NEWS
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N NEWS
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INSIDE NEWS
Accident on Keister A dump truck collided with a telephone pole at the intersection of Keister Road and Centreville Pike on Tuesday. See theonlinerocket.com
President Addresses Students SRU President Cheryl Norton spoke to the student body in the Smith Student ballroom Thursday afternoon. See theonlinerocket.com
APSCUF members answer student concerns over possibility of strike By Daniel DiFabio News Editor
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September 9, 2016
L o c a l SRU m e m b e r s of APSCUF were on campus Wednesday to give information to students regarding t he cont rac t dispute between the group and PASSHE. Members were on campus for informational picketing from 9a.m. to 3p.m. and were stationed outside North Hall and in the pavilion in the quad. Colleen Cooke, vice president of the SRU chapter of APSCUF and recreational t herapy profess or, s aid members were there to try to
give information to students. Information was also given to faculty who may not have paid close attention to the discussion or who were newer. Cooke said it was set up through the local APSCUF, with faculty signing up from a poll for time slots to be on campus distributing information. A small form was given to students to write a message and then give it to APSCUF members to deliver to PASSHE Chancellor Frank Brogan. The form encouraged students to tell PASSHE officials to go to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract with faculty.
Students were also given the chancellor’s email address. “This is one of the biggest ways for students to get involved,” Cooke said. Cooke said a lot of the negotiation dealt with the quality and value of an SRU degree, something that directly impacts students. “Any time a student has a question or wants to talk ,they can stop in my office or talk to any APSCUF member, especially those on the executive committee,” Cooke said. Cooke had also scheduled a meeting with SGA to set up a forum or informational tables so that students can have f ur t her questions
SGA approves new clubs and funding By Daniel DiFabio News Editor
INDEX Blotter.................A-3 Opinion................B-1 Sports...................C-1 CampusLife.............D-1
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Slippery Rock Student Government Association (SGA) awarded more than $13,000 and approved four new clubs at their meeting on Monday night. $1,487 was given to Club Golf to pay for their entrance fee for two upcoming golf invitationals. $11,595 was given to pay for the upcoming Dear World event, which is an awardwinning portrait project that uses pictures to show connections between students, faculty and staff. The four new clubs approved were the Gender Studies Club, NextGen Climate SRU, B.O.L.T. (Body, Opportunity, Love, Transform) and the Environmental Education and Interpretation Club. SGA also approved three items for new business, including approving minutes from April 25, approving personnel items for staff increases and approving a change to Wendy Leitera’s title from business manager to executive director. Elizabeth Hernandez was sworn in as speaker of the senate after a vote between members of SGA. Two open forums were also held at the meeting. The first gave students in attendance the opportunity to ask questions regarding the contract negotiations between the Association of Pennsylvania
ROCK NOTES To submit a Rock Note please send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to Daniel DiFabio at dxd1034@sru.edu or to therocketnewspapersru@gmail.com The Rocket does not guarantee that all requests will be published in the paper.
State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Questions were answered by Ben Shaevitz, physics professor and APSCUF president at SRU, and SRU President Cheryl Norton. One of the questions included what changes would happen on campus if a strike did occur. “We will try to keep things as normal as possible,” Norton said. “It would be naïve to think it would stay the same way.” Both Shaevitz and Norton expressed a desire for a strike not to occur and stated that they were not the ones at the negotiation table, with negotiation being conducted by other members of APSCUF and PASSHE. “At the moment I would say we’re still pretty far apart,” Shaevitz said. “Our desire is to reach a settlement and not strike, but if it comes to that, we have it as an option.” Norton was one of two guest speakers at the meeting. The other was Blake Souders, SGA board representative and sophomore marketing major. Norton welcomed students back while stressing the importance of SGA. Souders gave some background on what business SGA had worked on recently. The next SGA meeting is scheduled for Sept. 19 in the Smith Student Center theater from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
RIBBONS & ROOT BEER BY UP 'TIL 2
Come get a free gold ribbon pin for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The first 50 students to register for a St. Jude personal fundraising page will get a free root beer float.
TRADITIONS TIE-DYE
Students have the opportunity to have fun and be creative by tie-dying a free t-shirt Sept. 13 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
SRU MUSIC THERAPY CLUB MEETING The SRU Music Therapy Club will hold its monthly meeting during Common Hour in Swope 103.
NEWS
September 9, 2016
A-3
POLICE BLOTTER gun. Police checked area but were unable to find anyone. Borough
Campus September 1- Police received a call from an E-Phone near North Road of a female crying. Police responded, and the person was upset because her boyfriend threw her out of the car. Police escorted her back to her residence per her request. September 1- Police were called to Building D about a person who kept climbing through the window to gain entry to the room. Person was found and will be referred to Student Conduct. September 1- Police were called by a CA to Building E for the odor of marijuana coming from a room, and the occupants left by the time police arrived.
September 2- Tyshaun Franklin, 19, was charged with disorderly conduct for dropping an empty can in a parking lot. September 2- Jody Schinkovec, 19, was charged with disorderly conduct for dropping an empty can in a parking lot.
September 2- Police were requested by the Slippery Rock Borough police for an intoxicated male who was passed out along Elm Street. September 2- Police were called to the Pine Glenn Apartments for a person wearing armor and carrying a
August 25- Jordan Spiker was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. August 25- John Bojanac was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
September 2- Police were called to Ginger Hill at the request of Slippery Rock Borough police for a large fight. August 26- Michael Letterle and Lily Deasy were cited for an open container violation along East Cooper Street. September 2- Elena Chaffin, 18, was charged with disorderly conduct in Building F after police found her intoxicated in the hallway and refusing to leave the hallway.
September 1- Police were called to Building E by the CA for an odor of marijuana. Charges have been filed. September 1- Siani Ritzinger, 19, was charged with an alcohol violation in North Hall.
August 25- Zachary Romeo was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
September 3- Police were called to Keister Road about an intoxicated male. He was transported to the Health Center by police. September 3- Police conducted a traffic stop along Main Street; a possible DUI was suspected. Charges are pending. September 7- Police were called to Building D for people on the roof; the call will be referred to Student Conduct.
August 27- Ryan Osterwise was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and a passenger, Jesse King, was cited for underage consumption. August 27- Tyler Palenchak, Zachary Patton and Stephen Shepard were cited for disorderly house after a large crowd was seen in front of 121 West Cooper Street (Cross-Country House) partially blocking the roadway. A noise complaint was called about this house. Upon arrival, the crowd began to leave and many people ran out the back door of the house. August 28- Elana Sherriff was cited for an open container violation along Normal Avenue.
SRU students work to create new NPHC Greek council By Daniel DiFabio News Editor
Students from five fraternities and sororities are working to create a National PanHellenic Council (NPHC) at SRU to obtain the same rights as other groups on campus. The NPHC is an organization of nine historically African-American international Greek fraternities
and sororities. Of the nine, five are currently represented on campus: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Nahja Kittrell-Watson, member of Zeta Phi Beta and senior criminology major, is the prospective president of NPHC and said the council would unify the five groups. Kittrell-
Watson and other groups on campus, including graduate assistants for Greek life Olivia Langston and Natalie Polana, are working together to set up the council. “As of now, we’re identified as individual organizations and are the only ones that are predominately African American that do not have a council,” Kittrell-Watson said. Watson said that SRU had a NPHC in the past but eventually it stopped.
