"Transparency is the new objectivity." -DAVID WEINBERGER
the rocket
Friday April 29, 2021 • Volume 105, Issue Number 10 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper
www.theonlinerocket.com
Allegation details emerge
By Joe Wells News Editor
Mac Bell Assistant News Editor
Nina Cipriani Editor-in-Chief
The allegations that led to a forensic review of Slippery Rock University, which found no wrongdoing, came from inside SRU President William Behre’s cabinet. Two cabinet members were removed during the time the review was taking place. The Rocket has reached out to both former employees. Abbey Zink refused to comment on her dismissal. But when asked, Amir Mohammadi confirmed he was the person who notified the Chancellor’s Office of his concerns in a letter back in February. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Dan Greenstein announced April 21 during his virtual chancellor’s visit for SRU that a forensic review began shortly after PASSHE received the allegations. Greenstein added that the allegations were taken seriously and an outside firm was contracted to look into the issue. Mohammadi characterized the information he relayed in his letter as a misrepresentation of data being presented to the state system, along with the true cost of certain programs. The allegations made were focused on SRU’s engineering department and the Comprehensive Planning Process (CPP) documents that the university submitted to the Chancellor’s Office, according to Greenstein at the virtual visit. The Rocket has asked for a copy of the review and its findings but has been denied by the state system, despite the chancellor telling the campus community on April
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Marine. Alum. Ligato.
21 that the budget process is quite transparent. After repeated denials for the document, The Rocket asked PASSHE for the specific reason that it was denying the release of the report to the public. According to the state system, the report and its findings are a personnel matter. “As a matter of policy and out of respect for each employee’s personal privacy, personnel matters are not shared beyond our office,” Kevin Hensil, director of media relations at PASSHE, said in an email from Thursday. The fiscal review was completed during the week of the chancellor’s visit. According to Behre, SRU was notified that the review was completed on April 18. Two days later, on April 20, Behre and the university received the review. “In both instances, no credible evidence was found of any wrongdoing,” Greenstein said. “As far as I’m concerned, this matter is done.” At the virtual visit, Cindy LaCom, the gender studies director at SRU, told Greenstein and Behre that a lack of information from the university was creating gossip and concern in the community. “If effective communication is part of good leadership, our concern is that we have received no information about any of this,” LaCom said. “It’s created a campus climate of alarm.” Behre responded that he did not plan to talk about the matter while the review was taking place. “There was no way I was speaking about a review before the results came in because then everyone would say I’m trying to alter the results of the review,” Behre said. On the morning of April 20, the same day the university received the results of the review, university stakeholders, consisting of
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"As a matter of policy and out of respect for each employee's personal privacy, personnel matters are not shared beyond our office." – Kevin Hensil, director of media relations at PASSHE, on why SRU forensic review won't be released to the public
staff and faculty, received an 8 a.m. email from the Office of the President. It stated the cabinet level position of vice president for administration, global engagement and economic development— Mohammadi’s position— was eliminated, effective immediately. According to Mohammadi, ro u g h l y 1 5 m i n u t e s later, Behre walked into Mohammadi’s office to tell him his position would be eliminated. He said he had no prior indication that the president planned to remove his position. The Rocket asked Behre about the narrative Mohammadi provided about his dismissal, whether he knew Mohammadi had contacted the chancellor, when he made the decision to restructure his cabinet and whether Mohammadi’s position was terminated because he shared his concerns with PASSHE. “I will not comment on any specific person/personnel issue,” Behre responded in an email Thursday. Mohammadi is now the second member of Behre’s cabinet to be removed. Weeks earlier, on April 4, the president sent out an email to faculty and staff that Provost Abbey Zink had been replaced by Michael Zieg, who would be filling the role as interim provost.
Opinion
Staff Goodbyes
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The university has declined to say why Zink was replaced, only stating they don’t talk about personnel matters. With Mohammadi, however, the university released a statement that the consolidation of roles would bring efficiency and cost savings to the university. It would also build a cabinet around a shared strategic plan, Behre said. “The consolidation of our finance and administration functions under Carrie [Birckbichler] is a step toward that new vision,” Behre said in an email. “I’m looking forward to her leadership now and through the transition to the next university president.” Behre also thanked Mohammadi for his years of service to the university in that email. While not much about the engineering department allegations have been made public, concerns about SRU’s reporting of the CPP to PASSHE had been talked about months prior during a Council of Trustees meeting and workshop. “On the Comprehensive Plan information that we got, I saw where student aid really gets cut big in two years,” SRU Trustee Jeff Smith said during a trustees meeting on Sept. 24. Behre responded by saying the CPP is an “exercise in craftsmanship.”
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TEAM ROCK
He e x p l a i n e d t h a t universities must balance their budget and work within certain parameters. “So, some schools in order to balance their budget, decided they would assume a 2% retention increase for four years running,” Behre said. “That’s absurd.” Behre continued, telling the council that all of the universities have an absurdity in their CPPs. For SRU, this meant significant cuts to financial aid and zero dollars put aside for future facility projects. Smith asked if the university was planning to cut aid, to which Behre said no. “That was an exercise in arithmetic,” he said. Months later, after the review was completed, Behre said his description of how the university reached a balanced budget in its CPP was “a poor choice of words.” “I was frustrated that we were not permitted to submit a deficit CPP, with a narrative explanation of how we hoped to address the deficit in the coming months,” Behre said in an email to The Rocket on Wednesday. “I believe that this method would have been a better planning tool.” As for the other universities, The Rocket reached out to all of the presidents of PASSHE universities and asked if their CPPs included these financial measures to reach a balanced budget. West Chester University forwarded our email to PASSHE. Kutztown University said if the absurdity comment was made by Behre, it should be considered an “off-hand comment and not as an accounting principle.” “All projections are made with good intent based on the data available,” Bryan Salvadore, director of communication for Kutztown said in an email. No o t h e r PA S S H E universities responded to our inquiry. According to Hensil, there was a “misunderstanding” with the instructions of the
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CPP only at SRU. Hensil added it is a normal practice for all the CPPs that are submitted to the Chancellor’s Office to be reviewed by the university presidents, chief financial officers and chief academic officers. “That collaborative review process worked as designed, and the miscommunication with SRU was addressed,” Hensil said in an email. As for the CPP that Slippery Rock submitted in September, the university projected major cuts in two areas: Student financial aid and transfers to the plant fund. SRU’s CPP shows a 33% cut to financial aid, a little more than $2 million, during the 2022-2023 fiscal year and nearly $1 million more the following year. At the Trustees meeting in September, Behre assured Smith these cuts would not take place. During that same two-year period, SRU eliminated the transfer to plant fund— money used for future projects—to zero. In an email to The Rocket, Behre said the CPP is not updated after it is submitted but that it is used as a starting point to build out scenarios. He added that the university plans to present three different scenarios to the Council of Trustees during a financial workshop on May 3. At the state system level, Greenstein said the CPPs are used to help in the appropriation requests process. The collection of CPPs are used by the state system to help determine the financial need of budget requests at the state level. “ C P Ps a re c r i t i c a l ,” Greenstein said. “[CPPs] are the best visibility you have into where your universities are going [financially].”
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Campus Life
Senior BFA Exibit
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VIDEO: John Ligato mini documentary
NEWS
To Slippery Rock, Vietnam and back
By Joe Wells News Editor
John Ligato was the first person in his family to attend college. In 1966, he was enrolled at then named Slippery Rock State College. He was also the first person in his family to get kicked out of college. Without an education deferment, John figured he would be called up as part of the draft for the war in Vietnam. Deciding to leave on his own terms, he tried to get into the Navy, but they were full. The Air Force had a long waitlist as well. Running out of options, John had a few beers and turned to the Marines. They were more than willing to accept him. “The recruiter promised me that if I signed that day, he would get me embassy duty in Rome and I wouldn’t have to go to Vietnam,” Ligato recalled. “And I wouldn’t have to be [in the] infantry.” It was a good deal for the young, former college student so he enlisted. Ab o u t t h re e m o n t h s later, John found himself in Quang Tri, Vietnam, serving as a basic infantryman with 1st Marines. As an infantryman, John found himself in harm’s way immediately after linking up with his new family – Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. He was to report to Cpl. Rubio’s squad, he was told shortly after exiting a truck that took him up to the company area. One of the first things John asks after introducing himself was where he could find a bathroom. Rubio hands John a shovel and tells him to dig a hole. Out on the perimeter, the green Marine is trying to figure out the geometry of a bowel movement in the field. It’s not quite working when all of sudden, mortars begin landing in the area. “I didn’t know what to do,” John said. “I remember crouching down and pulling my helmet, trying to get as small as I could.” Seconds later, a tug of
JOE WELLS / THE ROCKET
Slippery Rock Alumni John Ligato served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War after being kicked out of the college. After being wounded three times, he wrote to then Slippery Rock State College President Albert Watrel, asking to be readmitted. Watrel granted Ligato's request and he resumed classes at SRSC in the summer of 1969.
his ear. It’s Rubio and he’s arrived to escort the new Marine to a safer location that could provide some cover. As time goes on, John and the members of Company A are tasked with securing a military base at Con Tien. For months the area had seen heavy shelling and at times come close to being overrun. When John arrives, the heavy shelling continues reaching upwards of 300 rounds a day dropped on the Marines. They weren’t planning to run patrols outside the base but on Dec. 15 that year, they are tasked with a patrol. “Within a few minutes [we] lost six dead and 13 wounded,” John said. This was also the first time John actually saw those who were trying to kill him. At times, the enemy would be only 15 yards away, close enough to hear the enemy’s shells falling down the mortar tube. By Christmas, the Marines are relieved and head back to Quang Tri for some rest from the shelling. Despite a
Christmas tr uce, they receive rockets and mortars from Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. Three missing days On Jan. 31, 1968, John and the men of Company A are told to “saddle up” and get onto trucks. They are told a Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) compound is under attack by two undersized North Vietnamese Army (NVA) companies in Hue. What John and the others don’t know is that the attack is just a small part of what would come to be known as the Tet Offensive. This large-scale attack by the North Vietnamese is their play to turn the tide of the war. And in Hue, the few hundred soldiers of the NVA is really 10,000. H e a d i n g i n t o Hu e , t h e re s c u e c o n voy i s ambushed. The Marines, including John disembark their vehicles and begin returning fire. Enemy fire begins to rain in on the Marines from the west, then north, then east. South, the direction they came from starts to see enemy attacks. The Marines stay as low as possible, trying to not get
hit by the enemy fire. Eventually, the Marines are reinforced by a few tanks. The men work to load the wounded onto the tanks and remaining working vehicles and push into the city. “By the time we got into Hue, half of the company was either dead or wounded,” John said. Jo h n i s i n c l u d e d i n that group, having taken shrapnel while providing cover fire for others attempting to pull wounded Marines off the road. With no officers left in Company A, the Marines Gunnery Sergeant John Canley (Gunny) takes command of the company. Sgt. Alfredo Gonzalez, a 21-year-old Marine from Edinburg, Texas assists in leading the company. The fighting inside Hue is relentless and forces the Marines to secure the city, house by house. During one night of the month-long battle, holed up in abandoned homes, Jo h n a n d h i s f e l l o w Marines are shook-up, bloody, listening to an uncommon quiet night. All of a sudden, a howling begins. John is positioned at
JOE WELLS / THE ROCKET
Photos of and awards earned by John Ligato from his time as a Marine basic infantryman in Vietnam. John was awarded three purple hearts, two of which were earned during the first few days of the Tet Offensive in Hue, Vietnam.
