2/8/2019 Digital Edition

the rocket

Friday February 8, 2019 • Volume 102, Issue Number 6 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper

www.theonlinerocket.com

N

Student survives violent car crash Watch the video at theonlinerocket.com

NEWS

Courtesy of University Public Relations

Health Center officials cultivate safe, open environment for students

By Adam Zook News Editor

The stigma surrounding sexual activity is ever present on college campuses. At Slippery Rock University, the narrative is no different.

However, officials at the student health center are working hard to triumph over the social taboo of talking about your sex life and to provide students with resources to help them practice safe sex.

Vanessa Vought is the coordinator of health promotion at SRU, and oversees the Health Outreach through Public Education (HOPE) student organization. Vought's initiative since being recently promoted has been to provide a safe and open environment for students to ask important questions surrounding their own personal sexual activity.

"The health center always encourages students to come to us with their concerns," Vought said.

"We offer education on the contraceptive options that we are able to provide and how students can be practicing safe sex."

Vought said that students regularly use the health center for these purposes. In particular, the purchasing of prophylactics is common according their inventory tacking. In the fall of 2018, a total of 506 condoms were purchased—138 in person and 368 from vending machines around campus.

For students who have never before used birth control products and are interested in acquiring contraceptives, Vought coordinates what are known as options appointments. Options appointments were created to provide students with information on forms of birth control that are available at the health center, risks and benefits associated with each method, cost options and proper use each product to prevent pregnancy.

The health center currently offers three forms of vaginal contraception.

Vought said that birth control pills are often the best option for students who have never previously used contraceptives.

"The pill is the best way to administer hormones initially," Vought said. "I think that the pill is so popular is because it's easier to stop if you decide you no longer want to use contraceptives."

Also provided as forms of birth control are the NuvaRing and Depo-Provera injections.

NuvaRings are small, flexible pieces of plastic that are inserted vaginally and need to be replaced every three weeks. Depo-Provera shots are administered every three months and prevent ovulation by increasing the viscosity of cervical mucus.

Ot h e r f o r m s o f contraception, such as intrauterine device (IUD) implants, are not offered at the health center. Vought and her colleagues refer students to area facilities who can aide in more invasive methods of pregnancy prevention. The health center also coordinates transportation to these facilities, an obstacle that Vought said can prevent students from exercising all of their options.

"We try to help whenever possible with transportation to make sure students have access to the products and services that they need," Vought said.

"Reducing issues like access and lack of information about contraceptives  has always been a top priority for us. We have to meet students where they're at and provide them the best health care options possible on campus."

Patricia Hemshrodt is a nurse practitioner at SRU and has been at the university since 2006. While Vought conducts much of the educational sessions and is in charge of campus outreach, Hemshrodt regularly conducts testing for sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. "We try to offer a safe and open environment for students when they come in to be tested," Hemshrodt said. "We have a confidential partnership through the Department of Health that allows us to administer tests with full discretion."

Hemshrodt relies on the educational information distributed by Vought and HOPE to help students know when to be tested for STIs. She stressed that regardless of whether you have a penis or vagina, all you are required to do for testing is urinate in a cup if you aren't displaying any symptoms.

"I think a lot of people feel like they are going to have a full exam when they come in for testing, and that can be a deterrent," Hemshrodt said. "Students

should never feel as though they can't come to health center with their concerns."

Hemshrodt did clarify that individuals with vaginas who are displaying symptoms will likely require a physical exam.

Both Hemshrodt and Vought encourage couples who are sexually active to come to education sessions together and practice effective communication with one another. Although any examinations would be separate due to confidentiality, Vought said that supporting one another is beneficial in any sexual relationship.

"You should always know each other's status before becoming intimate with one another," Vought said. "I would like to see more couples come in together and have that conversation together."

Information on oral sex is also covered during these educational sessions and distributed by HOPE. Hemstrodt emphasized the importance of using protection during oral sex to prevent the transmission of STIs. "Oral sex also requires barriers to prevent the spread of disease," Hemstrodt said. "Around 50 percent of individuals have been exposed to herpes type 1, which leads to the regular accumulation of cold sores. One in six people have been exposed to type 2, which occurs in the genital area."

The health center provides flavored condoms and dental dams to be used during oral sex. Pamphlets produced and distributed by HOPE outline all that the health center provides in terms of protection for sexual activity, including assorted lubrications and specially ribbed or thin condoms.

Dispensaries to purchase condoms are located all around campus according to Vought. The bathrooms at Boozel Dining Hall are equipped with condom vending machines. The motto emphasized by HOPE and Vought is that while abstinence is the best, protection is next in preventing pregnancy and the spread of STIs. "We want to be the first place that people come to so that we can connect them with the services that they need," Vought said. "We try our best to get the word out on social media and promote all the options that the students of Slippery Rock have to practice safe sex."

ADAM ZOOK/THE ROCKET

Demonstration NuvaRings are utilized by Health Center staff during educational sessions. NuvaRings are a contraceptive that is inserted vaginally and replaced every three weeks.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION (STI) TESTING $15 URINE TEST FOR MEN/ WOMEN $10 SYPHILIS/ HIV BLOOD TEST $17 ANAL SWAB AVAILABLE (COST VARIABLE) PAP TEST AVAILABLE $31 HERPES TYPE 1 AND HERPES TYPE 2 $15 HERPES TYPE 2 ONLY

Health Center Fall 2018 Statistics

18 506 524

Options Appointments Condoms Purchased Twitter Followers (HOPE) GRAPHIC BY: ADAM ZOOK

ADAM ZOOK/THE ROCKET

Dental dams are thin pieces of latex used to prevent the transmission of STIs during oral sex. The health center offers several different flavors, including banana, vanilla and strawberry.

February 8, 2019

NEWS

A-3

SGA E-board prioritizes election promotion, outreach projects

By Hannah Shumsky Assistant News Editor

With the upcoming departure of four senior executive board members, the Slippery Rock Student Government Association (SGA) is shifting focus toward recruitment for the 2019-20 academic year in addition to long-term projects within SGA's committees.

The focus on elections this year comes after last year's elections failed to see more than one ticket. Five of the current executive board members, including current SGA President Dallas Kline, ran under the OneSRU ticket.

"I didn't enjoy running against nobody last year," Kline said. "Hopefully there will be at least two tickets."

Since 2011, three election years (2011, 2015 and 2018) had only one ticket during campaign season. Last year saw the smallest voter turnout since 2011 with 534 votes, accounting for 8 percent of the full-time undergraduate student body.

Kline called last spring a quiet election cycle. After the senate appointed nine more senators last semester, nine senate positions—one graduate, three building and five commuter—remain open as of the beginning of this semester.

"We started last year with a lot of open positions," Kline said. "That was a setback for us just because the election season last year was so quiet."

Half of the executive board—including Kline, Elizabeth Hernandez (vice

president of student and academic affairs), Logan Tupper (vice president of finance) and Kennedy Moore (vice president of diversity and inclusion)—and four commuter senators are seniors and will not return next year. A definite number of tickets and candidates will be confirmed after the deadline for petitions and election packets on March 22.

"It's so exciting not knowing who's going to be running," Nicole Dunlop, vice president of internal affairs, added.

According to Kline, the election is being advertised through faculty, student media organizations, tabling, social media and on-campus meetings. SGA will also hold an information session on Feb. 19 during common hour.

"We're really trying to push it everywhere," Kline said.

The E-board is emphasizing elections for next year more than fulfilling the current senate positions.

"We have a couple people interested [this semester], but right now, we want to focus on elections for next year," Kline said.

The election rushes officially begins at the next SGA formal meeting on Monday, Feb. 11 with the appointment of an election commissioner and a committee to be comprised of four senators. One week later, election packets and petitions will be available on CORE and due on March 22.

Once an election commissioner is selected, Kline will specifically focus on planning the Big Event, a new community

PARIS MALONE/THE ROCKET

Dallas Kline speaks at last spring's Student Government Association (SGA) debate on April 10, 2018. Kline, Logan Tupper, Nicole Dunlop, Chadwick Burdick and Kennedy Moore ran unopposed under the OneSRU ticket with Elizabeth Hernandez, who ran unopposed but independent of the winning ticket.

service initiative. On April 14, students representing clubs will venture into the community to complete service projects before a celebration in the quad.

The idea of the event came from a student government conference last year. As part of the "day of thanks," students would register to volunteer alone or as part of an organization to complete an assigned task.

SGA is working with Slippery Rock Township and Borough to find specific tasks for students to complete the day of the event. SRU's SGA is also working with other student governments from Texas A&M and Virginia

Tech to help plan the event.

"We're hoping that it's successful and that it will become an annual event for SGA," Kline said.

Elections aside, two committees will focus on outreach to clubs and organizations. The rules and policies committee, led by Parliamentarian Eric Lehman, will review bylaws for clubs and assist the restructuring ad-hoc committee in rewriting any necessary legislation.

Under Tupper, the finance committee will prioritize budgeting for next year, a process that will take place on CORE instead of Excel for the first time.

"This year, we really want to help the clubs we approved in the past," Kline said.

Last semester, the food pantry's location on the first floor of the Macoskey Center was approved. Currently, students who are in need of food may contact Hernandez to access the pantry.

An ad-hoc committee to investigate a senate restructure was approved in December.

The committee, chaired by Maggie Calvert, commuter senator, will review collected research about other student government structures and possibly recommend a plan to change the current residence-based organization of SGA.

Dunlop said that improved communication within SGA is a goal this semester, especially with the number of projects developing within SGA's six committees.

"There's a lot of projects going on, and sometimes we need to talk more about what we're doing so we all know what's going on within SGA," Dunlop said.

Kline emphasized that students don't necessarily need to be a senator to participate in SGA, as any student is able to join a SGA committee.

