2017 Orientation Special Edition

NEWS

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ORIENTATION 2017

INSIDE NEWS

SRU President's dog sledding past

Bailey Library helps students write and learn

SRU President Norton and her husband recount their time training a dog sledding team.

The Writing Center and other services help students with their writing and lets them practice with programs.

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NEWS

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SRSGA president speaks at PA Senate Appropriations hearing

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SGA President Logan Steigerwalt speaks at the Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Hearing on Feb. 23.

Steigerwalt fights for increased funding for the PASSHE schools in Harrisburg

By Logan Campbell Assistant News Editor

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The Slippery Rock Student Government Association President Logan Steigerwalt appeared before the Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations hearing on Feb. 23 in Harrisburg and discussed the need for more money to be spent on state schools.

Steigerwalt went before the Pennyslvania Senate to serve as a student advocate for all state schools and show why more money should be spent on these schools.

Steigerwalt said the goal was to serve as a student voice and give input on why state school funding is important. Steigerwalt said the amount of money that is given to state schools now would put a large deficit on the state system budget.

"Right now they're giving us around $415,000,000," Steigerwalt said. "That's about a $61,000,000 deficit on what the state system office is proposing. Being the PASSHE school president as well as a potential Board of Governor, is why I was chosen to go before them."

The chance to go before the Pa. Senate and represent all PASSHE schools was a tremendous honor, Steigerwalt said. Steigerwalt said the senators and representatives treated him as an adult, and not as just some student of a PASSHE school.

"When I was first asked, they put it in a way as, 'would you like to represent 105,000 students,' and that's hard to turn down," Steigerwalt said. "They took my opinions into high account and asked me personalized questions. Every time I spoke, they were all very receptive. It was an awesome experience to do this."

Steigerwalt said there were several things that state schools can offer for these students compared to larger schools. At Penn State or Pitt, students have lecture halls with 300-400 student at a single time, while state schools allow students to connect with professors on a more personal

level in smaller classrooms. Steigerwalt said the experience that students are able to get in smaller classroom settings with their professors is a great advantage.

"I talked about the experiences I've had and how they've helped me apply to grad schools," Steigerwalt said. "I wouldn't be where I am right now without these experiences, even if I went to a more accredited school."

Steigerwalt mentioned how pleased he was with the feedback from both the senate and house, as well as the student body on campus. Steigerwalt said that once the questions directed towards Frank Brogan, chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, were done, the senators began the talk on funding for state schools.

"A couple of senators mentioned that these schools really do need the funding," Steigerwalt said. "With the help and support of the commonwealth, that more students would be able to access these schools. In turn this will add more bachelor degrees in Pennsylvania, higher income and the ability to give back. Student feedback was great too, people were very appreciative of this. I brought up some of the concerns and questions that students wanted mentioned as well."

Steigerwalt mentioned how incredible the experience was, but also how intimidating it was at first. Steigerwalt said this wasn't like the SGA meetings he's used to, but was a tremendous opportunity to represent all of the state schools. Steigerwalt said that the intimidation factor was tough at first, but once the meeting moved along, his groove was found.

"Going there it was very intimidating.

They sit up higher, and you have a specified amount of time you can talk," Steigerwalt said. "It's something I'll definitely look back on and be glad that I did. It's something I'll be able to talk about at interviews, job offerings and at grad school. It's an experience you don't normally get, and it goes back to state schools giving me these opportunities."

NEWS

ORIENTATION 2017

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Services inside Bailey Library help students with writing and research

By Haley Potter Rocket Contributor

Bailey Library is not only home to a wide variety of books from all genres, authors and time periods, but it also houses services like the Writing Center, Tutorial Center, Technology Center, Research Center and the circulation desk that helps students.

The Writing Center is operated by the English Department and assists students in enhancing their writing skills. This facility is for students of all disciplines, not just English or communications.

Another service is the Tutorial Center which consists of workers willing to help students either struggling in a class or who just want some extra help. Specialized tutors are assigned to students signing up for help in particular subject matters.

The Technology Learning Center (TLC) is another service found in Bailey Library. “This is a peer-to-peer learning environment to help students with technology," Jennifer Bartek, manager of library operations, said. The TLC offers Macs, Adobe Software and more for students to get their hands on to gain experience in technology and be able to excel on their presentations and projects. “The idea behind this is, if students have questions about technology that a librarian cannot answer, graphic design and computer science students are utilized to help," Bartek said.

The Research Center is also located in the library and serves as a spot for students to find information on almost any topic with professionals that are willing to help, with multiple librarians on staff with expertise in different subject matters. “A lot of students do not realize that there is a librarian specifically in their major to help," business

and English librarian Rocco Cremonese said.

The circulation desk is located in the lobby of the library and it is where students can check out books, reserve items and receive library loans from other libraries to ensure that all students get the books that they need.

The Bailey Library works hard to adapt to best fit the needs of the students. “We have a new print station that has so much power to it," Bartek said. "You can print in not only black and white, but also in color. Students can also tell the printer if their assignments need to be threehole-punched or stapled.� “There are many students already using these services, but we would always love to see even more students coming out to benefit from the number of services that the library offers," Cremonese said.

ARC offers fitness help and new equipment to keep students healthy

By Adam Zook Rocket Contributor

The Aebersold Student Recreation Center, more commonly known on campus as the ARC, has been a fixture of campus recreation at SRU since it was first constructed in 2000. Since the start of the spring 2017 semester, an average of nearly 10,000 students per week have been using the plethora of facilities and programs the ARC has to offer.

Brian Mortimer is the associate director of campus recreation at Slippery Rock, a position he assumed just last December. Prior to holding this position, Mortimer worked as the assistant director of the fitness facility since it first opened in 1999. “We look to offer each student at Slippery Rock a specialized approach

to their desired form of recreation," Mortimer said. "We employ around 150 student workers that can assist you with reaching fitness goals you may have set out for yourself.

There’s someone there every hour, every minute, every second of the day to answer questions and help you succeed.�

Student workers work around 10 hours per week in various areas, from the welcome area and fitness center to the aquatics station and supervisory positions over intramural sports on campus.

The ARC also offers fitness programming, which Mortimer and other ARC staff members hope to see grow as more students take advantage of what it has to offer towards meeting their recreation goals. “Fitness Programming is designed to help students who might be a little

intimidated by the traditional gym environment," Mortimer said. "Some students aren’t aware of how to use gym equipment properly in order to lose weight or build muscle, and this program helps steer them in the right direction toward getting the most of what the ARC has to offer. It’s a free service that I hope to see more students take advantage of in the future.�

Other recreational activities offered include intramural and club sports, safety certification for CPR and lifeguard training and group fitness activities. Over 500 students a week engage in the group fitness program, encompassing a wide variety of 40 classes that includes aquatics, spinning and dance workout classes like hiphop abs.

The ARC is currently in the second year of a five-year replacement plan.

The goal is to update the equipment

in the fitness center and other areas of the campus to increase productivity. “We received $400,000 from the university last spring that we used to purchase new spin-bikes to replace the older models,� Mortimer said. “At the conclusion of the spring semester this year, we will now replace the up-right bicycles and ellipticals with updated versions.�

Mortimer hopes that the incoming freshman class gets to see early on everything the ARC has to offer. “I would like to see more FYRST seminar classes stop by the ARC and tour the facility," Mortimer said. "I know there is a lot on campus they have to cover, but I think it’s important that incoming students are aware of the recreational options they have at SRU.�

See more news stories at theonlinerocket.com

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NEWS President Norton and her husband reflect on their adventurous past in the world of dog sled racing A-4

ORIENTATION 2017

KENDALL SCOTT/THEROCKET

SRU President Cheryl Norton and her husband Henry with their memorabilia from their years of dog sled racing with the Central Park Mushers.

By Ryan Barlow Editor-in-Chief

SRU President Cheryl Norton considers many of the early years of her marriage to her husband Henry as a 'Disney movie in the making', although it wasn't just the excitement of being newlyweds that made those years magical. It was because of the unique group of people the couple had come across while they were living in New York City in the mid-1970s, and the collection of four-legged friends that came along with them. The group, including the Nortons, formed a dog sledding team right in the center of the Big Apple, and it all began with a puppy named Miles.

