u
Campus Life C-1 The SRU theater department produces macabre adaptation of ancient Greek tragedy, in their production of "Electra"
The Rocket www.theonlinerocket.com
Friday, November 18, 2011
Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper
Est. 1934
Volume 94, Number 10
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
SRU to add 188 parking spaces for spring 2012 By Jonathan Janasik Rocket Contributor
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Senior safety Jayson Nickson takes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game lost to Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 21-14. Nickson started all 11 games this season for SRU and had 54 tackles (29 solo, 25 assists), along with three interceptions this year. The loss knocked the Rock out of playoff contention, putting an end to a solid season that saw the Rock rise up to 14 in the Division II AFCA national coaches poll.
SEE SPORTS PAGE B-1
Two new parking lots, adding about 188 parking spaces, are slated to be built in the upper part of campus in the 2012 spring semester. Assistant Vice President for Construction, Design, and Management, Herb Carlson, said Slippery Rock University is finalizing plans to build two new parking lots near the upper portion of campus. According to Carlson, the first parking lot will be built next to both the Robert M. Smith Student Center and Patterson Hall, and will hold about 88 cars. The other one will be built on Main Street at the current location of Kraus Hall, and will hold about 100 cars. While students complain about how there's never enough parking, Carlson says that's not the case. “It’s not a parking problem, it’s a walking problem,” Carlson said. “We have statistics that say that there are more parking spaces than we have people with cars. People just don’t want to have to walk across campus to get to class.” A parking lot where Kraus Hall is located was being planned years ago, but the project never took off because of the cost, Carlson said. Since then, the university has sent contractors to remove hazardous materials, such as asbestos, from the building, allowing it to be demolished much easier. Carlson said that it is now only a matter of finding money to fund the construction. According to Carlson, building the parking lots will not be cheap. The cost of demolishing Kraus Hall and building both parking lots could cost the university an estimated $1.4 million. The parking lots will be paid for through the Campus Fund and operating money, Carlson said. The Campus Fund is money Slippery Rock alumni have donated to the university. Although most of the money goes towards student scholarships, some also gets used on campus projects. Bidding for the parking lots will start in December and if approved, construction will start in spring. Carlson said both parking lots are expected to be finished by summer. SEE ENVIRONMENTAL PAGE A-2
Colleges use social media to better connect with students By Will Deshong Rocket Staff Reporter
Part one of this series examined how universities use social media to connect with prospective students in an attempt to recruit them to their campus. An active social media presence was deemed basically a requirement for university admissions offices nowadays. While the emergence of social media has risen in that respect, the connection between universities and students doesn’t
stop once students are enrolled. In fact, the bond only becomes more prevalent. In a 2011 study done by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, researchers found that 100 percent of colleges use social media to interact with their students. Rita Abent, the executive director of public relations at Slippery Rock University, sees social media as a way to connect with a large portion of the public. “I think it’s important,”
Abent said about maintaining a social networking presence as a university. “People use various medias and say, when an increasing part of the population isn’t reading newspapers anymore, it’s silly to only try to communicate with them through that media. For us, it’s a tool to connect with people.” Facebook is the most popular social media site amongst
universities, with 98 percent of schools using the social networking giant, SRU included. Twitter follows in second with 84 percent usage amongst universities, but holds the largest rise from a year ago, increasing from a 59 percent mark in the previous study. Both the study and Abent suggest the popularity of social media by colleges is only going to expand
going forward. “It will be a growing importance as social media continues to grow as a communication tool,” Abent said, while the increase figures year to year in the study support her claim. SRU has an official Facebook page, but also has several more social networking connections with its students through individual department, club and organization pages on Facebook and Twitter that offer students specific information pertaining
to specific interests around campus. “Slippery Rock is very, very big,” Abent said about the various connections found from the university. “We have an official Facebook page, Rock Athletics has a Facebook page and Twitter, admissions has a Facebook and a Twitter, and so on.” The university is using these media pages to not only SEE FACEBOOK, PAGE A-3
News
A-2
Rock Notes
Environmental regulations slow parking lot progress Continued from Page a-1
Study Abroad Informational Meetings
Interested in traveling to new places, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures? Study Abroad is a great opportunity to do all of these things! To find out more information about Study Abroad come to an Informational Meeting, held weekly on Tuesdays 12:30pm – 1:30pm or Wednesdays 1:00pm – 2:00pm, Carruth Rizza Hall, Room 212. Contact International Services Graduate Assistant Tess Crispin at tmc0451@sru.edu for any questions.
Letter Writing for J. Tyler Stufflebeam Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Green and White Society is sponsoring a Letter Writing Campaign to gain contributions for the J. Tyler Stufflebeam Memorial Scholarship Fund and are seeking support from your organization. Our goal is an annual endowment of $25,000. Please plan on attending the Letter Writing Campaign on Tuesday, November 29 and Thursday, December 1 in the Union between 11:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m. The letters will be sent to friends, family, local business, etc. requesting donations for the memorial fund. Bring your group and 5 mailing addresses per person. Letters, envelopes and refreshments will be provided. If you are not able to attend the event but would still like to provide addresses they can be e-mailed to Sarah Sadaka at sjs7836@sru.edu. Feel free to contact her or Brad Kovaleski at brad.kovaleski@sru.edu to learn more.
Fall Dance Showcase
The SRU Department of Dance presents its annual fall showcase at Swope Recital Hall. Student choreographers present a variety of modern, jazz, and tap dances. Performances take place at 2pm and 5pm on Saturday, December 3rd, and at 12pm and 3pm on Sunday, December 4th. Tickets are $3 students and $5 general and can be purchased at the University Union Information Desk or by calling (724) 738-4926. For more information, contact the Department of Dance at (724) 738-2036.
Alcohol Coalition Meeting
November 18, 2011
The Slippery Rock Alcohol Coalition is holding a meeting on Tuesday, November 15, at 2:30 – 4:00 pm, at The Heights Clubhouse. The purpose of the alcohol coalition is to bring together community members, university staff, faculty and students to talk about alcohol and other drug use, and addiction on campus and in the surrounding community. If you have questions please contact Renee Bateman, Chair of Slippery Rock Alcohol Coalition, at 724.738.4206.
“I think that the new parking lots will be really helpful,” said Elizabeth Smith, a 19-year-old sophomore environmental studies major. “The students living in North and Rhoads Halls will feel like they have the same advantage of close parking as the students living in the new dorms.” Allocation of the new parking spaces has yet to be determined. According to Carlson, the old parking spaces in front of Patterson are being removed because drivers had to drive over a pedestrian walkway. Because those spaces are being removed, some of the new spots in the parking lot next to the new student center will go to the staff of Patterson. The rest of the spots are still being decided on. Options include open, commuter, or parking meters to try to increase revenue, Carlson said. Previously, the parking lot next to Kraus has had open parking. Although other options are being considered, there is a good chance that parking will remain open in the new parking lot where Kraus Hall used to be, Carlson said. The Facilities and Planning Department has recently been trying to find new options to make an improved parking situation on campus, Carlson said. About three years ago, the
department repaved the parking lot located next to the Alumni House. The old parking lot only had diagonal spaces, while the repaved parking lot now has more parking spaces, more green space and a two-way circulation. In 2007, there were plans to create a parking garage on the lower part of campus near Miller Auditorium, but the project was turned down because of the high price, Carlson said. According to Carlson, the reason why it’s taking so long to build these parking lots is because of the recent changes in environmental legal regulations. It is now required that the parking lots use some sort of infiltration system. There must be a way to extract the excess rainwater off of pavement. The department’s new strategy is to use pervious pavement which would allow rainwater to sink right into the pavement, Carlson said. The plan also includes creating rain gardens, which are large declines in the ground, where storm water can gather. The master plans for the new parking lots and for all of the other projects the Facilities and Planning Department is currently working on are public records and can be found in Bailey Library.
Routers a big problem in dorms By Steph Holsinger Assistant News Editor
The Slippery Rock University Student Government Association (SGA) discussed their plans to collaborate with Residence Life(Reslife) to improve the wireless Internet in the residence halls at their meeting on Thursday. According to Jim Henry, SGA vice president of student affairs, Reslife has received many complaints this year about the speed of the wireless Internet on campus, and personal routers seem to be the biggest factor when it comes to this problem. “Personal routers hinder the wireless signal quite a bit,” Henry said. “They make a managed network more unorganized and confuse it in determining where the server actually is. Routers can cut internet speed down by up to 75 percent." Not only do routers affect the speed of the Wi-Fi in the residence halls, but they also affect Ethernet speed, as well. SGA is collaborating with Reslife and the Association of Residence Hall Students (ARHS) to take necessary steps to solve this problem. According to Henry, health and safety checks aren’t the most effective method. “Since students are usually given notice 24 hours in advance about health and safety checks, this gives students time to hide their routers.” SGA and ARHS are currently looking into a method that will enable Reslife to track down which residents have routers in their room. This would involve a Community Assistant (CA) giving the resident a warning after the router has been found. “If the resident won’t remove the router after a warning has been given, this gives the CA permission to confiscate the router,” Henry said. "Eventually, we are hoping to have full wireless access in all of the residence halls. Of course, this will take some further funding.”
