the rocket Drag Queens strut their stuff at SRU Friday October 23, 2015 • Volume 99, Issue Number 8 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper
www.theonlinerocket.com
KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET
Drag queen, Lola LeCroix, sits on a student's lap during the Q&A session of the drag show. LeCroix said that all of the students asked such interesting questions and that she enjoyed the audience interaction.
By Amber Cannon Campus Life Editor
Slippery Rock University’s LGBTQIA organization, RockOUT hosted their annual drag show with returning queens and an SRU student drag queen on Wednesday night in the Robert M. Smith Student Center Ballroom. Senior journalism major and vice president of RockOut Haley Barnes said the event was incredibly successful this year. She said the crowd was a larger
crowd than RockOUT has ever had in the past. "It got to the point where we had to stop letting students in because the occupancy of the ballroom is 800 and we definitely had more than 800," she said. Students were lined along the walls of the ballroom waiting for the queens to come out. Barnes said students were asked to keep the entrances to the ballroom clear due to a fire safety precautions. Barnes said RockOUT does the drag show because Pride Week is such a serious event and the week needs some kind of entertainment peak that will bring in a lot of students, while also educating them. The difference between identifying as transgender
and being a drag queen, Barnes said, is that a person who is a drag queen dresses up as a different gender for entertainment purposes and a person who identifies as transgender really feels as though they identify as a different gender, so they often go through different hormone therapies and surgeries to make themselves feel the way they should. Sophomore hospitality major Brandon Gilchrist, better known in the drag world as London Shanel said she got her start in drag two years ago in the summer in Las Vegas. SEE ROCKOUT PAGE D-1
Local haunted attraction scares customers with unique hayride, corn maze By Haley Barnes For 16 years, the Cheeseman Fright Farm staff members have become naturals at scaring and entertaining their customers. At about 16 miles south from SRU's campus, Cheeseman Farm is one of the closest locations to SRU that offers a haunted attraction to the public. Owner and coordinator of the farm as well as 1999 SRU alumna Jennifer Cheeseman said that from the end of August to September 18, four people work about 18 hours a day to build the unique, haunted corn maze and hayride attraction. "We have a couple weekends where we have a whole bunch of people
come in for the corn maze because the corn maze ze takes forever, but I'd say aboutt four people build the whole thing," ing," she said. She said that hat all props that hat are used in n the corn maz e are handmade by her brot h e r. Cheeseman s ai d t h at d both she and er her brother are horror fans. "In the spring, there's always a Halloween convention and it used to be in Vegas, now it's in St. Louis,"
SGA Discusses Textbooks
Minimal Effort SRU Costumes
Volleyball Coach Earns 600th Win
Jeff Sheng Shares Photography Book
SGA talks about changes in the textbook buyback process.
A staff member describes what costumes would work best for you this Halloween. Page B-2
Long tenured volleyball coach, Laurie Lokash, reached a milestone with a win over Cheyney. Page C-1
"Fearless" photographer presents his series of LGBT+ athletes to students. Page D-3
News Editor
Page A-2
she said. "What we end up doing, because we don't have h a budget like Kennywood is they take pictures and talk to people peop that build it and a they come back ba here and they th build it themselves." t She said that the structural supplies are reused yearly, but th thousands that of dollars go into building new props and decor. Cheeseman said that on an average night they will sell a couple
thousand tickets, but that on a slow night they will average about 300 tickets. Tickets are $16 for both the hayride and the corn maze. Cheeseman said sometimes customers find the price of the tickets too expensive, but that there is a lot of money that goes into the process, as well as the hourly wage of the employees who work there. She said that it takes about 80 people to work a night: 20 people to sell tickets and concessions and about 60 to work in the maze and hayride. Employees make $8 an hour. She said that the haunted attraction started out with her, her brother and a couple of friends in 1999. SEE OWNER PAGE A-3
NEWS
A-2
October 23, 2015
New self-authoring policy P aims to safeguard students Catch something exciting happening on campus? Want your Insta-photos to be featured in The Rocket? Just follow @SRURocket on Instagram and use # in the caption for your chance to be featured here every week!
By Chris Gordon Assistant News Editor
Slippery Rock University and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) agreed to a new policy regarding the use of self-authored textbooks in the classroom. The policy, which was agreed to on October 15, requires professors wishing to use commercially available, self-authored textbooks in the classroom to seek written approval from the chair of their department to eliminate conflicts of interest, a university press release read. If the self-authored text is not available commercially, book price must be based on reasonable production costs only and an electronic version of the text must be donated to Bailey Library and placed on electronic reserve once approval
from the professor's department chair is attained, the press release continued. Finally, the policy requires that all textbooks be available at the SGA Bookstore. Philip Way, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at SRU, said in the press release that the new policy was unanimously supported by the administration and the faculty union and will add to SRU's reputation as a "best value" institution. "While the university encourages faculty to engage in scholarship and the creation of innovative teaching materials, the faculty union and the administration recognize that safeguards are needed to ensure students buy books or course materials that are appropriate to the course, accessible through the campus bookstore or library and priced at fair levels," he said. Jess Dowd, a junior marketing and Spanish double major, said
she agrees with the new policy. "Just as every person has a bias, every book has a bias too," she said. "I hate it when psychology and marketing professors use their own books in class because there are so many different perspectives on those topics. When a professor uses a book written by someone else, it adds credibility to what they're teaching." Brandon Fuhs, a junior information technology major, said professors who used selfauthored textbooks prior to the policy change placed unnecessary expense on their students. "I had a professor who used a textbook he wrote with a group of people," he said. "It turns out the guy only wrote one paragraph of the whole book, yet we had to buy it directly from him and because of that we couldn't sell it back to the bookstore." The policy change is effective immediately, the press release stated.
SGA talks books, grants funds By Chris Gordon Assistant News Editor
INDEX Blotter.................A-3 S p o r t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C - 1 Opinion................B-1 Campus Life...........D-1 Comics...................B-3
CONTACT US Newsroom: (724) 738-4438 Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896 Email: rocket.letters@sru.edu
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Slippery Rock's Student Government Association heard testimony from the SGA Bookstore and approved funds for two campus organizations Monday night. Joe Flynn, the manager of the SGA Bookstore, spoke of his efforts to keep textbook prices down and said he hopes to buy back all books sold this semester. "We haven't done an excellent job, at least not as good a job as we need to," Flynn said in regards to advertising the bookstore's new, lower prices. Flynn encouraged students to buy books at the best price they can find and to ask professors if they plan on reusing textbooks so that the bookstore can buy those books back. Additionally, SGA voted to give Exercise Science Society (ESS) $2,800 to rent a bus to transport students to a healthcare research conference in
ROCK NOTES
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Angela Grazier, a spokesperson for ESS, said the conference would be a great networking opportunity and is open to all students. SGA also voted to give Phi Beta Sigma $455 to hire a DJ for a Halloween party they plan to host. However, the fraternity will be required to repay the funds before they can run a profit from ticket sales, Vice President of Finance Michael Farah said. Farah also indicated that applications for the SGA scholarship are now available. Applications are due Oct. 30 and one applicant will receive $500 towards school expenses. SGA President Logan Steigerwalt discussed a proposed partnership with La Famiglia which would help raise funds for SGA. In the proposal, SGA would recieve 10 percent of students' bills when they pay with their student ID. The next SGA meeting will be on Nov. 2 at 8:45 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Theater.
No Issue Next Week The Rocket will not have an issue next week. Publication will resume on November 6. Safer Sex Olympics The HOPE Peer Educators are hosting their annual safer sex olympics on Wednesday, October 28 in the SSC Ballroom at 7 p.m. Sign up in teams of six to compete and win a gift card. Contact the peers at srupeers@gmail.com to sign up.
