Sports
B-1
Softball opens at home with split
Campus Life C-1
SRU observes Autism Awareness Month
The Rocket www.theonlinerocket.com
Friday, April 5, 2013
Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper
Est. 1934
Volume 96, Number 20
Clements named new SGA president
Distance Party takes control after sweeping election results By Jon Janasik News Editor
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Newly-elected SGA president Buddy Clements (left) celebrates with Alex Merida (right) and other members of the Distance Party following the announcement of the SGA election results. Clements' party, the Distance Party, swept the seats they campaigned.
Student Nonprofit Alliance hosts hunger campaign By Catie Clark Assistant News Editor
The Student Nonprofit Alliance of Slippery Rock University and Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honorary, held a panel discussion Tuesday during common hour to discuss the topic of world hunger. The panel discussion is part of a week-long “All IZE on Hunger Campaign” hosted by the Student Nonprofit Alliance. Nicole Geyer, President of Pi Sigma Alpha, moderated the event featuring four professors from different departments on campus. Panelists included Dr. Donald Kerchis, Assistant Professor of Political Science; Dr. Kolson Schlosser, Instructor of Geography, Geology, and the Environment; Dr. Daniel McIntosh, Associate Professor of Political Science; and Dr. Tom Sparrow, Professor of Philosophy. First in the panel discussion, Kerchis spoke about global poverty as a human condition. “You can’t look at global hunger without looking at it in the bigger context of global poverty,” Kerchis said. “Hunger is one of the many, many facets of poverty.” Kerchis said the part of the problem is the stark misperceptions Americans have. “It’s not just about an absence of money, it’s about a human condition which is sad, and what makes it so sad is that we have the ability to do something about it and we’re not doing all that we can do.” As part of his discussion, Kerchis showed a video feature Dr. Jeffrey
Sachs of Columbia University and advocate for the UN Millennium Project, which tries to increase foreign aid to countries in need. Sachs advocates “Quick-win projects” which are made up of small changes that can help African countries astronomically. “150,000 children are dying of malaria in Africa each month,” Sachs said in the video, “mosquito nets only cost $5 and would save thousands of lives.” According to Kerchis, the problem is that Americans think we’re doing a lot more than we actually are. “There is so much we can do to make hunger less of an issue… there is clearly a humanitarian effort to make hunger less of an issue, but we also need to consider political, social, and economic factors as well,” Kerchis said. “Its in the best interest of the United States and every other country to do what they can to end the world’s hunger problem.” The next speaker in the panel discussion was Dr. Schlosser, who spoke on main criticisms of foreign aid and how they can be debunked. “The vast majority of Americans will tell you they want to cut foreign aid out of the budget,” Schlosser said. Schlosser said the main criticism from the left is that there isn’t enough aid. “Fifty percent of foreign aid is what they call ‘phantom aid’,” Schlosser said. Phantom aid means that if, for example, France were to give a loan to an African country for infrastructure, they would have to SEE NUTRITION, PAGE A-2
Sub Wars:
“President of the 2013 – 2014 senate is Rogers Clements,” exclaimed Marcie Johnson while standing on top of the rocks in the middle of the quad. Results showed that out of the 1,188 students that voted, 70 percent voted for the Distance Party’s candidate, Rogers (Buddy)Clements, while the other 30 percent voted for the T.O.G.A. Party’s presidential candidate Ben Motyl. “I w a s s u r pr i s e d ,” Clements said. “T.O.G.A is a very strong party. They had a big influence on campus this year, and we were the underdogs." " We w or k e d h a rd , my senators were very dedicated and that’s what won it for us.” Current SGA president Dave Wolfe stated that
either candidate would have been good for the school. He believes that if B en Moty l would have been elected, SGA would have been business or iente d, w hile wit h Rogers Clements, he expects a student affairs centered SGA. “It’s g re at for t he school, and it’s great for the student body,” Wolfe explained. “He’s goi ng to b e ver y project oriented. You’re going to see a lot of differences on this campus. Buddy has shown all week that he is capable of taking the position, and doing probably much better than I did in my position.” During the debate last week, Moytl stated that he hopes to continue to work with SGA even if he were not elected as president. The ot her SEE NEW, PAGE A-3
Local sandwich shop in the midst of battle over restaurant identity
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Cindy Marlowe, owner and operator of Bob's Sub in Slippery Rock, prepares one of the establishment's classic sandwiches. Bob's Sub is currently in a naming rights battle with another Western Pa. sandwich restaurant.
By Kevin Squires Rocket Contributor
Bob’s Sub has been "a college town favorite since 1973." Often, college students enjoy lunch together, with the scent of hoagies in the air, and an ever familiar request for a favorite “Bob’s sub” - it all sounds a familiar occurrence for students at Slippery Rock University. But this is not the Bob’s Subs that so many people in Slippery Rock know and love. A Bob’s Sub, of no affiliation with the location in Slippery Rock, opened in Indiana, Pa., followed by one in Pittsburgh. These stores use a similar name, slogan, and even feature images of the Slippery Rock location inside the stores. The shops have been stirring up trouble for the Slippery Rock shop since 2011. According to a status posted July 28, 2011 on
Slippery Rock’s Bob’s Sub & Sandwich Shop’s Facebook page, “It has come to our attention that there is a Bob's Sub opening in Indiana PA. They have even registered a website claiming, ‘Since 1973... a college town favorite.’” The status warned, “this location is not affiliated with ours and will soon be issued a cease and desist notice.” Cindy Marlowe, owner and operator of the Slippery Rock location, explained, “Identity theft is what they call it…he has nothing to do with us.” Marlowe started working at Bob’s in 1975 and became its full owner in 1989. She manages the store with the help of her sister Linda Wigton, and nephew, Joseph Wigton who are both proud Slippery Rock University alumni. The cease and desist notice was only the beginning. Marlowe attempted to sue Mark Fleck, SEE LOCAL, PAGE A-3
News
A-2 7-DAY FORECAST FOR SLIPPERY ROCK
April 5, 2013
FRIDAY
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Partly sunny and breezy
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Periods of rain and a t-storm
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The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature is an exclusive index of effective temperature based on eight weather factors. Shown are the highest and lowest values for each day.
REGIONAL CITIES CITY Akron Allentown Altoona Cleveland Erie Harrisburg Indiana Johnstown Philadelphia Pittsburgh Scranton State College Wheeling Williamsport Youngstown
Friday HI LO W 50 28 s 57 27 pc 54 26 pc 48 28 s 42 27 pc 56 30 pc 48 23 pc 49 26 pc 58 35 r 51 25 pc 54 26 pc 52 26 pc 54 28 pc 54 26 pc 46 23 pc
Saturday HI LO W 60 48 pc 55 34 s 56 39 pc 59 47 pc 52 45 c 57 36 s 59 42 pc 53 41 pc 58 40 s 63 46 pc 54 35 s 56 39 pc 64 49 pc 58 36 pc 57 47 pc
Sunday HI LO W 60 49 c 63 43 pc 62 47 pc 60 44 c 55 43 c 64 47 pc 60 48 c 58 49 pc 64 48 pc 63 50 c 58 46 c 58 48 c 63 53 c 59 46 c 60 44 c
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Wednesday HI LO W 71 42 t 70 46 pc 77 48 pc 68 41 t 65 41 t 80 50 pc 78 48 c 75 48 pc 72 56 pc 77 47 sh 76 46 pc 77 47 pc 78 49 c 77 46 pc 75 42 t
Get Ready To SALSA!!! SOL and Internations Club are bringing back Salsa Lessons!! Loyal Martinez will be here to instruct the lessons every Monday in April, in the McKay Dance Studio!! 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Beginner/Intermediate Lesson 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Ladies Styling Class (Here, our ladies get to learn fancy styling tips while learning to dance without a lead) These are FREE LESSONS!!! Hope to see you there!!
Free Tax Preparation with VITA The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is being hosted by Slippery Rock to provide individuals and families free tax return preparations. The VITA program offers services to individuals and families whose gross income is under $50,000. VITA is located at 165 Elm Street with locations in Butler and Cranberry as well. Please call 724-4313748 to make an appointment.
Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice Debate Pro-Life representative Bonnie Schaffer and Pro-Choice representative Heather Frederick will be discussing abortion in a debate moderated by President Cheryl J. Norton. The event will be in Spotts Auditorium Monday April 22nd at 7:30 p.m.
To submit a Rock Note please send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to Jonathan Janasik at jtj9529@sru.edu or to rocket.news@sru.edu. The Rocket does not guarantee that all requests will be published in the paper.
Index Rock Notes...............A-2 Comics.....................A-7 Weather map...........A-2 Sports...................B-1 Blotter.................A-3 Campus Life.............C-1 Opinion...............A-4
contact us 220 Eisenberg Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057
2011 Runner-up Most Outstanding Newspaper Society of Collegiate Journalists
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The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. 0-2 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 6-7 High; 8-10 Very High; 11+ Extreme.