Watson tried to bring it back in fall 2014 but was told that it couldn’t be done due to lack of funding and other obstacles. “Nobody was giving specific details on why not,” Kittrell-Watson said. “We were still kind of getting pushed back.” See full story on theonlinerocket.com
O
OPINION
Our View Possible strike would inconvenience everyone
OPINION Volume 100, Number 1
220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: Fax: E-mail:
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EDITORIAL BOARD Ryan Barlow
Editor-in-Chief
Daniel DiFabio Megan Bush
News Editor Campus Life Editor
Cody Nespor
Sports Editor
Rebecca Dietrich Victoria Davis
Photo Editor Copy/ Web Editor GRAPHIC BY KENDALL SCOTT / THE ROCKET
Logan Campbell Nina Bracci
Assistant News Editor Assist. Campus Life Editor
Jordyn Bennett Kendall Scott
Assistant Sports Editor Assistant Photo Editor
Amanda Salvia Eric Davies
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Mark Zeltner
Faculty Adviser
ADVERTISING STAFF Catharyn Burton
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 Rocket receives approximately 5 percent of its 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
When students arrived on campus for the fall 2016 school year they had to contend not only with new classes but also with a potential strike in the future, since discussions between the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) and Pennsy lvania’s St ate System of Higher Education (PASSHE) have been going nowhere. As the contract discussion continues, students are the ones left out of the loop. Although both the APSCUF and the PASSHE website are regularly updated with information, there has not been a lot of information distributed to students about the discussion, though students are affected by the changes in contracts. Some of the changes would include eliminating the funds provided to professors for updating their licenses and increased training. Another change would reduce compensation for professors teaching labs. One proposed change would also allow for
classes to be taught by those who don’t have the appropriate grades. While some of the changes would affect students in a future contract, the strike itself would affect students to an even greater extent. Professors on strike won’t be able to do academic advising, won’t meet with university committees, do field work/research, won’t advise clubs, won’t write letters of recommendation, won’t supervise internships or respond to email or phone calls. Obviously, this is a situation that Slippery Rock students did not anticipate happening during their collegiate careers. It has produced a massive black cloud over the beginning of the 2016 academic year, and will continue to cause panic across the campus community until the situation is resolved. Students who are attempting online classes will be completely in the dark with their professors, making an online class virtually useless and an absolute waste of
In the Quad
that students’ tuition. Other students who are working on fall internships also will not be able to talk to their advisors and internship coordinators. PASSHE has also proposed allowing for people without higher-level degrees to teach classes as a solution to the dispute. In a nutshell, this would mean classes could be taught by individuals who have experience of the field that is being studied, but has only completed their bachelor’s or master’s degree. This would obviously by a prime solution for PASSHE because paying faculty members without a doctorate degree would be far cheaper than paying for faculty who do have one. As a result of this particular proposed change, the value of a Slippery Rock degree would probably plummet, because less qualified individuals would be educating its students. This would be sore subject not just at SRU, but also among every state school in the state system of education.
This week’s question: How are you going to get involved on campus?
In the Quad is a segment in which random students, faculty and staff are asked for their opinions on a specific topic.
Subscriptions to The Rocket are available. Subscriptions are $20 per academic semester and $35 for the full academic year. Inquiries should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief at the address listed here.
EDITORIAL POLICY The Rocket strives to present a diverse range of opinions that are both fair and accurate in its editorials and columns appearing on the Opinion pages. “Our View” is the opinion of the Editorial Board and is written by Rocket editorial board members. It reflects the majority opinion of The Rocket Editorial Board. “Our View” does not necessarily reflect the views of Slippery Rock University, its employees or its student body. Columns and cartoons are drafted by various individuals and only reflect the opinions of the columnists.
LETTERS POLICY The Rocket welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee their publication. The Rocket retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Submitted material becomes the property of The Rocket and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affiliation, if any. Please limit letters to a maximum of 400 words. Submit all material by noon Wednesday to: The Rocket, 220 ECB, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057. Or send it via e-mail to: rocket.letters@sru.edu.
Lucas Meyer Freshman Undecided Major New Castle, Pennsylvania
Brandon Rea Michelle Severa Freshman Athletic Training Sophomore Public Health Major Major Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania Peters Township, Pennsylvania
“I plan to join an IM league to play with my friends.”
“I’m going to join the “I’m on the English equestrian Athletic Training Association team and a member of Sigma as well as an IM league” Sigma Sigma Sorority.“
OPINION
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September 9, 2016
QUESTION OF
THE WEEK @SRURocket
It is important for athletes to take a pressing stance on race
Dylan Vamosi Commentary Dylan Vamosi is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in education - social studies.
Af ter C olin Kaep er nick’s ref us a l to stand during the national anthem, he was immediately criticized for being disrespectful and insubordinate. One of the most damning criticisms is the argument that because Kaepernick is a successful NFL player, his actions are invalid, unacceptable or out of place and by virtue of his position, he is unqualified to raise this issue. Alex Boone, an offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings, articulated this sentiment: “You have to show some respect, especially in the position that we are in . . . We’re out here playing a game, making millions of dollars. People are losing their life, and you don’t have the common courtesy to [stand during the national anthem].” Tomi Lahren, a conservative talk show host, reinforced this position: “I have people overseas
who are fighting for your right to sit on a bench and moan about your perceived oppression while making $19 million a year to throw a ball, so show a little respect.” Benny Johnson of Independent Journal Review wrote an article titled “ Inside Colin Kaepernick’s $3 Million Mansion That He Owns Because He Lives In The Greatest Country In The World,” which implied that Kaepernick’s lavish lifestyle disqualifies him from commenting on systemic issues which plague African Americans. No person needs credentials to send a meaningful message; Kaepernick need not live a certain lifestyle to make a salient point about the experience of African Americans. These criticisms are essentially distractions from the purpose of Kaepernick’s actions. Kaepernick is the messenger of an important message and the aforementioned critiques are personal statements directed toward Kaepernick rather than arguments against his position. Rather, it is important for athletes to take stands (or sits) like Kaepernick because their platforms and popularity are instrumental in changing the national narrative about racism in the United States. Furthermore, many of these athletes have been affected by the prevalence of racism in American society but do not explicitly express their views because of the backlash that will follow. The United States is going through growing pains as race continually pushes its way to the forefront of media attention: a topic that is regularly oversimplified, mishandled or outrightly disregarded. It is time for other athletes to follow Kaepernick and set a precedent for what is considered a socially acceptable form of protest. Kaepernick’s comments are contrasted by those of Cam Newton, who in a recent interview, offered a bland and meaningless statement that captured the American ethos about race: “Under [1⁄8 of an inch of skin],
we are the same color. That is the big picture . . . We just gotta [sic] do right by each other no matter what color we are.” Newton was purposefully uncontroversial, and he catered to America’s common view of race. His statement signified the standard at which athletes and other public figures are expected to speak about race so to not stir controversy, embracing a post-racial point of view rather than one that acknowledges racial divisions. It is, however, understandable why athletes are hesitant to take clear political stances. Popular athletes are attached to brands that control their money and perception. Any inflammatory statement by an athlete could deter sponsors from promoting these athletes. It is therefore important to recognize the athletes who sacrifice personal success to advance what many people consider to be a pressing matter. Kaepernick, a well- known football star, understood the consequences of his actions. His public image, professional cache and brand will take a hit as he advances the interests of underrepresented voices by stirring a national conversation. Kaepernick is OK with that tradeoff and deserves to be commended thusly. In July, Lebron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade took a less controversial, but similarly important, stance that raised the same issues. These prominent athletes should continue to take these controversial stances. Other athletes should follow suit because many of them have influential platforms to represent voices which are otherwise unheard. The backlash against Kaepernick signifies that the United States has a considerable distance to cover if race is to be discussed with nuance and openmindedness on a national level. Now is the time for others to join the conversation and push the narrative.