Cheryl and Henry married in August 1971 and shortly following their honeymoon, Miles, an Eskimo dog, entered their lives. At the time, Henry was working at a private boarding school in Connecticut where a Canadian student had brought Miles with him to the campus.

Apparently, the student had rescued Miles over the summer; the dog was abandoned in the student's native Canadian village.

The student rescued Miles and brought him back to the school with him, but allowed the puppy to run free, causing a bit of a nuisance. The student's dorm parent asked him to find a different place to stay, and both Cheryl and Henry stepped up, originally agreeing to keep the puppy for a few days until the student found a permanent home.

"The next thing we knew, we had the bed, we had the toys, we had the dog food

Park is home to a large dog play area known as Sheep's Meadow, where dogs can run free while their owners watched them interact with other dogs from around the area. According to the couple, the dog breeds would tend to congregate together when they would play, which led to the owners of each dog breed getting to know each other while they watched their dogs play in the field.

"Most of the people in our group were involved in the theatre community," Henry explained. "They had a lot of free time during the morning because they were working at night. One of them had actually run his dog on a dog sled team in Pennsylvania and suggested we create a sled dog team, and so we said 'sure we'll do that'."

According to Henry, the biggest difficulty in training the dogs to run together as a unit was getting them used to running forward after feeling the resistance of the leash, rather than stopping like their natural instincts would tell them.

"We concocted various schemes to get them to start pulling," Henry said. "They began pulling old tires and we looped a leash around a fence post so that when we pull on the leash it would force the dog to push forward."

Despite their ability to build their own equipment, the entire group, which at this point had dubbed themselves as the "Central Park Mushers," soon learned that some of their creations weren't quite right, especially their gangline.

"Our gangline had enough room between dogs to put another pair of dogs,"

Long Island, which turned out to be chaos.

When it came to the travel arrangements, the responsibility fell on the Nortons' shoulders because they were the only ones in the group who owned a vehicle. The trouble was it was a Datsun 510 station wagon, and it wasn't very big. The couple had to strap their sled to the roof of the car and jam four adults and six dogs inside of it.

"The first problem was that our dogs had never run more than a quarter mile, and now they're going to have to run three or four miles," Cheryl said. "We didn't really know what we were doing, plus all the rigging, then we got to the race and all of these people had professional equipment.

They had trucks with dog boxes on the back and they never let their dogs loose and their dogs were always tied up to the truck."

According to the Henry, at dog races the mushers, a term for the dog sled trainers, would have pickup trucks with dog boxes on the back of them which compartmentalized all the dogs in one area, typically fitting about eight dogs at a time. Mushers would have these because when they got to the race, they would take each dog out of the dog box and put a short chain on them and attach that chain to the frame of the car, preventing the dogs from getting loose and running around.

The Central Park Mushers, on the other hand, had none of this equipment and were oblivious to the custom.

"We just opened the car doors and the dogs flew out," Cheryl said. "People were screaming 'Loose dogs! Loose dogs!', and

KENDALL SCOTT/THEROCKET

Photos and snowshoes from the Norton's prolific dog sledding career. Photos include memorabilia and handmade harness made by Henry Norton.

bowl, we had the water bowl, we had the puppy," Dr. Norton said. "You don't just keep a puppy for a few days."

In 1974, the couple, along with Miles, moved to NYC as Henry got a job and Cheryl began graduate studies at Columbia.

The trouble was, Miles was a country dog, and he would only go to the bathroom if he saw green grass, meaning Henry and Cheryl would take turns walking him to Central Park from their apartment building on the west side of Manhattan. Central

Henry said. "Later we saw a real gangline and saw that ours was actually too long."

So the Central Park Mushers would train right in the city, with Miles becoming the group's lead dog.

"We were doing a lot of running at the time, and Miles would come with us, so he was in good shape," Cheryl said. "The other dogs were pet dogs," she laughed.

The couple and the other dog owners trained and trained, and eventually they entered their first dog sledding race in

we were all looking around like 'Where?'.

Soon after, we realized that we weren't supposed to do that, and everyone that was there was quite mad about it."

During that race, things got even messier.

It turned out the people who organized the race incorrectly marked the racing trail and led every single dog sled team and their runners into a lake.

"It was kind of like that scene in 'Animal House' where the marching band just marched right into the wall," Henry joked.

After the mishap, Cheryl, who was running with the dogs, and the rest of the dog sled teams just got out of the water and walked back to the starting line, putting an unofficial end to their comical first experience with dog sled racing.

After their first, the Nortons and the rest of the Central Park Musher's got more experienced in the world of dog sledding, but eventually the couple found themselves moving out of the city and across the country to Colorado, where they founded the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club, which still exists today. In Colorado, the couple also developed their own kennel and began to breed and train sled dogs right in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The first female the couple bought was a puppy named Beri, which they met for the first time as she got off of a plane from Renton, Wash. Beginning with her, the couple began breeding dogs that would be ideal for dog sledding.

According to Cheryl, the couple actually owned a total of 22 Siberian Huskies, but this was just for a short period of time because that included small puppies, which were eventually sold to other dog sled trainers. According to the couple, they'd normally own 14 to 15 adult dogs which they'd both train and breed.

In the mid-1980s, when the couple's oldest son was about eight years old and the other was five, Cheryl and Henry decided it was time to focus on their family.

And so an end was in sight for the Nortons' dog sledding days as the couple became preoccupied with raising two boys rather than pups. "[Our boys] enjoyed going to the races, but they didn't enjoy standing around," Henry said. "They actually expected us to provide entertainment for them," he continued to joke.

So, after they decided to stop training for races, the couple dispersed their kennel, but decided to keep five of their females with the intent to breed their females and restart their kennel when their boys were older and out of high school. Unfortunately, none of the dogs lived long enough for this plan to be seen through.

By the time the boys were old enough, however, the couple found a new breed of dog that they loved to train: German shepherds. To this day, the couple, Henry in particular, trains their German shepherds, and Henry participates in a German sport known as Schutzhund, which means "protection dog". The sport contains three phases to showcases a German shepherd's abilities and training, including obedience, protection and tracking. In fact, Henry and the couple's current shepherds are training and will be participating in the upcoming season which is expected to get underway at the end of March.

Over the years, both Cheryl and Henry Norton have experienced a wide range obstacles, both in their careers in education and in their dog training days, butneither would trade their dog sledding past for the world.

As for Cheryl, she's always been thankful that little puppy, Miles, entered their lives just two weeks into their marriage. Those two weeks in 1971 are the only two in which the couple weren't dog owners.

"We'll always have dogs, I think. The question is whether or not we'd get a puppy again," Cheryl said. "We'll just try and stay with older dogs. We're not puppies ourselves," she joked.

As for their future, which includes Cheryl's imminent retirement following the spring semester, the couple plans on returning to their former property in Colorado, but do not plan to return to dog sledding.

"When we originally did it in Central Park, it was a hoot and it was really fun, and Colorado as well, but you have to have the right equipment and spend a lot of time; it's kind of 'been there done that', and now we're on to other things," Cheryl said.

Despite not making a return to the world of dog racing and sledding, the couple plans to enjoy their retirement at their former home in Colorado where they'll gladly be able to reminisce on their adventures as young adults, and memories of all of their former dogs, including Miles and Beri, couldn't be more prominent.

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ORIENTATION 2017

Drink on a full stomach.

The food will absorb some of the alcohol, making it easier to control your tolerance level.

Avoid Jungle Juice. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a mixture of many types of hard alcohols.

Its impossible to know how much alcohol you are consuming.

Blue ashen skin, clammy skin, and a nausea feeling are symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Call for help.

Drink a glass of water between each drink. It will keep you hydrated.

If someone is showing signs of alcohol poisoning, DO NOT force them to chug water.

A BAC of 0.08 is the legal driving limit when consuming alcohol. Contact a designated driver to get home safely.

