the rocket
Friday September 4, 2015 • Volume 99, Issue Number 2 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper
www.theonlinerocket.com
Support beams make Spotts 'safe to occupy' By Haley Barnes News Editor
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Danette DiMarco, chair of the English department, works inthe faculty lounge. The faculty lounge is one of the many rooms in SWC Building that requires beams for support and safety.
Over the summer while Spotts World Culture (SWC) Building was being renovated, a structural engineer discovered that the south wall of the building was separating from the other walls. Through a process called shoring, using support beams to hold something together, the building is safe for students and staff to enter. Mary Ann King, member of the Slippery Rock University Master Plan Committee, explained that the beams are a permanant solution to fix the separation of the south wall. "The building is safe to occupy," she said. On Tuesday during common hour, President Cheryl J. Norton addressed the university with a speech. During her speech, she touched upon the status of SWC Building. "Now Spotts is made in three parts, so it's really just the one part that was the problem and we were able to continue to do the remodel of the classrooms on the first floor," she said. She explained that in order to keep the structure of the building intact, the support beams were neccessary. She said that the beams have compromised the work evironment for many. Rooms 113, 114, 115, 116 and 117 were remodeled in SWC Building over the summer after the shoring
was completed. King explained that most of the listed rooms received new lighting, whiteboards, technology, paint and flooring over the summer. Rooms 114 and 116 also received new seating. Desks in the classrooms on the first floor are now facing away from the windows too so that students now have a clear view of the professor teaching. Last semester, it was announced that classes were no longer going to be offered on the second and third floors of SWC Building because with so many people in the hallways of the building at one time, there was too much traffic and the building was deemed unsafe. Norton said work is being done with a construction company to figure out how to go about advancing the remodel of the second and third floor of the building now that the shoring is completed and the building is stable. "I will tell you it's going to take about a year to get this completed," Norton said. King explained that this semester with classes only being offered on the first floor, that the first floor classrooms are heavily scheduled for classes. She said that rooms 100 and 104 will be finished for the spring semester, which will allow more classes to be offered on the first floor.
Old photo of SRU fraternity goes viral as an example of rape culture By Janelle Wilson Editor-in-Chief
A photo of a Slippery Rock University fraternity posing in front of a sign reading, “Thank you fathers for your freshman daughters” recently went viral on several websites, some calling it an example of rape culture. Old Dominion University’s Sigma Nu fraternity was suspended in August for hanging similar signs off of their fraternity house, one of the signs designated the house as a “freshman daughter drop off.” In an act of protest at Sigma Nu’s suspension, totalfratmove.com published the photo of SRU’s Sigma Tau Gamma in front of their fraternity house at 129 Kiester Rd. Total Frat Move also published similar photos from fraternities at other schools, the author asking “Can people not take a joke anymore?” The photo was then used by the Huffington Post in an article entitled “It's Not Just ODU Students Putting Up Offensive Signs About Freshman Girls.” Additionally, the Sig Tau photo was used by the website mic.com, saying that the banners “Reveal fraternity rape culture at its worst.” When the photo wasn’t identified in any of the websites as being from SRU, but some current and former students recognized the house and shared the articles on Facebook. Executive director of public affairs, Rita Abent, said that the story is old, and no longer relevant because the incident was quickly remedied. “[The photo] keeps circulating on the Internet…because people see it and without knowing the backstory, push it out to their friends, who then continue the cycle,” she said. The photo was taken several years ago, and assistant director for the Center for Student Involvement and
PHOTO FROM TOTALFRATMOVE.COM
This picture of Slippery Rock University fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma, was taken several years ago.. The picture recently went viral after a similar picture from Old Dominion caused controversy.
Leadership, and supervisor of Greek affairs, N. Charles Judge, asked the fraternity to permanently take down the sign at the time. When the photo resurfaced, Judge spoke with the fraternity, and contacted the national office. “[Everyone] was mortified,” Abent said. “This is a prime
example of why people need to be concerned when they post material on the Internet. It just never goes away.” Sigma Tau Gamma did not respond to requests for a quote on the topic. Additional reporting done by Haley Barnes
My Rock Audit To Students Weigh Improve Advising In On VMAs
SRU Running Back AVI Offers New Chases Record Dining Options
A newly updated My Rock Audit will benefit the adviser/advisee relationship. Page A-2
Running back Shamar Greene could catch SRU's all-time rushing record by the end of 2016. Page C-3
SRU twitter users talk about their favorite (and least favorite) parts of the VMAs. Page B-2
Students now have new options to choose from when eating on campus. Page D-1
NEWS
A-2
P
September 4, 2015
My Rock Audit Gets Updated
New features to enhance advisement
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!
INDEX Blotter.................A-3 S p o r t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C - 1 Opinion................B-1 Campus Life...........D-1 Comics...................B-3
By Haley Barnes News Editor
An updated version of My Rock Audit with new features launched August 17. My Rock Audit is a tool that tracks a student's progress in their degree and shows students in a more in-depth format what they need to do in order to graduate. Connie Edwards, director of advising resources and degree audits, explained that My Rock Audit is the most important advising tool at SRU. She said it is important for both the adviser and advisee to use the audit in order for the student to receive the entire advisement experience. "I think [the update] will benefit the advisee/adviser relationship," she said. The updated audit is new for students and staff. Edwards explained that the update is the same information, but with a new layout and new features. She said that the layout was designed to be more understandable for students and faculty.
There is a legend at the top of the audit so staff and students can comprehend the new symbols and layout, Edwards said. "Everybody is going to access it through MySRU portal," she said. Once on the MySRU portal, My Rock Audit can be found under the student self-service tab. Students will then click on banner selfservice, student and then Rock Audit. Students and faculty will no longer have to sign in twice as well. With the update, faculty can write notes to students on their individual audits, students can view the master schedule for the next semester and students can send an email to their adviser directly from the audit. Edwards explained that students can't solely rely on the master schedule on their audit when scheduling for classes. She advises that students use the master schedule on the MySRU portal in addition. With this update, students can now use their audit to plan their entire coursework
SGA completes executive board By Chris Gordon Assistant News Editor
Slippery Rock's Student Government Association selected a new parliamentarian and speaker of the senate Monday night, completing the 2015-2016 executive board. Former freshman senator Rachel Lawler was appointed parliamentarian by SGA President Logan Steigerwalt and was Newsroom: 220 Eisenberg Building unanimously confirmed by the senate. "The parliamentarian's job is to keep me (724) 738-4438 Slippery Rock in check and make sure we're following the Advertising: University constitution and Robert's Rules," Steigerwalt (724) 738-2643 Slippery Rock, PA said. "I believe Rachel is the best choice." Fol l ow i ng L aw l e r ' s app oi nt m e nt , Fax: 16057 commuter senator Sarah Arpino was elected (724) 738-4896 speaker of the senate. Email: After three rounds of voting, Vice rocket.letters@sru.edu President of Finance Michael Farah created a tie between candidates Arpino and commuter senator Jaclyn Choma, which, Nationally recognized as one of the top 10 four-year weekly by SGA constitution, gave the final decision broadsheet newspapers by the to President Steigerwalt. Associated Collegiate Press. "I voted for Jaclyn because, as an executive board member, I don't believe I should be deciding who is leading the senate," Farah said. Earlier in the evening, Farah announced plans for the rewriting of SGA's finance policy, which will allow SGA to grant clubs and organizations funds to attend conferences.
CONTACT US
until graduation. Students can view their SAT, ACT and language placement test scores on the audit too. The update also features a printable unofficial transcript. The first two lines of the audit explain policies that are enforced by the state system. Edwards explained that these policies have always been active, but that the policies were not present on the audit prior to the update. E dw ard s a d d e d t h at the updated audit is not compatible with Safari and is not compatible with Google Chrome if pop-ups are blocked. She said star ting in October, she will be teaching freshmen how to use My Rock Audit in their FYRST seminars. In the future, Edwards hopes to launch an audit pro g r am for g r a du ate students. Staff and students can email any questions to myrockaudit@sru.edu or view the frequently asked questions page located on their audit.
