3-25-2022 Digital Edition

the rocket

Friday March 25, 2022 • Volume 105, Issue Number 8 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper

www.theonlinerocket.com

GRAPHIC BY: RAYNI SHIRING

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INTERACTIVE: View food inspections across campus

NEWS

We can crawl if we want to

By Joe Wells News Editor

The Slippery Rock Student Government Association (SRSGA) kicked off its campus safety week on Monday evening with its annual Campus Safety Crawl.

The event, led by Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs Grant Warmbein saw the SRSGA and American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) team up with students to identify possible safety issues on the university’s 660-acre campus.

More than 20 participants took part in the event, a slight increase from the previous year.

To kick off the event, Warmbein briefed the students on what sort of hazards to look out for, breaking the group into small teams armed with clipboards and maps. The groups then scattered across campus to inspect their assigned areas for hazards.

Samuel Miloser, a junior safety management major and president of the ASSP chapter at Slippery Rock University, led his group from the Robert M. Smith Student Center (SSC) down to the East Lake Lot. The students, who don’t spend as much time on that side of campus, took a minute to figure out which parking lot and roadway they needed to check, but were soon off.

Almost immediately they found an issue.

Cracks and uneven pavement, which could present a trip hazard to students making the long trek from the parking lot to the Quad, were spotted only a few feet away from the group’s starting position.

This is the first time Miloser is participating in the Campus Safety Crawl, something he would like to see more safety management majors get involved with as the event continues.

“We are here as a resource [to the campus], not just as safety management majors,” Miloser said.

In the past, members of the ASSP and safety management majors have taken an active role in the Campus Safety Crawl because they were also members of the SRSGA.

HALLE ANGELO / THE ROCKET

Samuel Miloser, a junior safety management major and president of the American Society of Safety Professionals chapter at SRU, talks with his group on what kinds of safety issues they are looking for. The group was a small section of the more than 20 students that participated in Slippery Rock Student Government Association's annual Campus Safety Crawl.

Former Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs Leif Lindgren who studied safety management, was able to lead the event last spring while the campus still dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continuing down Stadium Drive to East Lake Lot, the group took note of a drainage grate that sitting below the pavement. A few members of the group remarked how the issue could easily cause damage to their vehicle while driving over it.

While their classes might not take them to this side of campus often, Synclaire Angelow found the hunt for safety issues fun and something that will benefit her in the near future while on walks with her East Highland white terrier, Archie.

“He loves to come out here and chase the geese,” Angelow said.

Both Angelow and her friend Kasey McClain are junior exercise science majors but that doesn’t mean having a safe campus to enjoy is any less important to them. “ This is our campus too,” McClain said. “Just because we are not [safety management majors] doesn’t mean we shouldn’t

care what our campus looks like or the safety measures [put in place].”

"We are here as a resource [to the campus], not just as safety management majors" – Samuel Miloser, ASSP President on helping the SRSGA with their annual Campus Safety Crawl

While not something many outside the safety field would notice, Miloser took time to

explain the importance of proper drainage around retaining walls to prevent costly erosion. Miloser showed how rainwater flowing down to the lake has created a widening gap and sharp drop off between the retaining wall and the metal guard rail.

“As house owners, as we’re all going to be in the next 10 years, unfortunately,” Miloser said. “Putting a French drain, the water will run through the rocks and not erode the soil.”

SRU’s campus includes an 18-hole disc golf course that spans across the campus including around East Lake Lot. For Lucas Saunders, a senior business management major and disc golf player, hole two on the course can be a possible safety problem.

“Half the time when people are playing disc golf, they end up on the East Lake Road,” Saunders said. “Some people I know have hit cars in the past.”

Saunders picked up disc golf during the pandemic when he and his friends c o u l d n’t c o m p e t e i n ultimate freebie games.

“It’s something nice to do to get out of the house,” Saunders said. “It’s our little COVID-19 hobby.”

Saunders doesn’t want to see the course get smaller

BRANDON PIERCE / THE ROCKET

Slippery Rock Student Government Association President Mia Graziani joins the Aquatics Club for a lesson on drowning prevention. The session was one of many held on campus as part of Campus Safety Week, which ran from March 21 - 25, 2022.

or removed but believes by changing the starting position for hole two, players and passersby can be safer.

The biggest concern the group found with East Lake Lot was the abrupt end of the sidewalk with four more rows of parking to walk down toward.

They also pointed out a vehicle that appeared to be involved in a collision that has been parked in the lot for some time.

After about an hour c o m b i n g t h ro u g h t h e campus, the group met back up at the SSC to talk about their findings and give them to members o f S R U ’s f a c i l i t i e s department.

Scott Albert, associate vice president of facilities, environmental safety and sustainability, said the group turned in more than 100 concerns ranging from safety lighting to crosswalks. Issues with sidewalks around campus made up more than a third of the concerns brought forth by the students.

Albert said the event allows students to give back to the campus and have a better understanding of how maintenance operates.

The Campus Safety Crawl also allows students to not only be an extra set of eyes for maintenance, but provide input from a unique perspective.

“An out of the way place with no lighting will look different to a 50-year-old male versus an 18- or 19-year-old young woman,” Albert said.

In the past, feedback from the Campus Safety Crawl has given facilities the information they need to provide better lighting around campus. As for the concerns brought forth this week, many will have work orders in place by the end of the week, Albert said.

Albert, who walked around the football stadium and Building F with students and staff from facilities, said they found animals digging around the building that will need to be filled in and a rusting metal door that will have to be replaced.

With spring officially here, many potholes were noticed throughout

campus as well and facilities will have to prioritize their repair as the department has only allocated $250,000 for asphalt repair.

Wa r m b e i n s a i d t h e Campus Safety Crawl was big success and a great way to kick off-campus safety week. Throughout the week, organizations hosted events from drowning prevention to pepper spray training. Warmbein said it was his staff ’s creativity that allowed for the week to have something for everyone.

L o o k i n g t ow a rd t h e future, Warbein said he would like to continue the partnership with the ASSP and would suggest to his replacement moving the event back to the fall semester, allowing for better weather. Before, the event was typically held around October or November.

More information about campus safety week can be found on the CORE events page.

"Just because we are not [safety management majors] doesn't mean we shouldn't care what our campus looks like or the safety measures [put in place]."

– Kasey McClain, junior exercise science major

NEWS

March 25, 2022

A-3

Water issue at Weisenfluh corrected

By Joe Wells News Editor

An ongoing plumbing issue that threatened A r a m a r k’s re t a i l f o o d license to operate in Weisenfluh Dining Hall was resolved last month.

The main issue revolved around proper hot water temperatures for the sinks throughout the facility.

During multiple inspections, inspectors with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services found that sinks were either below the required temperature or too high and could possibly cause injury to anyone washing their hands. Inspectors also found one kitchen sink clogged but still in use.

The slew of inspections a n d f o l l ow - u p s b e g a n o n Ja n . 2 5 w h e n t h e inspector found five violations including the clogged drain and a leaking roof in a dry food storage area. Those violations placed the facility out of compliance with the state.

If a retail food facility is out of compliance, they are unable to renew their license until fixes are made.

Inspectors followed up with the facility on Feb. 2 and found the initial problems corrected but then discovered the previously clogged sink was not producing hot w a t e r. Pe n n s y l v a n i a requires water from handwashing stations to be at least 100 degrees Fa h r e n h e i t . T h e s i n k in question did not rise above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Even with the minor issues, the facility was brought back into compliance.

Aramark was given five days to correct the issue, but when the inspector returned Feb. 9 the issue w a s s t i l l p re s e n t a n d another sink in Revolve was found to be below the standard temperature.

The hot water issues and a leaking ceiling above uncovered mixing product in the baker y placed the facility back out of compliance.

During this failed inspection, Aramark reached out to SRU Dining to get the plumbing issues corrected.

In turn, SRU Dining reached out to facilities who sent maintenance personnel out to We i s e n f l u h t h e s a m e day, said Paul Novak, executive director of facilities, planning and environmental safety.

Maintenance found a circulating pump had failed, causing the low temperature. This c i rc u l a t i n g p u m p w a s re p l a c e d o n Fe b. 1 1 , fixing the issue, according to Novak.

During the repair though, a second c i rc u l a t i n g p u m p w a s found to not be working.

Du e t o s u p p l y c h a i n issues, facilities had to wait to repair this pump.

But Aramark and SRU’s pump and water temperature problems were known when the company had its change of owner inspection b a c k i n Ju n e 2 0 2 1 .

That inspection found a circulating pump needed replaced for numerous sinks that did not reach the standard temperature.

That problem was corrected within days of being found.

Circulating pumps typically have a lifespan of 10 years. Novak said he did not know

HALLE ANGELO / THE ROCKET

A persistent plumbing issue in Weisenfluh Dining Hall kept Aramark's operation in and out of compliance wih the Pennsylvania Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services. Sinks in the area produced water that was either too hot or too cold for safe hand washing, according to inspection records obtained by The Rocket.

off-hand how long the circulating pumps were in operation.

When the inspector re t u r n e d o n Fe b. 1 8 , many of the sinks were found to still be too low in temperature, but now Revolve’s sink was producing hot water in excess of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the Consumer Product Sa f e t y C o m m i s s i o n , a five-minute exposure to water of that temperature could result in thirddegree burns. Water at 130 degrees Fahrenheit can produce third-degree burns within 30 seconds.

The inspector noted

that while the water was too hot for the standard, it was not hot enough to cause injury.

By the time Pennsylvania inspectors returned on Feb. 25, the water problems had finally been corrected, with sinks producing water just above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The facility has been in compliance ever since.

According to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture regulations, facilities found out of compliance and needing repeat inspections can be required to pay anywhere from $150 to $300 per subsequent inspection.

None of the inspection records indicate that A r a m a rk w a s re q u i re d to pay any fines or inspection fees.

The Rocket reached out to Aramark for comment on the inspections and the work SRU facilities did to get the building back into compliance, but did not hear back before publication.

While A r a m a r k ’s facilities have had numerous inspections since taking over last June, Weisenfluh is the only facility to be placed out of compliance. The Rocket has complied all of Aramark’s inspections over the past year and

they can be viewed by scanning the QR code at the top of page A2.

Search Pennsylvania's inspection records

Elections, campus safety week begin

!