Monday HI LO W 60 54 t 67 49 pc 65 50 c 62 51 sh 58 52 r 66 50 pc 61 50 t 61 51 c 68 52 s 63 53 t 61 49 c 62 53 c 65 56 t 62 49 pc 60 49 sh
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ROCK NOTES
Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu
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Thursday HI LO W 63 35 r 67 35 r 67 45 r 58 44 r 61 34 r 71 42 r 64 44 r 64 40 r 69 39 r 69 36 r 68 32 r 67 39 r 69 38 r 69 34 r 65 33 r
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Moon
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Rise 6:57 a.m. 6:55 a.m. 6:54 a.m. 6:52 a.m. 6:50 a.m. 6:49 a.m. 6:47 a.m. Rise 4:06 a.m. 4:40 a.m. 5:12 a.m. 5:42 a.m. 6:13 a.m. 6:44 a.m. 7:17 a.m.
MOON PHASES
Set 7:49 p.m. 7:51 p.m. 7:52 p.m. 7:53 p.m. 7:54 p.m. 7:55 p.m. 7:56 p.m. Set 3:10 p.m. 4:17 p.m. 5:22 p.m. 6:26 p.m. 7:29 p.m. 8:31 p.m. 9:31 p.m.
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Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2013
NATIONAL FORECAST FOR THE WEEK TEMPERATURES
Above Near Below Normal Normal Normal
PRECIPITATION
Above Near Below Normal Normal Normal
National Summary: A slow-moving storm in the West will bring rain to much of the Pacific Northwest an the northern Rockies Saturday. A departing storm from the Rockies across the Great Lakes will bring rain and snow to the region. The storm in the Great Lakes will move into the Northeast with showers on Sunda while the storm in the West will move into the Plains with rain and thunder. A third storm will move into th Pacific Northwest with rain. The storm in the Plains will move into the Ohio Valley and linger in the southe Plains with thunder for Monday, and snow in the northern Plains. The third storm will move into the centra Rockies as rain and snow in the higher terrain.
NATIONAL CITIES
Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursda CITY HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W HI LO W Atlanta 64 46 pc 71 51 s 73 56 s 76 58 pc 80 60 s 80 59 pc 72 54 Boston 53 34 r 49 38 s 56 45 pc 59 44 pc 60 45 sh 56 48 pc 62 31 Chicago 45 36 pc 64 43 c 50 45 c 54 49 r 56 43 r 44 35 r 52 37 Cincinnati 58 35 s 68 51 pc 64 51 c 66 56 t 76 58 pc 68 50 t 64 32 Dallas 72 56 s 77 62 pc 80 64 pc 80 68 t 80 54 t 68 47 t 71 45 p Denver 70 38 pc 63 38 pc 65 39 pc 58 32 c 43 26 c 46 30 r 59 38 p Detroit 50 32 s 55 48 c 60 41 c 56 50 r 62 54 r 55 40 t 57 32 Houston 76 52 s 78 61 s 80 64 pc 80 69 pc 82 68 t 77 54 t 71 50 Indianapolis 56 38 s 68 51 pc 64 54 c 66 57 t 72 57 t 63 43 t 57 32 Kansas City 68 52 s 72 46 c 68 54 r 68 57 t 67 40 r 49 37 r 56 33 Los Angeles 70 55 pc 72 56 pc 75 53 pc 75 55 pc 75 59 s 80 56 s 81 58 Miami 80 62 t 80 67 pc 81 69 pc 81 69 s 83 71 s 84 74 t 85 73 Nashville 64 41 pc 73 55 s 75 56 pc 76 57 pc 80 61 pc 75 57 t 73 39 New Orleans 70 52 pc 76 60 s 76 63 pc 79 66 pc 82 69 c 81 63 t 72 58 New York City 58 36 r 55 43 s 59 45 pc 62 50 s 64 48 sh 64 48 pc 65 33 Orlando 78 56 t 77 59 s 80 60 pc 83 61 s 83 62 s 87 66 t 87 67 Phoenix 91 68 s 89 65 s 90 66 s 87 64 pc 84 61 pc 82 62 s 87 63 San Francisco 62 51 pc 62 50 pc 62 52 pc 61 47 c 68 50 s 68 50 s 68 52 Seattle 59 45 r 54 40 r 53 40 r 54 42 pc 55 47 r 58 45 r 60 40 Washington, DC 62 38 pc 60 41 s 66 53 pc 73 56 s 74 61 pc 80 55 pc 71 48 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
Nutrition key to solving world hunger Continued from Page A-1
then hire a French construction company to do the work, so the money would actually cycle back to France and not actually help advance that country's economy in any way. According to Schlosser, critics on the right say that foreign aid creates dependency. “I think dependency is real, but we have to understand the nature of that argument,” Schlosser said. Structural dependency can be created, for example, by providing mosquito nets. “It will put African mosquito net factories out of business because we are providing them for free, so the only way to get them in the future will be from other countries,” Schlosser said. “It’s not that they sit there and think ‘you owe us mosquito nets’, it’s that they sit there and think ‘the only way to get mosquito nets is to get them from other countries’.” Schlosser closed with the idea that there are many criticisms of foreign aid, and it’s important to know why some criticisms are accurate, but some can be debunked. Dr. McIntosh spoke third in the line-up about the politics of
international hunger. “The problem as I see it is not putting food in people’s mouths…actually, food is wasted,” McIntosh said. McIntosh argued that students can be naïve, and not all people are nice. “Some don’t care, some don’t know, and some want others to be hungry some of the time because it serves their purposes.” For an example, McIntosh said that in North Korea food is a status symbol, as well as a tool for keeping control. “Once a week a plane from North Korea flies to a McDonald’s in China to bring a sack full of Big Macs back to the North Korean Generals,” McIntosh said. “McDonald’s is a status symbol in North Korea.” According to McIntosh, a successful dictator gives food his friends and takes it away from his enemies so they can’t bother him. McIntosh said in modern times, ways of keeping food from people include sanctions and blockades in foreign countries. Ultimately, McIntosh argued that solving world hunger is not about filling people’s stomachs; it is about making sure they have
the right nutrients. “Under nutrition is the cause of almost 3.5 million maternal and child deaths per year and 35 percent of disease burden in children who are under the age of five,” McIntosh said. According to McIntosh, there are many reasons the issue of world hunger has to be solved including lack of infrastructure, intellectual property laws on seeds, basic health care, parasites, technologies, and changes in corporate agrobusiness models. “As citizens, consumers, and volunteers we can be more involved,” McIntosh said. “Getting information, voting, spreading the word, and joining anti-poverty programs would all be beneficial.” Dr. Sparrow spoke on the ethics of hunger, and related to a book called ‘The Life you Can Save” by Peter Singer. “The author’s idea is that by spending money on things we don’t need, rather than donating a little bit of money, then we are doing something wrong and living morally corrupt lives,” Sparrow said. Sparrow said the book used the scenario of a drowning child. “If you bought a new pair of
shoes and wore them on your walk to work one morning, and noticed a child drowning in a shallow pond, would you go in to save him and ruin your new shoes,” Sparrow asked. According to Sparrow, Singer argues in his book that if you would ruin a pair of shoes to save a child, then you shouldn’t have bought the shoes in the first place and donated that money to people in need. Sparrow also argued that part of the problem with Americans giving money is a problem of invisibility. “It’s a psychological barrier, not a moral barrier,” Sparrow said. “Out of sight, out of mind.” Sparrow said to fix this issue, we need to create a culture of giving, where we think of others and charity before our own selfinterests. The panel discussion is part of a weeklong hunger awareness campaign “All IZE on Hunger Campaign” hosted by the Student Nonprofit Alliance. Other events included a “Hunger is No Joke” pledge, and an upcoming Food Drive and Hunger Banquet on April 9.
Title IX goes beyond women's sports issues By Erica Kurvach Rocket News Editor
Since 1975, Title IX protected women and men from sex discrimination in education. “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance," according to 20 U.S.C. § 1681. People have mistaken that this federal civil rights law protects only women in sports. However, according to Title IX.info, it “opens the door for girls to pursue math and science, requires fair treatment for pregnant and parenting students and protects students from bullying and sexual harassment among other things.” Holly McCoy has been SRU’s Title IX Coordinator since 2011. “Part of the role of the Title IX Coordinator is when a student feels that they were not treated properly in terms of Title IX right, they come to me, and we try to rectify that if we can,” McCoy said. Students may report misconduct or file a formal complaint to McCoy if they believe they have been subjected to sexual harassment by University faculty or staff or any other form of gender discrimination
under Title IX. “Title IX itself is not very explicit,” McCoy said. “It’s only about 37 words. I think it’s how people have used it over the years and how it’s been interpreted over the years to really expand opportunities in terms of participation not only in athletics but in programs that were considered traditionally male at one point. The STEM program, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We see many women attending medical school and law school when Title IX was passed in the early 70s. More recently, with the Dear Colleague Letter, there is more attention paid to protecting women from sexual assault and addressing sexual assault issues on campus.” The Dear Colleague Letter was sent on April 4, 2011. “The Dear Colleague Letter provided more details for rules that were already in place,” McCoy said. “I think it made universities more responsive. SRU has already done a good job in terms of Title IX and its requirements.” SRU awarded an alumnus this year who has encouraged gender equity in her community. Carol Matteson, a 1968 Slippery Rock University graduate, former professor and retired president of Mount Ida
College, received SRU's inaugural Title IX Champion Award on March 8. She was recognized for her “significant contributions to the advancement of gender equity.”’ Recipients must have sustained in broadening access and opportunity for women in higher education, contributing to the achievement of women in athletics, the public or private sector, or service to the community, contributing to the achievement of gender equity at any level of the academic community and providing leadership on issues related to gender equity. SRU presented this new award this year. According to Womenslawproject.org, SRU athletic students have filed a lawsuit against SRU on May 6, 2006 saying that the school “failed to provide its female students with an equal opportunity to participate in athletics” with a number of reasons. As a result, SRU agreed to create a $300,000 fund to be spent for the next three years on women’s athletics. The cost covered “the historical conditions that have limited women’s participation in athletics,” according to Womenslawproject. org. The plaintiff ’s counsel monitored SRU’s progress through the school’s documentation.