"Our committees are open to all students," Kline said. "If they want to try a committee before they even join SGA, they are welcome to do that."

GRAPHIC BY: HANNAH SHUMSKY

NEWS

A-4

February 8, 2019

POLICE BLOTTER February 1 - Police were dispatched for a fire alarm activation in the second floor laundry room of Building F. When officers arrived, the building was being evacuated. Officers confirmed smoke on the second floor and Slippery Rock Fire Department was dispatched. Officers checked the second floor and advised of an electrical smell in area. Officers in the conference room checked the pantry room.

When officers opened the door, they discovered heavy smoke. Officers tried to gain entry but were unable to due to smoke and being unable to see or breathe. The fire department discovered the cause was a heating unit malfunction. The unit was burnt and was sending smoke through duct work throughout the second floor. The building was aired out and students were able to return. Maintenance was notified and responded. Contact was not able to be made with Health and Safety.

February 1 - Police received a medical call from Building E. Police checked on the person. An ambulance was dispatched and transported the person to the hospital.

February 2 - Police responded to a vehicle accident at Central Loop. After reviewing camera footage, a person was cited for failure to stop at the posted stop sign.

February 5 - Police were called to check on a person in Rhoads Hall. The person was taken to the police station, and a relative picked up the person to take them home.

February 3 - Police were called for an unknown person banging on a residence door in Building D. Police responded and identified the person. The person was removed from the building.

February 5 - Police received a call from a nurse in Ohio to report that a student was assaulted on Feb. 2.

The victim did not want to give a name, location of incident or any other details of the assault.

February 3 - A case from Jan. 30 was resolved. Andrew Weese, 19, was cited with an alcohol violation.

February 5 - Police received Metis activation from Swope Music Hall. The alarm was accidentally tripped, and the panel was reset.

February 4 - Police were called for a medical emergency in Smith Student Center. An ambulance was dispatched and transported the person to the hospital.

February 6 - Police responded to a fire alarm in Aebersold Recreation Center. Police checked the area and discovered that a child pulled the alarm. The panel was then reset.

February 4 - A person reported that a vehicle hit their parked car in Swope Commuter Lot. A note was placed on windshield by a witness who observed the accident. The case is under investigation.

February 6 - Health Center requested an officer and an ambulance to transport a patient to the hospital.

COMPILED BY: HANNAH SHUMSKY

Counseling Center promotes self-love, mental wellness

By Haley Potter Senior Rocket Contributor

The Student Counseling Center at SRU has implemented some changes this semester to their service options in order to promote mental health and self-love on and off campus.

Dr. Melissa Nard, associate professor and licensed psychologist, said that the counseling center focuses on serving students by providing counseling for developmental, social adjustment, academic preparedness and psychological concerns.

“Individuals, couples, and group counseling are available through the counseling center, although majority of the sessions are individual,” Nard said.

She said that the counseling center also provides emergency and crisis intervention

services, along with wellness programming in the form of psychoeducational outreach to the university.

Nard said that the new session limit is helping to encourage students to utilize services.

“We are very fortunate that President Behre supports the mental health of the students to such a degree that he was strongly in favor of removing session limits,” Nard said.

Nard said that limiting sessions was not a decision that the counselors agreed with in the past and it was a decision that they challenged as an organization.

“I believe that an artificial session limit can be a barrier to students seeking treatment,” Nard said.

“While we have to remain mindful of our limits in terms of providing ongoing care over semester breaks, I think

students appreciate knowing that they don’t have to ‘stretch out’ sessions.”

treatment because of obstacles like transportation and copays.

Counseling Center 2017-18

3671 3953 502

counseling appointments (individual & group)

total hours spent in session

individual students who received counseling GRAPHIC BY: ADAM ZOOK

Nard said that counseling in nature is typically shortterm, but that they have to be open to the possibility that some students need longterm counseling to build up therapeutic relationships so that their ultimate goals can be accomplished. She said that with SRU being in a rural area, it is often difficult for students to seek help through off-campus

Nard said SRU also offers a program for when the counseling center is not opened called TAO, short for "Therapy Assisted Online." This national program has been used at Slippery Rock since the spring of 2016. With this program, students are able to have access to a therapy hotline online. Although Nard has recommended this

service before, she personally feels that students who are in crisis should seek care inperson through the student counseling center, the student health center and the university police.

Nard emphasized that taking care of mental health is an essential need in a university setting.

“I often ask students what they do for selfcare and many times they don’t have an answer,” she said. “We are getting better at it, but I think as a society we haven’t done a good job of recognizing how mental health impacts all areas of our lives. This includes areas like academic functioning, interpersonal relationships, our ability to think about and plan for the future and how we fundamentally value ourselves.”

Nard said that there is not just one basic answer when it comes to how students can relax and promote self-love.

She said, however, that disconnecting from social media is important.

“We have become so connected to our devices and to people, in an artificial way, that we don’t have as much of an opportunity to even get to know ourselves,” Nard said.

She ended with noting the importance of caring for yourself and utilizing the counseling center when students feel as though they need the necessary help.

“The counselors love meeting with students and working with them to address any mental health concerns they experience,” Nard said.

February 8, 2019

A-5

O

OPINION

Our View

Believe what they say Ignore what they do

OPINION

Volume 102, Issue Number 6

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 Eric Davies

Editor-In-Chief

Adam Zook

News Editor

Oscar Matous

Sports Editor

Megan Bush

Campus Life Editor

Heather Donat Paris Malone

Photo Editor

Thomas Fabian

Multimedia Editor

Hannah Shumsky Karl Ludwig

Assistant News Editor Assistant Sports Editor

Hope Hoehler

Assistant Campus Life Editor

Sarah Allen

Assistant Copy/Web Editor

Jack Hopey

Assistant Photo Editor

Dr. Brittany Fleming

Faculty Adviser

ADVERTISING STAFF Lauren Ault

Advertising Manager

Nicole Tolliver

GRAPHIC BY: JACK HOPEY

Copy/ Web Editor

Assistant Advertising Manager

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

The Rocket receives funding from the SGA Student Activity fee paid each semester by students. All other income is provided through the sale of advertising.

Advertising inquiries may be made by calling (724) 738-2643 or by emailing rocket.ads@sru.edu.

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

Last semester during National Hazing Prevention Week, SRU's Interfraternity Council (IFC) ran a social media campaign on Instagram featuring photos of members of Fraternity Life (FSL). The campaign showed members from each chapter with graphic overlays explaining why they did not haze. Included in this effort was a picture of a member of Sigma Tau Gamma standing in front of a fundraising effort hosted by the chapter during VillageFest on Main Street. The text on the photo read "Brothers of Sigma Tau Gamma strive to be courageous and noble gentlemen who always endeavor forward. There's no time for Hazing. (sic)" They apparently found time in their schedules as Sigma Tau Gamma received a five-year suspension for hazing after the conclusion of a student conduct investigation, according to an email sent

by Jayne Piskorik, assistant

director of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Student Organizations.

Anti-hazing campaigns like the one IFC ran last semester are not uncommon. Members of FSL often hold events, make posters and sign agreements that decry hazing and the negative effects it has on individuals and organizations. Despite participating in these events, the members of Sigma Tau Gamma still hazed their new members. While raising awareness and denouncing hazing is important, social media campaigns are not hazing prevention—they are public relations efforts.

Our FSL community has provided value to the campus through philanthropic work as previously reported by The Rocket. Members of FSL serve in leadership positions around campus including SGA and UPB. However, anti-hazing campaigns on

social media are simply not enough to combat hazing at its core.

No matter how many resolutions students sign or how many posts are shared on social media, these efforts do not actually verify whether or not members of FSL community are hazing. The recent implementation of minimum standards is a good first step to prevent hazing on our campus. Concrete initiatives, including requiring chapters to submit their new member processes, provides an opportunity for administration to detect deceitful behavior and potential members to evaluate if they want to join.

However, this step alone is not a complete solution to preventing hazing.

The minimum standards implemented are specific to FSL and do not include other student organizations, which is especially problematic as Sigma Tau Gamma is only one of the confirmed hazing

In the Quad

By: Tom Fabian

instances on our campus within the past five years. Of the two other violations, one was another fraternity, Theta Xi, and one was the men's rugby team.

Anti-hazing social media campaigns alone may give the impression that hazing is something our campus has come together to combat. As we can see from the three student conduct investigations within the past five years, it still happens here, regardless of what we see on social media.

As legislative and university prevention efforts continue to take effect to enforce sanctions against student groups charged with hazing, members of FSL and other student organizations need to embrace transparency within their organizations and the community, an initiative that needs to go beyond a flashy social media campaign.

Question:

“What’s your favorite pickup line?”

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions to The Rocket are available. Subscriptions are $20 per academic semester and $35 for the full academic year.

Inquiries should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief at the address listed here.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Rocket strives to present a diverse range of opinions that are both fair and accurate in its editorials and columns appearing on the Opinion pages. “Our View” is the opinion of the Editorial Board and is written by Rocket editorial board members. It reflects the majority opinion of The Rocket Editorial Board.

“Our View” does not necessarily reflect the views of Slippery Rock University, its employees or its student body. Columns and cartoons are drafted by various individuals and only reflect the opinions of the columnists.

LETTERS POLICY The Rocket welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee their publication.

The Rocket retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Submitted material becomes the property of The Rocket and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published.

Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affiliation, if any. Please limit letters to a maximum of 400 words. Submit all material by noon Wednesday to: The Rocket, 220 ECB, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057. Or send it via e-mail to: rocket.letters@sru.edu.

Kalyse Eckert Freshman Healthcare Administration Philadelphia

Celine Halt Junior Resort Recreation and Hospitality Management Pittsburgh

Derek Brewer Junior IMC/Journalism Plum

“Are you from Tennessee?