By Mac Bell Assistant News Editor

A wage increase for s p e c i f i c T h e Sl i p p e r y Rock Student Government Association (SRSGA) met at the Robert M. Smith Student Center (SSC) on Monday and heard from the new Chief Diversity Officer, Anthony Jones, about his plans for the university regarding diversity and inclusion.

Jo n e s w a s h i re d b y Slippery Rock University as the chief diversity officer back in October 2021 and is now beginning to unveil his goals and finalize his initiatives for the university.

“I will be rolling out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan," Jones said. "That was online for a brief moment but we had to pull it down because it was in the draft stage at this point.

“So, we are looking to finalize a lot of that process and start rolling out some of our initiatives.”

Jones went on to describe the importance of student input during this process of creating new initiatives.

“Student input is important because we're doing this for you, we wouldn’t have a job without you all,” Jones said. “So, I don't ever want to lose focus on that.

“I don't want you all to ever feel like you don't have any power in this space, because realistically, we have all the power in the space.”

Jones’ ultimate goal is to create an environment where students can feel free to share their experiences regarding racism, sexism and “all other -isms,” anonymously, without

having the fear of retaliation or backlash.

Senator Amanda Brock m o t i o n e d t o a p p rove the funding for two new initiatives and a conference grant all in one vote.

One of the new initiatives was $8,558.39 for t h e Wo m e n ' s C l u b Volleyball team in order to attend the National C o l l e g i a t e Vo l l e y b a l l Association (NCVF) tournament in Phoenix this April.

The second new initiative was $2,250.00 for the Clarinet Choir in order for the group to attend the Pennsylvania Music Educators

“Student input is important because we're doing this for you, we wouldn't have a job without you.

So, I don't ever want to lose focus on that" – Anthony Jones, SRU Chief Diversity Officer

HALLE ANGELO / THE ROCKET

Slippery Rock Student Goverment Association Senators listen as SRU Chief Diversity Officer Anthony Jones lays out what is next for his office and how students are a part of that vision.

Association (PMEA) conference this April.

The last financial approval was a conference grant totaling $200.00 in order for two Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members to attend the Great Lakes Regional Conference.

The motions were all passed unanimously without any debate.

The SRSGA also approved Senator Janessa Hayward’s motion to approve the minutes from March 7.

The motion passed unanimously with no debate.

Vice President of Campus Outreach Aiden Donelly motioned to approve Senator Richard Torpey as a member of the spring 2022 Election Commission.

When asked by President Mia Graziani to speak on the motion, Donnelly re ve r t e d h i s t i m e t o

Pa r l i a m e n t a r i a n N i c Condon. " [ To r p e y ' s ] b e e n a n asset," Condon said.

"This [addition] would round out the election commission fully, so we would have five total sitting voting members so we wouldn't have any hung votes.

“I think Richard will be a great addition and we’re excited to have him.”

The motion passed unanimously with no debate.

Vice President of Student a n d Ac a d e m i c A f f a i r s Gr a n t Wa r m b e i n l e d members of the SRSGA and the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) on the campus safety crawl to kick off campus safety week.

N e x t Tu e s d a y, t h e SRSGA executive board candidates for the 20222023 school year will be participating in a debate

hosted by the Elections Commission.

There are a total of 15 unique candidates running for six executive board positions, with 13 women candidates.

The debate will be held during common hour and live streamed through YouTube and Facebook.

Currently, SRSGA did not receive applications for the Transfer Senators and International Senator positions for the next school year, leaving two seats possibly unfilled barring a write-in candidate.

Simultaneously, SRSGA has 10 College of Health, Engineering and Science candidates. If any of the candidates are College of Health students and win, they will more than likely be moved into the new College of Health Senator seats, leaving vacancies in the fall.

Polls for the election will open up next week with all voting taking place on CORE. The SRSGA plans to hold its next formal meeting on April 4 at 5 p.m. in the SSC Theater. For more information visit their CORE page.

Check out the 20222023 Slippery Rock Student Government Association Executive Board Candidates on Page A5.

A-4

NEWS

March 25, 2022 causing a disturbance in the lobby. The male seemed to be on some type of drug. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived and transported the male to Grove City Medical Center. The case is under investigation.

March 11 - Police responded to a fire alarm activation at Building E caused by burnt popcorn. The alarm system was reset.

March 11 - Police were requested to North Hall to conduct a welfare check on an individual attempting to harm themselves. It was discovered that the individual lives at The Grove Apartments. Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) were notified and were already responding to the incident.

March 11 - An individual filed a report stating that an unknown individual in a dark-colored Jeep shouted derogatory remarks at the individual and their friend on Green and White Way. The occupants of the jeep also threw a water bottle and loose change at them. Security video was reviewed and the case is under investigation.

March 7 – Police responded to a panic alarm at the Maltby Center multiple times. Once on scene, each time, there were no activated alarms.

Safety was notified about these instances and the alarm system was reset each time.

March 7 – Police received a call from a parent stating that they were contacted by their son’s girlfriend at Building B, who said that the son was not feeling well. The Student Health Center was notified and the individual went to see a nurse. No police response was requested.

March 7 – Police received a call from a CA at Building A stating that there was damage to the exit sign on the second floor. The sign was ripped out of the ceiling and was hanging in front of the door. The case is under investigation.

March 7 – PSP requested assistance from University Police with a possible in-progress burglary at Pry’s Towing & Automotive. Once University and Borough Police were on scene the area was cleared and no one was found on the property.

March 7 – PSP were at the University Police station to use the datamaster for a possible DUI. March 8 – Police responded to a fire alarm activation at the Rock Apartment #8, caused by burnt food. The alarm system was reset.

March 9 – An individual was at the University Police station to file a report of harassment which occurred at Building E.

The report was taken and the case is under investigation.

March 9 – Police responded to a fire alarm activation at Building D which was caused by burnt food. The alarm system was reset.

March 9 – Police received a call from a CA at Building B regarding the smell of marijuana coming from two dorm rooms. Officers on scene spoke to both residents. No smell was detected by the officers.

March 10 - Police received a call of a darkcolored vehicle driving on the sidewalk by the Robert M. Smith Student Center and Boozel Dining Hall. Security footage was reviewed and contact was made with the driver. The driver said he was not familiar with the area. No further police action was taken.

March 12 - Police received a call from Butler 911 advising that they dispatch an ambulance for a highly intoxicated individual at Building E. The individual was transported to Grove City Medical Center. The individual will be referred to Student Conduct.

March 13 - Police responded to a panic alarm at the Maltby Center. The area was checked and no one was around. The panel was reset.

March 14 - Police received a call for an individual that was in need of medical attention at the Maltby Center. Police and EMS arrived on the scene and the individual refused treatment.

No further action was taken.

March 15 - Police received a fire alarm activation at the Student Health Center caused by maintenance painting the facility. The alarm system was reset.

March 21 - Police responded to a fire alarm activation at Building E caused by burnt food.

The alarm system was reset.

March 10 - Police responded to an individual that passed out and hit their head in the Vincent Science Center. The individual was transported to the Student Health Center.

March 21 - Police responded to an individual that possibly wanted to harm themselves.

The officer on scene and the individual were escorted to the Student Health Center.

March 10 - Police responded to an individual that was feeling ill at the Spotts World Culture Building. The individual was transported to the Student Health Center.

March 22 - Police responded to an individual having a seizure at Building E. The individual was then transported to Grove City Medical Center.

March 10 - Police responded to a fire alarm activation at Building E because of cleaning sprays. The alarm system was reset.

March 23 - Police responded to a fire alarm activation at Building E caused by steam from the shower. The alarm system was reset.

March 10 - Police received a call from a CA from Building F regarding a male that was

COMPILED BY MAC BELL

March 25, 2022

NEWS

A-5

GRAPHIC BY: RAYNI SHIRING

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OPINION

Our View

Put the spring back in your step As spring break fades into the rearview, continue to prioritize physical and mental health

OPINION

Volume 105, Issue Number 8

220 220Eisenberg EisenbergClassroom ClassroomBuilding Building Slippery SlipperyRock RockUniversity University Slippery SlipperyRock, Rock,Pennsylvania Pennsylvania16057 16057 Phone: Phone: (724) (724)738-4438 738-4438 Fax: Fax: (724) (724)738-4896 738-4896 E-mail: E-mail: therocketnewspapersru@gmail.com therocketnewspapersru@gmail.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Nina Cipriani

GRAPHIC BY: HALLE ANGELO

Editor-in-Chief

Joe Wells

News Editor

Tyler Howe

Sports Editor

Sarah Anderson

Campus Life Editor

Kaitlyn Myers

Copy/Web Editor

Rayni Shiring

Photo Editor

Brandon Pierce

Multimedia Editor

Mac Bell

Assistant News Editor

Joe Skillicorn

Assistant Sports Editor

Megan John

Assistant Campus Life Editor

Marissa Mastrangelo Halle Angelo

Assistant Copy/Web Editor Assistant Photo Editor

Dr. Brittany Fleming

Faculty Adviser

ADVERTISING STAFF Bailey Carden

Advertising Manager

Kaitlyn Shope

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 1,000 (for fall 2021 semester only).

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) 7382643 or by emailing rocket.ads@sru.edu.

As Slippery Rock Un i v e r s i t y l i f t s i t s mask mandate, the campus community is stuck in an in-between stage: COVID-19 still lingers but most places d o n ' t re q u i re m a s k s anymore. Needless t o s a y, s p r i n g b re a k looked and felt a little different this year.

Spring break is obviously nothing new, though. At its surface l e ve l , s p r i n g b re a k is a chance to take a moment away from everyday stressors, just like any break during the semester.

Ye t , s p r i n g b re a k finally arrives about eight weeks into the semester. Two months i n t o t h e s e m e s t e r, students begin to feel or have felt the full effects of burnout. So, spring break is the perfect opportunity to unwind from all that stress.

The seesawing argument of whether fall and spring breaks are needed (or beneficial) for students can be dated back years and years. We argue that students have worked for eight weeks to get into a routine that works for them, and

then break comes and interrupts that.

Spring break comes with a battle of relaxation and p r o d u c t i v i t y.

From being a mental and physical reset to also being a time for students to, naturally, procrastinate their work, people certainly have different approaches to how they take a break.