the front door. His first thought is some Marine is screwing with the others. “This is not funny,” John recalls. “All of sudden we hear ‘F you, you die Marine.'” Gonzalez comes up to John, knowing he had attended language school not too long ago. He orders John to say something back in Vietnamese. John runs through what little he retained, phrases like, “Hello, how are you,” and “Can I have a cigarette?” The Marines wait John’s rebuttal. He j u m p s i n t o t h e doorway, and in English he shouts, “F--- you, you mother f-----!” The Marines’ laughter punctures the tense feeling of the night. T h e B a t t l e o f Hu e continues into February, John is wounded a second time at the Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church. But for Gonzalez, he would be mortally wounded by a rocket propelled grenade but not before taking out a North Vietnamese rocket emplacement. For his actions during Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, 1968, Gonzalez is awarded the Medal of Honor. Three weeks later, the Marines are attempting to clear a compound suspected of holding NVA troops. John climbs over a four-foot wall and is hit with shrapnel in his arm. Pulled back over to safety, the unit’s medic wants to medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) him. John refuses, but the next day while tending to his injuries, the medic tells John he needs to be taken back to be treated before things get worse. Hi s t i m e i n Vi e t n a m comes to an end as he is sent to a field hospital in the Philippines. A second chance While healing from the combat he had just come out of, John began to think about what he wanted to do with his life. One thing is for certain, he wants to go back to Slippery Rock. “I really loved Slippery Rock,” John said. “The image of Slippery Rock, the rolling hills.” John knows that if he goes back home to south Philadelphia, he will either be a cop, like his
father, or a factory worker. But John wants to earn a college degree. So, from his hospital bed he writes to then-president of the college Alber t Watrel, asking to be readmitted to the college. Watrel grants John his wish for a second chance and readmits him into the summer session of 1969 but he is on probation. With no housing for the summer, John purchases a tent large enough for him to stand up in with a f l o o r, m a t t re s s a n d cooking supplies. He sets up in Rock Falls Park. “After Vietnam this was like the Hilton,” John said. John doesn’t tell many of his peers that he is a veteran. Word starts to spread around campus that there is a disturbed ve t e r a n l i v i n g i n t h e park. He doesn’t know the disturbed veteran is himself. “I heard the rumors and I’m thinking ‘I wonder who that is?’” John recalls. “You don’t know you’re crazy.” Before meeting his wife, a female student wanted to go to his place to study. John gave her directions that would take her down a few different roads and eventually a green and yellow tent. “She looked at me and said, ‘I’m not coming to that,’” John said. “That’s when I started to realize something might be odd.” Focused on his studies and determined not to blow his chance, John e a r n s h i s b a c h e l o r ’s a n d m a s t e r ’s d e g r e e in education from the college, but it wasn’t easy. Even with groups around campus for Vietnam veterans, John doesn’t p a r t i c i p a t e . St i l l , h i s roommate before getting married, is also a veteran. The two become battle buddies. Like most veterans who return from combat, there is an adjustment period, John said. He was no exception. “I was irrational,” John said. “You just want to be left alone. “Eventually you square yourself away.” After The ROCK After graduating, John goes to work for the Butler County ARC: an organization dedicated to helping children and adults with intellectual disabilities leave psychiatric homes and integrate back into their communities with some independence. During this time, John met a girl at one of the homes who was blind but played the piano beautifully, he said. He believed she was only sent there because she was blind and not for any other disability. John spoke to the man in charge and asked why she was there, knowing programs to give people their independence back existed. The answer has stuck with John to this day. “He said, ‘Well, we’re keeping her because on Sunday when the parents visit, she plays the piano,'” John remembers, still angry about it to this day. “We got her out within a week.” Th rough his years, John got to help so many people and watch them “bloom” over the years.
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NEWS
April 29, 2022
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PASSHE freezes tuition By Joe Wells News Editor
Students across the Pe n n s y l v a n i a St a t e System of Higher E d u c a t i o n ( PA S S H E ) , including Slippery Rock University will not see a tuition increase for the fourth year in a row after the Board of Governors voted for another freeze on April 14. The hold on increasing tuition, and subsequently the technology fee, by the state system, comes a few months after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wo l f a n n o u n c e d h i s budget proposal. That proposal includes $552 million in appropriation to PA S S H E , $ 2 m i l l i o n more than what was requested by the system’s Board of Governors back in October.
Although the budget has not yet been approved, Chancellor D a n Gre e n s t e i n m a d e the recommendation to the Board with students in mind. “The students we serve a re a l re a d y s t r u g g l i n g with the net price to attend, which are already high,” Greenstein said. He added that the system is working with its owners, the Commonwealth, to see the proposed investment by the governor through. Along with the proposed appropriation, Wo l f h a s p r o p o s e d $200 million for the Nellie Bly Scholarship Program. That program would provide direct financial support to Pe n n s y l v a n i a n s t h a t choose to attend either a community college or PASSHE university. “A good education can set a person up for a
lifetime of success, but pursuing that education can often be a dream out of reach as costs skyrocket and student debt looms,” Wolf said in a statement Fe b . 1 6 . “ L e t ’s h e l p Pe n n s y l v a n i a s t u d e n t s succeed and put money back into the economy, instead of shouldering them with debt equal to a down payment on a new home.” T h e a p p r ov a l o f t h e tuition freeze could be a gamble for some of the system’s universities. B a c k i n D e c e m b e r, Slippery Rock University President William Behre recommended to the Council of Trustees a 2% increase in tuition. In Nov e m b e r, b e f o re t h e g ov e r n o r’s b u d g e t proposal was announced, Behre told the Slipper y Rock Student Government Association (SRSGA) that without a 2% increase, the
university could be faced with a $4 million funding gap. After some discussion o n t h e m a t t e r, S RU ’s Trustees narrowly passed the proposal 6 to 5. At the Board of Governors meeting, Behre rescinded that request with the budget proposal in mind. Behre added that without a tuition increase and investment by the state, the financial a i d t h e u n i ve r s i t y h a s invested heavily in during his tenure would have to see cuts. “It’s nice to say there’s n o t u i t i o n i n c r e a s e ,” Behre told the Board of Governors. “But actually, the cost to students will go up, particularly the most needy students because they won’t get the financial aid. “The sticker price is not what needy students pay, it’s the net price.”
"The students we serve are already struggling with the net price to attend, which are already high." – Dan Greenstein, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor
In addition to financial aid, other programs at SRU designed to help students succeed academically and care for their mental health would also need to be cut, if the budget proposal were to be reduced, Behre said. “Our schools will not be what they are today, and oppor tunities will disappear,” Behre said. Pennsylvania State Rep. Tim Briggs (D-PA149) said he could not vote for an increase in tuition at PASSHE universities until the legislature steps up its financial involvement. “I hope and I encourage all the presidents to continue talking to their legislators, to make sure they know the consequences of lack of action this June,” Briggs said. For the budget to be passed on time, it must be approved by June 30.
GRAPHIC BY: RAYNI SHIRING
For the Gunny CONTINUED FROM PAGE A-2 As the program became more successful and kept John occupied with more paper work than visits, he began to look for a new career opportunity. A few months later he was accepted into the FBI but not without a slight hurdle to get past. During the inter vie w process, the interviewers were reviewing his a c a d e m i c f i l e . Jo h n’s removal from the college all those years ago had caught back up to him. The interviewers wanted to know what happened. John shared the story with them, but still refuses to say what it was he did that led to that decision by the school. They had one question for him – “ Were you drunk?” “Oh, yes,” he replied without hesitation. John was now a special agent with the FBI. Not long after, he volunteered for undercover duty. For John, growing up in an Italian home in south Philadelphia, the culture of the mob was quite familiar. His experiences in Vietnam and use of small words made him a great undercover agent, John said. Throughout his career in the FBI, eight of those years were spent undercover, talking with made men and building cases. A minor highlight of his career had John found out – by the FBI - while waiting outside a know mob family associate’s business as part of h i s u n d e r c ov e r w o r k . Agents across the street began snapping photos, believing they had a new lead in their case. Unfor tunately, it was just John at work. A new mission John eventually
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS CPL. DAISHA R. JOHNSON
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley, the 298th Marine Medal of Honor recipient, poses with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at the White House in Washington, D.C., Oct. 17, 2018. John Ligato, who served with Canley was instrumental in having the Marine's Navy Cross upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
retired from the FBI. Afterwards he co-hosted a talk radio show and began publishing books. Around this time, John and the men he served with in Vietnam began reaching out and meeting up and telling stories of their time overseas. No m a t t e r w h o y o u talked to from Company A, everyone had a Gunny story. John took notice. For his actions in Hue, Canley was awarded the Navy Cross. Eventually, he would retire at the rank of Sergeant Major in 1981. The stories about the Gunny, especially during what John refers to as the “three lost days of Marine Corps history,” in which
the company was without a n o f f i c e r, b e g a n t o spread around. Hearing the extraordinar y feats of the Marine, who did ever ything he could to keep his men alive during that bloody battle, John knew Canley deserved the Medal of Honor for his actions. He began by getting written statements from those who were still alive and started piecing together the necessar y materials to request an upgrade to Canley’s Navy Cross. T h e p a c k e t we n t u p through the Pentagon 10 times and was rejected 10 times, always for bureaucratic reasons, John said. One day he
received a call from an officer who had a problem with the packet matching up with their checklist. “He said, ‘You have 11 missing signatures on the endorsement page,’” John said. “No, I don’t.” The officer explained the signatures of those i n C a n l e y’s c h a i n o f command from that time must sign off on the pocket. “And it hit me, so I said to him, ‘You realize they’re all dead?’” John asked. That setback took John six months to find someone to get the packet moving past the hurdle. Eventually, the packet made its way to thenpresident Donald Trump’s
desk in July 2018 where he approved it. On Oct. 17, 2018 Sergeant Major (retired) John Canley, the beloved Gunny of Company A, was awarded the Medal of Honor. John was in attendance to see his years of work for his brotherin-arms realized. E v e n t u a l l y, John would go on to write a book titled “The G u n n y” d e t a i l i n g t h e events that led up to those three missing d a y s a n d t h e b r a ve r y o f a l l t h o s e h e s e r ve d w i t h throughout his time in Vi e t n a m . Nearly three years later to the day of Canley receiving his Medal of Honor, Slipper y Rock
University hosted John and three other alumni who were recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award. When he returned to Slippery Rock after all those years, the campus blew John a w a y, h e s a i d . And despite having to convince some people that Slippery Rock is an actual place with a n a c t u a l u n i v e r s i t y, J o h n w o u l d n’t t r a d e the education he received. “I will say this, the education that I got at Slippery Rock was every bit as good as these Harvard, Yale, Ivy League [individuals],” John said. “Every bit as good.”
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NEWS
April 29, 2022 notified about the alarm and a work order was submitted to have it replaced. April 24 - Police responded to a smoke detector activation at the Art Ceramics Building, which was caused by an item becoming hot. The panel was reset. April 24 - A person at Building E contacted police about being tracked by an Air Tag. The case is under investigation. April 24 - A person contacted police regarding possible harassment at Rhodes Hall. A report was taken and the case is under investigation. April 25 - Police received a complaint of money being taken from a secured locker at the ARC on April 23, between 4-4:30 p.m. The case is under investigation. April 25 - Police received a call from an individual at Patterson Hall stating that they were having trouble breathing and requested to be transported back to their dorm. The officer on scene transported them back to their dorm. April 25 - Police were requested for a welfare check on an individual at North Hall. The officer contacted the person and transported them to the Student Health Center.
