12/6/19 Digital Edition

Friday December 6, 2019 • Volume 103, Issue Number 5 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper

www.theonlinerocket.com

Professionals get honest about EDs SHAB hosts panel discussion about eating disorders

By Allison Downs News Editor

Disclaimer: the following story contains mentions of eating disorders and may be triggering to some readers. Please read with caution at your own discretion.

To submit a care report for yourself or someone you are concerned about, search "Student Support" at www.sru.edu.

If you or someone you know needs help, local help is available through campus police (724-7383333), the Health Center (724-738-2052) the Counseling Center (724-738-2034) and student support (724-738-2121). The National Eating Disorder Association helpline is available Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (800-931-2237).

The Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) hosted their second meeting of the semester in the Smith Student Center Theater on Thursday and invited four panelists to discuss eating disorders, common misconceptions and myths and how to identify any warning signs.

Alison Davitt, an outpatient therapist at The Emily Program in Wexford, began the discussion by asking the audience to list any myths they have heard — whether in media or real life — about eating disorders.

“It’s exclusive to only white teenage girls and that males, people of color and older people can’t have an eating disorder,” one audience member said.

Davitt added that a classic myth is that eating disorders only affect privileged white women, but she said that she sees and works with people of all different genders, ages and ethnicities with eating disorders.

“If you have an eating disorder, then you have to be severely underweight,” another audience member said.

Davitt added that she commonly hears the phrase “I’m not sick enough” from people in treatment, which she says isn’t true. She also said we see many people walking around the

SEE SHAB PAGE A-5

HANNAH SLOPE / THE ROCKET

A large audience attends the Student Health Advisory Board's second meeting of the semester which focused on eating disorders. Psychology Department Chair Jennifer Sanftner McGraw, Emily Program Outpatient Therapist Alison Davitt, Counseling Center Clinical Director Ken Messina and Nurse Practitioner Dianne Broad were all panelists at the meeting.

Making menstrual hygiene accessible SGA approves menstrual product pilot program

By Nina Cipriani Assistant News Editor

The Slippery Rock Student Government Association (SGA) met Monday evening to discuss multiple finance motions among other business motions.

SGA approved SRSGA initiative request of $2,282 with $1,177.40 coming from budgetary reserves and $1,104.60 coming from capital reserves.

It was the finance committee's response to the social justice committee's original request of $3,386.60 for a pilot program to provide free menstrual products to people who menstruate on campus in the all gender restrooms. The social justice committee believes that everyone deserves equal access to menstrual products. The amount that was requested was to fund 20 restrooms on campus.

Kaitlyn Hazelett, vice president of financial affairs, and the finance committee wanted students to keep in mind the meaning of a pilot program, as she utilized a definition from

News

The Association for Project Management.

"A pilot program is an initial small-scale implementation that is used to prove the viability of a project idea," Hazelett said.

"The pilot project enables an organization to manage the risk of a new idea and identify any deficiencies before substantial resources are committed."

There are currently 71 allgender restrooms on campus.

These all-gender restrooms are spread out to roughly 27 buildings on campus, and only 18 of these buildings are academic buildings. Due to the fact that the student life survey dealt with the accessibility of students and not wanting to miss class due to an unexpected menstrual cycle, the finance committee felt that the pilot program should only consider the academic buildings on campus.

The social justice committee brought up that it would also be crucial to include Boozel Dining Hall along with these buildings, as a significant amount of students visit this location frequently during the school A-5

Provost search winds down

week. Likewise to academics, finance committee and social justice committee believed that students should not have to leave their meal due to lack of accessibility of menstrual products. This brought the total number of buildings eligible for funding up to 18.

Upon further examination of the potential pilot program, the finance committee found that starting with 10 buildings would serve as an "exceptional pilot program," noting that it would be a little over 50 percent of all of the academic buildings on campus.

Finance committee also suggested that within the first semester of implementation of this pilot program, the social justice committee should create an exit survey with a question regarding where students would like to see this service in the future. Finance committee will work with the social justice committee to come up with a survey that will be beneficial in getting feedback on the service.

They believe that once they have a substantial amount of information regarding the usage and value of the

Opinion

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Rocket staff looks to 2020

service, it will be easier to go about funding additional buildings and potentially an implementation of the program itself.

After the conversation was completed, finance committee decided that the recommended allocation would be: $1,104.60 for 10 sanitary product dispensers $655.20 for tampons and $522.20 for sanitary napkins (5,000 products each, 10,000 total) After the motion was passed, Maggie Calvert, vice president of Diversity and Inclusion, moved to reconsider the motion and discuss the decision more, as there were multiple people who attended the formal meeting that shared their menstruation stories.

Calvert felt that it would be insensitive to them and others that menstruate to completely dismiss a discussion. Calvert's motion failed.

SGA then approved the SRU choirs and SRU jazz initiative request of $13,400.

The SRU choirs and SRU jazz requested these funds to help fund their trip to Italy

Sports

and France to perform by invitation at international jazz festivals. These funds go directly toward domestic bussing travel and international travel.

SGA approved the Triathlon Club's initiative request of $955.11. These funds were requested to help fund their recently participated USAT races. The funds will go directly toward registration fees, USAT fees and mileage.

SGA approved SRU Winter Guard's initiative request of $12,000. These funds were requested for transportation, hotel lodging, a rehearsal site, and equipment for their world championship competition in April.

SGA approved Hunting and Fishing Club's initiative request of $400. These funds were requested for a club pheasant hunt to come together and share common interest in hunting. The funds will go directly toward the registration to the pheasant hunt.

The motion to rename Bob's market to the SRU food pantry was originally approved, but after a motion C-3

Rock women champs of PSAC

was passed to reconsider the vote, the motion was sent back to committee.

SGA approved the proclamation of discrimination statement made by President Nicole Dunlop.

SGA approved the motion to elect Senator Burkhouse, Senator Hilzendeger, Senator Noonan and Senator Ohle to the SRSGA election commission.

SGA approved the draft of bylaws proposed by the rules and policies committee.

Senator Condon reminded everyone that they are not adding anything new, but simply taking things that are already in their constitution and making them bylaws.

SGA also approved Senator Ohle as their SRSGA leadership scholarship recipient.

The mental health community cafe was rescheduled for next semester.

The budgetary reserves are sitting at $29,601.89, and the capital reserves are sitting at $14,832.98.

SGA's next formal meeting will be on Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Theater.

Campus Life

Red Ribbon and HIV/AIDS

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Watch Kevin Sharkey talk about the parking pass updates.

NEWS

Students save money with OER Grant program helps faculty find affordable course materials

By Allison Downs News Editor

Six university faculty members received Open Educational Resources (OER) grants to revise their courses by using low-cost or free educational materials instead of traditional textbooks.

According to SRU’s OER Initiative page, OER are generally written or created by an individual or organization that chooses to keep or retain very few, if any, ownership rights and are largely part of the public domain. Because of this, OER can save students from hefty educational material costs without any negative impact.

“It can include anything that’s freely available, which could include YouTube videos or webpages for instructional material,” said Bradley Wilson, associate provost for Academic Affairs and integrated learning and chair of the OER Steering Committee. “It’s hard to create an entire course based on just those, so we’re really focused on non-commercial textbooks faculty could use in designing their courses.”

Wilson said the grant program began last year as an initiative to promote awareness of OER among faculty and encourage them to do their research and see if OER could work for the courses they teach.

“This grant program is sort of an effort to encourage faculty to look at [OER] as an alternative to commercial textbooks that students would have to buy,” Wilson said. “Faculty are free to choose what they think is best for their teaching, but we’re trying to get them to look at what else might be available.”

Wilson said in his experience as a professor of philosophy, he didn’t have to require his students to buy textbooks because it was relatively easy to find OER online, but that might not be the case for many other courses.

“Philosophy materials are a little bit easier to find because they’re older and out of copyright and available online,” Wilson said. “But when you’re doing something like a science or a business course and you have to have up-to-date and recent information, it’s sometimes harder to get away from commercial textbook publishers.”

Wilson added that the amount of grant money a professor receives is based on the size of the classes they’re teaching and what the savings would be, but that the grant is typically between $300 and $500. He also said the grant money isn’t paid directly to faculty — rather, it’s made available to them to use for professional development opportunities, such as conferences.

Jeffrey Roth, assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice, will use his OER grant to help pay for travel expenses to attend the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ 2020 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, where he will present research and attend workshops.

Kathleen Melago, associate professor of music, used the grant she earned to travel to Orlando, Florida with colleague Jonathon Helmick for the National Association for Music Education National Conference. Together, they presented their partnership with Karns City and

GRAPHIC BY ALLISON DOWNS

Moniteau high schools and teaching music education with the use of iPads and the Coach’s Eye app.

“The high school students record a 30 second video of themselves playing their band music or whatever they need help with, and then they send it to our junior music education majors,” Melago said. “It’s kind of like ESPN; they can write on it and zoom in and out to show them where their hands should be or anything like that. Then they return the video.”

Melago said because of their Coach’s Eye music education presentation at the conference, a high school in Delaware has expressed interest in partnering with them.

“We see [the grant program] as a good, for lack

of a better term, investment in faculty that’s going to result in significant savings for students,” Wilson said.

According to Wilson, the actual savings are difficult to calculate because, in any particular class, students can obtain their textbooks from different a variety of sellers like Amazon or Chegg, and they can purchase them at different price points depending on the condition of the textbook they’re buying.

“In the news release on [SRU’s] website, you probably saw that OER saved students $37 thousand,” Wilson said.

“On average — and this is just based on a small number of courses — students probably saved about $50 to $75 each.”

Wilson added that if this becomes more significant and widespread, the OER grant program could have

the potential to have a big, positive impact on students.

Top Hat, Wilson said, is a company SRU has partnered with to support the OER initiative. According to the OER Initiative webpage, Top Hat makes it easier for faculty to browse, choose, adopt and edit existing OER materials at no cost.

Faculty also have the ability to create their own OER materials for courses they teach, which is exactly what Melago did for her fall class of 150 students.

“The textbook I had been using for the past couple of years, I didn’t like very much, so I was interested in looking for something less expensive with more interesting topics,” Melago said. “The university wanted us to go through Top Hat, but the only book they

had available ended in the Romantic Era, which was the 1910s, so there was over a hundred years of music history missing from the textbook.”

She said she decided to author an “e-text” of her own for her class. She said the process was difficult because she had a very short timeline. She said all she did every day over the summer was write this text so that she could have it ready for the semester.

“I signed the contract, I think it was July 3,” Melago said. “That was literally all I did — morning, noon and night — to have it ready for the start of the semester. It was kind of a sacrifice, but it was important to me to create something that would hopefully be more appealing to my students.”

SGA alters governing documents

Student government amends constitution to include bylaws

By Nina Cipriani Assistant News Editor

The Slippery Rock Student Government Association (SGA) held a constitutional amendment hearing on Nov. 26 in the Smith Student Center room 319, where Senator Nick Condon informed the audience of the amendments made to their constitution

"What we have kept in the constitution is what we believe is important."

– Nick Condon, co-chair of rules and policies committee

that were passed at the last SGA formal meeting.

Condon began by providing a overview of the current SRSGA constitution that contains 12 articles.

Condon continually reiterated that they are not adding or removing anything from the governing documents of SGA, but rather creating bylaws and separating that from the current constitution. The only things that may have been added is different wording or formatting to replace awkward language.

"What we have kept in the constitution is what we believe is important that there is to hearings and otherwise," Condon said.

"So, the bylaws are pretty much entirely how we function as a organization, and the constitution is pretty much entirely an overview of generally what we are supposed to do."

The passed bylaws, as of the most recent SGA formal meeting, establishes specific procedures that the

organization must follow and the roles of each of its members.

He added that the constitution is massive and that adding bylaws to make things simpler was a necessity.

"A constitution is the fundamental principles of the organization," Condon said. "But, it doesn't prescribe specific procedures that should be done as a senator, and so on."

Condon said bylaws are also much easier to change than the constitution is.

Changing the constitution requires much more discussion and hearings like this one, and it is generally a long process.

Condon also mentioned how last semester SGA voted on a new composition to the senate, and this is reflected in the senate section of the bylaws.

"Essentially, we are trying to make this so that a senator can pick [the constitution and bylaws] up and read through it and it is not confusing," Condon said.

CONSTITUTION BYLAWS Article I: Name and Membership Article I: Committee Article II: Powers of SRSGA Article II: Duties of Executive Article III: SRSGA Senate Officers Article IV: SRSGA Executive Board Article III: Duties of Senators Article V: Resignation, Dismissal, Article IV: Elections and Impeachment Article V: Meetings Article VI: Vacancy Article VI: Finances Article VII: Student's Rights and Article

VII:

Dismissal,

Referendum Impeachment and Vacancies Article VIII: Meetings Article VIII: SRSGA Advisers Article IX: Amendment Article IX: Bylaw Amendments GRAPHIC BY NINA CIPRIANI

NEWS

December 6, 2019

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SHAB discusses EDs in athletics CONTINUED FROM PAGE A-1 She also said “fat talk,” or

“There’s no threshold of sickness a person has to be at in order to seek treatment,” she said. “You don’t have to be underweight or overweight or anything to have an eating disorder.”

Davitt responded to the question herself with one misconception she hears pretty often: eating disorders are a “lifestyle choice.” She continued to adamantly explain that eating disorders are illnesses and that nobody chooses to be sick.

