2/5/19 by The Penn

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NEWS

News Editor: Jessica Truby – J.L.Truby@iup.edu Lead News Writer: Emily Loose – E.D. Loose@iup.edu

(Ashley Lutz/ The Penn) Winter Warm Up serves as the second opportunity of the school year that activities and clubs get to show themselves to the IUP community.

Winter Warm Up introduces students to new activities EMILY LOOSE

Lead News Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

With the beginning of the new semester comes the boredom that some students face with not knowing what to do with their free time in their new schedules. That is one reason IUP held its annual Winter Warm Up event Friday. It took place at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex and gave leeway to roughly 120 clubs and organizations. At Winter Warm Up, students could go from table to table to see what all the clubs at IUP had to offer. Clubs range from academic and Greek life to sports and leisure. Then, if it interests students enough, they can ask for more information and mingle with club representatives. As soon as students entered, they were given a coupon toward a free appetizer at Hoss’s and had the chance to win a prize. There

News

(Ashley Lutz/ The Penn) The organizations at Winter Warm Up ranged from academic and Greek life, to sports and leisure.

were even snacks like hot chocolate and cookies to keep them satisfied as they walked around. Students also had the chance to fill out a passport, for which they got stickers from different

types of club tables. When they filled up the passport, they had the chance to enter them for drawings. Aside from tables set out for clubs, some clubs performed for

February 5, 2019

the crowd. Even with the huge crowds coming in and out, not all clubs had giant turnouts at their tables. Despite not having a lot of sign ups, some club representatives

said it was still nice to get their names out there. Stephen Smartnick (junior, communications media) is the night manager, as well as a member of the promotions team, for the college radio station, WIUP-FM. He was at the station’s table for the whole event and said events like this were important. “It’s always good to be seen around campus more and hear feedback from the different students since most of our promotion is digital,” he said. Winter Warm Up serves as the second opportunity of the school year that activities and clubs get to show themselves to possible new members. In the fall semester, IUP holds the same session, but calls it IUP Day. Even if you missed the event, there are still chances to sign up and find new clubs. For more information or ideas on what to look for, visit the Crimson Connect website to search around and explore new possible interests.

February 5, 2019

News

IUP Ambassadors seek student nominations JESS TRUBY

News Editor J.L.Truby@iup.edu @jesstruby

IUP Ambassadors are seeking nominations from alumni, faculty, staff, or current IUP Ambassadors. The organization was founded in 1993 under the direction of the IUP Alumni Association. The purpose of the program is to serve as a link between prospective students, current students, administrators, faculty members, alumni and friends of IUP. It also works to engage alumni

and current students with campus life and makes students more aware of their potential roles as IUP alumni. The IUP Ambassadors regularly work alumni events, such as IUP homecoming, young alumni and student engagement, admissions and career networking programs. The goal of the program is to promote awareness, communication and interaction between students and the IUP Alumni Association in order to inspire students to become loyal, involved and contributing alumni upon graduation and recruit prospective

Police Blotter Criminal Trespass

•An unknown person wearing a hoodie attempted to trespass in a

residence’s home by damaging a window at 6:59 p.m. The individual was also seen on the back porch of the residence, according to Indiana Borough Police. Anyone with information about this incident should contact borough police at 724-349-2121.

•Jarud Scott, 33, of Indiana was charged with criminal trespass after

attempting to enter an owner’s home without their permission at 4 p.m. Jan. 29 in the 1400 block of Water Street, according to borough police.

Criminal Mischief

•An unknown person damaged a red Subaru Outback while it was

parked in the residence’s driveway sometime between Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 in the 100 block of Oak Street, according to borough police. Anyone with information about this incident should contact borough police.

Alcohol Violation •Natalie Hart, 18, of West Mifflin was charged with retail theft,

underage drinking and public drunkenness after she ate part of a banana, placed it back on the shelf and attempted to leave the store without paying at approximately 3:09 a.m. Feb. 2 at the Sheetz at 768 Wayne Ave., according to borough police.

•Kenneth Alcott, 34, of Indiana, was charged with public drunken-

ness, disorderly conduct and the Borough Code for Open Containers after pounding on a residence’s door and demanding to be let inside at 11:30 p.m. Jan. 3 in the 700 block of Chestnut Street, according to borough police.

Hit & Run •An early 2000s silver sedan rear-ended a victim’s black sedan sometime between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. Jan. 30 in the 300 block of Church Street, according to borough police. Anyone with information about this incident should contact borough police.

•An off-white or silver sedan struck a parked vehicle that was then

pushed into another vehicle parked immediately in front sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 12:56 p.m. in the 600 block of South Sixth Street, according to borough police. Anyone with information about this incident should contact borough police.

students to attend IUP. To become an IUP Ambassador, students must apply and be nominated. Students can be self nominated or nominated by IUP alumni, faculty, staff and current IUP Ambassador. The organization is looking for first- or second-semester freshmen or sophomores, but juniors and seniors can also be considered. Their hope is that the IUP Ambassador membership continues to be diverse in all ways and represents all academic colleges and departments, according to the IUP alumni website. Students seeking more information can attend the New Member Open House Feb. 26 in the Breezedale Alumni Center. Nominators should choose students they believe would enjoy and benefit from being an IUP Ambassador. Once a student is nominated, he or she will receive an email notifying them of their nomination along with an explanation of the

(Facebook) IUP Ambassadors are seeking nominations for new members.

the organization, the application and the interview process. The students selected through the interview process will have the opportunity to become a member of the IUP Ambassadors. Nominations by alumni, faculty,

staff or current IUP Ambassador are due Feb. 15. Self nominations are due March 1. For more information, contact the IUP Ambassador adviser, Nicole Bukosky, at nbukosky@iup. edu

February 5, 2019

News

(IUP website) “King’s Dream” included video clips, singing and audience participation.