Some people use break to spend time with family and reminsence on the times we were all together during the pandemic. Some may go on trips with friends for the week, or part of the week. Others may stay in their routine of working their same jobs and battling their same cycle of homework.

Although the way that everyone spends their break varies, we all have our own opinions of what break offers or doesn’t offer us.

It's always hard to adjust to things when you come back from break, no matter how long it is. But this felt different.

At least for many of us on The Rocket staff, it didn't feel like much of a break. It was more like a setback, in some ways.

It seems that many of us came back this week to a plethora of deadlines waiting for us.

Whether we worked on it over break or not, that doesn't change the stress that it brought on.

As part of The Rocket staff, we came back from spring break, on top of our class deadlines, to have to complete a print edition as well. Our break offered many of us very little relief.

Many other schools are calling for their universities to require that no homework or projects are assigned over the break. This may be something that SRU should consider. Could this be the solution to the stress-induced spring break that the majority of students experienced?

If anything, that type of requirement could help delegate breaks to be used for their intended purpose: A week truly spent outside of the classroom and class work. While this may not solve the stress of coming back to deadlines, it could bring a much needed change to the typical SRU breaks.

Regardless of possible changes, not only was last week spring break, but it also was the twoyear anniversary of March 13, 2020. On March 16, 2020, SRU President William Behre announced just 10 days after students left for spring break that in-person classes would be virtual starting March 30.

The biggest difference now is that we actually came back from spring break.

But maybe that’s why spring break felt so muddled this year. It highlighted the progress that we've made, but it also was a reminder of the lifestyle that we've left behind. It showed us how quickly we can jump back into routines, no matter the cost.

We're left coming back to campus, ready to face the rest of the semester.

How e v e r, w e o f t e n forget that we must take our own breaks during the semester in order to protect our mental health and wellbeing.

So, as we get back into the swing of things, don't forget to prioritize your health.

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.

In the Quad

Question: How did spring break affect you?

By: Brandon Pierce

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.

Gail Gronlund Grad Student Master's Degree in Public Health Elisabeth, PA

Marissa McLaughlin Sophomore Early Childhood and Special Education Sandy Lake, PA

"I had a pretty good break academically and I got to relax. I worked all of spring break, so it wasn't much of a break."

"It was a good break from schoolwork. I relaxed for the week and didn't worry about anything."

Jacob Erlwein Freshman Early Childhood Education Sandy Lake, PA "It was nice for me to get to visit old family and friends and focus on all the good parts of college, without the stress and chaos. It was nice to recharge."

OPINION

March 25, 2022

B-2

Being the fat friend

Sarah Anderson Sarah is a sophomore IMC and professional writing major. She is The Rocket's campus life editor and a member of Tri Sigma.

I am set on a personal mission to help destigmatize the word "fat." It's an adjective, nothing more and nothing less.

We a s a s o c i e t y h a ve demonized what is simply meant to be a descriptive word.

To clarify, you don't have the right to call your friends "fat" just to describe them, that is a personal boundary that you need to define on your own. But next time your friends, peers or someone you know talks about being fat (as a statement, not in a self-deprecating way) don't jump in and offer words of comfort.

"You're beautiful the way you are."

Who said I wasn't?

"You aren't fat, you're ____!"

I'm what? I know damn well I'm not skinny.

You may be wondering what defines someone as fat. Online, specifically TikTok, there is a lot of discourse about the various degrees of fatness. Personally, I don't see this to be effective. Ever yone is always too busy needing a description that they lose sight of the harm of using these words to describe people.

I will not sit here and try to say that body dysmorphia doesn't affect people. Surprise!

Fat people experience body dysmorphia. But there is a strong trend in people who aren't fat, or even plus size, using "fat" as a way to describe themselves.

C o u l d yo u i m a g i n e the worst thing you are is fat? Could you imagine w a k i n g u p e ve r y d a y in a fat body knowing that people fear and dread the possibility of looking like you? It's not so nice. Especially when smaller-sized people can't help but call themselves fat.

I won't try and speak from the perspective of being skinny. I don't know what that is like in today's world. I won't deny other people's struggles, whatever their size is. There is able to be a unity found that so many people experience some degree of body dysmorphia.

A c c o rd i n g t o Jo h n Hopkins Medicine, body dysmorphia can be described as being upset about the appearance o f yo u r b o d y t h a t i t gets in the way of your ability to live normally.

Fo r m e , p e r s o n a l l y, there are days where I

see myself as skinnier than I think I actually am, days where I am t w o h u n d re d p o u n d s heavier than I actually am and most of the time I really have no clue what I actually look like.

Sh o p p i n g d a y w i t h friends? That's my definition of my own personal hell. Being in a sorority, and being

"Could you imagine the worst thing you are is fat? Could you imagine waking up every day in a fat body knowing that people fear and dread the possibility of looking like you? It's not so nice.

Especially when smallersized people can't help but call themselves fat." a fat girl in a sorority, it is so hard to feel like I belong.

There's a theme for a get-together, ever yone goes out to get clothes for it and I can't just go do that without dropping at least $100 at the plus-size stores (such as Torrid, which is fat people Hot Topic, or Lane Bryant, which is for women over 50).

I'm lucky to be able to find a shirt that will fit

Come you masters of war

Joe Wells Joe is a senior communication major with concentrations in converged journalism and digital media production. Over a decade ago, he served in Afghanistan as an infantryman in the U.S. Army.

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains mentions of violence, PTSD and suicide, among other potentially sensitive topics.

Please use caution before reading.

I hear seven shots to my right. I turn, raise my M4 rifle and attempt to fire five shots in the direction of the fire.

Like I was trained to d o. L i k e I h a d d o n e numerous times before.

But I don’t fire my w e a p o n b e c a u s e I ’m standing next to a Ben & Jerry’s in the middle of Times Square. The shots are muffler backfire.

This is the result of a p re v i o u s w a r m a n y advocated for, and now many of those same people are pushing the idea of going toeto-toe with Russia in Ukraine.

Ti m e a f t e r t i m e , a s t h e Un i t e d St a t e s creeps closer to another conflict, another war, citizens coast to coast start beating their chests, calling for military action.

"The only good commie is a dead commie" flows across my timeline from those I served with and others who swear they would have been fighting ov e r s e a s t h e p a s t 2 0 years if only they didn’t have this damn medical condition, or a family, or a book of excuses ready to cite.

Do n’t t r y t o p a i n t me as an apologist for Russia’s invasion. It’s obvious that Vladimir Putin is trying to bring the band formally k n ow n a s t h e Un i o n of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), back together once again.

So m e t h i n g t h a t m u s t be stopped.

But at what cost?

Ukrainian lives.

European lives.

American lives.

Let’s go ahead with the glorified vision of American military supremacy that knocks out the Reds. How many Americans are needed to win that fight?

The wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, along with the special tours p e p p e re d t h r o u g h o u t t h a t h i s t o r y, c r e a t e d nearly three million veterans, according to the Cost of War Project.

For the United States to care for their injuries a n d d i s a b i l i t i e s f ro m ser vice and combat it will cost nearly $2.5 trillion over 50 years.

In 2019, the Department of Ve t e r a n s A f f a i r s p a i d out more than $80 billion in disability

me at Target. Finding a pair of pants isn't even in the question.

It's exhausting to not par ticipate in an activity that so many of my friends, and people I am with every day, can do with no issue.

The last seven years have been a constant uphill battle with my appearance. Since going on birth control at the

compensation. Our government cannot sustain another longterm conflict let alone what others believe to be World War III with a near-peer adversary like Russia.

That war would be crippling to the American people and more importantly, the ve t e r an s o f t hat w ar.

But hey, the militaryindustrial complex will make hand-over-fist every year that conflict continues.

To my fellow Americans, who never ser ved yet are calling for open combat with Russia, war is not something to be r o m a n t i c i z e d . It m a y be a place for heroics but there is nothing heroic about killing and being killed for a country.

When bullets start being exchanged on that two-way firing r a n g e , n o o n e c a re s about communism, imperialism, terrorism or freedom. All you have are a bunch of young men and women who want to make it out alive from a situation they are put in by politicians with a beef.

Those same folks must come back home, be a part of society and thrive in a post-war world.

And many do. Don’t mistake the first half of this essay as calling out all veterans as broken, it is not.

Ye t , c o m b a t n e v e r leaves you. A mistress you cannot shake. She may have scared the hell out of you, but don’t you miss her when she is gone.

SEE YOU'VE PAGE B-3

age of 13, I have been rapidly and constantly gaining weight. Bir th control was a tool to help incredibly painful m e n s t r u a l c yc l e s a n d cystic acne that had made my face painful to the touch.

Every year, it seemed that I gained more and more weight and it wasn't until I was in high school cheerleading that I realized how bad i t g o t . No u n i f o r m s

fit me, no one was the tr ying out for varsity same size as me and my o n l y a n d t h e y w e r e abilities were doubted having an emphasis on by everyone. tumbling skills.

There are two specific I don't know if you incidents in high school k n o w t h i s , b u t f a t cheerleading that stick girls are not typically out to me. aerodynamic.

The first is one It c r u s h e d m e a n d c h e e r l e a d i n g p r a c t i c e made me so upset and m i d - s u m m e r, we h a d angry because, although b e e n o n o u r h i g h I was fr ustrated with school's empty track being a part of it, field since it was the knowing that me being only vacant area that fat was going to limit wasn't our AC-lacking m y a b i l i t y t o d o a n gym. The football team activity I enjoyed for was walking outside for so long was crushing. their practice at the I was always a band stadium, and they had k i d s i n c e e l e m e n t a r y to pass the track to get school, so I did have there. that to continue with A freshman boy had once my passion and made a comment to my d r i v e f o r c h e e r h a d boyfriend at the time, g o n e a w a y. My h i g h not knowing that he was school marching band my boyfriend, about the h a d s u m m e r - s p e c i f i c "fat cheerleader." I don't u n i f o r m s which remember the specifics c o n s i s t e d o f m u s i c of what he said because d e p a r t m e n t t - s h i r t s quite frankly, I don't (which were very nice, want to. I just remember I will admit) and a pair the rage of my boyfriend of Dickies work pants. at the time, and the hurt I hate Dickies to this that I felt that day, and day. The word makes anytime we cheered for me shudder. the football team from As I mentioned earlier, then on. being on birth control The second incident since I was 13 made me t h a t i s s t u c k i n m y regularly gain weight. And h e a d w a s d u r i n g t h e anytime I had to change end of junior year and birth controls because of I w a s o n t h e f e n c e one issue or another, I'd about continuing with gain more weight. So, it cheer. It was something was a never-ending cycle that I was good at and basically. enjoyed, but there The previous year, my w a s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t junior year, the cursed b e i n g t h e t o k e n f a t Dickies pants I had did girl that was mentally fit me. I didn't realize e x h a u s t i n g . ( Sh o c k e r, how much weight I had right?) gained until it was a week We h a d g o t t e n a n before a parade we had a n n o u n c e m e n t t h a t and I tried my pants on t h e y w e re n o l o n g e r and realized they would going to have a junior not button. varsity team, and ever yone raging from freshman to senior was SEE NOT PAGE B-3

OPINION

March 25, 2022

B-3

Not all fat people like honey buns

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B-2

Have you heard that wrapping saran wrap around your stomach helps you lose weight in your stomach area? I hadn't heard that until one of my best friends suggested it. Looking back, it's crazy that at 16-years-old we knew that hack and tried to do it at all.

