coaching at Slippery Rock. Papa and his staff remain in close contact with their athletes throughout the summer off-season to motivate them to push themselves to stay in top shape. “Most of the athletes are selfmotivated and will do the workouts,” Papa said. “In our sport, you cannot hide behind other athletes or fake being in shape. Athletes know that if they are not getting the job done on their own, they will get beat by athletes that are working harder.” Senior sprinter and hurdler Dan Hedglin stays in competition shape throughout the off-season by weight lifting and cross training. “I try not to run too much in those months because we spend nine months out of the year running,” Hedglin explained. “I rely on biking and swimming for most of my cardio until SEE TRACK, PAGE B-2

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Senior guard Darious Clark drives down the court at the home opener on Nov. 19 against La Roche College. Clark led the Rock to a 62-56 win over La Roche with 21 points.

By Madeline Williams Sports Editor

After winning the first two games of the season, the Slippery Rock University men’s basketball team dropped an overtime non-conference game against Lake Erie College 80-73 last Saturday. The Storm (3-0) fought back from a 16-point deficit in the final 18 minutes of regulation play and outscored the Rock (2-1) 16-9 in overtime to take the comeback victory. Senior guard Darious Clark led the

Green and White with 20 points. Senior guard Aubin Reeves contributed 17 points and junior guard Sa’Quan Davis added 11. Senior forward Devin Taylor returned from an injury that kept him out of the home-opener the previous week and had a game-high 13 rebounds in the loss. SRU scored 11 of the first 13 points and took a 12-point 37-25 lead over Lake Erie at halftime. Coming back from the break, the Rock held a 41-25 lead in the first two minutes before the Storm began its comeback.

Lake Erie went on a 12-6 with run during the final five minutes of regular play and sent the game into overtime tied 64-64. The Storm scored the first five points in the overtime period, but Slippery Rock answered with a 5-0 run of its own, tying the score 69-69 with two minutes to go in OT. With 1:15 to play in the game, the Storm ended the game with a 9-2 run to close out the overtime period on top. SEE SRU, PAGE B-2

Rock drops lead in final minutes By Matthew Morgan Rocket Contributor

The Slippery Rock University wome n’s b aske t b a l l te am participated in their third consecutive non-conference game on Nov. 17 against the University of Charleston. The Rock led the contest 54-48 with 13 minutes remaining before the Golden Eagles began to score and pull away. The lead eventually became too big of a deficit for The Rock, dropping the contest 93-76. The Rock was led by sophomore D’Asia Chambers with a 20 point and nine rebound performance, her second game this season with at least 20 points. Junior Alexas Brown had a game to remember with a career-high 16 points, eight assists and another career-high six steals. Sophomore Danielle Garoutte also had an impressive night, scoring a career high 12 points off the bench. When asked about the team’s performance at Charleston, as well as the beginning of the season,

Chambers has had nothing but a positive view on the team’s effort. “We are all very competitive on the court, nobody ever wants to quit.” Chambers said. “We are still trying to get our flow together. We need to learn each other’s strengths and focus on those.” With two crucial games this weekend, now is the time for the Rock ladies to utilize each other’s strengths and come out strong in the PSAC competition. Tomorrow at 1 p.m., the Rock will have their first PSAC conference action against the nationally ranked Bloomsburg Huskies (3-1). The Huskies are ranked 25th in the USA Today Division II Coaches Poll. In addition, the Huskies are predicted to finish first in the PSAC-East from the 2012 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll conducted in October. Last year the Huskies defeated the Rock 86-67. Playing against the Huskies is not going to be an easy task, but would be a great place to start a PSAC winning streak. Head coach Tanya Longo, as well

as the team, is not intimidated by the ranking that the Huskies currently hold. “We kind of have a motto on our team: ‘Respect everyone, but fear no one’. We respect each team and how they are viewed, but each game in front of us is just as important as the next.” Longo said. On Sunday, the Rock will participate in their second PSAC contest, this time against the Mansfield University Mountaineers (0-2). With the pre-season poll predicting a seventh place finish in the PSAC-East for the Mountaineers, they are still not a force to take lightly. Last season, the Rock dropped their game against the Mountaineers 66-88. When asked about what needs to be focused on to get a few wins this weekend, Brown had a few suggestions. “Our defense needs some work, we need to play defense as hard as we play on offense.” Brown said. “We need to keep playing hard for all 40 minutes and close out the game strong.”