"Once the changes are made, SGA will have $2,500 to offer clubs and organizations who apply for it," he said. Vice President of Student Affairs Jessica Johnson announced plans for a "campus crawl" on October 20 to address lighting concerns along campus walkways, particularly in the direction of The Grove apartment complex, she said. "We want to make sure there's adequate lighting and that students are safe walking where they need to go," she said. In addition to the night's elections, communication professor Dr. PeaseHernandez was unanimously selected to be SGA's new faculty adviser. "I'm going to push you out of your comfort zones to get things done," Pease-Hernandez said. President Steigerwalt reiterated his plans for a campus leadership conference, a student-run computer repair service and the use of the student life survey to improve campus. Steigerwalt said the first formal meeting of the semester went well. "The turnout was great and many of the audience members were senate applicants," he said. "We'll be voting them in on September 14." The next SGA meeting will take place on Monday, Sept. 14 at 8:45 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Theater.
NEWS
September 4, 2015
A-3
POLICE BLOTTER September 2- Skyler Cron, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation that occurred in Building F on August 29.
Campus August 27- Police responded to a call for a person with dizziness and a high heart rate in ATS. An ambulance was dispatched and they were transported to Grove City Hospital.
September 2- John George, 19, was charged with an alcohol violation that occurred in Building F on August 29.
August 28- Philip Bennethum, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation in Building F that occurred the previous day.
September 2- Luke Kusler, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation that occurred in Building F on August 29.
August 30- Joel Sterner, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation in Rhoads Hall that occurred the previous day.
September 2- Tyler Long, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation that occurred in Building F on August 29.
August 30- Rasheed Alramahy, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation in Rhoads Hall.
September 2- Rocco Martini, 19, was charged with an alcohol violation that occurred in Building F on August 29.
September 2- Benjamin Barilaro, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation that occurred in Building F on August 29.
September 2- Haylee Murray, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation that occurred in Building F on August 29.
September 2- Nicholas Stockel, 18, was charged with an alcohol violation that occurred in Building F on August 29. Borough August 25- Jessica Ferchaw was cited for disorderly conduct after being found in possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia. August 28- Troy Sagulla was cited for disorderly house after being found carrying an open beer can along Normal Avenue. August 29- Officers attempted to stop a vehicle along Elm Street for driving without lights. The driver refused to stop and turned onto West Cooper Street where a passenger exited the vehicle near the Cooper Street Apartments. The driver continued refusing to stop, eventually crashing the car along Hines Road and fleeing the scene on foot. The case is under investigation and charges will follow. Compiled by Chris Gordon Full blotter available at www.theonlinerocket.com
Planetarium offers unique, weekly shows By Daniel DiFabio Rocket Contributor
Located in Vincent Science Center, the Planetarium’s weekly shows consist of unique student-run content with newly updated equiptment. Noah Shinn, junior physical preengineer major and student director at the Planetarium, described the weekly show as some space, some science and a little bit of just messing around and having some internet fun. He said that the "space" part is done using software called Nightshade, which allows Shinn and other students to take a virtual tour through space and "internet fun" consists of whatever the students find funny and want to put in the show. "The school provided us with extra projectors that they had to test out our new system," Shinn. "While they are not exactly
what we need it allowed us to test our theory and prove that a multi-projector system will give us a much higher resolution and brighter image. Now that we have proven this we are waiting for the school to purchase us five new projectors that will fill the entire dome." Besides the weekly show other events have taken place in the Planetarium in the past. One event celebrated May 4th, or Star Wars day, and the students at the Planetarium showed all the movies throughout the day. Another was “You Choose” night, where Shinn went to the audience and had them tweet the Planetarium a video they wanted to see. “People just came for the show and we said tonight is going to be a little different. We would throw in our usual stuff so we could have the time to run through the videos and screen them,” Shinn said. Another event is a light show, which is well liked by audience members. The Planetarium also does service
learning projects for the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. Shinn helps the groups get various merit badges, such as the Astronomy badge, looking over what they need in advance to fit the criteria and getting the groups what they need. Watching the weekly show also counts as an honor activity, with the 50 seats of the Planetarium filling up so they could get their last event in. In the past the seats have been filled to capacity so Shinn had to pull it chairs from other rooms in the building. There have also been updates in the technology behind the Planetarium. The old system consisted of one projector which would reflect across. Now that there are five or six projectors around the dome and the system is digital, it looks a lot better. “It’s beautiful now, it’s the resolution and the brightness,” Shinn said. Getting involved is a matter of showing up and seeing how you can help. In the past people will usually linger around and ask
how do they get involved, with Shinn and students quick to have them join as soon as possible. “The goal is anyone who works in the Planetarium could come do a show by themselves,” he explained. The group gets to relax after a semester of hard work, taking away some of the stress of finals week by projecting games like Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros. on the dome. Shinn’s goal moving forward is to make it a show worth seeing. The planetarium has so many people by the end of a semester who as seniors have been there just for the first time, saying they weren’t even aware the school had a Planetarium. “I want almost every single student to know the Planetarium exists. I want to have people talk about it," Shinn said. “We’re showing off student work with a student-run show and it’s free.” Shows are every Thursday night and the doors open at 8 p.m.
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OPINION
Our View Old photo of fraternity ignites mixed debate
OPINION rocket.letters@sru.edu Volume 99, Number 2
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.
The photo is ‘Old News’ The photo harms women The digital age has an unfortunate way of making past mistakes current problems. As early as high school, young adults are told to be wary of what they post online, as it could come back to haunt them in the future. This principle is true for the brothers of Slippery Rock’s Sigma Tau Gamma, too. A dated photo showing a sign the fraternity created thanking fathers for their freshman daughters has gone viral once again, sparking critiques of “fraternity culture,” and putting the reputation of Greek life in jeapordy despite its antiquity. There’s no question that the sign and resulting photo should have never existed. It harmed the otherwise respectable reputation of SRU’s fraternities and certainly created an opportunity for the discussion of Greek life’s role in “rape culture.” Note the past-tense nature of “harmed” and “created,” though. This photo is old news and should be treated as such. Sigma Tau Gamma has already faced penalty for its actions. Following the sign’s debut, the fraternity’s national headquarters was contacted and the sign was removed. It’s a legitimate discussion whether or not the penalties imposed were harsh enough, but the fact of the matter is that most of the chapter’s members at that time have already graduated and the remaining members deserve a chance to salvage their reputation and move on with their lives. Rape culture is an important topic that fraternities should have a voice in. Considering university officials agree that Sigma Tau Gamma’s incident is an anomaly for fraternities at SRU, though, it’s hard to justify using a two to three year-old photo as a springboard for this discussion. Especially because there haven’t been subsequent incidents. The fraternity made a mistake just as we all have from time to time. Why put them on trial twice?
An old photo of SRU fraternity Sigma Tau Gamma sporting a sign in front of their house that welcomed fathers to drop off their freshmen daughters recently went viral. The photo was picked up by both Total Frat Move as an example of classic fraternity comedy, and by Jezebel, a feminist website, as an example of how fraternity signs like the one featured propagates rape culture. While many members of frats are quick to chant “Not All Fraternities,” (gee, doesn’t that sound familiar?) it is important to recognize that while not all fraternities participate in putting up signs like this, putting up signs like that is a part of fraternity culture, and is a practice that is even celebrated by the website Total Frat Move. Whether or not these signs poorly represent “Greek Life,” and fraternities as a whole, it is still important to recognize and address that these signs are demeaning, if not threatening, to women. It may make freshmen women feel as though they are being objectified as soon as they enter college, and the practice encroaches upon their right to feel safe in the campus community. Aside from this practice, fraternities also participate in others, such as giving women short-shorts that say, “Rush” and the name of the fraternity. It is another objective practice that degrades women, but will probably be paid no attention until it has gone viral. While this photo does not represent Greek Life as a whole, it does bring to light important issues that otherwise would go unnoticed. According to MSNBC, A 2007 study by Foubert, Newberry and Tatum found that not only are men in fraternities 300 percent more likely to rape women, but also that women in sororities are 74 percent more likely to be raped. With statistics like these, and a viral photo that evidences the mentality behind those statistics, can we really afford to shrug our shoulders and accept that “boys will be boys?” Or should we take offenses like this seriously and demand repercussion so that photos like this can’t resurface as a representative of SRU fraternities as a whole?