To submit a Rock Note please send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to Haley Barnes at hmb1006@sru.edu or to rocket. news@sru.edu. The Rocket does not guarantee that all requests will be published in the paper.
NEWS
October 23, 2015
A-3
POLICE BLOTTER Campus October 16- Abby Piston, 19, was charged with an alcohol violation after police transported her from Building A to the Health Center. October 19- Police received a report of an unknown person who removed a tire from the Stadium Lot. The case is under investigation. October 19- Police and an ambulance were called for a person having chest pains in North Hall. The person was transported to Grove City Hospital.
a family member. October 21- Police observed a person on the roof of Morrow Field House. The person was ID'd and sent to student standards. Borough October 7- The manager of McDonald’s reported an incident of harassment where an unknown actor came into the store and made threats towards an employee and then left.
October 10- Morgan Predmore and Brooke Nee were cited for disorderly house in lieu of an alcohol offense at the Stonecrest Apartments.
October 10- Tyler Nicholson was cited for misrepresentation of age to secure liquor after attempting to use a fake ID at the Wine and Spirits Store.
October 10- Brittany Fagan was cited for an open container violation along Kiester Road.
October 11- Police received a report of rape. The case is under investigation.
October 10- Jesse Griffin, Daniel Cupps and Stephen Urtz were cited for disorderly house in lieu of alcohol offenses while walking past the police station.
October 8- Cailyn Caruso and Victoria Kepple were cited for disorderly house after police were called for a noise complaint at their residence.
October 10- Theodore Renolds was cited for an open container violation along Midway Alley.
October 21- Cody Greygor, 19, was charged with a drug violation after police observed him using marijuana and other contraband near Wally Rose Field.
October 10- Richard Pearsall was cited for an open container violation along Midway Alley.
October 10- Kaylee Haberkam was cited for disorderly house in lieu if an alcohol offense along Midway Alley.
October 21- Police responded to a person having a seizure in Spotts. The person refused medical attention and was aided by
October 10- Joseph Brahler was cited for disorderly house and scattering rubbish after being stopped along Midway Alley.
October 10- Benjamin Burgess was cited for an open container violation along Elm Street.
October 11- Michael Backo was arrested for criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct at Sheetz. October 13- Megan Gumble was arrested for theft by unlawful taking. October 14- Ronnie Johnson was arrested for a burglary reported on October 6 at En Lai. October 15- Ethan Finver was charged with disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia. Compiled by Chris Gordon
Owner shares details about the reality of running a haunted attraction Continued from Page A-1
"Now you have to be certified to build it, everything has to be inspected," she said. "We're inspected as an amusement park and it's scary how legit it has to be. No more just throw whoever you want out in the field, so a lot has changed." The employees who work in the corn maze are trained to keep the flow of customers moving through the maze and how to keep everyone safe. She said those employees work on what is called "the dark side." "Their training is kind of like who can scream really loud, who is loud, who's big and can just tower over people, who is little enough to fit in this bin," she said. "So that's the training they have to go through. It's a whole different process of trying to get a job here, for sure." She said people who work in the kitchen have SafeServe certificates and that anyone who works in the ticket booth or concessions work on "the light side." She said that they stay competitive among other haunted attraction because she thinks Cheeseman is a household name. She said she feels that she has done minimal advertising this year, but that they've still received so much business.
"I'm thinking people are just used to coming here," she said. Cheeseman said the best part of being in the horror business is simply doing it. "How many people can say 'I do weddings and a haunted house?' That's what I do," she said. "So it's just kind of a neat job." Cheeseman said her family has owned the farm land for a long time and the Amish built Betsey's Barn in 1999. "We built this barn in 1999 and the Amish built it and the every couple of years since we've put on additions like where we're sitting, there's a back deck, a bathroom, the front deck, so it's expanded quite a bit," Cheeseman said. During the fall season, the family utilizes the barn as a shop where they sell pumpkins, pumpkin crafts, Halloween costumes, Halloween decorations and Cheeseman's Fright Farm clothing. The haunted attraction is just one of the many services that the family offers. "We do weddings in May through August, then we do [the haunted attraction] for six weeks," she said. The Cheeseman's also rent the area where the corn maze
"How many people can say 'I do weddings and a haunted house?' That's what I do. So it's just a neat job." -Jennifer Cheeseman, owner and coordinator of Cheeseman Farm
is done out to campers. Cheeseman Fright Farm will be open until Saturday, Oct. 31. Haunted hayrides start at dark and tickets are sold until 10 p.m. or until the last ticket is sold. The hayride and corn maze are gauged for customers 12 and older. The farm is located on Kennedy Road, Portersville, Pennsylvania.
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O
OPINION
Our View Fat Talk Free Week brings mixed opinions
OPINION rocket.letters@sru.edu Volume 99, Number 8
220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: Fax: E-mail:
(724) 738-4438 (724) 738-4896 rocket.letters@sru.edu
EDITORIAL BOARD Janelle Wilson
Editor-in-Chief
Haley Barnes
News Editor
Amber Cannon
Campus Life Editor GRAPHIC BY KENDALL SCOTT / THE ROCKET
Ryan Barlow
Sports Editor
Rebecca Dietrich Shelby Stearns
Photo Editor Copy/ Web Editor
Victoria Davis
Assist. Copy/Web Editor
Chris Gordon
Assistant News Editor
Emma Pfeifer
Assist. Campus Life Editor
Cody Nespor
Assistant Sports Editor
Kendall Scott
Assistant Photo Editor
Emily Brown
Multimedia Reporter
Mark Zeltner
Faculty Adviser
ADVERTISING STAFF 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 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 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.
The word ‘fat’ is harmful ‘Fat’ isn’t inherently bad The SRU Reflections Body Image Program has kicked off Fat Talk Free Week on Monday, with several other events happening throughout the rest of the week. One of the events on Tuesday featured a booth set up in front of Starbucks with a petition to end the “F” word (fat). Regardless of whether or not people think the petition will end the “F” word, the word fat should never be used when talking about a person’s physical appearance. It is important to remember that when referring to someone as being “fat”, you are assuming that they choose to be that way. That person who you just called “fat,” could be struggling with a very difficult disease. According to WebMD.com, Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces too little of the thyroid hormone, which regulates our metabolism. With too little of the thyroid hormone, it slows down our metabolism, which often causes weight gain. People who are referred to as “fat” may also be in the process of trying to lose weight, but often times get knocked down because they are told they aren’t beautiful or handsome because they have rolls on their back. Think about it. Would you call your best friend fat because she was bigger than you? No. The same rule applies when referring to someone as skinny. Thousands of females and males die each year because of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. Some people assume that just because someone is skinny, they automatically choose to be that way. Although often times it is meant to be given as a compliment, we are told to never tell someone, “Oh, you look so skinny, what did you do,” because sometimes being skinny is out of a person’s control. The SRU Reflections Body Image Program is doing a great job of raising awareness of body-shaming. They have put sticky notes all over the bathroom mirrors in different buildings to remind people that they are beautiful when they look in the mirror. It is important to remember that someone’s body type doesn’t define that person and shouldn’t be the only thing someone see’s when trying to get to know someone. Calling someone fat or skinny can be just as hurtful as calling them ugly or stupid. The movement that The SRU Reflections Body Image Program is trying to create by having this petition to stop the “F” is very effective because it gets students questioning the hurtful and derogatory term, which will hopefully put an end to it on the Slippery Rock campus once and for all.