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Sophomore guard D’Asia Chambers takes the ball down the court last season. Chambers had nine rebounds and scored 20 points at the Nov. 19 game against the University of Charleston.

Sports

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November 30, 2012

Rock football looks back on season By DJ Vasil Rocket Contributor

Despite not successfully defending the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West title, the Slippery Rock University football team finished with a winning record, finishing 6-5 overall and 5-2 in PSACWest play. The winning season marks the fourthconsecutive season the Rock has finished with a winning record and the 18th time in head coach George Mihalik’s 25 years as head coach. The season was highlighted by the win over nationally ranked California University of Pennsylvania. T h e y d e fe ate d t h e Vulcans 28-26. The win could be considered the loss that knocked Cal-U out of the PSAC-West race. The Rock also delivered a win on homecoming weekend by defeating Edinboro 38-31 in a thrilling overtime game in which the Rock secured the victory by scoring a touchdown on their first possession and the defense keeping Edinboro out of the endzone. O f f e n s i v e l y, the Rock was led by junior quarterback Nigel B ark s d a l e. B arskd a l e began the season as the backup to redshirt sophomore Jared Buck, but when Buck went down due to injury, Barksdale

flourished and did not relinquish the starting job. Barksdale passed for 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games played this season. He also finished second on the team in rushing, finishing with 507 yards and tied for the team le ad in touchdow ns with redshirt freshman r u n n i ng b a ck Bre tt Crenshaw with seven. Redshirt senior running back Akeem Satterfield led the team in rushing, gaining 823 yards on 142 attempts. He also rushed five touchdowns. Satterfield has been selected to the “invite only” Third Annual National Bowl Game. He will play alongside 80 of the top senior players in college football. He received secondteam PSAC-West honors. This is the second time he has received this honor in his four-year career. Alongside Satterfield, six other Rock players received second-team honors. Redshirt senior defensive end Jef f Thompson, who also received the honor for the second time in his four-year career, junior linebacker Quindell Dean, freshman receiver Jaimire Dutrieulle, redshirt junior c or n e r b a c k A nt h ony Saunders, junior wideout LaQuinn StephensHowling and redshirt junior defensive tackle Derek Walker.

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Senior running back Akeem Satterﬁeld pushes through Lock Haven University’s defense at the Nov. 3 35-7 win. Satterﬁeld rushed for 823 yards and scored 5 rushing touchdowns this season.

Dean finished second on the team in tackles with 79. Saunders led the PSAC in passes defended with 17. He also tied for the team lead in interceptions with three, with two being returned for touchdowns. After spending his first

two years at running back, Stephens-Howling moved to receiver this year and led the team in receptions with 37 and touchdowns with five. He also recorded 464 receiving yards which was good for second on the team behind redshirt

sophomore Ken Amos with 580 yards. Senior offensive lineman Austin Fedell thinks that despite not making playof fs, the team had a good year and learned a lot. "We fell short of our expectations. We really

wanted to win the PSAC and make the playoffs," Fedell said. "Despite our record we had a lot of good things happen on offense and defense. We were a young team and I think the team has a bright future ahead of them."

