2018 Orientation Special

COVER DESIGN BY LAUREN AULT PHOTO BY PARIS MALONE

NEWS

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2018 Orientation Special

INSIDE NEWS Library helps students with classwork Bailey offers resources that help students in their courses, including research assistance and tutoring.

What happens after four years?

An in-depth look at students' journey as they progress in their academic career.

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SGA President and freshman senators talk importance of getting involved

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PHOTO COURTESY OF SGA

The 2017-18 senate board of the Slippery Rock Student Government Association.

By Adam Zook Assistant News Editor

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The Slippery Rock Student Government Association serves as the main link between the student body and school administration, while allocating money and support to campus organizations and clubs. For current SGA President Rachel Lawler, a fouryear member of SRSGA, getting involved early in the organization was one of her best decisions.

"I became a senator in December of my freshman year because I wanted to pursue a leadership position," Lawler said.

"I really believe it was the right decision for me because of how SGA has helped me grow the more I involved myself."

Lawler ran for a building senator position at the end of her freshman year, but lost in her bid for the seat. She was encouraged by recently elected President Logan Steigerwalt to pursue the position of parliamentarian, a position she held during her sophomore and junior year. Lawler was elected as SGA President in the spring of 2017.

"SGA has definitely helped me gain those leadership skills that I always wanted," Lawler said.

"When I became parliamentarian

as a sophomore, it was hard to make the adjustment to that new leadership role. I had great support from my fellow e-board members who helped me get to where I am now."

Corinne Rockefeller and Emily Smolinsky are freshmen who were appointed on February 12 to serve as building senators by SGA. Rockefeller serves as the senator for Rhoads Hall and Smolinsky serves the same position for North Hall. Both young senators felt the same need Lawler had to get involved in student government early on.

Rockefeller is a environmental studies major and held numerous leadership positions in high school. Despite only serving in her position for the past few weeks, she already feels accepted by her peers and values the guidance they have provided her with.

"My first semester I felt like I had all this extra time and that I wasn't as involved as I really could be," Rockefeller said. "I thought SGA would be the best first step for branching out and learning more about how to best help out my peers. I'm still learning a lot about my position, but the senators have really made me feel included."

Smolinsky, a political science major, wanted to get involved in an organization that she could

make a difference in over her four years here. After hearing from one of her peers that SGA was the best way to make a positive impact on campus and that North Hall didn't have a current representative, she decided to pursue the position.

"Every one of the senators has been so friendly so far and has made the transition really easy," Smolinsky said. "I would recommend getting involved in SGA because it's a great way to get your feet wet and reach out to fellow students. I'm eager to represent my constituents and possibly work my way up the ladder over the next four years."

For some students entering student government, the initial wave of new terms like "parliamentary procedure" or "capital budget" can be daunting.

President Lawler stresses however that there is a place for anyone who is driven and wants to excel in areas they are interested in contributing to.

"There is a niche or avenue for anyone to contribute in SGA," Lawler said. "If you're into math, there's the finance committee.

If you're more into the public relations side of things, there's campus outreach. We're happy to have incoming freshmen who want to make a difference in their own unique way."

Alert systems helps inform students of emergencies

By Haley Potter Rocket Contributor

Slippery Rock University has an official emergency alert system in effect for students and faculty for if there were ever to be an emergency.

As freshmen orientations begin, it is important for students to be aware of this technology to ensure safety, according to university public relations correspondent, Robb King.

E2Campus is SRU’s official text notification system to alert subscribers of critical information regarding their safety and their campus’ safety no matter what time it is or where they are in the world.

“The system expands the university’s ability to send critical news and information to the University community during campus emergencies,” King said.

Aside from just text message alerts, the system is also able to push those alerts directly to the u niversity’s social media pages such as Facebook and Twitter, so that students who are not subscribed to the text messages are also able to get updates on their campus instantly. When an E2Campus alert is sent out, a mass email is also sent to the entire SRU community.

Although many updates have taken place recently, the system has been around since July of 2007. Since then, e2Campus is constantly taking feedback from its clients into consideration in order to make improvements moving forward.

“When we first started, we didn’t have the capability to automatically push messages to social media. Now that is a standard part of our communication channels,” King said.

The system is designed to send out different types of critical information including weather-related class delays or campus closures, emergency conditions or pending emergency drill alerts.

King said, “Every student should subscribe to e2Campus to ensure they receive the most accurate and timely information during any emergency. The University only uses e2Campus in the case of an emergency, so you’ll never be bothered with other messages. It is very important for students to receive these messages so that they can respond to the situation,” King said To register for this free service, students can visit www.sru.edu/alerts

NEWS

2018 Orientation Special

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SRU's Bailey Library offers a variety of resources Tutorial and Writing Centers offer tutoring and assistance to students in need

PARIS MALONE/THE ROCKET

Students make use of computers in Bailey Library for class work and group projects.

By Hannah Shumsky Rocket Contributor

SRU’s Bailey Library is home to several resources to assist students in their academic, technology and research needs.

Concerning academic interests, there are eight library faculty members that are subject specialists. These librarians direct students to resources based on their academic discipline, and they also work at the information desk for general research assistance. Students can also ask a librarian questions via online chat or email.

On the second floor, the Instructional Materials Center (IMC) provides textbooks, storybooks, games and kits that future educators may find in their classrooms. While this area is most useful to education majors, any students are able to check out these items.

The Tutorial Center and the Writing Center are both located on the first floor of the library. The Tutorial Center, managed by the

Academic Services Department, connects students to tutors for more than 90 courses.

The Writing Center, managed by the English Department, assists students in any major to help them become better writers.

“A lot of people seem to think [the Writing Center is] only for English majors. No, they’re for any major, any project,” Rocco Cremonese, librarian for English and the School of Business and coordinator of library instruction, said.

Throughout the library, many desktop computers are available for use. On the second floor, one classroom with 49 computers is available when classes are not held in the room. There are two smaller computer rooms also on the second floor.

On the first floor, the Technology Learning Center contains iMacs, MacBook Pros, a color printer, SMARTBoards and a conference-style room. This room includes a collaborative table that displays a presentation mirrored onto a monitor. The room can be reserved in advance for presentations or group work that students may have.

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Book scanners are located on the first and second floors of the library. These book scanners can connect to a student’s email account or a flash drive to save copies in either grayscale or color formats.

At the circulation desk, students are also able to check out equipment, including cameras and tripods. Students can also check out laptops, but they cannot take laptops outside of the library.

Research assistance is available at the information desk on the first floor from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays. During these hours, one of the eight specialist librarians is available for general research help.

“I always say that they can ask any question and, if we can’t give them the answer, we can direct them to someone on this campus who can,” Cremonese said.

According to Cremonese, research services and the 'Ask a Librarian' Portal are some of the least used services by freshmen, which he believes is because some students may be unaware of the specialist librarians at Bailey Library.

“If you’re trying to find something for a big report and you’re not having any luck after half an hour, an hour, don’t beat your head against the wall guessing and trying to figure stuff out for another two hours unless you want to.

Make an appointment with me or come see us at the library and we can help you,” Cremonese said.