Campus Side apartments provide single occupancy rooms for students By Catie Clark Rocket Contributor
Campus Side apartments has listened to students' needs and now offer singleoccupancy apartments to students at a reasonable price. This past August, Campus Side finished construction on their new multi-million dollar single occupancy apartment project. Campus Side owner and architect, Lee Ligo, knew the market was changing from larger, four-bedroom apartments to small apartments. Because of these changes, he was inspired to design a building comprised entirely of one-bedroom apartments called the Personal Villas. “The Villas are a summary of my experience,” Ligo said. “We felt there was a market niche for this style of apartment.” Ligo believes that Campus Side has been successful because, as an architect by profession, he listens to the needs of students. “Even though we spent well over two million dollars on the project, we know what students are willing to pay, and stuck within their budget,” Ligo said. The Personal Villas offer 28 identical single-occupancy apartments and two super deluxe apartments. All of the apartments come equipped with a fully furnished kitchen, bathroom, and heating/air conditioning. Utilities included are garbage, parking, high-speed Internet, and cable. According to Ligo, Campus Side was not only the first apartment complex to offer high-speed Internet included in the rent, but was also the first to offer the four-bedroom apartment in the Slippery Rock area. “I moved to Slippery Rock in 1962 and have been in the student housing market ever since,” Ligo said. “It goes back that far.”
Index
Weather Forecast from National Weather Service Saturday Friday Sunday Mostly Sunny
High: 44 Low: 27
Sunny
Chance of Showers- 40%
High: 52; Low: 39 High: 55; Low: 37
Rock Notes..........A-2 Blotter.................A-3 Opinion.......A-4 Classifieds..........A-6 Comics................A-7
Sports...................B-1 Campus Life........C-1
In total, Campus Side offers 79 singleoccupancy apartments, and have continually built and changed apartment buildings to accommodate the needs of students. In 2005, the North Building was built, which is comprised entirely of one-bedroom apartments, with the exception of four, four –bedroom deluxe apartments. In 2009, the South Building was remodeled from an entirely four-bedroom apartment building into a building which contains both two and four bedroom units, as well as a new section of one-bedroom apartments added onto the rear of the building, called the Terraces. The Terrace apartments were the first apartments at Campus Side to feature airconditioned, single-occupancy units. “The Terraces went over so well, they were a part of our inspiration to build the Villas,” Ligo said. “The [inclusion] of air conditioning went over really well with many students.” Students around Slippery Rock are very excited about the new one-bedroom apartments offered by Campus Side, according to Chris Heitzer, a 21-year-old junior safety management major. "I really like the idea of the single -occupancy apartments," Heitzer said. "It gives you a place to live where you don't have to worry about any possible roommate problems. I've had problems with roommates in the past, so next year I'm looking into an apartment I can have by myself." Amy Early, manager of Campus Side apartments, admits that she wears many hats in the Campus Side office. “We work very hard to go above and beyond in everything we do here at Campus Side,” Early said. “I’ll come let a student into their apartment in the middle of the night, even in my pajamas.”
Contact us Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896
220 Eisenberg Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu
2011 Runner-up most Outstading Newspaper, Society of Collegiate Journalists.
News
November 18, 2011
A-3
Police Blotter Magistrate Nov. 9- Joseph M. Gibson, 26, of Butler, was seen for six counts of theft by deception and six counts of receiving stolen property. Nov. 16- Heather Lynn Morgan, 29, of Portersville, was seen for receiving stolen property and accessing a device issued to another person who did not authorize use. Nov. 16- Braden Tyler Pavlik, 19, of Pittsburgh, was seen for use and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on his own recognizance. Nov. 16- Jeffery Allen Smallwood, 21, of Clearfield, Pa., was seen for simple assault, disorderly conduct and engaging in fighting, and public drunkenness and similar misconduct. Nov. 16- Holly L. Ellis, 40, of Parker, Pa., was seen for two counts of using bad checks and two counts of theft by deception and false impression.
Nov. 16- Nicholas Lee Allison, 19, of Aliquippa, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance. Nov. 16- Aaron Loy Cook, 26, of Harrisville, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI, public drunkenness, and similar misconduct. He was released on his own recognizance. Nov. 16- Joseph Matthew Jerome, 24, of Glenshaw, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance.
Nov. 16- Hunter Elcock, 18, of Connellsville, Pa., was seen for two counts of use and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on his own recognizance. Nov. 16- John Michael Knox, 19, of Franklin, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI and one count of purchasing alcohol by a minor. He was released on his own recognizance. Nov. 16- Michael P. Green, 43, of Mineral Ridge, Ohio, was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance. Campus
Nov. 16- Dylan Paul Dwyer, 20, of Johnsonburg, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance.
Nov. 4- An officer responded to a report of damage to an unattended vehicle in the Alumni commuter lot. The driver who caused the damage was identified.
Nov. 16- Camron Lee Mariotti, 21, of Fenelton, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance.
Nov. 5- Officers responded to a report of damage to a handicap door at Building E. The suspects were identified and the case is under investigation.
Nov. 6- Eric Lizotte, 18, was cited for an alcohol violation after a report of an individual inside the construction site at Weisenfluh Dining Center.
Nov. 11- Angelica Bagwell, 19, Samuel Elko, 19, and Christopher Tumminello, 18, were cited for alcohol violations at Building A.
Nov. 6- An officer assisted the Pennsylvania State Police with a DUI suspect.
Nov. 12- Joseph Roman, 18, was cited for underage consumption of alcohol and public drunkenness after a report of an intoxicated individual at Building D.
Nov. 6- Police received a report of damage to a parked vehicle on Rock Pride Drive. The case is under investigation. Nov. 7- Police received a report of damage to a parked vehicle in the BSB Commuter Lot. The case is under investigation. Nov. 8- Anthony Roncher, 19, was cited for a drug violation on Rock Pride Drive. Nov. 9- An officer responded to a two vehicle traffic accident. There were no injuries and the drivers exchanged information. Nov. 9- Officers responded to a report of a possible drug violation at Building F. A resident student was taken into custody, and drugs and paraphernalia were seized.
Nov. 12- There was a report of an alcohol violation at Building A. The case was referred to judicial. Nov. 13- There was a report of damage to a vehicle in the Union Commuter Lot. The case is under investigation. Nov. 15- An individual reported being hit by a vehicle while in a crosswalk on Kiester Road. The individual refused medical treatment and the case is under investigation. Nov. 15- An officer on foot patrol noticed an individual attempting to sneak into a window at Building D. The individual was caught and the case was referred to judicial. Compiled by Stephanie Holsinger
Facebook's negative effect on GPA is 'negligible at best,' says Junco Continued from Page a-1
relay information about the university, but also to connect with students and other members of the community in a social fashion. “C e r t a i n l y w e p o s t information items and issues that we want to communicate with people quickly,” Abent said about what is posted on the official Facebook page. “But the other purpose is in the social part. We want to engage people to participate and comment on photos, or say, answer trivia
on a history question posted, and really start conversations. So we use it for informational purposes and to engage our members.” In order to fully harness the power of social media, the university hopes to build a larger community online. “Soon you’ll see a ‘like’ button on the home page, and electronic releases will all be linked to social media,” Abent said about how the university hopes to find more people online. While the usage of social
networking has an apparent advantage for university officials to get connected with students, there is a general assumption that use of social media might not be as beneficial for students. But that doesn’t seem to be correct. Reynol Junco, a professor at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, recently conducted a study on Facebook use and its effect on GPA, and found that the impact Facebook use has on grades is “negligible at best.” Junco, whose research has
been reported on by media giants like The New York Times and The Huffington Post, found that there is no correlation between time spent on Facebook and time spent studying, and only a weak relationship between the number of times students check the site and their GPA. He did, however, find that heavy social media use related to more out of class sociability and extracurricular activities. “I wasn’t surprised,” Junco said of his results that contradict a general assumption by many that social media is a negative
impact on a student’s academic career. “Some of my previous research has shown how social media can be related to positive learning outcomes.” Junco went on to explain that social media only has negative impacts on learning in certain instances, not overall. “That ‘general assumption’ is not supported by the data,” Junco said. “As a matter of fact, in this same study, I found that checking Facebook and time spent on Facebook weren’t really related to time spent studying.”
The main flaw of social media only comes into play when students do try to combine their study time and their time spent on social media sites. “My more recent research suggests that the overall weak negative correlations between Facebook use and GPA stem from students multitasking by trying to study while actively using Facebook.” Part three of this series will focus on how social media plays a role in life following graduation from college, specifically in how it affects starting a career.