In the Quad
This week’s question: What stereotypical college students have you seen around campus?
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.
Luke Moore Sophomore Safety Management Major Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Mike Pantely Sophomore Athletic Training Major Canonsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tajionna AndersonClinton Junior Public Relations Major Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“Whenever you talk about going to SRU, people think that the people here are just country type people.”
“I always feel like when I ask people what their major is, it’s always going to be something in the medical field or education.”
“Athletes just tend to flock together. They ’re always together even when hanging out with a different group of friends. ”
OPINION
B-2
September 4, 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.
A field guide to species of college stereotype hybrids you can find only on SRU’s campus The Hipster Vegan
Jock will defensively yell “I’m gonna be a personal trainer. Or a physical therapist. This Natural Habitat: Holding up the line at pain wasn’t for nothing!” Back away slowly. Starbucks The Bar Hopping Adult Learners Call: “This doesn’t have any animal byproduct, right?” Natural Habitat: Breaking a hip on pitcher night If you want to keep a Hipster Vegan out of Call: “I have a daughter about your age, she’s your establishment, hang a sign that says, “No here tonight!” shoes, no showers, no service.” Hipster Vegans Janelle Wilson prefer locally owned coffee shops to Starbucks, Adult learners, they’re giving sage wisdom, Commentary but go to Starbucks for “convenience.” talking about their children, or giving an Janelle Wilson is a senior journalism While they say they go to Starbucks for its anecdotal tidbit in class that no one wants convenience, they hold up the line by ordering to hear. Love them or hate them, you’d never major from Enon Valley, Pennsylvania the most inconvenient thing on the menu. imagine seeing them outside of class, let alone “Can I get a French-pressed coffee with at the bar on Tuesday night, yet there they are. organic soymi… Oh, you don’t have organic With all of the preaching new students get Not unlike a nature documentary, Slippery soymilk? Talk about corporate greed.” Hipster about making friends and getting involved with Rock is home to many species of college Vegans most likely began interbreeding when their community, who wouldn’t expect Miriam stereotypes. You’re probably asking what’s being “vegan” became the underground-cool to get it in her head that the best way to get different about college stereotypes at SRU thing to be. Alone, hipsters and vegans are involved in her community would be slumming compared to other schools. Well, SRU is almost annoying, but when you combine them into it with the traditional students at the bar like a city surrounded by dead space dedicated to one individual, one that doesn’t eat meat Tuesday night. “I’m bringing these wings home farmers and college kids, a culture that produces and only listens to things on vinyl, that’s for the kiddos,” she’ll say after several gin and hybridizations unlike any other campus. when they become SRUs’ public enemy #1. tonics, “but I’m bringing you home with me.” The Redneck Frat Boy
The Exercise Science Jock
The Warrior Poet
Natural Habitat: A Frat House adorned with a “Don’t Tread on Me” Flag
Natural Habitat: The ARC
Natural Habitat: Holding a Beats Pill at the Gamer’s Guild meetings.
Call: “This is ‘Merica!”
Call: “If you don’t re-rack your weights, get out of my gym!”
The Redneck Frat Boy frequently wears a flannel over his letters, and will wear cowboy boots in place of Sperry’s. These types will often travel in caravans of lifted trucks, and know in their heart of hearts that the south will rise again. Don’t tread on this group, and preferably nowhere near them. While most schools have frat boys, and may have their share of rednecks, somewhere in SRU’s history, the frat boys have decided to bolster their numbers by welcoming the farmers into their ranks, creating the Redneck Frat Boy. Harmless enough on their own, Redneck Frat Boys travel in numbers.
While it’s not surprising that the exercise science major would also be a jock, the major has such limited diversity, that it’s tough to see that the hybridization began even before they entered college. This person probably played sports all through high school, and thought that exercise science would be easy because “I played sport, so I know sports science.” Those few and proud who last more than their first semester in one of the most difficult majors on campus wear their green polos like a badge of honor, and can be seen patrolling the ARC even when no one’s asked them to. When confronted about what they would like to do with their degree, the Exercise Science
Call: “I’m just rolling dice until my rap career takes off.” When SRU created a living learning community for humanities students, what they didn’t expect was that the resident geeks and the rapper/ poet would become friends. What transpired was an individual who takes poetry classes to increase the quality of his raps. When you told the aspiring rapper he should go to college, you never thought he’d major in something equally unprofitable. In D&D, he’s a lawful good warrior, but he won’t need escapism when his EP takes off, and hey, I heard from several Dungeon Masters that his new mixtape, being released soon, is “fire.”
B-3
September 4, 2015
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Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper Est. 1934
2015-2016 Issue Dates August 28, 2015 September 4, 2015 September 11, 2015 September 18, 2015 September 25, 2015 October 2, 2015 October 9, 2015 October 23, 2015 November 6, 2015 November 13, 2015 November 20, 2015 December 4, 2015 January 29, 2016 February 5, 2016 February 12, 2016 February 19, 2016 February 26, 2016 March 4, 2016 March 18, 2016 March 25, 2016 April 1, 2016 April 8, 2016 April 15, 2016 April 22, 2016 April 29, 2016
C
COMICS Best in Show
By Phil Juliano
COMICS
Today's Birthday (09/04/15). Go full out for what you love this year. Keep positive. Take leadership, especially after 9/13. Focus on shared finances after 9/27. Romance and partnership bloom after 3/8. Strategize for savings after 3/23. Grow your collaboration with all 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 an 8 -- You're entering a good phase for studying. It's easier to concentrate today and tomorrow, especially behind closed doors. Learn about money. It pays to recycle and conserve. Use charm and wit to advance. Self-discipline with homework helps.
Brewster Rockit: Space Guy
By Tim Rickard
Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- You can make extra cash today and tomorrow. Business interferes with your fun. You have obligations to your public. Practical demands control the outcome. Remember what you've learned. Extend your reach. And don't forget your toothbrush. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Get innovative, and take advantages of renewed confidence and energy over the next two days. It could get intense. Investing in your home works. Make household repairs. Monitor carefully to keep costs down. Heed a partner's experience. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Listen and learn. Finish your work in private today and tomorrow. Regarding taking on risks or expense, slow down and consider options. Get expert assistance. Finish up what you've promised. Stand your ground. Envision yourself winning. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Wait on a household decision. A change in circumstances could alter your direction. Your team comes through for you today and tomorrow. Stand up to your own fears, for what you know is right. Anticipate controversy. Cooperate. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Consider new professional opportunities for the next few days. Anticipate changes, and re-arrange responsibilities. Postpone meetings or big decisions. Take time out for fun. Give a loved one your full attention. Find out what they want. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Travel fantasies animate you over the next few days. Plan a relaxing getaway. New circumstances affect your decisions. Favor spending on fascinating experiences over toys. Allow extra time for the unexpected. Exchange ideas and resources. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Weigh your options. Refine the budget over the next few days. Avoid impulsive spending. Don't lose what you've got hoping for more. Wait for a better time. Financial arguments spark with little provocation. Stick to simple ingredients. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Be receptive when your partner wants to talk. Compromise is required today and tomorrow. Collaborate to complete a tricky job. If you get stuck, take a break and get some fresh air. Hire a professional, if necessary. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- You can't please everyone all the time. There's plenty of work over the next few days, requiring finesse with dueling opinions. A power shift could scramble plans. You get more if you're nice and respectful. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Spend time with family and friends, and have fun today and tomorrow. Love is the priority. It feeds your spirit. Indulge in passions, sports and games. Take time for romance, and to do what another likes. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Perfect your environment. Make your home more comfortable today and tomorrow. A little fixing up is required. Keep your objective in mind. Get family involved by courting their self-interest. Bribery can work. Find what's needed nearby. (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 RIGHTS RESERVED
Bliss
By Harry Bliss
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September 4 , 2015
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INSIDE SPORTS
SPORTS
Volleyball Transfers
Record Chase
Two transfer students expect to make a big impact on the Rock volleyball team during the 2015 season.