April 20 – Police responded to a complaint of theft at the Robert N. Aebersold Student Recreation Center (ARC). The individual left their belongings in a cubicle, and when they returned, the belongings were missing. The case is under investigation. April 20 – Police responded to an intruder alarm activation at the Ski Lodge which was set off by the cleaning staff. The alarm system was reset. April 21 - Police received a call from a CA at North Hall requesting a welfare check on an individual. Police contacted the individual on scene and everything was deemed okay. April 21 - Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) requested assistance from the University Police at The Heights for an individual who threatened a security guard with an assault rifle. All individuals involved were identified and PSP handled the rest of the investigation. April 22 - Police on patrol by Stadium Drive noticed a highly intoxicated individual walking on the roadway. The individual was identified and transported to the Student Health Center. Charges are pending. April 23 - Slippery Rock Borough Police requested University Police for assistance with a traffic stop on Grove City Road. University Police stood by for the Borough officers safety. April 23 - Police responded to an Ephone activation at Building E that was accidentally
set off by an individual. The alarm system was reset. April 23 - Police were requested to assist the Borough Police with a possible burglary taking place on Normal Avenue. Officers spoke to the person who ended up being the homeowner walking around with a flashlight. April 23 - Police responded to a smoke alarm activation at Building F. Once on scene, no one answered the door and the room was checked by the CA and the Police. Everything was deemed okay and the panel was reset. April 24 - Police were requested to assist Borough Police with a traffic stop on Grove City Road. The vehicle was towed and the occupants were transported to Slippery Rock Borough Police station. April 24 - An individual contacted the police for help finding a lost wallet at MihalikThompson Stadium. Police checked the bleachers and located the wallet which was returned to the owner. April 24 - Police are investigating a damaged sign at the Advanced Technology and Science Hall (ATS) circle. Charges are pending. April 24 - Police responded to a fire alarm activation at Swope Music Hall which was pulled by a child. The panel was reset. April 24 - Police responded to an alarm activation at North Hall. Maintenance was
April 25 - Police were dispatched for an individual that had passed out at the Counseling Center and was unresponsive. Once officers were on scene the individual was conscious and alert. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) on scene remained at the counseling center and transported the individual to Butler Memorial Hospital. April 25 - Butler 911 contacted University Police to check on an open door at the Slippery Rock Park Building by Main Street. Police cleared the building and no one was inside. A Parks employee arrived and reset the alarm system. April 25 - Police responded to a fire alarm activation at Building F. Officers spoke to the residents and found the alarm was not present in their room. The cause is unknown and a message was left with Safety and the alarm system was reset. April 26 - Police responded to a fire alarm activation at the Rock Apartment #7 which was caused by burnt food. The alarm system was reset. April 26 - Police responded to a fire alarm activation at the Rock Apartment #1 which was caused by a burnt burger. The alarm system was reset. COMPILED BY MAC BELL
NEWS
April 29, 2022
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Two charged following accident
By Mac Bell Assistant News Editor
Tw o S l i p p e r y R o c k University students have been charged after an oncampus vehicular accident that seriously injured one of the students earlier in the month. Police said Noah Sunseri, 19, and an unnamed passenger picked up another student, Thomas Becker, 20, from The Grove Apartments on April 9 around midnight. He then planned to take the individual back to their on-campus dormitory. The criminal complaint said Becker was highly intoxicated. The Rocket is not naming the passenger of the vehicle since they were the only person who was not charged with anything resulting from this incident. Su n s e r i d r o p p e d o f f Becker on-campus by the Lower Stadium Lot C, which is the closest parking lot to Building F. Once out of the vehicle, Becker ran back towards the vehicle and clung to the passenger side door of the 2010 Kia Forte Koup. Becker was dragged 291 feet before losing his grip on the passenger side
door, and then run over by the right rear tire of the vehicle. When Sunseri felt a bump near the back of the vehicle, he stopped and called 911 immediately. On c e Sl i p p e r y Ro c k University Police arrived on scene at 12:25 a.m., they found that Becker was still breathing but unresponsive to any of the officers’ questions, according to the criminal complaint. Becker was then airlifted by Stat Medevac and transported to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Presbyterian Hospital. Becker sustained four broken ribs, a bruised lung, small, chipped fragments on his spine and a very small brain bleed. Becker’s current condition is unknown. The accident was caught on a security camera by Building F, which police say matched Sunseri’s account of the event. Becker was charged with a third-degree misdemeanor for disorderly conduct which carries a maximum penalty of up to a year in prison. Sunseri, the driver of the vehicle, was charged w i t h a s e c o n d - d e g re e misdemeanor for recklessly endangering another
person (REAP), as well as two other summary offenses for careless driving and reckless driving. The punishment for a s e c o n d d e g re e R E A P misdemeanor is a $500 $5,000 fine, two years in prison, or possibly both. This accident was just one of many that occurred in the Slippery Rock area that weekend and as a result the university reached out to the students via email the next morning. The university asked students who wanted to talk with someone about the events to reach out to the SRU Counseling Center at 724.738.2034 or submit a Care Referral. Faculty and staff members needing assistance can reach out through the State Employee Assistance Program at 800.692.7459. The email encouraged students to assist those who may be intoxicated and in need of medical attention by contacting Student Health Services, which is located at Rhodes Hall, at 724.738.2052 Fo r a n o n - c a m p u s e m e r g e n c y, s t u d e n t s should call the University Police at 724.738.3333, or 911 if the incident is off-campus.
RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET
The April 9, 2022 accident in Lower Stadium Lot C was one of three severe accidents which occured in the area that weekend. In two of the accidents, alcohol was involved, according to the university.
Document The ROCK's Lindo transparency lacking charged for threat CONTINUED FROM PAGE A-1 In an email to The Rocket, Behre said the CPP is not updated after it is submitted but that it is used as a starting point to build out scenarios. He added that the university plans to present three different scenarios to the Council o f Tr u s t e e s d u r i n g a f i n a n c i a l w o rk s h o p o n May 3. At the state system l e v e l , Gr e e n s t e i n s a i d t h e C P Ps a r e u s e d t o help in the appropriation requests process. The collection of CPPs are used by the state system to help determine the financial need of budget requests at the state level. “ C P Ps a r e c r i t i c a l ,” Greenstein said. “[CPPs] are the best visibility you have into where your universities are going [financially].” Hensil told The Rocket that after the C h a n c e l l o r ’s O f f i c e reviews all of the CPPs, the Board of Governors
uses those reports, along with many other factors, to determine the appropriation request that is, in turn, submitted to the Department of Education and included in the governor’s budget proposal. “The appropriation request we made reflects what it would cost to run the [state] system at peak efficiency,” Hensil said. The Rocket has asked for the CPPs of all PASSHE universities, including both integrations, and so far has only received Kutztown University’s. S RU s a i d w e n e e d e d to file a Right-toK n ow r e q u e s t f o r t h e documents. Later that d a y, w e f o u n d t h e m publicly available online in the Council of Trustees agenda packets. Both Clarion U n i v e r s i t y ’s a n d t h e We s t e r n I n t e g r a t i n g U n i v e r s i t y ’s 2021 C P Ps we re a va i l a b l e online through
advanced Google search parameters. The Rocket was also able to locate the 2021 instructions for the CPP from the C h a n c e l l o r ’s O f f i c e to the university presidents through the same means. Exhausting our internet search a b i l i t y, a n d n o o t h e r universities willing t o s h a r e t h e i r C P P, T h e Ro c k e t s u b m i t t e d R i g h t - t o - K n o w re q u e s t s f o r a l l o f t h e 2 0 2 0 C P Ps a n d 2 0 2 1 C P P s . We h a v e a l s o f i l e d a re q u e s t f o r t h e forensic review that was done related to the allegations made a g a i n s t S RU . B o t h a re still pending. Mohammadi, who w a s re m ove d f ro m h i s position the day the report was given to the university, said he has not seen the findings. “I am demanding the re p o r t b e s h a re d w i t h the public,” Mohammadi said.
By Joe Wells News Editor
Charges have been filed against a Slippery Rock U n i v e r s i t y football player after he allegedly threatened an offcampus security guard with a rifle the night of April 21. According to Pe n n s y l v a n i a St a t e Po l i c e ( P S P ) , Z a K i Fa v i a n R i c a rd o Lindo, 19, of Patterson, New Jersey confronted the security guard over a parking pass issue. The security guard told police he was attempting t o t o w L i n d o’s vehicle when a verbal altercation began between the two. Lindo allegedly left but returned shortly a f t e r, c o n t i n u i n g to argue with the guard about being outside his apartment and threatening to beat him. After leaving for a second time back into his apartment, Lindo returned again but this time went to h i s To y o t a C a m r y and pulled an AR15 style rifle from it. While holding the rifle, the guard told police Lindo told him to “Just wait until I come back,” according to court documents. It was at this point, the security guard, who was unarmed, called police. Multiple officers from the P S P, Slippery Rock Borough and Un i v e r s i t y Po l i c e responded to the complex just after
RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET
Za-Ki Favian Ricardo Lindo was set to play in The ROCK's spring football game, April 22, 2022. The defensive back previously played three games during the team's 2021 season. Days after his arrest, Lindo was removed from the spring football roster.
10 p.m., Slippery Rock University Po l i c e C h i e f K e v i n Sharkey said. Lindo was taken into custody without incident and placed in the Butler County Jail. He was r e l e a s e d F r i d a y. Police charged Lindo with one felony count of terroristic threats and one count of misdemeanor simple assault. He is also charged with harassment and disorderly conduct, both summary offenses. Lindo signed with The Rock football team in 2020 as a defensive back, coming from Paramus Catholic High School in
N e w J e r s e y. H e played three games with The Rock last year and was set to play in the spring game April 22, but did not take the field, according to Jon Holtz, director o f a t h l e t i c communication. In an email to The Rocket, Holtz said the university was aware of the situation and is gathering more information. He added that SRU does not comment on on-going investigations. Lindo is set to go before Magistrate Judge Joseph J. Nash on May 25 at 1:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing.
O
OPINION
Our View
A staff divided In their final editorial of semester, The Rocket staff argues over composition of hot dog
OPINION
Volume 105, Issue Number 10
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
Editor-in-Chief
Joe Wells
News Editor
Tyler Howe
Sports 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.
CORRECTIONS If we make a substantial error, we want to correct it. If you believe an error has been made, call The Rocket newsroom at (724) 738-4438. If a correction is warranted it will be printed in the opinion section.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions to The Rocket are available. Subscriptions are $20 per academic semester and $35 for the full academic year. Inquiries should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief at the address listed here.
GRAPHIC BY: HALLE ANGELO
One side always has stronger and better arguments than the other. People can choose to stay neutral, or people can be extremely definitive in the side they align themselves with. Can we come to a decision today, or will it remain on the list of the world’s unanswerable questions? Is a hot dog a sandwich? The age-old issue of whether a hot dog is a sandwich has divided the nation for years on end. Or, at least just The Rocket staff. The MerriamWebster Dictionary definition of a sandwich is “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between.” By this definition, a hot dog is a sandwich. The U.S. Department of Agriculture agrees with the MerriamWebster Dictionary, describing it to be “a meat or poultry filling between two slices of bread, a bun, or a biscuit.” But what exactly is classified as meat?
Where do you draw the line? Technically, a hot dog is typically made up of the emulsified meat trimmings of c h i c k e n , b e e f, o r pork, according to The Humane League. But if there’s meat in a hot dog, wouldn’t that make it a sandwich? For Ballpark and Nathan’s hot dogs, the main ingredient is beef, while Oscar Ma ye r’s h o t d o g s mainly consist of turkey, chicken, and pork. The ingredients in popular hot dog brands vary, but one thing is clear: The main ingredients are still meat. Sometimes it just comes down to if the two pieces of bread are connected. If the bread is connected, then it’s a hoagie or some other category. But if it is two separate pieces of bread, then it’s a sandwich. A sub, or a hoagie, got its name because it’s assembled on a longer bread that resembles a submarine. Most consider a sub to be a
sandwich. But could a hot dog technically be considered a hoagie, then? We can’t get offtopic, though. We are not here today to talk about hoagies. In the grocery store, bread for sandwiches is typically sold as “sandwich bread,” or just bread. But for hot dogs and burgers, it’s “hot dog buns” and “hamburger buns.” Is this the deciding factor? The hot dog debate is so polarizing, in fact, that The Atlantic created their own theory of the sandwich in 2014, in which they broke down what exactly it takes to qualify as a sandwich. For The Atlantic, the sandwich index consists of four major points: To qualify as “a sandwich,” a given food product must, structurally, consist of two exterior pieces that are either separate or mostly separate; Those pieces must be primarily carbohydrate-based—
In the Quad
so, made of bread or bread-like products; The whole assemblage must have a primarily horizontal orientation (so, sitting flush with a plate rather than perpendicular to it); and The whole assemblage must be fundamentally portable. The Washington, D . C . - b a s e d newspaper decided in 2015 that a hot dog is not a sandwich. But who’s to say that the conclusion is right or wrong? When you search Google for the public’s thoughts, the first result from Wide Open Eats says only 33% of Americans surveyed think a hot dog is a sandwich. As you go down the line of results, though, the opinions seem mixed. The singular vegetarian on The Rocket staff said she has never had a hot dog, so she doesn’t really care about its classification. And, truly, we don’t either.