Davitt said another common myth she’s heard is that eating disorders are incurable, that they are chronic illnesses that someone will always have, which isn’t true. She added that she works with people who get better every day and have experienced cures firsthand.

Jennifer Sanftner McGraw, professor and chair of the psychology department and advisor of the Reflections Body Image Program on campus, said many people believe those who struggle with an eating disorder “just need to eat.” She added that eating disorders are about much more than just food and eating.

“They’re about your sense of self, your self-control and how you’re coping with life and the world. With some disorders, your brain is telling you that you need to do this,” McGraw said. “It’s not just a matter of going to eat a meal.

These are true disorders that people struggle with, and they can’t control it.”

Dr. Ken Messina, the clinical director of the Student Counseling Center, added that people often go to a family doctor or a counselor who doesn’t have any training or background with eating disorders. He believes that this can actually work against someone in recovery and delay their progress, and that they should seek help from a specialist.

The panel then discussed the warning signs of an eating disorder and how to identify them. McGraw said a red flag is being preoccupied with food or setting rules set for themselves about food.

She also added that weight loss can be an indicator of an eating disorder, but that there are several other factors and causes of weight loss.

frequently asking if you look fat in your clothes, could also be a warning sign.

“People with eating disorders tend to be overly focused on or preoccupied with body image,” McGraw said. “They seem to equate their self-worth with their bodies. They believe their value is tied to their body size and shape.”

Davitt said multiple bathroom trips following meals can be another potential indicator, but that this could also be caused by other different factors.

Social withdrawal, she said, could be another warning sign, especially if the social invitation includes food or meals.

“A lot of my clients had their kind of ‘light bulb moment’ when they realized that they’d declined a lot of social invitations, particularly if they involved food,” Davitt said. “The same goes for constant exercise. They turned down invitations to events or things they used to enjoy because they wanted to exercise all the time.”

An audience member posed the question, “When does being conscious about what you eat and working out and overall trying to make healthier choices cross the line to becoming an eating disorder?”

Messina said that anyone struggling with an eating disorder will experience a decreased quality of life.

He added that physical, emotional and mental wellbeing all factor into a person’s quality of life and that having an eating disorder negatively affects all three.

“Whether it be social isolation or fainting due to malnutrition and too much exercise, an eating disorder changes your quality of life for the worse and impairs your ability to function,” Messina said.

Another audience member asked about different treatment options for people who have an eating disorder, and Davitt took the opportunity to shine a light on The Emily Program and their various treatment plans.

The inpatient program is a 24-hour stay at a hospital and is often for clients who have significant medical complications such as low heart-rate, electrolyte

imbalance or extreme weight loss. Residential treatment takes place at one of their facilities, which includes around-the-clock care, meals, medical monitoring and a team approach which includes dietitians, psychiatrists, individual and group therapists.

The all-day treatment program is Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and the only difference between it and residential treatment is that clients do not stay at the facility. Intensive outpatient treatment is typically three

"It's not just a matter of going to eat a meal. These are true disorders that people struggle with, and they can't control it."

– Dr. Jennifer Sanftner McGraw, professor and chair of the psychology department hours a day, three days a week and includes a therapeutic meal followed by group sessions and check-ins.

General outpatient treatment is only a once-a-week hourlong meeting to help clients develop recovery skills.

“It’s all very individualized,” Davitt said. “I think that’s another misconception — that people who have eating disorders have to seek residential treatment.

Everyone is different and not everyone needs the same level of care.”

Another audience member asked about the focus on restrictive or avoidant eating disorders like anorexia and if it’s because they’re more prevalent than other disorders

like bulimia or binge-eating disorder.

Davitt said there isn’t enough emphasis on eating disorders in general, but “low-weight status” clients sometimes get more attention because their underweight appearance can be startling and “a little bit more obvious.”

She added that this doesn’t mean other eating disorders don’t exist.

“Binge-eating is often misunderstood,” McGraw said. “Binge-eating is eating a lot of food in a very outof-control way. One of the common myths is that people with binge-eating disorder just eat too much or emotionally eat, but this isn’t true.”

From the discussion about treatment options arose an audience question about how to appropriately approach someone you’re concerned about.

Messina said the best way to approach someone is to show that you come from a place of caring. He encouraged audience members to tell the person you’re concerned about simply that you’re worried and ask them how they are feeling and what they may need.

“Coming from a place of caring is probably the most important part,” Messina said, “because no matter what, you’re just concerned for that person and want to see them get better.”

McGraw added that using “I” statements is important because you’re telling the person you’re concerned about what you’ve been observing and feeling rather than being unintentionally accusatory.

“People are going to be more defensive if you say things like ‘You’ve been doing this or that’ instead of ‘I’ve noticed this’ or ‘I’m feeling this’,” McGraw said.

The panel — specifically Messina and Dianne Broad, the Student Health Center’s nurse practitioner (CRNP) — also discussed what the counseling and health centers would do to help a student struggling with an eating disorder.

Broad said the staff at the Health Center is focused on the medical aspect.

They would ask general questions, including why they came to the Health Center and what they think the issue is. The registered nurse, CRNP or physician

would check the student’s blood pressure, compare their current weight to their previously documented weight, listen to and check their heart rate and possibly take blood tests and perform an electrocardiogram (EKG) test.

Messina said that the first step at the Counseling Center is to assess the level of care a student might need. If a student is struggling with a specific eating disorder and needs proper care and treatment, the Counseling Center staff then helps the student find the right services and help they need. They would also, depending on timing, set up bridge sessions with them to help them manage their eating disorder and their symptoms until they can seek the level of treatment they need, whether it be residential or intensive outpatient care.

“Before someone can get into an eating disorder recovery program, they have to be physically stable,” Broad said. “They can’t be in the midst of a heart attack or have severe kidney failure before they actually get into a program. That’s why you have to assess them for medical problems first.”

Before closing the discussion, the panel also talked about eating disorders in athletics. Messina unofficially took the lead on this topic because he works with athletes and was an athlete himself.

Messina said that visually identifying an eating disorder in an athlete can be difficult because it’s not about the stereotypical drive for weight loss and thinness. Most often, athletes strive for more muscle tone and being more “cut.”

“When you have an eating disorder or body image issues, it distorts how you see yourself. No matter how thin, in shape or muscular you are, you’ll never reach the ideal you’ve formed in your head,” Messina said.

“There’s a lot more pressure, I think, on athletes to meet that specific body image that we don’t normally see in the rest of the population.”

McGraw added that it can be difficult to know when an athlete is focusing on being the best in their respective sport and when their focus shifts to disordered eating behaviors and thought patterns. Athletes also exercise a lot more often

than the average person; they sometimes work out as many hours in two or three days as some people do in an entire week.

“What is excessive exercise for an athlete?” McGraw said. “It’s not always just the number of hours that a person exercises. You need to factor in the underlying reasons. Are they pushing themselves beyond their coach’s recommendations?

Are they working out through injury when they shouldn’t? Are they tying their self-worth into their exercise regimen?”

Messina said one of the biggest sports with disordered eating behaviors in athletes, the sport he participated in, is wrestling. There is a large focus on weight in the sport because of the weight requirements. He said he worked a lot with high school and college wrestlers because their focus on their weight and body image became very disordered.

“I stepped on the scale every single day. I weighed every bit of food before I ate it. I ran constantly, beyond practice,” Messina said. “Reaching the weight requirement became a kind of obsession.”

Davitt said she works with a lot of high school swimmers and often finds that they come in with very low heart rates. She said, in these cases, doctors don’t often look further into the causes of their lowered heart rates and often dismiss it because they’re athletes. She added that another symptom she sees is the lack of a period in female athletes.

“I think they have this kind of mentality that excuses the loss of a period because they’re a runner or they work out a lot,” Davitt said. “In reality, it’s a sign that your body is in distress, and that needs to be checked out.”

McGraw added that coaches need to be much more educated about eating disorders for the well-being of the teams they supervise.

“In my experiences, many coaches are not well-versed in eating disorders and not looking for symptoms.

Coaches sometimes even encourage dangerous behaviors and push them toward an eating disorder,” McGraw said. “You can’t always assume that a coach is necessarily doing things that will help their athletes.”

THE 2010S AT A GLANCE

The Rocket staff celebrated 85 years of serving as a student-run news organization at Slippery Rock University. Here are some of the biggest events The Rocket covered this past decade:

2010 Merger Study

2011 Renaming of Stadium

2012 Presidential Shift

2013 Local Sheetz Relocates

2014 Rock Goes to Michigan

In the local elections, residents of Slippery Rock Borough and Township voted against the creation of an organization that would investigate the merger of the two municipalities.

SRU President Bob Smith announces the renaming of the football stadium to MihalikThompson Stadium in honor of head football coach George Mihalik. He retired in 2015.

Cheryl Norton, SRU’s first female president, takes over after Bob Smith retires. The Smith Student Center was named in his honor.

On Nov. 21, 2013, the Slippery Rock Sheetz moved from South Main Street to the intersection of New Castle and Main Streets.

In 2020, Dunkin' Donuts will reside where the old Sheetz once was.

Slippery Rock quarterback Jared Buck threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, but SRU lost to Mercyhurst, 45-23, at the Big House, a historic game for Rock football at the University of Michigan.

2015 Historic Rocket Issue

2016 PASSHE-Wide Strike

2017 SRU Mourns Alumnus

2018 Behre Becomes President

2019 Sign Vandalisms

The 2014-15 staff of The Rocket releases its first Sex and Love issue with stories about dating apps, student hook-ups and sexual health.

After the previous APSCUF Police officer and Rock football After two rounds of a contract expired in June 2015, alumnus Brian Shaw was presidential search, William PASSHE faculty and professors killed during a traffic stop in Behre was named the 17th worked without a contract for a New Kensington. In November president of SRU. He was year before going on strike. The 2019, a jury convicted inauguration on Nov. 9, 2018. strike lasted from Oct. 19-21 Rahmael Holt of first-degree and resulted in a three-year murder and decided on the contract that expired in 2018. death penalty.

In February, a Black History Month events flyer was founded defaced with racist language, prompting a university-wide town hall. In November, signs from GIESO were found damaged from possible vandalism.

GRAPHIC BY HANNAH SHUMSKY

NEWS

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POLICE BLOTTER November 22 – Police received a call from community assistant (CA) in Alumni Commuter Parking Lot that stated there were several female students heard yelling for help. Officer was advised that the noise was coming from across Main Street. University police and Slippery Rock Police Department (SRUPD) were told that people were being loud at Ginger Hill, but no one was yelling for help.

November 22 – Police received a call from an individual stating that they struck a parked vehicle while driving through the Founders Middle Resident Parking Lot. Person left their information on the windshield of parked vehicle. Person just wanted police to be aware of the situation. Police obtained vehicle information and contacted the owner. No further police action was taken.

November 23 – Police received a call from CA in Watson Hall that there was a highly intoxicated person in the lobby of the building. Responding officer contacted individual and the person was of legal drinking age. Individual was transported to the Heights complex. Case was referred to Student Standards.

November 23 – Police received a call from CA in ROCK apartments stating there was an alcohol violation. Officer on scene found alcohol in room.

Case was referred to Student Standards.

November 24 – Police responded for an odor of marijuana coming from a dorm room in Building B reported by CA. Officer contacted residents, and alcohol and drug paraphernalia was found. Alyssa Harker, 18, was cited with a drug violation.

November 24 – Police received a report of an individual that was in violation of a no contact order in Swope Music Building. Police located person and charges are pending. Case is still under investigation.

November 24 – Police received a call from CA stating that there was an odor of marijuana coming from a dorm room in Building A. No one answered the door, and no odor of marijuana was found.

November 26 – University police observed two individuals sitting in a parked vehicle in Wally Rose Open Parking Lot that appeared to be smoking marijuana. Officer made contact with individuals, and the marijuana and drug paraphernalia was found. Jada Casilio, 18, was cited with a drug violation.

November 26 – Police received a call from an individual in the Physical Therapy Building stating that he noticed people climbing along the window ledges trying to make their way to the top. Caller stated that he told them to stop and get down.

They complied and left the area. Police conducted extra patrol around the building.

November 28 – Police received a call from CA in Building F that there was an odor of marijuana

coming from a dorm room. Officer on location said odor was present, but officer did not find any drugs. Case was sent to Student Standards. CA also stated that an individual with a no trespass order was in room prior to officer’s arrival. Case is still under investigation.

November 29 – Police received a call of a white pig loose and roaming through campus. Equestrian personnel attempted to rope pig. Pig slipped off rope and ran into Pine Glen Apartment complex.

November 30 – Police received a call from the Equestrian Center of an individual that was hunting on university property. Officer checked area and person was gone upon arrival.

December 1 – Police removed an individual from the side line of Mihalik-Thompson Stadium that did not have a pass. Person was disorderly and at one point refused to leave the side lines. Charges are pending.

December 2 – Police observed a vehicle parked on the sidewalk in front of Old Main circle. Vehicle’s front and rear tires were flat, and no one was inside. Pry’s Towing was notified and towed the vehicle. Owner arrived and stated that his oil filter came off on South Main Street and that is when he hit the curb. Vehicle was towed, and no damage was observed to university property. No further police action was taken.

December 2 – Police responded to an intruder alarm in Smith Student Center. Officer was unable to locate where alarm was originating from. Officer walked around the building, and no audible alarm was sounding. Officer spoke to custodial staff. They stated that they did not hear any alarms. Message was left with Health and Safety. No further police action was taken.

