the rocket
Friday August 28, 2015 • Volume 99, Issue Number 1 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper
www.theonlinerocket.com
New local businesses bring more variety to Main St. By Haley Barnes News Editor
Compared to other college towns in Pennsylvania like Oakland and State College, the town of Slippery Rock is not notorious for offering a variety of locations for the public. However, Main Street, located in the heart of Slippery Rock, now has four new businesses that have been added to the street. New businesses that have recently opened or have yet to open include Yumberries, Compadres Express, Back to the Vape and Computer & Cell Phone Repair. Rhonda Criss is the owner of Yumberries, which is located at 249 S Main St where a photography business used to be. There are currently two other Yumberries, one located in Hermitage, Pennsylvania and the other in Boardman, Ohio. She explained that she is pushing to have her shop open for Labor Day weekend. Criss said that Yumberries is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop that will feature 12 flavors from Honey Hill Farms. There will be 18 cold toppings and 15 dry toppings for customers to top their yogurt with. Price will be determined by the weight of the yogurt and will cost 42 cents per ounce. Criss explained that after a few years of ups and downs in her career life, that she needed to work with people in order to be happy. After the close of a different frozen yogurt shop, Rock-N-Yogurt, which was located at 152 S Main
St., Criss said she wanted to go into the frozen yogurt business, but that she wanted to try a different approach. "Slippery Rock would be a great place to do this," she said. "There is nothing like this around here." Unlike Rock-N-Yogurt, Yumberries will be open all year round besides on major holidays and will feature seasonal yogurts like pumpkin flavor and candy cane flavor. Criss said all Slippery Rock University students will receive a 10 percent discount with their SRU ID. She will also offer a rewards program where the customer's cell phone will be utilized to keep track of points and that customers who are part of the rewards program will receive discount offers randomly via text. When the frozen yogurt shop opens, business hours will be Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Criss explained that her hours will be very flexible and she will adjust her hours accordingly to what the customers what. Compadres Express, located at 126 S Main St, will be taking over the location that used to be Inferno Pizza. Compadres Express is a smaller version of the local restaurant chain, Compadres Mexican Restaurant. The chain has locations in Grove City, Pennsylvania, Meadville, Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania and Greenville, Pennsylvania.
HALEY BARNES/THE ROCKET
Craig Wrona (front) and Michael Kosior (back) of Giodarno Construction work inside of Yumberries. Rhonda Chriss, owner of Yumberries, is pushing for the frozen yogurt shop to be open Labor Day weekend.
SEE BUSINESSES, PAGE A-2
SRU students are issued new IDs after expiration of previous ID contract
expired and the Rock Dollars program was terminated at the end of June. The old cards were issued by Central National Bank in Enid, Oklahoma and sponsored by Heartland Payment Systems. Students' old IDs are currently rendered
unusable, and to use services like the ARC and swiping into Boozel, students are required to use their new IDs to access these services. In a mass email, students were told that they could pick up their new IDs in the commuter lounge of the student center until Aug. 28, and after that date could be picked up in the ID card office in Watson Hall. SRU alumna, Jillian Wilcox, said that she and other SGA majors were told that the replacement IDs were issued because of an expired contract. SGA members were tasked with distributing surveys to randomly selected classes in order to choose the new background image for the Student IDs. Connor Himich, a sophomore public relations major, said that he didn't see the point in a new ID. "I think it's kind of a waste of money for the university to issue every student a new ID," he said. The Rock Dollars program was terminated on June 30 of last year, and that feature is no longer accessible through student ID cards, but with the new IDs, students can link their cards to their bank account, and their ID will double as an ATM card. "I never used Rock Dollars," Jess Dowd, a junior Spanish and marketing double major, said. "I never really knew what they
were." Doud said that she didn't understand why she would use Rock Dollars when she could just have her parents transfer money into her bank account. Nick Contestabile, a sophomore exercise science major, said he knew a lot of people who used Rock Dollars. "They're probably pretty disappointed that Rock Dollars are gone," he said. The new IDs feature a photo of Vincent Science Center in place of the previously featured Old Main. Comparing the two ID cards, Dowd said that she liked the old ones better. "I don't think the new ones are very pretty," she said. Contestabile said the IDs could be more aesthetically pleasing. Himich agreed with Dowd and Contestabile about the appearance of the old ID cards. "The picture of Old Main looked better, classier than the older picture of Vincent," he said. In contrast, freshman English major, Nick Boehm, who never had the old ID's, said, "I think they're fine." Students who haven't picked up their new IDs can do so in the ID Card Office at 157 Watson Hall, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
New Degree Choices at SRU
Worst Freshman Blunders
Football Looks To Defend Title
'Paper Towns ' Is A Total Let Down
Staff explains new degrees offered this semester and what degrees are yet to come Page A-3
Upperclassmen weigh in on Twitter to report the worst freshman mistakes they've seen Page B-2
The SRU football team is projected to finish second in the PSAC-West in title defense season. Page C-1
AMBER CANNON/THE ROCKET
Marketing major, Christian Herman, physics major Michael Hartos, environmental science major Cody Colagrande and safety major Andrew Koksal pick up their IDs at the Robert M. Smith Student commuter lounge.
By Chris Gordon Assisstant News Editor
SRU students were issued new student IDs this semester after the contract with the company who issued the old IDs
The newly released movie doesn't live up to fan expectations.
Page D-3
NEWS
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New president hopes to better SGA By Chris Gordon Assistant News Editor
Slippery Rock University was not on Logan Steigerwalt's list. Living an Catch something exciting happening hour and a half north of Philadelphia on campus? Want your Insta-photos to in Allentown, Pennsylvania, this high be featured in The Rocket? Just follow school baseball captain and member of the National Honor's Society never @SRURocket on Instagram and use considered the Western Pennsylvania # in the caption for your school until his mother, a 1987 chance to be featured here every week! graduate, made him pay a visit to her alma mater. "I fell in love," Steigerwalt said, despite his initial hesitation. "It was the only place I applied." Today, Steigerwalt, a 20-year-old junior marketing major, certified skiing instructor and avid ARC-goer, is the president of Slippery Rock's Student Government Association. Steigerwalt attributed his rise to meeting "the right group of people" midway through his freshman year. The group that freshman Steigerwalt found was the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, which he met in spring of 2014, he said. Though he initially faced trouble getting involved on campus, Steigerwalt said he first considered SGA when he was asked by a friend to run on the "Costume Party" ticket as a North Hall senator for the 2014-2015 academic year. Steigerwalt agreed and, to his surprise, he said, he was elected. "If you'd asked me my freshman year if I'd even be on SGA, let alone eventually run for president, I'd say 'yeah right,'" he confessed. With the help of several "peer mentors," Steigerwalt was able to rise through the ranks of SGA, eventually becoming speaker of the senate shortly after the spot was vacated in December 2014, he said. "I don't know why, but John Coulter really took me under his Blotter.................A-3 S p o r t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C - 1
INDEX
Opinion................B-1 Campus Life...........D-1 Comics...................B-3
wing," Steigerwalt said of the former SGA vice president. "I don't think I would have stuck around if it weren't for him." Steigerwalt also attributed his readiness for the speaker position to the adoption of his "EARS" slogan, which stands for enhance, advocate, represent and support. "I wanted senators to have something to say when students ask what SGA does," he said. "EARS is what came of that." As speaker, Steigerwalt worked closely with the SGA vice president of finance to shorten language in their old constitution, leading to the approval of SGA's new constitution and bylaws in April of 2015, he said. On running for president, Steigerwalt said his decision took time. "No one was really stepping forward and building a ticket," he said. "I didn't start thinking about it until January or February and, at that point, it was about 80/20 that I wouldn't run." After talks with Brad Kovaleski, Slippery Rock's executive director of student development, and Katie Hill, the former president of SGA, Steigerwalt said his decision was about 50/50. "I wasn't sure if I had enough experience, but I wanted to build personal relationships with Slippery Rock's administration and move the university forward, so I eventually decided to run," he said. Steigerwalt admitted that the lack of student involvement with SGA is a problem and said meetings took place over the summer in hopes of addressing it. "It makes things tough, which is why we're really pushing to raise awareness right now," he said. "We're planting yard signs, we have a
tweeting schedule and we're trying to throw more of our own events." As for the incomplete senate, Steigerwalt said the lack of awareness of SGA hurt the election process. He noted, however, that SGA has recently received many applications for vacant senate positions, which he attributes to SGA's current awareness campaign. "If people apply for a position, they want it for a reason," Steigerwalt said. "They're motivated to represent the student body, rather than just joining a ticket for a friend and a title." As president, Steigerwalt has a number of key agenda items he'd like to enact, including the creation of a student leadership conference, turning student life survey responses into administration-lead actions and creating a student-run computer repair service, he said. Additionally, Steigerwalt wants to work with the university's weather advisory board to simplify the process by which winter delays and cancellations are made, so that SGA can better communicate these decisions to the student body, he said. He also expressed hope to continue "Project Positivity," a campaign of positive communication enacted by former SGA vice president, Jared Stanley. In contrast with his predecessor, Katie Hill, Steigerwalt said he'd like to incorporate more delegation into his leadership style, giving more responsibility to his vice presidents. "Sometimes Katie would try to do everything and you could tell she was getting bogged down," he said. For his presidency, Steigerwalt said he's motivated by the future. "I'd like to leave SGA in a better place than when I got it. I received it in a good place, but you always want to see things get better."
