sru rocket 4-13-12

S ports

Campus L ife J.R Martinez: TV star

B-1

Sophomore midfielder has breakout performance against rival IUP

C-1

shares his story at SRU

The Rocket www.theonlinerocket.com

Friday, April 13, 2012

Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper

Est. 1934

Volume 95, Number 22

Multiple bomb threats disrupt Pitt campus

First years of college show little gains in key skills

By Will Deshong Rocket Staff Reporter

be one-hundred percent safe from bomb threats,” said Stephen Wetzel, a junior professional writing major. “I’m sure that there are measures that [the university] takes to limit those occurrences.”

The staff and faculty have yearly training exercises on campus to prepare the group for various emergency situations, Bonando said. The people who are involved with these drills include the President, the Vice President, the Directors, the SRU police, the borough police, the Butler County Emergency Hazmats, the Pa. Emergency Management Agency, the Butler County Red Cross, and the Fire Department.

A study published last year found that 45 percent of college students showed no significant improvement in key skills such as critical thinking, complex reasoning, and writing after two years of studies.

Sociologists Richard Arum, of New York University, and Josipa Roska, of the University of Virginia, concluded from t h e i r re s e arch of 2 , 3 0 0 u n d e rg r a du ate s f rom 2 4 universities across the country that first and second year students are more concerned with socializing than they are with their academic pursuits.

The data comes from a variety of research methods used by the two scientists, including survey responses, transcript data and a standardized test given to students in their first semester and then again at the end of their second year.

While Arum and Roska, who published a book titled “Academically Adrif: Limited Learning on College Campuses,” assert that the first two years of college are basically useless, Dr. Mark Campbell, the chairperson of the department of Academic Ser vices at Slipper y Rock University, isn’t convinced of the statistics in the study, particularly in relation to SRU. “Every year our admission requirements get higher and higher,” Campbell said in regards to incoming freshmen’s SAT scores and high school GPA. “We’re attracting very high applicants. I don’t know

SEE SRU, PAGE A-2

SEE STUDENTS, PAGE A-4

RANDI ALU/THE PITT NEWS

The University of Pittsburgh has had over 60 anonymous bomb threats since the beginning of February. There is currently a $50,000 reward for turning in the person responsible.

By Jonathan Janasik Rocket News Contributor

The University of Pittsburgh has received over 60 anonymous bomb threats since the beginning of February, including threats Thursday morning and 12 threats Monday.

The threats have caused students at Slippery Rock University to evaluate their safety. “[SRU] is definitely safer than Pitt because it’s smaller and it’s not in the middle of the city,” said junior accounting and marketing double-major Kelly Clark.

“I think Pitt is being targeted because it’s such a big university in the middle of a city and there would be a lot of people that they would get if they actually did something

with it.”

Assistant Vice President for Student Services at SRU, Dr. John Bonando said that the last time that SRU faced a bomb threat was about ten years ago. The police were contacted by a student about the threat in North Hall at about 2 a.m. The student was quickly caught and arrested by the police.

The consequences of giving a bomb threat are very severe, Bonando stated.

The offending student would receive a permanent dismissal from SRU, the threat would be cited on the student’s permanent record, and there would be harsh criminal penalties.

“I really don’t think that any school can

Norton takes on role of being first female president at SRU, believes her love of sports makes her a good fit

By Steph Holsinger Assistant News Editor

EMILY HUNTER/THE ROCKET

Dr. Cheryl Norton speaks with the SRU community at her open forum in February.

Dr. Cheryl Norton, who was named as the first female president of Slippery Rock University last Thursday, will begin serving our campus on June 4.

Nor ton, w ho gre w up in Cleveland, Ohio, completed her bachelor’s degree in physical education at Denison University, located in Granville, Ohio. While attending Denison, Norton met her husband, Henry. During her time in Ohio, Norton and her husband worked at a local church school before going on to work at the University of Virginia Hospital, which is where, she said, she learned a lot about people.

Norton then went on to study at the University of Columbia in New York, which is where she earned two masters degrees, in psychology and education, as well as her

doctorate in applied physiology.

After learning that her husband accepted a job offer in Denver, Colo., Norton also accepted a teaching position at the Metropolitan State College, located in Denver.

She taught in the department of Human Performance, Sport, and Leisure Studies for 16 years before becoming the department chair in 1992. In 1996, Norton became the interim associate dean of professional studies, and began serving as the provost and vice president of academic affairs a year later before ending her 28-year career at the college.

“My time teaching in Denver was what really solidified my interest in higher education,” Norton said. “The college, which had about 20,300 students, gave me the opportunity to learn about the challenges in the field.”

“My philosophy on education is that if we, as educators, are

developers of education in the classroom, then we should be a part of the solution when problems arise,” she said.

From 2004 to 2010, Norton served as the president of Southern Connecticut State University, located in New Haven, Conn., which had about 12,000 students enrolled at the time. In the past few years, Norton has been working on sabbatical work with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. Norton stated that what most attracted her to Slippery Rock University was the sense of community.

“I hope to maintain that great sense of community that Slippery Rock has always had,” she said. “I also hope that my experience with larger schools will help add to it even more.”

SEE NORTON, PAGE A-2

News

A-2

ROCK NOTES Registration Help at Old Main The Office of Academic Records and Summer School, 107 Main, will be open until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator Events OSGATA vs. Monsanto (Seed Patenting Case): Learn why you should be concerned about your food. Come listen to a panel discussion regarding GMO’s, the current case on seed patenting and how it affects you. Panelists include Plaintiff / Local farmer Ron Gargasz and Nutritionist Jeanie Anderson, C.N.H.P., and others. The discussion will take place April 19th at 7 p.m. in Spotts Auditorium with opportunities for questions. Sponsored by the Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator and The Law Society—an SEA Earth Week event.

Marcellus Shale Gas Leases and Landowner Rights: Workshop by lawyers Mr. Ian Oman and Dr. John Golden on Landowners’ Rights regarding the Marcellus Shale Gas Leases. Learn what you need to know before signing a lease or contract. April 18th at 6:30 p.m. in ECB Auditorium 111.

Sponsored by the Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator-an SEA Earth Week event.

Financial Aid Deadline Approaches Students who want to be considered for financial aid for the 2012-13 academic year must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on-line at www.fafsa.gov<http:// www.fafsa.gov> by May 1st for maximum aid consideration.

To submit a Rock Note please send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to Brian Brodeur at bdb5229@sru.edu or to rocket.news@sru.edu. The Rocket does not guarantee that all requests will be published in the paper.

.

Index Rock Notes...............A-2 Classifieds..........B-4 Weather map...........A-2 Sports...................B-1 Blotter.................A-3 Campus Life.............C-1 Opinion...............A-6

contact us Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu

220 Eisenberg Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057

2011 Runner-up most Outstading Newspaper, Society of Collegiate Journalists.

April 13, 2012

SRU takes all threats seriously Continued from Page A-1

“You must take every threat seriously, and you must react to every threat as if it were real b e caus e you ne ver know if it’s real or if it’s not,” Bonando said.

“The way that we train people is – you need to react as if one of your children or one of your loved ones is involved and if you do that, you can’t go wrong.”

One of the recent d r i l l s included responding to a bomb t h re at at a p a cke d football game, while handling a fire that broke out at Watson Hall at the same time. Bonando said that this allows the university to be properly prepared for a variety of emergency situations.

“At the point where a staff member gets i nv o l v e d w i t h a n incident, they’re not going to meet the person who they need to help them for the first time at the incident,” explained B onando.

“They will know each other, they will have trained together, they will have had lunch together, they will know exactly what they’re doing.”

The Student L ife Division gave copies of t he Pers ona l Emergency Guidebook to all SRU staff and faculty which serves as a quick reference about what to do in case of an emergency such as a bomb threat, explained Bonando.

The guidebook gives advice like to keep calm, try to find as much information as you can, take notes about the treat, and call the SRU Police immediately.

In addition to Personal Emergency Guidebook given to professors, Bonando

said that new professors also used to get a little bit of emergency training via a presentation at faculty orientations.

“I t h i n k e ve r y institution can advance their prevention and how they go about protec ting students

checked before entering any buildings. Also, non-Pitt students are no longer allowed in residence halls.

Pitt sp okesp ers on Robert Hill said that the the university is doing everything they can to keep students safe. The a m o u nt o f police on foot p at r o l h a s increased, as well as the nu mb e r of sur veillance cameras.

Pitt biology sophomore Z a r r e e n A m i n s ay s that lots of students and fac u lt y are taking the threats very s e r i o u s l y.

Lots of students have chosen to move off campus, some deciding to leave for the semester.

B ecaus e s o many s tu d e nt s h ave l e f t campus, most professors are offering online finals rather than having them in classrooms.

“I’m blown away from all these bomb threats,” said Pitt English secondar y education sophomore Errick Pfuhl. “On Monday, the Chancellor’s house had a threat at 11 o’clock at night and then at 4 in the morning there were bomb threats on five different dorms.”

Wh i l e t he s afe t y measures are abundant, Amin and Pfuhl both agree that they do not actually make campus feel any safer.