Wr i t i n g this opinion piece has made me realize how messed up growing up in today's society is. How messed up the world is to regularly put kids down because of their weight.

Un f o r t u n a t e l y, it isn't just when you're growing up.

I thought I had left

high school when I came to SRU. Although I'm fat, and I know that makes people treat y o u d i f f e r e n t l y, I didn't think I would be borderline assaulted.

A few weeks before spring break, I was walking to my car which was dreadfully parked in the football lot.

While crossing the street, I saw a car in the distance that seemed to be speeding up rather q u i c k l y. I s c u r r i e d my stubby legs across the street and successfully made it into the parking lot.

Without getting hit.

B y t h e c a r.

You've thrown the worst fear

I was walking up the steps and felt a burning in my lower back.

While processing the pain, I heard coming outside of t h e s p e e d i n g c a r, " Fa t a s s ! " a s t h e y d r o v e a w a y.

I didn't know what I was hit with.

I didn't even know what happened until I made it to my car and realized what the hell happened to me. After twenty minutes of crying, calling my friend I was going to meet, telling my dad and telling my sorority sisters (and getting a load of messages ready to fight the stranger in the car), I finally went to

"So, why should we scar these young men and women?

Why leave them with a heightened sense of paranoia and anxiety around crowds or loud noises close by? ...

Why drape another coffin with the American flag?"

t h i s c r u e l t y. Ye t h e r e we are, advocating f o r w a r.

I d o n’t c a r e w h y, a n d a n e c d o t a l l y, most Americans d o n’t c a re e i t h e r. T h e longer a war carries on and never touches U.S. soil, the less it matters in our collective daily lives.

Our misadventure in the Middle East and Afghanistan showed us that.

So, why should we scar these young men and women?

Why leave them with sleepless nights?

Why leave them with a heightened sense of paranoia and anxiety around c r ow d s o r l o u d n o i s e s close by?

Why leave them with a temper that can shoot straight to the top over a minuscule comment?

Why leave them with the difficulty of forming personal relationships and straining current relationships with their family?

Why leave them out and about yet incapable of shaking those f r i g h t e n i n g moments of combat no matter where they are?

Why set them up for suicide?

Why leave them less than whole emotionally and physically?

Why drape another coffin with the American flag?

Because of the Russians? Because of democracy?

Because of our status on the global stage?

Is it worth it to you?

Because let me tell you, I wish I could have just enjoyed a night out at the ice cream shop with some friends.

The anxiety I experienced walking around campus for the following week was unreal. I couldn't get myself to eat, not even inside the privacy of my own dorm.

If there's a day I 'm fe e l i n g ve r y n o t g o o d a b o u t my b o dy a n d h ow i t l o o k s , t h e a n x i e t y ri s e s t h ro u g h the roof and some days I c a n 't g e t my s e l f t o l e a ve b e c a u s e I a m s o s c a re d o f s o m e t h i n g like that happening again.

I do want to note that the day this happened I was wearing a baggy hoodie and flowy leggings, so my clothes weren't even skin-tight,

revealing how fat I actually am.

Being fat sucks.

Hating how I look sucks. Being fat because of a medication I've been on for nearing a decade really sucks.

No b o d y w a n t s t o b e seen as undesirable.

Nobody wants to have things thrown at them or called names in public.

It's not about being fat or being s k i n n y, i t ' s a b o u t treating people d e c e n t l y, n o m a t t e r their size or what they look like. It's about just being a decent person, please.

P. S . N o t a l l f a t people like honey buns.

Russia is in the wrong

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B-2

Still, it leaves you in t h e m i d d l e o f t h e Bi g Apple, surrounded by eight million folks and nothing but the replay of being ambushed at a crossroad, moving toward the fire while you push your guys b a c k t o s a f e t y.

It’s n o t h e r o i c s . It’s a fear of failing your guys and it sticks with you, creeping up a decade after the fact, while you are out with friends.

It d o e s n’t d e s e r v e a pat on the back.

I share all of this t o s a y, I a n d t h r e e million Americans stepped up believing future generations would not have to k n o w t h i s r e a l i t y,

drive my car past the spot it happened.

A honey bun was sitting at the bottom of the steps I had previously ascended. I have a few questions for whoever did this: Why do this to someone?

How did they have access to a honey bun so fast?

Do you play baseball? Because that was good aim. But I really think you should have some sort of consequences for being an asshole.

The fact that this happened to me still hasn't been fully processed. It honestly feels like a horrible dream.

Mac Bell Mac is a senior communication major with a concentration in converged journalism with a minor in political science. Mac is also the president of WSRU-TV.

As someone who wants to become a journalist that is determined to revolutionize the way that the news is reported, it is my sole objective to become entirely free of bias. But, I have a problem. I can not remain silent i n r e g a r d t o R u s s i a’s unlawful, illegal and horrendous invasion of the sovereigndemocratic state of Ukraine.

To p a y f o r m y education at SRU for the past four years, I have worked at The Hotel H e r s h e y i n H e r s h e y, Pe n n s y l v a n i a .

Throughout my employment, I have had the great opportunity to meet a variety of different people, from an array of different countries including Jamaica, Ireland and Ukraine through H e r s h e y ’s f o r e i g n exchange program.

If you wanted n e w m u s i c recommendations or to be taught some new foreign dance moves, then you went to find the Jamaicans.

They loved their music, and they especially loved sharing it.

If you wanted a night out on the town that you literally would not r e m e m b e r, y o u h u n g out with the Irish for the night (and then the next morning you promise yourself to

never do that again).

But, if you wanted to smile or just have a friendly conversation with someone, then you talked to the Ukrainians.

I am proud to say that I am friends with several Ukrainians and had the awesome opportunity to speak with many of them in length during multiple summers at the hotel. I got to learn about their lives, their dreams a n d t h e i r c o u n t r y.

L e t m e b e c l e a r, Ukraine is not an e n e m y, n o r a r e t h e y j u s t a n a l l y.

Ukraine is the best example of A m e r i c a n - l e d democratic outreach.

I asked several of these girls why they chose to come and i n t e r n i n t h e Un i t e d States when they had dozens of options to pick from all around t h e w o r l d . No w, s o m e of them said they chose the United States because they heard through the grapevine that we had the best food around.

T h e y w e r e n’t w r o n g , and I made sure to give them some recommendations.

However, one answer stood out to me the most, and q u i t e f r a n k l y, m a d e me damn proud to be an American.

A Ukrainian intern named Marzena told me she chose to i n t e r n i n t h e Un i t e d States because she wanted to experience what life was like living in the original democracy of the world. She also c o u l d n’t s t o p t a l k i n g about how coming to explore and live i n t h e Un i t e d St a t e s was a dream come t r u e f o r h e r. S h e l o v e d h e r c o u n t r y, but she also loved ours.

From that point on I referred to her a s “m y f a v o r i t e U . S .

U k r a i n i a n .” T h i s nickname always brought a smile to her face.

These people are truly the best of what democracy h a s t o o f f e r. T h e i r ultimate goal is to reinvent their people and their state, in a determined attempt

to represent what they know to be the ultimate system of government: d e m o c r a c y.

Wi t ho u t demo cra cy, people are silenced, and the Ukrainians know t hi s bet t er t ha n ma ny o f u s ever w i l l .

Vladimir Putin will inevitably go down in history as a rogue leader who chose violence over peace, anarchy o v e r s o v e r e i g n t y, authoritarianism o v e r d e m o c r a c y, a n d death over life.

His ultimate dream is to move through Ukraine and take the Baltic states in order to finally reclaim what he believes to be rightfully his.

Let us not forget, this is a man who was in the KGB during the reign of the Soviet Union.

He wants to bring the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) back from the dead.

We c a n n o t l e t him.

As Americans, we have an obligation to stand in absolute defense of a fellow democratic state.

These Ukrainians are people who idolize the American ideal. If we turn our backs, not only will we diminish the integrity of the United States’ ability to keep our allied nations safe, but also weaken the capabilities of the North Atlantic Tr e a t y O r g a n i z a t i o n ( N ATO ) a n d t h e United Nations (UN). The world will begin to lose sight of the imperative importance of d e m o c r a c y.

If America loses sight, the world will lose sight.

We stand for our national anthem, we stand for our Pledge of Allegiance, we stand to show respect, we stand to salute our troops and we stand for what is right, so let us stand with Ukraine.

We have the ability; Therefore, we have the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y.

"A Ukranian intern named Marzena told me she chose to intern in the United States because she wanted to experience what life was like living in the original democracy of the world.

She also couldn't stop talking about how coming to explore and live in the United States was a dream come true for her.

She loved her country, but she also loved ours.

From that point on I referred to her as 'my favorite U.S. Ukrainian.'

This nickname always brought a smile to her face."

S

VIDEO: Page talks about women in SRU sports

SPORTS

Women rock The Rock

HALLE ANGELLO / THE ROCKET

Women play a huge role in sports here at The Rock, and in the past few years some milestones have been hit, with one of the biggest being the arrival of Roberta Page, who is the first woman athletic director in SRU history. Page returned to her alma mater, where she played two sports for The Rock, and noticed a change immediately.