Question: Is a hot dog a sandwich?
By: Brandon Pierce
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.
Ashley Keibler Junior Public Relations Kittanning, PA
Jared Yantek Junior Safety Management Bethel Park, PA
Brenden Edgar Sophomore Exercise Science Monroeville, PA
"No. I don't consider a burger a sandwich, either. There is no reasoning."
"In order for it to be considered a sandwich, the bun has to be disconnected from the other piece. Therefore, it is a sub."
"Technically, it's a sandwich because it's between two pieces of bread."
OPINION
April 29, 2022
B-2
Head full of doubt Joe Wells Joe is a senior communication major with concentrations in converged journalism and digital media production. He spent two years on staff at The Rocket.
There have been many days where my duties at The Rocket have stressed me to the point of wanting to just sit in silence. G i v e u p . I t ’s n o t worth the strain on my physical and mental health. But damn, I love being a journalist. I r e a l l y c a n ’t g e t enough of this job. Ye a r s a g o , h a l f w a y around the world in those moments of downtime of combat, I would let my mind wander on what it would be like to give college a t r y. W h a t i t i s like to chase down a hot news tip and get a story out to the masses for their
consumption and benefit. Then I returned home, left the army and gave myself every excuse as to why I would never achieve this dream of mine. A decade l a t e r, h e r e I a m w i t h more than 100 clips to my name, a few awards and a head full of doubt. Ye s , d e s p i t e a l l this work I have put in over the past two years, I am still not sure I have what it takes to chase down multiple stories a day for a local paper but I am OK with f e e l i n g t h a t w a y. It keeps me on my toes, double- and triple-checking my work and constantly asking my peers to tear that work apart and poke holes in my repor ting. It all makes me better at what I do. These past two years have not only allowed me to hone my craft but tell y o u r s t o r i e s , S R U ’s stories. Giving those w h o f e e l t h e y h a v e n’t been heard oncampus a voice has made me appreciate what journalism can d o f o r a c o m m u n i t y. I ’m a n i d e a l i s t . I believe that a journalist has the power to create a better-informed c o m m u n i t y , hold government accountable and
disrupt injustice wherever it may h i d e . Ye t , I d o n’t see myself as some folk hero taking on corruption wherever it may lie.
"Years ago, halfway around the world in those moments of downtime of combat, I would let my mind wander on what it would be like to give college a try. What it is like to chase down a hot news tip and get a story out to the masses for their consumption and benefit. Then, I returned home, left the army and gave myself every excuse as to why I would never achieve this dream of mine. A decade later, here I am with more than 100 clips to my name, a few awards and a head full of doubt." Contrary to what some of the people I have reported on may believe about me, I have never been out here for accolades and social media points. There
A bittersweet farewell
Halle Angelo Halle is a senior digital media production major with a dance performance minor. She is the assistant photo editor for The Rocket, Amazon Prime student campus manager, Aramark dining ambassador, design chair of Lambda Pi Eta, and a member of the Honors College.
To T h e R o c k e t St a f f , Over the course of my college c a r e e r, I h a v e t a k e n a number of paths that have led me here, writing my staff goodbye at The Rocket. And it is truly bittersweet. When I started my t i m e h e r e a t Sl i p p e r y R o c k U n i v e r s i t y, I d i d n’t k n o w w h a t path I was going to follow and where it was going to take me, but I did know one thing that has
always been true: I follow what I am passionate about. Whether it was d a n c e , vo l u n t e e r i n g , leading, photography, v i d e o g r a p h y, y o u name it, I have always been led by my passions. But, even though I had all of these, I never truly felt that I had a group of people that I could sa y I w a s a pa r t of. After making my w a y t o t h e St r a t e g i c Communication and Media Studies department, I felt that I found my place and I found my home and family at The Rocket. My t i m e a t Sl i p p e r y R o c k Un i v e r s i t y h a s been nothing short of eventful, exciting and full of wonderful opportunities. I have learned so many valuable lessons not only about digital media production but also about myself a l o n g t h e w a y. Each step I took on this path has allowed me to grow as an individual, and I cannot express how grateful I am. A semester at The Rocket was not enough. I will always want more events, baseball games, print weeks, graphics to make and more. Staff, thank you for listening to my Justin Bieber obsession, watching The Kardashians, coming to my
is no ego here when it comes to my reporting. Tr u s t me, I d o n’t s e e m y s e l f a s a Wo o d w a r d o r Bernstein. Hell,
Amazon events, helping me with my guy problems, haha, and all and all, thank you for being my friend. Don’t forget to have fun! We all know life can be stressful, but I promise you, you will blink one day, and you will be here, writing your staff goodbye and reminisce on the times you had in the office, too. You all are inspiring, encouraging, h a r d w o r k i n g individuals, and I cannot wait to see all of the amazing things you all will do in the future. D r. Fl e m i n g , I cannot thank you enough for all that I have learned from y o u . Yo u e n c o u r a g e me to be my best self and I will forever be grateful. It has been so much fun being your twin here at SRU. W h e r e m y experience might have been short at The Rocket, my memories will make that time last. I will miss you all more t h a n y o u k n o w. Rayni, Ty l e r , Marissa, Brandon, Nina, Joe W. , K a t i e , B a i l e y, J o e S., Megan, Kaitlyn, and Mac, thanks for giving me a home at SRU, and thank you for the memories that I will cherish f o r e v e r. Un t i l n e x t t i m e , Halle Angelo
I never even saw ‘A l l t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s Me n ,’ u n t i l t h i s y e a r. D e f i n i t e l y h a d n’t read the book. As cheesy as it may seem to the grunts I served with, the
g u i d i n g p r i n c i p l e s s t o r y a f t e r s t o r y, of the ethics of turning a student my reporting come club job into a fulldirectly from the time position. If v a l u e s i n s t i l l e d i n i t w a s n’t f o r y o u , I me from the military would have given up – a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, a semester in. Thank integrity a n d you for carrying respect. me through this I have d o n e adventure. everything I can to My s o n J a c o b , y o u give all the people have grown up so a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s fast while I worked i n v o l v e d w i t h m y f o r t h i s . I c a n’t w a i t reporting a fair to finally have a s h a k e . Ev e r y o n e minute to breathe deserves to be heard a n d just enjoy and I will always our time together listen. c h a s i n g Po k é m o n H o w e v e r, I w i l l a n d p l a y i n g v i d e o c h a s e a s t o r y f o r games. as long as I can. I No l a n a n d will always ask the A d a m – t h a n k s q u e s t i o n s o m e d o n’t f o r l i s t e n i n g t o want to be asked. I C h r i s s y w h e n s h e will do my job to r e a c h e d o u t a n d report the story – said I really needed the truth. a day to visit some A s I s a i d , I ’m a n o f t h e b e s t b r o t h e r s idealist. I have ever had the I ’m g r a t e f u l t h a t h o n o r o f s e r v i n g for the past two with. Having you years the staff of two so close has The Rocket have been a godsend and allowed me to run I am ready to relax w i t h t h i s j o b . Ne v e r a n d e n j o y m o r e have I been told to b e e r s w i t h y o u . n o t g o a f t e r a s t o r y, A l e x , y o u d o n’t t o p u l l p u n c h e s know but seeing you and for that, the chase your dream S RU c o m m u n i t y and work toward has become better it has helped keep informed. I really me going in chasing believe that. my own. I looking I guess this is the for ward to getting point of the goodbye b a c k i n t o p l a y i n g where I share my some games with t h a n k y o u s , n o you and hearing you s e n s e d e l a y i n g t h e tell me how trash I inevitable. am all night. First, my wife C h r i s s y. Yo u h a v e had to put up with s o m u c h a s I c h a s e d SEE ROAD PAGE B-3
OPINION
April 29, 2022
B-3
WeOut.docx
Rayni Shiring Rayni is a senior digital media production major. She currently serves as The Rocket's photo editor and the secretary of Lambda Pi Eta. Knowing myself at the start of my college experience, I d o n’t t h i n k I expected to end up with The Rocket. B u t t u r n s o u t i t ’s exactly where I needed to be. After two years of b e i n g o n s t a f f , I ’v e hopped around in a couple of positions. I started off as assistant ads m a n a g e r, t h e n s l i d into the assistant photo editor position, where I truly wanted to be in the first place. I ’v e s p e n t m y l a s t semester as photo
e d i t o r, w i t h a n amazing assistant photo editor by my side. My time on staff has led me to some of my closest friends, helped build new relationships, and gained so much experience and knowledge I w o u l d n ’t h a v e otherwise. Before I was in the photos section, the positions were held by others that I look up to, and seeing the quality of work they did ultimately made me push myself h a r d e r. Having half of my time on The Rocket be during a pandemic was less than ideal, but it made coming back to campus to work a little more special. I finally got to meet who I had been working with for a year and instantly I felt we were a team. I feel like a whole new person after spending so much time with The Rocket, and it gave me direction. When I first joined, we had
our fearless leader Hannah S h u m s k y. S e e i n g the dedication to the paper made me realize what our jobs are really here
"After two years of being on staff, I've hopped around in a couple of positions. I started off as assistant ads manager, then slid into the assistant photo editor position, where I truly wanted to be in the first place. I've spent my last semester as photo editor, with an amazing assistant photo editor by my side." for and that this is not a normal club on campus. I did not know what I was getting myself into. I might as well consider our office a second h o m e b e c a u s e i t ’s where I want to be c o n s t a n t l y, a r o u n d my friends, and the overall atmosphere of getting work done.
Road full of promise CONTINUED FROM PAGE B-2
The Rocket staff. Nina, your work this year as editor-in-chief has been what’s allowed me to go after longer, more investigative work. Thank you for letting me really spread out and trusting me to provide solid reporting with every story. When you get to the New York Times, feel free to throw me some freelance work. Mac, it has been an honor working alongside you at The Rocket and WSRU-TV. You have shown me how to be a better broadcaster and I have tried to show you how to write AP style. We both have a long way to go, but I know you’re going to be behind a desk dishing out the day’s events in no time. Tyler, I knew nothing about sports writing, and honestly, I still don’t. But I have learned a lot from reading your work. I wish we could have collaborated more so I could really learn from you, but seeing how the year has gone, it was probably for the best. Keep knocking out those features, just give Brandon a break with the standard interviews. And Brandon, thank you for your willingness to adapt projects at the drop of a hat because I had stories fall through or priorities change. Every time in the field working on a story was great and made my job of focusing on the reporting that much easier. Rayni, I’m sorry for all the graphics I have asked of you. This last issue wasn’t really
different. Even though I have harassed you about my news photography awards, your work blows mine out of the water and into space. Your work has always made my reporting so much better. Kaitlyn, I’m sorry for the number of stories I have thrown on your plate on a Friday afternoon (and through the weekend). Thank you for catching all my stupid mistakes before going to print and hiding how bad I can be at writing (like you are doing right now copyediting this). Halle and Marissa, I have messed with you both enough in the office. But I want you both to know I have appreciated your willingness to jump on the mundane stories I swore were so, so important. Also, I have screwed up both of your names while asking for your help and I still feel terrible about that. Megan, you have definitely grown into the position and I’m confident you’ll work to evolve campus life into a section everyone is talking about. Always be eager but listen and watch those around you. Good things will happen. Joe, with how schedules work, I rarely got to talk with you. You’re working with Tyler though and I know he will take care of you. I look forward to seeing your work develop over your time with The Rocket. Bailey and Katie, I appreciate all the ads you have brought in for the
My passion for the position and, h o n e s t l y, the start of a possible future c a re e r, started with the first football game
paper to help me cut down on the stories I needed during dry periods. And for the in-house ads whenever I had a gap (or a ‘great’ idea). Thanks for being right there next to news, listening to me complain about school or the state of journalism. Sa r a h , I e n j oye d working with you and collaborating when we got the chance. Thank you for calling me out when necessary, criticizing my drawing ability and inability to say words properly, and for stepping up and chasing leads like the journalist you are. Br i t t a n y Fl e m i n g , Joseph Harry, Mark Zeltner and Nick Artman: Thank you for keeping journalism alive at SRU and teaching this old dog a few new tricks. Your work has made me and the students better storytellers. The skills, tips and criticisms you have given me will be carried with me throughout my career. To the SRU community, thank you for letting me tell your stories and share your concerns. I know there is a lot more to tell but The Rocket will always be there to help. To the staff that is staying on next year and the incoming staff, along with leaving you a laundry list of story ideas and data I never got the time to dive into, I leave you with two pieces of advice. Always ask follow-up questions. That’s where your story is. And remember: All the pieces matter.