If the library doesn’t own a resource that a student may need, they can request a resource through interlibrary loan. Through Resource Sharing Services, a student can receive resources through other universities, including universities outside of the PASSHE system.

“We can get almost anything maybe a Research 1 level institution can or a much larger library system can. It may take us a day or two to get it from them, but we can get it,” Cremonese said.

Depending on the professor, librarians also present information on library services in FYRST Seminar. According to Cremonese, librarians typically review the library website, databases and the basics of Discovery Search and the library catalog in these FYRST Seminar sessions.

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2018 Orientation Special

Avoid! Suite Lots - Residents

Founders Lots - Residents and Commuter

What few spots are available in front of the

Avoid! The upper and middle Founders Lots are

Nespor and Daniel DiFabio

suites are almost always taken and usually are

residential parking and probably the best place to park if

not worth even trying to park there.

you live in the suites. Spot availability varies greatly.

Check out! Lower Founders Lot is for commuters

Check Out! Football Lots - Residents

but not a lot of people remember it is there, so there is usually open spots.

Graphic by Laruen Ault, Cody

The Football Field Lots are a bit of a walk to any

1 Morrow Way Slippery Rock, PA 16057 800.SRU.9111 • 724.738.9000 www.SRU.edu

of the suites, but there are so many that there will

A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

almost always be open parking spots.

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MAIN ENTRANCE

The Alumni Lot usually isn't full for most of the

Check Out! East Lake Lot - Open

day and it is an excellent spot to park to get to any building on the west side of campus.

Avoid! West Lake Lot - Commuter

The East Lake Lot is a bit of a walk to either the

The West Lake Lot is the closest to the quad but

quad or the residential suites but it is the most

also fills up before any other lot. If you are running

reliable lot to find parking in at anytime of the day.

late to class, do not even try to park here.

SRU helps freshmen find success regardless of major

By Daniel DiFabio News Editor

While there are quite a few concerns and incoming freshman may have, not having a definite major is a stress many experience.

According to Amanda Yale, associate provost for enrollment services, about 20 percent of incoming freshmen are exploratory, with a study done by the university grouping them into three categories.

The first category is for students who have a strong idea of what they want to major in, the second group is interested in two areas but goes exploratory to narrow down what they really want, and the third in the grouping doesn't have an idea in what they want to major in.

"Our studies have shown about 87-89 percent in any given year in exploratory will declare a major by the end of their first year," Yale said.

Even some students who do come to SRU with a declared major may switch, with about 66 percent of students changing their major.

"A good number of those students are actually changing into a major related to their area," Yale said. "If we talk about the majority of major changes [most] are moving to a really related field, it's because they're learning more about what those areas offer and getting exposure to majors and careers that in high school they never had the opportunity to learn about."

Yale said that major changes are critical, and the university tries to help ease student stress.

"The key is that you find a place where your interests are, where your passion is at," Yale said.

Yale said that a lot of students who are exploratory are mainly pressured by families, who want to make sure they're investing in a major that will bring success. Regardless of the stigma, Yale

said that the university highly promotes exploratory.

"We don't call it undecided because undecided is passive, it shows you're not doing anything," Yale said. "It should be a time of activity and focus for direction and not a time for passiveness."

A lot of students who change their major may not know where they want to transfer to, which is why the advisement center is next to the Career Education and Development Center.

"We're working together collaboratively and in a partnership," Yale said. "The key is that students are working close with their advisors and career education and development."

It's also important for the university to keep students, with the university being successful, having a retention rate of 81.8 percent. Yale said that SRU tries to stay over 80 percent, which is about 10 points above the national average.

"The more students that we can have persist to the second year, which is the transition year, the more likely we can move them to completing their degree and graduation," Yale said. "That first term that first year is incredibly important."

SRU is currently the second in the state system in terms of persistence rates, behind West Chester University.

Keeping students at SRU has helped the university to grow as well, with many students attracted to the university's graduate programs. Yale said that students overall are taking more credit hours, with the university recording 122,248 credit hours in Fall 2016 and then 122,626 in Fall 2017.

According to the Office of Career Education & Development's 2017 Annual Report, of the 1,712 graduates in Dec. 2015, and May/August 2016, 58 percent are employed full time at their job of choice.

Regardless of whether a freshmen GRAPHIC BY LAUREN AULT sticks with their major or changes, SRU Information provided by Enrollment Services and Career Education & Development. helps them to find success and grow.

2018 Orientation Special

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O OPINION Volume 101, Number 7

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 Cody Nespor

Editor-in-Chief

Daniel DiFabio

News Editor

Justin Kraus

Sports Editor

Megan Bush

Campus Life Editor

Victoria Davis

Copy/ Web Editor

Paris Malone

Photo Editor

Eric Davies

Multimedia Editor

Adam Zook

Assistant News Editor

Stephen Cukovich

Assistant Sports Editor

Megan Majercak

Assist. Campus Life Editor

Heather Donat

Assist. Copy/Web Editor

Lauren Ault

Assistant Photo Editor

Dr. Brittany Fleming

Faculty Adviser

ADVERTISING STAFF Miranda Morgan

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.

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.

OPINION

Our View

SRU is a special school, and it is easy to see why

“WHERE THE SLIPPERY ROCK CREEK also often rated as one of the best-valued schools.

WANDERS The quality of education and the dedication of the faculty is what really makes SRU stand out WITH ITS SPARKLING FALLS academically. Every single professor here makes an investment in their students and truly cares THERE IN STATELY GRACE AND BEAUTY about their success and growth. SRU does not only succeed academically, just this year we had STANDS OLD S.R. HALLS.” a football player break the all-time NCAA career sacks record, we have students who get invited The first lines of the SRU alma mater tells you to national conferences and present research in exactly what Slippery Rock is all about: a school all areas. that is more than 125 years old, yet somehow still growing and improving with every passing year.

“ALL THY HALLS THE DAY IN DYING Starting college is not easy. It is a completely new experience, in a new place, with a bunch of people CROWN WITH GOLDEN LIGHT you have never met. For a lot of freshmen, college will be their first real time away from home. A lot AND THE MORN IN WAKING SPLENDOR of freshmen do not know what they want to do with their lives and some do not even know if they GREETS THEE IN THY MIGHT” want to be in college at all.

If you are feeling nervous or unsure about The second verse of the alma mater speaks to just starting college at all, now is not the time to panic, the beauty of SRU. It is undeniable that Slippery almost everybody feels like that. Some members Rock’s campus is just stunningly gorgeous. The of The Rocket staff did not even know if they buildings look distinguished with elements of should be in college when they started. The good modern design, the landscape is immaculate and news is that no matter what you are feeling about the views are breath-taking. The ballroom in the starting college, you picked a really good school Smith Student Center, the area up by the water to come to. tower and the football field all offer incredible views of campus that really hammer home how “SING HER PRAISES LOUD RESOUNDING beautiful this school is.

At the end of the day, everyone has something SPEED THEM ON THEIR WAY they love about Slippery Rock, it is what keeps attracting more and more students to come here WE’LL BE TRUE TO THEE, OH, S.R. each year, it is what keeps alumni coming back years after they graduate and it is what, hopefully, TRUE FOR AYE AND AYE.” will make you fall in love with Slippery Rock just like so many have before you.