'Cause you’re the only 10 I see”

“Hey, tie your shoes. I don’t want you fallin' for anyone else”

“Did you fall from heaven? 'Cause you’re the only 10 I see”

OPINION

February 8, 2019

B-2

It’s Time for Aaron Bernstine to Resign Bernstine (R, PA-10) recited this oath of office, swearing him into the State House of Representatives. This oath represents the bond between state lawmakers and their constituents, a pledge by the legislator that they will truly put in the effort to represent the people of their Madison V. King home district as faithfully as possible.

Madison is a sophomore, Even before his first the news director at inauguration, he has not WSRU-FM and the once attempted to represent treasurer of the his constituents, rather, he Feminist Majority has chosen to be a faceless representative of the national Leadership Alliance.

Republican Party. He has “I do solemnly swear (or decided that his constituents affirm) that I will support, and even his boss, Mike obey and defend the Turzai, take a backseat to Constitution of the United the messaging of President States and the Constitution Donald Trump, despite of this Commonwealth and his district overall rejecting that I will discharge the duties Scott Wagner in 2018 by an extremely thin margin, of my office with fidelity.”

On Jan. 1, 2017 and again despite being gerrymandered on Jan. 1, 2019, Pennsylvania to be as conservative as State Representative Aaron possible.

Most of his notable infractions lie in the use of his Twitter account, which he has repeatedly used to personally target his own constituents and anyone in general who may not have voted for him. He has gone after local news sources and local reporters solely for reporting facts that he personally believes are unfavorable towards him.

"...It is time for the Representative to resign his seat and return to his former teaching job in Pittsburgh."

When you consider his electoral performance in 2016 and 2018 compared to other Republicans,

A Perspective on the March For Life

Robert Prokopchak

Robert is a senior mid level science education major.

Life begins at conception and ends at a natural death.

If one chooses to terminate a person’s life at any point in between, it is murder. As an Orthodox Christian, I believe in preserving the life and dignity of all people. I recognize that my beliefs and values may not align with those of the university or with all of my fellow students.

Also, I am not here to argue about when “life” really begins, or what constitutes dignity. I hope you’ll develop your own opinions on all this.

I’m concerned with the destruction of viable, valuable individuals. In the words of author Dr. Seuss’s character Horton, “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” Simply put, in the process of conception, genetic material from the mother and father are joined together, and the end result is the formation of a new and unique person. This newly created cluster of cells should not be considered as part of the mother’s body, but rather it is the body of her baby forming inside her. Therefore, we should not stand idly by and allow the murder of these small people to continue to be legal.

We ought to speak out against such a thing. We should work to support the parents by supporting the various means that are available to help them in their new quest to ensure

the health and survival of their child. I spoke out this year by joining in the annual March For Life in Washington, DC. I disembarked a tour bus near the Smithsonian, and headed to the March rally point on the grassy fields known as the National Mall. There, they had a stage set up where musicians were performing, and then various pro-life speakers addressed the crowd.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT PROKOPCHAK

Robert Prokopchak stands in front of the Washington Monumnet in Washing DC while attending the March for Life. The march is an annual event that began in 1974.

I was attending the march as an Orthodox Christian and as a university student.

I was glad to carry the sign stating “I am the Pro-Life Generation,” handed out by studentsforlife.org, while sporting my SRU “Rocky” hoodie. My focus was to join my fellow Orthodox Christians as they rallied before the march.

Through the crowd, I located and joined an entourage of Orthodox clergy and hierarchs.

We met with the main Orthodox group, which included a group from St. Tikhon’s Seminary, and made our way to the corner of Madison and 14th. In spite of the noise from many groups using megaphones, heavy traffic, and people honking horns as they drove by, Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America led us all in prayer.

During the prayer service, we prayed for an end to the practice of abortion, and sang prayers for the departed in memory of all the innocent lives which have been lost through abortion.

Then, when our turn came, we joined in the march.

Together we marched alongside many groups of Christians from all over.

I encountered an antiabortion atheist group who were making a bold statement about the march.

In addition to their gladness to march alongside people of various faiths, their megaphone operator made comments that hit home for me. He said that it is sad and shameful that we gather together every year to march against abortion because we as Americans have failed every year to stop abortion. It was his hope, and mine as well, that someday we will succeed and have no need to march.

As we continued to march, we sang many different hymns. As we approached the Capital building, we sang hymns that are traditionally sung when we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection. It was a reminder of the hope that we have that we too will join Christ in His Resurrection when the last days of this world pass. After another brief rally and prayer, we disbursed along with the rest of the crowd at the end of the march.

strongarming local press and local campaigns seems to be his only real method of hanging onto his seat. After this piece is published, I largely expect some anger pointed in my direction. I invite Rep. Bernstine to discuss his issues with me on my radio show with dignity instead of doing it behind my back.

For those unaware, in the 2018 election he was opposed by a single candidate—Green Party nominee Darcelle Slappy, who received that nomination despite being an outspoken Democrat.

Bernstine was listed as the Democratic nominee during that election due to him filing legal objections against any Democratic candidate during the primary season. Local Democratic candidates that had filed to run against him were forced to withdraw from the race due to an inability to fight

those challenges because of the costs associated.

Regardless of having both major party nominations, Bernstine still performed the worst of any incumbent up against no major party opposition, with third party nominee Slappy taking 22 percent of the vote. Of the other races with one major party and one third party, Bernstine’s performance at 77 percent is the worst, with the closest being Rep. Karen Boback (R) in Luzerne County with 82 percent (Libertarian Lou Jasikoff took 18 percent).

These numbers. in addition to Bernstine’s actions. imply that with a proper Democratic challenger, Bernstine would be an extremely vulnerable incumbent, and I urge the Democratic Party of Pennsylvania to begin searching for candidates now.

With a largely fruitless legislative record, no solid accomplishments for the people of PA-10, and no personality beyond what he feels will get him attention from the president, it is time for the Representative to resign his seat and return to his former teaching job in Pittsburgh. He is completely out of touch with what this district’s residents truly want, regardless of party, and his strategy of strongarming his way into his seat will not work for much longer.

To wrap this column: As I mentioned earlier, I am aware that this may attract some attention from Rep. Bernstine. If he chooses to respond casually – for every time he uses the buzzphrase “Trump Derangement Syndrome”, I will down a shot of the cheapest alcohol available at Ginger Hill. I invite anyone interested to join me.

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, I am a freshman student at Slippery Rock University who would like to voice his concerns regarding the websites that the school uses for many of its academic services. These websites contain important information for students, as well as parents and staff. As a result of this, they are heavily trafficked every day and play a large factor in the efficiency of student and professor work. There are many issues and inconveniences that have resulted from the formatting and functionality of the websites used by the university both in my personal experience and the experiences of others.

I believe that Slippery Rock University should refine their websites so that students, parents and professors alike can find what they need with ease.

One of the issues that most students deal with is keeping up with their grades on D2L. There is no centralized location to view your overall grades in classes and gauge your GPA. Many of my classes don’t list the overall grades at all for each subject. Because of this, you must go onto the website and count the points for every assignment in each individual class to find your overall grade. In addition to that, some professors take a long time to update their grades on D2L. My chemistry professor, for example, still has not posted the grades for my first three exams, at nearly the end of the semester. This can lead to students having an inaccurate impression of how they are doing in their classes and where they are regarding certain GPA requirements they may have. There needs to be more centralization to the whole system so that students are more aware of their performance in their classes.

Some issues don’t result from the format of the SRU website network that is currently in use. Rather

than the layout, one of the more frustrating issues of the website is its basic functionality. There have been numerous times that I have tried to login to MySRU through my phone or laptop, only to be greeted with a screen telling me that there was an error. This has happened in many instances, most notably at times where I needed to access the site quickly to print off an assignment before a class or turn in an assignment to a dropbox. And if the website does eventually allow access to it, students will have to deal with the slow loading times that for some reason only seem to plague the university’s websites.

"I believe that Slippery Rock University should refine their websites so that students, parents and professors alike can find what they need with ease."

I have also have had a issues where certain PDF files of PowerPoint slides crash my laptop entirely upon opening them. Most of the time, these website functionality issues don’t normally cause any serious problems in the broad scope of things. But when they do, it is incredibly aggravating and I feel that the university should make an effort to improve the websites functionality so that it will serve as a better hub and resource to its users.

Another issue involved in the SRU websites is the strange design choices that are present within multiple services in the SRU website network. Firstly, MySRU requires all users to change their password every couple months or so. Many people, including me, have found this mandatory password change to be an annoying inconvenience. It always

takes me extra time to get into mysru for the following week as my browser is set to auto fill my login information for the website.

Because of this, every time that I change my password, I have to break the habit of entering my old password and remember my new one.

While not a major issue, I would like to at least see an option to keep the password that we want.

There are also some strange design choices that can be found in the online quiz sections of D2L. After taking a quiz online, some classes allow you to view your answers and what you got right and wrong. Being able to view your answers can be very helpful while studying for exams and bettering your understanding of the class content. However, from personal experience and from the experiences of others, many of the online quizzes do not offer this feature. I would like to see these and other unfavorable design choices to either be improved or replaced with an entirely new website design.

Overall, I believe that it is very important that Slippery Rock University refines their websites in the future so that students, parents and professors alike can find what they need with ease.

While the issues themselves aren’t too much of a problem, the combination of them all within the websites that students and staff access almost daily commands a noticeable effect on its users. These issues lower the efficiency and awareness of students within their classes and are not up to the standards of a state school like SRU. In the future, I would like Slippery Rock University to make their website network more centralized and improve the functionality of their websites overall in order to improve the efficiency of its users by offering stronger resources.