Businesses will showcase local talent Continued from Page A-1
Manager at the Grove City location, Leo Quintero, said that Compadres Express will be similar to restaurants like Chipotle and Moe's Southwest Grill, where the customer has their order taken and the food will be made-to-order. Newsroom: 220 Eisenberg Building He said that the projected opening day will be in 30 to 60 days and that Compadres Express will have a modified (724) 738-4438 Slippery Rock menu compared to the other restaurants. Advertising: University Business partners John Cooney and Garret Schloss (724) 738-2643 Slippery Rock, PA opened a vaporizer shop called Back to the Vape at 173 S Main St, where hippy themed shop Heathers used to be. Fax: 16057 Cooney said that the shop is open, but that the official (724) 738-4896 opening day will happen during Village Fest. Email: "This has been a dream of mine for the last four rocket.letters@sru.edu years," Cooney said. "I have eight years of glassblowing experience." Cooney and Schloss hand blow their own glass Nationally recognized as one of the top 10 four-year weekly products and hope to eventually blow the glass inside broadsheet newspapers by the the shop. Cooney said that prices for glass will range from Associated Collegiate Press. $7 to $800. Cooney said that a friend of his makes the liquids and that liquid orders can be customizable when it comes to what kind of flavors the customer wants. He said that they will have the ability to mix flavors and an 18 milliliter bottle of liquid will cost $7.50. He expects vanilla custard and "loops," which is a Kellogg's Fruit Loops inspired liquid, to be fairly popular. Cooney explained that using a vaporizer is not 100
CONTACT US
August 28, 2015
percent risk-free. "It is a method for people to step down off of cigarettes," he said. Computer Cell & Cell Phone Repair, located at 208 S Main St., is open for business. Greg Quintero is a technician in the shop and a 1994 alumnus of SRU with a degree in Information Systems. He explained the shop will do anything that is computer related, including fixing computer viruses and fixing cracked screens of any type of phone. Quintero said when it comes to fixing a cracked phone screen, prices can range from $100 to $115. He said he understands that college students are on a budget, but that the needs to remain competitive as well. La Famiglia Pizza and Pasta House, located at 354 S Main St., is an Italian restaurant that opened on June 25, 2013. The restaurant now offers a delivery service to anywhere in Slippery Rock within a four mile radius of the restaurant. Owner of La Famiglia Mike Szurek explained that the restaurant does takeout all day and the delivery service begins at 4 p.m. He said that both takeout and delivery are full menu, but that there will be $1.50 delivery charge and a minimum $8 food order required. Szurek explained that La Famiglia's menu is not just limited to lunch and dinner, but that a breakfast menu is also available.
NEWS
August 28, 2015
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POLICE BLOTTER alcohol violation.
Campus August 22- Tyler Louk, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation. August 22- Julie O'Brien, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation.
August 22- Gino Quahliero, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation.
July 18- Derek Bush was arrested for drunk driving after being stopped along Main Street. July 18- Tanner Steele was cited for disorderly conduct.
August 22- Christopher Morrell, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation.
July 18- Jeremy Barkley was arrested for drunk driving after being stopped along Grove City Road.
August 25- Darel Greenfield, 52, was charged with theft. August 22- Sarah Quikel, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation. August 22- Bailey Valentik, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation.
August 25- Kevin Rectenwald, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation. August 25- McKenzie Garth, 18, was charged with disorderly conduct.
August 22- Madison Wiatroski, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation. August 22- A juvenile, 15, was charged with an alcohol violation. August 22- A juvenile, 17, was charged with an alcohol violation. August 22- A juvenile, 17, was charged with an alcohol violation.
Borough July 7- John Foster was arrested for aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct after police were called for a domestic dispute. July 12- Bryan Deal, Nicholas Contestabile and Alexandria Reither were given underage citations after being stopped along Fairview Drive.
July 17- Vanessa Morrison was arrested for drunk August 22- Robert Natale, 18, was charged with an
driving.
July 29- Bailey Mrozek was cited for public drunkenness after being found unconscious along South Main Street. July 30- Walker Hartman was cited with disorderly house after being stopped along Franklin Street and found drunk. August 2- Patrick Kapa was arrested for drunk driving after being stop along South Main Street for a traffic violation. August 6- Christopher Culley and Nathaniel Wellcome were cited for disorderly conduct after being found in possession of drug paraphernalia along Midway Alley.
Compiled by Chris Gordon Full blotter available at www.theonlinerocket.com
Degree options expand through new programs offered at SRU By Daniel DiFabio Rocket Contributor
Beginning this semester, two new degrees were added to the list of programs that Slippery Rock University has to offer with more programs to come. Mary Hennesey, Assistant to the Provost, has been heavily involved in the process of developing and integrating these new programs. “We’ve had some new majors that started before this fall; we only have two that are actually starting this fall,” Hennessey said. In addition to those two majors, there are two others that will be offered beginning fall 2016, three others that
are in the last stages of approval and five others that are in various early stages of development. The two majors newly offered in this fall semester are Data Analytics, a mathrelated master's degree, and a Physician Assistant Studies master’s degree. Freshman students on this degree path take biology courses starting out. This is part of one of the university’s Accelerated Affiliation programs offered for certain areas of study. Fall of 2016 will see the introduction of two bachelor’s programs: one in Petroleum Natural Gas Engineering and one in Dance, both of which will be open to prospective students. Currently in the last stages of approval, but not yet completely finalized, are bachelor’s degrees in Homeland Security and Corporate Security, and a
master’s degree in Public Health. “What happens is we have to get approval - different approvals on campus - [by] our council of trustees and then the board of governors,” said Hennessey. “[It] takes a number of months to go through, and then once they approve it we have to advertise before we start it. So we have some programs that we just got approval for that are starting next fall. We have a year to recruit new students and get the word out about [those programs].” There are five degrees in early development that could also be introduced in upcoming years. These include master’s degrees in both Athletic Training and Music Therapy, as well as bachelor’s degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language, Health Informatics and Healthcare
Information Management. While it may seem like the university is leaning toward programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, Hennessey said, there is plenty of focus on ensuring the success of all of its students. “We’re very focused on majors that people can use to have valuable careers after they leave the institution," she said.And so if you’re looking at the BFA in Dance, that will give our students the most flexibility when they have dance careers and eventually can’t be dancers anymore so they will have the background in business, so they will be able to start careers and and open a dance studio, [then] go into choreography or something like that. And so that’s really our goal.”