Why philosophy of science is paramount in education
Joseph Szalinski Commentary Joseph Szalinski is a senior creative writing and professional writing major. S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and math) programs are pushed in both high schools and colleges across the country. For a nation struggling with rampant scientific illiteracy, there sure is tremendous focus on careers in science. And this is a dangerous notion to reinforce. To stoke passion for the noble study of science through greedy, monetarily-driven means,
and not be worried about scientific illiteracy in the real world is a disservice to the very study of it. Money corrupts and co-opts research and discoveries and creates biased information. And having future scientists put in the work, but treat it like a business, when it’s a way to understand the world and ourselves, is wrong. There is a loose set of ethics to being a proper scientist. Just like how an ideal journalist acts as a conduit between audience and information, biases cannot be accounted for and truth must prevail. It sounds almost like philosophy, and that’s because, it kind of is. Science started out as an offshoot of philosophy but began to develop independently not too long after. The notion behind the scientific method is imbued with many humanistic hallmarks, reminiscent of science’s time as a philosophy. Ever ything science has accomplished and yielded, all
the work put into it, has been dependent on the scientific method; the whole of science is dependent upon it. Science is more than experiments and lab reports, and oftentimes those very things dissuade people from continuing to study science. But I feel offering classes in the philosophy of science can help students appreciate/better understand why they are studying what they are studying, and more than the lucrative benefits of studying it. The biggest detriment to science is people trying to take the helm, who have no idea what they’re doing. An alarming amount of the select few who are passionate about science and concern themselves with the latest scientific news are quick to share bogus articles on social media, or think that YouTube videos make them masters of whatever subject is being discussed. There’s no skepticism, just blind acceptance. That defies the very tenets of the scientific method,
and science becomes disgustingly dogmatic. This is why some are quick to compare it to religion, but it isn’t blind devotion and static facts. New things are constantly being discovered and skepticism, refuting information and critical thinking are heavily encouraged. No worship required. On that note, studying the philosophy behind science can also help people see that it’s not some insidious system of information that seeks to discredit religion. Although the two haven’t had the most rosy of relationships, they’re not necessarily incompatible. It’s to everyone’s best interest that the philosophy of science is taught in high school and college classrooms. From distancing science from profit, blind allegiance and negative prejudices, we can begin to see a better world, made possible by proper adherence to the scientific method and the responsibilities of a scientist.
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September 9, 2016
the rocket
B-4 4
By Victoria Davis Copy/Web Editor
p September 9, 2016
them what team they are and see if they'll help you take down the gym. ten coins and someone to complain about Niantic updates with? Double score.
Come to campus after hours While SRU may not be known for its nightlife, after dark is the perfect time to walk to campus and battle the gyms. After 9 p.m. is when you'll start to see individuals and even small groups start walking around campus, and while it may look random, there IS a strategy for playing Pokémon GO at SRU. Start off in the quad: you can collect rewards from four Pokéstops before continuing through campus, ensuring you won't run out of Pokéballs right as you finally find your first Lapras. You can put Pokémon in four Gyms just by walking from the quad to Old Main, but make sure you're not going slowly-- if you wait too long, another team can take it before you're able to get your Pokémon in all four gyms at once. Don't forget to cash in your defender bonus before you peace out: that's 40 coins to spend on Pokéballs, lucky eggs and upgrades just from walking around campus! A friend today is a battle buddy tomorrow Sure, you can try to take all the gyms on campus, but as you start putting your best fighters in Gyms, you're going to be left with some mediocre Pokémon to finish off those last couple of Gyms. You can always bring d people along the a friend, but it's always more fun to find way! Chances are, if there is another person n just standing by the ECB sculpture that looks ks one like Flat Stanley's legs tapping their phone violently, they're probably trying to takee down the same gym. Playing hard-to-get never helped anyone in a Pokémon battle, so ask
Make the most of your meetings Have a pesky common hour meeting in the student center? Lucky for you, the Pokéstop at the student center fountain can be accessed from most of the meeting rooms in the building, as well as Starbucks and the bench by the student center bus stop.Even if you're just waiting in that eternally long Rocky's wrap line, open up your app. If you're in that line at common hour, trust me, you might as well be doing something productive with all that wasted time. Don't forget to be discreet if you're in an important meeting. Apparently, some people find stocking up on Pokéballs and potions as rude if you're in the middle of a meeting. Collect rewards on your way to class Let's be real: no college student has time to be a full-time Pokémon trainer, so we've got to improvise. Going from a class in ATS to one in Vincent leads you right through four Pokéstops, and if you take the scenic route you can hit the two gyms as well. This is also a good way to double check your standings in the gym. With the app open, you can see what teams and what Pokémon Po are in any given gym from ECB to Old Main, so make mak sure you take a few seconds to double check. If there's something weak, you might want to take time to bec become a gym leader and skip out on being first in line l at Weisenfluh (I know, sacrifice is hard, but d did you really think trying to catch 'em all would be easy?) in favor for a coveted gym on the other side of campus. Either way, make sure you're opening up the app in between classes to maximize your walking/rewards ratio.
Page Design by Rebecca Dietrich/The Rocket
B-5
September 9 , 2016
9 No security deposits! 9 4 different locations - South Rock Apts. on Keister Road or South Rock Drive, Stone Crest Apts., & Main Street Apts. 9 2, 3 or 4 bedroom floor-plans 9 Over 180 apartments to choose from 9 Cable, internet, water, & trash included 9 Stove, microwave, dishwasher, disposal, fridge, washer & dyer included* 9 *NEW! On-site laundry facilities at Main St. location – NO COINS NEEDED! 9 Sofa, love seat, coffee & end tables, TV stand, twin or full size beds, dresser, desk, & night stand included** 9 NEW! Living room furniture at South Rock! 9 Not all units are furnished at Main Street location** 9 24-hour emergency maintenance 9 Professional on-site management 9 Close proximity to SRU campus 9 Direct-wired smoke detectors 9 Fire extinguishers in each unit 9 Access to Clubhouse 9 Handicap apartments available 9 On-site parking 9 Close to SGA bus stop
S SPORTS
INSIDE SPORTS
Former Players Move to Coaching
Tennis Season Starts this Weekend
Four former Rock linebackers have become integral parts of the SRU coaching staff this season.
Returning all-conference players and an incoming three star recruit has Rock tennis trending upward for the fall season.
See Page C-3
See Page C-4
Rock football to face tough test in title game rematch
Football scores around the PSAC-West
31 vs
28 CLARION VS LOCK HAVEN
41 24
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Senior running back Shamar Greene bursts throught the hole created by his offensive line Saturday in The Rock's win over New Haven. Greene rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers.
EDINBORO 31 at SAINT JOSEPH'S 30 GANNON 31 VS SO.CONNECTICUT 9 SETON HILL at BOWIE ST.
50 48
MERCYHURST at ASHLAND
0 48
West Chester at Bentley
31 24
By Jordyn Bennett Assistant Sports Editor
After beating the University of New Haven last Saturday, no. 15 ranked Slippery Rock football (1-0, 0-0) will have its first conference game in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship rematch against the West Chester University Golden Rams (1-0, 0-0). Each team is coming off of close out of conference wins that consisted of poor quarterback performances and 4th quarter comebacks. West Chester came back from a 10 point deficit in the final quarter to defeat Bentley University (0-1,0-0) 31-24. The Golden Rams starting quarterback junior Pat Moriarty was relieved after throwing two interceptions by his backup junior Andrew Derr. Derr completed 11-19 passes for 163 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Rock had a very similar situation. Post-graduate quarterback Don King III threw two interceptions before the second half that led to touchdowns. SRU would trail by 14 until a 4th quarter kickoff return by senior slot receiver Drew Scales, two big completions to junior wide receiver Marcus Johnson and strong defensive stands led the Rock to a 31-28 victory.Rock head coach Shawn Lutz called his first win as head coach emotional. “The biggest thing I want to do against West Chester that we didn’t do against New Haven is play four quarters of football,” Lutz said. Lutz recognizes what this game means to WCU. He said that he knows a team like that wants to come back and beat them this year, especially on its home field, but he plans on repeating last year's outcome. “They were picked number one in the (PSAC) East in the preseason, and we played them last year in the championship,” Lutz said. “But what people don’t remember is we beat them up pretty good.”