Signed, Daniel Simmen

February 8, 2019

B-3

S

In-depth with Coach Conrad Watch the video interview at theonlinerocket.com

SPORTS

Rock clinches playoff berth

For the ninth season in 11 years, The Rock will return to the postseason

PARIS MALONE / THE ROCKET

Redshirt junior Micah Till goes for a layup during The Rock's 87-70 win over Pitt-Johnstown on Jan. 23. Till currently leads The Rock with 462 points.

By Zack Bonnette Senior Rocket Contributor

A perennial contender in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, Slippery Rock managed

to punch their ticket to compete in the postseason once again to capture that elusive PSAC men’s basketball title.

After falling just short in the second round of

the playoffs in the 201718 season to Gannon by a score of 77-70, a revamped Slippery Rock squad seems to be hungrier than ever, rallying around acting head coach, Ian Grady.

Credit must be given where credit is due, as the men’s team had its fair share of issues to address before the season began, but through adversity, The Rock came out strong as ever.

Unphased, the team has banded together, making sure to hold each other accountable. Now 22 games in, these men are not just teammates, they are brothers, something that Coach Grady can attest to.

“One of the keys to our success this year was the ability to come together and stay together as a family,” Grady said. “It has helped us play well, and I believe that is one of our biggest strengths this season.”

The Green and White now sits at an overall record of 15-7, with a tidy 12-3 record in conference play.

SRU also ranks No. 2 in the PSAC-West in both offense and defense this season, tallying an impressive 82.0 points per game while only yielding 73.1 points per game.

If the season ended today, The Rock would clinch a first-round bye, as The Rock sits second in the PSAC West, only trailing nationally ranked No. 4 IUP. After churning out win after win, including a 12game win streak in which

SRU did not drop a game in nearly a two-month span The Rock has certainly put the PSAC on notice. As the leader of the Green and White squad that has been a force in the PSAC this season, Coach Grady made it clear that each athlete on the roster has been a pivotal piece in this season’s puzzle.

“I don’t believe that anyone is less or more valuable. I have always said that the value to the team is not measured by minutes played,” Grady said. “Everyone has a role on the team and they have executed well, so I am proud of everyone.”

However, after enjoying one of the longest win streaks across Division II this season, the team has fallen back, dropping two of the last three contests.

Coach Grady gave some insight as to how the team can avoid becoming complacent to capture that coveted first-round bye, before the rapidly approaching postseason begins.

“No matter what the circumstances are, there can always be adjustments made to get better. We have lost two of the last three in tough road environments, and in both games we lost, we have not defended at the level that we are capable

of,” Grady said. “If we can perform better on the defensive side of the ball, I am sure that will bode well for us coming down the stretch.”

With six games left in the season, Slippery Rock controls its own destiny in the postseason, when it comes to determining how they will be seeded.

The Rock maintains a one-game lead over Mercyhurst in the PSACWest, who they had beaten earlier in the season in a double overtime thriller in which The Rock downed the Lakers by a final score of 92-91.

Nonetheless, the two teams will meet again on Feb. 13 at Morrow Field House in a rematch that has colossal playoff implications. However, Coach Grady is adamant that the next game the team plays is always the most important.

“First thing is first; our focus is on Saturday when we are going up against Seton Hill. It won’t be an easy game by any means; it’s another road game against a team that is playing well right now. We need to focus on Seton Hill now, get the win, and when the time comes, turn our attention to Mercyhurst,” Grady said.

Behind Welch, tennis heads into Spring season Following a strong fall season, Rock tennis looks to build on the success

By Brendan Howe

Senior Rocket Contributor

With the spring portion of her team’s schedule having gotten underway, senior Allie Welch is forging into her final three months as part of the Slippery Rock University women’s tennis team.

Welch began this season seeking improvement upon her junior season, which was her best statistical effort at The Rock.

She started the 2017-18 campaign by getting off to nine wins in her first 11 singles matches, and she ended the year with a careerhigh 16 victories.

Her success was not limited to individual play.

In doubles, she posted a 9-3 mark, including a triumph against St. Bonaventure and a Division I pairing.

Opening the season, Welch was matched with both Amy Varckette and Olivia Warner at the Oberlin Invitational.

It wasn’t long before she was again coupled with sophomore Lauren Fadden, who she had gone

6-2 alongside last year, at the ITA Atlantic Region Championships. The partnership once again proved effective, closing the fall with three straight victories.

Arriving in Slippery Rock in 2015, it was her doubles skills that Welch felt needed sharpened most.

She had focused on singles at Highland High School in Medina, Ohio, where she was chosen as an all-county honoree four times and steered her Hornets to a Suburban League championship.

In addition, she was rated No. 10 in the country in 2013 while part of the United States Tennis Association (UTSA) 18-and-under junior team.

Although October's schedule lasted a span of only two home matchups, against Kutztown and Millersville, Welch was dominant. She claimed both of her singles matches decisively, conceding only one point in four sets.

As well as possessing a good forehand and consistent serving abilities inside the

fences, Allie is a level-headed, calming guide that leads by example, such as working over break to better her deliveries.

“This year, she’s really brought the team together in a way that we’re having a lot of fun and working extremely hard,” Slippery Rock head coach Matt Meredith said. “Her leadership abilities have been foremost, helping this team tremendously. She knows what the team needs and when they need it. She pretty much is the voice of the team, to me.”

While not volleying bright green orbs, Allie is steady in the classroom.

The marketing and finance major has been named as a PSAC scholar athlete each year she has wielded a racket for the Green and White.

Beside Welch are junior Lacey Cohen, an All-PSAC Western Division honoree, and freshman Lois Page, a native of Guisborough, England.

Cohen, who has 76 career wins and is on pace to join SRU’s 100-win club, claimed the PSAC singles title this past

October.

Page has gone 5-2 in singles as of late, along with competing in the league’s doubles championship with partner Viola Lugmayr.

Speaking about Page, the team’s lone freshman, Meredith said that after the fall, she’s no longer "truly" a freshman.

Meredith said Page has the experience and has developed well as a player and person since coming to The Rock in August.

Welch said she has numerous goals this season, not only for herself, but for the entire team.

“As an individual, I want to keep improving my doubles and just play my best. It’s my last year so I have nothing to lose in giving it all on the court,” Welch said. “As a team, we want to make regionals and beat some good teams that maybe, in the past, we haven’t been able to beat.

Teams that have weakened, I guess.”

Meredith disagreed.

"Teams haven't weakened," said Meredith, with a smile.

"We've gotten better."

KENDALL SCOTT / THE ROCKET

Senior Allie Welch returns a serve during her freshman season.

Welch is the only returning senior on this season's squad.

C-2

PSAC-WEST STANDINGS

SPORTS

Former Steeler finds home at The Rock Associate head coach Chris Conrad reflects on his former professional career

Men's basketball 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Indiana (PA.) Slippery Rock Mercyhurst Pitt-Johnstown Gannon California (pa.)

Seton Hill Edinboro Clarion

20-2(13-2) 15-7 (12-3) 16-4 (11-4) 13-9 (8-7) 8-14 (6-9) 7-13 (5-9) 7-14 (5-10) 6-13 (3-11) 4-15 (2-13)

Women's basketball 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Indiana (Pa.) California (Pa.) edinboro seton hill pitt-johnstown gannon Slippery Rock Mercyhurst Clarion

19-1 (14-1) 18-2 (12-2) 14-6 (9-5) 14-8 (8-7) 11-11 (7-8) 11-12 (7-8) 9-12 (7-8) 8-14 (5-10) 8-14 (2-13)

COURTESY OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATION

Associate head coach Chris Conrad's official headshot for The Rock. Conrad played for the Steelers from 1998-2000.

By Oscar Matous Sports Editor

upcoming games ROCK @ SETON HILL SAT. FEB. 9, KATHERINE MABIS MCKENNA CENTER; 3:00 P.M.

ROCK @ SETON HILL SAT. FEB. 9, KATHERINE MABIS MCKENNA CENTER; 1:00 P.M.

ROCK @ GRAND VALLEY BIG MEET FRI. FEB. 8, GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY.

February 8, 2019

On any given Saturday during college football season, Slippery Rock University head coach Shawn Lutz can be found on the sidelines discussing plays and techniques with his associate head coach Chris Conrad.

Conrad, 43, might seem like your everyday offensive line coach but the Fullerton, California native has a football career that includes a brief stint in professional football.

Conrad's football career began in junior high school, but it was not the football that people are used to seeing, he said.

"We didn't have tackle football in junior high, we had flag football," Conrad explained. "My first year of tackle football was in ninth grade and I just went out for it because my buddy was playing; that was the only reason."

Conrad said he quit playing football after that first year because of a number of reasons, but mainly because he didn't like the coaching staff at the time. "[The coaches] said a lot of bad words and were always cussing," Conrad said. "It just turned me off on the game. I took a year off and did track and field, and then got back into football my junior year."

That same year, Conrad received his first letter from a school to play collegiate football.

"I realized that this could actually take me somewhere and I just went from there," he said.

From the start Conrad said he was a linemen on both sides of the ball, solely because of his size. At six-foot-seven, 270 pounds, coming out of high school, Conrad was the ideal linemen to be recruited by college football programs.

Before deciding on California State University in Fresno, Conrad was recruited by San Diego State, Utah State, and Weber State (UT), according to an article published by the Los Angeles Times in January of 1993.

Conrad said he chose to attend Fresno State because he wanted to remain in California, but that was not the sole reason.

"Truthfully, Coach Sweeney had turned me on

to the program," Conrad explained. "That year, [Fresno State] had just beat USC in the Freedom Bowl and I said, 'Hey that is the place for me.' It was one of those thing where I was able to play right away, as soon as I could; and it worked out great for me."