Track seniors SRU prepares for PSAC action look forward to indoor season Continued from Page B-1

The Green and White finished the game shooting 38 percent (23-61) from the field, 26 percent (5-19) from behind the arc, and 88 percent (22-25) at the free throw line. SRU had a 41-29 advantage over the Storm in rebounds, but had 19 turnovers compared to Storm's 14. Senior John Bayardelle says that despite the loss, the season is going well so far. “We are disappointed about the loss to Lake Erie, however we learned a lot about our team,” Bayardelle said. “We are having a hard time holding onto the ball, but I have faith that we will improve by the end of the year.” Looking to bounce back from the loss, Slippery Rock will travel to Bloomsburg University tomorrow and Mansfield University on Sunday. “Everyone is focused and getting ready for both games this weekend,” Taylor said. “We are excited and eager for conference play and we really need to have two good performances.” Reeves says that the team is focusing on this weekend and not worrying about the loss. “We can’t really worry about last weekend anymore. It's in the past now,” Reeves said. “Right now we’re just focusing on Bloomsburg, and after that we’ll worry about Mansfield. We can only worry about the next opponent in front of us and take it one game at a time.” After this weekend, the Green and White will be on the road for one more game before returning home to take on Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival West Chester on Dec. 18.

Continued from Page B-1

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Senior guard Aubin Reeves makes a layup against La Roche College in the Nov. 19 game. Reeves has 34 points for the Rock this season.

August.” O n c e t r ai n i ng for the season begins in September, the athletes have each other to lean on for motivation and support. Papa attributes much of the team’s success to the leadership provided by the upperclassmen. Hedglin is entering his final season with the Rock and helps lead the team by encouraging the underclassmen to keep working hard and always try to get better. He uses his personal story as an example of how hard work pays off. “When I was a freshman, I failed to make the indoor roster,” Hedglin said, "With hard work and diligent training, I was able to earn all-conference honors the following outdoor season.” Hedglin looks forward to defending his indoor PSAC title in the hurdles and seeing the team go for the top spot in the conference. He says they have been training hard for the Youngstown meet and feels everyone is prepared. “I feel like everyone is ready and itching to get a chance to see if our hard work has paid off,” Hedglin said. “I think the freshmen

are ready to experience college competition for the first time.” Papa said that the invitational will be a good starting point for the team. “We will definitely have great competition,” Papa said. “There will be several Division I teams with plenty of outstanding athletes.” The Rock will also get their first glimpse at several of their PSAC competitors, such as Clarion University and California University of Pennsylvania. Papa anticipates that the Green and White will have a strong stance in most of their events. Many of the upperclassmen are returning PSAC champions and all conference performers. Styles will use the opening meet to get an idea of where she stands amongst her competitors and hopes to qualify for the conference meet. “I want to see where I am so that we can identify the things I need to improve before the bigger meets come around,” Styles said. SRU will head to the Watson and Tressel Training Site for the Youngstown State Invitational Saturday with field events starting at 10 a.m. and running events

Sports

November 30, 2012

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Fighting Irish back on top Kyle Holmgren Commentary After a long absence from the top of the Division I football rankings, Notre Dame is back on top after a 19-year absence. Ranked No. 1 in the Bowl Championship Series poll, they’ll be heading to Miami to play for the BCS National Championship in January. Notre Dame’s opponent will most likely be the winner of the Southeastern Conference Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs. Most analysts are saying that Notre Dame has their work cut out for them if they want to beat a team from the SEC, but Notre Dame has had their work cut out for them since day one. The Fighting Irish have been fighting an uphill battle all season. Starting off the year unranked, they’ve won their way into the top spot of the polls. It hasn’t been a pretty ride to the top of the college football world for Notre Dame, as five of their 12 wins have been decided by seven points or less. Two of those five wins, against Stanford and Pittsburgh, were overtime victories. Those two were a

little too close for comfort, but they got it done. The defense, which is led by senior linebacker Manti Te‘o, has been the backbone of the team all year. The Irish defense finished the season ranked second in the nation in points against, giving up just over 10 points per game. The superb play of the defense allowed the offense and redshirt freshman quarterback Everett Golson to sharpen their skills as the season progressed. If you’re anything like me, you were pleasantly surprised by Golson’s performance this season. Most of us were unsure if Golson had what it took to be quarterback at the University of Notre Dame, but he has put most of his doubters to rest. He’s thrown for over 2,000 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Golson’s passing figures aren’t record-setting, but they aren’t bad when you’re on a team that has nearly as many rushing yards per game as it does passing. The redshirt freshman adds a very exciting element to the Notre Dame offense. He is a very mobile quarterback who likes to get out of the pocket and run the ball at times. His quarterbacking style compliments the ground and pound offense of Notre Dame very well. He also makes the offense much more fun to watch with his speed and athleticism. Notre Dame does have a much-improved offense this season, but the reason they are undefeated is the defense.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