(Facebook) Martin Luther King, Jr. shared similar views to Gandhi when it came to nonviolent protests.

IUP hosts program celebrating Black History Month SAMANTHA SHEEHAN Staff Writer S.S.Sheehan@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

“King’s Dream,” presented Thursday in Fisher Auditorium, prepared the audience for Black History Month with the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “King’s Dream” included video clips, singing and audience participation. Joseph Patterson, the speaker, opened with a short introduction on King’s life before the civil rights movement. This included being an ordained minister at age 18 and being active in the church. Patterson also provided background on the civil rights movement and how slavery, segregation and Rosa Park’s bus protest led up to it. King shared similar views to Gandhi when it came to nonviolent protests. He believed strongly in “passive resistance.” His activism won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, making him the youngest recipient of the time. The same year he also won Time magazine’s Man of the Year.

President John F. Kennedy was aware of the racial issues in America and tried to participate in the movement, but some hope for the movement was lost after his assassination. President Lyndon B. Johnson sympathized with King’s activism and eventually signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices. All types of people participated in the civil rights movement, including celebrities, people of various races and religions and even children. More than 20,000 people were in attendance the day of King’s infamous “I Have a Dream” speech. Patterson expressed that he thought many of the things King had said in his speeches could still be applied today. Patterson and two performers, Ramona Hunter and Nathan Harmon, sang along to a freedom song, which was a song that many civil rights activists sang during their movement. Patterson mentioned that during the movement, strangers would come together and ask that the audience members hold hands

with the person next to them and sing along. Hunter and Harmon’s singing was a large part of the presentation between video clips. Audience participation was requested during every song, and audience members appeared to enjoy

singing and clapping along to the songs. On April 4, 1968, the day after his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, King was assassinated. Much like Kennedy’s assassination, many feared that this was also the end of the civil

rights movement. “Pass on his legacy and remember the movement,” Patterson said to the crowd at the end of the presentation. Some students said their high school educations didn’t touch on such topics in so much detail.

February 5, 2019

News

BuzzFeed, Vice, other media outlets slash jobs WENDY LEE

Los Angeles Times (TNS)

When it debuted in 2006, BuzzFeed quickly became a social media sensation. Its listicles, quizzes and funny videos went viral and created a huge online audience. The New York-based start-up later hired hundreds of journalists to do serious journalism, creating a platform that many saw as the future of the industry. But the digital media trailblazer confronted some harsh realities in the last week when as many as 250 workers, including roughly 75 employees in Los Angeles, lost their jobs. Shedding 15 percent of its staff was a bruising moment for BuzzFeed and the latest sign of distress in the once-booming digital media sector, where many outlets have struggled to capture enough ads and digital subscriptions to cover rising expenses. Some analysts and former employees say BuzzFeed was hurt by its large ambitions, staffing up too quickly and becoming overly reliant on growing its audience through publishing platforms like Facebook. But the problems also reflect deeper challenges that

(TNS) Buzzfeed was among the online outlets last week who laid off staff.

have squeezed many other digital media sites that pursued a similar business model, one based on building a large following on Facebook and YouTube and selling that viewership to advertisers, analysts said. “They’re all built on the prin-

ciple that we can amass a great multiplying audience and we can sell those eyeballs to advertisers,” media analyst Ken Doctor said. The model is “broken at this point.” Last year, digital media companies including Vox Media Inc., Re-

finery29 and Mic slashed payrolls. we are undertaking will reduce our Vice Media last week confirmed it costs and improve our operating will eliminate about 250 jobs, or 10 model so we can thrive and control percent of its workforce. Verizon our own destiny, without ever Media Group, which includes needing to raise funding again.” properties like the HuffPost and The company made changes to TechCrunch, also recently anits business, including merging its nounced it would cut 7 percent of commerce and marketing team, its workforce. That affected more cutting its newsroom staff and than 100 employees in offices reducing its teams abroad. in Sunnyvale and San Francisco, Google and Facebook own and according to notices filed with the control many of the world’s most state’s labor department. popular platforms, including YouThe underlying problem is Tube, Facebook and Instagram. that these companies are heavily To get access to those audiences, reliant on distribution platforms publishers on those platforms they don’t control. Digital media need to share a large chunk of companies typically generate their digital ad revenue with Facead revenue based on the size of book and Google. Facebook, for their audiences, and consumers example, takes about 45 percent discover many of those videos of the ad revenue generated by and articles through sites such as commercials on videos distributed Facebook and YouTube. As a rethrough its platform Facebook sult, they’ve had to follow the tech giants’ rules on how revenue is Watch. shared and adapt to any algorithm “The devil’s bargain there is you changes Facebook and Google get a bigger audience, but you are introduced. giving up a lot of revenue and you Many of these digital media don’t control the experience,” said sites have enjoyed substantial fiPaul Verna, a principal analyst at nancial backing, but investors have EMarketer. grown impatient with losses. The amount of money that pubBuzzFeed, for example, is lishers are owned by earning in media giant digital ads NBCUniverthrough sal and other Facewell-heeled book and investors. It Google has raised is dispro$497 million portionate and has a to the valuation of amount of $1.7 billion, traffic they according to receive research firm from those CB Insights. But pressure sites, said has been Jason mounting on Kint, CEO BuzzFeed of Digital to generate Content (Facebook) more revNext, Google and Facebook own and control many of the enue after world’s most popular platforms. a trade missing its group. In sales goal in 2017. Although the 2017, premium publishers received company had more than $300 less than 5 percent of their digital million in revenue last year and revenue through Facebook or claims an audience of more than Google platforms, even though 30 650 million people, BuzzFeed was percent of their search traffic was still unprofitable, according to two people familiar with the company’s coming from Google, Kint said. Publishers “were not receiving the finances who were not authorized fair value,” he added. to comment. Compounding matters, Face“It’s a very expensive company book has changed its algorithm to keep afloat,” said Eunice Shin, to highlight original content from a partner at Prophet, a brand and users’ friends over videos or news marketing consultancy. stories from companies, which BuzzFeed Chief Executive affected business models of pubJonah Peretti said in a note to employees that “the restructuring lishers that rely on views.