For one reason or another, Slippery Rock is special. People love SRU and as the chorus of “LONG MAY YOU, OUR ALMA MATER the alma mater states, they will tell you loud and resounding. Something is different here from SHED YOUR LIGHT ABROAD other small town colleges, after a while SRU just ends up feeling like home. Almost everyone here AS YOUR LOYAL SONS AND DAUGHTERS will tell you that Slippery Rock is a special place, and they will all have a different reason. Some LIVE FOR YOU AND GOD.” might have a specific story to tell about how they love SRU, they might have a favorite professor The final verse of the alma mater tells exactly that helped them learn what they want to do in what SRU is. This is a school that is not going life or maybe they would not even be able to put anywhere for a very long time. By coming here, it into words. you are joining a community, a family of all those SRU is an odd little school. Small and tucked that have come before you and all of those who into the hills of Western Pa. and yet somehow we will come after. Slippery Rock is a special, special always seem to rank right up there with the best school and The Rocket staff hopes you can find schools in the country. Routinely ranked as one what makes it special to you as soon as possible. of the safest schools in America, Slippery Rock is

In the Quad

This week’s question:

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

What is the biggest difference between high school and college?

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

Courtney Claypoole

Jordan Lilly

Chris Bucar

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.

Freshman Exercise Science Major Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Freshman Music Education Major Stirling, Virginia

Freshman Exercise Science Major North Versailles, Pennsylvania

“I would say the freedoms and along with the freedom the work load you have a lot more to do and you have to figure it out on your own. You don’t have someone watching over you. 24/7 like In highschool.”

“You have a lot more, free time and a lot more control over what you do. You don’t have someone to make sure you eat all your food.“

“I’d say all the free time you get because after class is over it’s up to you what to do, wether you study or relax, and teachers don’t hold your hand as much.”

OPINION

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2018 Orientation Special

How to make college home away from home

Chloe Frey Let me give you an insight to my best advice, tips, and tricks to surviving (and enjoying life) here at SRU. First, come with an open mind and open heart.

We were all raised differently, come from many different places and were exposed to different things. You are going to disagree, and maybe get a little mad or offended, by things people say in class or in any open conversation.

You’ll hear new thoughts and opinions that you’ve never heard before, and a lot of them will be biased and not factually-based. Just keep in mind this is a learning process for everyone in all aspects of life; your own thoughts and opinions may change in just one semester. You must learn to think before you speak, and don’t speak on things you don’t really know about. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible. Spark a conversation if you see fit.

The girl you may think is stuck up and snobby may be an actual sweetheart.

The shy boy down the hall may be the one to give you medicine when you’re

sick. The people who recognized you from class may be the ones to save you when you’re in a drunken stupor and can barely function. Help people when you can, you never know when you’ll be in a pinch. By the end of your freshman year, you will know so many people that you can’t believe you ever lived without them. Having “me time” is also extremely important. From playing video games, watching movies, or whatever else you do to relax, make sure to do those things every so often. Don’t overwhelm yourself with extracurriculars that you can’t handle. If you join a club and later realize you can’t keep up, it’s okay to remove yourself from it. It’s your life, and I promise it won’t be the end of the world.

Stock up on bottles of water! I’m sure you’ve heard that our water is below-par on the quality scale. I have no idea what’s in it, just don’t drink the stuff. Either buy cases of bottled water and be sure to recycle them in the garbage rooms, or get filtered water bottles from Brita. You’ll thank me later.

Next, if you have your own bathroom and sink area, bring general cleaning supplies like Windex, disinfectant wipes and spray, bleach, toilet cleaner, dish soap, sponges, a broom and vacuum. Now this space may be your “home away from home,” but get ready to clean your room more often than before.

At home, you may clean here and there, but realize now that when you come here you are constantly surrounded by people. You never know when people will stop by to say hi or hangout, and no one wants to walk into a smelly room with garbage and messes laying around. Take even turns doing dishes and cleaning bathrooms, put your shoes in closets so the room doesn’t smell repulsive, and don’t distract your friends or roommates if they are trying to study. Be considerate and clean. This makes it easier for everyone.

It is never too early to start planning for the future

Dylan Vamosi “Graduate school is a great time for reflection, furthering one’s experiences, and transitioning into professional life.”

Not many incoming freshmen have an exact plan for how their college careers will unfold.

Four years is a long period of time for individuals who are just beginning to experience the freedom of adult life. Many students change their major at least one time, find a field that they enjoy in the midst of chaotic coursework and become productive professionals after earning a Bachelor’s degree. As a freshman, I had hopes to one day attend graduate school, but really had no clue about where life would take me over the course of my college career. At the time, the thought seemed

unrealistic because of graduate school’s cost, the time investment to complete a degree, and rigor.

Nearly six years later, I am glad that I stuck to my dream of going to graduate school. By using the resources around me, I have nearly earned another degree, published research, made more personal and professional connections, gained professional experience and reflected deeply on my life and profession. In sum, graduate school provides students with additional educational and professionals opportunities which might not be entirely available to undergraduates, and can be a sound option for any student who might wish to maintain an educational structure.

The prospect of attending graduate school did not just serve as a logical conclusion to my dream, but also as a placeholder in my life and an opportunity to think more deeply about what the next step in my life should be. Truth be told, after earning my Bachelor’s degree, I was hit hard with the feeling of “well...what’s next?” Many students will know that exact feeling once completing school. Having few employment options and an average amount of experience relative to my peers situated me in an awkward position where I felt powerless as I thought about my post-graduate

plans. Graduate school gave me a purpose and a stepping stone for professional life: I used my teaching degree to begin substitute teaching and earned a graduate assistantship which paid for graduate school. I ultimately met many individuals who will serve as great references for my professional ability in the future, and I created more time for myself to reflect on what I have learned and what my limitations are going forward. In sum, I know myself better than I did two years ago, and I feel more confident about the transition into post-graduate life because of my time spent in graduate school.

For incoming freshmen and transfer students: it is never too soon to think or talk about the future. I hope that my story serves as solace for individuals who might one day find themselves consumed with uncertainty after completing their initial degree. Consider graduate school as a viable alternative to an immediate immersion into the professional world as well as transitional medium between education and professional life, and not just as a continuation of school. I made the most of graduate school while in attendance, and I have benefited from it tremendously personally and professionally.

Take chances, make mistakes and get messy

Megan Anderson Being a freshman one of the best and worst times of my life as a college student. Don’t get me wrong college is great, you get to finally make your own decision and how you want to spend your free time. You get to make new friends and get to join different clubs where you get to meet a diverse group of individuals come together and make some pretty good memories with that group, but there is a downfall. The biggest thing that freshman college students run into is how to balance school work, social life, work life and being able to make to your 8 a.m. class on time with 15 seconds to spare. I don’t know how many times I felt so overwhelmed because I was trying to do too much stuff without giving time to myself or I would do less and feel quite left out because I had to study for a test the next day. It’s a big balancing act when you start your freshman year, but it doesn’t have to be stressful or a mental

break. So, I want to give you advice that really helped get through my fun but stressful first year of college.