OPINION
The Rocket
A-4
November 18, 2011
The Rocket
Our View
Volume 94, Number 10 220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: (724) 738-4438 Fax: (724) 738-4896 E-mail: rocket.letters@sru.edu
Editorial Board Courtney Nickle Editor-in-Chief Brian Brodeur News Editor Andy Treese Campus Life Editor Tim Durr Sports Editor Lexi Kovski Photo Editor Stephanie Martincsek Copy Editor James Intile Web Editor Stephanie Holsinger Assistant News Editor James Meyer Assistant Campus Life Editor Madeline Williams Assistant Sports Editor Liana Pittman Assistant Photo Editor Will Deshong News Reporter Mark Zeltner Faculty Adviser
Advertising Staff Emily Hunter Advertising Manager
About Us The Rocket is published by the students of Slippery Rock University every Friday during the academic semester with the exception of holidays, exam periods and vacations. Total weekly circulation is 3,000. No material appearing in The Rocket may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. The first copy of The Rocket is provided free of charge. Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents each. The Rocket receives approximately five percent of its funding from the SGA General Service fee paid each semester by students. All other income is provided through the sale of advertising. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling (724) 738-2643 or by e-mailing rocket.ads@sru.edu.
Corrections If we make a substantial error, we want to correct it. If you believe an error has been made, call The Rocket newsroom at (724) 738-4438. If a correction is warranted it will be printed in the opinion section.
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 LIANA PITTMAN
Welcome to the social media revolution It’s crazy to think about how important social media is in our lives. We’d like to share some statistics with you that we found in a cool video on YouTube titled “Social Media Revolution 2011,” based on the book “Socialnomics” by Erik Qualman. Yes, we found it on YouTube. • YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. • Facebook tops Google for weekly traffic in the United States. • Half of the mobile internet traffic in the UK is for Facebook. • A new member joins LinkedIn every second. • If Facebook were a country, it would be the world’s third largest. • One in five couples meet online. • Three in five gay couples meet online. • One in five divorces are blamed on Facebook. • If Wikipedia were made into a book, it would be 2.25 million pages long. • Ninety percent of consumers trust peer recommendations. • Only 14 percent trust advertisements.
Welcome to the social media revolution. As if those statistics aren’t startling enough, think about your everyday life. We check Facebook and Twitter constantly. And if we aren’t checking them, our notifications are sent directly to our phones, keeping us in contact 24/7. No one does homework anymore without Facebook up in the background so that when you need to take a break, you have an escape. News travels faster through social media than it does through traditional news outlets. When Osama Bin Laden was killed, Twitter broke the news. Keith Urbahn, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s chief of staff, tweeted at 10:25 the night of the assault “So I’m told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden. Hot damn.” President Obama didn’t confirm the news until 11:30 p.m. No television station, radio program or newspaper in the world can keep up with the spread of news on Facebook and Twitter. But every single one of those news outlets has a presence in social media.
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.
We just recently launched a Facebook page for The Rocket (which only has a little over 300 likes by the way, so you should go like us) to make sure we weren’t left behind. YouTube sensations are born every day. No one would’ve ever heard of Rebecca Black if YouTube hadn’t made her a star with her captivating hit “Friday.” Social media also plays a huge role in the economy. Reviews and recommendations on social media sites are taken very seriously, and usually followed. Facebook has the power to make or break a product. Think about how many posts clogged up your news feed when the Snuggie first came out. Many manufacturers and retail outlets also offer coupons or special deals to their Twitter followers or Facebook friends. And it’s not just us, the Y generation. How many of your professors are you friends with on Facebook? How many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.? This isn’t just our generation. This is a revolution.
This week’s question: Could you survive without social media? 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 Fall 2011 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.
James Andrews Freshman athletic training major Hometown: Meadville, Pa.
Shannon Johnson Freshman exploratory major Hometown: California, Pa.
“Probably not, just to keep up with information. Even if some of it’s unreliable, it’s good that I can get to it so fast and it’s a good way to communicate with people.”
“No, I wouldn’t know what’s going on. I use Facebook and Twitter daily and I like to creep.”
Jarred Figel Senior history major Hometown: Cranberry, Pa. “I already try to do without social media. I get some info from YouTube, but I mostly do a lot of reading and I do have a Facebook, but I use it marginally.”
Opinion
A-5
November 18, 2011
Occupy Wall Street protesters evicted, will be allowed to return
Spencer Cadden Silent Majority It’s a sad morning in New York City. Occupy Wall Street, which has inspired protests across the globe, has been sealed in its coffin. At 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, police in full riot gear, pepper spray in hand,descended on the protestors who have now lived in New York’s Zuccotti Park for nearly two months. The social media tent located within the park tweeted up
until its last moments. By all accounts, New York has decided to evict the protestors on the basis that they need to “clean up the park.” By 7a.m.Tuesday,one correspondent described it as “smelling freshly of bleach.” All over the web, cries for help urged people to rush to the park to defend it from eviction, but it was too late. The police gave everyone twenty minutes to evacuate and, in the eviction process, arrested somewhere between 20 and 70 people with the exact number remaining unknown. S i mu lt an e ou s l y, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has stated that protestors are welcome to return to the park, but there will be a law in place to keep people from staying overnight. Part of what has made these protests so far-reaching has
been their ability to reach multiple audiences. College students have been especially able to relate to the varied messages of the so called “99 percent.” The debate across news channels has been interesting and on social media, even more varied. The vague message of the protestors has been a source of anxiety for some. The fogginess of the message has been the main crux of the argument against the movement. People have referred to the Occupy movements as everything from “communist revolutions” to “an attempt at a fascist regime change.” The real message, though, has been much simpler and much more peaceful in nature, despite the multiple attempts to discredit it. The message
is that the gap between the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor has grown too large. In the United States, we have a lot of trouble with defining ourselves. Everything is relative in this country. Whether you have no car and live in a studio apartment, or have three cars and a four-bedroom home, we all consider ourselves “middle class.” The reality of the situation is much more grim. We are not all middle class and the rising gap between the richest one percent of the country and the rest of us has become so large that it has helped to create a permanent underclass. The fact is that the distribution of wealth in this country is so distinctly separate that it is hurting the majority of Americans - Americans
Freedoms being compromised by laws
who lack any sort of real social welfare net and who are expected to pay for things that most western nations would consider ludicrous. In the United States, your average American is going broke over college loans and medical costs. It is absolutely asinine to consider that the defense department receives 20 percent of the total budget, which is the same percentage as social security, whereas other western nations spend nearly half of their budget on education, social security and healthcare, and less than 10 percent on defense. These are the things the 99 percent have been protesting against. There is a host of social injustices in this country. Unemployment remains high and the debt even higher. All the while, the average U.S.
citizen continues to either stagnate or suffer. Although “socialist” has become a bad word as of late, there is nothing to fear from socialism. The fact is that 99 percent of us could benefit from more social welfare programs. The Occupy movements did not advocate a communist overthrow of government, and it is a complete fallacy to think they did. What Occupy Wall Street represented was the need for change in the system. What they advocated was a real examination and discussion about the problems facing our country, and instead, what they received was pepper spray and handcuffs.
Spencer Cadden is a senior history major from Erie, Pa.
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.
Students don’t give staff enough credit Dear Editor, GRAPHIC BY LEXI KOVSKI
Michael Santoro Observation Station As Americans, we are extremely lucky. We live in a nation founded upon freedoms, with courageous men and women sacrificing their livelihood to keep those freedoms alive. Although we are young as a nation, we have made stride after stride and advanced beyond any initial expectations. This being said, the freedoms that we know and love are slowly being restricted. Regulations that we never thought would exist have come and passed without much surprise or thought. The more time passes, the more laws are brought into creation and more restrictions are put into place. Now it may sound like I don’t like rules or that I find authority to be annoying, but this just isn’t true. I’m a firm believer in a ruling body and believe government to be absolutely necessary. There are thousands upon thousands of laws that work extremely well at protecting, serving and helping people in all walks of life. It’s when laws invade our privacy and diminish our basic rights that I, and probably many of you, see a problem. We’re good people and want to do what’s right, but who decides what’s right for all people? One law that has come up
many times with regard to one constantly discussed. restrictions on our privacy I wear my seatbelt every time I drive, so naturally, is the Patriot Act. While there are many this regulation does not titles within this act, most of bother me as much. Despite it can be summed up rather this, as I said before, your vehicle is your own. What briefly. T h is a c t g ave t he gives the government the government a lot more right to regulate specifically freedom with regards what you do within your to checking mail, both own vehicle? People who wear seatbelts traditional and electronic, t apping phones, and are going to continue doing gathering information so whether or not there is a concerning terrorism within law in place. Likewise, those who never private sources. Many found this act to follow this law are probably be unconstitutional while not going start on fear or others saw it as a necessary motivation from the law, step towards combating despite the fact that if they terrorism here on our own respected their own health soil. I agree more with the and safety, they would buckle up. former. America has always been I believe a quote from Benjamin Franklin explains viewed as the land of the it correctly, “They who can free. Despite some of our give up essential liberty to caveats, we are still a shining obtain a little temporary example of what brave men safety, deserve neither and women can accomplish and what can come about liberty nor safety.” There are a few other from a simple act of dumping laws that have come under tea into a harbor. From this seemingly trivial scrutiny. In California and several other states, it is an act of defiance, a nation was infraction for somebody to founded upon the premises smoke cigarettes in a vehicle that all men are created with a minor, somebody equal and everybody, as under the age of 18, also in such, has rights that cannot be revoked. the vehicle with them. These premises still follow Trust me, I understand that blowing cigarette us today, but how prevalent smoke on a young child are they within the minds in a cooped up vehicle is of politicians and officials something that you never as they create new laws and want to see. Frankly, I find it regulations? We must stay educated a bit disgusting, but is it the government’s job to dictate and be aware of the dealings whether a person can smoke of our government. As the Italian philosopher cigarettes with whomever they want in their own George Santayana once private vehicle? Also, what said, “Those who do not if the driver is 18 years old remember the past are and the minor is 17 years old condemned to repeat it.” and already smokes? Although it has been Michael Santoro is a junior in place for decades, the public relations major from mandatory seatbelt law is Pittsburgh, Pa.