April 5, 2013
News
A-3
Police Blotter Magistrate Campus April 3 – Matthew Pyle, 43, of Chicora, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI and disregard of traffic lane. He was released on his own recognizance.
April 3 – Joshua Leach, 36, of Grove City, Pa., was seen for two counts of DUI, failure to notify change in address, driving while operation privileges suspended or revoked. He was released on his own recognizance.
April 3 – Spencer Upton, 22, was seen for DUI, recklessly endangering another person, failure to keep right, failure to yield right, disregard of traffic lane, careless driving, and period for required lighted lamps. He was released on his own recognizance.
April 3 – Jacob Amos, 21, or Stoneboro, Pa., was seen for DUI, driving while privileges were suspended or revoked, disregard of traffic lane, and driving at safe speed. He was released on his own recognizance.
Local Bob's Sub trying to protect reputation Continued from Page A-1
owner of Bob’s Sub Inc. in Indiana, in 2011 to prevent him from opening the store. Marlowe was not victorious in the lawsuit; Fleck opened another store in Pittsburgh, and has a third l o c at i on c om i ng s o on i n Ne w Kensington, according to his website. A Facebook update posted in September of 2011 by the Slippery Rock shop read, “The initial hearing has concluded that calling another shop Bob's Sub is not misleading since we are Bob's Sub and sandwich shop. Obviously, no one calls us by the shortened name or knows us that way. The phrase college town favorite is allowed for a new business. Further, ‘since 1973’ was allowed after being sold from a shop operating in its present state since 1991.” The name and slogan are not trademarked, but for Marlowe, it’s more about the reputation. “I can’t stop him from using the name, but I want to stop the association.” Marlowe explains, referencing the year mentioned in the slogan and a picture of Marlowe’s locations that is displayed in Fleck’s stores. “It might say ‘Bob’s,’ but it’s my reputation.” Marlowe claims. A third member of the story comes in as Ron Eustice, owner of a second Bob’s
Sub and Sandwich Shop in Clarion and the one in Brookville. Eustice gave permission to Fleck to open the stores with the name. In summary, Marlowe is unhappy with Fleck for stealing her reputation which Fleck allegedly got from Eustice… so who is Bob and where is he? The Bob of “Bob's Sub and Sandwich Shop” is Bob Woolston. Woolston founded a shop in western New York then moved on to Western Pennsylvania where the Slippery Rock shop opened in 1973, the first “Bob’s,” followed by locations in Edinboro, Bloomsburg and Clarion. Woolston is now retired, living in Florida, and very ill. He sold the Slippery Rock shop to Marlowe and the Clarion shop to Eustice. The locations in Edinboro and Bloomsburg closed. “If he [Bob Woolston] were healthy he’d fight too!” Marlowe says, explaining that when Eustice came to possess the Clarion shop from Woolston he was given a five year window to expand. That window has long passed. For Marlowe, the battle continues. She plans to continue the fight to keep the reputation of the restaurant she owns as her own, and wants everyone to know that Fleck is “defrauding the public.” She adds that even though the name may claim differently, a sub at one of Fleck’s stores is “not a Bob’s Sub.”
March 28 –An unknown person damaged a stall door inside the second floor men’s bathroom of the University Union. The case is under investigation. March 28 – There was a theft of computer items at the Technology Learning Center in Bailey Library. The case is under investigation. March 29 – There was a report of an individual climbing into a window in Building F. The incident was referred to Student Conduct.
New President promises to do best for Campus Continued from Page A-1
candidates that were elected include Vice President of Student Affairs Megan Burr, Vice President of Financial Affairs Abby Schon, Vice President of Internal Affairs Dustin Norcross and Vice President of Campus Outreach Anthony Plumberg Residence Hall Senators include Abigail Toth for Building A, Antonia Badger for Building B, Connor Mackelvey for Building D, Oliver Laniear for Building E, Alex Mowrey for Building F, Rhoads Bernard Moore for Rhoads Hall, and Timothy Anderson for North Hall. Joseph Streiff was elected for the Rock Apartments senator. There was a tie for Watson Hall senator between Tim Ragan and Dan Gladis. There will be an e-mail sent out to the residents of Watson Hall asking to vote between the two. Jenn Phillips and Corey Fraction won positions as graduate senators. The elected commuter senators include James Garrity, Cody Moody, AJ Pagano, Courtney Lee, Alexander Merida, John Coulter, and Baylee Childress. Other commuter senators include Michael Corrado, Jessica Johnson, William Redd, Alys Cook, Cheney Preston, Ben Mader, Melissa K. Anderson, and Maria Montaro.
March 29 – Garret Blaschak, 20, Jessica Burnett, 18, Kyle Lebarron, 20,and Jamison Lopochonsky, 19, were cited with underage consumption of alcohol after a report of an alcohol violation at Building F. April 1 – An Individual damaged grass when moving illegally parked vehicle on West Lake Lane. A traffic citation was issued. April 3 – A fire alarm went off in Rhoads Hall because of burnt food. The building was evaluated. Compiled by Catie Clark
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The Rocket
OPINION
A-4
April 5, 2013
The Rocket
Our View
Volume 96, Number 20 220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: (724) 738-4438 Fax: (724) 738-4896 E-mail: rocket.letters@sru.edu
Editorial Board Will DeShong Editor-in-Chief Jon Janasik News Editor Andy Treese Campus Life Editor Madeline Williams Sports Editor Alex Mowrey Photo Editor Stephanie Holsinger Copy Editor James Intile Web Editor Catie Clark Assistant News Editor Rebecca Marcucci Assistant Campus Life Editor Kristin Karam Assistant Sports Editor Emily Schubert Assistant Photo Editor Erica Kurvach News Reporter Mark Zeltner Faculty Adviser
Advertising Staff Zach Dornisch Advertising Manager Karleigh Santry Advertising Manager
About Us The Rocket is published by the students of Slippery Rock University every Friday during the academic semester with the exception of holidays, exam periods and vacations. Total weekly circulation is 3,000. No material appearing in The Rocket may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. The first copy of The Rocket is provided free of charge. Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents each. The Rocket receives approximately five percent of its funding from the SGA General Service fee paid each semester by students. All other income is provided through the sale of advertising. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling (724) 738-2643 or by e-mailing rocket.ads@sru.edu.
Corrections If we make a substantial error, we want to correct it. If you believe an error has been made, call The Rocket newsroom at (724) 738-4438. If a correction is warranted it will be printed in the opinion section.
Subscriptions Subscriptions to The Rocket are available. Subscriptions are $20 per academic semester and $35 for the full academic year. Inquiries should be directed to the Editorin-Chief at the address listed here.
GRAPHIC BY EMILY SCHUBERT
Enough is enough with empty campaign promises Another year of campaigning is over. SGA has announced the new president and executive board members. Buddy Clements of the Distance Party was elected president. We endorsed him last week, for what it’s worth. While we are happy that, in our collective opinion, the better candidate won, we hope this year’s elections start a new trend in campaigning though. We hope the newly elected officials actually follow through on the campaign promises that got them elected into office in the first place. This has been the biggest issue with politics ever since democracy existed -- empty promises. It is why politicians have reputations of being liars and
crooks. We hope this group doesn’t fall victim to that stereotype. Wh i l e we’re h appy t he Distance Party pulled through, we’re still skeptical of them. After all, we have been disappointed by SGA in the past due to a lack of them doing anything of importance for the campus. Not to say previous SGA representatives are liars and crooks. That’s simply harsh. But many years have seen very little progress happen other than typical bureaucratic issues within SGA itself. We don’t really care about how SGA organizes itself. We want to see things change that will benefit the campus. The things the Distance Party campaigned on.
There have been too many shortfalls in terms of seeing through the promises made during election season in the past. Whatever the reason for this, we hope it won’t be an issue next year. Unlike years past, each of the campaign promises seemed relatively achievable. There were no “wet campus” type of taunts to get students to vote for them. This year’s campaigning seemed a little dry in comparison to years past, but we would actually rather have it that way. The theatrics were missing but hopefully the content of the campaign won’t be. Because both parties had good ideas. The Distance Party’s plans for better faculty
In the Quad
relationships, a safer campus, better sustainability, and a better budgeting process were great ideas that shoud not be in any way hard to attain. If they are not, it would be a major disappointment in another year of pointless SGA elections. Each of those issues are of high importance to the community. While they are possible to fix, it will still take effort. We hope we see the effort next year. This election should set in motion the trend of SGA making great leaps forward in terms of bettering the students’ lives here at SRU. Because while it’s a nice little campus, we still have a lot of problems that need worked out. Worked out by the students with the power to do so.