Never compete for your alcoholic beverages. It becomes difficult to keep track of the number of drinks you have had and is easy to surpass your limit.

We Got Your BAC! Do you?

Remember: It is illegal to consume alcoholic beverages under the age of 21 in the state of PA

Funded by a grant through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

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OPINION

Our View Student media offers valuable, real-life experience

OPINION Volume 100, Number 8

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 Ryan Barlow

Editor-in-Chief

Daniel DiFabio Megan Bush

News Editor Campus Life Editor

Cody Nespor

Sports Editor

Rebecca Dietrich Victoria Davis

Photo Editor Copy/ Web Editor

Logan Campbell

Assistant News Editor

Megan Majercak

Assist. Campus Life Editor

Jordyn Bennett

Assistant Sports Editor

GRAPHIC BY KENDALL SCOTT/ THE ROCKET

Kendall Scott

Assistant Photo Editor

Amanda Salvia Eric Davies

Assist. Copy/Web Editor Multimedia Reporter

Mark Zeltner

Faculty Adviser

ADVERTISING STAFF Catharyn Burton

Advertising Manager

ABOUT US The Rocket is published by the students of Slippery Rock University every Friday during the academic semester with the exception of holidays, exam periods and vacations. Total weekly circulation is 3,000. No material appearing in The Rocket may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief.

The Rocket receives approximately 5 percent of its 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) 7382643 or by emailing rocket.ads@sru.edu.

A major misconception of students when seeking to join student media organizations such as The Rocket or WSRU-TV is that the participants must be journalism or communication majors.

While many members of these organizations are studying in that major, many other members are actually outsiders who are on staff and contribute contentare proof that being a part of student media can benefit anyone.

One of the most beneficial things about working in student media is that it offers real-life experience and helps sharpen the student’s skills.

It gives students a taste of what it’s like to work under pressure while a hard deadline is looming, and encourages them to prioritize.

Sure, student media positions require certain skills that are taught by the communication department, but that does not mean that some of these skills can’t be acquired by students

who aren’t communication majors.

For example, an award-winning Rocket graphic designer isn’t even a part of SRU’s communication department, but is instead a recreational therapy major.

Other than communicationrelated skills, student media offers skills that are considered valuable in any workplace: collaboration, time management, leadership, interpersonal skills and problem solving skills.

Students new to college will quickly learn how valuable real experience is to their potential and future employers. Sure, grades and GPA should be a priority for every student, but that can only get anyone so far.

Getting experience, creating connections and proving your worth as a staff or team member earns that person a reputation as hard worker and all employers will seek that out first and foremost.

Both The Rocket and WSRU-TV give students the opportunity to

exploit their creative interests, and that goes far beyond writing articles and reading the news off a teleprompter.

Both organizations seek out students who love to film and edit video and allows students to use top-notch equipment and software to do so.

Some incoming students have a passion for photography, so why not take pictures of sports and other events for The Rocket?

Others love to be on camera, so why not learn to be a reporter for WSRU-TV? Student media offers students an opportunity to expand on their creativity and gain real work experience right on their very own campus.

It’s important for any student to become involved at their university, and student media might not be their calling, and that’s okay. But even if someone has the slightest bit of interest, give it a shot. You’ll never regret it.

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

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

In the Quad

This week’s question: What is your favorite place to eat at on campus?

In the Quad is a segment in which random students, faculty and staff are asked for their opinions on a specific topic.

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.

Aaron Omogrosso Senior Sport Management Major Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

Celine Halt Freshman Public Health Major Murrysville, Pennsylvania

Kayley Sider Sophomore Public Health Major Erie, Pennsylvania

“Probably Rockies or Boozle because my meal plan makes them suitable for me.”

“Umami, because Chinese food is my calling. Chinese is my favorite kind of food.”

“Probably Quaker Steak and Lube because of their burgers.”

OPINION

B-2

ORIENTATION 2017

#SRU21

Follow @SRURocket

Degrees mean much more when students actively exploit their resources

Dylan Vamosi Commentary Dylan Vamosi is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in education - social studies.

College is beneficial socially, economically, intellectually and culturally. However, many college students feel like their hard work and thousands of dollars of debt will merely amount to a useless piece of paper. This is because seeing the direct connection between that piece of paper and a career is difficult.

However, that piece of paper is only as valuable as the

opportunities and resources that accompany it.

Degrees do not speak for themselves. Students must give weight to degrees for the credentials to be applicable. Showing up to class and averaging a 2.0 GPA is not enough for that four-year investment to be worthwhile, economically (probably) or skillfully. To make degrees more attractive, students must use the skills and knowledge that they are taught in class to go beyond just their graduation duties. This sounds trite, but doing “extra” is overlooked because of how demanding basic student duties are. However, becoming involved in clubs, organizations and positions is crucial for crafting a well-rounded degree because of the opportunities gained by networking with peers and applying classroom knowledge to other facets of life. The people who you come to know by going beyond the bare minimum will be the people to receive job opportunities in the future. The

extra skills that you choose to hone outside of class will be the skills that you can execute automatically for the rest of your life.

I do extra by writing for The Rocket. As an undergraduate, I also did extra by working as a tour guide of history at the Old Stone House. I chose to do both because they allowed (and still allow) me to apply classroom skills to new contexts. I mention these experiences almost every time that I have an interview or speak to professionals in my field, and doing so allows the people with whom I am talking to better understand my background and personality. These two positions, furthermore, forced me to hone skills that I had only worked on in the classroom, but had not done extensively or publicly: public speaking, communicating to multiple audiences, articulating thoughts cogently, thinking s p o n t a n e o u s l y, teaching, preparing logistics for large-scale events, etc. I bettered myself by doing more than I needed to.

College is about the resources and skills provided over the span of four years that enable students to apply their degree more than the degree itself. There are a variety of scholarships, positions, projects, grants and awards that can be worked toward at any moment in a college student’s career -- and each resource is an opportunity to differentiate a student from his or her peers. Though not requirements, these “extras” are indicators of how dedicated a student is to his or her field -and are very important for the longevity of a degree.

If a college degree was a book, the degree should serve as a book cover -- not the entire story. It is the student’s duty to make his or her degree a glimpse of an important, complicated, and dutiful process. Maintaining the status quo and doing the bare minimum to graduate is not going to lead to a quality story -- only exploiting and pursuing surrounding resources will do that.

Incoming freshmen should get involved with their departments quickly Not only are your peers potential networking opportunities and/or competition, but they are capable of providing invaluable friendships that really make your college experience worthwhile.

It is always helpful to have friends who are able to assist you in whatever academic pursuit you might be struggling with, as well as helping you grow into a fuller, more realized person, professionally and personally.

Not to mention that professors are just as Joseph Szalinski important, if not more important, than one’s peers. Most importantly, professors are in Commentary charge of grades.

Joseph Szalinski is a senior creative Establishing a healthy student-teacher relationship not only shows the faculty that you writing and professional writing have the capacity to be a hard worker, but being major. involved in department-related events shows As students of Slippery Rock, and as college them that you are more than just a student students in general, it is up to our discretion who wants to pass a class; you’re someone as to what we choose to study and major and legitimately interested and invested in his or her minor in. Many factors influence this decision, future. And it’s because of this that professors namely prospective job opportunities and job take the extra effort on their part to help out satisfaction. But that is all to be considered in looking for internships or writing letters of and dealt with later on down the road. While recommendation for graduate school. in school, we have to derive satisfaction from As an English major, I wondered how a sense what we study, and we must take advantages of of community was fostered when writing was opportunities presented to us. such a solitary endeavor. But after spending time That’s why it’s imperative that students become in the department, and helping host student involved with their respective departments. readings bake sales, trips (like to conferences in

other states and study abroad opportunities to Italy and Canada) and working on our literary/ film magazines, I’ve come to recognize how tight-knit departments can be. And that makes everything more enjoyable and easier.

And it’s not just your native-department(s) that you should concern yourself with either.

Whether it’s by exploring departments that a second major or minor might have you “rub elbows with,” permitting you have a diverse field of study or by becoming involved in clubs or department events in your free time, opportunities abound everywhere and can help supplement your primary major.