I am writing to you about how we oversee the little things in life. For example, our wonderful staff in the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership office. A lot of students might not even know where that is on campus (B-105 University Union), but they should take time out of their four (or five) years and volunteer or get involved. The CSIL makes it easy to get involved and make a different on campus. For me personally, it was a huge reason of why I’ve grown to love and continue my education here at Slippery Rock. Brad Kovaleski, Karen Brown, Laurel Dagnon, Lorraine Stubbs and Julie Varnish should all get a pat on the back. Not only do they all have families and lives
Off-campus housing article was misleading Dear Editor, As the local community owner and operator of Campus Side Apartments, I am writing to express my disappointment in both the content and lack of objectivity contained in the lead article in the Nov. 11 issue of The Rocket concerning off-campus housing. My staff works too hard to create and maintain the quality of life at Campus Side to accept this oversight without responding to this article. C ampus Si d e w as originally constructed in 1991 as the first off-campus housing since Pine Glenn was built in the early 1960’s.
outside the office, they make students, like myself, love being here at Slippery Rock and push us to make changes for the University every day. For example, Laurel Dagnon helps with the volunteer aspect of the office, such as the successful Rocky Horror Blood Drive. Lorraine Stubbs helps Greeks on campus to embrace being Greek and prove to the campus that the title of a typical Greek is incorrect here. Julie Varnish not only over sees the Freshmen Leadership Scholar Program, Compass Leadership and the Peer Mentors, but also the University Program Board. Brad Kovaleski, who oversees the whole office and pushes student groups such as the Green and White Society and Student Government Association to try new things and look at different incidents as learning opportunities. And without Karen Brown in the office, nothing would get completed or paid. We have several staff and faculty that we overlook too often because we focus on how far away break is or what is going on this
weekend. We’re so focused on getting to Friday that sometimes we don’t get to appreciate the wonderful staff and faculty we do have here at Slippery Rock, not just the CSIL staff. So peers, I challenge you to slow down on life, stop wanting to press the fast forward button, because one day we will look back and say “why did we wish our college lives away?” Appreciate the little things in life. Whether it would be for the staff and faculty who help us graduate on time, thanking maintenance staff on campus who keeps our buildings and campus beautiful, helping a peer who dropped their notes, or just embracing how much this campus has changed since we got here (whether you’re a fifth year senior or first semester freshman), Slippery Rock continues and will continue to grow, and I can’t wait to see it in 10 years from now and say “I remember when.”
Campus Side was expanded and renovated in 2005, 2009 and 2011 and provides quality housing for 300 students. Each renovation has updated not only new code requirements, but also finishes and equipment. For instance, in the 2009 renovation, 89 new kitchens were installed. We provide same day maintenance and trained security who stress knowing the tenants as individuals. As always, in the forefront of offering state of the art amenities, we were the first to offer free basic cable and high speed internet as well as free parking and garbage pick-up. In comparison to the $500-600 monthly rental rate quotes in the article, our two and four bedroom apartments range from $395-465 which is the basis of our motto “THE BEST FOR LESS.” Our utility
receipts forwarded to us by tenants, reflect a $3550 average per apartment combined in electric and water bill which is subject, of course, to the attention of use directed by the residents of the unit. Finally, please allow me to remind the reader that without the millions of risk capital investments by developers, whose units provide housing for over 4,000 students at SRU, there would be a limited enrollment of 4,000 students and 1,200 of whom would commute to school. We continue to be reinforced in our management policies by continuous positive comments offered by parents, university and community leaders.
Marcie Johnson Senior, Communication: Public Relations Major, Spanish Minor
N. Lee Ligo, AIA Owner
CORRECTIONS: Nov. 11 - The reporting in the article “Apartments offer different living options” in our Nov. 11 issue was incomplete. There are several other off-campus living options available to students. Not all of the apartment complexes in Slippery Rock were contacted for the article. We apologize for this misleading information.
CLASSIFIEDS
The Rocket
A-6
November 18, 2011
For Rent
House for rent in Slippery Rock 2 bedroom one bath on Slippery Rock Creek. Newly renovated 3 miles from SRU. No smoking and no HUD. $800 a month plus electric. Credit Check plus Secruirity deposit required. Phone 724-256-7878
Place a Classfied for any purpose! *Places for Rent *Places for Sale *Items for Sale Help Wanted *Announcements *Personals *Travel & Trips *Wanted *Rides/Riders *Student Groups Rocket.ads@ sru.edu
COMICS
The Rocket
A-7
November 18, 2011
MoreOn TV
By Jay Schiller and Greg Cravens
Blundergrads
Life in Hell
By Matt Groening
By Phil Flickinger
That Monkey Tune
Welcome to Falling Rock National Park
Horoscopes Tribune Media Services (MCT)
Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -Clear out space for a new possibility. Sort, organize and give stuff away. Take time to appreciate where you've b e en, as you prepare for where you're going. Tau r u s ( Apr i l 2 0 May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Keep the good vibes flowing at work and at home by continuing to adjust the infrastructure. Take some special alone time. Then you can care for others. Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is an 8 -- List your blessings. Doing this will make you happy. There's money coming in (and going out). Go for balance. Success is knowing you've done your best. C a n c e r ( Ju n e 2 2 July 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Lose yourself doing something you love. Your have award-winning confidence. Move up a level at work. Synchronize
schedules for upcoming plans. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Slowing down is not a bad thing now. Take your time to regroup, and consider the low hanging fruit. Study the details. Thinking it over reveals hidden pitfalls. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Pass on what you've learned. What goes around comes around, sooner or later. Ke e p d re a m i n g n e w adventures, and share skills with those who would follow your path. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -Think bigger. Your job here's not done. You have a lot to say and a lot to contribute. Allow others to show you your own blind spots. They love you more than you know. S c or pi o ( O c t . 2 3 Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Upgrade your personal environment with pleasing touches. Find them on Craigslist or Freecycle ... no need to spend. Save up for something big. Travel
By Michael A. Kandalafti
By Josh Shalek
Sudoku
By Nancy Black
later. Sagittarius (Nov. 22Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Accept well-earned acknowledgment. Harmony infuses your efforts, and you make t h i ng s l o ok g r a c e f u l and easy. You know the persistence it took to pull that off. Capricorn (Dec. 22Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Negotiating a contract is easier now. Make a case for honest communication and clear listening. Begin a writing or recording project. Children spur you on. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -Today you're a worker bee. Collect all the pollen that you can, as you do the dance that makes the flowers grow. Work as a team. Enjoy the honey later. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -Nurture the love you have and make it grow. Step into a larger role in a project. Small, yet consistent actions taken over time can add up to big results.
Solution
By Michael Mepham
A-8
November 18, 2011
SPORTS
The Rocket
B-1
November 18, 2011
ALEX MOWREY / THE ROCKET
Senior linebacker Jake Wickline takes in the feeling of losing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game against Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Saturday Oct. 12. Wickline transferred from Edinboro University last season and contributed 85 tackles to the SRU defense this season.
DISAPPOINTMENT Title loss knocks Rock out of playoff contention By D.J. Vasil
Rocket Contributor
Two interceptions and a number of missed opportunities, including two missed field goals, played a significant role in No. 24 Slippery Rock University’s loss in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game against No. 8 Kutztown University, 21-14. The Rock finished the year with an 8-3 record while Kutztown earned a berth in the NCAA playoffs as a No. 3 seed after winning their first PSAC title and finishing with a 10-1 record. The game started off very well for the Rock as they took the opening drive of the game and went 74 yards on 11 plays that were capped off by an eight-yard run by junior running back Akeem Satterfield.