In last season's contest, the Green and White dominated WCU on both sides of the ball in a 61-12 blowout. The defensive front held the Golden Rams to only 53 yards on the ground. The defensive line’s standstill was led by Rock standout redshirt junior defensive end Marcus Martin who had three tackles and one sack. If Martin can duplicate that performance he will take over the records for the most career sacks in PSAC history. Martin’s road to breaking another record will not come easily as the Rock will be tested by an experienced offensive line and, who Lutz described as, a shifty running back in junior Jarel Elder. Elder ran for 104 yards in the Golden Rams' last contest. “He’s not a bigger, strong guy, like the ones from New Haven,” Lutz said. “He’s a jitterbug, he makes people miss.” Elder has not deemed himself to be the threat the Rock’s main running back redshirt senior Shamar Greene has proven to be. Greene had a 8.5 rushing average against the Golden Rams in last year’s title game rushing for 178 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. He has yet to miss a beat from last season rushing for 162 yards and two touchdowns against New Haven. Lutz said West Chester’s veterans linebackers could cause some problems for the Rock and its inexperienced offensive line, but he feels that if as an offense they set the pace and clean up their performance, they shouldn’t have a problem. “I’d like to see our guys speed up the tempo a little more,” Lutz said. “We had a lot of mental mistakes and penalties, which makes it hard to be fast. There are a lot of things I think we can control. It doesn’t matter who we are playing.” The Rock will have the opportunity to take control of the conference and make a statement against one of its top teams at West Chester on Saturday, Sept. 10 at noon.
Women's soccer loses 1-0 on early goal By Oscar Matous Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock University women’s soccer team played a non-conference match against the no.22 ranked West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats this Thursday, September 3rd at James Egli Field in Slippery Rock. Although The Rock played very tough and competitively, they were unable to come away with a victory, ultimately losing with a score 1-0. The loss puts the ladies 0-2 on the young season with conference play yet to start. The lone goal came within the very first minute of the match off a corner kick from the Bobcats’ Laura Hill. Rock head coach Jessica Griggs said the early deficit put her team in a difficult position. “It is always hard to have work uphill,” Griggs
said. “You never want to put yourself in an uphill battle.” The women came out much stronger in the second half, holding off a strong Bobcat offense to keep the goal differential at one. Senior team captain Dara Demich is still looking for her first goal of the year and she had one of the Green and White's seven shots on goal. “I think we responded well to the goal,” explained Demich. “It is hard to get scored on early like that.” Sophomore Kylie Downs made her season debut in goal for the Green and White, allowing only one goal and notching four saves on the day. The Rock generated many offensive chances but were unable to overcome the rugged Marauder defense. Junior Haley Burkholder recorded two shots while junior Tess Keely, sophomores Skye Kramer and Brooke Testa and freshman Tyler
Spence each had shots on goal. The Rock, playing two very high and intense matches within the past several days, look to these games to help them prepare for conference play. “These games keep us moving and allow us to see what level of playing we need to be at to be able to win,” Demich said. The Rock will hope to continue their competitive play into next week when they take on Millersville University next Friday, Sept. 9, in their first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) match-up of the season. The match is set for 1 p.m. SRU lost their only matchup of the season with the Marauders last season at home and hope to return the favor on Millersville’s home turf. “I always tell the other girls to respect each team and their mission and to do so by playing to the best of their potential,” Griggs said.
SPORTS
C-2
September 9, 2016
Football 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Clarion Edinboro Gannon Seton Hill Slippery Rock California (PA.) Indiana (PA.) Mercyhurst
1-0 (0-0) 1-0 (0-0) 1-0 (0-0) 1-0 (0-0) 1-0 (0-0) 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 (0-0) 0-1 (0-0)
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Junior midfielder Kyle Boyer fights off a Lake Erie player for possesion of the ball in The Rock's 1-0 loss Sunday afternoon. Boyer played 70 minutes against Lake Erie.
Men's Soccer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Califronia (PA.) Millersville Shippensburg West Chester Lock Haven Gannon Mercyhurst Slippery ROck Seton Hill Bloomsburg East Stroudsburg Pitt-Johnstown
2-0 (1-0) 3-0 (1-0) 3-0 (1-0) 2-0 (1-0) 2-1 (0-0) 1-1 (0-0) 1-1 (0-0) 0-2 (0-0) 2-1 (0-1) 1-2 (0-1) 0-2 (0-1) 0-2 (0-1)
Women's Soccer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
East Stroudsburg 3-0 (3-0) Mercyhurst 2-0 (2-0) West Chester 2-0 (2-0) California (Pa.) 1-1-1 (1-1-1) Seton Hill 1-1-1 (1-1-1) Edinboro 2-0 (1-0) Gannon 1-0-1 (1-0) Indiana (PA.) 2-1 (1-1) Kutztown 2-1 (1-1) Shippensburg 2-1 (1-1) Bloomsburg 1-1 (1-1) Millersville 1-1 (1-1) Clarion 1-2 (1-2) Slippery Rock 0-2 (0-0) Mansfield 0-2 (0-2) Lock Haven 1-3 (0-3) Pitt-Johnstown 0-3 (0-3)
Volleyball 1. 2. 3. 4.
Gannon mercyhurst Slippery rock Edinboro
4-0 (0-0) 3-1 (0-0) 2-2 (0-0) 0-4 (0-0)
Standings as of Thurs. Sept. 8 at 10:00 a.m.
Men's soccer drops second non-conference match-up By Cameron Bildhauer Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team lost a narrow 1-0 competition in a nonconference match-up against Lake Erie College Sunday afternoon at James Egli Field. "It was a good crowd and a good game overall, but that's just how things go sometimes," Rock head coach Steve Small said. The deciding play of the game occurred in the 60th minute when what appeared to be a solid defensive stop by Slippery Rock (0-2) was called a penalty and resulted in a penalty kick for Lake Erie (2-0). Andrew Bucur was able to place his attempt past Rock junior goalkeeper Jonathan Sharp to give The Storm a one-goal lead. Slippery Rock was unable to produce a game-tying goal in the final 30 minutes. The Rock's lone corner attempt over that time span was successfully defended by Lake Erie and senior Mike Pcholinsky's shot in the 85th minute was blocked as the Storm managed to hold off SRU for the win. "We have to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net," Small said. "We have a week to figure it out, so hopefully we can sort out
who wants to put the ball in the back of the net for us because we have been playing well defensively." Pcholinsky was responsible for both of The Rock's shots of the day. Sharp played all 90 minutes, making three saves in Slippery Rock's second straight 1-0 defeat. "We knew how they (Lake Erie) were going to be and we needed to rise above it, but still play our game and not fall into their trap which is what they were trying to do," Small said. "Overall, the guy's efforts were fantastic today so we will take that to build and get ready for conference play." For the game, Slippery Rock held a 4-2 advantage over Lake Erie in corner kicks while the Storm held a 4-0 edge over SRU in shots on goal. Slippery Rock opens Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play at Shippensburg University 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 in what will be the first of three straight road matches for The Rock. Following its game against Shippensburg, SRU will play at California (Pa.) (Sept. 13) and Millersville University (Sept. 17) before returning home for three consecutive games.