This week’s question: Does SGA change enough things on campus?
In the Quad is a segment in which random students, faculty and staff are asked for their opinions on a specific topic.
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.
Jake Hostler Senior Marketing major Hometown: York, Pa.
Breanna Bayer Sophomore Political science major Hometown: Meadville, Pa.
Shannon Wright Junior Environmental studies major Hometown: South Park, Pa.
“I believe so because I’m a part of SGA and so I see the work put into the campus day in and day out.”
“Yes, even though it’s a lot of behind the scenes work, change moves slowly.”
“I think so though I don’t see as much changes as they say they are actually doing. In elections, they say this or that, but then later in the year I don’t know if they’ve made changes that they planned to do. I think they need to publicize it more.”
Opinion
A-5
The Rocket can help out more with crime prevention through repor ting
North Korea crisis no laughing matter
April 5, 2013
Jon Janasik Commentary I’ve seen things. I’ve seen things you couldn’t imagine. Things that would make you sick to your stomach. Underage drinking, driving under the influence, parking violations, damaging grass, public indecency, and vandalism. This town is full of criminals. Every week there are more and more names listed in the Rocket’s police blotter. You have to wonder where all these people are coming from. The worst part of it is that these criminals aren’t exclusively freshmen. Freshmen through seniors are listed on a regular basis. You can’t trust anybody! The question is, how can we stop these crimes from happening? Social programs? Don’t be stupid. By proclaiming that SRU is a “dry campus”? That’s cute. What Slippery Rock needs right now is a hero. But whom can we trust to clean up this town? President Norton stated that she regularly picks up the litter that covers the streets of the town. One could assume that she would also be able to cleanup the drunks that litter the street as well. But no, it’s too dangerous to risk one of the most valuable members of the campus community by sending her out to fight crime by herself. In fact, I think she should stay barricaded in home with an elite team of bodyguards until we get this crime wave all sorted out. Sure, we have the Slippery Rock police department. They’re the ones that catch these criminals in the first place. There is only one problem, they have to do their job by the books. Now if you’ve seen the Dark Knight before, you know what the problem with
going by the books is. It just doesn’t work. Even after the police manage to arrest the Joker and put him in jail, it’s just a matter of time before he is back on the streets blowing up hospitals. Similarly, while the Slippery Rock police may be able to capture “Underage Johnny”, you know that he isn’t going to be locked up forever. Soon enough he is going to be back on the streets, free to blow up hospitals as he pleases. How many hypothetical hospitals have to explode before we start taking crime seriously? Depending on the crime, punishments for breaking the law range from fines to being forced into taking corrective classes. Fines may sound like an effective way to scare people away from committing vile acts, but you have to remember that we’re all college students. For the most part, we’re in so much debt that money doesn’t even mean anything anymore. Losing a little bit more than $100 doesn’t really seem that bad when you consider that you’re already in debt over $20,000. Often students rely on parents for financial assistance, so some students might just foot the bill to the old folks without even looking at it. That will show them! As for the mandatory classes, we’re talking about badass lawbreakers here, chances are that they wouldn’t even pay attention to what was being said. They would probably just end up sleeping through the class or Snap Chatting each other pictures of boobs and monster trucks. So what are our options? I have two ideas. First is the death penalty, obviously. The second, and arguably better idea is to scare potential criminals through the use of humility. Currently, the police blotter serves as the scarlet letter for the law-breakers on campus. It’s entertaining to read, and I think it would be embarrassing to appear in it. But I think we can take it a step farther. If the police were to provide more
in-depth information to the Rocket, we would be able to write exciting stories that would not only be incredibly entertaining, but would also strike fear into anybody who is even thinking about breaking the law. For example let’s take a made up completely random and generic name and make up a crime. Let’s say a freshman named Tom Smith was cited for public indecency. Currently, that is pretty much all that we would find in the police blotter. But if we had more information, you would see something like this: “Freshman Physical Education major Tom Smith was cited for public indecency when he was caught peeing on the Senior Rock while singing Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’. When the police approached him, he began to run away with his pants still down. Within three steps he tripped over his pants. When the police tried to apprehend him, Smith stated, ‘Don’t mess with me, I’m on the wrestling team.’ The wrestling team refused to comment. Police stated Smith cried like a baby the whole time.” This news story would appear on Google every time that anybody would search for Tom Smith. Instead of his parents paying the bill, he would be forced to take responsibility for his own actions. The best part is that you know that his friends would never let that go, he would be punished for all eternity. People would read the Rocket and see how harsh the punishment is, and maybe that would make them think twice about breaking the law. It’s a win for the police, it’s a win for the Rocket, and it’s a win for everybody who loves to read hilarious stories. This crime spree is going to continue until something changes. If Batman has taught us anything, it’s that it’s not just the police department’s duty to spread justice. Everybody can help. As the News Editor of the Rocket, I want to help. The Rocket is the hero Slippery Rock deserves. Jon Janasik is a junior geology and professional writing major, and the News Editor for The Rocket.
Will DeShong Editor commentary North Korea is in the news again with more threats of nuclear activity and hostile attacks on either the United States or South Korea. While these threats are likely just empty threats, as many experts on the region believe the nation’s leader, Kim Jong Un, is simply trying to emphasize his power to both his country’s civilians and the world, the issue is still of great importance. But yet it’s gotten to the point where many people in our country are laughing at it. Memes are all over the internet poking fun at various aspects of the country, including their seemingly ancient military equipment or the creepy propaganda videos finding their way out of the country. I’m not opposed to comedy, especially at a person, and I use the world liberally, like Kim Jong Un’s expense. But we shouldn’t lose track of the real issues going on in the country. No, not the looming threat of nuclear war by a country backed by our biggest trading partner and world superpower in China. Like I said, the likelihood of that happening is pretty small. The real issue is what is currently going on in the country of North Korea.
The citizens are living in constant fear and often times unlivable circ umst ances. While there is very little media to escape the country, as North Korean officials do not allow its citizens to freely walk around with a camera, nor do the citizens have access to the internet, we do have some evidence of what the living conditions are like under the dictatorship. The political prisoner camps are likely the worst aspect of the culture. People can be sent there for any reason deemed fit by police, such as not properly honoring Kim Jong Un when they speak of his name. Once there prisoners are subjected to hard labor in starving conditions. Children as young as six years old are forced into work. Anyone can be killed at any time for any reason. Reports have shown military officers would kill prisoners simply because they didn’t want to escort them around the camp, or because they were in a bad mood at a given time. The treatment of women in these camps is disgusting. Women are often raped by the military officials then executed if they happen to get pregnant. It’s horrendous. Yes, Kim Jong Un deserves to be made fun of at any moment, but let’s not lose track of the serious human rights tragedies currently happening in the country. Because we don’t even know half of the brutal lives many of the nations citizens are forced to endure. Will DeShong is a senior communication major and the Editor-in-Chief of the Rocket.
A-6
April 5, 2013
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COMICS
April 5, 2013
MoreOn TV
By Jay Schiller and Greg Cravens
Best in Show
By Phil Juliano
Brewster Rockit: Space Guy
By Tim Rickard
Horoscopes By Nancy Black Tribune Media Services (MCT) Today's Birthday (04/05/13). Things are hopping, and the tempo is right. Communication ease facilitates advancement on many levels. Group and community efforts go farther. Your focus is at home. An inheritance or gift could arise. Personal change could include healthier diet and exercise, or career transformation. To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Investigate a recurring dream. Changes lead to more changes. Don't overlook responsibilities. It's not a good time to gamble. Associates boost your morale. Reaffirm a commitment. Team projects go well. You're immensely popular. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Get together with the gang. Make sure the others know their assignments. Optimism rules. It's a very good time for falling in love, despite any awkward moments. A loving commitment energizes you both. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Keep a secret. You may discover all is not as expected. Follow your heart.
Put your ideas onstage now. Do it all for home and family. Don't ask for more money (yet). Savor bliss. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Delegate to perfectionists when the job gets irritating. Do the filing instead. Invest in home improvements. Find what you need nearby. Make time to chat with your associates. Accept encouragement and guidance. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -Today is a 9 -- A secret gamble could pay off. Be willing to adapt. Hide away winnings or pay bills. Ask an older person to help manage your resources, and use your own good judgment. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Today is a 9 -- You're pushed to take action. It's appropriate to make a commitment. Buy it, if you come in under budget. Don't believe everything you read. Get something that travels well. Devise a unique slogan. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Creativity still takes work (and financial backing). Turn down an expensive invitation. Thank them profusely. Invest in newer technology at home. Don't bend the rules. Let a partner do the talking. Relax. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Keep a low profile. A loved one spurs you
on to leap over fences. You gain insight. But don't take risks or travel just yet. Pad your schedule for the unexpected. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Start by fixing something at home. Recycle old technology. Don't discuss finances or bet the rent. Others believe in you. Handle an easy task first. Accept acknowledgement from a person you admire. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- A timely phone call works magic now. Don't question authority to avoid a painful lesson. Protect your sources. You're learning fast. Somebody's testing the limits. Others remark on your brilliance. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Change your routine. Work at home profits. This is a test: run a reality check. Make a big improvement. Provide team motivation. Accept a recreational offer. Your family history gets very interesting. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Eclectic ideas work better. You accomplish more behind the scenes. Follow up on a stroke of genius. Everything seems possible. You're admired for your imagination. Get inspired by cool old stuff.