Jim Sweeney was a longtime coach at Fresno State, leading the Bulldogs from 1976-1977, 1980-1996.

Conrad said he didn't realize until much later into his college career that he was capable of breaking into the NFL. "The funny thing is, Coach Sweeney was the guy, when I came in my freshman year, that told me I was going to go pro," said Conrad, smiling. "But it really wasn't until my senior that everything sort of sunk in. With everything going on, you don't really think about it too much."

Conrad was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (66 overall) of the 1998 NFL draft. He was selected 26 picks ahead of Hines Ward. The 1998 draft also saw nine-time pro bowler Alan Faneca drafted 26 overall by the Steelers and two-time Super Bowl Champion Peyton Manning drafted first overall by the Indianapolis Colts.

Upon being drafted, Conrad joked that the first thing he had to do was find out where Pittsburgh was located.

"Being from California, I had never really been out to the East Coast," Conrad explained. "It was a big-time culture shock for me. Great time in my life for me and I have never left."

Conrad began his professional career in 1998 with the Black & Gold, playing in six games and starting one. 1999 saw Conrad starting three games in 11 games played. Conrad's professional football career was quickly ended during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 5, 2000.

"I broke my neck," said Conrad, simply. "My C4 and C5 had snapped; it hit my spinal chords and I lost feeling on my right side."

Conrad said in order to come back and play football

again, he would have had to undergone numerous surgical procedures on his neck and spinal chord. The doctor told him that if he wanted to walk, and walk well again, that he might want to retire, Conrad explained.

Despite the injury occurring during a preseason game, Conrad said that he started noticing problems during training camp.

"A bunch of 'stingers' started to happen during camp," Conrad said. "It was repeated over and over again like every play. And finally it just snapped and that was it; I started losing feeling in my right side and knew something was wrong."

Although Conrad's career was cut short, he is still thankful that he was given the chance to play professional football.

"It was insane," he said.

"Of course it's always the best time out there on the field with all of your buddies playing. I truthfully had a great experience; it was probably one of the best times of my life."

Within a year of retiring, Conrad took up a job with Shaler Area High School's football program and served as the offensive and defensive line coach, remaining there for eight seasons. Within that time frame he also served as the throwing coach for Shaler's track and field team for five seasons.

JOHN HELLER / POST-GAZETTE

Conrad during his rookie season with Pittsburgh.

Following his tenure at Shaler, Conrad was hired by Carnegie Mellon University's football program and served as the offensive tackles and tight ends coach for three seasons. Conrad's next coaching job was helping jumpstart the football program at Northgate High School. He finished the season with Northgate and then received a phone call from then-SRU head coach George Mihalik.

"I got the call from Coach Mihalik to ultimately volunteer with the team," Conrad explained. "I ended up volunteering here for two years before I actually got hired."

Conrad was named the offensive line coach on July 13, 2012, replacing longtime coach, Joe Walton, who retired two months earlier.

Replacing Walton, who had coached at SRU for 25 seasons, seemed sort of surreal for Conrad.

"It's a crazy a thing to look at," Conrad explained.

"I'm myself and was going to do my own thing to help these guys out, help the

team out in any way I can.

I want to give kids the same opportunity I had."

Lutz emphasized Conrad's nontraditional coaching methods. "[Conrad] is not a yeller or a screamer on the sidelines," Lutz explained. "He talks to the players and has a conversation with them without yelling at them. He is very articulate with the team."

Conrad said that during his time at SRU, he has thoroughly yelled at the team maybe two times.

"You got to coach, no matter the situation, you got to teach," Conrad said.

"You're a teacher on and off the field; these kids need to know that. You want them to succeed and get every opportunity that they can."

In recent years, The Rock has seen the development of top-tier offensive linemen in Ian Park, Steve Gaviglia and Cory Tucker.

Last season, Conrad helped oversee a Rock offense had one of the most effective offensive lines in all the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

Conrad acknowledged that the offensive line is one of the most underrated position in professional sports.

"We make the dream work," said Conrad, smiling.

"I coach these guys to perfect everything to make their job easy; scheme is one thing but technique rules all."

Before being named head coach on Dec. 18, 2015, Lutz served eight seasons as the defensive coordinator for The Rock.

Lutz said that during that time, he and Conrad developed a great rapport with each other.

"The o-line and the d-line were constantly working together during practice to help understand technique," Lutz said.

"Conrad brings an extreme amount of credibility and passion to his players and to the game and it really shows when these guys go out on the field and compete."

Having that experience in professional football, Conrad acknowledged that the game of football is drastically different now than from what it was 20 years ago. "[The] speed and power of the game cranks up every year," Conrad explained.

"Every level you go, that's one that you see; the speed and the power of the game [go up] go faster and it's unbelievable and so fun to watch."

Conrad said that he does not use his former professional career as a coaching tactic.

"I never really use [it]," he said. "It was just a part of my life. I am just trying to be the best guy I can be and help these young men out."

Long term, Conrad said he will always see himself in Slippery Rock and has no plans on leaving.

"I am very comfortable here," said Conrad, smiling.

"The family atmosphere is huge for me. Coach Lutz has been great and Coach Mihalik was before; it's what we call a brotherhood, so it's tough to leave."

February 8, 2019

SPORTS

C-3

Hinderliter reaches career milestone Junior guard cracks the 1,000 point plateau

PARIS MALONE / THE ROCKET

Junior guard Brooke Hinderliter takes a jump shot during The Rock's 72-61 upset over California University (Pa.) on Saturday. Hinderliter led the way with 27 points.

By Karl Ludwig Assistant Sports Editor

Only 12 players in the history of Slippery Rock women’s basketball have reached the elusive 1,000-point milestone.

In the past 14 years, only former Rock guard/ forward D’Asia Chambers has joined the millennium club.

It is time to add junior guard Brooke Hinderliter to that exclusive group of women.

“It means a lot and I’m just glad that I can be a part of it,” Hinderliter said.

Needing just five points coming into the Green and White’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-West matchup with Edinboro

University to crack 1,000 points, Hinderliter only needed the first quarter to reach the lofty mark.

Hinderliter connected on an early three-point attempt—an area of her game that was initially a weakness when arriving at The Rock—to inch closer to 1,000. With one minute left in the first quarter, Hinderliter forced a Fighting Scots’ turnover and dribbled the length of the court for an unassisted fast-break layup.

A three-pointer, a steal and a layup were all that she needed to reach an even 1,000 points.

Slippery Rock coach Bobby McGraw may not have known that he was getting a player who may

well become a Hall of Famer at The Rock, but he knew that Hinderliter was a special talent straight out of high school.

“She’s a tireless worker.

As soon as she arrived on campus, I already knew she’d be a special player.

But when you have someone with that much physical ability, that much skill and has that kind of work ethic, that takes them to the next level. Brooke Hinderliter will end up in the Hall of Fame here.

There’s no doubt in my mind,” McGraw said.

A gifted prep school scorer at Redbank Valley High School, Hinderliter’s scoring aptitude has obviously carried over to the collegiate ranks. McGraw attributes

the talented junior’s strength and athleticism in enabling her to be able to drive to the basket any time she touches the ball.

“She is one of the, hands down, most athletic players I’ve ever coached on the women’s side,” said McGraw. “Plenty of women who transfer here, or play pick up here say Brooke is the strongest female they have ever played against.”

While Hinderliter’s scoring acumen has dominated the headlines for obvious reasons, the completeness of her overall game sets her apart from other guards in the PSAC. Playing in every possible game since coming to The Rock, Hinderliter has started all but one of those games.

The junior from Seminole, Pa. has also led the team in total minutes the past two seasons.

McGraw stressed the fact that every successful team needs a workhorse and how Hinderliter has taken strides to become just that for the Green and White.

Heavy workloads may seem unappealing to collegiate players balancing class work, personal lives and the change that college can be for students, in addition to basketball, but Hinderliter has always just wanted to be competing out on the court.

“I just knew that I had to come in and work hard, and, honestly, I just wanted to get on the court and play,” said Hinderliter.

One of the best rebounding guards in the PSAC since stepping onto the court at Morrow Field House, Hinderliter has turned the two most glaring holes in her game into positions of strength for The Rock.

“The first thing she improved the most is her

defense. She faced double and triple teams every night in high school, so the offense is a premium for her,” McGraw said.

“In her league, few and far between, she saw people with the ability they have in the PSAC, so her defense has improved tremendously.”

Hinderliter’s ability to lock down an opposing team’s leading scorer and the respect defenders must give her due to the emergence of a reliable jump shot leaves very few questions as to who the best guard in the PSAC is, according to McGraw.

“You look at the statistical numbers, Brooke Hinderliter is the best guard in the PSAC. The way she scores, the way she rebounds the ball, the way she shoots free throws.

Brooke means a ton to us.

When Brooke is rolling

"Brooke Hinderliter will end up in the Hall of Fame here. There’s no doubt in my mind."

- Coach McGraw

during a game, we are tough to beat–especially with everyone we have around her,” said McGraw.

Only a junior, Hinderliter has seven games remaining this season and all of next season to continue to climb the all-time scoring leaderboard and leave her mark at The Rock. At her current pace, Hinderliter would finish with 1,526 points. That would be good for third all-time at The Rock.

With No. 10 California University (Pa.) visiting Morrow Field House and a losing streak dating back almost two decades possibly

on the cards, Hinderliter made 13 of 13 free attempts, including six of six in the final two minutes, to lead The Rock to a 72-61 victory.

Hinderliter led all scorers with 27 points and chipped in eight rebounds and three steals.