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OPINION
Our View New ID Cards Don’t Represent Students
OPINION rocket.letters@sru.edu Volume 99, Number 1
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 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
KENDALL SCOTT/ THE ROCKET
Campus Life Editor
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.
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.
SRU students got an email over the summer that announced that all students were to get new student IDs within the first several weeks of school. Despite the IDs’ function remaining largely the same, with only the exemption of recently discontinued “Rock Dollars,” they have one glaring flaw. We at the Rocket feel that not only are our new IDs not representative of the best aspects of SRU, but are also ugly. The old IDs featured the trademark of SRU’s campus, Old Main, with its iconic clock that graces not only the university’s own logo, but also our logo here at the Rocket. Old Main is a historic building that most students connect with one way or the other, especially because the clock sounds off every hour. The new IDs feature Vincent Science Center (VSC), and not the renovated VSC, but its older (and significantly more ugly) ancestor. Most of us at the Rocket have never seen VSC before it was renovated, and have no connection to the image that is splayed behind our ID information. Being that the Rocket staff is made up largely of communication majors, we all would be compliant with having the Eisenberg Classroom Building on
our IDs, but the rest of the campus would most likely feel disconnected from it. Likewise with VSC, while it may resonate with some students, many would not see a good reason for the building to be representative of the university. In front of the ugly building on our new IDs is our iconic water fountain, another symbol many students could identify and resonate with, but the logo on the front of it isn’t visible, and the fountain itself is turned off. Instead of the fountain that many students could identify front-on, it instead looks like a random pile of rubble accumulated in front of an already unattractive building. The logo on the IDs is also pixelated, and doesn’t have a high enough contrast for the white to stand out against the background. The university’s logo should be the part that stands out most on the IDs, but it just fades into its equally low-res and pixelated background. With SRU’s staff continually working to make the campus more attractive for potential students, one would think that they’d use the most attractive and resonating images for its student IDs, but with the new IDs this isn’t the case. A student ID is something that students constantly use, whether they’re swiping into
In the Quad
Boozel or the ARC, or even getting student discounts at restaurants and stores. Because it is something that is continually used by students, it should be a photo of something that resonates with all of them. We have historic Old Main, a waterfall that nearly every freshman has taken a photo with, and a fairly new (and expensive) student center. All of these should have been considered before VSC or any other academic building that most students can’t relate to. Instead of randomly selecting students to take a survey on what should’ve been on the ID cards, the people that issued the cards could’ve at least sent out a mass email where students could vote on several locations that would be featured. Though many students wouldn’t care or vote either way, it’s still important to give everyone the option to vote. Because students are most likely going to carry their ID card in their wallet for about four years, it’s important that we all have a say in what’s going on them. And what’s going on them should be a solid photo of a place that all students can recognize and be proud of, as well as one that isn’t pixelated so the IDs don’t look thrown together.
This week’s question: How do you feel about the new businesses on Main Street? What else would you like to see?
In the Quad is a segment in which random students, faculty and staff are asked for their opinions on a specific topic.
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.
Rachel Hunziker Junior Special Education Major Moon, Pennsylvania
London Heard Junior APA Major Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Matt Droveck Sophomore Marketing Major Victor, New York
“I haven’t gotten to see the new businesses yet but I would like to see a Chipotle or Dunkin donuts.”
“I’ve seen a new clothing store that they’re setting up. I would like to see a new fast food restaurant.”
“ I ’ ve s e e n C o m p a d r e s Express and I would like to see Mighty Taco, it’s like a Taco Bell but they make really good tacos. ”
OPINION
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August 28, 2015
QUESTION OF
THE WEEK @SRURocket
Didn’t get the chance to reply? Keep the conversation going with #SRUOpinion on Twitter. Look for next week’s question this Monday.
Six things they don’t tell freshmen at orientation
Chris Gordon Commentary G enerally sp e aking, Slipp er y Ro ck University does an excellent job ensuring its students experience a smooth transition from home-life to college. Each year, a few low-key details inevitably fall through the cracks. So, take it from someone with a few years at SRU under their belt, this is what you should know that you weren't told at orientation: 1. Bring an umbrella. And a windbreaker. And boots. Anything waterproof imaginable will help, actually. If you came for calm winds and pleasant weather, this is the wrong school for you. I can't tell you how many inside-out umbrellas, ruined hairdos and water-damaged laptops I've seen over the years. Anyone who's ever lived in the dorms will tell you that Rock Pride Drive is a wind tunnel between October and April. Your shoes will get soaked. Your hair will be wind-blown. You will cut through any building imaginable on the way to class, just to escape the storm for a few sweet moments. Slippery Rock is the true windy city, so do yourself a favor and just prepare. 2. The wait at Sheetz ain't worth it. On many a weekend night, you'll find yourself among a group of friends going down
Main Street towards Sheetz. Now, normally, Sheetz is a great idea. It's fast, inexpensive and obviously delicious. Sheetz on Friday and Saturday nights is like the clumsier, less talented cousin of its usual self, however. The same "quesarito" that took 5 minutes at lunch time will take a minimum of 45 once G-Hill starts to clear out. The pick-up line becomes the lottery for the semi-coherent mass that consumes every inch of floor space the store has to offer. If you're really feeling the Sheetz vibe, go to Domino's and eat it at Sheetz. Enjoy your pizza and a show, while you watch some drunk person argue with a worker who "gave their order to someone else." 3. Don't buy your textbooks from the bookstore.
Happy Bus will take you above and beyond where you'll actually need to go. During the day, every commuter lot within a 10-minute walk of the the Quad is filled to capacity and it's a shame that an on-the-go senior should have to park basically at Pine Glenn just so freshmen can hold down their resident spots with cars they only use to drive home every other weekend anyways. 5. Smart kids go to Boozel during common hour. During that hour and a half of free-time the university grants us, Rocky's seems appealing. You're just getting ready to splurge and use a bit of that oh-so-precious flex, while enjoying some food that isn't a turkey doughnut burger with ginger sauce. You'll soon find, however, that the second floor of the Smith Student Center is nothing but chaos. From Greeks to band geeks to SGA, Rocky's is overwhelmed by just about everyone other than those just looking for lunch. The lines are long, the seating is scarce and the noise is deafening. So save your flex for a time you won't be taking someone's "established" seat, you have more meals than you'll ever use anyway.
I have at least a few friends who have cut rolls of paper towels in half to make toilet paper, so it's safe to say the average SRU student isn't rolling in cash. That's why it's hard to justify the sky-high prices of the SGA Bookstore's textbooks, which really pack a punch to your bank account. Sure, many professors will wait until the first day of class to tell you what book you'll need, seemingly cornering you against a mound of books that must be made of solid gold. Just remember that there's always a way 6. Say "goodbye" to the Hello Tradition. around the bookstore, though. Many cheaper, online options exist and, if you need proof, It's one of those traditions that no one check out The Rocket's April 23rd article on other than Green and White Society members textbook prices. know, but for some reason, freshmen love it. If you're a sophomore and up, you know this 4. Leave your car at home. is prime-time for greetings from 50 different people you've never seen before. It's awkward, I know you're skeptical, but once you're confusing and it makes you feel bad for not an off-campus commuter like myself, you'll knowing who your greeter is. Freshmen, this be saying the same thing. Unless you're isn't to say you shouldn't be friendly, but you stuck at Building F, the furthest academic might as well just tattoo a giant "#SRU19" on building from your dorm is a brisk 15-minute your forehead if you're going to greet everyone walk. That being said, there is no tangible you walk by who isn't intently staring at their reason why you'll need a car at SRU. All the phone. We get it, you're new. necessities are provided on campus and the
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August 28, 2015
We’re Hiring! Are you comfortable talking on the phone? Are you excited to be at Slippery Rock? Are you interested in working for nonprofits? Would you like to network with alumni? Are you looking for on-campus employment?