I got to cover and t a k e p h o t o s f o r. We j o k e i n t h e office that football is my baby when it comes to covering s p o r t s , a n d t h a t ’s absolutely true. M y g u y, Ty l e r , has been with me to almost every game, if not all games, and I’ll miss spending my time on the sideline with you.
Bu t I ’v e t a u g h t you everything you know about a c a m e r a , s o y o u’ l l be just fine. Jo e a n d M a c , y o u guys make your jobs look easy in the news section, and I’ll miss your guys' reaction after getting a big b r e a k i n a s t o r y. Yo u r h i g h f i v e s and "I told you s o’s " j u s t m a k e me smile. I hope you guys keep pursuing what you love doing. Nina, I know the future of The Rocket is in good hands with you leading the w a y. Yo u k n o w the ropes, and I applaud you for dealing with our rocket shenanigans e v e r y d a y, w h i l e also running the s h o w. C o p y / w e b , Kaitlyn and Marissa, from being right next to you guys in the office to our trip t o N e w Yo r k C i t y, getting to spend so much time with you guys and getting to know you are some of my favorite memories. B u t n o w, i t f e e l s
l i k e I h a v e n’t gotten to spend enough time with you, but we’ll be g o i n g t o a T Sw i f t concert in the future, I already k n o w. Ha l l e , yo u’re t h e person I would pick to have by my side i n a n y s c e n a r i o. I k n o w y o u’v e o n l y been on staff this past s e m e s t e r, but our prior friendship made us work together so s m o o t h l y. It’s j u s t going to be straightup weird not seeing you ever y day, but I ’m e x c i t e d t o s e e where you go and what you do because I k n o w i t ’s g o i n g to be something amazing. I c a n ’t f i n i s h this up without saying thank you t o D r. Fl e m i n g a s w e l l . Yo u’v e m a d e opportunities happen for the whole staff. Thank yo u f o r j u s t b e i n g t h e p e r s o n we c a n come to when we n e e d s u p p o r t . We know you have open arms for us, and we really appreciate that. I ’m o u t , l e t ’s get this last print done.
FALL 2022 PRINT DATES SEPTEMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 30 NOVEMBER 4 OCTOBER 14 DECEMBER 2 THESE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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VIDEO: Noah Grover talks TEAM Rock
SPORTS
The Rock heats up
HALLE ANGELO / THE ROCKET
After dominating the past few series, The Rock has set themselves up to be in first place by the time PSAC playoffs come around. The Rock is in the midst of a 10-game win streak, which includes two four-game sweeps over Seton Hill and Clarion, and will look to continue their winning ways in the final nine games of the season.
By Tyler Howe Sports Editor
It has now been over two weeks since The Rock baseball team last suffered a loss. In that time, they’ve won 10 straight games, including sweeps over Seton Hill University and Clarion University of Pennsylvania. The four-game sweeps brought their conference record from 5-7 to 13-7, and they’re now in a three-way tie for first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) west. “We’ve been playing very good baseball the last couple weeks and it’s helped us move up the standings, we’re contending for PSAC playoffs, and we just need to continue to play well and finish the season strong,” coach Jeffery Messer said. Just a few weeks ago, things were starting to look dark for Slippery Rock. After splitting four straight series, The Rock was sitting at 18-9, but had only five wins in PSAC play. Big series against California University of Pennsylvania and Gannon University both saw their ups and downs, but the splits did nothing
to help The Rock’s playoff hopes. Just as the light started to fade, The Rock was set to face No. 17 Seton Hill in a four-game series. The series was make or break for Slippery Rock. The first game was a battle with the Griffins and after an eight-inning game, The Rock pulled out a 3-2 win. “After we won the first game of the series, which I feel like was the most pivotal, because it was a close game,” Messer said. “It gave us confidence and put pressure on them, and when we did sweep them the first day, we had Mineo pitching and when we took the third game, the fourth game was a bonus.” The next three games of the series helped The Rock find their footing. The 15-4, 3-0 and 2-1 wins completed the sweep of Seton Hill. The wins, which may turn out to be the turning point of the season, were marked by dominant pitching in which the team had seen spurts of this season. “[The sweep] over Seton Hill was huge, because I don’t think they’ve been swept since they came into the PSAC and they were sitting in first place by
themselves at the time,” Messer said. “You don’t ever go into any conference weekend thinking that you’re going to take all four, especially with teams like Seton Hill.” Those wins were the start of their current 10 game win streak, but without those games, The Rock may not be on the roll they are now. “It was a huge weekend and it really changed the direction of where we were in the standings, but when you’re playing someone four times in a weekend, that’s how quick the standings can change,” Messer said. “It just shows that, like I said, every game counts and every W is great especially if you can get all four.” Now the path to the playoffs runs through University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ) and Mercyhurst University. This weekend, The Rock will be matching up with UPJ, who up this point is sitting in last in the PSAC west. Historically though, Slippery Rock has struggled at UPJ and it’s something that Messer acknowledges. “I think that just being the PSAC our guys know how much
of a fine line it is from first place to last place," Messer said. "UPJ has lost a lot of one run games, and they’ve been in a lot of games. “They play in a funky park, and they definitely play stronger in their park in Johnstown, so it won’t be an easy series, but we don’t take anybody lightly.” This is the second big win streak Slippery Rock has had this season, and they’ll look to keep it rolling against Pitt-Johnstown. With these games, Messer knows that they can’t go in thinking they’re going to take all four games, like they have the past two conference series they’ve played. “We’re in a good situation right now, but we need to continue our winning ways going into the weekend against UPJ,” Messer said. Looking ahead after the UPJ series, The Rock will only have five games left before playoffs and should they keep things on the track they are, they should have no trouble getting there. In order to keep things that way, Messer thinks they need to keep the edge they’ve been playing with. “After five weekends, we’re tied for first place and it’s very
important that we keep our guard up and play our best baseball,” Messer said. Should things pan out the way they’re pointing, the series against Mercyhurst will become the biggest of the year for both teams. They both are sitting in first with Gannon right now, and any one could grab the first seed. “Hopefully the series will mean a lot, we’re not really looking all the way to Mercyhurst, but it’s nice to think that we’ll both be in and we’ll both be playing to decide on where you fall in the playoffs,” Messer said. The private schools in the PSAC are always in the hunt for the title, whether it’s Mercyhurst, Seton Hill or Gannon. For The Rock to play at their best against them is something that Messer hopes they can continue to do. “Mercyhurst, Seton Hill and Gannon are always the benchmarks, you know the private schools that are going to be competitive year and year out,” Messer said. “Mercyhurst is having another good year, and they can sweep a series if you don’t play your best baseball.”
The Rock’s pitching staff has given them a chance to take the first seed in the playoffs. Ricky Mineo, Devin Dunn, Luke Trueman and Ethan Edkins have led the way for Slippery Rock’s defense. The four have been huge and each had their moments. “Our four weekend starters are as good as any starter in the conference, and they’ve been pitching up to their potential,” Messer said. “But we feel really good going into every weekend with them, and they may not have their best game every time, but they keep us in the game.” As things wind down, The Rock is continuing to tear up their competition, but to get to playoffs, Messer thinks a lot has to happen from now until then. “We need to continue our solid pitching, because that’s what gets you into the playoffs and wins championships,” Messer said. “We knew we were going to have good pitching this season, but we need to continue to have good outings from our starters, and the whole philosophy for the last few weeks has been one game at a time, one pitch at a time and our pitchers are really following that.”
Come catch a blessing ! By Tyler Howe Sports Editor
On any given Saturday in the fall, you’ll find Noah Grover and Brayden Long on the football field, or maybe even Kate Lachendro and Lauren Crytzer on the volleyball court. But if you’re looking for them on Sunday evenings, it’s very likely that you’ll find them with a group of people in Morrow Field House discussing their faith. That group, known asTEAM Rock, is a new organization on campus that was founded with the help of Game Changer Sports Ministry. The group has grown quickly since it was introduced at the start of the spring semester. One of the biggest reasons the group was brought to Slippery Rock was because of the help and dedication Grover had to getting it established. When you see him on campus, you’re sure to see him with a big smile, and it’s not hard to see how excited he is about this group. “With me transferring here, I always knew in my heart that I wanted to start a ministry here or some sort of study with the team, because I know in North Dakota that’s what was invested in me, like we had a FCA [Fellowship of Christian Athletes] and the pastor out there really invested a lot into me,” Grover said. Grover was really an unknown coming to Slippery Rock. Coming in after Roland Rivers III, many wondered
what he would do on the field, but Grover was always just as worried about what he could do off of it. It’s something coach Shawn Lutz has encouraged. To both, leadership isn’t just about your play on the field, but rather about how you help people further themselves. Grover’s goal started off small. First, he wanted to get something set up within his own team. During the fall, that process really took off for him. He had a large amount of his teammates showing up for his studies, and in the long run it helped him set up TEAM Rock. “When I first got here, we started small studies with the team, we had 20 or 30 guys at these studies at the end of it,” Grover said. “It helped me a lot, we really got into the depth of who each other were and why we did what we did.” Grover knew that if he wanted to expand this, he was going to need help, however. Lucky for him, this sort of thing had already taken off with the volleyball team. Lachendro and Crytzer had started to do something similar with their team, and when Grover got word of it, the idea of TEAM Rock started to form with the help of them and the Game Changer Sports Ministry. “Lauren Crytzer and Kate Lachendro were doing the same thing within the volleyball team and they were trying to get that up as well, so we kind of talked to them and we had our little group of us and Brayden Long,” Grover said. “We ended up being the
‘captains’ of TEAM Rock.” The idea for TEAM Rock had been brewing for a little bit. Marty Martinosky had reached out to former Rock linebacker, Tim Vernick, who was able to pass the idea along to Grover. Grover and Martinosky then officially formed TEAM Rock. Since starting, the group has been meeting every Sunday evening in Morrow Field House and they’ve experienced good turnouts, which have been increasing week by week. While the group was founded to help athletes bond together, Grover wants everyone to know that it’s not only for athletes and they’ve had people who aren’t athletes on campus come to the meetings. “I think that’s the coolest part, that our meetings are almost every team on campus, and we have people from the intramural team and Kyle [Hoeler] from sports broadcasting and even people that aren’t even from this school come to meetings,” Grover said. “It’s just showing how impactful the potential for TEAM Rock can really be and there’s a lot of seeking hearts out there.” The meetings have helped bring people together, and if you go to games, you just might catch some of the attendees of these meetings there rooting for other athletes who have been going. It’s something Grover himself didn’t even consider, but the group has helped bring support to almost every team on campus. Grover attributes
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAM ROCK
TEAM Rock started this semester and has already made an impact on the campus that surrounds them. Noah Grover, Brayden Long, Kate Lachendro, and Lauren Crytzer serve as the "captains" of the organization.
that to the connections that they’ve been able to make in the past few months. “I didn’t even really think of that on the support basis, but I definitely have seen it because this was a bunch of individuals that hadn’t met each other, but they’ve really grown and developed with each other,” Grover said. “It gives you a sense of ‘Oh I want go support this person and their event.’” The TEAM in the name is an acronym that stands for Teamwork, Excellence, Authority and Maturity. These are the key principles that the group is driven off of. Those principles have been pushed even further by the speakers that the group has welcomed this semester. The organization has also welcomed team chaplains
for the Pittsburgh Steelers and also SRU football player, Eddie Faulkner IV’s father, Eddie Faulkner, to speak to the group. For Grover, it’s been a humbling experience to have the opportunity to have them come talk to them. “That’s connections that we’ve been blessed with, but just to be able to have them come to TEAM Rock and see them taken down from a pedestal that they’ve been put on by being associated with an NFL [National Football League] program, and say ‘Hey, I’m human,’” Grover said. In the future, there are many plans for TEAM Rock, but the biggest of which is going out and doing things within the community. This semester served as the establishing time for the group, and Grover wants
to make sure that they don’t stay comfortable just doing what they have been. Overall, the emergence of the organization has meant a lot to Grover and the others who have gone to it. The goal is to create connections and, in such a short time, that’s something they’ve been able to do. “These meetings are big to help support everyone who wants to come, and they’re big for me because I get to learn about these different people and these new perspectives,” Grover said. “I get to learn about the love they have for life and the love they have for God, and that’s just empowering for me.” So, if you’re feeling up to it, the meetings aren’t hard to find. If you hear Grover talk about it, you’ll hear the same phrase, “Come get a blessing.”