December 3 – Individual walked into police station stating that their vehicle was stuck in the mud and possibly brushed up against another vehicle. Police assisted driver.

December 3 – While person was at police station in regards to their vehicle being stuck in the mud, their vehicle was struck by an unknown vehicle.

Officer reviewed security video system and was unable to locate vehicle parked on South Main Street. Contact was made, and person was issued a citation.

December 3 – Health Center nurse called dispatch and requested an ambulance be dispatched for an individual that needed medical attention.

Ambulance was dispatched, and person was transported to Grove City Medical Center.

December 3 – Police was dispatched for a theft report of a Graduate Resident Director (GRD) reserved parking sign that may have occurred sometime between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1. Case is still under investigation.

December 3 – Police received a call from CA in Building F of an odor of marijuana coming from a dorm room. Officer on scene said no odor was detected. While officers were clearing the location, CA called dispatch stating that they contacted the resident, and the marijuana odor was coming from room. Officer spoke with resident who gave officers permission to check their room. Nothing was found. No further police action was taken.

December 4 – Police responded for a vehicle accident by Lower Stadium C involving a motor vehicle and a university John Deere Gator. Vehicle was backing out of a parking space and did not see the Gator in the lane of travel. No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were drivable.

December 2 – Police responded for a vehicle accident in Union Commuter Parking Lot. Person backing out of parking spot did not see vehicle coming. No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were drivable, and both parties exchanged information. No further police action was taken.

December 4 – Borough PD requested backup for a possible domestic in progress. Officers arrived and separated both parties. Upon investigation, individuals were just arguing about a TV show they were watching. Neighbor thought individuals were fighting. No further police action was taken.

December 2 – Police received a call from an individual in the Leadership and Development Center stating that they had received a text from a person that was ill. The person was laying down on the floor of the building. Officer on scene was unable to locate the person. Dispatch received a call stating that the person’s boyfriend arrived prior to officer’s arrival and took person home.

December 5 – Borough PD radioed police dispatch for a vehicle that was stuck in a ditch

by Branchton Road. Pry’s Towing was called to retrieve vehicle from ditch. Operator of vehicle stated that when he turned onto Harmony Road, they slid on the snow-covered roadway. Pry’s Towing removed vehicle from ditch, and no damage was reported.

December 2 – Police received a call reporting that they had heard a gun shot behind their building by Intramural Fields. University and borough police checked areas around campus. No one was in the area.

December 5 – Police dispatch notified Township Maintenance of hazardous road conditions, and salt was needed to put on roadways.

December 2 – Pennsylvania state police (PSP) requested backup for a traffic stop. University secured driver and passenger while trooper searched vehicle. No other police action was taken.

9 No security deposits!

9 4 different locations - South Rock Apts. on Keister Road or South Rock Drive, Stone Crest Apts., & Main Street Apts.

9 2, 3 or 4 bedroom floor-plans 9 Over 180 apartments to choose from 9 Cable, internet, water, & trash included 9 Stove, microwave, dishwasher, disposal, fridge, washer & dyer included at South Rock & Stone Crest locations 9 NEW! On-site laundry facilities at Main St. location – NO COINS NEEDED! 9 Sofa, love seat, coffee & end tables, TV stand, twin or full size beds, dresser, desk, & night stand included 9 NEW! Bedroom furniture at South Rock!

9 24-hour emergency maintenance 9 Professional on-site management 9 Close proximity to SRU campus 9 Direct-wired smoke detectors 9 Fire extinguishers in each unit 9 Access to Clubhouse 9 Handicap apartments available 9 On-site parking 9 Close to SGA bus stop

COMPILED BY NINA CIPRIANI

December 6, 2019

NEWS

A-5

Provost search winds down

Candidate emphasizes importance of student mental health, diversity

By Nina Cipriani Assistant News Editor

To read the rest of the stories in the provost search series, visit www.theonlinerocket.com

Five candidates for the position of provost and vice president of academic affairs at Slippery Rock University will visit campus in November.

As part of their visits, each candidate will deliver a public presentation and answer questions during an open session.

The fourth candidate, Dr. Nathan Klingbeil from Wright State University, or “Candidate D,” visited campus on Thursday in the Smith Student Center, room 321. Klingbeil presented to students, faculty and community members his ideas about a sustainable model for value and relevance in American public higher education.

Before beginning his presentation, Klingbeil began by discussing his background.

He obtained his PhD in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Melon University, and he previously served as the dean of the college of engineering and computer science at Wright State University for 21 years.

Klingbeil began by commending SRU for what they do already and explains that it is the current students and staff that are capable of utilizing this sustainability model to better American public higher education.

“This is the land of opportunity,” Klingbeil said.

“The world’s best students: some of them attend Slippery Rock University right now.”

He said that he does a lot of work in higher education around student success and has seen different business models across the country, specifically in engineering and STEM disciplines, but none of which are like the ones at Slippery Rock.

“I have not seen a place in the entire United States that I believe is a better candidate to demonstrate a sustainable model for value and relevance in American public higher education,” Klingbeil said.

Klingbeil then moved his focus to a novel to provide an example of the value of what he was discussing.

College Fo r T h e Commonwealth: A Case for Higher Education in American Democracy by Michael T. Benson, the president of Eastern Kentucky University, and Hal R. Boyd discusses the increasing public concern over the cost of a college degree and the increasing societal need for access and affordability.

“This is an existential challenge in America right now,” Klingbeil said. “In an effort to address that, we have

"This generation of students are the most mentally strained of any of the previous generations."

– Dr. Nathan Klingbeil, candidate for provost and V.P. of academic affairs presidents of universities writing books to make an argument for the value of education.”

After speaking about his own experiences with his students at Wright State University, he expressed the importance of students’ abilities outside of their academics.

“What distinguishes the students that get hired from the ones that don’t is all the rest of it,” Klingbeil said. “It’s their ability to think critically, to work in teams, to articulate their ideas.”

He then shifts topics to the relevance of higher education, but specifically internationalization and studying abroad. He said that we are producing educated citizenry, and it is a global world with a global economy and global problems; the longer we are all here, the smaller the planet is getting.

“It is our responsibility to get the viewpoints and the diversity of thought and opinion that comes from all the cultures of the world,” Klingbeil said.

“The extent that we can internationalize the campus through diverse exchange programs that brings students from all types of backgrounds and experiences to interact in the classrooms here at Slippery Rock, everybody benefits from that.”

Klingbeil then mentions how SRU must have a commitment to diversity and inclusion. He said that a regional comprehensive institution should seek to have a graduating class of students that represents the demographics of the communities they serve.

“We cannot solve the challenges of the world without diverse thought,” Klingbeil said.

Klingbeil then explains what he thinks should be the main focus of the provost and how this benefits the university.

“I believe the role of the provost is to take all of this, which falls at least in some way under the academic mission of the institution, and then to work with the rest of the university leadership and the state system to demonstrate how [these goals] both impacts and sustains the business model that drives the institution,” Klingbeil said.

One of Klingbeil’s main points was that in order to sustain the business model and these goals, the university and the provost must spend an unwavering focus on student success and create a transparent and collaborative shared governance.

“I believe this institution has the things required in place, most notably a culture where student success is the very first priority,” Klingbeil said.

He also mentioned the Troops to Teachers program

toward the end of the presentation.

“It is a great opportunity to go after revenue streams that you may have not had otherwise, with students that are automatically hard working and committed, and quite frankly have their tuition already paid by our own federal tax dollars,” Klingbeil said. “It is brilliant.”

During the question and answers session, a question was asked about the mental health issues of students and how to handle those situations.

“This generation of students are the most mentally strained of any of the previous generations,” Klingbeil said.

“The constant access of information and social media

and the phone in the face all the time, the kinds of things that can distract somebody mentally and emotionally, are a lot worse than what you and I dealt with when we were in college.”

Klingbeil said at Wright State University there is an office of disability services, and students are able to register with disability services if ongoing mental health issues are present.

He also said that when he was at lunch with the SRU president, William J. Behre, they had discussed this issue of the continuing stigma around mental health.

“There is still a lot of stigma in society about mental health,” Klingbeil said. “I do recognize that that is a big issue, and there

probably is a big percentage of the 33 percent of [students] that don’t earn a degree related to their experiences from a mental health standpoint.”

Klingbeil also expresses the importance of the fine arts at universities like Slippery Rock and their positive influences on higher education, as he studied violin and was the concert master of his college orchestra. He said he has a great appreciation of the arts.

Among the questions asked in the open session was about what he thought his biggest challenge or problem would be if he was selected as the provost for SRU. He said that the position would keep him busy for a long time.

HANNAH SLOPE / THE ROCKET

Dr. Nathan Klingbeil discusses student mental health with the audience. He emphasized it and diversity during his open session presentation.

Parking permit system updates Police will utilize license plate recognition, digital alerts

By Haley Potter Senior Rocket Contributor

Slippery Rock University will be updating their parking permit system to be more convenient for police officers.

This new parking system will be in full effect by the spring semester.

“We have been working on this new process for over a year,” Kevin Sharkey, interim chief of police for university

"It'll save a lot of time for our officers and we'll also benefit from the accuracy."

– Kevin Sharkey, interim chief of police for university police

police said. “This new parking system is license plate recognition.”

Sharkey said two of the police cars already have cameras put on them and as they drive through the parking lots, the cameras will take pictures, scan and see if the cars in the lot are valid. He said the computer system will know if the cars are registered as commuters, staff or resident parking.

“It’ll save a lot of time for our officers and we’ll also benefit from the accuracy,” Sharkey said.

He said this will be implemented by Dec. 23 and there will be training for the officers and student workers the week of Dec. 17. He said new students can register their vehicles on the website starting on Dec. 23. and students with current parking passes won’t have to do anything.

“Anyone who already has a car registered doesn’t have to do anything,” Sharkey said.

“Everything will transfer over to the new system.”

Staff parkers will have to do this now and test it before students come back in the spring.

Sharkey said one great thing about this new system is how students can register with their email and cell phones to receive alerts about parking lot

closings, and these alerts are separate from the E2 alerts.

“For example, if there is a water main break at West Lake and the lot is closed, we can send an alert to all students with commuter parking passes,” he said.

Sharkey also said they hope to have an interactive map up soon, showing which lots are full and when they are full.

He said that there will be an app for the phone to show this map. He added that this new system will save time for visitors as well.

“It will save visitors time as well because they just have to go to the website before they arrive, put in how many days they will be visiting and register for parking,” Sharkey said.

He said the biggest benefit is the convenience. He said this will save hours of officers having to write tickets. It is also environmentally friendly because there will be less usage of paper.

“This is also beneficial because the system takes pictures automatically, so there’s no disputing,” Sharkey said. “It takes real time pictures and sends it to your email.”

He added that even though there will be less disputing, the process of appeals will still remain the same online.

Sharkey said there will be a new rule against backing in. If people back into spots, unless they have

a duel license plate, the camera will not be able to read the license plate. He said an email will go out at

the beginning of the spring semester highlighting some of the new rules and regulations.

O

OPINION

Our View

The value of the blotter

OPINION

Volume 103, Issue Number 5

220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: Fax: E-mail:

(724) 738-4438 (724) 738-4896 therocketnewspapersru@gmail.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Hannah Shumsky

Editor-in-Chief

Allison Downs

News Editor

Karl Ludwig

Sports Editor GRAPHIC BY: HANNAH SLOPE

Hope Hoehler

Campus Life Editor

Lesa Bressanelli

Copy/ Web Editor

Keegan Beard

Photo Editor

Aaron Marrie

Multimedia Editor

Nina Cipriani

Assistant News Editor

Zack Bonnette

Assistant Sports Editor

Brendan Howe

Assistant Campus Life Editor

Sam Shiel

Assistant Copy/Web Editor

Hannah Slope

Assistant Photo Editor

Dr. Brittany Fleming

Faculty Adviser

ADVERTISING STAFF Nicole Tolliver Emily Heyn

Advertising Manager Assistant Advertising Manager

ABOUT US The Rocket is published by the students of Slippery Rock University five times per academic semester. Total weekly circulation is 2,000. No material appearing in The Rocket may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief.

The Rocket receives funding from the SGA Student Activity 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 emailing 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.

Our View is a staff editorial produced collaboratively by the entire Rocket Staff. Any views expressed in the editorial are the opinions of the entire staff.

To review our editorial policy, which includes our blotter policy, go to theonlinerocket.com.

In this semester alone, 79 names have been listed in the police blotter published weekly in The Rocket.

T h e Ro c k e t b e g a n publishing police blotter entries beginning in around February 1994.

Since then, we have regularly published campus crime reports as police report per the Clery Act. Since the '90s, our assistant news editor has traveled across the street to the university police station each week. Each blotter can contain charges for alcohol violations, drug possessions, disorderly conduct and thefts.

The blotter isn't limited to entries about these charges, however. Other blotters from the past included

information about burnt food setting off fire alarms, calls from concerned parents, accidental E p i Pe n exposures and students sleeping in cars in between class.

The information included in the police blotter, including the names of students who are 18 years or older, are public information. The police blotter's original purpose is to inform the public of campus activities in crimes to be better informed citizens.

Prior to this blotter, there were no standards f o r p u b l i c re p o r t i n g of campus crime.

Unfortunately, it took the tragic rape and murder of Jeanne Clery in 1986 in her Lehigh University dorm room for the Clery Act to pass in 1990.