Apply to be a Phonathon
Student Ambassador!
For details on how to apply, contact: Marissa Cozza 724.738.2197 mcozza@srufoundation.org
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COMICS Best in Show
By Phil Juliano
Brewster Rockit: Space Guy
By Tim Rickard
COMICS
Horoscopes
Today's Birthday (08/28/15). Your light shines this year. Power and confidence energize you. Lead a charge (after 10/13). Careful stewardship of joint resources grows savings (after 10/27). Make a soulful connection after 3/8. Release worn-out attitudes after 3/23. Follow your heart. To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Don't take on more than you can do by the deadline. Notice where the cash flows, and reduce costs. Let a family member handle a problem at home. Authority gets questioned. Avoid jealousies. Discretion is advised. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Meetings could interfere with family time. Turn down a possibility to advance, if it means too much time away. Tempers could flare. Postpone an important decision until you're sure. Share treats and process the situation. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- You go further behind closed doors. Don't discuss your private life. Monitor expenses, and keep enough cash on hand. Stay out of someone else's fuss. Bring your social skills and graciousness to the fore. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Schedule carefully to stay the course. Find what you need nearby. Be patient with complainers. Save time by not engaging. Defer romantic gratification. It could get expensive. Get yourself a little treat and keep in action. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Favor slow and methodical over impulsive. Research avoids a wasted trip. Moderate a disagreement or scheduling conflict. Stay in communication, and follow updates closely. Keep someone in the loop who especially appreciates it. Practice random kindness. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Passion's rising, and the temperature is hot. Achieve your desires with honey and a smile. Take things slowly, or risk mistakes. Think before impulsively spending. Provide comfort and good sense. Enjoy domestic pleasures and simple fare. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Don't rush! Take your time and get it right. Choose the option that's best for your family. Love, money and beauty tempt you. A separation is permanent, if you say so. Do more research before venturing forth. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Don't start until you're sure where you're going. Energetic friends stir emotions. Tweak your route. Double-check provisions before heading out. Get local supplies. Weed out stuff you don't need. Defer gratification a little longer. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -Plan a family event. Consider hidden agendas and scheduling conflicts. Things may not go as planned. Remember someone who needs you. The odds of misunderstanding are high, so take extra care articulating communications and listening. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -Domestic and professional responsibilities clash. Don't buy unnecessary stuff. Use charm and humor to work out a solution. Appeal to the greater good. Avoid gossip and jealousies. Listen, and really hear what gets said. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Don't worry about fault or blame. Tempers could heat up. What matters is what you're committed to having as a result. You can work out conflicts. Keep your promises, or change them. Business and domestic issues blend. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -- A walk in nature or peaceful meditation provides the answers you've been seeking. No one needs to know how you feel right now. You don't always have to say yes. Call if you're going to be late. (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 www. lindablack.com and www.nancyblack.com) (c)2015 bY NANCY BLACK DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Bliss
By Harry Bliss
B-5
August 28 , 2015
S SPORTS
INSIDE SPORTS
Online Exclusive
Women's Soccer
The Rock women's ďŹ eld hockey team seeks a spot in the PSAC playos after a disappointing end to its 2014 campaign.
Led by a new head coach, the SRU women's soccer team expects to make a big impact in the PSAC-West.
See theonlinerocket.com
See Page C-2
Rock football ready to defend PSAC title By Ryan Barlow Sports Editor
Led by seven returning all-conference players, Rock football is preparing to defend its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship title and enter the NCAA Division II tournament for the third straight season. Of the seven players who return with All-PSAC honors, only three were named to the first team. These players include redshirt-senior offensive lineman Cor y Tucker, redshirt-sophomore defensive end Marcus Martin, and redshirt-junior running back Shamar Greene. "Those guys are outstanding players," Rock head coach George Mihalik said. "We know that they are big time players and will have an impact on Saturdays." Martin erupted as a freshman, attaining a Slippery Rock record 16.0 sacks, beating the previous record by 4.0 sacks. REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Senior transfer Dante Nania looks down the field to complete a pass as he feels pressure from the Rock defense during practice on Monday. Nania spent three seasons at Youngstown State University, completing 50 of 87 passes for 784 yards, throwing six touchdowns, and just one interception.
Men's soccer moves forward after early exit from playoffs
Women's cross country expects improvement
By Cody McCullough
By Cody Nespor
Rocket Contributor
Assistant Sports Editor
The Slipper y Rock University men's soccer team will look to improve from their first round playoff loss against West Chester in 2014. SRU still had a successful 11-7 season, despite new coach Andy Hoggarth not getting there until June 1. "We still had a good season despite me coming in late as head coach," Hoggarth said. "I'm disappointed we didn't get past West Chester in the playoffs. We were a fatigued team and a small team." Hoggarth said the interview process took a long time and since he started late he was unable to recruit, which left him with a small team. He was able to recruit for this season, and he believes he brought in a solid freshman class. The 2015 team will be relatively young. Hoggarth said that a lot of the 2014 team has graduated, and he is hoping the youth coming in will push the older guys. "We need to develop," Hoggarth said. "I am hoping the new guys bring in youthfulness. They will be fresh and hopefully bring in new ideas. I believe the increase in numbers will create competition." Hoggarth still has some solid players left from last year's team that can show the young guns how it's done.
SEE MIHALIK, PAGE C-3
Following a disappointing performance in last year's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships the Slippery Rock University women's cross-countr y team is looking for improvement in the 2015 season. SRU head coach John Papa will be entering his 29th year leading the team and expects a lot out of his athletes. "We expect to work hard and continue to improve as the season progresses," Papa said. "We would like to improve on our fifth place finish in last year's PSAC championship." The Rock had top five team finishes in all four of the regular season meets a year ago, before REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET Senior forward Peter Boylan shows offensive pressure during a game against finishing fifth at the PSAC Urbana last season. Boylan earned second-team All-PSAC honors in 2014. Championships and seventh at the NCAA Atlantic Eleven players that appeared Matt Sangermano and Regional Championships. in at least 13 games last season Gabriel Hrecznyj. Returning for her senior will be back. Senior defender All these returners came season will be last year's Ryan Boylan and senior off the bench last season. top runner for SRU, Jenny forward Peter Boylan will look Ilodigwe contributed five Picot. Picot f inished to grow even more, after both goals and Sangermano 10th overall at the PSAC were all-conference in 2014. scored three. Hrecznyj Championships and 18th Peter Boylan finished 11th contributed two assist last overall at the regional in the PSAC last year with 15 season. competition, earning both points. The frontline will hope all-conference and allReturning players to help to get a boost from two region honors. Peter Boylan at the forward The Rock will be without SEE RETURNING, PAGE C-4 fellow all-region and allposition are Mike Ilodigwe,
conference athlete Janine Powis who graduated last spring. Powis was consistently the second best runner for the green and white, boasting a 19th place finish at the PSAC championship and a 24th place finish at the Regional Championships. Replacing one of the top runners in the conference will not be easy, Papa said, but he believes that the Rock has added someone to the team that is up to the task. "We have a transfer, Leah Anne Wirfel, from Highpoint University that looks to make a big impact on the team," Papa said. "She will be contending for our number one spot." Wirfel will be competing as a junior at SRU after performing well at High Point University in 2014. Wirfel finished in 17th place in HPU's conference championships and in 128th place at their R e g i on a l c omp e t it i on before transferring. Other runners looking to contribute this year are senior Brittany Fagan and junior Kaylee Haberkam, who scored in all five races last season. Slippery Rock will open this season by traveling to Anchorage and competing against the University of SEE WOMEN'S, PAGE C-4
SPORTS
C-2
August 28, 2015
Sophomore ready to lead men's XC
Football (psac-West) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Gannon Slippery Rock Mercyhurst California (Pa.) Indiana (Pa.) Seton Hill Edinboro Clarion
COURTESY OF ROCK ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Sophomore Jeremy Parsons competing in a race while representing SRU last season. Parsons placed in the top-10 four different times in 2014.