Notre Dame University cornerback KeiVarae Russell makes an interception in front of University of Southern California receiver Marquise Lee in the second quarter of the game on Nov. 24.

Coming up with goal line stand after goal line stand has been a staple of the Irish defense. During the fourth quarter of last week’s game at USC, the Irish defense might have had their best series of the season. USC had a first down inside the Notre Dame 3-yard line and were stuffed on every attempt to get into the end zone. That series exemplifies what the entire season has been for Notre Dame. They may let you get close, but you’re not going to score on them. Quite a few teams

have been close to beating the Irish this season, but they always come up just short. There is a bend but don’t break mentality to this Notre Dame defense, as well as the team. The whole season they have been bending back almost to the point of snapping, but then just as you think they can’t bend anymore, the game is over and the Irish have won. Now this football team is going to play for the National Championship (which should be a game against Ohio State but that’s a whole

different story). If they win, it will be the first National Championship team Notre Dame has seen since 1988. It has been a very long drought for Notre Dame fans and they’re hungry. The Notre Dame faithful want this win almost as bad as the players and coaches want it. The fans have invested themselves in this team. They have placed their hopes on that stellar defense and Manti Te‘o. They have placed their hopes on the offense and the young quarterback Everett

Golson. Will Notre Dame win? Can they beat one of the powerhouse teams from the SEC? I believe they can. I believe that it’s time for a team to show the SEC that they aren’t the only division worth anything anymore. I believe it’s time for Notre Dame to rise back to the top and win a 12th National Championship. No one will know for sure until the game is over. What I do know is that come January, the echoes will be awake and cheering her name in Miami. Cheering for old Notre Dame.

This Week’s Movie

@SRSGA Last Senate Meeting of the Semester! December 3, 2012 @ 8:45pm

Co-Sponsored by

In The Robert M. Smith Student Center Theater

You have received an email from Student Government Association that has an online survey so we can hear your voice. The survey closes at midnight, Dec. 20. Please take some time to complete it to help us help you!

Attention! Due to a recent change in our constitution,

we now have 2 open positions for freshman senator! All freshmen are eligible to apply beginning next semester! Pick up an application in the SGA office!

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November 30, 2012

The Rocket

CAMPUS LIFE C-1 November 30, 2012

Should you get a shot? Local pharmacies, pharmacists recommend students to get vaccinated against in luenza By Courtney Tietje, Assistant Campus Life Editor

Facts on the ﬂu:

t’s “that” time of year again. The snow is falling, the wind is howling, and people are getting sick. One form of prevention that has become increasingly popular, especially at pharmacies, is the flu vaccine. Jennifer Howard, staff pharmacist at Slippery Rock Giant Eagle, described the flu shot as an added shield of protection against the flu virus in the human body. “A flu shot is an immunization to prompt our immune system to produce defense to the flu,” Howard said. “So when our bodies are presented with the flu virus in the community, it will have the strength and the immune memory to fight it off.” Grove City Rite Aid pharmacy manager Ned Moore explained how the vaccination works. “It’s a dead virus that you’re giving to people,” Moore said. “It works when your body creates antibodies to the virus. It won’t make you sick, but it boosts your immunity to the common seasonal flu viruses. [The flu itself ] is a viral infection affecting your lungs. It causes cough, body aches, really high fever. It’s a lung and respiratory illness that can turn into a more serious infection, such as pneumonia.” According to Moore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration work together every year to predict which strains of virus will be most common each season and then produce the vaccine containing the dead virus, which is then administered at pharmacies and doctors’ offices. “Scientists, along with medical practitioners, study trends in the community,” Howard said. “And they usually pick the top three influenza virus strands.” All three of those strands then go into the vaccine, according to Howard. While Moore said there are slight disadvantages to getting the flu shot, such as feeling run down or having muscle soreness, Howard said that for most people, it’s a very small risk. “The benefits are much, much heavier weighted on the scale than the risks are,” she said. “But the importance of [getting the shot] is different for all age levels. For the elderly, it may mean the difference between a lengthy, costly hospital stay or significant illness on top of