T KE OC ER TH E/ OP SL

Th e p phone in the back corner of the office rings.

Slippery Rock Athletic Director answers the phone with a simple, yet very positive, “Hi, how are you doing?” Over the next several minutes, she’ll pace around her office. It’s not very big, but it’s large enough to put the phone on speaker and just walk around.

She hates to sit. Her desk can only be used when she’s standing. She still has a chair, but it’s just there, and, most of the time, it just holds a backpack.

It’s all part of her mindset.

It’s one like no other. In a way, it’s like when she’s sitting down, she feels that there’s something she could be doing to help better Slippery Rock. There’s always something she can do to be improving. That’s how she looks at it.

Progress is something that Roberta Page has been around long enough to see.

Page used to be a student here. Matter of fact, she used to be a two-sport athlete. The energy here used to a be a little different though. “[We’ve] absolutely made progress and you always want progress, and I don’t mean this as a knock on anyone, but I knew who our athletic director was and I don’t feel like I could go up to his office and feel like he knew who I was,” Page said. “I’m not saying he didn’t have an interest, but as we’ve progressed, I get the opportunity to interact with [the student athletes] in a different way than we did 30 plus years ago.”

Approachability makes all the difference in the world. Especially when it was at a premium back when Page was a student.

That has helped her start to create an atmosphere on campus that has never been seen before.

Slippery Rock is a very big football school. That’s easy to see. The team averaged

Slipper y Rock versus Indiana University of Pe n n s y l v a n i a (IUP) women’s basketball game. prior, there JJust one week p no fans allowed to attend the game against California University of Pennsylvania (Cal-U). Seven days later, 601 people attended the IUP game, and it was louder than it had been for quite some time.

The goal is to create that type of home field

NA H

Sports Editor

right around 7,500 fans in the stands for each home game. But the focus is never solely on football.

“Football is big, g because you’re playing under the lights on a Saturday night sometimes, football is always going to be football,” Page said. “But I love the fact that we have a lot of student and parental support for our women’s sports, and I wish we could even get more.”

Page dreams of seeing Morrow Field House packed to the gills for something such as a volleyball game. That change would make Page even prouder of what has started to be created here.

Th roughout the fall and spring semester t h u s f a r, the football team has been trying to help kick start that.

They’ve been choosing h o m e games for each team and been coming to the games in masses. They create a home environment that is difficult to play in for opposing teams, a s w o m e n’s sports games typically do not get as m u c h attention.

Ta k e t h e HA N

By Tyler Howe

advantage that teams like men’s basketball, football and baseball get.

“Football recognizes that some of those sports teams p don’t get a lot of fans, so they’ve made it a dedicated effort to go to a game for each team,” Page said. “[They do it] so that those ladies know what it’s like to play in front of those large crowds.”

Page feels that women have definitely gained a lot of attention in just her first year here.

“I’m extremely proud of Slippery Rock, as athletic director I don’t focus more one sport than I do another, but we don’t treat any sport differently because they’re all equally important,” Page said.

Equal treatment. It’s talked about everywhere, but in a lot of places has still never been fully accomplished. Everywhere has room to grow, but last fall Page felt that steps were taken.

Homecoming is a day that is focused on football almost everywhere you go.

It is at Slippery Rock too, but it’s not the only thing that people focus on here at The Rock. In 2021, there four teams playing on homecoming day. It was rainy day, and yet each team had nearly packed stands.

“Some schools don’t do homecoming around football, they’ll say, ‘Okay we’re going to have ours around a women’s soccer g a m e ,’ s o t h e re’s n o t always that stigma that it has to be around football,” Page said. “What we try to do on homecoming day is [advertise every sport], not just football and we also name homecoming royalty.”

Women play a big role in the sports on campus.

Among the longest tenured coaches on campus is Laurie Lokash, the women's volleyball head coach, who has been at The Rock for nearly 40 years. Even in the past few years, The Rock has

had an infuse of youth when it comes to women coaches on campus.

“We have two opposite ends of the spectrum, we p have coaches who have been here a long time, but we’re now starting to get that group of coaches that this is maybe their third, fourth or fifth year of coaching,” Page said.

“I’m extremely proud of them because they relate to the student athletes in different ways.”

One of those coaches who is bringing that different perspective in is lacrosse head coach Taryn Burkholder. Thus far, under the interim tag Burkholder has helped The Rock get out to a 5-2 record in the early stretch of the spring season.

Coaches like Burkholder are people t h a t Pa g e t h i n k s w i l l aide to create a better environment to help shape young women.

“Coach Burkholder is a great example, she does have the interim tag, but she has come in with such intensity and enthusiasm that it’s fed down to those women on the lacrosse team,” Page said. “Those women are on fire right now, and all you have to do is look at their body language and demeanor, they love being around her.”

“I want this place to be a destination, whether it’s to be a coach or a student athlete, I want them to think ‘I want to go to Slipper y Rock,’” Page said. “I want to create t h a t a t m o s p h e re t h a t people want to be a part of, and I want to instill to them that they will be supported.”

In the past, Page has said to The Rocket that she doesn’t want to be viewed any different as t h e a t h l e t i c d i re c t o r.

Regardless, having the position undoubtedly comes with people who look up to her. She wants to be an inspiration to anyone who might see her this way.

"I want to create an atmoshpere that people want to be a part of, and I want to instill to them that they will be supported ."

– Roberta Page, SRU athletic director

“It’s flatt flattering to think that someo someone might be looking up to me as a female, but if I was given a chance to say anything to anyone, it’s i that women have been given a seat at the table aand they need to use that and be their authentic selves,” Page said. “I don don’t want anyone to put a woman wom at the table just to say our o meeting had a woman, we w want women because we want and value their voice. voice.” voic is something That voice that Page hopes to give to young women while in her posit position. Positivity is another thing she’s very big on on. If you step into her office o and say something negative, have a quarter rready to put in the negativ negativity jar that sits on the meeting me table by where you w walk in.

To all th the females who look up to her, look at what she’s d done and where she is, she has a simple message. you Page said.

“Be you," "Be your true self and, when you’r you’re at the table, use your vo voice to promote what you bbelieve in."

SPORTS

C-2

March 25, 2022

Del Val Del Toro serves to the top

RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET

After transferring from Coker University to Slippery Rock for the 2021 season, Del Val Del Toro is now accustomed to Slippery Rock tennis. She's in her second season at The Rock and has established herself as a dominate force on the court in both singles and doubles.

said. "We worked really well

By Joseph Skillicorn together as a team and I gained Assistant Sports Editor

Following on from their impressive start to their spring season, the Slippery Rock women’s tennis team have set their sights on the conference championship as they embark on the beginning of their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) season.

In what is proving to be a talented roster, multiple players have shown their quality thus far, giving The Rock five wins from their opening eight matches. Lois Page secured her 100th win last month, and Teddi Isherwood has enjoyed success in her opening year at The Rock.

Yet, it has been Gabriela Del Val Del Toro who has been particularly influential in the team’s success so far, bringing her season total to thirteen singles wins. Del Val Del Toro believes the fall of 2021 was a vital element in helping her achieve her results up to this point in the season.

“We had a really good season in the fall," Del Val Del Toro

a lot of confidence from the individual tournaments."

The fall of 2021 brought four different individual tournaments for women’s tennis. Del Val Del Toro participated in each of them, winning three singles matches at the Oberlin Invitational in September.

Del Val Del Toro, who grew up in Barcelona in the Catalonia region of Spain, also highlights the difference in playing style in the U.S. compared to her homeland.

“The style is very different," Del Val Del Toro said. "In Spain, there are often long rallies from the baseline with lots of emphasis on groundstrokes, here it is more about coming into the net and being more aggressive with the serve."

With her background in Spanish style play, Del Val Del Toro remarked on how that's impacted her tennis game at SRU as she's now trying to incorporate both styles.

"I have trained all my life in Spain and really like the dynamics there, but I am also

aware I need to practice doubles here and to become more aggressive in the way I play," Del Val Del Toro commented.

"Through the manner in which I have trained in Spain, I sometimes have a tendency to stay at the back of the court."

Whilst Del Val Del Toro will play both indoors and outdoors this spring, she stresses the differences of playing surfaces and environment.

“I prefer clay," Del Val Del Toro said. "The ball is slower and it allows me to get my groundstrokes cleaner."

Back home, that's what she got used to. In Spain, she got used to playing on a clay surface.

"Where I have grown up and the environment in Spain, most players prefer and are more used to playing on clay," Del Val Del Toro said.

Del Val Del Toro is in her second year at Slippery Rock University, having spent her first year in the states at Coker University in South Carolina. Gabriela underlines her coach, Matt Meredith, as playing an important factor in her decision to transfer.

“Slippery Rock has a really good tennis program," Del Val Del Toro commented. "The coach [Meredith] has a really clear idea of what he wants and has always been able to create competitive teams with there always being the chance to win a conference each year.

"He supports me a lot, is just as competitive as me and we both have the same vision."

Meredith can also claim credit for his track record of enhancing his players’ all-round games. Del Val Del Toro feels she has bettered herself in contrast to her first year at The Rock.

“I do feel I have improved in doubles particularly," Del Val Del Toro remarked. "I have worked on my serve a lot and that has definitely helped me.

"My overall game has improved as I am playing in a really competitive team."

Del Val Del Toro partnered with teammate Teddi Isherwood over spring break, emerging victorious three times as a partnership.

The team enjoyed two 7-0 wins over both Shepherd

University and George Fox University respectively.

Coach Matt Meredith will be hoping for his team to bring their momentum forwards as they enter a demanding PSAC campaign in which he will often see his team play two times weekly.

Along with fellow teammate Lois Page, Del Val Del Toro is a psychology major at Slippery Rock. Gabriela believes her studies have been pivotal in allowing her to express herself and improve numerous areas of her game.

“Academic wise, the psychology program here is very good," Del Val Del Toro observed. "I have really realized just how important psychology is in sports.

"It is really important to be able to control your emotions and to be better prepared mentally than your opponent.”

Del Val Del Toro’s bullish performances have also seen her pick up singles wins against Division I opposition Cleveland State University and George Mason University. However, she is quick to point out that the standard of opposition does not faze her.

“I always treat the opponent the same," Del Val Del Toro said. "Whether my opponent is Division I, Division II or Division III level, I always just try to compete at my best for the team.