By Brittany Fagan
Men's soccer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Mercyhurst West Chester Seton hill Bloomsburg Millersville Slippery rock Gannon California (pa.) Shippensburg Lock haven East stroudsburg Pitt-johnstown
Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock men's cross country team is coming off of a sixth place finish at Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship last season, along with another sixth place finish at the Atlantic Regional meet. Returning to SRU is sophomore Jeremy Parsons, who had a breakout season with the Rock last season as a freshman. Parsons
ran in six meets in 2014, placing in the top 10 in four meets, including a first place finish at the SRU 125 Invitational. Parsons also finished with a career best time of 25:18:10 at the Don Cathcart Invitational, an eight kilometer event. He also earned PSAC Academic Honors in 2014. The Rock held an Alumni Race this past Saturday on campus for alumni and current athletes from the team to all come together and run a race. The race is a tradition
that many former SRU athletes return to take part in. "The alumni race is always a great way to start off the season," senior Charlie Frank said. "It's awesome to come together with former and current Rock runners and race together." The men are scheduled to race the University of Anchorage Alaska on Thursday afternoon at Kincaid Park. During its stay, the team will travel to the Portage, the Matanuska Glaciers, Flat Top Mountain, Denali National Park and other destinations. The team plans to sight-see, run, hike and climb. The team will travel back Saturday evening and arrive in Slippery Rock Sunday afternoon. "I'm very excited to go on the trip with the team and to adventure," Rock cross country head coach John Papa said. The Rock will travel to Edinboro University and Lock Haven University this season as well as to their home course at Cooper's Lake to compete throughout the season. Although October is quite a bit away, the team's focus is set on the PSAC Championship meet to be held here in Slippery Rock Saturday, Oct. 24. "I think the men have a solid season ahead of them," Papa said. "We have many experienced runners on the team and I look forward to seeing the seniors make an impact."
New coach takes over women's soccer
Women's soccer 1. 2. 3. t-4. t-4. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
West chester East stroudsburg Kutztown California (pa.) Gannon Slippery rock Edinboro Shippensburg Indiana (pa.) Seton hill
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Bloomsburg Millersville Mercyhurst clarion Lock haven Mansfield Pitt-johnstown
Field hockey 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. t-8. t-8. 10. 11.
West chester Millersville Shippensburg East stroudsburg Kutztown Bloomsburg Slippery rock Indiana (pa.) Mercyhurst Seton hill Bloomsburg
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Junior forward Andrea Felix collides with the Shippensberg goalie during a game last season. Felix earned second-team All-PSAC honors.
Doug Gilghrist Rocket Contributor
For the first time in two decades, the Slippery Rock University women's soccer team will have someone other than Noreen Herlihy calling the shots. Herlihy turned over the reins to Jessica Griggs in March after moving on to become the head coach at Division I Akron University. Griggs will take over one of the most successful Division II programs in the country as SRU enters the 2015 campaign with 19 consecutive winning seasons, which is the seventh longest streak in Division II history. Griggs has only one year of head coaching experience, which she acquired last season in leading Division III Northland College in Wisconsin to an 11-9-1 overall record. Despite the change in coaching staff, Griggs believes that team has bonded well and has become very unified. "The players have worked extremely hard all summer in preparation for this season and have bonded on and off the field to create a very positive team culture," Griggs said. "I believe their mental strength and their ability to work for each other is
what will take them further than just talent." The Rock has been picked to finish sixth in the 17 team Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) this season, according to PSAC preseason coaches poll. They have a wealth of talent returning from last year's 116-1 squad, led by two former all-Americans, junior forward Andrea Felix and senior midfielder Allison Harbart. Felix led the Rock in points last season with 18, scoring five goals to go along with eight assists. Harbart, one of only three seniors on the team, started all 15 matches that she played in last season, and has started 58 games in her collegiate career. The other two seniors on the team are midfielders, Caitlin Binder, who is coming off the best season of her career with four goals and four assists, and Crysta Ganter, who has five goals in 46 games in her career. Joining Felix at the forward position is junior Dara Demich. As a freshman in 2013, Demich scored 11 goals and had one assist. Last year, she was ninth in the league in shots per game, and chipped in with three goals and three assists on the season.
The defense for the Rock will be led by three returning starters, sophomore Haley Burkholder, and juniors Sam Thornton and Lynn Neef. The SRU defense was the strength of their team last year, recording 10 shutouts and ranking second in the PSAC in goals allowed at 0.72. The goalkeeping duties this season will be handled by a pair of freshmen. Kylie Downs, who went 20-3 last season as a high school senior, and Charlotte Elrod, who graduated from Bayard Rustin High School as their all time leader in shutouts with 13, will battle it out for the starting job. Griggs said that the team's goal is to make the playoffs this season. "It's a standard that this program has held for years and will continue to be an expectation," Griggs said. "I believe there is a lot of talent in this group and they have the ability to compete for a playoff spot this year." The Rock will open the season with a couple of non-conference games, Sept. 3 at Notre Dame College, and at home against Daeman College on Sept. 5, before beginning PSAC play at home against Millersville University on Friday, Sept. 11.
SPORTS
August 28, 2015
C-3
Mihalik sets high expectations for D-I transfers
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Redshirt-junior Zack Newsock eyes up a receiver downfield during a team practice on Monday. Newsock started seven games for the Rock in 2014, completing 162 of 270 passes and throwing for 1,791 yards and 15 touchdowns. His 15 touchdowns rank ninth in SRU single season history.
Continued from Page C 1
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Redshirt-junior Leroy McClain fields punts during special teams drills during a team practice on Monday. He scored four touchdowns in 2014.