already existing disease states, but for the middle-aged and college students, it simply prevents lost time from classes and work.” So who should get the vaccine? According to Moore, everyone should, since it greatly reduces a person’s chances of getting the influenza. “It’s for anybody six months and older,” he stated. “First off, they want the elderly people—people over 65—and the pregnant people to get it. But everybody six months and older should get it.” Howard encourages college students to get vaccinated. “They’re [living] in close quarters in dormitories,” she said. “Most of the dorms still share bathrooms. The cafeterias, and even the bedrooms—the flu is everywhere.” Howard also mentioned that many college students from the area have already had the flu this semester and have had prescriptions for antiviral medications called in. Rite Aid has averaged around 500 vaccinations annually over the past two years at the Grove City location, and according to Moore, expects the number to be similar this year. Giant Eagle began giving the flu shots in October and has averaged about 10 shots a day, according to Howard. “The big difference was that there was a shortage of flu shots in the past,” said Howard. “Now we’re not seeing that from manufacturers. They’re predicting better in order to not run out.” Moore and Howard both mentioned the increasing popularity of getting a flu shot directly at the pharmacy because of the accessibility and the price. “It’s becoming more popular to get them at pharmacies,” Moore said. “It’s very accessible for patients. They can just come in any time. We can give them any time that we’re open. A lot of insurances are getting on board with that, and they’re covering it here at the pharmacy. It’s usually cheaper for people also because they don’t have to make a doctor appointment and pay the doctor co-pay.” Students who are interested in getting a flu shot can get their vaccination for free at the Student Health Center.

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Flu activity, for most years, peaks in January and February.

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Between five and 20 percent of the U.S. population will come down with the flu every year.

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For the 2010-2011 flu season, between 160 and 165 million doses of the flu vaccine were available to the public.

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Typical incubation periods for the flu last between one and four days, although adults can be contagious from the day before symptoms are recognized to five to 10 days after the flu virus has run its course.

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An average of 200,000 Americans are hospitalized every year from flu complications.

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It's estimated that the H1N1, or "Swine Flu" pandemic of 2009 had resulted in the deaths of more than 12,000 Americans, 90 percent of which were under the age of 65.

For stories on how to beat the

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In 2010, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended to the general public that everyone over the age of six months get the flu vaccine as soon as the vaccine became available.

against germs, turn to page C-3

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It takes the average adult body about two weeks after being vaccinated to develop antibodies against the flu virus. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY WEBMD.COM

cold and ﬂu and how to ﬁght

Campus Life

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November 30, 2012

Starbucks gift sets, Nicholas Sparks novels make list of great holiday gifts

Katie Ellis "ROCK'n Fashion" With only a few weeks left to get in all of your shopping before Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, it’s time to finish your shopping list and check it twice. Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be an expensive ordeal, and with a few tips, you’ll be able to buy a gift for everyone on your list and have enough money left over to buy yourself something special. Head to the nearest mall to finish your shopping with this list in hand, and you’ll definitely bring a lot of joy to your friends and family members this holiday season. This year, buying a gift for your friends will be easier than ever with a little help from Starbucks. If you have a friend that is crazy about coffee and can’t go a day without getting a cup of their famous brew, buy them the Starbucks Brew by the Cup Gift Set. This gift set features the pourover cone filter, a coffee cup, filters, and Pike Place Roast ground coffee that makes brewing coffee a breeze. In three easy steps, your friend will be able to make a great cup of coffee without the hassle of using a full-sized coffee maker for just $19.95. Starbucks sells a number of other gift sets including a Cake Pop Kit and the Gingerbread Trio for $12.95 and $19.95,