February 5, 2019

News

Apple to fix FaceTime bug allowing eavesdropping JIM PUZZANGHERA and JOHANA BHUIYAN Los Angeles Times (TNS)

The FaceTime video-chat app on your iPhone may have let people eavesdrop on you – an embarrassment to Apple Inc., which yanked the flawed feature and said Tuesday that it’s hurrying to fix the underlying problem. An apparent bug in FaceTime’s new group chat function allowed callers to remotely activate the microphone on another person’s iPhone, iPad or Mac without that person’s knowledge and hear whatever sounds the microphone picked up. More than a week ago, a Twitter user – described by consumer technology website CNET as a Tuscon lawyer named Michele Thompson – said that her teenage son had found the problem and that she’d submitted a bug report to Apple. The user’s tweets flagged Apple customer service, Fox News and, a day later, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, and they expressed frustration about not hearing back from the company. Then others on social media began posting videos demonstrating how to use the FaceTime app to eavesdrop, and this Monday, technology news website 9to5Mac published an article about the problem. Following the report, Apple disabled FaceTime’s group chat function Monday evening and said it was working on a patch. “We’re aware of this issue, and we have identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week,” it said in a statement. Apple did not immediately respond to a Times email asking

(TNS) The FaceTime video-chat app’s new group chat function allowed callers to remotely activate the microphone on another person’s device.

when the company became aware of the bug. The problem is a black eye for Apple, which has promoted itself as being more conscientious about user privacy than rival tech giants. On Monday, before news of the bug exploded, Cook noted in a tweet that it was Data Privacy Day and that everyone should “insist on action and reform for vital privacy protections. The dangers are real and the consequences are too important.” Apple’s system status page on Tuesday indicated that that “Group FaceTime is temporarily unavailable.” That “ongoing issue” with the service began Monday night, according to the status page. Before Apple yanked the buggy feature, the eavesdropping process involved placing a FaceTime video call and then adding your own phone number as an additional participant while the call was dialing. A group

FaceTime call would start at that point, and the microphone on the device of the call’s original recipient would be activated even if that person hadn’t accepted the call. Additionally, if the recipient of the call pressed the power button, they would unknowingly send a live video feed to the caller. The Times independently replicated the feature Monday

evening before it was pulled. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the bug was “an egregious breach of privacy” and, in a statement, called on Apple to fix the problem “without delay.” He also urged New Yorkers “to disable their FaceTime app until a fix is made available.” Apple says protecting user data is baked into its business model: Unlike Facebook Inc.,

Alphabet Inc.’s Google and other tech giants, Apple gets most of its revenue from selling hardware to consumers, not from selling targeted advertising space to third parties. Therefore, Apple contends, people don’t have to worry that it will peddle their personal data to boost ad revenue. Apple does admit to collecting information about users’ behavior to improve some of its features. But the company says it aggregates and “scrambles” millions of users’ data together to look for general patterns, not specific individuals’ traits. “These patterns help us identify things like the most popular emoji, the best QuickType [predictive text] suggestions, and energy consumption rates in Safari,” Apple says on its website. U.S. lawmakers increasingly have been turning their attention on the practices of high-tech companies. Last summer, top Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters to Apple and Google seeking details about how much the tech giants track smartphone users’ locations and collect snippets of audio from requests to voice assistants such as Apple’s Siri.

February 5, 2019

News

Indiana heats up after polar vortex

(James Neuhausel/ The Penn) After two days of canceled classes, IUP received warmer weather, and the snow had all melted.

(James Neuhausel/ The Penn) Vinegar Hill was covered in snow last week, but it has melted since the temperature has risen.

(James Neuhausel/ The Penn) Spring-like weather made an appearance the day after Punxsutawney Phil predicted that spring would come early this year.

OPINION

Keep on dreaming, state schoolers

“Everything happens for a reason.” That’s what your friends and family tell you after you get denied from your dream internship or job. They’re probably right. But you don’t think so. You spent more than five hours carefully crafting your cover letter, perfecting your resume and gathering your clips tailor-made to your desired company. All this work was just to receive a chain email saying that you weren’t good enough to even get an interview. Ouch. What hurts worse is the reality that some shmuck from a larger Pennsylvania school will probably get the internship or job, even though he or she is less qualified and less capable for the position than you, an amazing and accomplished IUP student. You’ve done everything you thought you could’ve: campus jobs that led to leadership positions, research work, real-world experience, dean’s list and awards. And still, not even an interview. The saddest thing of all, though? You’re not alone. Though many, many IUP students have gone on to do amazing things, such as Ben Macadoo, former head coach of the New York Giants; Ed Bouchette Hall-of-Fame Steelers beat writer; and, oh yeah, Chad Hurley, the inventor of YouTube, IUP students are still getting overlooked for job opportunities because we “went to a state school” and not a wellknown college like Pitt or Penn State. Some might believe the only reason we went to a state school was because we didn’t have the grades in high school or SAT scores needed to get into a “better school,” so we settled for a life of partying and mediocrity at