In my case, I do theater and communication stuff on the side. By acting, writing and directing plays, and by doing camera work and writing opinion pieces, I’m subjecting myself to more of what this school has to offer.

I’m becoming a better writer by going outside of my comfort zone, outside of what’s typical.

This also pads a résumé and provides an opportunity to make many wonderful new friends, as I have had the pleasure of being able to do.

That is my most recommended piece of advice: get involved in it all, particularly in your primary department. The promises and potential are endless!

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ORIENTATION 2017

INSIDE SPORTS

S

Anchors Aweigh

SPORTS

Football Recruiting

Former SRU assistant coach Ryan Micaletti is now coaching women's basketball at the Division I Naval Academy.

Slippery Rock football brought in 21 new players in this year's recruiting class, looking to replace 10 defensive starters.

See Page C-2

See Page C-4

Pole Vault U PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Slippery Rock University pole vault athletes and coaches during the 2017 PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Rock wins both indoor titles, sends two vaulters to compete at nationals

By Cody Nespor Sports Editor

On Feb. 25, for the fourth time in the last five years, Slippery Rock University won both the men and women's indoor conference pole vault titles.

Since 2009, The Rock has had at least one Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) pole vault champion every year. That kind of sustained success is hard to come by in collegiate athletics.

For every Division-I football dynasty school, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of college teams that recruit a good athlete and are good for a few years, then struggle in four years once that athlete graduates. The constant roster turnover is one of the hardest parts of college athletics.

For a small school like Slippery and how we were going to go Rock, this problem is magnified. about that in a pedagogy style of SRU does not have the resources teaching, and we just worked with to bring in the best athletes from that going forward," SRU pole across the country. Slippery Rock vault coach Bill Jordan said. "We basically has to attribute a lot of the rely on whatever success to having l o c a l t a l e nt i s one philos ophy in the area. So and working that how is it possible philosophy." t hat The Ro ck Jordan became h a s c ompl e te ly t he p ol e v au lt d o m i n at e d t h e coach at Slippery P S AC i n p o l e Rock in 2006 after vaulting for the graduating from better part of the The Rock himself last decade? in 2005.

Scan this code to watch a video on "When w e Rock pole vault on theonlinerocket.

Since taking started to take over, Jordan has over this program, coached several we set down very strict guidelines PSAC pole vault champions of what we were going to try to and one national champion in accomplish with kids in a timeline Cameron Daugherty in 2012.

In his time as a student athlete at The Rock, Daugherty was a threetime PSAC pole vault champion and a three-time All-American.

Now a coach at SRU, Daugherty said that the program has not really changed that much since he first got here.

"The technical aspects are still relatively the same. I think the training has changed a little bit, definitely for the better," Daugherty said. "This program has been founded on vault knowledge--really, really good vault knowledge--for a long time.

We've had really great coaches; that's where I've pretty much learned ever ything from, so we're just continuing that and it's working out."

SEE HOW, PAGE C-3

Chan sisters bring family atmosphere to Rock lacrosse

By Jordyn Bennett Assistant Sports Editor

When athletes join a team, they become a part of a family. For most, they are lucky to know anyone when they first become a part of a new program, but for SRU’s Chynna and Jordan Chan, family started for them a long time ago.

“I think growing up together made our competitiveness,” Chynna said. “No one wanted to be the worse sister; we always wanted to be the better sister.”

The Chan sisters both play lacrosse for Slippery Rock. Chynna, a senior exercise science major from Howell, NJ, came to SRU in 2013.

After receiving some playing time her freshman year, she became a vital part of the team, starting in every game since the beginning of her sophomore year and entering her final season as a team captain.

Her influence and leadership traveled from SRU back to New Jersey, where her younger sister, Jordan, said her sister being at The Rock played a major part in her decision to come here.

“It definitely helped a lot,” Jordan said. “She told me a lot of things to expect.”

Jordan, a sophomore exercise science major, said it was not as hard for her to adjust immediately as it was for other freshmen because of the help from her sister.

Her sister’s guidance helped her to see time on the field the entire season, playing in all 17 games her freshman year.

On paper, the Chan sisters seem the same. They are both lacrosse players and both exercise science majors; they're the same height and they have the same last name. But as people, they are very different.

“She’s definitely the more open one out of the two of us,” Chynna said about her sister Jordan.

Jordan said that people can tell right away that she and her sister are different.

She said their differences used to cause problems at home growing up.

“There was a point in time when my mom didn’t put us on the same level of the house,” Jordan said. “We used to fight a lot.”

Jordan said they still haven’t stopped arguing. It has crossed over from them as sisters to teammates occasionally arguing in practice or a game.

SEE SISTERS, PAGE C-2

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET

Sophomore Jordan Chan posesses the ball during a game as a freshman last season. Jordan joined SRU lacrosse two years after her sister, Chynna.

SPORTS

C-2

ORIENTATION 2017

Sisters cherish last opportunity to compete together on the same team

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET

Senior Chynna Chan looks to pass the ball during a game last season. Chan enters her final season with 40 career goals and 53 career points.

Continued from Page C 1

Jordan said it is usually over them criticizing one another, but she said it makes them better players even if they don’t want to hear it at the time.

As much as the sisters said about their differences, they both agreed that being together has made them better studentathletes and people.Their influence on one another trickled down into the development

of the team, assistant coach Tommy Kelly said.

Kelly said that it has been a joy coaching the girls and they have made it easy to coach a family atmosphere when they bring an actual family to a team.

“It’s easy to preach family aspect because they’re already family,” Kelly said. “The sister thing is actually more of a compliment.”

Kelly said that their work ethic makes it easy for people to want to adjust to them, even though as people they have very different qualities.

Jordan had an early sense of how to be a hard worker and showed early signs of leadership, Kelly said.

He credits that to her sister Chynna, and said that it’s a good thing that the team can have that leadership spread out over the next couple of seasons.

“It’s good to have someone coming after her (Chynna),” Kelly said. “I think Jordan could take Chynna’s leadership to the next level.”

Jordan will have to show her leadership from the sideline this year. After suffering an ACL injury, she will not be able to be on the field with her sister in her last year. She has already had surgery.

While it is hard for her not to play, she said it’s going to be even harder when her sister isn’t there next season.

“It’s going to be very different,” Jordan said.

“I feel like I won’t have that person to go to anymore.”

Chynna may not have the opportunity to ever touch the field in a Rock uniform with her sister again, but the way she has prepared and the impact she has had on Jordan will affect the SRU women’s lacrosse team for years to come.

Former Rock assistant coach thriving at Navy

KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET

Ryenn Micaletti (sitting) cheers on the women's basketball team with the rest of the Rock bench during a game last season. Micaletti spent two years as an assistant coach with the Green and White.

By Jordyn Bennett Assistant Sports Editor

SRU's former women's assistant basketball coach Ryenn Micaletti, who helped lead the team to a 24-31 record in her two years at The Rock, is now an assistant coach for the United States Naval Academy women's basketball team.

Coach Micaletti has helped Navy women's basketball get to a 22-8 record so far this season, with their most recent win coming against Lafayette this past Monday. They won 53-37 in the quarterfinal of the Patriot League Tournament. Micaletti mentioned that the biggest difference between The Rock and Navy is the amount of resources she has.

"I have a lot more recruiting resources than I used to," said Micaletti.

"We also spend a lot more time dissecting the game."

Micaletti, a New Castle native, attended Seton Hill University where she was a four-year member of their women's basketball team while also earning a bachelor of arts degree in history. In her senior year, she served as the team's captain while starting in 29 games and helping the team to a 22-7 overall record. Her first coaching job came in 2012 as an assistant coach at Point Park University, helping their women's basketball team to the NAIA Division II tournament in 2012 and 2013. Point Park was 48-14 in her two seasons with the Pioneers. Then Micaletti spent the 2013-14 season with Rock rival Indiana University (Pa.) as an assistant coach, helping lead the team to a 18-10 record.