Ending a losing streak dating back 35 games and providing a jolt for a team that had lacked remarkable moments, the talented junior guard made a lasting mark on Rock women's basketball history. A few more wins this season, starting by bouncing back from a harsh loss to Indiana University (Pa.), and The Rock will be back in the Tournament hunt.

While Hinderliter is focused on playing basketball, McGraw has given a bit of thought about where the high-scoring guard will rank when she finally plays her last game at The Rock.

“There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind—I’m just talking statistically—she’ll be one of the five best guards to play here,” said McGraw.

“I’ve thought about this and I’ve been asked this before, and if you’re a numbers person, there’s no question.

Then you start talking about team success and all that good stuff.”

With a strong finish to this season leading to a potential run through the PSAC Tournament and a full, dialed-in senior season, the hype around Hinderliter will only get louder. She has a lot of basketball left to play, and by the time she is done, Brooke Hinderliter may be the best women’s basketball player to ever play for Slippery Rock University.

Rock women's basketball will be back in action against Seton Hill University on Saturday at the Katherine Mabis Mckenna Center.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.

Pole vault duo have eyes set on PSAC/ National Championships Marshall, McQuaide continue to hit NCAA qualifying marks

By Aaron Marrie Junior Rocket Contributor

The Slippery Rock University pole vault indoor clearance record currently sits at 4.01 meter. Junior Maddy Marshall set that record during last season at an Edinboro University Invitational.

So far this season, 3.87 meters is the highest clearance by any Division II athlete. Redshirt senior Courtney McQuaide recorded that mark in the first meet of the indoor season, yet both her and Marshall are performing at an elite level this season there is no stop in sight.

McQuaide has reached the national mark for pole vaulting each time this season, and Marshall has reached it all but one week. McQuaide is the only member of either the men’s or women's indoor track

team to hit this mark in all meets this season.

Both Marshall and McQuaide are not new to the national stage. Last season, both women made the trip to nationals and both placed in the top 20.

McQuaide cleared 3.82 meters to secure fifth place and All-American honors.

Marshall was not far behind with a 3.57 meter clearance to place No. 16 at the NCAA Championships. “ T h e y ’r e both phenomenal athletes,” assistant head coach Bill Williams started. “The main thing for them is their experience in the event; they've been doing this event since high school.”

Williams added that pole vaulting has a huge physical impact, and both women have continued to work extremely hard to become the best athletes they can physically be.

"The main thing for them is their experience in the event; they've been doing this event since high school."

- Coach Williams “[Pole vaulting] takes a lot of core strength, a lot of stability throughout the body, a lot of speed and explosive power and takes a lot of gymnastic work as well,” Williams said.

As the women look ahead to their meet in Allendale, Michigan this Friday at Grand Valley, McQuaide looks forward to the event and the energy it brings.

“Every year since my junior year we’ve gone to Grand Valley, and it's usually just a really big event,” McQuaide said.

“There's a lot of great athletes there, so it's a pretty exciting event. It gets pretty loud there, and it's a good place to hit a mark and PR. And I just look forward to the energy.”

Even though this is McQuaide’s last indoor season, she aims to get back to a 13-foot vault goal to end out her SRU indoor career.

“I know that I have a lot more in me than what I’ve shown so far this year.

It's just a matter of getting right with my head and on the runway and being on the right poles. And it's just all timing up, hitting that peak performance, hopefully around indoor nationals,” McQuaide said.

From one Slippery Rock star to another, Marshall

recorded her season high of 3.87 meters last weekend at the Youngstown State University Invitational.

She has recorded just one vault that was below NCAA Division II level this season earlier during her second visit at YSU. For the women, staying and competing at such an elite level is both rewarding and challenging as the season progresses.

“I think it's just nice to go through all of preseason, and challenge yourself with all the hard workouts and everything," Marshall said.

"Getting closer to meet days, with our heavy lifting still going on, and then showing up to the meet and still proving how high we can jump is just nice.”

Marshall is just as ready to get back to Allendale for the third time and compete again with some of the best collegiate athletes.

“I’m really looking forward to all the competition that's gonna be there. There’s usually some pretty good vaulters, so it will be nice to see some of the girls that are already on the list for nationals.

It will be nice to compete against them,” Marshall said.

Both McQuaide and Marshall have created a national reputation during their careers at Slippery Rock.

As they look forward to this Friday’s meet, they will get their first test of elite talent this season. For McQuaide, she has a goal in mind, of surpassing 13 feet. And as for Marshall, she's just ready for the competition.

As they move closer to PSAC and National Championships, the women continue to perform as best as they can.

SPORTS

February 8, 2019

C-4

National signing day nets 27 players for Rock football 22 incoming freshmen and five transfers commit to The Rock

By Karl Ludwig Assistant Sports Editor

Having players who set the program’s single-season rushing record or lead all of the NCAA in career sacks are vital pieces in building a collegiate football program that can contend for the national championship every season. What sets the truly elite teams apart, however, is the ability to replace those iconic players.

The Slippery Rock football team has welcomed the newest batch of Rock football players into its midst with 27 players signing National Letters of Intent on Wednesday’s 2019 National Signing Day. "We signed 27 guys. Our primary need was a bunch of young offensive linemen.

A lot of skill guys but a lot in the secondary. I'm very excited, and since I have been a head coach, it's our best class in terms of guys who are very good football players," said Slippery Rock coach Shawn Lutz.

Despite losing star halfback Wes Hills to the NFL Draft, The Rock’s offense is bolstered by the return of junior quarterback Roland Rivers III. Rivers rapidly became one of the top passers in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Jermaine Wynn Jr. and Henry Litwin, a pair of talented redshirt sophomores, and redshirt junior Mike Merhaut all return to The Rock as River's top receiving targets from last season.

The offensive line figures to be a work in progress following the losses of Colten Raabe and Steve Gaviglia to graduation.

The defense, despite losing star defensive back Kyle Hall, will return a strong, young core headlined by junior linebacker Brad Zaffram, redshirt sophomore linebacker Tim Vernick and sophomore linebacker Trysten McDonald.

Junior kicker Jake Chapla, the best kicker in program history, returns to headline a strong special teams’ group.

With much of the first team offense and defense returning next season, the biggest position battles will come from the players whose relationship on the field can make or break a team’s offensive success: the linemen and the running backs.

"Offensive line wise, I think the guys who come in and compete will be Eric Festa, who started at Concord as a true freshman, and Anthony Rebar from Belle Vernon. Austin Swink from Lake Norman in North Carolina too," Lutz said.

Eric Festa, a transfer from Concord University with three years of eligibility left, started 10 games for the Mountain Lions and has the potential to be a day one starter for The Rock. Austin Swink from Lake Norman High School and Anthony Rebar from Belle Vernon High School are two high impact freshmen that Lutz feels can see the field next season.

Sam Enslen from Butler High School, Dylan Vaniel—who was a long snapper in high school—from McKeesport High School and Yuriy Hryckowian from Central Bucks-South High School round out the talented offensive line corps.

Now that Hills has departed the program for

the NFL, the running back committee will see two more names enter the fray for the running back battle.

Seton Hill transfer Cinque Sweeting, a 6’0” 180-pound running back, compiled 837 all-purpose yards and five total touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore.

Incoming freshman Avante McKenzie from Aliquippa High School brings gaudy statistics and big game experience from his time in high school.

"At running back, it'll be Cinque Sweeting and Avante Mckenzie battling with Chacar Berry, Braden Fochtman and Nassir Weaver," said Lutz.

"We got a lot of guys, we just need to find out who that guy will be."

Bolstering an already loaded receiving core, The Rock brought in eight wide receivers and a tight end.

Converted quarterback Kyle Sheetz from Conneaut Area High School and Penn State transfer Brandon Clark—son of former NFL player Bruce Clark—both stand taller than 6’3” and weigh more than 195 pounds. Lacking a tall vertical threat last season, the two incoming players unlock a new wrinkle in the Green and White’s playbook.

Deoveon Crute from Aliquippa High School and Cohen Russell from State College High School each bring elements that will allow for the chance at seeing the field as true freshmen.

Russell—the state runnerup in the 100-yard dash in 2018—has the kind of speed unseen before at The Rock, said Lutz.

Dante Flati from West Allegheny High School, Billy Kersten from Norwin High School, RayQuin Glover from South Fayette High School and Cameron Marett from Wilmington High School round out the wide receiver commits.

Colin Kadlick from Deer Lakes High School is the lone tight end recruit this year and should expect to see "I'm very excited, and since I have been a head coach, it's our best class in terms of guys who are very good football players."

- Coach Lutz

the field, said Lutz.

On the defensive side of the ball, the defensive backs got a boost with a couple of transfers. Coming from PSACWest rival Indiana University (Pa.), Nazir James and Erie Community College transfer Sam Fairley will be given looks to start at cornerback and safety, respectively.

Selvin Haynes from Upper Dublin High School—an East-West All-Star game participant in the spring— has Lutz excited for his potential as the future of the secondary. Devin Sims from McKeesport High School, Jalen Dangerfield from Hartford Tech and Dashaun Wright from Imani Christian Academy complete the secondary ranks.

For the front seven, two defensive linemen and two linebackers signed their Letters of Intent for the Green and White.

Jevon Lang, the 6’2” 255-pound defensive end, was the top-ranked player on The Rock’s defensive

PARIS MALONE / THE ROCKET

Tight end Aramis Alexander lifts wide receiver Austin Scott into the air following The Rock's 38-31 victory over Kentucky State on Sept. 1.

They combined for 30 catches and five touchdowns for a total of 476 yards in 2018.

big board. An astonishing 32 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and four forced fumbles as a senior attracted the attention from The Rock. Eric Oblak from Belle Vernon High School rounds out the defensive line commits.

Despite not losing a player that had been in The Rock's recruiting plans, Lang was the one player that Lutz worried would not put the pen to the paper.