Opinion

a school like IUP. But that’s not often not the case. For starters, state schools are the way to go financially if you don’t come from wealthy parents who are willing to pay your way through college. These universities are designed to provide an “affordable” education. In addition to the financial flexibility IUP gives students, it also gives students the opportunity to choose a major from a large list of academic programs. This is especially helpful to those students who come into college undeclared. Want to study student affairs in higher education? Want to major in Latin American studies? Or maybe you want to be the next Gordon Ramsey and study the culinary arts? IUP allows all of these opportunities. Regardless of why we chose to enroll at IUP, we were all still aware of the issue we now, or soon will, face. IUP and other state school students will typically be overlooked at first when applying for an internship or job because we don’t have the same brand name college on our resume as other applicants. And even though you may be like us and just want to give up after getting rejected time and time again, don’t. Try not to let those companies who judge you based on a piece of paper get you down. Add them to the list of people who didn’t believe in you, and keep them on your mailing list for when you eventually accomplish everything you dreamed about when you first received that letter of acceptance to IUP.

CARTOON

(Chandler Bouton) “The United States and other industrial countries are backing a coup that is underway in Venezuela to oust President Nicolas Maduro. President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido has declared himself the interim president of Venezuela without an election, but with full U.S. support. The Trump Administration has been ratcheting up tension against Maduro’s socialist government by imposing crippling sanctions and threatening military action in recent months. They are making the economy scream, as Richard Nixon might have put it. History would dictate that this blatant act of American imperialism will only result in needless bloodshed and the imposition of a U.S.-backed regime under Guaido’s leadership.”

Brought to you By THE PENN STAFF

February 5, 2019

Culture

Culture Editor: Steven Langdon Jr. – S.Langdon@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Heather Bair – H.Bair@iup.edu

(IUPSSC Crimson Connect) Students of all skill levels are welcome to join the IUP Ski and Snowboard Club. If interested, contact club president Emma Planitzer at zknv@iup.

Hit the slopes with IUP’s Ski Club ABE ESHELMAN

Staff Writer A.Eshelman@iup.edu @DukeOfKalos

(IUPSSC Crimson Connect) The IUP Ski and Snowboard Club goes on several trips throughout the semester, including the Co-Op park when the weather is bad.

Some people cannot stand winter, snow, ice and all the cold days that come with it. Others, however, love it for the many fun activities that one can do only whenever the snow is piled high and the air is ice cold. One such group is the IUP Ski and Snowboard Club (IUPSSC). “The IUP Ski and Snowboard Club is a university organization fully run by dedicated students who enjoy the sport of skiing and/or snowboarding,” said club president Emma Planitzer (senior, information systems and information technology). The club supplies discounted trips to Seven Springs resort, as well as other and even out-ofstate ski resorts for its members.

February 5, 2019

Other relatively local resorts the club visits include Wisp Resort in Maryland, Blue Mountain and Blue Knob (both in Pennsylvania). The club is slower in the warmer months. Planitzer explained that a large portion of the club’s members go to skate parks during the spring, summer and early fall seasons while they wait for the first snowfall. The club also has two big trips during winter break and spring break. Other than those big trips, the club carpools to Seven Springs daily. Planitzer is a passionate advocate for skiing and enjoying the isolated and escapist-fantasy nature of an individual run, as well as the social aspect of skiing and going to a resort as a group. She described the feeling of skiing as an isolated but peaceful experience where you can “escape all real-world responsibilities.” The IUPSSC is relatively small

for now but is hoping to expand its member roster and the scope and magnitude of its trips. “For the future, I would hope IUPSSC becomes more recognized and gains more members,” Planitzer said. “We want to expand and plan more trips with more people.” The club is open to members of all skill levels, from amateurs to newbies to stylish performers and skilled skiers. Whenever the weather is especially bad, the IUPSSC visits the Co-Op Park just off campus to practice tricks on the relatively simple terrain. Those interested in joining the club can contact Planitzer at zknv@iup.edu. “It is a great way to get involved on campus, make new friends and memories and get more out of your college experience,” Planitzer said.

Culture

February 5, 2019

Culture

(Facebook) Lake Michigan in Chicago froze over during last week’s Polar Vortex.

Students outraged about last week’s conditions SAM SHEEHAN

Staff Writer S.Sheehan@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Winter often causes issues for many college students who are traveling to and from class. The recent Polar Vortex, causing dangerously low wind-chill temperatures, caused class cancellations Wednesday and Thursday, something IUP hasn’t seen in years. “On Thursday I was out for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and realized how conditions would be unsafe for students walking around campus,” Nassim El Khantour (freshman, graphic design) said. However, even with two days of classes canceled students still need to traverse around campus. Elle Snead (senior, English and film studies) said she thought it was “shocking” that the sidewalks weren’t salted Tuesday, and people were slipping and falling right in front of her. Many other students have reported slipping throughout the week, including Jake Nelson (senior, business management). Nelson said on Friday he slipped about eight times. “This is the most I’ve struggled with walking,” he said. Cara Sweeney (junior, human

resource and general management) said she didn’t have a hard commute to class since she lives in Suites on Pratt and most of her classes are in Eberly. However, she did slip a few times walking to work. She also had to drive to Pittsburgh twice during the week and slipped a few times on the road. Students on and off campus experienced problems with poor conditions. Katie Dotts (junior, communications media) commutes to campus and said the only trouble she had occurred when she was in Indiana. “The Hadley Union Building (HUB) lot was a sheet of ice, and I had trouble parking because I was sliding in four-wheel drive,” she said. “The roads around my house were treated better than on campus.” Justin Hrabosky (senior, disability services) also had problems with his car. He said when trying to leave for work, his car wouldn’t start because of the cold causing his boss to pick him up and take him. Fortunately for students, the upcoming weather forecast has changed significantly. Temperatures rose from the negatives to temperatures in the 50s early this week.