"My favorite part of coaching is developing long-lasting relationships with players," said Micaletti. "I love being a mentor first and foremost

and, with that, creating a positive environment where people feel free to learn, grow and compete together while striving to achieve the same goal."

In May 2014, Micaletti join the SRU women's basketball program as an assistant coach behind head coach Bobby McGraw. The 2014-15 season marked the team's first trip to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament since the 2005-06 season with a 11-16 record. After Micaletti's arrival to the coaching staff, she helped The Rock to its highest rebounds per game average since the 1999-00 season with an average of 40.3 per game.

The Green and White's turnover average went down to its lowest since the 2005-06 season in 2014-15, with an average of 17.6 per game.

The team's 72.1 percent shooting percentage from the foul line was the best since 2002-03.

"Constant trust, effective communication and unconditional love are essential to not only creating great memories, but also to win a championship," said Micaletti. "Being able to try and make those things happen day in and day out while using basketball as the platform to do it is nothing short of blessing."

The 2015-16 season brought a 13-15 overall record as The Rock just missed out on the PSAC tournament. Micaletti and the coaching staff helped the team break the single-season school record for most threepointers with 184, while getting the team's season point total to its highest since the 2000-01 season. The season also brought the team's second best seasonal free throw percentage with .770.

"Everyone I've met has helped me be the coach I am today," said Micaletti. "And I wouldn't be at Navy if it weren't for coach McGraw."

SPORTS

ORIENTATION 2017

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How SRU has dominated conference pole vaulting Continued from Page C 1

This year Daugherty, the former national champion, has the opportunity to coach two vaulters on the women's team who each have a shot to win a national championship themselves.

Junior Courtney McQuaide and freshman Madeline Marshall both hit the national qualif ying mark at the PSAC indoor championships and were invited to the National Championships in Birmingham, Ala. on March 10-11.

McQuaide was the next in a long line of SRU pole vault champions, winning the indoor title with a 3.77-meter clearance, with Marshall coming in second with the same mark. McQuaide, who sat out all last year with an injury, said it was nice to finally be able to compete again.

"It was a really great feeling, coming back from my injury last year. Taking the whole year off, I just had a really hard time during preseason getting back up to full speed and getting back up to my full vault," McQuaide said. "It was very frustrating (not competing).

I was here pretty much every day at practice watching everyone else do what I couldn't do.

I was trying to be very supportive through it all because being supportive of other people made me feel better."

McQuaide and Marshall will le ave for nationals ranked 16 and 17 out of 17 competitors, but McQuaide is not letting the low ranking affect her determination.

"I expect to do well. I don't really expect to place as an All-American, but it just really depends on how the other girls do," McQuaide said. "I expect to come home doing a lot better

than seeded 16 or 17."

Daugherty said that the only advice he could give them for nationals was to have fun and let loose.

McQuaide and Marshall were not the only Rock vaulters on the women's team who had impressive performances at the PSAC Indoor Championships. SRU took all three top spots and placed four in the top seven.

Behind McQuaide and Marshall, junior Maria Darling finished in third with a 3.67 clearance and senior Megan Martisciano finished in seventh with a 3.57 clearance.

On the men's side, SRU also won the title and placed three in the top five. Junior Jordan Pacheco took home the title with a 4.91 clearance while junior Andrew Koksal and senior Mike Horrigan finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Pacheco, like McQuaide, did not compete at all last season due to injury. "(Winning the indoor championship) was pretty amazing actually. Especially because not competing last year was annoying and the last time I won the competition was my freshman year," Pacheco said. "I think we just care about (pole vault) a lot. It's an event that we recognize as fun and that's challenging. I think a lot of schools tend to neglect pole vault because it's a hard event to coach as well to do."

Jordan said that Pacheco and McQuaide's injuries last year were bad luck, and that he is excited to see them rise to their full potential.

So as SRU's track and field teams begin their transition into the outdoor season, there is yet another strong crop of vaulters that look to carry on Slippery Rock's tradition as 'Pole Vault U.'

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Junior Courtney McQuaide makes her approach at a meet earlier this season. McQuaide won the PSAC indoor championship with a 3.77-meter clearance.

Former Rock baseball star Matt Adams re-signs with St. Louis Cardinals

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Matt Adams during his time at Slippery Rock. Adams holds three SRU career records despite playing only three seasons.

By Cody Nespor Sports Editor

Despite swirling trade rumors and questions about his role with the team, former SRU slugger Matt Adams signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals to avoid arbitration on Jan. 12. Adams is under the Cardinal's team control until 2019, when he is set to hit free agency.Adams has found success in professional baseball since his three years at The Rock.

He ros e up t hroug h t he Cardinal's minor league system after being drafted in the 23rd round of the 2009 draft, finally reaching the majors in 2012.

In parts of five major league seasons, Adams has slashed .270/.314/.455 with 55 home runs and 210 runs batted in.

"We're proud of him, he's done really well," Rock baseball head coach Jeff Messer said. "He's still only 28 years old so hopefully he's still going to have a bright future."

Adams has struggled with injuries the past few years, playing in only 60 games in 2015 and getting only 327 at-bats last season.

Messer said that Adams has lost up to 25 pounds this off-season in hopes of staying healthy.

While it is uncommon for athletes from small schools like Slippery Rock to find success at the highest level of competition, anyone who had seen Adams play at SRU would not be surprised at what he has been able to do.

In three years at SRU (200709), Adams set the school career record for batting average (.454), slugging percentage (.746) and on-base percentage (.525).

He also ranks second in school history with 57 doubles, third with 148 runs batted in and fourth with 27 home runs.

Despite the long odds for Adams to make it to the majors, Messer said he never doubted him.

"You never think that any of your guys are going to go that far because it's very, very difficult to make," Messer said. "But he could always hit, whatever level he was at, be it the college ranks, the summer leagues we sent him to that were predominately bigtime Division I players, single A, double A, triple A. He did good all the way through. He's been pretty much exactly what we thought."

SRU Athletic Director Paul Lueken t hinks t hat having someone represent Slippery Rock in such a way is a boost to the school.

"It think it's a nice outlet of exposure," Lueken said. "We don't get a lot of (national exposure) so it's a positive. With Brandon Fu s c o ( M i n n e s ot a Vi k i n g s offensive lineman, SRU graduate) and Matt (Adams), their success has been great for us. I know, with our unique name, the announcers often mention that Matt Adams is from Slippery Rock so it's kind of fun."

Messer thinks that if Adams had the opportunity to play every day he could see his next contract jump way up in value.

"If he could get 500 at bats, he's going to go from $2.88 million to more like eight, nine or 10," Messer said. "It's going to be significantly higher, but he's got to stay healthy."

SPORTS

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Rock football brings in 21 players on recruiting day

ORIENTATION 2017

Rock football promotes academic excellence through self-run study tables

By Jordyn Bennett Assistant Sports Editor

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET

Football players show their appreciation to fans at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium after a game earlier this season. The Rock will lose 10 of their 11 starters on defense going into 2017.

By Cody Nespor Sports Editor

Expanding its recruiting radius larger than ever before, the Slippery Rock football team signed 21 new recruits on national signing day on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The Rock brought in five transfer athletes and 16 high school recruits from a total of four different states.

The majority of the class was defensive players (17 of 21) as SRU will have to replace 10 of their 11 starting defensive player from this fall.

Head coach Shawn Lutz said that the goal for him and his staff was to sign the best talent available to them, without worrying about location.

"The biggest thing about this recruiting class was, we expanded ourselves," Lutz said. "Usually it's just the Pittsburgh, WPAIL area, but we expanded more out in the Harrisburg, Philly area, out east. We didn't lose to many schools, and that's what I like. " Out of the class, only seven high schoolers come from the western Pennsylvania/eastern Ohio area, with nine coming from central/eastern Pennsylvania.

Out of the five transfers brought in, Lutz said that he thinks they will all have a shot at being day-one starters.

The biggest transfer brought in (both literally and figuratively) was graduate transfer Ian Park.