We understand the notion that some words are inherently hurtful, and can stand behind some words being ‘“banned” because of their negative conontation. However, unlike saying the word ‘retard’ to describe someone with a mental disability, or some other words with inherent malice, ‘fat’ isn’t a word that is by itself harmful. The problem with the word ‘fat’ is what it’s begun to mean in society over the last several decades. Currently, we equivocate the word ‘fat’ with laziness, overeating and ugliness. In reality, fat is just what it is, an accumulation of fat cells in the body. Ending the word isn’t going to eliminate the stigma behind it, but will only perpetuate it. We are teaching people that calling someone fat is so bad that the word shouldn’t even pass through our lips. In a TED talk by burlesque performer, Lillian Bustle, who is 240 pounds, tells the audience that she describes herself as fat, but still loves herself. On calling herself fat, she says: “I use that as a self-descriptor, and I don’t say it to put myself down, and I certainly don’t say it in the hopes that someone will say ‘oh no, you’re not fat!’... We as women are programmed to tell each other that we’re not fat, because to many people, both men and women, fat is the worst thing you can be.” When we seek to ban words, we give them power. By saying ‘oh, we can’t tell someone that they’re fat, because that’s insulting,” people are perpetuating the idea that the word ‘fat’ means what society think it means. There are plenty of people who have a bit of extra fat around their bodies, but still exercise regularly and eat right. Some people actually can’t help it, especially women. There are some health coniditions that make it exrtemely difficult for people to lose weight. Instead of worrying about the term’s negative connotation, folks should be trying to create a positive connotation. The word itself is not offensive, the people who use it to attack and hurt others are. Kill the negativity, not the word.
In the Quad
This week’s question: Have you been to any haunted attractions around the area? If so, which is your favorite?
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.
Tyler Volz Early Childhood and Special Education Major Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Taylor McGinley Junior Secondary Ed and Social Studies Major Beaver, Pennsylvania
Kelsey Miller Junior Communication Major Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“I went to Kennywood Fright Night this past weekend and I liked the haunted houses.”
“I’m on the verge of going to Cheeseman’s haunted hayride. I’m looking forward to the ending because it’s always fun.”
“Fright Night at Kennywood w a s f u n . T h e r e ’s a n amusement park and a bunch of mazes.”
OPINION
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QUESTION OF
October 23, 2015
THE WEEK @SRURocket
5 SRU themed costumes you can rock on Halloween Labelling is limiting political viewpoints
sweatshirt, the t-shirt you got also would suffice. We’ll just at freshman orientation and an call this costume, “Am I more underwhelming Power Point than you bargained for yet?” presentation. 4. Emma the North Hall Ghost Show the world the defeated senior you are inside by wearing What you’ll need: a costume that reflects your A bed sheet and a bag full of senioritis on the outside. combs Now’s the time to break out Janelle Wilson that t-shirt that you haven’t When I was a freshman, word worn since the highlighter on the street was that Emma Commentary party freshman year, preferably the North Hall Ghost stole Janelle Wilson is a senior stained. Complete the look with everyone’s combs. As such, you journalism major and hole-ridden sweatpants, and a should fill your Halloween bag is editor in chief of The coffee pot. The best part of this with combs and brushes in lieu Rocket costume is that you will be able of candy. Everyone will really to go home and your costume love that. Scare students by 1. Sexy Old Main will double as pajamas. How uttering in an eerie voice, “Is very senioritis of you. the low cost housing worth it, What you’ll need: after all?” and, “Bet you wished A red crop top, preferably in 3. Your 8th Grade Myspace you lived in the residence halls a brick pattern, fishnets, and a Profile now, huh?” This will be most Flavor Flav-esque clock. effective if you do this in North What you’ll need: Hall, but if you’re not that What’s sexier than 126 years A playlist consisting of committed, I won’t judge. of time honored tradition? only Fall Out Boy and Panic! Nothing. When people look at At the Disco, skinny jeans, 5. Spooky Pumpkin Spice Latte you, they’ll be filled with desire excessive bl ack e yeliner and a sense of school spirit. and an emo MySpace name. What you’ll need: What could be better? Be the (XxEICJanellexX is already A scary jack-o-lantern mask bell of the ball and belt loudly taken.) and maybe some spices. every hour on the hour while you’re at a Halloween party Ooh, spooky, evidence of $4.95 for a grande PSL? to remind students how long your tortured prepubescent That’s the stuff of nightmares. they’ve been there. They will existence. When in doubt, say Like Starbucks, you too can greatly appreciate not missing things that are reminiscent partake in seasonal festivities the Happy Bus. of your clever status updates. by capitalizing on their best“Rawr means ‘I love you’ in selling beverage. Implementing 2. A Case of Senioritis dinosaur!” and “OMG I’m so the addicting substance into random ;] <3” seemed to be your costume is guaranteed to What you’ll need: popular in the days of old. Small increase your candy revenue A coffee pot, sweatpants, a segments of popular song lyrics this Halloween.
Federal institutions shouldn’t promote religion
Joseph Szalinski Commentary
Joseph Szalinski is a senior creative writing and professional writing major
The removal of a large replica of the Ten Commandments outside of an Oklahoma courthouse sparked controversy a couple of weeks ago. Critics of the removal made the over-used, asinine argument that our society is hurtling toward utter damnation. However, my opinion is a little different. I believe that no state or federally recognized institution should cater to a specific ideology. That’s essentially like saying that one particular system of beliefs should take precedence over all others. Not only that, but by placing religiously affiliated paraphernalia on government property, we are advocating for the aligning of belief and public office; which is highly unconstitutional. Unless we plan to include monuments (and
the like) that advocate the tenets of other faiths, and non-faiths, then we shouldn’t allow for the Ten Commandments to be on government property! What difference is there between Christianity and Satanism when it comes to government sponsorship? The very same critics, who became enraged over the removal of the Ten Commandments in Oklahoma, were the same kind of people who got angry over the inclusion of a monument to the Church of Satan. If someone supports one ideology, then he or she has to support both. It’s religious freedom, one of the primary freedoms this country was founded on. If I were asked what other “moral texts” we should include on government property, in addition to the Ten Commandments I would suggest ancient texts like The Code of Hammurabi; among others. Surely, if we can glean moral lessons from old documents, let us consider all of them. Even w hen one examines t he Ten Commandments, and its various iterations depending on sect, four to five commandments are concerned with appeasing God’s jealousy. Only five deal with earthly crimes, and only two of those (murder and stealing) are actually punishable by law. The commandments make no mention of rape, child labor laws, arson or other serious crimes. If we choose to endorse a “moral” and religious document on government property, especially a courthouse, surely we could choose a better one.
Dylan Vamosi Commentary Dylan Vamosi is a secondary social studies Labels are easy. Labels are organized. Labels are useful because they bring ideas together and describe them in meaningful ways. It would be unrealistic, futile and silly to "remove" labels. Indeed, our entire language is tailored to fit the model of labels. We cannot describe reality any other way. When we apply labels to politics, however, we enter dangerous territory. It is too easy to reduce complex issues to vague political ideologies. Matters of race, for example, seemingly cannot be raised without invoking a liberal and conservative orientation. Many make it seem as if these ideologies have a monopoly on all political ideas. If I think racism is a serious problem, that makes me liberal on this issue. This artificial superposition of a label cheapens "racism" and "liberal": "racism" is compressed to fit into an ideological framework, "liberal" becomes a static position. Neither term is that simple. Therefore, labeling topics in such a way can undermine unique complexities and lead to one-dimensional thinking. Racism is either a serious problem or it is not. Resist the ideological labels not just because they are simple, but because they are often peripheral to their historical explanations. Arguments regarding gender, for example, go far beyond mere ideology; segregation is too complex to be contained to the conservative/liberal binary; the Great Recession requires rigorous financial and economic knowledge to understand. Though these issues are spun in ideological ways, the realities and disciplines exist independently of such a framework. Furthermore, the invocation of these labels can allow conversations to devolve into general or unrelated topics. You believe that the bailout was unfair? That is exactly what I would expect from a rich, austere conservative. Essentially, what we think of as "political" does not have to be thought of as liberal, conservative, or even ideological; the application of such terms can be unnecessary, distracting, or periphery. Thus, it is more meaningful to isolate each topic (housing, gender, race, the Great Recession, etc.) as its own spectrum of complicated debates. This is not to say, however, that these labels can be removed from political divisions. The left-right spectrum has far-reaching implications: especially as it applies to policy and identity. However, it is important for college students to not use the ideological sprectrum as the only lens through which to view political issues. Rather, we can view matters historically, sociologically, scientifically - through any field. For college students, political issues should be handled individually detached from ideological labels - because it promotes interdisciplinary consideration rather than a reliance on broad ideological platforms. It is okay to identify as a liberal or a conservative. It is encouraged to relate political issues to ideological platforms. There exists an appropriate time and place to apply these political labels. However, it is especially important for college students to not rely too heavily on these labels because is it our duty to understand topics in an interdisciplinary - rather than a purely ideological - way. Let us not be restricted by political labels as the only way to understand complicated political, powerdriven realities.