SPORTS
C-2
April 29, 2022
Rock tennis fights to advance
PHOTO COURTESY OF SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY
The Rock has made history this season with their play on the court, and coach Matt Meredith credits a lot of it to the leadership of senior captain, Lois Page. The team advanced to the PSAC semifinals with a 4-3 win over Mercyhurst on Tuesday, and will now play Bloomsburg University with a chance to move on the finals.
By Joseph Skillicorn Assistant Sports Editor
Slippery Rock women’s tennis team is looking to continue their recent fine form as they progress further into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament. Following on from their last win against Mercyhurst University, a 4-3 victory and the second time The Rock have defeated the Lakers this season, the team will now face rivals Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Eventually, they're looking to cement their place in the PSAC tournament final. Yet, the regular season, which totaled 14 wins including five in conference was nothing more than head coach Matt Meredith expected. “It comes down to the top three teams- us, IUP [Indiana University of Pennsylvania]
and Mercyhurst [University] every year," Meredith said. "But Edinboro [University] and Seton Hill [University] have gotten stronger too. "We did what we wanted to do, in conference for sure." The 7-0 win over California University of Pennsylvania marked senior day for Lois Page, a standout performer for The Rock over the past four years. However, Meredith concedes that Page’s goodbye was a difficult pill to swallow. “It was very emotional [and] I hate those days," Meredith commented. "I’m saying goodbye to students I’ve had here and recruited here for four years. “It’s great her for though, [as] she’s accomplished so many things here." Page, a psychology major who swapped North Yorkshire for the Keystone state four years ago, will leave behind a legacy that includes ranking seventh in all time wins in program
history with 121 to date. Meredith believes that Page’s leadership has been pivotal to the success for both her and the team. “She’s done well dealing with the mental part of the game for us," Meredith said. "She’s been a great leader for us but she’s also learned from the great leaders we’ve had here in the past too." Despite his high praise for his captain, Meredith also gives away his attachment to all of his players in general. “I know how hard they have worked," Meredith mentions. "I only get them for four years but I would take them forever." Meredith was busy over the summer of 2021, recruiting two new freshmen to add to his already versatile roster. Georgie Lancaster has quickly put her name around in doubles play, often linking up with junior Zoe Heed, another fresh face to the line-up having transferred from Coker University in
January 2022. Thus far, they have formed a formidable partnership on the court, with a combined total of six wins in PSAC play. Teddi Isherwood has wasted no time stamping her authority over the PSAC. Already recorded a staggering 20 wins in singles play this season including five in conference play. Coach Matt Meredith was quick to praise the freshman from Wexford, Pennsylvania. “She has an unbelievable record," Meredith praised. "She’s dominated and is one of the best freshmen out there." Yet, Meredith believes both of his new recruits have the potential to become important athletes to the program as they gain more experience. “For the freshmen, it can be a lot of pressure but it’s a great learning experience for them," Meredith remarked. "You have to be able to believe in your own ability and move forward."
The women’s tennis team has made headlines countless times over the current spring semester, with numerous records being broken and players winning a number of personal accolades. Credit must be given to head coach Matt Meredith, who has carefully assembled a team able to flourish in high pressure situations. Individual talent combined with a steely attitude has seen the team go from strength to more strength under his stewardship, with Meredith now in his 24th year as head coach of the women’s tennis team at Slippery Rock University. Yet, The Rock will be well aware of the challenges that lay ahead in their path towards the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national tournament if they are to progress on Friday. IUP are the favorites for their clash with West Chester University, ranking first in
the Atlantic region. Having already beaten SRU, 6-1, earlier in the season, The Rock will need to find a way to nullify their threat, in order to avoid succumbing to another defeat, if they are to meet in the next stage of the PSAC tournament. The Rock are set to face off with Millersville University of Pennsylvania in a crucial match up hoping to advance to the PSAC final. The Rock will be hoping for a repeat of their 7-0 demolition against the Marauders, who are ranked seventh in the Atlantic region rankings. The semi-final is set to take place on Fr i d a y a t 2 p. m . a t Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, with the winner set to face off with the victor of the other semi-final between IUP and West Chester University.
Rondeau relishing challenges
By Joseph Skillicorn Assistant Sports Editor
The Slippery Rock women’s lacrosse team will look to round off their spring 2022 season with a win as they host rivals Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in their penultimate game of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) season. The Rock currently have a 10-6 record overall with a 6-5 record in PSAC conference play. Sitting on a hat-trick of wins, interim head coach Taryn Buckholder will be looking to see her free scoring team finish strongly. Numerous records have been broken by multiple players throughout the campaign, yet it is junior midfielder Charleigh Rondeau who has impressed in her third season at The Rock. Rondeau, an industrial and systems engineering major from Buffalo, New York, tells about how she connected with the lacrosse program at Slippery Rock University. “I looked at a lot of schools including Mercyhurst University and Niagara [University],
but both of those schools are liberal arts and I didn’t know yet what I wanted to do, Rondeau said. "I came to Slippery Rock undecided, but when I visited the lacrosse team and the campus I immediately fell in love [and] I knew I was supposed to be here. "I didn’t get that same feeling with the other schools I looked at." Yet despite her excitement of lining up with her teammates in such a prestigious program, Rondeau’s maiden season was to be cut short prematurely in the spring of 2020 following COVID-19. Rondeau reflects on a vivid memory in what was an uncertain time for all athletes and students. “Our coach shared the news [about the season ending] with us," Rondeau commented. "We did have some hopes of coming back in a few weeks but obviously that didn’t happen. "We were able to have one last practice, where we really wanted to honor the seniors who had played here the last four years." SEE SHOOTING PAGE C-4
RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET
SPORTS
April 29, 2022
C-3
PSAC WEST Spring ball stunting STANDINGS
Baseball 1. 1. 1. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Slippery Rock Mercyhurst Gannon IUP Cal u seton hill clarion pitt-johnstown
28-9 (13-7) 26-10 (13-7) 22-13 (13-7) 23-18 (12-8) 25-14 (10-10) 25-14-1(10-10) 10-28 (5-15) 16-22-1 (4-16)
RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET
Spring ball has come to a close and the coach Shawn Lutz believes that they learned a lot about themselves. Now, They'e going to start getting into gear for the fall, but Lutz and his coaching staff will also be on route to start recruiting.
By Tyler Howe
Tennis 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Sports Editor
iup Slippery Rock Mercyhurst edinboro seton hill cal u clarion
14-7 (6-0) 14-6 (5-1) 9-12 (4-2) 12-8 (3-3) 6-9 (2-4) 8-9 (1-5) 1-13 (0-6)
softball 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Cal u Gannon Seton hill iup mercyhurst pitt-johnstown edinboro clarion Slippery Rock
20-9 (8-2) 18-2 (10-4) 31-8 (8-4) 15-16 (7-5) 25-12 (6-6) 16-19 (4-8) 6-21 (4-8) 4-31 (3-9) 13-18-1 (2-8)
In the middle of two colder spring stretches, SRU football got lucky and was able to host their annual Green and White Spring Game in 60-degree weather. The game featured the arrival of multiple new players and saw a fairly large number of fans come to watch exhibition. “It was a great, great night with nice weather, and we had some football alums back and some incoming freshman that will be joining us in the fall,” coach Shawn Lutz said. “We had a fun game, and there was a lot of people and a lot of energy, so I was pleased with that.” The game featured The Rock offense wearing white matching up against The Rock defense in green. The two squads battled for just a little under two hours. The Rock defense only fielded 21 players overall due to injuries, which saw almost as many defensive players on the sideline as there were in full uniform. “We had a lot of guys banged up on the defensive side of the ball that didn’t play in the spring game, we only fielded 21 guys on that side, which isn’t even two deep,” Lutz said. “All those guys will be back for the fall though.” The game started out with the depleted defense getting the best of the offense in the first quarter of play. The scoring in the game was traditional points for the offense and the defense scored five points for turnovers and
three-and-outs, and three points for any drive that resulted in a stop. They held The Rock offense scoreless in the first quarter and were able to take an 8-0 lead into the second quarter of play. Noah Grover started the game at quarterback for the white team and in the spring game his connection with his new re c e i v e r s w a s s h ow n . After throwing to three National Football League (NFL) caliber receivers last season, things are a little different for Grover now. Grover will be throwing to an almost entirely new receiver core and counting on the new guys. In the s p r i n g g a m e , Gr ov e r made it clear that he’s comfortable enough to go out there and sling it. The second quarter saw The Rock offense get on the board three separate times and only get stopped once. The scores came from a DJ Opsatnik field goal, a three-yard scamper from Izzy Reed and a one yard run from Xander McClure. The scores put the white team up 17-13 at the half. This season, Max Maciejewski and Kyle Sheets are the guys that Lutz thinks are going to have to take some big steps. They’ll be the returners who Grover has already established a bond with on the field, and for Lutz he thinks they’ll be the guys that they’ll look to a lot this fall. “We’re getting a little bit of continuity, but we’re still not where we need to be at the receiver position,” Lutz said. “It looks like the guys that are settled
in are Max Maciejewski, Jacob Odom, Kyle Sheets, Cohen Russell and those type of guys. "Things are looking a little bit better but we still have some steps to take.” It was the first game Kyle Sheets had played in college without having the likes of Jermaine Wynn Jr., Cinque Sweeting and Henry Litwin with him on the field. In the spring game, Sheets made it apparent that he’s working to be the guy. “ He’s p ro b a b l y o u r oldest and most proven receiver, and he’s got to go from a guy that basically went a little bit under the radar to a go-to guy,” Lutz said. “He has that ability and I really think him, and Max have got to be the guys.” Lutz doesn’t hide the fact that there will have to be a drop off of some sort when it comes to losing the top three targets on offense, but he’s also really excited for the opportunities that they may get here in the next few weeks. “There’s got to be a drop off to losing Litwin, Sweeting and Wynn Jr. because I don’t think we’ll ever have that here again, but it’s going to be a huge transition for the quarterback,” Lutz said. “As well as Henry and Cinque did at their pro days, I don’t know if they’ll get drafted but I feel like they’re good enough to at least get a free agent opportunity, and they’ve just got to give them a chance.” The third quarter of the spring game was neck and neck. The defense was able to earn five more points
to their tally, but at just a little over halfway through the third period of play, Opsatnik nailed another field goal to help the white keep a 20-18 advantage. In the fourth quarter, the green team earned other 10 points and put all the pressure on the white to decide whether or not the game would end with a green victory. In the last few minutes, the white completed a drive, in which Devin Sims got them two points closer to the defense. An Andrew Miller two-point conversion tied the game up. To end the game, the p re s s u re w a s p u t o n Opsatnik to make a field goal to break the tie, but his attempt went off the uprights and was no good. Just like that, the Green and White Game ended in a 28-28 tie. “We had a fun game, and it was awesome to see some of the young guys step up," coach Shawn Lutz said. The next time The Rock will take the field will be in the fall when they welcome Wayne State University. To Lutz, there are still a lot of holes to fill and a lot of things to figure out, but this spring served as a good measuring stick for where they want to be. “I loved the way our guys went out there and competed, and now we go out there and look at our immediate needs and we can be honest with our guys on where they stand,” Lutz said. “Now we get on to recruiting in the summer.”