Amin said that most students consider the bag checks and frequent evacuations to be an annoyance.

No r d e n b e r g s a i d t hat b ot h t he FBI and the University of Pittsburgh Police are working together at finding out who has been threatening the university.

Also, Pitt is offering a $50,000 reward to anybody who provides information that leads to the arrest of the suspect.

“You must take every threat seriously, and you must react to every threat as if it was real because you never know if it’s real or if it’s not,” Bonando said. from such threats,” said English literature senior Sarah Browne.

“Most of all, it’s about communication and communication systems. Once a threat is heard or even believed, if it’s investigated and communicated, that is usually the best prevention.”

Bonando stated that preparation is the key to safety in emergency situations.

“I think the university is well prepared to handle any incidents t h a t m a y o c c u r,” B onando said. “We have attempted to think of anything that could possibly go wrong, w r ite p ol i c i e s and procedures, and then train on those policies and procedures. That’s the best we can do.”

University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenb erg released a statement Sunday detailing the new heightened security measures on Pitt’s campus.

All of the buildings were examined for bombs and then were reopened with limited access. Buildings now only have one entrance, with security checkpoints.

The police require all book bags to be

Norton excited to start new phase in career Continued from Page A-1

Norton feels that her love for sports and an active lifestyle also make her a good fit for SRU. As an undergraduate student, Norton initially majored in mathematics until she realized how much she truly loved sports.

“When I was a math major, I couldn’t stand being inside writing out theorems when I knew that I could be outside doing something that I loved,” she said. “That is when I knew I wanted to switch my major to physical education.”

Norton’s athletic achievements include a black belt in Tae Kwon Do which earned her a state championship title, and a fifth place win in the New York City Marathon. Norton also wrote a best-selling book on how to play racquetball for beginners in 1984. At one time, she and her husband operated their own dog sled team, while owning 13 to 15 Siberian Huskies. Currently, Norton and her husband own two German Shepherds and two cats, all of which they will be bringing to campus.

“We walk our dogs two miles a day,” she said. “Upon coming to Slippery Rock, we’ll have to find a good walking trail for them, because I feel that exercise is extremely important for everybody, including my dogs.”

Norton and her husband, Henry, have two grown sons, Joel, 34, who works as a lawyer, and Aaron, 30, who is currently working on his master’s degree.

Joel and his wife, Elizabeth, have two sons, William, 3, and Andrew, who was born last Thursday.

Norton found out that her youngest grandson was born on the same day that she found out about earning the presidential position at SRU. “After receiving the call that I had become president, I received a text from my son saying that I had become a grandmother for the second time,” she said. “It was truly a wonderful day.”

Norton is excited to begin this new chapter of her career at SRU and is eager to meet the students and faculty.

“Henry and I are thrilled in our coming to Slippery Rock and to become a part of the community,” she said. “We couldn’t be happier to have this opportunity.”

April 13, 2012

News

A-3

Police Blotter Borough March 15- Christopher Puff Jr., 21, was cited for theft of services.

March 17- Joseph P. Pearce, 21, was cited for a DUI.

Campus March 31- Juliette Deeds, 22, Brittany Knapp, 23, and Phillip Grey, 29, were cited for disorderly house.

April 1- Sean Laney, 20, was cited for disorderly house.

March 29- Tyne Merriman, 22, Jessica Protzman, 22, and Samantha Pykus, 21 were cited for disorderly house.

April 3- Stephen Morimando, 22, was cited for disorderly house.

March 31- Justin Kelsey, 23, was cited for an open container of alcohol.

April 11- Nathan Henne, 23, was cited for disorderly house.

March 31- Patrick Tack, 21, was cited for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after a report of damage to an art sculpture at North Hall.

April 6- There was a report of damage to a parked vehicle at Kraus Hall. The case is under investigation.

March 31- Mark Bianco, 19, Samuel Campbell, 19, Cailley Dischinger, 18, James Wherry, 18, and Michael Zur, 18, were cited for underage consumption of alcohol after an alcohol violation was reported at Building D.

April 11- Zachary Filous, 19, Joseph Jacovino, 18, Kevin Madden, 18, and Shayla Nittinger, 18, were cited for underage consumption of alcohol after an alcohol violation was reported at Building E.

April 6- There was a report of theft of clothes at North Hall. The case is under investigation.

April 11- There was a report of a harassing phone call at the Strain Behavioral Science Building. The case is under investigation.

March 31- Zachary Willson, 20, was cited for disorderly house.

Compiled by Stephanie Holsinger

SRU student wins $1,000 in business pitch competition

By Kaitlyn Yeager Rocket Contributor

Junior marketing major, Kyle Frank, took home a $1,000 cash prize Friday, April 6 as the winner of the “Rock the Boat” Business Pitch Competition held at the University Club in North Hall.

Frank, a 21 year old from Severna Park, Maryland, won first place out of five finalists Friday, where he pitched his idea “Keepin’ Cold” to a panel of three judges. His business pitch was to invent an attachment for coolers that will hold dry ice, so that ice would no longer melt after an extended amount of time.

The idea came about after long drives from Maryland to Slippery Rock, when Frank realized that the bags of ice in his cooler would always melt during the trip.

“I thought it would be a good idea to have dry ice in a cooler, so that it wouldn’t

be necessary to keep adding bags of ice to keep your drinks cold,” Frank said. “I had to determine what the issues were concerning the pitch and what had already been done with it, and I moved forward with the project.”

With advice from Dr. John Golden, Frank’s idea was ready for judging and he was determined to win.

“I figured since Dr. Golden was a lawyer, he would know how to go about this sort of process,” Frank said. “I hate losing and I knew I had to win this competition.”

The winner of the “Rock the Boat” competition was awarded $1,000, which was something that also encouraged Frank to take home first place.

“The idea of being handed money was definitely one of the perks of winning,” Frank said. "I put aside $500 for when I start working on a patent for ‘Keepin’

Cold.’”

Dr. Golden believed that Frank had an advantage over the other four fi nalists because he used a display during the twominute pitch to the panel of judges.

“I definitely believe that Kyle’s poster helped him in the competition,” Golden said. “He also was very confident throughout his pitch, which may have given him an edge over the other contestants.”

Frank learned that 60 percent of college students own their own coolers, and 90 percent of non-college students own one as well.

“I texted over 1,000 people probably, asking if they owned a cooler or not, and I found that most people did,” Frank said.

Frank is working on patenting his invention as he moves forward with the business pitch. Penguin Ice is one of the

only dry ice distributors in the United States, and he plans to come in contact with the company.

“Hopefully I can patent ‘Keepin’ Cold’ so that people don’t have to worry about this problem anymore,” Frank said. “I told everyone that if I won this competition, I would get it patented. That’s what I’m trying to do now.”

Dr. Golden encourages students to get involved with the Business Pitch Competition held during Business Week, because it gives students a sense of what they would encounter after graduation.

“We call it the elevator pitch, which means that if you had two minutes while going up an elevator to convince the CEO of a major company to buy your product, what would you say to him or her?”

Golden said. “The prize of $1,000 also seems to grab students’ attention.”

News

A-4

Students more focused on socializing than studies Continued from Page A-1

if I would agree with the findings. I would be surprised if that was found here.”

Campbell, who deals heavily with underclassmen in the exploratory program, also used the university’s 81 percent retention rate for first year students as a marker that the majority of SRU freshman are progressing enough to stay in school.

While Campbell is confident in the advancement of students at SRU, he does agree with the notion that students are far more focused on socializing with friends rather than studies.

“Social networking, cell phones, video games – that stuff didn’t exist when I was in college,” Campbell said.

“And that stuff is more fun than sitting down and writing a paper alone.”

To help combat the factors detracting from students’ studies in their first semesters in college, SRU has developed their FYRST Advising Program, which is aimed at providing students with the tools to adjust to college studies.

Campbell feels that there are key aspects of the program that give students sufficient help in progressing in college and developing study skills, warding off the unwanted results of the study at SRU. Instead of tossing students directly

into courses centered on a certain major, Campbell said students typically take liberal studies courses early on to set the framework for their academic careers.

“In the first year or so we try to give students a strong foundation, then in their junior and senior years start to tackle upper level course work,” Campbell said about the nature in which curriculum is set up at SRU. “We try to get them to develop basic skills, and then start their major in their sophomore and junior year.”

While Campbell is satisfied with the programs the university has in place to assist students early on in their academic lives, he feels it is ultimately up to them to succeed.

“I think people get out of programs what they put in,” Campbell said. “An institution can offer good advisement but students have to do it themselves.

And Slippery Rock students, for the most part, are doing what they need to do.”

Even though Campbell doesn’t hold the findings true to the academic culture at SRU, he isn’t surprised to see studies like it being reported on.

“There’s a lot of scrutiny on higher education right now,” Campbell said.

“There’s concern nationwide. It’s a hot topic to get people stirred up about and I think that’s causing the press to focus on these types of studies.”