Take chances. When going to college, you get an overwhelming sensation that you must do everything and that’s great, but for some we don’t really take chances in life to really get to know the community at your college. So don’t go and hide in your dorm room and expect something to happen. Go out and enjoy the community life at college because you never know who you will meet, and you don’t know what adventures could be out there. You could take a chance on joining a sorority at college and meet the greatest friends on the planet. I know sororities and fraternities get a reputation, but if you like doing community services and really getting involved on campus then, joining a sorority or fraternity could be your thing. Another thing you could take a chance on is going to one of the many events that college has provided for you to enjoy. You could go to a movie night, or the cultural dance night or maybe even just hanging out in the student center and see who you could meet. There’s so many opportunities at college to take chances on something fun and amazing all it takes is going out there and seeing what works for you.

Make mistakes. Since beginning of time we humans have making mistakes after mistakes, but we’ve never known how to deal with those mistakes. Well since you choose to go into higher education you will being seeing yourself make a lot of mistakes.

For example, you may have decided to 16 credits your first semester and then

you realize that its too many classes to handle and you start panicking because you didn’t realize that it would require you to study for about six hours each night. Now don’t worry sometimes the best thing to do for your first week is to see which classes are good for you and which need to go. It’s best to get the bad classes out the first week because you can get a refund back from dropping the class early. So, don’t freak out if you can only take 12 credits the first semester, because it is better to get you feet wet first before you decide to dive into the pool of college classes. Another mistake I experienced with college is not studying enough for my classes.

Now don’t worry sometimes you will forget to study or forget to finish that discussion board online or totally forgot you had to present that day.

It’s okay to forget things and make a mistake because you have a bounty of many times to get it right. So don’t be hard on yourself if you make a mistake, because in the end you can learn the greatest life lessons when you learn from that mistake and not do it twice. Mistakes can either make or break you at college and I can say that mistake can shape into the person you are today.

Get messy. My last advice I want to leave you for this opinion page is something I’ve been learning to do since I started college and that is getting messy. To me, that was getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things. Things that might mean getting your hands dirty and getting out in the community to do so. That doesn’t mean you do something in decent, but it means going out and

maybe going to a shelter by doing a soup dinner or going to build houses for habitat for humanity. It can also mean that you can get messy by joining a group that supports your type of belief and going out there spreading the good news about your group. Getting messy doesn’t always have to be physically getting your hands dirty, but maybe standing up for what you believe in, or finding out what you truly believe in. Getting messy may mean going on a weeklong trip with your professor to South America sending out care packages to orphans. Whatever gets you out in the physical world to get messy and make a different is something I wish I did more when I first started college. Getting messy means getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new and let me tell you getting messy for what you believe in can be invigorating and amazing. So don’t be afraid to get messy because you can learn a lot about yourself and the strengths that are inside of you.

So, my last advice to you before I finish this opinion page is find out what you believe, what makes you excited and find people who enjoy what you are into too. These friends can raise you up and lead you to the right path to success when you go to college. So, take chances, make mistake and get messy because you never know what is inside you if you keep to yourself and not express who you are. College can be the best learning experience of your life so jump on in and learn to get out of comfort zone. I promise you it can be amazing going to college, you just got to try.

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2018 Orientation Special

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INSIDE SPORTS

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Freshmen athletes making a difference

Rock softball utilizes social media

Slippery Rock has a collection of freshmen that have made a difference on their respective teams and the PSAC.

The Slippery Rock softball team uses social media for advanced coverage of their games, trips and fundraising events.

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Athletics play an important part in the SRU experience

By Justin Kraus Sports Editor

Between 17 Division II teams, 24 athletic clubs and countless intramural events and leagues, sports are an integral portion of Slippery Rock University.

Slippery Rock sponsors 17 official Division II sports, many of which are not played in the area high schools, but Athletic Director Paul Lueken says that's an important part of growing the school.

"It's a nice, wide-variety of sports so we can attract a lot of different folks from a lot of different areas," Lueken said. "Some of the sports we have are predominantly played out east, some of our sports attract international student-athletes, so that lets us diversify there."

Athletic events aren't just a great experience for hardcore sports fans, they are some of the best places for all students to gather in a social setting.

"One of the things that our athletic teams here do is they bring a sense of spirit to the campus, something to rally around," Lueken said.

"Something to do in social settings and bring groups of people together, some time to celebrate with other folks. It's a big part of our campus culture" It's not limited to those in the Slippery Rock area either, as visitors either passing through or staying for athletic events benefit the town and school.

"When we have events here, we have visitors who come to town and

HUNTER CASILIO/ THE ROCKET

The Slippery Rock women's field hockey team celebrates a big win. Field hockey is one of the 17 Division II sports at Slippery Rock.

they go to the restaurants and the gas stations and the stores and that kind of stuff, it definitely benefits the business community." Lueken said.

It's not just monetary value that add to the positivity of SRU sports, the success of the plethora of teams have created a veil of energy for the university.

"It brings a lot of positive PR to the university. Our results are tabulated on the sports page, most of the other things in the university

aren't," Lueken said. "It's a mark of our success."

For t he s tu d e nt - at h l e te s themselves, they learn a lot of positive qualities during their playing days that can apply throughout different challenges in their life.

"For our student-athletes, leadership is huge. The chance to be a team captain and a leader on a team is a great thing," Lueken said. "I always tell our athletes that they want to be a good student, and

they want to be a good community member. This is where you're living, so treat it like that. Treat it like you're part of a family." aThe combination of studentathletes bettering themselves, the tradition of SRU and the positivity surrounding every sports team helps make the university and the town that it is in a great place to be.

"Living in a college town is cool, whether you work at the school or not." Lueken said.

Intramural and club spor ts prove to be great way for freshmen to get involved

By Stephen Cukovich Assistant Sports Editor

Freshmen sometimes have a tough time finding what to do with all the freedom and new-found free time on their hands, but with intramural and club sports just a few clicks away, it couldn't been easier.

Through the Slippery Rock imleagues.com page, students can sign up for club and intramural sports with currently 24 options for club teams and countless opations for intramural sports. Club teams can range from baseball, to ice hockey, or golf, and even martial arts. Although the sports are not part of the university's Division II programs, the competitiveness of these sports are still over the top.

"Club is very competitive," assistant director of recreational sports Matthew Lobaugh said. "Then when it comes to intramural sports, we offer two different leagues. One is a t-shirt league, which is recreational, and the other one is mug, where if you win you actually get a mug, and that's a competitive league."

Lobaugh and his staff make it a top priority to reach out to freshmen each year because as he explained, if students have a good time their freshmen year, they are more likely to come back the following years.

"I think we try to reach out to every student," Lobaugh said. "Trying to partner and trying to get the word out that hey, we do offer intramural sports, but we have a lot of options when it comes to intramural sports.

Then their are other ways students can get involved through officiating games or running the scoreboards. This can also lead to students applying for a supervisor position, which oversees the entire intramural program, Lobaugh explained.