Since the Clery Act, The Rocket has maintained its coverage of campus crime in efforts to inform the SRU community about campus crime events and, in some cases, the exact names of who is responsible for crimes.

Power lies in knowledge, and humorous blotter

entries aside, the police blotter can help inform decisions that keep students and community members safer.

Ho w e v e r, t h e r e i s always a possibility for error in the blotter.

The information for the blotter is received from university police records, and miscommunications and typos do happen. A name may unintentionally appear more than once in police records and the blotter, or there could be a general typo or misspelling.

The blotter is designed to let the SRU community be better informed to make decisions. In a more recent example, a senator of the Student Government Association was recently named in the police blotter for an alcohol violation. Now, SGA will need to revisit its bylaws to consider setting a precedent for cases in which senators receive these types of violations.

Our regular blotter coverage also holds our own university accountable. When t re n d s a re f o u n d i n

In the Quad

"The blotter is designed to let the SRU community be better informed to make decisions." the blotter, such as car accidents on a certain road off campus or consistent alarm malfunctions, university administration must use this information to make appropriate changes with student safety in mind.

It's each student, faculty and administrator's responsibility to represent Slippery Rock University in a positive light. As one of only a few student media organizations dedicated to daily media coverage of SRU, it's our responsibility to cover this news as it happens.

Question: What are your plans for winter break?

By: Aaron Marrie

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 Editor-in-Chief at the address listed here.

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.

Danielle Porath Senior Biology Portland, Michigan

Hannah Miller Sophomore Early Childhood/Special Ed. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Josh Hilzendeger Senior Healthcare Administration Peters Township, Pennsylvania

“Over winter break, I will be working and moving into my new house.”

“I'm working at a school in Pittsburgh.

I'm working at their after school program.”

"My plan is to work for the company I did my internship for... and then catch up on sleep and hang out with friends."

December 6, 2019

OPINION

B-2

GRAPHIC BY: KEEGAN BEARD AND ZACK BONNETTE

Wells run dry, Rivers don't Karl Ludwig Karl is a senior sport management major and is the sports editor of The Rocket.

As is the case with almost any list or ranking ever compiled, people are never happy. There's always someone, usually a lot of someones, who will disagree and explain why the list sucks and how it should be changed.

I am that someone.

For the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to name Valdosta State quarterback Rogan Wells as the first-team All-American quarterback over Slippery Rock quarterback Roland Rivers III it is downright wrong.

Wells just completed a good season with Valdosta State, a great season even, but it pales in comparison to Rivers' season.

I'm going to compare the regular season numbers between the two this season: 72.1 completion percentage, 3,409 yards, 40 touchdowns and six interceptions or 71.7 completion percentage, 2,315 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Two fine seasons for quarterbacks that led their respective teams to unbeaten regular seasons and No. 1 seeds in the NCAA playoffs.

But one of those stat sets is clearly better.

This is in no way disrespecting the season Wells

put together, but Rivers is clearly the best quarterback in the NCAA Division II this season.

In the regular season, Rivers led Division II football in passing efficiency (192.7), passing touchdowns (40), points responsible for (278) and ranked third in completion percentage (72.1%) and passing yards (3,409).

He was the only quarterback in Division II with 4,000 yards of total offense and one of just five players in all of college football. You may have heard of the others: Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts, LSU's Joe Burrow and Washington State's Anthony Gordon.

Wells had just two games of 300 yards passing and zero games of tossing at least four touchdowns. On the other hand, Rivers had seven of each such games.

While both were strong runners this season, Wells just edged out Rivers in yards (680-538). Wells had two games of at least 100 rushing yards and three games over 80 yards, but Rivers had two games over 100 yards and three over 60 yards. They both rushed for six touchdowns this season.

Currently, Rivers is first in passing efficiency (189.7), passing touchdowns (44), points responsible for (308), points responsible for per game (25.7), third in passing yards (3,825), passing yards per game (318.8), fourth in completion percentage (71.4) and sixth in completions per game (22.83). That's in all of Division II football.

He's in the top six in every single quarterback stat in Division II football. Where does Wells stack up?

Wells is third in completion percentage (71.7); 10th in passing efficiency (165.1); 20th in completions per game (19.36); 23rd in passing yards (19); 26th in passing yards per game (240.9); tied for

32nd in points responsible for (156); tied for 35th in points responsible for per game (14.2); and tied for 40th in passing touchdowns (19).

Stats aren't the be-all-endall of the debate. A lot of factors go into determining the best quarterback in the country. A team's success is often directly correlated to the play of its quarterback.

Wells and Rivers led their teams to nearly identical regular seasons. 12-0 for Slippery Rock and 11-0 for Valdosta State. Wells and the Blazers lost in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Rivers and The Rock advanced past Shepherd in the second round.

Team success and statistics?

The advantage goes to Rivers in both.

Valdosta State rushed for almost 2,900 yards this season compared to Slippery Rock's 1,900 yards. With more of a focus on the run game, Wells took somewhat of a backseat to the running offense. However, the Valdosta State offense took a step back compared to last season's national championship-winning team.

The rushing offense still averaged over 260 yards per game, but Wells' passing numbers dipped. It was an efficiently great season from Wells, but he took a step back.

Rivers took a massive leap forward and became the best quarterback in Division II football. The AFCA AllAmerican team should have reflected this.

With Rivers and Wells nominated as finalists for the Harlon Hill Award, the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, the choice is clear.

But like any list or ranking, someone will be mad about the result.

Hopefully that someone isn't me.

December 6, 2019

Navigating the winter blues to visit with loved ones that we don’t see nearly often enough.

Life seems great. Joy is in the air. And then suddenly, it’s January and everything feels bleak.

Kali Davies-Anderson Kali is a sophomore public health pre-PT major. She is a nontraditional student and a mom of four and is expecting her fifth. She has previously worked with the New Castle News.

Well, it’s finally December.

For most of us, this means only a few classes stand between us and the end of the Fall ‘19 semester.

For me, this also means I could be days (or hours… or minutes) from going into labor and finally having normal sized ankles again.

December has always been one of my favorite months and this year is no different.

I love the cooler weather and occasional snowfall, and who doesn’t love holiday decorations and even Christmas Carols on the radio (which I began listening to Nov. 1, shamefully...or not)?

But, one thing that I feel happen to myself every single year is the post-holiday let-down.

We are all excited for the holiday season. It’s time for cute sweaters and gatherings with friends. School is on a break and we have the chance

"Winters in PA are not fun, but they don't last forever and soon we will all be complaining about the heat and sun, like we were just a few short months ago."

Every year a few weeks after Christmas, I find myself in a slump. It feels too cold to be social, too dark to leave the house and that seasonal depression starts creeping in.

I don’t have much advice on how to prevent this, as it seems to happen to me every year with little warning, but I do have some tips on what is helpful when it does happen.

First, it is important to be aware that the “winter blues” are a real thing for lots and lots of people. I don't truly know what causes it, but possibly the fact that it gets dark at 5pm and the air feels like a thousand razor blades hacking

OPINION

B-3

away at your flesh if you walk from the grocery store to your car. Whatever the cause, it is very real and if not acknowledged can certainly lead to bigger problems down the road.

Secondly, if you feel yourself isolating, sadder than usual or not wanting to engage in normal activities that you enjoy, it might be time to talk to someone about it. I am not suggesting that you need to go full on psycheval right from the start, but confide in a friend, relative or local counselor if needed, that you aren’t feeling like yourself.

Sometimes just saying things out loud can be hugely helpful.

And finally, try and schedule things to do that you find relaxing or calming and stick to those plans. I personally am a professional “plan canceler” and have been known to make a week’s worth of extracurricular plans and not attend any of them. I don’t only do this during the winter months, but it sure seems easier to get out of the house when the sun is shining and I don’t need an Alaskan bobsled team member style coat to walk 10 feet. If you like movies, make sure you get out to watch a movie once a week.

Or get a manicure, walk around the grocery store, meet a friend for dinner on a designated night.

Do anything that will get you out when you might otherwise be a hermit.

Winters in PA are not fun, but they don’t last forever and soon we will all be complaining about the heat and sun, like we were just a few short months ago.

Good luck with the rest of the semester, see you all in January!

DAYTONA BEACH

WE ARE SPRING BREAK for more information

www.DBSPRINGBREAK.com

S

Women's basketball coach reflects At theonlinerocket.com

SPORTS

Thrive and advance

Slippery Rock downs Shepherd in the secound round of th the playoffs

The Rams then went on the road d to face f f h fourthseeded Indiana (Pa.) for g to p pp y the right playy Slippery Rock the followingg week.

The Rams were then able to p playy spoiler p to a p potential SRU/IUP rematch in the second round of the p playoff y s and upset p the Crimson Hawks by a score of 31-28. p g Shepherd was then assigned the task of going g g on the road once again g to upend p another Pennsylvania y State Athletic Conference jjuggernaut gg in a rested Slippery Sli pp y R Rockk team. g to put p their offensive Eager prowess on display, p p y The Rock received the ball first and ggot to work right g away. y Puttingg together g a 12 p play, y 84-yard y drive, the Green and White steadilyy marched downfield. With the ball on Shepherd’s p 38 yyard line, qquarterback Roland Rivers III connected with wide receiver Jermaine Wynn y Jr. on three consecutive passes, p endingg with an eight-yard g y touchdown p pass to ggive The Rock an earlyy 6-0 lead.

After jjust one drive, Wynn y had six catches for 63 yards y and a touchdown, a stat line that isn’t easyy to achieve in an entire game, let alone a single g drive.

The Rock would continue to set the tone earlyy byy forcingg a fumble on Shepherd’s p first offensive possession, courtesyy of cornerback p Tyree y Spearman. p The Rock would continue to dominate on both sides of the football throughout g the first qquarter and extended their lead out to 20-0 just j a few seconds into the second qquarter. p three scores at home, it Up looked as though g The Rock would coast to an easyy win over Shepherd, p but Lutz knew that his team still in for a battle.

“The difference earlyy in the ggame was our abilityy to make plays p y and gget takeaways y on defense, but I knew that game g wasn’t over,” Lutz said. “That Shepherd team has a lot of fight.” g After Rivers scored on a qquarterback draw earlyy in the second qquarter to record his third total touchdown, the momentum of the ggame began g to swayy heavilyy in the direction of the Rams. After marching up and down the field

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Shepherd t o o k advantage of its opportunity pp y and scored on the opening p g drive in the second half, to pull p p within seven points of the p p Region g top-seeded team in Super One. On the followingg drive, pp y Rock crowd the Slippery p g drive watched a promising f d away, y as The Rock R k failed f il d fade to convert on fourth down on p Shepherd’s 35 yyard line.

At this p point in the ggame, luck was not on the side of the Green and White, as linebacker Schuback S h a n e f o r c e d S h e p h e r d ’s runningg back Deonte Glover to fumble the ball near midfield, onlyy for the ball to bounce directlyy p of the Rams back into the lap runningg back before he could even break his stride. Glover then rushed the ball for an additional y rd to t get g t the th ball b ll down d n tto 11 yards, pp y Rock’s 31 yyard line.

Slippery Just a few p plays y later, Shepherd p overcame a holdingg p penalty to score a 38 yyard pass touchdown p and convert on the extra p point attempt to tie the g game at 23-23. gy After seemingly dominating j y for a majority g of the game, The Rock’s 20-0 second qquarter lead was now a distant y memory.

Despite p beingg outscored p 14-0 in a 15-minute span, Lutz maintained a p positive p the faith outlook and kept g the ship. p in his team to right “I was reallyy upbeat p and tried to stayy cool, calm and collected, j beingg a cheerleader out I was just there no matter what,” Lutz said. y in those playoff p y “When you’re g and you’re y playing p y g against g games g good teams, yyou’re ggoingg to have g those momentum swings.”

Drawingg on the experience p p p from the PSAC championship g against g Kutztown, the team game had confidence in themselves to p y and take back the make plays lead because theyy know theyy have p performed in adverse moments like this before, Lutz said.

Struck with adversityy once again g q Lutz and his late in the third quarter, g to remind those football team began p in attendance at Mihalik-Thompson stadium as to whyy theyy are ranked as the top p dogg in Super p Region g One. The Rock would get g the ball back and looked to the connection of Rivers and Wynn for another

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The Slippery pp y Rock Universityy football team continued their historic season with a convincingg 51-30 win over Shepherd p Universityy at Mihalik-Thompson stadium on Saturday. y The win improves p The Rock’s record to 12-0 this season and will pp in their second straight g appear pp NCAA qquarterfinals appearance. pp y Rock will host Notre Slippery Dame (Ohio) on Saturdayy at 1 p p.m. in what will be a rematch of y qquarterfinals game. g last year’s g Shepherd’s p Though (10-3) season ended Saturday, y head coach Shawn Lutz started off his p postgame g p press conference byy creditingg head coach Ernie McCook and his Shepherd p squad on a hard fought g ggame. y y duringg [the “Everybody playoff p y s] is a ggreat team and they ggave us everything y g we could handle,” Lutz said. “Hats off to Shepherd and coach McCook.”

After startingg off the season 2-2 and enduringg several injuries j throughout g the season, Shepherd p was able to win their final seven regular season ggames, before earningg the fifth seed in Super Region One.

bigg p playy when it was needed most.

Right g on cue, Rivers completed p a 25-yard y p pass to Wynn y to p put Slippery pp p y Rock on Shepherd's 43 yard line.