April 13, 2012

Taking a pie to the face

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Physical Therapy students get pies thrown at them during their fundraiser "Pie a PT Student" on Thursday during common hour. You could throw one pie for two dollars or three pies for five dollars.

COMICS

The Rocket

A-5

April 13, 2012

MoreOn TV

By Jay Schiller and Greg Cravens

Welcome to Falling Rock National Park

Life in Hell

By Josh Shalek

That Monkey Tune

Blundergrads

By Matt Groening

By Michael A. Kandalafti

By Phil Flickinger

Sudoku

By Michael Mepham

Horoscopes

By Nancy Black Tribune Media Services (MCT) To d ay ' s Bi r t h d ay (04/13/12). Where would you most love to go this year? Who do you want to work and play with?

There's forward velocity now. Career, income, family, partnerships, travel and education take the limelight. Words come easier. New structures and ways of thinking open entirely new possibilities.

To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Prepare everything in private, and review the logical steps. Define your terms before you cast yourself to the delights of a very fun social whirlwind.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- It may be Friday the 13th, but that's no reason for superstition.

A quiet morning prepares for important afternoon meetings and fun with friends later.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 6 -Finances open some. An

expansion phase begins, and the next adventure calls. With Mars stationary direct, energy is slower today. Plan a cultural escape.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -Don't confront authority directly, but be prepared to defend your position.

Write up thoughts. Return correspondence. Tackle detailed planning with financials. It pays.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- There could be a clash of wills or a misunderstanding.

C ommunicate longdistance. Delegate to increase effectiveness, and get expert assistance. Listen to suggestions.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) -- Today is an 8 -Compromise works. Don't start before you're ready.

Talk a little; define terms, review steps. Prepare in private, and then dive into the job. There are busy days ahead.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Fact and fantasy clash. Listen to fact this time. Offer your peacemaker skills. Refine your speech. Say the magic words. Love blossoms anew.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- It's easier to get disoriented now.

Make good use of common sense (or a compass) and find solace at home. Stay in communication with loved ones. Finances open up.

S a g i tt a r i u s ( No v.

22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- An extra dose of creativity, especially around finances, is greatly appreciated. Prepare more than you think, and save some money. Maintain optimism.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- You have the power to manage chaos as it arises, enjoying the process and creating something new out of the experience. It's not a good time for financial risks.

Aquarius (Jan. 20Feb. 18) -- Today is a 5 -- Problems could come to mind. Solving them is part of the job. Things are just about to ease up. You're entering a powerful phase.

Celebrate into the night.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -- It's not a good time to travel. If you have to go somewhere, add time for the unexpected.

Better check the train schedule again, or your tire pressure.

Solution

OPINION

The Rocket

A-6

April 13, 2012

The Rocket

Our View

Volume 94, Number 22

220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: (724) 738-4438 Fax: (724) 738-4896 E-mail: rocket.letters@sru.edu

Editorial Board Courtney Nickle Editor-in-Chief Brian Brodeur News Editor Andy Treese Campus Life Editor Tim Durr Sports Editor Lexi Kovski Photo Editor Zane Barger Copy Editor James Intile Web Editor Stephanie Holsinger Assistant News Editor James Meyer Assistant Campus Life Editor Madeline Williams Assistant Sports Editor Liana Pittman Assistant Photo Editor Will Deshong News Reporter Mark Zeltner Faculty Adviser

Advertising Staff Emily Hunter Advertising Manager Sarah Black Assistant Advertising Manager

About Us The Rocket is published by the students of Slippery Rock University every Friday during the academic semester with the exception of holidays, exam periods and vacations. Total weekly circulation is 3,000.

No material appearing in The Rocket may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief.

The first copy of The Rocket is provided free of charge. Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents each.

The Rocket receives approximately five percent of its funding from the SGA General Service fee paid each semester by students.

All other income is provided through the sale of advertising.

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

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

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 Editorin-Chief at the address listed here.

GRAPHIC BY LIANA PITTMAN/THE ROCKET

Is SRU prepared to react in the event of a bomb threat?

Students who live in the dorms all know what they’re supposed to do if a fire breaks out. Why? Because they practice.

It’s annoying, and we all hate it, but if the building caught fire, the residents would be thankful that they had to go through all of those stupid drills.

But what if there was a bomb threat?

With the University of Pittsburgh’s recent experience, it’s not that far-fetched of a thought.

Pitt received 12 bomb t h re at s on Mon d ay alone, bringing their total to over 60 since the beginning of February.

They also received a few just Thursday morning.

Three buildings of California University of Pennsylvania, one of our sister schools, were evacuated Tuesday due to a bomb threat.

We don’t want to think about something like that happening on our quiet little campus, but you never know.

So the question is, are we prepared?

Our guess is that most students and probably even most faculty wouldn’t know what to do in the event of a bomb threat.

We do have a text message alert system in place on campus that we assume would do its job and alert us.

But one problem with that system is that you have to be signed up for it.

Unless you registered to have texts from SRU Alerts sent to your phone, you won’t be notified.

The system has also been less than reliable in the past, sometimes alerting us the day after an event had occurred.

But let’s just assume the text messaging alert system worked the way it’s supposed to.

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

There’s a bomb threat.

You’re sitting in class when you get the text.

As s u m i n g y ou t e x t during class, you notice it and notify the professor and the rest of the class.

Then what?

We would assume the next step would be to evacuate. But is every professor aware of the evacuation plan for each building? And what do you do after you evacuate? What is your professor supposed to do?

We know from speaking to Dr. John Bonando, Assistant Vice President for Student Services, that

there are procedures in place for every kind of disaster they can dream up.

But we don’t know the procedures, so we’re assuming most students don’t either.

Do all of the staff and faculty? We somehow doubt it.

In light of the recent increase in bomb threat activity near us, we think those plans need to be a little clearer and made better known.

We don’t want to think about having to implement the plans, but as the old cliché goes, better safe than sorry.

This week’s question: How would you react if SRU had bomb threats similar to Pitt?

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.

Nichole Fulton Freshman psychology major Hometown: Ford City, Pa.

Milton Moronta Freshman sport management major Hometown: Jim Thorpe, Pa.

“I wouldn’t go to class. Not at all.

I mean, I’d probably take them if they offered them online, but I wouldn’t go.”

“I would definitely leave campus. If I could make it home, I would go there, if not I’d stay at a friend’s house.”

Carlie Keffer Freshman music education and music therapy major Hometown: Dawson, Pa. “Well, I’d be frightened. I wouldn’t go to class. If I could get home, then I would go home.”

Opinion

April 13, 2012

SRU is making graduation too difficult

Emily Hunter Commentary What is graduation? My definition and perception of graduation and Slippery Rock University in general has changed drastically in the last week. My love for the place that I have called home for the past four years has been tarnished. However, my future perception of The Rock is still unclear.

If you had the ability to hear the Commencement Grand Marshal Wilma Cavill speak about graduation, she would elaborate about the ceremonial traditions and honor. However, for me these traditions and honors will be flawed as my family is unable to attend graduation.

Last week, graduates were given four days to pick up graduation tickets. I went into the office on the fifth day and was denied the traditions and honors of graduation.

I completely understand that it was my mistake for missing the deadline created by the Public Relation Department, even though I did not receive the graduation specific email from

the PR department.

However, if you were late signing up for graduation these students were told that it wasn’t a problem and were able to sign up and receive tickets.

The PR office recommended that I email Rita Abent, the executive director of public relations, and Lisa Gray, commencement coordinator, who are both dealing with commencement more specifically.

Both Abent and Gray did not respond to my email sent Monday morning with my concerns about graduation, but everyone should be given the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they were both off on vacation all week.

Previously, the SGA Bookstore was in charge of distributing tickets to students as they picked up their caps and gowns. This process allowed for multiple weeks to pick up tickets. There was no deadline then.

This was never an issue then.

My advice to Slippery Rock University is this – do not mess up graduation.

Commencement is the last event and memory students have before they leave this area.

More importantly, due to the financial well being of the university, it is the last event before students become potential donors.

Do everything in your power to make commencement a positive experience for every graduate.

Emily Hunter is a graduate student majoring in adaptive physical activity and advertising manager for The Rocket.

Benefits of CLEP testing outweigh the costs

Dan Gladis Dr. Dan In this day and age of trying to save money paying for an expensive education, I am always surprised by the number of people who haven’t the slightest idea of what CLEP tests are. Quite simply, CLEP tests are comparatively cheap ways to knock a few credits out of the way by taking what is known as a test. These tests, administered on a computer by a certified CLEP testing center (i.e., the Learning Alliance in Cranberry or Penn State Beaver), are given in a wide variety of subjects and passing them gives the student in question anywhere from 3-12 actual college credits.

Allow me to explain in more detail. Firstly, the largest caveat is that of the dozens of

CLEP tests, many universities don’t accept them all as creditequivalent tests. In fact, some universities do not accept any CLEP tests as legitimate equivalents to passing a college credit course. Fortunately for us, Slippery Rock accepts thirty-six different tests (according to the Academic Records & Summer School page). Another minor drawback of these tests is the cost, which is typically not less than $77 per exam.