"I feel responsibility to perform on each point and the team really motivates me to do that."

Following on from spring break, Del Val Del Toro received the title of PSAC athlete of the week, the third player from the team to receive the award this semester following Lois Page and Teddi Isherwood. It is the second accolade Del Val Del Toro has won following the 2020-2021 season when she was named as a second team All-PSAC west honoree.

Del Val Del Toro secured 11 victories in singles play in the 2020-2021 season including a winning streak of nine matches.

She also confirmed four doubles wins.

The Slippery Rock women's tennis team hosted their first PSAC match at home when Clarion University of Pennsylvania visited on Wednesday.

Buettner targets PSAC title

By Joseph Skillicorn Assistant Sports Editor

Participating in her final season at Slippery Rock University with the women’s lacrosse team, senior physical education major Molly Buettner looks back fondly at the program that has given her so much.

“It’s great looking back and seeing how much this program has grown in the time I’ve been here," Buettner commented.

"I believe with the foundations in place, it will only keep on getting better."

Going back four years ago, Buettner was scouted

by The Rock while playing for her club in her home state of Mar yland. Yet, despite Pennsylvania being a neighbor state, Slippery Rock University did not have a familiar chime to it for Buettner.

“I didn’t even know it existed," Buettner said. "Once I heard of the interest, I looked into the education program and after visiting, it was the

place out of everywhere that I really liked."

Buettner is also quick to note the differences between back home and the now familiar environment of Slippery Rock.

“I went from a place where everyone I met played lacrosse to Slippery Rock where some people hadn’t even heard of the sport," Buettner said.

“Many aspects are slower paced here than they are back home."

But adapting to new surroundings were not the only challenges posed to Buettner. The lacrosse season was brought to a premature end in spring 2020 due to the COVID-19, a vivid memory that Buettner still recalls.

“It was one of the strangest feelings I’ve felt before," Buettner remarks. "We knew we couldn’t take anything for granted.

"When our coach delivered us the news that it would be our last practice, I can still remember the feeling; my heart just sank."

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RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET

SPORTS

March 25, 2022

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Giving Day returns !

RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET

The Rock is once again hosting their Giving Day event in which they hope to get support from donors for all teams. Athletic Director Roberta Page is putting a focus on making anyone who donates this year feel connected and appreciated, and hopes that it will bring more support to each sport.

By Tyler Howe Sports Editor

Giving Day makes its return for the 2021-2022 academic year this week, and with it comes the hopes of helping get all 17 athletic teams on campus extra funds.The day helps teams that may not be given a lot of attention, earn money that they would otherwise not see.

On Friday, Giving Day will officially start and teams will look to gain support for the upcoming seasons.

This year there will be a competition of sorts for teams and donors. There will be additional money given to teams that earn the most by a certain time. For example, the team that earns the most money by 10 a.m. this

Friday will earn another $250.

The two teams with the most money raised by 3 p.m. will get $500. Finally, the three teams with the most money raised by 11:59 p.m. will earn $1,000.

“I’m so excited because I’m going to sit up in the foundation for the entire day that I don’t have a meeting, and I want to get some things like pizza and soda to celebrate the gifts that are coming in,” Athletic Director Roberta Page said.

This is Page’s first giving day as athletic director and it’s something she’s looking forward to. She wants the day to bring attention to the teams that may not be earning as much money as sports such football and baseball. The day was created to help with that.

“I want to pick up the phone and say thank you [to people

who donate] on behalf of the athletic department, without you we wouldn’t be successful,” Page said. “So, I’ve committed to make phone calls to every person at a certain level, but I just don’t know what level yet.”

The past few weeks have been used to get each sport excited for giving day. In years past, the day has been much smaller, but with the arrival of Page, the day has been getting hyped up much more.

“I’ve been trying to get our coaches excited about it and our alumni excited about it, because I know our foundation is because it’s a big day for us,” Page said.

Alumni are huge part of what the day is all about. Every team is counting on alumni of their programs to help give them a boost. The day is centered on

players of the past who are looking to help support the teams in the future. “[Giving Day] is big, because this is when you find out who your supporters are of your program, whether you know them or you don’t,” Page said. “This is when they come out of the woodwork to say, ‘I want to give to something that I believed in.’”

That support could make all the difference for teams like volleyball and softball who, in comparison to other programs, may not be making as much and may not have as many fans in the stands as well.

“It’s a great opportunity for those smaller teams to connect with their alumni, their family and friends to give back to the common cause, which is their individual sport,” Page said.

Connection is the biggest aspect of this day. According to Page, the day is all about feeling connected.

“I want to make sure people feel connected, because if there isn’t a connection or if you didn’t have a good experience here, then why would you give?” Page said.

“I need to change that if we have people who thought that Slippery Rock wasn’t good to them.”

The funds that are gained during Giving Day will be used for student-athlete scholarships and team operating expenses.

This year also marks 50 years of Title IX, and because of that there may also be an emphasis this Giving Day on helping women programs that may not have had the opportunities in the past that they do now.

“This might be a time when

you see folks that are supportive of that, especially women who went through that,” Page said.

“They may be like, 'You know what, here is my giving because I didn’t have it.'”

The hope for the event is to break records that have been set in previous years. If that were to happen in her first year, Page doesn’t quite know what she’d do.

“Man if we break some records, I don’t know what I’ll do, I may have to give everyone something here on campus, because that would be the best thing that could ever happen to me this year,” Page said. “I say that getting the job was the best thing, but if we would break some sort of record on our Giving Day, I should probably get a tattoo or something, I don’t know.”

Baseball starts season on tear

HALLE ANGELLO / THE ROCKET

Slippery Rock has lived up to expectations thus far in the season, they've been dominating opponents on both ends, but have seen some spectactular pitching that has led to a no hitter and four shut outs already. They open PSAC play against their bitter rival, IUP, this weekend and are looking to continue the streak they've been on.

By Tyler Howe Sports Editor

It’s rare that a team starts any season in a perfect fashion. In baseball, it’s even more rare.

However, that’s exactly what The Rock has managed to do.

After they were picked to finish second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) west in the preseason, The Rock has shown why they could very well be holding the PSAC trophy at the end of the season.

The Rock has seen stellar pitching in the early going with work from Ricky Mineo, Devin Dunn, Luke Trueman and Andy McClymonds. None of them have even come close to dropping a game thus far. It’s not very often that a team has pitching that is near flawless, but that’s what it’s been in the first few series.

“Pitching, for the most part, has been phenomenal for us and when you have good

pitching you’re usually going to be in every game,” head coach Jeff Messer said. “Because of that, we’ll have a chance to win, and I think that’s how our team feels, with our pitching staff we’ll have a chance to beat anybody on any day.”

In 10 games, The Rock has pitched four shutouts as well as a no hitter in the first series that came from multiple pitchers.

“We didn’t let Ricky [Mineo] go the entire time because he had met his pitch count, and we had our reliever come in,” Messer said. “But any time you hold a team hitless it’s definitely an accomplishment because it doesn’t happen very often.

"I can probably count on my hands the amount times we’ve had a no hitter in the time I’ve coached here.”

Through the first few weeks of the season, Slippery Rock has experienced some nice weather.

Messer feels that in a way it’s played a bit into how good their season has started.

“We’ve been fortunate that

we’ve gotten decent weather this early in the spring, and we’ve been playing well,” Messer said. “I think that can be attributed to being able to practice [outside] going into games.”

The first part of the season normally consists of nonconference games, and this season has almost been like the return to normal. The Rock has started out with 10 nonconference games and their 10-0 record is their best start since 2013 when they started out 8-2.

“I think the players believe in themselves, you win 10 games it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you still have to go out there,” Messer said. “It’s better to be 10-0 than 0-10, but once we start our PSAC schedule that’s when the games really count.”

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) comes to town on March 25 to open PSAC play for The Rock. IUP will come in hovering around

.500, but they’ll be looking to play spoiler to The Rock’s undefeated record. To Messer, when the conference schedule starts, it’s a whole new season.

“Our PSAC schedule starts on Friday, and it’s basically a whole new beginning because you want to win your early games, but what really matters are your conference games,” Messer said. “I think [the team] realizes that the PSAC is very competitive, and they know they just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing.”

What they’ve been doing is absolutely dominating their opponents. They’ve outscored their opponents 106-15. The Rock has been on fire on the offensive end with Alex Robenolt and Connor Hamilton leading the way. Hamiltion already has 17 RBI’s and five homeruns so far. Robenolt has 13 RBI’s and four homeruns and was named PSAC west athlete of the week last week.

“[The PSAC] is one of the best conferences in the country when it comes to Division II baseball, because you know that there’s no easy days or days off,” Messer said. “You know you’re going to be playing some tough competition.”

When Friday finally hits, The Rock will get a chance to show why they were picked to finish so high in the conference.

But it’s just the start of a very difficult schedule. They’ll come face to face with both California University of Pennsylvania (Cal-U) and Seton Hill University in the coming weeks. Both teams have also started out very hot.

“Seton Hill was picked to win the conference and they have a solid team, and our guys aren’t looking past them, but we’re definitely taking things one game at a time,” Messer said.

The Rock’s early season play has given them the confidence boost that they’ll need going into these games. After another

perfect week, The Rock jumped up eight spots from No. 30. to No. 22 in the nation.

“It’s good for the program and the players because you get more eyes on you since you’re No. 22 in the nation, but I hope we’re higher than 22 in the nation when the season is over,” Messer said. “But it is definitely something that’s nice for the players to see, but there are a few other PSAC schools in there too.”

But, just like the preseason, The Rock doesn’t focus on any of the accolades other than the one they’re chasing.

“Our players know that it doesn’t mean a thing if you aren’t in the postseason and going beyond that,” Messer said. “I think it’s definitely a good thing for our program, but at the same time our players don’t look at things and think they’re going to be easy for us the rest of the way.”

SPORTS

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March 25, 2022

Starting out hot

RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET

Molly Buettner has been at SRU for four years, and this year has started out better than any as the lacrosse team has been flawless at home up to this point. Last year, Buettner had her break out year which set her up for the success that they've experienced, but she still has higher goals.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C-2

Like many athletes across a number of sports, Buettner was forced to keep active from the comfort of her own home. “[Physically] I was doing lots of YouTube workouts [but] there was a lot of uncertainty over how long the break due to COVID-19 would last so it was important to keep working," Buetther shared. "It definitely changed my perspective on how I went into games last year.