Along with winning the 2014 PSACWest Freshman of the Year, he was also the only freshman in the nation to be named to the AP Little All-American Team. Greene rushed for 1,482 yards in 2014, the second most in school history during a single season. Entering 2015, Greene is ranked at no. 13 in SRU history with 2,209 career rushing yards, 1,723 yards away from Rock record holder Stan Kennedy (3,932). If Greene rushes for at least 1,000 yards this upcoming season, he will be in the top five. Greene still has one more year of eligibility in 2016. Joining the Rock this season is a quad of Division I transfers, senior quarterback Dante Nania, senior linebacker Teven Williams, sophomore cornerback Titus Howard, and sophomore defensive lineman Austin Fields. Both Nania and Williams join the Green and White out of Youngstown State. In three seasons at YSU, Nania completed 50 of 87 passes with six touchdowns and one interception. Williams started all three seasons with Youngstown State, compiling 208 career tackles. "Both Dante and Teven have proven that they had good careers at YSU prior to coming here," Mihalik said. "Although they don't have any experience here at Slippery Rock, we are
hoping that their game day experience will just carry through here at the Rock. Howard transferred out of Pittsburgh after starting two games as a true freshman in 2014. Howard appeared in Pitt's 30-27 bowl game victory over Bowling Greene in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Fields did not play in his true freshman season at West Virginia. Despite being defending PSAC champions, SRU was voted to finish in second place in the PSAC preseason coaches poll, behind Gannon. The previous three Slippery Rock PSACWest division titles have been followed by SRU not being picked as the divisional favorite the following season. Although his team was not picked to finish at number, Coach Mihalik still believes his squad has what it take to compete in the PSAC-West. "The preseason ranking doesn't really matter to us," Mihalik said. "It gives us a chip on our shoulder. I guess they just don't want to recognize the accomplishments and success that the Rock has had, and it will all be determined on the field." Mihalik enters his 28th season as Slippery Rock head coach, and is just two games shy of coaching his 300 career game. He ranks four all-time among PSAC coaches in career wins, and fourth among all active Division II coaches with 185. The Rock hits the road on Sept. 5 for its first game of the season against the University of New Haven. The Rock will then return home the following week to face East Stroudsburg on Sept. 12, a game which will be nationally televised by the American Sports Network.
Rock women's volleyball prepares for a rebuilding period By Ryan Barlow Sports Editor
Rock volleyball head coach Laurie Lokash will have the benefit of having 12 returning players on her squad in 2014, and looks to improve her team after finishing the 2014 season with a 17-14 overall record. Despite having an advantage in the overall winloss record last season, the team finished below .500 within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with a 10-12 record, and has been projected to tie for last place in the PSAC-West division with Indiana University (IUP). After losing most of the starters from the previous season, Rock head coach Laurie Lokash understands that her team might be in a rebuilding year. "I think we lost a lot of people and most of our starters from last year," Lokash said. "We are gonna be a different team because now people can't pull up film from last year and expect the same Slippery Rock, because we will have different kids out there." Senior Kristen Smith will return for her final season at SRU as the lone senior on the team's roster,
meaning Lokash will take advantage of developing the younger talent for the teams future success. Other top returning players for SRU include junior Anna Mease, junior Cassidy Schoof, junior Jaden Zimmer, sophomore Kristen C. Smith, sophomore Leah Jones and sophomore Haley Defibaugh. Zimmer started in 24 matches for the Rock last season, appearing in 102 sets. Zimmer was second on the team with 67 total blocks, while also recording 98 kills, 40 digs, and 10 assists. Kristen C. Smith appeared in 30 games and 100 sets last season, ranking fourth on the team with 246 digs, and also adding 15 service aces. "When you're a young team, you're constantly trying to get better and evolve as a team," Lokash said. "Hopefully as the season goes on we are going to continue improving. After seeing the kids play more in practice, more ideas to mind. We have kids who we think can play in multiple different positions and be effective in those positions." The Rock welcomes two sophomore transfers this season, Courtney Oberlander from Seton Hill and Brooke Bostwick from Roanoke College.
Oberlander appeared in 38 matches for the Griffins her freshman year, ranking second on the team in 322 digs. Oberlander also had 24 aces, 36 assists, three kills and two blocks in 2014. "We recruited Courtney to try and come to Slippery Rock as a high schooler," Lokash said. "Sometimes players have different reasons for going to different schools. I think she went to Seton Hill and had a very good experience with them, because they have a very good program. Luckily, they believe in giving kids the opportunity to play wherever they want to play, and they released her. She played in a strong program with a lot of playing time, and she has valuable sophomore experience." Bostwick was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Rookie of the Year in 2014, as well as being named to second team All-ODAC honors. Bostwick led Roanoke with team-highs of 74 blocks and 253 kills. Bostwick also served 29 aces and posted a .208 attacking percentage in 2014. The team begins its season in Misenheimer, North Carolina against the University of Virginia-Wise. The team's first home match is not scheduled until Oct. 2 against IUP.
SPORTS
C-4
August 28, 2015
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET COURTESY OF ROCK ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Senior Jessica Bennett competeing for the Rock last season. Bennett was the fifth finisher for SRU in the Regional finals.
SRU women's XC goes to Alaska for exhibition race Continued from Page C 1
Alaska on Aug. 27. The team is going to Alaska for the first time since 2011 where they will train, hike, sightsee and compete in an exhibition race against the University of Alaska's team. Pap a s ay s t h at he and his team are excited for the opportunity to travel and he thinks the experience his team gains in Alaska will
benefit them as they get deeper into the season. The Rock will continue their season by traveling to Edinboro University to compete in the Doug Watts Distance Gala on S ept. 5 before returning home to host the SRU Invitational on September 18th. S RU w i l l t h e n compete at the Lock Haven Invitational on Sept. 26th at Lock
Haven University. The Green and White will end the regular season at home in the Mack Cooper Invitational on Oct. 10th. In a d d it i on t o the two regular season races, SRU will also be hosting t his ye ar's PSAC Championships. The Rock will c o nt i nu e t o u s e the Cooper's Lake Campground as its home course.
Junior forward Matt Sangermano looks to gain full possesion of the ball during a match against Urbana last season. Sangermano scored the game-winning goal in 1-0 SRU victory.
Returning seniors to lead men's soccer in 2015 Continued from Page C 1
newcomers from Erskine College. These two players are Andre Morgan and Matt Wilson. Midfield will be SRU's most inexperienced group. The most experienced returner is junior, Mike Pcholinsky, who made 15 starts last season. Joining him is returning junior, Josh Allman, who started six of the final eight games for SRU last season. Stephen McConahy will be entering his senior year with some experience, but he will be new to the midfield, since he has played as a defender since coming to SRU. The group of defenders is the most experienced group for SRU this
season. This group has four seniors, Ryan Boylan, Ryan Lutke, Bevan Bish and Nick Kutcher. These guys will be joined by two juniors, Kyle Boyer and Patrick Sullivan. Sullivan is a transfer from Division 1 Duquesne. Even with all the fresh faces, Hoggarth still expects the team to be competitive. "We set team goals to be as successful as we can," Hoggarth said. "We want to make the playoffs and go from there. I expect to be competitive with the squad we have." The 2015 season starts with backto-back home games, with Malone University coming to town Sept. 3, and Daeman College will make the trip into Mihalik-Thompson Stadium on Sept. 5.
C
CAMPUS LIFE
INSIDE CAMPUS LIFE
SRh"U"mans Returns
SRU Dancers Travel Abroad
As classes start back up and students swarm the university, an SRU reporter returns to find interesting facts about the students that populate the campus.
Five SRU dance majors travel to Colombia to perform at a dance festival where the students learned about different dance cultures and how they differ from American dance.
See Page D-3
See Page D-3
UPB welcomes back students Annual event brings in more students than previous years
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET Emma Mcdonald shows off her new fish from the UPB's annual Welcome Back event. The adopt-a-goldfish table was a student favorite at the event. The event also offered a station for students to personalize their own hats, create a bamboo plant, design their own street sign and munch on popcorn and cotton candy.
By Sam Delauter Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock University Program Board (UPB) kicked off the 2015-2016 school year with its annual welcome back event on Tuesday in the quad. The event began at noon and featured various stations with games, crafts and activities. Both students and faculty participated in the annual event. Freshman public health major, Kaitlynn Vaughan said she was drawn to the design-your-own-hat station as well as the adopt-a-goldfish table.
“This is really a cool, great way to meet new people.” said Vaughan. “I’m excited to have a pet goldfish for my new dorm room.” The adopt-a-goldfish table, amongst other activities, seemed to be the most popular. At the station, students lined up and were able to pick out a tank, fill it with an assortment of pebbles of their choice and pick a goldfish to take home with them. President of UPB, Brandon Quinn said this particular welcome back event has had the biggest turn out than previous years. Quinn said the adopta-goldfish station helped contribute to the big turn out.