However, when one considers how much one pays for three credits at SRU or any other college for that matter, $77 dollars is a pretty good deal. Even more so, if one passed a French II, Spanish II or German II test, for $77 dollars one would receive a full twelve credits. That’s just shy of an average semester packed into one (admittedly difficult) exam.

By this point, I should make something abundantly clear: that no amount of “CLEP-ing” or other equivalency exams can replace a brick-and-mortar university education. With CLEP, since it is only a tool of measurement and not one

of education, one obviously doesn’t acquire the professorstudent relationship vital in the education process. Admittedly, with the slate of courses being offered mostly equivalent to the 100 or 200 level, there is still plenty of time left in the “real” university to build up those student-professor relationships.

All that being said, the advantages of CLEP tests easily outweigh the negatives.

It allows easy prep work or disliked subjects to be dispensed with without having to sit in a classroom for an entire semester, wasting time and money in the process.

Although I have personally not been able to “CLEP” yet, I plan on taking at least two when I can finally have the time to schedule the tests. Six credits? Why not!? Every little bit helps.

It’s nothing personal against universities, its just business.

Or, rather, the business of trying to not let the costs of education bankrupt we the students.

Dan Gladis is a freshman history major from Aliquippa, Pa.

A-7

Minority populations shouldn’t be afraid to speak up

Shatreece Johnson NAACP “What happens in this house stays in this house.”

This is a statement all too familiar in many households, especially African American households. Sexual violence is an issue that plagues both females and males regardless of age, religion, sexual orientation or race.

Although anyone can be affected by the vicious actions encompassed in the general categorization of ‘sexual violence,’ race can be a major determinant in whether or not sexual crimes are reported. Sexual violence is defined as: “any sexual activity where consent is not freely given.

This includes completed or attempted sex acts that are against the victim’s will or involve a victim who is unable to consent.

It also includes abusive sexual contact and noncontact sexual abuse (such as sexual harassment).

Child sexual abuse is also considered sexual violence” (CDC).

April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month and, since the beginning of this month, I have heard the statistics over and over again – “About 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men are victims of sexual violence in their lifetime” (CDC).

Ho w e v e r, I w o n d e r if t his numb er would significantly increase if more minorities spoke up about what is happening to them, specifically African Americans.

I am in no way an expert on this topic, but I do have a strong opinion as to why African Americans are less likely to report sexual crimes to the authorities.

The opening quote does not apply to a specific house.

It does, however, apply to the lives of many minorities in general. Many African Americans feel forced to

keep their mouths closed when they are victims of sexual violence, partly because of the various s t e re ot y p e s t h at h av e plagued them for centuries.

For instance, African Americans in particular are less likely to report sexual violence to the authorities because they have been stereotypically hypersexualized.

This is usually blamed on the media. However, before those images were around to enter tain our eyes, Europeans had already been proactive in branding that label to the race.

This is not to say that people of European descent are to blame for the lack of reporting in the African American community, but this label plays a major role in the African American psyche.

Another reason as to why African American men and women are less likely to report instances of sexual violence is because there is oftentimes no justice served.

According to Rainn.org “only 3 percent of rapists spend a single day or more in jail.” This statistic alone will prevent many people from disclosing, especially those who have continuously seen the justice system not work in favor of their race.

This is evident in the news coverage on television, in magazines and on social networking sites.

If Af r ican Amer ican women are less likely to report acts of sexual violence against them, then I feel that African American men will report it even less.

Ac c o r d i n g t o K a r l a Fonner, Assistant Director of the Women’s Center, about 96-97 percent of men are the perpetrators of sexual violence. As a result, African American men will be, more than likely, a victim of sexual violence on behalf of a male perpetrator.

Many African American men are fearful of the stigma associated with being on the ‘down low,’ which is a slang term for one who is secretly homosexual.

When reporting an act of sexual violence can ruin someone’s perceived manhood, it is unlikely t h at m e n w i l l n ot i f y

authorities especially since African American men are socialized to portray the image of strength and dominance constantly.

I recently read a book titled “Lucky” by Alice Sebold and have gained a better understanding of what it means to be the victim of a ‘lucky’ act of sexual violence. If one has all of the privileges of what is socially acceptable in order to be a ‘victim,’ then it is more likely that they will receive justice. African American victims will never possess one of the most important factors to make them ‘lucky.’ They will never have the privilege of being white.

I feel that this is a problem and something needs to change. Sexual violence is not only a white issue, but it is a human issue. Since the African American student body is the second largest population on this campus, I feel that we, as a campus, need to help minority populations that feel they do not have a voice.

On this past Thursday, the NAACP Chapter at Slippery Rock University partnered with the Women’s Center, Slippery Rock University, and VOICe and hosted a d e m o n s t r at i o n d u r i n g common hour.

African Americans who were victims of sexual violence spoke on the issue.

Stories and pictures were placed in the gazebo that depicted the lives of those that were once victims but are now survivors of s e x u a l v i ol e n c e. Wit h more programs like this promoting awareness, we can begin to move forward as a campus community.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence please contact: Student Health Center: 724-738-2034 Pol i c e D e p ar t m e nt : 724-738-3333 Wo m e n’s Center: 724-738-2992 VOICe: 1-800-400-8551 Karla Fonner Women’s Center Extension 724-738-2121.

Shatreece Johnson is a senior social work major and president of the NAACP Chapter at SRU.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month helps inform Slippery Rock University students about the facts of assault

Jeannene Jones FMLA Many people on campus, when seeing signs for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, might wonder, “Why do we need such a program here at Slippery Rock?” The small town atmosphere of Slippery Rock often times gives a false sense of security, where many residents including students just simply don’t think bad things happen here. That false sense of security and familiarity is often times what leads people to be unaware of the facts of the situation, especially when it comes to sexual assault.

In the early 1980s, the advocates for sexual assault awareness began coordinating activities to raise the awareness of the violence against women.

In the late 1980s, the National

Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) created a National Sexual Assault Awareness Week in April. After these initial few years of having just a week of awareness, the programs began to spread out into all of April. In the late 1990s, April started becoming recognized as the month for sexual violence awareness programming. From 20002001 the Resource Sharing Project (RSP) and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) polled its branch coalitions and decided to have the preferred color of Sexual Assault Awareness month to be teal and the preferred month to be April.

And as a result, April 2001 was the first nationally observed Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

As a result of this groundbreaking work, the government created a grant named the Bridge Project, which is designed to assist organizations in raising awareness of sexual assault.

Slippery Rock University received the Bridge Project grant in October of 2002 and with this grant (through the

Women’s Center and other grant partnerships) they have provided workshops to raise awareness of sexual assault and resources to help individuals who have experienced violence.

Since October of 2002, The Bridge Project at SRU has hosted 700 workshops and provided advocacy services to 200 students.

After reading all of that you still may be wondering, “Why do we need to have a Sexual Assault Awareness Month at SRU? The Bridge Project has only assisted 200 students in almost 10 years, that doesn’t sound like too many people.”

And in response to your statement, I would say, “you’re right, that isn’t many people.”

But the truth is, there are far more students on Slippery Rock’s campus who have either experienced sexual assault before they came to campus, who will experience sexual assault on campus or who will experience it after they leave campus. The Department of Justice averages that 1 in 4 women (usually between the ages of 18-24) will experience sexual assault in their lifetime and 1 in 6 men (usually before

they are 18).

But since we are putting this in terms of Slippery Rock University, I will break it down in a different way. If there are roughly 8,500 students at Slippery Rock University and 62 percent of them are women, that is 5,270 women at Slippery Rock University (not including faculty, staff or administrators). So if 1 in 4 of these 5,270 women at Slippery Rock University is going to or has faced sexual assault in their lifetime, that total number of women is about 1,318. And now in terms of men, because they can also be victims of sexual assault, there are 3,230 men (again not including faculty, staff or administrators) at Slippery Rock University.

And if 1 in 6 of these 3,230 men at Slippery Rock University is going to or has faced sexual assault in their lifetime, that total number of men would be 538.

So if you add those two numbers together you get 1,854 total student victims who have attended Slippery Rock University. At Slippery Rock University we have a 20-1 student to teacher ratio, so

there are roughly 20 students per classroom, therefore if you took all the victims Slippery Rock University has, it would fill about 93 classrooms. With that many classrooms, we could fill in the majority of the buildings in the quad, if not all of them, and have some left over. Therefore, sexual assault is definitely an issue that Slippery Rock University and its students should be and need to be worried about. So now that you realize what a big impact sexual assault can have on your life, what can you do to help?

I am glad you asked! As a student on this campus, I am involved in many organizations which host programs addressing sexual assault and its prevention. Just by attending this programming or even volunteering to help make it happen, you’re helping to make a difference. This month on Slippery Rock University’s campus is Sexual Assault Awareness month and there is a variety of programming happening during all of the common hours throughout April. The details about these events are on the Top

of the Rock and the master calendar, or you could contact the Women’s Center for more information. Also by joining the various and diverse student organizations on campus that address the issue of sexual assault, you will be making a difference.