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October 23, 2015
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C
COMICS Sharing Stalls
By Molly Huey
COMICS
Today's Birthday (10/23/15). Get social this year. Expand your circles and networks. Play big games together for meaningful results. Income flourishes with persistent attention. Family fun and romance flower this spring, unexpectedly disturbing your peace. A brilliant autumn collaboration leads you into a challenging competition. Share love and give thanks. 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 an 8 -- The next month, with the Sun in Scorpio, favors shared financial planning. Save more than you spend. Watch for surprises and potential collisions. Discover a structural problem. Keep deadlines. Stay in communication. Discover a winning sales strategy.
Molly Huey is a freshman dance and communication major from Warren, Pennsylvania
Best in Show
By Phil Juliano
Brewster Rockit: Space Guy
By Tim Rickard
Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Be gentle with each other this month under the Scorpio Sun. Hold those stingers. Make future plans while managing current changes. Work together. Don't overspend, not even for a good cause. Redesign your space with what you have. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Work takes priority this month, with the Sun in Scorpio. Balance activity with rest. Unexpected developments present new options. Delegate to your team. Balance being of service with family time. Business demands could overwhelm. Share the load. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- For the next four weeks under the Scorpio Sun, enjoy a fun, games and romance phase. A bonus or windfall gains over the long term. Plant that seed where it can grow. Creativity pays off. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Make plans for the future, together. Get domestic over the next month, with Sun in Scorpio. Consider a loved one's proposition. Reassure someone whose feeling abandoned. Get help from a strong partner. Love leads to positive changes. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Begin an expanded learning phase. For the next four weeks with the Sun in Scorpio, education becomes a priority. Avoid arguments by sticking to the facts. Compromise is required. Watch out for errors or mistaken assumptions. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- It's easier to make (and spend) money this next month under the Scorpio Sun. The workload could get intense. Friends offer good advice. Fulfill your promises. Watch where you're going, to avoid accidents. Get there faster by moving methodically. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Smile for the cameras! The spotlight in on you this month, with the Sun in your sign. You have the advantage. Don't throw your money away. Enjoy the game, without taking expensive risks. Relax. Flirt if you like. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- The next month favors strategizing and planning, with the Scorpio Sun. Peaceful, private introspection generates brilliant ideas. Write them down. Add a feminine touch to your home. Find ways to express love, beauty and cultural traditions. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Group activities are more successful this month under the Sun in Scorpio. New status leads to new friends. Share your notes with the team. Use your communications skills to grow an engaged audience. Collaborate and flourish together. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Begin a four-week business phase. Advance your professional agenda. Don't take financial risks, borrow or lend. There's money to be made, and bills to be paid. Win with a partner's assistance. Make time for passion. Persuade with grace. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Travel conditions look favorable this month, with the Sun in Scorpio. Investigate a wild claim. Do your research and make reservations before dashing off. Assertiveness works. Take charge. Keep your budget. Someone important is impressed. (Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black's legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @lindablack. For more astrological interpretations visit Linda Black Horoscopes and www.nancyblack.com) (c)2015 bY NANCY BLACK. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. ALL
Bliss
By Harry Bliss
B-4
October 23, 2015
Angelique talks with the audience after her performance.
London Shanel gets down to sing to audience members.
Sasha Nolan dances to "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncè in the style of the orginal performance.
Drag Queens Rock Out
R
ockOUT hosted their annual drag show Wednesday October 21 in the Robert Smith Student Center. The organization invited five professional drag queens and one student to perform for over 800 Slippery Rock students.
Jon Fiscus tips Angelique as she sings to him.
Natasha Starr reaches out to the crowd during her performance.
Annasteezia parades in her brightly colored costume. Photos and Design by: Rebecca Dietrich
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INSIDE SPORTS
Women's Soccer
SPORTS
PSAC Championships
Rock sophomore Tess Keeley scored the game-winning goal in the second half to lead SRU women's soccer over Edinboro 1-0 Wednesday.
SRU cross-country coach John Papa prepares both the men and women's teams to host the PSAC Championships at Slippery Rock's home course.
See Page C-2
See Page C-4
Volleyball coach reaches career milestone Long tenured Lokash notches 600th win in 32nd season at The Rock By Jordyn J. Bennett Rocket Contributor
ow 32 seasons and 600 wins into her career at the Rock, volleyball head coach Laurie Lokash does not see her milestone as just an achievement to highlight on her resume, but more of an accomplishment of the girls on the court.
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SEE LOKASH, PAGE C-3
GRAPHIC BY CODY NESPOR/THE ROCKET KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET
Rock football slips by Mercyhurst with two fourth quarter touchdowns By Ryan Barlow Sports Editor
The Slippery Rock (6-1 overall, 3-1 PSAC) offense stepped up in the fourth quarter to score two unanswered touchdowns, giving it a 35-24 victory over northern rival Mercyhurst (3-4 overall, 0-4 PSAC). The Green and White led Mercyhurst after the first quarter 14-0, but the Lakers answered by tying the game with two touchdowns of its own before halftime. After the third quarter, Mercyhurst led 24-21, but Slippery Rock's two fourth quarter touchdowns were enough to secure its victory. The win moved Slippery Rock to No. 15 overall in the nation according to the American Fooball Coaches Association (AFCA) poll. "I thought we took control of the game early, but unfortunately we just relaxed," Mihalik said. "We allowed a good team back in to the game. At halftime, our players were making
their feelings known. I think our whole locker room was determined that we were not going to have a repeat of the previous year." Mihalik was referring to last year's Big House Battle at Michigan Stadium, where the Lakers walked out of Ann Arbor with a shocking 45-23 win over The Rock. On Saturday, SRU's offense put up 406 yards of total offense, compared to Mercyhurst's 401 yards. The bulk of The Rock's offense came with the running game, rushing for 252 yards on the ground as a team. Redshirt-junior running back Shamar Greene led SRU's rushing attack with 167 yards on 26 carries, including one touchdown. Senior Julian Durden scored two touchdowns with 65 yards, while redshirt-sophomore Isiah Neely added one touchdown with 10 yards. Rock senior quarterback Dante Nania complete 16 passes for 167 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Redshirtjunior Leroy McClain caught Nania's touchdown pass for a 38-yard score in the
35 Football scores around the PSAC-West
at
44 vs
24
fourth quarter. McClain finished with four receptions and 66 receiving yards. "The weather had just started getting nasty," Mihalik said. "Credit to Dante, because he bought some time by avoiding the rush, he stepped up in the pocket and got a perfect pass to Leroy, who was focused enough to stay in bounds right on the end line." Other SRU receivers to contribute were junior Drew Scales and redshirt-junior Taishan Tucker. Scales caught six passes for 48 yards while Tucker pulled in two passes for 26 yards. Scales also returned four kickoffs for 117 yards. The Rock's defense, which is ranked fifth in the country in forced turnovers, wreaked even more havoc on the Laker offense as junior Derrick Fulmore, redshirt-junior Alfon Cook and senior Teven Williams each recorded one interception. SEE , PAGE C-2
20 at
29
49 at
15
42
SPORTS SRU's defense holds Lakers to negative yards rushing
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October 23, 2015
(Confernece Record)
Football 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
CLARION Indiana (pa.) Slippery Rock Gannon california (pa.) seton hill mercyhurst edinboro
(4-0) (4-0) (3-1) (2-2) (2-2) (1-3) (0-4) (0-4)
Men's soccer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Millersville* mercyhurst bloomsburg lock haven slippery rock california (pa.) east stroudsburg west chester seton Hill Shippensburg gannon pitt-johnstown
(8-1-0) (7-1-1) (6-3-0) (6-3-0) (5-4-0) (4-4-1) (4-5-1) (3-5-1) (3-5-0) (3-6-0) (3-6-0) (0-9-0)
Women's soccer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
gannon* West Chester kutztown slippery rock East Stroudsburg Edinboro california (pa.) indiana (pa.) bloomsberg
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
shippensburg mercyhurst seton hill Clarion Millersville Lock Haven mansfield Pitt-johnstown
(13-0-0) (11-3-0) (9-4-0) (8-4-1) (8-5-1) (8-5-0) (7-4-3)
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Redshirt-sophomore Cornelius Raye scores a touchdown during SRU's win over Cal U on Homecoming weekend. Raye has 337 receiving yards and three touchdowns this season.