Rock running back Shamar Greene hopes to break SRU's all-time record for rushing yards over the next two seasons.
See Page C-3
See Page C-3
Men's soccer escapes with 2-1 victory
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Senior forward Peter Boylan gets fouled by a Malone defender in the box, resulting in a penalty shot on Thursday. SRU connected on the PK to take an early 1-0 lead in its 2-1 victory.
By Cody McCullough Rocket Contributor
Despite not playing a strong game, the SRU Men's soccer team was able to come away with a 2-1 victory in its home opener Thursday over Malone University. "I didn't think we performed at a capable level," SRU coach Andy Hoggarth said. "We played well for about 25 minutes in the second half, but we were able to get the win and get out of here." SRU took a 1-0 lead into half time after senior Ryan Lutke scored on a penalty shot, but Hoggarth believed his team was not playing up the its full potential.
Hoggarth said the way his team came out in the second half was the key to the victory. Due to a 10 minute lightning delay, the teams got an extra 10 minute half time to get themselves ready, and his team took advantage. "We changed our intensity at half time," Hoggarth said. "The first half was awful. We showed what we can do for 25 minutes after the delay, but we need to do that all game." A second half goal by Matt Sangermano, assisted by Peter Boylan gave SRU the 2-0 lead, not far into the second half. However, SRU seemed to loose its momentum late in the second half, allowing Malone to get back in to the game. Jordan LoPresti scored Malone's
lone goal in the 73rd minute and that seemed to give Malone momentum, as they were on the attack for the rest of the game. Some solid late game defense and good goaltending by Steven Rerick sent Malone players home with unhappy looks on their faces. In the closing minutes of the game, Malone had a couple corner kicks to try to get one in the net, but the SRU defenders and Rerick were solid, and didn't allow any more goals to get past the goal line. Rerick faced four total shots, recording two saves. As a team, the Rock held the advantage in total shots with 12, SEE , PAGE C-2
New women's soccer coach focuses on team morale Doug Gilghrist Rocket Contributor
Growing up in Connecticut, new Rock head women's soccer coach Jessica Griggs knew from an early age that she wanted to devote her life to soccer. Having a father who was a Division I soccer coach didn't hurt in that pursuit. Griggs' father, Steve Griggs, was the head coach at Yale University for more than two decades, from 1975-1997, leading the team to three conference championships and three NCAA playoff appearances. "I was born into a soccer household, my
father was a college coach," said Griggs. "I started playing as soon as I could walk." Jessica Griggs was a star in high school at Newark Academy in New Jersey before going on to become a four year starter at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. During her tenure with Dickinson, she became the Red Devils fourth leading goal scorer in team history. She scored 34 goals in her collegiate career, as well as adding 20 assists, which also ranks fourth in school history. Griggs graduated from SEE NEW, PAGE C-2
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Slippery Rock women's soccer coach Jessica Griggs. She joins the team after spending one season at Northland College in Wisconsin.
Men's XC trains in Alaska By Brittany Fagan Rocket Contributor
The Slipper y Rock Universty men's crosscountry team traveled back to Pennsylvania Sunday after closing its four day trip to Anchorage, Alaska. "We had an outstanding trip," SRU head coach John Papa said. "Overall it was a great experience for the team." The men landed in Alaska Wednesday afternoon. The team traveled to Portage Glacier and had its first team run on the trails surrounding the glacier. The following day the team had a scrimmage versus t he University of A l a s k a A n ch or a ge at Kincaid Park on the surrounding trails. The teams were not allowed to release any official results from the meet due to NCAA rulings, but the men were led by sophomore Jeremy Parsons and a strong pack of seniors. The Seawolves had a good run and have a bright season ahead of them. The team was expected to win its sixth Great SEE UNIQUE, PAGE C-4
SPORTS
C-2
September 4, 2015
New coach brings PSAC experience
Football 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Gannon Slippery Rock Mercyhurst California (Pa.) Indiana (Pa.) Seton Hill Edinboro Clarion
(0-0) (0-0) (0-0) (0-0) (0-0) (0-0) (0-0) (0-0)
Men's soccer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
East stroudsburg shippensburg Slippery rock Millersville Bloomsburg west chester California (pa.) gannon Seton Hill Lock haven Mercyhurst Pitt-johnstown
(1-0-0) (1-0-0) (1-0-0) (1-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-1-0) (0-1-0) (0-1-0) (0-1-0) (0-1-0)
Women's soccer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
kutztown seton hill East Stroudsburg California (pa.) Mercyhurst Indiana (pa.) Shippensburg edinboro gannon
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
West Chester Bloomsburg mansfield Slippery Rock clarion Lock haven millersvile Pitt-johnstown
(1-0-0) (1-0-0) (1-0-0) (0-0-1) (0-0-1) (0-0-1) (0-0-1) (0-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-0-0) (0-1-0) (0-1-0) (0-1-0)
VOlleyball 1.
ClARION
(0-0)
2.
CALIFORNIA (PA.)
(0-0)
3.
Gannon
(0-0)
4.
Seton hill
(0-0)
5.
Edinboro
(0-0)
6.
mercyhurst
(0-0)
7.
Slippery rock
(0-0)
8.
Indiana (pa.)
(0-0)
Standings as of Thurs. Sept 3 at 7:49 p.m.
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Rock women's soccer coach warms with her team prior to a practice Tuesday. Griggs takes over the program after former coach Noreen Herlihy accepted an offer at Division I Akron University.
Continued from Page C 1
to coach at Northland College Dickinson in 2007 with a in Wisconsin. This time she bachelor's degree in Spanish. was calling the shots as head She began her coaching coach. Her one and only c are e r a fe w year with the years later when Lumberjacks she joined the was a successful, coaching staff leading her at Shippensburg squad to an 11Un i ve r s it y a s 9-1 record and an assistant an appearance in coach for the the conference women's team. semifinals. She helped guide Griggs became Shippensburg to Scan this QR code to the third coach an exclusive video the PSAC playoffs watch interview with Rock in SRU women's in 2013 with a coach Jessica Griggs soccer history in 12-6-3 record, March, replacing where they were c o a c h Nore e n eventually knocked out of the Herlihy, who accepted a tournament by Slippery Rock. job at Division I Akron A f te r h e r s u c c e s s at University. She is excited Shippensburg, she was hired for the opportunity to lead
such storied program such as Slippery Rock. "Noreen was someone who people would always respect," Griggs said. "For me, it's an honor to take over this program and follow in Noreen's footsteps." Despite sp ending just one season with Northland, Griggs feels like it was a great experience for her to develop her own style as a head coach. Understanding that the level of soccer was not as intense as one would find in the PSAC, she found success with her team by focusing on the mentality of her players, a concept which she's brought to Slippery Rock. "I do a lot of sports psychology for the mental side of the game," Griggs said. "Some of those ideas worked well at Northland, so we brought them here as well." One of the most intriguing aspects that Griggs' brings to her locker room is a philosophy she created with marbles. In each players locker, there is a jar of marbles with each marble symbolizing how many games each player has remaining in their collegiate career. After each game, the team performs a small ceremony where they each remove one marble and place it in Griggs' jar. Throughout the year, Griggs' jar becomes fuller as the player's jars empty, showing just how far they have come as a team throughout the season. "Player's are only guaranteed 20 games a season," Griggs said. "The idea is that we want our players to keep extending their careers by forcing more games throughout the playoffs. It's about cherishing every game they play, and applying all that they've learned and making the most of it." "This was a great opportunity and I previously coached in the PSAC," said Griggs. "I was familiar with the conference and I love the competitiveness."