respectively. Nicholas Sparks has been making literary magic ever since the publication of his first novel, “The Notebook” in 1996, and has published 15 heartwarming novels and has had 8 of his best works turned into feature films since 1999. In order to find the perfect gift for your mother, simply purchase one of his greatest works from www.bn.com. Barnes and Noble offers a number of Nicholas Sparks’ books and movies that are in either new or used condition. “The Nicholas Sparks Holiday Collection” is a compilation of three of his finest works including “True Believer,” its sequel “At First Sight,” and “A Bend in the Road.” For the price of one book, you can buy your mother three books starting at around $13 for a new copy. If she has read any of these books, pick up a copy of “Save Haven,” which is set to hit the big screen in February 2013. BBC America describes the perfect gift for dad as, “the world’s most extreme car show.” Top Gear features test drives of supercars of today, distance races, and celebrity rides in a “reasonably priced car,” in an hour-long show hosted by car experts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. For 18 seasons, the men of Top Gear have been pushing the limits of car testing in ways that other programs have only dreamed of replicating. Buy your dad the latest season of the popular television program for about $24 from the BBC America Shop on www. bbcamericashop.com. He will be able to experience some of the world’s greatest cars on the show loved by millions of car fans across the world in the comfort of

Ask Ana

dating him. I don’t cheat and I hate this feeling and just want the crush to go away, what should I do? Work Romance But Not Really

"Ana Graham" Dear Ana, I want to start having a more dressed-up, professional look but I don’t have the time to put into looking good. Should I start waking up at 5 a.m. to get all dressed up, or should I be a slob forever? Slob Dear Slob, I don’t want to hear how you don’t have the time to dress well – it takes just as long to pull over a dress blouse as it does a T-shirt and it takes the same amount of time to pull on a pair of jeans and a pair of dress pants. You can roll out of bed and into a suit pretty easily. I don’t see why anyone would have any reason to wake up at 5 a.m. unless they have a long commute anyway. My advice would be that after you stop being lazy and put on nice clothes, you spend more time in general on hygiene. I’m not trying to imply that you would be gross in any way to begin with, however maintaining nice nails, a clean shave, and an overall wellkempt appearance are what make the difference between a professional and some slob in a suit. Dear Ana, I love my boyfriend but I have a crush on a coworker. He’s not even my type and I’d have no intention of ever

Dear Romance, I hope by want the crush to go away you mean the feeling and not the actual person that you are crushing on. Also, I want you to think about why you could possibly have a crush on a man that you don’t want to be with. It is probably just a physical attraction and not an actual crush. Is your relationship long distance or maybe have you not seen him much lately? You could just be feeling lonely. Instead of thinking about your coworker, think about why you feel this way. When it comes to work, try to avoid having too much contact or communication with your coworker. If you two work closely together, that may be why you suddenly feel this way. Spending less time around him if you can will help with reducing the feelings because it’ll create distance. Dear Ana, I work at the outlets and I realized the other day that I am starting to hate people. I hate society. I especially am starting to hate Canadians. I don’t want this to turn into some weird foreign/peoplehating complex for me, so how can I stop this hate from taking root in my dark, retaildestroyed soul? I Work at the Outlets Dear Outlets, Everyone dislikes both Canadians and people to a certain level because everyone

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET Junior finance major Stephone Oakley and senior business management and marketing major Keithen Polk pose in the SGA Bookstore's winter fashionables.

your living room. If you would rather stay on campus to do your holiday shopping, visit the bookstore for deals on official Slippery Rock merchandise. Instead of giving your brother or sister a gift that they aren’t likely to use, or will only keep them entertained until the start of the new year, buy them a T-shirt that they’ll be proud to wear time and time again.