Continued from Page C 1
"While we may not be sacking the quarterback, we are still getting to him," Mihalik said. "Any time you hit him, put him on the ground or rush him, it takes its toll. It may force some ill advised throws, and our front four put him that position." Along with his interception, Williams led his team with 11 tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss. Redshirt-sophomore Marcus Martin dominated the Mercyhurst offensive line, tackling 10 Lakers with two sacks, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries. Martin was recognized as the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conferenece's (PSAC) defensive player of the week. As a unit, The Rock's defense kept the Lakers in negative yardage on the ground with -11 rushing yards. SRU returns to Mihalik-Thompson Stadium this Saturday as it hosts rival Indiana University of Pennsylvania (5-1 overall, 4-0 PSAC). "This is a great college football rivalry," Mihalik said. "As a coach, I'm happy to have been a part of it for my entire career at Slippery Rock. The players know the intensity and it's two proud football programs with great tradition." Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Women's soccer gets by Scots
(7-4-2) (7-6-1) (6-6-1) (5-7-2) (4-8-1) (4-9-1) (4-9-0) (3-9-1) (2-10-1) (0-13-1) REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
VOlleyball
Senior Caitlin Binder deflects the ball in the air during SRU's 1-0 loss to No. 24 West Chester Saturday. Binder has three goals and two assists dring the 2015 season.
1.
EDINBORO
(12-1)
2.
GANNON
(11-2)
3.
seton hill
(9-4)
4.
clarion
(9-4)
5.
MERCYHURSt
(8-5)
6.
indiana (pa.)
(6-7)
7.
california (pa.)
(6-7)
8.
Slippery rock
By Kendall Scott Assistant Photo Editor
(3-10)
Standings as of Thurs. Oct. 22 at 5:54 p.m. *Indicates PSAC Tournament berth
The Rock triumphed over Edinboro University with a final score of 1-0 on Wednesday night. The Rock's goal that led them to victory was scored by Tessa Keeley, a sophomore midfielder, and assisted by freshman for ward Taylor Sweeney. "The finish on the the goal that she scored, was just technically hit well. Defensively, The Rock excelled as well to earn the shutout. Freshman goalkeeper Charlotte Elrod recorded her
sixth individual shutout by stopping four Fighting Scot shots. They did not allow a shot on goal for the last 33 minutes of the game. "Their forwards were very good at moving the ball around, and my team was very good at adjusting and staying compact. On top of that, my goalkeeper had the most stellar game that I've seen her play all season." The PSAC victory over the ranked Fighting Scots moves Slippery Rock into a tie for fourth place in the league ranks. With three games left in their regular season, The Rock hopes to improve from their
25 points to climb further up the standings. Slippery Rock improved to 9-5-1 overall, and 8-4-1 in the PSAC Conference with the win. The team hopes that the win will influence their NCAA standings to receive a bid to the tournament while they face a tough end of the year schedule. "Tessa, Taylor, Binder, and Dara and I could keep going. They all did great," Coach Griggs laughed. Slippery Rock will finish its regular season at Loch Haven University on Saturday at 1 p.m.
October 23, 2015
SPORTS
C-3
KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET
Junior Mike Pcholinsky chases after the ball during SRU's 2-1 overtime win over West Chester Saturday. He has two goals and two assists this season, along with 20 shot attempts.
Men's soccer shut out at Seton Hill "The one main key change we need to make is effort," Boylan said. "It wasn't there. Our overall effort Rocket Contributor needs to be there from warmups." Having two goals that close together can really put Sluggish play led to Seton Hill getting two goals a damper on the team for the rest of the game, and within 61 seconds of each other in the second half, that happened on Wednesday. Boylan said there was ultimately giving the Griffins the 2-0 victory over the a miscommunication with the defense and midfield, SRU Men's Soccer Team, Wednesday at Seton Hill. that allowed Seton Hill attackers to get behind The "We could have played better," senior attacker Peter Rock defense. He said that Seton Hill was hungrier in Boylan said. "We came out a little flat and never got the box, and Boylan was disappointed that the team better." came out like that. Tom Urquhart and Curtis Gallagher of Seton Hill Seton Hill held advantages in all the offensive scored goals at the 51:50 and 52:51 marks in the categories except corner kicks, which The Rock held second half. the advantage (5-3). Seton Hill held the advantage in The Rock showed a lack of effort when they came total shots (16-10), shots on goal (7-5) and the most out of a disappointing first half, with an even more important stat, goals (2-0). disappointing second half. The Rock had shots come off the feet of Ryan Lutke,
By Cody McCullough
Mike Ilodigwe, Boylan, George Oakley, Nick Kutcher and Aaron Lambert. Steven Rerick made his second straight start in goal, and stopped five shots. This was the fifth time this season that Rerick made at least four saves in a start. SRU is looking to turn its season around on Saturday as they will visit Lock Haven. "You can't be on every game," Boylan said. "We just need to bounce back on Saturday." A bounce back would go a long way for this team to make the playoffs. They are on the doorstep, and a win would go a long way to make sure they punch their ticket. The team is currently ranked sixth in the Atlantic Region, and the top four will qualify for the NCAA tournament at the end of the season. A big win against Lock Haven may help them move up into tournament consideration.
Lokash credits players for high win count
ALEX MOREY/THE ROCKET
Rock head coach Laurie Lokash discusses strategy with her team during a match in the 2011 season.