Second half intensity leads to Rock win Continued from Page C 1
compared to Malone's four. Eight of SRU's shots were counted as being on goal. Both teams were credited with 11 fouls apiece, and Rock junior's Mike Pcholinsky and Josh Allman were each given yellow cards. Malone held the advantage in corner kicks with six attempts compared to Slippery Rock's three. Hoggarth is hoping his team shows some improvement going into the next game. "Our speed of play needs to improve," Hoggarth said. "Some people didn't do their roles, and some had the mentality to play the way they like to play." Hoggarth insists that this team needs to play as team in order to be successful. SRU will be back in action this Saturday at home as it takes on Daemen College. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at James Egli Field.
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET
Junior forward Andrea Felix collides with the Shippensburg goalie during a game last season. Felix earned second-team All-PSAC honors.
SPORTS
September 4, 2015
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SRU running back chases school record
ALEX MOWREY/THE ROCKET
Redshirt-junior Shamar Greene fights off a Kutztown defender during a game last season. Greene rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
By Ryan Barlow Sports Editor
With two full seasons of eligibility remaining, redshirt-junior running back Shamar Greene is in good position to contend for SRU's school record in career rushing yards. Through his first two seasons, Greene has rushed for 2,209 yards, which is already good enough for the 13th position on the record list. To catch SRU's all-time leading rusher, Stan Kennedy, Greene needs just 1,723 yards to match him. "For me, it's more about winning and playing football," Greene said. "In terms of my career and my stats, I want to be the best I can be and the best in Slippery Rock history. I've got to continue to work hard and be consistent." Before coming to Slippery Rock, Greene played at West Mifflin High School, where he lettered four times
in football. During his senior year, he averaged 12.6 yards per catch and 5.37 yards per carry, as well as 11.4 points per game. "It was different coming from Duquesne to West Mifflin every day," Greene said. "A lot of people felt like people from West Mifflin didn't want Duquesne kids there. I took myself and the game very seriously, worked my butt off, and ended up becoming the starting running back for the football team." Realizing he had the potential to play football at the collegiate level he began to look for colleges to attend. After a conversation with his high school principal, a Slippery Rock alum, Greene learned that SRU had an exceptional Athletic Training program. Originally wanting to pursue athletic training, Greene began to look at Slippery Rock very closely. Despite being intrigued by SRU's athletic training department, Greene
insists that Slippery Rock's successful football program was his number one reason for attending the Rock. "In 2011, Slippery Rock had just won the PSAC-West and the running back was leaving," Greene said. "I really enjoyed the school when I came on my visit. The players made me feel like I was right at home, and it was the first time I was able to meet any of them, and that made me feel comfortable." After redshirting his freshman year at SRU, Greene worked his way into a starting role with the team, eventually breaking out his redshirt-sophomore season with 1,482 rushing yards. That mark is good for the second most rushing yards by a Slippery Rock player in a single season. Ever since becoming an every day player for the Rock, Greene has been a part of a successful and winning football team, winning one PSAC Championship in two appearances. Entering 2015, Greene thinks his team
is not only ready to repeat its PSAC title, but also make a run for national championship. "Our goal is to get back to the PSAC championship and winning it," Greene said. "We want to get to that national championship. We just need to take things game by game, and hopefully it all works out for us in the end." For the team to reach it's national championship goal, Greene understands that his individual play will make a big impact on how his team will perform this season. To ensure that he's going to be a productive member of his team, Greene must put in an extraordinary amount of effort. "Each day, it's all about keeping my mentality," Greene said. "I have to think about what I want in life, and each time I have to go out to practice I focus on getting better. It's a daily grind by just staying focused, pushing myself mentally, and my teammates pushing me mentally each day."
Transfer students to make big impact on women's volleyball By Jordyn Bennett Rocket Contributor
Slippery Rock’s Women’s Volleyball 2014 season left and took some familiar faces with it, but with the 2015 season quickly approaching some new faces are appearing on the roster and some of them have the credentials that could lead the team to a promising future. Slippery Rock gained two sophomore transfer students this season who made a mark on the court at their respected schools. Courtney Oberlander, a defensive specialist from Seton Hill University, and Brooke Bostwick, a middle hitter from Roanoke College, are very similar on the court as they both played at their respected schools as freshmen and are very passionate about their sport, but they both have a different story on how they got here. Oberlander attended Fort Lebouf High School(Waterford, PA), which is about an hour and a half away from the university. In high school she was a 4-time letter earner, all-district, all-region, all-state, and the 2012 Region 5 Player of the Year that lead her team to a state championship. Those accolades led her to an opportunity to continue her athletic career at Seton Hill University where she started in 5 of the the 38 matches she played in. She contributed to SHU’s 2nd place ranking in the PSAC West with 322 digs, second highest on the team, but could never find her happiness there. That is when she turned to Slippery Rock without any intent of playing volleyball. Oberlander said volleyball was not her main
concern, being happy was. They were just two very different schools. She loves how big the campus is and it was closer to home so SRU just became a fit for her. Volleyball was not an option, but when the opportunity came she said it was worth it. “I didn’t know if I wanted to play volleyball yet,” said Oberlander. “I’m glad I did.” She is fitting right in with the team. She said she loves the bond that they have and appreciates the effort of her knew coach to focus on defensive skill. Her last coach was not helping her progress as much as Coach Lokash has been. Oberlander really just wants to give back what was put into her. She said that she brings the intensity and communication that her coach is looking for from the team. Bostwick on the other hand, came to The Rock with the opposite approach. Coming from Auburn High School (VA), she knew nothing but volleyball when she came to Slippery Rock. In high school she dominated the volleyball court leading her team to two state championships and receiving state and conference player of the year honors in 2013. From there, she went on to Roanoke College (VA) where she led her team with 74 blocks and 253 kills. Her conference recognized her talents and awarded her with second team allconference honors and the conference rookie of the year, but she sought out for more. Bostwick came to Slippery Rock with the mindset that she wanted to compete at a higher level than where she was. She came to SRU knowing nothing more than it was a division up from where she played prior to. In fact, the
first and only time she got to see the area was when she got here and is still unfamiliar with the area, but she is making the most of it. “Transferring is a weird process,” said Bostwick. “It’s one of those things when the opportunity comes just have to take it.” She says everything is almost foreign to her. She speaks with an accent compared to everyone else and compared to the farm she grew up on the cities around her look a lot different, but it does not stop her game. She said she just finds a way to adjust. Slippery Rock was meant to be be for her, Bostwick said. She loves the team, the coaches, and the atmosphere. She said she needed to have early morning workouts before class and off season preparation to get the feeling that she was working hard and giving her all to be the best that she can possibly be for this team. Though she is still getting adjusted and the team still has some aspects of their game they need to get better at, she sees them having a promising future. Coach Lokash could not be happier with these two ladies and see promising futures in both of them. She spoke highly of Oberlander’s ability and said that she was one of the best defensive specialist they have right now. She does not think it hurts that she is also familiar with the league. She feels has great potential. She is raw, but fixes any correction thrown at her immediately she said. She is really waiting for the season to see how they really fit in because it is more than ability for this team. “It’s not all about skill level,” said Lokash. “It’s about cohesiveness as a group.”