Men's XC places second in season opener By Justin Kraus Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock University men's cross-countr y team took home second place at the Doug Watts Distance Gala at Edinboro University Saturday afternoon. Slippery Rock scored 39 points, trailing only the host team Edinboro University (20). The Rock was followed by Glenville State University with 85 and Penn State Dubois with 119. "We had all the competition we needed with Edinboro" head coach John Papa said of the smaller-sized meet. "It could have easily been just us and Edinboro. This was a good meet for the guys who have never run college cross country to get their feet wet." The Rock was led by junior Jeremy Parsons. The best runner on the team a year ago, Parsons started the season off with a bang
by winning the race with an impressive time of 25:31.3, leaving a gap of 37 seconds between himself and the second-place runner from Edinboro in the 8,000-meter race. "He has a lot of natural ability and desire. You can tell that he wants to do extremely well and he works hard" Papa said of his team's leader. "Sometimes runners have one or two of the ingredients to be an elite runner, but he has quite a few of the ingredients and he takes advantage of all of them. He has a great work ethic." Another top Green and White runner, junior Jeff Henderson, had a very solid meet, placing seventh with a time of 26:38.1. Coach Papa had high praise for the Rock's second-placing runner. "Jeff is just going to get better and better. The longer the races the better, once other athletes start getting tired later in the season is when
Jeff is really going to shine." Henderson was joined by teammates freshman John Marenkovic and sophomore Andrew Maxwell, who rounded out the top ten at ninth and 10th with times of 27:14.8 and 27:23.2, respectively. Slipper y Rock finished the day by adding two more solid performances by senior Stephen Shephard and freshman Nathan Schultz, who took home 13th and 14th with times of 27:57.5 and 27:58.0. Shephard was the fifth and final scorer for the Green and White. Cross-country will not hit the track again until Sept. 17 at the Division II and III Cross Country Challenge , hosted by Kutztown University. Coach Papa said of the break "You want to get more experience, but early in the season it is important to not stress yourself too much. All of these races up to the PSAC and regionals are practices"
September 9, 2016
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Four former linebackers transition from the field to the sideline By Jordyn Bennett Assistant Sports Editor
Former Slippery Rock head football coach George Mihalik would tell all of his players when they first stepped foot on the field as a member of the program, ‘once you wear the green and white, you will always be a part of the green and white’. For some, it could mean donating money and getting your name put on one of the plaques recognizing all of the donors as you enter the locker room. For others, it could be in the bleachers or at home cheering the next generations of hopeful champions on. But, for people like ex-Rock star linebacker Quindell Dean, he is on the sideline coaching his alma mater. “I bleed green and white,” Dean said. “When they called me and gave me the opportunity to come back and coach, it really meant a lot.” Dean, a transfer student from the University of Toledo, was an All-American his senior year and two-time all-conference selection during his time at SRU. During his four years as a player, he played in 44 games, totaling 239 tackles, 9 sacks, and 3 interceptions. In 2015 he returned back to the Rock as a graduate assistant on the coaching staff and is now the defensive backs coach. Going on three years of not playing, Dean finds himself coaching some of his old teammates. Once a team captain, Dean finds himself in the leadership role again in front of some familiar faces and hasn’t lost any respect. He has gained more in his eyes, he said, and that’s because of what he had done on the field. “I don’t talk at players, I talk to them,” Dean said. “I think people who did know me respected me from the gate.” In most cases, this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity that most players don’t get, but for The Rock, it seems to be the norm. Dean is one of four former SRU linebackers on the coaching staff. He is joined by Rock head coach Shawn Lutz's successor and defensive coordinator Domenick Razzano, defensive linemen coach Mike Grata, and assistant linebackers coach Teven Williams. Razzano played his last season for the Rock in 2008, while Grata and Williams played their last games in green and white last season. Some would call it irony that all the coaches played linebackers, but these ex-players believed this is what Rock linebackers were prepared for. Williams, an AllAmerican in 2015 after his transfer from Youngstown State University, said that it’s the standard for SRU linebackers. “Linebacker is a position in which you have to be very knowledgeable,” Williams said. “As you can see, it’s trend that transfers right into coaching.” Grata may have been even more prepared by his coaches than Williams even though they played sideby-side. A team captain on a Rock football team that made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II national playoffs, Grata said the coaches kept him
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Former Rock linebackers, Mike Grata (left) and Tevin Williams (right), have become valuable members of the SRU coaching staff this fall.
close to them which helped him to better understand the game. “My senior year, the defensive staff allowed me to be in the room on Mondays when they game planned,” Grata said. All of these coaches are very different in their own way and express themselves differently, but no matter how they say it, they all agree that their love for the Rock hasn’t changed. Razzano, the oldest of the group, says that the only difference since he graduated, is the university’s appearance. “The standard for Rock football hasn’t changed” Razzano said. “The campus has changed, but Slippery Rock is still Slippery Rock.” These four players were never all teammates at the same time. Last season was the closest they have ever been with two players on the team and two on staff. Even though they may have not have all been able to call one another a teammate, they have all been able
to call Lutz 'coach' at one point. Lutz said he enjoyed having all of them as players, but was unaware of the common bond between the four coaches. He said the fact that they were Rock football players was not the only reason they hold the positions they do. “You want the most qualified guys,” Lutz said. “They’re great people, they know the game of football, but most importantly they know what we are all about.” Having a staff that has been through the program to teach it has shown to be an effective way for the Rock to excel through Division II football over the last couple of years. With the trend of the SRU staff being linebackers, the doors are open for players in their last year such as senior linebacker Bob Vernick or redshirt senior linebacker Anthony Zappone to be the next linebacker to convert from a player to coach at his alma mater.
Field hockey wins 4-0 in home opener By Ben Matos Rocket Contributor
REBECCA DIEtRICH/THE ROCKET
Junior Kailee Krupski battles a Seton Hill defender for possesion of the ball during SRU's 4-0 win over the Griffins.
The Slippery Rock University field hockey team defeated Seton Hill University 4-0 on Tuesday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium for its first home win of the 2016 season. The Rock had contributions from all over the field including goals from four different players. Junior Torri Rose, senior Renee Rosenblum, sophomore Hannah Simone and senior Megan McKay all collected goals for Slippery Rock. Junior goalkeeper Nicole Bream made four saves and earned the victory. For Bream, it was her second win and second shutout on the season. "She's been great," head coach Julie Swiney said. "She has been doing a good job of using her instincts and communicating." About midway through the first period, Rose was able to get a rebound off of a defensive save by Seton Hill’s Kayla Chapman and score SRU’s first and only goal of the first half. The Rock took the 1-0 into the break and then never looked back. Just five minutes into the second half, Rosenblum scored on an assist from junior Kailee
Krupski. Later freshman Brenna McGovern-Lind played a pass to McKay to the middle of the Seton Hill zone setting her up for the score. For McKay, it was her second goal of the year as well as her 24th career goal. The score puts her within one goal of tying Marline Hall (1985-88) for the SRU record for goals scored in a career. With just under two minutes to play in regulation, Simone finished out SRU’s rout of Seton Hill with the final score off a shot that was deflected in by a Griffin defender. So far in 2016, SRU has seen six different players score goals in just the first three games of the year. In 2015, The Rock only had eight different players score goals for the entire season. "It has been really exciting to see everybody ready to shoot," Swiney said. So far this year, The Rock has already put 28 shots on goal in the first three games. With the victory, Slippery Rock improves its record to 2-1 on the year, while Seton Hill drops to 0-3. Up next for SRU, The Rock will head back on the road to play at Kutztown University on Saturday, Sept. 10th at 12 p.m.
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September 9, 2016
Depth will be pivotal for Rock tennis
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Senior Tiffany Kollah (left) and junior Carla Corrochano Moracho (right) celebrate during a doubles match against IUP last spring. The pairing of Kollah and Corrochano Moracho finished with a 5-5 record in doubles play last seson.
By Jake Bartus Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock University tennis season is set to begin this weekend. With a roster that only lost one senior to graduation, head coach Matt Meredith is optimistic about this season. "We finally have some depth, we have some seniors on the team. We have been very young and are starting to mature," Meredith stated. "We have a lot of depth this year, and I am looking for improvement and getting us back up to where I think our program should be." Meredith thinks experience and increased fitness will improve this year's team. "One thing we are going to improve on is our physical fitness," Meredith said. "We intimated a program to help that and I think it will pay off dividends for us, it will definitely help what we are going to do."