February 5, 2019

Culture

(Facebook) Adam Levine and Maroon 5 headlined the Super Bowl LIII halftime show Sunday in Atlanta.

Maroon 5 turns into Super Bowl halftime fumble MEGAN DONNY Contributing Writer M.Donny@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

(Facebook) Joining Maroon 5 was Travis Scott singing his hit song “Sicko Mode.”

Maroon 5, a well-known pop band, headlined the 2019 Super Bowl in Atlanta this past Sunday and failed to impress many viewers. The band, and lead singer Adam Levine, was not supported by football fans before the Super Bowl even began. A petition was created prior to the Super Bowl, pleading for the band to drop the gig. Atlanta residents were not pleased either when they learned that Maroon 5 was set to perform because they wanted a performer who hails from their city. To appease the people of Atlanta, the Super Bowl hired Georgia native Big Boi, a member of Outkast. Travis Scott also performed alongside the other two acts. Why the people in charge of hiring performers for the Super Bowl thought that it was a good idea to put Maroon 5, Big Boi and Travis Scott together is unknown. Maroon 5 started the performance on an M-shaped stage, singing their hit song “Harder to Breathe.” From the start, their performance was mediocre and failed to keep your attention.

You’d think they would’ve wanted to start the show with a song a tad more upbeat. The pyrotechnics, including fireworks and large flames used throughout the 13-minute production, were a bit over the top. They were probably used strategically to distract viewers from the dull performance. The multiple guitars that Levine donned throughout the entire performance were rarely played. Instead, he used them as more of a fashion accessory. It gave the impression that the singer was not a very talented guitarist and only knew a few choice parts of certain songs. The highlight of the show came after Levine’s unimpressive performance of the song “This Love.” A clip from Nickelodeon’s cartoon “SpongeBob SquarePants” was played after months of anticipation of fans wondering if the beloved cartoon would make an appearance after last year’s passing of creator Stephen Hillenburg. The character Squidward conducted an orchestra that included famous cartoon character, SpongeBob, along with his friends. Fans speculated that the song “Sweet Victory” from the cartoon would be performed, but instead, the clip transitioned into

Scott’s rap song, “Sicko Mode.” Fans were upset, considering more than 1 million of them signed a separate petition for Maroon 5 to play “Sweet Victory.” The transition from the subtle Maroon 5 performance to Scott’s rap was jarring. The different genres of music did not mesh well at all. Certain pop bands would’ve definitely worked better with the rappers chosen to perform. Throughout the entire show, Levine slowly stripped off layers of clothing until he was shirtless. It caught the attention of many viewers, who wondered if he was trying to prove to America that he is still People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive six years after receiving the title. It was quite amusing to watch Levine attempt to fit in with Travis Scott and Big Boi on stage. As Scott performed, Levine simply jumped along beside him, playing random chords on his guitar about once every minute. Maroon 5 did end up playing a few of their famous songs like “Sugar” and “Moves Like Jagger,” which were slightly more enjoyable. Viewers wanted an exciting performance after watching a very underwhelming first half of the football game, and sadly their needs were not met.

February 5, 2019

Culture

Super Bowl gives highs, lows even between breaks HEATHER BAIR

Lead Culture Writer H.Bair@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion. The 53rd annual Super Bowl aired Sunday, and the commercials that ran were a mix of cuteness, weirdness and just plain fun. Some of the best commercials were those that showed trailers and sneak peeks of the upcoming shows and movies, and some had underlying messages with them.

The Good 1. “Hobbs & Shaw:” The “Fast and Furious” franchise has made a spin-off featuring everyone’s favorites, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw, teaming up in what appears to be a comedic, almost bromance movie, with the perfect balance of action and adventure.

2. “The Twilight Zone:” For those who have seen the original “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling’s haunting voice narrating the creepy stories, there’s a new host in town. Jordan Peele will be hosting all-new episodes of “The Twilight Zone,” premiering April 1. With new technologies, new events and a brand-new host, it’s sure to pack a punch with fans of all ages.

3. Toni Harris for Toyota: Toni Harris, the female defensive back for the East Los Angeles College Huskies, teamed up with Toyota for an inspiring commercial to young girls everywhere. Stating in the commercial that she’s “never been a fan of assumptions,” she’s an inspiration to young athletes everywhere, reminding viewers to follow their dreams.

4. Google Translate: Google created a commercial that was touching and thought-provoking, showing that there is always a way to connect with others. With examples of translating, connecting with those far away and being able to bring a smile to strangers’ faces, it was a refreshing change from the everyday commercials.

(Facebook) Some of the best commercials included the “Hobbs and Shaw” trailer (top left) and “The Twilight Zone” (top right), but the bad included the Bud Knight commercial (bottom).

The Bad While there were some entertaining commercials, there are always the ones that are cringe-worthy.