"A kid named Javon Lang. A damn good football player and probably the best I've had here since Marcus Martin," Lutz said.

PIAA District 10, Region 6’s Co-Player of the Year Chris Mohra from Conneaut Area High School racked up over 2,000 all-purpose yards as a running back in high school but will transition to the defensive side of the ball with the Green and White.

Cody Ross from Freedom Area High School brings valued leadership to the locker room, Lutz said.

Fresh off an 11 win season and a PSAC-West title, Lutz credited the program's success in recent seasons along with a stellar recruiting staff in bringing in one of the best recruiting classes in the conference.

"It helps when you win.

We had a great season this year; we made it to the quarterfinals. We really didn't lose a recruit this year and that's just a testament to our staff, coach Conrad, our staff and just a testament to our football players."

With Rock football now fully reloaded for the 2019 campaign, looking ahead is inevitable and Lutz looks forward to being underestimated again.

"I hope they pick us third or fourth like they did last year," said Lutz with a smile.

C

CAMPUS LIFE

Aubrey Frye poses with her students at the American School of Valencia Read the online exclusive at theonlinerocket.com

A Rockin' Love Story

Two SRU alumni share their story, starting with and circling back to The Rock

By Megan Bush Campus Life Editor

Since 1889, Slippery Rock University has been a placee for students to learn, find themselves elves and develop relationships that would last a lifetime. This rings true for Ed and Dorie ie Schleiden, an SRU alumnii couple who fell in love right here at The Rock.

While they were students, the two lived in Cooper Street Apartments -- right down the hall from one another. They knew of each other but had never really interacted until one morning Dorie wanted too make pancakes.

“I went over to borrow milk for pancakes and instead,, he gave me eggnog with Southern hern Comfort in it,” Dorie laughed. hed.

“So, I definitely remembered ered him after that.”

Ed and Dorie “finally” got together when their friends went out together on a picnic. Thirtyfive years later, the Schleidenss are happy with three sons and three hree granddaughters. Their sons grew up very active: hiking, kayaking king and “everything Ed likes.”

“We raised three boys and then they gave us three granddaughters, and our granddaughters are so cool,” Ed said.

After they graduated from SRU, Ed and Dorie ran a landscaping company together in Zelienople. They had a sailboat on the

l a k e and would drive 40 minutes up to Slippery Rock every weekend to go sailing.

One day, they decided to give in and move up to Slippery Rock to be near the lake and their boat — although once they moved here, they got too busy to keep the h boat. b Like many fresh-faced freshmen, the couple frequented Boozel Dining Hall for brunch, and while there, Ed struck up a conversation with one of the

employees. As he had been getting older, his landscaping job had taken quite a physical toll on him, so when the employee praised the position at Boozel, Ed was sold. Dorie was employed at a bank, but

when Ed kept coming h o m e and about how d talking lki b h much he liked his new job, she wanted in on it, too.

“The rest is history,” Ed said.

“It’s a pretty good gig for an old guy.”

They walked to work and got to see students every day, which are two of their favorite parts of SRU, Dorie added.

Dorie, who recently retired from the position, worked in Bailey Library at the coffee shop that is now T&B Naturally while Ed worked up the hill at Rocky’s. He’s currently the designated delivery person.

Dorie said it was nice to work so close at their l because, b h i age, it i was nice to be able to check in with each other every so often.

“Our hours were similar, so we got to spend time together,” Ed said. “And now [that Dorie’s

retired], I go home and we have evenings together, which is pretty neat, and weekends, spring break, summers, fall break, Christmas break … it’s break nice.” real n The two like to attend Th numerous campus events like num the Performing Arts series, speakers and comedians, sp aand other activities. Ed remarked that, often, they are the oldest people in the room at these events, but it’s okay because the students’ energies can be “contagious.”

“The students are really hard-working,” Dorie said. “They’re taking quite a course load and they’re getting out there with such get specifi speci c goals; you can’t help but be ex excited about their futures.”

While not at work, Ed and W Dorie used to spend a lot of Dori time hiking and sailing, like their sons, but now that they’re older, Dorie said they spend olde more time “cooking and mor looking.” Ed added that they look also laugh a lot, which is his favorite aspect of their 35-yearfavor long marriage. In the same strain, Dorie appreciates having strain bbeen with the same person for such a long time.

“I can get up every morning, and I’ll know I’m gonna have a good conversation [with him],” she said.

Warm a child's heart with Love Your Melon Fight pediatric cancer with Love Your Melon and kiss cancer goodbye Cancer fundraiser organized by the Love Your Melon Association at SRU will be given Asst. Campus Life Editor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and other associations battling cancer.

“We fundraise and bring awareness to The Love Your Melon Association (LYMA) at Slippery Rock University will be hosting a foundations like Love Your Melon,” Diehl Kiss Away Cancer fundraiser Feb. 14 during said. “[I hope] that everyone can realize that common hour in the Smith Student Center. Love Your Melon is focused on family and According to Paige Diehl, senior early partnerships, rather than money. They help childhood education and special education pay for treatments and other necessities.”

LYMA has other fundraising events on major, those participating in the Kiss Away Cancer fundraiser can buy a piece of lipstick campus in the future such as the relay for to rub on their lips and kiss a piece of poster, life, collaborating with Make A Wish to do kissing cancer goodbye. Hot chocolate will a 5K, a watermelon contest in the quad, and bake sales. also be provided at this fundraising event.

“We want to create a family with the Diehl, who's also president of the SRU chapter of LYMA, said the organization was club,” Diehl said. "We understand that first recognized as an organization in the [people have] other obligations. If you can't spring of 2018 and began holding meetings come to this meeting, come next week."

LYMA also traveled to Pittsburgh last in the fall of 2018.

Love Your Melon is an apparel brand semester to participate in the St. Jude Walk that supports the fight against pediatric and Run 5K and made cards for UPMC cancer and for every hat sold, gives a hat during the holidays.

Meetings for the Love Your Melon to a child battling cancer. The brand also gives 50 percent of all net profit from the Association are currently every other week sale of LYM products to the Love Your starting Feb. 12 at common hour, with the Melon Fund. All profits fund charitable exception of the first meeting which will be programming initiatives for children and held at 1 p.m. The location is currently to families battling cancer, create therapeutic be determined.

“We are flexible; as of right now, we experiences, and support nonprofit partners don’t have any dues,” Diehl said. “It’s all in the fight against pediatric cancer.

The Kiss Away Cancer fundraiser is one about getting out there and finding time to that LYMA has done before. Seventy-five fundraise; it’s not about how many people percent of the profit from the Kiss Away you get.”

By Hope Hoehler

“A lot of my friends set [up] the club together,” Diehl said. “We have this passion for helping children. I didn’t even think that some members who came to SRU would have gone through this, but one of our current members went through this.”

Love Your Melon has given 160,000 hats to children battling cancer and has raised over 6.1 million dollars to the fight against pediatric cancer.

To learn more about the Love Your Melon Association at SRU, follow them on Instagram @lyma_sru.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON VARGO

(left to right) Savanna Wilson, Paige Diehl, Mary Bekavac and Nicole Jones show their Love Your Melon pride in colorful capes and beanies at the Involvement Fair on Jan. 29. For every hat sold, the brand donates a hat to a child battling cancer.

CAMPUS LIFE

D-2

Feburary 8, 2019

Student orgs step into spotlight Semi-annual Involvement Fair celebrates friendship, passion and education

By Jack Konesky Junior Rocket Contributor

On Tuesday, Jan. 29, the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership hosted its semi-annual Involvement Fair, allowing droves of students both insight into the various organizations and extracurricular activities on campus, as well as shelter from the brutal cold. Taking place on the third floor of the Smith Student Center, the Involvement Fair is a chance for the various clubs of Slippery Rock University to step outside the boundaries of majors and garner attention from across the entire student body.

"It helps open the door to other majors that come in," said Megan Stephenson, senior environmental science major and president of the Geography, Geology and the Environment Club. "We're linked with the GGE department, but we also welcome other majors to help kind of bring them to our major, or even if you don’t want to major, there are certificates or minors."

A large variety of the clubs on display would be considered ancillary to their related majors, and it would naturally follow that their core membership would be comprised of students within that major.

"I got involved as soon as I came to Slippery Rock because it was the club for my major," Stephenson continued.

"From there I decided to get involved and kinda wanted to be a leader, so then I went on to become president."

Though improving one’s core education is a common goal for some clubs, it’s not a unanimous one. A good number of clubs exist as a way for members to relax and bond with one another. Building social skills and forming relationships are just as much a part of the college experience as pursuing higher learning.

"This organization: I feel like it provides something

PARIS MALONE/THE ROCKET

Senior economics and modern languages and cultures dual major and brother of Theta Chi Marshall Tuten promotes the fraternity to some students at the Involvement Fair Jan. 29. The fair, which gave student organizations at Slippery Rock University the chance to showcase what they're all about, was held on the third floor of the Smith Student Center.

different than a lot of other organizations that are specific to, like, majors or certain things like that," explained president of the Black Action Society Taron Polk. "Especially for

PARIS MALONE/THE ROCKET

Members of the College Republicans promote and showcase their organization for students at the Involvement Fair on Jan. 29. The College Republicans organization was founded in the spring of 2017 to represent the right-leaning students of Slippery Rock University and officially received funding from the Student Government Association in the fall of 2018.

our African-American students, it's kind of just a safe place where they can come and relax and feel a bit more comfortable."

Polk, a junior marketing major, originally learned about the Black Action Society through the Involvement Fair himself. He began as a general body member before working his way up the ranks, becoming a public relations chair and, eventually, president of the organization.