is just a little bit cynical. Some people are more than a little bit cynical, and those people typically work at either any McDonalds ever or the outlet mall. It is what you get paid to do, to give good customer service to people with screaming kids at 9 p.m. and not cry when someone walks out of the fitting rooms with a baby and a dirty diaper in their hands, criticizing your “changing” rooms. You may not get paid to have to babysit Canadians jumping off of a bus with a bunch of money in hand and ending their sentences with “Eh” (and they totally do) but it is part of the experience. Also, every time a Canadian says “washroom” instead of “restroom” or “bathroom”, an angel in heaven dies. I know, it’s hard to stay happy in retail. But, it is possible! You just have to have an open mind and look at your work a different way. Don’t think of your shift as a waste of your day but rather focus on doing everything the best you can and completing it in a set amount of time. You will have to do the work anyway so you may as well work your best. And don’t think of all people as awful customers, because they are people, too – People who also may have jobs where they have to handle annoying customers to get through their day, people who can be pretty funny if engaged in conversation. There are thousands of people who flock to the outlets, so you should be able to find at least a handful that could restore your faith in humanity. To submit a question, search for Ask Ana on Facebook, or send an email to askanagraham@ymail.com. "Ana Graham" is a senior public relations major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

The bookstore sells a number of items suitable for your grandparents as well. Purchase a Slippery Rock Grandma or Grandpa coffee mug for under $10 that your grandparents will love using for their morning tea or coffee. When you’re buying gifts for your friends and family members this holiday season, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to

show them how much you care. You can easily buy gifts for your loved ones for under $30 that they will treasure for years to come. Don’t forget to buy yourself something special with the money that you save from using this holiday shopping guide! Katie Ellis is a sophomore journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

November 30, 2012

Campus Life

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Taking care when you have a cold or the ﬂu By Alyssa Cirincione Rocket Contributor

Winter is the season for getting the cold or the flu, which causes many students to take better care of themselves while they’re sick, but according to McLachlan Student Health Center’s registered nurse (RN) Elaine Hughes, it’s usually better to let the illness run its course. “There are many things that you can do to help yourself feel better when you’re sick,” Hughes said. “If you don’t do anything though, the illness will leave your system faster than if you take medicine, you’ll just be in more pain by not taking anything.” Hughes has been an RN at SRU’s medical center for eight years, and an RN for a total of 27 years. She explained some of the things that students can do when they come down with a fever, as well as

how your body usually reacts to a fever. “Hydration is the most important thing no matter what you’re sick with,” Hughes stressed. “If you have a fever, isolate yourself from everyone for at least 24 hours, so you don’t pass it on. Dress lightly, you want to let that heat out as much as you can tolerate, which is hard because many people get the chills when they have a fever and they tend to put layers on. Your body is trying to fight off what is going on, that’s why it heats up to kill the virus. Your body does what it should to fight it off.” Karey Bartlett, a senior elementary and special education major, said she knows how to handle herself when she has a fever and she uses some of Hughes’ suggestions. “I usually only get a fever when I have the flu,” Bartlett said. “I take Tylenol and just try to sweat it out.”

Bartlett, 22, said she knows what to do when sick with any illness, being that she gets sick quite often. “I would say I get sick probably once or twice a month with a cold or worse,” Bartlett laughed. “When I do get sick, it usually lasts for a week to a week and a half. It’s all one big blur anymore though. I get sick so much that I’m getting my tonsils out during winter break and that’s supposed to help me not get sick as often as I do.” Senior park and resort management major Kelsey Barbiaux, 22, said she doesn’t get as sick as compared to Bartlett, but she still knows how to take care of herself while ill. “I only get sick once or twice a year with the cold and the flu,” Barbiaux said. “My symptoms usually last about a week. I get some blankets, orange juice, mint ginger ale and Gatorade. I drink orange