Bliss
The Rocket
A-7 By Harry Bliss
A-8
April 5, 2013
The Rocket
SPORTS
B-1
April 5, 2013
SRU splits with West Liberty Rock plays eight games in five days By Cody Gray Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock baseball team has a record of 19-8 (4-2) after going 5-3 during an eight game in five-day stretch from Thursday through Monday. The Rock split a doubleheader against West Liberty on Monday afternoon. West Liberty took the first game, however the Green and White took command of the second game, winning 12-0. On Friday and Saturday, Slippery Rock had a twin bill of doubleheaders against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival Clarion. The Rock won the series three games to one and proved they can be an offensive force. Slippery Rock took on Lock Haven in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon and split the series for the second time in four days. The Green and White dropped the first game of their doubleheader against West Liberty 6-3. Junior John Kovalik started the game on the mound for the Rock. Kovalik went five innings giving up five earned runs on nine hits to go along with seven strikeouts. He also walked two batters. Junior Zac Anderson closed out the game, giving up two hits in two innings of work. Slippery Rock combined for six hits in the contest. Juniors Will Kengor and Kevin Jovanovich each had two hits. Jovanovich also drove in one of the game’s three runs, along with junior Brandon Myers and senior Austin Benshadle. Game two of the doubleheader for Slippery Rock was nearly perfect for Slippery Rock. Junior pitchers Mike Dunn and Anthony Naso combined to allow only two hits, one walk and five strikeouts in SRU’s 12-0 drubbing of West Liberty.
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Junior pitcher Mike Dunn winds up for the pitch at Monday's game against West Liberty University. Dunn pitched for six innings and threw four strikeouts against the Hilltoppers.
Junior Jake Weibley had an outstanding performance, going three for three with two RBIs and he scored all three times. Freshman Jordan Faretta drove in three runs for the Rock, while senior Matt Curtis also drove in two runs. Benshadle, Kengor and Myers also drove in a run each. “As a team we’re hitting the ball well, and pitching the ball even better,” Jovanovich
said. On Friday, Slippery Rock began a four game series against previously winless Clarion. The SRU bats erupted in game one of the series getting 21 hits in a 20-5 drubbing of the Golden Eagles. Every Rock starter drove in a run during the game. Kengor had five RBIs and junior Graeme Zaparzynski had four. Myers had a solo home run in the contest, also.
Junior Lou Trivino coasted through six innings allowing only one run until the final frame, when Clarion added four more. In the second game on Friday, the Clarion pitching staff silenced the Green and White batting order. Sophomore Kyle Schneider pitched well, giving up only one earned run on nine hits while striking SEE BASEBALL, PAGE B-2
Poor weather postpones games for Slippery Rock Rock splits home opener By Matthew Morgan Rocket Contributor
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Senior Jenna Geibel belts a homerun in the bottom of the first inning two score two runs in the second of two games against West Virginia State on Wednesday.
With rough weather lingering around this year, the Slippery Rock Un i v e r s i t y w o m e n’s softball team has had to sit idly by and watch as their games get postponed. Last Friday, the Green and White was scheduled to compete in a double header with the Edinboro University Lady Scots. Due to snow and wintery conditions, the games were postponed. On March 30, the Rock competed in a double header against Gannon University. SRU dropped both games. Game one of the double header didn’t see its first
run scored until the top of the fourth inning, behind a monstrous home run by senior Jenna Geibel. The lead didn’t last as long as the team hoped, as Gannon brought in five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Emily Lobdell and sophomore Ashley Knight gave up a combined six runs, and Lobdell was credited with the loss. Game two started off with a flurry of runs from the Lady Knights, with them scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning off of Knight. Gannon blasted a home run in the bottom of the next inning and put the Rock down 4–0. Sl ipp e r y R o ck w a s forced to watch as their bats remained silent and dropped the second game by a score of 7–2. On Monday, the Rock was scheduled to compete i n a d ou bl e h e a d e r against the Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan
University, but the games was delayed due to adverse weather conditions. As a fourth year senior, Geibel has seen her fair share of cancelled games due to unpredictable Pennsylvania weather. Having games cancelled definitely adds stress. We only have 40 some games,” Geibel said. “When non conference games get cancelled, we don’t always make them up because of the difficulty to reschedule with the team and their conference games.” The Rock held their home opening double header on Wednesday, welcoming the Yellowjackets of West Virginia State University. T h e Ye l l o w j a c k e t s scored first in the top of the third inning, giving the Rock a 2-0 deficit to overcome. In the bottom of the fifth, senior Katie Saluga smashed a solo home run SEE ROCK, PAGE B-2
Sports
B-2
April 5, 2013
Relays produce 12 PSAC qualifiers Jewel runs fastest time among NCAA Division II athletes at Raleigh By Kristin Karam Assistant Sports Editor
The Slippery Rock men’s outdoor track and field team closed out the last of their southern meets this season at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina last weekend, adding several PSAC and NCAA qualifying marks. SRU was led by senior Kevin Jewel’s record-breaking 800-meter performance on Saturday. Jewel ran the 800m in 1:49.86, the fastest time of any Division II athlete this season. Jewel broke his previous school record (1:51.19 in 2011) and earned first place in his heat at Raleigh. “I looked at the clock as I finished and saw it change to 1:50,” Jewel said. “I knew I’d gone under and just lost it. It’s a huge blessing, I don’t think I could be happier than I am right now.” Head coach John Papa said that everything seemed to fall into place for Jewel that day and he’s proud of the fantastic performance he had. “Kevin had a goal this year to break 1:50,” Papa said. “He’s very competitive and loves to win and the conditions were perfect down in Raleigh.” Jewel said that there are still goals he can set for himself, but he’s still in awe of his recent accomplishment and still taking it all in. The time is also the fifth-best time out of all NCAA runners this season. The top-four times were recorded by Division I athletes. “What’s done is done,” Jewel said. “No one can take that from me, win or lose.” Jewel’s time guarantees him a spot at the NCAA Division II National Championships in May. Senior Cameron Daugherty looks to join Jewel in May and defend his national title. Daugherty won the pole vault at Raleigh with a clearance of 4.95 meters, meeting NCAA provisional qualifying standards. “Cam consistently vaults high and wins,” Papa said. “He’s going to be ready to defend his PSAC and National titles in May.” Slippery Rock also added several PSAC qualifiers at the
Raleigh Relays. On day one of the competition, sophomore Hunter Williams met conference standards in the 400-meter dash (50.36 seconds) and the 100-meter dash (11.30 seconds). Senior DJ Chisom ran 10.91 seconds in the 100-meter dash and finished 27th. In section two of the 3,000-meter steeplechase, senior Eric Geddis took 10th with a time of 9:39.94. Junior Travis Arrigoni took 15th in section four of the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:25.98. Junior Jonathan Boyd ran 15.18 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles for the final PSAC qualifying mark of day one. Day two of the Raleigh Relays brought six more PSAC marks for the Green and White. Freshman David Reinhardt and junior Eric Rischer met PSAC marks in the javelin throw. Reinhardt placed 10th with a throw of 57.09 meters and Fischer took 16th with a throw of 54.83 meters. Senior Alex Koksal placed 13th in the second section of the 10,000-meter run with a time of 32:06.01. Chisom added another PSAC mark in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.32 seconds to earn 15th place. Boyd also added a second PSAC mark in the 400-meter hurdles, winning his heat with a time of 55.32 seconds. Slippery Rock’s 4x100-meter relay team of Chisom, Williams, sophomore Nick Shrift, and senior Mason McLaughlin placed 10th with a time of 41.90 seconds. The Green and White will finish out the remainder of their regular season with meets in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and one in Michigan. They will host the SRU Open Friday, welcoming in competition from California University of Pennsylvania, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, Th iel College, and Grove City College. Papa hopes to see many of his athletes improve and hit PSAC standards in their events. “Many of our athletes still need to qualify for the PSACs,” Papa said. “Others need to become more consistent and gain more experience.” The SRU Open will take place at the MihalikThompson Stadium at 3 p.m. Friday.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN PAPA
Senior Kevin Jewel celebrates after winning his heat of the 800-meter run at the Raleigh Relays. Jewel's time of 1:49.86 is currently number one among NCAA Division II competition.