"Say I'm not here, they're in charge of the whole program," Lobaugh said. "What that does is they're college students, they're here to be empowered, they're here to go graduate. Once they get a job, they should leave here knowing how to manage a team, how to manage certain situations, how to handle conflict, and if I'm doing it all for them, thats not going to get it done in the real world."

Women's lacrosse club captain Lindsi Gamble feels it is very important for students to get involved, and knowing that students have options when it comes to these sports.

GRAPHIC BY JUSTIN KRAUS/THE ROCKET

"I think it's important because whenever I was a freshman, I didn't know much about the clubs and organizations and then I finally did and it was a great way to make friends and just gain experience on leadership abilities," Gamble said.

The number of sports varies from fall to spring and after spring break, a new club team will be hosting tryouts for men's basketball. Intramural sports is a little bit different than club teams, as they serve as organized pick-up games from a variety of sports and games such as dodgeball, flag football, kickball and ultimate frisbee.

Pickup games like these are designed to get the average student to get involved with sports and keep a healthy lifestyle in college, while also keeping up with their school work, Lobaugh mentioned.

"Studies have shown that just coming down to 'the ARC' in general whether its intramural, lifting, or any other recreational activity, studies have proven that student have better grades," Lobaugh said.

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2018 Orientation Special

Fantastic Freshmen "You come in from high school and you are probably the best player on your team, you are probably not used to watching from the sidelines. Re-earning that spot and getting better is a challenge" - Slippery Rock athletic director Paul Lueken TRYSTEN M CDONALD MCDONALD Football Outside

SHANNON MCINTYRE E

Linebacker

Women's Soccer

61 Tackles

Midfielder

10.5 Tackles for Los Loss 2 Interceptions

8 Points 3 Goals

ITTANY BRITTANY

SKYLA

MORGAN

O'C CONNOR O'CONNOR Women's

d Hockey Field Defender

Basketball Guard

okie All-American Rookie 6 Goals

9 Blocks

3 Assists

26 Steals 40% FG shooting

REAGAN HESS Women's Track J Sprinter and Jumper

JALYN WILLARD

All- Region in 60Meter d dash

Volleyball Defensive Specialist

SRU 60-Meter das dash record holder

306 Digs 19 Aces

Photos by Cody Nespor, Paris Malone, Hunter Casilio, and Rock Athletics

2018 Orientation Special

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After breaking PSAC record, the sky is the limit for Marshall

By Karl Ludwig Rocket Contributor

When an athlete breaks a school and athletic conference record as a sophomore, what else can be done to improve? Slippery Rock women’s indoor track athlete Maddy Marshall finds herself asking that question after breaking the decade old pole vault record set by former Rock athlete Jen Hansen in 2008.

Marshall, who was named the SRU Athlete of the Week for the third time this season, achieved a height of 4.01 meters in her jump at the Edinboro Open last Friday. “It’s going to take a minute to settle in,” Marshall said with a smile, “It’s kind of, like, surreal, I guess.”

Marshall previously set her season-best mark of 3.96 meters at the YSU Mid-Major Invite earlier this February.

Arguably, the biggest stars of the women’s indoor track team this season have been the pole vaulters led by Marshall and fellow vaulter Courtney McQuaide. The high-flying duo has reached the NCAA provisional marks in each meet this season with Marshall earning an automatic qualification to the meet in Pittsburg, Kansas because of her PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) record-breaking jump.

A four-year letterwoman in high school in both track and gymnastics, Marshall is no stranger to hard work.

“It’s really nice to see my hard work paying off because I put so much time and effort and mental, physical, and emotional work into this sport.” Marshall said, ‘It’s really nice to see that I’m actually getting everything out of it.”

Marshall, of course, hopes to improve on her record-breaking pole vault but doing so is not what is most important to her.

“I really want my teammates to do well, too. It would be nice if I won ,but at the same time, it would be better if it was a team win.” Marshall said, regarding her hopes for the championship. This year’s team is complete all-around with capable athletes in each section of the team. However, Marshall and the pole vaulters are the heart and soul of the team, the leaders on the track and in the

COURTESY OF ROCK ATHLETICS

Sophomore Maddy Marshall competes in the pole vault last spring. Marshall holds the all-time PSAC pole vault record, with a vault of 4.01 meters.

locker room. Marshall can be the driving force to a sixth Championship for coach John Papa and Slippery Rock University.

Marshall is no stranger to NCAA meets. As a freshman, she placed 13th with a jump of 3.77 meters. No longer inexperienced on the national stage, she is primed for a legitimate run at becoming the national champion in pole vaulting.

For Marshall though, the awards, accolades and dizzying heights are not what truly drive her. Her drive, her biggest competition, is herself. The task of always beating herself, bettering her own heights and improving her technique pushes her to greatness.

“I just want to keep getting better whether it’s technique, not even necessarily getting higher heights, just improving my vault and making it more efficient.” Marshall said.

With most of indoor track season in the rear-view mirror and the beginning of outdoor track on the horizon, Marshall already has set records and flown to new heights and it is only her sophomore year. With two more years of indoor and three years of outdoor track, the sky is the limit for Marshall but she always look back on this moment: the moment Maddy Marshall was on top of the world and best pole vaulter in the entire PSAC.

Rock softball is getting excited about the upcoming season through social media

By Stephen Cukovich Assistant Sports Editor

Rock softball has been enacting a new tactic to get fans excited about the upcoming season using the power of social media with their Twitter account @SRU_Softball.

The person behind the account, sophomore outfielder Alexa Guglielmino, has been running the account since her freshman year.

As a communication major who wants to get into public relations, Guglielmino believes it is very important for the team or any sports team on campus to have a strong social media presence.

"I feel like its important for mostly publicity for a team because that's how any team works," Guglielmino said. "Everybody is looking for more fans and more of a fan base and then hey this is something they can follow if they do become a fan."

Guglielmino followed Carly Derose in running the account, a senior pitcher last season, who Guglielmino was helping run the account and now runs it with assistant coach Ashley Carter. During the team's tournament two weekends ago at Virginia State University, Coach Carter provided in-game stats and score updates and plans to do so from now on.

"I am very good with public speaking, I'm good with communicating to people so I felt like Carly chose me to do it because of that," Guglielmino said. "I know my boundaries and I know what people want to see and want to hear."

Last season, Guglielmino felt the team didn't use the account that much, and as a communication major, she felt she needed to "amp it up" she said.

"Its fun to add all the gifs and different things," Guglielmino said COURTESY OF ROCK ATHLETICS with a laugh. "I was glad that I took it over because I was able to get Sophomore outfielder Alexa Guglielmino runs to first during a game. Guglielmino took up the reigns the word out and say hey Rock softball is here, ready to play." for the @SRU_Softball account this year After getting requests from the fans to provide in game stats, Guglielmino decided to add that feature to the account because Rock would give to the person she passes the account on to. "So you want to Athletics only provides them for home games and other select games, watch what you are posting too, nothing too crazy. But the best advice she said. Since she has been running the account, Guglielmino I would say is be open-minded." mentioned her favorite part of it all so far has been the posts she had been putting up counting down the days till the season began because of all the anticipation.