A strength for this year's team will be the depth; it has four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and one freshman. The team will be led by juniors Nina Barbano and Carla Corrochano Moracho. Barbano finished singles play last year at 1710. Corrochano Moracho finished last year's singles play at 14-10. "Leadership and them playing down and having the experience they've had the two years, I think they are going to do phenomenal," Meredith stated about his expectations for the two juniors. The Slippery Rock tennis team welcomes freshman Lacey Cohen of Fox Chapel to the team this year. "Lacey definitely is going to be an impact for us. She has a high tennis I.Q. and I think you are going to see in the next four years we have a phenomenal player here," Meredith said. "She really fits in with what we are doing with the rest of the team and it's going to be fun to
have her on the team." Meredith says he plans to play Cohen at the one spot for singles play and move Corrochano Moracho and Barbano down to the two and three spots. "There shouldn't be a lot of change, I think one doubles team changes, but I think my other two teams are going to stay the same because they have some chemistry and history with each other. It's only a matter of who's playing one, and I think I have that solved. It's probably going to be Lacey (Cohen) and Carla (Corrochano Moracho), but nothing's definite yet," Meredith added about the doubles pairings. The tennis team travels to Oberlin, Ohio this weekend for the first of two tournaments. Their second tournament starts Sept. 17 in Erie, with the first home match of the season on Sept. 24 against West Liberty University.
Women's XC tops Edinboro in first meet of the season By Megan Majercak Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock women's cross-country team competed in their first meet of the season Saturday in Edinboro University at the Doug Watts Distance Gala. The girls succeeded in conquering Edinboro with a close score of 27 to 32. Slippery Rock and Edinboro were the only two schools in the women's race with enough runners to place. For many of the girls, it was their first ever crosscountry race. "I thought it went pretty well," said SRU head coach John Papa. "It was the first race of the season for a lot of girls and they didn't know what they were doing. They improved and gained some good experience." Leading the team this year is junior Melissa Rains, who placed second in the 3.1-mile race with a time of 18:32.4, leaving a 32-second gap between her and the fifth place runner. Following her lead was sophomore Courtney Group (19:08.5), senior Jordyn Hackett (19:33.6), junior Caitlyn Janeda (19:42.4) and junior Matti Dunham (19:44.4), who capped off the five scorers. Sophomore Sabrina Palmieri and freshman Makaila Banka finished strong together in places nine and ten with times of 20:06.8
KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET
Junior Caitlyn Janeda leads a group of runners at the SRU Alumni Race in August. Janeda finished in seventh place at the Doug Watts Distance Gala.
and 20:08.1 respectively. Papa said he's not sure where the team fits in in PSAC right now, but the team "will face a lot of teams in Kutztown next week, and get a better idea of team goals." The winning time on the course
Saturday was Edinboro's Emma Sullivan with a time of 18:13.2. Even after many of the team's top seven runners graduated last year, the team's win promises a hopeful season ahead of them. "By the end of the year, we'll fill
in some of those holes. In all the years I've coached I see everybody has potential to be significantly better than they are," Papa said. Their next meet is Sept. 17 at Kutztown University.
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CAMPUS LIFE
INSIDE CAMPUS LIFE
President Norton Joins Twitter
UPB Presents New E-Board
Slippery Rock University President Cheryl Norton is new to Twitter and is excited to connect with members of the SRU community.
The University Program Board held an informational meeting Wednesday in the Smith Student Center Ballroom encouraging students to join the organization.
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See Page D-2
Clubs and organizations fair opens doors for new students
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET First Year Leader Scholar Program Peer Mentors announce and promote their organization during the Clubs and Organizations Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
By Nina Bracci Asst. Campus Life Editor
The clubs and organizations fair held Tuesday in the quad gave students the opportunity to find clubs that have activities they’d like to be a part of. The fair is held at the beginning of the each school year and features close to 130 organizations a year. It’s open to all students, but is aimed towards freshmen and transfer students to see everything they are able to be a part of on campus. “This is an event that I would always look forward to just because I know what it did for me when I first got here,” Graduate Assistant for Service Involvement and Leadership Olivia Langston said. The fair has been going on for many years and is meant to show everything our campus has to offer that isn’t always advertised, as well. “When I was a freshman, it allowed me to join about four to five different clubs and now I’m a president of a club because of it,” junior exercise science and Run Club president, Noah Schuler said. Schuler said his club is all about running and furthering exercise for students. It is nothing serious, but more of a fun and recreational club to exercise and meet new people. “I think the big thing is that clubs help you meet new people, especially as a new student, when you may not know
a lot of people on campus,” Schuler said. Schuler said he hopes that students take away that there are great opportunities at SRU to meet new people and the students just have to take advantage of them. Langston explained that in high school, students are involved in organizations such as student government, and at Slippery Rock, one can continue that and then some more. “It helps you make new friends, network for future career opportunities, and enjoy your time here on campus,” junior French and Spanish secondary education major Lindsay Westwood said. Langston said that there are so many different clubs that students may not know about that colleges offer and activities they wanted to do in high school that they can do in college now. “I always say, ‘How do you know if you like something if you don’t try it?’” Langston said. Several different clubs were featured at the fair including the Women’s Solar Center, SRU Art Society, SRU Adventure Fitness, Film Society, Green and White Society, Study Abroad Club, Black Action Society, University Program Board and more. Member of the Study Abroad Club and junior psychology major, Lauren Hollis, said that their team helps to teach people how to study abroad and the ways to work with the financial aid portion while reassuring that all of the different trip options and opportunities are for everyone. “I hope people take away that from talking to us that
students can study anywhere and it’s open to any major because that’s been a question that everyone asks,” Hollis said. Hollis said she feels that the club and organization fair helps people open up and learn different things about themselves that maybe they wouldn’t have known otherwise. “There’s so many different options and if you think you don’t belong, there’s definitely something for you to find,” Hollis said. Langston said that academics on campus come first, but in her graduate assistant program, she learns about what getting involved in clubs on campus does for a student. Langston explained that being involved in something makes a student develop further, whether they create those bonds of friendships or carry out roles in leadership. According to Langston, students may think that they’re a part of an organization one day, but then the following year they could become the president of the organization and have it lead to much more than they expected. “It builds that confidence in a student knowing that they can be a part of something this big and it helps the students grow,” Langston said. Westwood believes that there are several very interesting organizations on campus to join and that all students should attend the clubs and organizations fair because they feature clubs that she was not even aware SRU had. “Write down your email and sign up for anything and everything because you don’t know if you’re not going you like it until you try,” Langston said.
Pokémon GO steals the hearts of popular gaming club By Megan Bush Campus Life Editor
Early in July, '90s kids all over the world rejoiced when the mobile game company Niantic, Inc. partnered up with classic gaming company Nintendo to bring the world of Pokémon to life with the hit mobile app Pokémon GO. Pokéstops and Gyms are scattered all over SRU, from the swirl statue outside Swope Music Hall to Old Main. At any given time, students can be found prowling campus catching Pokémon, collecting items from Pokéstops and battling at Gyms. Members of one specific group on campus, Gamers' Guild, are certainly very excited and happy about the augmented reality game. Junior secondary history education PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE major, President of the Guild and selfPokémon GO features include catching Pokémon, collecting from Pokéstops and battling for Gyms. proclaimed King of the Nerds John Ferrara said the addition of Pokémon
GO into modern culture was a great and beautiful thing, and it has made quite a difference in the gaming community as a whole. "Everyone always tells you that you have to get out and play for an hour a day," Ferrara said. "Now, there is something you can actually play, and it's great." Sophomore exercise science major and member of Team Mystic Erica Place agreed, and said it's very important the game was made, as it's a great way for gamers to become more social and active. "When I'm playing Pokémon GO, I feel comfortable going up to other people who are playing and striking up conversation," Place said. "It's another fun way to get out and make new friends." Place also said that the creation and the consistent popularity of the app reminded her of Gamers' Guild and her time with the group. SEE GAMERS', PAGE D-3
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September 9, 2016
Students meet the executive board of UPB
KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET University Program Board president, Brandon Quinn, talks to a full crowd at UPB's 'Meet the Executive Board' in the Smith Student Center ballroom Wednesday evening.