Park is a big 6-foot-four, 315-pound offensive lineman transferring to The Rock from Division I Northwestern University and he looks to be a day-one starter at guard on Slippery Rock's offensive line. Originally from Upper St. Clair Park, he said he is excited to be playing closer to home with his family and friends.

Another talented transfer coming in is senior defensive end Tyler Schneider. Schneider comes from Austin Peay University in Tennessee.

Schneider played every game at defensive end at Austin Peay in 2014 and 2015 and will be an immediate starter at The Rock defensive line, opposite current Rock superstar, junior Marcus Martin. "(Schneider) brings an instant credibility," Lutz said. "He is very, very much of a guy that we like: athletic, tough and likes to get to the quarterback.

So he can come in and be an impact guy right away."

Also transferring in to play on the defensive line are Zach Madden from the University of Pennsylvania and Tim Soave from Lackawanna College. Madden will play on the interior of the defensive line as a defensive tackle, while Soave will be play both inside and out. Soave recorded 7.5 sacks last season as a sophomore.

The final transfer is defensive back Bryson Briggs from California. Briggs is from Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, Ca. and a guy Lutz said will basically have to start from day one.

"He's a guy we had to have with us losing, really, all four guys in the secondary," Lutz said. "We have a lot of work to do on defense with all those guys that we lost."

From high school, The Rock signed two receivers, one running back, two defensive lineman, seven linebackers and four defensive backs.

Lutz and his staff had one thing on their mind when looking at receivers to recruit: speed. They signed speedy receivers Kwis Monitard and Noah Woods. Monitard is from Conrad Weiser high school and Woods is from State College.

Monitard has a recorded 4.34-second 40-meter dash time and Woods was a part of the state

champion 4x100-meter relay team. Lutz said that Monitard reminds him of a younger, faster Marcus Johnson. Johnson, a junior, just had a career year for the football team this fall with 54 catches, 898 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The one running back signed is Koby Kahn from Souderton high school. Kahn is bigger than any Slippery Rock running back in recent history, checking in at six-feet tall and 220 pounds.

"We always have these 5-foot-10, 5-foot-11 guys, those elusive, quick guys who can take it to the house, and we need a little bigger guy who can get the tough yards," Lutz said. "He's a bruiser, he's a pounder, but for how big he is, he's very athletic too."

Adding more depth to an already talented defensive line, The Rock signed high school seniors Garrett De Bein and Owen Jacobs. De Bein is from Cedar Crest high school in Lebanon, Pa. and has been highlighted as an "impact player" by Lutz. Jacobs was named the defensive player of the year of his high school league. "(De Bein) is a relentless guy, he wants to be great," Lutz said. "(Jacobs) is what we like in our d-linemen. He's just a relentless playmaker, with great athleticism. He loves to play the game. He's athletic enough that you don't have to take him off the field on third down but he can stop the run, he can do it all."

After adding five linebackers in last year's class, Lutz doubled down this year, adding seven more.

The biggest name of the group is Hubbard's David Hernandez. Hernandez can be an impact player at all three linebacker positions and is expected to see some early playing time in 2017. Also able to play all three positions are Trysten McDonald from Cedar Cliff high school and Arison Sanders from Archbishop Hoban in Akron, Ohio.

The other linebackers are Jacarri Cleckley from Beaver Falls and Danny Welker and Sean Doran, both from Neshannock high school. Cleckley and Doran are "in the box" style linebackers according to Lutz, while Welker will play on the outside. "(Welker) is very athletic, so he's going to have to put some weight on, from a weight standpoint.

He'll be that athletic linebacker we're looking for," Lutz said. "Then we get an old-school throwback like Sean Doran. He's physical, he might as well be wearing a leather helmet or something like that."

The Rock also added the twin younger brothers of former Rock safety Derrick Fulmore, Maryce and Dorian Johnson. Maryce and Dorian are from West Mifflin high school. Maryce will play linebacker and Dorian will be a defensive back and kick returner.

The other defensive backs added to the roster are Dalton Holt, Khadir Roberts and De'Vijan Franklin. Holt is from Ringgold high school and will play free safety. Roberts is from Archbishop Hoban and Franklin is out of Woodbridge, Va. Roberts and Franklin will both play corner back, with Franklin being a tall (6-foot-2) man-to-man corner.

Lutz said that he did not want to take any player just to take them. He wanted to only take the best players available.

"Some schools will take guys just to take guys.

We want to get the best guys," Lutz said. "We covered a lot of ground in a large area and we got the best player at each position, which excites me."

While a recruiting class cannot be evaluated right away, Lutz went after a lot of impact players who he thinks can be big time players at The Rock a few years down the road.

NCAA Division II student-athletes are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA in order to remain eligible to play in their respected season. Slippery Rock holds mandatory study tables for its freshmen athletes and upper classmen who fail to reach the university's minimum requirements to be let out of study tables.

While some take advantage of the opportunity, others do not. Rock football offensive quality control and running backs coach Clyde Conti said that he felt like many of the team’s athletes weren’t taking advantage of the situation.

“I’m not going to be too critical, but you can just go, swipe in and put your head down,” Conti said. “We had guys that needed more than that.”

Conti brought the idea to the rest of The Rock football staff to create their own self-run study tables, but added a twist. The team uses five tutors, many of whom have past athletic experience.

Senior psychology major Nicole Jordan is one of those ex-student-athletes who was given the opportunity to help the team.

Jordan originally came to SRU as a member of the track team, but quit due to injury and poor academic performance. After overcoming her personal struggles, Jordan said she has become successful inside and outside of the classroom, now holding a 3.3 GPA with plans to graduate in May. She now uses her early experience to help guide the team.

“I’m able to talk about school, but shed light on how to schedule and break it down,” Jordan said.

That help and experience has helped SRU to see more success from its freshmen than they have seen in a long time, Conti said. Out of the 37 freshman on the roster during the 2016 season, Conti said only two had GPAs below a 2.0. Out of those 37, 20 percent made dean’s list, 40 percent had over a 3.0, and 70 percent had above a 2.5.

While the accomplishment of doing better in the classroom is a benefit in itself, Conti and the rest of the Rock coaching staff gives rewards to those who do well in the classroom.

The team is held to the same academic standards they were held to in normal study tables. Those who meet minimum 2.0 requirements will be eligible to play, but those freshmen who were able to get a 3.0 or higher in their first semester were excused from study tables.

Conti gave the highest praise to freshmen safety management majors, wide receiver Tre Douyon and linebacker Santino Birty. Duoyon had the highest GPA out of all of his class with a 4.0 on 16 credits. He and a professor of his choice will be honored at the team’s spring game in April.

Birty did not have a 4.0, but was able to get over a 3.5, make dean’s list and be excused from study tables.

However, Birty still takes advantage of the study tables despite being excused.

Birty said study tables are beneficial to everyone because it forces people to step up for the team.

“You’re required to be doing work,” Birty said. “You have to be doing something here. There is no time to procrastinate.”

Upperclassmen who do not meet the GPA standards must also go to study tables. These mandatory study tables are also an opportunity for those upperclassmen who have had procrastination issues to fix their work ethic in the classroom. Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Chris Larsen is one of those upperclassmen.

Larsen said he didn’t have the best attitude towards school when he first came in 2015.

“I thought, as a football player, I could just chill,” Larsen said.

Larsen quickly learned that that wasn’t the case.

Though he only holds a 2.2 GPA, Larsen is working on raising his grades. It’s discouraging being in there as an upperclassman, he said, but it gives him the opportunity to do better.

“Coming in here helps me work and concentrate,” Larsen said. “I’m just looking to do what I gotta do to be eligible.”

Not everyone has the same mindset as Birty, Duoyon and Larsen. Some athletes fall off task and play around during these time periods. Another tutor, junior Piers Giles, an integrated marketing and communication major, said that it’s difficult working with the team some days when they are not all the way focused, but the results give him motivation to keep working with the athletes and get them back on task.

“It’s all about keeping them in the real world after they leave the university,” Giles said. “We are getting them ready to achieve their goals. I love helping someone succeed. These guys now have the help they need, and are now on the right path.”