juice because it has Vitamin C in it, which rids your body with whatever bad is in it. I drink Gatorade, which replenishes the electrolytes that you lose when you’re sick. The mint ginger ale cures a queasy stomach and the blanket makes you all snuggly and warm, ridding the cold spells you might get.” Barbiaux explained the symptoms that she goes through when she has the flu. “I will get dizzy whenever I get hot, then I start to get queasy,” Barbiaux said. “When I start to expel my insides, that’s when the flu actually hits me.” When dealing with cold symptoms, such as a sore throat or runny nose, Hughes said rest is the best thing to do, but there are many other options to feel better. “If you have a sore throat, it’s good to gargle salt water, use throat lozenges, take ibuprofen

and Tylenol,” she said. “For a runny nose, take a decongestant. You should treat the symptoms accordingly, depending on the virus that you have.” Bartlett explained some of the symptoms that she gets when she gets the common cold and what she does to make herself feel better. “I normally get a headache, a stuffy and runny nose and I feel achy,” Bartlett said. “When I get a cold, I carry tissues with me and I drink Emergen-C to give me extra vitamins. I also stay in bed and get plenty of rest, even if that means I have to skip some classes.” Bartlett recommended some things to help other students who are trying to fight off the cold or the flu. “Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, try to stay out of the cold and pick out some good movies to watch,” Bartlett said.

Fighting the spread of germs and illness during the cold and flu season By Rebecca Marcucci Rocket Contributor

The intense winter seasons and finals week are quickly approaching and now is not the time to get sick. After all, the kid who’s coughing into his hands before sending the attendance sheet around is enough to make anybody nervous this time of year. Loading up on vitamins and staying away from coughing, sneezing, and sniffling friends may be one option, but there are happier and healthier ways to stay well during cold and flu seasons. S e n i or h e a lt h s e r v i c e s administration major Cindy Bierce, 21, said she believes part of

staying healthy is living healthy, adding that when it comes to the cold or flu, natural remedies work best, but the doctor’s advice is still vital. “A pill or medication is not always the answer,” Bierce said. “The body is typically capable of fighting off infections naturally. Excessive reliance on antibiotics will increase the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.” If antibiotics are necessary, she added, it’s still important to take the amount specified by a health care provider. Students such as junior secondary education history major Kaylee Gallagher, 20, say they are taking preventative measures to avoid catching a

cold or the flu but, it’s staying healthy around others that’s a bigger concern. “I just get upset when people don’t cover their mouths when they cough,” Gallagher said. “If you’re the one that’s sick just be considerate. There’s nothing worse than someone in class coughing all over everyone.” Gallagher admits she tries to be extra-cautious when cold and flu symptoms arise while still maintaining a happy lifestyle. C o ordinator of He a lt h Promotion at the McLachlan Student Health Center, Renee Bateman, has many helpful tips for students trying to stay healthy this season. “Simple things like washing

your hands, using hand sanitizer, and getting a flu shot can help protect you from getting a lot of cold and flu symptoms,” Bateman said. Germs can spread very quickly and simple prevention is your best option in trying to stay healthy, Bateman said. Healthy lifestyle options can also prove for a healthy immune system. “It’s best not to share a lot of items with others who are sick,” Bateman said. “Maintaining other healthy behaviors in general like exercising and eating balanced meals can really help. Trying to stay as stress-free as you can is something most students often overlook, but it’s easy to get sick when you are getting rundown.”

Bateman also shared quick and convenient resources the health center offers for students during cold and flu times of the year, such as their Cold Care Center. “Students experiencing cold and flu symptoms can stop into the health center and talk with any one of our nurses,” Bateman said. “Or if they’re on their way to class, our cold care center is equipped with salt gargle, Tylenol, thermometers, and cough drops that are there for the taking.” If you’ve already been plagued by a cold or the flu, Bateman recommends using a decongestant, if needed, and above all getting plenty of rest and fluids.

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November 30, 2012