A false start would then set the Green and White offense offense back five yyards, but it was no difference to the dynamic y qquarterback/wide receiver duo, as Rivers found Wynn y wide open p on the right g side of the field. Wynn y showcased his speed p and outran the Rams secondaryy to score his second touchdown of the day. y A Slippery pp y Rock crowd that had other wise been qquiet for some time, was now rejuvenated j and up p on their feet. Historyy is said to repeat p iitself, it self, and once again The Rock came up p with a huge g play p y that in hindsight g changed g the outcome of the game.

W y n n would go on to break the school record for most receptions p in a single g game g with 18, a record that was p previouslyy set in 1992 byy Gregg Hopkins. p Wynn's y 18 receptions p also tied a Division II p pl ayoff record, set byy playoff Humboldt State's Ch K Chase Krivashei i hi in 2015.

In addition to his 18 receptions, p Wynn y totaled 229 receivingg yyards and two touchdowns increasing his season totals to 83 receptions p for 1,233 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Wynn y ggave his thoughts on how it felt to break the school record and what it means to him. " [ Bre a k i n g t h e record] felt awesome," Wynn W ynn said. id "L Looking kin "Looking back at high g school, being under recruited, not a lot of

TO

Asst. Sports Editor

p The Rock could on Shepherd, g for the onlyy muster a field goal rest of the second q quarter, while Shepherd put p nine p points, up pp y to cut Slippery Rock’s lead to 14 at the conclusion of the first half.

Set to receive the ball in the second half,

PHO

By Zack Bonnette

schools wanted me.

Just to be on this stage, to

p y like that, and to help my play m team, it felt ggreat."

Thanks to the longg touchdow touchdown scored byy Wynn y and the defen defense promptly p p y forcingg Shepherd p to turn the ball over on downs oon the next p possession, The Ro Rock maintained a 30-23 advanta advantage headingg into the fourth qquarter quarter.

With a p palpable p sense of energy ener in the air before the start of tthe final qquarter, Wynn y and his fello fellow teammates held up p four finge g ngers in the air, signaling g g that the gam ggame must be p played y for a full fo four qquarters and there is still work to be done.

The Rock offense ggot back to work as Wynn y recorded one of his 18 receptions p in addition to a p personal foul byy Shepherd p to total a 30 yyard gain g SRU for SRU. After rushingg the ball to the 225 yyard line, runningg back Charl Charles Snorweah p put multiple p Rams Ram defenders on roller skates as he took a p pass from Rivers to the en end zone, and jjust like that, The Ro Rock was up p 14 points p once again. g The two teams then trade traded scoringg touchdowns on eac each other, as Shepherd p took advanta advantage of a blown coverage g to score a qquick 67-yard y touchdown to p pu pull back within seven p points. On tthe next drive, Snorweah made su sure to reestablish that 14 p point le lead once again g as he dodged g defenders defende on his wayy to a 38-yard rushin rushing touchdown.

Leadingg 44-30, the Slippe pp Slippery Rock defense was lookingg to deliver a fatal blow to Shepherd's Shepherd p season with one final stop. p A coup ple l completions p and penalti p couple penalties soon n had the Rams inside th the Slipp y Rock Slippery R k 20 yyard d li line an nd and once again g The Rock's lead w was beingg threatened to be cut in ha alf. half.

Shepherd p went back to iits passingg ggame to tryy and sco p ore score once again, g but soon after the bball all left the hands of Shepherd p d's Shepherd's qquar terback Tyso y on Tyson Bagent, linebacker Ti im Tim Vernick was ab ble able to interce pt p intercept the pas ss, pass, returning it for 338 yards.

T o put the proverbial dagger in Shepherd's season,

PHOTO COURTESY OF SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

Snorweah would go on to score on yet another long touchdown run to put The Rock up 51-30 with just over five minutes left to go in the game.

In a season riddled with nagging injuries, Snorweah saved his best performance of the season for when The Rock needed it most, taking 21 carries for 162 yards and two rushing touchdowns, while also catching two passes for 33 yards and a receiving touchdown.

Taking advantage of a bye week, Snorweah felt as though he was back at full health and was ready to have a big game.

"If Rivers isn't the Harlon Hill winner then I want to know who the better player is."

– Shawn Lutz, SRU head football coach

"I told a couple p of myy teammates this week that I was feelingg ggood and I felt wayy better than I had in previous p games," g Snorweah said. "I felt like this would be the week that I would ggo out and make p plays. y I didn't have a certain amount of yyards or certain amount of touchdowns that I wanted to have, but I just j knew that when the play p y was called I would ggo out there ready to make a p playy for myy team."

The Rock would ggo on to capture p a 51-30 victoryy over Shepherd, p advancingg to the regional g finals for the second straight g yyear.

In addition to bigg days y from Wynn y and Snorweah, Rivers continued to add to his Harlon Hill campaign, p g throwingg for 416 y and 4 touchdowns, while yards addingg 40 yards y and a rushingg touchdown on the ground. g A common occurrence this season, Rivers broke two more records, setting g the SRU single-season g records for total offense (4,449 yyards) and p passingg yyards (3,825) that were previously p y owned byy Nigel g Barksdale from 2013 (4,199 total, 3,736 p passing) g When asked about his qquarterback, Lutz made sure to ggive Rivers the highest praise that he could.

"If Rivers isn't the Harlon Hill Trophy p y winner, then I want to know who the better football player p y is," Lutz said. "He proves p it each and everyy week. He finds ways y to make plays p y each week whether it's running, throwing, everything." y g Rivers will have yet y another chance to build upon p his Harlon Hill trophy p y campaign p g on Saturday, y as Th Thee Rock welcomes in Notre Dame (Ohio) who p possesses a Harlon Hill contender of their own in runningg back Jaleel McLaughlin. g McLaughlin g is currentlyy the leader across all divisions in college g football for rushingg yyards (2,198) and rushingg touchdowns (28).

Kickoff is slated for a 12 p.m. p at Mihalik-Thompson stadium.

C-2

SPORTS PSAC WEST Round two at The Rock December 6, 2019

STANDINGS

Rock football geared up for rematch with Notre Dame (Oh.)

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Slippery Rock Indiana (Pa.) California (pa.)

Mercyhurst Edinboro Seton hill clarion gannon

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Indiana (Pa.) Pitt-Johnstown mercyhurst california (Pa.) edinboro slippery Rock gannon seton hill clarion

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california (Pa.) seton hill indiana (Pa.) pitt-johnstown gannon mercyhurst edinboro slippery rock clarion

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WEST CHESTER EAST STROUDSBURG SHIPPENSBURG KUTZTOWN MANSFIELD MILLERSVILLE INDIANA (PA.) BLOOMSBURG SLIPPERY ROCK MERCYHURST SETON HILL

20-1 (10-0) 19-3 (9-1) 12-6 (8-2) 15-7 (7-3) 12-7 (6-4) 13-7 (4-6) 9-9 (4-6) 7-11 (4-6) 5-13 (2-8) 3-15 (1-9) 1-15 (0-10)

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Gannon clarion edinboro mercyhurst slippery rock

23-1 (12-1) 13-10 (6-7) 9-13 (6-7) 9-17 (4-9) 7-23 (2-16)

Slippery Rock senior quarterback Roland Rivers III and junior wide receiver Jermaine Wynn, Jr. celebrate after Rivers scored a touchdown against Indiana (Pa.) on Oct. 12. Rivers and Wynn have connected on 13 touchdowns this season.

By Karl Ludwig Sports Editor

The football fell incomplete, bouncing along the wet turf of Mueller Field. With 19 seconds left on the scoreboard, the game wasn't quite over. But the season was.

The Slippery Rock football team walked off the field, heads bowed in the rain, as the Notre Dame (Oh.) football team came out onto the field to take the victory formation. A 21-17 loss in South Euclid, Ohio ended the surprising run SRU had taken through the Division II playoffs.

Despite the loss to the No. 1 team in Super Region One, Slippery Rock felt like it was the best team on the field that day and the season-ending loss was a tough pill to swallow.

"The whole offseason they talked about the feeling they had coming off the field," Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz said. "They really thought they were the better team. Give Notre Dame credit, they were on their game that Saturday, but they've had a sour taste in their mouth."

Notre Dame defeated Kutztown early Saturday afternoon, setting up a potential Regional Final rematch with Slippery Rock. If SRU could get

by Shepherd in its own secondround match.

Record-breaking days from Slippery Rock senior quarterback Roland Rivers III and junior wide receiver Jermaine Wynn, Jr. powered SRU past Shepherd, 51-30, and set up a matchup over a year in the making.

"You can't put together a better scenario for a Division II football game," Lutz said. "You got a classic game last year with two good teams battling to the end and get a rematch like this.

It's an awesome script."

While last year's matchup revolved around a pair of star running backs in Notre Dame's Jaleel McLaughlin and Slippery Rock's Wes Hills, this year's game will center around Rivers and McLaughlin.

Both players were announced as finalists for the 2019 Harlon Hill Award, the second nomination for McLaughlin who finished third last season.

Rivers has been the best quarterback in Division II football this season, leading the nation in passing efficiency, total offense, passing touchdowns and points responsible. He ranks third in passing yards and fourth in completion percentage.

Through 12 games, Rivers has completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 3,825 yards and 44 touchdowns to just six interceptions. The dual-threat senior from Ellenwood, Georgia has also rushed for 624 yards and six more touchdowns.

This season, Rivers has broken the single-season records in passing yards and

touchdowns, completions and total offense.

Down the stretch last season, when playing in cold-weather games, Rivers had his worst statistical games of the season.

Lutz feels as though a full year in the cold, wintry conditions in Slippery Rock has prepared him for the matchup this season.

"Every cold game we had, he didn't perform his best," Lutz said. "West Chester and Notre Dame. So, we practice in [the cold weather]. We were out there last night, and we've been out there like that the past three weeks."

While Rivers was an allconference quarterback last season, he's taken a huge leap forward this season. According to Lutz, Rivers' ability to take the safe play over the explosive play has allowed him to become an all-around better quarterback.

While Rivers leads the nation in quarterback statistics, his Harlon Hill counterpart in McLaughlin is once again the best running back in Division II football.

McLaughlin leads the nation in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. The sophomore from Marshville, North Carolina has posted backto-back 2,000-yard seasons in his Notre Dame career now.

With the prominence of McLaughlin in Notre Dame's offense, Lutz commended the star running back. Lutz said their offense will run through McLaughlin.

"He had 36 carries last year against us, and we didn't do that bad of a job containing him," Lutz said. "4.8 yards per rush and maybe a long of 50 or 60 yards. You just gotta stay in your gap, get downhill and just gang tackle him. Don't think just because one guy has him that he's down."

Although Lutz said Notre Dame doesn't have the most potent passing offense his team has faced this season, he pointed to a couple of playmakers who excel in space.

"They're still capable of throwing the ball, and [Marvelle Ross] is their playmaker," Lutz said. "In the return game and everything else, he's the guy they're going to try to get the ball.

They have a [Zaire Mitchell], who's going to be the best looking tight end I think I've ever seen in the Division II level."

In an offense that has run the ball 551 times this season, Ross has caught 57 balls for 890 yards and six touchdowns. As an allpurpose threat, he's been one of the best return men in Division II football. He's returned kickoffs 511 yards at a clip of 28.4 per return and took two returns back for a touchdown.

He's joined in the receiving corps by one of the biggest tight ends in Division II football.

Continuing a trend of matching up with strong tight ends, following Kutztown's Jack Pilkerton in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game, Mitchell

"You can't put together a better scenario for a Division II football game." – Shawn Lutz, SRU head football coach

"Offensively, they're experienced as you can get," Lutz said. "Their running back is as good as it gets; all of our attention will be toward stopping him.

Even on 3rd-and-7, they don't have a problem giving him the ball. That'll be our emphasis."

In last season's matchup, McLaughin rushed for 172 yards, but it took 36 carries to get there. His 4.8 yards per carry in the game was nearly two yards lower than his season average. Lutz said the goal Saturday will be containing McLaughlin before he can get into the secondary.

will faceoff with Slippery Rock's much-improved secondary.

Mitchell, a 6-7, 250-pound junior tight end, has caught 37 balls for 474 yards and four touchdowns.

While Hills is no longer around to duel with McLaughin (154 yards and a touchdown in last season's meeting), senior running back Charles Snorweah enters the game on a hot streak.

He posted his best game in a Rock jersey against Shepherd, running for 163 yards and two touchdowns and catching along with a 29-yard touchdown reception. Snorweah's two best games this season have

come against Indiana (Pa.) and Shepherd.

With Snorweah's backfield partner, junior running back DeSean Dinkins, out for the Notre Dame game, Lutz said the offense will roll with junior running back Braden Fochtman as Snorweah's backup.

"We're gonna with Fochtman, we have a package that we can use with Cinque Sweeting and if it gets really bad, we'll have to go with Cam Merrett," Lutz said.

"If we have to, we'll go empty set and have Roland run the ball."

Whoever is carrying the ball, Lutz is confident in his team's ability to effectively run the ball against Notre Dame. With a max of three games remaining this season and each game serving as, "win or go home," Lutz said he's not holding anything back anymore.

"We've proven that we can run the football," Lutz said.

"We've proven that against some of the best teams we've faced this season which we wondered early in the season."

But if the run game stalls, Slippery Rock boasts the best passing attack in the country.

With a Harlon Hill finalist at quarterback, his primary weapons rank inside the top-12 in each major receiving category.