Conti and the rest of The Rock staff are not only promoting excellence on the field, but also in the classroom. Conti said that he hopes that a positive environment in the classroom will not only translate onto to field for his athletes, but also throughout the rest of their lives.

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CAMPUS LIFE

INSIDE CAMPUS LIFE SPARK looks to evoke positivity on campus New organization hopes to inspire SRU students to spread happiness and create a pleasant campus environment.

See Page D-2

Office for Inclusive Excellence provides safe place, security The Office for Inclusive Excellence encompasses multiple groups and organizations whose goals are to provide safety and security for all students.

See Page D-3

Music Major for a Day Music program hosts incoming freshmen to introduce them to the department

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET Sophomore music education major Nicole Nero directs the Slippery Rock Marching Pride as one of two drum majors during a football game. The Marching Pride is one of the many ensembles available within the music department, which hosts 'Music Major for a Day' every semester.

By Megan Bush Campus Life Editor

Every semester, the music department at Slippery Rock hosts a program for incoming freshmen called Music Major for a Day. High school seniors and their parents are invited to campus to spend the day in Swope Music Hall learning about what it takes to study music at SRU. Assistant professor of music and director of bands Dr. Jonathan Helmick said Music Major for a Day is designed to be an outreach opportunity for high school students considering a career and future in music. He said that music, a field rich in diverse opportunities to establish a career, is often viewed as something that is just meant for performers, and that Music Major for a Day helps introduce students to careers in music education, including elementary music, choral education, orchestral education and band directing.

“This is quite possibly one of our favorite days, for students and faculty!” Helmick said. “It is an opportunity to both showcase our talented students and vibrant music program as well as share our love for what we do.”

Helmick said everyone in attendance learned about the performing ensembles and their recent accolades, and were invited to hear ensemble concerts, as well as stay for rehearsals and sit in with the brass ensemble, concert choir and wind ensemble, to name a few. This semester, students participated in voice class where they learned about proper singing technique and how to develop their vocal skills.

They also had the opportunity to take part in an interactive brass methods class where music majors learn how to play and teach all of the various brass instruments.

“Students and parents in attendance have the opportunity to meet with our outstanding music faculty who answer questions about expectations of music majors,” Helmick said.

Another career field offered by SRU is music

therapy, which, according to Helmick, is a diverse field combining healthcare and the power of music to serve diverse populations such as Alzheimer’s patients, patients with developmental or cognitive impairments and people with limited motor functions.

“The students interested in studying music therapy took classes including Guitar II, as well as Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation, which teaches music therapy majors how to manage and use data following

"[This] is an opportunity to both showcase our talented students and vibrant music program as well as our love for what we do."

-Dr. Jonathan Helmick asst. professor of music, director of bands

interactions with music therapy clients,” Helmick said.

“The day culminated with a performance by the wind ensemble, the premiere auditioned concert ensemble on campus.”

Helmick said that over the course of this past year, the music program has been growing and developing quickly; the band program has grown by over 21 percent since the fall semester of 2015. The music department has seen many other successes aside from number growth as well. For example, in December 2016, the wind ensemble performed with the Maniacal 4 Quartet to a standing-room-only audience of over 850 people.

“In addition to connecting our students with nationally- and internationally-renowned performing

artists, we are increasing our outreach into the profession and the community,” Helmick said.

The music department has also recently created the first-ever class for winter guard. To Helmick’s knowledge, SRU’s department of music is the first in the state to offer this opportunity for course credit.

“This is part of our commitment to being a cuttingedge pioneer in the field of music education,” Helmick said.

Also recently, Helmick said the vocal department, under the direction of assistant professor of music Dr. Christopher Scott, put on a collaborative concert partnering with SRU photography students to bring Schubert’s Die Winterreise to life.

“This concert was a monumental undertaking, featuring the incredible talents of SRU students from across our campus,” Helmick said.

Helmick mentioned that the music department has also commissioned over six works for wind ensemble over the course of the past semester, including Illuminations by Mark Camphouse and a new work for trumpet soloist and concerto competition winner Wesley Woodward and wind ensemble, Centennial Horizon.Freshman music education voice major Austin Cornelius said his experience with Music Major for a Day in 2016, his senior year of high school, was enjoyable and memorable. Cornelius said he got the chance to observe classes, attend a wind ensemble concert and talk to his future colleagues.

“I enjoyed all of [Music Major for a Day],” Cornelius said. “Meeting and working with the applied professors, the wind ensemble concert and observing classes were definite high points.”

Cornelius also said Music Major for a Day was very influential in his decision to study music here, along with the environment within the music department and the caliber and reputation of the program. This year, Cornelius acted as a guide for the future freshmen, taking them between classes and to talk to professors. “[My major] has been challenging in the best ways possible,” Cornelius said. “I have learned a lot, and have improved so much.”

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ORIENTATION 2017

FLSP teaches students leadership, makes difference on campus

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET First-Year Leadership Scholar Program (FLSP) mentors promote the program to students in the middle of the quad during the Clubs and Organizations Fair in fall 2016. FLSP teaches first-year students about leadership and life after college; the program also gives opportunities to students throughout their college careers.

By Megan Majercak Asst. Campus Life Editor

First-Year Leadership Scholar Program (FLSP) is a club for all first-year and transfer students that takes place over two semesters and aims to guide students to learn leadership skills and get diversity training to prepare them for future careers.

Students involved get assigned a cohort that meets each week to learn about different topics and partake in different activities. Each cohort is led by two peer mentors who have completed the program.

“We do everything from learning about leadership theories and business professionalism, to doing personality tests and going on scavenger hunts, to going to diversity and cultural events,” FLSP student Samantha Ricketts said.

“This semester, we get to do a project to help the campus and community in small groups. My group is doing a bake sale for the new library they are building in town and other groups are doing things like promoting public health on campus,” Ricketts said.

“I am so glad I joined because I learned a lot, made friends and found out that leadership skills are going to be important in everyone's life, even mine as an actuarial science major,” Ricketts said.

Kyla Calhoun, a senior exercise science prePT major, is a first-year peer mentor and is glad she joined FLSP to broaden her horizons as a college student.

“When I came to SRU, I only knew one person on campus. I didn’t know anyone or my professors and I felt very isolated and lonely.

When I heard about FLSP, I thought that learning about leadership would be a good experience,” Calhoun said.

“Not only did I get educational experiences, but I was able to make some friends. I even met my best friend in FLSP,” Calhoun said. “I learned that not everyone's going to be like me. One of my favorite activities was the color personality tests. This showed us what kind of leaders we are and how to work with all different kinds of people.”

Alex Rizzuto is one of the two FLSP gradute students who helps to set up curriculum, syllabi, social media and marketing.

“As a freshman, I wasn’t even in FLSP. I wasn’t involved at all my freshman year. Then, my sophomore year I did a service event at the veterans hospital and got involved in care breaks,” Rizzuto said. “I ultimately got hired as a coordinator.”

“I think, when you come to college, you don’t know how much is out there. In high school, all you have to do is go to class. Then you come to college and it's a world of freedom and you

Club hopes to ‘spark’ kindness on SRU campus

By Demetrius Ricks Rocket Contributor

Spontaneous Acts of Random Kindness (SPARK) is an organization on campus that focuses on giving back to the community and creating a more positive atmosphere. Their goal is to spread happiness and brighten the environment of Slippery Rock University. It is a chapter of “The Smile Project” started by Liz Buechele in 2012.

The idea began in Spring 2016 when Buechele came to speak to the community service committee of the University Program Board (UPB); the audience included the current president and vice president of SPARK, Kaylee Killmer and Kelly Lane. Buechele informed the committee about how she started her movement with her “happiness journal” and the impact it had made on a diverse population around her. Buechele explained to them that she wants her small movement to grow. Killmer and Lane immediately stepped up and went to speak with Buechele after the meeting, hoping to expand the “happiness movement” to Slippery Rock’s campus.

Before becoming a full organization, they suffered a few bumps in the road by falling through with creating an

executive board, knowing how to become recognized as a club by SGA and where to start it all. SPARK now plans to branch off campus and spread the happiness to local nursing homes, hospitals and soup kitchens.