By Nina Bracci Asst. Campus Life Editor
The University Program Board (UPB) held a ‘Meet the Executive Board’ event in the ballroom Wednesday night where they served pizza and welcomed all new students and returning members to join their club. UPB is made up of five committees including the university events, speakers, concerts and comedians, media relations and community service committees. Senior public health major and president of UPB, Brandon Quinn, said that he joined one committee which turned into two, then four, then all five. He said he stayed with the club and enjoyed it, so eventually applied for an e-board position. “I’ve enjoyed all the people I met, all the experiences I’ve encountered and I’ve enjoyed the opportunities I’ve been given because of UPB,” Quinn said. Quinn explained that students do not get an experience like UPB in a classroom because it is hands-on, real world experiences that will help students for years and years to come. After the club’s introduction, each committee leader explained what their group is involved in and showed videos on past events through UPB. Senior public relations major and director of concerts and comedians, Ian Banks, said that he had no intention of joining UPB when he was a freshman until his roommate forced him to attend the first meeting. Banks stated that he soon realized he truly enjoyed the club and that everyone was nice to him. Banks has been a member for four years and is a returning committee leader. “For our concerts, we put in long hours when we build the stage from the ground up and bring in every piece of the stage equipment and every piece of the lighting,” Banks said.
The concerts team works the shows and immediately after the show tears down the entire production in a matter of hours. Banks said that he hopes to bring more comedians to campus this year because every show he’s ever seen has been personable and funny and he wants to give that to students again. Students get to see names such as Kid Ink, Hunter Hayes, Fetty Wap and many other different artists perform on campus, which Banks believes is a way for people to be with their friends and have fun. Senior marketing major and director of community service, Samantha Anderson, stated that she has made a great amount of new friends since joining UPB. “Being in your major, you’re surrounded by the same people and it’s just nice because all of the e-board is different, but we all have this common connection from what we do here,” Anderson said. Anderson said that there are many opportunities presented by UPB because students are constantly networking and the possibilities are endless. “It’s nice to make a difference, not only in community service, but being able to be a part of an organization that touches thousands of people’s lives,” Anderson said. Anderson’s committee volunteers for events such as Color the Rock, the Great Race in Pittsburgh, Slippery Rock in Bloom, which plants flowers in the community and many more. Unlike Anderson, junior public relations major and director of university events, Mallory Milberger, stated that she initially did not join UPB as a freshman because she was overwhelmed by the school work and other clubs she joined. “I started dating Ryan Logue, who was the speaker’s committee leader, and I met a lot of his friends and a lot of people that were involved in UPB and I decided that I should join,” Milberger said. Milberger said that she has also been changed by her role in UPB and the influential people she has met.
“You finally feel like you’re a part of something and you play a big part in that,” Milberger said. Milberger’s events committee hosts events such as the UPB to PNC Pirate game trip, bringing students to Kalahari Water Park, visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo, creating haunted houses and the big homecoming event that is coming up soon. Another new committee leader, junior marketing major, Ryan Ferguson, said that he knew he had to escape his comfort zone and meet new people on campus when he first came as a freshman. “I worked the first concert, which was Kid Ink, and stopped in the middle of the show and realized I was a part of UPB which was an organization that could bring so many people to just enjoy themselves,” Ferguson said. Ferguson said he was aware after that show that he wanted to pursue UPB further which resulted in him joining more committees and eventually applying for the speaker’s committee leader position. In the past, UPB has brought speakers such as Josh Radnor from the hit show, ‘How I Met Your Mother’, Jerry from Ben and Jerry’s, and Marcus Luttrell. “It’s these things that you’ll never forget,” Quinn said. Another crucial part of the UPB team is the media relations committee, which takes photos and videos of all the events on campus and some of the ones off campus as well. Senior digital media and production major and director of media relations committee, Michael DelloRusso, said that the club is in need of people who love taking photos, videos and editing. “I would love to see what people have to offer,” DelloRusso said. All committees in UPB work together during meetings and events and encourage students to join at least one committee because of the exciting new ideas that have been presented this year.
Art exhibition presents feminist works by female artists By Megan Bush Campus Life Editor
Now displayed in the Martha Gault Art Gallery is a new collection of artwork created by female artists from around the country, Our Bodies Our Selves; the exhibition features feminist works by artists from as close as New Castle and as far as Texas. Theresa Antonellis, Director of the Martha Art Gallery and art history professor, said she is very excited about the exhibition, and she hopes all departments and fields of study can come and find something to connect with. "I really want to make it accessible and interesting to more than just the art department," Antonellis said. "Hopefully, other departments will find a way in." Rabecca Signoriello and Julia Clift, both Pennsylvania natives, are two of the artists whose works are being displayed in the exhibition. Clift, who is based in Philadelphia and is currently building her artistic portfolio, recently won a Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Grant for her series "Real Woman." Signoriello is a more well-established artist from the New Castle area; she spends six months out of the year working on construction crews and performing hard labor. During the second half of the year, she lives off her savings and dedicates her life to her art.
"Artists always have such interesting life stories," Antonellis said with a smile. Antonellis met Clift and Colleen Garibaldi, another artist who is featured, at the Vermont Studio Center in northern Vermont, which is a special residency for artists who want to focus only on their art for a period of time, as well as spend quality time with fellow artists. "Artists can go to the studio center and set aside all of their obligations to work on their art in private studios," Antonellis said. "As artists, it's really difficult to find time and places to work without any distractions, so the Vermont Studio Center is a wonderful place." Garibaldi has had her work displayed in exhibitions all over the country, including New York, Florida, and Connecticut, and her work was chosen to be displayed in ArtVoice's artbook "101 Contemporary Artists." Megan Chin, who used to be a production assistant for artist Tara Donovan, and Ghislaine Fremaux, an assistant professor of art at Texas Tech University, are two other artists whose work is displayed in the collection. "All of these female artists are at different levels and different points in their careers," Antonellis said. "Some are new, breakout artists who are just beginning their career, and others are more well-established and well-known."
KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET Ghislaine Fremaux's "Abaft" is among the artwork presented in Our Bodies Our Selves.
Antonellis said that, without the help of the students who work at the gallery, the exhibitions and the art at the Martha Art Gallery would not get on the wall, and the Gallery itself would not be as peaceful a place as it is. "When you go to a gallery, everything looks so pristine and beautiful," Antonellis said. "All the work that goes behind it goes completely unseen."
The official opening ceremony will take place on September 13 in the Martha Gault Art Gallery, and the Gender Studies program and the President's Commission on Women are providing funding for the catering for the event, as well as sponsoring the exhibition itself. Antonellis said two artists will be at the opening, and she encourages students and faculty from all fields of study to attend and experience the collection for what it is.
September 9, 2016
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Gamers' Guild is a welcoming group for all Continued from Page D-1
MEGAN BUSH/THE ROCKET Members of Gamers' Guild engage in board game Ticket to Ride on the second floor of the Smith Student Center.