SPORTS
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September 4, 2015
Women's XC races in exhibition Unique opportunity
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN PAPA
Juniors Kaylee Haberkam and Christine Potsubay compete in an exhibition race against the University of Alaska Anchorage.
By Cameron Bildhauer Rocket Contributor
The Slippery Rock women’s cross country team traveled to Alaska this past Thursday for an exhibition against The University of Alaska Anchorage. The team drove 1,100 miles over a four day span, but it was well worth it according to SRU head coach John Papa. “There was so much to do and see that we just kept moving except
when it came time to sleep,” Papa said. “The trip was somewhat hectic, but it was worth it.” Since the season didn’t officially start yet, the NCAA would not allow official results to be kept for this race, but the team was was led by sophomore Melissa Rains. Papa is looking forward to seeing what Rains can provide for the team this season. “Melissa had a great summer of training,” Papa said. “She looks to be one of our top runners this season.”
Due to injury last season, a few of the Rock runners were unable to participate in meets. These runners included Rains, sophomore Erin Allison, sophomore Challis Roberts, and sophomore Caitlyn Janeda. After summer training, each of these returners finished at the top of half of Slippery Rock runners. Also finishing in the top half for SRU were junior Alexis Swiergol and junior Kaylee Haberkam. Swiergol was the second finisher for SRU, following Rains. Despite no times being posted, Papa was still pleased with the learning experience of this trip. He believes that the student athletes spent quite a bit of time together and got to know each other a lot better. “I think that the trip to Alaska was a learning and growing experience for the team,” Papa said. “The ladies had a fast workout that will prepare them for future races.” Rock runners who were unable to attend the trip due to educational conflicts included senior Jenny Picot, senior Leah Anne Wirfel, and senior Shannon Byerly. Picot and Wirfel are considered as SRU's top two runners for 2015. Freshman Sabrina Palmieri also did not attend the trip. The ladies used this trip to Alaska as more of a team building experience and practice for the upcoming season. They struggled through cold weather, but Papa says that colder weather is more comfortable for long distance runners. Now that the team is back, Papa would like his team to focus more on the upcoming season. “We need to get into the student athlete groove while focusing to get ready for the upcoming season,” Papa said. The ladies' first meet of the regular is set to take place Saturday against Ediboro at the Doug Watts Cross Country Gala.
for men's cross country in Alaska Continued from Page C 1
Northwest Athletic Conference title this s e a s on a c c ord i ng to t he pres e as on coaches poll. The Seawolves received 10 out of 11 first place votes. The Rock showed go o d comp etition against the d om i n at i n g t e am and made the race more i nte re st i ng . After the meet the team traveled to the campus where they explored and visited the university's bookstore. The teams hard work on the course didn't stop t hem from enjoying the beautiful Alaska. The men also traveled to Matanuska Glacier that day and got to explore the entire glacier. The men also had the opportunity to visit Chugach State Park where the team hiked over 3,000 feet on Flat Top Mountain. The next day the te am sp ent t heir entire day traveling to Denali National Park where they hiked up several rocks and mountains into the snowy atmosphere. The Rock ended
its trip on by visiting the Alaska State Fair and experiencing the Alaska culture. The team then traveled to Girdwood, Alaska and explored the Winner Creek Trail where they had the opportunity to ride the hand-tram and view Winner Falls. The entire team was happy to be part of the experience and travel as a team, including senior Connor MacKelvey. "Entering my final year of eligibility for cross country as a senior at the Rock, I feel very privileged t o c o n c l u d e my cross country career traveling to The Last Frontier with my fellow teammates," MacKelvey said. "I was extremely excited that I could travel to the 49th State with my second family and Coach Papa. I cannot thank him enoughas well as Slippery R o c k Un i v e r s i t y and Slippery Rock Athletics- for this once in a lifetime experience." The Green and White are set to run their first meet of the season Saturday S eptember 5th at Edinboro University.
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CAMPUS LIFE
INSIDE CAMPUS LIFE
Miley Cyrus Fails As VMA Host
Bass Anglers' Proceed To Championships
'Film Buff', Harmony Kasper, reviews MTV's Video Music Awards and shares her thoughts on Miley Cyrus as the host and Kanye West's announcement to run for president.
Two members of SRU's Bass Anglers' club will go on to the College Northern Conference Championship in hopes of snagging one of the 50 spots at the National Championships.
See Page D-2
See Page D-2
Sister to Sister hosts Luau Event brings students together for food, dancing and contests By Emma Pfeifer Asst. Campus Life Editor
Sister to Sister hosted a luau event Tuesday in the quad during common hour to welcome back students for the fall semester. The event included a hula hoop contest, a performance by SRU’s JamRock dance team, free food, drinks and slacklining lessons. During the event, students were able to make fruit kebabs as well as participate in hula hoop and limbo contests. A DJ was also set up in the pavilion, playing music for the students to enjoy. The Grove set up a promotional table at the event, giving out free shirts, cups and frozen lemonade to students who put down their contact information to receive more feedback about the apartment complex. Students were also encouraged to take pictures with SRU’s Instagram frame, hashtagging InstaSru and Sister to Sister. President of Sister to Sister and junior public relations major, Shannon Pitcairn said the purpose of the luau was to learn more about the organization and how they are about women empowerment, discussing current events and improving the student body. Pitcairn said the organization hosts a wide range of events similar to the luau. Junior public relations major Lanaya Patterson said, Sister to Sister is a student organization that encourages and empowers women in a non-judgmental environment. The club is a safe environment for people to talk about what is important in their lives. Patterson has been a part of the group for three years and this will be her second year serving on the executive board for the club. The group holds different events throughout the semester to welcome students to the organization and also to promote socialization between members. SEE CLUB, PAGE D-3
REBECCA DIETRICH/THE ROCKET Junior public relations major and president of Sister to Sister, Shannon Pitcairn shares fruit kebabs with students who attended their Welcome Back Luau on Tuesday during common hour in the quad. The event also included activities such as a hula hoop contest, a performance by JamRock and slacklining lessons.
AVI offers new dining options to accommodate students By Amber Cannon Campus Life Editor
AVI recently revealed new changes and new dining options at Boozel, Rocky's, Weisenfluh, Quaker Steak and Lube and the Campus Drive Grill in order to better accommodate student based on their tastes and needs. Lisa Rodgers, director of operations for AVI at Slippery Rock, said one of the main reasons for the second omelet line at Boozel was because staff and students started to notice how long the first line gets during breakfast time. Rodgers also said when AVI meets with resident hall students and ask what they would like to see at Boozel, several students said they would like to see another omelet line during breakfast time. Recently, Boozel has started to experience an egg shortage during breakfast. Rodgers explained that the second omelet line is not responsible for the egg shortage. “The egg shortage is not because of the second omelet line,” Rodgers said. “The egg shortage is based on the avian flu.” Rodgers said the avian flu kills about 40,000 chickens annually
and completely wipes out the chicken population. In order to get new eggs, new chickens, or “teenage chickens," have to hatch. Rodgers said it normally takes up to a year for teenage chickens to produce new eggs. Sophomore early childhood and special education major, Melissa Jones said she's very excited for the second omelet line because Boozel's breakfast is her favorite meal of the day. "They needed it," Jones said. "Sometimes I couldn't get an omelet because the lines were so long. This second line will definitely be beneficial for Boozel." Senior exercise science major, Haley Knotts said she goes to Boozel mainly for their breakfast because the omelets are the healthiest choice, so having another omelet line will shorten the wait for an omelet. AVI has also introduced a new vegetable and noodle bar at Boozel. Rodgers said AVI partnered and trained with several different international students to create this new section at Boozel. "International students are more familiar with foods such as rice, grains and noodles, so we tried to recreate that," Rodgers said. Danielle Maurer, sophomore
KENDALL SCOTT/THE ROCKET A Boozel employee prepares omelets during breakfast time. Lisa Rodgers, director of operations at AVI said Boozel now has a second omelet line. Rocky's and Weisenfluh have also incorporated new stations, Agave and Gastro Pub.
recreational therapy major said the noodle and vegetable bar will be a success because most inter nat ional students w ho come here aren’t familiar with American food. She believes this new upgrade will be a success.