Satterfield was playing in his first game after missing the last four weeks due to injury. Satterfield finished the game with 103 yards on 25 carries, and scored one touchdown. “It felt good to be back and playing a big role,” Satterfield said. “I wish we would’ve won but we have to get over it and get ready for next year.” Following the Rock touchdown, senior safety Jayson Nickson got the Rock’s first turnover of the game by intercepting Kutztown quarterback Kevin Morton on the Golden Bears’ first possession. Senior safety Brandon Watters and senior linebacker Jake Wickline would also add an interception each for SRU, but neither turnover resulted in points for SRU. Kutztown tied the game at seven when Kutztown receiver Erik Frazier caught a 41-yard pass from
Morton for the touchdown. Morton was injured on the play and didn’t return. Marshall Vogel took over as quarterback for the remainder of the game. After a missed field goal by junior kicker Kurt Brackman which would have put the Rock up by three, senior receiver Devin Goda caught a touchdown from 28 yards out from senior quarterback Cody Endres to put the Rock up 14-7. That reception put Goda over the 1,000 yard mark for the year, and Goda had six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown in the game. “I just want to thank God for getting to 1,000 yards on the year,” Goda said. “When I made that cut in the middle, I knew no one was going to stop me from scoring. I wanted that touchdown. I’m disappointed that we fell short of making the
national playoffs though.” Endres would finish the game 19for-39 with 233 yards passing, one touchdown and two interceptions. “I’m proud of all our guys,” Endres said. “We battled the whole time and you can’t ask for more than that. Kutztown is a good team. I give them a lot of credit.” The Golden Bears tied the game at 14 on a fourth down conversion as Vogel completed his first of two touchdowns on the day to Josh Mastromatto. Vogel finished the day 25-for-39 for 300 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions. Rock head coach George Mihalik was disappointed with the loss, but gave credit to Vogel and the Golden Bears. “”We came out and played a heck of a game,” Mihalik said. “We competed hard. Their second
string quarterback did a great job. Kutztown, as a team, has great depth all around.” After Brackman’s second missed field goal on the day and a Rock punt, Kutztown grabbed its first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter as Vogel found Frazier for his second touchdown catch of the day to make it to take the lead 21-14. A late drive by Slippery Rock came up short of tying the game as quarterback Cody Endres was hit and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down, giving the Golden Bears their first PSAC title. The Rock wasn’t one of the top six teams in their region and missed out on a chance to make the NCAA playoffs. Kutztown and California University of Pennsylvania are the only two PSAC teams represented in the NCAA tournament this season.
Sports
B-2
November 18, 2011
GRAPHIC BY: LEXI KOVSKI/ THE ROCKET
Vulcans next up for women's soccer ROCK RESULTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION
Junior midfielder Shelby Ward dribbles downfield against Alderson-Broaddus College in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Kutztown University, Nov. 11. Ward has six goals and nine assists on the year.
By Madeline Williams Assistant Sports Editor
The No. 23 ranked Slippery Rock University women's soccer team knocked off No. 15 Kutztown University 2-1 in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday. The Rock posted 11 consecutive shutouts during the season, bookended by two losses to Kutztown. The Golden Bears scored with 1:02 remaining to defeat SRU 1-0 during a regular season game on Sept. 24th, and then defeating the Rock again 4-0 in the PSAC semifinals on Nov. 4th.
Between these two games, SRU did not allow a goal for 1,088:52 consecutive minutes. The Rock proved that the third time's the charm as they avenged their losses to the Golden Bears on Sunday afternoon. S op h om ore for w ard Kara Mullins scored the first goal of the game in the 18th minute off a crossing pass from freshman Lucy Hannon. The Rock went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage over Kutztown. Junior Shelby Ward scored the Rock's second goal and the game winner in the 69th minute when she finished a pass dished by Mullins. The Golden Bears posted
a 14-9 advantage in total shots, 9-7 in shots on goal, and a 14-0 advantage in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers recorded eight saves for SRU, only allowing one lone penalty kick with nine seconds remaining in the game. She owns an 114-2 overall record and has posted 11 shutouts so far this season. Junior midfielder Marissa Anderson said that teammwork won the game for them on Sunday. "The team played extremely well," Anderson s a i d . " Ev e r y p e r s o n contributed in a positive way and really gave their best effort. The Kutztown game put a lot of pressure
on us but we defended very well as a unit and worked as a team to get the win." Coach Noreen Herlihy said the Irish duo of sophomore Kara Mullins and junior Emer Flately did not play in the first round game against AldersonBroaddus last Friday. "Kara and Emer have been carrying injuries all season, so we took a big chance by resting them on Friday to save their bodies and experience for Sunday," Herlihy said. "In turn, a lot of young players really stepped up on Friday. We depended on everyone, and they all delivered when they were called upon." The Rock (16-4-2) will face California University of Pa. (19-0-2) in the third round of the NCAA tournement this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y. The winner of this match will be named the Atlantic Region champion and will face the East Region champs on Sunday. This year is the Rock's seventh appearance in the NCAA tournament, but it's their first berth in the sweet sixteen. SRU tied Cal last year in the second round, but fell to them in a penalty kick shootout. Herlihy said they've been preparing for Cal all week and they plan to give it their best effort today. "Our motto going into the Cal U. game is the same as it's been all season- take it one game at a time," Herlihy said. "If we play disciplined and carry out well, we're going to get great results. It's been a great year, and I am very proud of the dedication these young women have shown."
Women's Volleyball • After starting off the season with a 14-0 record, the Rock slid in conference play and posted a 9-10 conference record which put them out of the PSAC playoffs. Out of the conference playoffs, the team had to wait to find out its destiny to make the NCAA playoffs. The bracket was released Sunday night and SRU was given the No. 7 seed in the Atlantic Region. They faced No. 2 seed Wheeling Jesuit University in a rematch from an Oct. 12 meeting, which the Rock lost 3-2. The Green and White traveled to California University of Pennsylvania last night for the match against Wheeling Jesuit. The Rock lost 3-0 by scores of 25-13, 25-16, and 25-20. Due to the loss, they are eliminated from the playoffs. Men's Basketball • The Rock men's basketball program won its first match of the season against Westminster University by a final of 102-48. This week the Green and White start PSAC crossover play against West Chester University on Saturday night and face Millersville University on Sunday. Both of these games will be on the road and SRU will look to gauge how it will fare in conference play this season against the Golden Rams and Marauders. The Rock's next home will be Saturday, Nov. 26 against Seton Hill Univeristy. Women's Basketball • SRU women's basketball lost its season opener against the University of Findlay, 73-61, but rebounded Wednesday night against Ursuline College behind two double-double efforts from sophomore forward Jasmine Cooper who scored 23 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, and senior forward Danielle Smith who pulled down 16 points and brought in 13 rebounds in a 67-59 victory at Morrow Field House. The women's next matches will be over the weekend against West Chester and Millersville. The Green and White face the Golden Rams on Saturday and face the Marauders on Sunday. The next home match will be Saturday, Dec. 3 against East Stroudsburg University.
November 18, 2011
Sports
B-3
Shocked by sideline behavior against KU Tim Durr
Sports Editor This past weekend, I was one of three people from The Rocket who traveled to Kutztown University for the PSAC championship game. It was an incredible experience to stand on the sidelines with my photographer and work with him to set up the best shots of every single play. It w a s a l s o v e r y interesting overhearing the chatter on the sidelines from players and coaches, along with everyone else who had a sideline pass. While I saw many things that excited the sports fan in me as much as it did the reporter, some things that I saw disturbed me. Now, I’ve always been
taught to never judge a book by its cover and never to talk about something I don’t know about. Well, after standing on the sidelines for this entire game, let’s just say I read a few pages into the SRU football book and learned a thing or two about the Rock’s sideline conduct. First off, let me say that it wasn’t any of the players who I heard yelling expletives at the referees, and other than head coach George Mihalik voicing a brief statement at the referee, it wasn’t the coaching staff either. T h e v e r b a l a s s au l t toward the officials started because of a call that many people felt the line judge made incorrectly. It was a fourth down play for the Kutztown offense and their backup qu a r t e r b a c k Mar s h a l l Vogel scrambled outside of the pocket, toward the line of scrimmage and fired a pass into the back of the end zone for the gametying touchdown. Many alumni and other people on the sidelines
started yelling at the official as soon as the call was made, saying that the quarterback stepped across the line of scrimmage and that it should have been called an incomplete pass. From my vantage point, about 15 feet down the sideline from the line of scrimmage on this particular play, it looked like the quarterback was still partially behind the line of scrimmage when he made the pass and the play was ruled correctly as a touchdown That isn’t what many of the people around me saw, though. Immediately after the play ended, people started to yell at the officials about blowing the call, and once Kutztown scored another touchdown and secured the victory, the screams continued. It ranged from the athletic director of the university, who stood behind the referee for several minutes yelling expletives at him, to random alumni that I didn’t recognize, screaming expletives toward the side judge.