When she first began at Slippery Rock, she discovered the Guild but was afraid to approach them in fear of not knowing enough, or not being welcome. To her pleasant surprise, the Guild welcomed her with open arms, and she now serves as secretary on the executive board. Current and past members of Gamers' Guild, including frequent gamer and member of Team Instinct LeMarr Terry, all seem to agree that the Guild has developed into a community or a family. "It's a great place where you can just get together, enjoy yourself, and be proud and happy to be a nerd," Terry said with a smile. The Guild isn't all about Pokémon GO, although it plays a big part in outings that the members have outside of their regular weekly meetings. Ferrara said that typically, a group of Guild members will decide to go on a Pokémon hunt at
dinner, or while they're sitting in their rooms. "At dinner, someone will just say, 'Hey, who wants to come hunt some Pokémon with me' and a group will just go out and hunt," Ferrara said. Gamers' Guild members have a wide range of majors, from exercise science to secondary history education to digital media and production. Place said that because of the group, many of her friends don't share her major, and that's not a bad thing. On Wednesday nights, you can find members of the Guild on the second floor of the Smith Student Center, as well as upstairs in some of the meeting rooms, playing Dungeons and Dragons, Settlers of Catan and even Monopoly and The Game Of Life. "Just look for the large gathering of nerds," Ferrara said.
"Bad Moms" makes attempt at Green and White Fridays genuine comedy, disappoints encompass Rock Pride
Cassandra Thompson Cassandra Thompson is a senior anthropology major with a minor in film and media studies and is a regular contributor to The Rocket.
Although it was marketed as a chaotic movie about rebellious mothers who were just tired of being good, Bad Moms actually had a decent (if not predictable) storyline. The seriousness of the storyline, however, meant the inclusion of characters that were just downright unlikeable – and not just the villains of the story either! Centered around newly-separated mom Amy, the story touched on several fairly important issues that are relatable to almost any audience: how to deal with a cheating spouse, being overworked and underappreciated, beating a corrupt system and just being a genuinely decent human being through it all. While those were all topics that made the film seem a bit more real, most of them proved a bit played-out and didn’t add enough of a heartwarming feeling to make up for the rest of the movie and all the missed opportunities there. Amy and her two kids (mostly her daughter) were some of the only likeable characters in the film. Even her newly-acquired bad mom besties – one a complete pushover and the other a lazy, mean spirit – were simply too extreme in both directions to really
relate to. Luckily, Kiki started standing up for herself by the end of the movie, but of all the horrible characters to go through a transformation, hers was the only believable development. (10-year olds don’t learn how to make frittata or magically start enjoying homework, and former bullies certainly don’t spill all their woes to the person who finally puts them in their place.) The only other ray of sunshine in the film was sexy widower Jesse, who served as the polar opposite of Amy’s lazy, selfish soon-to-be ex-husband. Even though he was shown as the perfect guy, he actually seemed genuine. Maybe it was because his passion wasn’t lost in his nice-guy persona; regardless, he made Amy an even better lead character. Other than the characters, my biggest disappointment was the comedy of it all. The trailers made this movie look like a hoot from beginning til end, but I only caught myself actually laughing a total of three times – that’s once every thirty minutes. I was HUGELY disappointed at the lack of truly funny writing. The laugh lines were few and far between, and the chaotic montages of rebellion were too ludicrous to deliver any real humor. Some people in my theater seemed to think differently, though. There was a bit of laughter around me at some points when my eye rolls would give Judge Judy a run for her money, but most of the people viewing the movie with me were at least 20 years older than me. Then again, maybe some of them actually were moms and could relate to things a little better than I was able to. Either way, I would recommend seeing this movie only if you find clichéd, ridiculous and over-done jokes within your realm of humor. I, however, was looking for a laugh-out-loud, fresh cache of comedy, and I was thoroughly disappointed.
By Alec Cunic Rocket Contributor
Every University has a code, a color-scheme, an iconic trend that distinguishes its own unique illustration from that of other schools. While colors and their combinations are limited and selected through numerous high-ended faculty decisions, it’s the org an i z at i ons an d societies that enforce those distinctive representations that c re at e m e m or a b l e traditions and customs for both the school and its students to enjoy. Slippery Rock’s iconic image has always been that of the Green and White. The tradition of students wearing the colors green and white to represent SRU originates from another tradition that students still take part of today: NOT wearing other school’s colors, especially colors of close school rivals such as that of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) or Clarion. While the right to represent the Crimson Hawks or Golden Eagles is an open one, most students wouldn’t dare make that move as they made their way
to campus for fear of torment or shame. Nonetheless, those who represent other schools remain in the minority, and the idea to wear more and more green and white became popular as the school became more established. Student-run organizations developed and evolved as time went on and one of the most noted societies on campus rose to popularity: The Green and White Society. Through special events and programs, they represent the core for student involvement and leadership at the university. In fact, most of the traditions and customs that Slippery Rock is currently known for is due in no small part to the organization. Over the last halfcentury, new ideas and innovations spawned from the minds of students and staff, creating new ways for involvement and ways to show school pride. Some of these traditions and customs that were created by the society include the tradition of wearing school colors every Friday and running events on campus that take place during the university’s
common hour. As mentioned, "Green and White Fridays” are a weekly tradition at Slippery Rock, staffed and run by The Green and White Society. As soon as you step on campus on any given Friday, students everywhere can be seen sporting their favorite green and white SRU attire. There’s no email, message or other form of proper communication to get the word around: it’s traditionally assumed that students know to wear their green and white on Fridays to represent their school pride. Integrated marketing communication major and President of the Green and White Society Courtney McCalmont said the traditions and the school spirit at Slippery Rock are vital, especially to freshmen coming into campus. "Our school spirit really sets us apart from other campuses," Mc C a l m o n t s a i d . "When freshmen come here and see all the Rock Pride, they're reminded that the campus is so friendly and so tightknit." THEONLINEROCKET.COM
President Norton joins 'Twitterverse' By Megan Bush Campus Life Editor
On Monday August 29, Dr. Cheryl Norton, President of Slippery Rock University, created her official profile on the popular social media site Twitter. Norton said the creation of the profile had been in production since the spring of 2016, and it was finally made possible with the help of Associate Executive Director for Communication & Public Affairs Robert King early this semester. "We wanted more ways to connect with students," Norton said. "Rather than sending out information through email after email, we should connect the way they choose to connect with each other, and Twitter is one of those ways." Along with being able to connect better and more efficiently with students at Slippery Rock, Norton said she also wants to learn about COURTESY OF CHERYL NORTON'S TWITTER PROFILE students as people, and connecting with them President Cheryl Norton joined Twitter on August 29 to connect with students and in this way, she believes, is a great way to do faculty members across the Slippery Rock campus. just that. Norton herself wants the students to
learn about her, as well, but not so much that it's overwhelming. Norton also said that her main reason for sending Tweets out to her more than 500 followers, especially when she is out at events on campus, is for students to see it and connect with her in person. "I try to send out a message when I'm at an activity on campus so that students will see it and say, 'oh, President Norton's at the football game, let's go over and say hi,'" Norton said. President Norton is now the fifth University President out of the 14 state universities to have a Twitter account and to be communicating with students in this way; the concept of public social media is still a new, emerging idea for University Presidents in the state and in general. Norton does not plan on creating more public social media. "Right now, I'm pleased with what we're trying to do with the Twitter account," Norton said. "Although personally, I still prefer email as my primary communication source." Upon learning that most clubs and organizations on campus have their own official Twitter accounts, Norton hopes to attend more events and activities on campus.
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September 9, 2016
Our Mission: “We, the elected representatives of Slippery Rock Student Government Association Inc., strive to support and advocate on behalf of the students of Slippery Rock University. We will empower our students and each other in order to create positive change, instilling a sense of community and postering an environment where students can freely share their opinions knowing they will be heard.�
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Plan and promote outreach programs to engage students and listen to their concerns, organize the SGA Movies Series, combat issues with the Happy Bus and improve campus grounds.
Review club and organization funding policies, funding requests and review new club and organization submissions.
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Address student concerns, campus safety, university policies and much more. Internal Affairs Making education at SRU Create a sense of commuan enjoyable experience, nity and unity within SRSGA examining issues with Proand utilize the strength of all fessors, scheduling, or classits members. es as a whole.