"We had an idea that they were going to be popular," Quinn said. "We haven't had an event like this in eight years. It was the most popular item that we had at the event." Quinn said the welcome back event will definitely be an annual event at the beginning of each semester. He also said UPB holds events similar to the welcome back event around Christmastime, Valentine's Day, and close to the end of the semester to help with the stress of finals.
SEE WELCOME BACK, PAGE D-3
WOW helps incoming freshmen get involved By Emma Pfeifer Asst. Campus Life Editor
The Weekend of Welcome (WOW) is a time where incoming freshmen finally flip to the next chapter of their lives. The objective of Weekend of Welcome is to make the freshman feel as comfortable as possible in their new atmosphere. There were all kinds of activities, meetings, and events that go on throughout this weekend that are designed to get the newcomers to meet as many people as possible. This year’s WOW included events such as casino night, a pep rally, movie night and a Greek carnival. Incoming freshman, Christopher Luffy said that the pep rally was enjoyable and he also said he even won a basket at casino night. Luffy also said tha t Saturday night was great and
he met a lot of new friends at the bonfire at Building F. Several incoming freshmen using the #sru19 on Twitter said they had a good weekend and some students said they were very surprised with the friendliness and easy-going nature of the students. To prevent any disasters during WOW, the university puts together a WOW management team that not only helps move freshmen into their dorms, but also aids freshmen along their college journey. The WOW management team must also attend most of the events that happen during WOW. M e m b e r o f t h e WO W management team, Victoria Coleman said that she attended the majority of the events that weekend and they were filled with students. SEE CA'S, PAGE D-2
KARLEIGH SANTRY/THE ROCKET SRU students help incoming freshmen move their belongings in the rain into their dorm rooms. Faculty and CA's assisted student volunteers during WOW.
CAMPUS LIFE
D-2
Ask Andi
August 28, 2015
'Paper Towns' lack unique romance storyline and on-screen chemistry
Andi is a senior at SRU giving advice to those who seek it and occassionally to those who don't. Question: Q uestion: s Dear Andi, It's my first time starting college and I'm scared. The first d of classes were rough and I miss my parents like crazy. day I really starting to question if I made the right decision by I'm c to college. How were you the first time you came to coming ccollege? I feel as though everyone tells me that it gets better, but does it really? HELP! d Sincerely, The Terrified Freshman
Answer: A s Dear Terrified Freshman, PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Those people are right. It does get better. When I came to ccollege I felt like a little fish entering into a big pond coming Margo Speigelman, played by Cara Delevinge, and Quentin Jacobsen, played by Nat Wolff, spy on Speigelman's ex-boyfriend in attempt to ffrom a small school in Western Pennsylvania. To be honest, I break into his house and get revenge for cheating on her. was scared too. I’ve made friends that I know will last a lifetime w There was no distinct part in the The movie begins by showing aand shared memories that certainly will not fade. My best Margo moving across the street from movie that was better than the next aadvice is to be yourself. Sounds cliché, huh? College is a time to Quentin. Even though Quentin was part. The ordinary, "the boy and girl make real friends. Don’t be afraid to show people who you are. m only a kid at this point in the movie, start to like each other and then one IIt’s still early in the year. Don’t be discouraged. Make friends in he decided he was in love with Margo of them leaves and they find each yyour classes and branch out to meet new people. You’ll come right away. One day, when Quentin other because they were destined to tto find that college won’t let you down.
Best Wishes! Andi
Question: Q uestion: s Dear Andi, When I first came to college, I had everything planned out aabout what I wanted to do. Now, I'm really indecisive. I'm only a sophomore, but as I get older, I'm realizing that time is o tticking. None of my classes interest me at all. What should I do? Sincerely, Totally Indecisive
Answer: A s Dear Totally Indecisive, Would you rather change your major now, or wait another yyear? Well, you probably can't answer that. But, let me answer iit for you: now. It's okay to be indecisive when it comes to cchoosing your major. You are deciding what you'll be doing ffor the next 40+ years of your life. My best advice would be to ttake classes that sound interesting to you, not just classes that yyou have to take. Find a professor that you love and stick with tthem. Don't be afraid to take a risk, you never know what could sspark your interest. Best Wishes! Andi
Question: Q uestion: s Dear Andi,
Ever since classes started, I've been having a very hard time ggetting movitaved. I have no desire to get my work done at all. What can I do to stay motivated? W Sincerely, Lazy and Unmotivated
Answer: A s Dear Totally Indecisive,
Procrastination is an unwanted neighbor of all college sstudents. However, we must make due with what we have aand find ways to not let procrastination distract us. It's always ggood to set goals for yourself and allow time for fun. It might be difficult, but just remember, procrastination has to sleep at b ssome point too. Best Wishes! Andi
Amber Cannon "Ambie's Rock Reviews"
2 Stars
Amber Cannon is a senior communication major and the Campus Life Editor of The Rocket
From the author of "The Fault in Our Stars", "Paper Towns" is the film adaption of the young adult book John Green released on Sept. 22, 2009. The movie premiered in theaters on July 24. Thousands of fans of the book and even fans who never read the book rushed to theaters to see this "coming-of-age" story come to life. According to imdb.com, the movie only grossed $12.6 million during opening weekend. Nat Wolff stars as the leading man, Quentin Jacobsen, and Cara Delevingne stars as his love interest Margo Speigelman. Some of the supporting characters in include Austin Abrams as Ben Starling, Justin Smith as Radar Lincoln and Halston Sage as Lacey Pemberton.
and Margo were riding their bikes through the park, they found a man who was apparently dead sitting under a tree. This incident causes Margo to go looking for an answer as to why the man died, but when Quentin tells Margo he doesn't want her to go, she leaves on her bike and disappears. The movie picks up years later, where Margo and Quentin are seniors in high school. Although we don't see it in the movie, it is made clear that Quentin hasn't associated with Margo since the dead man incident, but suddenly Margo appears in Quentin's window and asks to use his mom's car to go on an adventure. When Quentin finally gives in and says yes, they go on their adventure to get revenge on Margo's ex-boyfriend because he cheated on her. After their "crazy" adventure, Margo disappears again, which causes Quentin to gather up all his friends, Ben, Radar and Margo's "best friend," Lacey, and go on a road-trip to Agloe, New York, the assumed location of Margo. This is the part in the movie when I started to drift off into la-la land. In my opinion, the plot seemed to switch between going to find Margo and getting back to Orlando, Florida in time so that Quentin and his friends could attend their senior prom. At the end, Quentin finds Margo, but Margo doesn't go with him and he takes a bus to make it back to prom in time, making his whole entire road trip worthless and in my opinion, making the movie worthless as well.
be" romance story line was present throughout the movie. Instead of coming up with a unique romance storyline to set the movie a part, the movie went for the old fashioned love story. The on-screen chemistry between Wolff and Delevingne was also hard to watch. They lacked an on-screen chemistry that most romantic, "coming-of-age" stories present. It made me, the viewer, not believe in the young, star-crossed love. The only thing that saved this movie for me a little was the fact that the script was good. Thank you, John Green. John Green has a way of making the viewer feel as though they're in the movie and connected to the characters. Also, I really enjoyed seeing a diverse cast in this movie. Sometimes in high school, it's hard to find a group of diverse friends, but the producers and casting crew made sure that there was a mix of diversity throughout their friend group, which I appreciated and enjoyed. Although I didn't read the book, the movie slightly ruined the book for me. I would not recommend this film to everyone simply because sometimes the movie was hard to follow and the plot shifts were very distracting and took away from the blossoming romance between the two main characters. I hope the next movie chosen to be a film adaption of one of John Green's books is more exciting and unique than "Paper Towns."