The language they used was much more colorful language than I’m going to use, but in essence, they told the referee that he was responsible for SRU losing and that he should lose his job because we worked too hard to make it here, etc., etc. My t h o u g ht s w e nt from excitement of the experience that I was involved with, to total disbelief at how these representatives of the university handled themselves on the sideline. This behavior from a group of college kids would have been unacceptable, and the ironic part of it is, the college kids weren’t the ones who were yelling and screaming about the call. The players on the field all walked off to the sidelines after the call and got ready for the next play. The players on the team showed the most composure out of anyone on the sidelines, and they should be commended for that. They may have had their heads down and been
disappointed with the outcome of the play, but from where I was standing, I didn’t hear a single player or coach on the team yell and scream. The only person who had any right to say anything to the referee was coach Mihalik, and he did speak to the side judge. It was in an angry tone, but it wasn’t threatening or vulgar like the other verbiage I heard. So if you are as outraged as I am by what occurred, you should be. This is no way for adults to act. Especially adults w h o we re n’t d i re c t ly involved in the game. This was a game between the coaches and players of Slippery Rock University and Kutztown University. It was their game to decide. That is the biggest problem that I have with this whole situation. It’s another situation where t h e p e op l e w h o are supposed to act mature and represent the university with the highest class failed to do so. It might not have been evident to the fans how people on
the sidelines were acting, but all of the officials, media and other people were right there and heard every single word. The kids on the sideline, who were full of emotion, behaved in a much more mature manner than anyone else on the sidelines did. It’s probably because those kids understood that calls go both ways in games and SRU had plenty of chances to win that game. It wasn’t the calls made by the referee that caused SRU to lose this game. It was the defense allowing a backup quarterback to throw for 300 yards, an offense led by a quarterback who I feel hasn’t had his heart in playing for Slippery Rock the entire time he’s been here, and some play-calling that was questionable at times. T hat’s w hat l e d to SRU losing the PSAC championship game. May b e y o u v i e w e d something different from your spot on the field, but from my view in that game and throughout the season, that’s what I believe.
Irish freshman forward second in scoring Mihalik wins Coach of the
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION
Freshman Lucy Hannon dribbles downfield against Alderson Broaddus in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Hannon is second for The Rock in scoring with nine goals and five assists.
By Madeline Williams to play in college. Assistant Sports Editor
Slippery Rock University women's soccer forward Lucy Hannon is only a freshman and has already achieved amazing things in only her first season. Hannon, from Galway, Ireland, has nine goals this season, including five game winners. She also has five assists in her first year at the Rock. Hannon's soccer career began when she was fourteen years old when she played for Salthill Devon, a club team back home. She began to realize around then that she was a gifted athlete and wanted
In addition to playing soccer during high school, Hannon also played Gaelic football, and was awarded Player of the Year in 2008. Support from the coaching staff here at SRU has been one of the biggest motivators behind Hannon's soccer career. "The coaches are unbelievably great," Hannon said. "They've already taught me so much this year. They're the best coaches I've ever had, and I really couldn't thank them enough." Hannon said all her friends on the team have also been a huge inspiration for her. "I love my teammates," Hannon said with a big smile.
"They've become some of my best friends. There really is no other team I'd rather be on." Junior forward Erin Storck appreciates Hannon's leadership qualities and says she is a fantastic teammate and an even better friend. "Lucy is an excellent player and a huge asset to our team," Storck said. “On the field, she has great vision and the ability to finish. She works really hard and demands the best from herself and her teammates every time we step onto the field. Off the field, Lucy is such a goofy girl who loves to laugh and pull pranks on her teammates. I love how she is always in a good mood and always nice to everyone."
Junior goalkeeper Dana O'Neill has also been thrilled to have Hannon on the team this year. "Lucy is a wonderful addition to our team this season," O'Neill said. "Technically, she is one of the best on the team. Tactically, she sees things on the field that others don't. Lucy is the type of person that brings out the best in others when she's around." Hannon is very thankful to have Emer Flately and Kara Mullins as friends on the team, both also from Galway, Ireland. "I've been very blessed to have Emer and Kara here for me this year," Hannon said. "They've really helped me through everything. At the beginning of the year, I was very homesick and since they went through that before, they were able to help me overcome it." Head coach Noreen Herlihy thinks Hannon has been a great addition to the team this year. "Lucy has been an outstanding young player to have on the team this season," Herlihy said. "She is very well liked and respected by her teammates on and off the field. She has really embraced the program, and I'm very happy to have her on the team the next few years." When it comes to a life motto, Hannon firmly believes that hard work will always pay off. "What you put in, is you get out," Hannon said. "If you work hard, you're eventually going to get the results you want." Hannon is a true team player and puts the team before everything. "I really want to get the team to finals and win the conference," Hannon said. "When it all comes down to it, it's really not about me, it's all about the team." Hannon is a 20-year-old health and physical education major. After graduation, she plans on returning to Ireland and finding a job there, and hopefully coming back to the United States one day.
Year, seven players honored By D.J. Vasil
Rocket Contributor
Eight members of the 2011 Rock football team received All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors. Rock head coach George Mihalik received Coach of the Year honors for the West division. Mihalik led the Rock to an 8-3 overall record, 6-1 in the west. This is the fourth time Mihalik has received the award. Mihalik’s career record now stands at 161-98-4. He leads the Rock in all-time wins and ranks third among the active coaches in the west in wins. He also ranks fifth in PSAC’s all-time wins list and is seventh among active Division II coaches. Mihalik is engraved in Slippery Rock football history as the university renamed the football stadium to MihalikThompson Stadium this year. Receiving first team AllPSAC honors were seniors Devin Goda, Brandon Watters, Jake Wickline and Austin Fedell. Receiving second team All-PSAC honors were seniors A.J. Hopp and Zach Sheridan. Junior Jeff Thompson also received second team honors. Goda led the Rock in receiving with 75 catches for 1,028 yards and caught 11 touchdowns. His 75 receptions ranked him third in SRU’s single season all-time record book, and his 1,028 yards rank him fourth and 11 touchdowns are second. He finished his career ranking second in both yards, with 2,250, and receptions, with 173. Goda is the only repeat performer to receive allconference honors. He was a second team selection last year. He was also named a Division II first team Capital One academic all-district performer. Watte rs , a s afe t y,
finished the year with eight interceptions, which tied the Rock’s single season record. His eight interceptions were good for second place in the conference on the year, and he also led the PSAC in passes defended with 18. Watters has started the last three years for the Rock and finished his career with 14 interceptions, which ranks third for the Rock all-time. Linebacker Jake Wickline finished the year tied for the team lead in tackles with fellow linebacker Zach Sheridan with 85 (33 solo, 52 assists). Wickline finished second on the team with 12 tackles for loss, and also intercepted four passes and recorded one sack. Austin Fedell played this year at center, filling the role left by now Vikings center Brandon Fusco. Fedell has spent the last two years at guard. Fedell led the way for an offensive line that allowed the Rock to average 29 points a game. He also joined Goda in being named a Division II first team Capital One academic all-district performer. A.J. Hopp, an offensive tackle for the Rock, provided protection for senior quarterback Cody Endres all year which allowed Endres to set records at Slippery Rock in pass completions, yards and attempts. Linebacker Zach Sheridan tied for the team-high in tackles with Wickline, and was a four-year starter who finished this season with 44 solo tackles and 41 assists. He also recorded eight tackles for loss on the year. Sheridan finished his career with 315 tackles, which ranks seventh all-time at Slippery Rock. Defensive end Jef f Thompson, the only junior on the Rock to receive All-PSAC honors, finished in third place in tackles on the year with 60 tackles (22 solo and 38 assists). He also led the team in tackles for a loss with 15.
B-4
November 18, 2011
The Rocket
CAMPUS LIFE C-1 November 18, 2011
Danse macabre
LEXI KOVSKI/THE ROCKET
The department of theatre premiered its latest production, "Electra," Tuesday evening in Miller Auditorium. Adapted by playwright Nick Payne and directed by theatre professor Dr. David Skeele, the adaptation of Sophocles' play places the setting in post-World War II America in order to provide contrasting cultural visions with that of ancient Greece.