1. Olay Moisturizer: What appeared to be a commercial for a horror movie ended up becoming a spoof and promo for Olay’s moisturizer. The commer-

cial had the look and feel of the “Scream” movies, where the horror is mixed with comedic and sarcastic undertones. While it was amusing, it was a bit weird to watch two people hiding from a masked intruder while talking about face cream.

2. Audi: Audi has new models making their debut this year; however, the

commercial was a bit all over the place. Starting as a sort of coming-home movie, it looked weird but interesting, until you realize the guy is dreaming about a new car. It appeared to be out of place and made no sense to those viewing.

3. Bud Light: What started as the Bud Light

commercial and ended as a “Game of Thrones” commercial was funny but almost demanded an eye roll from viewers. With a “Bud Knight” being jousted off his horse to a dragon in the sky and a premiere date of the eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones,” fans started questioning what exactly the grand finale of their favorite show is going to be.

February 5, 2019

Culture

(Facebook) Piranha Plant was introduced into “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” Tuesday.

Fans react to Piranha Plant piping up in ‘Smash’ ABE ESHELMAN

Staff Writer A.Eshelman@iup.edu @DukeOfKalos

This article contains opinion. “Smash Brothers Ultimate” has taken the world by storm. In just more than two months since its launch, it has nearly outsold the second-best selling “Smash Brothers” game of all time, “Smash Brothers Brawl.” With its massive roster, balancing gameplay changes and tone of industry celebration, is it any wonder the game has been an instant fan favorite? One recent addition to the series has had fans clambering for more, with “Smash 4’s” introduction and “Smash Ultimate’s” continuation of DLC fighters. However, the fighters in “Smash Ultimate” have proven to be far more outlandish and unexpected than the relatively tame fighters of “Smash.” As exciting as the return of fan favorites like Roy and Mewtwo were, or the introduction of semi-wildcards like Bayonetta, nothing could’ve prepared players for the announcements of Piranha Plant and Joker from Persona 5 as

has some strong potential in its overall toolkit, such as its “fast aerials, good moves for gimping recoveries and his grab and jabs.” Garrison also gives credit to his powerful poison cloud move, which is an effective side special for racking up damage and a great comeback-maker. His neutral-B, the spike ball move, is an effective edge-guarding tool and almost acts as an instant kill for unlucky opponents attempting to recover, Garrison said. Piranha Plant’s best position/ playstyle is “against an off-stage opponent,” Garrison said. He noted that Piranha Plant lacks strong combo potential. Garrison said he is overall, along with many fans, excited for the future of “Smash Broth-

ers Ultimate” in terms of its future DLC fighters – with fans clambering for favorites such as Master Chief, Banjo-Kazooie, Minecraft Steve and even still the classic pick of Geno – and the game’s growing community. Garrison said he came to know several of his closest friends through the game. “Our friendship has been built off ‘Smash,’” he said. “It’s a great way to meet people and build relationships. I thank ‘Smash Brothers’ for a lot.’” Despite what some may say about videogames, he said he wholeheartedly believes that “competitive games like ‘Smash Brothers’ are not just games or pastimes, but they’re a way to meet and be with people.“

“Plant falls in the high low-tier or low mid tier.”

(Facebook) The Piranha Plant character can now be purchased through the downloadable content on the Nintendo Switch’s Eshop.

fighters in “Smash Ultimate.” Piranha Plant was just released as a full playable character Wednesday, and the fanbase is already diving deep into the new fighter. One such player is John Garrison, a senior Asian-studies major and a Zero Suit Samus/Pit main. Garrison said he is critical of

the new playable character and doesn’t think the new fighter is very strong overall. “The difference between the best and worst character in ‘Smash Ultimate’ is not a wide margin, but I think Plant falls in high low-tier or low mid-tier,” he said. He said he admits the Plant

~John Garrison

Senior Asian Studies

Sports

Sports Editor: Elliot Hicks – E.Hicks@iup.edu Lead Sports Writer: Brad O’Hara – B.L.Ohara@iup.edu

(TNS) Tom Brady waved to the crowd at Walt Disney World Monday following the Patriots’ victory in Super Bowl LIII.

(TNS) Trey Flowers of the New England Patriots celebrated the team’s victory in Super Bowl LIII.

Super Bowl LIII: Pats’ victory less than satisfactory for fans JAKE SLEBODNICK

Production Manager J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu @slebby24

This article contains opinion. Super Bowl? More like Tank Bowl. Each year the NFL puts two of the year’s best in one showdown for the coveted Lombardi trophy. Last night’s game, however, looked more like a preseason game. Last issue I predicted that we would see a high-scoring matchup. What we got was a defensive showcase, along with a pitiful offensive display. The New England Patriots became the second team in NFL his-

Sports

tory to win six Super Bowl titles, matching the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tom Brady, age 41, threw for 262 yards and one interception on the night. Tallying zero touchdown passes, Brady looked fickle when matching up to Aaron Donald and the Rams defense. Former first-round pick QB Jared Goff had a similar line: 229 yards and one interception. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski made two of three field goals on the night to add some insurance to New England’s lead. RB Sony Michel padded their lead with a 2-yard touchdown run with seven minutes remaining in regulation. He finished the game with 94 rushing yards.

Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein was the offensive MVP for Los Angeles, as he put up their only three points in the game. This led to a 13-3 final score, the lowest in Super Bowl history. Another hindrance to the game was Maroon 5, Travis Scott and the halftime show. I cannot think of a more vanilla show than that. First off, no “Sweet Victory,” just a teaser. Yes, there was a teaser featuring “SpongeBob SquarePants” and the “band geeks,” but the NFL did what it always does: ignores the fans. Second, “Sicko Mode” was bleeped out. If you perform a song live, it should not contain censored verses. It ruins the aesthetic feeling

February 5, 2019

while watching on TV. Patriots’ WR Julian Edelman was given the honors of Super Bowl MVP after he caught 10 passes for 141 receiving yards. Los Angeles ran the game like a chicken with its head cut off. Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson put on poor performances, true anchors to a season that made them both look unstoppable in every facet of the game. One thing is for certain. It finally felt like a year when New England won without any scandals plaguing their victory. It even got to the point where the true Yinzers in many at IUP even gave credit to the Pats. They took advantage of a lost offensive unit in the Rams and com-

pletely made Goff look overrated. But the Rams should not be viewed as a fluke team. Why? They have lots of young talent that took the league by storm this season. The reason they fell on the grandest stage was lack of postseason experience. For what they had, they had an impressive season. It will be interesting to see how L.A. pans out next year since they should be staying structurally sound. But for now, all hail the 2019 Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Hopefully next year’s game is more intense and has someone else for the AFC other than New England.

February 5, 2019

HOT TAKE JAKE

Sports

(TNS) Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium was showered in confetti following the New England Patriots’ victory in Super Bowl LIII.

Wild NFL season leads to dud of a Super Bowl JAKE TAYLOR

Staff Writer J.M.Taylor8@iup.edu @JakeTaylor8726

This article contains opinion. The 2018 NFL season had big expectations after a wild Super Bowl and crazy offseason. Big-name quarterback changes and high-potential rookies were going to make for a season America has never seen before. Fortunately enough, the NFL season lived up to the hype. In a year when Roger Goodell enforced multiple rule changes to make the games faster and more high scoring, it made a significant

difference from 2017 – specifically, Week 11’s Monday Night Football in a “Super Bowl Foreshadow” game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs. The game was proclaimed to be one of the best ever after L.A. won 54-51; however, the real Super Bowl had the Rams face off against the New England Patriots. New England, in all fairness, delivered two of the greatest games ever played in the last two Super Bowls, so why wouldn’t they this year? The game had a promising beginning when New England exploded off the kickoff but ended the drive with an interception by

Tom Brady on his very first throw. However, the Rams were unable to do anything with the ball. “Anything” needs to be emphasized here as the Jared Goff-led Rams punted on all of their first half drives. Their longest drive lasted five plays, two-and-a-half minutes and 23 yards. It made putting on a marathon of Brett Favre Wrangler Jean commercials sound like a better option than the second half. New England didn’t help the cause whatsoever as its first half possessions resulted in three turnovers, two punts and a field goal. Roger Goodell knew how to

save the ratings, though. He made Adam Levine take his shirt off at the Pepsi Halftime Show. In reality, watching Goodell streak across the field would have been the best decision he made since changing the catch rule. The true football fans had hope that Sean McVay would come out at half time with his flawless new game plan and turn the tides on the Patriots’ three points. After a combined five punts, L.A. finally kicked a field goal. Super Bowl LIII heading into the fourth quarter tied 3-3 is an absolute atrocity to the game’s meaning. This is not 1974 when a Super

Bowl finishing with a score of 16-6 is considered a good game. The Patriots prevailed on a deep catch by Rob Gronkowski to set up a Sony Michel touchdown and sealed the game with an interception leading to a field goal. A 13-3 Super Bowl finish is a complete let down. America is much more interested in deep balls and spectacular catches than a defensive scheme game of chess between coaches. Now, thanks to Jared “Jabroni” Goff, America has to live through another year where the Patriots are Super Bowl champions, and that, my friends, is the least patriotic event in American history.

Sports

February 5, 2019

(IUP Athletics) Dante Lombardi (senior, finance) scored 12 points Saturday in a loss to Mercyhurst.

Buzzer-beater gives men’s basketball heartbreaking loss JEFF HART

Staff Writer J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

The IUP men’s basketball team etched its second loss of the season Saturday in a nerve-wracking game against the Mercyhurst Lakers. The game was a back-and-forth affair between two of the best teams the PSAC has to offer. Neither team wanted to give, but in the end, the Lakers took away the game 65-64 on a last-second buzzer-beater. The game was a story of two halves, the first one going in favor of Mercyhurst. The Lakers came out of the gates strong and led throughout most of the first half. Halfway through, they went on a 15-4 run that gave the Lakers a comfortable lead going into the second half. They were leading the Crimson Hawks by 10 at the end of the first half. Going into halftime, IUP needed to review its game plan. The Crimson Hawks were down by a double-digit margin, which is

not the typical situation to which the men’s team has been accustomed. The Hawks had a lot to work on going into the second half, and on top their priority list was their longrange game. IUP shot an anemic 10 percent from the three in the first half. When both teams took the floor for the second half, the Crimson Hawks kicked it into gear and started to look like their typical selves. IUP went on a 13-4 run to get things rolling in the second half. After this assertive run by IUP, it was a battle of wills between two powerhouses. With IUP trailing by one point, Malik Miller seemed to have ice in his veins as he hit a 3-pointer that put the Crimson Hawks up 61-59 with 20 seconds left. The Lakers’ Trystan Prytapas came into the game and hit a last-second 3-pointer, which gave Mercyhurst the win in this exhilarating matchup. IUP will face another tough test Wednesday as the Crimson Hawks will take on Slippery Rock at 7:30 p.m. in the KCAC.