Women's lacrosse 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
SETON HILL MERCYHURST IUP slippery rock LOCK HAVEN GANNON EDINBORO
14-3 (10-2) 12-4 (8-3) 11-5 (8-3) 10-6 (6-5) 7-8 (4-7) 5-11 (3-8) 2-14 (0-11)
RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET
SPORTS
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April 29, 2022
Shooting up a storm
RAYNI SHIRING / THE ROCKET
The Rock was eliminated from postseason contention, but has still put up a very solid year. The team has been improving year by year, and Rondeau, Emily Benham, Jamie DiCarlo and others have been breaking records at a very fast rate in the last few weeks of action.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE C-2
Although COVID-19 marked a frustrating fi rst season for Rondeau, there was no time for slacking. Rondeau was busy over the months ahead, making sure to stay sharp given a season could be announced at any point. “I did a lot of lifting over the summer and the fall," Rondeau commented. “I also got into long distance running during lockdown as there was nothing else to really do.
“It was a huge relief though to be back with my teammates again; Despite all the protocols and masks, it was a sense of normality." Due to COVID-19, Rondeau was only able to participate in five games in her first year at The Rock. However, confident in her ability, Rondeau knew when her chance came along, she was ready to take it. “In freshman year I didn’t get much of an opportunity but I was working really hard over the off season," Rondeau recalls. "I wanted to be able to make an
impact once we got back on the field. "Once I was in the [starting] team it was just about giving one hundred percent in training to stay there, as there is a lot of competition within our team, and there is never a guarantee you’ll be a starter so you just have to keep working hard." A number of records have been broken by the women’s lacrosse team over the spring of 2022, with a number of other standout performers on show, such as the likes of Emily Benham and Jamie
DiCarlo. Rondeau received her own award for her impressive performances for The Rock over the spring of 2021, as she was named in the second team all PSACWest. While Rondeau admits it was in her mind, she believes hard work is groundwork to receive such an award. “I was so happy to get that award”, Rondeau said. “But I believe that if you work hard, things like that come naturally to you.” However, Rondeau also highlights the importance of teamwork and how she
has thoroughly enjoyed playing at Slippery Rock thus far. “It’s great with the connections we’ve all made outside of lacrosse," Rondeau shared. "It’s really great to enjoy being with your teammates, playing with your best friends and being happy for them because you know how hard they have worked." With just one game left of the season, Rondeau sets out the goal for the team and what her and her teammates will be
looking to accomplish in what promises to be a feisty encounter between two close rivals. “Above all we want to have fun," Rondeau said. "We want to be able to cherish this last game for our seniors because they have done so much for the rest of us and the program in general." Charleigh Rondeau will be in action in the last game of the season when the women’s lacrosse team will look to finish strong against IUP on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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VIDEO: BFA showcases artwork
CAMPUS LIFE
The end of the party
By Tyler Howe Sports Editor
The year was 1998. A lot of things happened that year, from the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal to the New York Yankees winning the World Series. But at Slippery Rock, it was the year Mark Zeltner joined the SRU staff. Rewind a little bit, and you can find the start of his path. If you catch him at a good time, he’ll be more than happy to tell you about it. His journey started at another small Division II college in Missouri, which nowadays is a sports powerhouse. That school is Northwest Missouri State University (NMSU). As an undergrad there, Zeltner felt at home. The lavish lifestyle of the much bigger University of Missouri just wasn’t for him. Not yet at least. “I went to Northwest Missouri State for the same reason a lot of you guys come here, it’s close by and they had the best broadcasting major in the state other than the University of Missouri,” Zeltner said. “I thought that was too big, too expensive and too far away [from home].” After a stint with some small newspapers, he pursued an MA in Education at The University of Tulsa. There, they encouraged him to become a professor. He did eventually go to Missouri.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK ZELTNER
“I finally went to [the] University of Missouri, but I didn’t go there because I’m from there,” Zeltner said, “I went there because it was the best school in the country.” His teaching career finally started, but in a little bit of an odd spot. Wilson College, at that time an all-girls school, was in need of someone to help bring their school newspaper back to life. “Their newspaper had died, and I hadn’t really thought about advising newspapers, even though I had worked for newspapers before,” Zeltner said. “They said, ‘The newspaper is dead, and we want you to revive the newspaper,’ and I told them I could do that because I needed a job.” Zeltner pulled up to their campus and got to work with their staff of just two women. It had been just about two years since they had produced a paper, and after some work and a little bit of time, it was back. In the five years Zeltner spent there, he oversaw the revival of the paper and in that period, they also won a few awards. Then, Zeltner got wind of a job in another small, rural town in Pennsylvania. That job of course was a communications professor opening at Slippery Rock University. In his mind, he wasn’t planning on staying here for long. This job would be another move to catapult him somewhere else closer to home. “I came here thinking, because I’m not from around here, probably I’ll do five years here and go somewhere else,” Zeltner said. “That was 23 years ago, so I obviously did not do that.” It was weird. Something about this rural place felt almost like home. Or, as close to it as he could get to it. “You know I went to Northwest Missouri State University, which is a carbon copy of Slippery Rock,” Zeltner said. “It’s a public university, which used to be a teacher’s college out in the middle of rural Missouri.”
When he was at NWMSU, he got to have those close relationships and hands-on experience, while still having a fairly big campus. The Rock’s environment felt exactly like that, and it drew him in. Slippery Rock turned out to be the missing piece to Zeltner’s puzzle. “I thought it was a pretty good fit, and it turned out to be a good fit and it’s why I stayed so long,” Zeltner said. Stepping in, Zeltner once again had the task of helping a struggling newspaper. The Rocket had been having a lot of trouble before Zeltner arrived. His first move was to make things all digital. “When I got here, they were still doing it manually with tape, so we went all digital, which was unusual at the time,” Zeltner said. “There was [the] only printer in the state that could do it from digital.” Back then, The Rocket was still a weekly newspaper. So, when things were still being done manually, there would be a weekly drive to give all the stuff to the printer in New Castle. Zeltner, luckily enough, never had to do that. A big task back then was figuring out how to fill the pages, but with all the news that happens on campus, it wasn’t hard. The weekly print edition became a grind. A grind that Zeltner grew to love. “Our weekly print edition was about 24 pages, sometimes it was 20 pages, but for the most part, we kept it at 24, and our staff wasn’t any bigger than it is now,” Zeltner said. “It was tiring, but it was a lot of fun and it was the best part of the job.” The next step was eventually creating a website. Zeltner was the first one to introduce a website and it was The Rocket’s first website master. To think about it now seems unusual, as The Rocket is a digital-first publication, but that all started with Zeltner. “I was the first webmaster, and I created the name," Zeltner said. "I was the webmaster for
a year before I got students to take over." Still, back then The Rocket was a print-first publication. Each week, there were 6,000 copies printed and as soon as they’d hit the shelves, they’d be gone. Zeltner used to have to hold on to papers for students. It took a bit for the website to catch on. The Rocket obviously wasn’t the only thing that Zeltner was doing here. While also being The Rocket's advisor, Zeltner was teaching his classes. He taught mostly journalism classes,
involved with The Rocket." Even though Zeltner did enjoy the university in general, there were a few times in which he had thoughts of leaving. “Most of my friends and family are in the Midwest, so there was a time really, about 15 years ago, when I was pretty intent about going somewhere else, but I couldn’t find an opportunity or a job that fit as well,” Zeltner said. Those thoughts never resulted in anything, except him returning to campus for yet another year at the school he had, in a way, fallen for.
"I think my attitude is, if you're going to go to a party, you stay until the end." and for a lot of them, he’s still teaching even in his final days as a professor. New media journalism is one of those classes. “When I do that class, I make students go out and actually talk to people and report,” Zeltner said. As it would go, six years after becoming the advisor of The Rocket, Zeltner stepped down to become the head of SRU's communication department. Those three years were different for him. "It’s a lot and it's a thankless job," Zeltner said. "I always used to say I did six years of managing college students and three years of managing college professors, and I’ll take managing college students every day." After being the head of the department, he once again took the role of being the advisor for The Rocket. He missed it, more than he’d like to admit. "It was weird," he said. "We hired someone specifically to be the advisor of The Rocket, and it’s why I was able to be department chair. "But it was odd, and I never stopped being
Another seven years as the advisor went by quickly. In the blink of an eye, there were conversations to make one person the advisor of both The Rocket and WSRU-TV. Those talks were about the current Rocket advisor Brittany Fleming. "She came in, and we hired her to do WSRU-TV," he said, "But we both had this idea because we were both working
on the converged journalism major and the changing media environment. "We both thought it would be easier for one advisor to do that instead of two." At first, Zeltner said Fleming struggled a little bit. The TV studio is in the Maltby Center, and The Rocket office is in the Eisenburg Classroom Building. But, thus far, she’s made it work really well. Zeltner said he knew she would, and that’s why he was so on board with her taking over. Handing over the keys to the new advisor for the second time was a lot easier. This time, he knew he was handing it to someone he could trust. “It wasn’t weird the second time because of Dr. Fleming, I knew she would be great,” Zeltner said. “The reality is, we’ve been partners in this, but she’s the boss.” Before handing it over, Zeltner played a big part in making the decision to lower the number of print editions to just once a month. Something that is still done today. Now down to his final days at Slippery Rock, you can see him here a lot more than usual. Some of that is because the current group of professors amazes him. In his time here, he feels he hasn’t seen such a good group. “We have the greatest group of professors in this department that we’ve ever had,” Zeltner said. “They’re smarter, better
teachers and it’s a very diverse group from people to thinking.” Another reason is that things are normal. Had COVID-19 mandates continued any more semesters, he may not even be here. But the end of this semester has given him the end at the university that he had always envisioned. “The restrictions are off, and the masks off, so the last six weeks have almost been normal, which is nice because I wanted a time when things were more or less normal,” Zeltner said. Zeltner, who loves to travel, will be able to get a lot more of that in with the free time that he’ll have. Maybe he’ll even attend a Lizzo concert. But even after all this time here, Zeltner is still able to stick to his roots as a Kansas City Chiefs fan. While Slippery Rock will always have a piece of his heart, he’s from Missouri, through and through. One thing is for sure, though; Zeltner won’t regret anything going out. His views have always remained the same, but if you ask him why he’s been here so much trying to enjoy every second, his answer will be simple. “I think my attitude is, if you’re going to go to the party, you stay until the end,” Zeltner said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK ZELTNER
CAMPUS LIFE
D-2
April 29, 2022
Student turns difficult emotions into art By Megan John Asst. Campus Life Editor
The third Bachelor of Fine Ar ts (BFA) exhibition will be held starting on May 2 in the Martha Gault Art Gallery. Clarissa "Kaz" Spahr’s "How Are You Doing?" is one of four pieces in the exhibition. Her exhibit is made up of six types of media. Each material connects to an emotion or emotional response. Spahr is an autistic woman who wanted to express emotions through art that she
struggles to express in words. For instance, neutrality is represented by a barebones print, dread is a painting done in dark colors, and grief is a metal necklace. “[Grief is] cold, it’s heavy, and I made it out of copper, so it creates that greenish-blue [stain on the skin],” Spahr said. From the beginning, Spahr wanted to incorporate her voice into her art. She said she needed to use multiple media due to her concentration, K-12 education, and the two
GRAPHIC BY: HALLE ANGELO
ideas “snowballed” into the final exhibit. "It started out with sitting down and feeling my emotions and how [they] impact the body," Spahr said. "I went through each motion and then just listened to my body. I w ro t e d ow n t h a t information and then went through each of the [media] I’ve learned throughout the years at Slippery Rock." Then, she paired up the medium that would work best with each emotion. In a way, the high and low points of Spahr’s
creative process were opposites. The negative emotions were easiest for her to visualize and pair with materials, and positive emotions were most difficult to pair. Now that the exhibit is done, Spahr expressed feeling nervous, excited and overwhelmed about viewers’ reactions. “I know I’ll be socially burnt out by the end of this . . . but it will be worth it because it is five years leading up to this moment,” Spahr said. She described her want to express herself throughout college,
rather than giving into fear that people will tell her that she isn’t "autistic enough." Emotions can be challenging for Spahr to share and express, and her exhibit includes discussion about how we don’t truly share our feelings during conversations. This makes it difficult for Spahr and other people with autism to learn about them. “ I ’m just one experience and one story, and there’s other ways people can feel their emotions, autistic or not,” Spahr said.