AVI has also introduced Agave, a new Mexican station located next to the Wrapped station in Rocky’s. SEE STUDENT, PAGE D-3
CAMPUS LIFE
D-2
Ask Andi
Cyrus turns VMAs into a disaster with her inappropriate behavior
Andi is a senior at SRU giving advice to those who seek it and occassionally to those who don't. Harmony Kasper
Question: Dear Andi,
When I came to school my freshman year, I met a guy that I really liked and we dated for the school year. He broke up with me in June, and all of my old friends won't talk to me because they say I ditched them for him. This wouldn't be as much of an issue if I weren't living with two of them this year. Is there any way to make amends with them so our year together isn't awkward? Sincerely, Friendless and Boyfriendless
Answer:
Dear Friendless and Boyfriendless,
It sounds like you got caught up in a freshman-year relationship. The first year of college can be overwhelming, but it is also a critical time to make new friends. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to balance time between significant others and time with friends. However, it may be helpful to always remember to set aside a night just for friends where you can catch up on all the latest drama. In your case, it might be best to explain to your gal pals that you weren't trying to ditch them, you just got caught in the relationship. It's best to speak up now before things have the chance to get worse. Ask your friends to go out to dinner so you can all chat while grabbing a bite to eat. Best Wishes! Andi
Question: Dear Andi,
In high school, I was really involved. I was the student body president and performed in cheerleading and track, and while I enjoyed it, my grades really suffered. I didn't get involved in any sports this year because I wanted to focus on my school work, especially because I have a difficult major, but I really miss being involved. Is there any way I could do these things and still do well in school? Sincerely, Running in Circles
Answer: Dear Running in Circles, Time management is key to success in college. While classes may be more difficult and require more attention than in high school, there is still time for extracurriculars. It might be best to pick one of two extra activities to start with before over-booking yourself. You might want to consider getting involved in some club sports to allow yourself to meet new people while being active. As I mentioned, time management will be your best friend in college. If you create a set schedule for yourself to complete all your desired activities, you should have no problem adding a few extra activities to your planner. Good luck!
"The Film Buff" Harmony Kasper is a senior journalism and creative writing major and film and media studies minor and a regular contributor to The Rocket. Not because of the musical performances or the heartfelt speeches, but because of Miley Cyrus, the 2015 Video Music Awards (VMAs) will be talked about for the next year. Before the show even began, Taylor Swift premiered her new music video for her single "Wildest Dreams," similar to how she premiered the infamous "Bad Blood" video before the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. Nicki Minaj opened the show with a performance of "Trini Dem Girls" and "The Night Is Still Young." The performance had a tribal theme, but all was well when Swift entered the stage and joined Nicki. In the end, it was all smiles and hugs and the world was at peace again after their Twitter feud. The overall performance was entertaining and showed off the powerful stage presence these two women have. Miley Cyrus entered the VMAs on a rainbow slide in a very colorful and actually conservative outfit. She wore faux blonde dreads in a ponytail and definitely showed signs that she probably smoked something illegal backstage. Every time Miley came on stage, she had on the most bizarre outfits. One was a clear, plastic dress with random colored circles stuck on it. Her opening speech was all over the place. The live video cut to a pre-taped skit on how Miley chooses an Instagram photo, which was completely random. This is one of three pre-taped videos that played throughout the night and made absolutely no sense. None of them were related to music or music videos. Now I love Britney Spears, but when she came out to present Best Male Video, I was a little embarrassed for her. Her dress was short, tight, cut out everywhere and reminded me of something she would have worn at the age of 21. Props to her for still being involved in the music industry. She was one of the few veteran musical performers there that night. Rebel Wilson came out to present Best HipHop Video, which Nicki Minaj won for her video “Anaconda." At the end of Minaj's acceptance speech, Minaj called out Cyrus for what she was saying about her in the press. This was not scripted and is probably one of the most talked about events from this year's
Dear Andi,
I have a friend that is constantly looking on the not-sobright side. Her negativity is actually becoming contagious. It seems like she is contantly taking stabs at people, for what seems like no reason at all. How can I better channel out her negative ways? Sincerely, Not So Negative Nancy
Answer: Dear Not So Negative Nancy, Sometimes it is best to practice selective hearing in these types of situations. Because she is your friend, it is probably best not to step on her toes. Although it is always good to express your concerns, if her negative ways are beginning to affect your daily life, then say something. But, if it's just a matter of annoyance, this is where selective hearing is the tool to use. After all, optimism is contagious too. Maybe she'll catch some of your positive vibes before she can contaminate you with her negativity. Best Wishes! Andi
VMAs. Swift won Best Female Video with “Blank Space” and graciously accepted. Every time Cyrus talked I went to turn the TV off. Demi Lovato performed "Cool For The Summer" with surprise guest Iggy Azalea and rocked out on the outside stage. Justin Bieber sung his new song that we have been seeing on his Instagram for the past 3 months. The song sounds like anything else of his, and then he cried at the end. Going on to more important things, Kanye West announced her is running for president in 2020. That was announced by West himself after he was presented the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award by none other than Swift. I feel like this was a little revenge for Swift, even though their beef has been settled for quite some time now. Of course she had to throw in, "'I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but Kanye had one of the greatest careers of all time." The final two moments of the awards were, in my opinion, the best and the worst. Swift won Video of the Year for her "Bad Blood" video and brought the whole music video squad on stage. Swift and her friends were classy and her speech was empowering. Cyrus gave a surprise performance that I wish never would have happened. She was trashy, singing about smoking weed and that she "ain't no hippie." At the end, she announced her new album; titled “Miley Cyrus And Her Dead Petz” was available online for free. As you can guess, I didn't download it. Other performances were Macklemore with Ryan Lewis, who ran around outside singing their new song “Downtown,” which was just a mess of a song. Tori Kelly gave one of the best performances of the night with her new song, “Should’ve Been Us.” The newcomer showed off her impressive vocals and wowed the crowd. Twenty One Pilots with A$AP Rocky tried mashing up a couple of each other’s songs, but that didn’t end up sounding as well as they hoped. Pharrell Williams sang his song “Freedom,” which gives out an important message, but the performance wasn’t as great as the meaning of the song. The Weeknd, who is one of my new favorite artists, gave an amazing performance of “Can’t Feel My Face.” Winners included Fetty Wap for the Artist to Watch Award for his song “Trap Queen.” Best Rock Video went to Fall Out Boy for their song “Uma Thurman,” and Best Choreography was awarded to OK Go for “I Won’t Let You Down.” If you haven’t seen this video, please YouTube it now. Best Song of the Summer was awarded to 5 Seconds of Summer for “She’s Kinda Hot,” which they respectively deserve. Overall, the 2015 Video Music Awards was by far my least favorite award show. Cyrus was messy as ever, West had a half hour long acceptance speech where he talked about nothing, except for running for president in 2020, and there were several instances where I felt very uncomfortable throughout the whole show. I hope next year MTV decides to select a much better host and have a much cleaner production for viewers of all ages to enjoy.