FOLLOW @SRU_SOFTBALL ON TWITTER FOR Guglielmino said she plans to run the account until she graduates and will pass the account on to the correct person that she thinks continue to make it better or make it better than she ever did.

THE MOST COMPLETE TEAM COVERAGE "You just need to know what fan base you're tweeting out to and know that there's parents, there's kids," Guglielmino said about the advice she

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2018 Orientation Special

Rock football signs 34 players on National Signing Day

By Stephen Cukovich Assistant Sports Editor

Football season's unofficial start to the 2018 season kicked off when Rock football signed 34 new players to their 90 man roster on National Signing Day. Following an 8-3 season last year, Rock football head coach Shawn Lutz believes this year's additions to the roster have a lot of quality, even with a large number of players being added.

"Every position is going to have a little competition," Lutz said.

"And competition brings the best out of everybody and also the credibility of us signing so many mid-year guys that are joining us now, will help that competition in spring football, so there going to be a lot of great battles coming out of the spring."

On the defensive side of the ball, Lutz said the team had some trouble last season stopping the run. Then now with former Rock standout defensive end Marcus Martin now having graduated, the need to reboot on the defensive line was one of Lutz's top priorities this offseason.

Up front on the defensive line, The Rock signed Jeff Marx, who committed to Navy in 2017, but didn't play before leaving to come to The Rock.

In a d d it i on , SRU s i g n e d defensive tackle Seth Williams from Kiski high school, All-State defensive end Andrew Seymour from Quaker Valley high school, and defensive tackle Jayonn Butts from the Bishop McDevitt program.

Defensive ends Gavin Vargesko from Bethal Park high school, Rod Williams from Slippery Rock high school, and Lackawanna College transfer Shane Schuback round out the defensive line.

At the linebacker position, the Green and White was able to sign Isaiah Manning out of Meadville High School, where he was a first team All-State selection, and Regional Co-Player of the Year, which was shared with coach Lutz's son Logan.

"Isaiah was an early steal for us in this class," Lutz said. "His physicality and playmaking ability as a running back will translate well to linebacker here and his athleticism and toughness will be key for us." (Courtesy of Rock Athletics) The Rock also added AllState linebacker Peyton Remish from South Range, Ohio, Brad Zaffram, a transfer from Jones County Community College, and

PHOTO BY PARIS MALONE/THE ROCKET

Head coach Shawn Lutz and The Rock football team running out of the tunnel before a game last season. Slippery Rock signed 34 players on national signing day from five different states.

another Bethal Park high schooler in Tanner Volpatti.

In the secondary, The Rock added defensive back Derrell Carter from Beaver Falls high school, Butte College transfer Tyree Spearman, and Dahmir Ruffin from Archbishop John Carroll in Philadelphia. Also at defensive back Keivonn Pasch'l from Penn Hills high school, Mark Carter Jr. from Miami Carol City, and cornerback Travis Thompson II from Gateway high school were added last week.

Switching to the offense, The Rock looks to have another quarterback battle on their hands to start training camp, with the graduation of last season's starter Tanner Garry.

The Rock added three new quarterbacks in Taylor King, another transfer from Butte College, Tyler Pergine from Spring-Ford High School and Isaac Clarke from Farrell High School.

"We got three really good ones that will compete," Lutz said regarding a quarterback battle in the spring. "They're all going to get equal chances, equal opportunities, it's going to be a battle. It's going to be exciting to see who's going to be that quarterback."

The backfield for The Rock certainly is getting a new front-

now’s the time.

runner in University of Delaware transfer Wes Hills who was an All-Colonial Athletic Association selection in 2016, along with first team All-State John Eakin from Bradford High School.

"We're excited about a lot of guys in this class, but Wes (Hills) is the biggest addition to our program this offseason," Lutz said. "He gives us something we haven't had in our program in a long time in a running back that is not only explosive but also has that kind of size." (Courtesy of Rock Athletics) On the receiving end, The Rock signed four new receivers, and one new tight end as the team's top three targets from last season all graduated. At tight end, The Rock signed Mac Christy from Knock High School in Saxonburgh.

Moving to receiver, the Green and White signed Qaadir Dixon out of Martin Luther King high school in Philadelphia, and Division III Mount Union University transfer Ahmad Morris-Walker. The Rock was also able to sign receiver Jordan Crawford from the 2017 PIAA 6A State Champion Pine-Richland Rams and Max Maciejewski from Ringgold high school.

"Losing Marcus Johnson, Milly Raye, Andrew Bridgforth, it's going to create more opportunities for these guys to show us what they can do," Lutz said. "We really

are not sure yet on who is going to step in and fill those shoes for us, but we got some great guys who definitely will compete, that's for sure."

Then on the offensive line, The Rock signed Mathew Carr out of Cathedral Prep school, Jonah Miller from Dallastown high school, and Jeremiah Gutierrez out of Stroudsburg high school.

In addition, the Green and White signed Division I All-Ohio selection Luke Dye out of Jackson high school in Massillon, Ohio, and All-Conference selection Alexander Meadows out of McKeesport high school.

On special teams, The Rock was able to manage to sign two players from Plum high school in long snapper Jacob George and kicker/ punter Jackson Gildea. The Rock's current kicker, sophomore Jake Chapla is also a Plum area native and played with both George and Gildea when they were in high school, which will add some familiarity to the special teams unit.

"It is very important for those guys to have some continuity in their game," Lutz said. "Jake (Chapla) hinted toward those guys for us and after we gave them a look, we decided that these guys gave us some familiarity on special teams."

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INSIDE CAMPUS LIFE

Five College Essentials Scan this code to check out the video on theonlinerocket.com

CDR fashion columnist shares her insight For first-time college students, packing can be hard; student organization College Dress Relief shares some tips on just what to include from your closet.

See Page D-3

CAMPUS LIFE

Honors Program will embark on transition to Honors College

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HONORS PROGRAM A group of honors students enjoys the view on a trip to Boston, Ma. The Honors Program takes a spring trip to a new city each year.

By Kathryn Kinder Rocket Contributor

The Honors Program is a community of motivated, talented and supportive students who all want to achieve academic success. In the coming years, the Honors Program will be transitioning into the Honors College. The President of the Honors Program is a senior Biology major Grascen Shidemantle. When asked about the Honors Program in general, she said it is a multidisciplinary program.

The program mainly includes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Dance, Exercise Science, and Biology Majors.

Shidemantle also said that the Honors program provides a lot of international opportunities and annual trips. For example, the Honors Program will be taking a trip to New York later this year.

The trips are usually three to four days and the cost is mostly, if not always covered.

She says that the trips are a good way to let the students explore different cities and have a great time. When explaining the different things you have to accomplish in the Honors Program, Shidemantle went into detail about the criteria one must complete.

“You need to have seven honors courses if you are not on a 3+3 or 3+2 track.

You also have HOPS. Two HOPS are equivalent to one honor credit. There are also Units that the honors students must do. These include write-ups, which is going to an event and writing your experience, or community service.”

Shidemantle then went on to explain what the transition from the Honors Program to the Honors College means for SRU. “Basically, it is very bureaucratic. By going from program to college, it helps get a bigger presence on campus. With the bigger impact on campus, it gives us the opportunity to use more resources.”