Fresh off a Slippery Rock and NCAA record-breaking performance against Shepherd, in which he caught 18 balls for 229 yards and two touchdowns, Wynn is close to setting another SRU record.

With 83 catches this season, Wynn has tied former Rock wide receiver Greg Hopkins for the most in a single season.

Not far behind, Wynn's partner Henry Litwin has caught 80 passes this season.

Litwin and Wynn both have the opportunity to break Hopkins' record.

With Wynn catching 83 balls for 1,233 and 13 touchdowns and Litwin catching 80 balls for 1,157 yards and 16 touchdowns, the duo has become the first pair with 1,000 yards in program history.

With two high-powered offenses taking the field, the defense will be tasked with slowing down elite, skilled playmakers.

Lutz said that Notre Dame lost a stud defensive end from last season but returns a majority of its defense. He pointed to the Notre Dame defense being solid at all levels: defensive line, linebackers and secondary.

"Defensively, they're stout," Lutz said. "[Sha'Haun Williams] is a stud, their linebackers can run and their corners can cover. It's going to be a great test for us."

SEE MATCH PAGE C-4

SPORTS PSAC champions make their mark

December 6, 2019

C-3

Rock women's soccer rides historic season back to the NCAA playoffs

By Tyler Howe Senior Rocket Contributor

Three months ago, the season had finally arrived for The Rock women’s soccer team, a team with high expectations for themselves and from others. Then six minutes into the season, The Rock was down 1-0 to Walsh University, a score that would hold up and handed The Rock their first loss of the season. The next time The Rock would drop a game at home however, was in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The Rock entered the season as the favorites in the PSAC West, but the season started for The Rock well before a whistle was blown.

The whole team (including the incoming freshmen) took a trip to Costa Rica, which Coach Jessica Griggs believes improved the chemistry of the team before they even stepped on the field together.

“I swear by [the trip to Costa Rica], I think it does so much for teams. The girls, especially bringing the freshman class, got to know each other before we got to campus and they were able to have a good chemistry all season long because there wasn’t as much stress during preseason and also they came back with a sense of gratitude that I think did a lot for this season,” Griggs said.

This was the first time Coach Griggs has done this and the result was arguably the best team in program history.

After the loss in the season opener, The Rock won seven straight games and outscored opponents 22-4 over that span. The Rock’s first PSAC loss came at Edinboro when the Fighting Scots downed the Rock 2-1 in overtime. The Fighting Scots proved to be the Rock’s toughest matchup this season and very nearly

walked away with the PSAC West crown.

The toughest matchup between Slippery Rock and Edinboro came in the final stages of the season, and the Rock had the opportunity to seal the PSAC West with a win. Edinboro took a 2-0 lead in the first half and it wasn’t until the 70th minute that The Rock scored their first goal. The goal though, came off of a penalty shot from Georgia Nagucki after an intentional handball from an Edinboro defender kept the ball out of the net.

The handball was a costly mistake that resulted in a red card for the Fighting Scots and the Rock playing a man up for the final 20 minutes of the game. Sophomore Jordyn Minda netted the equalizer just a little over a minute later. With a minute left in regulation Tyler Spence, who Coach Griggs calls “the ultimate leader," scored the game-winning goal on her senior day in front of her family came all the way from Maine to see her play.

“This group of seniors has challenged me to be a better coach, and I think it’s crazy to think about the development of that class. Two of them, Madison Johnson and Kaitlyn Barackman, were essentially walk-ons and look at the success they’ve had,” Griggs said. “Madison Johnson is getting all of these awards, Kaitlyn Barackman has broken out of her shell and been a really really consistently important player for us and then on top of that she’s a captain and a leader, then Miranda has always been a really solid kid for us, and then Spence to me is the ultimate leader and captain.”

The senior class was the first that Coach Griggs and her staff recruited, and the class was extremely solid. Johnson earned All-PSAC honors three times, including first-

team honors this season, and was also named PSAC West ear.

Defensive Athlete of the year. da Miranda Gallucci suffered grueling injury that lasted 18 ttle months, but was able to battle stayy back and became amainstay ted in the lineup as she started nior every game junior and senior man year. Spence and Barackman oth were huge for the team both on the field and off, and ns. fittingly both were captains.

Three sophomores in rdparticular had recorddge, g breaking years: Rachel Edge, dyn y Emma Yoder, and Jordyn med Minda. Edge was named am to the All-PSAC first team after scoring 15 goals and talling nine assists. She led nts the entire PSAC in points with 39 this season and AC she was also named PSAC nda West Athlete of year. Minda ular built off her spectacular freshman season with an nce, even stronger performance, she earned her second AllCA PSAC first team and D2CCA ors.

All-Atlantic Region honors. om Yoder bounced back from ned a knee injury and earned ing countless honors, including VP PSAC tournament MVP ond and All-PSAC West second team honors. The trio of n a sophomores played in uld pivotal part in what could nge be seen as the Rock’s revenge tour. ade “I think it absolutely [made AC it sweeter] winning the PSAC going through IUP, East oro.

Stroudsburg and Edinboro. urgg I think the East Stroudsburg one is more of a thorn in the ke it side for me, so I didn’t make use a big deal for the girls because aid. it’s not about me,” Griggs said.

“But the fact that IUP and Edinboro both beat us this nlyy year and those were our only PSAC losses heading into the hat tournament, and the fact that East Stroudsburg has for the eers majority of the girls’ careers n in been a little bit of a thorn ttle their side too, made it a little bit sweeter to finish it out that way.”

Slippery pp y Rock earned the right g to host the rest of the tournament after theyy beat IUP in the fi first rst round of the PSAC tournament 2-1, a ggame that was played p y in the snow and saw jjunior Sofia Harrison score a ggoal and record an assist to freshman Kayla y Swope. p The Rock and Coach Griggs gg were finallyy able to get g past p East Stroudsburg, g when Madison Johnson scored the winningg ggoal in overtime to send The The Rock to the PSAC championship, p p where theyy faced Edinboro.

The Fighting g g Scots had an amazingg season, that came to an end after The Rock sealed their first PSAC championship p p under Coach Griggs gg with a 2-1 victory. y Swope p scored the winningg goal g in the PSAC championship, p p and had an extremelyy successful freshman campaign. p g Ultimatelyy Swope p was not named PSAC West freshman of the yyear and Coach Griggs gg was not not named PSAC West Coach of the year.

“The coach of the year y stuff doesn’t matter to me, it’s not on myy r a d a r.

W e had the PSAC West athlete a n d

defensive athlete of the year. And

truly I think if anyone y ggot snubbed, It was Kayla Swope or even Brooke

Riefenstahl [for freshman of the year],” Griggs gg said. “Garyy [ Kagiavas, g head coach of Edinboro] did an incredible jjob with his program, p g I voted for him for coach of the yyear and he absolutely deserved it.”

Both Swope p and Riefenstahl earned All-PSAC honors, with

Swope p makingg the second team and Riefenstahl makingg the first. Overall, The Rock had seven players y named to the All-PSAC teams, with four on the first team ( Johnson, Riefenstahl, Edge, g and Minda) and three on the second team

(Shannon McIntyre, Swope, p and Yoder).

The Rock’s season would end at home at the hands of West Chester in a 4-2 loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Swope p also scored a goal g in the NCAA tournament g alongg with her two to go ggame-winningg goals g in the PSAC tournament. The Rock ended the season with an 18-4 record, which is the most wins in a single-season g in p program g history. y Now the focus is on improving for next season.

“We jjust want to continue to improve p on some of the things g we noticed, but the spring p g is awesome because it gets g more people p p a little more attention, especially p y our freshman class I’m reallyy excited about them. It’s reallyy hard to come in immediatelyy and make an impact, p it’s reallyy cool that Kayla y and Brooke were able to, but I’m reallyy excited about kids like Julia Mascaro and Ashleyy Rea and rest of that class, I think that they’ll y be incredible,” Griggs said.

The road back to the playoffs Wilhelm guides Rock men's soccer to best season in recent years

By Brendan Howe Asst. Campus Life Editor

“It’s just j a matter of inches and referee decisions,” Kevin Wilhelm said.

Havingg rounded out his second season as head coach of the Slippery pp Rock Universityy men’s soccer team, he feels that, if not for the imperial system

measurement a n d o f f i c i a l jjudgments, g the Green and White’s season mayy not have ended in the Pennsylvania y State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament quarterfinals in Erie.

Less than three minutes before the end the first period p of the playoff p y matchup p with Mercyhurst, y a Slippery pp y Rock breakawayy was whistled offsides. Wilhelm disputes p that the scoringg chance was at least three yyards onside.

Moments out of the intermission, the Lakers were ggiven a p penaltyy kick and another call, or lack thereof, went against g the Rock, this time tiltingg the scoreboard in the hosts’ favor.

pp out of the “We all stepped box and left two [Mercyhurst] y players who were in offsides positions,” p Wi l h e l m s a i d .

“And, even

though g the linesman flagged gg it for offsides, the referee came over and overruled him saying y g theyy didn’t interfere with the play.”

H o w e v e r, Wilhelm said, at the beginning g g of the season, he wasn’t even sure that his team would be competing in

November w with a chance to win the league g league.

“The who whole season, even ggoingg into th the playoff game, was a kind oof a step ahead of where I exp p expected it to be,” Wilhelm said said.

Attainingg an 8-9-2 final record and a berth in the postseason, W p Wilhelm’s squad ran through it its most successful campaign p g sinc since 2015.

It shut out California (Pa.), ap program g the coach considers to be th he te the team’s main state school rival in the Western Division, iin both meetings.

It took Gannon, a team still s alive in the nation national tournament in December, to ove overtime. It downed bo both Mercyhurst an and Seton Hill, te teams that were ra ranked nationally at points in the sc schedule, at ho home. Finally, it prop p p propelled itself into the playoff p y s with a critical win at Pitt Pitt-Johnstown late in the sche schedule.

Despit p Despite a faltering offense in its final two contests, tthe team put its best attack forward in four yyears. In a single game against g SShepherd early in the sch schedule, Slippery Rock nett netted seven goals.

Its 24 sshots were the eightheighth-most in a single game ssince 2005.

Wi Wilhelm’s young roste roster showed up bigg throughout.

The freshman ggrou grouping alone accou accounted for over 1/3 of o the team’s 30 total goals. Each of tthe team’s top five leading scorers were either firstor secondye year players.

KEEGAN BEARD / THE ROCKET

Slippery Rock junior forward Sean Tinney looks to cross a ball into the box against Gannon on Nov. 2.

The Rock looks to the future with scorers such as sophomore Abdallah Bangura (7 goals, 2 assists) and freshman Alejandro Fernandez (5 goals, 2 assists), not to mention sophomore Alex Vilchek, who missed the season with a knee injury.

At this time last December, Wilhelm had just shed his interim tag. He’d been named the program’s third head coach

in five years. Athletic Director Paul Lueken and the school administration chose him, desiring a sense of stability.

“They wanted something that would represent the university well, meaning showing, not necessarily wins and losses, but competitiveness and a good culture behind the scenes,” Wilhelm said.

With the results, Wilhelm has demonstrated that

the program is trending upwards.

“Now that that plan is in motion, we can kind of streamline it and make it just a little bit more particular to what we want to do,” Wilhelm said. “I think we proved that, when we play at our best soccer, when everyone is on the top of their game, we can compete with the top programs.”

SPORTS Rock football bigger than awards

C-4

December 6, 2019

The Rock earns 14 all-conference nominations

KEEGAN BEARD / THE ROCKET

Slippery Rock junior forward Sean Tinney looks to cross a ball into the box against Gannon on Nov. 2.

By Karl Ludwig Sports Editor

The bus rolled down the highway, headlights cutting through the inky darkness. It was a cold night, and the bus was hours away from reaching its destination.

It was a quiet night in the middle of rural Pennsylvania, yet it was anything but inside the bus.

Music was blaring, and people were dancing and singing in the aisles. It was a proper celebration, one befitting the 2019 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Champions. According to Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz, the music was loud and the singing was louder all the way back to Slippery Rock.

"I freaking love [this team]," Lutz said. "We've got some characters on this football team.

They're highly competitive, and they like to celebrate when they win a game. We're a family."

A come-from-behind victory over Kutztown, 37-35, in the PSAC championship game clinched Slippery Rock its first PSAC title since 2015 and secured SRU a much needed first-round bye in the NCAA playoffs.

Lutz said the extra week of rest allowed his team the chance to focus on academics in the classroom while recovering off the field. This past week has been back to game mode though, and Lutz isn't letting success interrupt what's gotten his team this far.

"We're still going after it in practice," Lutz said. "We're still going hard, and our approach has gotten us this far. We are not one of those programs that go easy in practice. Easy is not in my vocabulary or my coaching staff's vocabulary.

We're 100 miles per hour all

the time, but we've shortened our times."

It's that mentality that helped Lutz become the PSACWest Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

"Me being Coach of the Year is not about me ever," Lutz said. "It's about our team. I have great players. If you have great players, you're going to have success. And I've got an unbelievable coaching staff."

"A lot of teams have talent, but who are the teams that can really come together and be one? – Shawn Lutz, SRU head football coach Lutz's players racked up 14 All-PSAC nominations, eight on the first team and six on the second team, which was good for second best in the conference behind Indiana (Pa.)'s 15.

The headliner was senior quarterback Roland Rivers III

being honored as the PSACWest Athlete of the Year.