February 5, 2019

Sports

(Autumn Dorsey/The Penn) Carolyn Appleby (senior, safety sciences) scored 18 points in a victory against Mercyhurst.

(Autumn Dorsey/The Penn) Lexi Griggs (junior, natural science) took a shot in a victory against Mercyhurst.

25-point win puts women’s basketball back into first place BRAD O’HARA

Lead Sports Writer B.L.Ohara@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

IUP women’s basketball brought its winning streak home as it rolled through Mercyhurst on Saturday 81-56. Mercyhurst was already struggling this season going into the game. The Lakers lost their last two games and had won only two of the 11 games they played on the road. Mercyhurst was also giving up an average of 71 points per game. This came against an IUP team that ranked No. 1 in the PSAC for points scored per game and least amount

of points given up per game. The Crimson Hawks showed why they are the team to beat in the PSAC by taking the Lakers almost completely out of the game by halftime. At the end of the first quarter, IUP went on a 17-3 run to take a 21-8 lead. They stayed just as dominant in the second quarter. The Crimson Hawks outscored Mercyhurst 22-10 in the second quarter alone. By the end of the first half, IUP had a 25-point lead. IUP’s offense was effective in the first half. Carolyn Appleby (senior, safety science) and Brittany Robinson (senior, education) combined

for five more points than the entire Mercyhurst team in the first half. Also, the Crimson Hawks made more than 50 percent of their field goal attempts and went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc. With their 25-point lead, IUP pulled back in the second half and just focused on keeping its lead. The Crimson Hawks gave their starters a chance to rest for much of the half and gave some of the younger players a chance to get in the game. Not only were the younger Crimson Hawks able to gain experience, but they held their own in the second half.

Mercyhurst and IUP played even basketball as both teams scored 38 points, allowing the Crimson Hawks to walk away with a large victory. Four players for IUP scored double-digit points with Appleby scoring 18, Robinson with 16, Lexi Griggs (junior, natural science) with 15 and Ana Hollen (senior, kinesiology) scoring 11. Griggs also ended the night one rebound short of a double-double. On top of it all, the Crimson Hawks have one of the strongest defenses in Division II. The IUP defense has almost been impenetrable allowing the fewest points in the PSAC and the fifth fewest in

Division II. IUP leads the conference in defensive rebounds and blocked shots and has the second most steals per game. “Everyone [is] playing with a lot of energy and [is] very disciplined on defense,” Appleby said. “I think our team is very focused and knows what we want to accomplish.” The Crimson Hawks, who improved to 18-1, will now try to hold onto the top spot in the conference as they take on Slippery Rock on Wednesday in a blackout at home. The Rock are fighting for their playoff lives with a 7-7 conference record, 9-11 overall.

Sports

February 5, 2019

Crimson Hawks Roundup ELLIOT HICKS

Sports Editor e.hicks@iup.edu @ehicks39

Swimming Thirty-two qualifying times were set over the weekend at the Pidgeon Memorial Invitational home meet as the Crimson Hawks had four event victories in their final tune-up before the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships. Bloomsburg University was a dominant force at the tournament, with its men’s and women’s teams taking the first overall spots, and IUP placing second. The four event wins all came on the women’s side, with team victories in the 400-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relays. Nicole Smith (redshirt junior, food and nutrition) won the 50yard freestyle, while Paige Mikesell (freshman, kinesiology) took the victory in the 200-yard butterfly. Twenty of the PSAC qualifying times were set by 12 women, with eight qualifying in multiple events. Ryan Hartmann (freshman, computer science) and RJ Hammond (senior, nursing) were the only men to qualify for multiple events. The PSAC Championships will take place in York and will begin Feb. 20.

Tennis The first match of the women’s tennis spring season ended in a victory against West Virginia Wesleyan University, as the Crimson Hawks took a 5-2 win. The games were played indoors in Pittsburgh, and IUP was playing shorthanded with one of its players injured. Finishing No. 1 in doubles were Thais Andreotti (freshman, psychology) and Katya Minchenkova (junior, management), who earned a 6-0 victory. With a 6-1 victory, Julia Newman (sophomore, management) and Mariana Valenzuela (junior, biology) sat at No. 2. The quartet each picked up victories in their singles matches as well. The victory comes in the first of 21 spring matches for the Crim-

(IUP Athletics) Thais Andreotti and Cameron Gray put in solid performances over the weekend.

son Hawks leading up to the PSAC Championships at the end of April. IUP will travel to Granville, Ohio Feb. 17 for a match at Denison University.

Track & Field Eleven first-place finishes highlighted a successful weekend in Selinsgrove as 11 different IUP athletes earned top-three finishes Saturday at the Susquehanna University Challenge. DJ Horton (senior, kinesiology) took the victory in the men’s pole vault, while teammates Andre Carr (freshman, kinesiology) and Cameron Gray (senior, criminology) finished 1-2 in the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes. Horton and Carr were named IUP’s Athletes of the Week for their performances. The men’s 4x400 team finished in second place as well. Kristina Coyne (senior, education) earned three top-three finishes, including a victory in the 60-meter hurdles event. Niasia Harding (junior, sociology) won the 400-meter race, Jessica Jones (junior, mathematics) won the 800-meter race and Raven Russell (junior, hospitality management) won the 60-meter dash while

finishing third in the 200-meter race. Nickeela Austin (junior, psychology) won the triple jump and fin-

ished second in the long jump. The women’s 4x400 team won its race as well. The Crimson Hawks are back in

action Friday, traveling to Berea, Ohio, for the Mid-February Meet, taking place at Baldwin Wallace University.

Sports

February 5, 2019