"It was such a great feeling to play again [in spring 2021], but I went into every game taking nothing for granted and

thinking it could be my last."

Buettner also relied closely on her family to help her maintain her sharpness off the field during COVID-19 times.

“I have a twin brother and we pretty much do everything together," Buettner remarked.

"We would go out a lot together on long walks just trying to keep busy."

Yet Buettner is speaks on the important role her father has played in her rise to playing at the collegiate level.

“My dad played lacrosse at high school and college so he would often come outside and we would talk through things

together," Buettner said. "He was like a coach to me but also knew when to step back and just let me play.”

Buettner’s parents have long been supportive throughout her lacrosse career, going to as many games as possible, home or away. She believes it gives her extra motivation to perform every time she pulls on the SRU jersey.

“They’ve been able to come out to a ton of games over the last couple of years [and] it’s such a great feeling knowing they’re there," Buettner commented. "They try to get to as many away games as possible too."

Interim head coach Taryn Burkholder has enjoyed a fruitful start to her opening campaign in the position, and Buettner was quick to praise the former Slippery Rock assistant coach.

“She is great with us, [and] understands the game from a player’s perspective," Buettner reflected. "She knows how players are feeling and what they are dealing with on a dayto-day basis.

"I was so thrilled when she was put into the position of interim head coach for this year."

Buettner believes Burkholder’s credentials line

up with the program’s goals and objectives, thus believing women’s lacrosse would go from strength to strength if she was to be offered the job on a permanent basis.

“I think it would be everything for this program," Buettner said. "It would just keep getting better."

In her 2021 season, she appeared in all twelve games for her team, including making ten starts. After totaling 27 points on 20 goals and seven assists, she was named a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) scholar athlete, along with being placed in the Intercollegiate

Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) academic honor roll. Buettner has already recorded eight points this spring season after registering four goals and four assists.

As her time comes to a close on the field at Slippery Rock, Buettner’s objectives are clear.

“Simply put, I would love to win a PSAC championship," Buettner said. "That’s what everyone wants and it would be the dream ending for me."

The Slippery Rock women’s lacrosse team will compete next at Millersville University of Pennsylvania on March 26 at 1 p.m.

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VIDEO: You shore can prevent drowning

CAMPUS LIFE

PCW brings positive campus climate

By Sarah Anderson Campus Life Editor

With a busy schedule, the times always changing and needing to keep up with the university's needs, a university president is very busy. This is where President's Commissions come in.

The President's Commission on Women (PCW) has a mission that leads and supports women's leadership and gender equity as cornerstones of the collegiate experience at SRU. The commission includes 25 voting members including faculty, staff, administration and students. Each group must have a minimum of three representatives.

PCW most recently has passed a new Children in the Workplace Policy.

Although this affects more than just women, PCW finds it necessary to still offer support for parents.

The new policy was officially enacted last week, allowing more flexibility with children in the workplace.

Brittany Fleming, associate professor in the strategic communication & media department (SC&M), as well as PCW co-chair, mentioned that with the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic brought on with school closures, the commission

was searching for some alternatives to what previously would've been resolved by using sick days.

With last semester being the first time the commission was in person in two years, they had to adapt their programming while being online. This included guest speaker series that were able to be held via Zoom.

One specific program speaker included Elise Michaux, a SRU alumna, representative on the Council of Trustees and a winner of one of the Women and Ally of Distinction awards. Lisa Sylvester from WPXI also was included in the program. Together, they spoke about grit and resilience.

This year, coming back from COVID-19, PCW is working hard to bring back the Women and Ally of Distinction Mentoring Dinner, which last happened pre-pandemic. The dinner will be hosted this Tuesday March 29 at 5 p.m. in the Robert M. Smith Student Center (SSC) Ballroom.

The dinner will have awards presented to the various winners, as well as keynote speaker Maria Searcy, who serves as the PA department of education parent involvement-ineducation consultant.

Aside from bringing back the dinner, PCW has been working on various different projects.

Emily Dolan, assistant professor in the SC&M department, lead a campus climate survey for those who identified as female on campus.

The survey was for students, faculty and staff across campus.

"We really wanted the campuses input on what they wanted us to be doing because we didn't want to produce programming that no one was going to attend, or start messing with policies that no one really cared about," Fleming said.

PCW is taking the findings to try and decide what they want to do next. The results are still confidential as they are working through the process.

Rape culture and gender violence are two majors topics that are being pushed as a major initiative to be looked into, as well.

"It's how we can make an impact and even if we can't, maybe partnering with other organizations," said Amber Hamilton, co-chair of PCW and academic advisor and coordinator at the tutorial center.

Another initiative the commission has been discussing since the previous co-chairs is implementing more changing tables across campus, and expanding it past the SSC bathrooms.

With PCW being a part of the president's commission, these are conversations and initiatives that are brought

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF BRITTANY FLEMING

up with him, and put into action.

In recent years there has been a positive shift in the relationship between the commissions and the president to be more of an environment to support each other and be receptive to changes.

"All of us are coming to [Behre] with ideas as well as solutions," Hamilton said.

"Which I think has made it more receptive to seeking help and being on our side for certain things."

SRU hired Chief Diversity Officer Anthony Jones last fall, and he is likely to serve as a liaison between the university president and the various commissions. All of which is an attempt to facilitate more constructive communication among organizations.

PCW has many plans for the future and as they look more into the results of the climate survey conducted last semester, they will be communicating to find initiatives to work on.

The commission is encouraging student's to get involved and realize that it is not just for faculty and staff. Anyone interested in contributing to or joining PCW is encouraged to email the co-chairs at pcw@sru. edu.

"There's two ways that you can give [to PCW]," Hamilton said. "You can give your money or your time.

"I'm hoping that we, as a commission, can start giving our time more to people."

Sharing awards and support

By Megan John Asst. Campus Life Editor

When Jake Rowe found out that she had won a Woman & Ally of Distinction award, she felt confused.

Jennifer Keller had to read through the announcement email multiple times before she understood. Amanda Reichert called a professor, wondering if it was correct.

This is one of many common threads between the Woman & Ally of Distinction award winners. Being recognized was humbling for them, sometimes to the point of disbelief.

“Being an ally or supporting women doesn’t feel like something I should be recognized for," Rowe said. "It’s how I live my life every day."

The five winners will be honored at the Woman & Ally of Distinction Mentoring Dinner on Tuesday March 29 at 5 p.m. in the Robert M. Smith Student Center (SSC) ballroom.

Elise Michaux, winner of the alumni category, is a Council of Trustees member who also works in higher education, photography and digital design. As an SRU student, she was a student leader, and the skills she learned proved to be useful in her professional life. Now she encourages and supports current student leaders.

“It’s important to me that I foster these relationships and maintain them, because no one has done anything

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENDER STUDIES WEBSITE One of the last Woman & Ally of Distinction Mentoring Dinners was hosted in 2018 before the pandemic. Awards were given to Stacey Rice, Keisha Booker, Katherine Mickle, Maevon Gamble and Maggie Calvert.

good by themselves,” Michaux said.

As an advocate, she strives to represent as many voices as possible, not just her own.

“It’s important for me in my professional and social life to go above and beyond and find ways to serve others," Michaux said. "Advocacy is a great way of doing that.

"It goes such a long way to those you’re helping, and it makes impacts that sometimes you’ll never know."

Amanda Reichert, winner of the staff & administration category, is a second-semester senior. She has a double major in psychology, and gender and diversity studies, with a minor in cognitive science.

She has held many positions in the psychology and gender studies departments, as well

as being on the counseling center student advisory board.

As a student leader, Reichert’s goal is to uplift and mentor other women.

She has watched previous professors and mentors receive the award, and describes receiving it herself as “a full-circle moment [and] heartwarming."

Jake Rowe, winner of the ally category, is a firstsemester senior majoring in cybersecurity. To her, allyship is about rejecting hate and recognizing the value in everything.

Growing up as a transgender woman, Rowe never saw a gender barrier between herself and her female friends. “[I see people as] who they are, and less of what they

physically are," Rowe said.

“Breaking the status quo involves ignoring things like sex and gender and race."

As a CA, she does her best to create an open environment where anyone who needs support can find it.

Achieving the award reminded Rowe that “being a woman isn’t about fitting into stereotypes or following the status quo, it’s just about being yourself."

"No matter who you are, no one should tell you that you’re not woman enough,” Rowe commented.

Christine Pe a s e Hernandez, the first winner in the faculty category, is an associate professor specializing in communication and culture.

She is on the Diversity,

Equity and Inclusion (DEI) faculty development committee and is one of two advisors for the Student Organization for Latinos/ Hispanics and Allies (SOL).

“As a professor of intercultural communication, I am a firm believer that the more you expose yourself to differences, whether it be traveling or meeting people from different backgrounds, the more you grow as an individual,” Hernandez said.

Living in northwestern Pennsylvania, a place that lacks diversity, it can be difficult to encourage people to learn about different cultures. To her, the process is “challenging, but gratifying” when students learn from their experiences.

Jennifer Keller, the second winner in the faculty category,

is a professor and chairperson for the department of dance.

Her teaching focuses on improvisation, partnering and collaborative practices.

Physical and emotional safety is her top priority during class.

“I try to create spaces where students can feel comfortable with themselves and with each other,” Keller said.

She appreciates the “diversity of viewpoints, opinions and motivations” among dancers, and describes her feelings toward current and former students as “continuous admiration."

Keller placed emphasis on her gratitude toward role models and supportive colleagues in her department and across the university; her goal is to pay it forward.

“One of the gems of Slippery Rock is the strong community that we have here," Keller said. "It’s the students, but also all of our colleagues working together [and] I feel fortunate to be in a field where this seems to be valued."

Many common threads unite the Woman & Ally of Distinction award winners.

They make advocacy a part of their everyday lives. Many strive to be role models. All five brought up the community aspect, the networks of people who include, support and uplift each other.

“It bears repeating, no one has done anything good by themselves,” Michaux said. “You are who you surround yourself with, and I’ve done a pretty good job of curating my people.”