Rivers, one of the 36 candidates for the Harlon Hill Award, currently has thrown for 3,409 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns and 591 rushing yards and six more touchdowns.

As not only the best quarterback in the conference, Rivers started the season against Wayne State as one of the most prolific players in the nation and continued to light up opposing defenses all season long.

The senior from Ellenwood, Georgia boasts the No. 1 passing efficiency rating in the country (192.7), the most points responsible for (278) and ranks second in passing touchdowns, third in completion percentage (72%) and fourth in passing yards.

Rivers' record-breaking season, having set the single season and career passing touchdown records in a Green and White jersey, is a credit to the overall offense this season, Lutz said. He recognized how special the honor is, but he has higher hopes for his star quarterback. "[Rivers] likes [the recognition]," Lutz said. "He's a competitor. We're hoping to have him as a finalist for the Harlon Hall, the Heisman of Division II. I said, 'how do you do that? Just keep winning.' I think he's the best player in the entire country. I think he brings it every day, and it's just a credit to him."

As one of the 36 finalists for the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, Lutz is one step closer to his wish. That doesn't mean he thinks the 6-3 senior doesn't have plenty of room for improvement.

"He made some mistakes this past game against Kutztown, dropped the ball and threw the interception," Lutz said. "But he came back at the end like he

always does. He's continuing to get better."

In crunch time against Kutztown, in the biggest game of the season, Rivers led a clutch drive that Lutz knew he was capable of leading. It wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of a few of his teammates.

The offensive line racked up three nominations, two firstteam and one second-team, between the five of them.

Senior left tackle Chris Larsen was named to the firstteam and he was subsequently named as one of the eight finalists for the 2019 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award.

Larsen has started in every game this season, a stretch which has been extended to 26 straight games and 41 total games over his time with The Rock.

The senior from Erie, Pa. has anchored one of the top offensive lines in the nation, and he garnered the most votes of any offensive or defensive linemen in Super Region One. He was joined at the AllPSAC ranks by junior left guard Ryan Podgorski and sophomore Jake Tecak.

Podgorski was named to the first-team while Tecak was a second-team honoree.

"The guy I was really proud of was Ryan Podgorski, getting first-team," Lutz said. "And Jake Tecak, he's never started for us and gets second-team all-conference."

Larsen, Podgorski and Tecak allowed Slippery Rock's offense to thrive, leading Division II football in numerous offensive categories throughout the year.

The unheralded work of the line allowed running backs Charles Snorweah and DeSean Dinkins to have big days on the ground against Indiana and California (Pa.) and enabled a couple of pass catchers to earn All-PSAC honors.

Junior wide receivers Henry Litwin and Jermaine Wynn, Jr. brought home first-team and second-team all-conference honors as wide receivers, respectively. Wynn also collected second-team honors as a return specialist.

Wynn is fourth in the PSAC in catches (65), third in receiving yards (1,004) and third in touchdowns (11). The junior from Pittsburgh, Pa. broke 1,000 yards for the first time in his career and recorded four games of at least 120 yards and one touchdown.

As an all-purpose threat, Wynn is one of two players in the conference with a punt return touchdown. His 14.4 punt return yards rank second in the conference and his total yards rank third.

A clutch 59-yard punt return against Kutztown set up a 31-yard field goal from senior kicker Jake Chapla (more on him in a bit) to cut the game to just a one-possession lead.

Not to be outdone, his running mate Litwin notched first-team honors and broke a school record for good measure.

Litwin, who originally walked onto the team, broke former Slippery Rock receiver John Schademan's record of 15 receiving touchdowns with his second of the day against Kutztown.

With 74 catches for 1,068 yards, both good for second

in the PSAC, Litwin has put together one of the best seasons in Slippery Rock history--with Wynn just behind him. His PSAC leading 16 touchdown catches elevate him to the elite tier of Rock receivers.

Aside from his on-field prowess, Lutz pointed to Litwin's academic success and how hard the junior from Linesville, Pa. works.

"Proud of that [Litwin]," Lutz said. "And our thing, he's an academic all-region guy, so you look at the total person.

He's a guy who walked on our team, but he wasn't a walkon. Mercyhurst and Seton Hill offered him full rides, but he came to walk-on our football team. To have the success that he's had is what we're all about."

Despite Litwin and Wynn each earning All-PSAC honors, Lutz expressed his disappointed that Wynn did not join Litwin as a first-team honoree.

The fact that fellow junior receiver Cinque Sweeting received no recognition was a disappointment, too, Lutz said.

While Lutz was proud of the guys who earned conference honors, he said he was disappointed for all the guys who skirted under the radar and received no recognition.

"I think guys are competitors and like to be recognized," Lutz said. "I would be lying if I said, 'oh, all they care about is the game.' There are some guys who were disappointed a little bit, and there were some guys you could tell were excited.

Because they're competitors."

With redshirt senior defensive lineman Trey Blanchford missing out on conference honors, Lutz expressed his disappointment, but two of his fellow defensive linemen earned first-team honors.

Junior defensive end Chad Kuhn and sophomore defensive lineman Jeff Marx were named to the first-team.

Kuhn posted the only double-digit sack total in the conference (10.5) and racked up 14.5 tackles for loss, good for seventh in the conference.

His 43 tackles, 10 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles highlighted the growth he's shown from his sophomore to junior seasons.

Blanchford's partner on the defensive line, Marx, doesn't put up huge numbers or receive the attention other members of the defense do, but his contributions allow the other players to add to their totals. The two-time first-team honoree recorded 26 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

As the leader of the defense and one of the best linebackers Lutz said he's ever been around, Zaffram earned his second straight first-team nod.

Zaffram leads Slippery Rock with 74 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. The senior from Buffalo, NY. also recorded two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

While Slippery Rock's front seven garners a lot of buzz for their play and deservedly so, the secondary came into their own down the stretch.

Senior cornerback Eric Glover-Williams and safety Khadir Roberts earned second-team conference honors as half of one of the best secondaries in the PSAC down the stretch.

Over the final four weeks of the season, following a Roberts move from corner to safety, the secondary allowed just 152 yards per game. Compared to 238 per game over the first seven games.

Glover-Williams earned his second straight second-team nod and his honor came after matching up with the opposing team's top threat in almost every game. He recorded 23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one interception. His nine pass breakups lead Slippery Rock.

Roberts played a hybrid cornerback/safety role this season and has racked up 28 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and four pass breakups.

Lutz pointed to the m i x t u re o f ve t e r a n experience and youthful growth as a factor in the defense earning five allconference nods.

"To see Chad Kuhn's development," Lutz said.

"To see how much of a better year he had this year compared to last year. We knew Jeff Marx and Brad Zaffram since they got it last year. Eric [GloverWilliams] got it last year, but Khadir [Roberts] was kind of new."

Despite all the award and recognition, across all levels of the team and coaching staff, Lutz said individual accolades are recognized, but this team is all about the team accolades.

While most teams celebrate awards and success with banquets and ceremonies, that isn't the way Slippery Rock handles its business.

"We don't have a football banquet and the reason we don't is that everybody gives awards out," Lutz said. "We don't want that; it's always about the team here."

With a record-breaking unbeaten 11-0 season, 14 straight PSAC-West wins, a PSAC title, a PSAC Coach and Athlete of the Year and 14 All-PSAC honors, this Slippery Rock team has started the season as one of the best in school history.

The keyword being started. According to Lutz, his team is 0-0 now. Any of those fancy awards and meaningless stats can and will be thrown out the window.

The only goal for Lutz and his team is to take it one game at a time and keep winning.

With three games to get to the championship game and that one final game as the reward, 15 teams all share the same goal. Lutz is pretty sure that's found out just how to get there though.

"Families deal with adversity, and families fight," Lutz said.

"We fight, they compete and we have issues like anybody.

We're not perfect, but they have a lot of passion, they love life and they love each other. I think that's usually the formula for success."

According to Lutz, it can all be summed up in one question.

"A lot of teams have talent, but who are the teams that really come together and be all as one?"

The rematch of the season CONTINUED FROM PAGE C-2

Williams has been a force on Notre Dame's defensive line, racking up 51 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He'll be tasked with slowing down Rivers, and Lutz recommended that the NDC defense not let Rivers out of the pocket.

With Rivers as the focal point of SRU's offense, Lutz said Notre Dame will attempt to limit Rivers' impact, but he said that defenses have been trying to do that all year.

While Rivers is the obvious catalyst of the Slippery Rock offense, McLaughlin is the same for Notre Dame.

With a veteran defense led by a veteran front seven and improved secondary, Lutz said the front seven will need to contain McLaughlin. A secondary that returns star senior cornerback Eric Glover-Williams, it will be crucial to lockdown Ross and Mitchell.

With both defenses forcing five turnovers in their games last week, Lutz said the turnover margin would go a long way in determining the outcome of such a close game.

According to Lutz, Slippery Rock and Notre Dame match up like mirror images on paper, but he said that NDC

has an advantage in special teams. SRU struggled against Shepherd in the return game, a trend that's continued all season.

"Notre Dame is the special teams' group that we'll face this year," Lutz said. "We can't have that lapse like last week. We can't give up field position and have returned kickoffs.

Their special teams blocked four or five or six kicks this year. We can't have that happen, so we're gonna have some starters play special teams."

Turnovers and getting ahead in special teams will be keys to the game,

Lutz said. With his own special teams struggling throughout the season, he said that gambling on fourth down wasn't out of the question.

"You know I'm not afraid to go for it on fourth down," Lutz said. "We're No. 1 in the country on fourth downs. When you gamble and you make it, you're the best, but it is a tough decision to make.

We're gonna go down being very aggressive."

Lutz said he believes the game will come down to the end of the game. With the way Notre Dame has trailed in games this season and

fought its way back to win, Lutz said to never count NDC out.

With only one game played against Notre Dame in program history--the loss last season--Lutz said the intensity and emotion around this game rivals that of an IUP week.

"It's very focused," Lutz said." They've wanted this one. It feels a bit like an IUP week. They're treating this like it's a... I don't want to use that R-word, but they know what's at stake."

With a trip to the Final Four and a 13-0 start for the first time in school history on the line, a lot rides on

this game. Even with the heightened stakes, Lutz said his team is taking this game personally.

Unlike last season being on the road, Notre Dame comes to MihalikThompson Stadium this season.

Lutz likes to think of himself as an aggressive coach and for a second, he considered whether he'd go for a two-point conversion to win the game.

"Would I go for two to win it? Nah, with our ball team, I'd take it to overtime."

Kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m.

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Seasons of Giving Watch the video at WSRU-TV's Facebook

CAMPUS LIFE

Comets, wildflowers invade art gallery BFA exhibition displays diverse range of senior student artwork

By Brendan Howe Asst. Campus Life Editor

Pieces of artwork created by three senior fine arts majors were presented to the public at Martha Gault Art Gallery in the Maltby Building in an opening reception on Monday evening as part of the 2019 Fall BFA Art Exhibitions.

The three exhibits, which will be shown up until December 12, encompass three different styles of art,includingphotography,painting and sculpture/printmaking.

Brianna Hannon’s “Everything is Vine” is a photo collection that centers on the small, graceful details of nature’s recovery. In each photo, plants poke through their frames to the wall of the gallery.

“The way that wildflowers push their way through concrete, how trees grow through gates, and how vines creep up walls and wrap around railings is truly poetic,” Hannon wrote in her artist’s statement.

Inthestatementaccompanying her own work, Christine Murcko describes her “Serenity” as a resemblance of the sort of environment that she finds most calming. Begun in September, it is a series of colorful abstract landscapes lacking any trees and buildings. The five oil paintings give a glowing effect that Murcko accomplished by using blending and glazing. Each scene took approximately three weeks to complete.

“I want them to serve as calming visuals for people who have anxiety and stress, so [the paintings] all have a peaceful atmospheric quality to them,” said

Murcko, who admitted she deals with such issues frequently. “Just creating them to help others who feel the same way was the main point behind it.”

University President William Behre has even expressed interest in purchasing the painting with a green, hilly terrain.

Jessica Giuliano’s “Fallen” is an immersive exhibit, surrounded by walls, that aims to create an environmental experience rather than a piece that is solely looked at.

“I hope they have their own view on what it is and that they actually get to go in and see all different sides of it,” Giuliano said ofexhibitvisitors.“Insteadofgoing into a normal gallery and it’s like ‘You have to be ten feet back and not touch this.’”

It is a number of prints in a threedimensional form, combining sculpture and printmaking and incorporatingastrologywithacomet.

“Ithoughtitwouldbecooltomake ameteorcrashthatyoucanactuallygo into and experience, because usually those things are blocked off by the government,” Giuliano said of the sourceofinspiration.

Giuliano, who works at a bowling alley in nearby Butler, brought her boss to the exhibit, who then posted about it on Facebook, helping the artist to get her name out there.

“I feel accomplished,” Giuliano said. “It was unbelievably stressful and, if I would do it again, I’d definitely do it differently time management-wise.”

Giuliano, who like Murcko and Hannon graduates after the semester, added that she has more ideas for artwork and would like to be part of alumni show in the future.

KEEGAN BEARD/ THE ROCKET

"Serenity" is one of the three senior exhibitions on show at the Martha Gault Art Gallery. This exhibition includes five oil paintings that took months to create in preparation for the senior opening.

KEEGAN BEARD/THE ROCKET

A visitor at the Martha Gault Art Gallery looks at Christine Murcko's "Serenity." Her exhibition is a series of abstract environment landscapes that provide a calming feeling.