“We just want to give back to the community and change others’ lives,” Killmer said.

SPARK has fundraisers, events and random acts of kindness planned for the 2017-18 academic year. Fundraisers are planned to obtain the necessary money needed to complete club events successfully.

Other future events include an idea called “Pie the Executive Board” where pies will be thrown at the executive board member of your choice. SPARK plans to continue doing small things that will have a large impact, like sticky notes that promote positivity and put smiles on students’ faces.

The organization plans to get active and become something that all students and faculty are aware of, as well as grow and build the club as much as possible. The executive board consists of freshmen, sophomores and juniors so it can continue to grow over the years. SPARK hopes to impact the campus, students, and community while developing a club that will exist for years to come.

might not be sure what you're doing or what's out there,” Rizzuto said.

“I think FLSP is great because it introduces you to everything and gives you the full potential of the college experience and that college life. We hope to teach leadership and conflict resolution, new ways of thinking and we get you out of your comfort zone a little bit,” Rizzutto said.

Sophomore biology major Victoria Pasquale is another peer mentor.

“FLSP is probably the easiest club to get involved in and you build a lot of skills. As a student, I learned how to get involved and what qualities leaders possess,” Pasquale said. “I use these skills now as a peer mentor.”

“FLSP is one of the greatest things to get involved in. It is open to every first-year student.

You’re in a cohort with diverse people and it is a great way to branch out and meet new kinds of people,” Pasquale said.

Overall, FLSP gives students opportunities to grow as a student over two semesters and use newly-learned skills to make a difference on campus. It provides career advice and diversity training.

“Whether you come to SRU with 30 other students from your high school or you know no one, you should not pass up any opportunities on campus. In almost every career out there, you are going to have to show that you have leadership skills,” Calhoun said.

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ORIENTATION 2017

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Office for Inclusive Excellence offers students different ways to get involved

By Rachel Jackson Rocket Contributor

Slippery Rock’s Office for Inclusive Excellence offers students many different ways to get involved on campus.

According to Slippery Rock’s website, the Office for Inclusive Excellence (OIE) is "grounded in the Social Change Model and offers programs and opportunities designed to create productive campus citizens who can effectively work with others and bring about positive social change. The Office for Inclusive Excellence provides mentoring and coaching that offers academic and social support, builds individual and selfefficacy, and connects students to the University community."

The OIE also creates opportunities for students to explore and celebrate other cultures and identities, as well as gives a voice to students of need, while teaching them to be positive advocates for change.

RockOUT is one of the organizations under the Office for Inclusive Excellence.

RockOUT is an LGBTQIA support system that aims to make Slippery Rock a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

RockOUT holds many different events on campus such as Pride Week, the

annual Drag Show, and discussion panels so students can have a safe space to come together and talk about current events.

RockOUT also has cookouts, game nights, and family dinners for members to come and be together as a group.

The Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA), which has chapters in colleges all across the country, is another organization in the Office for Inclusive Excellence. FMLA is a feminist group committed to fighting for equality both on and off campus. Its members work to squash stigmas, including, but not limited to, the stigma that comes from the word feminism itself. FMLA provides a productive and academic dialogue about feminism by holding different events on campus, such as Take Back the Night, which raises awareness about sexual violence on college campuses. FMLA also bussed students to Washington D.C. to take part in the Women’s March this year, which allowed students to be a part of a historic moment. The FMLA meets on Mondays at 7:30pm in the Women’s Center.

The Chosen Generation Gospel Choir, formally known as the Gospelaires, is a gospel choir on campus. The Chosen Generation Gospel Choir allows for African American students to celebrate

religion in a way they are familiar with, since there are not many churches that celebrate religion in such a way in the Slippery Rock Area.

The Student Union for Multicultural Affairs (SUMA) is an organization that is committed to the unifying of cultures.

SUMA’s mission is to promote diversity one program at a time. SUMA offers the opportunity for all cultures to be celebrated on campus, no matter how small the population may be on campus.

The Black Action Society (BAS) is another organization on campus. BAS offers students a space to celebrate and to learn about African heritage. BAS holds many events on campus throughout the year, such as discussion panels, the Soul Food event, Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, the Ebony Ball, and a variety of events for student members, such as bowling trips, cookouts, and bonfires. The Black Action Society has general body meetings at 5:15 in room 322 in the Smith Student Center.

The Internations club creates a network for international students on campus, but is also open to all students. The Internations club mission is to promote knowledge, interaction and acceptance of the variety of culture and background on Slippery Rock’s campus. The Internations Club’s presence on campus enriches the

culture on campus, by opening students up to the different cultures from around the world. The Internations Club holds an International Dinner every year, as well as an International Fashion show.

The Internations club also holds round table discussions talking about different current events topics that are important to students. The Internations Club is also sponsoring a trip to D.C. in April to see the Cherry Blossom Festival.

QUEENS Org. is another organization on campus, which is here to empower, encourage and enrich the education experience for women of color on campus. QUEENS is accepting of anyone who is in agreement with their mission statement. QUEENS is a space for minority women on campus to feel uplifted, comfortable and welcome.

KINGS Org. is another organization on campus, whose main goal is the retention of African American male students on campus. KINGS also sets out to challenge the societal stereotype of the black male.

Sister-to-Sister is a student organization that provides an opportunity for all women to express themselves through positive influence.

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Green and White Society promotes spirit with new t-shirt project

REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET Junior safety management major and Vice President of Traditions Justin Mostoller hosts a game during Green and White Society's We Are SRU event in February 2017. Green and White Society recently began a t-shirt campaign to promote Green and White Fridays.

By Megan Majercak Asst. Campus Life Editor

Much of the school spirit and sense of home on Slippery Rock University's campus can be credited to an organization full of the enthusiastic, friendly and driven students that make up Green and White Society. Green and White Society is a group of students who promote school spirit and a positive environment with four campus traditions.

One of the most well-known traditions is wearing green and white on Fridays. This is a chance to show off your SRU gear and come together as a campus each week.

Another tradition is ‘rubbing the rock.’ The rock in the middle of the quad has been a symbol of good luck before a test, or just a little ritual for a good day as you walk by.

To promote friendliness, Green and White encourages the ‘hello tradition.’ This means everyone should say hello to anyone that they cross.

Their last tradition is knowing the alma mater and fight song.

All the traditions are meant to create a welcoming environment.

This semester, to promote more school spirit and emphasize their tradition of wearing green and white on Fridays, Green and White Society partnered up with the bookstore to give out t-shirts.

“We’re doing a project with the bookstore where they provide us with 15 t-shirts and we hand them out to students,” junior Courtney McCalmont, Green and White Society president, said. “Wearing green and white is usually stronger at the beginning of the year, so we are trying to bring it back in a big way and make it so there is no excuse not to wear green or white.”

Handing out the t-shirts is up to their discretion, McCalmont said. Last week, they did a t-shirt exchange. Students could hand in a t-shirt from a different college and receive an SRU t-shirt. All the old t-shirts went to Goodwill, McCalmont said. Each week, they plan on doing something different.

Besides spirit, Green and White Society just wants to make SRU feel like home for the students.

“You might graduate with a class of 90 people and come to a university with 9,000 people so it's nice to have these traditions. It’s nice to have that sense of home.”

McCalmont said Green and White Society has made a huge impact on her time at SRU and she encourages people thinking about joining to apply.

“It’s a life-changing organization. I was the shyest girl and joined the organization with people I want to be like one day. Everyone is so energetic and positive and it’s contagious.

I want to always surround myself with that.

Definitely apply and get to know what it’s all about,” McCalmont said.

To apply, students can fill out an application.

Some may be weeded out, and then applicants do a hands-on activity with students to get a sense of their personality. Lastly, some will go on to a one-on-one interview.

“Sometimes it even surprises me that I am in this organization because they are so driven and determined and they have this personality that glows,” McCalmont said. "Everyone is always smiling and laughing.”

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ORIENTATION 2017

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