SRU Bass Anglers club advances to Northern Conference Championship By Rebecca Sheriff Rocket Contributor
Best Wishes! Andi
Question:
September 4, 2015
Two members of Slippery Rock’s Competitive Bass Anglers’ club have qualified for the College Fishing Northern Conference Championship after placing 11th in the Northern Conference tournament held on the first of August. Evan Kretz, a junior Exercise Science major, and Joel Hixon, a Management major, will be traveling to North East Maryland to fish on the Chesapeake Bay in the Championship on Sept. 12-13. Kretz and Hixon competed against 56 teams from schools such as Michigan State, the University of Maine, and Virginia Tech in the Conference tournament. While in Maryland, they will be competing against hundreds of teams that are all fighting for one of 50 spots in the National Championship. “With over 610 established collegiate bass fishing clubs in the nation, bass fishing is one of the fastest growing college sports,”
explained Benjamin Tawney, a 2015 M.B.A. graduate of Slippery Rock University and former President of the SRU Competitive Bass Anglers. “The competition gets tougher every year.” When asked about the process that goes into preparing for such a large competition, Kretz explained said for these competitions, the club almost always goes to practice on the lake where the tournament will be held." "Some of these tournaments can be 10 or more hours away," Kretz said. "This [is done] to learn more information about the given body of water such as depth, where the fish are, and what baits to use. For the Conference Championship we will be traveling to Maryland to practice the weekend before and then driving back the following weekend for the tournament.” When Tawney was informed of the team’s recent accomplishment he said he was proud of the club. “They are all great fishermen and Slippery Rock is getting known quickly for the fishing team," Tawney said. The Anglers club was formed
nearly five years ago, branching off of the Hunting and Fishing Club. The organization has grown from five to 22 members in the past two years and seeks to provide students with the opportunity to fish both locally and nationally against other institutions. The SRU Anglers’ have experienced previous success thanks to the hard work and dedication of all of it's members. Former member Tyler Branca and Tawney secured a spot in the FLW National Championship in 2014 and placed 7th in the nation. “This got our club and school lots of recognition in the public on television, the radio, and in newspapers,” Tawney said. Looking forward to not only the upcoming Conference Championship but also long-term goals, the Anglers club hopes to garner awareness for the work they do both on and off campus. “In five years I would like to see our club continue to be successful,” Kretz said. “One of our goals is to be able to purchase a boat for the club in order to get more student involvement.”
CAMPUS LIFE
September 4, 2015
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'Bread and Butters' senior reminisces about first experience with comfort food
Kelsey Phillips "Bread and Butters" Kelsey Phillips is a senior public relations major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
I was probably in 7th grade the last time I saw Mrs. Schaeffer. Once a week I would come over to her house to help with chores and offer bits of excitement from my adolescent life. I can remember one day, towards the end of the summer, strange squealing sounds were coming from upstairs. I peeked into each room, once belonging to her children but now home to collections of teddy bears and books, and found that a bat had gotten in through an open window. We spent hours trying to chase it out of the house, often spooking ourselves more than the animal. Mrs. Schaeffer had this grand piano in her living room lined with cards from Christmas and birthdays. I would sit on the hard wooden bench and pretend I was Beethoven, if Beethoven would have played “Chopsticks.” She enjoyed filling the house with noise, and I was
happy to provide it. Sometimes I would be asked to dust the “back room,” as I had grown accustomed to calling it. As soon as I stepped through the paint-chipped set of French doors, the temperature dropped and my lungs filled with the smell of vintage corduroy and old potpourri. The windowsills were lined with conch shells and chunks of coral whose orange color had long faded. Landscape paintings hung above the couches next to jars of mismatched buttons collecting dust. I would sit for a handful of minutes listening to the sound of the ocean from the shell, or wipe a line of dust off a painting with my finger. After my chores were finished, I followed Mrs. Schaeffer into the kitchen for a sweet. I knew her well, or as well as one can know their 83-year-old neighbor, and Mrs. Schaeffer was by no means a baker. There was one pot in the whole kitchen, one tea kettle resting on the small electric stove. But that didn’t matter. I knew what she meant. I climbed on top of a chair and handed down a tin can of crème-filled Pirouette wafers from the top shelf. The lid echoed as she took it off and offered me a delicate cookie. I took a bite. There was a taste of comfort in our post-cleaning ritual. I took another bite. The chocolate hazelnut filling was rolled up in the flakey dough like a cigar. I parted my lips and breathed out a sweet sigh of content. For as long as she lived I don’t think Mrs. Schaeffer was ever part of the “food
PHOTO COURTEST OF KELSEY PHILLIPS Phillips remembers her first encounter with comfort food, when her 83-year-old neighbor, Ms. Schaeffer offered her chocolate hazlenut crème-filled Pirouette wafers.
is fuel” club, and I don’t think she ever wanted to be. To her, comfort food was anything eaten with good company and good intentions. There was nothing homemade about it. Now well in my college years, I still
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 transferred here this year from Youngstown State University in Ohio. Prior to that, I was at Point Park University for a semester and then transferred to Butler County Community college for one year.
think about Mrs. Schaeffer and the ease of our relationship. Every now and then I’ll buy some Pirouette wafers, sneaking one out before hiding them safely on the top shelf in my kitchen. I take a bite, and breathe out a sweet sigh of memories.
Student feedback determines new dining options Continued from Page D 1
My friends mean everything to me. I feel like my best friends are the ones I can do everything with, but also nothing and still have the best time. I swear we are always together and being crazy. It's like we are on vacation. I'm weird and my friends could vouch that I'm nuts. One of my favorite quotes is, "I would rather be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." Our SRh"U"man, bottom right, with her friends on the steps of West Gym.
Club hopes to make a difference on campus Continued from Page D 1
A few of the events they have hosted in the past were a talent show, a love connections game and a breast cancer auction. Pitcairn said that the goal of Sister to Sister is to empower women, but they also have many social events and activities. She said there is no limit to what the club does. She also said that she sees herself working in a position to coordinate events with the community in the future. Her hope is to create a lot of new ideas that will promote Sister to Sister and get the promotion necessary to make a difference on campus. Sister to Sister meets every other Thursday on the Slippery Rock campus. The discussions range from talking about the current media to discussing sensitive subjects that affects the personal lives of their members. Pitcairn said that sometimes the meetings consist of fun activities to give the members a break from the stress of class. The organizatons goal is wanting their members to be able to express themselves the way they want to and also make a difference on the campus.
Scan this QR code to watch to an exclusive video of Sister to Sister's Luau, or go to www. theonlinerocket. com
Rodgers said it was student interest that made this new station possible. “Down in the old union, there was a placed called La Roca and a lot of students have mentioned they want La Roca back,” Rodgers said. “Agave is very similar to La Roca.” Agave will offer burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, salads and bowls, including toppings such as beef, chicken, buffalo chicken and rice and beans. Rodgers said although Agave will offer tacos, it will not be in competition with “Taco Tuesday” at Rocky’s. Since beef tacos will only be 99 cents, Rodgers said every day will be Taco Tuesday. Rodgers said there are no future plans to add other diverse food stations at Rocky's. She said later on down the road AVI hopes to change out the Boulder Subs station and also do some alterations to the pasta station. The Gastro Pub is a new restaurant inside Weisenfluh that will be open during the afternoon and evening. The restaurant will be open seven days a week and will offer a mediterranean vibe to students, Rodgers said. Breakfast at the Gastro Pub will end at 10:30 a.m. and the ‘create your own burger’ section will open at 4 p.m. Salads, sandwiches and appitizers such as soup, pretzel sticks, French fries, fish and chips will be offered between the times of 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Gastro Pub will stay open until 10 p.m. Jones said the Gastro Pub will be very useful for people who have late classes. “I could never go there [Weisenfluh] because the other places close at like 4 and I would have late classes,” Jones said. Rodgers said during the afternoon the tables at the Gastro Pub will be accompanied by trivia games, word searches and Sudoku to keep students entertained and make for a more fun experience while students wait for their food. When thinking about what to add to the dining halls around campus, Rodgers said AVI tries to incorporate student feedback into everything they implement. Other upgrades around campus in new menu items at Quaker Steak and Lube, breakfast sandwiches at the Campus Drive Grill and new gluten free and vegan pastries at Boozel.
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September 4, 2015