Death, revenge explored in SRU production of "Electra" By Rebecca Marcucci Rocket Contributor
Picture post-World War II America as a tragedy written by Sophocles in ancient Greece. The differing time periods provide contrasting cultural visions to imagine. SRU theater director David Skeele said he believes it’s not hard to compare the two. He
believes the ideas of these eras are more similar than most would think. Under the direction of Skeele, “Electra,” adapted by playwright Nick Payne and produced on campus by the SRU Theater Department, is an ancient Greek play performed with a postmodern American influence. Skeele explained why the connection of ancient Greece and the late 1940s to early 1950s
was made and the difference he believed it would make with audiences. “The play is an adaptation with a modern feel,” Skeele said. “Nick Payne really stripped the play down to its essence, it’s definitely less flowery. In the 1950s, we looked at our political leaders as being larger than life. That’s how it was in ancient Greece.” Skeele explained how he e nv is i one d a 1 9 5 0 s - e s qu e
production. He described how the characters’ appearances portrayed the feeling of the era instead of the typical thoughts of ancient Greek plays. “The show is not necessarily supposed to be in togas in front of pillars,” Skeele said. “For the costumes, we pictured the 1950s padded shoulders and square jaw kind of look.” Skeele also gave credit to associate theatre professor and
costume and makeup director Rebecca Morrice. He explained how the costumes, which wound up fitting like they were tailored to the actors, really helped to pull the production together, according to Skeele. He said the cast and crew were very thankful for this. Skeele said the cast and crew’s time frame in preparing for the SEE GORE, PAGE C-3
Students with disabilities seek to end stigma and push for equality By Courtney Tietje Rocket Contributor
With or without a disability, e ve r yon e f a c e s s t r u g g l e s . According to Rob Oliver, an advocate of the Disability Rights Net work of Pennsy lvani a, disabilities don’t label people, but how we treat our experiences with them does. “How we let [our struggles] define us and how we chose to deal with them ultimately defines our success and what we’re able to accomplish in life,” said Oliver, for whom the topic of disabilities hits close to home. When Oliver was 21, he broke his neck, resulting in a severe spinal cord injury that left him without the use of his legs and upper body. Oliver spoke at SRU on Tuesday about overcoming disabilities. The event was hosted by the student-run organization Disability Rights: Initiating Voices Everywhere (DRIVE). Sarah Browne, a 21-year-old
English literature major and senior at SRU, is the president of DRIVE. According to Browne, acceptance and understanding of both visible and invisible disabilities is the key to stopping prejudice. “What I mean by [the word prejudice] is not that people want to burn wheelchairs or that they hate others with disabilities, but that people don’t see them as able. They view them as somebody to be pitied or felt sorry for instead of just another person,” Browne said. She said that people need to recognize that disabilities are not necessarily limitations. “Students with disabilities are as capable as anyone else,” she said. “They deserve their disability rights, but they don’t deserve to be treated differently.” O l ive r s ai d t ho s e w it h disabilities experience the same thoughts, emotions, challenges and life events as those without disabilities. “We all have our strengths and
weaknesses,” he said. “Disability is one of those things that cuts across age, race, personality types. Anyone could have one. It comes down to the fact that people are people.” At his presentation on Tuesday, Oliver told the crowd the fact that he can’t walk does not change what gives him value. He also explained how he came to realize that he could still do all of the things that he did prior to his injury - he just had to find new ways to do them. “You can’t do anything with tools you don’t have, but you can do amazing things with the tools you do have,” he said. For those suffering from an invisible disability, finding acceptance from others can be even more of a struggle sometimes, according to senior p s ych ol o g y m aj or R a ch e l Mazzarella. Mazzarella, 22, said she has a rare disability known as Syringomyelia. A cyst on Mazzarella’s spine causes nerve endings to shoot off when they’re
not supposed to, causing her chronic pain. Mazzarella explained some of the day-to-day challenges that she faces with Syringomyelia. “I’m in pain pretty much all day, so I’ve had to adjust my life to having to deal with that and accept it,” Mazzarella said. “It’s been hard because I’m on various pain medications and other medications that make it hard to do well in school. Sometimes, I have to try harder than other students, so I had to kind of just adjust to that, and realize that I can’t change and that I just need to make the best of it.” Mazzarella also wanted students to know that even while facing invisible disabilities, there is hope and there is help. “In high school, there was no type of place I could go to talk about [my disability], and there were no students I could relate to,” she said. “A lot of my friends ended up not wanting to deal with it—it was too much for them. Whereas in college, people
are more open to issues like disabilities. Plus, the disability office is a good source for people to go to and get their needs met.” Mazzarella said that since she has experienced openness from her peers and mentors about her disability, she wants to pass that form of respect on to others. “When I grew up, I never heard anything related to anybody with a disability, and when I did, it was a visible disability,” she said. “I’m hoping to be able to help people who are feeling the way I did to maybe not feel that way and to accept and be happy about their lives.” Browne said she would simply like to pass on the reminder that disabilities don’t define who people are. “Whenever we hear the word, ‘disability,’ we often think of inferiority. We need to see it’s not an inferiority, it’s just a difference,” she said. “We need to stop stigmatizing the word and put activism back into disability rights.”
Campus Life
C-2
Stars of "Breaking Dawn" dress for premiere
Katie Ellis "ROCK'n Fashion" “Twi-hards,” it’s finally that time again. After what seems longer than a year since the release of “Eclipse,” the third movie in the “Twilight” series, the release of “Breaking Dawn” is finally here. At the premiere of “Breaking Dawn: Part 1,” the movie’s stars stepped out to greet their fans at the black carpet premiere at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles in breathtaking attire. This premiere is by far the most fashionable one yet, with the film’s leading ladies in sequined and see-through gowns, and the film’s leading men in brilliantly cut suits. Ashley Greene hit the red carpet in support of her alter ego, Alice Cullen, in a custom Donna Karan creation. Greene looked stylish in the hottest trend of the evening, the seethrough gown. Her strapless creation fit her beautifully as she made her way down the black carpet for photos with a graceful train behind her. The candy apple red color of her lace gown was accented by the chiffon ruffles that were asymmetrically placed across her dress. With such a bright colored look, Greene was wise to keep her accessories and makeup simple. Wearing only a cocktail ring with bright red nail polish and lipstick, she made a great statement on the black carpet. It is safe to say that Greene’s fashion obsessed alter ego
would be proud of her elegant look. Newlywed Nikki Reed came to the premiere in a fashion forward look from Marchesa’s 2012 resort collection. The star was still glowing from her wedding to “American Idol” alum Paul McDonald, and it showed on the carpet. Her mint colored Grecian gown was offset by a oneshoulder neckline with dazzling green and gold sequins across the neckline, waistline, and down the right side of her dress. Reed kept her makeup natural and took a note from Ashley Greene and kept her jewelry simple, as well. She wore dangling Sutra earrings, a Neil Lane cocktail ring and her beautiful custom wedding band. Finally, she finished off her look with flowing chestnut curls and Jimmy Choo heels. As far as men’s fashion goes, Taylor Lautner showed up to the premiere looking absolutely dashing. Wearing a navy blue suit with a maroon tie and dark brown shoes, he looked every bit a leading man on the black carpet. His attire was definitely appreciated by the fans who camped out for five days in preparation of his arrival. Kellan Lutz looked dapper in his all black ensemble as he arrived at the “Breaking Dawn” premiere. His black suit, vest and tie were accented by his silver tie clip and David Yurman cuff links. Jackson Rathbone, on the other hand, did not look as handsome as his fellow “Breaking Dawn” actors. He arrived in a red velvet Dolce and Gabbana suit with a black vest and tie and black boots. Although fashion risks sometimes pay off, Rathbone’s velvet suit definitely did not. At the premiere of “Breaking Dawn: Part 2,” he would be advised to pick a black velvet
suit, or one that is not velvet at all. The night’s best dressed female is none other than the heroine of the series, Kristen Stewart. All eyes were on her as she strutted down the red carpet in her sequined J. Mendel gown. With its see-through silhouette and intricate pattern of black and blue sequins, she shone in front of the camera flashbulbs. Not only was her dress beautiful, it was also daring with an extremely high slit that showed a lot of leg. Stewart also kept her accessories simple by pairing a Neil Lane diamond and sapphire ring and peep-toe Jimmy Choo high heels with her chic gown. After posing for a variety of pictures on the black carpet, she slipped into a pair of black Nike tennis shoes to finish off the evening. The best dressed man at the premiere was the actor who plays smoldering vampire Edward Cullen, Robert Pattinson. He walked the black carpet with his on-andoff-screen girlfriend Kristen Stewart in a charcoal colored Gucci suit and black skinny tie. Fans cheered for their favorite vampire as he posed for pictures and signed autographs while walking down the black carpet. The stars of “Breaking Dawn” truly showed how fashionable they can be at the premiere of their highly anticipated film on Monday night. If this is any indication of what is to come for the “Breaking Dawn: Part 2” premiere, fans are in store for more fashion forward looks from this hot, young cast. Katie Ellis is a freshman journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
November 18, 2011
Ask Ana Question: Dear Ana, What is the best way to keep warm with the coming winter? Forever Alone
"Ana Graham"
Question: Dear Ana, Okay Ana, I got a question. How do I tell my family I’m going to finish college next year…and I don’t want anyone to come to my graduation? I’m not even sure if I want to even go. I worked hard and I’m going to be very proud of my theater degree, but I’d rather have my family come to my first show outside of SRU rather than the day I just got a degree. Of a Proud Family
Answer: Dear Proud, Tell it to them straight. Yes, they will probably be surprised or upset, but if you are dead set on not going to graduation, they will eventually understand. But at the same time, think about this - just because your family comes to your graduation doesn’t mean that when they go to your first show, they will consider it less special. They probably want to be there for all of your important milestones. Even if the ritual means little to you, it may be symbolic to them. So discuss it with them first, and if they agree to acknowledge your theatrical achievements foremost, then there is no need to feel guilty about asking them to not attend.