CA's aid freshmen with move-in questions Continued from Page D 1
Coleman also said the move-in was her favorite part of the weekend and she enjoyed interacting with new students.Along with the different activities and events that went on throughout the weekend, new students also moved into their dorm rooms. CA's are trained to answer questions from their residents and get their floor involved and connected to ensure a sense of community among the floor. Freshman, Milo Burton explained that she met all of the people on her floor quickly after she moved in and that it was an awesome experience. Burton said during her move-in, a lot of the WOW workers took her stuff to her room, which made for an easier move-in process. “Mostly the students who were carrying the luggage carts helped, they brought my stuff in
and also my CA offered to help," Burton said. Compared to last year's WOW, some students expressed that their experience this year was a lot different. Junior pubic relations major, Ausha Shaw said the WOW activities during her freshmen year were a let down. "My WOW weekend seemed to be a lot different than this year's for the freshmen," Shaw said. "I didn’t go to all of the activities that weekend and a few of the ones I did go to weren’t as fun as I thought they would be. It was kind of a disappointment. Aside from the different activities offered during WOW, a job fair was held for students to find employment on campus, the Slippery Rock Student Government Association hosted a movie in the Robert M. Smith Student Center theater and shuttle busses took students to the Grove City Outlets.
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SRU students perform at Colombia Dance Festival By Kelsey Phillips Rocket Contributor
Members of the SRU AfroColombian Dance Ensemble (ACDE) traveled to Colombia over the summer to research and participate in an international dance festival. SRU dancers Katie Boyle, Erica Burke, Melanie Dunbar, Rachel Silverstrim, Kaila Belinda, and Melissa Teodoro, associate professor of dance, traveled to the cities of Cartagena, Mompox and Talaigua, Colombia to explore the cultural aspect of their field. “This international trip offered [the students] a true cultural exchange and a transformational experience that deeply marked them for life,” Teodoro said. Teodoro said the five dancers had to submit an essay explaining their interest in travelling to Colombia and they also had to describe how they would benefit from the research experience. The five dance majors and Teodoro worked with a local Colombian choreographer, Luis Fernando Trouchon, and his students from the Universidad De Cartagena in reconstructing a dance called the Seresese. The dance was then performed at the Festival Del Anfibio in the village of Talaigua. “We knew going down that there would be extreme differences from dancing here to dancing there,” Boyle, a senior dance and early childhood education major, said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX MOWREY SRU students Kaila Belinda, Katie Boyle, Erica Burke, Melanie Dunbar and Rachel Silverstrim traveled to Colombia to participate in the Colombia Dance Festival this past summer. Melissa Teodoro, associate professor of dance, chaperoned the trip.
Rehearsals were held outside on concrete floors rather than airconditioned studios, and real props such as fire added risk to the routine, Boyle said. Silverstrim said the difference between dance in America and dance in Colombia is the time commitment. “Most Americans [dance] as a hobby, we are never taught by our parents,” Rachel Silverstrim, a senior dance major, said. “Whereas [in Colombia], dance is their culture. It is everywhere
and it is a part of them.” Dancing in another country allowed the students to experience a less competitive side of the art, they said. The native dancers welcomed everyone to come dance with them regardless of experience level, they said. Instead of having specific start and end times for rehearsals, everyone just “danced until they couldn’t anymore,” Boyle said, and dance served as "a universal language for her and her peers."
“One of the challenges of course down there was the language barrier, however, while we were dancing with the students it didn’t matter,” Boyle said. “The dance spoke for us and we were able to bond so strongly through that.” Along with the Afro-Colombian Dance Project, the Dance Department offers and supports many international programs for their majors such as dance in India, spring break in Europe, and the Asia Pacific Dance Festival.
SRU becomes the first American university to bring in 'GetREAL' By Rebecca Sheriff Rocket Contributor
An international movement dedicated to eliminating LGBTQ discrimination and prejudice is gaining traction in the United States thanks to the work being done by two students at Slippery Rock University. Jocelyne Lemay, a junior integrated marketing communications major, and Kelsey Graham, senior public relations major, are operating the first American branch of GetREAL, an organization originally founded in Canada in early 2011. The movement aims to “change the face of what it means to be a young person who stands up against LGBTQ discrimination.” “The movement consists of university students across Canada and now the United States who speak to high school students about unlearning LGBTQ discrimination and bullying, and the importance of embracing everyone,” Lemay said. Lemay, who is originally from Nova Scotia, recently came across Instagram photos of students at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, who were involved
Welcome back carnival offers a wide range of activities Continued from Page D 1
Junior early childhood special education major, Lauren McNeil, who ser ves on the UPB committee was working the goldfish table. McNeil said UPB just wanted everyone to socialize and get to know each other a little better. Aside from the goldfish and p e rs on a l i z e d h at s , students also could make their own bamboo plant, design a personalized street sign, snack on popcorn and cotton candy and try their hand at fastpitch.
with GetREAL. After discovering that the organization united the StFX campus community, she began the process of bringing GetREAL to Slippery Rock. While still early in the planning stages, Lemay and Graham hope to involve more students throughout the semester in order to become formally recognized by the Student Government Association as a campus club. “Especially with myself being a hopeful senior next year, I need a base team under me to keep GetREAL alive here at Slippery Rock,” Lemay said. “Once we are a recognized club on campus, we would like to host a presentation on GetREAL and LGBTQ/bullying issues and really get students talking about those hot topics we seem to be avoiding in today’s culture.” Future goals for GetREAL at Slippery Rock include having a team of students comfortable with and capable of speaking to high school students on LGBTQ/bulling issues, sharing their own personal stories, and helping to spread the educational messages the broader GetREAL community stands for. “We want to strive to have a strong presence on campus, so that whenever you see a student
SRh"U"mans In this spinoff of 'Humans of New York' a reporter talks to members of the SRU community to find out what's interesting about them.
I'm 6'4. Sophomore physics and pre-engineering major, Stephanie Stuart said she missed the event last year, but was eager to participate this time around. "It seemed like a lot of fun last year," Stuart said. Stuart also said that she owns a lot of plants, so she was thrilled when she found out that UPB was holding a bamboo plant station so that she could add one to her collection. Stu d e nt s f i lte re d through the different stations until the event shut down at 2:00 p.m.
wearing one of our signature pink hats, you don’t wonder what GetREAL is, you’ll already know,” Lemay said. Partnering with RockOUT is also an aspiration for the organization, according to Lemay. She said that both organizations are built on the premise of embracing everyone regardless of their identity, and both Lemay and Graham said they hoped to sponsor future events while connecting with RockOUT. “I think that this campus has the potential to grow into a very accepting place where people can feel free to be themselves,” Graham said. “One of the biggest things that GetREAL will give to SRU is the courage and confidence to allow our students to be themselves and be comfortable in their own skin. Spreading awareness and encouraging more tolerant behavior is something that we aim to do. Connecting with people on a personal level and respecting each other is what the GetREAL movement is all about.” GetREAL has grown from four founders to a team whose numbers span into the hundreds over multiple universities, and the movement as a whole strives to “change both language and attitudes.”
Well, I used to want to be a nurse. I think everyone wants to be a nurse until they realize the work put into it. I love sports and I always wanted to do something in the health field and I've played sports my whole life, so I'm used to being in the trainer's office. It just feels like home to me. I actually have a picture from kindergarten and I was just above everyone. I was 6'0 in the 9th grade and my height has in the past altered my confidence. No girl wants to be taller than their boyfriend and for me, that was a challenge, but I've come to realize how unique I am and that I'm a beautiful girl who just happens to be 6'4 and boys love legs.
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