Holidaze Cabaret supports Feed My Sheep MTS replaces admission ticket prices with canned goods for entry to annual show

HANNAH SLOPE/THE ROCKET

Musical Theater Society performs during their Holidaze Cabaret in a synchornized jazz hand line to one of their holiday songs. The cabaret took place Wednesday and Thursday night at 8 p.m. in the basement of Maltby in Sheehy Theater.

By Hope Hoehler Campus Life Editor

The Musical Theater Society (MTS) danced into the spirit of giving with their Holiday Cabaret, donating all proceeds to Feed My Sheep, a local food pantry in Slippery Rock.

General admission for students was five dollars and seven for adults but if a student or adult wanted to donate to Feed My Sheep in place of purchasing a ticket, they could donate two to three canned goods to equal one ticket.

In place of money for a ticket, those wishing to attend the cabaret in Sheehy Theater could bring in a couple canned food items for admission to the cabaret.

Along with weekly rehearsals, members of MTS moved into Sheehy a few weeks ago, and started tech week this past Sunday after a month and a half of preparation since auditions in late October.

Grace Shockey, a junior secondary education English major and theater minor, expressed love for the theater in the basement of Maltby, stating that Sheehy is one of

MTS' favorite spaces to use as an organization.

With the holiday season in full swing, Shockey hopes that the Holidaze Cabaret provides an uplifting spirit for those involved and in the audience.

"I know the holiday season, especially finals week gets really rough," Shockey said.

"I want people to have that moment where they take this time to relax."

Shockey, the documentarian on the E-board has been involved with MTS since her first semester on campus, serving on the directing staff for the Holidaze Cabaret.

Shockey said that although a majority of the songs will be Christmas, a few entail a Nightmare Before Christmas vibe and even a Thanksgiving theme.

With Christmas classics such as "White Christmas" and "Baby It's Cold Outside" Shockey said that the audience will be familiar with the set and even encouraged to participate.

To Shockey, the holiday season is about appreciating what she has in her life and hopes that the cabaret provides a warm fuzzy feeling to others.

Shockey hopes to share the feeling similar to going home

to see family members and having warm cooked meals.

"We end the show with "Happy Christmas War is Over" by Jon Lennon and the ensemble is signing along," Shockey said. "We want that good feeling. For me, that's very important."

Along with sharing the holiday spirit, Shockey said that her favorite part of MTS are the people she gets to share her experience with.

Shockey, a second education English major rehearses and performs with biology majors, new BFA majors, graduate students and a collective of others.

"There's a reason people come back," Shockey said. "We really get to experience that love for theatre together that we might not get to if we went to another school."

Shockey said that once she entered college, there was no guarantee that she would be able to continue pursuing her passion for theater, but was thankful to find an organization like MTS. To stay up to date on auditions and shows for MTS, follow them on Instagram and Twitter @ mts_at_sru.

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CAMPUS LIFE

December 6, 2019

Seasons of Giving and Holiday Spirit Seasons of Giving provided students and faculty with the opportunity to sing to classic holiday songs, "ice skate," test their craft skills and drink hot chocolate. This annual holiday event offered those in attendence the opportunity to relax before finals week with traditional holiday activies and even the opportunity to take a picture in a snowglobe while donating toys for a great cause.

KEEGAN BEARD/THE ROCKET

Transgender vigil aims to spread awareness Pride Center remembers lives of those lost due to transphobia and hatred

HANNAH SLOPE/THE ROCKET

Lyosha Gorshkov, the Assistant Director at the Women's and Pride Center speaks at the opening of the Transgender Day of Rememberance Vigil. This Vigil took place to honor those who had lost their lives due to transphobia and hatred.

By Tyler Howe Senior Rocket Contributor

On Wednesday night, Slippery Rock University’s Pride Center hosted a vigil in memory of transgenders who had their lives cut short due to hatred and transphobia. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the first Transgender Day of Remembrance. The event was put on by the Assistant Director of the Women’s Center and Pride Center, Lyosha Gorshkov, and Erin O’Connor.

“Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, every year it is on this day to pay recognition and remembrance to the trans

lives’ that have been lost so far, due to transphobia and hatred,” O’Connor said.

“There are currently 22 trans individuals that have been killed–predominantly trans women of color–so we as the pride center wanted to hold this again to bring awareness to the situation and also remember the lives that have been lost.”

Although it was a cold night, there were still many who came out to the vigil.

Before the vigil, everyone was given a copy of the poem that was read and some were given a paper with the names of the victims from this past year and were asked to read off one name. Candles were

also handed out to everyone who wanted one.

The Gorshkov started the vigil by informing those who came out what the vigil was all about and why it is important.

Gorshkov said to those in attendance, “by being here tonight, we are sending a clear, powerful message.

We are showing that we are stronger than hate and we are stronger together.”

The poem read was called “A Litany of Remembrance”

by Rabbi Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer. After every instance presented, the phrase “we remember them” was stated. After the poem was read, there was a moment of silence taken.

“It kind of starts the conversation, it lets people know that this is a day because this is an issue,” O’Connor said. “We a lot of times think that LGBT is becoming a lot more common and we have a pride month and such, that there is greater acceptance than there actually is. There is still a lot of issues within our society of accepting trans individuals. Holding a vigil such as this really brings awareness and starts a conversation around this.”

The goal from the vigil is to spread awareness of the issue going on: the treatment of transgender people and the violence that takes place against the

transgender community; and not to only address it in the United States, but throughout the entire world.

“By remembering the 22 symbolents that have perished in the face of pure evil, we are building a monument, which is taller than any empire state, because this is the tower of love, compassion and empathy,” said Gorshkov.

Along with the vigil, for a few weeks there was a display up in the Smith Student Center honoring transgenders who have suffered from the hate.

The display featured the names and faces of the victims and also how they

were killed. The hope was to have students see it and understand that this is an issue happening now and everywhere.

“To me, the significance of [Transgender day of Remembrance] is that we still have to have it, which sounds bad, but people recognize that this was an issue that so many translives 20 years ago were being lost and wanted to make this day,” O’Connor said. “It hasn’t stopped, for 22 people to have lost their lives, just in 2019 in America. Recognizing that it’s 2019 and we still have to have this day, we have to continue pushing the conversation.”

December 6, 2019

CAMPUS LIFE

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Awareness of HIV/AIDS through poetry Red Ribbon Monologues spread education and support for World Aids Day

By Hope Hoehler Campus Life Editor

Globally, an estimated 37 million people have been diagnosed with HIV/ AIDS since the end of 2018.

To honor those affected

by HIV/AIDS, the Office for Inclusive Exclusive (OIE) co-sponsored with the President's Commission on Race, Equity and Diversity the annual Red Ribbon Monologues.

The event was a night of remembrance and awareness to those impacted by HIV/AIDS, accrediting its own day of remembrance, World Aids Day on Dec. 1, a day honored by all countries in the United Nations.

Approximately 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. Corinne Gibson ,the Director for the Office of Inclusive Excellence sees World Aids Day as an opportunity to show solidarity with those living with HIV. "Each year, people are diagnosed with HIV," Gibson said. "[The people] don't know the facts about how to protect themselves and others. The stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with this condition."

Gibson reminded those tht a way to encourage the

government to still fund money for HIV awareness and education is to keep the conversation active.

To fight the stigma, poems by those experiencing or had experienced life with HIV were read by students and faculty to spread awareness and education through their story.

Gibson began the night by sharing the poem "HIV/ AIDS", setting the mood of remembrance for the night with the line: "We honor our brothers and sisters/Who didn't survive that fight./We salute and support the sur vivors/Whose life turned out alright."

Following Gibson's reading was "What Head Did You Use" read by Khalil Harper and other poetry about living with HIV/AIDS through the eyes of a child.

Although poetry was not the only literature being shared at the monologues.

Monique Alexander, a professor of education and elementary early childhood, read an excerpt from a research article about the ethics of the growing HIV/ AIDs epidemic.

The night was divided by a short intermission where students and faculty enjoyed refreshments and a performance from Rock Royalty.

The poems following the break focused on when the author found out they

had HIV, ranging from a false positive diagnosis to receiving the disease through sexual violence from her husband.

Following the monologues, students, faculty and staff engaged in an interactive "Did You Know?" quiz game about education and misconceptions of HIV/ AIDS. Much like Gibson and those in attendance, Lyosha Gorshkov, the assistant director of the Women's and Pride C e n t e r, a g r e e s t h a t more awareness should be spread about HIV/ AIDS. "I hope that people are aware that some people die because of bad politics, good politics, but we can change" Gorshkov said. "We can be help and support for those people who are struggling. We can push the government to produce more and more awareness."

More than 35 million people have died from HIV/AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

To help show support for those who have lost their lives, are struggling or have struggled with HIV/AIDS, a red ribbon is worn to symbolize awareness and solidarity of those with HIV/AIDS.

HANNAH SLOPE/THE ROCKET

Corinne Gibson begins the Red Ribbon Monologues with statistics about HIV/AIDS and how the campus community can become an advocate for awareness and solidarity of those with HIV/AIDS.

GRAPHIC BY HOPE HOEHLER

Winter graduation is a few short days away.

Students are frantically applying to jobs, running to get their caps and gowns, letting out a few tears as they say their final goodbyes to their favorite professors and worrying about what comes next. The past four years have been a whirlwind, and we are finally approaching the end of the chapter for the class of 2019.

T h e re i s n o r i g h t road to take after you graduate from college. It is overwhelming to think of all the approaching opportunities. Some students are graduating with upcoming internships, travel opportunities, graduate schools or full-time job opportunities. Do not feel discouraged if you do not have a set plan after graduation.

The employment rate is higher than it has

been with 86% of young adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher o b t a i n i n g a j o b. A n opportunity will come when the time is right.

It is most important to know your first job will not be your last or your favorite job. Use your first job to build rapport with those in your target career field and work up from there.

Instead of using the few days left before graduation to stress out about the future, spend time saying a meaningful goodbye to Slippery Rock Un i v e r s i t y a n d y o u r time here.

Have that last meal from Boozel, wait in line for the printers in the library one last time, t a k e c h e e s y p i c t u re s around campus with your friends and meet with your professors for some last-minute advice about entering the real world.

It is easy to get lost in the process of graduation, filling out all your forms, ordering your cap and gown and making sure all your c re d i t s a re c o m p l e t e .

It is also easy to lose track of the most important thing during this celebration: your evolution as a student and a person.

Take a few moments to look back and reflect on the progress you have m a d e ov e r t h e y e a r s .

All those long nights of chugging espresso shots and fighting off t h e s l e e p d e p r i va t i o n have finally paid off.

You are soon going to walk across the stage, receive your diploma, and from there it is your decision where you go.

As Nora Ephron said, “ Yo u r e d u c a t i o n i s a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.”

GRAPHIC BY KEEGAN BEARD

By Mallory Angelucci Senior Rocket Contributor

The holiday season is one that is full of joy and cheer. What better way to resonate with these festive feelings than through music? The holidays can be stressful as traveling and shopping overcome our schedules, but it is always important to stop and listen to the music.

As you drive, fly or round the bend to visit home, one song that can be heard is as comforting and familiar as your own front door. “Sleigh Ride” describes the feelings and atmosphere surrounding us during these times.

With an upbeat rhythm and glittering instrumentation, this song is bound to accompany your travels.

These things come as easily as the snow does on a perfect winter day,

and as peacefully as snow falling to the ground. This song is sure to “sleigh” your travels, lengthy or brief, as it blares through the speakers.

As you bake cookies with your family, decorate the house with bright lights and colors or work during the holidays, it is important to keep a positive attitude. With a song like “Jingle Bell Rock,” it is easy to find yourself tapping your foot or humming along as you partake in your holiday excursions. Try not to resist the urge to dance and let the beat take over as the bright sounds supplement your traditions. As you embark on new or returning holiday activities, remember to “mix and mingle” the old and the new to create something great.

Reflecting on the good times that have come as the holidays near their

temporary end and the time spent with family, friends and loved ones is drawing to a close enhances the season.

This reflection can be done to soundtrack o f “ I t ’s t h e M o s t Wonderful Time of the Year.” The grand melody and pronounced joy that flows throughout the tune allow for the thoughts and memories of this season as well as seasons passed to return to mind and live for a while longer.

No matter the traditions or holidays or people these are spent with, the holiday season is a wonderful time to reflect upon the passing year as another one fills its shoes. Allow yourself to recognize the joyful, the happy and the merry memories and to welcome new ones in the new year as it approaches, using music as an aid. Happy Holidays!

THE ROCKET

December 6, 2019

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BECOME AN

ORIENTATION

Ambassador

DON’T JUST EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE

A DIFFERENCE e Mak

• Are you passionate about SRU? • Are you interested in amazing opportunities that will broaden your horizons?

• Are you looking to be a contributing member of a unique team?

• Are you hoping to inspire others?

• Are you eager to welcome a new generation of students to SRU? • Are you willing to take a leap of faith and discover your true potential?

Experience the Difference

January Info Session Tuesday, Jan. 28, 12:30 p.m.

Smith Student Center, Room 322

Applications on Handshake

ďī ­Œ­ðă­ÅăÐ ­Ĵ ĴìÐ ZŨÆÐ ďå ZīðÐĊĴ­ĴðďĊ

Applications available Jan. 20 Due: Friday, Feb. 7, 4 p.m.

For more information contact: Robert Lagnese at robert.lagnese@sru.edu

www.SRU.edu A member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education

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