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CAMPUS LIFE

March 25, 2022

WEEKLY ORG. SPOTLIGHT Slackline Club Best Buddies

By Megan John Asst. Campus Life Editor

The Slackline and Hammock Club, also known as Between Two Trees, focuses on slacklining, hammocking and improving the environment.They strive to follow the Leave No Trace principles.

Tom Koraido, a junior safety management major, is Between Two Trees’ only officer as of now.

He says it is currently “dormant” due to weather and scheduling conflicts. However, once spring arrives, he has plenty of ideas to get Between Two Trees back in full swing.

Koraido first heard of slacklining through the rock climbing community. He attended clinics in Pittsburgh to learn the basics and is now passing on the knowledge to students through demonstrations in the Quad.

“People see me slacklining and they come up and ask, ‘Hey, what do you do?’ We talk and hang out and then they try it out,” Koraido said. “I had a table at the Involvement Fair, but it was hard to get people to even come up to the table.

“College kids are a rough crowd, except when I’m already [demonstrating].”

Aside from slacklining, Between Two Trees focuses on hammocking: hammock camping, napping in hammocks and generally “decompressing outside.”

They also emphasize Leave No Trace practices. Koraido used the Cache In Trash Out (CITO) initiative as an example of their values. CITO is supported by geocachers who collect and throw away any litter they find while exploring outside. He referred to litter as a disappointing eyesore.

“We want to treat the environment that we’re using for hammocking and slacklining well,” Koraido said.

The club also plans to plant trees around campus and protect the ones that are there already, as trees are essential to what they do.

When Between Two Trees becomes more active, Koraido plans for the club to be driven by the members. As a student, he wants to take advantage of all the opportunities college life offers, which includes being part of a club that aligns with his interests.

Those interested in Between Two Trees can visit their CORE page, email Koraido at tmk1018@sru.edu or follow their Instagram @ between2trees_sru.

By Sarah Anderson Campus Life Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM KORAIDO Students of the Slackline and Hammock Club often demonstrate in the Quad for students who pass by. This is where they get the most engagement.

Be s t Bu d d i e s i s a n organization at Slippery Rock University that is a global nonprofit which prides itself on creating one to one friendships for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their peers, according t o s e n i o r re c re a t i o n a l therapy major Krisztina Armstrong.

The organization, on a global level, is involved with various institutions, from having chapters in elementary schools, high schools and colleges.

Specifically at SRU, Best Buddies works with Rock Life students by pairing them up with a friend, as well as having biweekly socials to try and offer a friendly face to the students.

"I always say it's just another friendly face on campus because sometimes our Rock Life students are kind of isolated and they live on campus but aren't

always incorporated," Armstrong said.

Best Buddies previously worked with the Merakey Houses that allowed them to work with adults with intellectual disabilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic created a variety of barriers that made it difficult to work and keep everyone safe, which eventually led to their contract together ending.

For the "buddies," who are the students with intellectual disabilities, the organization allows them to have various learning opportunities to help enhance social skills.

"Learning appropriate social behaviors is a big thing we work on," Armstrong said. "The boundary setting is a big thing sometimes because it can be challenging.

"We love our friends, but we need to have respect for them too."

For "peer buddies," which are paired with the buddies, they are able to learn skills that will help them in various areas, many times with their specific majors. This

includes communication skills, time management and boundar y setting, They are also to get volunteer hours through the organization.

Best Buddies' biggest event is the "Best Buddies Friendship Walk." The walk is the largest walk that strives to spread inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SRU's organization, along with other Best Buddies programs around the w o r l d , w o rk t o r a i s e money for the walk, which will be donated to Best Buddies International.

"The money helps t o c re a t e n e w s c h o o l chapters, build job programs and create even more friendships across the globe," Armstrong commented.

The Pittsburgh walk will be held on April 24 at Highmark Stadium. More information can be found here.

Be s t Bu d d i e s m e e t s every other Tuesday at 6 p.m. in 102 Vincent Science Center. Events can be found on CORE.

CAMPUS LIFE

March 25, 2022

D-3

Creating recipes for success

By Megan John Asst. Campus Life Editor

O n Tu e s d a y t h e success coaches held “Don’t Crumble MidSemester” in the Robert M. Smith Student Center (SSC). The sessions were designed to help students reflect on their study habits and

"A lot of the students from the first session already have booked follow-up sessions. . ."

– Julie Ferringer, assistant director for Success Coaching

develop new strategies, with a theme based around cookies.

Julie Ferringer, one of two assistant directors for Success Coaching, has been working with the program since 2018. She called this w e e k ’s d i s c u s s i o n s “wonderfully engaging."

“We strategically host a lot of group coaching opportunities for all students at times of the year where we know students might be starting to feel that midterm slump . . . just to keep that momentum going for them,” Ferringer said.

According to Ferringer, the events are handled much like normal group coaching sessions. It’s all about engagement, especially between students. They re f l e c t o n o b s t a c l e s , possible solutions, and share strategies and techniques with each other. Then these ideas are turned into individual plans. “ We l i k e t o f o l l ow a 70/30 role . . . w e ’r e p l a y i n g t h a t 3 0 % , w h e r e w e ’r e asking thoughtp r ov o k i n g q u e s t i o n s , and facilitating and

guiding them on this j o u r n e y,” F e r r i n g e r said.

The cookie theme was incorporated into all aspects of the event: choosing ingredients that will help students succeed, combining t h e m i n t o a “re c i p e” and “baking” by putting their plan into action.

Free cookies were also provided.

Fe r r i n g e r c o n s i d e r s “Do n’t Cr u mb l e Mid Semester” a success b as e d o n t he po s it ive impact she has seen on pas t at t e n d e e s . Ot he r students who attended c o ac hin g s e s s io n s w il l c o me b ac k t o t e l l t he coaches about their accomplishments, like ac in g a t e s t o r mak in g t he De an’s Lis t .

“A lot of the students f ro m t he f ir s t s e s s io n already have booked follow-up sessions with our peer academic c o ac he s o r o u r s u c c e s s c o a c h e s , " Fe r r i n g e r said. "I think building t ho s e re l at io n s hips is re al l y val u ab l e . " To s t a y u p t o d a t e with future Success Coaching events, follow @sr upacsuccess o n In s t ag r am o r v is it t he ir C OR E pag e .

TIFFANIE POUST / THE ROCKET Students attending "Don't Crumble Mid-Semester" volunteered their ideas in the group. Working together, they came up with different helpful strategies, according to Ferringer.

TIFFANIE POUST / THE ROCKET Success coaches and students enjoyed cookies themed after the stress management workshop, together.

Cookies were one way success coaches got students more interested in the program.

Film Review: 'Mass'

By Dereck Majors Review Columnist

V i o l e n c e , specifically gun violence, has and most likely will always be a major problem in America.

Ev e r y t i m e y o u p i c k u p a n e w s p a p e r, t u r n on the local news channel or scroll through social media, yo u’re b o u n d t o f i n d a shooting incident that occurred somewhere within the countr y and sometimes in our very ow n n e i g h b o r h o o d s .

These events are so common that they s o m e t i m e s d o n’t e ve n elicit a reaction from the audience. Without fault, there are always tertiary victims who feel the ramifications far after the events occurred and are rarely ever tended to.

This is exactly w h e re “ Ma s s” p i c k s up the pieces.

Ta k i n g p l a c e s i x years after a tragedy that involved their children, two sets of parents have a meeting for the very first time inside a small room in the basement of an Episcopalian church.

T h e s c re e n p l a y s e t s the scene early on that the meeting that is about to occur will be awkward for all parties.

At the beginning, we see a brief of one of the pairs, Jay and Gail ( Jason Isaacs and Martha Plimpton), arriving to the church a n d d r i v i n g a w a y, thinking that they will not be able to handle whatever discussion will occur inside.

Once both couples are in the same room, there is a strong tension and a sense that whatever

brought them here is not yet resolved. Forty minutes pass by until the film finally reveals an explanation for their meeting.

Leaving the audience in suspense for so long is both one of the film’s strongest and weakest points. On one hand, this plot technique can only go on for so long.

Only knowing a small percentage about the f i l m’s p u r p o s e o n e quarter of the way into the runtime can lose v i e we r s ' i n t e re s t ve r y early on.

On the other hand, this omission of information is brilliant from a screenplay perspective. In essence, the entire film’s premise is clouded in myster y for an extended period of time and leaves the audience asking questions. Why are they here? Who are they? What is the c o u p l e ’s c o n n e c t i o n to one another? This mystery also allows for the audience to listen to each individual character without judgement.

And that is exactly what director and screenwriter Fran Kranz asks of his audience. Without knowing which side of the conflict each couple resides on, we are able to see them as humans.

Later on in the film we learn that Richard and Linda (Reed Birney and Ann Dowd) were not invited to any of the vigils after the tragedy that tore apart their lives.

It h a s b e e n s i x y e a r s after the event and they have never been given ample time to grieve. Had the a u d i e n c e k n ow n a t t h e start of the film what role their son played in the calamity it may

have been easy to pass judgement onto the parents.

A prominent Shakespeare quote says t h a t “t h e s i n s o f t h e f a t h e r a re t o b e l a i d u p o n t h e c h i l d r e n .” “ Ma s s” d e c i d e s t o flip the script and ask how the parents are responsible for the actions of their c h i l d re n . A re p a re n t s responsible even if they had no stake in t h e c h i l d ’s c h o i c e s ?

These moral questions are what make the film so captivating, even if the film takes place primarily inside of one room with four characters.

I t ’s n o s u r p r i s e that Kranz comes from an acting background. Having starred in films such as “The Cabin in t h e Wo o d s , ” K r a n z is able to bring out the very best performances from h i s a c t o r s . Wa t c h i n g these actors express so many emotions in such a claustrophobic space is thrilling.

Each performance is heartbreaking as more and more information is peeled away like the skin of an onion, leading to a finale that deals a d e v a s t a t i n g b l o w.

Rather than provide a n s w e r s , “ Ma s s” a s k s questions everyone is afraid to ask.

While it may be frustrating as a viewer feeling as though the nearly twohour runtime was wasted on one single c o n v e r s a t i o n , “ M a s s” is a film that stays with you long after the credits roll. The film c o n n e c t s t o r e a l i t y, causing you to reflect on the judgements that you make about others every day.