Also, if you want to take a step further and ensure that programming about the education and prevention of sexual assault is available, write your Congress members and tell them that sexual assault is an important issue to you.

Without the support from people who care, programs and grants like the Bridge Project will lose their funding and then their programming would be lessened or even terminated.

We can all start small and reach out to those around us and by doing that you’re helping to build a stepping stone to a day where the number of sexual assault victims on a college campus like Slippery Rock University’s is not 1,864, but 0.

Jeannene Jones is a junior parks and recreation major from San Diego, Ca. She is also the public relations chair for FMLA.

April 13,2012

A-8

SPORTS

The Rocket

B-1

April 13, 2012

Lacrosse gets first ever win against IUP Rock upsets No. 12 Crimson Hawks with 18-13 victory Soph. shines

against IUP

By Madeline Williams Assistant Sports Editor

The Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team earned its first win over Indiana University of Pa. in program history, and perhaps the biggest upset of the season last Thursday by a score of 18-13 at Milhalik-Thompson Stadium.

The Rock dominated the end of the game, winning seven of the last nine draw controls and going on a 7-1 run during the final 15 minutes of play.

Sl ipp e r y R o ck s n app e d Indiana's eight game winning streak and handed them their first conference loss of the season. The Rock entered last Thursday's game 0-9 in the alltime series between the rivals.

Senior Emma VanDenburg said that the win has been the most exciting victory for the team this year.

"We have been talking about this game all year," VanDenburg said. "We couldn't wait to play them and show them how good we are. It feels awesome to finally beat them!"

With the win, SRU improved to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in league play, while No. 12 IUP dropped to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in PSAC action.

The Rock had a 36-34 advantage over the Crimson Hawks in total shots, 28-25 in shots on goal, 25-21 in ground balls, and a crucial 20-13 advantage in draw controls.

Leading the Green and White was sophomore midfielder Lauren Laubach with six goals, one assist, and four draw controls.

Senior Amy Halls scored three goals and had a careerhigh eight draw controls. Senior Casey Quinn had four goals and one assist. Joining her classmates was VanDenburg, who added one goal and handed out three assists. Sophomore Morgan Pettit contributed one goal and passed for two assists to wrap up the multi-point scorers for the Rock.

Junior Holly Webb, sophomore Brittany Jaillet, and senior Katie Roof each scored one goal apiece.

Junior goalie Natalie Crenshaw earned the win for the Rock with 12 saves.

The score was tied 2-2 during the opening minutes of the game before Laubach and Halls scored one goal apiece to give the Rock

By Madeline Williams Assistant Sports Editor

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Senior midfielder Casey Quinn drives downfield against Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Quinn has 20 goals this season and four assists to equal 24 points on the season.

a 4-2 edge with 16:05 to play in the first period.

Both teams scored to put SRU up 5-3 before IUP went on a 3-0 run to take a 6-5 lead with a little over four minutes to play in the first half.

SRU scored two quick goals to put them up 7-6 with 21 seconds left in the half, but IUP stormed down the field and scored to send the teams to the locker rooms tied up, 7-7.

Coming back from the break, the Crimson Hawks got off to a 9-8 lead with 25:39 to play. The Green and White took a three

goal run to take a 11-9 lead with less than twenty four minutes to play, before Indiana answered with three goals of their own to steal back the lead, 12-11 with 17:22 left to play.

The score went back and forth the entire game, seeing nine ties during the first 45 minutes of the game, but during those final 15 minutes, the Rock took control of the game, sparked by a gametying goal by Roof with 14:16 left on the clock.

The Green and White never looked back, as they went on a 7-1 run for the remainder of the

game.

IUP scored their only goal during the final stretch of the game with 1:34 left to play.

Laubach put the game away with nine seconds on the clock, scoring her sixth goal of the game.

After a lengthy break, the Rock is back in action tomorrow afternoon at Kutztown University for a 1 p.m. PSAC matchup.

The y will cont inue t he weekend's action on Sunday as they travel to Shepherd University for another 1 p.m. game.

Last Thursday, in the 1813 upset over No. 12 Indiana University of Pennsylvania, sophomore Slipper y Rock University women's lacrosse standout Lauren Laubach scored six goals, dished out one assist, and had four draw controls to lead the Rock to the PSAC victory.

"Winning against IUP was one of the greatest days of my life," Laubach said with a smile. "It felt awesome to play so well in such an important game for us."

Laubach was recognized by Synapse Sports yesterday for earning an honorable mention for the top Division II performers for her breakout performance against IUP last week.

She is currently ranked seventh in the nation in draw controls, averaging 5.9 per game.

Laubach's lacrosse career started when she was in the first grade back in Kingsville, Maryland. Her family moved to New Park in southeast Pennsylvania when she was in the third grade.

During her junior year, Laubach helped lacrosse become an official sport at her school, Kennard-Dale High School.

During her senior year, Laubach was named the YorkAdams Interscholastic Athletic Association Player of the Year.

During that season, she had 80 goals, 80 assists, 104 ground balls, and 105 draw controls. She was also named the York Daily Record Lacrosse Player of the Year in 2010. Under Laubach's leadership, SEE LAUBACH, PAGE B-3

ALEX MOWREY /THE ROCKET

Sophomore Lauren Laubach fires a shot towards the net. Laubach averages 2.5 points per game.

Rock sweeps Fairmont, extends winning streak to eight games

By Madeline Williams Assistant Sports Editor

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Senior third baseman Lee Foxton throws a ball to first base against Fairmont State University. Foxton has a .276 batting average on the season with nine runs batted in.

The Rock baseball team extended their winning streak to eight games after a four-game sweep of Fairmont State University on Saturday and Sunday at Jack Critchfield Park.

Coach Jeff Messer commented on Slippery Rock's eight-game winning streak, the longest winning streak the Rock has experienced since early April of 2006.

"Keys to our present success have been the ability of our starting pitchers to go deep in the game, and the improvement in our team defense," Messer said.

On Saturday the Rock began

their four-game home stand where Zach Jeney, one of the Rock's top pitchers, threw a complete game with 12 strikeouts.

Jeney allowed one run in the fifth inning after the only batter he walked, stole second and scored from third on a two out hit.

The RBI single for Fairmont State was only one of two hits given up by Jeney in the entire game.

Slippery Rock responded in the sixth inning with a two out, bases loaded single by shortstop Will Kengor, which drove in the game tying run along with the go-ahead run to put Slippery Rock on top 2 to 1.

In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, freshman pitcher Garret Peterson, had Slippery Rock's second complete game, two

hitter of the day. Peterson only allowed one run to cross the plate in the first inning, and finished the final six innings with six strikeouts.

The Green and White were able to score ten runs on eight hits and won the game 10 to 1. Leading the way offensively for Slippery Rock were first baseman John Shaffer and right fielder Brandon Myers, who hit his third home run of the season on a two-run shot over the right field wall.

Myers had three hits and three runs scored on top of his two RBIs while Shaffer drove in three RBIs on two hits to account for six of Slippery Rock's ten runs.

Coach Messer said, "Offensively, SEE SRU, PAGE B-3

Sports

B-2

April 13, 2012

Rock excels at Slippery Rock Open invite

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN PAPA

Junior Andrew Greenslade competes in the long jump at the Coastal Carolina Invitational on March 17.

Greenslade competes as a heptathlete and placed fifth in the discus throw with a throw of 39.57 meters at the Slippery Rock Open last Thursday.

By Kristin Karam

the Slippery Rock Open last Thursday.

Rocket Contributor “It’s definitely a huge adrenaline rush competing The Slippery Rock outdoor at home,” sophomore track and field team took Anthony Stango said. full advantage of competing “We’re used to that track and at home when they hosted training on it year-round.

Everyone had a great meet with PRs (personal records) and improvements across the board.”

The men’s team won nine events and the women’s team won seven to dominate the meet.

Junior DJ Chisom competed in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, recording his season-best times in each.

In the 100-meter dash, Chisom placed first with a time of 10.77 seconds.

Also in the event was senior Vanere Maynard who placed second with 11.09 seconds. Maynard’s time qualified him for the PSAC Championships.

Chisom placed second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.25 seconds.

The Rock claimed the top six spots in the 400-meter dash, led by freshman Hunter Williams. Williams took first in the event with a time of 49.99 seconds and was followed by freshman Monte Chapman (second, 50.18), junior Kevin Jewel (third, 51.85), sophomore Devin Sauers (fourth, 52.08), freshman Nick Shrift (fifth, 52.17), and sophomore Nathaniel Helfferich (sixth, 53.18).

Senior Dan Hedglin and junior Ethan Geisler took the top two spots in the 110-meter hurdles, both improving their previous PSAC qualifying times.

Hedglin placed first in the event with a time of 15.01 seconds and Geisler placed second at 15.28 seconds.

Slippery Rock also swept the 400-meter hurdles.