Continued from Page C 1
“There is far more of what we do in athletics than count the number of wins for coaches,” Lokash said. “It doesn’t rank anywhere near what you see your kids do. That’s worth a whole lot more.” Lokash said that her numbers don’t mean anything to her, the players do. She takes more enjoyment out of their achievements then her own. Though an incredible feat in her
career, Lokash said the win for the team was what got her excited. After undergoing a five game losing streak, one against Kutztown University (5-19) hours before the win, Lokash coached the Rock to a 3-0 (25-8, 25-16, 25-8) sweep over Cheyney University (2-19) in a PSAC Crossover last Friday. This was also the first time the team defeated a team from the Eastern Division of the conference this season. These wins don’t mean as much
to her personal career as it does to athletic department as well. Slippery seeing her athletes win because she Rock University athletic director Paul got a chance to see success as a player Lueken agrees that Lokash’s priority already, Lokash said. is the players. The effort she puts into While she notes she did not always them the girls give back on the court see it this way, she said she wants her through hard work and dedication, players to experience the same type of giving her the opportunity to be able success as an athlete that she once did. to win her 600th game, he said. “The fact that they had a part in this He said that while this a career is a nice memory and I will remember highlighted win for Lokash, the girls the team and the win,” Lokash said. are the ones on the court playing “It’s more important for them as a and it is up to them. She gives the team to think about it, than me think opportunity for all of her girls to I have 600 wins.” compete and win games, he said. With a staff of former players in While postseason hopes do not look assistant coach Kaylee Smith and to promising, Lueken said he sees graduate assistant Janna Reilly , potential from this win. Lokash has formed a reputation with “Hopefully it’ll propel us into next her players and colleagues the ex- season in a positive way,” Luken said. athletes called a “player’s “With the new four coach.” divisions in volleyball “I was here when the next year and new program went through scheduling format I a lot of changes and think that open some went from three coaches doors hopefully for to one,” Reilly said. our program and her. “Anything that was We could make some thrown at her she could progress.” handle. She always puts Lokash has more the players first.” hope for the rest of the Sitting back to back Scan this QR code to season. Her team has in an office across the watch an exclusive video the potential and it is with Rock hall from their former interview volleyball coach Laurie time to start showing it coach, Reilly, a setter Lokash. on the court she said. from 2011-2014, and “I think it’s time for us Smith, an outside hitter from 2008- to step up and prove that we are a good 2011, reminisce on their experiences team,” Lokash said. playing under Coach Lokash. Smith Lokash said she aspires to win a said that this was the second Lokash championship in the future, but her milestone that she was a part of and it team needs consistency first. Since her was awesome to be able to see them. 600th career win, “I was here for her 500th win,” Smith The Rock beat East Stroudsburg said. “I think it’s awesome that I was University and lost to West Chester here for the 500th and 600th wins. To University. her, she is going to be very modest, but While a championship seems out of 600 wins for any coaches shows the the question for Lokash to put next to dedication and passion any coach has her milestone win this season, she still for the sport and program.” has nine matches left in the season to Her reputation extends beyond her prove that she has the good team that players to other staff members of the she said she does.
SPORTS SRU XC to host PSAC Championships C-4
October 23, 2015
By Ryan Barlow Sports Editor
Slippery Rock University will host several cross-country teams within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) at its home course, Cooper's Lake Campground, this Saturday for the PSAC Cross-Country Championships. The site was the host of the NCAA Atlantic Regional meet in 2014, and also the previous host of the PSAC Championships in 2012. SRU crosscountry head coach John Papa feels very fortunate that the university is able to have a host site such as Cooper's Lake. "A lot of schools do not have suitable sites to host this type of event," Papa said. "It's a great venue for everybody. We do not host just PSAC and NCAA events, but the high schools in the WPIAL also use our course for their big events. The biggest draw for this course is that it is spectator friendly. In a lot of courses, you see the runners take off and then come back in for the finish. The great thing about this course is that you can see everything that is going on." For the event, a total of 16 men's and 18 women's teams will compete. Nine of the top 10 men's teams and all top 10 women's teams of the Atlantic Region will be present during the event. "We're kind of used to hosting these kinds of things," Papa said. "It takes a lot of teamwork. We are at the course a lot beforehand, cutting grass, painting, and pounding in the steaks." No. 25 Edinboro will look to defend its PSAC title in the women's race. No. 13 Bloomsburg will look to make an impact at the race as well during the women's event, along with No. 22 Shippensburg. The Rock women's team, which is ranked fourth within the PSAC and does not have national honors, will rely on senior runner Leah Ann Wirfel. Papa decided to sit Wirfel in the team's previous race to keep her rested for the championships. For the men's race, Slippery Rock
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN PAPA
Sophomore Jeremy Parsons (left) and senior Leah Ann Wirfel (right) are expected to make top 10 finishes at the PSAC Cross-Country Championships which are going to be held at Slippery Rock's home course, Cooper's Lake Campground.
turns to sophomore Jeremy Parsons to lead its program. Other top runners to compete include Lock Haven's seniors Dylan Mountain and Matt Guiod. Both runners placed in the top 10 in 2014's PSAC Championships, with Mountain finishing fourth and Guiod finishing ninth. The Lock Haven team is ranked No. 9 in all of Division II. Shippensburg, the 2014 men's champions, comes to SRU ranked No. 11
overall. The Red Raider's lone returning top 10 finisher from last is Austin McGinley, who placed eighth. For the men's team to compete, Papa hopes his team's home course advantage will play in as a factor. "In our conference, our men and women are ranked fourth," Papa said. "Sometimes, to beat better teams, it might take more than just home field advantage. I'm confident that everyone
will give their best effort and run hard. If we run smart for the first part of the race then hopefully our training and confidence will kick in." The women's event will be at 10 a.m., followed by the men's race which is set for 12 p.m. An award ceremony will be held for the both the men and women's events shortly following the conclusion of the men's race.
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CAMPUS LIFE
INSIDE CAMPUS LIFE
PTX Dominates Music Charts
SRU Body Images Ends The "F Word"
Acapella band Pentatonix released their debut original album last Friday, becoming the first A Cappela group in history to reach #1 on the iTunes charts.
The SRU Body Reflections Club tries to put a stop the word 'fat' by having students sign their petition on Tuesday during common hour as part of their Fat Free-Talk week.
See Page D-3
See Page D-2
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET Sasha Nolan struts down the runway to the song "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyoncé at the Drag Show on Tuesday. Nolan, along with the other drag queens performed twice as well as answered the audience's questions.
RockOUT hosts annual Drag Show Continued from Page A-1
“When I was younger, I would put my teddy bears on my bed and I would sing all my favorite songs to them by Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé, TLC and I would always put my shirt on my head because I didn’t know what wigs were at that time,” Shanel said. “So I would put my shirt on my head and I would twirl and sing. I didn’t know what it [drag] was until RuPaul’s Drag Race. Until that show came on I was like, ‘I kind of do that, just not that well.’” Shanel said when she first started doing drag, it would take her four hours to get ready, but now, she said she knows what she’s doing do it only takes her two and a half hours at maximum. “When I first started, it would take me about four hours and that’s because I had no clue what I was doing,” Shanel said. “I didn’t know anything about make-up, I didn’t know anything about tucking, I didn’t know anything about that. So I was slowly just going with what I would see on TV on YouTube videos. Now that I’m getting better at it and I know what I’m doing, I kind of know my make-up well, it takes me about an hour, two hours, two and a half hours tops.” Shanel said she is not transgender, but just purely a drag queen. “Being a drag queen is me,” Shanel said. “I’m a drag queen, I dress up like a woman for pure entertainment of others.” Shanel said her favorite part of doing drag is hearing the crowd go wild and crazy. She said although some drag queens do drag mainly for the money and publicity, she does it purely for the crowd. “Hearing a crowd go wild and seeing them enjoy the show literally gets me high,” Shanel said. “It makes me so happy. I make money off of it sometimes, but I don’t do it for the money. I do it solely for the crowd.” Shanel said her biggest confidence tips for students is to be
cocky. She said she listens to cocky songs like "Flawless" by Beyoncé and "Feeling Myself" by Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé. Some of the other queens that participated in the show were Angelique Young, Annasteezia, Lola LeCroix, Sasha Nolan and Natasha Starr. Young, who was the emcee of the night, said she has been doing drag for nine years, which will be 10 years on Dec. 6. She said she is known in Florida as "Orlando's Drag Superstar" and is the current reigning Miss City Side, a drag pageant, in Florida.