Shidemantle also states that the Honors Program also just received an 'honors space.' It is a small conference room in Patterson and she hopes when the transition happens, it will allow for more spaces for the honors students to call their own.

Lance Savidge, a junior exercise science major and Community Assistant on the Honors LLC (Living Learning Community) says that living on the honors floor is a great experience.

“It brings together people with common interests and allows the floor to do their requirements together as peers rather than themselves.”

Savidge heard of the transition from Honors Program to College and he is very excited.

“Transitioning from a program to a college will allow more students to be a part of the organization. Having more students means that we get to expand the Honors LLC in the residence halls.”

Honors students range from Community Assistants to students who currently live on one of the two honors floors in Watson Hall, like Paxton Fetterman.

Fetterman is a freshman biology major and Spanish minor. She loves living on the honors floor and being a part of the Honors Program.

“It provides students with an opportunity to do exciting things.”

Fetterman also says that she believes the honors floor is held to a slightly higher standard than other floors/LLCs because it is more work. She is not the only one who thinks this. Freshman history major and theatre minor Erik Warmbien would agree with Fetterman.

“Especially with being on the honors scholarship, I feel pressured to do well in this environment, and it pushes me to try and perform better.”

SEE OPPORTUNITIES, PAGE D-2

Opinion: Songs to support study habits

By Mallory Angelucci Rocket Contributor

When college life gets too difficult and there is nothing to turn to but the copious amounts of homework you’ve been given, music offers a kind of consolation that not much else can give, except equally copious amounts of coffee from Starbucks.

Many people prefer classical music to accompany their studying. For these kinds of people, a safe recommendation would be anything by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Though older, his works are always lively and focusinducing.

For those who prefer something more recent to listen to, there are plenty of upbeat and slow tunes for background music. Singer-songwriter Vance Joy recently released a new album called “Nation of Two,” full of his usual indie-pop sounds. One track from his album, “Bonnie and Clyde,” gives the message that everything will be okay, that “you can jump into this water

and come out clean.” If the water is a sea of responsibilities, let this song remind you that it will be okay in the end. “Like Gold,” advises allowing the past to remain behind you. What has happened cannot be changed and focusing on the immediate future and present is the best way to go in many scenarios. These songs and many more from the album offer meaningful messages as well as calming waves of gentle sounds for a stressed evening of hard working.

The soundtrack from “The Greatest Showman” instills an inspired mood into its audience immediately. “This Is Me” reminds us to stay true to yourself even though obstacles and obstructions may cut you down with its touching and inspiring music. “A Million Dreams” will bring you up and away from any worries you may be having with your studies. Though there may be a lot on your mind, it is important to remember to focus on one thing at a time, whether that is a dream or even an essay. With songs like these, the worst thing that you think is happening can’t last longer than them.

A good throwback song always does the trick when it comes to making your mind work a little more. Some of these revivers include but are in no way limited to more recent songs like “Starships” and “Titanium.” They will bring you back to a simpler time, even if that was just a few years ago.

Looking a bit farther back, there are a few from the 90s that could serve a good purpose in the study room. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” will get you feeling like getting up and doing something (homework!) with its nostalgic feeling and heavy beats. “All Star,” which is making a comeback of its own, tells you that the world will knock you down, but you just have to get back up and keep throwing punches at whatever life throws at you next.

The bottom line for studying is to try your very best, and music is an excellent aid in this!

Whether it’s old music or new (or maybe none at all), allow an air of positivity and motivation to guide you through any and all difficulties you may encounter in college.

CAMPUS LIFE

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2018 Orientation Special

UPB Concerts Through the Years (2012-2017) Spring 2012 - Big Sean & Brantley Gilbert

Fall 2013 - All Time Low

Spring 2013 - Jus n Moore

Fall 2014 - Kid Ink

Spring 2014 - Wale & Juicy J

Fall 2015 - Hunter Hayes

Spring 2015 - Lee Brice

Spring 2017 - Lil Wayne

Spring 2016 - Fe y Wap

Each year, the University Program Board (UPB) tries to bring a popular musical artist to SRU. Who will you get to see?

Keep up with UPB on social media @SRUPB and stay tuned!

Opportunities, perks, experiences are in abundance for honors students Continued from Page D 1

Warmbein also says that there are perks of being in the Honors Program.

“Priority scheduling is a huge perk. You get to schedule before the seniors and that really helps, especially with being a freshman.”

Nathaniel Shultz is a sophomore Exercise Science major who has lived on the Honors floor for the past two years. Shultz knew about the transition but does not too much about it.

“Not sure of when or how things are going to affect me.”

Also, Shultz says that while being on the Honors floor, you have to maintain a certain GPA and it kind of highly suggests you get involved with more extracurricular activities -- community service, donating blood and writing notes.

For Anastasia Michlik, a freshman political science, professional Spanish major with a leadership minor, she likes the Honors Program classes and the fun things they get to do while in the program.

“The classes are smaller which motivates you to do well. We get to have trivia nights, Pizza with a Prof, going to see 'Wicked' and other cool stuff.”

For the incoming freshman, the students mentioned in this article have some advice for you.

“If you are not in the honors program, I would highly suggest it. It's not as daunting as it seems,” says Fetterman.

Shultz says “Find a sophomore in the Honors Program and have them help you with whatever you need.”

Shidemantle says “Don’t be afraid to take risks and

do not feel overwhelmed by all the requirements.”

In general, college is what you make of it, so if you put a lot of effort in and join a lot of clubs and make friends it will be fun. Get out of your comfort zone talk to new people. Specifically for the Honors Program, don’t be intimidated by it. Michlik said classes and professors are awesome, classes are more conversation-based and it's a great way to get involved and have experiences with like minded people.

Finally, Warmbein has this to say to incoming freshman.

“Understand there is pressure to do better but you are still here for a good time. Don’t worry too much about grades and don’t be afraid to talk to people on the floor or in the program.”

The best hangout, study spots on campus

By Megan Majercak Asst. Campus Life Editor

Whether you want a spot to cram for an exam or socialize with friends, here are the hang-out spots freshmen should know about and utilize on campus.

The Quad. In warmer weather, this is a common place to throw around a football or frisbee, or sit on a bench and do some studying in the sun’s warmth. People even hang out in their hammocks or challenge each other with slacklining, a tricky balancing game you will soon learn about if you don't already know it. The gazebo is always a nice place to sit in between PARIS MALONE/THE ROCKET class with friends or enjoy lunch, too.

The gazebo sits in the middle of the Quad, providing shade and seating for SRU students.

The University Union. When the library was under construction last year, the Union became much more popular. The Tutoring Center re-located there for the semester, and the café was open. The area was usually pretty busy during the day. Now that the library is no longer under construction, the Union it is back to being a more quiet and lowkey spot on campus, still home to the mail center and parking office as well. If you like silent study spots with high chair or cozy couch options, this is the spot.

The Student Center. The Student Center is home from everything from Starbucks to the theater, and ranges from almost silent to insanely crowded and loud. During common hours, organizations are almost always crowding the student center with fundraisers and informational tables.