"I definitely think this fair is the biggest stepping stone into joining this organization and many others," Polk said. "It's that first impression where you first get to meet the people at that organization, and it kind of pushes you forward into actually wanting to join and participate in the events on campus."

Though filled with the general pandemonium that would come with an overstuffed ballroom of college students, the Smith Student Center portrayed a unique type of unity amongst the student body. Each handcrafted display sought to entice students into a particular club, but the true goal of the fair is to foster a community.

"I would say absolutely try it out," encouraged secretary of the Musical Theatre Society Olivia Freed. "This is one of the best experiences and one of the best organizations that I've come across throughout my time here at Slippery Rock."

Though Freed, a junior, originally came to Slippery Rock as a music major, she's currently working toward a degree in early childhood and special education. She described MTS as a way for her to keep in touch with her passion for performance.

Whether it be to form a support group, enrich your education or express an artistic side, the Involvement Fair is the first step in, well, getting involved.

"I absolutely wouldn't trade my experiences or the friendships for anything," Freed happily concluded.

"All the Single Ladies" (and Gents) College Dress Relief

By Allison Downs College Dress Relief Correspondent

Put your hands up (in the forevericonic words of Beyoncé) if you’re going to be single this Valentine’s Day! If you’re anything like me, you tend to dread and maybe even detest the holiday. It’s not always easy to be single on a holiday that celebrates romantic love.

Just because you don't have a signifi cant other to cuddle up with doesn't mean you can't celebrate a holiday that honors love. Sure, romantic love can be great, but love for friends, family, and yourself is just as important.

If you’re single this Valentine’s Day, try to celebrate yourself. Here are some fun things you can do this Valentine’s Day – no S.O. required.

Celebrate Galentine’s Day with your best friends! If you're single and you have a bunch of (single or otherwise) friends, then Galentine's Day is always a great option. Go out to dinner and watch a movie, or stay in, eat pizza, and binge-watch your favorite Netflix shows together. You're not just celebrating

yourself and your friends, but the love you have for each other.

Have a movie marathon featuring your celebrity crush. Some people love Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling or Channing Tatum. If you’re like me, you have a thing for superheroes – more specifically, Chris Evans. You might curl up in bed or on the couch and watch "Titanic" and "The Great Gatsby," or "The Notebook," or maybe even the Magic Mike movies. Me? I’ll be watching all of the Captain America and Avengers films.

One of the most obvious things to do: treat yourself! The “treat yourself ” mindset has taken a toll on a lot of people’s bank accounts (myself included), so you shouldn’t go overboard, but a minor splurge will definitely be worth it. Have you had your eye on a new top or a pair of shoes?

Maybe you’ve been wanting to get your hair or nails done. Buy or do something you’ve been wanting for a while; it’ll be like a Valentine’s gift to yourself!

Take care of yourself. Some holidays can be really rough for some people. If Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that puts you down in the dumps, take

the day to pick yourself up. Self-care is one of the most important ways to protect your mental health. Unplug from social media, pick up a journal and start writing, listen to music that calms you, take a nap or read a good book. Do what you need to do to make yourself feel better and develop a better mindset.

Celebrate “Anti-Valentine’s Day.” Have you ever seen the movie "Valentine’s Day"? The one with the huge, spectacular cast that includes Taylor Swift, Ashton Kutcher, Bradley Cooper, and so on? If you haven’t, you really should. After you do, if you’re the kind of person that genuinely hates the holiday, you could take a page out of Jessica Biel’s character Kara Monahan’s book and throw an “AntiValentine’s Day” party. Ignore anything pink, red, and/or covered in hearts, go out, and surround yourself with people who share your feelings and think the holiday is just as cheesy as you do.

No matter how you feel about Valentine’s Day, don’t forget that love doesn’t only mean romance. Your love for your friends, family, and, most importantly, yourself are just as good,

if not better, than romantic love. So surround yourself with your loved ones or spend the day treating and taking care of yourself. Happy Valentine’s Day, SRU!

How to celebrate Valentine's Day — without an S.O. ♥ Celebrate Galentine's Day ♥ Movie marathon ♥ Treat yo' self! ♥ Observe "AntiValentine's Day" instead

February 8, 2019

CAMPUS LIFE

D-3

Intercultural exhibit helps artists overcome barriers

By Jack Konesky Junior Rocket Contributor

GRAPHIC BY MEGAN BUSH

By Mallory Angelucci Senior Rocket Contributor

Another Valentine’s Day means another day to wake up, eat heartshaped pancakes, listen to romantic playlists, and wear red and pink out to dinner with your significant other as they proclaim their love to you.

No? You’ll be alone? There’s a song for that, too! Spending Valentine’s day with yourself or friends is just another way to give yourself some extra love.

“7 Rings” by Ariana Grande preaches the benefits of self-love, independence and indulgence. Though we can’t all be rich and splurge this often, showing yourself some love by treating yourself is definitely worth a few bucks every now and then.

“Fire n Gold” by Bea Miller soars through the heart high and mighty, telling of inner confidence that’s “sometimes hard to realize.” Going with this feeling will result in better ones that will follow you out of Valentine’s Day if you let them.

“Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” by Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus is a song to lift you up if you feel like mourning lost love or loneliness. If the “broken record” Miley sings of spins around and around the way she says

it does, let’s just hope a good song is playing!

If you do happen to celebrate the holiday with someone special, music is far from lacking in songs to help you feel the love. A song like “Pretty Paper”

by The Lumineers encourages us to slow down in the midst of a busy time full of rushed greetings and hurried words and notice the things that we love with its soft sounds and slow beat.

The 88's “All ‘Cause of You” brings the heartbeat back up, reminding us of the feelings that are felt at the beginning of something new with someone new.

“There You Are” by ZAYN, former One Direction member, brings grateful thoughts to mind as you recall the memories shared with your significant other, good and bad and never ugly.

Understanding all of the ways you have loved someone is a great way to strengthen that feeling. Sharing this candy and rose-fi lled day with someone is best set to background music in case things get quiet.

The way the day is spent is what makes the day special, and music is a great way to ensure that special feeling.

With or without someone at your side, love is love and it can be found everywhere if you look the right way.

This Monday in the University Union, a modest exhibit was set up featuring works of fiber art both from students here at Slippery Rock University and from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, Poland. Titled 'Student to Student,' the intercultural exhibition was the result of supplying students from differing backgrounds and cultures with the same exact assignment and observing the wildly different pieces that came as a result.

"This is the fifth edition of this fiber art international collaborative project; we started five years ago," explained associate professor of art Barbara Westman. "This collaboration is quite unique, as it's the only one like that international collaboration in our department."

The assignment that Westman provided was, in theory, rather simple. Students were tasked with creating artwork focusing on a concept of layers of textiles, paper and other flexible materials.

"So, two fiber art studios, and we work on the same assignment which is worded the same way, but the results are always different because we are from different environments, different backgrounds, different cultures and speak different languages," Westman continued. "It's a pretty interesting thing to bring these two groups of works together as one exhibition."

From bright yellows and dormant greys layered on top of a concrete-black, evoking the image of a nighttime city, to a sea of overlapping fabric and newspaper clippings creating an alphabetical ocean with waves of words, each student was able to take the basic prompt and create something artistically distinct with it.

"It's about seeing how people interpret the same assignment in a different way — or maybe in similar ways — but again, it's who we are that really determines how

we approach it and how we interpret the assignment."

Westman described the process that went into creating such an exhibition, how the best works of each group are selected and flown to Poland with her for their first proper public showing. Careful consideration is taken in choosing which pieces are showcased to create a diverse image of the blended cultures at play with one another. After their first exhibit in the summer at Poland, the whole gallery is then packed back up and sent back here to SRU to once again go on display.

"I was born and raised in Poland and lived in the U.K., so I'm always interested in intercultural interactions on different levels and, of course, when it comes to art I think it's very important to expose my students to art from different parts of the world!" said Westman. "These are their peers; it's just that they live on a different continent."

Traditionally, the exhibition occurs sometime in September of the fall semester, but Westman explained that she had been on sabbatical for a semester, and thus, the artworks were presented in the spring semester.

Though students never directly interact with one another during the artistic process, Westman described their separately shared assignment as a way of communication in its own right. They may not speak face-toface with one another, but each piece of art tells a different story that transcends the traditional barriers of language and distance.

"I think it's very beneficial to ... be able to analyze: 'Okay, so this is what I produced, but this is how the other person responded to the same assignment. Oh, look at these interesting materials that the person used! I didn't think about using this, I used that!'"

Westman excitedly remarked. "It's that for me that becomes the main value for this kind of art: collaboration."

BOOM BOOM BOOM (GOTTA GET THAT) JACK HOPEY/THE ROCKET

'Boombox Guy' Jonathan Sosa upgraded his signature accessory to something louder and prouder last week, and to celebrate his new stereo, as well as the warmer weather, he held a little dance party outside Starbucks.

Sophomore Jonathan Sosa, known to our campus as 'Boombox Guy,' is back this semester with a new and improved version of his signture speaker.

Sosa can again be found busting moves at his usual favorite spots: the gazebo in the Quad, the seating area out front of the Smith Student Center, and next to the art piece by Eisenberg Classroom Building.

He's been entertaining students and putting smiles on faces since before he enrolled at Slippery Rock University thanks to his high school being right across the street.

Last year, Sosa described dancing as his passion, and in his future, he wants to use his creativity and innovation to find a career he loves.

Since The Rocket's first story about Boombox Guy, he has declared a major in business management.

JACK HOPEY/THE ROCKET

Sosa is a sophomore business management major at Slippery Rock University and has been an established presence on campus since he was in high school just across the street at Slippery Rock Area HS. Sosa describes himself as a creative person, citing his passion for dance.

February 8, 2019

D-4