"Walk fabulously through life and do what you need to do and forget the haters." -Annasteezia Annasteezia is currently Miss. Pittsburgh Pride and is originally from Pittsburgh. She said she's been doing drag for a few years now. Annasteezia said her friends inspired to do drag. She also said watching what could happen while she's on stage, with the crowd going wild, inspired her to do drag. Bringing music to life and actually making it mean something to the audience
is also Annasteezia's favorite thing about doing drag. When it comes to finding confidence, Annasteezia said she doesn't worry about what others think of her and she advised the audience to do the same. "Walk fabulously through life and do what you need to do and forget the haters," she said." Starr has been doing drag for four years and this is her second year being at SRU. Starr said she loves to dance in heels and everything she's learned about dancing, she's learned from YouTube. Outside of doing drag, Starr said she works as a server and bartender at Mojo's Pub-n-Grill in Austintown, Ohio. Starr said her favorite thing about doing drag is feeling like a celebrity for a couple hours, especially after being a server all day. LeCroix resides in Pittsburgh and she went to Penn State for her undergraduate degree. LeCroix is a regional manager for a cosmetics company and she was also the television show, "Dance Moms." She also said she's auditioned for "RuPaul's Drag Race" three times. LeCroix said it doesn't take her long to get dressed for a show. "I can paint a face in 45, 30 to tuck and 30 to get dressed and out the door I go," she said. Nolan said she is the pageant girl of the group. Nolan said her most defining moment as being a drag queen was when she ran for Miss Continental USA, which Nolan said is like the Indy 500 for drag queens. Nolan placed in the top 12 in her first year at the pageant. By day, Nolan said she's a nursing student. Nolan said her favorite song to perform to is"Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé. President of RockOUT, Haley Crompton said the drag show will definitely be back again next year and Crompton, on behalf of RockOUT, asked Young to be the emcee again next year.
CAMPUS LIFE
D-2
October 23, 2015
Students and staff discuss the cultural meanings behind hair
KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET The panel at "Power of Hair: Culture, Identity and Choice" speak about the cultural meanings behind hair, hair loss, the maintenance of hair and their personal encounters with hair on Wednesday in the Robert M. Smith Student Ballroom.
By Samantha Figard Rocket Contributor
Students and staff of Slippery Rock University who are curious about the cultural meaning of hair, loss of hair and maintenance of hair in our society attended a panel hosted in the Robert M. Smith Student Center Theater on Wednesday. Director of Gender Studies, Cindy LaCom, co-hosted the panel with Corinne Gibson, the director of the Office of Multicultural Development. Panelists spoke to support the argument that hair has a greater impact on our culture than most assume. “The idea for the program originated with discussions about how black women in the U.S. face cultural pressure to "manage" their hair to approximate white standards, but it moved quickly to a consideration of hair more generally," LaCom said. "Because I have a family member who had to deal with losing her hair during chemo and figuring out how to address peoples' stares, questions, curiosity and occasional unkindness, we thought it would be useful to include that perspective, and because men also have body image challenges that are too often left out of analyses of gender, we wanted to
include a man's insights." Medical treatments have uncontrollable effects on a person’s body, hair loss being one of several noticeable changes. Panelist Beth Neese took the opportunity to discuss her personal experience with losing her hair due to chemotherapy. “I found out I had breast cancer last March, and the whole thing with hair? Yeah, I was afraid of losing it," Neese said. "After my first treatment with chemotherapy, someone said everyone’s treatment is different. Some women lose their hair and some women don’t. Well, the day after my first treatment, I shaved my head. It was the only thing I had control over. I didn’t have control over anything going on with my body, so it was the one thing I could take care of on my own." The panel argued the white standards of beauty. Junior integrated marketing major Catharyn Burton shared her struggle with accepting her hair, especially because of her different racial background. “[My hair] kind of became an identifier for me," Burton said. "I’m kind of the girl with the ‘fro, but I think it is important to understand that that is not who I am. Although I love my hair and I embrace my hair, I am not just the girl with the ‘fro."
Enrollment Services employee Michael White spoke about baldness from the male perspective. A double standard for men and women exists in our culture, where baldness for men is more readily accepted. “I was a professional working in the field of admissions and I was at a conference, and I kept my hair very short," White said. "That morning I got up and I thought to myself, 'I need to cut my hair,' so as I was doing it, I nicked it badly. I couldn’t go around with this nick, so I decided to cut it all off. I did not think about my professional stature. I did not think about what my wife might say. I did not think about what my friends might say. I just decided to do it, because it made sense. But what happened that day was, people embraced my baldness, a lot. I got a lot of compliments, so I decided to keep shaving regardless of what others might think." The presence of varying gender roles in relation to short hair was debated during the panel. Audience member Jasmine Kostenbader, a female student with short hair, expressed her thoughts on the topic through her own association. “People treated me very differently when I cut my hair," Kostenbader said. "I like to do dramatic changes, but when I cut my
hair, people don’t treat me as feminine. I am still exactly who I am. People don’t take me seriously as a female with short hair, and I don’t know why, because it’s just my hair. I wear the same outfits that I wore when I had long hair. It’s very confusing." Audience member Candice Robinette described a societal belief that long hair equates to beauty and femininity. The media defines beauty in a way that most women cannot compare to and long hair is a usual attribute depicted. “I used to compete in beauty pageants," Robinette said. "Before you compete, you go to events, and they tell you what you need to do in order to get ready for the pageant. One of the big things they told me was that I need to get extensions… I always just thought it was an interesting experience for me; someone telling me that in order to be beautiful [my] hair has to be long." The panel allowed students and staff to become mindful of the value society puts on hair. The choices, or in some cases the lack thereof, people make concerning hair has an effect. “We hope that students walk out with a sense of personal power in terms of the choices they might make about their hair as a cultural marker of meaning,” LaCom said.
SRU Body Reflections Club attempts to end the "F word" By Sam Delauter Rocket Contributor
When most people hear the phrase the "F word,” they either think of an ambiguous explicative or a derogatory term for homosexuality. Society has deemed both of these terms so demeaning and so profane that we literally mask them in everyday life, referring to them only by their first initial. This week on campus, The SRU Body Reflections Club is seeking to broaden the "F word" euphemism even further to also include the word "fat." Monday kicked off the organization’s Fat Talk Free Week, which seeks to spread awareness about body shaming and encourage body positivity. The organization ran a booth outside of Starbucks which featured tips and exercises that help people see themselves in a positive light. A "beauty bin" let students write down a negative aspect about themselves and throw it away and a beauty scale displayed a compliment instead of a number when you stepped on it. Along with the booth, the club hosted an array of events throughout the week. Monday was makeup-free Monday, on Tuesday there was a petition for people to sign to stop using the "F word," Wednesday was the showing of the movie "The Mask You Live In" and Friday the club had an Instagram cutout for students to take a pictures with, with the hashtag #BeYOUnique on the frame. All week, the club was also posting positive talk sticky notes on bathroom mirrors around campus. "We really want people to stop the negative talk and learn to love themselves," SRU Body Reflections Club President Felicia Stover said. "You don't have to be a model to be beautiful." "Fat talk" occurs both internally and externally as many young men and women consciously or subconsciously seek to fit society's often unrealistic image of beauty. Some examples include, "I shouldn't wear this because it makes me look fat," or "That
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET Senior envirnomental science and professional science major Santa Belle signs the petition to end the "F" word on Tuesday.
looks good on you; have you lost weight?" Instead of channeling these negative thoughts and trying to fit society's beauty mold, the SRU Body Reflections club wants people to focus on the positives and find beauty in their uniqueness and individuality. While body shaming is generally seen as only unique to females, this often times is not the case. Many argue that modern American culture places a great deal of pressure on young men to "prove their masculinity." On Wednesday, the club shed light on this issue with the showing of the film "The Mask You Live in," a 2015 Sundance Film Festival documentary that explores how society's definition of masculinity is impeding on young
men's ability to be authentic to their true selves. The film digs deep into the societal implications this has as well as what future generations can do to combat the culture. Students around campus have taken notice to the positive messages. "The response we've been getting about the event has been pretty great," Body Reflections Club Social Media Manager Laura Hancock said On the club's Twitter page, multiple students received retweets for their #NoMakeupMonday hashtag, and various students commended the club for the underlying message it is spreading.