Geisler took the win with a time of 54.21 seconds, sophomore Trevor Foley (second, 54.72), Hedglin (third, 54.83), senior Michael Dicocco (fourth,

56.57), followed by Stango (fifth, 57.41), Jonathan Boyd (sixth, 57.71), and Donald Robinson (seventh, 1:01.74).

The Rock has six of the top-20 400-meter hurdlers in the conference, Stango said. Practices are very competitive and it helps to push the athletes to train hard every day. They all want each other to succeed, which has helped contribute to their success.

In the pole vault, junior Ryan Camody placed first with a clearance of 4.45 meters. Sophomores Drew Coscia and David Caldwell tied for third with matching clearances of 3.15 meters.

Senior Terrece Draper won the triple jump with a jump of 13.95 meters.

Freshman Jaron Martin recorded a time of 16:28.53 to win the 5,000-meter run.

Leading the women’s team in their success was freshman Katelyn Wetzel who recorded her first collegiate wins in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash.

Wetzel posted a time of 12.49 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 25.62 seconds in the 200-meter.

Joining Wetzel in the top-five for both events was freshman Samantha Zampetti and sophomore Christina Ransom.

In the 100-meter dash, Zampetti placed third with a time of 13.03 seconds and Ransom came in fifth at 13.20 seconds. Ransom took third place in the 200-meter at 26.81 seconds

with Zampetti right behind her in fourth place with a time of 27.01 seconds.

The Rock took four of the top-five spots in the 800-meter dash, led by a winning run from freshman Janine Powis who ran a time of 2:16.21.

In second place was senior Caitlin Hancox, recording a time of 2:18.14. Junior Mara Polnar took fourth place (2:30.40) and sophomore Kristen Koontz took fifth (2:34.43).

Slippery Rock’s pole vaulters all posted PSAC qualifying clearances.

Senior Kelly Fischer won the event with a clearance of 3.51 meters. Junior Angela Schroeder came in second at 3.35 meters, and freshmen Keriann Hill, Emily Schubert and Emily Vaughn tied for third place clearing 3.10 meters.

Junior Lexi Arnold won the javelin with a throw of 40.99 meters.

In the field events, sophomore Jamie Rylands placed third in the high jump clearing 1.60 meters.

“The team is going to do great these next couple of meets,” Wetzel said. “The days are counting down until the PSACs. This is the time where everyone is extra determined and working hard to achieve everything they have worked for this season.”

The Rock heads to Kutztown, PA for the Mondschein Multi Event for a two-day meet this Thursday and Friday.

Green and White sweeps East Stroudsburg

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Freshman Alaynna Beers swings for a pitch against Point Park University on Thursday. Beers has a .226 batting average on the season with four runs and three runs batted in.

By P.J. Shipe

Rocket Contributor

Slippery Rock softball extended its winning streak to three games with a sweep of East Stroudsburg Saturday afternoon.

The Rock took game one with a 2-1 victory then followed it up with a 5-1 victory in game two. The Rock improved its overall record to 11-12 and remains at 2-6 in PSAC-West play.

East Stroudsburg sees its overall record drop to 9-22 overall after being swept.

Catcher Katie Saluga led Slippery Rock by going 3-for-6 on the day with one

double and four RBIs. She has now reached base safely in 15 consecutive games while batting .344 in that span. Teammate Shaylee Ianno had a home run and double on the day.

In game one, Slippery Rock came from behind to earn the victory. Down 1-0 in the fifth inning, Alaynna Beers drew a walk and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch.

Then Emily Lobdell moved the runner to third, who scored on a Katie Saluga sacrifice fly to tie the game at one. The Rock brought home the game deciding run in the 6th inning when

pinch runner Lori Beth Nunemaker scored on an East Stroudsburg error.

Slippery Rock pitcher Shaylee Ianno (7-6) got the win while pitching seven innings, giving up one run on three hits with six strikeouts.

In game two, Slippery Rock’s offense exploded for all five runs in the second inning. It all started with a solo homer by Shaylee Ianno which was her second of the season. Then with the bases loaded, shortstop Kirsten Brant scored to extend the lead to 2-0.

With the bases still loaded, catcher Katie Saluga

delivered the dagger with a three-run double to center field to give the Rock a 5-0 lead.

East Stroudsburg scored its only run of the game in the third inning thanks to a Slippery Rock throwing error. For the game, Slippery Rock’s Katie Saluga went 2-for-4 with three RBIs while six other players recorded a hit.

Slippery Rock pitcher Ashley Knight (3-5) got the win while pitching seven innings, giving up one run (zero earned) on five hits with eight strikeouts.

Saturday’s sweep marked the first time Slippery Rock

won both games of the doubleheader this season.

Head coach Becky Sciacca said that the girls played a great game and she’s proud of how they played.

“The girls played perfect softball today,” she said.

“They came out strong and kept it up throughout the entire game.”

Slippery Rock’s softball team ended their four game losing streak with a split against PSAC-West division leader California University of Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon.

The Rock rebounded in game two with a 6-4 victory after getting blown out in game one, 13-1.

In game one, the Rock got demolished as they fell 13-1 in only five innings.

The only offensive highlight for the Rock was a home run in the second inning by shortstop Kirsten Brant. Cal U. had the offense on display early as they took a 4-0 lead in the second inning.

The lead continued to increase as the score became 5-1 in the fourth inning before they exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning to end the game.

Slippery Rock pitcher Shaylee Ianno (6-6) took the loss while pitching four innings, giving up 11 runs on 14 hits with four strikeouts.

In game two, Slippery Rock responded by taking an early lead and never trailed the rest of the game.

Slippery Rock was led on offense by designated hitter Elizibeth Gorges who went 3-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, three RBIs, and two runs scored.

Catcher Katie Saluga also had a nice game going 2-3 at the plate with one RBI with teammate Natalie Atkinson driving in two runs. Neither team could produce any offense until the fifth inning when Elizibeth Gorges connected on a solo home run to right field.

Then later in the inning Natalie Atkinson delivered a two-run single, which scored teammates Emily Lobdell and Alaynna Beers to give the Rock a 3-0 lead.

But in the fifth inning Cal U. responded with two runs to make it a one-run ballgame. Then Slippery Rock put away the game by scoring three runs in the sixth inning when Elizibeth Gorges connected on a tworun bomb and a RBI single

by Katie Saluga.

Cal U. made the game interesting in the seventh inning by scoring two runs but could not make the comeback a reality.

Slippery Rock pitcher Ashley Knight (3-5) got the win while pitching seven innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on eight hits with 10 strikeouts.

Head coach Sciacca said that the team struggled with a rough day but rebounded in the second game.

“The girls started the day off rough,” she said. “They figured out how to come back from a loss and beat the No. 1 team in the conference.

Everyone on the team has contributed to our wins this year. We do have a great pitching staff that keeps the games close enough for our offense to score the runs we need to win the game.”

Sports

April 13, 2012

B-3

Laubach ranks seventh nationally in draw wins Continued from Page B-1

Kennard-Dale was the York County Champion for four years.

Laubach made honor roll all four years of high school and was named the Most Outstanding DualEnrollment Student for her college-level classes during her senior year. She was the only person from her graduating class to receive two scholarships.

In high school, Laubach also participated in field hockey and tennis, lettering once in both sports.

Last season, she played in all 17 games as a freshman.

She finished the year as sixth on the team in scoring with 19 goals and 10 assists.

Laubach led the team in draw controls with 49, which ranked her as fifth in the PSAC. She was a finalist for 2011 PSAC Rookie of the Year.

Laubach has many goals for herself and many goals that she would like to achieve with her teammates.

"Obviously, I want the team to improve each game and make the PSAC playoffs by the end of the season," Laubach said. "I feel like SRU is extremely underrated and I want to put us on the map next year. Individually, I want to keep improving in draw controls and even out with my goals and assists. I don't want us to be the underdogs anymore, so hopefully we finish the season strong and

get a higher ranking next spring."

Sophomore teammate Lacey Allis said that she admires Laubach for her toughness in games.

"Lauren is a very strong and aggressive player when she steps onto that field," Allis said. "She could get hit in head and she'd just brush it off and keep playing her heart out."

Allis also said that Laubach is a great teammate and possesses many positive leadership qualities.

"She's a different player on and off the field," Allis admitted. "She gets so into the game, you can just see the intensity in her eyes.

On the sidelines, she is very supportive of our team and always offers positive encouragement. We're lucky to have her on the team because of all that she brings."

L aubach s ays t hat her father is her biggest inspiration and motivator as an athlete.

"My dad calls me before and after every match to give me words of encouragement," Laubach said. "He is honest with me and gives me constructive criticism on how to improve my game. I really appreciate all he does for me and I look up to him so much."

After graduation, Laubach wants to attend graduate school in the south and get a job in physical therapy or speech pathology.

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

Senior Zach Jeney pitches to a batter from Fairmont State University last Saturday. Jeney is 2-2 on the season with a 1.76 earned run average and 52 strikeouts.

SRU moves above .500 for first time since Feb. 18 Continued from Page B-1

our pitch and squaring up on the ball when we do."

The next two games brought Slippery Rock's overall record to 18-17, the first time the Rock has had a winning record since their first two games of the season against Ohio Valley University on February 18.