PARIS MALONE/THE ROCKET If you are one for a quiet scene, go to the fireside lounge on the second floor Elia in Weisenfluh serves coffee, fresh fruit smoothies and breakfast to students all day. early in the day or on weekends. If

you like the crowd, go to Starbucks inbetween classes. During the week, the thrid floor is a popular meeting spot for clubs or study groups.

Weisenfluh.

Weisenfluh is arguably the best place to get lunch on campus, and you can get anything from Chinese food at Umami to a pastry or fresh-fruit smoothie at Elia. Elia is open almost all day, and is a great place to grab coffee before class and finish up homework. If you are sick of Boozel, Umami is open for dinner and a great place to enjoy dinner with friends.

Residence Hall Rec Rooms. If you will live on campus next year, you will find the recreation room. While each hall’s is different, it usually has a ping pong table, and maybe a pool and air hockey table, too. Some also have TVs and video game consoles. This is the perfect place to watch sports games or weekly television programs with a big group, especially if you don’t have a TV. SSC theater. Every weekend, Student Government Association (SGA) plays a movie in the Smith Student Center Theater for students to enjoy for free. When you feel there's nothing to do on the weekends, check out what movie the theater is playing that weekend. SGA tries to pick newer movies that have just left theaters.

Don’t get stuck in your room all semester as a freshman. Slippery Rock has a small enough campus where you are always within walking distance of some great places to meet up with friends to hang out or study. Utilizing our campus will come with many benefits, such as meeting more people, studying more, and having more social opportunities.

2018 Orientation Special

CAMPUS LIFE

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CDR presents Freshman Fashion:

Bring what you need, not everything you own

By Rachel Spence Rocket Contributor

HOPE HOEHLER/COLLEGE DRESS RELIEF College Dress Relief memebers Makenzie Cavalline, Grace Jason and Rachel Spence model athleisure ideal for day-to-day wear.

HOPE HOEHLER/COLLEGE DRESS RELIEF Ryan Shimko models a casual style fit for students on their first day at Slippery Rock.

The fall semester will be here before we know it and as incoming freshman, the transition can be overwhelming.

Packing is hard, especially coming into a new environment. It’s going to be tricky to know exactly what you’ll need but I’m here to help. It is inevitable that you will want to over-pack, but remember that your closet space is sure to be cut in half. Don’t arrive on move in day with 3 suitcases full of clothing, just to find out you don’t have enough room.

Be honest with yourself, are you really going to need that sweater that’s been in your closet untouched for the last year? If you don’t wear it now you probably won’t wear it later. This is the time to redefine yourself, and ditch some of those old clothes. Change is good and dressing different can give you that new start but remember, there are some aspects you should keep the same and always be yourself. I have put together some tips on what clothes you should bring and ones you should leave behind on the big day.

My first tip is: pack clothes for the weather. In high school, you’re used to being inside all day, but in college no matter the weather you’re forced to face a lot of different conditions. Rain, snow, or shine you’re going to be walking to class, going to the library or getting food, so packing clothes that are versatile is key. Invest in a pair of quality leggings or joggers, a nice pair of tennis shoes for walking around and layers for any weather. For the days that aren’t so nice,

make sure to pack a pair of rainboots, snow boots, multiple jackets and of course rep your school with a Slippery Rock hoodie. You can dress comfortable and still remain stylish when going to class with athleisure. Being my personal favorite right now, athleisure combines different elements from sport and street style to create a chill look.

Second, don’t bring everything you own. Instead, look at what you plan to do during the semester and plan accordingly. Do you plan to work out a lot? Then make sure to pack several outfits to workout in. Planning to go through Greek life recruitment? You may need to pack a few dressier pieces.

Even if you aren’t sure right now you can always shop as events happen. The Grove City outlets is only 10 minutes away and is sure to have something for any occasion. If you pack lighter, you’ll have more room for newer things in the future. And don’t forget, you’re going to have to lug everything back to your house eventually.

Third, don’t forget the basics. Don’t get too caught up in the exciting items that you forget articles like socks and underwear. Yes, I know now I sound like your mother, but its true! You don’t want to spend the second week having to do laundry, so stock up. Then there is that white t-shirt or grey zip-up that you’ll wear over and over, so why not get those staple items in multiple colors?

Get pieces that can intentionally go with multiple things in your closet. College is stressful enough, the last thing you should be worrying about is your outfit.

Student shares his passion for dance with SRU campus

ERIC DAVIES/THE ROCKET Freshman Jonathan Sosa dances outside the Smith Student Center for the entertainment of himself, his friends and his fellow classmates. Sosa attended Slippery Rock High School, and he was seen dancing on SRU's campus during his senior year of high school, as well.

By Megan Bush Campus Life Editor

On any given day, SRU students can wander past the Smith Student Center or the gazebo in the quad and be greeted with fun music and a happy-go-lucky freshman dancing his heart out. Jonathan Sosa truly knows what it means to ‘dance like nobody’s watching,’ even while the whole campus is doing so.

Sosa said he’s been interested in dance since his freshman year of high school when dubstep and electronic music, the style of music he dances to now, was at the height of its popularity.

“Not all of these songs had music videos, but there was plenty of dance videos with a style of dance I had never seen before,” Sosa said. “I was interested in how they expressed the music so I just decided to try things out myself.”

Dancing is one method of stress relief, which is a big reason behind Sosa’s love for the activity.

He also said it’s a quick way to change his mood, no matter what the day’s been like or how classes are going.

Freshman Jake Taylor, one of Sosa’s best friends, said he thinks Sosa really likes to have a good time, and that he dances on campus because he knows it can positively affect someone’s mood.

“He plays music throughout campus solely because everyone he sees looks so miserable,” Taylor said. “So he tries to add a little music to brighten their days.”

Taylor described his ‘broski’ as very outgoing and social, and suggested Sosa knows almost everyone on campus. Sosa himself said he hopes that his dancing encourages others to live more worry-free lives, and feel the freedom that comes with dancing, or doing anything else you love.

While many people on campus who witness Sosa indulging in his passion are very positive and encouraging, he did mention that there are times when all people do is point and laugh at him.

“It’s all a matter of taking in the feedback and not letting negative vibes affect your passion,” Sosa said.

According to Taylor, dancing isn’t the only

talent Sosa has; he mentioned that Sosa frequently cooks for Taylor and their other friends, and he specializes in Asian food. Along the same lines, Taylor, who is originally from Blairstown, NJ, said Sosa was one of the few people who really helped him feel more at home when he first came to Slippery Rock, which is around five hours away from his hometown.

“He’s like, the most reliable and best friend I have here,” Taylor said of Sosa. “We’re best buds, and I don’t know how I could do it without him.”

Although Sosa has not yet officially declared a major, he sees a bright future for himself.

He hopes to use his creativity and innovative nature in his career, and Taylor said that, with his work ethic, Sosa will absolutely be successful on whatever path he may choose.

“I see myself in a life where I can seize whatever opportunities I can reach while still staying true to myself,” Sosa said.

Next time Sosa’s dancing outside the gazebo or near the front door of the Smith Student Center, be sure to stop and enjoy the music with him for

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2018 Orientation Special