October 23, 2015
CAMPUS LIFE
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Jeff Sheng presents 13 year long project, 'Fearless'
KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET Jeff Sheng shares the story behind his story photobook "Fearless" with the audience on Tuesday night in the Robert M. Smith Student Center Ballroom.
By Mandy Feldbauer Rocket Deliverer
American photographer and social justice activist Jeff Sheng shared his 13 year long project and book "Fearless" with students on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. Sheng said that "Fearless" is a photography series of LGBT+ athletes of all ethnicities. The project is a compilation of 204 athletes. The book is all inclusive, featuring every athlete who volunteered to be a part of this project. "The book has eight different covers because we couldn't pick which athlete was going to be the cover," Sheng said. The different covers are also in eight colors so when lined up they create the original rainbow flag. He said the book took three years to design the layout. He wanted the book to have a coffee table book feel to it. Sheng explained that there is a lot of trust that goes into this type of photography.
"In each of these photo shoots, you know, it's a combination of either lighting kit or natural lighting," Sheng said. "I sort of look for an image where you can really see into somebody." He said that photographing an individual is an intimate moment between the photographer and the subject. Sheng feels haunted sometimes by his photographs because he feels like he knows the people just by looking at their picture. Sheng said that he photographed people in between workouts so that he could capture the beads of sweat on their bodies and faces. Sheng included his story throughout the book and lecture. "I actually identify as part of the LGBT commmunity," he said. Sheng explained he didn't actually come out until college because he went to a large public school in Southern California. He said he had a hard time finding out who he really was. Sheng played tennis throughout high school, but that he chose not to play his senior year. "I actually decided not to play my senior year, and a lot of it
Ask Andi
Andi is a senior at SRU giving advice to those who seek it and occassionally to those who don't.
Question: Dear Andi,
I want to be something funny for Halloween, but all my friends want to dress sexy. I don't really feel comfortable enough to dress sexy, but I don't want to be left out from my friends. Should I dress sexy or stick to my funny costume idea? Sincerely, Innocent Irene
Answer:
Dear Innocent Irene,
Halloween is supposed to be fun for everyone. So, I say do whatever you think is fun. A lot of people think it's fun to dress up in a sexy costume for a night, but plenty of people show off their funniest attire too. If you can, find a theme costume that another friend would be willing to dress up with you as. Although all of our costumes will be documented and plastered on social media for all of our friends to see now and forever, what you decide to wear this Halloween will (hopefully) not affect your future. Your friends won't care what you dress up as, as long as you're all together having a good time. Trick or Treat! Andi
was because I thought that by avoiding sports, I would be able to find the space in order to finally deal with the questions I had about my sexual orientation at the time," Sheng said. When Sheng was in high school, he tried to fit in with the crowd and tease LGBT+ students through homophobic slurs, but now he regrets treating people that way. As an adult, Sheng thinks that out LGBT+ athletes are heroic because he didn't have the courage to be out when he played tennis in high school. Sheng said it was eye opening for him to begin to photograph people who identify as transgender. "I wasn't aware of the kinds of challenges they faced," he said. "It's a huge coming out for them, different from what a lot of the gay, lesbian and bisexual athletes have to face." Sheng also touched upon his other photography series, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which features more than 80 closeted service members. This series presented these service members with their faces covered, representing their closeted identities. The pictures gained a lot of traction from major news outlets. "And so these photographs quickly just got emailed, well not really emailed but social media took over and news agencies asked about them," Sheng said. "And I was also being interviewed by The New York Times and ABC World News talking about the lives of these people because many of the service members couldn't participate in it." Sheng holds a BA from Harvard University, an MA from Stanford University and an MFA from the University of California, Irvine. He taught photography and Asian studies classes at multiple universities as well. Sheng's work has been featured in Time Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, The Advocate, The New Yorker and Newsweek. He also presented work at Nike Headquarters, ESPN Headquarters and at the 2009 International Conference for the Human Rights Campaign in Copenhagen, Denmark. Before the event started Jodi Solito, director of the Women's Center and Pride Center, announced the lecture was part of Pride Week which she explained as a week dedicated to the awareness of the LGBT+ and ally community at SRU. "This is the kick off to Pride Week," Solito said. After the event, Sheng opened the floor up for questions and sold his book to students for a discounted price of $20 which he also signed. Sheng's lecture was sponsored by the Pride Center and RockOUT. Sheng's "Fearless" exhibit is for viewing in the commuter lounge of the Smith Student Center until Oct. 23. It will then be moved to the Art Building from Oct. 26 until Oct. 30.
Pentatonix's original album offers new twist on classic Acapella music
Amber Cannon "Ambie's Reviews" Amber Cannon is a senior communications major and the Campus Life editor of The Rocket.
Season 3 winners of "The Sing-Off " and Grammy award winning artists, Pentatonix released their self-titled debut original album on Friday Oct. 16. Pentatonix is a five member Acapella group composed of beatboxer Kevin Olusola, bass Avi Kaplan, baritone Scott Hoying, tenor Mitch Grassi and mezzo-soprano Kirstin Maldonado. As a huge Pentatonix fan, I was anxiously counting down the days until this album's release. This album for Pentatonix differs from other work that the group has done primarily because it is full of original songs, including four covers. The album has a total of 17 songs, four of which are covers. The first thing I noticed when listening to this album is the unique order the songs were in. Each song takes the listener on a roller coaster ride. It starts out with a big pop anthem-type song, "Na Na Na" and ends with a chill and feel-good song, "Can't Sleep Love (Feat. Tink)." The album covers a wide range of different genres including EDM (electronic dance music), R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop and Rock. It's hard enough for an Acapella group to keep pitch, but to cover different genres while still keeping that crisp and spot-on sound that Pentatonix is known for is very impressive. Other songs on the album such as "Misbehavin" is a modern soul track with
an old-school doo-wop twist. "Ref " starts out as an EDM song, but then turns into a R&B/ Hip-Hop song that makes the listener want to get up and dance. "First Things First" has an old-school Hip-Hop vibe that makes it the perfect party song. "Cracked" is a powerful gospel sounding song that swells at the end giving the listener chills. "New Year's Day" is an everyday anthem and a celebrationesque song. "Rose Gold," "Water" and "Take Me Home" are the three ballads on the album that each have their own beautiful productions. The four covers on the album include OMI's "Cheerleader," Skrillex, Diplo and Justin Bieber's "Where Are Ă&#x153; Now," Major Lazer's "Lean On" and Shai's "If I Ever Fall In Love." My personal favorite on this album is the cover of "If I Ever Fall In Love." The song features Jason Derulo and even though it's a cover, Pentatonix makes it their own and delivers it in a way that differs from the original. My only critique on this album is the cheesy lyrics. In "Sing," one line in the song reads, "I don't know what you've been told, but music makes you lose control." Also, the amount of na na na's in "Na Na Na" makes it seem like Pentatonix couldn't come up with any other lyrics other than that repeating line. For an Acapella group to pull off an album that is not only at the top of the charts on Apple Music and surpassing Demi Lovato in album sales, but to deliver an innovative and versatile album with difficult beats and harmonies is impressive. Although Acapella music is ver y underrated, it has slowly started to make its mark ever since "Pitch Perfect." I feel as though Pentatonix is really setting the example of what Acapella music is and what is has the potential to be. Someone can listen to Pentatonix's new album whether they need a go-to anthem song, like "Sing", a good cry, like "Light In the Hallway," a go-to party song, like "First Things First" or if they just love choir-music in general.
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October 23, 2015