The Rock brought their record to .500 with another solid pitching performance from Lou Trivino, who went six innings and struck out nine Fairmont State batters.

After giving up two runs in the third inning, Slippery Rock took the lead in the bottom of the inning with

three runs on two Fairmont State errors and a sacrifice fly from Shaffer. The Rock scored one more run in the fourth inning and John Kovalik came in relief of Trivino in the seventh inning to earn the save.

Trivino improved to 6 and 2 with the victory and Kovalik earned his third save of the season.

In the second game of Sunday's doubleheader Slippery Rock went up 6 to 1 in the second inning and held on for the win 7 to 3.

Kengor led the way offensively for the Green and White with a bases-clearing triple in the second inning.

Shaffer and Jamison Walck

accounted for the other Rock RBIs. Kyle Schneider earned the victory with a three strikeout performance over five innings in which he allowed three runs on seven hits.

Joby Lapkowicz came in and pitched two relief innings to earn his first save of the season. Lapkowicz struck out four of the eight batters he faced, with no hits and two walks allowed.

The Rock looks to extend their winning streak farther this weekend when they face off against PSAC rival Mercyhurst.

"Every weekend has playoff implications, including this weekend series with

Me r c y hu r s t , " Me s s e r said. "With Mercyhurst's outstanding pitching, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essential we maximize our offensive opportunities."

Currently Slippery Rock has a six and six conference record and 12 PSAC games remaining on their schedule.

"We must continue to get better offensively if we're going to challenge for post season honors," Messer said.

It will be a battle of the pitching staffs this weekend as the Rock starts their weekend series with Mercyhurst on Friday, April 13 at Jack Critchfield Park and finishes the four-game series on the road in Erie on Saturday, April 14.

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CAMPUS LIFE C-1 April 13, 2012

Beating the odds

Mayan elders find sacred ground at Pittsburgh Point

By James Meyer Assistant Campus Life Editor

He said he played through his high school years – focusing on and preparing for the day that he would receive a scholarship to attend college and play ball at a Division I university, all the while gaining the experience that he needed to play professional football.

During his senior year of high school, Martinez said he realized that there would be no sports scholarship and so adapted his short-term plans slightly, while still aiming to one day play as a professional. He decided that he would attend a Division II school for a few years to play football and then later switch schools.

Martinez’s dreams were once again

The 2012 prophecies of the Mayan calendar have been the subject of media hype for years, often taking the form of “doomsday” prophecies.

Vikki Hanchin, a social worker and psychotherapist from Pittsburgh, shared a different take on the Mayan calendar when she spoke at the student union Thursday.

According to Hanchin, the Mayan “end of the world” prophecies are a metaphorical reference to the end of an era and the opening of a new era of raised consciousness.

Hanchin said that each age is approximately 26,000 years long, and that the end of each cycle is marked by our sun aligning with the galactic equator.

Hanchin elaborated on the significance of the time-span, explaining that 26,000 years ago is when humans are believed to have first gained the capacity for artistic expression.

The main focus of Hanchin’s presentation was the connection of Pittsburgh’s three rivers to the Mayan prophecy. According to Hanchin, Mayan elders visited the city and confirmed the sacred nature of three rivers converging.

In making these connections, Hanchin said that there is nothing unscientific about finding wisdom in prophecies and ancient wisdom.

“The Mayans were incredibly scientific,” Hanchin said. “ They were incredibly knowledgeable. They had a poetic way of expressing their scientific understanding, and their science keeps being confirmed by our western science. Quantum physics is a lot of what’s confirming their understanding, but so is astronomy. The Mayans knew about procession of the equinoxes. They knew about solar flare activity. They mapped the transit of Venus. All that is astronomically proven now.”

The age approaching, according to Hanchin, is expected to be an era of unity, higher consciousness and integration of ancient wisdom with modern science.

“My passion is how to show that ancient wisdom is just a different language for what science keeps discovering now,” Hanchin said.

“I think in the ancient times, the sense of interconnection and unity with the earth gave them a way to tap into ways of knowing that we are starting to recover now, like remote viewing.

That’s scientifically proven. The military has been using that to look into enemy territory.

They train people for it. We now, in a separated consciousness, have to rely on what we can see and measure and prove. I think there will come a time when our science is integrated with this other consciousness.”

Dr. Itzi Meztli, an assistant professor of English and co-chair of the Hispanic-Latino Cultures Series Committee, organized Vikki Hanchin’s visit to the campus.

“I was trying to get a local regional connection to this whole issue,” Meztli said. “When I saw that article about the Pittsburgh connection, that piqued my curiosity.”

SEE WINNER, PAGE C-3

SEE 2012, PAGE C-3

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

J.R. Martinez, Army veteran and television star, speaks to students about setting goals, following dreams and maintaining a positive attitude in the face of life's obstacles.

Military veteran, TV star J.R. Martinez provides encouraging words to students

By Courtney Tietje Rocket Contributor

The room grew silent and people stood as the steady beat of the advancing Color Guard echoed throughout the MultiPurpose Room of the Student Union at 8 p.m. Tuesday night. “Left, left, left, right... left, left, left, right…”

At the front of the room stood a veteran whose face was scarred—his left eye dragged downward at the corner, the larger part of his ear was missing, and a very large smile spread across his face.

The room erupted in applause as Jose Rene Martinez was introduced, and the man took the stage.

Martinez talked to his audience like they

were old friends, asking questions, allowing individuals to respond, and cracking jokes whenever he could. He explained that he had come to Slippery Rock University to share his story, which he hoped would help every audience member at some point in their lives.

He stressed the importance of having a plan, a goal and a dream.

“It’s great to have a plan because it gives you something to focus on… it gives you vision,” Martinez said. “But life is unpredictable. You have a plan and then all of a sudden life happens and you think, ‘What now?’”

Martinez said he has always been a planner. He explained his early plans of playing professional football.

Studying abroad at SRU positive experience for international exchange students

By Ekaterina Dimitrova Rocket Contributor

Opportunities to study abroad and experience foreign cultures can be exciting for some students, or nervewracking for others.

Australian exchange student and communication major Alex Richter, 20, Slovakian exchange student and art major Katarina Siposova, 23, Scottish exchange student and communication major Alasdair Murray, 25, and South Korean exchange student and economics major Sohyun Kim, 24, all came for a semester on an exchange program to study in the U.S. at SRU. For the four of them, coming to SRU was an opportunity to visit America, experience an American college and also an opportunity to travel around.

Richter said a big reason for coming to SRU was the on-campus living because, back in Australia, he had to

drive to his college. Murray said he was happy to be in a smaller university where he didn't feel overwhelmed.

Siposova said she got offered a scholarship from Slovakia to come here, and therefore that was the convenient decision. Kim said that she wanted to learn English and live on campus so that she could get to know people better.

When asked about culture shock, their answers varied.

“I experienced culture shock in the beginning and you can’t really pass through that - you just have to adapt,” Richter said.

For Siposova, the culture shock was the different academic system, and that “people are nice but in a different way.”

“I was not used to being asked the question, ‘How are you?’ 20 times a day and people don’t even wait for your reply,” Siposova said. “They just walk away.” She added that she

overcame the shock by ignoring some things or just getting used to them.

Kim said there was little culture shock for her because she had prepared herself for American life.

“I didn’t experience much of a culture shock because I have seen American college life in movies and TV shows, and I also had some friends from America before I came here, so I knew about their culture,” Kim said. “One thing that is different from Korea is that we don’t express our opinion in class but here they raise their hand and they just speak. I think this is a good thing.”

Kim said the most memorable moment from her trip was meeting with her host family, because she said they turned out to be really nice and helpful, and gave her an opportunity to work on her English.

Richter said different aspects of his stay in the U.S. were enjoyable.

“The most memorable thing for me

here was going to London for Spring Break for one of my subjects here,” Richter said. “On campus, that would be the ARHS Prom Night back in February.”

For Siposova, the most memorable aspects of attending SRU for the semester were the opportunities that the art department provided students for traveling around America.

While all four students had different experiences from their stay, they all agreed that SRU is a welcoming environment.

“There was a person who waited for me when I arrived, someone who showed me around Slippery Rock, and my roommate welcomed me too,” Siposova said.

Murray said the experiences in the classrooms at SRU proved to be more personable compared to other universities.

“I think it is admirable how much the teachers do considering that the

classes are so big here and they still try to pay individual attention to everyone,” he said.

Kim said the experience of coming to the U.S. to study was positive, but some students didn’t know how to handle interaction with foreign students such as herself.

“SRU is a welcoming environment, but I think that some students are not open to foreign students or are not interested in exchange students because we are not American, so they expect us not to be able to speak English very well, so they don’t ask me anything in class,” she said.

When asked if they would stay for one more semester, if given the opportunity, they said they would embrace that, except for Siposova.

“I think that one semester was enough for me here, because the art department here is not very strong and it won’t be beneficial for me to stay for another semester,” she said.