Baseball prepares for three Rock softball game set against Seton Hill set for weekend double headers
Continued from Page B-1
out five. An error in the fourth inning proved costly for SRU as it led to a run for Clarion. Senior John Shaffer and Kengor produced the only two Slippery Rock hits of the game. Junior Jake Nogalo drove in Kengor for the Rock’s lone run. Clarion would score its final run in the bottom of the seventh in walk-off fashion. On Saturday, in game three of the four game set, Slippery Rock put a solid all-around performance together to beat Clarion for the second time by a 5-1 score. Sophomore Anton Constantino gave up only two hits and two walks in a full seven innings of work. The Rock offense gave Constantino plenty of run support off of twelve hits. SRU claimed the final game and the series with a 5-0 win thanks to a strong pitching performance from redshirt freshman Jon Anderson, who gave up three hits in seven innings of work. Anderson also threw four strikeouts and no walks. Benshadle went three for three, scoring two runs and driving in one. Slippery Rock took on Lock Haven Thursday
Continued from Page B-1
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Senior infielder Matt Curtis goes after a ground ball hit by a West Liberty University player during Monday's double-header. Curtis scored one run during the first game and had two RBIs in the second.
afternoon in yet, another doubleheader. Sophomore Garret Peterson threw five innings giving up one hit and five strikeouts. Kovalik finished the game and earned his fifth save of the season. SRU scored their runs in the sixth and seventh inning as they rode their pitching
to a 3-0 win. The s e cond contest against Lock Haven saw the Rock give up seven runs on eight hits. Shaffer drove in two runs for SRU, but it was not enough, as Slippery Rock dropped the contest 7-3. “Obviously you want to win every game,” Myers s aid, “but w hen you
have eight games in five days, that’s very hard to accomplish no matter who you’re playing.” Slippery Rock will take on Seton Hill Friday in a doubleheader at Jack Critchfield Park. The Rock will also travel to Seton Hill on Saturday to finish up a three game set.
to score her first run at the Rock. Lobdell stepped up to the plate next and got on base with a single to center field. Wit h t w o out s i n the bottom of the fifth, freshman Katie Kaiser came to bat and blasted a two run home run to put the Green and White ahead 3-2. The Rock would go on to score three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, ending the game with a final score of 6-2. K n i g ht e ar n e d t h e victory for SRU and is now 5–7 this season. Kais er, Saluga, and junior Breanna Tongel contributed two RBIs each, making up all of the scoring for SRU. Saluga is playing in her final season as a college athlete at SRU and having a season to envy, batting .469 so far this season and she has high hopes for both her and her team this season. “I feel like my team is more than capable of making playoffs. We have a young team but we have a solid group of girls and as long as we play together, we won’t have a problem
going far this year,” Saluga said. Game two of the double header featured Geibel crushing her third home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning, giving the Rock an early 2–0 lead. The Rock would score two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. S ophomore Alaynna Beers bunted to send Lobdell home and Kaiser scored off of an RBI from Tongel. In the top of the sixth, with the bases loaded and only one out, Dee Dee Loftis belted a grand slam for the Yellowjackets and tied the game. WVSU would score two more runs in the top of the seventh and put the game out of reach for SRU, ending the game with a score of 6–4. Lobdell went 2-3 at the plate, with two RBIs. She was also credited with the loss, seeing her record drop to 2–3 this season. Sl ipp e r y R o ck w i l l w e l c o m e Me r c y hu r s t University on Fr iday at 2:30 p.m at the SRU Softball Complex. The Green and White will travel to Lock Haven University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Sports
April 5, 2013
B-3
SRU Inline Hockey team Rock competes at Raleigh Relays heads to Nationals Three ladies hit NCAA provisional marks
By Gregory Macafee Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock Inline Roller Hockey team, which started in 2004, is starting to make some noise on the national level. The team has 60 members that are split into 5 separate teams, making it the biggest club team on campus. Two of the teams are competing at a national level in the Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey association, which is one of seven conferences in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association. The two teams competing at the national level have been very successful this season, as both of them have been invited to the National tournament next weekend. The B travel team finished with a season record of 132-1. SUNY Cortland served as the B travel team’s biggest rival this year, as the pair of teams split four games this year taking two games apiece. The Division 2 team had a very similar year, finishing with a record of 15-3, finishing the season ranked fourth in the conference and seventh in the country. Both teams competed in the regional playoffs that were held this year in Feasterville, Pa. The Division 2 team finished 1-2-1 in the playoffs, while the B travel team went 4-2 , losing to their biggest rival West Chester in the Regional
By Brian HepďŹ nger Rocket Contributor
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN RICKETTS
The Slippery Rock Inline Roller Hockey Team gets together at the Regional Championship. The team will travel to Ft. Meyers on April 9 for the National Championship.
Championship. The two teams have been carried through their seasons by individuals that have made a name for themselves in the NCRHA. Chris Beltz, a freshman from McKees Rocks, Pa. was awarded B-Division Rookie of the Year, after racking up 40 points on the season, scoring 16 goals and dishing out 24 assists in 18 games. Another standout this year was Christian Ricketts, a senior from Moon, Pa. Ricketts was awarded Division 2 Goalie of the Year after tying for first in wins and posting a record of 13 wins, three losses, and two shutouts, along with a .863 save percentage and a 2.88 goals against average. Along with Ricketts and Beltz, freshman Christian
Scott was tied for fourth in points with 48 scoring, 22 goals, and handing out 26 assists, along with winning a Player of the Week award. Chris Allison was another contributor to the Rock Prides great success, putting together 39 points, scoring 13 goals, and spreading out 26 assists between his teammates. The next move for the Slippery Rock Inline Hockey team is a trip to the national tournament. The team leaves for Ft. Meyers, Fla. on Tuesday for a chance to win the National Championship and a week of fun in the sun. "I think we had our best year in club history," Ricketts said. "Both teams surpassed expectations and are legitimate contenders to win national championships."
o t n i p m Ju REGISTRATION
BEGINS APRIL 15
THREE GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND SUMMER SCHOOL AT SRU: s #LASS SELECTION s -ORE THAN ONLINE Liberal Studies courses s #OST
MORE GREAT REASONS‌ s #HOOSE FROM COURSES s "OOST YOUR GRADE POINT AVERAGE s ,IGHTEN YOUR FALL COURSE LOAD s 3TUDY ABROAD EARN CREDITS s 3UMMER INTERNSHIPS s 0AY n TUITION RATES ‌and more
The Slippery Rock University women’s track team ventured to Raleigh, N.C. last weekend to participate in the Raleigh Relays. On the first day of action, senior Stephanie Case placed 10th in the elite section of the 10,000-meter race; finishing with a time of 35:16.80. Case was one of six runners that placed Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference qualifying marks on the first day at Raleigh. Case's performance also hit the NCAA provisional qualifying time. Case said that she felt good about her performance at Raleigh, and that she could not have planned it better. “I was thrilled with my performance,� Case said. “There’s nothing better than making a plan, and then exceeding your expectations.� Case went on to say that she thought the team as a whole did very well at Raleigh, but they still have a ways to go. “Even though it’s early, we’ve had some solid performances, and I think we all have significant room for improvement over the next month.� Freshman Mariah Burns led the Green and White in the long jump, placing second in the section with a leap of 5.62 meters. Sophomore Angelica Bagwell placed second in the third section of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:35.94. Bagwell said that Raleigh was a good test for the team, and it was nice to have a solid challenge to face. “Raleigh was an excellent chance for us to raise the bar,� Bagwell said. “It was
FOR DETAILS:
SUMMER SCHOOL WHY NOT ENROLL IN ONE OF THESE SRU ONLINE LIBERAL STUDIES COURSES THIS SUMMER? s %ARN CREDITS AND OR RAISE YOUR 325 '0! TO MAINTAIN YOUR academic progress for ďŹ nancial aid. s 4AKE COURSES BEFORE TUITION RATES INCREASE IN THE FALL s .O ROOM AND BOARD FEES s /NLINE COURSES MAY BE TAKEN FROM YOUR HOME ALLOWING YOU to keep your summer job.
SUMMER 2013 ONLINE LIBERAL STUDIES COURSES PRE-SESSION MAY 22 – JUNE 7 Intercultural Communication - COMM 217 Mass Media and Society - COMM 362 College Writing – ENGL 102 Interpreting Literature – ENGL 210 Meteorology – EGEO 121 International Health – HLTH 311 Contemporary World History - HIST 153 Wellness Through Movement – PE 342 The Political Film – POLS 333 Personal Financial Planning – PROF 100 Race and Ethnic Diversity – PROF 106 Principles of Sociology – PROF 201 SUMMER SESSION I JUNE 10 – JULY 9 Intro to Chemistry I – CHEM 104 Public Speaking – COMM 200 Computer Concepts – CPSC 110 Productivity Software - CPSC 210 Introduction to Criminology – CRIM 205 Principles of Macroeconomics – ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics – ECON 202
great having a higher than normal level of competition.� Bagwell also said that the team is doing well so far this season, and she also agreed with Case, saying that the team still has a vast amount of room for improvement. “I think we are headed in the right direction, but we have so much more talent that we have not yet shown.� Also on Friday, sophomore Katelyn Wetzel hit the PSAC mark in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.52 seconds. Sophomore Samantha Zampetti also hit the PSAC mark with a time of 12.85 seconds. Freshman Lexie Nowakowski also hit the PSAC standard in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.11. On the second and final day at the Raleigh Relays, the ladies once again had a strong showing. Senior Lexi Arnold hit the PSAC mark in the javelin and placed fifth with a throwing distance of 43.69 meters. Freshman Sam Taylor also hit the PSAC mark, placing eighth with a throwing distance of 41.35 meters. Both girls hit the NCAA provisional qualifying standard with their throws. Senior Kim Goth hit the PSAC mark in the javelin placing 12th with a throw of 39.88 meters. Senior Angela Schroeder hit the PSAC mark in the pole vault, placing sixth with a clearance of 3.35 meters. Paired with her strong long jump performance on Friday, Burns also qualified for PSACs in the triple jump, placing 17th with a leap of 11.00 meters. The final qualifier of the weekend was freshman Summer Weinheimer, who hit the PSAC mark in the 400-meter hurdles, placing 49th with a time of 1:07.80. In the 4x100-meter relay, Zampetti, Wetzel, Nowakowski, and freshman Emily Moroco combined to run a time of 48.92 seconds, their best of the season. The Rock will host the SRU Open Friday, April 5.
SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY OfďŹ ce of Academic Records and Summer School
107 Old Main 1 Morrow Way Slippery Rock, PA 16057 Email: summer.school@sru.edu Phone: 724.738.2010
at SRU!
SUMMER SESSION I (CONT.) Physical Geology – EGEO 101 Meteorology – EGEO 121 College Writing – ENGL 102 Interpreting Literature – ENGL 210 Film Analysis – ENGL 214 Discover Geography – GES 100 Environmental Problems – GES 135 International Health – HLTH 311 Human Sexuality – HLTH 316 Medical/Health Care Ethics – PHIL 325 Business Ethics – PHIL 326 Personal Financial Planning – PROF 100 Statistics for Social Sciences – PROF 317 Fraud – PROF 351 Law and Ethics in Workplace – PROF 352 Developmental Psychology – PSYC 344 Introduction to Safety – SAFE118 Human Diversity – SOWK 105 Introduction to Theatre – THEA 141
SUMMER SESSION II JULY 10 - AUGUST 6 Beginning Algebra – ACSD 110 Introduction to Chemistry I - CHEM 104 Environmental Geology – EGEO 100 Physical Geology – EGEO 101 Women in Science – EGEO 368 College Writing – ENGL 102 Interpreting Literature – ENGL 210 Selected Topics: Graphic Novel – ENGL 298 Discover Geography – GES 100 World Regional Geography – GES 105 Business Ethics – PHIL 326 International Relations – POLS 103 Race and Ethnic Diversity – PROF 106 Statistics for the Social Sciences - PROF 317 Fraud – PROF 351 Human Diversity – SOWK105
THE SUMMER CLASS SCHEDULE IS NOW AVAILABLE AT: WWW.SRU.EDU/MCS OR Students should check their MySRU accounts for registration information and assigned registration dates and times the week of April 1. Registration begins April 15.
www.SRU.edu A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
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April 5, 2013
The Rocket
CAMPUS LIFE C-1 April 5, 2013
Solving the puzzle of autism
PHOTOS BY CATIE CLARK, ERICA KURVACH AND ERIN O'DELL PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX MOWREY
As research for a cure continues all around the world, members of the SRU community join other communities across the country in observing, honoring April as Autism Awareness Month
All-day autism awareness conference held in Student Center By Alyssa Cirincione Rocket Contributor
April is the month for autism awareness, and to celebrate Slippery Rock University hosted the third biannual Autism Awareness Conference in the Robert Smith Student Center ballroom Wednesday evening. So, what is autism awareness? What can people take away from these conferences that are held every two years? Former Dean of Education Dr. Kathleen Strickland explained the significance of the conference and why it’s so important.
“When we started this conference in 2009, 1 in 110 children were diagnosed with autism,” Strickland said. “In 2011, it was about 1 in 88 children that were diagnosed. Now, it’s 1 in 50. So you can see that autism is an ever-changing topic and the need for understanding autism is essential.” Strickland said that before SRU started hosting the conference, research on autism wasn’t being ignored. It was still discussed among education professors and students, until the education department decided it was time to bring their discussions to the
public. “When we opened up the conference to the public in 2009, there was an excellent response because Butler County is a little bit removed from where most service agencies are for people on the autism sp ec tr um,” Strickland said. “ Teachers, guidance counselors, people that work for service agencies, and parents were all interested in coming to the conference and to be involved.” Dr. Richael Barger-Anderson, associate professor of special education, also explained why SRU started the open conference
of autism awareness. “It puts us on the map for being a resource, and it brings such attention with autism on a national scale,” Anderson said. “It just helps with our message of we need to be aware, we need to do more, and to be more understanding.” Even though Anderson said the conference doesn’t touch on the causes of autism, there are more important things to learn, such as being supportive and understanding. “We don’t know what causes it, and there’s so many unanswered questions that people do have,”
Anderson stressed. “At least we can be a place where people can go even if it’s not for actual answers, but for support.” Because the autism conference has gained so much support and positive feedback, there have been times where SRU didn’t have enough room to fit everyone who wanted to come. “We’ve had to turn people away in the past,” Anderson explained. “It’s like 700 people at our conferences and it’s just amazing to be seen as the place where people go for that resource SEE AUTISM, PAGE C-3
Students share personal stories related to autism Department of Special Education when he entered elementary It wasn’t until middle school By Rebecca Marcucci provides specializations in autism school,” Santry said. “Once PJ that Santry’s brother, PJ, now Assistant Campus Life Editor
The global discussion on autism is one that hits home for s ophomore e m e rg i ng technology and multimedia major Karleigh Santry, 20, for two reasons. Her father and her brother. “I don't care that either of them have a ‘disorder,’ I hate that word. They are two of the best people I know and I love them to death,” Santry said. Santry’s father is diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, and her brother, PJ, has Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), both of which are highly functioning disorders on the autism spectrum. “My father was tested for Asperger’s whenever we noticed some social difficulties my little brother PJ was experiencing
was diagnosed, we were told that it was believed to possibly be genetic and then we realized that my father shared a lot of similarities with him.” Santry said her brother PJ does not pick up on most social cues people are used to knowing, like things such as nonverbal communication, body language, or sarcasm. “My mom would give us a ‘warning look’ as kids and my sister and I would stop whatever we were doing immediately,” she said. “But PJ would just sit there asking what the funny look on Mom’s face was for.” Santry said her brother can tend to be an open book and will often say exactly what he’s thinking, but admits that he has a good heart despite his difficulties in making friends.
16, was diagnosed with PDD, and soon after that Santry’s father was diagnosed with Asperger’s. “My dad has always been a bit on the quiet side,” she said. “He was never very social and went through many different phases where he would become immersed in something and it would be his only focus for a while. But sometimes things go right over his head.” Santry said she was originally shocked when she discovered her father was diagnosed with something called a disorder, but she said she did not look at him any differently. “Inste ad of letting t he diagnosis change how I looked at my father, I let the diagnosis SEE FAMILIES, C-3
By Stephanie Holsinger broad, which means that it Rocket Copy Editor
In light of Autism Awareness Month, special education students at SRU have been considering measures that they will take to help effectively teach children with autism in the future. According to Dr. Joseph Merhaut, associate professor and chair of the Special Education Department, students in the department are provided with specialized instruction to help prepare t hem to te ach children affected by all forms of autism. “What a lot of people may or may not know is that the autism spectrum is ver y
can range anywhere from very mild to very severe autism,” Merhaut said. According to Merhaut, depending on the form of autism, children experience different types of challenges. The most common include poor social skills, limited or no verbal skills, trouble processing language, and sensory integration problems, which may include things such as the lighting in the room or the sounds in the hallway. “In our department, we offer a class specifically dedicated to teaching children with autism,” Merhaut said. “This SEE SRU, C-3
Campus Life
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April 5, 2013
"Retaliation" storyline flat, very weak Bold patterns, bright designs, vintage graphic
Jimmy Graner "Jimmy G's Rock Reviews" Film: "G.I. Joe: Retaliation"
2 Stars In most cases, the sequel in a movie series usually doesn’t do as much damage selling wise or story wise as its predecessor. The main reason everyone watches is to see what the writers come up with a second time, and to see how well it compares to the original. The first film of the series, “G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra” (2009), caught people’s attention on account of the past accomplishments of either the cartoon show, comic strip, or action figures. Something as simple as a cartoon, turned into a highdepth real action adventure for the human eye to witness. Gaining mixed remarks on account of style, would “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” do any better? When I think of G.I. Joe, I instantly think of good guys fighting bad guys in cleverly instinctive ways using absurd weapons and vehicles to
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make the battle more exhilarating. The film series does just that, but that’s all it does. You’re in the theater watching the opening credits and the big word “HASBRO” pops up on the screen. All fantasies you wish you could see are drained right there on account of the movie being derived from a collection of toys. After a brief introduction and all statutes of the plot are revealed, the G.I. Joes are quickly betrayed by their own U.S. government under presidential orders (or so you think). As far as what is really going on, I can’t say due to spoilers. However, with the help of a few extra hands and some quick thinking, the Joes face off against several arch rivals and save what presumes to be, of course, the end of the world. Like in both movies, the main villain, Cobra Commander, has found his way on the outside of prison again and has decided to take over the world in any humanly shape possible. As far as making a choice on how to do that, the first movie succeeds with well-written storyline and dastardly outcome. However, the storyline for the sequel, I feel, draws from nothing. The writers could have at least drawn a little from the last movie and taken the storyline a little further with more explanation as to why Cobra Commander is doing what he’s doing. He wants to rule a world that not only looks like shit, but also is non-existent with human
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life. If you ask me, it’s a better to have a world with people who hate you than no one to hate you at all or to exist for that matter. Surprisingly, the film did a positive job in showing the power that guns and artillery have on every human thing. Movies are movies, but in a society today where guns are being looked at in so many wrong ways, it’s hard to accept what they are being used for in this film. Don’t get me wrong; the CGI throughout the film is tremendous. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me from getting up and leaving the theater. But the thing is, people want a legitimate reason for going to see a film (and for giving a damn) than just witnessing cool effects that will have you questioning whether or not weapons can really do the damage they do. Unless you’re under the age of 10 or have a common interest in the G.I. Joe franchise, I wouldn’t spend the five or ten dollars to watch garbage being dumped in a junkyard. Unless someone decides to make this more than just a toy-related series and pump a much better storyline accompanied by more in-depth action behind every explosion, save your thoughts and judgment for the Transformers franchise instead. Jimmy Graner is a sophomore journalism major, a film and media studies minor and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