"I know I'll be socially burnt out by the end of this . . . but it will be worth it because it is five years leading up to this moment." – Clarissa Spahr, 'How Are You Doing?' exhibit creator
CAMPUS LIFE
April 29, 2022
D-3
WEEKLY ORG. SPOTLIGHT WSRU-FM Aquatics Club
By Megan John Asst. Campus Life Editor
WSRU-FM is a student-run radio station based in the Strain Safety Building. Since t h e 1 9 6 0 s , t h e y h a ve been broadcasting music for the Slipper y Rock community. The organization DJs events that are held on campus. But recently, the station began to branch out, incorporating news coverage from The Rocket and a podcasting/ production department. Je r e m i a h B r o w n , a digital media production m a j o r, i s t h e c u r re n t general manager. “In the fall, we’re gonna be adding a little more structure once we have more people trained on how to use the board," B r o w n s a i d . " We ’ l l be developing more structured shows. People can do podcasts and start going on air with them."
Brown joined WSRUFM in fall 2020. Nicholas Artman, who is the s t a t i o n’s n e w f a c u l t y a d v i s o r, e n c o u r a g e d Brown and a few other students to get involved. Brown spoke about developing leadership and time management skills through WSRU-FM. The students of the WSRU-FM plan the programming, handle the audio equipment and keep everything running smoothly. W S RU - F M r e c e n t l y D J ’d S R U ’s 1 3 3 r d birthday party and the Student Employee Appreciation Week event. Ever y spring and fall, they also play music at the Involvement Fair. “It’s a club and org fair," Brown said. "We are a club. So what else can we do? We’re gonna play music. We’re gonna make the whole place fun." The music they play comes from song
packages, and they buy the rights to play certain collections of songs on-air. Being an FCCregulated station, there are cer tain songs that can’t be played and words that can’t be said during a broadcast. W S RU - F M p l a n s t o i n t ro d u c e o t h e r t y p e s of content in addition to music, such as sports coverage and podcasts, as well as newscasts from The Rocket. Brown will be graduating in the fall, but he wants to "see the seeds [of the new programming] grow" before he leaves. T h o s e i n t e re s t e d i n c o n t a c t i n g W S RU - F M can visit their website, wsrufm.com, check their CORE page, or email Jeremiah Brown at jtb1014@sru.edu. If you’d rather listen, go to wsrufm.com or their new mobile app, WSRU-FM 88.1.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARISSA MASTRANGELO WSRU-FM, SRU's radio station located in the Strain Safety Building, DJs events that are held on campus. The organization recently launched their mobile app, WSRU-FM 88.1.
By Megan John Asst. Campus Life Editor
The Aquatics and SCUBA Club can be called everything but a swim team. Their programming falls into two main categories: Education and fun. Several times a semester, they host water-based games and activities for anyone who wants to attend. They also run outreach programs and water safety events. Their outreach programs include partnerships with the local SCUBA diving community and Boy Scout troop. The Physical and Health Education Department offers an aquatics minor. According to its current president, many students who pick up the minor join the club as well. However, people from any major and minor can get involved, even if they’re not experienced. "You don’t have to know how to swim to join," said Sammy Dudley, one of two incoming co-presidents. "That was a big thing. Just show up and we’ll figure out how to teach you to swim." Dudley and Mary Zipfel will head the Aquatics and SCUBA Club next semester. They are both sophomores, majoring in parks and resource management and physical and health education, respectively. Zipfel and Dudley, along with the current president, AJ Sumser, are certified SCUBA divers and lifeguard instructors. SRU offers a SCUBA diving class for students to become certified divers. They partner with JT-Scuba, a local diving instructor, to help instruct the classes and provide equipment. They also provide a student discount, making the certification more accessible. Sumser describes them as "our mentors in the scuba community."
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AQUATICS CLUB The Aquatics and SCUBA Club hosts water-based events and games for the campus community. Along with the club, SRU also offers an aquatics minor, in which people from that minor typically join the Aquatics Club.
"I cannot speak highly enough about [ J T- S c u b a ] , " D u d l e y said. "They will tell you anything you ever want to know. They’re so helpful. They have built a really good community of present and former students that come back to dive with them." In addition to having mentors, the Aquatics Club may become mentors themselves through Venture Crew, a scouting program for high school and college students. Members of the club also run some water safety events with the local Boy Scout troop. But it’s still a work in progress, according to Dudley. In the future, the copresidents plan to expand their involvement with Venture Crew. In between educational programs, the club can be found kayaking, paddleboarding or just playing games in the pool. Sumser explains it as "anything that swim
team doesn’t do in the water." Through the club, all three have found their niche in aquatics, as well as a community of people who are as dedicated as they are. "There’s such a wide variety of opportunities in the [aquatics sector], and the importance of collaboration across those sectors can’t be undermined," Sumser said. "There is a broader community and everyone can find their specific role . . . to still work toward those broader goals." Zipfel also discovered a passion for aquatics. “ I h a ve f o u n d m y purpose,” Zipfel said. “[The club] opened me up to a world that I didn’t even know existed prior to coming to college, and I am so fortunate for it.” Students interested in contacting the Aquatics Club can find them on Instagram (@aquatics. s r u ) a n d Tw i t t e r ( @ sruaquaticsclub) or visit their CORE page.
Summer send-off
By Madeline Bundy Senior Rocket Contributor
The Career Education and Development Office hosted its Career’s Summer Send-Off event on Tuesday. Th ey handed out popcorn and snow cones in the Quad to any students who wanted some while coming and going to classes. Aubrey Rader, a career and life design coach who has been in the Career Development and Education department on campus for about a year, organized the send-off for many reasons. "We had a couple [of] goals," Rader said. "The first one was to congratulate students on surviving the year. We also wanted to let students know that we are open during the summer. If students aren’t taking summer classes, they don’t know we are open." The office wanted to let alumni know that they can use their services even though they are no longer enrolled, according to Rader. They offered a first step survey via QR code for those graduating to see what their plans were after graduation. At the event, success coaches offered tips to encourage
productivity over the summer break while handing out snacks. She said students should reflect on the skills they built during the past year and think about what they would like to build and gain after the summer break. Reflection doesn’t just have to be based on profession or school, but it can be personal as well, she added. Rader discussed ways to gain experience in the career that students may want to get into after graduation. This included going on LinkedIn and searching for people with similar majors or SRU alumni or doing informational interviews with people within the field they are looking at going into. Job shadowing was mentioned as another option, as students would be able to get hands-on experience and see for themselves what it is like in the career they choose to pursue. Another tip was about the networking aspect of connecting and meeting with people in the fi eld they are looking at. Broken down, networking is simply talking to people, whether it is on a platform like LinkedIn or just a family
member or friend who may be in a similar field, she said. Rader emphasized that students should not be afraid to ask questions and dig deeper if needed to get the information that they are looking for rather than settling for the surface information. "Really just be curious," Rader said. "Being curious is the best way to be proactive and to constantly have the mindset of a learner." Rader said she felt the need to hold the event to let people know that the career development and education staff are there during the summer, even while other faculty who don’t teach during the summer are off. Everyone had a chaotic year, getting used to being back on campus. The staff wanted to celebrate with students, especially those who are graduating, by giving out free food. "I think that a lot of students turn ever ything off for the summer," Rader said about how summer affects productivity in students. "[They] deserve a break. I think that summer pauses productivity, I don’t think it necessarily hurts it."
TYLER HOWE / THE ROCKET The Career Education and Development Office hosts a career summer send-off event in the Quad, where they are handing out popcorn and snow cones.
THE ROCKET
April 29, 2022
D-4
Movie Review: 'The Northman'
By Dereck Majors Review Columnist
“I will avenge you, father. I will save you, mother. I will kill you, Fjölnir.” Repeated numerous times throughout the runtime, this line by Amleth (portrayed by the always fearless Alexander Skarsgård) manages to simplify the film’s plot in an easy and concise way. Featured in nearly every trailer and TV spot for the film, the line showcases exactly what to expect with "The Northman:" A revenge story. At a young age, Amleth escapes his savage uncle F j ö l n i r, D a n i s h f i l m star Claes Bang, who is overthrowing the throne from his father, King Aurvandill, the impeccable Ethan Hawke. Se p a r a t e d f ro m h i s mother, Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman, who was taken by Fjölnir’s men and the kingdom he was destined to rule one day, Amleth joins a band of Vikings who raise him to be a barbaric killer. Even as the years pass by, he waits for the perfect opportunity to seek his vengeance, rescue his mother, and claim his worthy title of king. While the entire cast shines, the most unsurprising notion is how magnificent Nicole Kidman is as Queen Gudrún. Her presence is subtle yet commanding exactly when it needs to be. In one of the film’s most pivotal (and best) scenes, Kidman towers over Skarsgård’s Amleth as her character’s true intentions are slowly and meticulously
peeled away like the layers of an onion. Kidman keeps everything close to the chest and perfectly nails every razor-sharp line of dialogue, especially in an awe-inspiring dialogue that may be one of the best of her career. Director Robert Eggers personal touch can be seen in nearly every frame and line of dialogue. His quirky style of horror and fantasy is displayed per fectly in Björk’s prophet-like character, who foresees the entire film’s plot in the first thirty or so minutes, and during the family tree sequences that quite literally dives deep into the souls of the characters to unravel. While Eggers and Sjón’s script is based on a Scandinavian legend that served as inspiration for S h a k e s p e a r e’s t i m e l e s s c l a s s i c “ H a m l e t ,” i t manages to cast a unique spell on the viewer. It feels modern yet ancient at the same time with multiple uses of Eggers trademark long takes mixed with old English. Eg g e r s , k n ow n f o r h i s smaller indie horror films like “The Witch” and “ The Lighthouse," manages to bring his particular vision to the mythos of Viking lore. Even with a budget of $ 9 0 m i l l i o n , E g g e r s’ film still feels like one of his earlier outings, which were collectively made for one-sixth of the price. Even with such brutal, gory and repulsive sequences, it’s hard to take your eyes off the immersive world and vision presented i n “ T h e No r t h m a n .”
Eggers has created a film that provides some of the most intense action scenes on the silver screen in a long time, but that’s about it. The film’s themes— revenge, sacrifice and loyalty, among others—are obvious early on but they are surface level. It feels like there was extra content left on the editing floor that the studio told Eggers not to cut for the film to have a broader appeal amongst the general audience. Fa n s of Eg g e r s’ filmography know that his films often go far beyond what is shown on the screen. Often these films stick with you for days after the initial viewing because they offer so many contemplating thoughts and questions. “The Northman,” while easy to rewatch for the action sequences alone, is rather simple and easy to digest for everyone. While this may be a good thing for its legacy as a film that will most likely be constantly shown on cable TV—one which you can turn on and get immersed into at any time—it doesn’t help the film having a legacy that will be studied by film scholars like Eggers' past efforts. All in all, it’s bold for a studio like Focus Features to distribute a film like “The Northman” to over 3,200 theaters across the country for its opening weekend. When it seems like sequels, remakes and superhero blockbusters are released on a weekly basis, taking these sorts of risks on what could be deemed as typical indie fanfare is exciting and gives the box office a much-needed refresher.