Campus Life

C-2

Top five must-have items for spring fashion

Katie Ellis "ROCK'n Fashion" Happy Spring, Slippery Rock students! As the weather gets warmer, and your work load gets heavier to mark the end of the school year, lighten up your wardrobe with the latest essentials for spring.

Here are the top five musthave items you should have in your closet this season.

The number one item that every girl must have for spring is a new pair of flipflops. Sperry Top-Sider not only makes great boat shoes and rain boots, they also make cute and affordable sandals for spring and summer. The Women’s Seafish Sandal is their most fashionable option that comes in a variety of colors from Ivory to Navy Seersucker for around $50.

These sandals are sure to last you all throughout spring and into the early days of fall.

As the sun shines bright this spring, slide on a pair of sunglasses from the ultrapopular retailer, Ray Ban. If you don’t already have a pair of these classic shades, now is the time to jump on the bandwagon and buy yourself a pair.

Ever since their creation in the 1950s, the Wayfarer has been popular among celebrities, and widely

regarded as a popular fashion statement. Purchase the Original Wayfarer for $150, and make them a wardrobe staple for years to come.

Pastels and bold colors are the biggest trend of the season, and there are a number of retailers that have brilliant pieces available for every fashionista out there.

Forever 21 has numerous options available in their store for the girl who is on a budget.

The Side Zipper Denim Shorts retail for $16.90 and come in five colors, ranging from cream to sky blue. They’re high waisted, which adds a bit of class to a normal pair of shorts, but are given a slight edge with side zipper detailing.

Pair these shorts with a cropped top or a lace shirt in a neutral color to make a bold statement.

For those chilly spring nights, pick up a pair of the Acid Wash Skinny Jeans for only $29.80. These jeans feature subtle acid wash detailing, as well as a zipper detail on the seams of both legs.

Wear a black or white t-shirt, and accessorize with the studded belt that comes with the jeans to further play up their edginess for a fun night out on the town.

Another popular spring trend is the cropped top.

Celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez have rocked this look at the premiere of “The Hunger Games” and the Kid’s Choice Awards, respectively.

Head to the nearest computer and search for www.lulus.com to find the

hottest looks of the season.

For $18 you can buy the Studio Sessions crop top that comes in three colors – black, white, and gray – and will go perfectly with the denim pieces from Forever 21, as well as the jean shorts that you already have in your wardrobe.

If you are looking for more of a statement piece, choose the Mandarin Marmalade Orange Top that features a cutout design around the neck and the waistband for only $32.

Lace returns again this season in a big way. It is used on a number of pieces from dresses to shorts, and www. modcloth.com features some of the best lace dresses for sale this season at affordable prices.

The You and Ivy Dress can be bought on their website for a reasonable $44.99, and can be dressed down for school, as well as dressed up with some sparkly accessories for a night out with friends.

This taupe colored dress can also be transitioned into summer when paired with a pair of wedges, and even fall when paired with a chic cardigan.

Fashion for spring 2012 can be both subtle and outspoken with help from a few key pieces. These five must-have items will be great additions to any wardrobe, and can be worn long into fall.

Pair any one of these pieces with clothing that you already own to give your wardrobe new life.

Katie Ellis is a freshman journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

April 13, 2012

Ask Ana

weather again?

I’m Not the Weather Channel

"Ana Graham" Dear Ana, I’ve been trying to meet guys online since SRU’s slim options have not been working. I met this cute guy and we were IMing, but I really prefer face to face so I asked if he wanted to meet. He said he did, but couldn’t until the semester was up.

Do you think I should hold out on trying to meet anyone else until we can meet, or let myself explore other options until then, so I’m not losing any chances for someone I’ve never met?

Hopeful but Impatient Dear Hopeful, There’s nothing official or even personal between you two, so I say go for it. Explore your options.

Who knows, it may not work out with him and as you said, you could miss out on a better opportunity with someone else.

I don’t see there being any issue with exploring your options when this guy is still just an option himself.

If it does work out, then you can stop the casual searching and pursue dating him.

Dear Ana, Will we ever have warm

Dear Weather Channel, You attend SRU – Snow and Rain University.

You should know the answer by now: NO. Dear Ana, I’m a senior and I will have two freshmen as roommates next year. Any advice on how to start it all off on a good foot so we’re not at different ends of the spectrum the whole year?

Stuck with Noobs

Dear Young Grasshopper, My secrets are reading the haiku of Shiki and stealing the essence of small children, seasoned with a smattering of wasted time looking at memes online. I’ve also found that a mixture of hard work and harassing people until they give you what you want works, too.

Dear Ana, Why is it that the United States feels it necessary to fund wars on drugs and terror while continually cutting funding to education?

Oops, Here Comes My Politically Charged Response

Dear Stuck with Noobs, Be friendly and do not act like their superior. Also, realize not all freshman are made alike – some will be the shy, scared types with a high school mindset, while some will go right into the “college lifestyle” (read – partying) and flunk out

by November.

Either way it will be a new experience for them to be in college, as well as in a dorm. Because you have the experience, you should simply try your best to make them comfortable and give them advice as the year goes on and either they personally or you three as a whole face issues.

No matter the attitude of a freshman, they will be thankful that they have some free guidance from a friendly source in their own dorm room.

Dear Politically Charged, The main culprits against cuts in education funding are actually the states. When groups on campus decided that a good way to protest the budget cuts was by wasting money on helium and a thousand balloons, they were protesting against Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett.

Governor Corbett is who you should be directing this anger towards, considering he does not have to spend money on wars or foreign affairs but decided that it was a better idea to focus his attention on privatizing that which is typically state-run to his friends or the highest bidder and not on why this state is becoming less attractive to young people.

The next election for mayor will be in 2014, and my advice is to not even consider voting for him if you would like to keep any state universities in Pennsylvania at all.

Dear Ana, What’s your secret to eternal life/beauty/fame/etc.?

Young Grasshopper

"Ana Graham" is a senior public relations major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

April 13, 2012

Campus Life

C-3

Winner of “Dancing with the Stars” speaks at SRU Continued from Page C-1

dashed however, when he toured his Division II school-of choice and was told that he would not be able to play football for two years because of some course mix-ups between his Arkansas and Georgia high schools.

Not long afterwards, Martinez said he saw an ad on television about joining the United States Army and became quickly convinced that joining the army for three years would allow him to, among other things, go to college, travel the world, and serve his country.

In September of 2002, Martinez enlisted. A month and a half after he finished basic training, at 19 years old, Martinez was deployed to the Middle East. In April of 2003, Martinez was driving a Humvee when the front left tire of the vehicle hit a land mine, and Martinez’s plans were once again thwarted.

While the others were ejected from the vehicle and suffered only minor injuries, Martinez was trapped inside of the burning truck,

completely conscious.

When he was removed, he was placed into a medical coma, from which he did not wake for two weeks.

He opened his eyes in Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where he learned that he had cracked ribs, a lacerated liver, and that 34% of his body was badly burned.

For two weeks, Martinez said he moped around the hospital, ashamed of how he looked and worried that his life was over. A talk with his mother inspired Martinez to make a choice.

“In that moment I made a choice for myself,” he said. “Every morning when I wake up, I want to be positive and have a great attitude, and then when I go to sleep, I want the same thing.”

With a new attitude and enthusiasm for life, Martinez began his recovery. He said at one point, a nurse asked him to talk to a fellow burn victim, and he obliged, recognizing in himself a new ability.

“I gave him something,” Martinez

said of the burn victim. “What I gave to him was hope and possibility.”

Soon after, Martinez began regularly visiting other patients in the hospital and giving motivational speeches in public schools and communities.

In 2008, Martinez landed a three-month role on ABC’s “All My Children.” He remained on the show for three years.

Last year, he was offered the opportunity to join the show “Dancing with the Stars” and went on to win the show.

Martinez reminded the audience that everybody has scars, but that with a positive attitude, you can learn to love yourself and the opportunities that life offers.

“Have a goal. Have a plan. Have a dream,” he said. “Believe in it. Trust in it. But if something happens, don’t panic. You can’t lose sight of the things that you want to do in life, but you have to be open-minded to opportunities. You have to be positive in life. You have to believe in yourself. You have to not quit.”

ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET

J.R. Martinez's public speaking career began when a nurse asked him to encourage a fellow burn victim.

2012 media hype misleading Continued from Page C-1

In contrast to the doomsday publicity surrounding the 2012 winter solstice in our media and entertainment, Meztli believes that the day will be significant but not dramatic.

“It’s going to be a day like any other, but you need to be aware that things are going to change and a lot of it has to do with consciousness,” Meztli said. “It’s going to be a new consciousness, a new awareness of things, we’re going to be united. I think we’re going to go beyond the nation-state. We’ve got to find different forms of organization and how people can get along with each other.”

Meztli also cited the rapid development in technology in recent years as a sign of a significant societal change.

“We’re duplicating advancements in technology like every other year,” Meztli said. “That’s going to have a rapid change in our society, and that’s going to be a part of the end of one long cycle and the beginning of another. We live in exciting times.”

April 13, 2012

C-4