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prints among best spring 2013 fashion trends
Katie Ellis "ROCK'n Fashion" At long last, it’s finally starting to look and feel like spring outside, which means that now is the perfect time to go out and scoop up the latest trend-setting pieces. This spring, there are five major trends that have the fashion world buzzing. Stripes, floral prints, crop tops, black and white, and ruffles are the looks that should be at the top of your shopping list when you go to the mall this weekend. Stripes were one of the most prominent looks on the spring runways, and for good reason, as they are undoubtedly the most wearable trend that you’ll see in stores and online this season. Chances are that there’s already a striped top or two hanging in your closet, but this season they’re showing up on everything from scarves to shoes. Keds is capitalizing on this trend with their new Double Dutch Stripe shoes that retail for just $50. There are three shades to choose from, but the brightest and most appropriate for spring is washed aqua lime stripe. It features thick aqua stripes, thin contrasting lime stripes,
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and a sweet floral print patch on the heel. As always, floral prints are popular once again this spring, but with a few twists. This season, prints range in style from water colored to vintage-inspired to graphic. Pick up the Sleeveless Floral Chiffon Shirt in mint for around $18 from Wet Seal. This shirt is light and breezy which is perfect for spring and will be a great transition piece for when summer rolls around. It features a delicate vintage inspired floral print and trendy high-low hemline that will look great when paired with jean shorts and circle skirts. There’s no doubt that you’ll be seeing this next big trend on everyone from your favorite celebrities to your neighbor in the coming weeks. Crop tops are this season’s standout trend because of their versatility. Depending on the structure of the top that you purchase, it can be worn with a sleek pair of cigarette pants or a simple pair of jersey shorts. A good rule of thumb for picking a crop top is to make sure that the hemline hits about three inches above your waistline. Victoria’s Secret is on top of this trend with their loose fitting Dream Tee Crop Top that retails for $30. Black and white was all the rage on the Marc Jacobs and Jason Wu runways during Fashion Week and now that spring has sprung, all of your favorite stores will be
prominently featuring this trend in their front windows. These two colors work effortlessly together because they are one of the most classic color combinations in fashion history. This weekend, head to the mall and pick up the A-line polka dot skirt from Forever 21 for only $15. The A-line silhouette is universally flattering on every body type and the sweet polka dot print will surely earn you compliments from your friends. Online retailer ModCloth is the perfect store to turn to when looking for one of spring’s flirtiest trends. Simply searching ruffles turns up dozens of beautiful clothes, so it may be hard to choose just one of their fabulous options. ModCloth is known for making gorgeous dresses, so you’d be wise to purchase one of their great options, like the “And the Living is Breezy” dress, for $53. It comes in a pastel peach hue and features a V-shaped neckline adorned with ruffles and pleating along both the bust and hemline. This dress is perfect to wear to graduation parties this May. When you go out shopping for the hottest and freshest spring fashion, be sure to choose pieces that you love, as it’s guaranteed you’ll be wearing this season’s trends on repeat. Katie Ellis is a sophomore journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
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April 5, 2013
Campus Life
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SRU offers autism endorsement certification Continued from Page C-1
helps our students understand all of the characteristics of autism and helps them learn strategies to work with autistic children.� Some of these strategies include behavioral assessments and a d apt i ng l e s s ons to individual students based on these assessments. According to Merhaut, special education students at SRU learn some of the aspects of an approach that is known as applied behavioral analysis. Once an autistic student’s behavior is assessed and the causes of specific behaviors are determined, a teacher is then prepared to
adjust and adapt the classroom or other learning environment accordingly. B eh av i or a l t he r apy and intervention is often provided as a supplemental service as part of the academic program for autistic students, Merhaut said. R e c e n t l y, t h e S p e c i a l Education D epar tment at SRU has implemented a new program in the graduate school called an autism endorsement c e r t i f i c at e , a c c ord i n g t o Merhaut. This program is composed of 12 credits that students must take in order to complete the certification. Undergraduate students may take these courses before they
graduate. “Once students take these four courses, they can actually apply to the state of Pennsylvania to be endorsed,� Merhaut said. “This means, that on a graduate’s teaching certificate, they will have a s p e c i a l e n d or s e m e nt f or autism.� This endorsement will help prospective employers see that graduates have specialized experience with autism as there is no specific degree for it. Students may only earn a degree in special education, not autism. Merhaut said that although working with children with autism can be rewarding, there
Families impacted by autism look for awareness Continued from Page C-1
change how I looked at Asperger’s and all other autism spectrum disorders,� she said. Santry’s father is not of the average mind. With a genius IQ, he is a four-time Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professional award winner and author on many web development books. “He is a very successful web developer,� Santry said. “And I look up to him. That is why I hate the stigma attached to autism spectrum disorders because people have a tendency to just think people with them are stupid, or worse, "retarded".� Junior psychology major Ashley Snyder, 20, admits that her older brother, Mark, who has a highly functioning form of autism, is very smart in his
own way. “He built a computer just because he wanted to challenge himself,� Snyder said. “He also has a slew of pop culture references at the tip of his tongue.� Snyder said her brother, who is 28, is a creature of habit and must stick to a specific routine. “He was diagnosed with Autism as a toddler,� Snyder said. “Since then, he has had a preference for certain food textures. His favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese, Pop Tarts, and potato chips.� Mark’s eating habits have become easier to manage now, Snyder said, but as a child he would starve himself because he didn’t like the textures of most solid foods.
“He's a bit awkward and confuses terms sometimes,� Snyder said. “But he cracks jokes like a pro and he is very kind. He isn't the best with writing or math, yet he loves relaying facts from educational programs.� Snyder said there are also times when Mark likes to be alone. At family gatherings, he can sometimes be found hiding away in his room because that is what he prefers. “We don’t question why with a lot of things that Mark does or things that he likes,� Snyder said. “That’s just the way it is with him. For instance he really likes to grow his hair out, simply because he likes the feel of it. He also wears a lot of superhero and comic book shirts because they’re just what he likes.�
are a multitude of challenges that teachers may face, adding that the degree of challenges all depend on where the individual child falls on the autism spectrum. “Some children with mild autism may be very easy to work with, whereas some children with more severe autism may be more challenging,� he said. “Some children may be completely nonverbal so it may be difficult to determine exactly what the child wants.� Merhaut believes that Autism Awareness Month and the different activities that are taking place on campus to honor it are beneficial when it comes to shedding light on
autism. “The autism conference that is being held on campus gives our students in the department the opportunity to speak with professionals in the field,� he said. “The special education department is ver y much involved.� According to Merhaut, more people are diagnosed with autism every year, and although there are many theories as to the cause of the disorder, nothing is certain. He said he believes that Autism Awareness programs are a growing trend because it is important to help shed light on a disorder that is becoming more prominent in our world every day.
Autism Awareness conference educates SRU students and faculty about disorders Continued from Page C-1
and information.� Before the conference this year, Dr. Strickland said that some people were unsure with whether they wanted to still call it the “Autism Awareness� conference, but she said they realized the name was very much appropriate. “Some of us from the education department discussed whether or not to change the title of the conference for this year, because we weren’t sure if the title was right for what message we were putting out there,� Strickland said. “We then realized that there’s constantly new information and things to learn. So we felt the autism awareness title was still appropriate for the conference
because we need to be aware of all the information, science and support that’s out there.� Strickland explained how the conference usually works and what the layout and schedule of the entire day looks like. “We have f ive dif ferent breakout sessions covering topics like behavior, social skills, transition, a parent perspective and executive functioning,� Strickland said. “We have 24 exhibitors who are here and they have their own tables set up, so people can stop and talk to them about services in the area, products, agencies, and even schools. It’s all about the education, awareness, and seeing what’s going on in the community that helps people with autism.�
Summer Study In The Sun. Advance your academic progress without giving up your summer. Coastal Carolina University offers four flexible sessions for an array of undergraduate, graduate and study abroad courses for both enrolled and visiting students. The University’s close proximity to the Myrtle Beach resort area allows for serious study without giving up opportunities for summer jobs and summer fun.
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April 5, 2013