Answer: Dear Forever Alone, The best way is with the body heat of another person. My personal favorite way to keep warm in the winter is to cuddle with large, hairy men because it is like hibernating with a bear, except the bear plays a lot of Skyrim and wants me to make him sandwiches. But if you can’t find a person to keep warm with, invest in fluffy blankets, or perhaps one of those “boyfriend pillows” that looks like a man’s arm and torso you can cuddle with.
Question: Dear Ana, Why can’t scheduling be easier? Like dealing with the open course schedule that doesn’t update and certain courses being restricted without letting students know when they try to schedule. Probably a Freshman
Answer: Dear Freshman, As a senior, I felt like scheduling was as easy as checking my email. But scheduling is the bane of many underclassmen, and for good reason. Courses aren’t restricted because there is something wrong with the system - they are restricted usually because you have yet to take a pre-requisite, or you have to have a professor sign you into a class. I don’t understand why so many students have to be signed
into classes, and it is definitely a flaw in the system. When I was a freshman, the delay in updates and the filled classes caused me misery. I despised the juniors and seniors for their privileged schedule times. But now, I don’t really care at all. The truth is, scheduling is always going to be a pain to underclassmen. You will get your victory in due time. That is, whenever you become a senior.
Question: Dear Ana, I am in a play right now and on opening night, I was frustrated with the attitude of my audience. Why don’t students appreciate theater? Disgruntled Artist
Answer: Dear Disgruntled, Chances are, if it was opening night, then you probably had a lot of theater and English class students in the audience whose professors made them go and/ or the students needed bonus points and received some for attending. It is very true that some students attend plays just because they have to. However, many students on campus appreciate the theater - the sheer amount of tickets sold for each play each semester can attest to this. The theater department here is viewed with respect, as well. I’ve never heard anyone give a bad review of a play here. That said, the students who don’t appreciate theater are not going to change, but should you really care? You should care more about the opinions of viewers who actually have respect for what you do and ignore the unappreciative and misinformed. "Ana Graham" is a senior public relations major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
Campus Life
November 18, 2011
C-3
Faculty members share advice for managing student financial aid debt By James Meyer Assistant Campus Life Editor
As graduation approaches, a common fear comes over seniors - the fear that they will soon be entering the work force in a troubled economy with a large accumulation of debt. In recent years, student financial aid debt has increased at a faster rate than inflation. Combined with a struggling job market, graduating students have much cause for concern. According to Project on Student Debt, last year’s average debt for a graduating senior was $25,250, the highest on record. F i n an c i a l ai d d e bt h a s always been a source of dread for graduating students. Dr. John Buttermore, an associate professor of business, has personal experience in this area. “My perspective is as an adviser and as a former student who had loans to pay off when I was coming out of school,” Buttermore said. “I think it’s really tough, just the fact that tuition has run up so much faster than inflation. There doesn’t seem to be a check or balance in there anywhere.” Dr. Buttermore said that part of the problem is how easy it has become to borrow money for school. “It got to the point where people could borrow $300,000 with nothing down without having to have good credit,” Buttermore said. “I think it’s easy to get in over your head. The system doesn’t make it harder, and I guess the reason that it doesn’t is
because if they said no, then you couldn’t go to school.” Dr. John Golden, a professor in the school of business, said the overall problem is joblessness and lower wages. “Over the last five years, the debt has increased by about 11 percent,” Golden said. “If you look at jobs, the median income for a bachelor’s degree dropped three percent. But it’s still a better investment than not having a degree.” In an effort to help the local economy, Dr. Golden serves as project director for the Sustainable Enter prise Accelerator, a program through which students can start their own businesses and partner with local businesses. “We’re getting a lot of traffic in here of students who want to start their own businesses so that their median incomes will be higher,” Golden said. “Say they start a business here, and it takes off. Great. Even if it doesn’t work, they’ve learned some skills.” Golden’s advice to students is to graduate in a reasonable amount of time. “I think one of the best things they can do for themselves is to manage their time while they’re here so that they can put themselves on a track to be out in four years, if possible.” Golden said. “We talk a lot about four-year graduation rates. That’s very efficient, especially if you’re borrowing money.” Patty Hladio, the director of financial aid, emphasized how important it is for students to
GRAPHIC BY LIANA PITTMAN
become educated on finances and debt management in their first year of college. “I think financial literacy is critical for students early on in their academic career,” Hladio said. “Awareness early on, say, freshman year, allows students to make better decisions.” Hladio gives debt management presentations in first seminar classes and warns students to avoid what she calls “financial sins.” “One thing that a student has
Gore new element in historical Greek tragedy Continued from Page C-1
show was from fall break to before Thanksgiving break. “The actors have fueled themselves on adrenaline, given the short amount of time they had to work with everything,” Skeele said. Senior theater major Jessica Kowach, 21, who pl ays E le c t ra, ag re e d with Skeele in the overall intensity of preparing for the show and how it came to be. “Practice was every single night for me,” Kowach said. “It was a very short process, but was very intense. The show has been a really great experience, and I’m glad we have been able to create our characters in such a short period of time.” Kowach explained the essence of the play and how it centers around the idea of unfulfilled revenge. “Electra’s father was killed by her mother, and Electra has never let it go,” Kowach said “This leads Electra to believe that she is the embodiment of her mother’s conscience.” Kowach explained how Electra had these thoughts, but wanted to get back at her mother for what she did to Electra’s father. Ske e l e a g re e d w it h Kowach’s idea of revenge and what Electra’s thoughts and motives were as she struggled with the loss of her father. “ There’s a notion of re ve nge w r itte n i nto the show,” Skeele said. “[Electra's story] is the idea of if someone slaughters someone in your family, what do you do?” Skeele connected the issues in Electra to controversial issues throughout time. “It’s destructive cycles of revenge, like slaughter in African tribes or the
[Electra's story] is the idea of, if someone slaughters someone in your family, what do you do?
-Dr. David Skeele, theatre professor
discontent amongst the Hatfields and McCoys,” Skeele said. “It’s the thought of enough is enough.” Skeele said he also added new elements to the production, and that he was really impressed with the set design and overall structure. The elements that went into production were quickly constructed with the cast and crew’s given deadline, according to Skeele. Kowach also explained how she was surprised with many of the newer elements added to Electra. “ The show is on ly about an hour long, so a prologue was added to the beginning of the scene with shadow work behind a giant canvas backdrop used for silhouetting, so the audience could get a back story,” Kowach said. Jazz music was also an important element that was inspired by post-World War II America, Skeele said as he acknowledged those involved with sound for the show and thanked them for their musical compilation in Electra. He said another production element he found would surprise most audience members was the amount of bloody violence seen in the show. “There’s a certain amount of gore in the play, especially at the end,” Skeele said. Skeele said a previous
SRU graduate decided to return to campus and aid in the gore elements involved in the show. He expressed confidence that the former student could deliver. The element of rage and varying morbid emotions are s e e n t h rou g h out “Electra,” Kowach said, especially with her character, Electra. She explained the complexity of her character and how she was able to understand and tap into her inner motives. “I have never experienced anything she has, but it was easier for me to connect to her when she had her happier moments,” Kowach said. She said a lot went into preparing and tapping into her character. Kowach said relating to Electra on a personal level was difficult, but she said she was confident in portraying her. “Electra has a lot of colors to her,” she said. “She has softer moments, but she definitely has a lot of pent up emotional rage.” Show times for “Electra” are for 7:30 p.m. in Miller Au d itor iu m from November 15th to Nove mb e r 1 8 t h , and November 20th and 21st, with a matinee showing at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for SRU students.
control over is where they’re going to live,” Hladio said. “Whether they choose to live on campus or off campus doesn’t make a difference, but what makes a difference is what can they afford.” Hladio also advises students to beware of relationships that may be financial pitfalls. “Another financial trap that students get into has to do with their relationships,” Hladio said. “It could be your best friend who never has money in their pocket
and you’re always fronting them for the coffee, and they never pay you back. And a young person doesn’t know how to deal with that, whether it’s a friend or a boyfriend or a family member.” Hladio says that all of these simple things add up to have a major effect on finances after graduation. “If you live like a professional when you’re a student, you may find that when you’re a professional, you’ll have to live like a student,” Hladio said.
C-4
November 18, 2011